Science Snippets: Daily Temperature Changes Altered by Climate Change in Mid- to Low-Latitudes

Draft script:

The effects of climate change have been manifested in many ways. In addition to warming Earth, effects include sea level rise and melting of snow and ice. The latter impact has led to the shifting of continental plates and an increase in earthquakes and volcanic activity. A peer-reviewed paper adds to the negative impacts of climate change.

The peer-reviewed paper is introduced by an article in Phys.Org. Titled Global warming amplifies extreme day-to-day temperature swings, study shows, the article was published 10 December 2025. The opening paragraph describes the link between climate change and human health: “A new study has revealed that rapid, large-scale day-to-day temperature fluctuations have intensified amid global warming, representing a distinct climate hazard with impacts on human health. This growing volatility creates a weather pattern akin to a ‘climate roller coaster,’ exposing populations to more frequent and sharp shifts between temperature extremes.”

In a subsection titled “Defining and measuring extremes,” the article at Phys.Org details the expected outcomes: “The study defines such extreme temperature events as occurrences where the temperature difference between two consecutive days exceeds the 90th percentile of historical records. Through analysis, the study finds that these extreme day-to-day temperature changes have become more frequent and intense across low- to mid-latitude regions. Using optimal fingerprinting methods, the researchers confirmed that human-driven greenhouse gas emissions are the primary cause of this trend.

Projections from climate models indicate this trend will continue. Under a high-emission scenario, the frequency and total intensity of these extreme temperature events could rise by approximately 17% and 20%, respectively, by 2100—impacting regions where more than 80% of the global population lives.”

Never mind the optimism associated with approximating how Earth will appear in 2100. The high-emission scenario we are currently implementing puts us on a fast track to additional extreme events within the next few years. As I have indicated previously in this space, we are on the fastest imaginable path to destroying habitat for all life on Earth.

One of the co-authors of the peer-reviewed paper described the findings of the study in the Phys.Org article: “Global warming exacerbates soil drought and intensifies variability in sea-level pressure and soil moisture. These processes reduce the surface’s heat capacity and amplify fluctuations in cloud cover and radiation, ultimately leading to more rapid temperature swings.”

The following paragraph provides the expected rapid outcome: “Notably, the health risks posed by these sudden ‘roller-coaster’ temperature shifts outweigh those associated with other temperature-related variables. Drawing on mortality data from Jiangsu Province, China, and the United States, the study finds that the correlation between these extreme temperature events and all-cause mortality follows a near-exponential pattern. This risk is particularly pronounced for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.”

The corresponding author of the peer-reviewed paper explains the importance of this ongoing event: “This study establishes extreme day-to-day temperature change as a distinct and independent category of extreme climate events.

Global warming is systematically intensifying these temperature swings in the world’s most populous regions, posing challenges to public health and ecosystem stability. We recommend that relevant international scientific organizations formally recognize it as a new type of extreme weather event.”

I now turn to the peer-reviewed, open-access paper in Nature Climate Change. Titled Global warming intensifies day-to-day temperature changes in mid-low latitudes, the paper was published on 21 November 2025.

The Abstract tells the story: “Global warming is increasing the number and intensity of many extreme weather and climate events. Here we argue that extreme day-to-day temperature changes, exceeding the 90th percentile threshold of historical records, are an independent, but largely ignored, aspect of extreme weather events. Such extreme temperature changes have a stronger impact on human health in many locations than do diurnal temperature variations. Global observations show that such events have become more frequent since the 1960s in low and mid-latitudes but decreased at high latitudes, primarily due to GHG forcing. Climate models project a further amplification of extreme day-to-day temperature changes under warming, with frequency, amplitude and total intensity rising by ~17%, ~3% and ~20%, respectively, by 2100 in regions covering 80% of global population. Increased extreme day-to-day temperature changes are associated with drier soil and increased variability in pressure and soil moisture, posing substantial risks to societal and ecosystem resilience and adaptation.”

The second of two paragraphs in the Discussion provides the bottom line for this research and its findings: “Our study highlights that the extreme day-to-day temperature change represents a distinct event type of weather extreme under global warming. The observed, simulated and projected amplification of these extremes reflects that most terrestrial populations and ecosystem functions will experience intensified temperature swings. Analysis of return period changes and associated mortality in the western USA and eastern China supports rapid amplification. Two record-breaking events in the western USA and eastern China occurred only once every 1,000–3,000 years between 1950 and 1985 but increased to once every 40–60 years between 1986 and 2021, causing larger event-related mortality. Extreme day-to-day temperature changes exhibit near-exponential increases in mortality risk, with stronger impacts than those from minimum temperature or diurnal temperature range. These extremes could trigger cascading impacts on human society, with threats to public health, ecosystem functions, agricultural security and economic development. Considering that the health and ecological impacts of day-to-day warming and day-to-day cooling events within these extremes may differ, these differences highlight the need for future studies to distinguish the two phases of extreme day-to-day temperature changes. In addition, abrupt day-to-day temperature changes severely challenge the existing capabilities of modern weather forecasting and climate prediction systems, such that improving the ability to accurately predict, adapt to and mitigate these extremes is urgently needed.”

In other words, climate change is producing terrible outcomes. These outcomes continue to surprise climate change researchers, despite the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluding Earth is amid abrupt, irreversible climate change. The IPCC reached these conclusions—abrupt and irreversible—more than six years ago.