“Climate change helps dangerous fungi to better ‘infect and invade’ humans, experts warn. Climate change is accelerating the spread of dangerous fungi, pushing the organisms to adapt to better “infect and invade” people, senior American health officials have warned.
“Although fungal pathogens have long affected humans, experts on Wednesday said the threat is increasing due to global warming…
“Since many of these fungal pathogens typically exist in nature, they’re not as well adapted to human or mammalian body temperatures at 37 degrees centigrade,” said Dr Michael Kurilla, a director of the US National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a department within the National Institutes of Health.
““But with global warming, they are actually adapting… [it is] becoming much easier for fungi to colonise and infect and invade citizens, as well as other mammalian species,” he told an online briefing.”
“Medics say ‘world is not prepared’ for highly contagious fungal disease as first cases found.
“Medics have issued a warning that “the world is not prepared” for a highly contagious fungal disease as the first two known cases were confirmed. Two women in the USA, aged 28 and 47, have been confirmed as having the drug-resistant ringworm, also known as tinea.”
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/medics-say-world-not-prepared-26959148
“Global heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’…
“The world is on track for 2.7C of heating with current action plans and this would mean 2 billion people experiencing average annual temperatures above 29C by 2030, a level at which very few communities have lived in the past. Up to 1 billion people could choose to migrate…”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/22/global-heating-human-climate-niche
“Wildfires in peat an added challenge for Alberta firefighters…
“Peat, which researchers say has been drying out due to the changing climate, is contributing to how deep wildfires are getting and how long they could potentially smoulder. There are concerns over the manpower that will be needed to completely extinguish the fires.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfires-peat-challenge-alberta-firefighters-1.6850347
“Smoke from Canadian fires is pouring into the US and could linger for days.
“Air quality alerts have been posted as of early Friday across several states, including Nebraska, Washington, Montana and Wisconsin, with a special weather statement about air quality in Wyoming.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/19/americas/canada-wildfires-us-smoke-air-quality/index.html
“Despite record snowpack in the West, early melting could lead to water scarcity.
“Timing is everything when it comes to snowpack melting… This shift in the timing of water availability is moving toward earlier in the springtime, with less snow melt and water availability later in the summertime, implying an impending water scarcity later in the year.”
“Once ‘paradise,’ parched Colorado valley grapples with arsenic in water.
“…decades of climate change-driven drought, combined with the overpumping of aquifers, is making the valley desperately dry — and appears to be intensifying the levels of heavy metals in drinking water.”
“Great Salt Lake is still blowing dangerous dust.
“After historic snowfall over the winter, Utahns are breathing a sigh of relief about the Great Salt Lake. But they’d better not breathe too deeply — it still is blowing an immense amount of dangerous dust pollution along the Wasatch Front.”
https://kslnewsradio.com/2007824/great-salt-lake-is-still-blowing-dangerous-dust/
“Kansas farmers abandon wheat fields after extreme drought.
“Farmers in Kansas, the biggest U.S. producer of wheat used to make bread, are abandoning their crops after a severe drought and damaging cold ravaged farms. They are intentionally spraying wheat fields with crop-killing chemicals and claiming insurance payouts…”
“Local sea temperatures break records [Caymans]…
“The news comes as officials here begin hosting a series of public meetings to discuss the new draft Climate Change Policy. Reinforcing the fact that Cayman needs to prepare for the impact of a warming planet, the seas around the Cayman Islands reached almost 30°C, a temperature level never previously recorded this early in the year.”
https://caymannewsservice.com/2023/05/local-sea-temperatures-break-records/
“Hurricane season starts next week. Forecasters are already watching a system in the Atlantic…
“Colorado State University released its first forecast for the season back in April and are calling for slightly below-average activity, in large part due to current neutral conditions for the El Niño Southern Oscillation.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/22/weather/atlantic-disturbance-hurricane-season-wxn/index.html
“Further draft restrictions for drought-hit Panama Canal.
“With rainfall dropping by 50% compared to recent averages from February to April, the Panama Canal Authority has been forced to institute two draft restriction measures… Lake Gatun, which is in the centre of the canal, could hit historic lows by July.”
https://splash247.com/further-draft-restrictions-for-drought-hit-panama-canal/
“Indigenous communities in Argentina’s Chaco fear another heavy fire season in 2023…
““We couldn’t see the sun for a whole month because of the clouds of smoke. For an entire month, between October and November (2022), we didn’t see the sun,” said David Sarapura, from the Indigenous Kolla Tinkunaku community in Argentina. “It was awful,” Sarapura said…”
“‘We can’t escape the reality’: France is preparing for 4°C of warming by 2100…
“France is preparing for 4°C of global warming by the end of the century as countries fail to deliver on targets that would keep temperatures below Paris Agreement goals. Environment minister Christophe Béchu told French newspaper JDD that his government was no longer betting on limiting temperatures to 1.5°C or at least well below 2°C.”
“‘Roads have disappeared’: Italy begins cleanup after catastrophic floods…
“Emilia-Romagna remained on red alert on Sunday after catastrophic flooding that claimed 14 lives and left more than 36,000 people homeless. The emergency, which wreaked havoc across 100 cities and towns – many still under water – prompted the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, to return early from the G7 summit in Japan.”
“Climate experts warn extreme floods unlikely to solve drought problem across Europe.
“Europe’s long winter drought has created a dry and impermeable soil that is no longer able to properly absorb rainfall water. The exceptional wave of rain that’s been hitting Europe will do little to reduce the impact of a dry summer across the continent.”
“Long lasting drought led to crop failures in the Maghreb.
“Drought conditions were particularly intense in March, negatively affecting the photosynthesis of winter cereals since the flowering stage, and accelerating ripening in April at the expense of primary production. This resulted in a downward revision of yield forecasts and in high probability of crop failures for several cereal-producing regions of the Maghreb.”
“Scorching heat today in Chad, Sub Saharan Africa: In the northern village of Faya Largeau the temperature reached 47C [116.6F] which ties the record of highest reliable temperature ever recorded in May in Chad.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660414741834084354
“Thousands missing after deadly DR Congo floods.
“Local authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo report that 5,000 people are still missing two weeks after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in South Kivu province, destroying villages and farms, and killing more than 400 people.”
“Eastern Cape floods | Residents endure sewage spills, power cuts.
“Eastern Cape communities are still recovering from torrential rain that wreaked havoc and left many people displaced. Residents have also been struggling with raw sewage spilling into their homes, something made worse by the ongoing rain.”
https://www.enca.com/news/eastern-cape-communities-recovering-damage-caused-rain
“Contrasts in Southern Africa: First taste of winter and frosts in South African highlands.
“Abnormal warmth in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Madagascar with temperatures still at 34C/36C [96.8F]. If they hold until June, they will break national heat records for June (Mauritius too).”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660699637555052545
“Record of high temperatures keep falling in tropical islands due to record warm oceans.
“In the past days Mauritius: 19 May – 31.2C [88.2F] Rodrigues Island May record tied (=2 May 2016); 17 May – 31.0C Plaisance Airport (-0.3C from record); June is also expected to break records easily.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660771908265156610
“Record after record, this time it’s the Tromelin Island, in the Indian Ocean, part of the “French Southern and Antarctic Lands” Territory.
“31.7C [89.1F] on 19 May is the highest temperature on records in May there, beating the record set in May 1976 by 1 decimal.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660071623028887552
“Iraq’s climate migrants flee parched land for crowded cities.
“The United Nations ranks Iraq, still recovering from decades of dictatorship and war, as one of the world’s five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change… Water scarcity is extreme in the country of 42 million that endures blistering summer heat and regular dust storms.”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/05/22/world/iraq-climate-migrants/
“India scorched by extreme heat with monsoon rains delayed.
“Swathes of India from the northwest to the southeast braced for more scorching heat Monday, with New Delhi under a severe weather alert, as extreme temperatures strike parts of the country.”
“SE Asia Heat Wave; Harsh heat with temperatures up to 42.3C [108.1F] today in China at Yuanyang. The heat will slow down few days and return worse than ever later.
“In Laos highlands, extraordinary 36.6C at Viengsay (913m asl), hottest day in history beaten again! [100+ years of data].”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660627151165554693
“At the same time, cold air is bringing a strong cooling of 15-20C to the south, causing a wide range of intense weather…
“From 5:00 to 8:00 on May 22, the three-hour precipitation at Guilin AWS reached 300.1 mm [12 inches], and the hourly rain intensity reached 160.6 mm, breaking the historical record of hourly rain intensity in Guilin urban area.”
https://twitter.com/yangyubin1998/status/1660642391479525377
“An extraordinary heat wave is ongoing today in SE Asia: records are being obliterated (yes, again!) between Laos and Vietnam, especially at high elevations.
“The famous “cold” town of Sa Pa (1581m asl) in Northern Vietnam had a record overnight Min. temperature of 23.1C [73.6F].”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660593366038396929
“Singapore’s farms are feeling the heat, as recent higher temperatures have damaged some crops and depleted livestock yields…
“The temperature hit 37 degrees Celsius [98.6F] in Ang Mo Kio on May 13, equalling a 40-year record for the highest daily maximum temperature here. Temperatures in several locations across the country also exceeded 36 degrees Celsius.”
“2 found dead, 3 still missing after waterfall surge in Pingtung [Taiwan]…
“When the tourists were climbing down a cliff, the waterfall suddenly surged due to torrential rain, the Pingtung Bureau of Fire and Emergency Services said… The mountainous area in Wutai recorded 155mm [6.1 inches] of rainfall in just two hours on Saturday.”
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202305210008
“If you feel like 2023 has been particularly wet in the upper North Island [New Zealand], you’d be right!
“This graph shows the annual rainfall accumulation at Auckland Airport since 1964. As you can see, 2023 has been an extraordinary year for rainfall so far.
“The extreme rainfall of January 27/28 which caused damaging impacts to the Auckland region can be seen driving the rainfall accumulation skyward.”
“And more records, now from Samoa.
“Faleolo International Airport, located in the Upolu Island, rose to 34.8C [94.6F], which ties its highest temperature ever recorded in May and stands just 0.4C from the Samoan May record high set at Asau on Savaii island.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1660125863768203264
“Guam’s governor has urged residents to stay at home, warning the island could take a direct hit from Typhoon Mawar, which is strengthening as it heads towards the Pacific territory…
““The triple threat of cat 4 typhoon force winds, torrential rains and life-threatening storm surge are all expected for Guam and Rota,” the weather service said in a Tuesday morning update.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/23/guam-prepares-for-possible-direct-hit-from-typhoon-mawar
“The last time Guam was severely hit by a typhoon was in December 2002, and the lowest air pressure in history was 927.8hpa in November 1900. If Typhoon Mawar passes through Guam… it will become the strongest typhoon in local history!”
https://twitter.com/yangyubin1998/status/1660860754227085315
“Why a warming world is costing you precious hours of sleep… A study estimates people are already losing an average of 44 hours of sleep per year…
“Humans are already losing shut-eye in warm environments, especially at the beginning of the night… Nights have warmed faster than daytime temperatures in many places around the globe.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/05/21/climate-change-sleep-hotter-nights/
“Global loss of wildlife is ‘significantly more alarming’ than previously thought, according to a new study…
“Humans have already wiped out huge numbers of species and pushed many more to the brink – with some scientists saying we are entering a “sixth mass extinction” event, this time driven by humans.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/22/world/wildlife-crisis-biodiversity-scn-climate-intl/index.html
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Once ‘paradise,’ parched Colorado valley grapples with arsenic in water.”
Panopticon, you are a wizard, a master of information.
I take it this valley was never all that heavenly, Lou. 😆
No, a “paradise” it never was – 🙂 – but before the mega drought it was nicer. The little stream that should flow through my property here hasn’t had water since 2015 or so. We used to see muskrat, blue heron, egrets, and other species of water birds, mule deer, at least 6 rodent species, frogs, … .
We feed the local rodents, otherwise we wouldn’t see coyotes, or hawks but (except for the kangaroo rats) i’m pretty sure the rodents (bunnies, ground squirrels, chipmunks) need at least occasional water so the predators are not coming around like they used to.
I need to get busy and get my water tested for arsenic again. I think that my well is tapping an otherwise sealed aquifer, but it has some artesian characteristics and that pressure must be coming from somewhere. The geology of the various aquifers in the valley is quite complex.
Hello Panopticon
The reviews are getting grimmer 🙂
Indeed the media in france are full of plans and plebiscites to stop ‘warming’.
“The cost of ‘decarbonisation’ is estimated at 66 billion euros a year!
It stresses that 85% of decarbonisation will be based on “replacing fossil fuels with capital investments”, such as setting up networks of charging stations, insulating buildings or building new nuclear power plants, and only about 15% on efforts to reduce energy consumption, such as lowering the temperature of heated rooms or travelling less.
The investments needed to limit global warming will not lead to economic growth. On the contrary, they will lead to a slowdown in growth. To financially support households and businesses “public finances will have to make a significant contribution to the effort” and thus increase public debt.
The risk of the energy transition to public debt “is of the order of 10 points of GDP in 2030 (i.e. at least €280 billion), 15 points in 2035, 25 points in 2040.”……
This is obviously doomed to failure,and besides, the economic affairs minister stressed today that taxes must not be raised!
It remains and extremely interesting conundrum the economic ‘discretionariaat’ where the sky is the limit, the unaffordable renewal of the nuclear park in France and global tourism which is after all one of the main engines of the economy….
Squaring the circle is probably easier to solve 🙂
ttps://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/l-impot-n-est-pas-la-solution-bruno-le-maire-ecarte-l-idee-d-une-imposition-des-plus-aises-pour-le-climat-20230523