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Scientists warn that 2023's extreme ocean heat may signal a major climate shift
A new federal report reveals that 2023 saw record-breaking ocean heat and dwindling cloud cover, suggesting unprecedented changes in Earth's climate.
In short:
- The report highlights that 94% of the world’s oceans experienced a marine heatwave in 2023.
- New classifications like "super-marine heatwaves" are being used to describe the extreme warming events.
- Last year's record-low cloud cover allowed more solar heat to reach Earth’s surface.
Key quote:
“Sometimes people classify marine heatwaves from category one to category four, but a super-marine heatwave is above all that.”
— Xungang Yin, NOAA climate researcher
Why this matters:
These unprecedented marine heatwaves and reduced cloud cover could signify a rapid shift in global climate patterns. The resulting impacts on marine ecosystems and weather could have serious, long-term consequences.
Read more: Surprise! Unexpected ocean heat waves are becoming the norm
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Credit: Olivier Le Moal/Big Stock Photo
Reversing climate policies under Trump could lead to severe environmental damage
A new study finds that if Donald Trump implements the rightwing Project 2025 climate policies, the U.S. will see a massive increase in carbon emissions, job losses and economic setbacks.
In short:
- Project 2025 would add 2.7 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2030, harming U.S. climate goals.
- The plan could eliminate 1.7 million clean energy jobs and cut $320 billion from the GDP.
- Environmental protections, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, could be dismantled.
Key quote:
"These future policy pathways result in stark differences for our health, our pocketbooks, the economy and climate."
— Anand Gopal, executive director of policy research at the nonpartisan thinktank Energy Innovation
Why this matters:
Rolling back climate protections will drastically increase emissions and economic instability. With climate change already impacting daily life, policies that reverse progress could exacerbate global environmental challenges.
Related:
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Credit: Lenstravelier/Unsplash
New challenges arise as NOAA considers the regulation of solar geoengineering
In the face of mounting climate change impacts, calls grow for stronger oversight of efforts to modify the Earth's climate through solar geoengineering.
In short:
- The U.S. lacks robust regulations for solar geoengineering, sparking concerns among environmentalists and scientists over the potential consequences of unregulated climate intervention.
- Current laws only require minimal notification before launching geoengineering experiments, a standard critics argue is insufficient for overseeing the complex implications of such activities.
- As the planet warms, the interest in geoengineering as a stopgap solution to climate change increases, despite the significant risks and ethical questions it raises.
Key quote:
"I am more concerned about this than anything else. [Climate solutions] are not going to get deployed in time, which is only going to create more of a demand for something like this.”
— David Bookbinder, climate attorney and former Sierra Club’s chief climate counsel
Why this matters:
Geoengineering presents a controversial but increasingly considered option for temporarily mitigating climate change effects. However, its potential to alter weather patterns, impact global geopolitics, and cause unforeseen environmental consequences necessitates thorough regulation and public discussion.
EHN’s Pete Myers argues that once deployed, geoengineering gives excuses to avoid reducing carbon emissions.
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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
NOAA’s Arctic report card for 2023
Observations from researchers and residents, published annually in a report by NOAA, reveal a region grappling with rapid change.
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Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash
For Florida’s ailing corals, no relief from the heat
No immediate end is in sight to the unprecedented marine heat wave stressing the state’s coral reefs, raising fears the heart-rending losses seen here may portend a global bleaching event that could affect reefs from Florida to Colombia, scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have said.
Photo by Jaime Casap on Unsplash
Mark Gongloff: How climate change threatens us, even here in Pittsburgh
We can’t let the size of the challenge keep overwhelming our capacity to solve it.
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Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash
NOAA plans $2.6 billion to help prepare for and respond to disasters
Coastal communities, Tribal nations, and weather forecast accuracy are among the planned beneficiaries of $2.6 billion the Department of Commerce plans to use to help communities be more resilient to climate change, weather hazards and sea level rise.
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