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Extreme Temperature Diary- Thursday March 13th, 2023/Main Topic: List of Oil Companies for U.S. Heatwave Names During 2023 – Guy On Climate [1]
['Joseph Jones']
Date: 2023-04-13
The main purpose of this ongoing blog will be to track planetary extreme, or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to extreme or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials).😉
Main Topic: List of Oil Companies for U.S. Heatwave Names During 2023
Dear Diary. We already have a swath of the United States that is being affected by record heat. Though not a heatwave using my criteria, residents of the Midwest and Northeast have been experiencing summerlike temperatures very early in April:
Is this April or June? On this Wednesday we are getting hundreds of record warm reports in a broad swath from the Southwest + Rockies through the Plains into the Northeast everywhere you see 80's and 90's on this chart. @MichaelEMann @extremetemps @bhensonweather @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/HK9up1mgsA — Guy Walton (@climateguyw) April 12, 2023
Given that it is this hot already, it’s time to repost my heatwave criteria for 2022 and update it for 2023. This year, as promised, we are going to poke a little fun at oil companies by using their names to name heatwaves. Petroleum companies are a big reason why heatwaves have been getting worse year after year for the past forty years, at least, due to carbon pollution from the burning of their products. Here is the list that I have come up with for this year.
(from: List of oil exploration and production companies – Wikipedia):
Amoco B.P. (British Petroleum) Chevron Citgo Conoco (Phillips) Dana Exxon Frontera Gazprom Hess Koch Laredo Marathon Occidental Pemex Shell Todd Woodside Valero XTO
Across the United States, if we have the most extreme situation, Heatwave Amoco could last all season with the country not catching any break. In that case and all other cases, we will use unused names for 2024.
Let’s initially try to define heat wave severity and intensity on a day-to-day basis. My parameters introduced today are fairly rough around the edges and somewhat subjective, but if there is enough discussion and consensus within the meteorological community perhaps in time harder definitions based on sounder science can come to fruition.
Obviously, I’m naming heatwaves to highlight this worsening climate problem and perhaps save lives by getting the public to focus on this weather threat. This year I’m naming major heatwaves after oil companies to shame them in the process and to identify culprits that are exacerbating these deadly systems.
Mirroring the Saffir-Simpson scale, let’s define a weak or low-level category one heat wave as a fairly minor nuisance that can be dealt with using proper precautions. A CAT5 would be one that is truly deadly, in which you would not want to leave a location with air conditioning to go outside under any circumstances for no more than a few minutes. What I will do here is roughly define this 1-5 scale and give an example, also using 500 millibar charts.
1) CAT 1: Low level heat wave. Occurs when temperatures and humidity get hot enough to threaten the health of susceptible people over an area at least as large as a medium size state. Heat advisories from the National Weather Service will be in place with perhaps a small area of heat warnings. Temperatures don’t necessarily have to get as hot as record levels, but humidity levels must be sufficient to produce a heat index above 95°F.
The typical early July weather we saw on 7/2/2020 across the south-central U.S. was spot on for a CAT 1 heat wave. Here are current heat advisories posted for that heat episode:
During this summer (or as long as heat advisories are posted for a portion of the United States) when relevant I will post the above NWS graphic describing the severity of our ongoing heat wave on a scale of 1-5 before I get into the main topic of the day.
At 500 millibars here is what we saw from 7/2/2020, which would be typical for my CAT 1 heat wave definition:
2) CAT 2: Medium level heat wave in which areas have been subjected to temperatures and humidity sufficient to produce NWS heat advisories and warnings for at least three consecutive days. Temperatures may get close to record levels for a couple of days.
Here is a heat dome that would be typical for a CAT2:
3) CAT 3: A major level heatwave severe enough such that a few fatalities are reported. A city in a CAT 3 heat wave would be under a heat emergency for a few days. Many heat records would be either tied or broken.
A CAT3 or higher heatwave would be considered to be a major heatwave and would get a fossil fuel corporation name.
Indeed, a CAT 2 heat wave will grow into a CAT 3 system if we see a 500 millibar ridge enveloping much of the Plains or elsewhere like so:
4) CAT 4: High level heat wave severe enough to produce over 500 deaths to susceptible people. The city of Chicago had one of these back in 1995. Read about that here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Chicago_heat_wave
Such a heatwave would require a stable ridge at 500 millibars, with heights more than likely greater than 594 decameters, that would last for days and not move much:
5) CAT 5. Catastrophic heat wave. Many all-time temperature records would be shattered with thousands of deaths reported. Remember the European heat wave of 2003 in which there were well in excess of 10,000 fatalities? This event would certainly fit my CAT 5 category.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_European_heat_wave
Difference in average temperature (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2012) from 2003, covering the date range of 20 July – 20 August[1] Date July 2003 – August 2003 Location Europe Type Heat wave Deaths 50,000 – 70,000
A heatwave will end once we can no longer see it’s associated contoured 500 millibar heat dome on charts.
I welcome any constructive critiques for this heat wave scale. Am looking forward to any reader comments.
Here are some “ET’s” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
Historic heat in Central Asia
Turkmenistan had its hottest April day on records
with a monster 42.2C at Uchadzhi.
More records
41.6 Saragt
41.1 Erbent
40.0 Darganata
39.6 Ashkabad tied
39.6 Dashkhovuz
38.4 Ekheze tied
Uzbekistan
38.2 Urjench
38.0 Chimbaj
Many more tomorrow pic.twitter.com/PL30CKzvof — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
Unprecedented heat today for hundreds of stations in
Central USA, with max up:
96 in Colorado (April record tied 95F at Burlington)
95 Kansas
94 South Dakota
93 Nebraska
92 Iowa
90 Wisconsin and Minnesota
86 Michigan
Incredible temps. up to 90F on the shore of the Great Lakes ! pic.twitter.com/Qf1vVFahaU — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 12, 2023
Not many spring ski ⛷️🏂days like this in the Northeast with temps this warm. Many major resorts are still open. Just remember sunscreen, a t-shirt, sun goggles, and a sweaty helmet 🥵 pic.twitter.com/BTUKDiXqj9 — Bill Karins 💧 (@BillKarins) April 13, 2023
Thursday was a very warm spring day across much of the Eastern US with numerous high temperature records for April 13th broken or tied. Expect more of the same on Friday. pic.twitter.com/yVPKmAErb0 — NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) April 13, 2023
LOT issues Record Event Report (RER) at Apr 13, 3:44 PM CDT …RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE SET AT CHICAGO-OHARE…
https://t.co/9rpagmdRAN — NWS Record Event Reports (@iembot_rer) April 13, 2023
OAX issues Record Event Report (RER) at Apr 13, 3:13 PM CDT …RECORD HIGH TIED IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA TODAY…
https://t.co/LSYTwH0evt — NWS Record Event Reports (@iembot_rer) April 13, 2023
MPX issues Record Event Report (RER) at Apr 13, 3:06 PM CDT …RECORD WARM LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT TWIN CITIES MN YESTERDAY…
https://t.co/h5ZSOTudX4 — NWS Record Event Reports (@iembot_rer) April 13, 2023
Here is some more new March 2023 climatology:
🚨 Last month was the 2nd hottest March on record globally since at least 1880 – preliminary @NASAGISS data
[Data/methods:
https://t.co/Y7TeMNSvIJ] pic.twitter.com/s1yhTpjSko — Zack Labe (@ZLabe) April 13, 2023
There's just an El Niño Watch so far, but March 2023 was the 2nd warmest March on record, behind only the El Niño-fueled warmth of March 2016:
https://t.co/kgbrSd9Ov8 — Jeff Masters (@DrJeffMasters) April 13, 2023
#ThursdayMorning Reading – #Climate Summer forecast – Hot + Stormy depending on where you live. March 2023: Earth's 2nd-warmest March on record
https://t.co/QlyLk0JCMY — Silicon Valley North (@CCLSVN) April 13, 2023
March 2023 Globally ,according to NOAA, was also the 2nd warmest on records.
Parts of Central Asia,Koreas,Japan,Argentina and Uruguay had their warmest March on records.
2023 Year-to-date is so far the 4th warmest with chances to increase this position.
https://t.co/1wiTEao4ET — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
March 2023 Globally, according to NASA, had a temperature anomaly of +0.52C above the 1991-2020 baseline and was the 2nd warmest after 2016 (+0.67C).
Spread vs. older baselines:
1951-1980: +1.21C
1961-1990: +1.06C
1971-2000: +0.91C
1981-2010: +0.71C
1991-2020: +0.52C pic.twitter.com/1Xi4LM3uO9 — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
March 2023 Globally, according to Berkeley, was the 2nd warmest March on records, agreeing with the Copernicus ranking and preliminary JMA data.
Compared to February, temperature anomalies have risen sharply driven by the end of La Niña and an exceptional warmth in Asia.
https://t.co/WJjIIV8lEr — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
March 2023 in #Ethiopia was the first wetter than average month after years of drought.
Only the Western areas remained dry. (left map)
Moisture status improved specially in the central areas: soil remains dry in Western and Eastern areas (right map)
Maps by Ethiopia Met. Service pic.twitter.com/mebz549YAH — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
March 2023 in #Kazakhstan was abnormally warm: the warmest on records.
Temperature anomalies ranged from +2C to +8C above the 1991-2020 norm with dozens of records smashed throughout the month. Exceptional.
See temperatures anomalies map courtesy of Kazakh Met. Service. pic.twitter.com/1LxizKJM9n — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
March 2023 in #Malaysia had an average temperature of 27.85C which is 0.05C below the 1991-2020 normal.
It was hot and dry in the Northern parts of the Peninsula bordering Thailand,rainy in Southern parts and in Western Sarawak.
See rainfall anomalies map by Malaysia Met. Service pic.twitter.com/5ERXwmPVgk — Extreme Temperatures Around The World (@extremetemps) April 13, 2023
Here is more climate and weather news from Thursday.
(As usual, this will be a fluid post in which more information gets added during the day as it crosses my radar, crediting all who have put it on-line. Items will be archived on this site for posterity. In most instances click on the pictures of each tweet to see each article. The most noteworthy items will be listed first.)
Category 5 Severe Tropical #CycloneIlsa will make landfall to the east of Port Hedland tonight/early Friday morning. Wind gusts are predicted to reach up to 315 km/h near the system's core as it crosses the coast.
Latest track map and warnings:
https://t.co/8LrqwfK49s pic.twitter.com/Z2cmtNDqib — Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) April 13, 2023
Incredible radar imagery from the @MyRadarWX app showing Cyclone #Ilsa about to make landfall east of the De Grey River in Western Australia.
It’s a high end Category 4 with 150 mph winds. Gusts to 172 mph have been directly observed on Bedout Island.
Port Hedland is lucky. pic.twitter.com/BS0WAfKrPG — Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) April 13, 2023
#BREAKING: Cyclone #Ilsa has made landfall 69mi east of Port Hedland, #WesternAustralia.
This is the strongest cyclone to make landfall in #Australia since Yasi ‘11, & the strongest cyclone to make landfall in WA on record!
Ilsa made history! #tropicswx #WAStorm pic.twitter.com/pVTjQo50MZ — Vortix ♦️CODE RED♦️ (@VortixWx) April 13, 2023
Paywalled, but important: "Today’s global supply chains are woefully unprepared for a Chinese drought. As China continues over-exploiting groundwater amid intensified weather volatility, it moves closer each year to a catastrophic water event.”
https://t.co/oZEPjNccJS — Jeff Masters (@DrJeffMasters) April 13, 2023
El Niño a substantial warming is central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean is like
"like a natural form of #climate change," likely later this year when combined with man made warming of the Earth will trigger climate extremes we have never seen before
https://t.co/Lv9tZGZQHc — GO GREEN (@ECOWARRIORSS) April 13, 2023
⚠️ BREAKING: The latest annual #BankingOnClimateChaos report shows the world's biggest banks poured *$5.5 TRILLION* into fossil fuels since 2016 — and the top 🇺🇸 banks have done the most damage in the 7 years since the Paris Agreement.
Learn more here 👉
https://t.co/94gjCyCG9V pic.twitter.com/pKCE5gB1L3 — Ben Cushing (@bmcushing) April 13, 2023
🚨#BankingOnClimateChaos finds fossil fuel financing by the 60 largest commercial investment banks reached nearly $5.5 trillion in 7yrs since adoption of Paris Agreement
To #EndFossilFuels & limit #ClimateChaos it's vital we put more pressure on banks & shareholders to #divest
https://t.co/zm90Poj3Oq pic.twitter.com/B46atqrilc — @ShellsLies (@shellslies) April 13, 2023
In case you missed the premier last night, here is the new documentary. @novapbs, thanks for including us at @ClimateCentral alongside some of our favorite climate friends. @DrShepherd2013 @JohnMoralesTV @KHayhoe @ASUHondula
https://t.co/l1xFN2LxhF — Bernadette Woods Placky (@BernWoodsPlacky) April 13, 2023
How carbon dioxide molecules trap heat in our atmosphere, and what these special molecules are doing to change the planet (via @PBSDS):
https://t.co/ntBgmdKi78 pic.twitter.com/8l9LjwV8gy — NOVA | PBS (@novapbs) April 13, 2023
Sensitive deniers look away
The latest sea-level rise (SLR) projections indicate that future sea levels are certain to exceed 2 m and a rise by 4 m is considered possible
https://t.co/45nOFdUSrx — GO GREEN (@ECOWARRIORSS) April 13, 2023
Nature doesn’t just absorb CO2 – it also protects us from the impacts of a warming world.
Healthy ecosystems can boost our resilience and help save lives. We must do more to safeguard and restore nature, our #SecretAlly!
https://t.co/MMIIlDlqKV #IPCC #ClimateReport
Via @WWF pic.twitter.com/TD0K9ZK5dk — UN Biodiversity (@UNBiodiversity) April 12, 2023
All the time, we repeat the mantra “never drive through flooded roads.”
But in this case, it was different — with 6 inch per hour rainfall rates, roads flooded around vehicles as people were actively trying to get to higher ground. Simply obscene rainfall rates.
https://t.co/RwdmdXYoni — Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) April 13, 2023
To give you an idea of how much rain has fallen in this area of Fort Lauderdale, I did some quick, rough calculations given a general area of 15 sq miles with the highest totals (in purple/pink) on average in the 17" – 20" range. For this I went with an average of 18.5" across… pic.twitter.com/Zvr3UkIJKh — ☈ Chris Jackson ☈ (@ChrisJacksonSC) April 13, 2023
Iran – 3 Killed, Hundreds Displaced After Floods in North West
https://t.co/xk12rUcNZy via @Flood_List pic.twitter.com/86NjnxnUwk — FloodList (@FloodList) April 13, 2023
With hurricane season quickly approaching, we chatted with the new Director of @NHC_Atlantic, Dr. Mike Brennan, about his top priorities.
Following the devastation of #Ian, Dr. Brennan wants to improve storm surge evacuations and communication.
WATCH for more of his insight: pic.twitter.com/jPzTJr50th — The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) April 13, 2023
We’ve got drought stats from April 11 to keep you informed. 💧
Need more? 🤔 See our news feed for the weekly update:
https://t.co/If0Ep4VAqT#DroughtMonitor@DroughtGov pic.twitter.com/lCq8ApWNkx — NOAA NCEI (@NOAANCEI) April 13, 2023
An El Nino Watch has been issued by the Climate Prediction Center. This is not the same as an Advisory. A Watch means that an El Nino is expected. An Advisory is when it is already occurring.
https://t.co/ZZi4kji5Wy — Brian Brettschneider (@Climatologist49) April 13, 2023
New Twitter rules and fees will limit the National Weather Service's ability to warn the public about tornadoes, storms and floods, meteorologists say.
https://t.co/aza2HZqeOA — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 13, 2023
"First Wild Beaver In Wales In Years Caught Felling Trees In Garden"
https://t.co/GUPg8Psmni — Greta Thunberg News (@great_thunberg) April 13, 2023
Dandelions.
Don’t mind where they be or what size they be so long as they be.
And in being nourishing a bee glowing yellow bathed in warm spring sunshine swaying gently to the serenade of birds.
As it should be.#dandelions #spring #bees #bumblebees
https://t.co/lfHvHYDxDf pic.twitter.com/OCj6SuMGRn — The Bee Guy (@the_beeguy) April 13, 2023
The COVID virus has mutated so much since 2019 that some experts say it should be renamed SARS-CoV-3 via Salon
https://t.co/JAERPIkEQl — Jeffrey Levin 🇺🇦 (@jilevin) April 13, 2023
About 50 000 wild species are used for food, energy, medicine, material & more.
This includes many plants.
But often these plants are not sourced or used sustainably, which threatens #biodiversity.
🌱How @FAO is protecting them:
https://t.co/7qM0kkZUFV…
Via @FAO pic.twitter.com/dA8dTtk3cp — UN Biodiversity (@UNBiodiversity) April 12, 2023
If you like these posts and my work please contribute via the PayPal widget, which has recently been added to this site. Thanks in advance for any support.)
Guy Walton… “The Climate Guy”
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