Environment

The southward shift of an atmospheric belt in the Southern Hemisphere since the 1970s is reportedly the reason why parts of Australia and southern Africa are drying out. The southward expansion of a meteorological feature known as the Hadley cell is most pronounced in autumn.

The southward shift of between 125 and 250 miles has resulted in less rainfall during April and May over southeastern Australia, and to a lesser extent over southern Africa.

Rain that previously would fall 125 to 250 miles farther north is now being directed that distance to the south due to climate change’s effect on the Hadley cell.

It is not known specifically what is causing the shift, and climate models have not accurately represented it.

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The week's hottest temperature was 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit (44.0 degrees Celsius) at Nouakchott, Mauritania. This was a record high for the date and for the month of October.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 89.1 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 67.3 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.