“Climate crisis triggers spike in lightning strike deaths in India.
“Lightning is …becoming more frequent, with nearly 19 million recorded strikes in the 12 months to March – up by a third from the previous year. Global warming is driving the increase, says Sanjay Srivastava of the Lightning Resilient India Campaign, one of the few organisations collecting data on thunderstorms.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/3/climate-change-lightning-strikes-deaths-india-weather-monsoons
“Kenya: Declare Drought a National Disaster, Governors Demand.
“Governors have now urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare the famine affecting arid and semi-arid lands (Asal) a national disaster. In a meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator Stephen Jackson, the county bosses described the situation as overwhelming.”
https://allafrica.com/stories/202109030422.html
“Northern Africa was still under extreme heat on 2nd September:
“Algeria: 48.2C [118.8F] at In Salah is just 0.2C from the Algerian record for September set at Hassi Messaud in 1989; Egypt: 47.7C [117.9F] at Asswan is just 0.1C from the Egyptian record for September set at the same place in 1957.” https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1433504749962371075
“This August was the warmest month in Cyprus since temperatures were recorded, with the island sweltering under prolonged heatwaves blamed on global warming.
“According to an announcement, maximum temperatures above 40°C [104F] became routine during August.”
https://www.financialmirror.com/2021/09/03/august-the-hottest-month-on-record/
“‘We left it in God’s hands’: floods wreck Spanish seaside town.
“People in the town of Alcanar in north-east Spain have been assessing the damage caused to homes and businesses by flooding produced by intense rain that fell over large areas of the country… more than 250 litres of water per sq metre was dumped on the town between 12am and 6pm on Wednesday.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/02/floods-devastate-spanish-town-alcanar-spain
“Study documents dramatic loss of remaining Pyrenees glaciers.
“Europe’s southernmost glaciers will likely be reduced to ice patches in the next two decades due to climate change, as the shrinking of ice mass on the Pyrenees mountain range continues at the steady but rapid speed seen at least since the 1980s…”
https://phys.org/news/2021-09-documents-loss-pyrenees-glaciers.html
“Swiss glaciologist bears witness to relentless Alpine glacier melt.
“GLAMOS scientists monitor around 20 Swiss glaciers each year and have noted that since 2010, the frequency of years with extreme ice loss has accelerated dramatically. One such year was 2011, the next was 2015, and then 2017, 2018 and 2019 were each record breakers.”
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210903-swiss-glaciologist-bears-witness-to-relentless-alpine-glacier-melt
“A Highland MSP has warned that the effects of the climate emergency are now being seen closer to home after Wick [far north Scotland] experienced its driest summer for 66 years.
“The town is facing a “significant scarcity” of water for the fifth week in a row as a result of very low flows and dry ground conditions, according to Scotland’s environmental regulator.” https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/warning-over-climate-emergency-after-wicks-driest-summer-si-249797/
“August 2021 in Iceland was very warm with temperature anomalies from +0.7C in the SW to +4.5C above the 91-20 norm in the NE. For some stations it was the warmest on records.
“In the NE it was also very dry (up to 85% deficits). Reykjavík had 15% rainfall deficit.” https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1433874939593912324
“Study reveals extreme winter weather is related to Arctic change.
“A new study shows that the frequency of polar vortex disruptions that is most favorable for extreme winter weather in the United States is increasing, and that Arctic change is likely contributing to the increasing trend.” https://phys.org/news/2021-09-reveals-extreme-winter-weather-arctic.html
“Storm Larry strengthens into hurricane over eastern Atlantic.
“Hurricane Larry, the 12th named storm of the busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on Friday night in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said.”
https://www.nytimes.com/article/tropical-storm-larry-hurricane.html
“Storm Ida: At least 58 people dead after flooding and tornadoes battered the US.
“The deaths include at least four people who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Louisiana, two dead in Mississippi after torrential rain caused a highway to collapse, and a number of people killed after their cars were swept away in floodwaters – one of them a Connecticut state trooper.”
https://news.sky.com/story/storm-ida-at-least-58-people-dead-as-flooding-and-tornadoes-continue-to-batter-the-us-12398026
“Cleanup efforts underway following one of the rainiest days ever on Prince Edward Island [Canada, East coast]…
“Environment Canada reports that, at 120.7mm [4.75 inches] it was the rainiest day in the Summerside area since records began in 1898. The previous record was 119.2 mm on Sept. 22, 1942.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-rain-records-1.6163531
“British Columbia’s southernmost piece of land set two daily temperature records yesterday: coldest on record in the morning (10.6C / 51.1F), and hottest on record in the afternoon (21.9C /71.4F).”
https://twitter.com/junah_b/status/1433900728171511809
“Canadian Drought to Fan Global Food Inflation.
“Canada’s role as the world’s largest producer and exporter of lentils is increasing the likelihood that its drought-ravaged Canadian Prairies will have an outsized impact on global food inflation, which is already at alarmingly high levels.”
https://gro-intelligence.com/insights/articles/canadian-drought-to-fan-global-food-inflation
“At A Shelter, Lake Tahoe Residents Fleeing A Massive Fire Wonder What’s Next.
“…about 50,000 people… have been evacuated in the Tahoe area since the fire began. The mass exodus, coupled with the unfavorable weather conditions that have made it difficult to contain the fire for weeks, means shelters are filling up and hotel rooms are hard to find and expensive.” https://www.npr.org/2021/09/03/1033851215/lake-tahoe-caldor-fire-evacuation-shelter
“Chile’s vital mining sector feeling the effects of drought…
“Chile… is 13 years into the worst drought in its history due to climate change. The current Southern Hemisphere winter, now drawing to a close, has seen 80 percent less rain than normal, while snowfall is down 85 percent.”
https://www.laprensalatina.com/chiles-vital-mining-sector-feeling-the-effects-of-drought/
“A new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature has quantified the impact of deforestation and fire on plant and vertebrate species in the Amazon, outlining losses to habitat and biodiversity since 2001 and what lies ahead.
“The Amazon is projected to lose up to 45 per cent of its forest cover by 2050, with a tremendous impact on biodiversity, the study by researchers in North America says.” https://theprint.in/environment/amazon-habitats-are-shrinking-due-to-increasing-forest-fires-deforestation-study-says/726784/
“Permafrost monitoring system to protect 15 million Russians — minister.
“”The data will help scientists to forecast the impact and learn how to avoid accidents in the cryolithic zone. Nearly 15 million people are living in areas of permafrost in Russia,” he said.” [Really infrastructure built onto permafrost is going to start being non-viable, irrespective of how much they monitor it.]
https://tass.com/society/1333799
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an ‘Economic’ thread.
“One person was missing as of Tuesday afternoon, and more than 20 homes destroyed after heavy rains brought flooding and mudslides to a community in southwest Virginia Monday…
“The community of Hurley, in Buchanan County was the hardest hit by Monday’s rains, which brought estimates of up to 10 inches to the area, causing landslides, and extensive damage to property.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9945477/One-missing-20-homes-destroyed-amid-heavy-flooding-Virginia.html
“This summer was the hottest on record for most cities in the Thompson-Okanagan [Canada].
“Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Erven says the three summer months of June, July and August are combined together “its no surprise that Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon came in with their hottest summer on record.””
https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/344560/Thompson-Okanagan-coming-out-of-hottest-summer-ever
“Heatwave causes unprecedented glacial ice melt in Canadian Rocky Mountains.
“Following an exceptionally warm summer, the iconic ice of the Canadian Rockies is melting at a rate that has never been seen before. As observed by scientists, during the hot spell in early July and late June the glacier was experiencing 2/3 of ice melt per week.”
https://www.wionews.com/world/heatwave-causes-unprecedented-glacial-ice-melt-in-canadian-rocky-mountains-409982
“Summer flip-flop: Seattle ends up with more 100° days than Houston.
“The record heat left some amazing statistics in its wake — like how Seattle’s all-time high is now hotter than Salt Lake City (107), Atlanta (106) and New York (106). It did not top Houston’s 109 degree all-time high but managed a feat this summer Houston hadn’t: Reaching 100 degrees.”
https://www.q13fox.com/weather/summer-flip-flop-seattle-ends-up-with-more-100-days-than-houston
“Despite August cooldown, Salt Lake City ties record for hottest summer on record.
“Not even one of the wettest Augusts in Salt Lake City history could stop 2021 from landing at the top of the city’s 147-year-old record book. With an average temperature of 80.9 degrees, 2021 tied the record for the hottest meteorological summer on record in Salt Lake City.
“All California national forests to temporarily close due to “wildfire crisis”…
“All of California’s national forests will be closed starting late Tuesday until mid-September, according to an order posted by the U.S. Forest Service. The agency said the closures will help “better provide public and firefighter safety due to the ongoing California wildfire crisis.””
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-wildfires-national-forests-close-temporarily-crisis/
“Brazil warns of energy crisis with record drought…
“Brazil’s Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque is warning that the country’s energy crisis is worse than previously thought… Albuquerque said federal government agencies had been directed to cut electricity consumption by 20 percent.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/9/1/brazil-warns-of-energy-crisis-with-record-drought
“The water levels of the Paraná river, the second-longest in South America after the Amazon, are at their lowest since 1944.
“The river is key to commercial shipping and fishing but also provides 40 million people with drinking water… Environmentalists fear that the drought has been made more severe by deforestation and climate change.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-58408791
“Heat waves are whiplashing several parts of the globe, all evidence of the ubiquitous global warming phenomenon. Recently a heat spike across northern Tunisia caused record temperatures, including a sweltering 49˚C [120.2F] in Tunis.
“Now, Arafat, in the southeast of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, recorded an all-time high of 50˚C [122F], amid hot and dry winds, according to a report.”
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2021/09/01/temperatures-hit-50-c-in-saudi–arabia
“Oil-rich Gulf faces prospect of unlivable heat as planet warms…
“”In general, the level of heat stress will increase significantly,” said Elfatih Eltahir, a professor of hydrology and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”
https://phys.org/news/2021-08-oil-rich-gulf-prospect-unlivable-planet.html
“Update on the new European record of highest monthly average:
“Lindos in Rhodes had an average temperature in August 2021 of 32.8C [91.04F]. The temperature never dropped below 25C [77F] in the whole month. A summer full of records for Southern Mediterranean.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1433121333026693125
“Glasgow swelters through hottest summer ever ahead of COP26 climate summit…
“The summer of 2021 has been a season of contrasting fortunes across the UK, with the north and west of the UK experiencing a warmer, drier and sunnier season compared to average while parts of the south east have been duller and wetter than average.”
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/glasgow-weather-met-office-record-21458480
“Summer 2021 was Finland’s hottest in over 80 years.
“The summer of 2021 was the hottest in Finland since 1937, and the warmest ever recorded in Helsinki, according to data released by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI). Temperatures over the months of June, July and August averaged 18.9 degrees Celsius [66G] in the capital region.”
https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/summer_2021_was_finlands_hottest_in_over_80_years/12082062
“A great thaw threatens Russia’s kingdom of eternal ice.
“…rising temperatures triggered by climate change mean that the permafrost — known in Russian as “eternal” frost — is shifting and subsiding, with dire consequences… Temperatures in Yakutia, which is also known as the Republic of Sakha, are rising at least 2.5 times as fast as the rest of the planet.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-great-thaw-threatens-russias-kingdom-of-eternal-ice-9xkkfxrnx
“Food for seals and other Arctic predators is literally shrinking.
“…if the atmosphere continues to be polluted with greenhouse gasses, all varieties of fish that the study analyzed will shrink in size—about 18-35 per cent for Arctic cod and 45-82 per cent for Pacific sand lance.”
https://phys.org/news/2021-09-food-arctic-predators-literally.html
“One in three trees face extinction in wild, says new report.
“They range from well-known oaks and magnolias to tropical timber trees. Experts say 17,500 tree species are at risk – twice the number of threatened mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles combined.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58394215
“Floodwaters are rising across eastern India, where hundreds of thousands of people are stranded on the roofs of their homes or have fled to higher ground as more torrential rain fell.
“Incessant downpours for more than a week made the Brahmaputra and other rivers burst their banks across Assam and Bihar states.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/31/india-monsoon-floods-assam-bihar
“Bangladesh floods impact more than 100,000.
“At least 12 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts were heavily affected with more than 100,000 people from about 20,000 families suffering from the consequences of floods, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry said in an update published Saturday.”
https://www.dailysabah.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-floods-impact-more-than-100000
“Three dead, two missing in Darchula floods, landslide [Nepal]…
“Flood and landslide caused by incessant rainfall on Sunday night has claimed as many as three lives in Darchula. Residents of Banspalika, Duhun Rural Municipality-1, Narsingh Mahar and his wife Kaushaa Mahar lost their lives…”
https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/three-dead-two-missing-in-darchula-floods-landslide
“Heavy rain in China forces thousands to evacuate as deluge causes flooding and landslides.
“Heavy torrential rains continued to hit China over the weekend of August 28-29, 2021, including in the northwestern province of Shaanxi where rainfall triggered widespread flooding and landslides. More than 23,000 people had to be evacuated to safety…”
https://www.scmp.com/video/china/3146859/heavy-rain-china-forces-thousands-evacuate-deluge-causes-flooding-and
“Over 200 houses and 5,400 private plots flooded in six Russian regions…
“The Russian emergencies ministry mentioned that it was monitoring the flood on the Amur in the country’s Far East… In the Volga region, high water is expected in the Nizhny Novgorod, Tatarstan, and Perm Regions.”
https://tass.com/society/1331799
“From India to Thailand, plastic pollution threatens Asia’s elephants, dolphins, seabirds: UN report.
“The Ganges and Mekong river basins together contribute an estimated 200,000 tonnes of plastic pollution to the world’s oceans every year, the report said. It also stressed that Asia-Pacific species face a multitude of other threats, including habitat loss… pollution and climate change.”
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3146977/india-thailand-plastic-pollution-threatens-asias-elephants-dolphins
“Drought-struck Brazil expects September rainfall well below average.
“Rainfall in key energy-producing regions of drought-struck Brazil is likely to remain well below average in September. The prediction comes from Brazil’s national grid operator ONS. The report is doing little to relieve high energy prices and headaches for agribusiness.”
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2021/08/drought-struck-brazil-expects-september-rainfall-well-below-average
“Once again a record day in Mexico:
“With a temperature of 50.6C [123.1F] the AWS station of the city of Mexicali beat the national record of the highest temperature in August, which was just set earlier this month with 50.4C at the same place.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1431669584264843264
“‘It was just too dry.’ Summer drought’s impact on fish, wildlife can be dramatic [Minnesota]…
“Bears are scrambling for food and may have fewer cubs this winter. Fish are stranded in pools along rivers that no longer flow, some unable to make fall spawning runs. Boat landings on some lakes and rivers have been rendered unusable because the water level is so low.”
https://www.twincities.com/2021/08/29/it-was-just-too-dry-summer-droughts-impact-on-fish-wildlife-can-be-dramatic/
“Manitoba drought, inflation hike lead to higher grocery bills — and highlight worsening food access: advocates…
“Munther Zeid has noticed his customers getting less bang for their buck at his Foodfare grocery stores in Winnipeg over the past few weeks. Prices for everything from beef to bread have slowly risen, while products that haven’t gotten more expensive — like ice cream, juice and Cheez Whiz — have gotten smaller, Zeid said.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-food-security-prices-drought-1.6154507
“Ghostly satellite image captures the Arctic ‘losing its soul’…
“University of Lincoln climate scientist Edward Hanna says the “quite dramatic” surface meltwater shown in the image is a scene that’s likely to be repeated because “Greenland is breaching a crucial tipping point driven by human-induced climate change.””
https://grist.org/climate/ghostly-satellite-image-captures-the-arctic-losing-its-soul/
“Climate change linked to risk of viruses jumping species in the Arctic…
“Canadian scientists found that an increase in glacier melt at Lake Hazen, the Arctic’s largest lake by volume… was linked to a greater risk of viral spillover, where a virus infects a new host for the first time. Melting glaciers were considered a proxy of climate change, which is causing their retreat globally.”
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2288529-climate-change-linked-to-risk-of-viruses-jumping-species-in-the-arctic/
“In Pictures: The Arctic struggle.
“At only 1,000km away from the North Pole, the Norwegian town of Longyearbyen [Svalbard] stands at the frontier of climate change. Here, homes constructed on a thawing permafrost balance precariously on unstable foundations, residents are plagued by frequent landslides, and rain – instead of snow – falls in winter.” https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/in-pictures-the-arctic-struggle
“Warm weather set new summer record [Norway]…
“The Norwegian capital of Oslo has never counted so many days with temperatures of more than 20C (nearly 70F) than it did this summer. It could boast 79 official “summer days” in June, July and August, breaking the last record set in 2006, four full days before August will be over.”
https://www.newsinenglish.no/2021/08/30/warm-weather-set-new-summer-record/
“Tomato blight [UK]: Crop harvest could be the worst in years following heavy storms and wet weather.
“The disease hurting people’s homegrown tomatoes is caused by a fungus-like organism that causes the fruit to rot quickly and spreads through the foliage, causing stems to collapse and decay.”
https://inews.co.uk/news/tomato-blight-crop-harvest-blight-heavy-storms-wet-weather-1174134
“Raw sewage threatens future of Chichester harbour [UK]…
“After it was issued with a record £90m fine for routinely breaking the law elsewhere on its patch, Southern Water says there is now a concerted effort on its part to try to prevent this heavily protected bird sanctuary becoming an ecological disaster zone. But no one is optimistic.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/31/raw-sewage-threatens-future-of-chichester-harbour
“Sudan: New Destruction in Sudan As Nile Floods Persist.
“Ongoing rains and high water levels in the Nile basin have left new swathes of destruction in El Gedaref, El Geneina, Sennar, and River Nile state. On Sunday, Sudanese Civil Defence reported the collapse of 468 houses due to the flooding of El Rahad river in El Gedaref…”
https://allafrica.com/stories/202108300787.html
“A Taliban official says the extremist group will help the world tackle climate change now it has seized power in Afghanistan…
“Afghanistan has been hit hard by climate change. A severe drought in 2018 affected 13.5m Afghans. That same year saw the collapse of a dam sparked by the rapid melting of glaciers near the city of Herat. In 2018 the Somali militant Islamist group al-Shabaab banned single-use plastic bags.”
“What a warmer, wetter world means for insects, and for what they eat…
“Temperature regulates insects’ physiology and metabolism. An increase in temperature increases physiological activity and, therefore, metabolic rates. Insects must eat more to survive and it’s expected that insect herbivores will consume more and grow faster.”
https://theconversation.com/what-a-warmer-wetter-world-means-for-insects-and-for-what-they-eat-166509
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
“Climate change: Global greenhouse gas levels were highest ever in 2020 despite lockdowns, study finds… Any hopes that pandemic lockdowns dented the build up of greenhouse gases have been dashed as a new report confirmed that global levels reached their highest on record in 2020…
In fact CO2 levels were their highest in modern records as well as in ice core records dating back 800,000 years, with concentrations at 48% above pre-industrial values.
“Other greenhouse gases also reached new highs according to the peer-reviewed study, published by the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.”
https://news.sky.com/story/climate-change-global-greenhouse-gas-levels-were-highest-ever-in-2020-despite-lockdowns-study-finds-12390205
“Scientists have discovered a new island off the coast of Greenland, which they say is the world’s northernmost point of land and was revealed by shifting pack ice.
““It was not our intention to discover a new island,” polar explorer and head of the Arctic station research facility in Greenland, Morten Rasch, said of the find last month. “We just went there to collect samples.”” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/28/scientists-discover-worlds-northernmost-island-off-greenlands-coast
“Villagers in Siberia, Facing Wildfires and a Warming Climate, Battle to Protect their Homes.
““I wasn’t scared, I was just sad to see nature die. I thought of the Yakut spirit of the forest, Bayanai. I wondered what had made him so angry that he had sent so many fires on people,” wrote photographer Alexey Vasilyev, a member of the Yakut ethnic group, over email.”
https://time.com/6090730/siberia-climate-wildfires/
“Driest summer in parts of Scotland since 1869 leads to drought fears.
“Concern is growing about Scotland’s parched rivers and landscape after the driest summer in some areas of the country since 1869. Scottish Water has reported that customers are still drawing 100 million litres extra per day, leaving reservoir levels at record lows.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/driest-summer-in-parts-of-scotland-since-1869-leads-to-drought-fears-89lsgsh60
“Heatwave and lack of water stops Scots whisky production.
“Whisky makers have put a temporary stop to production because of low water levels caused by the dry weather… There are problems with water across Scotland due to the hot summer we have had this year.”
“The heat wave damages 90% of the Malvasia vineyards, one of the varietal treasures La Palma [Canary Islands]…
“The episodes of high temperatures that were recorded last week on La Palma “have caused 90% damage to the malvasia vineyards” in the municipality of Fuencaliente, “one of the varietal treasures of this area of La Palma”, reports the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries…”
https://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/lapalmaahora/economia/ola-calor-dana-90-vinedos-malvasia-tesoros-varietales-palma_1_8252225.html
“Greek’s white wine harvest in jeopardy following wildfires.
“After careful sorting, Paraskevopoulos says that vigilant winemaking is required this year. ‘We saw grapes either burned, over-ripe or under-ripe, some quite thick skinned without much juice, so we need to be careful with fermentations,’ he says.” https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/greeks-white-wine-harvest-in-jeopardy-following-wildfires-464038/
“While half of Europe seems to have entered into an early autumn, the NOA station of Lindos, Rhodes Island, Greece is on the way to record the hottest average month in European history (to be confirmed) with a month-to-date average temp. of 33.1C [91.6F] – more typical of the Red Sea.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1431261545418399751
“Every single one of these European countries has broken heat records this year.
“… few countries can say they haven’t experienced some sort of record breaker since the year began. Even those within the Arctic circle are facing uncharted territory when it comes to temperatures. We’ve put together a list of places where major records have been broken this year so far:” https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/08/27/every-single-one-of-these-european-countries-has-broken-heat-records-this-year
“Southern Africa answers to the winter heat waves of Australia and South America.
“On 27th August Botswana recorded its hottest day in August in climatic history with 39.7C [103.5F] at Tubu. In South Africa 37.5C at the King Shaka AP,in Eswatini 36.7C at Big Bend.But a cold front is on the way.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1431308412189618180
“Kenya: It’s Heat, Hunger and Death for Locals in Drought-Hit Turkana…
“In May, the county government ended a relief food distribution drive targeting 640,000 people. County Disaster Management Chief Officer Esther Ikaru said Sh370 million was spent in the exercise that began in March. However, not all the starving have benefited.”
https://allafrica.com/stories/202108260349.html
“Kyrgyzstan: The saga of small farmers battered by the drought…
““How am I going to cover my expenses? The watermelon won’t even grow. […] They’re coming out all crooked because of the lack of water,” he told Eurasianet. “They promised us water, and so I planted them. My patience is at an end.”” https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-the-saga-of-small-farmers-battered-by-the-drought
“Drought threatens livelihoods of 7 million farmers in Afghanistan.
“The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has appealed for humanitarian assistance to be scaled up as Afghanistan continues to be hit hard by an ever-worsening drought that threatens the livelihoods of more than 7 million people who rely on agriculture or livestock.”
https://www.miragenews.com/drought-threatens-livelihoods-of-7-million-621689/
“Heavy rains, floods affect over 3,000 people in China’s Chongqing… with Dongsheng Village of Qijiang District recording the heaviest daily rainfall at 174.5 mm [6.9 inches]…
“As of 11 a.m. Thursday, heavy rains and rain-triggered floods had wreaked havoc in 47 townships… Authorities have evacuated residents and dispatched personnel to conduct rescue work.”
http://www.china.org.cn/china/2021-08/26/content_77716521.htm
“Chile’s continuing water crisis.
“Chile is in the midst of rewriting its constitution, a process that will affect every aspect of Chilean life – even down to its water. The country has been battling a megadrought for over a decade, and rivers and reservoirs have dried to dust. This year could match 2019 for the driest year on record.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/2021/8/27/chiles-continuing-water-crisis
“Brazil water survey heightens alarm over extreme drought.
“The Brazilian scientists were skeptical. They ran different models to check calculations, but all returned the same startling result. The country with the most freshwater resources on the planet steadily lost 15% of its surface water since 1991.”
https://www.yourbasin.com/news/brazil-water-survey-heightens-alarm-over-extreme-drought/
“Fires rage in Bolivia’s Chiquitania region.
“Two years ago, fire ravaged the Tucavaca Valley Municipal Wildlife Reserve in the heart of Bolivia’s Chiquitania region, wiping out thousands of square kilometers of habitat. Now this threat has returned, with fires raging once again in the reserve and the surrounding area.”
https://news.mongabay.com/2021/08/fires-rage-in-bolivias-chiquitania-region/
“La Nina’s return could threaten South American crops, again…
“Earlier this month, the U.S. government placed chances of La Nina from November through January 2022 at 70%. Those odds are greater than the year-ago forecast, which preceded the strongest La Nina episode in a decade.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latam-grains-braun-idUSKBN2FR0PJ
“US braces for Category 4 Hurricane Ida after Cuba takes hit…
“Forecasters said Ida would likely make US landfall as a robust Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, generating steady winds nearing 140 mph, heavy downpours and a tidal surge expected to plunge much of the Louisiana shoreline under several feet of water.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/27/not-good-cuba-us-brace-for-hurricane-ida
“With wildfire threatening, Lake Tahoe prepares for emergency.
“Firefighters were facing changing weather conditions that could push the fire closer to the Tahoe Basin, a home to thousands and recreational playground for millions of tourists who visit the alpine lake in summer, ski at the many resorts in winter and gamble at its casinos year-round.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/27/with-wildfire-threatening-lake-tahoe-prepares-for-emergency.html
“‘This mine dodged a bullet’: massive B.C. landslide exposes new era of climate risks…
“A recent landslide that saw a mountainside collapse near one of B.C.’s newest mines is raising questions about whether a copper and gold rush in British Columbia’s northwestern “Golden Triangle” is safe — or in some cases, even possible — as climate change advances.”
https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-mines-landslide-climate-risk/
“Climate change wiping out billions of sea stars: study… Sea stars in the waters off British Columbia that died off in the billions about a decade ago are not recovering as expected, an expert says.
“A new study published by the Royal Society said sea stars are getting close to extinction as waters along the west coast, including in California and Mexico, warm faster because of climate change.”
https://globalnews.ca/news/8139010/climate-change-wiping-out-billions-of-sea-stars-study/
“A Bad Solar Storm Could Cause an ‘Internet Apocalypse’. The undersea cables that connect much of the world would be hit especially hard by a coronal mass ejection…
“…coronal mass ejections are a real threat to internet resilience… And after three decades of low solar storm activity, she and other researchers point out that the probability of another incident is rising.”
https://www.wired.com/story/solar-storm-internet-apocalypse-undersea-cables/
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an ‘Economic’ thread.
“Wildfires Near Russia’s Nuclear Research Center Spark State of Emergency. Russian authorities have declared an interregional state of emergency as tough-to-contain forest fires threaten the country’s top-secret nuclear weapons research center, Interfax reported Tuesday, citing the emergencies ministry…
“Today, the research center makes nuclear warheads and is believed to be developing Russia’s strategic missiles, including its highly touted hypersonic arsenal.”
“Wildfires in Russia Spread to Central Regions. Authorities were fighting 15 wildfires in the Urals region of Sverdlovsk, the emergencies ministry said.
“The region — which lies on the border of Europe and Asia — faced “extreme fire hazard” due to a heatwave, it added.”
“Teams from the Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) of Russia are searching for 5 people who were swept away by floods and mudflows in mountainous areas of Dagestan.
A helicopter has been deployed to help with the search for the missing five.”
“Europe experienced the hottest year on record in 2020, with temperatures 3.4°F (1.9°C) higher than the average for 1981-2010, the latest climate report has revealed.
“This exceeds the 2.7°F (1.5°C) global average temperature increase target set by the UN in the Paris Climate Agreement…”
“The UK’s National Trust is giving its workers siestas in summer due to increasingly hot weather because of climate change.
“Staff and volunteers in the south of England will be given more Mediterranean working hours, with a long lunch break and the day starting earlier and finishing later.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/25/national-trust-to-give-staff-siestas-in-summer
“Spain Plans Government Aid for Regions Affected by Wildfires.
“Spain’s government classified regions recently struck by wildfires as emergency zones, a move that will trigger subsidies and other support measures… The wildfires, which started during a heatwave, spread as strong winds and low humidity made them harder to control.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-24/spain-plans-government-aid-for-regions-affected-by-wildfires
“Spain’s government is considering declaring a disaster area after thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of a large saltwater lagoon…
“A blistering heatwave hit Spain last week and local officials are blaming the extreme temperatures for killing the fish, although some scientists say pollution from local farming has degraded the water quality of the lake…”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mar-menor-dead-fish-weather-spain-b1907917.html
“25 August was a very warm day in Central Western Africa. With a maximum temperature of 33.8C [92.8F] Mvengue recorded the highest temperature in August in Gabonese climatic history, while with 36.7C. [Surprisingly cool for a Tmax but I imagine the Atlantic prevents extreme heat there].
“Brazzaville came 0.3C from the Congolese August record (Ouesso,2010).”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1430626938637402115
“Middle East drought: Our leaders are fiddling as the world burns.
“Khuzestan province in southern Iran has been devastated by droughts and water shortages for years, exacerbated by summer heatwaves and seasonal sandstorms blowing in from south-west regions and extending into Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Rising temperatures in the last few years have made life increasingly difficult across the region.”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/iran-climate-change-drought-terror-yet-come
“A tornado injured at least one person and damaged dozens of residential buildings in Huludao city in China’s northeastern province of Liaoning on August 25, 2021.
“The twister only touched down for about one minute, but it knocked down trees, smashed street lamps and windows as well as cut power supplies in the area.” [Video]
https://www.scmp.com/video/china/3146407/tornado-injures-one-damages-buildings-northeastern-chinas-liaoning
“Death toll rises to at least 20 in western Venezuela floods.
“State governor Ramon Guevara said earlier that more than 1,200 houses had been destroyed and 17 people remained missing as rescue workers search the wreckage… Images shared on social media showed cars being swept down streets, buildings and businesses filled with mud, and mudslides that left boulders strewn across roads.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/26/death-toll-rises-to-at-least-20-in-western-venezuela-floods
“More than 270 homes were destroyed in central Tennessee as flash flooding killed 18, officials say.
“A damage assessment conducted in Humphreys County showed 271 homes were destroyed by Saturday’s flooding, according to a news release from the county’s emergency management agency. Another 160 homes had major damage…”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/25/us/tennessee-flooding-wednesday/index.html
“The Plains and Upper Midwest are growing drier as drought deepens in the West.
“A 53-foot waterfall in Minneapolis, has been reduced to a trickle. Utah’s biggest reservoirs are about half full, and dropping. Almond growers in California are abandoning their dying trees as water grows increasingly scarce.” https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/08/25/us/climate-change
“Here in British Columbia, we have spent the summer running from cruel wildfires.
“The fires have burned nearly 8,582 sq km of forest since the spring and caused evacuation orders to be issued across the province. Lytton and another nearby community, Monte Lake, have been destroyed by the vengeful climate.” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/24/british-columbia-summer-cruel-wildfires-canada
“Thaw-induced landslide triggers partial closure of Alaska’s Denali National Park.
“A large swath of Denali National Park, one of Alaska’s premier travel destinations, has closed for the summer tourist season weeks early after heightened landslide activity from excessive thawing of a mountain slope made the park’s only access road unsafe…
“Climate change “has taken what was previously a problem solved by maintenance staff performing road repairs and made a challenge too difficult to overcome with short-term solutions,” the statement said.”
“Record Temperature in East Iceland.
“A heat record was set in Hallormsstaður, East Iceland, yesterday when the temperature reached 29.3°C (84.7°F)… “This is possibly the highest temperature ever recorded for Iceland during the month of August,” states meteorologist Teitur Arason at the Icelandic Met Office.” [If verified, it is.]
https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/nature_and_travel/2021/08/25/record_temperature_in_east_iceland/
“The Arctic Circle saw record-high temperatures in 2020, NOAA report finds.
“Last summer, Russia reached 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit — the highest temperature ever measured within the Arctic Circle, according to an annual climate report released Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
https://news.yahoo.com/arctic-circle-saw-record-high-024257233.html
“So much ice is melting that Earth’s crust is moving…
“The loss of melting ice from land masses such as Greenland and Antarctica is causing the planet’s crust to warp slightly, even in spots more than 1,000 kilometres from the ice loss.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02285-0
“Brace for Civil Unrest as Food Prices Skyrocket…
“Phil Lempert, Food Trends Editor for NBC’s “Today,” also known as the “Supermarket Guru,” told Fortune magazine this month, “We’re going to continue to see price increases, probably for the next two years or so… It is a much bigger problem, and a much more complex problem, than the average consumer realizes or understands.””
https://www.outsiderclub.com/brace-for-civil-unrest-as-food-prices-skyrocket/99886
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
“How climate change amplifies extreme weather like Tennessee’s deadly floods and NYC’s record rainfall…
“…in Tennessee this weekend as more than 17 inches of rain fell in just 24 hours around McEwen and Centerville — a third of the region’s typical annual rainfall — which would set a record in the state of Tennessee once made official…
“Meanwhile, in New York City on Saturday night, residents saw extreme rainfall rates unmatched in the city’s history… 1.94 inches of rain fell in Central Park, setting the all-time record there for the largest amount of rain in a single hour, according to the National Weather Service.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/23/weather/flooding-henri-tn-climate-change/index.html
“The slow-rolling storm Henri was taking its time drenching the US north-east on Monday…
“More than 140,000 homes lost power and deluges closed bridges, swamped roads and left some people stranded in their vehicles… National Hurricane Center says storm to slow down further and likely stall near Connecticut-New York line.”
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/23/henri-tropical-storm-hurricane-weather-connecticut-new-york
“Caldor Fire grows to more than 98,000 acres as US sees 94 active large fires nationwide.
“Eight days after the blaze broke out in El Dorado County [N California], it has grown to 98,149 acres, according to an update Sunday morning from CAL Fire. It remains 0% contained, officials said, and full containment is not anticipated until at least August 31.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/22/us/us-wildfires-update/index.html
“Burned paws, hungry bears: the race to help animals injured in wildfires.
“The emaciated bear cub was trekking along a mountain road through the scorched Sierra Nevada when firefighters spotted it. His paws appeared burned and he seemed alone. There was little the fire crew could do, but call the Wildlife Disaster Network.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/22/california-wildfire-animal-rescue
“Floods blow gates off Trump’s border wall. Donald Trump’s ill-fated border wall between the US and Mexico is already failing at its sole task – being a wall.
“Flooding caused by monsoons in Arizona has broken the floodgates on portions of the wall, separating metal panels from their hinges and leaving huge openings in the barrier.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/trump-wall-border-flood-damage-b1907274.html
“Remnants of Hurricane Grace, which slammed into Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane Saturday morning, may bring flash floods and mudslides to the central part of the country…
“At least eight people are deadand another three missing from the storm, which made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Mexico with maximum sustained winds of at least 120 mph.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/22/weather/hurricane-grace-mexico-sunday/index.html
“Massive wildfires devastate protected area of Bolivian forest.
“More than 1,000 square miles of Bolivian forests have been destroyed by wildfires, authorities say. So far 280,000 hectares, an area equivalent to just less than twice that of greater London, has been devastated in a southeastern region bordering Brazil and Paraguay.”
https://news.sky.com/story/massive-wildfires-devastate-protected-area-of-bolivian-forest-12386567
“The extreme winter heat wave doesn’t stop in Paraguay with another day above 40C [104F]. Today and tomorrow will make one week of temperatures exceeding 40C every day except one. And it’s still winter.”
https://twitter.com/extremetemps/status/1429854406493749252
”Video shows some of the key sights around the Mont Blanc massif, which spans France, Italy, and Switzerland. At Chamonix, France, a thermometer in the town center recorded 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on August 14, which is 10 degrees above average for the summer month.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/watch-alpine-glaciers-melt-record-142803547.html
“Climate change made German floods ‘more likely and more intense’.
“Climate change made the deadly floods that devastated parts of Germany and Belgium last month up to nine times more likely, according to an international study published Tuesday. At least 190 people lost their lives…”
https://www.thelocal.de/20210824/climate-change-made-german-floods-more-likely-and-more-intense/
“August’s wildfires in North Macedonia engulfed a vast amount of forest whose absence will be felt for decades – worsening climate conditions and threatening the livelihoods of rural communities.
“In less than one month, from July 26 until August 19, little North Macedonia experienced some 120 wildfires across its territory, the country’s Crisis Management Centre has counted.” https://balkaninsight.com/2021/08/24/north-macedonia-will-feel-cost-of-wildfires-for-decades/
“Forest fire in Turkey’s Mount Kaz rages for second day.
“The idyllic Mount Kaz (Mount Ida) in western Turkey was still embattled with flames on the second day after a forest fire broke out Monday. The challenging geography and strong winds obstructed the efforts of firefighters.”
https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/forest-fire-in-turkeys-mount-kaz-rages-for-second-day/news
“Russian Heat Wave: The hot air which has been stuck for weeks in the Caspian Area (some stations might record incredible +7C/+8C of monthly positive anomalies in August) pushed north with temperatures peaking at 35.8C [96.4F] in Yekaterinburg…
“Water crisis and drought threaten 12 million in Syria, Iraq.
“Rising temperatures, record low levels of rainfall, and drought are depriving people across the region of drinking and agricultural water, said the report, published on Monday. Syria is currently facing its worst drought in 70 years.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/23/water-crisis-and-drought-threaten-12-million-in-syria-ira
“Dust from the Arabian Desert is melting Himalayan glaciers and affecting the seas.
“Asia’s largest freshwater reserve is disappearing. In the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, which is warming by 0.3 degrees Celsius-0.7 degrees Celsius above the global average, global heating is melting the glaciers that blanket the planet’s highest peaks. Scientists now know that this catastrophic melt is being exacerbated by dust blowing from West Asia.” https://scroll.in/article/1003244/dust-from-the-arabian-desert-is-melting-himalayan-glaciers-and-affecting-the-seas
“Fire Services Battle Floods After Heavy Rainfall in China’s Henan Province.
“This footage, posted to Weibo by Henan Fire, shows firefighters attempting to drain water from flooded streets and alleys, push stranded cars through the deluge, and rescue elderly and juvenile citizens who found themselves caught in a precarious position.” [Video]
https://news.yahoo.com/fire-services-battle-floods-heavy-115501878.html
“Typhoon Omais leaves behind flooded homes, damaged roads, railways [South Korea]…
“The railway connecting Gwangju and Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province was cutoff after parts of the railway became covered with piles of mud from heavy rainfall early Tuesday morning. Six roads in the provinces of South Gyeongsang and South Jeolla were inundated with flash floods.”
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2021/08/281_314394.html
“East Sea’s Water Temperature Rises to Record High in July.
“According to the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, the East Sea’s average sea surface temperature was 22.2 C [72F] last month, the highest since relevant record keeping began in 1982 and 2.7 C higher than the average of the past 30 years.” http://koreabizwire.com/east-seas-water-temperature-rises-to-record-high-in-july/197437
“Lightning strikes shock Iqaluit [Canadian territory of Nunavut]…
“Such weather is rare in Iqaluit because lightning needs both warm air and moisture… but by being located on the cold Arctic Ocean and often surrounded by snow and ice, Iqaluit is not often likely to see that type of weather occur.”
https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/lightning-strikes-shock-iqaluit/
“When Greenland was green: rapid global warming 55 million years ago shows us what the future may hold…
“The abrupt global warming event 56 million years ago, known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), is often used as a worrying analogue for our current climate crisis.
“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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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.
“New Zealand just had its warmest winter – again…
“Hawke’s Bay [NZ] dry predicted to deepen as 10 days of sun loom…
“Australia has just experienced its fourth-hottest winter since 1910, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)…
“Climate crisis triggers spike in lightning strike deaths in India.
“Drought leaves Afghans hungry as economic collapse looms – U.N…
“Kenya: Declare Drought a National Disaster, Governors Demand.
“Northern Africa was still under extreme heat on 2nd September:
“This August was the warmest month in Cyprus since temperatures were recorded, with the island sweltering under prolonged heatwaves blamed on global warming.
“The recent wave of heat and wind in the Canary Islands raises the compensation forecast to over 10 million Euros… It is the most serious heat stroke incident in the history of the Canary Islands…
“‘We left it in God’s hands’: floods wreck Spanish seaside town.
“Study documents dramatic loss of remaining Pyrenees glaciers.
“Swiss glaciologist bears witness to relentless Alpine glacier melt.
“Drought alerts for 38 departments in France despite wet summer.
“Belgium creates garbage highway for flood victims’ waste.
“UK [East Anglia] farmers frustrated by ‘wettest dry harvest ever’…
“A Highland MSP has warned that the effects of the climate emergency are now being seen closer to home after Wick [far north Scotland] experienced its driest summer for 66 years.
“August 2021 in Iceland was very warm with temperature anomalies from +0.7C in the SW to +4.5C above the 91-20 norm in the NE. For some stations it was the warmest on records.
“Climate change: Arctic Circle temperatures reached highest levels ever recorded last year, report finds.
“Study reveals extreme winter weather is related to Arctic change.
“Arctic skua in danger from predators and food shortage…
“North Atlantic right whales critically endangered by climate crisis, new study finds.
“Storm Larry strengthens into hurricane over eastern Atlantic.
“Storm Ida: At least 58 people dead after flooding and tornadoes battered the US.
“Cleanup efforts underway following one of the rainiest days ever on Prince Edward Island [Canada, East coast]…
“Canadian Drought to Fan Global Food Inflation.
“Oregon’s drought could cause worldwide grass-seed shortage…
“At A Shelter, Lake Tahoe Residents Fleeing A Massive Fire Wonder What’s Next.
“How California’s drought is stressing a water system that delivers water to millions of residents…
“Chile’s vital mining sector feeling the effects of drought…
“Amazon fires surge anew in Brazil as cleared forest burns.
“A new study published Wednesday in the journal Nature has quantified the impact of deforestation and fire on plant and vertebrate species in the Amazon, outlining losses to habitat and biodiversity since 2001 and what lies ahead.
“11 Endangered Species ‘Likely Extinct’ Within Russia, Ministry Says.
“Permafrost monitoring system to protect 15 million Russians — minister.
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