AP Science Writer

Seth Borenstein

A massive new federal government report says revved-up climate change now permeates Americans’ daily lives with harms that are already far-reaching and worsening across every region of the United States. Tuesday's National Climate Assessment is a five-year localized update on what global warming is doing and will do to the United States. It paints a picture of a country that is warming about 60% faster than the world as a whole, regularly gets smacked with costly weather disasters and is facing even bigger future problems, including worsening health and inequities that hurt poor and minorities hardest.

Environment |
Worsening warming is hurting people in all regions, U.S. climate assessment shows

November 14, 2023 at 12:34 p.m.

A massive new federal government report says revved-up climate change now permeates Americans’ daily lives with harms that are already far-reaching and worsening across every region of the United States....

With warmer oceans serving as fuel, Atlantic hurricanes are now more than twice as likely as before to rapidly intensify from wimpy minor hurricanes to powerful and catastrophic, a study said Thursday.

Hurricanes |
Hurricanes are now twice as likely to zip from minor to whopper than decades ago, study says

October 20, 2023 at 11:17 a.m.

With warmer oceans serving as fuel, Atlantic hurricanes are now more than twice as likely as before to rapidly intensify from wimpy minor hurricanes to powerful and catastrophic, a study...

A new study of Earth's health says the planet is outside its 'safe operating space for humanity'; on six out of nine key measurements. And the team of international scientists says that two of the remaining three areas are heading in the wrong direction.

Environment |
Earth is outside its ‘safe operating space for humanity’ on most key measurements, study says

September 13, 2023 at 4:05 p.m.

A new study of Earth's health says the planet is outside its 'safe operating space for humanity'; on six out of nine key measurements. And the team of international scientists...

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday that there have been 23 weather extreme events in America that cost at least $1 billion this year through August, eclipsing the year-long record total of 22 set in 2020.

Weather |
US sets record for billion-dollar weather disasters in a year — and there’s still 4 months to go

September 11, 2023 at 8:02 p.m.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Monday that there have been 23 weather extreme events in America that cost at least $1 billion this year through August, eclipsing the...

The U.N. weather agency says Earth endured its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures.

Weather |
This summer was a global record breaker for the highest heat ever measured, meteorologists say

September 6, 2023 at 6:03 p.m.

The U.N. weather agency says Earth endured its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures.

A new quick study finds that human-caused global warming made July hotter for four out of five people on Earth. And more than 2 billion people felt added warmth from climate change every single day of the month.

Weather |
Climate change made July hotter for 4 of 5 humans on Earth, scientists find

August 2, 2023 at 2:56 p.m.

A new quick study finds that human-caused global warming made July hotter for four out of five people on Earth. And more than 2 billion people felt added warmth from...

July has been so hot thus far that scientists calculate that this month will be the hottest globally on record and likely the warmest human civilization has seen, even though there are several days left to sweat through.

Environment |
July has been so blistering hot, scientists already calculate that it’s the warmest month on record

July 27, 2023 at 4:56 p.m.

July has been so hot thus far that scientists calculate that this month will be the hottest globally on record and likely the warmest human civilization has seen, even though...

The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees two days in a row, which meteorologists say could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured.

Environment |
South Florida waters hit hot tub level and may have set world record for warmest seawater

July 26, 2023 at 1:39 p.m.

The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees two days in a row, which meteorologists say could potentially be the hottest seawater ever...

The fingerprints of climate change are all over the intense heat waves gripping the globe this month, a new study finds. Researchers say the deadly hot spells in the American Southwest and Southern Europe could not have happened without the continuing buildup of warming gases in the air.

National News |
Climate change leaves fingerprints on July heat waves around the globe, study says

July 25, 2023 at 6:34 p.m.

The fingerprints of climate change are all over the intense heat waves gripping the globe this month, a new study finds. Researchers say the deadly hot spells in the American...

Earth’s average temperature set a new unofficial record high on Thursday, the third such milestone in a week that already rated as the hottest on record. The planetary average hit 63 degrees Fahrenheit, surpassing the 62.9-degree mark set Tuesday and equaled Wednesday, according to data from a University of Maine tool that uses satellite data and computer simulations to measure the world’s condition. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has distanced itself from the calculations in part because they rely on modeling. But scientists say the daily drumbeat of records — official or not — is a symptom of a larger problem where the precise digits aren’t as important as what’s causing them.

Weather |
For the third time this week, Earth sets an unofficial heat record. What’s behind those big numbers?

July 7, 2023 at 3:48 p.m.

Earth’s average temperature set a new unofficial record high on Thursday, the third such milestone in a week that already rated as the hottest on record. The planetary average hit...

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