WEEKLY CLIMATE NEWS

WEEKLY CLIMATE NEWS

WEEK FOUR: 15-19 February 2016

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Report finds "Climate Confusion among U.S. Teachers" -- A team of researchers from Penn State University, Wright State University and the National Center for Science Education recently reported on the results of a November 2014 survey on whether and how US secondary science educators teach climate change in their classrooms. The researchers found the results of this survey with responses from fifteen hundred middle and high school science teachers from all 50 states contained both good news and bad news: "… most U.S. science teachers include climate science in their courses, their insufficient grasp of the science may hinder effective teaching."[AAAS Science Magazine]
Recalling the "Great Arctic Outbreak" of February 1899 -- The arctic outbreak that is spreading arctic air across eastern sections of the nation at the start of this week is noteworthy, however, this event pales in comparison with the arctic air mass that spread across the nation during the first two weeks of February 1899. NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reviews the "Great Arctic Outbreak" of February 1899 when temperatures fell to 61 degrees below zero and to 2 degrees below zero in Tallahassee, FL, which remains the all-time record low for the Sunshine State. Ice formed on the Mississippi River near its mouth. Over 100 people lost their lives during this "Great Arctic Outbreak." [NOAA NCEI News]
Monitoring the seasonal motions of the sun -- If you would like more background information concerning how the sun appears to across your local sky, along with how you can access the times of local sunrise and local sunset, for your hometown on any day throughout year, please read this week's Supplemental Information...In Greater Depth.

CURRENT CLIMATE STATUS

Review of national weather and climate for January 2016 -- Using preliminary data collected from the national network of surface weather stations, scientists at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) have determined that the nationwide average temperature for the contiguous United States for the month of January 2016 was 2.1 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century (1901-2000) average. This temperature makes the recently completed month the 34th warmest January since comprehensive national climate records began in 1895. The average maximum or daytime temperature across the "lower 48" states was 1.4 Fahrenheit degrees above the 20th century average, or 78th highest in the 122-year records, while the average minimum or nighttime temperature was 2.8 Fahrenheit degrees above this long-term average, ranking the month's nighttime temperatures as the 34th highest. As often seen in an El Niño winter, the northern tier of states experienced above average temperatures, while states across the Southeast had below average temperatures. Maine reported a statewide temperature that was eleventh highest since 1895. Alaska had its fifth warmest January on record, with a statewide temperature that was 14.7 Fahrenheit degrees above the long-term record.
The scientists also found that last month was drier than average, as nationwide averaged January precipitation was 0.28 inches below the 20th century average, making January 2016 the 36th-driest January in 122 years. More than half of the 48 contiguous states (27) experienced below average precipitation, with the statewide precipitation in Ohio being the ninth lowest on record. In a pattern similar to an El Niño winter, above average precipitation was found across the Southeast and Southwest. Florida reported its fourth wettest January.
The January snow cover across the coterminous United States was the seventh largest in the 50-year period of record according to the Rutgers Global Snow Lab. [NCEI State of the Climate]
NOTE: A description is provided of the climatological rankings employed by NCEI for their monthly and seasonal maps. [NOAA/NCEI]
January national drought report -- NCEI has posted its January 2016 drought report online. Using the Palmer Drought Severity Index as an indicator, approximately one percent of the contiguous United States experienced severe to extreme drought conditions at the end of January, while 18 percent of the area had severely to extremely wet conditions.
Ice cover on Great Lakes down from recent winters -- The National Weather Service Forecast Office (NWSFO) at Green Bay, WI recently noted that only six percent of the North American Great Lakes were ice covered as of early last week, well below the more substantial ice coverage on the Lakes during the two previous winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15. In March 2014, Lake Michigan had an ice cover of 94 percent. The record warm December 2015 and an El Niño-type winter has limited the ice cover this winter season. An increase in lake-effect clouds and snow downwind of the Lakes has been noted. [NWSFO Green Bay News]

CURRENT CLIMATE MONITORING

Real-time tide stations provide "ground truth" for sea surface height measurements from new satellite --Sea level data collected a traditional NOAA water level station located on an oil platform offshore of Santa Barbara California and a tide station operated by European partners near the Italian Island of Corsica are being used to verify the sea level altimetry data being obtained from the recently launched Jason-3 satellite. The sensors onboard this satellite will provide detailed measurements of sea surface height that will be used to monitor anticipated global sea level rise due to a changing climate. [NOAA National Ocean Service News]
New Japanese geosynchronous satellite displays Asia-Pacific region in true color -- A true-color image was made last week of a large section of the Eastern Hemisphere covering the western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean basins, eastern Asia and Australia from data collected by the Japan Meteorological Agency's new Himawari-8 satellite, which had been launched into a geosynchronous orbit in October 2014. The subsatellite point is located just to the north of Papua, New Guinea. Note the relatively high resolution, along with the cloud patterns that highlight midlatitude storm systems with counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise circulations in the Southern Hemisphere and a broad band of clouds over equatorial waters that are along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).[NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory]
New Cryospheric Climate Data Record helps monitor polar caps -- NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information recently unveiled its Cryospheric Climate Data Record (CDR), which represents a reliable and consistent record of environmental data collected from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument aboard a series of NOAA polar orbiting satellites for the polar regions commencing in late July 1981 through the present. One of the components of the dataset contains radiances and brightness temperatures, while the other component contains surface, cloud, and clear sky properties obtained from the radiances and brightness temperatures from the first component. [NOAA NCEI News]

CLIMATE AND THE BIOSPHERE

Phytoplankton seen as oxygen factories in Southern Ocean -- A color image made from data collected by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite during mid January shows extensive phytoplankton blooms in the near surface waters of the Southern Ocean, generally running from the Cape Horn at the tip of South America across to the Antarctic Peninsula. During the Southern Hemisphere summer, the floating phytoplankton generate oxygen through photosynthesis. [NASA Earth Observatory]

CLIMATE AND HUMAN HEALTH

Air pollution kills 5.5 million people globally on an annual basis -- Researchers from Canada, the United States, China and India recently reported that more than 5.5 million people die prematurely each year due to poor air quality caused by household and outdoor air pollution associated with small particulate matter. More than half of these deaths occur in China and India, two of the nations with the fastest growing economies. These researchers warn that despite current efforts to limit future emissions, the number of premature deaths linked to air pollution will climb over the next two decades unless more aggressive targets are set. [University of British Columbia News]

CLIMATE FORECASTS

Updated El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion & El Niño advisory outlook released -- Late last week forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) released their monthly El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion in which they still maintained their El Niño advisory as much above-average sea surface temperatures (SST) persisted across the equatorial Pacific Ocean in January 2016, a sign of the continuation of the strong El Niño event (an anomalous large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation pattern characterized by warm waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific). SST values exceeded two Celsius degrees above normal from the central into the eastern equatorial Pacific, with only some slight decrease in values. Therefore, the CPC forecasters continued their El Niño advisory, envisioning this current strong El Niño event to gradually weaken and make a transition into ENSO-neutral conditions by late in the upcoming Northern Hemisphere spring (March through May 2016) and early summer (June through August). A further transition to La Nina conditions appeared possible during the fall of 2016. [NOAA Climate Prediction Center]
A blog written by one of the scientists at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center discusses the strength of the current El Niño event, suggesting it as being one of the strongest three events since 1950, based upon the magnitude of the SSTs across the equatorial Pacific. During the recent three months running from October through December 2015, SST values across the central regions were as large as the record high SST values during the very strong El Niño in 1997-1998 (in the region identified as identified as Niño 3.4) and slightly above the earlier event in the western Pacific. However, SSTs during recent months in the eastern equatorial Pacific were lower than in 1997-98. Comparisons were made to the Super Bowl winning Denver Bronco quarterbacks of 1997 and 2015. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Changing climate could delay transatlantic flights -- Atmospheric scientists at the United Kingdom's University of Reading have calculated that a changing climate could cause passengers flying on transatlantic aircraft routes between Europe and North America could spend more time in the air because of stronger jet stream winds. Although these stronger westerly winds (from the west) would serve as tail winds, cutting flight time on eastbound flights, the westbound flights would be slowed by stronger headwinds. The scientists calculated that transatlantic aircraft could spend an extra 2000 hours in the air each year, adding millions of dollars to airline fuel costs and increasing the risk of delays. [University of Reading News]

CLIMATE AND SOCIETY

Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com]

Concept of the Week: Climate and Architecture

Humans have been constructing houses and other buildings for thousands of years not only to protect themselves from the weather and other environmental factors, but also to create a comfortable indoor environment that would exhibit energy efficiency, especially in harsh climates. For centuries, natural or primitive housing reflected an adaptation to the climate of the locale and the availability of local building materials.

In order to maintain a tolerable level of comfort within a building, attention must be paid to thermal effects, ventilation, illumination and atmospheric humidity.

The indoor thermal state ultimately depends upon the building's energy budget involving incoming and outgoing radiation, latent and sensible heat loss and by interior heat sources or sinks. The indoor thermal level is mainly associated with the external energy load on the building. The external energy load on the building depends upon the latitude of the building, season of the year and time of day.

In tropical latitudes and during midday hours in summer, the sun's path across the local sky increases the solar radiation incident upon the roof and walls of the building. In polar latitudes, or during the winter or the amount of available sunlight is significantly lower, with the loss of infrared radiation causing a net cooling from the building. Changes in the color of the roof and the outer walls can affect the amount of incoming sunlight absorbed. Building orientation and the effective use of overhangs can also affect the amount of sunlight absorbed. Furthermore, the amount of insulation, often related to the thickness of the walls, reduces the conduction of heat into or out of the building. Thick adobe walls have been used effectively in the Southwest to moderate indoor temperature. These walls reduce the heat flow into the building during the daytime and in summer and out from the building at night or during winter.

The size and placement of windows also affects the energy balance. Large windows on the side of the building facing the sun's path tend to permit large amounts of sunlight to penetrate into the building. However, large windows on the side facing away from the sun can cause for heat loss due to conduction, as many types of windowpanes are not energy efficient.

Effective landscaping can reduce energy demands upon a dwelling: Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides of the home provide cooling shade during the summer, keeping sunlight from entering the windows. These trees will lose their foliage in fall and allow the sun to shine through in winter, and warm south facing rooms. Evergreen trees or dense shrubbery on the north side can serve as a windbreak, which reduce the cold northerly winds from striking the house in winter.

Energy losses from buildings during the upcoming winter in northern latitudes can be seen readily by how quickly snow melts from roofs and by how big the icicles form. Heat losses from buildings occur with larger negative energy budgets, which are reflected also in higher heating bills during the winter season. However, the heating bills also depend upon the severity of the winter season that can be ascertained from the number of accumulated heating degree-day units. Check last week's Supplemental Information...In Greater Depth for how you can monitor the number of heating degree-day units to date in your state for this coming heating season.

Concept of the Week: Questions

Place your responses on the Chapter Progress Response Form provided in the Study Guide.

The thicker the outdoor walls, the [(greater),(less)] the heat flow into or out of a building.
Planting [(evergreen),(deciduous)] vegetation on the south side of a home in New England will help reduce winter heating and summer cooling bills.

Historical Events:

15 February 1936...The temperature at Parshall, ND plunged to 60 degrees below zero to establish a state record low temperature. On the 6^th of July that same year, the temperature at Steele, ND hit 121 degrees, also a state record high temperature. (David Ludlum)
16 February 1903...The temperature at Pokegama Dam, MN plunged to 59 degrees below zero to establish a state record. (David Ludlum) This record has since been broken with a 60 degree below reading in 1996. (NCDC)
16 February 1929...Britain's greatest snowfall of 70.9 inches fell in just 15 hours at Dartmoor, Great Britain. (The Weather Doctor)
16 February 1943...Record cold prevailed in the northeastern U.S. The morning low of 32 degrees below zero at Falls Village, CT established a state record, yet the afternoon high that day was 20 degrees above zero. In January 1961, this Connecticut record low was tied. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
16 February 1966...Heavy rain fell in Whenuapai, New Zealand, with 4.2 inches of rain falling in one hour, a new record for that time period in New Zealand. (The Weather Doctor)
16 February 1989...A surge of arctic air produced all-time record high barometric pressure readings of 31.08 inches at Duluth, MN, 30.97 inches at Chicago, IL and 30.94 inches at South Bend, IN. Readings of 31.00 inches at Milwaukee, WI and 30.98 inches at Rockford, IL tied their all-time records. (The National Weather Summary)
16 February 1996...A coastal storm produced heavy snow along the East Coast to push seasonal snowfall totals to new records at several locations. The following cities set new all-time seasonal snowfall records: Lynchburg, VA (8.1 inches new, 51.3 inches seasonal total); Washington/Dulles, VA (7.5, 53.4) ; Washington/National, DC (6.8, 40.8); Baltimore, MD (9.8, 54.9); Philadelphia, PA (7.5, 55.9); Hartford/Bradley, CT (10.3, 90.2) and Providence, RI (7.0, 78.0). (Intellicast)
17 February 1748...The temperature at Charleston, SC fell to 10 degrees, the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Colonial South. (The Weather Doctor)
17 February 1926...A deadly avalanche, Utah's worst, demolished 14 miner's cottages and a three-story boarding house in Binham Canyon. Thirty-six are killed and 13 injured. (The Weather Doctor)
17 February 1936...The temperature at McIntosh, SD plunged to 58 degrees below zero to establish a state record low temperature. (David Ludlum)
17 February 1974...Lakelse Lake, British Columbia received 46.5 inches of snow over 24 hours, Canada's greatest 24-hour snowfall on record that stood for nearly one quarter of a century until 57 inches fell in 24 hours at Tahtsa Lake, British Columbia on 11 February 1999. (The Weather Doctor)
17-18 February 2003...The President's Day snowstorm set a new Boston, MA record for the greatest snowstorm total snowfall: a total of 27.5 inches. (The Weather Doctor)
18 February 1899...While much of the central and eastern U.S. was recovering from the most severe cold wave of modern history, the temperature at San Francisco, CA soared to 80 degrees to establish a record for month of February. (David Ludlum)
18 February 1959...Some of the higher elevations of California were in the midst of a five-day storm that produced 189 inches of snow, a single storm record for North America. (13^th-19^th) (David Ludlum)
18 February 1966...The temperature at Winnipeg, Manitoba dropped to 49 degrees below zero, the city's lowest recorded temperature. (The Weather Doctor)
18 February 1979...The record low temperature for the state of New York was set at Old Forge when the temperature plummeted to 52 degrees below zero. (Intellicast)
18 February 1996...Cuba's coldest morning on record occurred when the temperature at Bainoa, Cuba dropped to 33 degrees. (The Weather Doctor)
19 February 1998...The temperature at Mardie, Western Australia reached 122.9 degrees, the second highest temperature ever recorded in Australia. (The Weather Doctor)
20 February 1974...The mean wind speed at Bonilla Island, British Columbia was 89 mph, the highest sustained speed on record in British Columbia. (The Weather Doctor)
20 February 1995...The temperature at the Civic Center in Los Angeles, CA hit 95 degrees for the highest temperature ever recorded for the month of February. (Intellicast)
21 February 1918...A spectacular chinook wind at Granville, ND caused the temperature to spurt from a morning low of 33 degrees below zero to an afternoon high of 50 degrees above zero, representing a rise of 83 Fahrenheit degrees. (David Ludlum)
21 February 1971...Elk City, OK was buried under 36 inches of snow to establish a 24-hour snowfall record for the Sooner State. (David Ludlum)
21 February 1996...Very hot weather for the time of year prevailed across South Texas. All-time February high temperatures were set at Del Rio (103 degrees), San Antonio (100 degrees), Austin and College Station (99 degrees), and Waco (96 degrees). (Intellicast)

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