WEEKLY CLIMATE NEWS

5-9 June 2017

DataStreme Earth Climate System will return for Fall 2017 with new Investigations files starting during Preview Week, Monday, 21 August 2017. All the current online website products will continue to be available throughout the summer break period.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

World Environment Day -- This Monday, 5 June 2017, is World Environment Day (WED), a day that has been created by the United Nations in an effort to stimulate worldwide awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and action. This observance was established initially by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Various activities are being planned. (last year) This year's theme for World Environment Day is "Connecting People to Nature – in the city and on the land, from the poles to the equator." The host country is Canada. [World Environment Day]
See also http://www.greeningtheblue.org/event/world-environment-day
Celebrating National Ocean Month -- A Presidential Proclamation has designated June 2017 as National Ocean Month. NOAA's National Ocean Service has a web portal that provides links to a variety of websites containing facts, images and video designed to highlight both the beauty and importance of the nation's oceans and marine environment. [NOAA National Ocean Service]
World Ocean Day is celebrated -- World Ocean Day or a "Celebration of the Sea" will be celebrated Thursday, 8 June 2017 in an effort to increase public awareness and to foster public involvement in the management of the ocean and its resources. Although this date was created at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, it had not been officially recognized by the United Nations until 2009. This year's theme is Our oceans, our future planet. The main conservation focus will be on plastic pollution prevention and cleaning the ocean of marine litter. A partial listing is provided for events across the US and other nations that will celebrate World Ocean Day. [The Ocean Project]
Early Sunrise -- Within the next week, many locations in the continental United States will experienced the date of earliest sunrise. While the longest daylight at each locale in the Northern Hemisphere will occur in over two weeks on the summer solstice (early Wednesday, 21 June 2017), the occurrence of earliest local sunrise occurs before this date because the apparent sun now "leads" the clock time. This time discrepancy, which now amounts to approximately 2 minutes, occurs because of a combination of factors that result from the earth moving more slowly in its elliptical orbit because the earth presently is near its farthest point from the sun (aphelion on 3 July 2017) and the effect of the tilt of the earth's spin axis (near the summer solstice). For reference, the latest sunsets of the year will occur later in June as the apparent sun slows and by the first week of July "lags" clock time by about 4 minutes.
National atmospheric research consortium issues statement on US withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement -- Antonio J. Busalacchi, the president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), issued a statement last week in the wake of President Donald Trump's announcement that the US would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. In his news release, Dr. Busalacchi argued that research into climate change is more vital than ever. UCAR is a nonprofit consortium of 110 colleges and universities throughout the US and Canada providing research and training in the atmospheric and related Earth system sciences. [UCAR/NCAR AtmosNews]
An AMS Policy Statement issued on water resources in 21st century -- Claiming that "provision of adequate fresh-water resources for people and ecosystems will be one of the most critical and potentially contentious issues facing society and governments at all levels during the 21st century," the American Meteorological Society (AMS) has issued a policy statement designed to show its commitment to work with public, commercial and academic organizations at all levels, and to seek the support of national political leaders and international partners in pursuing sustainable solutions to the maintenance of water security. [AMS Policy Statement]
Orbiting solar observatory witnesses partial solar eclipse in space -- Instruments onboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) recorded a partial solar eclipse of the Sun on 25 May 2017 when the Moon passed in front of the Sun. During the lunar transit, which lasted for approximately one hour, the Moon covered approximately 89 percent of the Sun. (Note: On 21 August 2017, a total solar eclipse will be visible on Earth, with the path of the eclipse running from Oregon to South Carolina. However, SDO will only experience a partial eclipse of the Moon. EJH) [NASA Feature]

CLIMATE FORCING

New study casts new light on future of a key Antarctic glacier --Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of California at Irvine have conducted an experiment using a coupled model that employs two separate computer models, one that simulates the Antarctic ice sheet and the other that models the Southern Ocean, in an interactive way. The scientists found that the melt rate of West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier appears to be not quite as rapid as previous studies have indicated. Data from NASA's Operation Icebridge and other airborne and satellite observations were used in the numerical model simulations and as a verification check of the model's output statistics. [NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory News]

CLIMATE FORECASTS

Atlantic hurricane season outlook is updated -- At the start of June, Philip Klotzbach and fellow hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University, issued their updated June forecast for the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season that contained changes to their April forecast. They increased their outlook for the number of named tropical cyclones (hurricanes and tropical storms with sustained surface winds of at least 39 mph) from 11 in their April outlook to 13 in June and the number of hurricanes (maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) from four to six. The number of anticipated major hurricanes (category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale) would remain at two. This update effectively changes the anticipation from slightly-below average activity to near average activity for the season. A near-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean is also anticipated. This change in their outlook is due to indication that the odds of a significant El Niño in 2017 have diminished slightly and that portions of the tropical Atlantic have anomalously warmed over the past two months. [The Tropical Storm Project]
One week ago, scientists with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center released their outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season that indicates a 45 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 35 percent chance of a near-normal season, and only a 20 percent chance of a below-normal season in 2017. They foresee 11 to 17 named tropical cyclones, including five to nine of these tropical cyclones becoming hurricanes. As many as four of these hurricanes could become major hurricanes. [NOAA News]
A meteorologist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center wrote an article for the ClimateWatch Magazine that examines some of the background information that his fellow forecasters used to make their 2017 hurricane season outlook for the North Atlantic. [NOAA Climate.gov News]
Forecasters at the United Kingdom's Meteorological Office have recently produced a forecast of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season with slightly above normal activity. These forecasters predict that a 70 percent chance that 10 to 16 named tropical cyclones forming, with a most likely value of 13. The forecasters feel that between six and ten hurricanes could form, with eight being the most likely value, which is one two the long-term average number. They base their estimates on the Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which measures the number of storms and their combined strength. Tropical Storm Arlene, which occurred in April 2017, is not included in this prediction as it formed outside the therefore outside the forecast period (June-November).
Improving the forecasts "in the gap between weather and climate" -- A research scientist at Colorado State University wrote a guest article for the ClimateWatch Magazine in which she describes her NOAA-funded research into improving forecasting of the state of the atmosphere at lead times ranging from two weeks to two months, or "in the gap between weather and climate." She notes that for relatively short lead times of less than one week, a knowledge of the initial state of the atmosphere is most important, but extending the lead time to between one and four weeks, knowledge of such properties of the land surface as soil moisture, snow cover and vegetation becomes important, while at lead times beyond one month, the ocean state that includes sea surface temperature variations associated with El Niño becomes the main determinant of future climate conditions. [NOAA News]
Canadian national seasonal outlook issued -- Forecasters with Environment Canada issued their outlooks for temperature and precipitation across Canada for the three months of June, July and August of 2017, which constitutes meteorological summer. The temperature outlook indicates a large section of Canada should experience above normal (1981-2010) temperatures, primarily located over western, northern and eastern sections of the nation. A few sections in south central Canada, running from the Prairie Provinces eastward to Quebec could have near normal temperatures. Coastal waters off the eastern coast of Canada could have below average temperatures for the next three months.
The Canadian precipitation outlook for summer 2017 indicates that most of Canada could experience near average precipitation. Above average summer precipitation was possible across a few scattered sections of the nation including the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, central Alberta, northern Quebec and sections of Atlantic Canada. Below average summer precipitation could occur over Nova Scotia. [Note for comparisons and continuity with the three-month seasonal outlooks of temperature and precipitation generated for the continental United States and Alaska by NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, one would need to use Environment Canada's probabilistic forecasts for temperature and precipitation.]

CLIMATE AND THE BIOSPHERE

Mid-March freeze following warm winter was bad news for fruit crops in the Southeast -- A scientist at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information wrote an article for the ClimateWatch Magazine in which he discusses how a spell of days with subfreezing temperatures in mid-March 2017 following a mild February was disastrous for peaches, pears and blueberries in South Carolina, Georgia and several adjacent states in the Southeast. He noted that while February temperatures across much of the nation have been increasing at a rapid rate over the last century, the average date of the last freeze across the region has not changed significantly over time. [NOAA Climate.gov News]

CLIMATE AND SOCIETY

The federal flood insurance program is being drowned by rising seas and coastal storms -- An article published by Yale University's School of Forestry & Environmental Studies describes how sea level rise and more severe coastal storms, such as tropical cyclones and midlatitude winter storms, are causing major coastal flooding that is overwhelming the nations coastal communities, causing billions of dollars in damage and ultimately bankrupting the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). However, rebuilding occurs in many of these communities following coastal flooding events, despite the warnings from experts that even more properties will soon be underwater from projected increased sea level and more coastal storms. [Yale University Features]
Earthweek -- Diary of the Planet [earthweek.com]

Historical Events:

5 June 1993...A strong, late season spring storm moved into California. The 0.76 inches of rain at Los Angeles set a new daily rainfall record for June. Lake Gregory was deluged with 3.24 inches of rain in 24 hours and a foot of snow fell at the Mammoth Mountain ski area. (Intellicast)
6 June 1912...The largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century occurred as Novarupta Volcano erupted in Alaska near Mt. Katmai. (National Weather Service files)
7 June 1816...A June snow punctuated the Year Without A Summer in the northeastern U.S. Danville, VT reported drifts of snow and sleet 20 inches deep. Flurries were observed as far south as Boston. .(National Weather Service files)
9 June 1966...Hurricane Alma made landfall over the eastern Florida Panhandle -- the earliest land falling hurricane on the U.S. mainland on record. (Intellicast)
6-10 June 1816...The temperature reached 92 degrees at Salem, MA during an early heat wave, but then plunged 49 degrees in 24 hours to commence the famous "year without a summer". Late season snow fell across New England and eastern Canada. The editor of the Bangor (ME) Register observed that individual snowflakes that fell on Bangor during the afternoon of the 6^th covered areas up to two inches in diameter. Snow fell near Quebec City, Quebec over a 5-day period accumulating to 12 inches with "drifts reaching the axel trees of carriages" during this infamous Year Without a Summer. The Montreal Gazette reported that this "Extraordinary Season" gave snow squalls to the city on the 6^th and 8^th. On the 7^th, a famous June snow fell in the northeastern U.S. Danville, VT reported drifts of snow and sleet twenty inches deep. The Highlands were white all day, and snow flurries were observed as far south as Boston MA. Waltham, MA reported a low temperature of 33 degrees and New Haven, CT had a low of 35 degrees (David Ludlum) (Intellicast) (The Weather Doctor) (Accord's Weather Guide Calendar)
6 June 1894...One of the greatest floods in U.S. history occurred as the Willamette River overflowed to inundate half of the business district of Portland, OR. (David Ludlum)
7 June 1972...Richmond, VA experienced its worst flood of record as rains from Hurricane Agnes pushed the water level at the city locks to a height of 36.5 feet, easily topping the previous record of thirty feet set in 1771. (The Weather Channel)
9 June 1988...The temperature at Del Rio, TX soared to an all-time record high of 112 degrees. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
9 June 1990...San Diego, CA set a new record rainfall amount on this date, as 0.38 inches of rain fell breaking the old record of 0.13 inches established in 1892. Moisture from the remains of Hurricane Boris was responsible for this rare rain event. (Intellicast)
10 June 1995...The temperature at Yakutat, AK soared to 87 degrees for its highest temperature on record. (Intellicast)
11 June 1877...The temperature at Los Angeles, CA reached 112 degrees during a heat wave. It would have been the all-time record for Los Angeles but official records did not begin until twenty days later. Over a century later, Los Angeles would again reach this temperature on 26 June 1990. (The Weather Channel) (The Weather Doctor)
11 June 1972...Heavy showers brought 1.64 inches of rain to Phoenix, AZ, a record for the month of June. (The Weather Channel)

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