Ocean heat record broken, with grim implications for the planet
The oceans have hit their hottest ever recorded temperature as they soak up warmth from climate change, with dire implications for our planet’s health.
The average daily global sea surface temperature beat a 2016 record this week, according to the EU’s climate change service Copernicus.
It reached 20.96C (69.73F) – far above the average for this time of year.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66387537
Brazil Could Break All-Time High Temp Record in Waning Days of Winter
The potentially record-breaking temperatures could create life-threatening conditions and decimate the country’s coffee yield
A heat dome, created when high pressure funnels and traps heat under a particular area, is set to hover over some parts of the country for several days, creating potentially life-threatening conditions, according to the Brazilian Report.
https://themessenger.com/news/brazil-could-break-all-time-high-temp-record-in-waning-days-of-winter
Wednesday will be San Antonio’s 105th day in a row with temperatures above 90 degrees
A lot has been written about how hot this summer has been in San Antonio, most notably how the city has reached the 100-degree mark 74 times in 2023, including a record 23 days in a row from July 30 to Aug. 21.
Quite possibly the worst part, though, is that it’s been plenty hot with no real breaks from the heat. Wednesday will be the 105th-straight day with high temperatures above 90 degrees. The last time temperatures failed to reach 90 was June 7, when the mercury only rose to 88 degrees.
[San Antonio Express-News]
111F/44C yesterday at Rio Grande Village, Texas.
Similar or even higher temperatures are expected in Texas the next few days, near or at record levels for late September.
October might start breaking October records specially at El Paso and near the Mexican border.
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1704855083564048756
Thousands of Central Valley water wells risk failure
Even though California enacted sweeping legislation nearly a decade ago to curb excessive agricultural pumping of groundwater, new research predicts that thousands of drinking water wells could run dry in the Central Valley by the time the law’s restrictions take full effect in 2040.
Ravaged by floods and fires, Greece struggles on the front lines of our climate reality
And as the weather becomes more extreme, so does the public anger. NBC News traveled the length of the country to speak to scientists, political leaders and people rebuilding their lives after the catastrophic events, and witnessed what looks to be a new era of climate politics taking hold in Greece and perhaps other democracies in the world.
Ozark County community without internet and telephone service weeks after storm hits the area
Six weeks after storms hit Ozark County some still don’t have internet or phone service.
Steven Rehnberg said, “Without the internet, we’re dead in the water.” [We all can relate!]
Videos capture deadly tornado whirling through eastern China
At least 10 people have died and over 500 people have been relocated after tornadoes hit Suqian and Yancheng, two cities in China’s eastern Jiangsu province.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/09/20/tornado-eastern-china-jiangsu-lon-orig-contd-ao.cnn
Libya floods, mapped: How heavy rainfall wiped out a city
Record rainfall was recorded in the hours leading up to the floods on Sept. 10, with winds reaching 80 mph in some parts of the country. For many, this was just another downpour, but for the 90,000 residents of the Mediterranean port city of Derna, it became a catastrophe they had to fend off by themselves. Two poorly maintained dams in the outskirts of the city failed, sending millions of cubic meters of floodwater all through downtown and washing entire neighborhoods into the sea.
While the disaster has been widely blamed on climate change-induced violent weather, survivors and experts point at the complicity of local authorities in what they say was a fatal failure of public infrastructure during decades of corruption and neglect.
“It was apocalyptic. Apocalyptic. It’s the first time we’ve seen a catastrophe like this, even on TV. Half a city, gone,” said al-Shaari, who found himself “walking on bodies, stepping on dead people” the next morning, as he joined the desperate efforts to pull out survivors.
[Infrastructure failure meets climate change.]
https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/libya-derna-floods-heavy-rainfall-rcna108004
Spain hailstorm destroys nearly $43 million worth of crops as it hits nearly 100% of some farmers’ harvests
“[The storm] caused devastating damage to crops,” the association said, according to a translation, “some of which were on the verge of being harvested.”
Spain’s meteorological agency for the Valencia region warned on Sunday that the storm would move “quickly,” but that it would bring “very heavy rainfall and large hail,” according to a translation. “Strong gusts of wind” and more than 1,300 lightning strikes were also recorded. The hail was bigger than 1 Euro coin.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spain-hailstorm-destroys-nearly-43-million-worth-crops/
The ‘Forever’ Glaciers of America’s West Aren’t Forever Anymore
Climate change is melting the ice on Mount Rainier. The environmental effects will be widespread, a Park Srvice study warned.
Once, there were 29. Now at least one is gone, maybe three. Those that remain are almost half the size they used to be.
Mount Rainier is losing its glaciers. That is all the more striking as it is the most glacier-covered mountain in the contiguous United States.
The changes reflect a stark global reality: Mountain glaciers are vanishing as the burning of fossil fuels heats up Earth’s atmosphere. According to the World Glacier Monitoring Service, total glacier area has shrunk steadily in the last half-century; some of the steepest declines have been in the Western United States and Canada.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/climate/mount-rainier-glaciers-climate-change.html
Floods, Winds and Temperature Extremes Challenge Rail Lines
The environmental risks to railroads are rising, but the measures to reduce the danger will be costly.
While abnormal temperatures and high winds cause their own problems, unusually large amounts of rain are considered the most dangerous.
“Extreme rainfall events can be fantastically destructive,” said Scott Cummings, the assistant vice president for research and innovation of MxV Rail, the research subsidiary of the American Association of Railroads.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/20/climate/trains-rail-climate-change.html
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economy” 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.
“While the disaster has been widely blamed on climate change-induced violent weather, survivors and experts point at the complicity of local authorities in what they say was a fatal failure of public infrastructure during decades of corruption and neglect.”
And lets please not forget that until “we came, we saw, he died” Libya was one of the strongest, most forward looking, countries in Africa. A country that could maintain its infrastructure well.
https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/barack-obama-belongs-in-a-fucking?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
My liberal ex-friends get upset when I curse Obama or Hilary. I think they need to get more edumacated. (I’ve been an independent for 15 years but of course I don’t bother voting anymore LOL!)
I would like to say thank you for your hard work for reporting this information. i first became collapse aware when stumbling across reddit’s collapse subreddit. someone there once pointed here, and i’ve been reading for a while.
i would support you via patreon but am barely making ends meet my end. if i come into some extra cash i may send a few $ your way.
Again, thank you.
Jimmy, thank you very much for supporting Panopticon on Patreon!! He definitely counts on everyone’s support. He also always appreciates one-off donations via https://climateandeconomy.com/support/
Kali, thanks for keeping things going here while Justin is on holiday! Great job.
I just feel that I must point out that you should be publishing the main summary at 6:00AM GMT. It has been late!
(just kidding)
You’re welcome and I hear you. I am just in a later time zone than our hero, Panopticon. He’ll be back before we know it!
I am seeing more people reporting on the impending collapse of the United States and other allies such as Israel and UK and EU. A lot of people can see it due to many reasons. It just a matter when not if at this point. More people I talk to can’t afford to go to the movie or own a home and some can’t even rent now. Gas prices and inflation are also running up food and other necessities along with all of the other factors. You know the United States is collapsing when they brought back the Jersey Shore show and now they are adults. Also many of the TLC reality shows have tons of scandals with them such as 19 kids and counting, sister wives and Kate plus 8. I guess reality tv is scripted. and the adults used their kids for the money what a surprise. There is also reports of a lot of abuse going on.
Here is the link to the US national debt clock wow! its insanity! https://www.usdebtclock.org
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/09/when-authorities-believe-their-citizens-will-become-dangerous.html
This is a real worry for me … I have no strategy for keeping loved ones safe when it happens. (… when it gets worse)
Good piece! Sobering indeed. I have no doubt things will get very nasty as this plays out.
Hello Kali
Thank you for your efforts now that the ‘great master’ is on holiday for a while. I live in France and used 🙂 to be a ‘glacier guide’ when I was young.
I find it sad that the degradation is so great over a lifetime. I had a farm in the Pyrenees for a long time. Close to a number of glaciers. There the same drama you describe in jet post ….. develops even in a relatively ‘cool’ summer.
“……Glaciers in the Pyrenees: “melting is far greater than the average of the last decade. This summer may not have been as scorching as the last in France, but glaciers are still melting in the Pyrenees and elsewhere. The Facebook account “Les glaciers des Pyrénées” published a picture of the Ossoue glacier on 27 July showing the decline.
This observation, deplored by mountain dwellers and scientists alike, is not only shared by the IPCC. Numerous studies have highlighted the phenomenon of accelerated melting and linked it to global warming due to ‘us’
The consequences are becoming increasingly clear, with increased warming at higher altitudes, accelerated melting of glaciers, increased thawing of permafrost, reduced snow cover and more erratic snowfall patterns.”…….
https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/hautes-pyrenees/tarbes/glaciers-des-pyrenees-la-fonte-est-beaucoup-plus-importante-que-la-moyenne-des-dix-dernieres-annees-malgre-un-ete-moins-chaud-2819666.html
Thank you, Zip. Must be extra sad for you as a former glacier guide!
https://medium.com/we-the-peoples/rampant-climate-disinformation-online-is-distorting-dangers-delaying-climate-action-375b5b11cf9b
Sure climate action as things spin out of control and you push ai and the new electric green non sense
Thanks, Heather. The denial is mind boggling. But as you point out, the liberals genuflect “green” revolution and “tech will save us.” And they went all-in on the pandemic, slamming anyone who had questions (and isn’t science based on questioning?). What a world!
It’s the 1,400 gigatons of greenhouse gases once locked in but now rapidly escaping from the Arctic permafrost(perma no more) and the methane clathrates ready for ruin in the Arctic Sea. Mitigation is the best we can hope for now.
Yes, why isn’t this front page news every day? Wait, don’t answer that. We know. 😭🤯😱
What a world more people are talking about the United States collapsing. You know things are bad when they bring back Jersey Shore as adults. Many scandals with reality tv not being so much reality as staged and the treatment of women and kids being abused. The veil has lifted from 19 Kids and Counting, Sister wives and 8 plus Kate shows. They profited off the labor from kids and keep the money or they were more concerned about money than their kids not wanting to do the show. The us debit is insane just look at the debt clock. https://www.usdebtclock.org
Insanity as they want to add more surveillance and more of everything right as the ship sinks.
I never knew that dying dumb was one of this species’ attributes.