Andrea Thompson is an associate editor at Scientific American, where she covers sustainability, energy and the environment. Prior to that, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered Earth science and the environment. She holds a graduate degree in science health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a bachelor of science and and masters of science in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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Human-Driven Warming Started Nearly 200 Years Ago, Study FindsThe signal of human-driven warming can be detected as far back as the 1830s, a new study finds.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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May Was Planet's Hottest Month on Record, NASA SaysMay was the fifth record warm month this year, upping the odds that 2016 will be the hottest year on record.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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'99 Percent Chance' 2016 Will Be Hottest YearWith the streak of record-warm months continuing, 2016 is looking likely to become the hottest year on record.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Will La Niña Follow One of the Strongest Ever El Niños?After reaching an exceptionally strong peak, El Niño is waning. A La Niña could follow next fall.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Big Blasts: History's 10 Most Destructive VolcanoesTheir explosive power and tons of debris have wreaked havoc on the Earth since the world began.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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How a Monster El Niño Transforms the World's WeatherBy Andrea Thompson Published
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February Blows Away Global Heat RecordFebruary 2016 was by far the warmest February, and the most anomalously warm month in the record book.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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2015 Shatters Hottest Year Record, But 2016 Could Rival It2015 blew away the competition for record heat, besting 2014 by widest margin on record.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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A Hurricane? In January? You Can Thank El NiñoHurricane Pali is the earliest ever recorded hurricane in the Central Pacific, a rare winter tropical cyclone that benefited from a strong El Niño.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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2015 Was 2nd Hottest on RecordBy Andrea Thompson Published
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Two Charts Show December’s Crazy WarmthDecember has been crazy warm across the East, leading to 10,000 daily heat records compared to 500 cold ones.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Historic Photos Paint Picture of Greenland Ice LossA picture is worth a thousand words, or, in Greenland, a thousand scientific measurements.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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U.S. Agencies Agree: October Was Crazy WarmNOAA and NASA said October had the biggest temperature departure of any month in 100-plus years.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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It’s After Labor Day, So Why Is It Still So Hot?Unseasonable heat has much of the U.S. in its grip. Global warming will likely make heat waves more intense.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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El Niño Could Rank Among Strongest on RecordThis year's El Niño looks to rank among the strongest on record, with potential U.S. weather impacts.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Drought Toll: California Now Missing 1 Year’s Worth of RainCalifornia's rain deficit during its record-setting drought is about one year's worth of normal rain.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Record Hot First Half May Herald Warmest Year YetJune 2015 was the warmest June on record, and there's a good chance 2015 will be the warmest year.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Russia's Impossible Rainstorm of 2012 Finally ExplainedWarming Black Sea waters fueled an intense rainfall event in Krymsk, Russia in 2012.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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June Breaks US Heat RecordsThe temperatures for June are in and five Western states saw their warmest June ever.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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2015 Arctic Sea Ice: How Low Will It Go?Scientists say the Arctic Sea ice extent in 2015 is likely to be among the lowest on record.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Pope’s Climate Encyclical: 4 Main PointsPope Francis' climate change encyclical has been released. Here are 4 main points from it.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Pope Francis’ Letter on Climate Change Leaked EarlyPope Francis's much-anticipated climate change encyclical was leaked early by an Italian paper.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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Arctic Sea Ice Dwindling Toward Record Winter LowWinter is when Arctic sea ice reaches its peak extent, but this year it could set a record seasonal low.
By Andrea Thompson Published
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After Much Ado, El Niño Officially DeclaredA weak El Nino has finally emerged a year after its first signs of forming, but weather impacts will be muted.
By Andrea Thompson Published

