Sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic have risen dramatically in recent weeks, to as much as 0.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the previous record—and over 1 degree C warmer than average temperatures from 1982 to 2011.
The reason for the unusually toasty waters isn’t entirely clear. Some climatologists attribute part of the rise to an El Niño ocean circulation pattern this year, replacing the La Niña pattern that had been suppressing temperatures. Other factors may include a decline in atmospheric dust from the Sahara, and atmospheric circulation patterns that are allowing warm surface water to stay in place longer.
The warmer temperatures aren’t just limited to the North Atlantic, however—for the past three months, global average sea surface temperatures have also been reaching new highs. Casey Crownhart, a climate reporter at MIT Technology Review, joins Ira to talk about the warming trend, and other stories from the week in science, including accusations of body part sales from the Harvard Medical School morgue, studies of the economics of heat pumps, and a lawsuit brought by youth in Montana over global warming.
The Best Summer Books, According To Two Science Writers
Summer is one of the best times to crack open a book and read the hours away, according to Jaime Green and Annalee Newitz. The two science writers are voracious readers, and they’ve compiled a list of their summer reading recommendations for Science Friday listeners. Green and Newitz join Ira from New Britain, Connecticut and San Francisco, California respectively, to discuss their favorite nonfiction and fiction books for the summer, and take questions from listeners.
To read the full list of summer book recommendations, visit sciencefriday.com.
To stay updated on all-things-science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
Transcripts for each segment will be available the week after the show airs on sciencefriday.com.
613: An AI for Smell, Heat and Agricultural Workers, Golden Lion Tamarin, Y Chromosome. Sept 1, 2023, Part 2
612: US Surgeon General On Mental Health, Tracking Tick Bites. Sept 1, 2023, Part 1
611: Old Things Considered: La Brea, Megalodon, Dino Footprints, Surviving History. Aug 25, 2023, Part 2
610: Sea Otters, Alaskan Minerals, Salmon Restoration. Aug 25, 2023, Part 1
609: Women Athletes, Stem Cell Cornea Repair, Sand. August 18, 2023, Part 2
608: Covid Update, Brain Fog Research, Toilet to Tap. Aug 18, 2023, Part 1
Pod Pregnancy Movie, Increase In Deep-Sea Mining, Upcoming Astronomical Delights. August 11, 2023, Part 2
Hawai’i Wildfires, Blue-Fin Tuna Science, Maine’s New Lithium Deposit. August 11, 2023, Part 1
Answering Evolution Questions, Planetary Protection. Aug 4, 2023, Part 2
Artificial Sweetener Safety, Nuclear Weapons Tech. Aug 4, 2023, Part 1
The Cat’s Meow, Chumash Marine Sanctuary, EV Tires. July 28, 2023, Part 2
Kākāpō Conservation, NYC Parrots, One Year After the Dobbs Decision. July 28, 2023, Part 1
How Does The Brain Control Your Every Move? July 21, 2023, Part 1
What To Know Before You Go See ‘Oppenheimer’. July 21, 2023, Part 2
Lab-Grown Meat Approval, Underground Climate Change, Utahraptor. July 14, 2023, Part 2
Youth Mental Health Crisis, Repairing Sharks’ Bad Reputation. July 14, 2023, Part 1
Accessible Birding, Space Sounds, Wasps. July 7, 2023. Part 2
Beavers, Pando Tree, $7 Violin. July 7, 2023. Part 1
Cloning for Conservation, Cubesats, Queer Ecology, Henry Petroski. June 30, 2023, Part 2
Hum Of The Universe, Cephalopod Event In Miami. June 30, 2023, Part 1
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Just Dumb Enough Podcast
Voices of Misery Podcast
House of Whimsical Terror
Stuff You Should Know
Timcast IRL