In the midst of a record-breaking winter heat wave in Australia, Science News is collecting reader questions about extreme heat and its impact on our planet’s changing climate. In 2023, Australia experienced its highest average winter temperature ever recorded, with temperatures 1.53 degrees C above the long-term average. The country is on track to break its own record for average winter temperatures set just the year before. Globally, average nighttime temperatures are rising faster than daytime temperatures, leading to what scientists call “asymmetric warming” and contributing to a 14-month streak of record-breaking heat around the world.
Australia is not the only region in the Southern Hemisphere experiencing extreme heat. Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands are facing severe droughts and unseasonably warm temperatures, resulting in raging megafires that have burned over 700,000 hectares of land. The Southern Hemisphere has been getting increasingly dry over the last two decades, with natural climate phenomena like El Niño and climate change intensifying rains and droughts. These warmer winters can have negative impacts on food security, water supplies, and insect populations, influencing when plants germinate and bear fruit.
Warmer winters can have significant impacts on food production, water supplies, and insect populations. In the United States, rising winter temperatures prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release a new plant hardiness zone map in 2023, recommending what plants will thrive in different regions. Efforts are underway to breed heat-tolerant plants to adapt to changing climate conditions, such as an apple variety that can thrive in temperatures as high as 40°C. Warmer winters can also lead to less snowpack, which means rivers may not be adequately fed and groundwater may not be recharged, impacting water resources.
Extreme weather events and changing climate patterns have wide-ranging implications for the environment and human societies. These changes can impact agriculture, water resources, and disease transmission. Insects like mosquitoes that carry diseases such as dengue may thrive in warmer winter temperatures, posing risks to public health. As the planet continues to experience record-breaking heat and extreme weather events, it is crucial to understand the implications of these changes and take steps to adapt and mitigate their impacts. Science News is continuing to collect reader questions about Earth’s extreme climate records, encouraging discussions and raising awareness about the challenges posed by our changing climate.
