Click this link to discover the essential characteristics of El Niño and La Niña. Understand the fundamental distinctions between these two climatic events.

Discover the essential characteristics of El Niño and La Niña. Understand the fundamental distinctions between these two climatic events.


The dance between El Niño and La Niña, two significant climatic phenomena, is all about the geographic distribution of heat: it shapes the weather patterns around the equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Niño emerges as a warming phase in the Eastern and Equatorial Pacific, while its counterpart, La Niña, brings anomalous heat to the Western and Tropical Pacific.

Together, they partake in a global rhythm that affects the Equatorial Pacific Ocean and extends its reach to the South American coastlines and the broader Pacific. This delicate equilibrium is pivotal to understanding the climatic intricacies that drive atmospheric circulation, forest fires, rainfall patterns, and even fish crop across our planet.

### What are El Niño and La Niña?

El Niño is characterized by the abnormal warming of ocean waters in the central and eastern Pacific, while La Niña is identified by the abnormal cooling of these same waters.

These irregular cycles are not just oceanic events; they resonate globally. Their influences extend far beyond their Pacific origin, dictating weather alterations across continents. The irregular nature of El Niño and La Niña means that they aren’t always in full swing: some years are actually free of anomalies. Nevertheless, recognizing the heating caused by El Niño and the cooling caused by La Niña is essential for predicting and understanding the vast array of meteorological impacts they induce.

### Characteristics of El Niño and La Niña

The defining traits of El Niño and La Niña, two formidable climatic phenomena, hinge on three key characteristics: 

- Duration
- Intensity
- Typical onset dates

El Niño episodes often present with elevated sea surface temperatures that persist for several months, manifesting an intensity that can alter global weather patterns. In contrast, La Niña is noted for a cooling phase that can endure beyond the span of a year, underscoring the formidable magnitude of its impact.

The initiation of these episodes follows a natural, yet unpredictable cadence, with El Niño typically beginning in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean around late spring of the Southern Hemisphere. La Niña, often following El Niño’s lead, tends to emerge during autumn. This rhythm of heating and cooling significantly influences seasonal weather patterns, from intensifying rainfall to prolonging droughts, demonstrating a powerful sway over the Earth’s atmospheric systems.

### Causes of El Niño and La Niña

Both El Niño and La Niña are deeply rooted in the dynamics of the Pacific Ocean and the Earth’s atmosphere, particularly through the interplay of trade winds, thermocline variations, and oceanic upwelling. Trade winds typically blow westward across the Tropical Pacific, piling up warm surface waters in the west and allowing cooler waters to rise near South America, a process known as upwelling. 
During El Niño, these winds weaken or may even reverse, reducing upwelling and causing a shallow thermocline, leading to an extensive warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This shift in heat distribution disrupts the Walker circulation, a pattern of atmospheric circulation that normally sees air rising in the warm west and falling in the cooler east, thus impacting weather systems on a global scale. West Pacific is particularly impacted, manifesting in less precipitation in countries like Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.
On the flip side, La Niña occurs when these trade winds strengthen beyond their normal intensity, enhancing the upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters along the equatorial Pacific. This process deepens the thermocline and expands the area of cooler water at the surface. The strengthened Walker circulation cells during La Niña can lead to drought in the Eastern Pacific and increased rainfall in the Western Pacific.


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![Source: www.climate-science.press](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/10931474/TbIGvsjzeLKsqXslHvgk/orig)

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Source: www.climate-science.press 
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These complex interactions between the ocean and atmosphere during El Niño and La Niña episodes influence the local weather and trigger a cascade of effects that can alter global climate patterns. This includes shifts in jet streams, variations in storm tracks, and the distribution of heat and precipitation around the planet. As such, the study of these phenomena is crucial for forecasting weather and understanding the broader impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and human societies.

### Effects and Consequences

El Niño and La Niña exert profound global impacts, yielding a range of consequences that touch every corner of the Earth. Their influence is most noticeable in altered temperatures and precipitation patterns, which go on to dictate not only the health of natural ecosystems but also the viability of human activities such as agriculture and fishing.

During El Niño, the warming of the Pacific Ocean can lead to increased rainfall in some regions while causing drought in others. In agricultural terms, this can result in decreased yields in drought-stricken areas, while potentially boosting growth where the rains are bountiful. However, too much rain can also be bad news for mountainous regions like Peru. The fishing industry also feels the impact, as warmer waters disrupt marine life’s food chains and habitats, often leading to poor catches.

Conversely, La Niña typically promotes cooler atmospheric conditions and increases the intensity and frequency of rainfall in places such as the Western Pacific and the Northeast of South America. This can benefit crops that depend on water, but excessive rainfall can also cause devastating floods that destroy crops and infrastructure. In the fishing industry, the cooler waters associated with La Niña can lead to an abundance of marine life in certain areas as nutrient-rich cold water rises to the surface.

The economic effects of these climatic events are significant. They can lead to fluctuations in commodity prices, influence energy demand, and require businesses to adapt their strategies to cope with the variable supply of raw materials and goods. The uncertainty and risk associated with El Niño and La Niña underscore the need for businesses to have access to accurate climate forecasts.

In light of these challenges, it is crucial for companies to stay informed and prepared. Understanding the potential business implications of these phenomena is key to mitigating risks and capitalizing on opportunities. For a deeper dive into how El Niño and La Niña could impact your business and for tailored strategies to navigate these meteorological challenges, contact us to book a consultation with our expert meteorologists at [Meteum. Weather Solutions for Business](https://b2b.meteum.ai/api). Our team can provide you with the insights and forecasts necessary to make informed decisions, protect your interests, and drive your business forward in any climate.

### El Niño and La Niña in Brazil

El Niño and La Niña distinctly mark their presence in Brazil, a country with a tapestry of climates and terrains. In Brazil, El Niño is often synonymous with drought in the Northeast and floods in the South. The scarcity of rain in the North hampers agriculture, strains water resources, and challenges daily life. Conversely, the South sees heavy rains, resulting in floods that overflow rivers, damage crops, and displace communities.

La Niña brings a contrasting touch to the Brazilian climate. It typically alleviates the dry conditions in the Northeast, offering some respite to the parched lands, yet it can also mean less rainfall for the South, occasionally leading to water shortages and impacting hydroelectric power generation.

With its economic hub São Paulo, the Southeast experiences irregular patterns during these periods, which can affect the region’s powerhouse status by influencing water supply and energy production. The ebb and flow of these phenomena underscore the need for regional resilience and adaptive strategies to weather the effects of these powerful climatic forces. Understanding these patterns is vital for Brazil's preparedness and response to the environmental and economic challenges posed by El Niño and La Niña.

### Conclusion

In conclusion, El Niño and La Niña serve as pivotal forces in the global climatic narrative, each with distinct characteristics, causes, and far-reaching effects. They orchestrate changes in weather patterns that extend well beyond their Pacific epicenter, influencing temperatures, precipitation, and the livelihoods of communities worldwide. 

As we unravel the complexities of these phenomena, we glean a deeper understanding of Earth’s intricate weather systems, equipping us to anticipate and respond to their profound environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Their study is not merely academic but a necessity for a world that must adapt to an ever-changing climatic stage.

### FAQ

### What are El Niño and La Niña?
El Niño and La Niña are climatic events characterized by significant temperature deviations in the Pacific Ocean, impacting global weather patterns.

### What is the El Niño effect?
The El Niño effect refers to the extensive warming of the Pacific Ocean waters, influencing atmospheric circulation and climate anomalies worldwide.

### How do El Niño and La Niña influence climate?
These phenomena alter global climate patterns, causing variations in precipitation and temperature, leading to extreme weather events across different continents.

### Which is better, El Niño or La Niña?
“Better” is subjective; each phenomenon has distinct impacts, with El Niño typically associated with warming and La Niña with cooling global weather patterns.



El Niño and La Niña: What They Are, Differences

What causes ball lightning? What is ball lightning? This is our pick of the most mind-boggling facts about ball lightning. Let's unriddle at least some of the riddles.

Ball lightning is described as shining spherical objects floating around or hovering above the ground. Most of the eye-witness accounts describe this enigmatic phenomenon as balls of fire or electricity. Despite plenty of evidence that exists, scientists are not any closer to figuring it out, and we see more and more wild speculations about these mysterious spheres of light. The internet is full of ball lightning photos believed to be real. However, most of them are manipulated images.
What causes ball lightning? What is ball lightning? This is our pick of the most mind-boggling facts about ball lightning. Let's unriddle at least some of the riddles.
 
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![Authentic zoomed out images of ball lightning at varying times. Source: journals.aps.org/](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/DYEqxHxNxcYUfxWQJKam/orig)

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Authentic zoomed out images of ball lightning at varying times. Source: journals.aps.org
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## Amazing facts about ball lightning: 

- There is no accepted theory for what causes it or what it is made of (there are over 400 existing hypotheses that describe the nature of ball lightning). One of the theories suggests that these balls of fire consist of electrons and force-activated ions. Some scientists agree that the origin of this phenomenon is sustained by electromagnetic waves generated when the Earth's crust fractures. When the Earth's surface is shaking during an earthquake or minor shocks, these flows of electromagnetic waves soar into the air giving rise to luminescent spheres.
Due to the nature of this rare phenomenon having a lifetime of a few seconds, scientists have not succeeded in making extensive observations of these luminous spheres or in studying their properties.
- Ball lightning is common during thunderstorms. At other times, its causes have no relation to weather conditions.
- All attempts to produce ball lightning in the lab proved to be fruitless: though some motley crews of scientists could bring luminous objects to life, none of them could re-create the original nature of these objects.  The thing is ball lightning looks like plasma bubbles that can't last long in lab conditions.
- A "typical" ball lighting is the size of a cabbage head. There were rare eye-witnesses saying the hovering objects varied from several millimeters to few meters in diameter. Ball lightning can take different forms: it can be round, pear-shaped, circular, ellipsoid, to name just a few.
 
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![Ball lightning that went down into the house through the chimney. Engraving, 1886 Source: wikipedia.com/](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/10145165/pXAOICONtFFOoVGINHwb/orig)

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Ball lightning that went down into the house through the chimney. Engraving, 1886 Source: wikipedia.com
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- According to the research made by Alexander Grigoriev, a scientist from the city of Yaroslavl, Russia, ball lightning lasts for seconds to hours and vanishes following no particular pattern: either silently or with a blast, disappearing when striking the ground or hitting any type of conductor.

- Ball lightning emits light: sometimes dim, sometimes very intense. Ball lighting can travel at speed ranging from a few centimeters per minute to tens of meters per second.

- These floating spheres can range in color from white to yellow to green, or be even translucent.

- Information about the dangers caused by ball lightning varies enormously: while some witnesses struck by the sphere say they have not suffered any burns, others claim they saw ball lightning setting a haystack alight or even killed people.
 
- Most commonly, ball lightning zips around 1.5 meters above the ground. Still further, it can go several kilometers up from the ground.

- In 1963, ball lightning passed through a US passenger aircraft and vanished instantly not hurting anyone aboard or causing damage to the plane.

- Medveditsk ridge (Russia) located at the border of the Saratov and Volgograd regions is considered to be an anomaly site with the biggest number of ball lightning occurrences across the globe.




Ball lightning. What causes ball lightning? The most incredible facts about this phenomenon


In spite of the long history of weather forecasting, the accuracy of most modern methods leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why we’d looked at the available solutions, no

In spite of the long history of weather forecasting, the accuracy of most modern methods leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why we’d looked at the available solutions, noted their weak spots, and built Meteum — the most powerful forecasting platform to date.

Depending on who you ask, weather forecasting has been around for hundreds or even thousands of years. Having an idea of whether it rains on a particular day is endlessly convenient, yes — but it’s also hard to overstate the importance of weather tech for many modern industries. Although it may seem that weather forecasting is solely a consumer-focused product, many businesses and government institutions depend on it, and an inaccurate forecast can easily cost millions.

In spite of the long history of weather forecasting, the accuracy of most modern methods leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why we’d looked at the available solutions, noted their weak spots, and built Meteum — the most powerful forecasting platform to date.

## Why Meteum?
 

We don’t collect someone else’s weather data only to relay it in a pretty package. Instead, we aggregate it from several providers, who themselves collect their data from a vast array of sources, such as weather balloons, aircrafts, satellites, on-ground stations, and radars. Then we let our models analyze this data to derive the ultimate forecasts, which we transmit to more than 50 million of our end-users.

Here’s how it works: Meteum parses a number of different forecasts — one conducted by our own team of meteorologists and the rest incoming from third-party providers. All of them are generated using various meteorological models, both proprietary and open-source. But no model is completely fail-safe, and the astounding volume of data we collect makes it practically impossible for humans to handle. The good news is that our own AI algorithms can find patterns by juxtaposing past forecasts with actual weather history and output the optimal combination where the forecasts all align with each other.

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![Источник: meteum//](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/10931474/IvsnTFWQtOsSzjOciqow/orig)

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Meteum. Weather forecasting technology 

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In addition to AI-generated forecasts for the week, Meteum also provides precise information about precipitation expected within two hours, split into ten-minute intervals. This info is presented to users in map form; the app sends rain alerts when appropriate. The assessments are made with the help of machine learning, satellite imagery, and radar data. Meteum considers various factors, such as the height of the Sun above the horizon, humidity, and altitude.

 

## Introducing: User Reports
 

It’s no easy feat for a weather app to correctly reflect the conditions you see from the window: weather stations are typically sparsely located and follow a strict schedule when taking measurements. Conditions can vary drastically even within the same city: the Earth’s atmosphere is prone to unexpected shifts, which are insanely difficult to predict. It doesn’t help that seeing this stark contrast between a “perfectly clear” report on one’s phone screen and the raging downpour outside raises questions about the forecast’s reliability. But there is a way to display current weather: meteorology buffs refer to this as nowcasting. Meteum uses a mix of mathematical models and recent data from weather stations — but this alone doesn’t quite hit the accuracy mark we’re striving for.

That’s where we innovate: Meteum is the world’s first weather system to base its forecasts not only on measurements made with professional equipment but also on user reports. In our weather app, users can provide instant feedback: for instance, to confirm whether it’s still raining at their location. Every day, Meteum receives up to 3 million user reports from around the globe, and we use this feedback to generate a precipitation map that shows the rain zones with near-perfect accuracy. The reports are also used in training our algorithms to make future now- and forecasts even better.

We’ve come a long way with Meteum and now have a robust system capable of delivering remarkable forecasts — some of the most accurate you’ll find on the market.

But the sky’s the limit, and Meteum continues to improve, adding new data sources and perpetually collecting user reports to train our algorithms. With Meteum, you can weatherproof your decisions with state-of-the-art forecasting solutions tailored to your industry’s or your business’s needs. 



Meteum: weather forecasting technology with proprietary AI-based data processing core


During the course of a month, the Moon goes through several phases. The major Moon phases are the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the third quarter. As a 

During the course of a month, the Moon goes through several phases. The major Moon phases are the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the third quarter. As a matter of fact, the Moon displays eight main phases. We'll dive deeper into these phases to find out why this Earth's most constant companion changes its appearance night after night.

During the course of a month, the Moon goes through several phases. The major Moon phases are the new moon, the first quarter, the full moon, and the third quarter. As a matter of fact, the Moon displays eight main phases. We'll dive deeper into these phases to find out why this Earth's most constant companion changes its appearance night after night.


## Understanding the phases of the Moon

Lunar phases are the shapes of the visible part of the satellite from Earth's perspective. Fun fact: the illuminated edge of the Moon's visible surface is called the limb, while the line that separates the illuminated and the shaded sections is the Moon's terminator (a word derived from the Latin "terminare", which means "to set bounds to").

As the Moon goes around the Earth, the Sun illuminates different parts of the Moon, which changes its appearance and creates lunar phases.

Examples of terminology relating to lunar phases that is commonly used by the scientific community:
* The Moon cycle, which is one full orbit by our Moon around the Earth. It takes 29.5 days.
* A Synodic month, or a Lunation, being the time between two successive new moons.
* The age of the Moon, which is the number of days since the last new moon.

![](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/10931474/aFgVIzcPdWaciFZlGEiB/orig)

## A guide to the phases of the Moon

There are 4 major phases of the Moon — the full moon, the new moon, the first and the last quarters. The 4 minor phases are waxing crescent, waxing gibbous, waning gibbous, and waning crescent. The major phases of the Moon occur about 7.4 days apart.

**New moon**

The Moon is between the Sun and the Earth. Thus, the side of the Moon facing the Earth is in shadow.

**Waxing crescent**

This phase follows the new moon, as the Moon starts to "grow". We only see the edge of the part that is gradually illuminated by the Sun.

**First quarter**

The Moon has completed 1/4 of its orbit around the Earth. Half of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the Sun.

**Waxing gibbous**

More than half of the Moon’s surface visible from Earth is illuminated.

**Full moon**

During this phase, the Earth is positioned between the Moon and the Sun, which illuminates the entire near-side of the satellite. We can enjoy the round appearance of the full moon all night long.

**Waning gibbous**

After the full moon, the illuminated part of the Moon begins to wane. During this phase, the surface of the Moon that we see from the Earth is still mostly illuminated.

**Last quarter**

The Moon looks like it is half illuminated.

**Waning crescent**

The final phase of the Moon before transitioning back into the new moon. Only a small, crescent-shaped sliver of the Moon is visible, which is diminishing in size.

![](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/10931474/oZYbnQGKEjDVrFluxqWQ/orig)


Understanding the phases of the Moon

This summer could become record-breaking hot for Turkey. Significant temperature increases above the climatic norm and last year’s temperatures are forecasted for Ankara,

This summer could become record-breaking hot for Turkey. Significant temperature increases above the climatic norm and last year’s temperatures are forecasted for Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Antalya, and several other major cities. Additionally, drier weather compared to last year is expected for the entire western and central parts of the country. Considering that in 2023, some locations, such as Izmir, broke nearly century-old heat records, something similar can be expected this coming summer. July will be the hottest month. Hot dry air is expected to be brought again by the hot winds blowing from the Sahara Desert.

Yandex Weather meteorologists have prepared a special seasonal forecast.

This summer could become record-breaking hot for Turkey. Significant temperature increases above the climatic norm and last year’s temperatures are forecasted for Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Konya, Antalya, and several other major cities. Additionally, drier weather compared to last year is expected for the entire western and central parts of the country. Considering that in 2023, some locations, such as Izmir, broke nearly century-old heat records, something similar can be expected this coming summer. July will be the hottest month. Hot dry air is expected to be brought again by the hot winds blowing from the Sahara Desert.


In June, more intense warming compared to multi-year averages and last year's figures is expected in the western and central regions. This includes the Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean regions, Central Anatolia, and the Black Sea region around Samsun. The average air temperature in Ankara will be around 20.9°C, in Istanbul – 22.7°C, in Izmir – 25.9°C. The exceedance of the multi-year average temperatures in the three largest cities in Turkey will reach 1.1°C. The difference from last year's figures is much more significant: +2.3°C for the capital, +1.6°C for Istanbul, +2.1°C for Izmir. Thus, most of Turkey is expected to experience an unusually hot June with little precipitation. The lack of rain falls within the climatic norm and traditional summer droughts. Comparing the upcoming summer to 2023, there will be a significant reduction in rainfall in Izmir: from a historical record of 101 mm last year to an expected 20 mm this year. There will also be less rain compared to June 2023 in Ankara (39 mm instead of 80 mm) and throughout the country, except for Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia.

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In July, the abnormal heat will persist across most of Turkey – it will be the hottest period of 2024. The average monthly temperature in Ankara could potentially reach 24.8°C (+1.2°C from the climatic norm), in Istanbul – 25.0°C (+0.7°C), in Izmir – 28.9°C (+1.0°C). Meteorologists forecast drier conditions for the entire country than the multi-year averages suggest. However, compared to last year, July 2024 might be slightly wetter for all regions except the western part of the Black Sea region, where a reduction in rainfall is expected even compared to the abnormally dry 2023. The smallest amount of rainfall among the largest Turkish metropolises is expected in Izmir – only 2 mm of rain over 31 calendar days.

Comparing the air temperature over the last 30 years, in August, all of Turkey will once again experience the global warming trend. The most significant exceedance of multi-year norms is forecasted for Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa (0.9-1°C). Looking back at the previous year, noticeable positive anomalies are expected only for a narrow strip of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal regions from Bodrum to Belek, including Antalya, Marmaris, Fethiye, and Kemer. For example, in Antalya, August 2024 (29.3°C) will be 0.7°C hotter than the 2023 season. For the rest of Turkey, the last summer month will, on the contrary, be cooler. In Ankara, 24.8°C is forecasted, in Istanbul – 25.3°C, in Izmir – 28.6°C. It is also expected that significantly more rain will fall on the northeastern coast of the Black Sea than a year ago. Overall, rainfall throughout Turkey will remain at last year’s level and within the climatic norm.

Important resume for companies operating in the energy and retail sectors: the summer of 2024 will indeed be unusually hot across Turkey and dry for the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Marmara regions, as well as for Central Anatolia. More information about the seasonal forecast can be obtained along with the weather API tool.

To be prepared for any changes, you can download Yandex Weather app for free. [Download](https://redirect.appmetrica.yandex.com/serve/677286903078191247)
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![/](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/lnhSnbCbGrhuchCUzieU/orig)

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What will the summer of 2024 be like in Turkey?

When we think of extreme heat, visions of arid deserts, parched landscapes, and relentless sun immediately come to mind. While many places on Earth experience scorching t

When we think of extreme heat, visions of arid deserts, parched landscapes, and relentless sun immediately come to mind. While many places on Earth experience scorching temperatures, only a few hold the records for being the hottest. These regions are not just hot; they are furnaces where the heat can be unbearable, even deadly. In this article, we will explore some of the hottest places on Earth and delve into the meteorological phenomena that make these locations so extreme

When we think of extreme heat, visions of arid deserts, parched landscapes, and relentless sun immediately come to mind. While many places on Earth experience scorching temperatures, only a few hold the records for being the hottest. These regions are not just hot; they are furnaces where the heat can be unbearable, even deadly. In this article, we will explore some of the hottest places on Earth and delve into the meteorological phenomena that make these locations so extreme.

## Measuring extreme temperatures
Temperature is typically measured using thermometers placed in standardized shelters to protect them from direct sunlight, allowing for more accurate readings of air temperature. Surface temperatures, however, can be much higher and are often recorded via satellite or ground measurements. This makes comparing temperatures challenging, as older records may not be as reliable as modern data due to inconsistencies in measurement methods. Despite these challenges, certain locations have consistently recorded extreme temperatures that place them among the hottest on Earth.

## 6. Ahvaz, Iran
**Highest temperature:** 53.7°C (129°F) in 2017

Ahvaz, a city in southwestern Iran, is known for its extreme temperatures. The city is also home to the stunning White Bridge (Pol-e Sefid), an iconic landmark that spans the Karun River and is illuminated beautifully at night.

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![The White Bridge in Ahvaz, Iran. Image by Sajjadsoroosh](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/AFMmzAHXyvxXOjDhtQRQ/orig)

The White Bridge in Ahvaz, Iran. Image by Sajjadsoroosh
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### Factors contributing to Ahvaz’s heat
* Ahvaz is located near the Lut Desert, contributing to the high temperatures.
* Urban heat island effect: The urban environment of Ahvaz can further amplify temperatures due to the heat retention of buildings and pavement.

## 5. Mitribah, Kuwait
**Highest temperature:** 54°C (129.2°F) in 2016

Mitribah, a remote area in Kuwait, recorded one of the highest temperatures on Earth.

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![The skyline of Al Kuwayt, the capital of Kuwait. Image by SenuScape](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/mDxaIicSAoHZTThtrXqN/orig)

The skyline of Al Kuwayt, the capital of Kuwait. Image by SenuScape
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### Factors contributing to Mitribah’s heat
* Desert environment: Mitribah is situated in a desert climate with extreme heat and minimal precipitation.
* High-pressure systems: Persistent high-pressure systems in the region contribute to clear skies and prolonged sunshine.
## 4. Dallol, Ethiopia
**Average daily temperatures:** Exceed 40°C (104°F) with highs approaching 48.9°C (120°F)

Dallol, located in the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia, is one of the hottest inhabited places on Earth. Dallol is known for its otherworldly landscape, including colorful hydrothermal deposits and acidic hot springs, making it a popular site for adventurous travelers.
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![The Dallol volcano. Image by A. Savin](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/giievMrTStfzxidlAXfg/orig)

The Dallol volcano. Image by A. Savin
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### Factors contributing to Dallol’s heat
* Geothermal activity: The region’s geothermal activity contributes to the high temperatures.
* Desert climate: The arid climate exacerbates the heat.
## 3. Sahara Desert, North Africa
**Highest verified temperature:** 124.3°F (51.3°C) in 2018

The Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert, spans several North African countries and experiences extreme heat, especially in the central regions. In El Azizia, Libya, a temperature of 57.8°C (136°F) was once recorded, though this measurement is disputed. Kebili, a desert town in Tunisia, is also known for recording one of the highest temperatures in Africa: in 1931, a temperature of 55°C (131°F) was reported, although this record is similarly considered less reliable than modern data. A much more verifiable record for the Sahara was set during the 2018 heat wave, measuring 51.3°C (124.3°F).

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![The Sahara Desert. Image by Greg Gulik](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/LGXgLpjmFmmJTWAXucrA/orig)

The Sahara Desert. Image by Greg Gulik
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### Meteorological dynamics in the Sahara
* High insolation: The Sahara receives some of the highest amounts of solar radiation on Earth.
* Arid climate: The dry conditions mean there is very little evaporation to cool the air, leading to high temperatures.
* Sand and rock composition: The sandy and rocky terrain absorbs and radiates heat efficiently.
## 2. Lut Desert, Iran
**Highest ground temperature:** 70.7°C (159.3°F) in 2005

The Lut Desert, or Dasht-e Lut, in southeastern Iran, is one of the hottest places on Earth in terms of surface temperature. According to NASA’s satellite data, this desert holds the record for the highest ground temperature ever recorded: an astonishing 159.3°F (70.7°C) in 2005. The Lut Desert is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its stunning geological formations, including the massive Yardangs — wind-carved ridges and grooves that stretch for miles.

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![Dasht-e Lut, an aerial view. Image by Ninaras](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/5278294/JFqEeBkqaUwOVKdGEMek/orig)

Dasht-e Lut, an aerial view. Image by Ninaras
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### Meteorological factors in the Lut Desert
* Surface composition: The desert features dark lava surfaces, which absorb a significant amount of solar radiation, leading to extremely high surface temperatures.
* Dry air: The arid climate means there is very little moisture in the air to absorb heat, allowing surface temperatures to soar.
* Seasonal variations: During the summer months, the lack of vegetation and moisture leads to minimal cooling at night, keeping the temperatures high.

## 1. Death Valley, California, USA
**Highest air temperature:** 53.7°C (129°F) in 2017

Located in the Mojave Desert in eastern California, Death Valley is a place synonymous with extreme heat. Furnace Creek in Death Valley recorded the highest air temperature ever observed on our planet. While many records are hard to verify, Death Valley remains the undisputed hottest place on Earth.

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![Death Valley National Park. Image by Abby Kihano](https://avatars.mds.yandex.net/get-weather/10879918/JBEEdLYfEfFiwexPkAMi/orig)

Death Valley National Park. Image by Abby Kihano
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</figcaption>
</figure>

### Why is Death Valley so hot?
* Geography and topography: Death Valley is a below-sea-level basin surrounded by high, steep mountain ranges. This topography contributes to a phenomenon known as a “rain shadow,” where mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, leading to arid conditions.
* Albedo effect: The valley’s floor consists of light-colored salt flats, which reflect sunlight and intensify the heat.
* High-pressure systems: Persistent high-pressure systems often dominate the region, leading to clear skies and prolonged sunshine.

The hottest places on Earth are fascinating examples of how geography, atmospheric conditions, and human factors interact to create extreme environments. Understanding these factors not only satisfies our curiosity but also highlights the challenges faced by people living in these regions. As climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, we could see even more record-setting temperatures in these places as well as other parts of the world. Studying these hotspots provides valuable, actionable insights into the future of our planet’s climate.


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