Earth Just Experienced Its Hottest Summer EVER

Earth’s Hottest Summer on Record

This summer broke global heat records for the second straight year, putting 2024 on track to be the hottest year in recorded history. The period between June and August edged past the previous record set last summer by 0.03 degrees Celsius. August of 2024 tied for the hottest August globally at 16.82C (62.27F). July 2024 was the first time in more than a year that the world did not set a record. However, July 21, 2024 did set the record for the hottest single day ever on Earth at 17.09C (62.76F). Phoenix, Arizona has had more than 100 days of 100F weather this year. Even the Southern Hemisphere’s winter saw broken heat records. Australia broke its national record for the hottest August day and temperatures in parts of Antarctica climbed 50 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in July. Experts say that human-caused climate change and El Nino were to blame.

Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Atlantic Ocean Currents Could Collapse

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, is a vital system of Atlantic Ocean currents that influences weather across the world. In a new study, scientists suggest AMOC could be on course for collapse by the late 2030s, resulting in a planetary-scale disaster that would transform the Earth’s weather and climate. The currents have been weakened by warmer ocean temperatures and the saltiness of the water has been disrupted due to human-induced climate change. The AMOC helps to keep parts of the Southern Hemisphere from overheating and parts of the Northern Hemisphere from getting unbearably cold, while at the same time distributing nutrients that sustain life in marine ecosystems. The impacts of an AMOC collapse could leave parts of the world unrecognizable. Researchers suggest that the collapse would eventually lead to Arctic ice creeping south, sending Europe’s temperatures plunging, as well as parts of the U.S.

Angela Dewan and Angela Fritz, CNN

Molten Salt Used to Capture CO2

European oil majors Shell and Eni have led an early stage funding round of $30 million for Boston climate technology start-up Mantel Capture. Mantel Capture wants to use molten salts to capture CO2 emissions at refineries, factories, and other industrial sites to help mitigate climate change. The technology could capture emissions inside kilns, boilers, and furnaces. Capturing the carbon where it is produced would allow polluters to reduce emissions and retain existing, expensive infrastructure. Mantel’s goal is to pull 95% of the carbon out of smokestack emissions using the molten salts. They say their process is unusually cost-effective because it takes advantage of extremely hot environments, requiring much less additional energy than rival capture methods. In a laboratory setting, Mantel was able to capture half a ton of carbon per day. With the new funding, they hope to build a demonstration project at a paper mill that captures 1,800 metric tons of emissions per year at about $30 to $50 per ton.

Peter Henderson and Simon Jessop, Reuters

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