🌍 Jet Stream Research Could Lead to Better Climate Predictions

🌍 Jet Stream Research Could Lead to Better Climate Predictions

A team of climate scientists from Leipzig University has developed a new method that enables a deeper understanding of what is referred to as the Eddy-Driven Jet (EDJ) in the Southern Hemisphere. South America, southern Africa, Australia, and Oceania’s summer weather is heavily influenced by the EDJ, but current climate models struggle to predict its behavior. New research shows that wind speeds in the EDJ have increased while the wind belt has continually moved further toward the South Pole. By using a statistical framework and a storyline approach, the team found that 50% of the observed shift in the Southern Hemisphere jet stream is directly attributed to global warming, with the other half caused by a combination of other climate-related changes. These factors also contributed to the faster wind speeds in the jet stream. Knowing how specific climate-related changes impact the jet stream could lead to more accurate predictions over the next decade.

Leipzig University, Phys.org

🏝️ Climate Change is Impacting Vacation Plans

Many Europeans are rethinking their holiday plans after extreme heat gripped much of Europe of the past few years. Eighty-one percent of Europeans surveyed say they have tweaked their holiday plans because of factors related to climate change. Almost a third of them are choosing destinations where the weather is milder. A recent survey of 2,000 British adults showed that 75% think some European holiday destinations will be too hot to visit within the next five years. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth. One study suggests that a fifth of the sandy coastline of the Mediterranean could face severe loss by 2050, greatly impacting tourism. Recent travel trends have shifted from the more traditional summer months to spring and late winter travel to avoid some of the extreme heat. More than half of UK holiday-makers say they are likely to choose to vacation at home rather than abroad for climate-related reasons.

Simon King, BBC News

⚡️ Generating Electricity from Cement Heat

A team of researchers led by a professors at Southeast University in China have developed a groundbreaking cement-hydrogel composite that not only provides structural integrity but also generates and stores electricity with 10 times more efficiency. The material is inspired by plant stems and offers a more sustainable approach to urban growth. The team created a multi-layered structure that alternates between traditional cement and polyvinyl hydrogel layers, allowing for faster movement of hydroxide ions and enhancing the thermoelectric properties of cement. As cities continue to expand and smart technologies become more prevalent, technology like this offers more efficient and sustainable solutions for urban environments. Ultimately, infrastructure that uses this material such as buildings, roads, and bridges, could potentially power sensors and wireless communication systems without external power sources.

Rosemary Potter, Sustainability Times