“The first two months of 2022 are shaping up to be the driest January and February in California history, prompting state officials to warn of dire water conditions ahead.
““There’s no precipitation forecast through the remainder of February. And there’s very little precipitation in the long-range forecast for March,” Erik Ekdahl, a deputy director with the State Water Resources Control Board, said at a board meeting Tuesday. “All this is pointing to, again, some pretty dire conditions statewide for drought.””
“500-pound black bear nicknamed ‘Hank the Tank’ wreaks havoc in California…
“Hank… is not alone in his inadvertent terrorising of human populations. Climate-driven conditions across North America are impacting food sources for bears, experts told The Independent this summer – forcing them to venture further afield and into neighborhoods.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bear-hank-tank-california-havoc-b2018990.html
“‘Roller coaster ride’ weather sets records, washes out roads and brings snow around Newfoundland and Labrador…
“Strong winds, rain, flooding and large snowfalls have broken weather records and left some roads damaged or closed around Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday. “It’s been a roller coaster ride for sure,” said Rodney Barney, a meteorologist at Environment Canada’s Weather Office in Gander.”
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/roller-coaster-ride-weather-sets-155916663.html
“Hadrian’s Wall [UK] under threat from climate change on 1900th birthday…
“Hadrian’s Wall and its surroundings have long been a rich area of discovery for archaeologists. Many artefacts and treasures have been pristinely preserved in the peat bogs that dominate the landscape. But climate change has caused these peat bogs to shrink back and dry up.”
“Up to 56,000 homes remained without power today as Britain suffered its third storm [Storm Franklin] in less than a week with rail commuters told to avoid travelling following severe flooding, landslides and evacuations amid 87mph winds.
“National Rail said the first services on most UK train routes were cancelled, with a reduced timetable for today, alternative travel unavailable and further disruption expected.”
“‘Tornado’ wrecks string of Doncaster homes as violent winds rip through street.
“This was the scene of devastation after a ‘mini-tornado’ ripped through Doncaster’s streets, blasting holes in roofs, ripping off tiles and sending debris scattering.”
A further update on the record-breaking winds brought by Storm Eunice:
“At 11:00 this morning [Friday] a gust of 122mph was recorded with the Met Office provisionally declaring it the highest gust ever recorded in England. However, just 36 minutes later, that record-breaker was topped with a gust of 125.4mph – 109 knots.”
“Peak peril: Why are there more avalanche deaths than ever in Europe?
“Scientists and researchers have expressed serious concerns about the safety of winter sports in Europe as climate change triggers a rising number of avalanches and deaths.”
“It’s supposed to be winter in Spain, but Valentians are swimming and playing beach volley in this incredibly warm day.
“Xativa rose to 28.9C / 84F (29.6C at the unofficial station of Sumacarcer). Warmest February day on records at Gerona (26.2C town, 25.5C AP) and at Teruel 24.7C.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1494736455670845445
“Drought begins to be alarming in many [Spanish] communities…
“It does not rain enough nor is there any prospect that it will do so in the coming weeks. The average level of the swamps is already below 50 percent. The lack of rainfall during this winter is causing the reservoirs to be in a critical situation.”
https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-sequia-empieza-alarmante-muchas-comunidades-202202191736_video.html
“In the Mediterranean region, the soil is degrading, and land is turning to desert faster than anywhere else in the European Union, according to a new analysis.
“Experts warn that the combined effects of unsustainable land practices and climate change have depleted a finite resource to a critical point.”
https://www.sciencealert.com/experts-warn-mediterranean-soil-is-reaching-a-critical-limit
“Morocco Enacts Measures to Ration Water Amidst Severe Drought.
“Morocco is facing the prospect of severe drought this year following record low rainfall… Traditionally part of the second-largest grain importing region worldwide, the North African country is already straining under the weight of a rising deficit on the backdrop of the soaring global food prices, especially that of grains.”
“Flash floods, heavy rains leave one dead, 187 homeless, 3 missing in Ivory Park, South Africa…
“Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse, together with MMC for Public Safety, David Tembe, Region A director, ward councillors, and City and provincial disaster management teams, visited the area on Saturday to assess the damage and to address the needs of residents.”
“Rwanda: Government Sheds Light on Two-Month Disaster Status, Blames Climate Change.
“From January to February 19 at least 467 hectares of crops have been destroyed… about 50 people have lost lives of whom 20 were struck by lightning, while 11 people were killed by landslides in mining sites and others by flooding.”
https://allafrica.com/stories/202202210078.html
“Madagascar braces for next cyclone as at least 14 killed by storm Dumako…
“A total of 124 people were killed earlier this month when tropical cyclone Batsirai slammed the southeastern coast of the island. read more. Another cyclone, Emnati, is forecast to hit close to the same area affected by Batsirai.”
“Conflict and Climate Change Ravage Syria’s Agricultural Heartland.
“In a region ravaged by ISIS and armed conflict, prolonged drought and drying rivers have made stability even more precarious. Here, the normally abstract idea of climate change can be seen in the city’s daily bread.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/19/world/middleeast/syria-drought-climate-food.html
“Historic day in the Chinese city of Xiamen (24N). During the morning hours snowflakes fell in the city centre mixed with rain, an extremely rare event (last full snowfall in the city was in January 1893).
“Temperatures were between 5C and 6C during the event.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1495459576778473473
“Climate change: Covid shutdown linked to record rainfall in China.
“Scientists say that a rapid drop in emissions because of Covid played a key role in record rainfall in China in 2020.
“The decline in greenhouse gases and small particles called aerosols caused atmospheric changes that intensified the downpours.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60423329
“Perth weather: WA on track for hottest summer ever after breaking another record…
“As the city sweltered to 36.3C [97.3F] on Sunday it matched the previous record, set in the summer of 1977-78, of 31 days over or equal to 35C… Onslow Airport recorded a maximum temperature of 50.7 °C on January 13, which was the highest temperature in WA, and equalled with the all-time highest temperature in the country…”
“The sound of magpies warbling in the morning is synonymous with life in Australia, but Perth researchers are predicting a bleak future for the beloved species.
“Research conducted by associate professor Amanda Ridley and her team at the University of Western Australia has found that very hot weather is affecting the birds’ ability to survive, reproduce and raise their chicks.”
“Fires rage out of control in Argentina… Almost 800,000 hectares of the province of Corrientes in northwestern Argentina has been devastated by wildfires.
“According to a report by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology released on Friday, 785,238 hectares of land had been burned due to the blazes, which represents 9% of the province’s area.”
https://www.euronews.com/2022/02/19/fires-rage-out-of-control-in-argentina
“The death toll from torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides in the scenic Brazilian city of Petropolis has risen to 165, authorities said Sunday, as more violent storms killed two people in another region nearby.
“It is unclear how high the steadily rising death toll will go. It is unlikely any more survivors will be found…”
“Antarctic sea ice extent continues to be the lowest ever recorded in the satellite era… (preliminary data):
https://twitter.com/ZLabe/status/1495055217997455362
Further info at Zack Labe’s website:
https://sites.uci.edu/zlabe/antarctic-sea-ice-extentconcentration/
“Unexpected Fish and Squid Found Thriving in Rapidly Warming Central Arctic Ocean…
“Scientists participating in the international MOSAiC expedition with research icebreaker Polarstern have found fish and squid in deep water in the middle of the Arctic Ocean as single individuals of Atlantic cod and squid happen much farther north than already anticipated.”
“A major Atlantic current is at a critical transition point… where it could rapidly turn off…
“New evidence suggests that the larger system the Gulf Stream is part of is approaching a tipping point that could cause dramatic shifts in global weather patterns.”
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/amoc-shutdown-gulf-stream-climate/
“A global analysis of sea levels over the past 2,000 years has found a rapid rate of increase in line with the Industrial Revolution.
“By 1863, researchers found the rate of sea level rise had clearly surpassed background variability. Unsurprisingly, it’s around this time that the first hints of ocean warming and glacier melt from human activity also show up in research…”
https://www.sciencealert.com/sea-levels-began-accelerating-as-far-back-as-1863-study-finds
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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