Excess heat created from burning coal and other energy sources in big cities can effect the temperature thousands of miles away, a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change found. [3]

Researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado found that some areas far away from cities saw their temperatures [4] increase by 1.8 degrees F as a result of burning fossil fuels in cities. Researchers also found that the burning of fossil fuels in cities changed atmospheric patterns, resulting in cooler weather for parts of Europe. [5]

The research is important because it can help scientists make better models [6] to predict future climate change and can explain why some areas are warmer than models predicted.

[Photo by flickr user World Bank Photo Collection] [7]