Satellites - Unlikely Heroes in the Climate Crisis

🥵 Scientists Shocked as January 2025 Hits Record Heat

January 2025 continued a run of record-breaking global temperatures, despite the La Nina pattern cooling the tropical Pacific. Last month was the warmest January ever recorded, with surface air temperatures 1.75C above preindustrial levels. This marks the 18th month out of the last 19 to record global average surface temperatures above the 1.5C level. Climate scientists had expected this spell of exceptionally warm temperatures to end after the El Nino event ended and La Nina took hold. However, the heat has lingered, and has prompted debates as to what other factors may be driving the temperatures higher. Arctic sea ice was at a monthly record low in January, and the second lowest on record. Sea surface temperatures in January ranked second warmest on record as well. A few theories as to why the temperatures remained warm are shared in the full article.

The Guardian

🛰️ Satellites - Unlikely Heroes in the Climate Crisis

A physician and researcher affiliated with the University of Toronto is using space technologies to address some of the biggest climate threats that our world faces. Space agencies maintain satellites that collect real-time climate information such as pollutants, temperatures, and greenhouse gases which, paired with patient data, can give health professionals the opportunity to see emerging patterns because they become full-blown emergencies. Satellite imagery along with health data has been used to pinpoint potential outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. As extreme weather events become more frequent, satellite imagery has become a vital resource in early warning, evacuations, and recovery efforts. As more space missions launch, the influx of new data will help scientists track shifting environmental patterns in near-real time.

Jordan Joseph, Earth.com

☁️ Clouds Found to Mitigate Climate Change

Researchers at McGill University discovered that changes in clouds are slightly mitigating global warming. A reduction in low-cloud cover over land has brought about a modest reduction of the amount of heat being trapped close to ground level. Without the reduction of low level clouds, the surface would warm even faster. Usually, clouds trap longwave radiation, the heat energy that Earth emits back into the atmosphere, and send it back to the Earth’s surface. But as the climate warms, there are fewer clouds in some areas, which results in less heat being returned to the surface. This knowledge can now be used to improve climate models and guide environmental policies.

McGill University