Extreme Events of 2012: Global to Local Responses
Featured Video, January 15, 2013
The entire Northern Hemisphere was warm during 2012. Drought affected agricultural regions in North America, Europe, eastern Russia, the Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. These warm conditions impacted grain yields, water supplies, and heat-related illness. Global food prices rose by 10 percent during July. Learning how our neighbors around the world cope with and adapt to extreme events can help us make better decisions, become more resilient, and be “climate smart.”
January 9, 2013
Drought, cold, and massive storms were among the devastating climate-related events that struck the United States in 2012. These events were incredibly destructive and disruptive for people across the country. A better understanding of the relationship between climate and extreme weather is challenging, but it’s important, and it will help our nation become even more “climate smart.”
The Pushy Pacific: Variability and Change in Global Temperature
December 17, 2012
When the Pacific Ocean warms and cools with El Niño and La Niña, global temperatures rise and fall. Because there was a La Niña event in the early part of this year, the global surface temperature for 2012 won’t break the high temperature record. However, the odds are that this will be the warmest of the La Niña years in the global climate record.
December 6, 2012 Ned Gardiner
It’s natural to associate drought with heat and with summer, but drought also impacts us during winter months. Winter wheat yields are declining, and the Mississippi River is approaching an all-time low. Understanding drought conditions and how they are affecting us is part of being “climate smart.”
Resilience and Energy: Coastal Management Ensures Supply
November 27, 2012
Port Fourchon sits on the very edge of the country, all the better for vessels shuttling supplies to and from deepwater oil platforms across miles and miles of ocean. Keeping it open is a big deal because the port services 90 percent of all deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico. Port Director Chett Chiasson tours the harbor while discussing the importance of preparedness, adaptation, and resilience.
By Subject:
2011 2012 agriculture Arctic Arctic Oscillation carbon dioxide climate climate change climate data climate impacts climate observations climate variability drought earth el niño global warming greenhouse gases Greenland Gulf of Mexico hurricanes impacts la niña Louisiana modeling New Mexico NOAA observations ocean people precipitation rain rainfall sea ice sea level rise snow Southwest spring summer temperature Texas United States video water weather winterBy Date:
By Author:
Get ClimateWatch Updates
In Watching for El Niño and La Niña, NOAA Adapts to Global Warming
February 5, 2013 Rebecca Lindsey
As the whole ocean gets warmer, NOAA scientists must redefine what they consider “average” temperature in the central tropical Pacific, where they keep watch for El Niño and La Niña.
Drought Impacts Continue to Pile Up
February 4, 2013 Rebecca Lindsey
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, an estimated 58 percent of the contiguous United States was in some level of drought as of January 29, with an additional 12 percent in the “Abnormally dry” category.
2012—Third Warmest La Niña Year on Record*
Jan 15th, 2013
After running the numbers for 2012, NOAA reported that the global average temperature in 2012 was 1.03° Fahrenheit above average, ranking it as the 10th warmest year since record keeping began in 1880. Although 2012 warmth did not top the charts, it was unusual in another way: it was the warmest “La Niña year” on record.
