“Historic warm spell in Antartica:
“Vernadsky, Ukraine (formerly UK Base Faraday), Galindez Island 12.7C / 54.9F new record (formerly 11.7C Feb 1960); Carlini, Argentina, King George Island 13.6C / 56.5F new record; Palmer, USA 11.6C /52.9F record tied; King Sejong, South Korea 13.0C /55.4F (record 13.2C)”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1491166656869314562
“New Antarctic Penguin Colonies Discovered Farther South Than Normal…
“Until recently, these areas were too icy for the penguins, which prefer warmer temperatures to raise their chicks. But as climate change melts Antarctic ice, the penguins are expanding their habitat, a phenomenon some scientists refer to as “gentoofication.””
“Greenhouse gas emission impact from peatland fires underestimated by 200–300 percent.
“Deforestation fires in Brazil and Indonesia accounted for 3 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the planet’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in 2019 and 2020, finds a new study in Frontiers in Climate.”
https://phys.org/news/2022-02-greenhouse-gas-emission-impact-peatland.html
“Fires threaten vital peatland in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego.
“A forest fire that has been spreading for weeks in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego is threatening the ancestral land of an Indigenous group and destroying some of the world’s highest concentration of peatlands. The fires… started in mid-January…”
https://news.mongabay.com/2022/02/fires-threaten-vital-peatland-in-chiles-tierra-del-fuego/
“Heat wave returns to the South [of Brazil] and temperature can approach 40 °C [104F].
“In the South, after the passage of the cold front last weekend, the weather remains firm in the three states. If rain record happens, it will be punctual. Thus, the trend is to rise in temperatures, with a new heat wave reaching Rio Grande do Sul, where thermometers approach 40 °C.”
“River overflows, flooding Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…
“Heavy rains cased flash flooding as the Paraíba do Sul river overflowed, flooding low lying areas. Buildings filled with water, ruining produce and possessions. Residents were advised not to leave their homes unless necessary.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9cgoPz6RxA
“Dozens killed by massive mudslide in Colombia.
“Torrential rain in western Colombia led to a landslide late at night, sweeping away homes while people slept… Rescue teams have been searching in the mud for more survivors, Colombia’s disaster management officials said.”
“In Puerto Rico, floods and torrential rains close schools.
“Dozens of schools in Puerto Rico closed on Monday following torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and several landslides across the U.S. Caribbean territory over the weekend… Up to six inches of rain fell in less than six hours…”
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/puerto-rico-floods-torrential-rains-close-schools-rcna15161
“Excessive heat watch issued for Los Angeles amid winter heat wave in California. It’s the kind of weather forecast that stands out in the middle of winter, even in sunny California: Downtown Los Angeles is expected to hit a high of 90 degrees this week, the National Weather Service said.”
https://www.sfgate.com/weather/article/Excessive-heat-watch-issued-for-LA-16842216.php
“North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens.
“Monday marked a month since the last drop of rain fell in Redding, and with the prospects of any precipitation falling in February diminishing, water shortages this year are becoming more of a reality.”
“Multiple collisions reported as dust storm blows across southern Alberta.
“Alberta RCMP say they are responding to multiple collisions west of Taber as high winds created a dust storm that is reducing visibility… Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for several parts of Alberta, warning of strong winds with gusts of up to 110 km/h…”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/dust-storm-alberta-collisions-1.6342894
“Preparing for Category 6 hurricanes, a new facility [at Florida International University] will test winds of 200 mph and storm surge…
“…in our changing climate, sadly, 160 mph isn’t strong enough. So, the National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded a $12.8 million grant to FIU’s Extreme Events Institute for the design of a full-scale testing facility capable of producing winds of 200 mph…”
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/07/weather/category-6-hurricane-wxn/index.html
“Farmers Are Facing the Brunt of Portugal’s Worsening Drought…
“Experts warn that diminished water levels in the country’s resevoirs will decrease water availabilty and lower water quality. Dryness and higher-than-usual temperatures are also exacerbating wildfires, which are traditionally rare during winter.
“Tshwane floods [South Africa]: Death toll rises to 4 as two more bodies discovered…
“The death toll, following recent flooding in Tshwane, has risen to four as two more bodies were recovered on Tuesday… over 800 families affected by the floods are receiving relief assistance from the City, while other families have been temporarily relocated to community halls.”
“Malawi risks more food inflation after Cyclone Ana destroyed crops.
“Malawi may face faster-rising food prices after at least 77,532 hectares (191,586 acres) of crops such as corn, soybeans, groundnuts, tobacco, rice and cotton were washed away by Cyclone Ana last month. Approximately 870,000 people were affected by the floods…”
“More than 90 people have died… after a cyclone battered Madagascar.
“Over 90,000 residents were left with damaged or destroyed homes… Initially, 29 people were reported to have died but now a local MP has confirmed that figure is around 96, with fears mounting that the total could increase further.”
“Livelihoods lost as climate disaster woes mount in Kenya…
“The semi-arid region has been the scene of a prolonged drought. Then, when the rains finally came, the deluge pushed communities, who rely exclusively on livestock for their survival, to the edge of disaster.”
“An estimated 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing severe hunger, the United Nations’ World Food Programme has said.
“Drought conditions have affected pastoral and farmer populations across southern and southeastern Ethiopia, southeastern and northern Kenya and south-central Somalia, with forecasts of below-average rainfall threatening to worsen already dire conditions in the coming months.”
“Punjab and Sindh [Pakistan] break all records for rainfall in January.
“The highly populated province of Punjab recorded 100.4mm average rain last month as compared to 55.8mm in the year 1992. Sindh [a desert region] recorded 23.4mm rain this year as compared to the last highest 18.4mm in 1992.”
https://propakistani.pk/2022/02/08/punjab-and-sindh-break-all-records-for-rainfall-in-january/
“Sapporo [Japan] in deep disarray after record snowfall pounds city…
“In Sapporo, a record 60 centimeters [23.6 inches] of snow fell over the 24-hour period through 2 p.m. on Feb. 6… the cancellation of all services connecting Sapporo, a city with a population of 1.76 million, on Feb. 7 posed a rare insurmountable obstacle to most commuters.”
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14542530
“A short-lived heatwave will grip parts of Western Australia this week, helping fuel fierce bushfires raging through the state’s south-west.
“There are multiple blazes burning in the region following a burst of catastrophic fire danger ratings — the highest rating Australia has.”
“Just days after receiving a deluge of rain that threatened major flooding, two West Coast towns [New Zealand] have set new records for their highest temperatures.
“The mercury rose to 29.8 degrees Celsius in Greymouth and 29.2C in Westport on Tuesday, topping the respective previous highs of 29.7C set in February 2010 and 28.6C from March 1959…”
“Aoraki/Mt Cook’s driest January in nearly 100 years has been followed by a nearly 500 millimetre [19.7 inches] dumping of rain in early February.
“A monthly climate summary by the National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research said Aoraki/Mt Cook airport recorded just 22mm [0.9 inches] of rain in January, its lowest since records began in 1928.”
“Water Supplies From Glaciers May Peak Sooner Than Anticipated…
“The world’s glaciers may contain less water than previously believed, a new study has found, suggesting that freshwater supplies could peak sooner than anticipated for millions of people worldwide who depend on glacial melt for drinking water, crop irrigation and everyday use.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/07/climate/glaciers-water-global-warming.html
“Thawing permafrost could expose Arctic populations to cancer-causing radon…
“They show that in buildings with basements, the presence of radon gas can increase to more than 100 times its initial value for up to seven years, depending on the depth of the permafrost and how fast the permafrost thaws.”
https://phys.org/news/2022-02-permafrost-expose-arctic-populations-cancer-causing.html
“Plastic pollution affects 88% of marine species: WWF.
“WWF said… that plastic has infiltrated all parts of the ocean [and] 88% of marine species are affected by severe contamination of plastic in the ocean. The report said that many animals have ingested these plastics, including animals commonly consumed by humans.”
https://www.dw.com/en/plastic-pollution-affects-88-of-marine-species-wwf/a-60692503
“Climate pledges from top companies crumble under scrutiny.
“The report underscores longstanding worries among scientists, environmentalists and policymakers about how to assess and monitor corporate climate commitments. This is particularly true for net-zero pledges…”
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00366-2
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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