
Earth Sees 11 Record Hot Months in a Row
March capped off a record streak of record hot months
Andrea Thompson is senior desk editor for life science at Scientific American, covering the environment, energy and earth sciences. She has been covering these issues for nearly two decades. Prior to joining Scientific American, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered earth science and the environment. She has moderated panels, including as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Media Zone, and appeared in radio and television interviews on major networks. She holds a graduate degree in science, health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a B.S. and an M.S. in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Follow Thompson on Bluesky @andreatweather.bsky.social

Earth Sees 11 Record Hot Months in a Row
March capped off a record streak of record hot months

Pacific Ocean Pattern Could Predict U.S. Heat Waves
The ocean may provide a warning for killer hot weather

2015 Is Officially the Hottest Year on Record
2015 was one for the record books, says the World Meteorological Organization

El Niño is Here, But California Is Still in Drought
Months of rain and snow will be needed to climb out of the four-year dry spell

The Future of Epic Blizzards in a Warming World
What does global warming mean for extreme snowfall?

Warming May Mean Major Thaw for Alaskan Permafrost
Continued warming is melting down frozen ground, surprising scientists

December Heat Boosts 2015 to 2nd Warmest Year in U.S. History
2015 will likely be the hottest year on record globally

What Happened to the Polar Vortex?
The polar vortex has strengthened this year, helping exacerbate current mild weather

Here's How Much of Alaska's Permafrost Could Melt
New research reveals the extent of the meltdown in the north

Once Stable Greenland Glaciers Face Rapid Melt
Ice sheets in the northeast of the world’s largest island have started to retreat

Climate Change Signal Emerges from the Weather
Scientists begin to detect the influence of global warming on extreme weather

Global Warming May Mean Stifling Heat for Middle East
More intense heat waves could strike the desert region

"Gray Swan" Hurricanes Pose Future Storm Surge Threat
Tropical cyclones may cause flooding in yet more places

2015 May Just Be Hottest Year on Record
2015 will very likely beat 2014 as the warmest year

Current El Nino Could Be Strongest on Record
The strengthening climate phenomenon could have a big impact on U.S. weather

Missing: 1 Year's Worth of California Rain
During the current drought, the Golden State has missed an entire year's worth of rain

What Global Warming Means for 4 of Summer's Worst Pests
Mosquito season is getting longer among other buzz kills

How This Year's El Niño Compares with the Past
The climate pattern both is and isn’t like its famous predecessor in 1997

Arctic Sea Ice Rebounds, but Not Recovering
Ice volume bounced back thanks to a cool 2013 summer but don't call it a comeback

Extreme Temperatures Linked to Changing Air Patterns
A study links extreme heat waves and cold snaps to changes in the way the atmosphere moves

El Niño Forecast Brings California Hope for Drought Relief
A strong El Niño might help ease California's drought

Rainy May Sets Record for Soggy U.S.
Total precipitation was the highest in more than 120 years of record-keeping

The Climate Context for India's Deadly Heat Wave
Will there be more of this kind of heat wave that left at least 2,000 people dead?

Drought Takes $2.7-Billion Toll on California Agriculture
Scientists say the current drought will cost big in lost crops