With apologies, there will be no thread tomorrow as I must return for my third and final session at the dentist. Back on Wednesday, probably with another “climate” thread.
“More than 90% of the world’s population is projected to face increased risks from the compound impacts of extreme heat and drought, potentially widening social inequalities as well as undermining the natural world’s ability to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere—according to a study from Oxford’s School of Geography…
“In the wake of record temperatures in 2022, from London to Shanghai, continuing rising temperatures are projected around the world. When assessed together, the linked threats of heat and drought represent a significantly higher risk to society and ecosystems than when either threat is considered independently, according to the paper by Dr. Jiabo Yin, a visiting researcher from Wuhan University and Oxford Professor Louise Slater.”
“Climate change could cause ‘disaster’ in the world’s oceans, say scientists.
“Climate-driven heating of seawater is causing a slowdown of deep circulation patterns in the Atlantic and Southern oceans, according to Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine, and if this process continues, the ocean’s ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will be severely limited, further exacerbating global warming.”
“Scientists study how wavy jet stream plus ‘extra warmth’ fuels extreme weather.
“In the middle of 2022, the jet stream configured into five big waves and led to concurrent heatwaves around the world. This pattern is known as wavenumber 5… One theory is that amplified warming in the Arctic is reducing the temperature difference between the hot and cold airs that the jet stream separates, which is slowing down the current and making it wavier.”
“Warm weather pushes Northern Hemisphere snow cover to near record lows.
“…pulses of record warmth in North America and Europe have thwarted snow accumulation and, in some cases, depleted what’s on the ground. Now, Northern Hemisphere snow cover is near historical lows for midwinter.”
“Ski resorts across the northeast of the United States have been forced to close at a time of the year when it’s supposedly ‘peak season’ due to a lack of snow that’s tied to unseasonable warmth.
“The Northeast braced itself for several record-high temperatures around 60F to start the new year, following some of the coldest days of this winter registered on around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”
“Great Salt Lake will disappear in 5 years without massive ‘emergency rescue,’ scientists say…
“Less than two weeks away from Utah’s 2023 legislative session, nearly three dozen scientists and conservationists released a dire report that calls on the state’s lawmakers to take “emergency measures” to save the Great Salt Lake before drains to nil.”
“‘This is no way to live’: Mississippians struggle with another water crisis.
“The faucets ran dry again. The showers produced nothing. The city of Jackson, Mississippi, plunged into its third major water outage in less than two years, crippled, leaking infrastructure withering before another bout of extreme weather.”
“New record set for January tornadoes in Oklahoma.
“Five tornadoes — all tracked in the same night — set the record for tornadoes in the month of January in Oklahoma. A system of severe storms moved through the state on Jan. 2, leaving behind enough evidence to confirm multiple tornadoes including two EF-1s.”
“California braces for ‘parade of cyclones’ after storms kill 12…
“Two overlapping phenomena – an immense airborne stream of dense moisture from the ocean called an atmospheric river and a sprawling, hurricane-force low-pressure system known as a bomb cyclone – have caused devastating flooding and record snowfall over the past week.”
“2022 was another exceptionally rainy year in the French Guiana, after the wettest year on records 2021.
“In the Cayenne Airport Matoury 5817.9mm [over 19 feet] fell – the new rainiest year ahead of 2021. Last 2 years together exceeded 11000m. December 2022 was cooler and wetter than average.”
“While Brazil has been unusually cool including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the heat is fierce in Central Argentina.
“Terrible heat in Rio Negro province with 43.6C [110.5F] in San Antonio Oeste (tmin 28C), 41.0C in Neuquen and 39.0C in Maquinchao (888m) which set a new all time record!”
“Last station in the world to set an all time temperature record in 2022 was Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas on 22 December with 22.4C.
“The first station to set an all time record for any month in 2023 was again in the Falkland: 23.2C [73.8F] at Weddel Island on 7 January.”
“Scientists Report a Dramatic Drop in the Extent of Antarctic Sea Ice…
““The current low sea ice extent … is extreme, and frankly we are working to understand it,” said Antarctica expert Ted Scambos, a senior research scientist with the Earth Science and Observation Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Scambos said the sea ice extent is about 270,000 square miles less than the previous low, set in 2018. That’s an area just a bit bigger than Texas…”
“Marine heatwave and La Niña brings record-high temperatures for Greymouth [NZ]…
“NIWA forecaster Chris Brandolino told Morning Report Greymouth Airport on Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 30.9C [87.6F] – the hottest in 76 years of record-keeping… This was the first time the temperature eclipsed 30C in the town, NIWA said, with the previous record 29.8C from February 2022.”
“Thousands of dead carp on northern Victorian farms after floods…
“”We were watering and there were fish everywhere … and then suddenly there were thousands of fish everywhere. I can’t even count, there are thousands of dead fish. It is completely feral.””
“Western Australia in grip of ‘devastating’ flood emergency, PM says. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday his government was ready to provide whatever support was needed to residents of Western Australia state as record-breaking floods isolated far-flung communities there.”
“Bad weather, flooding displace thousands in Aurora and Bulacan [Philippines]…
“In a social media post past 3 p.m., the provincial government of Aurora reported that 2,501 families or 10,353 individuals from 32 barangays have been affected by heavy rains… Some of the flood victims had to be rescued.”
“Flash floods inundated Meteseh areas of Tembalang District, Semarang City [Java, Indonesia] on Friday afternoon, January 6, 2023. One of the affected residential areas was Dinar Indah Housing Complex.
“As shown in the video that went viral on social media, the water level almost reached the roof of the houses and residents were struggling to save themselves.”
“An exceptional winter warm spell in kicking off in China and parts of Mongolia and later next week, also Koreas and Taiwan.
“Yesterday, 7th January, 4 monthly records were broken in China: Minquan (Henan), Qianyang (Shaanzi), Yiling and Wufeng (Hubei) and dozens more will come next week.”
“Summer, autumn of 2022 hottest in over 60 years for China [ie since record-keeping began]…
“The number of days with an average temperature across China above 35 degrees Celsius hit 16.4 [61.5F] in 2022, the highest [on record]… Central and east China saw a 79-day heatwave streak last year between June 13 and August 30, with around 15 percent of China’s meteorological stations reporting record-hitting daily peak temperatures…”
“Residents live in fear as sinking land cracks houses in Indian Himalayan town.
“The land in the environmentally fragile Himalayan region is developing enormous cracks due to movements called subsidence. It happens when large parts of the ground sink. Buildings, roads and highways in and around the town are also cracking, alarming residents as well as local authorities. The pattern intensified over the past two weeks…”
“Rainstorm leaves trail of destruction [Zimbabwe]…
“Heavy rains preceded by strong winds and thunderstorms claimed the life of an 80-year-old man and left a trail of destruction in some parts of Gwanda district in Matabeleland South province and Nkayi District in Matabeleland North province.”
“Water quality worries hang over Durban months after deadly flooding…
“Ever since deadly floods in April last year damaged an already ailing sewage and water system, millions of litres of untreated sewage have spilled into the beaches, rivers, harbours and ocean in and around Durban.”
“Climate change is leaving African elephants desperate for water.
“African elephant numbers have dropped from about 26 million in the 1800s to 415,000 today. While this is largely due to European colonisation, poaching and habitat loss, these majestic animals now face another grave challenge. Climate change is causing droughts in much of Africa to become longer and more severe.”
“December 2022 in Turkey was exceptionally warm and had an average temperature of +8.0C [46.4F] which is 3.2C above the 1991-2020 normal and was the warmest December on records.
“Year 2022 as a whole had an average temperature of 14.5C, 0.6C above average and was the 7th warmest.”
“Insufficient rainfall has caused severe drought throughout Turkey, especially in the highly populated western and northwestern regions, according to data released Thursday.
“Rainfall during the Oct. 1, 2022-Jan. 3, 2023 period dropped 31 percent compared to the previous same period across the country… With a 51.8 percent drop in rainfall compared to seasonal norms, Istanbul, a city of over 16 million residents, was hit the worst…”
“2022 warmest year on record as climate change felt in Gibraltar.
“Last year was the warmest on record according to the Met Office, with Gibraltar feeling the effects of ‘human-induced climate change’. Principal Meteorological Officer Chris Burton told GBC that Gibraltar saw a mean temperature of 19.5°C [67.1F], with the previous record set in 1997 with 19.3°C.”
“December 2022 in Portugal had an average temperature of 12.72C which is 2.76C above the 1971-2000 (about +2.2C vs 1991-2020) and was the warmest December on records.
“It was also very wet: Average rainfall was 250.4mm which is 174 % of normal.”
“Absolute chaos was unleashed yesterday in downtown Porto [Portugal] following little more than 20 minutes of intense rain.
“Meteorologists estimate that 25 litres of water per square metre fell in this small time period, transforming parts of the city into a raging river. Considering northern areas have up till now avoided the kind of flooding horrors experienced in urban areas of Lisbon just before Christmas, Saturday’s deluge has seriously worried city authorities.”
“France suffered hottest year and record rain shortfall in 2022.
“The average temperature for the year was 14.5 [58.1F] degrees Celsius (58.1 Fahrenheit), “very far above 2020 which held the previous record” of 14.07 degrees Celsius, Meteo France said in a statement. The heat was “a symptom of climate change,” it added.”
“Water security in focus as England faces threat of another summer drought…
“The heatwave in 2022 put the spotlight on issues of water security and leakage as scientists warned climate change would lead to hotter and drier summers in future. The focus reignited the debate about the effectiveness of England’s privatised water system, in which a fifth of the water supplied is lost every year.”
“Flies are taking over thanks to climate change — while moths and other pollinators disappear.
“…sadly, climate change is rapidly shifting the relationships between plants and certain bugs. And in Scandinavia, that has meant that flies are taking the place of moths and other more charismatic insects. The takeover of the flies speaks to the biodiverse history of the region that is being lost as the climate warms.”
And for interest: “Lightning in the ‘cataclysmic’ Tonga volcano eruption shattered ‘all records’.
“… the eruption set off more than 25,500 lightning events in just five minutes. Over the course of just six hours, the volcano triggered nearly 400,000 lightning events. Half of all the lightning in the world was concentrated around this volcano at the eruption’s peak.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Wednesday with a new 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.
“Half the planet’s glaciers will have melted by 2100 even if humanity sticks to goals set out in the Paris climate agreement, according to research that finds the scale and impacts of glacial loss are greater than previously thought. At least half of that loss will happen in the next 30 years.
“Researchers found 49% of glaciers would disappear under the most optimistic scenario of 1.5C of warming.”
“In northernmost Alaska, a battle is on to limit the damages of permafrost thaw…
“The soil here has warmed over the past decade from minus-6 degrees Celsius to minus-3 , or from 21.6 degrees to 26.6 degrees Fahrenheit, said Iwahana, who works at UAF’s International Arctic Research Center. “That’s a lot,” he said.”
“Last month was the wettest December on record in Anchorage…
“Anchorage saw 41.2 inches of snow last month, capping off its wettest year on record, according to the National Weather Service. Juneau also recorded its wettest year on record in 2022.”
“Spring sunny heat waves caused record snow melt in 2021, adding to severe water supply impacts across the Western US…
“They found that in April 2021, record-breaking snowmelt rates occurred at 24% of all mountain snowpack monitoring sites… further compounding the impacts of extended drought conditions. Rapid snowmelt increases the time when our natural snowpack reservoir is emptied and when this water is most needed later in the warm season.”
“San Francisco has experienced the wettest 10-day period since 1871, says NWS…
“Downtown San Francisco received 10.33 inches of rain from Dec. 26 through Jan. 4, says NWS. The last time SF received that much rain was all the way back in 1871. NWS says the all-time 10-day record was 14.37 inches in January 1862.”
“California’s sudden jump from withering drought to violent floods is a warning for the whole world…
“Drought can make flood hazards worse by leaving brittle trees and landslide-prone wildfire scars. This drought-flood weather whiplash is becoming more common and severe as global temperatures rise.”
“Burst of bewildering winter warmth sets numerous records in eastern U.S…
“It’s the second pulse of springlike warmth during the past week. The first delivered numerous records to the Northeast and Florida over the weekend… Washington has hit at least 60 degrees on each of the first four days of January, for the first time on record.”
“Argentina continues in emergency due to forest fires.
“The emergency was declared in January of last year for a period of one year, but the Executive Branch decided to extend it for 12 more months, according to Decree 2/2023 published this Thursday in the Official Gazette.”
“…In a healthy rainforest, the concentration of carbon should decline as you approach the canopy from above… But her samples showed the opposite: At lower altitudes, the ratio of carbon increased. This suggested that emissions from the slashing and burning of trees — the preferred method for clearing fields in the Amazon — were actually exceeding the forest’s capacity to absorb carbon.”
“Rapid deforestation of the Amazon rainforest could influence the temperature and precipitation over the Tibetan plateau 15,000 kilometres away…
“The researchers found that since 1979, warm temperatures in the Amazon correlated with warm temperatures over the Tibetan plateau and the West Antarctic ice sheet; more precipitation in the Amazon was associated with less precipitation in those regions.”
“The UK recorded an annual average temperature of more than 10C [50F] for the first time last year, the Met Office said as it confirmed 2022 was the hottest year on record.
“And research by Met Office scientists has found that climate change driven by humans made the UK’s record-breaking annual temperature around 160 times more likely to occur.”
“The Mer De Glace or Sea of Ice glacier is the largest valley of ice in France but, due to climate change, it is shrinking fast.
“Along the tourist route is a lonely sign that shows where the ice used to be back in 1985 – some 38 years later it is now 150 meters lower. It comes after the UK and many other parts of Europe faced record temperatures last year.”
“Record average temperatures in driest December in 17 year [Cyprus]
“The average daily maximum temperature recorded at Athalassa weather station throughout the month was calculated at 21.4C, the highest ever since its installation in 1983. The highest ever average daily temperature was also recorded at the Polis Chrysochous weather station, with an average of 22.7C [72.9F], the highest since it became operational in 1968.”
“Cars submerged, roads flooded as heavy rains hit Gauteng [South Africa].
“Gauteng emergency services issued warnings on Thursday amid heavy rains that have resulted in flooding in parts of the province… The Ekurhuleni Municipality warned motorists and residents who lived in low-lying areas that they were at a higher risk of being affected by flooding.”
“Rewind 2022: KZN still recovering from April floods that left thousands homeless, destroying lives and livelihoods…
“Almost eight months later, parts of KZN are still on the road to recovery from the horrific floods that claimed over 400 lives, left over 40 000 people displaced and destroyed over 12 000 homes including other infrastructure such as roads, health centres, schools, in April 2022.”
“Pakistan floods: 9 million more risk being pushed into poverty, warns UNDP.
“Knut Ostby explained that crops had been lost from the last harvest and from the missed planting season. “Agricultural prices – food prices – are therefore increasing and could push, double the amount of people into food insecurity, increasing that number from seven to 14.6 million,” he continued.”
“Last December was India’s warmest [in] 122 years [of record keeping].
“The average maximum, minimum and mean temperature for the country as a whole during December 2022 were 27.32 degrees C [81.2F], 15.65 degrees C and 21.49 degrees C respectively, against the normal of 26.53 degrees C, 14.44 degrees C and 20.49 degrees C.”
“At 1,958.6 mm [77+ inches], Bengaluru received record rainfall last year.
“According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the previous wettest year for the Karnataka capital was 2005, when the city received 1,608.5 mm rainfall.”
“Floods force road trains supplying Kimberley to detour extra 7,400km via SA and NT.
“Triple road trains delivering essential supplies to Western Australia’s flood-stricken Kimberley communities face week-long 12,000km return trips from Perth as they are forced to detour halfway across the country due to washed-out roads and bridges.”
“River Murray floods breach levees and threaten drinking water, as crews confront brown snakes.
“An aerial operation is underway to protect a pump that supplies drinking water to almost 300 properties in South Australia, but some homes in the area have already been engulfed, after the main levee failed to hold back River Murray floodwaters.”
“Charles Sturt Adjunct Lecturer in Wildfire Investigation Mr Richard Woods… is urging residents not to become complacent because of recent rainfall this bushfire season… Mr Woods said recent rainfall has resulted in prolific grassland growth in eastern Australia, adding extensive fuel loads for grassfires has occurred.”
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.
“Outback towns have experienced their worst flooding in history due to downpours from ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie – as the government issues an emergency warning.
“The deluge has inundated Fitzroy Crossing and nearby areas in the Kimberley in Western Australia.
“Cyclone Ellie has brought continuous rainfall that’s lifted the Fitzroy River to its highest level ever, resulting in homes being flooded, roads being turned into rivers and residents forced to use boats to get around.”
“Farmers in central and northern Victoria are assessing broken windows, flattened crops and damaged driveways today after a storm passed through the area late yesterday…
“”Probably the most devastating thing for us is we’ve got a maize crop in and about 40 hectares of that now looks like it’s had a shredder through it.””
“Australia could swing from three years of La Niña to hot and dry El Niño in 2023.
“Bureau of Meteorology climate models indicate sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific may exceed El Niño thresholds by June… “The Pacific must be quite charged with heat ready to have an El Niño,” Cai Wenju, a senior CSIRO climate scientist, told Guardian Australia.”
“Scorcher: 2022 was NZ’s hottest year on record, climate expert says.
“New Zealand and Auckland may have had their hottest ever year since records began, according to one climate scientist’s calculations… Niwa meteorologist Seth Carrier confirmed that 2022 was one of the top three warmest years on record, since 1909, but that the final ranking was still being determined.”
“The shocking images of the extreme drought that plagues the countryside [of Argentina] with all its strength.
“The climate continues to affect agriculture, livestock and dairy in the main producing areas of the country. The images show the seriousness of the situation, while producers and political sectors demand measures to face it.”
“Mendoza [Argentina] on alert for a new heat wave.
“This week the intense heat returns to Mendoza. It is that, from this Wednesday until Tuesday, January 10, the province will be hit by an intense heat wave, with maximums that may reach 40ºC / 104F. In this regard, meteorologist Fernando Jara said that “it is an extraordinary phenomenon for the time that will persist for a few days.””
“Biden declares Arizona floods a federal disaster for Havasupai tribe…
“Last October, the village experienced drastic flooding which damaged extensive parts of the reservation. The floods “destroyed several bridges and trails that are needed not only for our tourists, but for the everyday movement of goods and services into the Supai Village”, the tribe said.”
“With the ongoing drought, it will come as no surprise to many that 2022 made new meteorological history.
“According to the National Weather Service in Omaha, 2022 was the driest year on record in Norfolk. The NWS said the northeast Nebraska town saw just 13.7 inches of liquid precipitation. That’s less than half the amount Norfolk gets in a normal year.”
“Water rescues are underway in parts of Kentucky to save people trapped in cars and flooded homes as a powerful storm continues to batter the central United States.
“The multi-hazard storm rolled across the country Tuesday with the risk of strong tornadoes and flooding to the South, and ice and snow to the Plains and Upper Midwest, after bringing deadly floods to California.”
“Atmospheric river expected to trigger ‘bomb cyclone’ and more flooding in California.
“Millions of California residents recovering from a deluge that killed at least one person over the weekend and contributed to flooding, mudslides and power outages are bracing for the arrival of another atmospheric river, a long, narrow band of moisture drawn from the tropics.”
“Dungeness Crab Season Is Finally Here — But Good Luck Finding Them in the Bay Area…
“The humpback whale population in the San Francisco Bay this year made Dungeness crab an impossibility for Thanksgiving dinner… The Chronicle adds the increase in whale population seems to be related to a marine heat wave, the same that drove up the anchovy population like crazy this summer.”
“Warming waters are driving Bering Sea crashes, but Alaska’s fishing industry is quiet on climate.
“A marine heat wave, combined with what had been a booming crab population, likely drove the die-off, as the crabs’ metabolism rose with warmer water temperatures and they ran out of food. Warming ocean and river temperatures are also likely driving major declines in chum salmon…”
“Photos from space show 11,000 beavers are wreaking havoc on the Alaskan tundra as savagely as wildfire.
“Beavers are invading Alaska’s Arctic tundra as it warms, transforming the landscape like wildfire… The animals are taking advantage of climate change, but their dams could also accelerate warming.”
“Today 3rd January it’s a very warm day in Eastern USA with some historic records for January:
“Some remarkable values include: TN 81F [27C] at Crossville Station January record pulverized, 2F from State record; AL Huntsville 81F Station January record; GA 81; SC 80; NC 79; VA and WV 75; KY 73.”
“PM Update: D.C. soars to record high with warmest January low possible tonight…
“The warmest January low of 60 was established in 1932 and matched in 1950. The 1950 record came on Jan. 4, as well. Tonight’s lows range from the mid-50s to around 60. The city could stay above 60.”
“Scotland braces for more extreme weather as further flooding likely.
“Residents in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are being advised to be mindful of potential disruption in the next few days as a week of unsettled weather is expected… Impacts across the country were significant, with levels at the River Nith being the highest ever recorded, and higher than Storm Frank in 2015 and flooding in December 1982.”
Nice overview of Europe’s remarkable New Year heatwave:
““We can regard this as the most extreme event in European history,” Herrera said. “Take the case of July 2022 UK extreme heatwave and spread this sigma (magnitude) in a much huger area, encompassing about 15 countries.””
“Spain in 2022 experienced the hottest year since records began, the country’s national weather service said… Nations across the globe grappled with extreme weather including scorching temperatures and drought across Europe which last year fuelled wildfires, damaged crops and led to water use restrictions.”
“Drought continues to unveil underwater fairy chimneys in Lake Van [Turkey].
“The drought affecting Türkiye’s Lake Van continues to worsen, bringing with it many challenges, but it has also unveiled great historical treasures, like 800,000-year-old underwater fairy chimneys once hidden in the lake’s depths.”
“The number of children suffering terrible drought conditions across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia has more than doubled in five months, according to a UNICEF press release published in December, 2022.
“Approximately 20.2 million children were threatened with severe hunger, thirst and disease in December… This surge is due to climate change, conflict, global inflation and grain shortage.”
“Twenty-two people rescued as bus swept away by flash floods on Jordan desert road…
“Last week, heavy rainfall hit the ancient desert city of Petra in Jordan, causing severe flooding in the area. Water from nearby mountains in Jordan gushed into the iconic rose-red city, which has been standing for 2,000 years.”
“Man dies after being swept away by floods in Makkah.
“A man was swept away to his death by floods after torrential rain in Makkah, western Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, videos posted online appeared to show… Thunderstorms were forecast for the Makkah area on Wednesday.”
““We Have Given Up Hope”: Why Residents of Ghatal [West Bengal] Are Tired of Frequent Floods…
“Overall annual rainfall is decreasing slightly… The number of dry weather days with no rain have increased in three weather stations–Mohanpur, Kalaikunda and DP Ghat–which means that rain is concentrated on fewer days.”
“Hundreds of families evacuate as floods hit Lanao del Norte towns [Philippines].
“Mayor Dionisio Cabahug Jr. of Tubod town, Lanao del Norte, ordered the suspension of work in private and public offices on Tuesday morning, January 3, due as heavy rain overnight caused severe flooding… The flash floods came after a devastating Christmas flooding that hit Oroquieta City and other towns in neighboring Misamis Occidental…”
“The amount of microplastics found at the bottom of oceans has tripled in 20 years, researchers have found.
“Tiny pieces of plastic debris – smaller than the human eye can see – have been building up on the sea floor at a depth of more than 100 metres, the study reveals.”
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.
“2022 will be ending with *record low* levels of global sea-ice extent for late December…
“Graphics at https://zacklabe.com/global-sea-ice-extent-conc/….
Note: the two poles are experiencing low sea ice [Arctic now fourth lowest on record; Antarctica lowest on record], but are affected by different Earth system processes and seasonality.”
“Map shows the ice sheets and glaciers melting that scientists most fear will be the source of catastrophic rising sea levels.
“Here are the sites around the world scientists are keeping a close eye on, and why they are important, according to Alex Brisbourne, a Glaciologist at the British Antarctic Survey, and Theodore Scambos, an Antarctic researcher at the University of Colorado.”
“Ireland could see 35C [95F] weather this summer as scientists warn of more extremes in 2023…
“Last year was Ireland’s warmest on record, according to provisional figures released as part of Met Eireann’s review of the year’s climate last week. With an average temperature of 10.8C, last year exceeded the previous record for Ireland’s warmest year [set in 2007].”
“Scotland records first sunburn-related death in 20 years.
“Scotland has recorded its first sunburn-related death in 20 years. It comes as the number of fatalities from skin cancer hits a record high. A pensioner in her 80s was among the large number of deaths linked to extreme heat in 2021 in Scotland.”
“Well that’s a wrap on 2022 and what a year of weather it’s been [UK].
“Red warnings for Storm Eunice wind in Feb and extreme heat in Jul. First UK 40°C [104F] on record, wildfires, drought and record-smashing 26.8°C [80.2F] min temp. Coldest day since 2010 with a max temp of -9.3°C in Braemar in Dec.”
And, before we look at the extraordinary winter heatwave that has engulfed much of Europe, a quick reminder that the UK and parts of Europe experienced freakish warmth at exactly this time last year:
“The warmest New Year’s Eve on record has been followed by the hottest New Year’s Day [2022], early figures show. Thanks to warm subtropical air flowing from the Azores, temperatures topped 16C at a time of the year when they usually reach about 7C.”
“Record of highest TMin. ever recorded in Germany in January [following on from record Tmin for Dec the day before]:
“13.5C [56.3F] Tmin at Nossen and Dresden; 9 stations above the previous national record; 186 monthly stations… Now hold on: J Tmin 186 +J Tmax 281 +D Tmin 132 + D Tmax 270 = 869 MONTHLY RECORDS BEATEN IN GERMANY IN 2 DAYS. Just 1 country.”
“Germany recorded its hottest year in 2022, with an annual mean temperature of 10.5 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Service said on Friday.
“The country saw an “exceptional weather year,” the DWD said. Temperatures were 2.3 degrees Celsius above the value of the internationally valid reference period (1961-1990) and were higher than in 2018, the previous record holder.”
“Skiing in the Alps faces a bleak future thanks to climate change.
“…finding cold and snow has proved harder in recent years. The small French village of Saint-Firmin recently removed its ski-lift (which dated back to 1964) because there has simply been a lack of snow for over a decade. This year, seven of eight early-season World Cup skiing events have been cancelled due to another very warm summer in the Alps.”
“I grew up here in Gstaad [Switzerland] and learned skiing on this slope in the 70s. Back then scientists had evidence that fossil fuel causes warming.
“This is Jan 1, 2023.
“Climate science is my profession, but this is where it gets personal. When do we understand that we need to change?”
“Poland lived something historic with up to 19C [66.2F] recorded in the middle of the night, something uncommon in summer, but in January?
“Ukraine: Incredible 20.0C [68F] at Ivano Frankivsk and 17.8C at Chernivtsi new records (only Crimea recorded 20C in January); Moldova: 16.5C at Bravicea.”
“Beach time and mid summer temperatures in Northern Spain. It is 1 January but it could be 1 July.
“24.9C [76.8F] at Bilbao, hottest January day on records and not far is San Sebastian AP with 24.5C. Most of stations in Cantabria, Asturias and Basque region had their hottest January day.”
“Heat waves killed 5,300 people in Spain in 2022, a century record.
“The high temperatures that Spain suffered this summer caused more than 12,000 deaths between June and August, of which more than 5,300 were caused by the effects of extreme heat. This new calculation reveals that deaths associated with heat were much more numerous than initially estimated…”
“Mudslides killed at least 10 people at two makeshift mines in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after torrential rain, local officials said Saturday.
“The disasters came after heavy rain overnight… In mid-December, floods caused by torrential rain killed more than 160 people in the capital Kinshasa, in the west of the country.”
“Saudi Arabia: Heavy rain floods Jeddah for second time in weeks. Authorities issue weather warnings in different cities as more rain is expected in the coming days…
“The heavy rain forced Jeddah universities to postpone classes and flights at the King Abdulaziz International Airport to be delayed, as a combination of thunderstorms, wind and hail led to poor visibility.”
“An Iranian official has confirmed that 270 cities and towns are suffering from acute water shortage as water levels at dams have dropped to critically low levels…
“Water reservoirs in Iran are at an all-time low, threatening nationwide rationing soon, local media and officials say.”
“Jiangxi; East China — Two years ago, Sixth Tone reported on the devastating floods that struck communities living around Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake. This October, we returned to the same area to record a very different scene: a historic drought.”
“The heavy rains that battered the Philippines on Christmas weekend, causing great damage and casualties to the country, have inflicted 49 deaths according to recent updates… The damage caused by the flooding to infrastructure and agricultural land is estimated at 1.43 billion Pesos ($24.4 million).”
“The annual precipitation of Ximao Mountain in Yilan, Taiwan, reach 12,000 mm [nearly 40 feet] in 2022, making it the place with the most precipitation since the meteorological records of the whole East Asia!
“The precipitation of the station reached 4574mm in October, which is very abundant!”
“A heatwave warning is in place for multiple Australian states amid a sweltering start to 2023.
“Hot and steamy conditions have settled over Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory. In some states, severe heat warnings are colliding with flood warnings.”
“Major floods and wild weather isolate towns across northern Australia as ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie maintains strength.
“Roads have turned into rivers, cows are struggling to survive in fast flowing waters and boats have become the only form of transport in parts of the central Kimberley as ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie continues to batter Northern Australia.”
“Sydney beach lifeguards join rescue effort as floods ravage the outback.
“Surf lifesavers from Sydney’s beaches have been rushed to the Australian outback as the nation’s longest river, swollen by months of intense rainfall, inundates homes, farms and vineyards… the 1,500-mile Murray River has been closed to swimmers and most boats, with the waters reaching levels never before recorded.”
“And that’s a wrap for Sydney’s wettest year on record:
“The city’s final annual total for 2022 was 2530 mm nearly 100 inches]. Its previous annual record was 2194 mm in 1950. Long-term annual average is 1213 mm. Sydney has 164 years of annual rainfall records (1859 to 2022).”
“Large hail stones damage cars as severe storms cross Tasmania…
“Severe thunderstorm warnings for large hailstones and heavy rain were issued for parts of the east coast and midlands throughout Monday… The Bureau of Meteorology said “giant hail” had been reported at Carlton River, north-east of Hobart. Senior meteorologist Brooke Oakley said hail that size was “very dangerous”.”
“The water temperature in the South Island is set to soar this week as a marine heatwave sweeps the West Coast [NZ].
“It’s expected to reach a whopping 18.4C – five degrees hotter than the average water temperature for this time of year. MetService oceanographer Dr Joao de Souza said… “Last year, a similarly warm marine heatwave in Fiordland reached great depths and caused widespread bleaching of sea sponges.””
“San Francisco just had its second-rainiest day since 1849.
“On the last day of 2022, an atmospheric river parked over San Francisco. And it rained and rained and rained… In 24 hours, San Francisco’s downtown gauge measured 5.46 inches. That’s second only to Nov. 5, 1994, which beat that number by a hair at 5.54 inches.”
“Winter storm bringing snow, ice and tornadoes, expected to wallop US this week.
“Over 3 feet of snow fell in the Sierra mountains in California over the weekend. According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, up to 7.5 inches of snow fell per hour on Saturday in the Sierras. Sixteen states are under winter and/or wind alerts…”
“The sheriff of Erie County, New York, said the deadly winter storm that led to almost 40 deaths in Buffalo last week was “unlike anything” he has seen before…
“He said the 70-mile-per-hour winds that the storm brought along with the snow caused zero visibility, which produced a “domino effect” of snowplows not being able to get on the streets safely and power lines coming down. The fallen power lines caused people to lose electricity and heating amid freezing temperatures.”
“Ontario and Quebec will begin the first week of the new year basking in extreme warmth spreading over the region.
““Extreme warmth” is a relative term in the middle of January, of course. But temperatures coming in 15+ degrees above seasonal is no small feat for a time of year that usually requires multiple layers to take out the trash.”
“Halifax [Nova Scotia] hasn’t seen any snowbanks or snowplows so far this winter, and the lack of lasting flakes is about to break a record.
“Saturday will break the record for the latest date into winter without having at least two centimetres of snow on the ground at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, according to Jim Abraham, president of the Canadian Meteorological Oceanographic Society.”
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.
I haven’t been comprehensively news-watching on my travels but it seems that the biggest story in my absence has been winter storm Elliott in the US and Canada. I hope my readers in the affected parts managed to stay warm. What an extraordinary polar incursion that was.
Equally remarkable was the warmth in the attendant jet stream “ridges” – so, December heat temperature records fell in Spain and France (with Verdun seeing a staggering 26.3C / 79.3F); London was warmer than Miami on Christmas day. The latter had its coldest Christmas day on record; whilst Los Angeles on the other side of the trough had its second hottest Christmas day on record.
“2022 was a year in which multiple records for extreme weather events were broken as the impact of climate change becomes more devastating and more dramatic.
“Across every continent, the changing climate led to more frequent and severe storms, heatwaves, droughts, and other extreme weather events, which wreaked life-changing devastation on people, infrastructure, and ecosystems.”
“British experts on Wednesday said 2022 was set to be the UK’s warmest on record after a year of heatwaves and minimal rainfall.
“The findings come as communities across the globe reel from a catalogue of extreme weather this year including soaring temperatures and drought across Europe that saw crops wither and forest fires ravage swathes of land.”
“The UK’s wildlife has been devastated by extreme weather this year, according to an annual audit by the National Trust.
“Violent storms, heatwaves and cold snaps have caused severe damage to Britain’s flora and fauna, the conservation charity has said. Its yearly survey found that wildlife from toads to trees has struggled to survive the unpredictable weather conditions.”
“During this record warm 2022 in Europe, the most staggering anomaly is probably that of Mont Aigoual in France.
“According to infoclimat, its 2022 anomaly is an incredible +2.8C vs 1981-2010 (+2.4C vs MF 1991-2020), with all 12 months of the year much warmer than average (see table).”
“Temperatures in Europe will close out 2022 much like they started — and where they spent a lot of the year — with record warmth overtaking much of the continent.
“Widespread areas of record-challenging temperatures are set to expand into Central and Eastern Europe through the holiday weekend and into next week…”
“Italy is experiencing a year that broke all heat records since records began in 1800, the National Research Center of Italy said Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.
“High temperatures recorded in December 2022 are in line with the remaining 11 months, according to the Center’s climatologist Bernardo Gozzini.”
“Violent floods have ripped through the ancient city of Petra in southern Jordan, triggering the evacuation of 1,700 tourists from the Unesco world heritage site.
“Videos posted on Monday showed brown water careering down the steep cliffs surrounding Petra’s ancient rock-cut Nabatean temple dubbed “the Treasury”, the best-known part of the sprawling, 260-sq-km site.”
“Rare hailstorm hits Kuwait, one of the hottest countries on Earth.
“Kuwait, one of the hottest countries on Earth, has been hit by a rare hailstorm that delighted children and their parents, with images of the winter white shared widely on social media Wednesday.”
“Months after devastating floods in Pakistan, millions remain homeless and need shelter, an aid volunteer says.
“Up to 33 million people were affected earlier this year amid widespread devastation in monsoon season… Imran Hameed, founder of Bearded Broz, in Smethwick, said more help was needed from around the world otherwise “it’s only going to get worse”.”
“A massive hailstorm swept through several areas of upper Assam [India], damaging nearly 4,500 houses in four districts, officials said on Tuesday.
“According to an Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report, a total of 4,483 houses were damaged across 132 villages in Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts.”
“On December 26th, the station of Brahmavar (Udupi district), in the state of Karnataka (SW India) recorded 37.8°C [100F] and broke the December national record [*reliable*].
“The previous fully reliable December record was 37.6°C and was recorded in Karwar in 2018 & 2019.”
“Bangladesh farmers swap rice for vegetables as water dries up.
“For decades, Shafiqul Islam Babu grew rice on his land in northwest Bangladesh — until climate change made rainfall more erratic and overused groundwater began drying up in the mid-2000s. As his rice harvest declined, so did his earnings. In response, the 45-year-old farmer decided to grow cabbage on his land…”
“Record Snowfall in Japan Kills 17 and Injures More Than 90…
“With record snowfall enveloping various parts of the country, three municipalities in Japan’s northeastern region measured over a meter of snow within a 24-hour period on Monday morning—the highest these areas have ever recorded.”
“The death toll from flooding and landslides caused by Christmas Day rains in the southern Philippines rose to 44, with 28 others still unaccounted for, the national disaster agency said on Friday…
“Heavy rains submerged villages, towns and highways in the Visayas and Mindanao regions on Christmas Day, forcing more than 50,000 people to flee their homes.”
“Floods cut off ‘entire road networks’ near Queensland-NT border as travellers urged to stay put.
“Emergency services have warned motorists against travelling throughout north-west Queensland, the Gulf of Carpentaria and across the Northern Territory-Queensland border as the region grapples with floods and heavy rain from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie.”
“One month after the forest fires started in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, the authorities are still unable to put down the flames as new “hot spots” keep being found with over 100 firefighters deployed. Over 9,000 hectares of native forests burned down, it was reported.”
“This year, I only needed to open my window in Brazil to witness the climate crisis…
“Watching the forest burn from my window is, for me, like some kind of anti-metaphor. When Greta Thunberg said: “Our house is on fire!”, in the Amazon the image is literal. It already feels like a cliche to say we don’t need to read scientific reports to understand the climate crisis, we just have to open our windows.”
“Cozumel [Mexico] records historic 213 mms [8.4 inches] of rain in 24 hours due to recent cold front…
“Paul André Quintero Marí, who heads Cozumel Civil Protection, confirmed the historic rainfall. He said the previous record was 113 mms of rain in a 24 hour period. He also said that municipal personnel toured areas known to flood and were forced to temporarily shut several streets until they were able to drain.”
“A winter storm dumped more than 7 inches of heavy, wet snow on the Intermountain West Wednesday night into Thursday morning, shutting down a major interstate in Colorado and knocking out power to thousands in the state.”
“Human toll of deadly US storm [Elliott] grows in ‘blizzard of the century’.
” Since the “blizzard of the century” swept through multiple parts of the nation last week, at least 60 people have died countrywide, and details about the heartbreak their families are enduring have been trickling out. In Buffalo, New York, alone, the death toll has climbed to 37…”
“Oregon’s extreme weather in 2022 included April snow and a record hot October.
“Snowfall in spring, a seemingly endless summer and an unusually hazardous ice storm in 2022 marked another year of tumultuous weather in Oregon… Portland also tied the record for most days in a year with temperatures equal to or greater than 100 at five days.”
“Warmest Dec. 29 in Ottawa history as mild stretch begins…
“Environment Canada is calling for above-seasonal temperatures to wrap up 2022 and kick off 2023. Ottawa will see a high of 8 C on Friday and Saturday, while temperatures could hit 10 C by next Wednesday… The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of minus 6 C…”
“Warmer Labrador temperatures spell trouble for coastal sea ice season; Researcher warns warmer temperatures are here to stay.
“People throughout central and coastal Labrador have been grappling with warmer than expected temperatures this year, and Environment Canada warns this is looking like the new trend.”
“In case you’ve been wondering, yes, the Antarctic is at a record low sea-ice extent. As of Dec. 26, it is about 9200 km² below the previous record low in the super El Niño year, 2016.”
“The end is nigh? Climate, nuclear crises spark fears of worst.
“For thousands of years, predictions of apocalypse have come and gone. But with dangers rising from nuclear war and climate change, does the planet need to at least begin contemplating the worst?”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” 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.
This will be my last “Climate” thread before Christmas (although I will be posting an “Economic” one tomorrow), as we must hit the road, Griswolds-style, and visit family. I’ll be back with with a new thread on the 30th December.
I had a vague notion, as I lay in bed this morning, of putting together a bit of an annual recap but I quickly realised that it is actually a challenge, probably an impossible one, to find a corner of the planet that hasn’t generated some eye-popping statistic this year. It would take me longer than I have to do even a moderately thorough one.
Europe had its worst drought in 500 years with a heatwave that pushed the UK over 40C for the first time on record. China’s heatwave was the most intense and prolonged we have yet seen anywhere. Central/NW India and Pakistan had an unprecedented spring heatwave. The latter then experienced a mind-boggling summer of floods, as did vast swathes of sub-Saharan Africa. Australia’s rainfall likewise smashed records…
So many heat records, both land and marine, have fallen in what is supposed to be a cooler La Nina year. The prospect of an El Nino in 2023 is concerning, to say the least, in that context. The odds for that currently seem to be in the 50/50 ballpark… So, I’ll just keep keeping track, as best I can, of the evidence that the climate is increasingly destabilised and tilting to extremes.
In the meantime, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas/Holidays; I send cyber-hugs to anyone who has donated or subscribed; and, if you happen to be in the large areas of the States and Canada about to be enveloped by a blast of Arctic air, I hope you manage to keep warm!
“Forest Fires in Argentine Tierra Del Fuego the Worst Ever:
“Authorities in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego Friday confirmed that over 10,000 hectares of land have already been consumed by forest fires, making the current episode the largest such catastrophe in the history of the province.”
“Rural producers concerned about the effects of the heat wave [Argentina]…
“The problems for the Mendoza countryside accumulate. To the consequences of late frosts and hail are now added the effects of a historic heat wave whose damage gives its first signs. Many crops are being affected by high temperatures, low rainfall and water scarcity that is already a constant.”
“Disaster scenarios raise the stakes for Colorado River negotiations.
“The water managers responsible for divvying up the Colorado River’s dwindling supply are painting a bleak portrait of a river in crisis, warning that unprecedented shortages could be coming to farms and cities in the West and that old rules governing how water is shared will have to change.”
“A ship that sank mysteriously 86 years ago has resurfaced as Utah’s Great Salt Lake continues to dry up… Water levels in Utah’s Great Salt Lake have reached historic lows…
“The receding water of the lake, which has shrunk to about half its size according to ABC4, has exposed the intact hull of the W.E. Marsh No. 4. According to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the ship was originally part of the Southern Pacific Railroad fleet…”
“How states across the West are using cloud seeding to make it rain.
“Whenever there’s a big storm in the American West, pilots are likely flying into the eye, seeding clouds with a substance called silver iodide… It’s no cure for drought, but cloud seeding can be an important water management tool… Experts say cloud seeding generally yields a 5% to 15% increase in precipitation.”
“Canada’s polar-bear capital Churchill warms too fast for bears.
“In Churchill’s frozen Hudson Bay, bears use the sea-ice as a platform to hunt seals. But the sea-ice-free season in this part of the Canadian Arctic is lengthening, leaving bears unable to hunt for long periods… The polar-bear capital of the world is simply getting too warm for polar bears.”
“Attu: Climate change and Inuit resilience in the Arctic…
“In recent years, they’ve seen a decline in fish such as the Atlantic cod, and are having to go further out into the water to be able to catch enough of them. They’re also seeing more musk ox on reindeer migration paths, which wasn’t as common an occurrence before. That shows migration paths are changing, because the two animals don’t get along well.”
“Heavy snowfall descended on the Russian capital on Sunday, disrupting traffic, delaying flights and leaving pavements buried with snow.
“In parts of Moscow, snow piled into mounds over 30 centimetres (12 inches) high, something not usually observed until the end of winter in February, the Fobos weather centre said. The last time a similar depth of snow was recorded in Moscow in mid-December was in 1989 and in 1993…”
“Cold snap gives way to great thaw as homes are flooded by burst pipes.
“Britain has seen a swing of almost 30 degrees celsius in less than a week, as the country defrosted from a record-low of -15.7C in Scotland on Tuesday to widespread mid-teen temperatures on Monday.”
“[UK] Household water connections will need to be turned off “for weeks” on end and widespread rationing introduced as summers get hotter, according to the country’s biggest supplier.
“Thames Water, which has faced a barrage of criticism for leaks and dumping sewage in seas and rivers, raised the spectre of widespread outages as droughts become more common during the summer.”
“Earthworms may have declined by a third in UK [over the past 25 years], study reveals.
“Earthworms are vital for the healthy soil that underpins all ecosystems and scientists said a large decline would sit alongside concerns about “insectaggedon” and the global destruction of wildlife.”
“Drought, extreme heat, major fires: 2022 pulverizes all records [Spain]…
“Records of hectares burned by macrofires, reservoirs at minimum water levels, the hottest summer since 1961: climatic anomalies pulverize all records in 2022 in Spain leading to cascading impacts, increasingly frequent and difficult to manage.”
“Libya: Zuara 32.0C [89.6F]; Italy: Torregrotta 30.2C (0.7C from December European record), Stromboli Island 24.2C, Trapani 23.8C; HOTTEST DECEMBER DAY EVER FOR ALBANIA: Vlora 25.6C [78.1F]; Romania: Sibiu 20.1C.”
“Death toll after Congo capital floods rises to 169, U.N. says…
“Heavy downpour caused floods and landslides from Monday night through early Tuesday, levelling at least 280 houses in Kinshasa’s Mont-Ngafula district and a large stretch of Congo’s main national highway, according to U.N. estimates.”
“South Africa: Drought-Stricken Nelson Mandela Bay Flooded…
“In June, Nelson Mandela Bay was a mere three days away from Day Zero of no water. No significant dam-filling rain had fallen in the metro in six years… Although these downpours may have seemed significant, SAWS’ weather guru Garth Sampson says to alleviate the current water crisis, a lot more rain is required.”
“Zimbabwe starts cloud seeding to augment rainfall…
“Zimbabwe has over the years experienced floods and droughts with a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods. The country now faces severe power shortages, which have been worsened by low water levels at its major hydropower plant at Kariba Power Station.”
“Thousands of Kenyans are facing starvation following a drought that has ravaged 10 out of the 47 counties. Already, the government has declared the drought a national disaster.
“Mostly affected are rural women struggling to feed their families and make ends meet. Matters have been made worse by human-wildlife conflict in worst-hit counties of Laikipia, Taita Taveta, and Kajiado hit hardest.”
“[Pakistan] Flood-hit farmers demand increase in assistance…
“Rejecting the government’s relief package of Rs10,000 per acre, the flood-affected farmers have demanded increase in the compensation amount and provision of free agriculture products… The farmers also demanded supply of agricultural products to make their lands re-cultivable.”
“More on Sri Lanka: Last week a depression from the Bay of Bengala moved W to India.
“During its passage,heavy rains and low temperatures were recorded in Sri Lanka, especially in the NE Coast, Trincomalee dropped to 16.5C [61.7F], a new historic lowest temperature, beating its record set in 1947.”
“Spooked by a historic drought, local authorities in China have renewed controversial plans to dam the country’s biggest freshwater lake.
“But environmentalists warn damming Poyang Lake, a winter stopover for over half a million birds, would threaten the fragile ecosystem and the endangered birds and other wildlife it supports.”
“Torrential rains have led to flooding in eight regions in Thailand leaving more than 15,000 households displaced.
“The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, in a statement, listed the affected regions as Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Yala, Songkhla, Narathiwat, and Pattani in southern Thailand as well as Amnat Charoen (northeast) and Chanthaburi (east).”
“Victoria floods [Australia]: Roads ravaged by floods and councils left without funds to fix them.
“Widespread wet weather has created havoc on the state’s roads and rail networks and left many councils unable to foot the repair bill… Bendigo recorded its wettest ever October with 239.6 millimetres [9.5 inches] of rain and the wet weather has devastated roads.”
“Climate change is fuelling a global cholera upsurge, the WHO said Friday, warning the situation was compounded by vaccine shortages and will only worsen unless it is stamped out soon.
“The World Health Organization is responding to cholera outbreaks in 29 countries, including Haiti, which has more than 1,200 confirmed cases, more than 14,000 suspected cases and more than 280 reported deaths.”
And, I’ll end on an upbeat note, for whatever it may be worth: “Cop15: historic deal struck to halt biodiversity loss by 2030.
“Governments appear to have signed a once-in-a-decade deal to halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems, but the agreement seems to have been forced through by the Chinese president, ignoring the objections of some African states.”
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.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
– Karina S.
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Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“More than 90% of the world’s population is projected to face increased risks from the compound impacts of extreme heat and drought, potentially widening social inequalities as well as undermining the natural world’s ability to reduce CO2 emissions in the atmosphere—according to a study from Oxford’s School of Geography…
“Climate change could cause ‘disaster’ in the world’s oceans, say scientists.
“Scientists study how wavy jet stream plus ‘extra warmth’ fuels extreme weather.
“Warm weather pushes Northern Hemisphere snow cover to near record lows.
“Ski resorts across the northeast of the United States have been forced to close at a time of the year when it’s supposedly ‘peak season’ due to a lack of snow that’s tied to unseasonable warmth.
“Great Salt Lake will disappear in 5 years without massive ‘emergency rescue,’ scientists say…
“‘This is no way to live’: Mississippians struggle with another water crisis.
“New record set for January tornadoes in Oklahoma.
“California braces for ‘parade of cyclones’ after storms kill 12…
“2022 was another exceptionally rainy year in the French Guiana, after the wettest year on records 2021.
“While Brazil has been unusually cool including Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the heat is fierce in Central Argentina.
“Last station in the world to set an all time temperature record in 2022 was Sea Lion Island in the Falkland Islands/Malvinas on 22 December with 22.4C.
“Scientists Report a Dramatic Drop in the Extent of Antarctic Sea Ice…
“Marine heatwave and La Niña brings record-high temperatures for Greymouth [NZ]…
“Thousands of dead carp on northern Victorian farms after floods…
“Bad weather, flooding displace thousands in Aurora and Bulacan [Philippines]…
“Flash floods inundated Meteseh areas of Tembalang District, Semarang City [Java, Indonesia] on Friday afternoon, January 6, 2023. One of the affected residential areas was Dinar Indah Housing Complex.
“An exceptional winter warm spell in kicking off in China and parts of Mongolia and later next week, also Koreas and Taiwan.
“Summer, autumn of 2022 hottest in over 60 years for China [ie since record-keeping began]…
“The world’s torrid future is etched in the crippled kidneys of Nepali workers.
“Residents live in fear as sinking land cracks houses in Indian Himalayan town.
“Rainstorm leaves trail of destruction [Zimbabwe]…
“Water quality worries hang over Durban months after deadly flooding…
“Climate change is leaving African elephants desperate for water.
“December 2022 in Turkey was exceptionally warm and had an average temperature of +8.0C [46.4F] which is 3.2C above the 1991-2020 normal and was the warmest December on records.
“Insufficient rainfall has caused severe drought throughout Turkey, especially in the highly populated western and northwestern regions, according to data released Thursday.
“2022 warmest year on record as climate change felt in Gibraltar.
“December 2022 in Portugal had an average temperature of 12.72C which is 2.76C above the 1971-2000 (about +2.2C vs 1991-2020) and was the warmest December on records.
“Absolute chaos was unleashed yesterday in downtown Porto [Portugal] following little more than 20 minutes of intense rain.
“France suffered hottest year and record rain shortfall in 2022.
“Water security in focus as England faces threat of another summer drought…
“Flies are taking over thanks to climate change — while moths and other pollinators disappear.
And for interest: “Lightning in the ‘cataclysmic’ Tonga volcano eruption shattered ‘all records’.
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Nice overview of Europe’s remarkable New Year heatwave:
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And, before we look at the extraordinary winter heatwave that has engulfed much of Europe, a quick reminder that the UK and parts of Europe experienced freakish warmth at exactly this time last year:
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