Concrete and asphalt roads, and other built materials readily absorb, store and release heat, raising city temperatures, a phenomenon called the urban heat island.
(Pixabay)
During heatwaves, the highest temperatures are often found in urbanized areas. Small green spaces are often overlooked as a way to cool urban areas.
The sun rises over Lake Crackenback on a cold morning in New South Wales.
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These temperatures are well below average, even for the middle of winter.
Meteorologist Todd Dankers monitors weather patterns in Boulder, Colorado, Oct. 24, 2018.
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Would you trust a weather forecast made by a machine that had learned how weather systems behaved by reviewing thousands of past weather maps?
Jason O'Brien / AAP
One weather configuration has been responsible for record-breaking downpours in Australia, South America, and South Africa this year.
A tornado in Turkey, Texas.
Jana Houser
You can’t photograph the inside of a twister, but radar offers some clues.
Changes in climate affect the timings of various points in the life cycle of plants, including when flowers bloom in spring and when leaves wither in autumn.
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Climate change is modifying the timing of recurrent life-cycle events with critical consequences on ecological and economic levels.
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New data has revealed rainfall records from as far back as 1677.
Jason O'Brien / AAP
When bad weather stops moving, the outlook can get dire for the areas in its path.
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On a hot and humid day, the fan is your friend. But ice cream won’t make the difference you think it will.
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Weather forecasting is complex and challenging. The process entails three steps: observation, analysis and communication.
A bomb cyclone over the U.S. East Coast on Jan. 4, 2017.
NOAA/CIRA
The key ingredients for a storm to undergo bombogenesis are an unstable atmosphere, temperature differences and high-speed winds in the upper atmosphere.
Strict rules guide the official count for how much solid precipitation fell.
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It’s hard to get accurate measurements, but a nationwide network of more than 8,000 volunteers with rulers and specific standards reports after every storm.
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Extreme heat over 50°C is likely to become more common, giving us yet another reason for Australia to act fast on climate change.
Cold weather exercise can keep us healthy, but there are risks.
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Preparing for being active in cold weather can help keep us safe and increase our enjoyment.
The Sun rises in Midland, Michigan, shortly after 8a.m. on Jan. 13, 2017.
Christian Collins/Flickr
The winter solstice is past, but bundle up – January is when winter really arrives in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
A woman and children who were stranded by high water due to flooding are rescued by a volunteer operating a boat in Abbotsford, B.C., in November 2021. The Insurance Institute of Canada forecasts that annual insured losses from natural disasters could increase to $5 billion within the next 10 years.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Although insurance is important in natural disaster recovery, government and property owners also play an important role in protecting Canadians against the impact of catastrophic weather events.
Winter road salting is a common de-icing technique used to ensure public safety during icy winters. However, it is crucial to find sustainable and environment-friendly alternatives to road salt.
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Salty water seeps into our soils and groundwater through surface runoff and storm-water pipes. The long-term storage of salt in the environment impacts aquatic life, infrastructure and drinking water.
Some places rarely see the sun.
Donat Photography / EyeEm
Extended periods of rain are most likely found in locations where mountains are near oceans.
A satellite view on the night of Dec. 15, 2021, at the same time tornadoes were reported in Iowa.
NOAA
Forecasters described it as a ‘historical weather day.’ An atmospheric scientist who was at the heart of the storms explains what happened.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
After one La Niña, the Pacific sometimes retains cool water which enables a second La Niña to form.