Climate Change Network

12/04/2025

Ocean current expected to warm and could drive up sea level rise, study finds

A sprawling, slow-moving system of ocean currents circulating in the Atlantic that help regulate the earth's temperature is set to deliver a blob of warmer, saltier water off the U.S. coast, according to a new study published in Nature last month.

Over the next decade, scientists warn that as that water persists, sea levels could rise even more and the current could change

A new University of Miami study looked at 40 years worth of data from across the Atlantic and found cooler waters in deep currents off the U.S. coast could be warming.

11/04/2025

Trump seeks to end climate research at premier U.S. climate agency

White House aims to end NOAA’s research office; NASA also targeted

President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to end nearly all of the climate research conducted by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), one of the country’s premier climate science agencies, according to an internal budget document seen by Science. The document indicates the White House is ready to ask Congress to eliminate NOAA’s climate research centers and cut hundreds of federal and academic climate scientists who track and study human-driven global warming.

The administration is also preparing to ask for deep cuts to NASA’s science programs, according to media reports today.

The proposed NOAA cuts—which could be altered before the administration sends its 2026 budget request to Congress in the coming weeks—would cut funding for the agency’s research arm, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), to just over $171 million, a drop of $485 million. Any remaining research funding from previously authorized budgets would be moved to other programs. “At this funding level, OAR is eliminated as a line office,” the document states.

If approved by Congress, the plan would represent a huge blow to efforts to understand climate change, says Craig McLean, OAR’s longtime director who retired in 2022. “It wouldn’t just gut it. It would shut it down.” Scientifically, he adds, obliterating OAR would send the United States back to the 1950s—all because the Trump administration doesn’t like the answers to scientific questions NOAA has been studying for a half-century, according to McLean.

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White House aims to end NOAA’s research office; NASA also targeted

10/04/2025

Assessing the Global Climate in March 2025

Above-average temperatures cover much of the globe; lowest sea ice extent

https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/global-climate-202503

08/04/2025

This year has been quite active with severe weather and tornadoes, From January 1 to April 7, 1,149 Tornado Warnings have been issued across the country. This is the most - year to date - going back to at least 1986.

03/04/2025

The WMO Hurricane Committee has retired the names Beryl, Helene and Milton from its Atlantic basin name list and John from the eastern Pacific basin name list because of the death and destruction these storms caused in 2024.
Hurricane Beryl was the earliest Atlantic basin Category-5 hurricane on record, with major impacts in the Caribbean. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused catastrophic damage in the United States. Hurricane John triggered deadly and extended flooding in the Mexican state of Guerrero.

The names Brianna, Holly and Miguel were selected as replacements in the Atlantic basin and Jake in the eastern Pacific. The lists of names, which are overseen by WMO, help in the communication of storm warnings and to alert people about potentially life-threatening risks. The names are repeated every six years, unless a storm is so deadly that its name is retired. Full report available here: https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/wmo-hurricane-committee-retires-names-of-beryl-helene-milton-and-john

Image of Hurricane Beryl from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite on July 7, 2024. (NOAA)
Image of Hurricane Helene from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite on Sept. 25, 2024. (NOAA)
Image of Hurricane Milton from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite on Oct. 8, 2024. (NOAA)
Image of Hurricane John from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite on Sept. 23, 2024. (NOAA)

WMO Hurricane Committee retires names of Beryl, Helene, Milton and John Press Release 02 April 2025 The WMO Hurricane Committee has retired the names Beryl, Helene and Milton from its Atlantic basin name list and John from the eastern Pacific basin name list because of the death and destruction thes...

19/03/2025

The National Hurricane Center has completed and released the Tropical Cyclone Report of 2024's Hurricane Helene. Helene made landfall in the Florida Big Bend region as a Category 4 Hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale). The storm brought historic catastrophic inland flooding and landslides, extreme winds, deadly storm surge, and numerous tornadoes that devastated portions of the southeastern United States and southern Appalachians. Helene was the deadliest hurricane for the contiguous U.S. since Katrina in 2005, with at least 248 fatalities (including at least 175 direct deaths), and produced an estimated $78.7 billion in damage in the United States.

For the full report, please visit:https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092024_Helene.pdf

07/03/2025

**2024 Severe Weather Year-In-Review**

From NOAA NWS Storm Prediction Center

Check out the 2024 Year-In-Review! https://www.spc.noaa.gov/media/year-in-review/

Most notably, 2024 preliminarily had the 2nd most confirmed tornadoes on record (1950-present) with 1,796 tornadoes. The previous record was 1,817 tornadoes in 2004. This was largely driven by a near record April & May tornado count.

Embedded within this near record tornado count, there were 6 state tornado count records (New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma).

There were 6 EF3 tropical cyclone tornadoes from 4 different storms. In the 29 year tropical cyclone tornado database (‘95-’23) there had only been 5 total EF3 tornadoes.

May had the most significant (2+ inch) hail reports (470) on record (previous record 316 in 2011). In addition, a new March largest hailstone (6” in Ada, OK on 3/14) and a new May largest hailstone (6.12” in Johnson City on 5/9) occurred.

2024 had the most significant (75+ mph) wind reports on record (1790 through October) (1955-present).

Despite the much above normal tornado season, fortunately, direct tornado related fatalities (54) were well below the 20-year average of 78 fatalities.

Check out the NWS article discussing this historic season.
https://weather.gov/news/250703_tornado_activity

07/03/2025

NOAA cuts could ground some Hurricane Hunter flights

The layoffs that hit about 800 NOAA employees last week will hamstring the agency's fleet of hurricane research aircraft, experts warn.

Threat level: NOAA's aircraft have specialized equipment that the Air Force's Hurricane Hunters lack. Their flights during hurricane season are aimed at feeding data into computer models to improve forecast accuracy.

The now-thinly staffed team of flight directors, engineers, scientists and mechanics means NOAA will struggle to maintain a 24-hour-a-day tempo of flying its modified Gulfstream jet and aging WP-3 research aircraft, said Josh Ripp, who was laid off as a flight engineer since he was a probationary employee.

Ripp said the missing flights will translate into less accurate forecasts and greater risk for coastal residents who are used to having at least two to three days' warning of a hurricane's predicted landfall location.

He told Axios in an interview that the agency is now either short one person or is at just the level of personnel needed to staff 24/7 flight operations, which has been the desired tempo during past seasons.

For more click here-

https://www.axios.com/2025/03/06/noaa-layoffs-hurricane-hunter-flights?fbclid=IwY2xjawI3NhhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfqaEQenb9mncRrNWL7nXNnWHAmAJpmcEXbBPLnCP9Q27LJ1mOM0723aMQ_aem_KZdFf-sAXI1GoflmCvP1Mg

These specialized aircraft are key for making accurate storm track and intensity forecasts.

27/02/2025

Top weather, climate agency NOAA the latest layoff target

The Commerce Department has laid off hundreds of NOAA employees, many with specialized skills who work at one of the world's top climate science and weather forecasting agencies.

Why it matters: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is responsible for providing weather watches and warnings, monitoring and studying Earth's climate, as well as operating weather satellites and protecting marine life.

The layoffs of probationary employees that began Thursday hit soon after cuts at the behest of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) occurred at other climate and environment agencies.

The big picture: NOAA's missions require staff to work around the clock to monitor dangerous weather, earthquakes that could cause tsunamis and other hazards.

For more click here-

https://www.axios.com/2025/02/27/layoffs-hit-noaa-national-weather-service?fbclid=IwY2xjawItzkpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcYHkGx84OAOf2dw8SXk4VqAIWvhuEfy8R-ZJtBLYNXphbjXptCx-3vTuQ_aem_mY7bHPH14xY64JtdRpx3Gw

The cuts could affect NOAA's weather forecasts, climate research and other functions.

27/02/2025

James Spann sticks up for National Weather Service employees amid DOGE cuts: ‘Absolutely invaluable (PLEASE CLICK AND READ)

Alabama’s preeminent meteorologist defended workers with the National Weather Service on Tuesday as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency takes aim at the agency overseeing the NWS with job and budget cuts.

For more click here-

https://www.al.com/weather/2025/02/james-spann-sticks-up-for-national-weather-service-employees-amid-doge-cuts-absolutely-invaluable.html?utm_campaign=aldotcom_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawIta_1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYT3tXoX7jEZAPf3af-3BP3LNcrDOq6gknlRICiyBpkumG-j9Olf_M6YVw_aem_HPYP1A628bxYxZoDkQfROQ

“If NWS products and services are reduced, we all suffer…especially during times of life-threatening weather."

19/02/2025

Hurricane Season: Water temperatures trending warmer

As the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches, forecasters are looking at the data and future models to determine what the season will bring. One item meteorologists will be looking at is sea surface temperatures, which is fuel for a storm to build off of. Barry Goldsmith with the National Weather Service office in Brownsville said we are on a warmer trend as of right now.

“Currently, we are looking at the temperatures being 2-4 degrees above average across the Atlantic basin, meaning the tropical Atlantic from the African Coast all the way across to the Caribbean Sea.”

For more click here-

Sea surface temperatures trending warmer than average providing fuel for potential storms this hurricane season

18/02/2025

Scientists sound the alarm after staggering change in world's oceans creates surprising consequence: 'The only answer'

The world's oceans hit their highest temperatures ever recorded in 2024. Perhaps among the more surprising impacts were wild weather swings in midwest areas such as Minnesota. The state saw record highs for both winter and fall temperatures, reported the Minnesota Star Tribune.

What happened?
Minnesota's lakes stayed thawed through the winter, leading to the warmest January-February stretch in well over 130 years. Then, in June, floods nearly destroyed the Rapidan Dam near Mankato. Afterward, the state wrapped up its warmest-ever fall.

According to new research from an international science team, these weather extremes stemmed from ocean temperatures that broke records for the seventh straight year.

For more click here-

The falling cost of clean energy offers hope.

15/02/2025

The Gulf of Mexico has been named since the 16th century, when Spanish explorers began to map the region following the arrival of Hernán Cortes in 1519. The term arises because this vast expanse of water was located east of the lands we know today as Mexico, which were then dominated by the Mexican Empire.

Since when is it called the "Gulf of Mexico"?

XVI Century: The name "Gulf of Mexico" appears on maps and historical documents since the first Spanish explorations. European cartographers began to use it to designate this semi-finished basin, because of its proximity to the Mexican territory.

Although there was no Mexico as a country (independent since 1821), the name referred to the Mesoamerican region under Spanish control and linked to the Mexican empire.

It was named before the existence of the United States

The name "Gulf of Mexico" was established long before the formation of the United States in 1776.

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the area that today includes the states of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida was part of Spanish and French colonial territories, and had no relation with the future country.

This reinforces that the Gulf of Mexico, both as a geographical region and nomenclature, has historical roots that precede the creation of the United States.

Conclusion

The Gulf of Mexico has carried its name for more than 500 years, long before the United States existed as a nation. This term reflects its historical and geographical connection with Mesoamerican lands, being a denomination that persists since the first maps elaborated by European colonizers.

12/02/2025

La Niña is here, but it may not stick around for long.

NOAA confirmed that La Niña conditions were present in the eastern Pacific Ocean in early December 2024, but it may return to neutral conditions in spring 2025.

Part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, La Niña appears when stronger-than-average easterly trade winds intensify the upwelling of cooler water, causing a large-scale cooling of surface waters in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean near the equator. The strong trade winds also push warm equatorial surface waters westward, toward Asia and Australia.

The signature of La Niña is also visible in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean as areas with lower-than-average water levels. That’s because cooler water contracts, lowering sea levels. This map shows sea surface height anomalies across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean as observed by Sentinel-6 Michael Frielich on January 13, 2025. Shades of blue indicate sea levels that were lower than average, while shades of red indicate areas where the ocean stood higher than normal. Normal sea level conditions appear in white.

Full story: https://go.nasa.gov/41aED4Q

10/02/2025

Alaska's ice is melting in front of our eyes, staggering satellite shots show

By Ben Turner

published February 7, 2025

Unusual weather patterns and climate change have been driving stark changes in the northwestern state. Now, new satellite images show the extent of this transformation.

New satellite images reveal the stark pace of global warming in Alaska, with last year's snow vanishing and leaving behind miles of bare ground.

The images, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, show Bristol Bay Borough in southern Alaska. Anchorage, which is located to the northeast, had an average January snow depth of 13 inches (33 centimeters) between 1998 and 2025.

But this year, the station, alongside other parts of the state, reported next to no snow on the ground. What is left behind are large patches of ground visible from space.

For more click here-

Unusual weather patterns and climate change have been driving stark changes in the northwestern state. Now, new satellite images show the extent of this transformation.

08/02/2025

Temperatures at north pole 20C above average and beyond ice melting point

Scientists say unusually mild temperatures linked to low-pressure system over Iceland directing strong flow of warm air towards north pole

"The ice will disappear — there is no negotiation with it," warns climate scientist Dirk Notz.

A deep low pressure system over Iceland has discharged warm air into the Arctic, supercharged from the unusually warm Atlantic waters. Scientists say this rare heatwave signals an alarming trend — a trend accelerating as the Arctic heats nearly 4 times faster than the rest of the planet.

Even with drastic emissions cuts, Arctic sea ice will disappear within 20 years, reshaping ecosystems and geopolitics.

For more click here-

Scientists say unusually mild temperatures linked to low-pressure system over Iceland directing strong flow of warm air towards north pole

05/02/2025

Researchers at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory and Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science continue to make progress in understanding a major part of the ocean circulation system known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation ( ).

In a recent study, scientists found that the extensive weakening of the AMOC that occurred in the 2000s has paused since the early 2010s due to a tug-of-war between the natural and anthropogenic signals.

Read more:
https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/advancing-our-understanding-of-the-amoc/

01/02/2025

2023 Severe Weather Statistics has just been released as of January 31st 2025...

Click here-

There were 1400 severe weather reports on August 7. These reports came from multiple clusters of storms that formed and moved from the Southern Appalachians into the Carolinas and the central Appalachians to the Mid Atlantic. There was also a cluster of primarily hail reports in the central High Pla...