New study reveals that subsea permafrost in the Arctic, previously thought to be impermeable, is degrading, allowing for increasing rates of methane release.
“Significant reserves of methane (CH4) are held in the Arctic shelf, but the release of CH4 to the overlying ocean and, subsequently, to the atmosphere has been believed to be restricted by impermeable subsea permafrost, which has sealed the upper sediment layers for thousands of years.
“Our studies demonstrate progressive degradation of subsea permafrost which controls the scales of CH4 release from the sediment into the water-atmospheric system.”
“Canadian police fatally shoot polar bear that wandered into Quebec community.
“Canadian police have shot and killed a polar bear that wandered into a Quebec community hundreds of kilometres south of the species’ normal territory, in an incident that experts warn could become more common as sea ice coverage becomes more unpredictable thanks to global heating.”
“April was wettest on record for Grand Forks [North Dakota], second wettest for Fargo.
“Grand Forks set a precipitation record for the month of April with 6.49 inches, easily besting the 5.28 inches of precipitation that fell in April in 1896. The third-wettest April in Grand Forks was in 1937, when 4.62 inches of precipitation fell.”
“Central U.S. faces severe storms, tornadoes on multiple days this week…
“Evan Bentley, a forecaster at the Storm Prediction Center, described the forthcoming weather pattern as “absolutely insane”on Twitter, writing “Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Monday, [and] Tuesday all have potential to be high-end severe weather days.””
“New Mexico governor urges Biden to declare wildfires a disaster to free funds…
“Authorities in northeastern New Mexico said the flames were a couple miles from Las Vegas, which serves as an economic hub for most of northeastern New Mexico, and the ranching and farming families who have called the rural region home for generations”
“Drought-starved Lake Mead reveals a decades-old barrel with a body inside.
“A body inside a barrel was found over the weekend on the the newly exposed bottom of Nevada’s Lake Mead as drought depletes one of the largest US reservoirs – and officials predicted the discovery could be just the first of more grim finds.”
“Water is so low in the Colorado River, Feds are holding some back so one dam can keep generating power…
“The federal government on Tuesday announced it will delay the release of water from one of the Colorado River’s major reservoirs, an unprecedented action that will temporarily address declining reservoir levels fueled by the historic Western drought.”
“Since the beginning of the year, the weather gave no respite to the summer crops [BA, Argentina], which first suffered the harsh drought and then the relief of the rains towards the end of January.
“However, as a paradox, the rain they waited so long in the field became a headache for producers, where flooding worsens day by day… so far this year [the area] received about 800 millimeters [31.5 inches], when the annual average is 900.”
“Deforestation and logging aren’t just decimating the Amazon’s forests. They’re making them quieter…
“The acoustics, which were combined with airborne satellite data, were recorded during September and October of 2016. The researchers found that in forests where blazes happened repeatedly, communication between animals was quieter than in forests that were logged or burned only once.”
“South Africa: Flood Survivors Endure Thirst, Trauma and Disease…
“The sun has been shining almost every day since flash floods tore through the KwaZulu-Natal province’s most populous urban areas on 11 April, but for many people the suffering continues. Large parts of the eThekwini Municipality around the coastal city of Durban, remain without water and sanitation, with no indication of when these services will be restored.”
“Flooding due to torrential rain in Tanzania has killed several people and caused the displacement of several thousand residents, based on reports as of Tuesday, May 3.
“The incident was a result of prolonged heavy rain since late April in the Mbeya and Songwe regions of the East African nation.”
“Worst drought in decades devastates Ethiopia’s nomads.
“There has hardly been a drop of rain in Hargududo in 18 months. Dried-up carcasses of goats, cows and donkeys litter the ground near the modest thatched huts in this small village in the Somali region of southeastern Ethiopia.”
“On 2nd May the village of Faya Largeau in Northern Chad, near an oasis, had an hourly temperature of 47C /116.6F(no Tmin/Tmax released for this station).
“That would be the highest reliable temperature recorded in May in Chad, with the limitation of scarce data in certain areas.”
“The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation launched a campaign to monitor and remove violations on the Nile River before the start of the third-stage filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir.
“Egypt derives 90 percent of its water needs, or 55.5 billion cubic meters, from the Nile.”
“Last month was one of Israel’s three warmest Aprils over the past 70 years, another sign of the country’s accelerated warming trend, the Israel Meteorological Service said this week… Israel is warming at twice the global rate…
“The difference between March and April reached 10 to 13 degrees Celsius, the largest gap between the two months since Israel began accurately recording temperatures 70 years ago.”
“A big sandstorm hit Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 3rd 2022. Residents were forced inside as air quality deteriorated. Buildings were damaged by the strong winds and flying debris.”
“Pakistan likely to face acute water shortage within three years.
“Of all the crises confronting Pakistan today, water scarcity is the least talked about but most challenging for a country where over 30 million citizens have no access to clean drinking water. In three years, Pakistan will be staring at acute water scarcity, a situation which would leave millions of people and their land gasping for a trickle.”
“India and Pakistan heatwave is ‘testing the limits of human survivability,’ expert says…
““This heatwave is definitely unprecedented,”said Dr. Chandni Singh, IPCC Lead Author and Senior Researcher at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. “We have seen a change in its intensity, its arrival time, and duration. This is what climate experts predicted and it will have cascading impacts on health.””
“With scanty rains owing to feeble western disturbances, Delhi had recorded its second hottest April this year since 1951 with a monthly average maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius. The city’s normal monthly average temperature in April is 36.30 degrees Celsius.”
“Hong Kong weather expert calls coldest day in May for more than 100 years ‘good sign’.[no comment!]
“Hong Kong recorded its coldest day in May for more than a century on Monday morning, according to the city’s weather forecaster, with a veteran meteorologist saying it was a “good sign” amid climate change fears.”
“China is upside down these days, with a record cold spell in the tropical areas and intense heat in the North.
“In the NE Beijing rose to 32.0C /89.6F (first 30, 31, 32 of 2022),Tianjin 33.0C. In the NW Turpan 36.9C.First 30C of 2022 also in Mongolia with 30.3C at Sainshand.Hotter tomorrow.”
“North Korea mobilises office workers to fight drought amid food shortages.
“North Korea’s office workers and factory labourers have been dispatched to farming areas around the country to join a fight against drought, state media reported on Wednesday, amid concerns over prolonged food shortages.”
“Trauma, disbelief and plenty of ideas shared at NSW flood inquiry hearing in Lismore…
“Some suggested flood-zone houses should have mandatory roof hatches, like skylights, to prevent people in attics being drowned by rising waters. There were multiple calls for the insurance system to be overhauled…”
“Flood and cyclone-prone areas in eastern Australia may be ‘uninsurable’ by 2030, report suggests.
“Extreme weather due to the climate crisis is expected to increasingly make some Australian homes “uninsurable”, with a new report suggesting up to one in 25 households will struggle to be covered by 2030.”
“Floods, new mystery disease impact starving marine turtles.
“University of the Sunshine Coastresearchers and wildlife rescuers have joined forces as they deal with a large increase in stranded, sick, and deceased marine turtles from recent floods and the discovery of a mystery disorder that is eating away at turtle shells.”
“Climate change has NZ sinking – floods to become routine events.
“Climate change is taking its toll as the sea keeps crawling onto New Zealand’s sinking coastline, halving the time authorities thought they had to take action, according to an NZ SeaRise study released earlier this week.”
“A Concerning Change Is Happening to Earth’s Water Cycle, Satellite Data Reveal.
“Climate change is throwing Earth’s water cycle severely out of whack. According to new satellite data, freshwaters are growing fresher and salt waters are growing saltier at an increasingly rapid rate all around the world. If this pattern continues, it will turbocharge rainstorms.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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“Iraq yet again hit by increasingly frequent dust storms. Flights were grounded due to poor visibility at airports serving the capital Baghdad and the Shiite holy city of Najaf, with the phenomenon expected to continue into Monday, according to the weather service…
“Iraq was hammered by a series of such storms in April, grounding flights and leaving dozens hospitalised with respiratory problems.”
“Accidents caused by floods kill 7 people in Iran.
“Valipour, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s Rescue and relief Organization said over the past days, it has been raining cats and dogs in 12 Iranian provinces, mainly in the northwest and west of the country, as well as in the central part of Semnan and Yazd provinces.”
“The heat wave in Asia was exceptional also in the Central Asian Republics.
“Today 1 May both Turkmenistan (40.3C /104.5F) and Uzbekistan (40.0C) reached 40C. Also 37.4C in Tajikistan,35.5C in Kazakhstan and 31.3C in Siberian Russia. After a pause,next weekend will be similar.”
“After India’s hottest March ever, average April max for NW, Central India hits 122-year high (ie also its hottest since record-keeping began).
“The average maximum temperature over Northwest and Central India for April this year has been the highest in the past 122 years, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data until April 28 show.”
“Heat to Scorch India’s Wheat Supplies, Adding Food-Shortage Worries to World.
“Soaring Temperatures …shrivelled India’s wheat crop during a crucial growth period. That’s spurring estimates that yields have slumped 10% to 50%this season…”
“75 days without rain: It’s driest March, April in 50 yrs [Punjab].
“K K Gill, weather expert at PAU’s School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, said this is after 52 years that there has been no rainfall in Ludhiana in last about 75 days. She said in the whole of April month, the maximum temperature has been 4 to 5 degrees more than normal…”
“Uttarakhand has witnessed 30% uptick in forest fires this April compared to the corresponding month last year.
“Experts attributed the spike to the unprecedented heat wave this year, coupled with a prolonged dry spell… In April alone 1,137 incidents have been recorded in the state.”
“In This Himachal Village, Debris From Flash Floods Has Made Half the Farmland Unusable.
“‘We have no role in disturbing the climate. We are living peacefully, away from the daily hustle and bustle of urban life. But it is us who are suffering disproportionately from the effects of the changing weather,’ says one villager.”
“Today 2 May is a historic day in Hong Kong. The Observatory dropped to 16.4C [61.5F] and Macao to 14.9C, for both it’s the coldest May day since 1917.
“The Chinese city of Guangzhou with 13.7C [56.7F] had its coldest May day in history. The cold air is moving into Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.”
“Rains cause floods, landslides and a death in Rio de Janeiro.
“The rain gauges of INMET and Cemaden recorded volumes close to 200 mm [7.9 inches] in the 12-hour period in the metropolitan region of the capital of Rio de Janeiro. Almost double what is expected during the month of April.”
“In certain regions of the center, west and south of Yucatan, and in most of Campeche, the heat could even reach 45 degrees [113F]… All these weather conditions will not only generate a lot of humidity but the thermal sensation could even exceed 50 degrees.”
“Kansas tornado generated 165 mph winds as it tore apart more than 1,000 homes and carved path of destruction 13 miles long.
“The Weather Service said the tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes Friday evening. Drone footage from the area shows the tornado’s whirlwinds demolishing everything in its path, including the roof of residential homes.”
“Farming, producing prices rising, while extreme drought conditions plague Texas…
“According to Ronnie Schnell with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the acres are down and farmers are now paying more to produce with higher fertilizer prices… On top of the extreme drought plaguing the state, Schnell said it’s making producing much harder.”
“‘Turning the dial up’: US south-west braces for extended wildfire season amid drastic drought.
““Climate change is taking a situation that would be bad for us normally,” says Gregg Garffin, a climatologist at the University of Arizona, “and turning the dial up.” Once confined to specific times of year, wildfire conditions are stretching across more months…”
“Vegas water intake now visible at drought-stricken Lake Mead.
“The water supply for Las Vegas has marked a milestone, with a water intake breaking the surface of drought-depleted Lake Mead and the activation of a new pumping facility to draw water from deeper in the crucial Colorado River reservoir.”
“Portland broke its record for the rainiest April in city history, getting drenched with at least 5.60 inches of rainfall by 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service…
“This year’s April was a far cry from last year’s, when Portland got just 0.39 inches of rain, breaking the city’s record for the driest April in history, Rockey said.”
“A number of communities in Manitoba’s Interlake are dealing with flooding, crumbling roads and states of emergency after the third heavy rainfall in as many weeks.
“Over the weekend, Environment Canada recorded 40.6 millimetres of rain in Gimli, prompting the rural municipality to call a state of local emergency.”
“Video shows helicopter fighting Corwen forest fire [North Wales] as operation may run into third day…
“The fire service said the initial call was received at about 2.30pm on April 30. Crews from Cerrigydrudion, Bala, Ruthin, Johnstown and Colwyn Bay are at the scene tackling the fire.”
“Raw sewage ‘pumped into English bathing waters 25,000 times in 2021’.
“Untreated sewage was discharged into England’s coastal bathing waters for more than 160,000 hours last year, according to figures collated by the Liberal Democrats to mark the start of the summer sea-swimming season.”
“India’s UPL applies to flush toxic pesticides into South African sea.
“Indian agrochemicals manufacturer UPL Ltd has applied for permission to flush water contaminated by a toxic pesticides spill [caused by flooding disaster] in South Africa’s city of Durban directly into the sea or the sewerage system, the company said on Saturday.”
“Changing climate impacts biodiversity in protected areas globally.
“”As the planet continues to warm, we expect a number of species to move out of some protected areas and into others as they shift their ranges in response to climate change,” says lead-author Sean Parks, a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station…”
“Scientists Warn That Climate Change Could Spark the Next Major Pandemic.
“Researchers anticipate that as the earth’s temperature continues to warm, wild animals will be compelled to migrate their habitats – most likely to areas with dense human populations – drastically raising the danger of a viral jump to humans, which might lead to the next pandemic.”
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“Record temperatures in India are causing toxic landfills to burst into flames as the country grapples with heatwaves.
“”We are seeing increasing incidents of fires in various places—in jungles, important buildings, and in hospitals—in the past few days,” Modi said in an online conference on Thursday. On top of the sweltering heat, fires have broken out in Delhi’s dump yards, also filling the air with toxic smoke in the world’s most polluted capital.”
“Gurugram [next to Delhi] records its hottest April day ever.
“With the national Capital region (NCR) reeling under yet another heatwave, Gurugram witnessed its hottest April day ever on record with the mercury climbing up to 45.6 degrees Celsius [114.1F] on Thursday, according to data from the India Meteorological Department.”
“Extreme heatwave in India and Pakistan causes power and water shortages…
“Media reports said power stations were also facing shortages of coal, the main source of electricity in the nation of 1.4 billion people. Many regions also reported falling water supplies that will only worsen until the annual monsoon rains in June and July.”
“It is getting hotter on the roof of the world. A rapidly melting Tibetan Plateau spells disaster for people across Asia…
“…the glaciers, snowfields and permanently frozen ground on the ‘roof of the world’ are thawing, making Tibet’s lakes bloat by 58.5 cubic km just in the past 40 years.”
“SE Asia Heat Wave: On 28th April China rose to 40.1C [104.2F] at Yuanyang in Yunnan.
“In Okinawa (Japan) Hateruma tied its April record of 31.3C [88.3F] again (set yesterday). Terrible humid heat in Bangkok, Thailand with a min temp of 29.9C after a Tmax of 39.2C yesterday with high humidity.”
“On 29th April Australia returns >40C with 40.1C [104.2F] at Victoria River Downs in the Northern Territory. Temperatures are expected to reach 40C for the next couple of days.
“40C is very rare anyway for late April and 41C has never been recorded this late. (40.6C is Australian May record).”
“27th April was a historic day in South America with 40.1C [104.2F] at Las Palmas in Paraguay.
“Nearby Filadelfia had extremes of 28.6C/39.9C. Yesterday 39.0C at Las Lomitas, Argentina(record) and 39.1C at Villamontes, Bolivia. Over 34C also at Porto Alegre, Brazil. Unprecedented for late April.”
“Corn and Soybeans Near Record Prices, Push Food Costs Higher. Soybean gains have been driven lately by Brazil’s severe drought and record temperatures, which threaten to shrink the biggest bean grower’s crop.”
“Floods devastate an agricultural region of Venezuela.
“Floods caused by heavy rains that affect more than 20,000 people this week in an agricultural region of western Venezuela, keep its inhabitants between anguish and despair over the destruction of crops and their flooded houses.”
“A total of 102,405 people in Havana currently have problems with water supply due to drought, according to Cuban authorities.
“The figure represents 5% of the residents registered in the capital of the country, who cannot regularly access drinking water “either because they stopped receiving water through pipes and now it arrives in pipe cars…”
“When the desert runs dry. It’s time to talk about the future of Glen Canyon…
“Under the pressures of overuse and climate change, the fate of the entire Colorado River system is being redetermined in real time, amid what scientists think is the worst drought in over 1,200 years… Now that the reservoir is below 3,525 feet, it has officially crossed the “hydropower buffer”…”
“New Mexico wildfire burns 166 homes, thousands ready to evacuate.
“The blaze is the largest and most destructive of a dozen wildfires that are burning in the U.S. Southwest. Scientists say the fires are more widespread and have started earlier this year due to climate change. Heaps of metal are all that are left of homes burned along road 94 into Mora…”
“Alaska hit by largest April wildfire in a quarter century…
“It is historically uncommon for Alaska to face such a large fire at this time of the spring. But the area around Kewthluk got a below average amount of snowfall over the winter which quickly melted, leaving the tundra open. A lack of rain this spring has further dried it out…”
“Wildfires in US, Canadian boreal forests could release sizable amount of remaining global carbon budget…
“”Wildfires in boreal forests can be especially harmful in terms of the amount of emissions they release into the atmosphere since they store about two-thirds of the world’s forest carbon, most of which is contained in the soil and has accumulated over hundreds or even thousands of years,” said Dr. Phillips.”
“Massive wildfires helped fuel global forest losses in 2021. Fires accounted for more than a third of the world’s tree cover losses last year — the largest share on record…
“Unprecedented wildfires raged across Russia in 2021, burning vast swaths of forest, sending smoke as far as the North Pole and unleashing astounding amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.”
“Firefighters have been battling a significant wildfire in the hills near Kyle of Lochalsh [Scotland] since Wednesday morning.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is using specialist resources including a helicopter to limit the spread of the three miles long blaze at Ersbuig. Images from the blaze have shown large amounts of smoke billowing from the moorland.”
“Floods hit Onitsha, Anambra State in Nigeria on April 27 2022.
“Heavy rainfall caused floods in the city, as drains failed to cope with the volume of water. Markets were closed as produce was washed away. Traffic was stopped, as floods caused roads to close.”
“How the climate crisis is changing Greenland’s weather…
“Greenland holds the unenviable record of the lowest temperature ever recorded in the northern hemisphere. In December 1991, near the summit of the Greenland ice sheet, it fell to -69.6C. But with the onset of the climate crisis, summer temperatures in the high 20s are now being recorded; an ominous sign for the future.”
“Diminishing Arctic sea ice has lasting impacts on global climate…
“”Through our study, we demonstrated for the first time that fluctuations in sea ice-air interactions can greatly enlarge or amplify multi-decadal climate variations not only in the Arctic, but also the North Atlantic,” said Dai, a distinguished professor at UAlbany’s Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences.”
“La Niña could enter rare third straight year. Here’s what that means….
“There is evidence to suggest that La Niña patterns bolster the risk of severe weather across parts of the South and the southern Plains during tornado season… La Niña could also be a concern in the upcoming hurricane season, which is already projected to be above average.”
“The most devastating hurricanes could double by 2050 in nearly all regions of world, scientists say…
“Researchers also found the wind speeds in these storms could increase by as much as 20%, as well as a tremendous increase in the frequency of category 4 and category 5 storms — by more than 200% in some regions.”
“In the most comprehensive review yet of the risks facing reptiles, scientists find that more than a fifth of all these species are threatened with extinction.
“A new study, published today in Nature, assesses more than 10,000 reptiles around the world — from turtles, snakes and lizards to crocodiles — and warns that we must conserve them to prevent dramatic changes to Earth’s critical ecosystems.”
“Greenhouse gas emissions could trigger a mass extinction of marine life to levels not seen since before the dinosaurs, a new study says…
“If emissions are not curbed, the loss of marine species from global warming and oxygen depletion could mirror the ‘Great Dying’, Earth’s deadliest extinction event, by around 2100, scientists say.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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“Record-breaking heat wave gripping India and Pakistan threatens crops, leaves millions sweltering.
“A spring heat wave is scorching parts of India and Pakistan, with record-breaking April temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit forecast along the border of the two countries in the coming days…
“The Indian Meteorological Department warned this week that a heat dome, similar to the one that sent temperatures soaring over the Pacific Northwest last year, had formed over the region.”
“India’s heatwave compared to start of climate disaster novel…
“The book opens with Frank May who is experiencing a devastating heatwave and high humidity in India. The high demand for air conditioning causes power outages, meaning only those with generators can keep vaguely cool. Eventually, millions die leaving the nation traumatised…”
“Gurugram [near New Delhi] faces the heat as dust storm causes outages for nearly 10 hours.
“The dust storm on Tuesday night spelt misery for residents who faced long power cuts extending into Wednesday after strong winds uprooted trees and damaged electricity cables in many locations across the city and left them sweltering in the heat.”
“Fanned by strong winds, a fire raced through a slum cluster around the same time a dust storm hit the city on Monday night, destroying around 1,000 shanties in a Manesar village and leaving one woman dead. The blaze turned everything in its way into ash within a few hours…”
“Massive hailstorm destroys crops, causes havoc in parts of Kashmir.
“High velocity winds followed by a hailstorm on Monday caused massive damage to orchards of apple, almond, walnut, and cherry, along with standing crops, vegetables, and paddy saplings in various parts of the Kashmir valley.”
“North Indian heat wave hits Nepal. Kathmandu sweated through hottest March on record, but there is more searing heat in store… people in the Indo-Gangetic plains are bracing themselves for maximum temperature to hit 50°C…
“The facts of climate change induced heat stress are imitating fiction, and a dystopian narrative is becoming our new reality.”
“Forest fires flare up in Nepal, air quality deteriorates.
“As forest fires continue to flare up in Nepal, the air quality of Kathmandu has deteriorated. Kathmandu’s air quality remained unhealthy throughout Tuesday with pollution levels peaking in the morning and evening pushing up the ranking of most polluted cities.”
“Western Queensland [Australia] soaked in record-breaking April rain as Longreach surrounded by floodwaters.
“An unseasonable weather event has drenched Western Queensland in “almost monsoonal-like” rainfall that has broken an 83-year rain record. The rain event, which began on Saturday, soaked parts of central-west Queensland with more than five times the average April rainfall.”
“A dry summer “exacerbated” by a parched March has set records across the South, Niwa says. As the Southland Rural Support Trust urges farmers to check their feed supply now, Niwa meteorologist Ben Noll said a long spell of dry weather had set records in the South.”
“In Chile’s capital city, drought is making grass ‘unacceptable’ for many.
“In Chile’s capital Santiago, grass is becoming a rare luxury amid a decade-long drought that has forced the city to roll out emergency measures to limit water use and led local authorities and landscapers to replace lush green plants with desert flora.”
“Another heatwave for South America in 2022 [even though they are well into autumn]:
In Paraguay, 39.2°C [102.6F] in Las Palmas; In Argentina , 39.0°C in Las Lomitas a new monthly record (previous one: 37.7°C); In Bolivia, 38.8°C in San Jose de Chiquitos & 38.7°C in Villamontes. Tomorrow could be worse.”
“Colombia Declares State of Emergency After Heavy Rain Causes Deadly Landslides and Flooding in Cundinamarca and Other Areas.
“Heavy rain triggered widespread flash floods and lethal landslides in Cundinamarca Department and other municipalities, leaving multiple people dead and several others missing. The death toll is expected to rise…”
“Millions Must Cut Water Use in Drought-stricken California.
“Southern California’s gigantic water supplier took the unprecedented step Tuesday of requiring about 6 million people to cut their outdoor watering to one day a week as drought continues to plague the state.”
“Denver On Track To Have Driest April In Recorded Weather History… So far this month DIA has only recorded 0.01 inches of moisture, and that was on the 10th, along with a trace of snow… The current driest April on record happened in 1963.”
“Two wildfires have combined in New Mexico as fires also rage in Arizona and Nebraska.
“Wildfires continue to burn across the Southwest with two blazes in New Mexico merging to form a perimeter of more than 180 miles Sunday, according to firefighters… The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak fires have combined — burning a collective 56,478 acres…”
“Wheat Pares Gains With Concern Over Weakening U.S. Crop Outlook.
“Drought has severely impacted U.S. winter-wheat fields. Only 27% of the crop is in good or excellent condition, the worst since 2006and highlighting the extent of damage from drought gripping states like Kansas. Meanwhile, bouts of wet, chilly weather are delaying spring sowing in the Midwest and Northern Plains.”
“Worsening thaw-spurred landslide curtails access to Alaska’s Denali park…
“This summer and next year, the park’s sole road will remain closed at its halfway point, victim to a warming climate that has triggered the collapse of a mountain slope. The site, called Pretty Rocks, is at a high point on the unpaved road. Since last August, it has been considered unsafe for public travel.”
“Climate change has led to warming of lochs and reservoirs in Scotland, report finds.
“The report by Centre of Expertise for Waters (Crew) found that 97 per cent of monitored lochs and reservoirs had increased in temperature over a four-year period from 2015 to 2019. The majority warmed by up to 1C per year during the period while nine per cent rose by more, and some by up to 1.3C.”
“War in Ukraine tests Algeria’s wheat reserves amid inflation, drought…
“Even before the start of the war, Algeria was expected to increase grain imports. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, cereal production fell by 38% over the 2021/2022 season, due to unfavorable weather patterns. Algeria, like neighboring Morocco and Tunisia, has been suffering from drought.”
“On 25th April the temperature reached 44.0C [111.2F] at Ziguinchor, Autonomous Area of Casamance in Senegal ,1C from its all time record while the Guinea Bissau capital Bissau reached 41.0C, only 0.4C from its hottest day on records.”
“Heavy rainfall affected several Districts of Rwanda, triggering landslides, causing floods and resulting in casualties and damage.
“According to media reports, at least 11 people have died across four Districts (seven in Nyamasheke, two in Kicukiro, one in Gasabo, and one in Ngororero)… In addition, 100 houses have been destroyed as well as hectares of crops.”
“Microplastics may be dragging faecal parasites from land into the seas.
“Disease-causing parasites could be pouring into oceans and infecting humans and wildlife after hitching a ride on microplastics, a new study warns… These pathogens form a biofilm – a slimy layer made from a community of microbes – making them ultra-resilient to any rough waters.”
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 a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Reports have surfaced that there is a high risk that the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipality, South Africa [population: 1,281,000] will not have water by the end of May 2022.
“The municipality is reportedly fast running out of water and there are no significant rains currently projected for the area.”
“After the relentless rain, South Africa sounds the alarm on the climate crisis…
“The full extent of the devastation caused by the floods in South Africa this month is yet to become clear, with many victims still missing and authorities still learning of new damage around the eastern coastal city of Durban. Many tens of thousands of people remain without water…”
“Farmers in parts of Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza [Kenya] are staring at losses after fall armyworm invaded their farms, destroying maize, sorghum and finger millet.
“Mr Milton Odhiambo, a farmer from Nasewa in Matayos, Busia County, said he was shocked one day when he woke up and found his farm invaded by the fall armyworm.”
“Water scarcity in Jordan threatens nature reserve of rare Arabian gazelle…
“…ensuring the oryxes’ well-being has been getting harder in recent years, said reserve manager Ashraf Al-Halah. “The plants here do not depend on rain, they depend on floods. But we’re noticing a change in the flooding frequency,” he told Al-Monitor.”
“Authorities in Jordan issued warnings to citizens after a dust storm raged over Jordan on Saturday and caused disruption to the kingdom’ aviation operations.
“The National Center for Security and Crisis Management warned the population, especially those with respiratory problems, to remain vigilant and to avoid going out…”
“Drought takes financial toll on farmers, agricultural industry in Basra [Iraq].
“The once-thriving Abu al-Khasib district, in southern Iraq, that used to house a myriad of palm trees and lush forests has now lost its charm after years of drought have forced farmers to give up their lands.”
“How India could soon have days so hot it will impact work.
“India is searing. Large parts of the country are in the grips of unbearable heat and heatwaves. March this year was the hottest March on record, and March-April has witnessed a record number of heatwaves.”
“Three critically endangered Sumatran tigers lost to animal traps.
“Three critically endangered Sumatran tigers were found dead after being caught in traps on Indonesia’s Sumatra island in the latest setback for a species whose numbers are estimated to have dwindled to about 400, authorities said Monday.”
“A dangerous combination of weather events not seen together in almost 50 years could see more communities Australia plunged under rising flood waters during the rest of 2022.
“Sky News’ chief meteorologist Tom Saunders says signs have emerged showing the current La Niña wet weather system impacting Australia could be joined by another system which leads to increased rainfall — a negative Indian Ocean Dipole.”
“Fruit and vegetable prices increase by 20% due to drought [Chile].
“The prices of some fruits and vegetables have risen by more than 20% due to the drought facing the country, according to the Minister of Agriculture. Specialists warned that this increase could be irreversible, since the State “did not adapt before to the climate crisis.””
“Forest fires in Honduras have consumed more than 9,000 hectares of forest per month between January and April 2022.
“Environmental crimes (forest fires) are the order of the day in Honduras. Now more than ever the country is in the process of running out of trees and, consequently, without water sources that, by the way, is already an endangered resource.”
“Oaxaca [Mexico] is an oven; historic heat waves recorded during 2022.
“Global warming and climate change caused Oaxaca to record more extensive heat waves this year than those that have historically occurred… “For years there has been talk of climate change and global warming, surely this is one of the consequences…”he explained.”
“Highly contagious marine epidemic rips through Caribbean’s coral reefs…
“First discovered in Florida in 2014, the disease, which scientists believe is carried by ocean currents and commercial ships, has now been confirmed in 22 countries and territories across the Caribbean, according to data compiled by the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA)…”
“Two years of drought in Colorado has turned April into June for fire danger…
“”This is looking more like the middle of June as far as the fuels and the fire danger indices are tracking right now,” said Coleen Haskell, wildland fire meteorologist for the Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center.”
“Drought prompts Nebraska to divert water from river it shares with Colorado.
“With many Western states in severe drought and vying for their share of a diminishing amount of water, Nebraska is taking a new tact by trying to divert water from a river it shares with Colorado.”
“One dead and thousands forced to flee as wildfires sweep across US.
“Wind-driven wildfires sweeping through parts of Nebraska contributed to the death of one person and injured at least three firefighters, authorities said Sunday… The death came as wind-driven wildfires destroyed hundreds of structures in northern New Mexico and forced thousands to flee mountain villages…”
“Utah governor declares state of emergency for drought…
“”Utah has been in drought for eight of the last 10 years and, as we’ve talked about before, some recent studies show this is the worst 20-year drought in the west in the last 1,200 years,” Cox told reporters during his monthly press briefing.”
“Fort Frances declares state of emergency as severe weather causes floods in northwestern Ontario [Canada]…
“More severe weather made its way through northwestern Ontario this weekend, causing flooding, road washouts, and infrastructure failures in the region. Fort Frances Ont., about 200 kilometres from Kenora, declared a state of emergency…”
“Huge wildfire sweeps across Canford Heath nature reserve in Dorset [UK].
“Families have been evacuated from their homes after a wildfire swept across heathland in Dorset, destroying about 17 hectares (42 acres) of wildlife-rich habitat… Fire crews were called out to reports of a fire at about 5pm on Saturday…”
“New research has identified a lesser-known form of ozone playing a big role in heating the Southern Ocean — one of Earth’s main cooling systems.
“Ozone is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms. Many studies have described ozone in the stratosphere, and its role in shielding people from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.”
“Warmer summers threaten Antarctica’s giant ice shelves because of the lakes they create…
“Scientists have recently found that lakes are more extensive around the Antarctic ice sheet than previously thought. Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh even swam one kilometre through one of these lakes in 2020 to raise awareness of climate change.”
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 a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Europe’s summer of floods and fire was its hottest on record, report finds.
“Europe swung from unusually cold temperatures in the spring to its hottest summer on record last year, smashing temperature and daily rain records, while Mediterranean wildfires burned through land around the size of Cyprus.”
“Public Outrage Mounts as Siberia Forest Fires Spread at Unprecedented Rate…
“Russian Twitter users are now using the hashtag # своихнебросаем (“we aren’t leaving our people”) — which was first used by state-funded media to rally support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine — when they tweet photos and videos of the fires.”
“As permafrost thaws, the ground beneath Alaska is collapsing…
“…temperatures in Fairbanks have shifted so much that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officially changed the city’s subarctic designation in 2021, downgrading it to “warm summer continental.””
“Critically dry weather conditions continue to fuel fires across the Southwest [US], bringing yet another week of fire danger.
“It as been an extraordinarily busy start to the fire year in the South and Southwest, with more than 19,000 wildfires reported through Tuesday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.”
“After wildfires, scorched trees could disrupt water supplies.
“As wildfires intensify across the West, researchers are studying how scorched trees could lead to a faster snowmelt and end up disrupting water supplies… Already, a warming climate is leading to earlier snowmelt and leaving places more vulnerable to wildfire.”
“According to data from the National Meteorological Service of Conagua, from 1985 to 2020 the average temperature in Mexico has increased by 2º Celsius, an increase that has worsened in the last 15 years.
“On the current heatwave, the National Meteorological Service has warned that temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees [113F] Celsius will be reached.”
“A month after the beginning of autumn, a heat wave is expected that could reach 40° [104F] in some provinces.
“Maximum temperatures in northeastern Argentina and Paraguay could be up to 12 degrees above the maximum for this time of year; then the entry of a cold front is expected that will cause a sharp decline throughout the country.”
“In Bolivia, a battle over a receding glacier ‘doomed to disappear’.
“The Charquini glacier… has been retreating fast, losing some 1.5 meters in thickness each year, according to the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés and the French Research Institute for Development, reflecting wider issues facing glaciers throughout the Andes.”
“African Wildlife, Coasts Suffer Effects of Flooding, Drought.
“Devastating floods in South Africa this week, as well as other extreme weather events across the continent linked to human-caused climate change, are putting marine and terrestrial wildlife species at risk, according to biodiversity experts.”
“After three consecutive years of almost no rain, the East African country of Somalia is in the grips of its worst drought in more than 40 years. Experts say conditions are so dire for the nation’s 16 million residents that a famine threatening millions of people is fast approaching.”
“Third dust storm in two weeks sweeps through Iraq.
“Iraq was hit Wednesday by its third heavy dust storm in two weeks, temporarily grounding flights at Baghdad and Najaf airports, as the weather phenomenon grows increasingly frequent. The air in Baghdad was thick with a heavy sheet of grey and orange dust…”
“Iraq’s water reserves ‘down 50 percent’: official.
“A senior adviser at the Iraqi water resources ministry warned on Thursday that the country’s water reserves have decreased by half since last year, due to a combination of drought, lack of rainfall and declining river levels.”
“Hospitals in Uttarakhand [India] struggle to provide care due to lack of water.
“Water shortages in the Himalayan state are disrupting healthcare, with hospitals unable to ensure basic hygiene practices. As the climate changes and the water table is disrupted, a water crisis could trigger a healthcare crisis.”
“Unlike previous years, there is no snow left at high-altitude places like Badrinath and Kedarnath. Besides, snow is melting rapidly along the route of Hemkund Sahib, the revered Sikh shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas.”
“Hottest March in 122 years damages wheat crop across North India…
“Wheat is a temperature-sensitive crop that requires a cool temperature, especially in March when it is at its final stage. But a record rise in temperatures damaged the crop in most areas. The rise in night-time temperatures or minimum temperatures also had a negative impact on the yield.”
“Brahmapuri was the hottest place in the world with maximum temperature at 45.3 degrees Celsius 113.6F]. It was followed by Chandrapur at second spot with maximum temperature at 45.2 degrees Celsius. Akola was the third hottest place in the world with maximum temperature at 44.9 degrees Celsius.”
“A series of powerful nor’westers raged through Bangladesh on Wednesday killing at least seven people and causing widespread damage and destruction to property.
“The nor’wester caused hailstorms, heavy rain and wind rising up to 120 mm at places, particularly in southern part of the country, sinking boats, uprooting trees and electric poles and damaging houses.”
“Kaua’i’s 2018 Record-Setting Rain Was Caused By A Series Of Supercell Thunderstorms.
“A record-setting rainstorm over Kaua’i, Hawai’i in April 2018 resulted in severe flash flooding and estimated damage of nearly $180 million. The deluge damaged or destroyed 532 homes, and landslides left people along Kaua’i’s north coast without access to their homes.”
“One of [Australia’s] largest honey producers has warned there could be an explosion in cane toad numbers in the NSW Northern Rivers following recent record floods.
“The pest is invading hives on damaged sites across the region in search of the destructive small hive beetle, which poses a massive threat to bee colonies.”
“Climate change and intensive agriculture have halved number of insects in worst-hit areas…
“The research found the number of insects was 49% lower in areas with high-intensity agriculture – characterised by low crop diversity or high livestock intensity – and substantial climate warming, than in the most natural habitats… tropical areas saw the biggest declines in insect biodiversity…”
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 a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
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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.
“Significant reserves of methane (CH4) are held in the Arctic shelf, but the release of CH4 to the overlying ocean and, subsequently, to the atmosphere has been believed to be restricted by impermeable subsea permafrost, which has sealed the upper sediment layers for thousands of years. 
“Canadian police fatally shoot polar bear that wandered into Quebec community.
“April was wettest on record for Grand Forks [North Dakota], second wettest for Fargo.
“Central U.S. faces severe storms, tornadoes on multiple days this week…
“New Mexico governor urges Biden to declare wildfires a disaster to free funds…
“Drought-starved Lake Mead reveals a decades-old barrel with a body inside.
“Water is so low in the Colorado River, Feds are holding some back so one dam can keep generating power…
“Since the beginning of the year, the weather gave no respite to the summer crops [BA, Argentina], which first suffered the harsh drought and then the relief of the rains towards the end of January.
“Deforestation and logging aren’t just decimating the Amazon’s forests. They’re making them quieter…
“South Africa: Flood Survivors Endure Thirst, Trauma and Disease…
“Flooding due to torrential rain in Tanzania has killed several people and caused the displacement of several thousand residents, based on reports as of Tuesday, May 3.
“Worst drought in decades devastates Ethiopia’s nomads.
“On 2nd May the village of Faya Largeau in Northern Chad, near an oasis, had an hourly temperature of 47C /116.6F (no Tmin/Tmax released for this station).
“The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation launched a campaign to monitor and remove violations on the Nile River before the start of the third-stage filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir.
“Last month was one of Israel’s three warmest Aprils over the past 70 years, another sign of the country’s accelerated warming trend, the Israel Meteorological Service said this week… Israel is warming at twice the global rate…
“Pakistan likely to face acute water shortage within three years.
“India and Pakistan heatwave is ‘testing the limits of human survivability,’ expert says…
“Dust storm forecast for Delhi…
“Hong Kong weather expert calls coldest day in May for more than 100 years ‘good sign’. [no comment!]
“China is upside down these days, with a record cold spell in the tropical areas and intense heat in the North.
“North Korea mobilises office workers to fight drought amid food shortages.
“Trauma, disbelief and plenty of ideas shared at NSW flood inquiry hearing in Lismore…
“Flood and cyclone-prone areas in eastern Australia may be ‘uninsurable’ by 2030, report suggests.
“Floods, new mystery disease impact starving marine turtles.
“Climate change has NZ sinking – floods to become routine events.
“A Concerning Change Is Happening to Earth’s Water Cycle, Satellite Data Reveal.
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