“‘Is it all worth it?’: farmers left heartbroken as Queensland floods ruin crops…
“While the immediate cost of repair was still being counted, Australians have been warned the price of fresh fruit and vegetables will increase in the wake of the disaster… Farmers who risked planting after the February deluge lost entire crops and face financial ruin after the second deluge.”
“Northern Rivers weather outlook bleak for farmers as rain continues.
“Rainfall and flood records have tumbled across the Northern Rivers leaving its agricultural sector devastated… The winter outlook is bleak for livestock owners and crop growers… Lismore-based vet Dr Bruno Ros said predictions of a wet winter meant the worst was yet to come.”
“Plastic-stuffed seabirds sound alarm call for Australian ocean health.
“…seabirds are urgently sending us a message about the health of Australia’s oceans – but we’re not listening, says marine biologist Dr Jenn Lavers, from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania.”
“Sea sponges off New Zealand’s southern coastline have been found bleached bone-white for the first time, following extreme ocean temperatures.
“A group of scientists from Victoria University of Wellington were alarmed to discover the sponges, which are typically a rich chocolate brown, were bleached in more than a dozen sites near Breaksea Sound and Doubtful Sound in Fiordland.”
“48.0°C [118.4F] in Urique, Chihuahua State (Mexico) yesterday, 1.0°C below the monthly record set in 2003 and 2005.
“It’s the hottest temperature of the year in the country [also 48.0°C in Jesús María (Nayarit) on May 13 but this station seems overexposed].”
https://twitter.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1525884303267139584
“Texans asked to turn up thermostats after sweltering heat knocks six power plants offline.
“”We’re asking Texans to conserve power when they can by setting their thermostats to 78-degrees or above and avoiding the usage of large appliances (such as dishwashers, washers and dryers) during peak hours between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. through the weekend,” interim CEO Brad Jones said in the statement.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/14/us/texas-heat-wave-ercot-conserve/index.html
“Fire weather worsens as heat wave spreads across southern US this week…
“A ridge of high pressure will build across the Southwest this weekend, allowing for record-breaking heat to settle in. High temperatures will soar into the 90s and triple digits, which will pose a threat to those who are outdoors for extended periods of time.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/15/weather/weather-new-mexico-fire-record-heat-texas/index.html
“Wealthy Californians splash out on fines to water gardens during drought.
“Liz Stoller… is rebelling. The 59-year-old business owner has begun reducing her water use but, like Hampton, is willing to pay fines to keep her pool filled and garden flourishing and is critical of local water officials.”
“Great Lakes’ water temps soar after several days of record heat.
“The record warmth across the Great Lakes region this week has warmed the surface waters six to nine degrees. You may not think that’s a lot of warmth we gained, but remember Lake Michigan and Lake Huron alone hold 800 billion gallons of water.”
“The historic heat wave in the Eastern USA is ending today. Yesterday La Baie in Canada rose to 34.0C/93F,which is a new record heat for Quebec in the 1st half of May.
“After very cool days, a heat wave is kicking off in California with expected temperatures up to 113F/45C.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1525568168365793283
“Overland flooding has caused significant damage to roads in sections of western Manitoba and is threatening to destroy even more infrastructure if it persists.
“”We’re gonna have probably some bridges washed out, a lot of culverts washed out,” Brad Wyatt, councillor for the Mafeking ward in the Rural Municipality of Mountain, said Saturday.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/duck-mountain-flooding-roads-1.6453780
“Summer Wildfires Ravage Forest-Rich Siberia, in Photos…
“Acting Emergencies Minister Alexander Chupryan said this week that Russia has seen over 4,000 forest fires across 270,000 hectares — an area larger than Luxembourg — so far this year. Climate experts have sounded the alarm over the increasingly intense annual wildfires, saying the burning trees release massive amounts of carbon while melting methane-rich permafrost.”
“Valencia in Spain just experienced the rainiest spring on record… Some municipalities in Valencia have registered up to 37 days of rain so far…
“Even if not another drop of rain were to fall in May, the rainfall over March and April would be easily enough to beat all historical records, says AEMET, [Spain’s] state meteorological agency.”
“Global warming made South Africa’s recent floods twice as likely – study…
“Flash floods around the east coast city of Durban killed 435 people, left tens of thousands homeless and caused 10 billion rand ($621.73 million) worth of damage to roads, power lines, water pipes and one of Africa’s busiest ports.”
https://www.fijitimes.com/global-warming-made-s-africas-recent-floods-twice-as-likely-study/
“Persistent Drought in Ethiopia Result of Climate Change, Experts Say.
“Drought is not new to the Horn of Africa, but experts say the record one killing crops and cattle across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia has underscored the increasing frequency of drought due to climate change.”
“Worsening Drought Leaves 3.5 Million Needing Food Aid in Kenya.
“The number of people facing hunger increased from 3.1 million in February, the National Drought Management Authority said in a report Monday. The drought is worst in 17 of the 23 counties classified as arid and semi-arid, as the state of vegetation worsens and health of livestock deteriorates…”
“Middle East Heat Wave: 14th May was record heat for the 1st half of May in parts of East Africa and Middle East: In Egypt 46.8C at Assuan, in Saudi Arabia 47.0C [116.6F] at Makkah and on the coast 46.8C at Yenbo and Wejh in the North. In Israel 45.5C at Bet Haarava.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1525747815900557312
“Lake Hamrin in Iraq dries up, threatening lives.
“With drought and a lack of rainfall ravaging the country, Lake Hamrin, which once used to supply 80 percent of water to the people of Diyala province, has almost completely dried up. Around 150,000 acres of farmland in the Hamrin area in northeastern Diyala province are on the brink of desertification…”
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/140520221
“Dust storm [another one!] hits several places in Iraq, cancels flights.
“A dust storm hit Baghdad on Monday and many Iraqi governorates leading to suspension of work in many institutions including schools and major airports, according to the Iraqi News Agency. The Iraqi Meteorological Authority, on Sunday evening, specified the cities that will be most affected by the dust storm…”
https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/dust-storm-hits-several-places-in-iraq-cancels-flights/
“Iraq’s prized rice crop threatened by drought.
“Drought is threatening the Iraqi tradition of growing amber rice, the aromatic basis of rich lamb and other dishes, and a key element in a struggling economy. The long-grained variety of rice takes its name from its distinctive scent, which is similar to that of amber resin…”
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220515-iraq-s-prized-rice-crop-threatened-by-drought
“Heatwave scorches Pakistan, mercury shoots to 51 degrees [123.8F] in Jacobabad… [This topples the highest global temperature of 2022 – 50.7C, set in Onslow, Australia in January and which tied the all-time Australian record]
“Citing The News, Geo News reported that numerous cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by heatstroke, acute water diarrhoea and gastroenteritis have been reported from all over the country, especially Sindh and Punjab as extremely hot weather scorches these areas.”
“Uttar Pradesh’s Banda [India] Breaks 28 Year Temperature Record; Reels Under 49 Degrees Celsius [120.2F]…
“As per the India Meteorological Department data, this was the highest-ever temperature recorded in Banda in May. The previous maximum temperature in the district was 48.8 degrees Celsius on May 31, 1994.”
“Delhi grapples with water shortage amid heatwave.
“Officials in Delhi on Saturday (May 14) said that they are barely meeting the demand for drinking water in multiple regions as the Yamuna river is drying up under the scorching weather while Haryana failed to respond to SOS calls…”
“Poor workers bear the brunt of India’s heatwave.
“For construction worker Yogendra Tundre, life at a building site on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi is hard enough. This year, record high temperatures are making it unbearable.” …Scientists have linked the early onset of an intense summer to climate change…”
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/poor-workers-bear-brunt-indias-heatwave-2022-05-16/
“Assam Floods and Landslides: At Least Three People Dead, Several Missing; Very Heavy Rains to Continue All Week.
“Assam faces the annual calamity of floods during the monsoon months, when incessant rains batter the northeastern state. But the yearly event seems to have arrived early this year, with Assam already having witnessed several instances of flooding and landslides in the last few days…”
“Zoonotic Spillover Is the Apocalypse You’ll Be Hearing About a Lot…
“What does this have to do with climate change? A lot. The more animals mingle — with other fauna or us — the more opportunities the pathogens they’re hosting have to travel, mutate and spread. And global warming causes exactly such mingling.”
“‘Soil extinction biggest threat to humanity’.
“A programme was organised by ‘Ajara Earth’, a non-profit organization, to sensitise people on soil safety as part of the ongoing ‘Save Soil Movement’. As part of the movement, spiritual leader Sadhguru has embarked on a lone motorcycle journey of 30,000km, passing through the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, across 27 countries.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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