Two heat waves an ocean apart are inextricably linked, writes Axios. These kinds of interconnected heat waves could become even more extreme in the future, as human-caused climate change affects the jet stream winds responsible for them.
Heat waves around the world are connected, scientists say (Axios)
Excerpt from Axios: The jet stream has come under particular scrutiny by climate scientists in recent years due to the hypothesis that the changing temperature difference between the equator and the North Pole could slow down this key weather maker, especially during the summer. Perturbations in the jet stream, or its waviness, can enable the formation and maintenance of intense heat domes such as those that have set up across parts of the U.S. and Europe in the past week. The jet stream travels around the northern hemisphere from west to east, powered by the temperature differences between air masses and more broadly, the difference between the temperature at the Pole versus the equator.
In a related story also from Axios, a sprawling heat dome is bringing temperatures of up to 110°F, or possibly higher, to a broad swath of the U.S. on Wednesday, with more than 100 million people under heat warnings and advisories.
More than 100 million under heat warnings in U.S. as country swelters (Axios)
Excerpt from Axios: The extreme heat will be most intense in the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley, but the big cities of the Northeast will swelter as well. Extreme heat is a public health threat and human emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels are worsening such heat waves, studies show. For a second day in a row, much of Oklahoma and a huge swath of Texas are under an excessive heat warning. Computer model projections show the heat in the U.S. is likely to migrate westward over time, with the potential for a significant heat wave to envelop much of the West, including California, Oregon and Washington, toward the end of July and into August.
As 100-degree temperatures became uncomfortably routine on both sides of the Atlantic, President Biden said climate change presented a "clear and present danger" to the world, reports The Washington Post.
Extreme heat prompts alerts in 28 states as Texas, Oklahoma hit 115 (The Washington Post)
Excerpt from The Washington Post: But days after suffering a major setback in Congress on his climate policies, he limited his announcements to a measure expanding offshore wind energy projects, while promising other, unspecified actions down the road. "Let me be clear: Climate change is an emergency," Biden said in a visit to Somerset, Mass. "In the coming weeks I’m going to use my power to turn these words into formal, official government actions. When it comes to fighting climate change, I will not take no for an answer."
Jump to this week's edition of:
World News (Part 1)
World News (Part 2)
US News
Politics
Culture
Business
