PMEL in the News
WWII-era weather records ‘rescued’ by researchers, citizen-scientists
The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet did more than help win World War II: As its ships made their way through the Pacific Ocean during the war, naval personnel used daily logbooks to record vital weather and climate data at a time when such observations dwindled worldwide. This publication highlights work by done by Kevin Wood whose contributions to the recovery of historical marine weather observations were substantial and will continue to influence us and many others.
Why September’s record-warm temperatures have scientists so worried
After months of record planetary warmth, temperatures have become even more abnormal in recent weeks — briefly averaging close to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, a global warming threshold leaders are seeking to avoid. Mike McPhaden is quoted.
THE BIG SWING: El Niño in a changing climate
The prospect of a possible El Niño summer, with the hot and dry conditions it’s known for in Australia, can be frightening. The winter has already been dry in parts of the country. Record summer temperatures in Europe, although not related, have added to a sense of foreboding. Mike McPhaden is quoted.
Why Hurricanes Are Becoming More Intense
Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Keaton Beach, Fla., on Wednesday morning as a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center, and was later downgraded to a Category 1 storm as it moved across Georgia. The storm battered Florida’s northern Gulf Coast with high winds and a powerful storm surge that was predicted to reach up to 16 feet in some areas. More than 30 Florida counties were issued evacuation orders. Idalia’s center was expected to move across southeastern Georgia and near the coast of South Carolina before moving offshore southern North Carolina on Thursday. Mike McPhaden is referenced.
Heating Waters Force Change in Industries That Depend on the Ocean
In Maine, lobsters are heading north and some lobstermen are moving into kelp farming. On the West Coast, fishermen are worried about a blob of warm water developing off the Oregon and Washington coastlines, fearing a repeat of an ocean heat wave that devastated salmon harvests from 2014 to 2016. Mike McPhaden is quoted.