“Record Rainfall Linked to Surging Methane Emissions in East Africa: Scientists have long warned the public about compound climate events when climate change drivers combine with climate disasters. One occurrence may already be happening in East Africa, a study published Wednesday found.
“In 2018 and 2019, East Africa experienced unusually wet seasons, provoked by warmer ocean temperatures in the western Indian Ocean and cooler temperatures in the eastern Indian Ocean. Together, the seasons caused widespread flooding and rising water levels. At the same time, scientists also noticed a dramatic increase in methane emissions in the same region.”
“Persistent heavy rains and tropical storms have claimed at least 10 lives in Mpumalanga [South Africa] while two people have gone missing after being swept away by floods.
!Last week, the South African Weather Service issued a red level 10 warning for the province, stating that predicted heavy rains would put serious strain on the province’s emergency services.”
“India experienced its warmest January in 2021 since 1958 and the third warmest in 120 years going by the night temperatures…
“The data also showed that south peninsular India had its warmest ever January.”
“Heavy rains and flash floods battered the East and Central Java provinces of Indonesia on Feb. 3, affecting around 25,000 people, FloodList reported.
“Heavy rain caused the Kedunglarangan and Kabeng Pulungan rivers to break their banks…”
“The series of weather disasters Indonesia experienced in early January could indicate that the country faces an increased risk of hydrometeorological hazards amid the ongoing climate crisis.
“Authorities are urged to adapt disaster preparedness and mitigation measures in alignment with the potential for higher risk…”
“Forest fires in El Bolsón: danger and shocking images: Several sources of forest fires were reactivated in El Bolsón [Patagonia, Argentina]. Thousands of hectares of native forest have been burned, and the fire is already reaching some homes.”
@ExtremeTemps on Twitter reports: “The Patagonian town of El Bolson got even hotter today 5 February and set a new record of highest temperature ever with 38.2C [100.76].”
“An extratropical cyclone with explosive features is forming near the border between Brazil and Uruguay, in southeastern Rio Grande do Sul. The phenomenon, known as a bomb cyclone, is a rare event in summer…
“This phenomenon occurs at higher latitudes, further south, and typically in winter months so it is completely atypical,” explains meteorologist Estael Sias.”
“Lots of us are feeling pretty anxious about the destruction of the natural world. It turns out, humans aren’t the only ones stressing out.
“By analyzing hormones that accumulate in fur, researchers found that rodents and marsupials living in smaller patches of South America’s Atlantic Forest are under more stress than ones living in more intact forests.” [This is not a surprising result.]
https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/fm-dis012921.php
“Human-caused global heating is directly responsible for the threat of a devastating flood in Peru that is the subject of a lawsuit against the German energy company RWE, according to groundbreaking new research.
“The study establishes links from human-made greenhouse gas emissions to the substantial risk of a dangerous outburst flood from Lake Palcacocha, high in the Peruvian Andes.”
“Since 1877, when there is a record of the temperature of Mexico City, there has never been a February 4 or 5 with such high temperatures, as reported in the National Meteorological System.
“Jorge Zavala Hidalgo, general coordinator of the National Meteorological System, explained that the heat record was broken in these two days, on February 4, Mexico City registered 27.5 degrees Celsius [81.5F] and on February 5, 29.3 degrees Celsius [84.7].”
“California’s rainy season now starts a month later than it did decades ago, prolonging the state’s destructive wildfire season into November, the American Geophysical Union said on Thursday, citing new research.
“… the results are consistent with scientific predictions of drier autumn months and a warming climate.”
“The polar vortex has gone wandering again. The weather pattern that’s most at home over — you guessed it — Earth’s polar regions has started pushing south, and is bringing plenty of frigid Arctic temperatures and snow along with it.
“…some are wondering if the wintry impacts barreling down on the United States right now might become more frequent thanks to climate change.”
“Recent blockbuster snow totals along East Coast [US] may be tied to climate change:
“Above-average sea-surface temperatures off the East Coast are adding more moisture to the atmosphere… The evidence started accumulating in the 1990s, and observations from snowstorms this winter add new weight to this counterintuitive idea.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/05/snowfall-records-climate-change-northeast/
“Nornickel Fined Record $2Bln for Arctic Oil Disaster:
“A report by outside consultants into the disaster — commissioned by Nornickel — also supported that view. It found that a cocktail of the tank’s design flaws, management failures, and rising temperatures had made the disaster “inevitable.””
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/02/05/nornickel-fined-record-2bln-for-arctic-oil-disaster-a72846
“Armenia’s meteorologists forecast record-setting high temperatures in country due to heat wave from Sahara.
“…The month of February began with irregularly high temperature in the country…
“Armenia’s meteorologists predict record-setting high temperatures (up to +20c/68F…+23c/73.4F) in the valley areas of Syunik and Tavush Provinces.”
https://news.am/eng/news/627048.html
“Authorities in Jordan have recovered the bodies of three people who went missing after their vehicle was swept away in a flash flood early Friday.
“The Public Security Directorate said the brother of one of those missing died during the search near the town of Ruwaished, some 300 kilometers (190 miles) east of the capital, Amman.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1804411/middle-east
“As the Mediterranean Sea becomes increasingly warm, extreme tropical weather could displace millions, and with that, alter the geography of North African countries.
“Rising global temperatures, driven mainly by greenhouse gas emissions, will result in millions being displaced from the coastal cities of North Africa…”
“Splashing out in Mallorca in February. The island is enjoying record winter temperatures….and some even went for a swim!
“As our photographs, taken this morning by Humphrey Carter show, Mallorca is a paradise throughout the year. Temperatures reached 25 degrees Centigrade [77F] this morning.”
https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2021/02/05/78723/winter-sun-joy-the-island.html
“The French prime minister says that a natural disaster will be declared after floods in the south west…
“The département of Lot-et-Garonne in south west France on Friday morning had 45 roads that were impassable, while six schools were closed and dozens of people were evacuated from their homes.”
https://www.thelocal.fr/20210205/natural-disaster-declared-after-floods-south-west-france
“Bordeaux hits back with balloons that turn hail into harmless rain:
“In recent years it has become common to see [the winemakers of Bordeaux] break down in tears in the spring and summer after losing their harvest to the hail storms that arrive with increasing regularity.”
“Snow melt, rain causing widespread flooding in Germany:
“Rivers around Germany continued to swell Thursday, fed by melting snow and regular rain and leading to widespread flooding and disruptions to shipping traffic.”
“Melting glaciers, rising seas: Approaching climate tipping points: Glaciers have shrunk at high speed during the last 30 years, raising fears of future land loss and more climate refugees…
“…leading climate scientist Johan Rockström, the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said that we have already gone beyond some key tipping points. Losing the resilience of the planet was the nightmare that is keeping scientists awake at night, Rockström said.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/2/5/melting-glaciers-rising-seas-climate-tipping-points
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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