The intensities of recent heatwave events, such as the record-breaking heatwave in early June 2021 in the Pacific Northwest area, are substantially altered by climate change. We further quantify the contribution of the local weather situation and the land surface conditions with a statistical model suited for extreme data. Based on this method, we can answer what if questions, such as estimating the change in the 2021 heatwave temperature if it happened in a world without climate change.

To ensure photovoltaic (PV) plants last, we need to understand how climate change affects solar radiation. Climate models help predict future radiation for PV plants, but there is often uncertainty. We explore this uncertainty and its impact on building PV plants. We highlight the importance of considering uncertainties for accurate planning and management. A California case study shows a practical application for the solar industry.

This study uses tree-based machine learning (ML) to forecast PM_2.5 in a complex terrain region. The models show the potential to predict pollution events with several hours of anticipation, and they integrate multiple sources of information, including in situ stations, satellite data, and deterministic model outputs. The importance analysis helps understand the processes affecting air quality in the region and highlights the relevance of external sources of pollution in PM_2.5 predictability.