“US winter-wheat area in grips of worsening drought… the influence of the Ukraine crisis aside, the drought situation in the United States is becoming a huge concern for global wheat supply in 2022.
“Much of the nation west of the Mississippi Valley is either in drought or abnormally dry, and the latest long-range weather outlook shows very little relief as the critical spring months approach…
“The concern in the US is if spring rain is poor, the drought can be locked in place into the summer, as parched soil heats faster, leaving less moisture to evaporate into the air.”
“‘We’re already running out of water’: the reality and future of Utah’s drought…
““I spend a lot of my time worrying, frankly, and being concerned about our current situation,” says Kelly Kopp, a water conservation specialist and professor at Utah State University. “We should have been thinking about this more carefully decades ago.””
“As drought lingers, larger and more destructive wildfires pose new threats to [California’s] water supply…
“In a UCLA-led study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers determined that increasing forest fire activity is “unhinging” western U.S. stream flow from its historical predictability.”
“First >100F in USA so far this year. On 22nd February the Texan station of Falcon Lake rose to 101F/38.3C and Zapata to 100F, finally surpassing the 99F recorded on 1st January [which was the highest Jan temp in US history].
“In Georgia, the Southwest Airport station of Albany rose to 87F/30.6C which is a new record for February.”
“‘Weather whiplash’: 6+ inches of snow expected Friday after near-record highs on Wednesday [Boston]…
“Another bout of snow is predicted to hit the Boston area early Friday morning and last until Friday night. The storm will greatly affect the morning commute and could also affect evening commutes.”
“Sand dunes at a nature reserve have been blown away by winds caused by recent storms, the National Trust said. Sand on Formby beach in Merseyside was shifted as Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin battered the UK in one week.”
“‘We’re devastated’: Yorkshire town hit by floods for third time in decade… As Storm Franklin raged through the night, Mick Malkinson, 72, lay awake with a familiar sense of fear about what the morning would bring…
“By dawn, the house he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, and their one-year-old cocker spaniel Miska, was among three properties completely cut off by several feet of flood water.”
“Sting jets that fuelled Storm Eunice set to become more common in the UK…
““We expect a warmer and moister world to create the conditions required for such severe storms to form more frequently,” Colin Manning, of Newcastle University, which was also involved in the study, told i.”
“This has been the mildest and driest winter on the southern side of the Alps since records began in 1864, the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, said on Tuesday.
“It said this winter will end with an average temperature that is 1.8 °C above the average for 1991-2020, while the total level precipitation has been less than a quarter of the normal value, 22% to be precise.”
“‘Spain needs to change its ways’: Scientists warn over worsening drought.
“Jorge Olcina, a geographer and director of the University of Alicante’s Climatology Laboratory, has warned that climate change is increasing the intensity of drought and Spain will have to change the way it manages water.”
“Persistent rain deficits in Mediterranean regions have led to droughts, harming grasslands and crops such as wheat and barley…
“Rainfall this year has been 64% less than average in Morocco, climate experts say, leaving farmers facing the worst drought in decades that will force the government to hike grain imports and subsidies.”
“Kenya ramps up emergency relief supplies to 2.3 million drought-hit Kenyans…
“Kenyatta said the latest emergency is part of the many interventions that his government has undertaken since September 2021 when he declared the ongoing drought a national disaster and immediately put in place measures to cushion the affected populations.”
“Winter Heat Wave in Pakistan: On 21st February the town of Tando Jam (Hyderabad District) rose to 38.5C /101.3F, this is the highest reliable temperature ever recorded in Pakistan in February.
“38.2C also at Nawabshah,34.5C further north at Sibbi.”
“Sydney breaks monthly rainfall average in 24 hours, as rain moves further north.
“Sydney has broken its monthly rainfall average in the past 24 hours as rescue agencies turn their attention to the north of the state, which could be inundated with as much as 300mm [12 inches] of rain in the coming days.”
“One dead, at least 10 believed missing in Australia floods [Queensland].
“The body of a 63-year-old woman was found early Wednesday inside a submerged vehicle at Belli Park on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, police said… At least 10 people are believed to be missing, including a 54-year-old man whose motorcycle has been found in floodwaters…”
“Bull survives being swept 80km down a river, over a waterfall and almost out to sea [NZ]…
““It’s the highest I’ve ever seen on my farm. They forecast 60mm and I tipped out over 160mm [6.3 inches] from the rain gauge the next morning,”farmer Tony Peacock said. He had not had time to prepare for that amount of rain, and while he was able to save some from the rising waters, the young Hereford and two others were swept away.”
“Argentina Wildfires Spread to Engulf Key Cattle Farming Region.
“Blazes are tearing through northeast Argentina, consuming more land than a typical California wildfire season and threatening a key cattle farming region of this major beef exporter. “I’ve never seen fires like this,”said 81-year-old rancher Juan Jose Ramirez…”
“Forest fires in Chile have consumed three times as many hectares as the previous season.
“There are 111 forest fires that remain active in the country, the most serious situation being the one that La Araucanía is going through. Compared to last season, the hectares consumed by accidents in the national territory have tripled: from 28 thousand they went to 80 thousand.”
“Chilean Patagonia’s pristine glaciers are disappearing.
“Mount San Valentin’s Exploradores glacier has shrunk to the point that the ice that used to welcome visitors half an hour into Laguna San Rafael National Park is now only visible after two and a half hours. “It’s been a slow but steady rollback,” Manuel Berrocal tells Efe.”
“Black carbon pollution from tourism and research increasing Antarctic snowmelt, study says.
“Black carbon pollution from tourism and research activities in Antarctica is likely increasing snowmelt on the continent by an estimated 83 tonnes for each visitor, according to new research.”
“Accelerating melt rate makes Greenland Ice Sheet world’s largest ‘dam’.
“Researchers have observed extremely high rates of melting at the bottom of the Greenland Ice Sheet, caused by huge quantities of meltwater falling from the surface to the base. As the meltwater falls, energy is converted into heat in a process like the hydroelectric power generated by large dams.”
“Bees are explosively ejaculating to death during heat waves.
“What’s black and yellow and ejaculates until it dies during heat waves? Male bees, it turns out… When the males get too hot, they convulse until they explosively ejaculate to death, and a phallus the size of their abdomen bursts from their lifeless body.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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“The first two months of 2022 are shaping up to be the driest January and February in California history, prompting state officials to warn of dire water conditions ahead.
““There’s no precipitation forecast through the remainder of February. And there’s very little precipitation in the long-range forecast for March,” Erik Ekdahl, a deputy director with the State Water Resources Control Board, said at a board meeting Tuesday. “All this is pointing to, again, some pretty dire conditions statewide for drought.””
“500-pound black bear nicknamed ‘Hank the Tank’ wreaks havoc in California…
“Hank… is not alone in his inadvertent terrorising of human populations. Climate-driven conditions across North America are impacting food sources for bears, experts told The Independent this summer – forcing them to venture further afield and into neighborhoods.”
“‘Roller coaster ride’ weather sets records, washes out roads and brings snow around Newfoundland and Labrador…
“Strong winds, rain, flooding and large snowfalls have broken weather records and left some roads damaged or closed around Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday. “It’s been a roller coaster ride for sure,” said Rodney Barney, a meteorologist at Environment Canada’s Weather Office in Gander.”
“Hadrian’s Wall [UK] under threat from climate change on 1900th birthday…
“Hadrian’s Wall and its surroundings have long been a rich area of discovery for archaeologists. Many artefacts and treasures have been pristinely preserved in the peat bogs that dominate the landscape. But climate change has caused these peat bogs to shrink back and dry up.”
“Up to 56,000 homes remained without power today as Britain suffered its third storm [Storm Franklin] in less than a week with rail commuters told to avoid travelling following severe flooding, landslides and evacuations amid 87mph winds.
“National Rail said the first services on most UK train routes were cancelled, with a reduced timetable for today, alternative travel unavailable and further disruption expected.”
“‘Tornado’ wrecks string of Doncaster homes as violent winds rip through street.
“This was the scene of devastation after a ‘mini-tornado’ ripped through Doncaster’s streets, blasting holes in roofs, ripping off tiles and sending debris scattering.”
A further update on the record-breaking winds brought by Storm Eunice:
“At 11:00 this morning [Friday] a gust of 122mph was recorded with the Met Office provisionally declaring it the highest gust ever recorded in England. However, just 36 minutes later, that record-breaker was topped with a gust of 125.4mph – 109 knots.”
“Peak peril: Why are there more avalanche deaths than ever in Europe?
“Scientists and researchers have expressed serious concerns about the safety of winter sports in Europe as climate change triggers a rising number of avalanches and deaths.”
“It’s supposed to be winter in Spain, but Valentians are swimming and playing beach volley in this incredibly warm day.
“Xativa rose to 28.9C / 84F (29.6C at the unofficial station of Sumacarcer). Warmest February day on records at Gerona (26.2C town, 25.5C AP) and at Teruel 24.7C.”
“Drought begins to be alarming in many [Spanish] communities…
“It does not rain enough nor is there any prospect that it will do so in the coming weeks. The average level of the swamps is already below 50 percent. The lack of rainfall during this winter is causing the reservoirs to be in a critical situation.”
“In the Mediterranean region, the soil is degrading, and land is turning to desert faster than anywhere else in the European Union, according to a new analysis.
“Experts warn that the combined effects of unsustainable land practices and climate change have depleted a finite resource to a critical point.”
“Morocco Enacts Measures to Ration Water Amidst Severe Drought.
“Morocco is facing the prospect of severe drought this year following record low rainfall… Traditionally part of the second-largest grain importing region worldwide, the North African country is already straining under the weight of a rising deficit on the backdrop of the soaring global food prices, especially that of grains.”
“Flash floods, heavy rains leave one dead, 187 homeless, 3 missing in Ivory Park, South Africa…
“Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse, together with MMC for Public Safety, David Tembe, Region A director, ward councillors, and City and provincial disaster management teams, visited the area on Saturday to assess the damage and to address the needs of residents.”
“Rwanda: Government Sheds Light on Two-Month Disaster Status, Blames Climate Change.
“From January to February 19 at least 467 hectares of crops have been destroyed… about 50 people have lost lives of whom 20 were struck by lightning, while 11 people were killed by landslides in mining sites and others by flooding.”
“Madagascar braces for next cyclone as at least 14 killed by storm Dumako…
“A total of 124 people were killed earlier this month when tropical cyclone Batsirai slammed the southeastern coast of the island. read more. Another cyclone, Emnati, is forecast to hit close to the same area affected by Batsirai.”
“Conflict and Climate Change Ravage Syria’s Agricultural Heartland.
“In a region ravaged by ISIS and armed conflict, prolonged drought and drying rivers have made stability even more precarious. Here, the normally abstract idea of climate change can be seen in the city’s daily bread.”
“Historic day in the Chinese city of Xiamen (24N). During the morning hours snowflakes fell in the city centre mixed with rain, an extremely rare event (last full snowfall in the city was in January 1893).
“Temperatures were between 5C and 6C during the event.”
“Perth weather: WA on track for hottest summer ever after breaking another record…
“As the city sweltered to 36.3C [97.3F] on Sunday it matched the previous record, set in the summer of 1977-78, of 31 days over or equal to 35C… Onslow Airport recorded a maximum temperature of 50.7 °C on January 13, which was the highest temperature in WA, and equalled with the all-time highest temperature in the country…”
“The sound of magpies warbling in the morning is synonymous with life in Australia, but Perth researchers are predicting a bleak future for the beloved species.
“Research conducted by associate professor Amanda Ridley and her team at the University of Western Australia has found that very hot weather is affecting the birds’ ability to survive, reproduce and raise their chicks.”
“Fires rage out of control in Argentina… Almost 800,000 hectares of the province of Corrientes in northwestern Argentina has been devastated by wildfires.
“According to a report by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology released on Friday, 785,238 hectares of land had been burned due to the blazes, which represents 9% of the province’s area.”
“The death toll from torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides in the scenic Brazilian city of Petropolis has risen to 165, authorities said Sunday, as more violent storms killed two people in another region nearby.
“It is unclear how high the steadily rising death toll will go. It is unlikely any more survivors will be found…”
“Unexpected Fish and Squid Found Thriving in Rapidly Warming Central Arctic Ocean…
“Scientists participating in the international MOSAiC expedition with research icebreaker Polarstern have found fish and squid in deep water in the middle of the Arctic Ocean as single individuals of Atlantic cod and squid happen much farther north than already anticipated.”
“A major Atlantic current is at a critical transition point… where it could rapidly turn off…
“New evidence suggests that the larger system the Gulf Stream is part of is approaching a tipping point that could cause dramatic shifts in global weather patterns.”
“A global analysis of sea levels over the past 2,000 years has found a rapid rate of increase in line with the Industrial Revolution.
“By 1863, researchers found the rate of sea level rise had clearly surpassed background variability. Unsurprisingly, it’s around this time that the first hints of ocean warming and glacier melt from human activity also show up in research…”
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“The number of people on the brink of starvation across Africa’s Sahel region is ten times higher than it was in 2019, the World Food Program (WFP) is warning, while the number of people who are displaced is up by 400%.
“The Sahel, which runs south of the Sahara desert, is encompassing Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, is currently experiencing some of its driest conditions in years.“
“Somalis in crowded camps on ‘brink of death’ as drought worsens…
“Somalia’s displacement camps are coming under intense pressure with more than 300,000 people leaving their homes in search of food and water so far this year as the country experiences its worst drought in decades.”
“The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for extremely high fire danger conditions expected over the Hantam and Kamiesberg municipalities of the Northern Cape and West Coast District of the Western Cape interior.
“Heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures are expected over the Cape Metropole and Stellenbosch municipality in the Western Cape until Saturday.”
“Heavy rains were reported as the storm moved across the island to the Analanjirofo region. Dumako is forecast to continue moving westward to bring winds and rain to northern Mozambique, according to meteorology offices in southern Africa.”
“The impact of climate change can be felt in Turkey, especially after recent unusual weather incidents. Experts say more is in store for the country in terms of rising temperatures.
“The country’s usually warm Aegean and Mediterranean regions, in particular, will experience a further increase in temperatures during the summer.”
“Conflict and climate fragmenting Rojava: new report…
“Rojava, like its neighbours, frequently experiences acute water shortages in the summer months due to a lack of rainfall, with residents in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka particularly vulnerable to a struggling local water supply. The problem is exacerbated by disputes over water with Turkey…”
“Jordan’s agricultural industry has a significant impact on the country’s water crisis, placing the financial situation of farmers under high pressure, according to farmers and experts.
“For the past 10 years, the agricultural sector in Jordan has been under severe strain, facing issues such as extreme weather, water scarcity and difficulties in trading, according to experts.”
“Iraq’s second largest lake dries up, threatening human lives, agriculture.
“Milh Lake was once a popular destination for tourists to cool down during scorching summer temperatures. It is now experiencing a dangerous drought, threatening the lives of local Iraqis.”
“Uttarakhand: Year after Chamoli floods, body of engineer found.
“More than a year after 27-year-old engineer Gaurav Prasad went missing at NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad project site as flash floods that killed nearly 200 hit Chamoli’s Raini village on February 7, his family cremated his mortal remains in Rishikesh on Wednesday.”
“How can warmer winters mean more intense snowstorms? An expert explains…
“Akin to warmer temperatures acting as fuel for summer storms to drop significant rainfall, above-average winter temperatures can allow moisture to be stored in the atmosphere and cause subsequent precipitation to be intense.”
“Another Heat Wave in Western Australia… 17th February the temperature shot to 45.4C [113.7F] at Carnarvon on the coast thanks to winds reversal and low humidity.“
“Dire warning Sydney could face ‘extreme heat’ over 35 degrees [95F] for an entire month by 2050 as climate change drives up temperatures…
“…real-world figures have already outstripped these projections, with Lindsay reporting 44 days over 35 degrees in both 2018 and 2019. That number, 44 days of over 35 degrees, exceeds the projected average for 2090 of 42.5 days – 70 years ahead of schedule.”
“Unprecedented drought fuels devastating fires in Corrientes Province [Argentina]…
“The fires are advancing every day, consuming thousands of hectares of land, but heavy smoke is preventing up-to-date satellite measurements from being taken. For now, no casualties have yet been reported by locals.”
“Survivors dig for loved ones as Brazil flood death toll reaches 105…
“Rubens Bomtempo, mayor of the city, was not able to offer an estimate for how many people were missing, as recovery efforts continued. “We don’t yet know the full scale of this,” Bomtempo said. “It was a hard day, a difficult day.””
“Brazil scientists warn of possible election-year spike in deforestation…
“Deforestation researchers warned on Thursday that destruction in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest could rise another 16% this year, based on their models, as destruction often rises in an election year, according to an analysis by a Brazilian non-profit.”
“Paraguay soy crushers, hit by drought, risk running out of beans…
“The landlocked South American country, the world’s fourth largest soybean exporter, is facing its worst soy harvest in a decade, with a drop in production that could see just half the amount of soy versus the previous season.”
“India makes record U.S. soyoil purchases as drought parches South America…
“Indian traders have contracted to import a record 100,000 tonnes of soyoil from the United States because of limited supplies from drought-hit South America, at a time when prices of rival palm oil are scaling record highs, three dealers told Reuters.”
“California’s largest wildfire of 2022 grows uncontained to 1,800 acres near Bishop.
“A wind-driven wildfire that broke out near Bishop in the Owens Valley spurred evacuations and grew to 1,800 acres by Wednesday night, officials said, quickly becoming California’s largest fire of the year so far.”
“Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has hit half of the corals along the Florida Keys, and it’s now targeting the Caribbean.
“A deadly disease is thriving in warmer waters, creating an uncertain future for the Florida coast… Scientists are blaming warmer temperatures for this environmental crisis: Warmer ocean water is helping to fuel this disease that has now attacked 95% of Florida’s coral reefs. The coral is now at risk of extinction.”
“London on RED alert for Storm Eunice: Now Met Office issues most extreme weather warning for capital and South East as 100mph ‘sting jet’ tempest hits…
“Hundreds of schools were closed, all trains in Wales were suspended and rail passengers across England were told not to travel amid mass cancellations as the Army was on standby for what could be the worst storm in 32 years.”
UPDATE: “The Needles on the Isle of Wight recorded a wind gust of 122 mph this morning. This is provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England.”
“Hamburg ferry passengers injured as Storm Ylenia batters central Europe…
“Storm Ylenia has swept across central Europe today, bringing winds with a speed of up to 100mph that left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity and killing two drivers in Germany…”
“A tornado damaged up to 40 buildings in Dobrzyca Wielkopolskie province, Poland, on Thursday morning, the fire brigade has reported, while in Krakow two construction workers were killed and two others wounded when strong winds felled a crane…
“The National Fire Brigade described the destruction in Dobrzyca as “really massive””…
“17th February was a very warm day in France with temperatures up to 24.7C at Les Arcs. Locally it was historic.
“In fact, the city of Toulon had its warmest February day on record with 23.2C / 73.8F (prev. 22.5C on 23-2-1990) and Marignane with 22.5C (prev. 22.4C on 28-2-2019).”
“Hoteliers demand to act in the face of the “alarming” drought in Malaga [Spain]…
“”We are risking our future. It can cause very serious problems. The low rainfall of recent months anticipates an imminent drought that, if we do not act urgently and decisively, can put in check the entire tourism sector of the Costa del Sol and the province, “warned the president of Aehcos…”
“Air pollution affecting ability of sperms to swim in right direction: Study…
“In the analysis of sperm of over 30,000 men in China, researchers concluded that reducing air pollution could help increase male fertility and reduce the risk of asthenozoospermia.”
“Conditions at most of the world’s large meat, fish and dairy producers are said to be “incubating” future pandemics, according to a report by the FAIRR Initiative.
“An assessment of the industry as part of the organisation’s Emerging Disease Risk Ranking found that 63% of animal protein producers are failing to take the necessary steps to prevent future zoonotic pandemics.”
“Latest YouGov survey: Has the pandemic changed views on human extinction? “When will human beings go extinct? Perhaps sooner than we first predicted.
“Britons are less sure than they were that humanity is here to stay. The number of those who believe human beings will never die out has dropped by seven points since 2016 to 23%.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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“Brazil: Mudslides and floods kill 18 people after 26cm of rain [over 10 inches] falls in just three hours in Rio…
“The state fire department said more than 180 soldiers were involved in a rescue mission in the city of Petropolis… Footage posted on social media showed cars and houses being dragged away by landslides and water swirling through the city and neighbouring districts.”
“The drought map: an official report confirms that there are 2 million hectares of crops with severe damage [Argentina]…
“The study noted that “drought conditions worsened severely during the month of January, mainly in the northeast of the country. The combination of unusual lack of rainfall and record temperatures caused an extreme situation in provinces such as Corrientes, Misiones, northern Entre Ríos, and eastern Chaco and Formosa.””
“Flames surround one of the largest wetlands in South America.
“The fires have burned more than half a million hectares of the Argentine province of Corrientes, which is home to the Esteros del Iberá… In just over a month, the flames have devoured more than half a million hectares, mostly productive areas and pastures…”
“Several areas of Paraguay wake up under intense smoke due to forest fires.
“Several areas of Paraguay, including the capital Asunción, woke up on Monday under intense smoke. Specialists believe that the phenomenon is due to the outbreaks of forest fires in the south of the country and in the northeastern provinces of Argentina.”
“The heavy rains and winds that hit the Caribbean and north in Guatemala left 2,600 affected and 990 evacuated by floods, landslides and damage to infrastructure, civil protection reported on Tuesday…
“In one region of Alta Verapaz a bridge collapsed and in those provinces and in irazabal there are floods and landslides.”
“La Niña forecast: NOAA gives update amid dry California winter… La Niña is expected to stick around for at least a little while longer…
“This is the second consecutive winter with a La Niña event, which unfortunately for drought-stricken Southern California usually means below-average precipitationfor the region during its traditionally wettest months.”
“Climate-boosted drought in western US worst in 1,200 years…
“”The turn-of-the-21st-century drought would not be on a megadrought trajectory without anthropogenic climate change,” lead author Park Williams, an associate professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues wrote.”
“Hailstorm creates winter wonderland in Pasadena as cold front brings dramatic weather shift to SoCal.
“After a week of roasting under summer-like temperatures, Southern California underwent a dramatic cooling Tuesday, with some light rain and hail even falling in select areas.”
“Minivan fills with snow after sunroof left open on 63-degree day; ‘This could only happen in New England’.
“With record high temperatures in New England to start the weekend, Saturday presented the perfect opportunity to enjoy the warm air and take a drive with the windows down… as long as you remembered to close them back up before several inches of snow fell on Sunday.”
“U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds.
“Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at U.S. pumps, is likely a much bigger contributor to global warming than straight gasoline, according to a study published Monday.”
“Study suggests climate change made B.C. floods [Canada] at least twice as likely…
““We do find substantial ongoing increases in the probability of these kinds of events,” said Nathan Gillett, an atmospheric physicist and manager of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis.”
“A 300ft wind turbine has been blown over in a south Wales valley as the UK braces for more dangerous stormy weather and high winds later this week.
“Residents of the village of Gilfach Goch, near Bridgend, were woken at 6.50am on Monday when the £20m turbine – double the height of Nelson’s Column – snapped apart and crashed into the valley below.”
“January 2022 in Montenegrohad temp. anomalies from -0.7C below 81-10 norm in Berane to +1.4C above in Budva. (+0.8C in Podgorica).
“Precipitations were from 15% of normal in Bijelo Polje to 75% in Rožaje. The month saw both new record high and low temperatures for January: -33.4C [-28.1F] and +22.3C [72.1F].”
“Drought crisis puts Horn of Africa ‘on the brink of catastrophe’.
“In a region where livestock and agriculture are the mainstays of people’s lives, droughts in the Horn of Africa have wrought havoc as more than 1.5 million heads of cattle died and cereal production nosedived drastically.”
“Heavy floods destroy roads and crops in Salima, Malawi on February 15th 2022…
“Four days of rain and poor drainage led to floods that isolated rural communities, with roads collapsing into sinkholes. Houses and shops were flooded, destroying possessions and produce.”
“Madagascar, Southern Africa Brace for More Tropical Storms.
“Even as southern African nations assess the devastation caused earlier this month by Cyclone Batsirai, a new tropical storm is approaching… Tropical Storm Dumako is projected to slam into the northeastern coast of Madagascar Tuesday evening.”
“Floods hit the city of Muscat in Oman on February 14th 2022.
“Heavy rain during the night caused flash floods throughout Oman’s capital city. The streets filled with water, stranding some residents as their vehicles were surrounded by the floods. Sewers overflowed…”
“Christchurch [New Zealand] has seen just 15 per cent of its usual sunshine hours for February, the all-time dimmest first two weeks of the month in the city…
“Andat the same time the sun hid away, the rain came out. Christchurch has smashed its rain record for a fortnight in February of 122.4mm; More than 139mm has fallen so far this month.”
“Dead or alive: Seagrasses continue to release methane after their die-off…
“”We believe that the reason behind this continuing methane production is that methylated compounds persist in the plant tissue for a very long time,” Milucka says. They could even be detected in plant tissue that had died more than two decades ago.”
“Flourishing plants show warming Antarctica undergoing ‘major change’.
“Antarctica’s two native flowering plants are spreading rapidly as temperatures warm, according to the first study to show changes in fragile polar ecosystems have accelerated in the past decade.”
““According to the study, not only is more and more land mass being lost in absolute terms; with each degree of temperature increase, the annual rate of erosion increases – in meters, but also in millions of tons of carbon released.””
“The reality is that the Arctic is in a death spiral at only a 1.2 C temperature rise.
“Radioactive lemmings! I kid you not. (see below). We are on track to lose the Arctic as we know it whether in five years or thirty-five years. When the media does bother to inform the public it is with kick the can down the road language such as Net-Zero, 1.5, and 2.0.”
“Drugs have dangerously polluted the world’s rivers, scientists warn.
“Pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds used by humans are known to harm wildlife and antibiotics in the environment drive up the risk of resistance to the drugs, one of the greatest threats to humanity.”
“Pollution causing more deaths than COVID, action needed, says U.N. expert…
“The report said pollution from pesticides, plastics and electronic waste is causing widespread human rights violations as well as at least 9 million premature deaths a year, and that the issue is largely being overlooked.”
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.
“Gigantic Expanse of Sea Ice Breaks Free From Antarctica and Disintegrates [in] Yet Another Sign of What’s to Come as The Climate Warms Further…
“An expanse of sea ice more than three times the size of New York City has torn free from Antarctica and broken up in dramatic fashion.
“For 11 years, in one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, the 1,000-square-mile sheet of floating ice had tenaciously held fast to the coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula. But then, in just a few days, warm winds racing down from the peninsula’s mountains delivered a death blow.”
“Another record mild day in Antarctica: This time in the Terra Nova Bay:
“The Italian base of Zucchelli (Base terra Nova) rose to at least 8.8C [47.8F], same value in the South Korean Base Jang Bogo (highest since it was opened in 2014). 8.3C at Cape Bird in the Ross Island, New Zealand Base.”
“Pilot dies after helicopter crashes while fighting Tasmanian bushfires.
“Police have confirmed a man has died after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a field in Tasmania’s north. The helicopter had been fighting a bushfire in the Lebrina area which has burned through more than 1600 hectares.”
“Bushfires, dry lightning, rapid spark and spread all indicate climate change, southern fire chief [southern Western Australia] says…
“Superintendent Green said the fire became “absolute chaos” for volunteers attempting to protect the town. That fire and 13 others were sparked by severe thunderstorms which hit the region after temperatures surpassed 44 degrees Celsius in some areas.”
“Rains mock drought-hit Australian farms [central Queensland]…
“”We’ve got rainfall records on this property back to 1968, we’re used to dry times and to droughts, but the length and severity of this drought is … unprecedented.” …Almost 65 per cent of Queensland remains drought declared.”
“Australia has designated the koala an endangered species amid unprecedented pressure on the marsupials’ eucalyptus tree habitats across the country’s eastern states.
“Environment Minister Sussan Ley said there would be increased protection for the animal, classed as vulnerable only 10 years ago, in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.”
“The first part of February has seen a complete turnaround in the weather. Taupō [New Zealand] went from close to complete drought conditions to record-breaking rainfall within a matter of days…
“The new record established at the weekend was a 24-hour fall of 96mm recorded at the 8am observation time on Saturday.”
“Wellington has just experienced its second wettest day on record as Cyclone Dovi brings torrential downpours and gale-force winds to the capital.
“Police are urging those in the lower North Island to stay home unless they absolutely must travel today, with the weather causing evacuations, closing roads, bringing down landslips and trees and leading to widespread flooding.”
“13th February the record heat wave in New Zealand is reaching its end after one last hot night:
“The minimum temperature in the remote Raoul Island -29S- (Kermadec group) was 25.6C [78.1F],this is the highest minimum temperature ever recorded in New Zealand (prev. 25.4C Napier 19-2-55).”
“First national monthly record of highest temperature this February 2022 was in Papua New Guinea.
“On 5th February the Nadzab Airfield serving the city of Lae rose to 38C [100.4F], tying the highest temperature recorded in February in PNG just 0.9C from the all time record.”
“High waves kill 10 during Indonesia beach ritual.
“At least 10 Indonesians died after tidal waves swept away a group of people meditating on a beach during Sunday’s early hours, police said. The group of 23 people was holding hands and meditating on Payangan beach, East Java province, shortly after midnight.”
“Four-story high rogue wave breaks records off the coast of Vancouver Island…
“”Only a few rogue waves in high sea states have been observed directly, and nothing of this magnitude. The probability of such an event occurring is one in 1,300 years,” said Johannes Gemmrich… “”Rogue waves are generated by wind, so they are just a rare occurrence of wind generated waves.””
“San Diego experiences hottest February day in history as temperature hits 91F.
“An odd shift in the wind helped push the temperature to 91 degrees Saturday at San Diego International Airport, producing the hottest February day in the city’s history [eclipsing the record set on] Feb. 19, 1995…”
“Wild Horses Are Removed From Government Land as Drought Shrinks Food Supply…
“Bureau officials say wild horses, as well as burros, need to be removed from Nevada and other Western states because there are too many of them for the amount of grass and plants they feed on, supplies of which are shrinking due to drought.”
“Various Christian congregations went to the ‘La Boca’ Dam, in the municipality of Santiago [Nuevo Leon, Mexico], and launched a prayer in the face of the lack of rains in the State…
“Every day the dam presents less water and, currently, they report that it is below 22 percent of its capacity.”
“A thousand tons of food dammed in Putumayo [Colombia] by low river flow.
“More than 1,000 tons of food, beverages and toiletries destined for the city of Leticia in the department of Amazonas, are dammed in Puerto Asís, Putumayo, because the low flow of the river prevents the navigability of the 20 vessels of five heavy cargo transport companies.”
“Food prices in the basic basket soared [Argentina]…
“… in the case of yerba, sugar, dairy and even rice, the sharp increases are due to the heat wave, the persistent drought and the fires in some areas of the country, which destroyed a good part of agricultural production.”
“Federovisky: “We are facing a colossal drought” [Argentina]…
“”The dry season in the center of the country, which is usually in winter, is not just happening there. In Córdoba it was six months without rain, in Corrientes the amount of water fallen in the last year represents less than 30% of the last years, “added the national official.”
“Northern Quebec communities concerned about impact of burning garbage on health, environment…
“North of the 55th parallel, the permafrost means the earth is too hard to dig landfill sites. Since there are no incinerators, waste is burned in the open. There are 14 such landfills in Nunavik — one for each community.”
“Thames Water is being investigated after more than two billion litres of raw sewage was discharged into the river over a period of two days.
“Mogden wastewater treatment works, in Isleworth in west London, released the equivalent of 400 Olympic swimming pools of untreated waste into the Thames on October 3 and 4, 2020.”
“Climate change-induced extreme winter drought devastates crops in Spain and Portugal…
“While the arid zones of the Iberian Peninsula have historically experienced periods of drought, experts say climate change has exacerbated the problem… In the last three months of 2021, Spain recorded just 35% of the average rainfall [1981 to 2010]. But there has been almost no rain since then.”
“As cities ration water in Morocco, the record low rainfall in cultivating season will likely result in small harvests, deepening the country’s reliance on grain imports…
“…at a time when food prices are soaring worldwide on the backdrop of the global supply chain disruptions…”
“Thousands displaced in Ntungamo [Uganda] following hailstorm
“More than 500 families in Kitashekwa ward, Ruhaama Ntungamo district are facing food shortage after heavy rains characterized by hailstorms destroyed several plantations in the area on Saturday.”
“Madagascar: Death toll from Cyclone Batsirai rises to 120.
“The death toll from Cyclone Batsirai in Madagascar jumped to 120 on Friday with tens of thousands needing shelter after their homes were destroyed… Batsirai was Madagascar’s second destructive storm in two weeks, after Tropical Storm Ana killed at least 38 people.”
“Polar bear inbreeding and bird ‘divorces’: Weird ways climate change is affecting animal species.
“”Climate change is like this global killer,” Maria Paniw, an ecologist at the Doñana Biological Station, is a public research institute in Seville, Spain, told ABC News. “In effect, it often makes all the other risks that animals face much worse.””
“The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, on Spitsbergen island halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, is only opened a few times a year to limit its seed banks’ exposure to the outside world. On Monday, gene banks from Sudan, Uganda, New Zealand, Germany and Lebanon will deposit seeds…”
“Co-occurring droughts could threaten global food security.
“Droughts occurring at the same time across different regions of the planet could place an unprecedented strain on the global agricultural system and threaten the water security of millions of people, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change.”
“UN science report to sound deafening alarm on climate…
“Species extinction, ecosystem collapse, crippling health impacts from disease and heat, water shortages—all will accelerate in the coming decades even if the carbon emissions that drive global warming are drawn down, the report is likely to find.”
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.
“Brush fires rage in Southern California amid record heat, worsening drought…
“Talk about weather whiplash. Desiccating drought has become reinforced in California after a brief spell of heavy precipitation in the fall, dashing hopes of a long-term pattern change that would spell wetter weather for a state where 12 million acres have burned in the past decade.”
““We thought maybe we’d be talking about a winter storm or something that might impact the game,” said Eric Boldt, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles and Oxnard. “Instead we’re talking about a heat wave.””
“Washington state’s new maximum temperature record: 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
“After a months-long investigation, the State Climate Extremes Committee accepted a 120° reading taken at the Hanford site as the state’s new maximum temperature… The reading was taken by the Department of Energy at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation on June 29, 2021…”
“Historic flooding and a housing crisis left evicted Nooksack members [NW Washington] with nowhere to go…
“In the last year alone, Whatcom County has faced a deadly, unprecedented heat wave, record-breaking rainfall, and landslides. Historic flooding in November caused nearly $50 million in disaster costs – the highest ever in Whatcom County…”
“January driest on record for Jackson; Top 10 driest for many other Michigan cities…
“…this January was really dry. In a strip from Kalamazoo to Lansing and Jackson to Detroit, Flint and Saginaw, it was really, really dry. Jackson only had 0.31 inches of moisture, making it the driest January on record at Jackson.”
“Feeding Cattle Gets Costly as Drought Grips U.S. Pasture… Widening drought in the U.S. High Plains is putting more pressure on cattle ranches already squeezed by soaring feed prices and a lack of hay.
“A week of dry weather worsened drought in top U.S. cattle states including Nebraska and Kansas, with recent precipitation totals in the region among the sparsest on record.”
“A rare waterspout on Wednesday struck the eastern part of the Cuban capital of Havana…
“Evolving into a tornado after coming onshore, the natural disaster damaged properties and brought down electric wires… On the night of Dec. 27, 2019, a large-scale tornado hit Havana, claimed at least six deaths, and left nearly 200 people injured and thousands of homes damaged…”
“Forest fires devastate 300,000 hectares in northeastern Argentina.
“The forest fires that hit the Argentine province of Corrientes (northeast) have already devastated 300,000 hectares, including a large area of native forests, official sources reported on Thursday.”
“Argentina soy belt drought awakens ghost of 2018 production ‘disaster’.
“Dry weather in recent weeks and scant hopes of significant rains for the rest of the month in Argentina’s soy belt are igniting fears of a “productive disaster” akin to that in 2018…
“Argentina exchange slashes corn harvest outlook over drought, says rain needed… Argentina’s Buenos Aires grains exchange cut its forecast for the country’s 2021/22 corn harvest to 51 million tonnes on Thursday, down from its previous estimate of 57 million tonnes…”
“January 2022 in Uruguay was very hot. Temperature anomalies ranged between +1C (SE) to +3C (north) above average. During the month the country tied its hottest temperature on records with 44.0C [111.2F].”
“‘Loophole’ allowing for deforestation on soya farms in Brazil’s Amazon.
“… in recent years deforestation has climbed steeply… With the moratorium applying only to soya, farmers have been able to sell the crop as deforestation-free, while still clearing land for cattle, maize or other commodities.”
“Lisbon [Portugal] needs more trees to cope with the coming heat…
“In 2018, Lisbon thermometers reached 44ºC [111.2F; it’s all-time heat record]… Now, in the middle of winter, the territory around Lisbon is in a situation of severe drought. In 2019, the municipality officially recognized the climate emergency and due to climate change, an intensification of extreme weather events is expected…”
“Malaga [southern Spain] is facing its driest year since records began.
“The province is facing its worst drought since records began in 1942, according to Aemet’s Meteorological Centre in Malaga. In Spain, the hydrological year begins on 1 October of one year and ends on 30 September of the next year, according to the Ministry of Ecological Transition.”
“Worst Drought in Decades Grips Swathe of North Africa.
“Wheat is wilting, and cities are planning to ration water…
“For now, near-term forecasts show little relief, and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI called for nationwide Islamic prayers for rain to aid an industry employing one in three workers.”
“The Southern African nations are reeling from the effects of Tropical Storm Ana and Batsirai… Food security is threatened. Parts of Southern, Western, Eastern, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces are currently experiencing flash floods which are causing untold misery on the affected communities.”
“At least six more tropical cyclones that will develop in the south-west Indian Ocean this season are expected to reach Zimbabwe during the current rainy season, although there are no predictions of the strength and rain content they may have once they cross the border.”
“In Pakistan’s hottest city, summers force half of population to leave…
“Jacobabad’s inability to cope with the extreme weather has pushed it into a vicious circle, as increased use of energy during the summer results in deforestation, which only exacerbates the effects of rising heat.”
“Poorest people bear growing burden of heat waves as temperatures rise…
“People with lower incomes are exposed to heat waves for longer periods of time compared to their higher income counterparts due to a combination of location and access to heat adaptations like air conditioning. This inequality is expected to rise as temperatures increase…”
“‘Warming in Himalayas accelerating snow melt, flooding in rivers’.
“Two independent studies point to increasing risk from warming in the Himalayas that is accelerating snow melt and contributing to flooding in rivers. Last February, an avalanche and snow melt in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand killed at least 70 persons and destroyed two hydropower projects.”
“Mekong Drought Enters Fourth Year; Worst Conditions in 60 Years.
“Mainland Southeast Asia is entering its fourth year of drought, with climate change and unrelenting dam construction taking an unprecedented toll on the Mekong River and the 65 million people who rely on the waterway for their livelihoods.”
“Several Siberian cities are under “black sky” emergency weather alerts as polluted air blankets swathes of the region and locals report a distinct smell of smoke.
“Authorities in eight cities issued warnings for air pollution exceeding permissible levels, making it one of the largest areas to ever to be under an air pollution emergency at a single time…”
“Vast swathes of Australia have already lost 20 per cent of their rainfall and the country’s fire risk has gone beyond worst-case scenarios developed just a few years ago… without urgent action, conditions that spawned the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 could be the new normal by the end of this decade.”
“Residents warned to leave as firefighters tackle emergency blazes in West Australia…
“Western Australian firefighters are tackling two emergency bushfires in the state’s south that are threatening lives and property. On Friday evening, residents in Jerramungup and southern Hopetoun areas were told to take immediate action to protect themselves.”
“State [NSW] hit with two weather ‘extremes’ as one part floods, another burns.
“As parts of south-west Western Australia burns the north has been warned to brace for flash flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said monsoon storms “fired up” again over the Pilbara last night bringing the risk of destructive winds and heavy rain.”
“State of emergency declared in Buller. Another bout of record breaking rain for the West Coast [of New Zealand]… Looks like Westport Airport has broken it’s wettest 9am-9am record with already more than 160mm with a few hours to go.
“Also appears the wettest month on record there – sitting near 460mm currently.”
“New Zealand keeps beating heat records: 10th February Whanganui AP reached 32.7C [90.9F] beating the record of 32.3C set in 1989. More records can fall next days…”
“Antarctic research links warming to fish decline.
“A long-term study in the Southern Ocean reveals a clear correlation between warming waters, decreased sea ice, and reduced abundance of Antarctic silverfish. These small, abundant fish are important prey for penguins, seals, and other regional marine life…”
Perhaps not directly relevant but interesting nonetheless: “SpaceX’s newest fleet of satellites is tumbling out of orbit after being struck by a solar storm.
“Up to 40 of the 49 small satellites launched last week have either re-entered the atmosphere and burned up, or are on the verge of doing so, the company said in an online update Tuesday night.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend 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.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
– Karina S.
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Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“US winter-wheat area in grips of worsening drought… the influence of the Ukraine crisis aside, the drought situation in the United States is becoming a huge concern for global wheat supply in 2022.
“‘We’re already running out of water’: the reality and future of Utah’s drought…
“As drought lingers, larger and more destructive wildfires pose new threats to [California’s] water supply…
“First >100F in USA so far this year. On 22nd February the Texan station of Falcon Lake rose to 101F/38.3C and Zapata to 100F, finally surpassing the 99F recorded on 1st January [which was the highest Jan temp in US history].
“‘Weather whiplash’: 6+ inches of snow expected Friday after near-record highs on Wednesday [Boston]…
“Formby beach [UK]: Nature reserve sand dunes blown away by storms.
“‘We’re devastated’: Yorkshire town hit by floods for third time in decade… As Storm Franklin raged through the night, Mick Malkinson, 72, lay awake with a familiar sense of fear about what the morning would bring…
“Sting jets that fuelled Storm Eunice set to become more common in the UK…
“This has been the mildest and driest winter on the southern side of the Alps since records began in 1864, the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, said on Tuesday.
“‘Spain needs to change its ways’: Scientists warn over worsening drought.
“Persistent rain deficits in Mediterranean regions have led to droughts, harming grasslands and crops such as wheat and barley…
“Kenya ramps up emergency relief supplies to 2.3 million drought-hit Kenyans…
“Winter Heat Wave in Pakistan: On 21st February the town of Tando Jam (Hyderabad District) rose to 38.5C /101.3F, this is the highest reliable temperature ever recorded in Pakistan in February.
“Several months ago, Hokkaido [Japan] had all-time record high temps in many places. Now they are seeing all-time record heavy snow… what a change!”
“Sydney breaks monthly rainfall average in 24 hours, as rain moves further north.
“One dead, at least 10 believed missing in Australia floods [Queensland].
“Bull survives being swept 80km down a river, over a waterfall and almost out to sea [NZ]…
“Argentina Wildfires Spread to Engulf Key Cattle Farming Region.
“Forest fires in Chile have consumed three times as many hectares as the previous season.
“Chilean Patagonia’s pristine glaciers are disappearing.
“Black carbon pollution from tourism and research increasing Antarctic snowmelt, study says.
“Another day of decline in Antarctic sea ice extent, which has fallen well below the previous all-time record low.”
“Accelerating melt rate makes Greenland Ice Sheet world’s largest ‘dam’.
“Bees are explosively ejaculating to death during heat waves.
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A further update on the record-breaking winds brought by Storm Eunice:
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Perhaps not directly relevant but interesting nonetheless