“Climate change helps dangerous fungi to better ‘infect and invade’ humans, experts warn. Climate change is accelerating the spread of dangerous fungi, pushing the organisms to adapt to better “infect and invade” people, senior American health officials have warned.
“Although fungal pathogens have long affected humans, experts on Wednesday said the threat is increasing due to global warming…
“Since many of these fungal pathogens typically exist in nature, they’re not as well adapted to human or mammalian body temperatures at 37 degrees centigrade,” said Dr Michael Kurilla, a director of the US National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a department within the National Institutes of Health.
““But with global warming, they are actually adapting… [it is] becoming much easier for fungi to colonise and infect and invade citizens, as well as other mammalian species,” he told an online briefing.”
“Medics say ‘world is not prepared’ for highly contagious fungal disease as first cases found.
“Medics have issued a warning that “the world is not prepared” for a highly contagious fungal disease as the first two known cases were confirmed. Two women in the USA, aged 28 and 47, have been confirmed as having the drug-resistant ringworm, also known as tinea.”
“Global heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’…
“The world is on track for 2.7C of heating with current action plans and this would mean 2 billion people experiencing average annual temperatures above 29C by 2030, a level at which very few communities have lived in the past. Up to 1 billion people could choose to migrate…”
“Wildfires in peat an added challenge for Alberta firefighters…
“Peat, which researchers say has been drying out due to the changing climate, is contributing to how deep wildfires are getting and how long they could potentially smoulder. There are concerns over the manpower that will be needed to completely extinguish the fires.”
“Smoke from Canadian fires is pouring into the US and could linger for days.
“Air quality alerts have been posted as of early Friday across several states, including Nebraska, Washington, Montana and Wisconsin, with a special weather statement about air quality in Wyoming.”
“Despite record snowpack in the West, early melting could lead to water scarcity.
“Timing is everything when it comes to snowpack melting… This shift in the timing of water availability is moving toward earlier in the springtime, with less snow melt and water availability later in the summertime, implying an impending water scarcity later in the year.”
“Once ‘paradise,’ parched Colorado valley grapples with arsenic in water.
“…decades of climate change-driven drought, combined with the overpumping of aquifers, is making the valley desperately dry — and appears to be intensifying the levels of heavy metals in drinking water.”
“After historic snowfall over the winter, Utahns are breathing a sigh of relief about the Great Salt Lake. But they’d better not breathe too deeply — it still is blowing an immense amount of dangerous dust pollution along the Wasatch Front.”
“Kansas farmers abandon wheat fields after extreme drought.
“Farmers in Kansas, the biggest U.S. producer of wheat used to make bread, are abandoning their crops after a severe drought and damaging cold ravaged farms. They are intentionally spraying wheat fields with crop-killing chemicals and claiming insurance payouts…”
“The news comes as officials here begin hosting a series of public meetings to discuss the new draft Climate Change Policy. Reinforcing the fact that Cayman needs to prepare for the impact of a warming planet, the seas around the Cayman Islands reached almost 30°C, a temperature level never previously recorded this early in the year.”
“Hurricane season starts next week. Forecasters are already watching a system in the Atlantic…
“Colorado State University released its first forecast for the season back in April and are calling for slightly below-average activity, in large part due to current neutral conditions for the El Niño Southern Oscillation.”
“Further draft restrictions for drought-hit Panama Canal.
“With rainfall dropping by 50% compared to recent averages from February to April, the Panama Canal Authority has been forced to institute two draft restriction measures… Lake Gatun, which is in the centre of the canal, could hit historic lows by July.”
“Indigenous communities in Argentina’s Chaco fear another heavy fire season in 2023…
““We couldn’t see the sun for awhole month because of the clouds of smoke. For an entire month, between October and November (2022), we didn’t see the sun,” said David Sarapura, from the Indigenous Kolla Tinkunaku community in Argentina. “It was awful,” Sarapura said…”
“‘We can’t escape the reality’: France is preparing for 4°C of warming by 2100…
“France is preparing for 4°C of global warming by the end of the century as countries fail to deliver on targets that would keep temperatures below Paris Agreement goals. Environment minister Christophe Béchu told French newspaper JDD that his government was no longer betting on limiting temperatures to 1.5°C or at least well below 2°C.”
“‘Roads have disappeared’: Italy begins cleanup after catastrophic floods…
“Emilia-Romagna remained on red alert on Sunday after catastrophic flooding that claimed 14 lives and left more than 36,000 people homeless. The emergency, which wreaked havoc across 100 cities and towns – many still under water – prompted the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, to return early from the G7 summit in Japan.”
“Climate experts warn extreme floods unlikely to solve drought problem across Europe.
“Europe’s long winter drought has created a dry and impermeable soil that is no longer able to properly absorb rainfall water. The exceptional wave of rain that’s been hitting Europe will do little to reduce the impact of a dry summer across the continent.”
“Long lasting drought led to crop failures in the Maghreb.
“Drought conditions were particularly intense in March, negatively affecting the photosynthesis of winter cereals since the flowering stage, and accelerating ripening in April at the expense of primary production. This resulted in a downward revision of yield forecasts and in high probability of crop failures for several cereal-producing regions of the Maghreb.”
“Scorching heat today in Chad, Sub Saharan Africa: In the northern village of Faya Largeau the temperature reached 47C [116.6F] which ties the record of highest reliable temperature ever recorded in May in Chad.”
“Local authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo report that 5,000 people are still missing two weeks after torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in South Kivu province, destroying villages and farms, and killing more than 400 people.”
“Eastern Cape floods | Residents endure sewage spills, power cuts.
“Eastern Cape communities are still recovering from torrential rain that wreaked havoc and left many people displaced. Residents have also been struggling with raw sewage spilling into their homes, something made worse by the ongoing rain.”
“Contrasts in Southern Africa: First taste of winter and frosts in South African highlands.
“Abnormal warmth in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Madagascar with temperatures still at 34C/36C [96.8F]. If they hold until June, they will break national heat records for June (Mauritius too).”
“Record of high temperatures keep falling in tropical islands due to record warm oceans.
“In the past days Mauritius: 19 May – 31.2C [88.2F] Rodrigues Island May record tied (=2 May 2016); 17 May – 31.0C Plaisance Airport (-0.3C from record); June is also expected to break records easily.”
“Iraq’s climate migrants flee parched land for crowded cities.
“The United Nations ranks Iraq, still recovering from decades of dictatorship and war, as one of the world’s five countries most impacted by some effects of climate change… Water scarcity is extreme in the country of 42 million that endures blistering summer heat and regular dust storms.”
“India scorched by extreme heat with monsoon rains delayed.
“Swathes of India from the northwest to the southeast braced for more scorching heat Monday, with New Delhi under a severe weather alert, as extreme temperatures strike parts of the country.”
“SE Asia Heat Wave; Harsh heat with temperatures up to 42.3C [108.1F] today in China at Yuanyang. The heat will slow down few days and return worse than ever later.
“In Laos highlands, extraordinary 36.6C at Viengsay (913m asl), hottest day in history beaten again! [100+ years of data].”
“At the same time, cold air is bringing a strong cooling of 15-20C to the south, causing a wide range of intense weather…
“From 5:00 to 8:00 on May 22, the three-hour precipitation at Guilin AWS reached 300.1 mm [12 inches], and the hourly rain intensity reached 160.6 mm, breaking the historical record of hourly rain intensity in Guilin urban area.”
“An extraordinary heat wave is ongoing today in SE Asia: records are being obliterated (yes, again!) between Laos and Vietnam, especially at high elevations.
“The famous “cold” town of Sa Pa (1581m asl) in Northern Vietnam had a record overnight Min. temperature of 23.1C [73.6F].”
“Singapore’s farms are feeling the heat, as recent higher temperatures have damaged some crops and depleted livestock yields…
“The temperature hit 37 degrees Celsius [98.6F] in Ang Mo Kio on May 13, equalling a 40-year record for the highest daily maximum temperature here. Temperatures in several locations across the country also exceeded 36 degrees Celsius.”
“2 found dead, 3 still missing after waterfall surge in Pingtung [Taiwan]…
“When the tourists were climbing down a cliff, the waterfall suddenly surged due to torrential rain, the Pingtung Bureau of Fire and Emergency Services said… The mountainous area in Wutai recorded 155mm [6.1 inches] of rainfall in just two hours on Saturday.”
“If you feel like 2023 has been particularly wet in the upper North Island [New Zealand], you’d be right!
“This graph shows the annual rainfall accumulation at Auckland Airport since 1964. As you can see, 2023 has been an extraordinary year for rainfall so far.
“The extreme rainfall of January 27/28 which caused damaging impacts to the Auckland region can be seen driving the rainfall accumulation skyward.”
“Faleolo International Airport, located in the Upolu Island, rose to 34.8C [94.6F], which ties its highest temperature ever recorded in May and stands just 0.4C from the Samoan May record high set at Asau on Savaii island.”
“Guam’s governor has urged residents to stay at home, warning the island could take a direct hit from Typhoon Mawar, which is strengthening as it heads towards the Pacific territory…
““The triple threat of cat 4 typhoon force winds, torrential rains and life-threatening storm surge are all expected for Guam and Rota,” the weather service said in a Tuesday morning update.”
“The last time Guam was severely hit by a typhoon was in December 2002, and the lowest air pressure in history was 927.8hpa in November 1900. If Typhoon Mawar passes through Guam… it will become the strongest typhoon in local history!”
“Why a warming world is costing you precious hours of sleep… A study estimates people are already losing an average of 44 hours of sleep per year…
“Humans are already losing shut-eye in warm environments, especially at the beginning of the night… Nights have warmed faster than daytime temperatures in many places around the globe.”
“Global loss of wildlife is ‘significantly more alarming’ than previously thought, according to a new study…
“Humans have already wiped out huge numbers of species and pushed many more to the brink – with some scientists saying we are entering a “sixth mass extinction” event, this time driven by humans.”
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.
“And just how far above the 1982-2023 sea surface temperature average for the North Atlantic is the year 2023?
“Here is another graph of the North Atlantic sea surface temperatures, this one giving the average temperature Jan. 1 – May 18, for each year 1982-2023.
“The North Atlantic has warmed almost a full 1°C during this very brief period.”
“World’s Oceans, Atmosphere Are Simmering as El Niño Approaches.
“The planet is simmering, both on land and at sea, and that could signal more record temperatures for the remainder of 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At sea, global average surface temperatures set a record high for April at 60.8 degrees Fahrenheit…”
“Global heating has likely made El Niños and La Niñas more ‘frequent and extreme’, new study shows…
“Dr Wenju Cai, lead author of the study from Australia’s CSIRO science agency, said the models showed a “human fingerprint” from 1960 onwards. This meant climate change had likely made both El Niños and La Niñas “more frequent and more extreme,” he said.”
“Bering Sea 2019 Heatwave Produced Extreme Change.
“The Bering Sea region is front and center for federal fisheries researchers after the 2019 heatwave produced extreme change in the marine ecosystem. That’s according to Bob Foy, the Juneau-based science and research director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, or AFSC for short.”
“Winds turned from East and caused a sharp temperature rise. Sittka Airport with 82F/27.8C had its warmest May/Spring day on records (prev. 80F on 30 May 1964). Even warmer at Klawock with 86F/30C. Kudos to Rick Thoman from Fairbanks for the graph.”
“Oldest town in Yukon almost wiped out by ice jams and flooding.
“The historic town site of Forty Mile is the latest area in the Dawson City, Yukon, region to be impacted by ice jams and extreme flooding. A large ice jam on the Forty Mile River sent water and ice into the site, knocking buildings and structures off of their foundations.”
“Alberta, Canada, wildfires show no sign of slowing, experts say.
“The province of Alberta, Canada, home to more than four million people, is under a state of emergency, as nearly 100 wildfires burn, dozens of them out of control… this year, Alberta was subject to both record-breaking heat and below-average rainfall.”
“One left: British Columbia’s last chance on northern spotted owls…
“Logging is not the only reason northern spotted owls are now a hair’s breadth away from extirpation in British Columbia. Invasive barred owls, which are native to eastern North America but have been moving westward, are also muscling out spotted owls, and more frequent and intense forest fires due to climate change are adding pressure.”
“Frost-bitten: Vineyards assess crop damage after record-low temps [Ohio]…
“‘Frost’ is a word no farmer wants to hear in the month of May, but that’s exactly what many farmers across Northeast Ohio found when they woke up. Hundley Cellars in Geneva is perhaps one of the hardest-hit. “Frost this late in the season is devastating,” co-owner Tracy Hundley said.”
“Next days unusually high temperatures reaching 30C [86F] will be recorded in NE Argentina, Northern Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul State of Brazil. This “summery” autumn will end just as it started: with abnormal warmth.”
“Ireland ‘not ready’ for droughts and forest fires as temperatures to hit record highs.
“Ireland is set to face some extreme weather events, increasingly hot summers, and weather more common in the Mediterranean, experts have said. Dr Chris Mays, lecture at University College Cork, told the Irish Daily Mail that it wouldn’t be surprising if Ireland experienced a summer like no other this year.”
“Villages evacuated as ‘very large’ wildfire ravages south-west Spain.
“Hundreds of civilian and military firefighters are tackling a wildfire in south-west Spain that has burned across at least 7,500 hectares (18,500 acres) of land and forced the evacuation of more than 500 people since it began on Wednesday evening.”
“It’s wintry white…in Spain! Mega hail storm leaves streets blanketed in ice as freak weather hits the country with summer around the corner.
“Terrifying footage from Los Palacios y Villafranca, nestled in the Seville province, captured the fury of Mother Nature firsthand. Cars were mercilessly lashed with giant hailstones while powerful winds tore leaves from their branches, turning the town into a scene of wintry chaos.”
“Exceptional weather becomes the new norm in exposed Italy.
“Storms, avalanches, floods and drought have slammed Italy over the past year, killing dozens of people, as once exceptional disasters become a regular part of life, leaving the government scrambling to find answers.”
“Impressive temperature contrasts today in the Mediterranean. Within Algeria, from more than 44C [111.2F] in the South to an incredibly cold afternoon in the North:
“At Setif (1015m) it was raining with just above 7C [44.6F] this afternoon. More East, hot sirocco and 42C at Sirte, on the Libyan coast.”
“‘Hard to be homeless in this heat’: India’s brutal summer is here.
“India has started experiencing what could be another extremely hot summer, similar to last year when the country saw a devastating heatwave that led to widespread human suffering and affected workplaces, informal workers, landless labourers, marginalised communities, agriculture, and the overall economy.”
“Survivors wait ‘in hell’ after Cyclone Mocha pummels Myanmar…
“From the Rohingya camp of Thet Kae Pyin, Si Thu told Al Jazeera that about 95 percent of the shelters had been obliterated and that at least 400 Rohingya were believed to have lost their lives. Survivors, he said, were now facing a dramatic increase in the price of food and basic goods, as well as urgent medical and sanitation needs.”
“SE Asia Heat: Another day with temperatures near record levels in Central Thailand, from Bangkok to Patthaya and even Koh Samui, which all beat their records earlier this month.
“In few days showers and thunderstorms should lower max. temperatures but further increase the humidity.”
“New Anti-Heatstroke Curbs May Boost Hong Kong Developer Costs. Hong Kong’s new anti-heatstroke guidelines for employers took effect this week, as rising temperatures around the region put pressure on authorities to protect the health and safety of workers vulnerable to extreme heat.”
“Various regions of China are experiencing abnormal weather this month, including extreme heat, rainfall and drought. In some parts of the country, these conditions have followed one another in quick succession, in what are known as “compound events”.”
“Unprecedented heat wave likely to hit Korea this summer.
“A scorching heat wave is likely to hit the Korean Peninsula this summer beginning next month, the state weather agency forecast on Friday. The possibility of unprecedented heat is due to high-pressure systems and the return of a stronger El Nino.”
“While Okinawa and Amami entered the rainy season Thursday, the rest of the nation [Japan] saw unusual heat.
“52 weather stations had the hottest May day on record. Fukui had 34.9℃ [94.8F], which is nearly 12℃ higher than normal, and the highest for May since records began in 1897!”
“Wildfire’s Toxic Legacy Leaves Children Gasping for Air Years Later [NSW, Australia]…
“The children’s ongoing symptoms, their families say, all followed weeks of exposure to bushfire smoke either before birth or during their early months of life. According to the parents, some of the babies were born prematurely with blackened placentas.”
“Extreme weather and rising premiums make parts of regional Australia ‘uninsurable’.
“Jane Brookman says she has been punished for having the wrong postcode. Her farm cottage in the northern rivers region of New South Wales, has not been directly affected by floods or bushfires. But, with Inverell just down the road and Lismore four hours away, it is now considered a high-risk area.”
“Over Half Of All Lakes Have Seen Water Level Drops, Study Finds.
“According to a new study published in Science on Thursday, over half of the world’s largest lakes have seen a decline in lake water storage due to climate change and unsustainable human consumption, putting the world’s already low amount of available freshwater at risk.”
“Is climate change causing a resurgence in infectious diseases? Climate change is the greatest health threat of the 21st century. It is not only endangering the lives of millions by driving inhospitable weather conditions across the globe, but also heightening the risk of outbreaks of deadly diseases.
“In altering the characteristics of the environment in which animals habitually live, both in terms of temperature and the availability of water and food sources, the danger of infections spilling over from animals into humans is high.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday 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.
“‘The city was underwater’: quarter of a million Somalis flee flooded homes.
“Floods have caused almost a quarter of a million people to flee their homes after the Shabelle River in central Somalia broke its banks and submerged the town of Beledweyne, even as the country faces its most severe drought in four decades, according to the government.”
“Return of destructive Budalang’i floods after Lake Kanyaboli breaks dyke [Kenya]…
“800 households in Budalang’i have been submerged after the Lake Kanyaboli dyke collapsed. The affected villages are Mabinju, Budala, Rukala, Runyu, Bulwani and Iyanga in Bunyala South ward.”
“The food crisis in East Africa is expected to hit a new peak in July with one person dying of hunger every 28 seconds between now and then, Oxfam has warned.
“Climate-induced drought, compounded by ongoing conflict and high food prices, has left over 40 million people across East Africa facing severe hunger – up by nearly two-thirds from last year…”
“Muscat – Large parts of Oman are under the onslaught of a heatwave with daytime temperatures touching a high of 47° [116.6F] in Sohar on Sunday.
“According to the Met Department’s weather bulletin for Monday, the mercury was expected to hit a high of 47° again in places like Suwaiq and Madha, and 46° in Rustaq.”
“Rains and windstorms have claimed at least 7 lives and injured nearly a dozen people in the country’s most populated region Punjab [Pakistan].
“During the windstorm in Lahore, over 100 feeders tripped which caused power outages in parts of the provincial capital. Heavy thunderstorms along with torrential rains battered several areas of Pakistan…”
“Odisha experienced scorching temperatures with 18 locations recording a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius [104F] on Tuesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that this intense heatwave will persist for another five days.”
“Communities struggle as climate impacts threaten public wellbeing and livelihoods [Nepal].
“Lack of rainfall for about six months, dry spells and extended rainfall in monsoon, snowfall in Kathmandu Valley in April, growing wildfire incidents and dry landslides are among the weather events Nepal witnessed this year.”
“A searing heatwave in parts of southern Asia in April was made at least 30 times more likely by climate breakdown, according to a study by international scientists.
“Unusually high temperatures of up to 45C (113F) were recorded last month in monitoring stations in parts of India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Laos.”
“Moody’s Sees Malaysia Heatwave Risking Food Inflation, Rate Hike.
“Malaysia may raise its key interest rate yet again should the heatwave gripping Asia worsen the nation’s already elevated food price pressures, according to Moody’s Investors Service.”
“SE Asia with another blistering heat wave: Today the Vietnamese capital Hanoi rose to 41.3C [106.3F] with several stations above 40C.
“Bangkok Thailand is also approaching its historical record set earlier this month. The record heat in the region started in early March and it sets to worsen.”
“Historic heat wave in East Asia: The Korean Peninsula rose above 35C [95F] breaking records for May and the whole spring.
“In South Korea 35.5C at Kangnung (tied the May record),34.4C at Sokcho and 33.5C Donghae all break monthly records. Over 33C also in North Korea. Japan is next…”
“35 weather stations in Japan experienced the hottest May day on record Wednesday. Ibigawa reached 35.1℃ / 95F, setting a new record for the entire Tokai region in May.
“Another record from the Caribbeans: The Dutch Caribbean island of Saba rose to 32.4C [90.3F], its hottest May day on records.
“It had previously beaten its record for April few weeks ago. Juancho Yrausquin Int. AP is very maritime (left):since 1970 it never dropped below 20C.”
“The scorching reality of Jalisco [Mexico]: an unprecedented surge in forest fires.
“Forest fires in Jalisco state have surged dramatically this year, causing extensive damage to large swathes of land, with the number of incidents rising from 585 to 707 in just a week, from May 4 to May 11. These fires have devastated over 71,062 hectares of forested area…”
“Complications arise in the West as early heat wave causes snowpack to melt rapidly…
“The rapid melting is causing some complications, with rushing water from mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevadas, the Colorado Rockies and the Cascades posing danger for flooding, mudslides and landslides.”
“US makes rare wheat imports from Europe after drought ravages crops.
“At least two cargoes of Polish grain have arrived in Florida this year, with more expected over the next few months, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the deals are private.”
“Wildfires burn millions of acres in Canada, send oil prices higher…
“The fires have burned about 478,000 hectares, or 1,800 square miles, across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan as of Monday — 10 times the average area burned for this time of year, according to the NASA Earth Observatory.”
“Canada called for foreign help Wednesday to combat wildfires burning out of control and spreading across vast swathes of the western half of the country…
“In recent years, western Canada has been hit repeatedly by extreme weather, the intensity and frequency of which have increased due to global warming.”
“Another insanely warm day in Canada with temperatures again >18C [64.4F] at Lupin (65N) in Nunavut.
“Lupin has lost all its snowpack, 70cm melted in few days, while this time of the year melting shouldn’t have even startedan its average snowpack in mid May is between 40cm and 90cm.”
“Hottest days are warming twice as fast as average summer temperature in north-west Europe – new research.
“On July 19 2022, the UK experienced its highest ever temperature. At 40.3℃ (Coningsby, Lincolnshire), the temperature surpassed the previous record of 38.7℃ (Cambridge) – a record that had been set a mere three years previously. My new study shows that this is part of a long-running trend…”
“The death toll from the ‘apocalyptic’ floods in northern Italy has risen to nine with more heavy rain being forecast for this weekend.
“Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in the popular holiday region of Emilia-Romagna after torrential rain on a ‘biblical’ scale.”
“Torrential Rain Overflowing Rivers, Cause Chaos in Bosnia, Croatia.
“Heavy rain that has been falling since Sunday has made troubles in north and northwestern Bosnia, flooding hundreds of objects and cutting off road infrastructure. A state of natural disaster has been declared in Una-Sana Canton, one of ten cantons in Bosnia’s Federation entity, after heavy rain.”
“With temperatures climbing into summertime, scientists warn that Europe is on track for another brutal summer, after suffering its hottest on record last year – which fuelled a drought European Union researchers said was the worst in at least 500 years. So far this year, the situation is most severe in Spain.”
“Four consecutive years of drought have gotten the better of Tunisian producers and forced them to abandon several crops in favor of others, also motivated by government measures in this direction. Selmi Mohameddhia, a Tunisian agronomist, comments on the situation.”
“Tropical forests are losing their carbon storage capacity…
“According to a new study led by Colorado State University (CSU) and supported by the National Science Foundation, climate change will significantly affect the carbon storage capacities of tropical rainforests, with persistent drying caused by reductions in rainfall leading to carbon loss from the most fertile soils.”
“Why Natural Disasters Seem Worse Than Our Direst Predictions…
“In a world where everything seems measurable and quantifiable, scientists can’t provide forecasts with the level of visceral detail that the average person needs to grasp the enormity of the changes unfolding before our eyes. Rather than dismissing the fears of climate scientists as “alarmism,” we should take their manifest alarm seriously.”
“World likely to breach 1.5C climate threshold by 2027, scientists warn.
“The world is almost certain to experience new record temperatures in the next five years, and temperatures are likely to rise by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, scientists have warned… it would represent a marked acceleration of human impacts on the global climate system, and send the world into “uncharted territory”, the WMO warned.”
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.
“Temperature of 37 deg C [98.6F] in Ang Mo Kio matches Singapore’s all-time highest daily mark hit 40 years ago.
“The mercury hit 37 deg C in Ang Mo Kio on Saturday, tying the all-time mark for the highest daily maximum temperature in Singapore, which was recorded in Tengah on April 17, 1983.
“It is also the highest recorded temperature for the month of May, and the hottest day in 2023.”
“China braces for record-breaking temperatures as major cities issue heat advisories.
China is gearing up for another summer of scorching temperatures as major cities issued heat advisories this week, with Beijing experiencing temperatures in the mid-thirties on Monday… Since March, China has already been experiencing heatwaves in various parts of the country including in the Yunnan province which is known historically for its mild weather.”
“Eastern India is under a terrible heat wave with temperatures surging above 46C [115F].
“It’s also an area notorious for high humidity, relentless heat persisting at night and heat indexes/THI which might exceed 55C [131F]. Next 3 days will witness dangerous levels of heat.”
“As Cyclone Mocha approached Myanmar on May 14, 2023, winds roared as fast as 175 miles (280 kilometers) per hour, enough to make it a category 5 storm… Mocha’s powerful winds tied with Cyclone Fani for being the strongest on record in the North Indian Ocean basin, according to Jeff Masters with Yale Climate Connections.”
“Cyclone Mocha may have killed ‘hundreds’ in Myanmar’s Rakhine.
“Rescue and relief efforts are under way in northwestern Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh after Cyclone Mocha crashed ashore, with one humanitarian group working in the affected area saying hundreds had been killed and some Rohingya camps destroyed.”
“Northern Rivers [NSW, Australia] told to brace for flash flooding, again.
“The NSW SES is warning anyone planning on travelling to the area to be mindful of the potential for severe rainfall that could lead to flash flooding… More than 30,000 people in the Northern Rivers have faced significant flooding events over the past three years since the onset of the prolonged La Nina, with last year’s floods the worst on record.”
“Scientists warn Maugean skate, Tasmania’s ‘thylacine of the sea’, one extreme weather event from extinction.
“Scientists have warned an ancient fish species that has survived since the time of the dinosaurs could be one extreme weather event from extinction after its population crashed by nearly half in seven years.”
“+8.4C [47.1F] at San Martin Base, an Argentine Base located in the Peninsula and 7.6C at Esperanza, where the snow depth is now 15cm, down from 40cm few days ago. It’s almost winter in Antarctica but locally we are observing snow melting.”
“It’s another abnormally warm month in Argentina which is living so far an exceptionally warm 2023, every single month.
“Temperatures are still surging above 30C [86F] in Central Northern areas with dry and sunny days and cool nights. The drought is persisting and it’s a matter of concern.”
“Florida’s citrus crop forecast lowest in nearly 100 years, recent hurricanes are a major factor.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday issued a forecast that said Florida growers this season are on pace to fill 15.65 million boxes of oranges, which would be the lowest total since the 1934-1935 season. The new forecast also was down from an April projection of 16.1 million boxes.”
“Record-breaking heat scorches the western US and Canada as wildfires continue to rage.
“The West has taken a dive straight into summer, with temperatures well above those normally seen even at the end of July… Several cities across British Columbia set new monthly records Sunday, including Lytton, which topped out around 97 degrees; hotter than the average temperature Phoenix, Arizona, experiences around this time of year.”
“Canadian PM Trudeau visits Alberta as wildfires rage.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Alberta on Monday as raging wildfires prompted mass evacuations and reduced energy production in Canada’s main oil-producing province, where meteorologists expect virtually no rain for 10 days or so.”
“Canada’s Far North sizzles under unrivalled heat, sets monthly record…
“An extreme example of the extraordinary heat occurred in Arviat, Nunavut, along the shores of Hudson Bay. The 21.2°C [70.2F] reading recorded on Saturday is so far above-and-beyond what was previously experienced. Never before had a 10°C even been recorded there, and that temperature smashed the previous monthly record of 14.5°C set back on May 26, 2001.”
“90-mile-long ice jam in rural Alaska brings near-record flooding to several towns along Yukon River.
“Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has declared a disaster in several communities due to ongoing flooding along the Yukon River caused by a massive ice jam. The NWS in Fairbanks said warmer temperatures across the eastern Interior, combined with an above-normal snowpack in the higher elevations, have caused a significant increase in snowmelt.”
“A state of emergency was declared in Russia’s far eastern Khabarovsk region on Monday, amid forest fires that have raged in other parts of the country.
““Today, I signed an order on the introduction of a state of emergency due to forest fires throughout the Khabarovsk Territory,” Khabarovsk Governor Mikhail Degtyarev said in a message on Telegram.”
“Dozens of ‘frost quakes’ hit a Finnish town in just 7 hours.
“Fears are growing that seismic activity known as frost quakes or ice quakes – which can cause huge cracks in roads and houses – are becoming more frequent because of climate change.”
“Denmark Is Mysteriously Tremoring. No One Knows Why…
“…by ruling out a ground-based shock—like an earthquake—or a large and relatively nearby explosion, we’re left to look at the atmosphere. This means that there was potentially some sort of significant atmospheric event strong enough to cause a 2.3 magnitude tremor on land in a specific island location. And we don’t know what it was.”
“Andalucía brings forward date of high risk wildfire season by two weeks.
“The start of the extreme risk season for forest fires has been brought forward to 16 May in Andalucía, instead of 1 June. The decision was made at a meeting of the advisory committee of Plan Infoca, the Junta’s specialist wildfire prevention and fire fighting brigade, and the regional government minister Antonio Sanz on Friday.”
“‘The country is becoming a desert’: Drought-struck Spain is running out of water.
“Spain is running out of water. After a long and painful drought, the country has been hit by an unusually early heat wave, evaporating even more of the “blue gold” it still has left in its reservoirs.”
“Croatian army steps in as heavy rains flood homes, roads and schools.
“Rescue teams and hundreds of soldiers were deployed Monday to help people in parts of Croatia hit by floods. Heavy rain in recent days caused some rivers to overflow their banks, flooding homes, roads and public buildings in some towns.”
“Rwanda prioritizes relocation of disaster-stricken households, post-floods reconstruction.
“Last week, heavy rainfall caused significant 137 casualties and injuries in the northern, western, and southern provinces of Rwanda. Since heavy rainfall, battered Rwanda causing landslides and deadly floods on May 2-3, the government initiated an emergency response, including evacuations and temporary relocations to camps for affected residents.”
“Flash flooding in central Somalia has killed 22 people and affected over 450,000, the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA said Sunday, after the Shabelle River burst its banks, forcing tens of thousands out of their homes.”
“Climate change is making crabs lose their sense of smell — and seafood may never be the same… and when crabs pay the price, so do humans…
“…as the ocean becomes more acidic due to climate change, crabs lose part of their sense of smell because the neurons responsible for sensing odors shrink and they have fewer receptors in their version of a nose (an organ called their antennules).”
“Oceans have been absorbing the world’s extra heat. But there’s a huge payback.
“… the ocean has acted like the planet’s air conditioner, relentlessly absorbing extra heat. “But that air conditioner isn’t just passive. It is not a free service. Adding that heat has come with ocean acidification, rising sea levels and changes in the frequency of extreme weather.””
“We are, right now, living in a dangerously warmed climate. That means two things: first, that climate adaptation—infrastructure and policy decisions focused on mitigating the harm that our new, perennially warming climate is causing—is not some far-off question. We need to be preparing for the next unprecedented heat wave, flood, fire, or wind event as though it were coming this summer—because it very well might be.
“Second, and more fundamentally, it means there is no margin of safety left, if there ever was one.”
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.
“Cyclone Mocha threatens world’s largest refugee camp on Myanmar-Bangladesh border.
“Cyclone Mocha is predicted to make landfall on Sunday near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, according to India’s meteorological office, packing winds of up to 175km/h (108mph).
“The office predicted a storm surge of between two and two-and-a-half metres (six to eight feet) for the low-lying coastal region, which on the Bangladeshi side is home to sprawling camps hosting hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. Most of them fled there after a military-led crackdown in Myanmar in 2017.”
“Singapore schools relax rules on uniforms as Asia battles record sweltering temperatures.
“Singapore’s education ministry says schools can explore ways to help students manage the heat, such as allowing pupils to wear physical education attire. Temperature records continue to be shattered across Asia…”
“Malaysia keeps eye on food supply as heatwave seen until August…
“The situation remains under control for now, but the net food importer is prepared to “ramp up the emergency response” should things take a turn for the worse, said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the country’s minister for natural resources, environment and climate change.”
“Record heat is near allover in the tropics these weeks: Borneo, both Indonesian and Malaysian parts is also with record high temperatures and Singapore is not spared.
“The tiny country has never exceeded 37C [98.6F] in its history, yet these days is exceeding 36C regularly (36.2C today).”
“Yesterday 11 May the southern city of Zamboanga in Mindanao Region, rose to 37.4C [99.3F], which is its hottest May day on records and 2nd hottest day overall behind the 37.9C set in April 2020.”
“El Nino May Slash Thai Rice Crop and Spur Inflation Across Asia.
“Thailand, the world’s second-biggest rice exporter, is asking farmers to grow only one crop this year — instead of the usual two — as a likely El Nino looks set to reduce rainfall. Rice is highly water-intensive and is dependent on irrigation and enough precipitation…”
“Scarce drinking water in North Korea during severe spring drought.
“…satellite evidence shows that many of the country’s reservoirs have shrunken, sometimes dramatically, over the past year. State media reported Tuesday that a lack of water could make food shortages worse, and there was a “nationwide effort” to try to save crops from damage.”
“Are New Zealand’s marine heatwaves a warning to the world?
“… New Zealand’s waters are changing, and those who watch them closely – anglers and divers, fish farmers and scientists – have reported unusual signs: mass deaths, disappearing species, changing animal behaviour.”
“Whales in the Southern Ocean are becoming increasingly thinner due to global warming, suggests study…
“”Right whales are 25 percent thinner than they were in the 1980s. This is bad for the whale population, because it means that the newborn whale calves have a higher risk of dying. Fortunately, the right whales in the Southern Ocean are not endangered, but if this continues, they could become so,” he says.”
“‘Sea butterfly’ life cycle threatened by climate change may impact Southern Ocean ecosystem…
“Dr Clara Manno, a researcher at the British Antarctic Survey and the corresponding author of the study published in Frontiers in Marine Science, said that the decrease in pteropod populations in the Antarctic Ocean could have significant consequences for the food web and carbon cycle.”
“How the invasion of a tiny insect is altering Antarctica’s soil & its ecosystem…
“Antarctica’s Signy Island, half of which is always covered in ice, has been dealing with an unwelcome guest, a flightless midge, for years. Now, it has become a big problem as the tiny insect has spread to a much larger area with multiplying populations.”
“It’s near winter in Antarctic Peninsula but temperatures are extremely above average.
“The Chinese Base called Great Wall on the King George Island rose to +8.1C [46.6F],with temperatures rising above +5C also in the Peninsula. At least 15 stations are above freezing.”
“Brazil’s Haddad raises concerns about economic situation, drought in Argentina.
“Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad expressed serious concerns on Thursday that Argentina’s economic challenges and a major drought there could affect the country’s “political destiny” and usher in an extremist government.”
“In Chile insane heat with several stations in 3 provinces (Atacama, Coquimbo and Valparaiso) >35C / 95F today (up to 36.7C at Tranque Lautaro) altitudes until 1500m above sea level. In Brazil yesterday monthly heat record at Ze Doca, Maranhao State with 36.9C.”
“Severe storms have devastating impact on Central California crops.
“…In the mountains above, one of California’s largest snowpacks on record is starting to melt. According to forecasters, high temperatures in the coming weeks could prove catastrophic. “You kind of get an overwhelming sense of doom in a way,” said Lakeshore Dairy farmer Brandon Goedhardt. “How do you stop this?””
“Farmers Set to Abandon US Wheat Crops at Highest Rate Since 1917…
“Years of dry conditions on the US Plains have taken their toll on America’s famed fields of grain. Some wheat plants this season were so stunted by a lack of moisture that they won’t produce so-called heads of grain, leaving little reason to harvest them. Farmers can instead file crop-insurance claims for failed acres, or choose to plant something else.”
“Wildfire smoke from Alberta and British Columbia reaches US.
“Much of Canada and parts of the US are blanketed by smoke as wildfires in the province of Alberta continue to rage. As of Thursday, there are 75 active wildfires in Alberta, 23 of which are considered out of control.”
“Canada: extreme ‘heat dome’ temperatures set to worsen wildfires…
“Florida-based meteorologist Jeffery Berardelli told the Guardian that recent projections show a higher pressure system developing over the Canadian Prairies that is “stronger than anything we have seen” since records started four decades ago.”
“Incredible warmth in Northern Canada with temperatures totally unprecedented for this time of the year.
“Nunavut rose to 20C [68F] nearly 2 weeks earlier than its previous earliest. Almost 30C in Northwest Territories. From tomorrow British Columbia will catch the first 35C of the year.”
“[Alaska] USA, the Castner glacier is retreating too fast.
“The ice cave is slowly collapsing in on itself after so much warm water poured into its crevasses due to last summer’s high temperatures. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), ‘the state is warming at a rate two to three times the global average’ due to climate change.”
“Surprise! This year’s hurricane season started with a storm in January…
“Forecasters agreed in retrospect that a curiously robust system that formed between Nova Scotia and Bermuda on January 16, 2023, did indeed qualify as the first tropical cyclone of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season… eight of the past nine hurricane seasons began before the ‘official’ start date on June 1.”
“Snow falls in Spain after long drought and early heat wave.
“The freak snowfall happened in La Raya, a mountainous area of Asturias, while hailstones and heavy rain fell in Mediterranean parts of Spain including Catalonia and Valencia after months without a drop of precipitation [a lot of the arid south still without precipitation though].”
“The Spanish government has approved a €2.2bn (£1.9bn) plan to help farmers and consumers cope with an enduring drought that has been exacerbated by the hottest and driest April on record.
“The measures, described as unprecedented by the government, were
signed off by the cabinet on Thursday. They include €1.4bn of funds from the environment ministry to tackle the drought…”
“Spain plans to ban outdoor work during periods of extreme heat.
“The measure will be enforced when the state weather agency AEMET issues red or orange alerts. These heat alerts are frequently issued when temperatures hit the high 30s or over 40C, posing a risk for citizens outdoors or for the environment.”
“Horn of Africa’s double whammy of famine – and floods.
“The drought in the Horn of Africa could raise the risk of food shortages, even though some areas have also been devastated by floods, aid organisations have warned. Since October 2020, the region has been in the midst of its worst drought in 40 years, with people in some areas suffering a sixth consecutive failed rainy season, while others have been affected by floods.”
“Keep cool… According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), temperatures will reach an eye-watering 45ºC in certain parts of the UAE this weekend.
“The highest temperature recorded in the UAE on Wednesday, May 10 was 43.8ºC [113F] in Mezaira, Abu Dhabi. The lowest? 19.9ºC in Al Foah, also in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
“Big warming in India and Pakistan: Asia rose to its 2023 new highest with 47.0C [116.6F] at Jacobabad and Dadu in Pakistan.
“India is also warming with heat waves expected in several States after a last cool morning in Madhya Pradesh (Malanjkhand 15.7C ,Rewa 16.5C new records for May).”
“‘Feels like oven’: Memes go viral as heatwave grips India.
“Several parts of Gujarat are reeling under heatwave conditions, with Patan city in the northern region recording 45.4 degrees Celsius [113.7F] on Thursday, said officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) here… Meanwhile, netizens are finding relief from scorching weather via memes on social media.”
“Greenpeace: real area of forest fires in Russia ten times bigger than official statistics.
“According to the ISDM-Rosleskhoz space observation system the real area of Russia’s forest fires since the start of the year constitutes 5.2 million ha, whereas the official report only mentions 0.59 million ha, Greenpeace reports.”
“A few personal notes: I was just at a NASA team meeting for 3 days in DC. The scientific findings are so fucked up.
“Experts on tropical rainforests told me privately that they think the Amazon has already passed its tipping point. Let that sink in. The world needs to know.” [Dr Peter Kalmus, NASA climate scientist]
“Dark clouds on the horizon: The most accurate measurements yet of black carbon in the atmosphere…
“With our improved measurements, we now estimate that current climate models may be underestimating the absorption of solar radiation due to black carbon by a significant 16%.”
“As Ocean Oxygen Levels Dip, Fish Face an Uncertain Future.
“Global warming not only increases ocean temperatures, it triggers a cascade of effects that are stripping the seas of oxygen. Fish are already moving to new waters in search of oxygen, and scientists are warning of the long-term threat to fish species and marine ecosystems.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday 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.
“Climate change: Warning signs across the world suggest the situation is already out of control[nice overview of recent events]…
“The world’s climate scientists recently warned that the predicted impacts of global warming are happening faster and more strongly than previously expected. Tumbling weather records around the world do indeed show climate change accelerating.”
“Flash flooding in parts of south-west England following torrential rain has led to a major incident being declared in Somerset [UK].
“Heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday evening resulted in Devon and Somerset fire and rescue declaring a major incident in the Galhampton, North Cadbury, and South Cadbury areas.”
“Warning of downpours and hail as wettest start to year on record continues [Netherlands]…
“2023 has been the wettest year on record so far, with 372mm of rain falling at the central weather station in De Bilt, Utrecht, up to and including May 9… So far this year the thermometer at De Bilt has passed the 20C mark on just four days.”
“Extreme weather caused record amount of damage last year: Insurers.
“Extreme weather caused a record amount of damage in the Netherlandslast year at over 886 million euros. The Dutch Association of Insurers reports this in its Climate Damage Monitor on Thursday. By far the most damage (714 million euros) was caused by the tree storms that left a trail of destruction in February 2022.”
“Swiss village of Brienz told to flee imminent monster rockslide.
“Residents of the tiny Swiss village of Brienz have been told to pack their bags and leave immediately. The reason: two million cubic metres of rock from the mountain above them is set to come loose and crash down to the valley in the next few days… Switzerland’s Alpine regions are especially sensitive to global warming.”
“The French Pyrenees-Orientales department, which borders Spain’s Catalonia autonomous region, will be officially declared to be in a drought “crisis” level from 10 May…
“There are currently more than 40 departments in France, amounting to nearly half the country, which is officially at “alert” or “vigilance” levels of drought. The Pyrenees-Orientales will become the fourth district to declare a “crisis” drought level.”
“Scorching heat today in Spain and Morocco again. Temperatures at exceptional levels at Taroudant with 42.9C / 109.2F (3 hourly max) in Morocco. Also over 40C at Guelmin. In Spain Seville rose above 37C again. Tomorrow it will be another extremely hot day.”
“Dozens of fruit growers arrested in Spain over illegal wells as drought grips the country.
“Spanish Civil Guard statement said a four-year investigation had uncovered 250 illegal wells and ponds in the in a drought-stricken area Axarquia district east of Malaga, along the Mediterranean coast. In addition to the dozens arrested, 44 people are under investigation in the alleged scheme…”
“Europe’s Drought-Riven Future Is Here, Decades Earlier Than Expected.
“…the heat doesn’t stop in Spain; hotter and drier weather is becoming the norm across Europe. The water battle brewing in Letur is a harbinger of conflicts that will play out elsewhere, and whatever happens to Spain’s farming industry — a major source of groceries for its neighbors — will be felt throughout the region.”
“Severe drought spreads in Portugal, officials seek EU help.
“Around 90% of mainland Portugal is suffering from drought, with severe drought alone affecting one-fifth of its territory, twice as much as in March and nearly five times the area reported a year earlier. Some parts are in an extreme drought situation, which did not exist at the same time in 2022.”
“Cape Verde’s drought shows vulnerability to climate change.
“Cape Verde is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change as evidenced by the recent four-year drought, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Tuesday as its team visited the Portuguese-speaking country between May 2-9.”
“At least 16 people killed in multiple landslides in eastern DRC.
“Ten people were killed in a landslide in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Lubero territory in North Kivu province overnight on Wednesday, local authorities have said – additional victims of recent heavy rainsthat have killed hundreds in floods in the broader region.”
“Over 5,500 still missing in flood-hit east Congo: local official.
“Democratic Republic of Congo, May 9 (Reuters) – More than 5,500 people are still unaccounted for in an area in east Democratic of Congo where floods killed more than 400 people last week, a local official said on Tuesday, as shaken survivors waited for food aid.”
“Rwanda floods, landslides fueled by climate change…
“Richard Munang, deputy regional director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Africa office, believes that temperature rise is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. While the globe has warmed to 1.1C, he notes that Africa is “warming up at twice the global average,” and that “extreme events” will only get worse.”
“In its regular agrometeorological early warning bulletin last week, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization said that heavy rainfall and flash flooding would continue to imperil mountainous and coastal areas, affecting thousands of residents.”
“Methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure in Turkmenistan had a greater impact on global warming last year than the carbon emissions from all of the UK, new satellite data has revealed.
“Environmental intelligence company Kayrros analysed data from a network of satellites tracking methane emissions across the world.”
“At least 21 dead as wildfires rage across Urals and Siberia…
“Wildfires have raged in the Kurgan region of the Urals and in Siberia all week. Local media reported that most of the dead were older people unable to leave their homes. According to local authorities, many of the deaths occurred on Sunday in the village of Yuldus…”
“Poaching surges as wildfires force animals out of forests [Nepal]…
“Forests in Rautahat are home to tigers, blue bulls, deer, wild boars, elephants, and monkeys, among others, according to the forest office. Illegal poaching activities are being reported from Chetanagar, Chandrapur, Gaidatar, Rangapur, and Balari forest areas.”
“Deadly combo of extreme heat and air pollution grips parts of Southeast Asia…
“Heat waves can be deadly on their own, but parts of Vietnam and Thailand have also been blanketed in thick smog in recent weeks. Experts say the combination of extreme heat and poor air quality can lead to upticks in respiratory, cardiovascular and kidney diseases — impacts that will only worsen as climate change intensifies…”
“Central Vietnam faces water shortage as El Nino [+ unprecedented heat] drains reservoirs…
“At the Cau Do Water Plant, which provides about 80% of clean water for Da Nang’s population of more than 1 million people, salinity in recent days has reached approximately 1,000 mg/liter, making it difficult to collect water.”
“Black Summer bushfire smoke likely triggered record flooding [Australia].
“The vast plumes of smoke that billowed from the Black Summer bushfires increased cloud cover over the Pacific, cooled sea surface temperatures and likely influenced the formation of the rare triple La Nina weather pattern, which brought record-breaking floods to Australia.”
“Mind blowing temperature of 37.3C [99.1F] at Tranque Lautaro in Chile. It’s near winter and it’s 1300m above sea level. And next days it will stay there .
“3 provinces with temperatures above 35C for several days and even at 1000m-1500m asl. Historic event.”
“Chile rushes to quench record-breaking drought with water investments.
“Chile’s public works ministry (MOP) is looking to speed up investments in water infrastructure, as much of the country experiences a drought that has lasted over a decade.”
“Central America with endless hot and dry conditions.
“Today Panama rose to 39.5C [103.1F] at Guarumal, its hottest May day on records and just 0.5C from the hottest temperature for any month (recorded in 1998).”
“Endless record heat in Central America and the Caribbeans: Today the city of Santa Cruz in Costa Rica rose to 39.7C [103.5F], only 0.3C from the record set during the mega drought of 1979 and few decimals from the Costa Rican hottest day on records.
“Forest fires have consumed more than 4,500 hectares in the Yucatán Peninsula so far this year.
“The beginning of spring and the heat waves that have been recorded during the last few weeks in the Yucatan Peninsula have favored the creation of forest fires, which have destroyed 4,552 hectares of jungle.”
“14,000 Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells in the Gulf of Mexico Are Spewing Methane.
“A study published in Nature Energy found that there are 14,000 orphaned oil and gas wells in waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico’s waters and in Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Plugging the wells would prevent environmental damage, but that could cost up to $30 billion.”
“US already struck by 7 separate billion-dollar weather disasters through April.
“The first four months of the year have been costly and record-breaking regarding weather and climate disasters… The disasters comprised of five severe storm events, one winter storm and one flooding event. The total cost exceeded $19 billion and resulted in 97 deaths, data from NOAA reports.”
“Seven Eastern States Had Their Warmest-Ever Start in 2023.
“Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia all had their warmest January to April on record, data from NOAA’s U.S. climate report show. Other Eastern states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina and West Virginia—posted their second-warmest period.”
“Parts of U.S. and Canada brace for potentially historic heat wave.
“A heat wave that looks like the historic June 2021 event is getting underway in parts of northern Canada. It will eventually spread to British Columbia and Alberta, as well as into the northern United States.”
“Wildfires in Alberta off to an exponentially fast start compared to recent years…
“With temperatures expected to rise significantly by this weekend and into next week, a provincial state of emergency has been declared as weather conditions threaten to aid in fire growth and worsen the situation.”
“‘Like Nagasaki’: devastating wildfires will only get worse, new book warns…
“The world has entered an unprecedented era of wildfire danger, Vaillant argues in his upcoming book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World which chronicles the devastation of Fort McMurray and warns of a hotter, more volatile future.”
“The ocean is hotter than ever: what happens next?
““We are probably looking at a string of record highs over the next year or so,” says Josh Willis, an oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. “This coming year is gonna be a wild ride if the El Niño really takes off.”
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.
Search
About This Site
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.
“Climate change helps dangerous fungi to better ‘infect and invade’ humans, experts warn. Climate change is accelerating the spread of dangerous fungi, pushing the organisms to adapt to better “infect and invade” people, senior American health officials have warned.
“Medics say ‘world is not prepared’ for highly contagious fungal disease as first cases found.
“Global heating will push billions outside ‘human climate niche’…
“Wildfires in peat an added challenge for Alberta firefighters…
“Smoke from Canadian fires is pouring into the US and could linger for days.
“Despite record snowpack in the West, early melting could lead to water scarcity.
“Once ‘paradise,’ parched Colorado valley grapples with arsenic in water.
“Great Salt Lake is still blowing dangerous dust.
“Kansas farmers abandon wheat fields after extreme drought.
“Local sea temperatures break records [Caymans]…
“Hurricane season starts next week. Forecasters are already watching a system in the Atlantic…
“Further draft restrictions for drought-hit Panama Canal.
“Indigenous communities in Argentina’s Chaco fear another heavy fire season in 2023…
“‘We can’t escape the reality’: France is preparing for 4°C of warming by 2100…
“‘Roads have disappeared’: Italy begins cleanup after catastrophic floods…
“Climate experts warn extreme floods unlikely to solve drought problem across Europe.
“Long lasting drought led to crop failures in the Maghreb.
“Thousands missing after deadly DR Congo floods.
“Eastern Cape floods | Residents endure sewage spills, power cuts.
“Contrasts in Southern Africa: First taste of winter and frosts in South African highlands.
“Record of high temperatures keep falling in tropical islands due to record warm oceans.
“Record after record, this time it’s the Tromelin Island, in the Indian Ocean, part of the “French Southern and Antarctic Lands” Territory.
“Iraq’s climate migrants flee parched land for crowded cities.
“India scorched by extreme heat with monsoon rains delayed.
“SE Asia Heat Wave; Harsh heat with temperatures up to 42.3C [108.1F] today in China at Yuanyang. The heat will slow down few days and return worse than ever later.
“At the same time, cold air is bringing a strong cooling of 15-20C to the south, causing a wide range of intense weather…
“An extraordinary heat wave is ongoing today in SE Asia: records are being obliterated (yes, again!) between Laos and Vietnam, especially at high elevations.
“Singapore’s farms are feeling the heat, as recent higher temperatures have damaged some crops and depleted livestock yields…
“2 found dead, 3 still missing after waterfall surge in Pingtung [Taiwan]…
“If you feel like 2023 has been particularly wet in the upper North Island [New Zealand], you’d be right!
“And more records, now from Samoa.
“Guam’s governor has urged residents to stay at home, warning the island could take a direct hit from Typhoon Mawar, which is strengthening as it heads towards the Pacific territory…
“Why a warming world is costing you precious hours of sleep… A study estimates people are already losing an average of 44 hours of sleep per year…
“Global loss of wildlife is ‘significantly more alarming’ than previously thought, according to a new study…
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“And finally …
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“Keep cool… 
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“Endless record heat in Central America and the Caribbeans: 
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“