“So-called Doomsday Glacier [Thwaites, Antarctica] is ‘in trouble,’ scientists say after finding surprising formations under ice shelf…
In two studies, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, scientists revealed while the pace of melting underneath much of the ice shelf is slower than previously thought, deep cracks and “staircase” formations in the ice are melting much faster.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/15/world/thwaites-doomsday-glacier-sea-level-climate-intl/index.html
“Another day, another record shattering low for Antarctic sea-ice extent, now down from 1,995,759 km² to 1,968,016 km² [first year on record below 2M km²] with several more days of melt ahead.“
https://twitter.com/EliotJacobson/status/1626071859254145025
“An increase in the pace at which sea levels are rising threatens “a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale”, the UN secretary general has warned.
“The climate crisis is causing sea levels to rise faster than for 3,000 years, bringing a “torrent of trouble” to almost a billion people, from London to Los Angeles and Bangkok to Buenos Aires…”
“Arctic Northeast Passage: Navigability Changes in 40 Years…
“…the number of navigable days has been steadily growing, reaching 89±16 days for Open Water (OW) ships and 163±19 days for Polar Class 6 (PC6) ships in the 2010s. In addition, more consecutive NWs have emerged for both OW ships and PC6 ships since 2005 because of the faster sea-ice retreat. Since the 1980s, according to the simulation, the number of Arctic routes has continuously increased…”
https://www.miragenews.com/arctic-northeast-passage-navigability-changes-948834/
“Alarming levels of PFAS in Norwegian Arctic ice pose new risk to wildlife.
“The Oxford University-led study’s measurements of ice around Svalbard, Norway, detected 26 types of [toxic] PFAS compounds, and found when ice melts, the chemicals can move from glaciers into downstream ecosystems like Arctic fjords and tundra.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/11/pfas-norwegian-arctic-ice-wildlife-risk-stressor
“New technique maps large-scale impacts of fire-induced permafrost thaw in Alaska.
“About 40 percent of interior Alaska is underlain by ice-rich permafrost—permanently frozen grounds made up of soil, gravel and sand—bound together by ice. Certain conditions, such as climate warming, have intensified tundra wildfires which have profound implications for permafrost thaw.”
https://phys.org/news/2023-02-technique-large-scale-impacts-fire-induced-permafrost.html
“Waters off New England had 2nd warmest year on record in ’22…
“The Gulf of Maine, a body of water about the size of Indiana that touches Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Canada, is warming faster than the vast majority of the world’s oceans. Last year fell short of setting a new high mark for hottest year by less than half a degree Fahrenheit…”
https://phys.org/news/2023-02-england-2nd-warmest-year.html
“Positively New Jersey: Warm winter leaves ice boat and yacht club members frustrated…
“New Jersey saw temperatures in the mid-60s on Wednesday – incredibly warm for February… members of the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club, which was founded in 1880. For the fifth straight winter, …have been unable to feel the thrill of ice boating on their home turf due to a lack of ice.”
“It’s 60 Degrees in February. This Is What Climate Change Looks Like.
“Whether it’s winter or summer, it’s been difficult to avoid freakishly warm weather around the world this year. It might seem like a fluke, but it’s really a reflection of temperatures being driven inexorably higher by a changing climate.”
“Million of Americans are fleeing their homes because of extreme weather.
“More than a million Americans last year were forced from their homes for more than a month due to a weather disaster, according to a first-of-its-kind release from the Census Bureau. When counting temporary evacuations lasting less than a week, the number balloons to more than 3.4 million — or 1.4% of the U.S. population.”
“Wall Street sees profits in dropping Colorado river levels.
“As Wyoming and other Colorado River Basin states grapple with ways to keep a river more than 40 million people, agriculture and industry depend on flowing, Wall Street is tapping water scarcity to deliver steep profits.”
“California’s snowpack is melting faster than ever before, leaving less available water.
“For decades, Californians have depended on the reliable appearance of spring and summer snowmelt to provide nearly a third of the state’s supply of water. But as the state gets drier, and as wildfires climb to ever-higher elevations, that precious snow is melting faster and earlier than in years past — even in the middle of winter.”
https://news.yahoo.com/wildfire-drought-shrinking-californias-snowpack-130015241.html
“Water Shortages Threaten to Increase Violence and Disappearances in Mexico…
“Changing weather patterns, the failure of government institutions to accommodate growing and moving populations, and the realities of decaying infrastructure are reducing the availability of usable fresh water in several parts of Mexico. This, I believe, is adding to crime, civil unrest and migration, as people search for more habitable or safer ground.”
“Argentina’s drought-stricken crops could bring in 23% fewer export dollars this season versus a year earlier, the Buenos Aires grains exchange said in a report on Tuesday.
“For much of the last year, Argentina’s worst drought in sixty years has delayed planting and withered crop outlooks, making life ever harder for farmers in a country where inflation nears 100%.”
https://buenosairesherald.com/business/crop-export-revenues-could-fall-23-after-drought
“A relentless drought in Rio Grande do Sul continues to limit Brazil’s soybean output potential this year…
“In the worst case scenario, output there could fall by 40% to 12.6 million tonnes, a large drop from the state’s 21 million tonne production potential, said Decio Teixeira, vice-president of Rio Grande do Sul’s farmer group Aprosoja-RS.”
“Number of fires in the Brazilian Amazon in August-September 2022 was highest since 2010.
“The number of active fires recorded in the Brazilian Amazon in August-September 2022 was the highest since 2010, according to an article published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Besides the record number of fires (74,398), the researchers found they were due not to extreme drought, as in 2010, but to recent deforestation by humans.”
https://phys.org/news/2023-02-brazilian-amazon-august-september-highest.html
“Invisible destruction: 38% of remaining Amazon forest already degraded.
“…over time, there has been an increase in the areas that were not completely deforested but suffered various stages of degradation. “Deforestation is really important – but yes, if we only look at that, we ignore changes in the remaining forests that can emit as much CO2 as deforestation,” warns professor Jos Barlow from the UK’s Lancaster University.”
“More than half of England’s rivers are filled with chemical pollution which can kill wildlife.
“Chemical pollution in Britain’s rivers is as bad, if not worse, than sewage discharges and needs urgent action to tackle it, campaigners have warned… More than half of England’s rivers and three-quarters of its lakes are considered to have too much phosphorus in them… There is also evidence of extensive chemical pollution in the UK’s waterways, including from pharmaceuticals and domestic products…”
https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/englands-rivers-chemical-pollution-kill-wildlife-2149137
“Flowering into frost: Climate change is ‘destroying’ Spain’s treasured almonds.
“Almond blossoms always used to be a welcome sign that spring was on its way in Spain. But the pretty pink flowers are no longer a reliable indicator, as climate change throws the seasons out of sync. 2023 was the third-driest year in Spain since records were started in 1964. The Mediterranean country also had its hottest summer on record.”
“Extreme Weather Patterns In Africa Wreak Havoc.
“Africa in 2022 saw flooding and landslides occur on an unprecedented scale. Many leaders – including DR Congo’s President Felix Tshesekedi – blamed the phenomenon on the climate crisis. Judging from extreme weather in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique it looks like Africa will continue to feel the impact of this phenomenon.”
https://allafrica.com/view/group/main/main/id/00084859.html
“Record numbers of displaced Africans face worsening prospects.
“Across many parts of Africa, conflict, political violence, climate change and food insecurity are converging to forcibly displace more Africans than ever. High inflation rates, rising energy costs and repercussions from COVID-19 and the Ukraine war compound already complex situations.”
https://issafrica.org/iss-today/record-numbers-of-displaced-africans-face-worsening-prospects
“KwaZulu-Natal towns [South Africa] pick up the pieces after severe floods, extent of damage still being assessed.
“Just 10 months after KwaZulu-Natal suffered catastrophic flooding and loss of lives, the province has been hit by more destruction due to heavy rains. The Presidency announced late on Monday night that the government had… declared a national state of disaster.”
“Record heat wave in the Southern Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
“Sharurah at 720m above sea level rose to 38C [100.4F], while Najran at 1200m to 36C. In Iran 32C at Iranshar (590m) and Bam (940m),31C at Saravan (1200m). In India 36C in Rajastan. 36C also in the Emirates. Heat will just get worse.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1625875337186881540
“Pakistan ravaged by water-borne diseases after last year’s floods.
“Pakistan still faces a crisis situation more than six months after its catastrophic floods. Waters have not receded in parts of the south and cases of water-borne diseases are surging, making restoration of medical infrastructure an urgent need.”
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230214_37/
“Temperatures [potentially set to exceed] 50 degrees [122F] in parts of Western Australia this weekend as national heatwave continues.
“Dangerous conditions have been forecast in Western Australia this weekend with near-record temperatures set to skyrocket above 50 degrees, prompting a bushfire warning from officials.”
“Cyclone Gabrielle: fresh storm warnings for New Zealand’s worst-hit regions as death toll rises to five.
“At least five people have died and evacuations are continuing as fresh storm warnings are announced in regions of New Zealand already devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle and the prime minister warns of the likelihood of further fatalities.”
“Endless record heat in New Zealand between deluges in the North Island and unprecedented warmth specially in the Southwest.
“Today the tiny Secretary Island pulverized its all time record with 28.3C [82.9F]. Very warm also at Haast, Westport and Millford Sound.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1625916505937395712
“Why New Zealand is no safe haven from the climate crisis…
“…heavy rainfall isn’t the only risk posed by climate change in New Zealand, long considered a safe haven by those seeking refuge from global troubles. Parts of the country have experienced drought in recent years, and even a few years ago, Auckland – the city hit by a short bout of intense rainfall in January – was close to running out of water.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/15/asia/new-zealand-climate-crisis-gabrielle-intl-hnk
“Chinese researchers have found that greenhouse warming and internal variability have increased the frequency of extreme El Nino and Central Pacific El Nino events since 1980…
“According to the researchers, El Nino has changed its properties since the 1980s, characterized by more common extreme El Nino and Central Pacific El Nino events.”
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202302/14/WS63eb514da31057c47ebaec01.html
“Climate change may make it easier for mosquitoes to spread malaria…
“Using data dating back to 1898, a team of Georgetown University researchers found the limits of the malaria mosquitos’ ranges moved away from the equator by 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles) a year on average over the past century. Mosquitos did some mountain climbing, too…”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/02/14/climate-change-malaria-mosquito/
“Cholera racks the world again.
“Climate change and conflict are supercharging cholera, a diarrheal disease caused by ingesting contaminated water and food, killing thousands of people from Haiti to Malawi. More people died of cholera last year globally than in the previous five years combined…”
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/future-pulse/2023/02/15/cholera-racks-the-world-again-00082911
“Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop “war” on poultry.
“Avian flu has reached new corners of the globe and become endemic for the first time in some wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry, according to veterinarians and disease experts, who warn it is now a year-round problem… Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds’ habitats and migratory paths.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
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Hello Panopticon
We live in parallel worlds. Hedge funds speculate with water from the Colorado River and realise profits of 50% a year and the Main Funds in Paris the CAC 40 experienced its all times high today as did most European stock markets….
How is the ‘spaceship Earth’ experiencing an economic and climate crisis? Apparently it can all coexist….
Oh yes the weather/climate and Pfas. France is experiencing its driest winter ever. The weather is beautiful, 15 degrees and every day I drink a glass of wine on my balcony after my ‘labour’. No snow in sight. Very exceptional in a ‘ ski resort’ where the slopes won’t open again this year is my guess.
It is an exceptionally dry winter : the ‘winter drought’ does not bode well for the summer
Groundwater levels are at their lowest point after the exceptional drought of summer 2022. France is now entering its fourth week without rain, and underground water reserves have still not been replenished. One day follows another without a drop of rain or almost. On Monday 13 February, France broke a new climate record: the number of days without rain in winter. . Currently “25% of French groundwater levels are at extremely low levels, 25% at low levels. The period of groundwater level replenishment, from November to March, is “crucial, It determines what will happen throughout the year. If they don’t level up, the risk of drought increases rapidly.
Pfas has been a big item in France for a month now. Schools are closed all rivers in all departments are polluted with it. But it won’t help much is my guess… That is the problem with ‘perennial’ pollution. Well, as long as we can fry our eggs in a non-stick pan. That’s also worth something 🙂
https://www.futura-sciences.com/planete/actualites/pollution-polluants-eternels-sont-presents-rivieres-lacs-93-departements-france-102901/
Zip, thank you for the “on the ground” intel. Your daily routine sounds most agreeable! And, yes, Europe is in a spot of bother, hydrologically:
“…researchers estimate average overall water loss in Europe at about 84 gigatons a year since the turn of the 21st century. It’s an alarming rate, Famiglietti says, roughly equal to all the water in Lake Ontario, or five times the average annual flow of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment-and-conservation/2022/12/europes-water-crisis-is-much-worse-than-we-thought