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Northern Hemisphere Lakes May Be Cooling the Planet
Confirmed
In Short: Scientists are exploring the possibility that overlooked lakes in the Northern Hemisphere may be contributing to cooling the planet, according to a new study.
The research, which builds on previous findings about the role of water bodies in climate regulation, suggests that these lakes could be significant in mitigating rising temperatures.
In a related development, experts noted that rising temperatures in the northern hemisphere are altering insect populations, with hotter summers leading to an increase in mosquito numbers in the UK.
The changing climate is also affecting the atmospheric patterns of other planets, such as Saturn, where scientists have discovered a hexagonal jet stream pattern in the southern hemisphere, similar to the one observed at the planet's northern pole.
As autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere, the equinoxes are expected to produce above-average northern lights activity, due to the Earth's tilt providing more favorable conditions for solar winds.
The September equinox also marks the start of autumn, making it one of the best times for aurora sightings, as the tilt of the Earth often results in powerful northern lights shows.
The Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the September equinox, signals the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, offering a celestial spectacle for skywatchers.
What this adds
The study on lakes and their cooling effect is a new area of research, and its findings could provide insights into how natural water bodies influence global temperatures.
The timing of the equinoxes and the associated increase in aurora activity highlights the seasonal changes in the Northern Hemisphere and their impact on natural phenomena.
Background
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the Solar System as Earth's North Pole.
What's confirmed
- “We’ve never seen anything quite like this in Saturn’s southern hemisphere,” said Amy Simon, study co-author and OPAL principal investigator, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
- “Given Saturn’s symmetry in its north-south jet stream system, we have been searching for a counterpart to Saturn’s northern hexagon on the south pole in Hubble images since 1990,” Sánchez-Lavega said.
- It is the first time scientists have seen a large, regular-sided jet pattern in the planet’s southern hemisphere.
What's still developing
- It is a scientific consensus that Mars once had abundant sources of surface water, including groundwater, rivers, lakes, and a massive ocean that covered much of its northern hemisphere.
- Rising temperatures in the northern hemisphere are forcing populations of the insect further north, meaning Britain is now in the upper end of the “thermal limit” for certain species typically found in hotter countries, experts have said.
- The newly identified feature bears a striking resemblance to Saturn’s famous hexagon at its northern pole, yet the two are not identical.
- Fall in the Northern Hemisphere officially begins the evening of September 22, and leaf peepers, listen up: The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the northeast’s foliage could start turning soon after.
- The feature appears remarkably similar to Saturn's famous hexagon at its northern pole, but is also distinctly different, suggesting scientists may be witnessing a new atmospheric phenomenon develop on the iconic gas giant.
- August's sizzle also helped push the globe and the United States to swelter through the hottest Northern Hemisphere summer scientists have measured.
- This is 2025's November Beaver Moon captured above forests in Hungary Autumn brings longer nights to the northern hemisphere, offering more opportunities to get outside and look up at the night sky.