“Russia’s 2021 wildfires are already its largest in the history of satellite observations, burning across 17.08 million hectares of land, the Greenpeace Russia environmental group has said.
“The new record beats the previous record set in 2012, when fires burned 17 million hectares of land across Russia, and comes with weeks left to go in a devastating wildfire season.”
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/08/17/russias-2021-wildfires-now-largest-in-its-recorded-history-a74814
“Climate change: Data shows soaring carbon footprint released by wildfires.
“…the fires themselves are in turn emitting enormous amounts of planet warming carbon – including carbon dioxide, soot and methane – that could further accelerate global warming.”
https://news.sky.com/story/climate-change-data-shows-soaring-carbon-footprint-released-by-wildfires-12384590
“Images From a Changing Iceland…
“The landscape of Iceland is undergoing constant change, and the rate of that change is being accelerated by global warming… the faster melting of Iceland’s ice caps is affecting the flow and shape of rivers, and that the decreasing mass of the ice caps is increasing the chances of future seismic and volcanic activity.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2021/08/images-changing-iceland/619782/
“Sweden’s only remaining mountaintop glacier loses two metres in height.
“The ice sheet, located on the south side of the Kebnekaise mountain, lost its title as Sweden’s highest point in 2019 after a third of it melted. Kebnekaise’s north peak, where there is no glacier, is now taller, with the south peak coming in second.”
https://news.sky.com/story/climate-change-swedens-only-remaining-mountaintop-glacier-loses-two-metres-in-height-12383982
“‘Don’t come here’: Swedish city of Gävle flooded after double a month’s worth of rain falls overnight…
“Several buildings and roads were flooded after 140 millimetres [5.5 inches] of rain came down in the east coast city between 8pm on Tuesday and 4am on Wednesday, weather agency SMHI told the TT newswire. Normally, around 70 millimetres fall over the whole month of August.”
https://www.thelocal.com/20210818/swedish-cities-flooded-after-double-a-months-worth-of-rain-falls-overnight/
“UK’s Lake District in peril due to climate emergency and influx of pandemic walkers.
“… the park’s natural beauty is being eroded faster than ever before, ecologists are warning, as a result of the climate emergency and a huge influx of pandemic walkers.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/18/lake-district-climate-emergency-pandemic-walkers
“Watch as tornado wreaks havoc in German village: ‘scheisse!’
“…A tornado wreaked havoc last night around the town of Grossheide in northern Germany, 50 miles from the city of Groningen.” [Video]
https://www.cityam.com/watch-as-tornado-wreaks-havoc-in-german-village-scheisse/
“Severe flooding and mudslides hit Austria and southern Germany burying a train in Salzburg and leaving 70 stranded in their cars.
“Heavy rain and hail showers hit large parts of the country on Tuesday night, with Upper and Lower Austria, Tyrol and Styria all reporting flooded streets in the regions.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9901337/Severe-flooding-mudslides-hit-Austria-sweeping-away-train-Salzburg.html
“‘Countless’ animals threatened by fires ravaging Europe.
“As wildfires supercharged by climate change-induced drought and heatwaves ravage southern Europe, conservationists are increasingly concerned for the fate of the continent’s wild species which are struggling to stay ahead of the rampaging blazes.”
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-countless-animals-threatened-ravaging-europe.html
“Thousands forced to evacuate by wildfire near Saint-Tropez.
“Large blazes are also burning in Portugal and Spain, the latest in a devastating European fire season made worse by the climate crisis… Large blazes have already ravaged parts of Greece, Turkey, Algeria and Morocco this year.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/17/thousands-forced-to-evacuate-by-wildfire-near-saint-tropez-france-portugal-spain
“Anger and sadness as dead fish wash up on the shores of Mar Menor beaches [Spain]…
“The corpses of hundreds of small fish and different marine species such as hermit crabs and shellfish lying dead along the shores of Mar Menor beaches have raised more alarm bells for residents and caused a wave of both resident anger and political argument…”
https://murciatoday.com/anger_and_sadness_as_dead_fish_wash_up_on_the_shores_of_mar_menor_beaches_1633565-a.html
“Malta experiences longest recorded marine heatwave…
“Temperatures began exceeding climatological averages in July and peaked at the weekend at above 30°C in Marsalforn and Xlendi… nother blow for marine life… devastating for the ecosystem.”
https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/malta-experiences-longest-recorded-marine-heatwave.894304
“Morocco Experiences New Temperatures Record Amid Continued Heatwave.
“Monthly records for the month of August concerned the cities of Taroudant with 49.3 degrees [120.7F] recorded on August 15 against 48.9 degrees in August 2012. Record temperatures also hit Agadir’s Al Massira…”
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/08/343942/morocco-experiences-new-temperatures-record-amid-continued-heatwave
“Algeria experts warn of massive floods after deadly wildfires.
“Algerian experts yesterday warned that “unprecedented floods” may follow the massive wildfires that have hit the country’s northern states if the government does not take proactive measures to limit their effects.”
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210817-algeria-experts-warn-of-massive-floods-after-deadly-wildfires/
“6 killed in Sudan floods, 6,000 homes destroyed.
“More than 55,000 people across the country were affected by heavy rains and flooding as of yesterday, along with a total of 6,270 homes have been destroyed, 3,380 homes damaged, and an unconfirmed number of public infrastructures and farmlands have been affected…”
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210818-6-killed-in-sudan-floods-6000-homes-destroyed/
“Ethiopia: Several killed in Addis Ababa flash floods.
“Flash flooding kills at least seven people in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa after torrential rains, officials say. Images from the city on Wednesday showed firefighters wading through brown water to inspect flooded houses…”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/18/ethiopia-flash-floods-addis-ababa-several-killed
“Zimbabwe – Extreme Weather Events Intensify.
“From record devastating droughts to ruinous floods, veld-fires and the early end of the rainy season, the frequency of extreme weather conditions is increasing in its intensity in Zimbabwe, showing a pattern that is becoming familiar across Africa and other parts of the world.”
https://allafrica.com/stories/202108180351.html
“Food prices in Armenia are rising uncomfortably high and the causes are not easy to fix: global inflation, a bad harvest, and economic depression brought on by pandemic and war.
“Prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages grew 13.5% year-on-year in July, according to the Armenian Statistical Committee, the largest jump since at least the 1990s.”
https://eurasianet.org/food-prices-in-armenia-hit-generational-high
“Kazakhstan sees 2021 grain crop down 24% due to drought.
“Kazakhstan expects its 2021 grain crop to fall by 24% to 15.3 million tonnes after drought hit main producing regions of the Central Asian nation, acting Agriculture Minister Yerbol Karashokeyev told a government meeting on Wednesday.”
https://archive.vn/gNHS6#selection-2569.31-2569.265
“Four missing, at least three dead as flash floods overwhelm villages in Malaysia…
“The Kedah Civil Defence Force and Kedah Disaster Management Committee said in a joint statement on Thursday (Aug 19) that three people died while three more were injured and four are still missing from the heavy floods that affected multiple areas…”
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/four-missing-at-least-three-dead-as-flash-floods-overwhelm-villages-in-malaysia
“China’s extreme weather deals a big blow to insurance companies.
“Severe rainstorms and flooding in China are hurting the profits of insurance companies, and highlight the shortfalls of the country’s natural disaster insurance system… Flooding in Henan last month resulted in a record single-event insurance loss of $1.7 billion…”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/19/china-floods-weather-disasters-hurt-insurance-industry-sp-and-fitch.html
“Mazda halts two Japan factories due to torrential rain.
” Mazda Motor on Tuesday halted operations at two of its Japan factories, the latest victims of torrential rain now hovering over the southwestern part of the country… Several Mazda sales outlets and suppliers are reporting leaks, floods and other rain-related damage.”
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Mazda-halts-two-Japan-factories-due-to-torrential-rain
“Torrential rains in Japan claim more lives, threaten greater destruction…
“…between Aug. 11 and 6 p.m. on Aug. 18, total rainfall exceeding 1,000 millimeters [3.28 feet] fell on 10 locations in six prefectures, mostly in the southwestern Kyushu region… more unstable weather is in the forecast through Aug. 20…”
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210819/p2a/00m/0na/003000c
“A strong Heat Wave in the South American winter kicked off on 17 August with the first 40C+ [104F] of the season in the Southern Hemisphere at Base Jara in Paraguay.
“In the next days the heat will increase and might break several monthly records in Argentina and Paraguay.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1427787798178840590
“Chile publishes hydroelectric drought contingency plan.
“Chile’s energy ministry has published a contingency plan to protect the electric power system from the consequences of an unprecedented drought and allow for power rationing under extreme conditions.”
https://www.bnamericas.com/en/news/chile-publishes-hydroelectric-drought-contingency-plan
“California wildfire crisis escalates amid extreme winds…
“Already the second-largest California wildfire on record [and largest single fire], the Dixie fire raging since mid-July in the rugged Sierra Nevada range northeast of San Francisco had charred 604,000 acres of drought-parched timber and brush as of Tuesday morning…”
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-wildfire-crisis-escalates-amid-extreme-winds-2021-08-18/
“Historic rainfall on Flagstaff [Arizona] area burn scar spurs flooding…
“Hourly precipitation of more than 3 inches Tuesday along the southern part of the scar was described by the Coconino County Flood Control District as a “200 to 500 year rainfall event.””
https://eu.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-weather/2021/08/18/flagstaff-sees-historic-flooding-wildfire-burn-scar-area/8179625002/
“More than 30 unaccounted for in North Carolina after flooding from Fred.
“Allison Richmond with Haywood County Emergency Management confirmed that 35 people were missing in the western part of the state… downpours washed out bridges and swamped homes. Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/more-30-unaccounted-north-carolina-after-flooding-fred-n1277121
“A storm system that already unleashed tornadoes in the American South has moved north and could cause mudslides and flash floods in New York.
“Tropical Depression Fred wreaked havoc earlier in the week on Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and other states…”
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/storm-fred-hurricane-new-york-mudslide-b1904960.html
“Hurricane Grace, a wider, faster and stronger storm, continued toward Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula Wednesday, where it’s expected to make landfall early Thursday.
“Forecasters are also eyeing Tropical Storm Henri, which could strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend as it moves over the Atlantic.”
https://www.flkeysnews.com/news/local/article253566949.html
“Warming Western Antarctic Peninsula waters impact plankton community.
“Warming water and receding sea ice in the Western Antarctic Peninsula is changing the local plankton community with potential consequences for climate change, according to research led by scientists from Duke University and Duke Kunshan.”
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-western-antarctic-peninsula-impact-plankton.html
“Soaring Cost of Food Is Forcing Families to Scrimp at the Dinner Table.
“Inflation is slamming the freezer shut and leading households around the world to make sacrifices… Food prices in July were up 31% from the same month last year…”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-08-18/soaring-cost-of-food-is-forcing-families-to-scrimp-at-the-dinner-table
“Three-quarters of people in G20 nations see climate, nature near tipping points.
“Three in four people living in the world’s 20 major economies believe nature and the Earth’s climate are approaching potentially abrupt or irreversible changes due to human action, according to a survey released on Tuesday.”
https://www.reuters.com/article/global-climate-nature-idUSL4N2PO0UX
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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