“The ongoing collapse of the world’s aquifers: All over the world—from the Netherlands to Indonesia to Mexico City—geology is conspiring with climate change to sink the ground under humanity’s feet.
“More punishing droughts mean the increased draining of aquifers, and rising seas make sinking land all the more vulnerable to flooding. According to a recent study published in the journal Science, in the next two decades, 1.6 billion people could be affected by subsidence, with potential loses in the trillions of dollars.”
https://www.wired.com/story/the-ongoing-collapse-of-the-worlds-aquifers/
“The most populous city in Africa [Lagos, Nigeria] is also one of its most vulnerable to sea level rise and floods.
“To stay afloat, everything from its architecture to its transport may have to change.”
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210121-lagos-nigeria-how-africas-largest-city-is-staying-afloat
“Roughly 160 International Organization for Migration (IOM) staff in central Mozambique are working to prepare local communities for the imminent arrival of Cyclone Eloise, which is currently packing winds of at least 150 km/h [93mph and may be as strong as 120mph on landfall).
“The people are scared,” said Cesaltino Vilanculo, an IOM Mobile team leader in the provincial capital Beira, who helped hundreds of families evacuate from unsafe temporary settlements to two accommodation centers.” [memories of Idai and Kenneth still fresh from 2019]
“Indonesia’s environment minister claims deforestation for oil palm plantations and coal mines had nothing to do with a recent deadly flood in southern Borneo.
“But the ministry’s own data, and statements by a senior minister, attribute the intensity of the flooding on the massive loss of forest cover across the Barito River’s watershed.”
“Kapit folk [Borneo] have been warned to be on the alert for possible flooding as incessant rainfall has led to a rise in water levels in the Rajang River and its tributaries.
“Kapit District Officer Cerisologo Sabut advised those in low-lying and flash flood-prone areas in particular to be prepared for the worst.”
“Torrential floods sink houses in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia… Following heavy rain, flood waters fill the streets in Manado, Indonesia. January 21st 2021.”
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBs-ttYg1To&t=137s
“Temperatures recorded by the Taipei weather station reached 29.8 degrees Celsius [86F] on Thursday, tying the record for the second highest temperature ever recorded by the station in the month of January, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB)…
“The weather station was established in 1949, the CWB added.”
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202101210024
“After a relatively mild summer, [Australian] authorities are warning of a potentially dangerous heatwave forecast for Victoria the weekend.
“Sunday will be the hottest in the north-west with temperatures predicted to soar to around 44 degrees Celsius [111F] in Mildura as the heat begins to build.”
“Northern Patagonia and the central region of Argentina are preparing to face a severe heat wave during the next 48 hours… [provisionally the town of Maquinchao, which is 888m / 2913 feet above sea-level, has recorded its all-time highest temperature of 38.4C / 101F]
“As reported by the National Meteorological Service, in some parts of the Patagonian and central regions of Argentina, temperatures may reach 40 degrees, between Thursday and Friday.”
“Mega winter storm is forecast to dump more than half a foot of snow across Midwest [US, lash drought-stricken California with two year’s worth of rain in one day and cause severe thunderstorms in the South…
“Beginning on Friday, the first low-pressure system is expected to bring snow from California’s Sierra Nevada into parts of the Great Basin and Rockies…”
“Most years, by January the majority of the Great Lakes are so cold they look like a scene from “Frozen.” This year, that’s not the case…
“…the Great Lakes total ice coverage right now is sitting at 3.9%… The previous record low for this date was 5% back in 2002.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/22/weather/great-lakes-record-lack-of-ice/index.html
“If Iqalummiut [far North Canada] feel like winter has been especially mild this year, they’re not wrong… If the rest of this month continues on a warm streak, David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada says, December and January’s average temperatures will be the warmest on record.
He adds that what’s exceptional is not the odd warm days necessarily, but the relentlessness of the warmth. “It’s almost [like] this cold weather has been missing in action,” Phillips said. “It’s going on week after week.””
“UK Temperatures could drop as low as -10C in the coming days, as heavy rain brought by Storm Christoph is replaced by sub-zero conditions this weekend.
“Parts of the North West of England devastated by flooding on Tuesday and Wednesday turned drier overnight on Thursday as the storm moved eastwards… More floods possible next week…”
“Climate change is altering the types of plants that can thrive in British soil. The United Kingdom is continuing to witness increasing annual temperature, winter flooding, and summer droughts.
“Although many of the plants and vegetation are learning to adapt to these changing conditions, there are some quite noticeable changes in gardens across the country…”
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/climate-change-bringing-new-tropical-19662286
“Wind gusts up to 170 km/h [105.6 mph] as Mallorca takes a pounding from Storm Hortense…
“Aemet reported a gust of 130 kilometres per hour [80 mph] at Son Sant Airport, which broke the record – the previous was 118 km/h in February 1996.”
“Displaced by floods in Bulgaria, rodents find home in Turkey:
“Coypus, semiaquatic rodents bred for fur in Bulgaria, found themselves as accidental migrants to neighboring Turkey recently. Hundreds of coypus, also known as nutria, were sighted on the banks of the Tundzha (Tunca) and Maritsa (Meriç) rivers…”
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/displaced-by-floods-in-bulgaria-rodents-find-home-in-turkey/news
“By 2050 most people will live downstream of a large dam built in the 20th century, many of which are approaching the limits of the useful lifetime they were designed for, according to global research.
“To avoid the potential for dam failures, overtopping or leaks, the dams will require increasing maintenance, and some may have to be taken out of service. Many governments have not prepared for these needs…”
“Southern oceans are warming faster than thought, threatening antarctic ice:”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/01/21/southern-ocean-warming-antarctica/
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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I used to follow this thread on Facebook but I have since disengaged from that platform. So now I come here directly. Thank you for the important work!
Jerusha, thank you for the very kind words and encouragement. Best wishes, JP