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New research links stalled jet stream to rising summer weather extremes

The number of extreme summer weather events driven by trapped atmospheric waves has tripled since 1950 due to climate change, new research shows.

Seth Borenstein reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that amplified planetary waves — atmospheric patterns that can trap weather systems — are occurring three times more often than in the 1950s.
These waves cause jet streams to become “locked” in place, resulting in prolonged periods of intense heat, rainfall, or drought, as seen in the deadly 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave and the 2010 Russian drought.
Human-caused climate change, particularly rapid Arctic warming, is weakening the jet stream and making these stuck patterns more frequent, something existing computer models have largely failed to predict.

Key quote:

“This study shines a light on yet another way human activities are disrupting the climate system that will come back to bite us all with more unprecedented and destructive summer weather events.”

— Jennifer Francis, climate scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center

Why this matters:

Summer weather is growing more erratic and intense, not just because temperatures are rising but because the atmosphere itself is behaving differently. The jet stream, once a reliable conveyor belt of weather systems, is weakening as the Arctic warms far faster than the rest of the planet. That makes the jet stream more prone to stalling, locking regions into weeks of punishing heat or unrelenting rain. These prolonged extremes can devastate crops, trigger wildfires, and flood communities unprepared for such persistence. With billions of people depending on stable climate conditions for food, water, and safety, the growing unpredictability of summer weather threatens both environmental and public health across the globe.

Learn more: Climate change is fueling extreme weather and chaos in the jet stream

apnews.com

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California mining company turns to solar heat but can’t quit coal just yet

In California’s Mojave Desert, a mining plant is turning to solar thermal energy to replace one of its coal-fired generators, but a second unit may run for years due to the intense heat and 24-hour power it needs.

Ivan Penn reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Searles Valley Minerals, a mining company in Trona, Calif., is replacing one of its two coal plants with a solar thermal system but says the other may need to stay online for the foreseeable future due to operational demands.
The company will use a concentrating solar power system from start-up GlassPoint, which uses mirrors to generate high heat, a solution that works well in hot, sunny areas but requires a large land footprint and remains rare in the U.S.
Despite California’s push to phase out coal and President Trump’s efforts to revive it, economic and geographic constraints continue to complicate full industrial transitions away from fossil fuels.

Key quote:

“We just think coal is going to be a problem. We’re going to have a hard time sourcing it. We need to be ready to pivot.”

— Dennis Cruise, president of Searles Valley Minerals

Why this matters:

Industrial heat — the kind used in mining, chemical production, and heavy manufacturing — accounts for about half of global energy use, yet it’s rarely mentioned in public climate debates. Unlike home heating or car travel, generating this level of heat without fossil fuels is still tough. Most renewable energy technologies don’t deliver the extreme, continuous heat these facilities need. That leaves industries like the one in Trona stuck with coal, even as it becomes harder to source and politically unpopular. As the U.S. attempts to decarbonize, industrial energy needs present one of the biggest hurdles.

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