Can energy from the remnants of exploding stars out in the Galaxy really affect cloud formation in the Earth’s atmosphere?
Since 1996, Danish researchers have been attempting to prove that cosmic rays from outer space could play a significant role in cloud formation. read more
The central United States continues to experience unusual and unsettled summer weather. Yesterday, record downpours took place along the front range of the Rockies, causing flash flooding in Boulder and Aurora. The rain came so fast and the flooding was so sudden that emergency services were nearly overwhelmed. Hundreds of people left their homes. At least two people are known dead in Boulder County and it is expected that more will be found along roadways that flooded almost without warning, sweeping vehicles away. Seven inches of rain fell overnight, a huge amount for the region. Boulder Creek, which runs through Boulder City and the University of Colorado campus went from being a beautiful waterway to a raging, menacing torrent.
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Despite predicting an extremely active hurricane season for this year, climatologists have been astounded by a virtually unprecedented lack of hurricanes. So far this season, which began on June 1st and runs to November 30, a total of eight tropical storms have developed, and typically the first hurricanes have formed by 10th August each year, but we are now halfway through the season without a single storm reaching hurricane status. This could become the latest start to the season since satellites began to record storm activity in 1967.
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While the northern hemisphere bakes, burns and floods, climate extremes of a different sort are striking far to the south. It’s deep winter in Peru now, and the southern part of the country has just experienced a record snowfall that has brought activity to a halt, killed tens of thousands of cattle and at least four people. This type of climate extreme is becoming more common, especially as reduced solar output causes cooling while increasing greenhouse gases cause more heat to build up in areas where the sun is strongest.
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