Where is La Nina?

🌊 Where is La Nina?

We’ve been hearing for months that La Nina, the cool phase of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation, would develop in the late summer or fall. The latest data shows ocean surface temperatures at -0.28C. The threshold of -0.5C is needed for La Nina to be declared, so we are still in ENSO-neutral conditions. Forecasters say there is a 57% chance that La Nina will develop soon. However, this is late in the year for La Nina to develop, with only two La Nina’s in our 75-year historical record forming between October and December. ENSO events tend to reach their peak in winter, so that does not leave much time for La Nina to strengthen. Thus, a weak La Nina is expected should it develop. Weak La Nina’s can still shift global atmospheric circulations, but it allows room for other weather and climate patterns to leave their mark as well.

Emily Becker, Climate.gov

🌡️ Malta Among Worst Hit by Climate Change

Europe is the fastest warming region in the world. Within Europe, Malta and Cyprus are two statistical outliers that are being hit harder by climate change than anywhere else. Data from the European Environmental Agency shows that average year-round temperatures in Malta have increased by at least 1.36C over the past few decades, and that the need for cooling buildings has increased by 54%. The number of heating degree days, days that the temperature was higher than 21C, increased by 35% over the past few decades. The increase in temperatures has led to an increase in air conditioning units, vehicles, and urban spread. In a positive feedback loop, that has led to an increase in peak electricity demand and problems in the electrical grid and transmission. Malta’s temperature is projected to rise by up to 5C in the next 60 years unless global warming is halted. Rainfall is also projected to decrease by 17%. With all of this combined, Malta’s economic and social stability is being called into question.

Victor Paul Borg, JournalismPlus

🤖 Seagrass Populations Restored by Robots

Seagrass is a marine plant that only occupies 0.1% of the ocean floor, but is credited with supporting marine ecosystems of plants and fish, filtering ocean water, and capturing carbon. Due to climate change, seagrass is being destroyed at a rate of 7% globally each year. A company by the name of Ulysses Ecosystem Engineer wants to change that. Ulysses created an autonomous robot that can be loaded with seeds and programmed to go to specific areas of the ocean floor to plant seagrass. The robot can restore seagrass meadows at a rate of 100 times compared to having volunteers plant seeds by hand and at a fraction of the cost. The company says their underwater robots are just the beginning. They also hope to use autonomous drones to expand into other areas like coastal management, coastal security, and other types of restoration.

Rebecca Szkutak, TechCrunch

If you’re new here, or if you missed any of our other newsletters in November, here is a recap:

• Ozone Hole Shrinking, Catastrophic Flooding in Spain, and University Climate Efforts

• Renewable Electricity, Trump's Climate Roll Backs, and Livestock Pastures

• Weather Means Business