March 2021 - Page 2 of 2 - Climate Impact Company

03/14/2021, 8:31 am EDT

The Atlantic Meridional Oceanic Current and its Role in the Global Climate System

During the just-ending northern hemisphere winter the ocean surface east of New England has rocketed to 11-13F warmer than normal in some locations. The warming - very persistent in this location the past 7-8 years - is part of a weakening Atlantic Meridional Ocean Current which is slowing the transport of warm Gulf Stream Water toward Europe. Instead waters are warming (and rising) off the Northeast U.S. Coast. Blocking the warm water transport of the Gulf Stream is the North Atlantic Warm Hole south-southeast of Greenland. Climate Impact Company Research Scientist Olivia Kellner reviews the AMOC and NAWH.

03/08/2021, 8:07 pm EST

February 2021 and DEC/JAN/FEB 2020-21 Climate Rankings

Despite the cold ending to meteorological winter the overall U.S. temperature rank for the just-ended winter season was 29th warmest of 127 years which is in the top 25% warmest. The Central and southeast U.S. were temperate except for chilly Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas plus warmer-than-normal Florida. California and Maine were very warm while the remainder of the northern tier states were warmer than normal.

03/08/2021, 1:26 pm EST

La Nina Intensity Is Choppy And Weaker

Significant warming took place last week across the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. The Nino34 SSTA region warmed 0.5C to -0.7C which is just-below the La Nina threshold. The Nino3 and Nino12 regions warmed to neutral phase.

03/08/2021, 1:03 pm EST

Solar Cycle 25 Is Underway

A spike in solar activity around the beginning of 2021 descended sharply in February. However, the overall trend of solar activity is upward as Solar Cycle 25 has initiated.

03/03/2021, 10:24 am EST

U.S. Winter 2020-21 Heating Degree Day Pattern

The cold season started with a warm November followed by a December which was also warm coming-in near the 10-year normal. Mid-winter was very warm, almost as warm as November regarding the HDD departure. February is the only cold month of the season while March is projected warmer than normal. The tendency for extremes dominated as observed with a very warm November and January and a frigid February.

03/02/2021, 11:22 am EST

Madden Julian Oscillation To Regain Strength/Influence on Climate

As a reminder, the reason the MJO is tracked is due to its presence with intensity almost always leads to weather extremes including major storms at the longitude of the MJO location frequently with upstream/downstream (in the middle latitudes) effects. The arctic outbreak in February was triggered by emergence of an active MJO pattern near the Dateline.

03/01/2021, 10:03 am EST

La Nina Remains Choppy But Subsurface East Pacific is Warming

La Nina’s SSTA observations in the Nino regions near and east of the Dateline are fluctuating each week as La Nina classification is “unsteady”. The upper ocean heat in February indicates warming took place implying the subsurface cool waters to sustain La Nina is diminishing.