“Vernadsky, Ukraine (formerly UK Base Faraday), Galindez Island 12.7C / 54.9F new record (formerly 11.7C Feb 1960); Carlini, Argentina, King George Island 13.6C / 56.5F new record; Palmer, USA 11.6C /52.9F record tied; King Sejong, South Korea 13.0C /55.4F (record 13.2C)”
“New Antarctic Penguin Colonies Discovered Farther South Than Normal…
“Until recently, these areas were too icy for the penguins, which prefer warmer temperatures to raise their chicks. But as climate change melts Antarctic ice, the penguins are expanding their habitat, a phenomenon some scientists refer to as “gentoofication.””
“Greenhouse gas emission impact from peatland fires underestimated by 200–300 percent.
“Deforestation fires in Brazil and Indonesia accounted for 3 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the planet’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in 2019 and 2020, finds a new study in Frontiers in Climate.”
“Fires threaten vital peatland in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego.
“A forest fire that has been spreading for weeks in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego is threatening the ancestral land of an Indigenous group and destroying some of the world’s highest concentration of peatlands. The fires… started in mid-January…”
“Heat wave returns to the South [of Brazil] and temperature can approach 40 °C [104F].
“In the South, after the passage of the cold front last weekend, the weather remains firm in the three states. If rain record happens, it will be punctual. Thus, the trend is to rise in temperatures, with a new heat wave reaching Rio Grande do Sul, where thermometers approach 40 °C.”
“River overflows, flooding Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…
“Heavy rains cased flash flooding as the Paraíba do Sul river overflowed, flooding low lying areas. Buildings filled with water, ruining produce and possessions. Residents were advised not to leave their homes unless necessary.”
“Torrential rain in western Colombia led to a landslide late at night, sweeping away homes while people slept… Rescue teams have been searching in the mud for more survivors, Colombia’s disaster management officials said.”
“In Puerto Rico, floods and torrential rains close schools.
“Dozens of schools in Puerto Rico closed on Monday following torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and several landslides across the U.S. Caribbean territory over the weekend… Up to six inches of rain fell in less than six hours…”
“Excessive heat watch issued for Los Angeles amid winter heat wave in California. It’s the kind of weather forecast that stands out in the middle of winter, even in sunny California: Downtown Los Angeles is expected to hit a high of 90 degrees this week, the National Weather Service said.”
“North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens.
“Monday marked a month since the last drop of rain fell in Redding, and with the prospects of any precipitation falling in February diminishing, water shortages this year are becoming more of a reality.”
“Multiple collisions reported as dust storm blows across southern Alberta.
“Alberta RCMP say they are responding to multiple collisions west of Taber as high winds created a dust storm that is reducing visibility… Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for several parts of Alberta, warning of strong winds with gusts of up to 110 km/h…”
“Preparing for Category 6 hurricanes, a new facility [at Florida International University] will test winds of 200 mph and storm surge…
“…in our changing climate, sadly, 160 mph isn’t strong enough. So, the National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded a $12.8 million grant to FIU’s Extreme Events Institute for the design of a full-scale testing facility capable of producing winds of 200 mph…”
“Farmers Are Facing the Brunt of Portugal’s Worsening Drought…
“Experts warn that diminished water levels in the country’s resevoirs will decrease water availabilty and lower water quality. Dryness and higher-than-usual temperatures are also exacerbating wildfires, which are traditionally rare during winter.
“Tshwane floods [South Africa]: Death toll rises to 4 as two more bodies discovered…
“The death toll, following recent flooding in Tshwane, has risen to four as two more bodies were recovered on Tuesday… over 800 families affected by the floods are receiving relief assistance from the City, while other families have been temporarily relocated to community halls.”
“Malawi risks more food inflation after Cyclone Ana destroyed crops.
“Malawi may face faster-rising food prices after at least 77,532 hectares (191,586 acres) of crops such as corn, soybeans, groundnuts, tobacco, rice and cotton were washed away by Cyclone Ana last month. Approximately 870,000 people were affected by the floods…”
“More than 90 people have died… after a cyclone battered Madagascar.
“Over 90,000 residents were left with damaged or destroyed homes… Initially, 29 people were reported to have died but now a local MP has confirmed that figure is around 96, with fears mounting that the total could increase further.”
“Livelihoods lost as climate disaster woes mount in Kenya…
“The semi-arid region has been the scene of a prolonged drought. Then, when the rains finally came, the deluge pushed communities, who rely exclusively on livestock for their survival, to the edge of disaster.”
“An estimated 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing severe hunger, the United Nations’ World Food Programme has said.
“Drought conditions have affected pastoral and farmer populations across southern and southeastern Ethiopia, southeastern and northern Kenya and south-central Somalia, with forecasts of below-average rainfall threatening to worsen already dire conditions in the coming months.”
“Punjab and Sindh [Pakistan] break all records for rainfall in January.
“The highly populated province of Punjab recorded 100.4mm average rain last month as compared to 55.8mm in the year 1992. Sindh [a desert region] recorded 23.4mm rain this year as compared to the last highest 18.4mm in 1992.”
“Sapporo [Japan] in deep disarray after record snowfall pounds city…
“In Sapporo, a record 60 centimeters [23.6 inches] of snow fell over the 24-hour period through 2 p.m. on Feb. 6… the cancellation of all services connecting Sapporo, a city with a population of 1.76 million, on Feb. 7 posed a rare insurmountable obstacle to most commuters.”
“Just days after receiving a deluge of rain that threatened major flooding, two West Coast towns [New Zealand] have set new records for their highest temperatures.
“The mercury rose to 29.8 degrees Celsius in Greymouth and 29.2C in Westport on Tuesday, topping the respective previous highs of 29.7C set in February 2010 and 28.6C from March 1959…”
“Aoraki/Mt Cook’s driest January in nearly 100 years has been followed by a nearly 500 millimetre [19.7 inches] dumping of rain in early February.
“A monthly climate summary by the National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research said Aoraki/Mt Cook airport recorded just 22mm [0.9 inches] of rain in January, its lowest since records began in 1928.”
“Water Supplies From Glaciers May Peak Sooner Than Anticipated…
“The world’s glaciers may contain less water than previously believed, a new study has found, suggesting that freshwater supplies could peak sooner than anticipated for millions of people worldwide who depend on glacial melt for drinking water, crop irrigation and everyday use.”
“Thawing permafrost could expose Arctic populations to cancer-causing radon…
“They show that in buildings with basements, the presence of radon gas can increase to more than 100 times its initial value for up to seven years, depending on the depth of the permafrost and how fast the permafrost thaws.”
“Plastic pollution affects 88% of marine species: WWF.
“WWF said… that plastic has infiltrated all parts of the ocean [and] 88% of marine species are affected by severe contamination of plastic in the ocean. The report said that many animals have ingested these plastics, including animals commonly consumed by humans.”
“Climate pledges from top companies crumble under scrutiny.
“The report underscores longstanding worries among scientists, environmentalists and policymakers about how to assess and monitor corporate climate commitments. This is particularly true for net-zero pledges…”
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 [which you can do on a one-time basis on my “Support” page] – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Cyclone Batsirai: Whole villages swept away in Madagascar. At least 10 people have been killed and nearly 50,000 displaced after Cyclone Batsirai brought strong winds and rain to Madagascar on Saturday evening.
“Batsirai – the second major storm in two weeks – made landfall on the east coast, with gusts of 235km/h (146mph) and high waves hitting coastal areas.”
“Malawi Loses 30% of Its Electricity to Tropical Storm Ana.
“The Department of Disaster Management Affairs says in Malawi, the storm killed 32 people and displaced 188,000 from their homes in 17 districts. Meanwhile, donor partners and well-wishers including United Nations agencies in Malawi have started providing aid to victims.”
“At least 138 people have been left homeless in KwaZulu-Natal [South Africa] after strong winds and heavy downpourslead to localised flooding in two municipalities.
“Disaster management teams in the province said they were left homeless when their homes were flooded.”
“At least 306,358 animals, including cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys have been killed by drought in Tanzania in the past five months, a cabinet minister has said.
“Mashimba Ndaki, minister for livestock and fisheries, said an assessment conducted by experts from the ministry in January showed that the animals were killed…”
““It is on the grasses, it is spreading and very windy,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, explaining that he was not authorised to speak to media. “We have mobilized the community and staff around and today they have really tried their best… it is only that they were overwhelmed.””
“Charity workers delivering Scottish Government funded aid to families in flood-hit South Sudan have told of their shock at the scale of suffering.
“The flood-hit communities are struggling to find enough to eat, with water lilies sometimes the only food source they can find… More than two million people are at risk of famine.”
“Jujube supplies suffer as last year’s heatwave takes toll [Pakistan]…
” Season for new jujube began in the middle of January, but this year market arrivals remain slow as last September’s heatwave damaged the fruit in its early flowering stage. Traders and contractors also pin the low yields on water shortage.”
“Hundreds of heron birds were found dead after heavy rains and hailstorms lashed Shantivan area of Barhampur, Nagaon in Assam. A coldwave has gripped northeast India with reports of heavy rainfall and hailstorm in some parts of Assam.”
“Historic snowstorms in Bhutan and in the Indian State of Himachal Pradesh.
“Accumulations in some places were over 50cm and snow also fell at unusually low elevations. According to locals,the former Bhutanese winter capital Punakha (1250m) had its first snow (5cm) since 1958.”
“Perth’s record summer hot streak continues as city tops 40C for thirteenth day.
“Perth may only be five days into February but the city has nearly doubled the previous record of seven days over 40C during summer. Saturday marks the thirteenth day the city has sweltered through extreme temperatures this summer, hitting 40C at 11:30am.”
“‘Hellish night’: homes lost in Western Australia bushfires as specialist crews called in from interstate…
“Fires remained out of control on Sunday afternoon and had burned more than 5,000 hectares. Dawson said 210 firefighters had been battling the fires at Denmark and Bridgetown on Sunday.”
“Broome’s rough sleepers battle through town’s record rainfall…
“With many of their normal haunts ruled out due to the unrelenting rain, Mr Lawford said he and many others had slept outside during last weekend’s damaging storms.
“”We sleep with no rugs, all our clothes are fully wet,” Mr Lawford said.”
“Record-breaking rains bring the Kimberley [Northern Territories] to life…
“As the rain fills up local creeks, banks are spilled creating a film of water over the sand plains. “This is when insect abundance goes through the roof. The frogs and geckos are all out feeding on termites and the purple-crowned fairy-wrens are having a bumper breeding season because of the extra food resources.”
“South Island weather stations [New Zealand] record 1 metre of rain – more than Christchurch’s annual rainfall.
“According to NIWA Weather, the highest reading was taken at Tuke at Tuke Hut in Westland, which recorded a whopping 1177mm [46.3 inches]. Mt Philistine in the Arthur’s Pass National Park recorded 1125mm and Cropp at Waterfall had 1054mm from the early hours of Wednesday to Friday night.”
“Whanganui [North Island, NZ] has had its wettest February day since records began.
“The city’s dry spell was well and truly snapped this weekend, with 82.6 millimetres of rain falling at Whanganui Airport between 9am Saturday and 9am Sunday, according to Metservice meteorologist Dan Corrigan.”
“Heavy snow has been buffeting wide swathes of Japan, with some areas observing record accumulations. Weather officials are warning of possible transport system disruptions and snow-related accidents.
“The Japan Meteorological Agency says a wintry pressure pattern and a cold air mass have been bringing snow to places along the Sea of Japan and elsewhere.”
“Rain that drenched Quito for 17 straight hours caused flooding and surges of mud that damaged roads, agricultural areas, clinics, schools, a police station and an electric power substation.”
“Brazil hit by extreme weather conditions causing deaths, evacuations.
“In recent months, Brazil has been hit by the worst drought in over ninety years to severe rainstorms that have caused nearly 100 deaths and 150,000 evacuations… The intensity of extreme weather events will increase and their impacts are being enhanced by human action, Santos said.”
“A third of Americans are already facing above-average warming.
“The US as a whole has heated up over the past century… and swathes of the US west, northeast and upper midwest – representing more than 124.6 million people – have recorded soaring increases since federal government temperature records began in 1895.”
“Blizzard-like ‘bomb cyclones’ get boost from warming oceans.
“The warming of ocean waters through climate change creates ideal conditions for more “bomb cyclone” events like the one that battered the Northeast with extreme winter weather in late January, experts say.”
“Super trawler spills 100,000 dead fish off French coast.
“An investigation has been ordered after the world’s second-biggest trawler shed more than 100,000 dead fish into the Atlantic, sparking claims they were dumped deliberately… France’s maritime minister Annick Girardin has described the images as “shocking”…”
“A continued shortage of rainfall in Spain has led to a dramatic period of drought in the country.With temperatures reported to be rising again this week, the outlook is looking bleak for the moment.
“…the Spanish water reserve is in an extremely poor condition, with the country’s reservoirs currently reported to be holding around only 44.8 per cent of their capacity.”
“Nine killed in three days after more than 100 avalanches hit Austria
“Authorities dub situation ‘unprecedented’ as heavy snowfall followed by warm weather makes for dangerous conditions… Most of the avalanches hit the western Tyrol region and Friday alone saw five fatalities.”
“Snow, wet snow has continued in the Krasnodar Region since the end of January. Snow levels have reached an almost all time high of over one meter in some settlements. Now, snow is actively melting.”
“Mammoth tusk mining in the Arctic, and the price of ‘ethical ivory’…
“As the ground melts, the remains of the ancient beasts are easier to prise from their icy graves. This has created a “mammoth rush” over the past decade, explains Zara Bending of the Centre for Environmental Law of Macquarie University.”
“The Polar Vortex starts to behave strangely, cooling down to record levels and going into overdrive…
“This is not without consequences, as it will strengthen the polar circulation into late winter and will be ready to continue into early Spring, influencing the weather in the United States and Europe.”
“Climate change is effecting the way snow smells, said Parisa A. Ariya, a chemist and chair of the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department at McGill University. As the ground and air get warmer, that encourages the circulation — and intensity — of the odor molecules.”
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.
“Catastrophe-Bond Market Hits a Record $12.8 Billion as Extreme Weather Worsens…
“The growth in the cat-bond market, which helps provide capital for risks from natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires, comes as insurers hunt for ways to deal with increasing costs brought on by worsening extreme weather events and investors seek yield in a low-interest-rate environment.”
“Climate change is causing ‘super-extreme’ weather events, scientists say…
““Are all these extreme events connected? Definitely yes,” Jennifer Francis, senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center in Massachusetts, told Yahoo News. “We are seeing an uptick of extreme weather events to the tune of about a tripling since the 1980s.””
“Svalbard’s Arctic heritage is threatened by climate change…
“On Svalbard, cultural heritage monuments and environments tell a unique history about hunting, trapping, coal mining and scientific activities all over the archipelago. The conservation of these objects and sites faces a double challenge from the warming climate and increasing human activity.”
“Alaska permafrost thaw is clue in mystery of Arctic methane explosions…
“Longtime permafrost researcher Dr. Vladimir Romanovsky with UAF’s Geophysical Institute, a professor emeritus as of this week, is featured in the Nova episode that aired Wednesday night. And Romanovsky says there are several reasons to keep an eye on the exploding methane phenomenon…” [podcast]
“Marine heat waves driven by climate change have fueled a dramatic increase in market squid along the Washington and Oregon coast over the past two decades, new research shows.
“Market squid from central California to northern Washington saw a fivefold increase over the past 22 years, according to a report published by the American Fisheries Society last month.”
“‘We have to adapt’: US Pacific north-west weighs plans to cope with extreme weather…
“…with more intense extreme weather expected in the years ahead, driven by the climate crisis, a bipartisan assortment of Washington state lawmakers has simultaneously introduced a handful of bills this legislative session that, rather than focusing on mitigation and emission reduction, focus on climate adaptation.”
“17 feet of snow sparked hope for quelling California’s drought. Then precipitation ‘flatlined’ in January…
“Climatologists were cautiously elated as they watched snow pile as high as some roofs. But they still were going to need much more to make headway on the drought, said Andrew Schwartz, the lead scientist and station manager at the University of California, Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory.”
“Dry January: Reno goes a month with no rain for the first time in nearly 130 years [of record-keeping]…
“Reno, Nevada, hasn’t recorded a single drop of rain during the entire month of January, a record that goes back nearly nearly 130 years. The city, tucked on the Nevada-California border, has borne the brunt of weather extremes in recent months.”
“A dramatic new video reveals burning of hundreds of piles of debris in the Black Hills of South Dakota caused by recent tornadoes in the region.
“Footage from the Black Hills National Forest shows the process of cleaning up dead vegetation resulting from the extreme weather events in the Spearfish area of the Black Hills…”
“Alabama severe weather: Woman killed, several injured by tornado as storms wreak havoc.
“A woman was killed and several people were injured, including three critically, after a tornado tore through Hale County and left a trail of damage across west-central and southwest Alabama on Thursday.”
“A historic home in Cape Cod is teetering on the brink after this weekend’s bomb cyclone…
““The erosion on the backside, especially on Truro and Ballston, is significant,” the homeowners’ attorney told the Globe. “It’s not a couple of feet. It’s 20, 30, 60 feet in one storm, laterally. It’s huge.””
“Haiti struggles to provide water, food after heavy floods.
“Hundreds of people have crowded into a shelter in Haiti as authorities say they’re struggling to provide food and water to those affected and are unable to reach several communities affected by heavy flooding in recent days.”
“Nuevo León [Mexico] declares an emergency due to “Extreme Drought”: the state does not have water to face the first half of 2022…
“The document details that the state has faced for several years the lack of water due to the absence of rains, which has caused a shortage in the natural sources of water supply and has not provided the volume required to withstand the spring and summer of 2022.”
“Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon hits January record.
“Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon set a new record for January just three weeks into the year, according to data released Wednesday, a worrying sign of the surging destruction of the world’s biggest rainforest.”
“Paraguay’s drought hits biodiversity, Indigenous communities the hardest.
“The ongoing drought in Paraguay, now moving into its third year… Record-breaking heat waves in the South American nation have lasted longer than expected, resulting in water shortages and forest fires that threaten local biodiversity and many of the Indigenous communities who steward it.”
“In more than 20 days of heat wave, 75 temperature records were broken [Argentina]…
“According to the data released by the National Weather Service, it suffered an important extreme heat event that was characterized by its large territorial extension, its persistence and maximum temperatures.”
“A forest fire in Chile burns almost 1,200 hectares of province…
“According to the National Forest Corporation (Conaf), a fire in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego province burned 1,235 hectares of forest in the commune of Timaukel… The fire in the Magallanes region has been difficult to contain due to the rough terrain… and meteorological conditions…”
“Europe weighs death and destruction from extreme weather.
“Extreme weather events across Europe caused up to 145,000 fatalities and heavy economic losses over the past 40 years, a report says. Freak occurrences are expected to become more frequent.”
“Southern Europe battles increases in major wildfires.
“A series of devastating wildfires coincided with record-breaking heatwaves, first in June and then in late July to mid-August. They affected countries across the Mediterranean, including Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Albania, North Macedonia, and Spain, Algeria and Tunisia in north Africa, and Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Israel.”
“A hail storm followed by extensive flooding hit Santorini on Thursday as severe weather is once again sweeping through Greece.
“Videos and photos uploaded on social media show a thick layer of hail on the streets of the island. In villages such as Messaria, the narrow alleys have been turned into rivers…”
“Twenty-six people died on Wednesday after lightning struck a high-tension power cable on the outskirts of the Congolese capital Kinshasa, causing it to snap and fall on houses and a market, the authorities said.
“The victims included 24 women and two men, and another two people were seriously injured…”
“Category 4 Tropical Cyclone Batsirai headed for vulnerable Madagascar.
“The island nation of Madagascar, already reeling from flooding rains from Tropical Storm Ana on January 22 and a devastating drought in southern parts of the nation, is bracing for the expected arrival of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai on Saturday.”
“Frequent marine heatwaves in Indian Ocean disrupt India‘s monsoon patterns.
“Marine heat waves… in the Indian Ocean region have increased significantly in the past few decades, according to a new report. The phenomenon is impacting the Indian monsoon, the study published in the journal JGR Oceans showed.”
“Mount Everest’s highest glacier is losing decades’ worth of ice every year, scientists warn…
“The team’s findings suggested that ice that had taken decades to accumulate was melting away each year, jeopardizing both climbers and those who depend on the glacier for drinking water and irrigation.”
“Perth weather: Metro area sweats through hottest January on record…
“January was officially Perth’s hottest on record, and get this – it didn’t rain ONCE. And six consecutive days above 40C ending on January 18 earned Perth the title of ‘hottest capital city in Australia’. On Friday Perth reached a maximum of 41.1C – bringing the total number of days at 40C or above during summer to 12 – another record.”
“Water treatment chemical shortage looms in eastern states after floods cut Western Australia rail link…
“The New South Wales water directorate on Wednesday said a major supplier of aluminium sulphate – or alum – had warned eastern customers that disruptions of the east-west railway due to flooding had halted deliveries of a key ingredient, aluminium trihydrate.”
“Record rainfall kicks off 2022 across NSW as several towns break monthly highs…
“The Hume Reservoir near Albury recorded its wettest January in 101 years of records with 317 millimetres [12.5 inches] for the month. Culcairn and Grong Grong near Narrandera also received their highest tallies in more than a century of records.”
“Antarctic sea ice level could reach record low in 2022, UCLA climate scientist says.
“Sometime in the next few weeks, during late summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the area covered by sea ice around Antarctica will reach its annual minimum. According to UCLA climate scientist Marilyn Raphael, the measurement could set a new record low, just five years after the last record was established.”
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 really means a lot.
“More than half of the surface of the world’s oceans have experienced excessively warm temperatures since 2014 — with extreme marine heat now the ‘new normal’.
“This is the warning of researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who analysed a century-and-a-half’s worth of global marine temperature data.”
“Coral reefs that anchor a quarter of marine wildlife and the livelihoods of more than half-a-billion people will most likely be wiped out even if global warming is capped within Paris climate goals, researchers said Tuesday.
An average increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels would see more than 99 percent of the world’s coral reefs unable to recover from ever more frequent marine heat waves.”
“Climate change: Deal to help end deforestation misses first deadline just months after it was signed at COP26.
“At the Glasgow talks, a group of donor countries promised $500m (£370m) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protect the Congo Basin. The pact was part of a package of deals to end deforestation by 2030…”
“Greenland’s immense ice sheet has lost enough ice in the past 20 years to submerge the entire United States in half a metre of water, according to data released this week by Danish researchers.
“The climate is warming faster in the Arctic than anywhere else on the planet and melting ice from Greenland is now the main factor in the rise in the Earth’s oceans, according to NASA.”
“Russian citizens can now claim one free hectare of land in its Arctic zone as the government seeks to expand its development of the fast-warming region…
“The Far East and Arctic Hectare programs’ online portal boasts of success stories including an eco-glamping resort in Chukotka, a strawberry plantation in the Khabarovsk region and an Arctic poultry farm.”
“A significant decline in otter numbers in Wales is a “warning” over the state of the UK’s rivers, researchers have said. Otter numbers have dropped 20 percentage points since 2010…
“The reason for the decline is unclear, but could be related to the pollutants in the river ecosystem.”
“Flowers arriving a month early in UK as climate heats up.
“The researchers examined 420,000 recorded dates of first flowering for more than 400 species, dating to 1793. The average date for the first blooms was about 12 May up to 1986, but since then the date has been pushed forward to 16 April.”
“It seems the January blues were blown aside last month as England enjoyed the sunniest start to a year on record. The country saw an average of 80.7 hours of sunshine last month, according to the Met Office.”
“Portugal’s government is restricting the use of some reservoirs for hydroelectric power and irrigation amid an unusual winter drought.
“Portugal’s weather agency said that… all the country was enduring some degree of drought because of relatively low rainfall since November. It said 45% of the land was in “severe” or “extreme” drought.”
“Wave of fires in Malaga: new fire in Ermita de los Verdiales and another in Ojén after several in Axarquía [Spain]…
“The affected area is the same one that burned during the early morning of January 23. The flames could be seen from different parts of the city and that night the wind was whipping, so the firefighters had to work hard to quell the flames.”
“Six feared dead in Mozambique floods. The accidents on the Zambezi and Revuboe rivers came in the wake of Tropical Storm Ana, which pummeled the region last week, leaving 86 dead in Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi.”
“Tropical Cyclone Batsirai strengthens as it approaches a Madagascar landfall.
“Tropical Cyclone Batsirai continues to strengthen as it approaches a Madagascar landfall in the coming days. CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri breaks down the potential impacts.” [Video]
“‘We relied on the lake. Now it’s killing us’: climate crisis threatens future of Kenya’s El Molo people.
“Lake Turkana’s shores have been home to the El Molo for millennia but as rising waters swallow homes and sacred sites they face losing everything… Lake Turkana, a Unesco world heritage site, has increased in area by more than 10% over the last decade…”
“Freezing winter weather in war-torn northwestern Syria killed two infants in separate displaced persons camps, a doctor and a war monitor said Tuesday.
“Record-breaking temperatures and heavy snowstorms have swept across much of the Middle East, from Gaza to Turkey, in recent weeks. The cold and snow have hit many impoverished Syrians and Lebanese hard.”
“Exceptional heat on 1 February in Oman. Rustaq, also thanks to a local fohn wind from the Jabal al Shams Mts. rose to 36.6C [97.9F] which is 1.6C above the January national record of the country,but 1 day later.”
“At least 30 homes made of light and concrete materials were destroyed by what residents described as a “tornado” that hit seven villages in Maguindanao [Philippines] Tuesday evening.
“Mindato Malasigan, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer for Kabuntalan Mother in Maguindanao, said Wednesday the affected families were temporarily staying in their relatives’ homes.”
“Flooding cuts off key railway supply routes in central Australia.
“Supply chains already stretched due to Covid-related staff shortages have been severed after floods in South Australia washed away parts of the railway linking the eastern states with Western Australia and the Northern Territory.”
“Melburnians have endured a run of unbearably sticky nights, notching up a mean minimum temperature – the coldest it gets at night – of 18.3 degrees over January, the warmest average minimum for any month since records began in 1855. Last month’s figure beat the previous record by about 4 degrees.”
“Fears of power outages as ‘unusual’ weather combination ramps up Queensland heat. Tropical humidity is set to hit south-east Queensland this week, raising concerns of large-scale power outages as Queenslanders try to stay cool…
“The heatwave has stretched inland to the central highlands, with Lockington recording 41.7C [107.06F] at 11 am on Tuesday morning.”
“Ecuador floods: At least 18 dead after record rainfall causes landslides and 10ft waves of mud…
““We saw this immense black river that was dragging along everything, we had to climb the walls to escape,” resident Alba Cotacachi, who evacuated her two young daughters from their home, told Reuters news agency.”
“Death toll from landslides, flooding climbs to 24 in Brazil… as firefighters continued pulling bodies from the mud…
“”(I’m looking for) my nephew, his wife and a 2-year-old child,” Cicero Pereira, 54, told The Associated Press beside a disaster site in the city of Franco da Rocha. “They said the bodies are still there under the mud, but until now they couldn’t recover them.””
“Two days of heavy rains and the resulting floods have killed at least three people in Haiti, according to the head of the country’s civil protection authority.
“The death toll was reported on Tuesday, hours after rescuers began evacuating people in high-risk zones, where thousands of homes have been flooded and some 2,500 families have been displaced.”
“‘It’s not good.’ What the driest January in Fresno history tells us to expect this summer…
“Red flags are going up for farmers, firefighters, and everyone else in the central San Joaquin Valley [California] after January officially tied the record for the driest on record in the region, and a once-massive Sierra snowpack continues to melt away.”
“Hundreds of flights cancelled as major winter storm prepares to sweep US.
“The major winter storm is expected to affect a huge swath of the US, with heavy snow starting in the Rockies and freezing rain as far south as Texas… The forecast comes nearly a year after a catastrophic winter storm devastated the Texas power grid, causing hundreds of deaths.”
“Lightning bolt extending across 3 US states sets global record.
“The bolt of lightning stretching for 768km across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in April 2020 is the new world record holder for the longest flash, WMO says… beating the previous record set on October 31, 2018, in Brazil of 709km (440.6 miles), the United Nations agency said on Tuesday.
“This astonishing image shows a new Saharan dust storm moving over the west coast of Africa over to the Atlantic Ocean – the third such storm in less than two weeks…
“NASA scientists, using a combination of satellite data and computer models, predict that Africa’s annual dust plumes will actually shrink to a 20,000-year minimum over the next century as a result of climate change and ocean warming.”
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 really means a lot.
“Great Barrier Reef on verge of another mass bleaching after highest temperatures on record.
“Temperatures over the Great Barrier Reef in December were the highest on record with “alarming” levels of heat that have put the ocean jewel on the verge of another mass bleaching of corals, according to analysis from US government scientists seen by Guardian Australia.”
“Victorian snow gum forest mapping highlights ‘ecological collapse’ in High Country.
“A group of volunteers has banded together to map what’s been described as the “heartbreaking” decline of snow gums in Victoria’s High Country… About 20 people travelled from as far as Melbourne and Canberra to map snow gums in the northern end of the Dargo High Plains.”
“Military to drop supplies to flood-hit Coober Pedy as South Australia braces for heavy rain.
“Inland floods this week damaged rail infrastructure in South Australia and cut food supply lines to the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Shortages of food and essential supplies are now a concern in Darwin, Western Australia and remote towns including Coober Pedy.”
“Disaster management groups are on alert after communities in Queensland’s Gulf were cut off by flooded river systems over the weekend…
“Roads into the remote towns of Doomadgee and Burketown had been cut off by floodwater, said emergency management coordinator for the District Disaster Management Group (DDMG), Elliot Dunn.”
“Footage has emerged of a young family being caught in a terrifying tornado during a weekend drive.
“Wild weather lashed Western Australia’s north-west on Sunday as streets in the beach resort town of Broome went underwater after a 238 millimetre [9.4 inches] dumping of rain within 24 hours.”
“‘Like a tornado’: Freak storm damages homes in Malaysia’s Ipoh.
“Many homes in Ipoh, Malaysia, were damaged during a freak storm on Sunday (Jan 30) evening. Roof tiles were blown off while electricity poles were felled in the incident that occurred at around 6.40pm in Taman Tasek Damai and Kampung Tawas.”
“Beach in Thailand declared disaster area after oil pipeline leak.
“A beach in eastern Thailand has been declared a disaster area as oil leaking from an underwater pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining in the Gulf of Thailand continues to wash ashore and blacken the sand.”
“Cold spell between Tibet, NE India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Western Myanmar.
“On 29th January the Myanmar town of Hakha (1866m asl) dropped to a frigid -6.0C [21.2F]. This tied the official lowest temperature ever recorded in Myanmar, recorded at the same place in Dec 1990 and Feb 2008.”
“At least 172 homeless persons have died of the extreme cold in Delhi in the past 28 days, a report compiled by the Centre for Holistic Development, an NGO, showed.
“The CHD has… written a letter, containing the detailed report to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is also the chairperson of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, requesting that proper arrangements should be made for homeless people during the winters.”
“While the threat of climate change is severe for the entire world, it grows tenfold for the pregnant women in Chitral Valley [Pakistan] during the summer when the area experiences never- seen-before rises in mercury.
“The residents of Upper Chitral and Lower Chitral, who live in slums nears glaciers and pregnant women in particularly are at a constant risk due to glacial lake outburst floods…”
“Residents in an inundated neighbourhood of Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo are returning with dread to see what remains of their homes and harvests, three days after Tropical Storm Ana relented.
“Flooding has killed 51 people on the large Indian Ocean island off southeastern Africa since 10 days of intense rain began on January 17.”
“‘We pray for rain’: Ethiopia faces catastrophic hunger as cattle perish in severe drought…
“In a country already grappling with humanitarian strife brought on by civil war, aid workers and local officials say that another crisis is slowly unfolding, as severe drought plagues much of southern and north-eastern Ethiopia.”
“Drought ravages Somalia as leaders bicker over polls…
“Almost all urban centres across Somalia are hosting families that have lost their animals or farm produce to drought and desert locusts, now compelled to abandon their homes for lack of food, animal feed and drinkable water.”
“Extreme drought in Kenya causes mass livestock deaths and water scarcity…
“Many areas have seen little or no rainfall since 2020 and 80-90 per cent of reservoirs and dams have dried up in Kenya’s largest county, Turkana, in the northwest. A drought emergency was declared in the east African state in September 2021.”
“Heavy rain causes floods in south of Tenerife, while Tacoronte is hit by strong hail.
“The weather has been really crazy today in the Canary islands with a mix of calima (dust storm), hail, heavy rain and snow, happening in different areas of the archipelago at different moments of the day…”
“The first major fire of the year already burns 1,600 hectares in Zamora and Portugal.
“The first major forest fire of 2022, declared early last Friday on the border between Portugal and the northwest of the province of Zamora, still remains active and has already devastated about 1,600 hectares of land, mostly scrubland and scrub but also reforestation pine.”
“In the road that connected Lobios (Ourense) with Portugal there are usually a few meters of water but, for a few days, what there are are Portuguese tourists. The ancient village of Aceredo, in Lobios, emerged this month as it had never done before…”
“Storm Malik pounds Northern Europe, several dead.
“Strong winds have struck the United Kingdom, Denmark, Poland and Germany, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power. Bridges were shut, trains canceled and ferries docked as coastal surges led to flooding.”
“Thousands lose power in the brutal cold after a bomb cyclone dumps record-setting snow [Eastern US]…
“”An East Coast blizzard dropped one to over 2 feet of snow along the coast. Now, cold weather will hold a grip on the Mid-Atlantic today and tonight,” the National Weather Service Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center tweeted Sunday.”
“Breathtaking drone footage showed ice-covered Brant Rock homes covered in frozen sea spray in the aftermath of a winter storm that left some Massachusetts towns buried in more than two feet of snow.
“Incredible imagery of seaside community coated in frost rendered comparisons to the ice age as other parts of the state began digging out from the brutal nor’easter storm.”
“Long-term forecast shows no rain in Northern California for at least 14 days.
“UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain posted to Twitter on Thursday that the Global Ensemble Forecast System… is showing what he says is the the single driest precipitation forecast he has personally ever seen during peak California wet season.”
“Peru oil spill after Tonga eruption bigger than previously thought.
“Officials described the spill as an “ecological disaster” to blame for the deaths of local fish and seabirds. It happened when tanker at the La Pampilla refinery was hit by waves linked to a volcanic eruption on Tonga.”
“Oil spill sprays crude into Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest.
“The private company that runs an oil pipeline in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest stopped pumping oil Saturday after a rupture in the pipeline, according to a statement from the company.”
“Torrential rains in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state between Friday and Sunday left at least 18 people dead, authorities said…
“After flying over affected areas, governor Joao Doria announced he was releasing 15 million reales ($2.7 million) to help the 10 most affected cities and 645 municipalities in Brazil’s most populous state—home to 46 million people.”
“Residents of a remote village in Russia have complained of a polluted winter that brings snow ‘black as night’.
“Locals in Omsukchan, Magadan region in the Siberian far east of Russia, say that their children play in streets and playgrounds blanketed in ash and and black snow.”
“Glacier retreat accelerates global chemical weathering.
“…global chemical weathering rates beneath glaciers are three times higher than two decades ago, up to 10 times higher than ice sheet catchments, up to 50 times higher than whole ice sheet means and four times higher than major non-glacial riverine means…”
“Study: Gas stoves worse for climate than previously thought…
“Even when they are not running, U.S. gas stoves are putting 2.6 million tons (2.4 million metric tons) of methane—in carbon dioxide equivalent units—into the air each year, a team of California researchers found in a study published in Thursday’s journal Environmental Science & Technology.”
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 really means a lot.
“Dozens killed in Tropical Storm Ana as southern Africa braces for more wild weather… The death toll from a storm that struck three southern African countries has risen to 77 as emergency teams battled to repair damaged infrastructure and help tens of thousands of victims.
“Tropical Storm Ana made landfall in Madagascar on Monday before ploughing into Mozambique and Malawi through the week, bringing torrential rains.”
“Malawi Declares National Disaster After Cyclone Ana…
“Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera appealed Wednesday for urgent assistance for an estimated 50,000 families left homeless by the storm’s heavy floods. The situation is set to worsen with more rain expected Thursday.”
“As overland depression Ana weakened yesterday after heavy rains and winds that damaged roads and collapsed houses since Monday, weather experts are monitoring a Tropical Storm named Batsirai, which may reach Mauritius in February.”
“South African farmers’ planted less land with corn this season after record rains caused waterlogged fields…
“That’s after many areas in six of South Africa’s nine provinces, including those in the corn belt, experienced the most rainfall on record in December since tracking by district began in 1921.”
“Table Mountain wildfire, floods and ‘severe weather’ cost South Africa billions in 2021.
“The Table Mountain wildfire, flooding and severe weather events led to $175 million or about R2.7 billion in economic losses to South Africa in 2021, a report by insurance group AON shows.”
“Planned change to Kenya’s forest act threatens vital habitats, say activists…
“Tabled by the National Assembly’s procedure committee, the amendment would weaken the role of Kenya Forest Service, mandated to protect all public forests, allowing politicians to decide who can change forest boundaries.”
“Somalia drought: 1.4 million people may be forced from their homes, preventative action needed now…
“Somalia’s escalating drought is creating a massive displacement crisis. 245,000 people have already fled their homes, with numbers projected to reach up to 1.4 million as the drought worsens.”
“Four countries are facing “starvation and death” due to famine, with a mix of violence, climate shocks and the pandemic threatening many more across the globe, the United Nations has warned…
“Four are already deteriorating into famine-like conditions: Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Ethiopia – which is of the greatest concern.”
“Winter storms blanket parts of the Middle East in snow.
“People living in parts of Israel, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan woke up to a rare sight Thursday morning as winter storms brought heavy snowfall, rain and freezing temperatures from the Middle East to the southern Balkans.”
“The cold spell in Eastern Europe produced incredible snowfalls in the Black Sea area with local accumulation over 150cm [60 inches] like in the Tuapse region in Russia.” Video:
“China: Henan Floods Result in Costliest Insurance Event in 2021.
“A historic volume of rainfall during a 72-hour period created catastrophic flooding and subsequent damage throughout Zhengzhou and neighbouring communities. For one 24-hour period alone that ended during the morning of 21 July, a remarkable 612.9 mm [24.1 inches] of rain fell.”
“Floods that had devastated much of Malaysia in recent weeks have caused an estimated 6.1 billion ringgit ($1.46 billion) in overall losses, a government report said on Friday. Dozens of people died while more than 120,000 were displaced…”
“Continuous heavy showers from dawn on Wednesday (Jan 26) caused flash floods in several areas, leaving roads submerged under water. Several accidents were also reported as a result.”
“Several North Queensland residents awoke to flooded streets this morning, as more than a third of the Townsville region’s yearly rainfall dumped down in one day.
“The onslaught prompted severe weather warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology, as parts of the region copped 381mm [15 inches] of rain in 24 hours — 277mm [10.9 inches] of that in just three hours.”
“The South Australian government has declared a major emergency, with flooding and storm damage affecting parts of the state…
“”It is fair to say that we are now understanding the full magnitude of the issues associated with the extreme weather here in South Australia,” said Premier, Steven Marshall.”
“Workers in Peru race to reopen Machu Picchu after floods.
“Heavy downfalls on Friday caused the Alcamayo river that runs through the small tourist town of Machu Picchu Pueblo — at the foot of the mountain that boasts the world famous Inca citadel — to burst its banks. Almost 900 tourists were evacuated from the town after flooding destroyed many homes…”
“City underwater as floods hit Porto Alegre, Brazil on Jan 26 2022…
“Heavy rain cased flooding in the central and Southern areas of the city. The flooding followed two weeks of hot, dry weather which hardened the ground, worsening the floods… Boats were used to rescue those trapped by the flood water.”
“The heatwave in Paraguay exceeds historical maximums – how long will it last?
“…The extreme decline of the Paraguay and Parana rivers looks like a scene from a movie… 14 cities broke their all-time heat records… 70% of the country is in extreme drought… everything points to another month of high temperatures and no rain until March.”
“California drought making life harder for bees and the Central Valley almond growers who depend on them…
““Lately, with colony collapse disorder, and drought, and climate change, and habitat loss, and newer and stronger pesticides, we’re losing 40% of our hives,” said Michael Eggman, a beekeeper in Stanislaus County.”
“Insurance payments to U.S. farmers for crops lost to droughts and flooding have risen more than threefold over the past 25 years, according to an analysis of federal data by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released on Thursday.”
“Kansas hit with near-record blast of snow that weather models didn’t see coming.
“An unusual band of localized heavy snow unleashed over 2 feet of accumulation Tuesday on a narrow swath of Colorado and Kansas, nearly breaking the latter’s all-time snowfall record.”
“Brush fire sweeps across Gull Island in Point Pleasant Beach [Jersey Shore], drawing the Coast Guard… [an odd time of year for a fire here]
“Flames swept across Gull Island Wednesday afternoon as firefighters from the borough and Manasquan battled the brush fire with the Coast Guard, State Police and the state forest fire service assisting, an official said.”
“Floridians could experience record low temperatures as two cold fronts move south over the weekend as the Northeast faces a powerful nor’easter.
“The strongest cold front is forecast to move down the state Friday night, moving off Florida’s southeast coast early Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.”
“On 27th January the Caribbean country of Dominica broke its record of the highest temperature ever recorded in January with 32.7C [90.9F] at the Canefield Airport (near the capital Roseau). It’s the 12th country to set a national record high so far in 2022.”
“A Welsh mountaintop enjoyed 69F (21C) temperatures this week thanks to a freak weather phenomenon which saw lucky climbers applying SPF cream and sunbathing in the dead of winter…
“The balmy temperatures on one of Britain’s highest peaks were caused by a ‘temperature inversion’, which sees hot air trapped in a layer and the atmosphere get hotter the higher one travels.”
“Heatwaves, fires and snow: Greece’s extreme weather of last six months in pictures…
“During this time, the government created a new department to tackle the impact of the climate crisis, which is making many types of extreme weather events more likely to occur and more severe when they do.”
“Only 38% of 2021’s Natural Disaster Losses of $343B Were Covered by Insurance: Aon [you may feel that Natural should carry an asterisk there!].
“Natural disasters cost global economies a total of $343 billion in 2021, compared with $297 billion in 2020, according to Aon’s “2021 Weather, Climate and Catastrophe Insight” report.”
“Methane in the atmosphere is at an all-time high. What it means for climate change.
“Methane recently reached 1,900 parts per billion (ppb) of Earth’s atmosphere according to measurements taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the US.
“This compares with about 700 ppb before the industrial revolution.”
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 really means a lot.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
– Karina S.
Search
About This Site
Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“Historic warm spell in Antartica:
“New Antarctic Penguin Colonies Discovered Farther South Than Normal…
“Greenhouse gas emission impact from peatland fires underestimated by 200–300 percent.
“Fires threaten vital peatland in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego.
“Heat wave returns to the South [of Brazil] and temperature can approach 40 °C [104F].
“River overflows, flooding Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…
“Dozens killed by massive mudslide in Colombia.
“In Puerto Rico, floods and torrential rains close schools.
“North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens.
“Multiple collisions reported as dust storm blows across southern Alberta.
“Preparing for Category 6 hurricanes, a new facility [at Florida International University] will test winds of 200 mph and storm surge…
“Farmers Are Facing the Brunt of Portugal’s Worsening Drought…
“Tshwane floods [South Africa]: Death toll rises to 4 as two more bodies discovered…
“Malawi risks more food inflation after Cyclone Ana destroyed crops.
“More than 90 people have died… after a cyclone battered Madagascar.
“Livelihoods lost as climate disaster woes mount in Kenya…
“An estimated 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing severe hunger, the United Nations’ World Food Programme has said.
“Punjab and Sindh [Pakistan] break all records for rainfall in January.
“Sapporo [Japan] in deep disarray after record snowfall pounds city…
“A short-lived heatwave will grip parts of Western Australia this week, helping fuel fierce bushfires raging through the state’s south-west.
“Just days after receiving a deluge of rain that threatened major flooding, two West Coast towns [New Zealand] have set new records for their highest temperatures.
“Aoraki/Mt Cook’s driest January in nearly 100 years has been followed by a nearly 500 millimetre [19.7 inches] dumping of rain in early February.
“Water Supplies From Glaciers May Peak Sooner Than Anticipated…
“Thawing permafrost could expose Arctic populations to cancer-causing radon…
“Plastic pollution affects 88% of marine species: WWF.
“Climate pledges from top companies crumble under scrutiny.
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“
“