New research led by the University of California, Santa Cruz, in partnership with Clemson University and the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, has uncovered that global warming is not happening at the same rate everywhere or at the same time. Published in Nature Communications, the study examined surface temperature data from 1970 to 2024 using advanced statistical models to identify patterns in how warming rates have changed across different regions and time periods. A major finding is that recent increases in warming have been most pronounced in the midlatitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, including areas like southeast China and the Gulf of Mexico. Lead author Claudie Beaulieu, an ocean sciences professor at UC Santa Cruz, explains that the research aims to give a clearer, region-specific picture of where warming is speeding up and when these changes began. The study found that these regional warming accelerations have occurred in distinct waves, with different areas experiencing them from the 1980s through the 2010s. Other regions with recent accelerated warming include the eastern Mediterranean, Bolivia, the North Pacific, and New Zealand. While the study focuses on mapping these shifts statistically, some of these changes may be influenced by local factors, such as reduced regional air pollution. For example, the timing of warming speedups aligns with declining sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants in China. However, the researchers note that not all regional changes can be explained by such localized factors, and more work is needed to understand the exact physical causes behind each warming acceleration. Co-author Rebecca Killick, a statistics professor at Clemson University and honorary professor at Lancaster University, explains that using statistical models to analyze warming at each point on a map allows researchers to identify areas with similar warming patterns. This information is crucial for local communities to understand how rising temperatures might affect them specifically. For example, faster warming can shift the baseline for extreme weather events like heat waves, making record-breaking temperatures more likely. This is especially important because even a small increase in the rate of warming can lead to a significant rise in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The study highlights that regions with large populations and lower levels of economic development are particularly vulnerable to the effects of accelerated warming, as well as the changes in temperature extremes it brings. Ecosystems, too, can be more sensitive to rapid temperature changes than to gradual ones. To help the public better understand and monitor local warming trends, the researchers have created an interactive dashboard that allows users to explore warming rates by clicking on a map. This tool is intended to support efforts to anticipate local climate impacts and focus resources where they are most needed.