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Against the backdrop of global warming, Northern East Asia experienced a record‐breaking extreme cold event during December 13 to 19 in 2023. The mechanisms behind this extreme cold event remain unclear. This study uses the circulation projection method to detect and quantify the contributions of various factors to this extreme cold event. The findings indicate that large‐scale atmospheric circulation anomalies are the predominant factors triggering this cold wave. The Polar‐Eurasian (POL)‐like teleconnection pattern is identified as a key driver for the cold anomalies, contributing approximately 85% of total cold anomalies in Northern East Asia in this event. Although the POL‐like teleconnection is largely internally generated, the preceding low sea ice levels in the Barents and Kara Seas can strengthen and maintain POL teleconnection. Additionally, preceding November increased snow cover in Northern East Asia can further amplify this cold event by enhancing local surface albedo and reducing incoming solar shortwave radiation. Plain Language Summary: Between December 13 and 19, 2023, a powerful cold wave hit Northern East Asia, breaking temperature records. The exact causes of this extreme cold event are still being studied. This research looked at different climate factors to understand what drove this event. The study found that unusual patterns in large‐scale atmospheric circulation were the main reason behind the cold wave, accounting for about 88% of the drop in daily minimum temperatures. Specifically, a Polar‐Eurasian (POL) teleconnection pattern was the key driver, responsible for roughly 85% of the temperature anomalies in Northern East Asia. Low sea ice levels in the Barents and Kara Seas in November helped set up the conditions for this POL pattern, making the region colder. Additionally, increased snow cover in Northern East Asia during November amplified the cold by reflecting more sunlight and reducing warming from the sun. Key Points: Large‐scale atmospheric circulation anomalies trigger this extreme cold event over Northern East Asia in December 2023Extreme phase of POL‐like teleconnection is crucial in causing this cold eventPreceding low sea‐ice cover in BKS and increased snow cover in Northern East Asia further amplify this cold event [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has led to increased volatility in extreme temperatures, which poses a significant threat to human health. One way in which extreme temperatures impact health is through changes in dietary patterns, particularly food consumption and nutrient intake. This study uses a restricted-access version of 24 h dietary recall data from the 2018–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and meteorological data to examine the effect of heat and cold waves on food consumption and nutrient intake. The results suggest that cold waves increase individuals' intake of key nutrients such as calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. In contrast, heat waves have little to no significant effect on nutrient intake. Aside from the significant increase in the consumption of beer and chicken, the effects of heat or cold waves on overall food consumption are minimal. Depending on age and income level, cold and heat waves have different effects on food consumption and nutrient intake. This study suggests that temperature, particularly extreme heat and cold, plays a significant role in shaping individuals' dietary patterns. Therefore, special attention is needed to maintain a balanced and healthy diet during extreme temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review aimed to investigate the epidemiological data about meteorological factors and climate change (CC) impact on asthma. Data sources: A search was performed using three databases (Web of Science, Science Direct, and MEDLINE) for all relevant studies published from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022. Study selections: This systematic review complied with the PRISMA document's requirements, including studies related to meteorological factors and CC impact on asthma. The search included studies published in English or French language, and was based on title, abstract, and complete text. Documents not meeting inclusion requirements were excluded. Results: We identified 18 studies published in the last five years that were eligible for inclusion in this review. We found that these studies concerned European, Asian, American, and Oceanic cities. Extreme variations in temperature, humidity, wind speed, exceptional incidents like hurricanes, cold and heat waves, and seasonal shifts were strongly correlated with the worsening of asthmatic symptoms, particularly in childhood. In addition, excessive concentrations of air pollutants and aeroallergens were linked to pediatric asthma emergency hospital admissions. Conclusions: A significant association between the consequences of CC and asthma in adults particularly in children has been demonstrated. Future research should quantify the impact of global change in climate regarding the aeroallergens' distribution in terms of geography and time. It is also necessary to research the impact of air pollution on asthmatic health, like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particles having an aerodynamic diameter lower than 2.5 µm (PM2.5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With climate change increasing not just mean temperatures but the frequency of cold snaps and heat waves, animals occupying thermally variable areas may be faced with thermal conditions for which they are not prepared. Studies of physiological adaptations of temperate resident birds to such thermal variability are largely lacking in the literature. To address this gap, we acclimated winter-phenotype house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to stable warm, stable cold, and fluctuating cold temperatures. We then measured several metrics of the oxidative stress (OS) system, including enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants and lipid oxidative damage, in brain (post-mitotic), kidney (mitotic), liver (mitotic) and pectoralis muscle (post-mitotic). We predicted that high metabolic flexibility could be linked to increases in reactive oxygen damage. Alternatively, if variation in ROS production is not associated with metabolic flexibility, then we predict no antioxidant compensation with thermal variation. Our data suggest that ROS production is not associated with metabolic flexibility, as we found no differences across thermal treatment groups. However, we did find differences across tissues. Brain catalase activity demonstrated the lowest values compared with kidney, liver and muscle. In contrast, brain glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were higher than those in kidney and liver. Muscle GPx activities were intermediate to brain and kidney/liver. Lipid peroxidation damage was lowest in the kidney and highest in muscle tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the winter activity of reptile species in Montenegro, highlighting the impact of hibernation on their survival and development. It mentions the observation of six reptile species, including lizards and turtles, during the winter period of 2023/2024 in various towns. The study suggests that global warming and climate change are influencing reptiles' winter activity, with higher temperatures potentially leading to increased winter activity. The findings contribute to understanding the biology of these species and emphasize the need for further research on the effects of climate change on reptiles. [Extracted from the article]

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Atmospheric blocking is a key dynamical phenomenon in the mid‐ and high latitudes, able to drive day‐to‐day weather changes and meteorological extremes such as heatwaves, droughts and cold waves. Current global circulation models struggle to fully capture observed blocking frequencies, likely because of their coarse horizontal resolution. Here we use convection permitting, nested idealized model simulations for quantifying changes in blocking frequency and Rossby wave breaking compared to a coarser resolution reference. We find an increase in blocking frequency poleward and downstream of the area with increased resolution, while the exact regions depend on the blocking index. These changes are probably due to a more accurate representation of small‐scale processes such as diabatic heating, which affect Rossby wave breaking and blocking formation downstream. Our results thus suggest an improved representation of blocking in the next generation of high‐resolution global climate models. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric blocking is a persistent weather pattern associated with high‐pressure anomalies that is able to drive meteorological extremes such as heatwaves and drought in summer, and cold waves in winter. Having blocking well represented in state‐of‐the‐art climate models is of paramount importance, however these models fail in simulating the frequency of blocking events, likely because their grid resolution is not high enough for resolving small scale physical processes important for the development of blocking episodes. Here we use very‐high resolution model simulations for quantifying blocking frequencies and the mechanisms driving these episodes. Our simulations are idealized, in the sense that they do not fully represent the Earth's system but allow us to focus on key physical mechanisms driving the blocking events. Our results show that using a very‐high resolution enhances blocking frequencies when compared to a lower resolution grid. The findings point toward the importance that unresolved physical processes play in generating blocking events that can only be simulated at very‐high resolution and can be of importance for the next generation of climate models. Key Points: Blocking frequency increases downstream and poleward of sea‐surface temperature front with convection permitting atmospheric resolutionThe specific region of increased blocking depends on the blocking indexChanges in diabatic heating and Rossby wave breaking play a fundamental role for the blocking enhancement [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the year 2023, climate warming continued to remain in the plateau phase. After the warm summer (C) with long and intense tropical heat waves, followed a very warm autumn (FC), which was the warmest in the history of the climate in Oltenia and, as a whole, normal in pluviometric terms (N). The winter of 2023-2024 was very warm (FC) with an overall seasonal average of 3.88°C and a deviation from normal of 4.83°C, being the warmest winter in the entire history of climate records for Oltenia. February was warm on all days with mean daily highs ≥ 10.0°C on 26 days out of 29 (89.7% of days of the month) and ≥ 15.0°C on 14 days (48.3% of days). Throughout the winter, six winter heat waves were recorded in the intervals: 1-3.XII (3 days), 11-31.XII (21 days), 1-7.I (7 days), 16-19. I (4 days), 25-31.I (7 days) and 1-29.II (29 days) totalling 71 days, i.e. 78.0% of winter days and a single cold wave in the interval 9-15.I with a duration of 7 days. No monthly temperature and rainfall records were recorded. The seasonal thermal average was 3.88°C and the deviation from normal (calculated for the last century) was 4.83°C, thus being the warmest winter in the history of the climate in Oltenia and surpassing the winter of 2006-2007 which occupied the first place until this year (2024). Most very warm winters (FC) have been recorded since 2000 (8 winters out of 25, i.e. 32.0%). So, in general, we are currently in a period of climate warming, a process related to the cycles of climate warming and cooling studied by the Serbian physicist Milankovitch, whose causes are of a cosmic nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study conducts a comparative analysis of India's eight Tier-1 cities, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune, for their climate vulnerability assessment. The secondary data was collected from the India Meteorological Department and published climate vulnerability atlas to draw the relative importance index (RII) score for each exposure indicator of climate vulnerability for each city on the ten climate parameters, including earthquake, rainfall, wind, thunderstorm, cyclone, drought, floods, heatwave, cold wave vulnerabilities. The cities based on inland and coastal boundaries were also considered in scoring calculations. The study's findings indicate that Chennai and Mumbai are the most vulnerable cities, primarily due to extreme weather events and sea-level rise, necessitating targeted adaptation strategies. Bengaluru shows lower vulnerability, reflecting its resilient infrastructure and proactive measures. Mid-range vulnerabilities are observed for Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune, highlighting diverse challenges from heat waves to flooding. Hyderabad's relatively lower score suggests moderate risk yet underscores the importance of continuous infrastructure improvement. The comparative analysis offers critical insights for urban planners and policymakers to develop tailored climate resilience strategies, emphasising sustainable infrastructure, community preparedness, and proactive urban design to mitigate climate risks and foster sustainable development across these urban conglomerates. The study serves as a foundational step towards enhancing the climate resilience of India's major cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term trends of the three-dimensional Plumb wave activity flux are studied using data from the JRA-55 global atmospheric reanalysis. The vertical component of the Plumb flux characterizes the propagation of atmospheric planetary waves generated in the troposphere to the upper atmosphere and is used for the analysis of the stratosphere–troposphere dynamic interaction. The study of the wave activity flux covers three latitudinal sectors of the Northern Hemisphere from December to March for a 64-year period since 1958. It is shown that in January and March over the Russian Far East there is a statistically significant trend for an increase in the wave activity flux from the troposphere to the stratosphere, which can contribute to an increase in the frequency of cold wave formation in the mid-latitude troposphere. The study of the stratosphere–troposphere dynamic interaction in general and wave activity fluxes in particular is necessary for solving problems related to both global and regional climatic changes and mixing of long-lived atmospheric components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winter of 1739/40 is known as one of the coldest winters in Europe since early instrumental measurements began. Many contemporary sources discuss the cold waves and compare the winter to that of 1708/09. It is less well known that the year 1740 remained cold until August and was again cold in October and that negative temperature anomalies were also found over Eurasia and North America. The 1739/40 cold season over northern mid-latitude land areas was perhaps the coldest in 300 years, and 1740 was the coldest year in central Europe in 600 years. New monthly global climate reconstructions allow us to address this momentous event in greater detail, while daily observations and weather reconstructions give insight into the synoptic situations. Over Europe, we find that the event was initiated by a strong Scandinavian blocking in early January, allowing the advection of continental cold air. From February until June, high pressure dominated over Ireland, arguably associated with frequent eastern Atlantic blocking. This led to cold-air advection from the cold northern North Atlantic. During the summer, cyclonic weather dominated over central Europe, associated with cold and wet air from the Atlantic. The possible role of oceanic influences (El Niño) and external forcings (eruption of Mount Tarumae in 1739) are discussed. While a possible El Niño event might have contributed to the winter cold spells, the eastern Atlantic blocking is arguably unrelated to either El Niño or the volcanic eruption. All in all, the cold year of 1740 marks one of the strongest, arguably unforced excursions in European temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuarine phytoplankton communities are acclimated to environmental parameters that change seasonally. With climate change, they are having to respond to extreme weather events that create dramatic alterations to ecosystem function(s) on the scale of days. Herein, we examined the short term (<1 month) shifts in phytoplankton communities associated with four pulse disturbances (Tax Day Flood in 2016, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019, and Winter Storm Uri in 2021) that occurred in Galveston Bay (TX, USA). Water samples collected daily were processed using an Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB), along with concurrent measurements of temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll-a. Stronger storm events with localized heavy precipitation and flooding had greater impacts on community composition, increasing diversity (Shannon–Weiner and Simpson Indices) while a cold wave event lowered it. Diatoms and dinoflagellates accounted for the largest fraction of the community, cyanobacteria and chlorophytes varied mostly with salinity, while euglenoids, cryptophytes, and raphidophytes, albeit at lower densities, fluctuated greatly. The unconstrained variance of the redundancy analysis models pointed to additional environmental processes than those measured being responsible for the changes observed. These findings provide insights into the impact of pulse disturbances of different magnitudes, durations, and timings on phytoplankton communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cold wave is a hazardous event experienced in the middle latitudes during the winter that significantly influences civil aviation. This study utilized the fifth‐generation ECMWF reanalysis (ERA5) data and aerodrome routine meteorological reports (METARs) from 36 airports in China to analyze the impacts of a cold‐wave event from November 26 to 30, 2022. We assessed the effects on wind, visibility, thunderstorms, precipitation, ground‐icing conditions, in‐flight aircraft icing conditions, and clear air turbulence. The results indicated that regions affected by the cold wave shifted from northwest to southeast, with notable impacts on wind, precipitation, and icing conditions. Strong winds, particularly crosswinds, affected airports in coastal regions and narrow valleys, enhancing wind speeds and creating hazardous conditions. Ground‐icing conditions were prevalent, with 23 out of 36 airports experiencing significant icing, notably in Northeast, Central, southern, and eastern China. In‐flight icing conditions were identified in the lower and middle troposphere, primarily affecting Northwest, Northeast, and Central China and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. At cruising levels, the cold wave introduced light clear air turbulence. This study provides valuable insights for improving civil aviation operations during cold‐wave events, emphasizing the need for preventive measures and early warning systems to mitigate potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cold snaps during winter pose a significant challenge for Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) in Taiwan. Such temperature stress can reduce antioxidant enzyme activity, burdening these enzymes and requiring additional support from non-enzymatic antioxidants. Grape extract (GE), rich in polyphenols, may enhance the antioxidant system in these fish. In a 60-day feeding experiment, various levels of GE (20, 30, and 40 g per kilogram of feed) were tested against a control group to assess their impact on growth, antioxidant-related gene expression, and cold tolerance. The findings demonstrated that the group receiving 20 g of GE per kilogram of feed (GE20) experienced higher improvements in weight gain, antioxidant gene expression, and cold tolerance, suggesting that GE at this concentration could serve as an effective dietary supplement to help Asian seabass withstand the stresses of cold temperatures during cold snaps. Cold snaps during the winter present a critical challenge for Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) in Taiwan, as sudden temperature drops significantly affect their growth and survival. This study explores the effects of dietary grape extract (GE) from Vitis vinifera on the growth performance, oxidative stress regulation, and thermal tolerance of this commercially valuable fish. Over a 60-day feeding trial, four dietary groups were tested: a control diet without GE and three diets supplemented with GE at 2% (GE20), 3% (GE30), and 4% (GE40) with commercial feed. The results demonstrated that GE supplementation positively influenced growth, with the GE20 group achieving the best weight gain and feed conversion ratio among all groups. The upregulation of the growth-related gene igf-1 in the liver of the GE20 group further supported its superior growth performance. Additionally, GE-fed groups showed increased expression of antioxidant-related genes sod1 and sod2 in the liver, while gpx1 exhibited a significant increase only in the GE20 group, indicating enhanced antioxidant defenses. Cat gene expression remained unchanged, and higher GE doses reduced the expression of gpx1, cat, and igf-1. Furthermore, GE supplementation improved cold tolerance in all treated groups compared to the control. These findings suggest that dietary GE at 20 g/kg is particularly effective in enhancing growth performance and cold tolerance in Asian seabass, offering a promising strategy for boosting fish health and adaptability in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupled ocean and prescribed sea surface temperature (SST) experiments are performed to investigate the drivers of Northern Hemisphere (NH) midlatitude winter circulation and blocking changes in warmer climates. In coupled experiments, a historical simulation is compared to a simulation following an end of the twenty-first-century shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP5-8.5) emission scenario. The SSP5-8.5 simulation yields poleward-shifted jets and an enhanced stationary wave pattern compared to the historical simulation. In terms of blocking, a reduction is found across North America and over the Pacific Ocean with the suggestion of more blocking over parts of Eurasia. Separately, prescribed SST experiments are performed decomposing the SSP5-8.5 SST response into a uniform warming component plus a spatially dependent change in SST pattern. SSP5-8.5 changes in circulation are primarily driven by a uniform warming of SST. Uniform warming is also found to account for most of the SSP5-8.5 blocking reduction over North America and the Pacific Ocean, but not over Eurasia. El Niño–like changes to the SST pattern also yield less blocking over the Pacific and North America. However, adding the responses of uniform and pattern experiments yields a nonlinear overreduction of blocking compared to the SSP5-8.5 experiment. Regional analyses of block energetics suggest that much of the reductions in blocking in warming simulations are driven by decreased baroclinic conversion in some regions and enhanced dissipation from diabatic sources in others. Significance Statement: Atmospheric blocks are persistent anticyclones that can cause severe weather such as heat waves and cold spells. Climate models generally project that on a warmer Earth, blocking frequency is poised to decrease in the Northern Hemisphere by the end of the twenty-first century. The cause, however, remains unclear. In this study, we investigate the response of mean atmospheric circulation and atmospheric blocking when separately considering the warming of sea surface temperatures (SST) and changing the SST pattern. We find that most of the reduction in blocking can be explained by a uniform warming of SST. Energetics analyses suggest that this reduction is driven by blocks' inhibited extraction of mean flow potential energy in some regions and by enhanced diabatic dissipation in others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric fronts embedded in extratropical cyclones are high‐impact weather phenomena, contributing significantly to mid‐latitude winter precipitation. The three vital characteristics of the atmospheric fronts, high wind speeds, abrupt change in wind direction, and rapid translation, force the induced surface waves to be misaligned with winds exclusively behind the cold fronts. The effects of the misaligned waves under atmospheric cold fronts on air‐sea fluxes remain undocumented. Using the multi‐year in situ near‐surface observations and direct covariance flux measurements from the Pioneer Array off the coast of New England, we find that the majority of the passing cold fronts generate misaligned waves behind the cold front. Once generated, the waves remain misaligned, on average, for about 8 hr. The parameterized effect of misaligned waves in a fully coupled model significantly increases the roughness length (185%), drag coefficient (19%), and air‐sea momentum flux (11%). The increased surface drag reduces the wind speeds in the surface layer. The upward turbulent heat flux is weakly decreased by the misaligned waves because of the decrease in temperature and humidity scaling parameters being greater than the increase in friction velocity. The misaligned wave effect is not accurately represented in a commonly used wave‐based bulk flux algorithm. Yet, considering this effect in the current formulation improves the overall accuracy of parameterized momentum flux estimates. The results imply that better representing a directional wind‐wave coupling in the bulk formula of the numerical models may help improve the air‐sea interaction simulations under the passing atmospheric fronts in the mid‐latitudes. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric fronts are recurrent weather phenomena in mid‐latitudes, significantly contributing to winter precipitation. They are characterized by high wind speeds, abrupt changes in wind direction, and rapid translation. The passage of the fronts over the ocean can generate strongly misaligned waves with the local wind, particularly behind the cold fronts. The effects of these misaligned waves under atmospheric cold fronts on air‐sea fluxes remain undocumented. Using the long‐term surface observations from the Pioneer Array off the coast of New England, we find that the majority of the passing atmospheric fronts generate misaligned waves behind the cold front, which can remain misaligned, on average, for about 8 hr. By increasing the ocean roughness length in case of misaligned waves in coupled numerical experiments, a significant increase in momentum flux is found, which reduces the surface wind speeds. The misaligned wave effect is not accurately represented in a commonly used wave‐based air‐sea flux algorithm. Yet, by considering this effect in the current formulation, the overall accuracy of parameterized momentum flux estimates is improved. A better representation of the air‐sea interaction in numerical models is crucial for a better understanding of regional and global climate. Key Points: Passing atmospheric cold fronts generate a large area of growing wind‐waves that are misaligned with local windParameterized effect of misaligned waves increases the roughness length, drag and enthalpy coefficients, and wind stressRepresentation of the misaligned wave effect in the bulk formula improves the momentum flux estimates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations classified Iraq as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Temperatures continue to rise leading to more heat waves, droughts, sandstorms, and desertification. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of heat waves over Iraq from 1982 to 2050 using CMIP6 model at RCP4.5 scenarios. The results clearly showed that the effects of climatic changes were evident in the maximum and minimum temperatures inside Iraq. Average temperature increased of 1.9°C between 1982 and 2020. During 1999, there was a sharp increase in summer days for all stations. The annual number of summer days for the stations (Basra, Nasiriyah, Baghdad, Rutba, Sulaymaniyah, and Mosul) was (195, 193, 177, 108, 106, and 142), while in 2039 the number of summer days was found to be (212, 206, 194, 143, 144, and 149), respectively. The increase in the number of discrete heat wave events began in 2020 and will continue until 2050 for almost the entire territory of Iraq. The warmest day in Basra was in July 2016 with 53.2°C, while the projection of the warmest day was found in July 2046 with 55.7°C. The coldest daily temperature reached -5.03 °C for Baghdad in 1997 and -10.1°C for Sulaymaniyah in 1985, while the projection of the coldest day was -16.2°C over Sulaymaniyah in 2039. The trend of the number of days contributing to cold wave events was decreasing for all stations whereas the coldest year for all stations was 1992 for the entire period (1982 to 2020). Heat waves accelerated from the beginning of the study period in 1982 and continued to increase until the end of the study in 2050 in Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In February 2023, a severe cold snap took place in Atlantic Canada and was followed by the mass loss of mussels at mid-to-high intertidal elevations on the southeastern Nova Scotia coast. This loss was concerning because mussels sustain upper trophic levels in coastal food webs and because mussel stands enhance local biodiversity by sheltering many small invertebrate species. Using photographs taken in the second summer after that cold snap (July 2024), this article provides visual evidence of active ongoing recolonization of intertidal mussels on this coast, including the incipient formation of new stands. These are encouraging signs of ecological resilience. Reaching historical values of abundance will likely depend on the future occurrence of weather extremes, which are becoming more frequent with the ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter cold wave adaptation strategies in hot climates due to climate change didn't receive the deserved attention from previous studies. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigates the impact of various windbreak parameters on mitigating winter cold stress in hot steppe-arid climate. A microclimate model for a residential campus was built and validated through on-site measurement on a typical winter day to assess thirty-two scenarios for tree characteristics and spatial configuration windbreak parameters based on PET, wind speed, and Air Temperature (AT). Moreover, four configurations, that had best results on mitigating cold stress in winter, were tested during typical summer conditions to couple the assessment of cold and hot seasons. Additionally, environmental analysis for all scenarios was conducted. The results revealed that the most effective parameters for mitigating cold stress are tree distribution, Leaf Area Density (LAD), row number, spacing, and shape. Double rows of high LAD and medium height trees with small spacing yielded the best cold stress mitigation effect. Furthermore, the windbreak reduced the cold stress in the morning and night by 19.31% and 18.06%, respectively. It reduced AT and wind speed at night by 0.79 °C and 2.56 m/s, respectively. During summer, very hot PET area was reduced by 21.79% and 19.5% at 12:00 and 15:00, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article delves into the formation of hoar frost at OR Tambo International Airport and its impact on infrastructure and agriculture in South Africa. It emphasizes the importance of accurate weather forecasts for safe aviation operations, particularly in preventing incidents and accidents caused by icing on aircraft. The research aims to enhance hoar frost forecasting techniques by analyzing weather conditions conducive to ground aircraft icing events, offering valuable insights for aviation professionals and researchers worldwide. [Extracted from the article]

This article delves into the cultural and meteorological significance of Groundhog Day, tracing its roots back to the Christian holiday of Candlemas and its connection to the pagan holiday Imbolc. It explores the folklore surrounding Groundhog Day and its supposed ability to predict the arrival of spring, emphasizing that these predictions are not scientifically accurate but can stimulate discussions about weather and climate. The article also discusses the historical and cultural origins of the Groundhog Day tradition and its diffusion from Europe to America. It raises questions about what constitutes a "fair" Candlemas and the paradox of global warming in relation to the Groundhog Day predictions, highlighting the role of atmospheric circulation and climate patterns in understanding the folklore. [Extracted from the article]

Previous studies have suggested possible connections between the decreasing Arctic sea‐ice and long‐duration (>5 days, LD) cold weather events in Eurasia and North America. Here we document the occurrences of weather regimes in winter by their durations, based on the empirical orthogonal function analyses of the daily geopotential height fields at 500 hPa (z500) for the months of November–March 1979–2019. Significant changes in the occurrence frequency and persistence of Ural ridge (UR) and weak stratospheric polar vortex (PV) were found between winters following high and low autumn sea‐ice covers (SIC) in the Barents and Kara seas. It is shown that a strengthening of the UR is accompanied with a weakening of the PV, and a weak PV favors Greenland ridge (GR). Cold spells in East Asia persist for 5 more days after an LDUR. Cold spells from Canada to the U.S. occur 2–5 days after an LD Ural trough (UT) and are associated with a z500 anomaly dipole centered over Alaska (+) and Hudson Bay (−). Cold spells in the eastern U.S. occur 1–4 days after an LDGR due to circulations resembling the Pacific‐North America pattern. Increased occurrences of UR in winter are associated with a decreased eastward propagation of synoptic waves from the North Atlantic to Japan and the North Pacific. Plain Language Summary: Analyses of observations show more frequent occurrences of long‐duration events of Ural ridge (UR), Greenland ridge (GR) and weak polar vortex (PV) in winter tend to follow low autumn sea ice cover (SIC) in the Barents and Kara Seas, and less frequent for Ural trough (UT) and strong PV. Long‐duration UR (GR or UT) events are followed by cold snaps in East Asia (the eastern US or Canada). Long‐term natural or anthropogenic warming in the Arctic and decreasing autumn SIC may cause more frequent cold air outbreaks in East Asia and the eastern US in winter, but less in Canada. Key Points: The Ural ridge regime and weak polar vortex are more frequent and persistent following low autumn sea ice in the Nordic seasThe long‐duration Ural and Greenland ridge regimes are followed by cold snaps in East Asia and the eastern USCold anomalies occur more frequently in Canada with increasing occurrences of the long‐duration Ural trough regimes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from low-temperature cracking, asphalt pavement may also suffer from thermal fatigue cracking. To clarify the impact of cold waves on the thermal fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures, the typical atmospheric temperature characteristics of different regions in China from 2012 to 2019 were analyzed, and the frequency of cold waves in these regions was determined. The viscoelastic parameters of an asphalt mixture are determined through an indirect tensile relaxation test. The thermal stress of the asphalt mixture is simulated and analyzed by using the finite element method. The effect of cold waves on the thermal fatigue life of the asphalt mixture was evaluated. The results show that the frequency of cold waves is different from region to region in China, and the cold waves mainly occurred from October of one year to February of the next year. Northeast China has the most frequency and the largest temperature drop amplitude, followed by North China. The maximum thermal stress increases with the decrease in temperature drop and initial temperature and is unrelated to the duration of cold waves. The thermal stress calculated based on the atmospheric thermal boundary is higher than the value using the road surface temperature. The thermal fatigue lives of asphalt mixtures in North China and Northeast China are very short, while the thermal fatigue life of the mixture in Central China is the longest. To meet the requirement of thermal fatigue damage caused by cold waves during the designed service stage, the recommended threshold for thermal stress is 0.39–0.77 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the incidence of heat wave and cold wave condition during 2000 – 2022 in the Bathinda district of South-Western region of Punjab. Notable spikes in heat wave (HW) activity were observed in 2002 and 2022 with 29 and 27 days respectively. Similarly, for severe heat waves (SHW), 2010 and 2022 witnessed the highest frequencies recording 16 and 18 days respectively. Conversely, cold wave (CW) events peaked in 2005 and 2008 with 10 and 11 days respectively. Notably, 2008 also observed the highest frequency of severe cold wave (SCW) days with 15 days. However, results revealed decline in cold wave days towards the latter years, while severe cold wave days also exhibited decreasing frequencies like 2015 and 2016 recorded zero CW and SCW days. One key finding highlights a substantial correlation between land surface temperature (LST) and maximum air temperature during heat wave periods (R² = 0.83), indicating LST’s efficacy as an indicator for monitoring temperature trends during heat wave events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one kind of erratic behaviour and hazards of environmental consequences such as floods, flash floods, drought, heat & cold waves, cyclones, high and low tides, river bank erosion, salinity intrusion, etc. The household survey and qualitative study approaches were performed to explore the changes in vulnerable peoples' ecological migration perspective in disaster-affected southern part of Bangladesh. People usually move to the nearest town and peri-urban areas to seek jobs due to concurrent cyclones, storm surges, and floods in the coastal areas. Again, heavy rainfall and flash-flood conditions usually create intra-district temporary migration to maintain their daily livelihood smoothly. In the char lands, this migration takes place due to riverbank erosion where family members were forced to relocate to a new residence. It occurs when the income-generating activities of people are disrupted by ecological events. Families leave their homes during the disaster period and return, once the conditions are back to normal. Movement for rural people needs constant land management systems including governance, ownership rights and access and technical support for financing land use and making productive use of land to cope with frequent natural calamities. The government of Bangladesh therefore must consider these challenges and gradually improve its capacity to prepare its technology to renovate the vulnerable local people into a climate resilient one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the conventional observation data and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the circulation situation, influencing systems and causes of the heavy rain during September 20 -21, 2010 in Ulanqab City were analyzed from the evolution process of weather circulation situation and the changes of various physical quantity fields. The results show that there was an obvious frontal zone between 45 -52° N, which brought strong cold air. The transp01t of warm and humid air outside the subtropical high and typhoon was the main water vapor source of the strong precipitation, and the southwest jet at 700 hPa transported abundant water vapor. There was a broad inverted trough to the south of 45° N, with a central value of 1 000. 0 hPa. Ulanqab City was on the top of the inverted trough, stable and less moved, which was conducive to the occurrence of systematic heavy precipitation. The rainstorm was a strong precipitation process caused by the intersection of cold air brought by the southward movement of the upper frontal zone and warm and humid air outside the subtropical high. After the precipitation, the invasion of strong cold air brought frost and cold wave weather to Ulanqab City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the rising frequency of thermal extremes (heatwaves and cold snaps) due to climate change, comprehending how a plant's origin affects its thermal tolerance breadth (TTB) becomes vital. We studied juvenile plants from three biomes: temperate coastal rainforest, desert and alpine. In controlled settings, plants underwent hot days and cold nights in a factorial design to examine thermal tolerance acclimation. We assessed thermal thresholds (T crit-hot and T crit-cold) and TTB. We hypothesized that (i) desert species would show the highest heat tolerance, alpine species the greatest cold tolerance and temperate species intermediate tolerance; (ii) all species would increase heat tolerance after hot days and cold tolerance after cold nights; (iii) combined exposure would broaden TTB more than individual conditions, especially in desert and alpine species. We found that biome responses were minor compared to the responses to the extreme temperature treatments. All plants increased thermal tolerance in response to hot 40°C days (T crit-hot increased by ~3.5°C), but there was minimal change in T crit-cold in response to the cold −2°C nights. In contrast, when exposed to both hot days and cold nights, on average, plants exhibited an antagonistic response in TTB, where cold tolerance decreased and heat tolerance was reduced, and so we did not see the bi-directional expansion we hypothesized. There was, however, considerable variation among species in these responses. As climate change intensifies, plant communities, especially in transitional seasons, will regularly face such temperature swings. Our results shed light on potential plant responses under these extremes, emphasizing the need for deeper species-specific thermal acclimation insights, ultimately guiding conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is likely to intensify the variability of weather patterns, leading to a rise in extreme seasonal aberrations. The extreme weather events like heat waves, cold waves and frost have great influence on agriculture productivity. These events have negatively impact on crop production and farmers' livelihood. The prediction of magnitude, frequency, timing and duration of extreme weather events in the changing scenario of climate can be supportive towards adaptation of suitable strategies to mitigate its adverse effects on agriculture and socio-economic aspects. The study of occurrence of significant climatic events and their trend analysis were done by utilizing daily maximum temperature, minimum temperature for Morena district which lies in Gird Agroclimatic zone of Madhya Pradesh for the period of 30 years (1984-2013) with the IMD criteria. The study revealed that heat waves varied with annual time scale. The maximum number of heat waves was observed in the year 2010 (57). The 12.4 average annual heat waves were observed during the period 1984-2013. About 4 heat waves could be expected in the month of June. An increasing trend of heat waves was noticed and pointed towards rising of maximum temperature over the region. The cold waves were also exhibited variability. The maximum number of cold waves was observed in the year 2007-08 (20). On an average 5.8 cold waves were observed per year during the period 1984- 85 to 2012-13. The trend analysis revealed that cold waves were becoming less frequent. On an average, 9 frost events per year could be expected. The decreasing trend of frost events was noticed at annual time scale. There is a need for combining disaster reduction, natural resource management and climate change adaptation to reduce vulnerability and enhancement of resilience. Changes in technology and agricultural practices will help to create a society better able to survive the impacts of climatic extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With wind power penetration increases, accurate and reliable wind power forecasting is becoming gradually critical, and data driven model is a promising solution to implement this task. However, limited by deficient data samples under extreme conditions, scarcity of feature measurements fails to meet the number of training samples required, making the forecasting model exhibits low adaptability. This paper proposes a physics-informed reinforcement learning based method for probabilistic forecasting. Analytical physical expression of wind power output under extreme event is established to construct the error evaluation function for abrupt feature. Deep deterministic policy gradient-based quantile fitting model is then proposed, with abrupt feature embedded as the auxiliary input data for neural network. On this basis, parameter training technique under small data set is proposed to deal with the effect of extreme conditions on correction process of network. It extracts key historical transitions from experience replay pool to establish effective training samples, and model parameters are updated through the small-batch learning strategy to minimize long-term error feedback. Test result on the practical cold wave event of wind farms in China shows effectiveness of the proposed method. • Analytical physical expression of wind power output under extreme event is established to construct the error evaluation function for abrupt feature. • Deep deterministic policy gradient-based quantile fitting model is proposed, with abrupt feature embedded as the auxiliary input data for neural network. • Parameter training technique under small data set is proposed to deal with the effect of extreme conditions on correction process of network. It extracts key historical transitions from experience replay pool to establish effective training samples, and model parameters are updated through the small-batch learning strategy to minimize long-term error feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poleward range expansion in the green porcelain crab Petrolisthes armatus is thought to be associated with rising coastal water temperatures along the southern Atlantic Bight. Periods of anomalous cold temperature ("cold snaps"), however, could delay or limit further expansion, especially if northern populations are unable to adjust cold tolerance through adaptation or acclimation. We tested cold tolerance in crabs from four latitudes, from Savannah, GA to North Inlet, SC, along the species' poleward invasion front. Laboratory incubation trials were conducted in multiple seasons using adult, non-ovigerous P. armatus to compare cold temperature thresholds between populations, sexes, and sizes. These trials recorded temperature thresholds for induction of both sublethal (loss of righting response) and lethal effects. Following acclimation, crabs were exposed to a rapid (1 °C d−1) temperature drop, modeled after water temperatures recorded during a severe winter cold snap in Charleston Harbor, SC. Crabs generally experienced mobility loss below 8 °C and mortality below 4 °C. In trials at the end of fall, crabs from the two more northern populations survived significantly longer, consistent with latitudinal differences in temperature as crabs prepared physiologically for winter. At the end of summer, crabs from the northernmost population showed greater cold resilience in both lethal and sublethal measures. At the end of spring, when animals are reproductive, there were mixed results with regard to a latitudinal pattern. When differences between sexes and sizes were significant, females were less susceptible than males and, in all but one case, smaller individuals were less susceptible than larger. In general, crabs at the start of winter maintained mobility and survived longer in the cold snap than they did when tested in the other two seasons. Although cold snaps may reduce population sizes of P. armatus , increased cold tolerance of more poleward populations could help to facilitate range expansion, especially if increasingly mild winter conditions move their thermal barrier toward higher latitudes. • Poleward species invasion is enabled by rising temperatures, limited by cold snaps • Crabs lost mobility and showed mortality at temperatures associated with cold snaps • Larger males were generally more susceptible to cold snap conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the capacity of water exchange of semi-closed nearshore shallow waters during winter, this study investigates the effect of sea ice on water exchange dynamics under extreme cold wave conditions by developing a coupled three-dimensional simulation tool and taking the Bohai Sea as a case study. This coupling model integrates the hydrodynamic model, wave model, sea ice model, and Lagrangian particle tracking model. The results demonstrate that sea ice inhibits water exchange in the northern Liaodong Bay due to a clockwise residual circulation. Conversely, sea ice enhances water exchange in the southwestern areas, specifically Bohai Bay and Laizhou Bay. This conclusion is supported by further calculations and analyses of half-life time and volumetric flow rate. Considering the impact of adjacent bays, the percentage of residual particles in the southern area after simulating a severe ice period is 33.5% higher compared to scenarios without this consideration. Finally, the uncertainty of the model was evaluated by altering the quantity of tracer particles, and the validity of the model results was confirmed through comparisons with measured chlorophyll-a and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations. These findings are significant for management departments to develop effective strategies for pollutant prevention and control. [Display omitted] • Sea ice inhibits water exchange in LD Bay due to clockwise circulation. • The sea ice enhances the water exchange capacity in BH Bay and LZ Bay. • Sea ice reduces BH Bay's inflow by 9.28%, while increasing the outflow by 11.84%. • The influx from LD and BH Bays increase LZ Bay's tracer particles by 66.50%. • LZ Bay and BH Bay require 4- and 2-times particles of LD Bay for stable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming has increased extreme weather events. While the impact of cold waves on humans remains significant, corresponding research is limited. Therefore, the cold exposure risk in residential and working areas of Changchun, China, during a cold wave event was investigated, and geographically weighted regression analysis was used to study the exposure disparities among cold-sensitive populations. Significant differences in cold exposure risk were found between residential and working areas. Cold exposure levels increased with the degree of urbanization. In the first ring, the CEI for residential areas reached 1.82, and for working areas, it was 1.85, indicating the highest exposure risk. Peripheral areas (fourth ring) exhibited much lower exposure risks. In residential areas, low-rent housing residents and women had overexposure rates of 98% and 62%, respectively. In working areas, workers without toilet facilities and unemployed individuals had overexposure rates of 21% and 39%, respectively. These findings highlight the disparities in cold exposure among different regions and social groups during cold waves, providing crucial scientific evidence for urban planning and public health policy development. • Employed multiple data sources, including Landsat 8 LST and census data, to assess cold exposure risk. • Analyzed cold exposure risks in residential and working areas within Changchun's inner four rings. • Assessed health risks due to cold waves, focusing on vulnerable populations. • Cold exposure risks were significantly higher in the central urban areas compared to the peripheral regions. • HVG 1 and PVG 4 faced higher cold exposure risks in residential and working areas, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arid Central Asia (ACA) is a major dust source region in the Northern Hemisphere, owing to the prevalence of aeolian activity that substantially impacts the ecological environment and human wellbeing in this region. However, the driving mechanisms of aeolian activity in ACA during the Holocene are unclear, making it difficult to predict possible future aeolian activity. We used AMS 14C dating, combined with grain-size analysis, high-resolution X-ray fluorescence scanning, and scanning electron microscopy of a sediment core from Lake Ailike, in the Junggar Basin, to reconstruct the history of aeolian activity in ACA during the Holocene. We found that periods of increased aeolian activity on the millennial-scale are correlated with the strengthening of the Siberian High, and that there is a consistency between aeolian activity and climatic fluctuations in the mid-latitudes of Europe. These findings support a close relationship between climate fluctuations in mid- and high-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Lower/higher temperatures in high latitudes result in the expansion/contraction of polar air masses, leading to the strengthening/weakening of the Siberian High. Additionally, more/less frequent aeolian activity in ACA corresponded to cooling/warming trends in the mid-latitudes of Europe during the Holocene. While ongoing global warming may lead to a long-term decrease in aeolian activity in ACA, the weakening of the polar vortex has resulted in more frequent cold waves affecting the mid-latitudes of Eurasia during winter in recent years. • Aeolian activity in arid Central Asia is linked to the Siberian High. • Fluctuations in mid-latitude climate are correlated with the Siberian High. • A strong climatic correlation exists between middle and high latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Population dynamic models must include climate variability for accurate predictions. • The new Z metric quantifies population resistance to climatic variability. • Climate change impacts spotted lanternfly establishment via temperature variability. • Diapause increases spotted lanternfly resistance to variability but reduces growth rate. • Temperature variability can alter optimal spotted lanternfly control strategies. Temperature time series data are a composition of average trends and stochastic variability that together shape population dynamics. However, models of temperature-dependent species often overlook variability, focusing solely on growth rates under average conditions. When models omit variability, they can inaccurately predict the dynamics that underlie the establishment of invasive pests sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Here, we conduct a stochastic modeling study of the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), a univoltine grape pest, which has invaded grape growing regions of the eastern U.S. due to human transport, leading to frequent establishment of populations in urban and suburban areas. As the spotted lanternfly continues to be transported to new grape growing regions and climate change alters variability, it is vital to predict its establishment potential. Although it overwinters as diapausing eggs, experiments suggest that diapause is plastic and not necessary for survival. We developed a deterministic stage-age-structured partial differential equation model of diapausing and non-diapausing populations. We derived a new metric quantifying population resistance to climatic variability defined as the level of stochasticity that leads to negative growth compared to average conditions. We simulated growth rates and resistance to variability across a range of average temperature conditions and stochasticity. We then analyzed how variability and diapause interact with survival, fecundity, and development to affect population dynamics. Finally, we estimated establishment potential across all U.S. cities. Diapausing populations were typically more resistant than non-diapausing populations because diapause enhances overwintering egg survival during winter cold waves, while allowing accelerated development and increased fecundity during summer and fall heat waves. Establishment potential is especially underestimated in important grape growing regions of California if models of diapausing populations omit variability. By quantifying population resistance to climatic variability, we gain a fuller understanding of invasive species establishment in today's stochastic and changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a book review of "C.V. Raman's Student L.A. Ramdas: From Agricultural Meteorology to Discovery of Ramdas Layer" by Rajinder Singh. The book explores the achievements of L.A. Ramdas, a student of C.V. Raman and a pioneer in agricultural meteorology in India. It highlights Ramdas' research on light scattering, surface tension, and the impact of oil contamination on evaporation and rainfall. The review commends Singh for shedding light on the life and work of this lesser-known physicist and recognizes Ramdas as an innovative scientist in the field of agricultural meteorology. The article also discusses the significance of cis-regulatory elements in gene expression and development, using various techniques to study their role in transcriptional regulation. The study suggests that cis-regulatory regions are resilient to mutations and can maintain their functionality despite genetic and epigenetic variations. [Extracted from the article]