Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Daily updates on climate change and the global economy.
Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.

Special sponsor for August 2024 is Cassandra Mountain. Many thanks!


“According to NASA GISS analysis, July 2024 global mean temperature… was warmer than 2023’s by 0.02C, which makes it the 14th consecutive month since June 2023 with the record highs.

“Note that El Nino has disappeared.”

https://x.com/MakikoSato6/status/1821925170459652445


“Charting uncharted territory: Global mean surface temperature, August 1-6.

“That’s right, it’s the hottest first six days of August on record, even beating last year’s total f&%kery.”

https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/1821583892916347149


“Exceptional heat in Bjornoya (in English Bear Island) an arctic island belonging to Norway at latitude 74N.

“22.5C [72.5F] yesterday is a new record of highest temperature for August and a rare 20C+ (9 times since 1939).”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821818702490431643


“The race to save a glacier shedding 30 billion tons of ice a year.

“Every year in the remote reaches of Greenland, between 30 and 50 billion tons of ice breaks off the Jakobshavn Glacier and plunges into the sea. The largest icebergs can be a kilometre in height…”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/how-to-save-your-glacier-and-avert-a-sea-level-catastrophe/


“Breaking! With a preliminary Tmax of 37.0°C [98.6F], Fort Good Hope just recorded the highest reliable temperature in August in [Canada’s] Northwest Territories!

“The previous record was 36.7°C in Hay River in 1981. This is also 0.4°C from the all-time record of the station.”

https://x.com/ThierryGooseBC/status/1822036803571888375


“‘It’s devastating’: summer in Canada’s Arctic region brings severe heatwaves.

“While the warmth has brought joy, it also comes with a set of lingering worries, including the threat of wildfires and thawing permafrost, leading some to wonder if the growing trend of balmy weather might come with too steep a cost.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/08/canada-arctic-region-heat-wave


“Rapid permafrost thaw in Alaska threatens global climate balance.

“The study was focused on the Koyukuk River in Alaska… The research, published by the American Geophysical Union, reveals a concerning trend. While new permafrost is developing along the floodplain, it’s not keeping pace with the amount melting due to rising temperatures.”

https://www.earth.com/news/rapid-permafrost-thaw-in-alaska-threatens-global-climate-balance/


“Alaska’s North Slope sees record-breaking heat, among state’s other climate oddities…

“Alaska as a whole saw its wettest July on record and different regions of the state are experiencing other major impacts from climate warming, including the glacial outburst flooding in Juneau.”

https://alaskapublic.org/2024/08/08/alaskas-north-slope-sees-record-breaking-heat-among-states-other-climate-oddities/


“Cherry season such a ‘disaster’ in Michigan that Whitmer urges federal action…

“Experts say extreme weather variability caused by climate change is entirely to blame for this season’s spoiled cherry crops. Things are so bad that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is urging the federal government to declare a natural disaster.”

https://www.mlive.com/environment/2024/08/cherry-season-such-a-disaster-in-michigan-that-whitmer-urges-federal-action.html


“Extreme weather nearly killed my business, and climate change means more of it. What I wish I’d known [Chicago].

“I never thought it would happen to me. That’s what they all say, right? Until it did. My business flooded in July last year. It was on a weekend where Chicago experienced record rainfall fueled by climate change, and on that Sunday afternoon the skies really let loose.”

https://fortune.com/2024/08/09/extreme-weather-nearly-killed-my-business-climate-change-insurance-flooding-preparation/


“Record-breaking wildfires scorch more than 1.4 million acres in Oregon, authorities say…

“Wildfires in Oregon have burned more acres of land this year than any since reliable records began, authorities said, with the region’s peak fire season in mid-August still on the horizon.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/record-breaking-wildfires-scorch-more-than-1-4-million-acres-in-oregon-authorities-say/ar-AA1oxwx1


“July was California’s hottest month ever, as climate warms to dangerous new extremes.

“…record after record across the state shattered. Palm Springs saw its hottest day ever, hitting 124 degrees July 5. Redding hit an all-time high of 119 degrees July 6. Palmdale and Lancaster had almost a week straight of days at or above 110 degrees, more than doubling the cities’ previous streaks.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-08-08/record-heat-in-july


“Fast-rising floodwaters from Debby’s extreme rainfall has overwhelmed communities and fueled a dangerous situation in the Northeast, damaging homes, inundating roads and forcing rescues.

“Rare flash flood emergencies – the most severe flood alert – were issued early Friday…”

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/09/weather/tropical-depression-debby-forecast-friday/index.html


“Here’s Debby’s 2 day rain totals. The area surrounded in blue is 10”+. Any areas that had greater than 15 inches saw a 1-in-200 year event and the isolated pink contours (18+) is a 1-in-500 yr event.

“These events were rare, but we need a recalculation for climate change.”

https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/1822022598709985348


“HISTORIC – 88F [31.1C] MINIMUM temperature today at Key West NAS it ties the highest minimum temperature ever recorded in August in the whole State of Florida, 1F from all time Floridian hottest night.

“Stifling unbearable hot nights have persisted all this week and are expected to go on.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1822007808688111983


“Florida’s Estuaries Are Warming Faster Than the Gulf of Mexico…

“The findings, published in Environmental Research Letters and Estuaries and Coasts, paint a troubling picture for the marine life that calls Florida home… Estuaries are nurseries, where many marine animals begin their lives.”

https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/floridas-estuaries-are-warming-faster-than-the-gulf-of-mexico-389553


“Heavy rains cause partial collapse of ancient pyramid in Mexico.

“Authorities said that significant precipitation amid a severe drought had undermined the Purépecha structure at Ihuatzio… Ihuatzio was developed and inhabited between the 10th and 16th centuries.”

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/08/09/pyramid-collapse-ihuatzio-archaeological-site-heavy-rain-climate-change


“Wildfires in Brazil’s Pantanal wetland fuelled ‘by climate disruption’…

“Charred corpses of monkeys, caimans and snakes have been left in the aftermath of the blaze, which burned 440,000 hectares (1.1m acres) and is thought to have killed millions of animals and countless more plants, insects and fungi.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/08/wildfires-brazil-pantanal-wetland-climate-disruption


“The ocean losing its breath under the heatwaves…

“…Our results show compelling evidence of a remarkable surge in the co-occurrence of marine heatwaves and low-oxygen extreme events… Our findings suggest the ocean is losing its breath under the influence of heatwaves, potentially experiencing more severe damage than previously anticipated.”

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51323-8


“Jellyfish washing up on the Fife coast could be a red flag for the climate crisis.

“Warming seas caused by global warming are encouraging more jellyfish species to enter Scottish waters. These creatures are better at dealing with pollution, over-fishing and low oxygen conditions than many of their competitors and predators.”

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/5051761/fife-jellyfish-climate-change/


“Worldcon is under way in Scotland – with the climate crisis a hot topic at the popular sci-fi convention.

“Post-apocalyptic Earth is a staple of science fiction, with real-life warnings foreboding climate change will be “catastrophic for civilisation” unless urgent action is taken.”

https://news.sky.com/story/climate-crisis-a-hot-topic-at-worldcon-in-glasgow-13193423


“British food security is being hit by a double whammy of climate change impacts at home and in the countries it imports products from, analysis warns.

“Key crops from potatoes and onions to wheat and sugar are being hit by damaging heat, drought and floods around the world.”

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/other/uk-food-security-hit-by-climate-impacts-at-home-and-abroad-analysis-warns/ar-AA1ossuU


“July 2024 in Ukraine was exceptionally hot: Temperature anomalies ranged from +1.7C to +5.2C ! above normal.

“Dozens of records were broken with temperatures reaching close to 42C. See monthly average temperatures map by Ukraine Hydrological Service.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821516714238173360


“Bulgaria Faces Severe Forest Fire Crisis as EU’s Most Affected Country…

“In recent weeks, both volunteers and professional firefighters have been working tirelessly against the fires, which have destroyed buildings and led to evacuations.”

https://www.novinite.com/articles/227609/Bulgaria+Faces+Severe+Forest+Fire+Crisis+as+EU%27s+Most+Affected+Country


“More than 2,000 wildfires have erupted all over Greece this summer spurred on by unusually high temperatures.

“Greek authorities flew additional forces to the southern island of Crete on Thursday, where 250 firefighters battled a wildfire that forced the evacuation of eight villages in mountainous areas.”

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/08/09/hundreds-of-greek-firefighters-contain-crete-wildfire-damage-as-high-temperatures-raise-ri


“Greeks try tropical crops in climate change experiment…

“After the warmest winter on record, Greece also experienced the hottest June and July since reliable data collection began in 1960. “There is no winter,” Adamopoulos, 38, told AFP, adding that his property has not received a drop of rain since March.”

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-greeks-tropical-crops-climate.html


“Harvest starts early in Sicily’s vineyards amid crushing drought.

“The prestigious Donnafugata vineyards, which span the Italian island from the slopes of Marsala to the mantle of Mount Etna, began their harvest on July 22nd, an unprecedented two weeks earlier than usual. At Contessa Entellina… there has been almost no rain since May.”

https://www.thelocal.it/20240808/harvest-starts-early-in-sicilys-vineyards-amid-crushing-drought


“Harsh heat wave from North Africa to Europe:

“In MOROCCO records fall every single day with 43.7C [110.7F] at Errcachidia 1100m above sea level, August record beaten again. In Spain 43C in the Central highlands today and will get worse.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821976461512994906


“Facing Water Crisis, Casablanca Reduces Water Flow by 10%…

“Marrakech – Casablanca, the economic heart of Morocco, is grappling with an unprecedented water crisis as the city faces the consequences of prolonged drought and diminishing water reserves.”

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/08/364460/facing-water-crisis-casablanca-reduces-water-flow-by-10


“Floods battering Niger since June have killed at least 94 people and affected more than 137,000, authorities said on Friday as more heavy rain was predicted.

“A UN toll on July 15 said there were 53 dead in the floods which it said had been worsened by the effects of climate change.”

https://www.barrons.com/news/niger-ups-floods-death-toll-to-94-4b8a63b5


“EXTRAORDINARY – 40 DEGREES IN WINTER IN SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHLANDS.

“World climatic history is being rewritten with heat waves sweeping all world these days… 39.4 [102.9F] Skukuza; 38.0 Hoedspruit 524m asl; 36.9 Makatini; and Pongola; 36.6 Thohoyandou 614m.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821944670890406147


“United Nations aid agencies warn climate change is wreaking havoc throughout large parts of eastern and southern Africa, worsening the plight of millions of people struggling to survive conflict, poverty, hunger and disease…

“Guarnieri said WFP is facing a $320 million funding shortfall “that jeopardizes our ability to mount a response at the scale required.””

https://www.voanews.com/a/un-climate-change-wreaks-havoc-through-large-parts-of-africa/7736689.html


“WORLD WORST HEAT WAVE continues and worsen…

“Last August’s records smashed in IRAN highlands: 43.8 [110.8F] Esfahan 1550m; 41.3 Arak 1703m; 40.2 Hamedan 1741m… HISTORIC heat spreads to in KAZAKHSTAN with 45C and insane MINIMUMS of 27.8 Kyzyl Orda; 28.0 Balhash, 46 of latitude.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821934033455939832


“Four planes damaged by hail at Astana airport on Thursday [Kazakhstan]…

“On August 8, due to a sudden hailstorm in Astana, four aircraft of the Air Astana airline were damaged, Kazinform News Agency reports. Air Astana informed its passengers that the airline’s flights might be delayed.”

https://en.inform.kz/news/four-planes-damaged-by-hail-at-astana-airport-on-thursday-3fd2ed/


“RECORD HEAT IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN – Unprecedented humid heat going on for months with deadly dew points 28C/32C in NW India.

“Minimums up to 30C and maxes 43C and extreme humidity; Amritsar has been hovering 30C+ of dew points for weeks 24/7 (Tmin 29.6 yesterday record for august).”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821560944054472730


“Goa soaks in record rainfall as all stations surpass 100 inches [west coast, India]…

“Goa experienced exceptional monsoon rainfall, with all stations exceeding 100 inches [254cm] in under 70 days. Dabolim reached 2,587.1mm, and Valpoi led with 4,227mm. From June 1 to Aug 8, Goa received 3,416mm of rain, a 54.7% increase from normal levels.”

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goa-soaks-in-record-rainfall-as-all-stations-surpass-100-inch-mark/articleshow/112385057.cms


“Pondicherry Rains [east coast, India]: 152 MM [six inches] Rainfall In 3 Hours Sets August Record.

“Pondicherry experienced a deluge on Friday night, recording 152 mm of rainfall in just three hours between 8:30 and 11:30 PM due to slow-moving thunderstorms. This comes on the heels of an 81 mm downpour on Thursday.”

https://www.oneindia.com/chennai/pondicherry-rains-152-mm-rainfall-in-3-hours-sets-august-record-videos-3903719.html


“Uttarakhand villagers thirst for water as tourism, temps & development rise…

“An influx of tourists and new residents to Uttarakhand, driven by heat waves and work-from-home options, is straining local resources, particularly water. Nearly 12,000 natural springs reportedly have dried up in recent years…”

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/08/uttarakhand-villagers-thirst-for-water-as-tourism-temps-development-rise/


“China’s rains and floods led to near doubling of natural disaster losses in July…

“China suffered 76.9 billion yuan ($10.1 billion) in economic losses from natural disasters last month, with 88% of those losses caused by heavy rains, floods or their effects, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-rains-floods-led-near-doubling-natural-disaster-losses-july-2024-08-09/


Extreme flooding and mudslides in Zhidan County, Shaanxi Province, China wash away cars:

“From the evening of August 8 to the morning of August 9, 2024, heavy rains set historical records with up to 179.1 mm [seven inches] of rainfall.”

https://x.com/RRNmedia/status/1821888902891737313


“North Korean leader says thousands of flood victims will be brought to capital for temporary care.

“North Korea will not seek outside help to recover from floods that devastated areas near the country’s border with China, leader Kim Jong Un said as he ordered officials to bring thousands of displaced residents to the capital to provide them better care.”

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/north-korean-leader-thousands-flood-victims-brought-capital-112733162


“EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN JAPAN:

“Temperatures over 40C [104F] again. Thousands of records have already falling;
every single day for months… 40.4 Kuwana; 39.0 Okazaki; 38.5 Kimotsuki; Maeda 38.4; Misumi 36.3 Miura; 35.1 Inabu; Also MINIMUM 29.4 Tanegashima.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821847591652348411


“Record heat never ends in SE Asia:

“Today Singkep in INDONESIA had a minimum temperature of 27.8C tying its August hottest night. Extremely hot nights also in Vietnam and Thailand with tmins of 29C. Record heat in Thailand has been going on since March 2023.”

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1821885308738195627


“‘Everything, everywhere, all at once’: Australia’s survival in a warmer world will be a mammoth multi-tasking effort…

“In a recently released book, Living Hot: Surviving and Thriving on a Heating Planet, authors Clive Hamilton and George Wilkenfeld argue while emissions reduction should continue, Australia should refocus its efforts on “adaptation”, or building resilience…”

https://theconversation.com/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-australias-survival-in-a-warmer-world-will-be-a-mammoth-multi-tasking-effort-236337


“Why some people are refusing to leave ‘unliveable’ flood-damaged Lismore homes…

“Some of the people living in them call themselves “caretakers” of the unused homes they say would otherwise go to waste, or even be demolished. They’ve stayed despite multiple eviction notices being served to them.”

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/10/why-some-people-are-refusing-to-leave-unliveable-flood-damaged-lismore-homes


“The Antarctic’s polar vortex could be about to split in two…

“A split in the southern vortex – not seen since 2002 – could lead to sudden warming of the Antarctic stratosphere and hotter weather in Australia and South America.”

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2443183-the-antarctics-polar-vortex-could-be-about-to-split-in-two/


“First map of vegetation across Antarctica reveals a battle for the continent’s changing landscape…

“A tiny seed is stuck between loose gravel and coarse sand… The seed was left here by tourists several years ago… Life is changing. Warmer temperatures are melting the glaciers and the meltwater allows the seed to start growing.”

https://theconversation.com/first-map-of-vegetation-across-antarctica-reveals-a-battle-for-the-continents-changing-landscape-231111


“Plants Can Take Millions of Years To Recover From Global Warming…

“Catastrophic volcanic eruptions that warmed the planet millions of years ago shed new light on how plants evolve and regulate climate. Researchers reveal the long-term climate effects of disturbed natural ecosystems…”

https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/plants-can-take-millions-of-years-to-recover-from-global-warming-389638


“‘Polycrisis’ threatens planetary health; UN calls for innovative solutions…

“Environmental, technological and social challenges are colliding to create a global polycrisis. This confluence of issues is in turn placing increased pressure on the already existing environmental challenges of rapid climate change, rampant pollution and biodiversity loss…”

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/08/polycrisis-threatens-planetary-health-un-calls-for-innovative-solutions/


“The time to act is now: the world’s highest court must weigh in strongly on climate and nature…

“For just a few more days, a window remains open for governments around the world to make their words matter. They have the chance to weigh in on deliberations of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as it formulates a landmark judicial opinion on the responsibilities of states to mitigate climate change.”

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02583-3


“Can Geoengineering Stop Global Warming?

“…SMR and CCS technologies are receiving huge amounts of funding from private companies and governments worldwide. The White House has pumped billions into various geoengineering and CCS in recent years, and several other political leaders around the globe are doing the same.”

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Can-Geoengineering-Stop-Global-Warming.html


“Gassy cows and global warming: Granada researchers may soon have a vaccine.

“Spain’s leading, state-run network of research centres (CSIC) announces that its centre in Granada city is to receive just under one million euros from Jeff Bezos’ foundation to develop a vaccine that will reduce methane emissions from cows.”

https://www.surinenglish.com/andalucia/researchers-from-granada-are-working-vaccine-against-20240807122144-nt.html


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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an ”Economic” thread.