WEEKLY CLIMATE NEWS

12-16 August 2013

DataStreme Earth Climate Systems will return for Fall 2013 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 2 September 2013. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

How volcanic eruptions impact climate and aviation -- A fact sheet was produced by "Earth Gauge" (an initiative by the National Environmental Education Foundation and the American Meteorological Society) that identifies how volcanic eruptions impact climate and human activity, such as aviation. This sheet also provides links to live webcams for some of the potentially active volcanoes that are found along the Cascade Range extending from northern California northward into southern British Columbia and in Hawaii. Links are also provided to the US Geological Survey's Volcano Alerts network. [Earth Gauge]
Revised Statement on Climate Change published by American Geophysical Union -- The American Geophysical Union (AGU), a professional organization of more than 61,000 geophysicists in 146 countries, recently revised its position statement on climate change that was adapted in December 2003 and subsequently revised and reaffirmed in 2007 and 2012. The current revised statement, which is based upon recent data analysis and research, indicates that humanity is the major influence on the global climate change observed over the past 50 years and that this change requires urgent action. This AGU statement advocates for a set of policy priorities that include both climate adaptation and mitigation planning and activity. [NOAA News]

CURRENT CLIMATE STATUS

State of the climate examined for 2012-- Last week, NOAA, in coordination with the American Meteorological Society, released a peer-review report entitled the 2012 State of the Climate that reported the globally averaged land and ocean temperature for 2012 was being ranked as either eighth or ninth highest, with the ranking depending upon the temperature time series used. Furthermore, the United States and Argentina reported their warmest year on record. This 23nd annual State of the Climate report was complied by an interdisciplinary team of 384 scientists from 52 nations and is based on the measurements collected by a global network of environmental monitoring stations and instruments onboard satellite platforms of global scale climate data sets and not upon model projections. Therefore, the report provides a detailed update on numerous global-scale climate indicators, notable weather events and other data. Summaries of the annual climate were prepared for more than 120 countries and territories. The scientists reported that the end of a weak La Niña event and unprecedented warmth in the Arctic influenced climate conditions across the globe in 2012. In addition to the temperature and precipitation trends and patterns, the report noted that many extreme events occurred at regional and local levels, including historic drought, record flooding, major heat waves and numerous tornado outbreaks. [NOAA News]

CURRENT CLIMATE MONITORING

NOAA's Barrow (AK) Observatory celebrates 40 years of monitoring carbon gases in Arctic -- In late July, NOAA's atmospheric observatory at Barrow, AK celebrated its 40th anniversary for taking measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide with a continuous analyzer. These measurements, which are made at the nation's northernmost city, provide a record of the increases in carbon dioxide that are slightly higher than those made at NOAA's other measurement sites, such as at Hawaii's Mauna Loa and at American Samoa. [NOAA News]
NOAA's Annual Greenhouse Gas Index shows 2012 was a record year -- Scientists at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory recently reported that the NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) continued to increase in 2012, resulting in a record year with a value of 1.32. The AGGI is a dimensionless index, based on measurements of the concentrations of various greenhouse gases from the agency's global air sampling network, . The AGGI determines the direct climate influence of many long-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that are added to the atmosphere by human activity, measured as a percentage of the base or "index" year of 1990. Consequently, the 2012 AGGI value of 1.32 means the combined heating effect of long-lasting/human-caused emissions with that of existing gases trapped in the atmosphere has increased by 32% since 1990. [NOAA Research News]
NASA's "Firestation" to study lightning from International Space Station -- An instrument developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center called "Firestation" was recently sent to the International Space Station by a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's transfer vehicle called Kounotori-4. Once mounted on the outside of the Space Station by the end of the month, Firestation will help study lightning in the Earth's atmosphere and its relationship to huge gamma ray bursts called terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) that may occur as frequently as 500 times per day worldwide. [NASA Goddard Space Flight Center]
An All-Hazards Monitor -- This Web portal provides the user information from NOAA on current environmental events that may pose as hazards such as tropical weather, fire weather, marine weather, severe weather, drought and floods. [NOAAWatch]

CLIMATE FORCING

Montreal Protocol yielded unforeseen climate benefits -- A recent study reports that the implementation of the 1987 Montreal Protocol designed to phase out the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in order to limit the destruction of the Earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer has also prevented a disruption of global rainfall patterns because of potential changes in the atmospheric circulation regimes associated with a diminished ozone layer. [The Earth Institute, Columbia University]
"Ozone hole" appears to contribute to slight warming of planet Earth -- A team of scientists from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and other research institutions have run computer models indicating the reduced amounts of stratospheric ozone especially over the polar caps commonly called the "ozone hole" result in a slight increase in the global average temperature because of the effect of the diminished ozone upon the winds. The researchers claim that the presence of the Antarctic "ozone hole" has been responsible for shifting wind patterns that push clouds farther toward the South Pole, which would result in increases in absorbed solar radiation as less is reflected by the clouds. [AGU Press Release]
Soil organic carbon is "blowing in the wind" Down Under -- An international team of experts in wind erosion and dust emission recently calculated the extent of the organic carbon compounds that are being emitted into the atmosphere from carbon- and nutrient-rich topsoil by wind erosion and dust storms. The study determined that in Australia, an estimated 1.6 million metric tons of carbon are lost by these dust emissions per year. Some of the carbon returns to the ground, while the rest leaves the continent with most falling into the ocean. The researchers point to the underestimation of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by this process. They also noted that in the Northern Hemisphere, the redistribution of soil organic carbon by soil erosion could be substantial in countries such as China and the United States [CSIRO News]
Human activity appears to muddy causes of Texas floods -- Scientists from the University of Iowa and Princeton University claim that the periodic flooding found in Texas over the last 70 years cannot be firmly linked to changing climate as the presence of numerous dams and other structures constructed by humans have affected the catchments and river regulation, and thus the record of flood peaks. The Lone Star State is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, leading the country in flood-related deaths and injuries between 1959 and 2005. More than 7,100 permitted dams are found in Texas, with some 2,000 of them designed for flood control. [Iowa Now]

CLIMATE FORECASTS

NOAA updates its Atlantic hurricane season outlook -- Late last week, forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center(CPC) issued their updated Atlantic hurricane season outlook, which calls for a 70 percent chance of an above-normal season for named tropical cyclones across the North Atlantic basin that also includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. This update is similar to their earlier outlook made in the "pre-season outlook" made in May and includes the activity that has occurred this season to date due to Tropical Storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal, and Dorian. Specifically, the updated outlook calls for 3 to 19 named tropical cyclones (maximum sustained surface winds of 39 mph or higher), including 6 to 9 hurricanes (maximum winds of 74 mph or higher), of which three to five could be major hurricanes (Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, with winds of at least 111 mph). These ranges are above the 30-year seasonal averages of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. The August outlook update continues to project an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season because of high sea surface temperatures, low wind shear, and above normal convection in western Africa. However, the update contained a slight reduction in the upper range in the number of anticipated major hurricanes made in May (three to six). This reduction was motivated by the decreased likelihood for development of La Niña conditions that would have reduced wind shear; the lack of hurricanes through July; more variability in the wind patterns across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and slightly lower hurricane season model predictions. [NOAA News] Note: A satellite derived image shows the distribution of sea-surface temperatures across the entire North Atlantic basin in early August. [NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory]
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion-- NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (CPC) and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society recently released their El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion in which they found a persistence of ENSO-neutral conditions (with neither an El Niño nor La Niña event) during July 2013 as near-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) continued across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, while slightly below-average SSTs were detected in the eastern Pacific. Since the ENSO-neutral conditions were anticipated to continue (60 percent chance or greater) through this upcoming Northern Hemisphere autumn (September through November 2013), NOAA's ENSO Alert System Status remains "Not Active." [NOAA CPC/NCEP/NWS and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society]

CLIMATE IMPACTS ON THE BIOSPHERE

Past climate is a key to predicting future climate ....-- Scientists at the University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science and their colleagues from Yale University and the University of California system have been studying fossil records to determine how changes in climate in ancient times (10,000 years ago or earlier) have caused various plant and animal species to interact with one another, which would ultimately help the scientific community identify ways to predict future changes in species interactions. [Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]
Nation's estuaries are threatened by climate change -- A national research report entitled Climate Sensitivity of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System was recently released by NOAA's National Ocean Service indicating the 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) around the country are experiencing negative effects associated with human and climate-related stressors. Reservoirs identified as being the most sensitive to climate change included three East Coast reserves (Sapelo Island NERR in Georgia, ACE Basin NERR in South Carolina and Waquouit Bay NERR in Massachusetts) and one along the West Coast (Tijuana River NERR in southern California). The research for the report was conducted by a collaborative, interdisciplinary team from NOAA and the University of Wisconsin. The extent of relative climate sensitivity in the reserves was determined by looking at five factors: social, biophysical, and ecological sensitivity, and exposure to temperature change and sea level rise. [NOAA News]
As oceans warm, marine life tends to spawn sooner -- An international team of scientists from Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Spain and South Africa recently conducted the first global analysis of climate change impacts on marine life, assembling a large database of 1735 biological changes as determined by peer-reviewed studies. The conclusions from this analysis indicate that as ocean temperatures increase, marine species are shifting their geographic distribution toward the poles and this poleward migration is occurring at an average rate of 72 km per decade, which is a faster rate than their land-based counterparts, with an average of only six km per decade. Plankton and bony fish showed the largest shifts. [News @ CSIRO]

CLIMATE AND SOCIETY

Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com] Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Historical Events:

12 August 1891...An 80-minute deluge, possibly related to a tropical storm system, pelted Vampo, CA with between 11.5 and 11.8 inches of rain. The observer measured, then emptied the rain gauge several times as it filled. No other U.S. storm has come close to producing this much precipitation in an 80-minute span. (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
12 August 1933...The temperature at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, CA hit 127 degrees to establish the officially recognized U.S. record for the month of August. (The Weather Channel)
12 August 1936...The temperature at Seymour, TX hit 120 degrees to establish a state record. This Lone Star State record was later tied in June 1994. (The Weather Channel)
12 August 1985...With the span of two hours, 17.32 inches of rain fell at Gajo, Gansu, China, marking a worldwide record rainfall event for such a length of time. (NWS)
12 August 2001...The temperature at Osoyoos, British Columbia: rocketed to an all-time August record high for the province of 107 degrees. (The Weather Doctor)
13 August 1991...The first rainfall recorded on this date in Stockton, CA since weather records began in 1906, when 0.05 inches of rain fell. (The Weather Doctor)
13-14 August 1987...Slow-moving thunderstorms deluged northern and western suburbs of Chicago, IL with torrential rains. O'Hare Airport reported 9.35 inches in 18 hours, easily exceeding the previous 24-hour record of 6.24 inches. The airport was closed due to extensive flooding, the first time ever for a non-winter event. Flooding over a five-day period resulted in 221 million dollars damage. It was Chicago's worst flash flood event, particularly for northern and western sections of the city. Kennedy Expressway became a footpath for thousands of travelers to O'Hare Airport as roads were closed. The heavy rains swelled the Des Plaines River above flood stage, and many persons had to be rescued from stalled vehicles on flooded roads. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) (The Weather Channel) (Intellicast)
14 August 1936...Temperatures across much of eastern Kansas and western Missouri soared above 110 degrees. Kansas City, MO hit an all-time record high of 113 degrees. It was one of sixteen consecutive days of 100-degree heat for Kansas City. During that summer there were a record 53 days of 100-degree heat, and during the three summer months Kansas City received just 1.12 inches of rain. (The Kansas City Weather Almanac)
14-17 August 2003...Residents of Bismarck, ND wilted under a record string of four consecutive days with temperatures greater than 100 degrees. (The Weather Doctor)
15 August 1946...Saint Louis, MO was deluged with a record 8.78 inches of rain in 24 hours. (The Weather Channel)
15 August 1995...Apalachicola, FL soared to 103 degrees to set all-time high temperature. (Intellicast)
15 August 2004...The weather station at Yakutat, AK reported its all-time maximum temperature: 88 degrees. (The Weather Doctor)
16 August 1909...A dry spell began in San Bernardino County of southern California that lasted until the 6th of May in 1912, a stretch of 994 days! Another dry spell, lasting 767 days, then began in October of 1912. (The Weather Channel)
17 August 1885...Amos, CA hit 130 degrees to set the unofficial August U.S. high temperature record. (Intellicast)
18 August 1924...A record August rainfall for the United Kingdom occurred when 9.4 inches deluged Cannington (Somerset) England. (The Weather Doctor)
18 August 1927...Pressure in unnamed tropical storm fell to 887 millibars (26.18 inches of mercury) over the Pacific Ocean east of Luzon in the Philippines, one of the lowest surface measurements on record. (The Weather Doctor)
18-19 August 1935...The temperature soared to record high levels in each of the Maritime Provinces, with a 98 degree reading at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 101 degrees in Collegeville, Nova Scotia and 103 degrees in Rexton, New Brunswick. (The Weather Doctor)
18 August 1936...Iowa had its hottest ever August day with the average high temperature for 113 stations being 106.5 degrees Fahrenheit. (Intellicast)
18-19 August 2007...A cooperative observer near Hokah in southeastern Minnesota recorded 15.10 inches of rain, establishing a new 24-hour maximum precipitation record for the Gopher State. (NCDC)

Return to DataStreme ECS website