Climate Warming Proof Around the World: 2023

Here are a collection of research articles about how the warming worldwide climate has been affecting different parts of the world. From increased Greenland ice melting, warming oceans, and sea level rise to drought-stricken areas like Spain and the U.S. Southwest. In 2021, U.S. Pacific Northwest endured its hottest year in 1000 years. Today's blog is a collection of stories showing what the warming climate has been doing around the world. 

Image: The Sau Reservoir in Spain dropped to 7% of its capacity in April. Fred Pleitgen/CNN

Disappearing Lakes, Dead Crops and Trucked-in Water: Drought-stricken Spain Is Running Dry

Spain has been in a long-term drought since the end of 2022, with the country receiving only 36% of the average monthly rainfall in March and the trend continuing into April.

Drought Spells Catastrophe for Spain's Olive Harvest

CNN - May 9, 2023 - MADRID: An ongoing drought and soaring temperatures have unleashed fears of an olive "catastrophe" in Spain, the world's largest producer of olive oil, which suffered a very difficult year in 2022.

"It's barely rained since January. The ground is very dry," worries Cristobal Cano, secretary general of the small farmers' union (UPA) in the southern region of Andalusia, the heart of Spain's olive oil industry.

(Image: Long term trend of global ocean water temperatures is on the increase.   Credit: Climate Central) 

Why Are Our Oceans Getting Warmer?

National Geographic - 1 May 2023

The temperatures of the world’s oceans are hitting record highs, with far-reaching consequences for marine life, storm intensity, and sea levels.

NASA: The effects of ocean warming include sea level rise due to thermal expansion, coral bleaching, accelerated melting of Earth's major ice sheets, intensified hurricanes*, and changes in ocean health and biochemistry.

(Image:  June 26, 2021: Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest will skyrocket in the coming days as a heatwave sets in from Southern California to Northern Washington. The high-pressure system is expected to break record temperatures. National Weather Service) 

In the Pacific Northwest, 2021 Was the Hottest Year in a Millennium

Eos - 2 May 2023

A 1,000-year temperature record shows unprecedented warming in the Pacific Northwest, and new modeling predicts the likelihood of future heat waves in the decades to come.  

OREGON ENCYCLOPEDIA -During the 2021 event, Portland International Airport exceeded 100°F for three consecutive days—108°F on June 26, 112°F on June 27, and 116°F on June 28. The previous record high at the airport was 107°F, making June 28 a remarkable nine degrees warmer.

 

Prolonged Droughts Likely Spelled the End for Indus Megacities

Science - 26 April 2023

New research has found evidence—locked into an ancient stalagmite from a cave in the Himalayas—of a series of severe and lengthy droughts that may have upturned the Bronze Age Indus Civilization.

 

(Image:  There has been a gradual warming of the deep basin bottom water at a rate of 0.017 °C each year from 2005 to 2015. Credit: Göran Ingman / Flickr)

Atmospheric Rivers Linked to Melting Greenland Ice Sheet

University of Wisconsin—Madison - 3 May 2023

Atmospheric rivers are a key factor in the complex conditions accelerating glacial melting over northern Greenland, according to a new study.

 Study: Sinking Ground in Parts of Chesapeake Bay Area Will Worsen Flooding From Rising Sea Levels and Storm Surges

Using radar imaging to measure elevation changes, researchers have uncovered an important gap in planning for sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay: in some areas, sea levels are rising at a faster rate than previously thought because the land is sinking.