PMEL in the News
El Niño is flexing its muscles. What does this mean for California?
El Niño is expected to gain strength and flaunt its muscle this winter, and forecasters are closely watching ocean temperatures to determine just how strong the El Niño weather pattern that developed over the summer will get in the coming months. Mike McPhaden is quoted.
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.