“Chamoli disaster [India]: ‘It hit the valley floor like 15 atomic bombs’… A wedge of glacier-covered rock more than 500m wide and 180m thick just suddenly let go.
“The team calculates almost 27 million cubic metres of material was put into a minute-long descent that at one point was in complete freefall.
“To put this volume in context, it’s about 10 times that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt… the frequency of rock falls in the Himalaya is increasing as temperatures rise.”
“All primary and middle schools in both summer and winter zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been closed indefinitely owing to an intense heatwave in the province… Last week, 25 students at a government-run school in Bara Kahu fainted because of a power outage.”
“Torrential rains, wind storms claim 10 lives across country [Pakistan]…
“At least ten people have been killed in different parts of Pakistan as torrential rains and strong winds continue to wreak havoc by causing floods and uprooting trees.”
“Drought-hit Jordan to build Red Sea desalination plant…
“Jordan is one of the world’s most water-deficient countries and experts say the country, home to 10 million people, is now in the grip of one of the most severe droughts in its history.“
“10th June was the hottest June day ever in the Republic of Congo (with capital Brazzaville). Ouesso recorded 36.3C [97.3F] which beats the previous record of 36.1C set at Gamboma in June 1950.
“This is the 51st national monthly record of Tmax vs. 3 of Tmin in 2021 [remarkable given that La Nina was in effect for most of this year].”
“Deforestation in Brazil Amazon rainforest soars 67 percent compared to the same month last year…
“Last year, Brazil faced the worst forest fires in a decade. But 2021 could be worse according to data released by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research.”
“Rains in Medellín [Colombia] leave floods, landslides and a dead young woman.
“The Administrative Department for Disaster Risk Management also reported that, during the heavy rainfall in the Antioquia capital this Friday, line 123 received more than 500 calls related to emergencies.”
“Guyana’s President declares flooding a national disaster.
“President Irfaan Ali on Saturday proclaimed that the floods across Guyana have reached the stage of a national disaster and crisis. In a gazetted proclamation of the floods as a national disaster, it was noted that 28 228 households have been affected by flooding.”
“The Wild Plan to Save 17 Million Salmon From California’s Megadrought by Driving Them to Sea.
“Usually, California’s iconic Chinook salmon hatch in freshwater bodies and then swim out to sea for most of their adult lives. But this year [they] will be hitching a ride downstream because severe drought conditions have made their traditional path untenable.”
“‘Dire situation’: Silicon Valley cracks down on water use as California drought worsens.
“Santa Clara county, the home of Silicon Valley, issued mandatory water restrictions this week during a severe drought that has already reached historic levels.”
“The 19.22 inches of rain recorded at the Rohwer Research Station in Desha County on Tuesday morning represented the second-highest rain total ever recorded in Arkansas during a 48-hour period, according to the National Weather Service.”
“‘Really Nervous’: Washington Heads Into Wildfire Season With a Drought and Record Number of Early Fires.
“Residents across the state these past several years have become intimate with one or another hellish manifestation of wildfire season: blankets of smoke muddying the air; swaths of forest and grasslands scorched; homes, businesses and towns burned to the ground; lives lost. Even the rainforests have caught fire.”
“Brainerd lakes [Minnesota] area heat wave breaks 6 of 7 records for week…
“”…obviously, breaking one record is rare but when you’re breaking a number of them in a row over a multiple stretch of days is abnormal and just a sign of how strong that heat wave was across much of the region.””
“We can now officially say that this June has started in a way unlike any other June on record in the Stateline [Illionois]!
“…Never before has a June commenced with ten 90°+ days in the first 13 days of the month. A normal June sees four such days in the entire month, and an entire calendar year generally hosts 21 days of 90°+ heat.”
“Melting permafrost is giving much of northern Alaska a sinking feeling.
“…people are noticing the appearance of sinkholes… That yawning hole, which opened near a landowner’s shed a few years ago, could swallow a truck if its driver veered off the nearby gravel road.”
“Toxic, long-lasting contaminants detected in people living in northern Canada…
“Researchers have recently found that several long-lasting human-made contaminants have been building up in Arctic lakes, polar bears and ringed seals and other wildlife.”
“Illegal sewage discharge in English rivers 10 times higher than official data suggests.
“Water companies are being allowed to unlawfully discharge raw sewage into rivers at a scale at least 10 times greater than Environment Agency prosecutions indicate, according to analysis to be presented to the government.”
“The state agency responsible for fighting forest fires, Avialesookhrana, said the largest blaze was in the far northeast’s Sakha Republic, where 34,000 hectares (74,000 acres) were on fire.”
“China’s sea-level rise raises threat to economic hubs to extreme.
“Trillions of dollars of economic activity along China’s east coast, including $974bn in Shanghai alone, are exposed to oceans rising as a result of climate change this century, according to Financial Times analysis of unpublished data.”
“Thousands remain without power in Victoria, Australia days after deadly storm.
“Emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp confirmed 39,000 homes remain without power on Sunday, down from 300,000 immediately after the storm, which began on Wednesday night.”
“Some of Canterbury’s floods [NZ] labelled a one-in-200-year event.
“During the floods, at the end of May, an Environment Canterbury rain gauge in Mt Somers recorded its largest 48-hour rainfall ever, with 526mm [20.7 inches]. Another rain gauge about 10km away recorded 310mm in the same period.”
“‘Worst-case scenario’: Study shows coral reefs could go extinct in 30 to 50 years.
“In a recent study of underwater ecosystems, researchers made the grim discovery that coral reefs could become extinct in 30 to 50 years if steps aren’t taken to mitigate climate change… The group identified elevated sea temperatures as one of the main causes of a rise in mass coral bleaching episodes.”
And in case you missed this on my economic thread: “Pine Island Glacier’s Ice Shelf Is Ripping Itself Apart – Speeding Up Key Antarctic Glacier...
““The loss of Pine Island’s ice shelf now looks like it possibly could occur in the next decade or two, as opposed to the melt-driven subsurface change playing out over 100 or more years,” said co-author Pierre Dutrieux…”
“In yet another sign of the devastating effects of the expansive drought in the western United States, Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, has dropped to its lowest level since it was filled in the late 1930s.
“Early Thursday, the water level fell to 1,071.48 feet. The previous lowest level had been 1,071.61 feet on July 1, 2016.
“”We expect it to keep declining until November,” Bureau of Reclamation spokeswoman Patti Aaron told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.”
“The area around Arizona’s wildfires is so dry, firefighters’ heavy equipment is causing small flareups.
“Two massive wildfires in eastern Arizona continued to spread Wednesday… As of Wednesday night, the Telegraph Fire has burned nearly 85,000 acres and the Mescal Fire has scorched more than 70,000 acres…”
““Unheard of”: drought, dry conditions in North Dakota leading to some culling of herds…
“Kyle Shively has already culled half of his herd. “This is a very stressful time…”” …He says that some farmers may “get by” by the summer, by they will have to buy a lot of hay which will not be cheap.”
“The Mid-South is already flooded. Now, the highest risk for excessive rainfall is predicted — again…
“Rainfall accumulations of 8 to 10 inches were seen Tuesday across the region, and some areas may have gotten more. Some parts of Arkansas have estimated a foot of rain over the last few days, and flash flooding has been significant.”
“The Mexican air force has been assigned a new mission: seeding clouds in an effort to combat the prolonged drought.
“The drought has affected as much as 85% of Mexico’s territory since July last year, leaving large reservoirs at exceptionally low levels, straining water resources for drinking, farming, and irrigation.”
““We’re facing a ‘dry season’ that in reality is going to last one-and-a-half to two years,” said Pedro Luiz Cortes, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo’s Institute for Energy and the Environment.”
“Slash-and-burn clearing nears Indigenous Xingu park as Brazil’s fire season ignites…
“…data show forest loss in the park increased in 2020 as fires, often associated with deforestation for agriculture, consumed portions of its old growth forest. More recently, satellite data and imagery show clearing encroaching closer and closer to the park – including right along its border – as well as fires starting to break out within the park itself.”
“See images of the damage caused by rain in Santa Catarina [Eastern Brazil]….
“The dawn of Wednesday (9) was marked by a lot of rain in Santa Catarina. During the morning, the municipality of Canelinha, in Greater Florianópolis, registered the highest volume of rain in the state in the last 24 hours, with 288 mm [11.3 inches].”
“A perfectly preserved ancient box of Viking treasures has been discovered after a Norwegian glacier partially melted.
“The 500-year-old wooden box was found containing remains of beeswax candles, which the Vikings would have used to find their farms, according to archaeologists.”
“Damage again after thunderstorms with heavy rain in Saxony [Germany]…
“Local storms again caused flooding in the region around Döbeln, in Glauchau and Meerane on Thursday. In Glauchau, Meerane and in the community of Schönberg, the volunteer fire brigades were on constant duty to clear sludge and to pump empty cellars that had filled up.”
“Forest fires ravage Jerusalem and environs, heightened by heat and winds…
“Multiple firefighting squads are battling out-of-control forest fires outside of Jerusalem on Wednesday, due to the hot and dry June weather combined with strong winds.”
“Disease caused by contaminated water are on rise in the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani province as the city begins to feel the impacts of drought on the city, health officials warned this week.
“Dr. Sabah Hawrami, head of Sulaimani Directorate, in a press conference on Wednesday warned of an increase in cases of diarrhea among the city’s residents…””
“Time is running out for more than three million Afghans likely to be acutely affected by a drought this year. The looming crisis comes on top of an already critical situation in Afghanistan, with worsening conflict and severe socio-economic impacts of Covid-19.”
“Health specialists encouraged Lahoris [Pakistan] to remain inside and not to get out for any superfluous explanation as Lahore heatwave hits 43°C [109.4F] on Wednesday.
“As indicated by the Met Office, the temperature was 43°C yet the real feel index put it at 47°C.”
“Up to two billion people in southeast Asia can face food and water shortages even as the the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountain ranges lose up to two-thirds of its ice by 2100, a United Nations-backed research flagged.
“The HKH region, often referred to as the ‘Third Pole’… contains the world’s third-largest storage of frozen water after the Antarctica and Arctic.”
“Uttarakhand flood was caused by rare rock and glacier avalanche.
“The 2021 flood in Uttarakhand, India, that resulted in over 200 dead and missing was the result of an avalanche that dropped about 27 million square metres of rock and glacier ice from the nearby Ronti mountain.”
“May records India’s second highest rainfall in 121 years [of records]…
“May received the second highest rainfall in 121 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its monthly report Thursday, attributing two back-to-back cyclones and western disturbances for the record precipitation.”
“Aerial photographs show Exmouth flooding [Western Australia] after almost a year’s worth of rain in a night…
“Minilya-Exmouth Road — the only road in and out of the townsite — became close to being inaccessible overnight due to the water and debris after 173mm [6.8 inches] of rain was dumped onto the red dirt. The majority of the rain fell in the early hours of Thursday morning…”
“A man has died in flood waters in south-eastern Victoria, Australia, after heavy rain and flooding swept across the Gippsland region with the SES [emergency services] stating it was “the busiest 24-hour period” in the service’s history.
“Police confirmed on Thursday evening that a man, thought to be in his 60s, was found dead at Woodside in South Gippsland.”
“Fainting, pollution, and heat stroke: how the climate crisis threatens the Tokyo Olympics…
“The climate crisis will impact nearly every event at the games, which are being hosted in Tokyo, a city that’s already experiencing heating more acutely than most places on Earth, according to new report from BASIS, the British Association for Sustainable Sport.”
“Ecosystem changes could be playing a part in the ongoing deaths of gray whales along the west coast of North America…
“The gray whale deaths have been prominent in the San Franciso Bay Area, where The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) told Newsweek it has responded to 13 incidents so far this year—more than in the entire years of 2019 and 2020.”
“Salmon face extinction throughout the US west. Blame these four dams…
“…four towering and closely spaced dams in eastern Washington state… act as massive hurdles to the salmon’s migration. Today, experts have voiced concern that the salmon are headed toward a point of no return.”
“Earth’s largest water reservoirs: How much ice are they losing?
“…we can say with confidence that sea level will continue to rise (faster) in the future and that our projections are conservative estimates. Indeed, satellite observations that measure the changing height (altimetry) and changing mass (gravimetry) of ice sheets are tracking the worst-case predictions from IPCC’s fifth report.”
“Atmospheric CO2 Just Hit a Peak Not Seen on Earth in 4 Million Years.
“Despite slim hopes that global shutdowns during the pandemic might bring respite from the climate crisis, yet more evidence confirms that no such silver lining exists… May saw the highest levels of CO2 so far in 2021, with the concentration averaging 419.13 parts per million (ppm)…”
“In the world of crops, angst over the weather has reached a fever pitch.
“Global inventories are shrinking and demand is on a tear as drought plagues farms from the U.S. and Brazil to Russia. As a result, every rain shower and dry spell is coming under extreme scrutiny. Grain futures touched near-decade highs last month…”
Worth keeping an eye on, as high food prices are already an issue: “Spring wheat issues mount as US drought spreads…
“The dryness in the northern latitudes of the US has been building for months, and the long-range forecasters say the weather pattern appears to be setting up for a longer-term blocking ridge across the northern Plains… Just across the border, the extremely dry climatic conditions are exacerbating an already dire situation for the Canadian spring wheat farmer…
“The Russian wheat areas at similar latitudes are also in trouble. About 50pc of their spring wheat belt is suffering from an intense drought that has hampered germination and crop establishment. The month of May for Russia’s spring wheat areas is reported to have been the second driest in the last 40 years.
“The potential impact on global wheat production is mounting.”
“Driest spring on record fuels forest fire concerns in the Central Okanagan [BC, Canada].
“This spring has so far shaped up to be very dry. In fact, it’s been the driest on record in the Central Okanagan. And that has fueled more fire activity and pushed up the fire danger rating.”
“The consequences of drought in California are felt well outside the state’s borders. California is effectively America’s garden – it produces two-thirds of all fruits and nuts grown in the U.S. The state’s agricultural industry generates $50 billion each year, which is more than the entire gross domestic products of Vermont and Wyoming.”
“Utah faces worst drought period since Middle Ages.
“Utah is currently going through a megadrought, facing the driest 20-year period since the Middle Ages according to BYU ecosystem ecology professor Ben Abbott… Anyone born in the ’90s or later in the Western U.S. hemisphere has been experiencing drought conditions their entire lives, he said.”
“Amid mega-drought, rightwing militia stokes water rebellion in US west.
“Fears of a confrontation between law enforcement and rightwing militia supporters over the control of water in the drought-stricken American west have been sparked by protests at Klamath Falls in Oregon.”
“Las Vegas’s new strategy for tackling drought – banning ‘useless grass’…
“A new Nevada law will outlaw about 40% of the grass in the Las Vegas area in an effort to conserve water amid a drought that is drying up the region’s primary water source: the Colorado River.”
“‘Incredibly scary’: Arizona wildfires scorch more than 138,000 acres… A pair of wildfires burning in Arizona have scorched more than 138,700 acres, with nearly 1,000 firefighters battling to protect communities, power lines and highways.
“The Telegraph fire, burning near a district called Top-of-the-World, east of Phoenix, remained at 0% containment as of Tuesday morning…”
“Life-threatening flooding possible in southeast Arkansas as rain totals pass 10 inches.
“Heavy rain led to a rare flash flood emergency being issued Tuesday in southeast Arkansas as a days-long deluge continued. The National Weather Service said roughly 8,700 residents… were in a life-threatening situation…”
“First heat wave of the year in the books weeks before official start of summer… The East Coast is officially experiencing the first heat wave of the year with Washington and Philadelphia having endured three consecutive days of 90-degree temperatures, weeks before summer actually starts.
“In fact, the last several days have been so hot that more than a dozen locations stretching from the Northern Plains to New England just experienced their hottest first week of June on record.”
“Puerto Rico isn’t ready for another hurricane season, let alone the effects of climate change, according to a new study…
““We need to stop talking about climate change in future tense. It’s already here,”says Ramos-Scharrón, associate professor in the department of geography and the environment and the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies.”
“Heat wave causes temperatures of up to 46 degrees [114.8F] in Sonora [Mexico]…
“In the last hours, 46 degrees were reported in the shade in the Álvaro Obregón dam region; The Oregano east of Hermosillo, registered 44 degrees, Ciudad Obregón 43.5, while Caborca, Altar and Pitiquito registered 42 degrees.”
“Deforestation darkening the seas above world’s second biggest reef [Belize Barrier Reef].
“Converting Central American tropical forests into agricultural land is changing the colour and composition of natural material washing into nearby rivers, making it less likely to decompose before it reaches the ocean… with widespread implications for ecosystems.“
“Brazil on Monday authorized thermoelectric plants [article doesn’t clarify what is powering them; possibly biomass or coal] to fire up without contracts for up to six months “on an exceptional and temporary basis” due to the worst drought in almost a century.
“The drought has lowered reservoirs and raised concerns about hydroelectric power supplies.”
“‘Glacier Blood’ Is Our Latest Nightmare… Glaciers in the French Alps look like the scene of a massacre. Normally topped with pristine, white snow, they’re increasingly covered with dark, bloody-looking spots dubbed “glacier blood.”
“The blotches aren’t actually blood—they’re microalgae blooms.”
“French public health body Santé Publique France has activated its 2021 heatwave plan as the summer begins…
“Ever since the heatwave of 2003 in which an estimated 15,000 people died, many of them elderly people living alone in Paris, authorities have worked hard to protect the vulnerable during hot periods.”
“Aemet announces the first heat wave: 40 degrees [104F] are forecast [for Spain]!
“”Fully summer heat , ” said Rubén del Campo, spokesman for the State Meteorological Agency. And it will occur in the central part of the week before another front returns with a view to the weekend in the central zone and in the northern half.”
“In addition to the direct damage done to locals, the flooding also spells disaster for Pakistan’s long-term water security… the number outburst incidents is increasing with the passage of time, yet another example of the toll climate change is exacting on the country.”
“Lightning strikes kill 27 during monsoon storm in eastern India.
“Lightning strikes have killed 27 people and sent four passengers on a flight to hospital after severe turbulence during monsoon storms in eastern India, officials said.”
“South Korea’s Jeju Island sees hottest spring on record this year…
“Jeju Island experienced its hottest spring on record this year, with an average high of 19.3 C [66.7F] from March to May, the local weather agency said Tuesday… the highest since record-keeping began in 1961…”
“NSW’s plan to use more potent mouse plague poison could devastate threatened parrots, experts say.
“The New South Wales government should be blocked from using a more potent poison to deal with the state’s mouse plague after reports emerged of a mass bird death, BirdLife Australia and scientists say.”
“May rainfall records broken in Lake Takapō/Tekapo, New Zealand.
“Three days of torrential rain which caused major flooding in parts of Canterbury helped push Lake Takapō/Tekapo’s May rainfall figure to 381 per cent of normal… Prior to this event, it had been a very dry month…”
“The first week of June was a hot one throughout Siberia, also due to the excessive rises in temperatures, a phenomenon of climate change. In the Krasnoyarsk region (Central Siberia), in recent days forest fires have increased by 23 times over the previous week, covering 6,300 hectares.”
“”The study of this effect is especially important as we measure landscape response to climate change and aim to understand the storage and release of permafrost carbon in arctic landscapes,” said Rachel Glade, first author on a paper in the journal PNAS.”
And here is a bit more on the extraordinary heatwave in the Middle East: Four countries in the Middle East saw temperatures surpass 50C at the weekend amid a continuing pattern of record-breaking heat for the time of year.
“Oman, Iran, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all saw temperatures which matched or challenged national records…
“Last year, a study published in Science Advances, suggested that parts of the Middle East, particularly the Gulf, might become uninhabitable for humans if current trends continue.”
“6th June was a historic day in the United Arab Emirates. With 51.8C [125.2F] Swiehan tied the record of the highest temperature ever recorded in the country (same like Mezaira on 30 July 2017).
“On 9 January nearby station of Raknah recorded the country’s lowest temperature ever with -2.0C.”
“Monsoon rains triggered floods and mudslides in Sri Lanka killing at least 16 people and leaving more than a quarter of a million homeless, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said Sunday.
“Heavy downpours in 10 out of the country’s 25 districts since Friday buried most of the victims alive, the DMC said.”
“Thajiwas glacier [India] loses 50 meters in 3 years.
“The Thajiwas glacier in Jammu and Kashmir has receded rapidly in the last few years mostly due to global warming and man-made factors, environmental experts said.”
“Black carbon speeding up melting of glaciers, posing water scarcity threat to millions, report finds…
“Black carbon deposits coming from industries, vehicles, and cooking practices aggravate climate change’s adverse impacts to accelerate the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush, and the Karakorum…”
“Climate Change Researchers Find Thinning Glaciers on Mt. Everest.
“Climate change and plastics pollution, among other negative factors, are affecting the highest point on Earth, Mt. Everest, in increasingly worrying ways, according to recent research.”
“On 4 June the Australian territory of Cocos Islands [Indian Ocean] set a new record of highest temperature ever recorded in June with 31.0C [87.8F], beating by 0.1C the previous record set on 5 June 2018.”
“Plastic waste cleanup needed [Canterbury, NZ] as flooded rivers blanket coast with debris… At the storm’s peak, more than 300 millimetres [12 inches] of rain fell in just two days in the Canterbury high country, flooding rivers, triggering a state of emergency…
“It resulted in a “substantial amount” of debris washing up on beaches and flowing into the sea.”
“Threat of flooding in coastal Louisiana and Texas after waterlogged spring.
“If you live along the western Gulf of Mexico coast, odds are that this spring had you ready to build an ark. Some parts of Texas and Louisiana have seen more than 2½ feet of rainfall since the start of April, and more is on the way.”
“‘Truly an emergency’: how drought returned to California – and what lies ahead…
“Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a drought emergency in 41 of the state’s 58 counties. Meanwhile, temperatures are surging as the region braces for what is expected to be another record-breaking fire season, and scientists are sounding the alarm about the state’s readiness.”
“2 wildfires in Arizona force evacuations and burn tens of thousands of acres.
“Two wildfires burning Sunday in the hills and mountains of eastern Arizona have scorched more than 60,000 acres and prompted evacuation orders for hundreds of people, officials said.”
“Utah governor urges residents to pray for rain as drought bites… “I’ve already asked all Utahns to conserve water by avoiding long showers, fixing leaky faucets and planting water-wise landscapes,” Spencer Cox said in a video posted to Twitter.
““But I fear those efforts alone won’t be enough to protect us. We need more rain and we need it now. We need some divine intervention.””
“The hottest temperature in the province was recorded in Gretna, which hit a high of 41.3 C [106.3F] — beating the previous record for that day of 36 C set in 1988. Emerson broke a much older record. The temp hit 40.6 C on Friday, surpassing the previous record of 36.7 C set on June 4, 1922.”
“Drought sickens baby salmon in Klamath River [Quebec]… According to the Yulock Tribal Fisheries Department, Klamath’s fish have been dying since around May 4.
“At that time, 97% of the juvenile salmon caught by the department’s Hanoi trap were infected Cerato Nova Shasta The parasites are either dead or they will die within a few days. In two weeks, 70% of the young salmon caught in the trap had died.”
“Another scorcher: Hottest June 6 in Syracuse since records started being kept in 1902… This has been a warm, record-setting spring.
“The temperature hit 92 degrees on May 20 — the third-earliest day of the year when Syracuse hit at least 92 since records began in 1902. The previous record for the date was 90 degrees, set in 1962.”
“Is climate change to blame for increase in tornadoes in Pennsylvania?
“Pennsylvanians have come to expect floods, snow storms, and the occasional hurricane. Now, reports of tornadoes also are on the rise. Some say it’s climate change.”
“Shrinking giants: North Atlantic right whales getting tinier.
“One of the giants of the deep is shrinking before our eyes, a new study says. The younger generation of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales are on average about three feet (one meter) shorter than whales were 20 years ago, drone and aircraft data show in a study…”
“Wildfire warning after blaze rips through 18 acres of Kyloe woodland in Northumberland, UK. Northumberland County Council bosses are warning people to be extra careful with cigarettes, extinguishing BBQs and not starting fires during the hot weather.
“It comes after 71,000 m2, which is around 18 acres, of woodland was destroyed at Kyloe Woods in Northumberland during a wildfire.”
“Shocking images of the flood in Reims [France], “Two months of rain” fell in a few minutes…
“this deluge required “a very strong mobilization of firefighters” with a hundred interventions between 2:45 pm and 4:15 pm. Streets were “totally blocked”, light vehicles “trapped”, basements flooded…”
“Roads were flooded, underpasses filled with muddy waters and waterways broke their banks as heavy rain battered parts of Germany on Saturday.
“Firefighters responded to hundreds of incidents as the adverse weather, which has struck the country over the past few days, caused major flooding in some regions.”
“Turkey plagued by largest outbreak of ‘sea snot’ on record as mucus hits Sea of Marmara coastline…
“Experts blame pollution from household waste, the neighbouring Black Sea and Danube River, as well as higher-than-usual water temperatures caused by climate change.”
“UN says floods in Somalia effected 400,000 people…
“UN has said recent torrential rains in Somalia have affected 400,000 people in Middle Shabelle region weeks after heavy downpour in the capital killed more than ten children.”
“The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday warned swarms of desert locusts are expected to descend on parts of Ethiopia and Somalia.
““Despite an earlier decline, the current upsurge prevails in the Horn of Africa where good rains allowed breeding to continue with hatching and more hopper bands forming in eastern Ethiopia and northern Somalia,” said the latest FAO report.”
“Caught on Drone Footage: Arctic Ice Near Isolated City is Starting to Crack Abnormally…
“A footage of the thawing Yenisey River in the town of Dudinka, Russia was captured by a drone footage over the last weekend of May showing Arctic ice over the river cracking a month earlier than normal and forming bizarre figures along the river bank.”
“The world’s soils, which provide 95% of humanity’s food, are “under great pressure”, according to a UN report on soil pollution.
“Soils are also the largest active store of carbon, after the oceans, and therefore crucial in fighting the climate crisis. But the report said industrial pollution, mining, farming and poor waste management are poisoning soils…”
“We are running out of time to reach deal to save natural world, says UN talks chair.
“The world is running out of time to reach an ambitious deal to stem the destruction of the natural world, the co-chair of negotiations for a crucial UN wildlife summit has warned, amid fears of a third delay to the talks.”
“Parts of the Arctic sea ice are thinning up to twice as fast as previously thought, meaning some parts of the region could become ice-free by 2040 (sounds wildly optimistic to me, but ok…), according to new research.
“The findings will raise fresh concerns about global climate change as well as the potential increases in extreme weather and flooding in coastal parts of the world.”
“‘Birthplace of Ice’ in Russia’s Arctic Sees Record-Breaking Start to Melting Season…
“In 2020 the Laptev Sea stayed ice-free until November for the first time in documented history. The sea, which plays a crucial role in generating ice coverage for the entire Arctic, has broken another record with its annual ice melt starting earlier in the spring than ever before.”
“Thaw slump events are local landscape degradations that are expanding with present-day warming in the Arctic…
“If the ground ice within permafrost soils melts, the replacing gaping voids lead to local landscape subsidence, also called thermokarsts. If an ice-rich permafrost was formed on upland areas and sloping terrain, thermokarsts emerge as thaw slumps, gullies or active layer detachments.”
“Indoor dining boost drowned out by record May rain [UK]…
“The reopening of indoor bars and restaurants last month failed to boost footfall on UK High Streets and shopping centres following May’s record rainfall, according to new data.”
“Egypt irked by Ethiopia’s announcement of 100 new dams’ construction…
“Egyptian officials and media have reacted angrily after Ethiopia announced it will build next year more than 100 dams aside the current disputed Nile River hydro dam, Anadolu news agency reports.”
“Burkina Faso: The water crisis happening between conflict and climate change…
“Since 2018, Burkina Faso’s northern desert region of Sahel – the driest and hottest part of the country – has been at the centre of a growing armed conflict. The violence coupled with the impact of the climate emergency has left communities here highly vulnerable…”
“Talks break down over crumbling Yemeni tanker threatening massive oil spill.
“A decaying super-tanker anchored off Yemen with 1.1 million barrels of Marib light crude oil in its hold looks increasingly likely to wreak havoc in the Red Sea, experts are warning. Talks between the U.N. and the Houthi administration in control of the area… reached a “dead end” late June 1.”
“Sri Lanka braces for ‘almost inevitable’ oil spill as ship sinks.
“An environmental disaster off the coast of Sri Lanka is getting worse after a large container ship carrying chemicals and plastic that had caught fire is now sinking. Sri Lankan authorities on Thursday said they are preparing for the worst-case scenario…”
“Forest Fires In Margallas [Pakistan] Destroy Millions Of Species’ Water Source…
“The forest fires in Margalla Hills National Park, one of the world’s unique ecosystems lying close to human population, is ravaging the water source of millions of species including plants, animals, microbes and even human beings.”
“…heat stress – caused by a mix of high temperatures, low rainfall and low humidity – ruined thousands of hectares of crops in Bangladesh’s main rice-growing region this spring, with climate experts warning the phenomenon could threaten food supplies.”
“May 2021 in Hong Kong was once again, like all previous months of 2021, an abnormally hot month.
“With an average temperature of 29.0C [84.2F] and a staggering anomaly (remember this is a maritime tropical climate) of +3.1C above the 1981-2010 baseline, this was by far the hottest May on record.”
[You may recall Hong Kong also had its hottest May day ever – 36.1C / 97F]
“Philippine authorities on Thursday said the death toll from the tropical storm Choi-wan hitting the Southeast Asian country has risen to eight.
“At least 15 people, including two children aged seven and two, are still missing… Most of the victims died from drowning or were buried in landslides.”
“In recent weeks, nine major fires have been burning in the Brazilian Amazon, heralding an unsettling start to another fire season—which experts say could be a bad one after a particularly dry year.”
“Record flooding in Brazil’s Amazon region; half a million displaced…
“More than 24,000 families and 15 districts of Manaus have been affected and many people had to leave their homes, according to Brazilian online news site G1. Parts of the port area and the historic center of Manaus were underwater.”
“Red Alert decreed due to floods in Toltén [Chile]…
“According to the latest report on Wednesday, the storm caused an overflow of the Toltén and Boldo rivers and the Coliman and Piren estuaries, a situation that affected more than 200 families in the commune.”
“Severe flooding in Guyana sparks major relief effort. Widespread flooding inundated Guyana, flooding roads, homes, and farmland across the small South American country.
“More than 6,900 families across the country have been severely affected by the floods in recent weeks, according to government estimates.”
“After the wettest May on record for some areas, parts of Texas and Louisiana prepare for more flooding.
“Everything is bigger in Texas — but these forecast weekend rainfall totals are super-sized. Rainfall totals in Southeast Texas and Coastal Louisiana could exceed 10 inches, creating more misery for regions hit hard by recent flooding.”
“Scientists Said The West Was Entering A Megadrought. Now It’s Twice As Bad…
“Lake Powell is within just a few feet of its low level ever observed since it was first filled. Early season fires have already torched over 400,000 acres in Colorado and California’s reservoirs are 50 percent lower than they should be at this time of year before summer has even officially begun.”
“At least 10% of the world’s giant sequoias lost in a single wildfire, report suggests.
“About 10 to 14% of the world’s giant sequoia trees were destroyed by a single wildfire that swept through California’s Sequoia National Forest last summer, a new draft report from the National Park Service indicates.”
“Searing heat wave sets records in California’s inland areas, even as coasts stay cool…
“Nights have also been unseasonably warm. Fresno recorded a record-high nighttime low of 75 degrees on Tuesday, exceeding by four degrees the previous record for the day, Vasquez said.”
“Kelowna and Vernon [British Columbia] record driest spring on record…
“After seeing its driest March on record this year, Kelowna just experienced its driest May to date as well, according to one meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.”
“Hot, hot, hot: British Columbia smashed 15 temperature records yesterday…
“Environment Canada reports that B.C. smashed a whopping 15 weather records on Wednesday (June 2) with several areas surpassing the previous records by a couple of degrees.”
“The climate crisis is causing a widespread fall in oxygen levels in lakes across the world, suffocating wildlife and threatening drinking water supplies.
“Falling levels of oxygen in oceans had already been identified, but new research shows that the decline in lakes has been between three and nine times faster in the past 40 years.
“Scientists found oxygen levels had fallen by 19% in deep waters and 5% at the surface.”
“Global food prices surge again, stoking inflation fears… Global food prices extended their rally to the highest in almost a decade, heightening concerns over bulging grocery bills as economies struggle…
“Drought in key Brazilian growing regions is crippling crops from corn to coffee, and vegetable oil production growth has slowed in Southeast Asia.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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“Iceland’s glaciers have lost around 750 square kilometres (290 square miles), or seven percent of their surface, since the turn of the millennium due to global warming, a study published on Monday showed…
“Since 1890, the land covered by glaciers has decreased by almost 2,200 square kilometres, or 18 percent. But almost a third of this decline has occurred since 2000…”
“For generations, Native Alaskans have preserved foods by digging 10 to 20 feet into the permafrost. As the planet warms, more than their food security is at stake.”
“Firefighters from Sverdlovsk region celebrate cheating death after a wildfire east of Tyumen [Siberia] destroyed their camp, and forced them to run into a nearby stream where they had to stay for an hour.
“Tyumen region has been suffering from wildfires since late April.” [Video]
“31st May was another extremely hot day in Central Asia. Uzbekistan recorded its highest May temperature ever with 45.4C [113.7F] at Buzaubaj, beating the record which was set just 1 year ago.
“Kazakhstan recorded 43.3C at Kyzylorda, a record for the main net of stations.”
“Inclement weather triggered hailstorm in parts of Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon, causing massive damage to orchards and standing cropsin parts of north and central Kashmir.”
“Another weather record for Delhi: Coolest day in June ever.
“A dust storm and late-night rain brought Delhi’s minimum temperature on Tuesday down to 17.9 degrees Celsius, the lowest ever recorded in June, ensuring that the city continued the trend of breaking some historical weather record every month since August 2020.”
“The drought that hit Southern India from 2016 to 2018 was the worst in 150 years…
“So severe was the impact that a water crisis erupted in Chennai, India’s sixth-largest city of 1.1 crore inhabitants, as four of the city’s major reservoirs went bone-dry and groundwater levels plummeted. In the summer of 2019, a “Day Zero” was declared and residents scrambled to obtain water from tankers.”
“Dead fish, flooded fields, submerged homes in cyclone-ravaged Sunderbans, fight for life and livelihood…
““Why is God so angry with us?” asked Manik Pradhan, pointing to the vast tracts of cropland inundated with dead fish floating around, as nearby ponds have overflown with saline water breaching the embankments.”
“Torrential rainfall today left several parts of Dhaka [Bangladesh] city in knee-deep to waist-deep water, disrupting public movement…
“Many shops and houses in low-lying areas were submerged. Many were seen traveling on rickshaw-vans, getting no other way to reach office. A number of vehicles were seen stalled on the road due to the waterlogging…”
“On May 31st, China’s heavy rainfall season has arrived. Heyuan, Huizhou, Jieyang and other places in Guangdong Province suffered heavy to severe rainfall.
“In Longhua town of Longmen District in Huizhou city, the 3 hour cumulative rainfall reached 400.9 mm [15.8 inches], breaking the historical record of 3 hour rainfall in Guangdong.” [Video].
“Kyabram [Victoria, Australia] records coldest May morning on record.
“Kyabramites shivered through their coldest May morning on record as the mercury plunged to minus 2.7°C [27.14F]. It was the coldest May temperature recorded in the town since records began 57 years ago, firmly closing the door on autumn.”
“European carp population set to explode in NSW, Australia after floods, sparking fears for native species…
“Native fish die in blackwater events, which occur when the floodwater stagnates and deoxygenates. But carp can survive because they are uniquely adapted to breathe oxygen above the surface of the water.”
“New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern toured flood-hit areas of the country’s South Island on Tuesday, expressing shock at the destruction left when three months’ worth of rain fell in three days.
“Swollen rivers swept away bridges and landslides blocked highways in the deluge, which finally began to ease on Tuesday after a 72-hour barrage that Ardern described as a once-in-a-century event.”
“Coffee is the latest commodity to hit multi-year highs as [southern] Brazil drought sends prices soaring…
“Coffee prices have risen nearly 70% in the past year and currently trade around $1.66 per pound. According to Dr. Michaela Helbing-Kuhl, an agricultural analyst at Commerzbank, global coffee production has been hurt by persistently dry weather in Brazil.”
“Brazil’s Amazonian rivers swell to 100-year highs causing large-scale flooding in Manaus.
“The Rio Negro was at its highest level since records began in 1902, with a depth of 29.98 meters at the port’s measuring station. The nearby Solimoes and Amazon rivers were also nearing all-time highs…”
“Wildfires sweep across Bolivia’s Pantanal wetlands.
“Wildfires are sweeping across Bolivia’s Pantanal wetlands near the border with Paraguay, putting at risk thousands of hectares of an area known for its rich wildlife that was hit by major fires just two years ago.”
“Farmers across California say they expect to receive little water from state and federal agencies that regulate the state’s reservoirs and canals, leading many to leave fields barren, plant more drought-tolerant crops or seek new income sources all-together.
“”We’re taking a big risk in planting crops and hoping the water gets here in time,” said Del Bosque, 72.”
“Western USA Heat wave: 30th May saw the first 115F/46.1C of 2021 in the Lower 48 States at the Death Valley.
“31st May saw a new monthly record of highest temperature in May at Ukiah with 106F/41.1C and monthly records tied at Redding and Red Bluff with 108F/42.2C.”
“The Chaves County undersheriff told KOB 4 that they were out until 3 or 4 a.m. in what is essentially their SWAT vehicle – rescuing people from the tops of cars and from mobile homes.”
“Environment Canada reported 13.5 mm of rain fell on the city in May, the lowest figure ever recorded at the Ottawa Airport, whose records date back to 1938, and the lowest in 101 years overall.”
“Fires break out across the country [Israel] due to heatwave…
“Firefighters have been working to put out fires across the country on Monday. Many of the fires are being contained but according to the spokespersons of the Israeli Fire and Rescue Services, most of the fires are ongoing and have not been extinguished.”
“Global warming blamed for 1 in 3 heat-related deaths.
“More than a third of summer heat-related fatalities are due to climate change, researchers said Monday, warning of even higher death tolls as global temperatures climb.”
“The 2020-2021 La Niña event has ended and neutral conditions (neither El Niño or La Niña) are likely to dominate the tropical Pacific in the next few months, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
“Air temperatures are expected to be above average between June and August, especially in the northern hemisphere.”
“How the decline in fish biodiversity is affecting human nutrition.
“As the biodiversity of fish species is reduced for several different reasons ranging from toxic runoff to overfishing, researchers find that biomass compensation may impair the health of populations that depend on these fish for their daily nutritional intake.”
“Iconic animals are under threat if we breach 1.5°C warming, warns WWF.
“Wildlife ranging from bluebells and bumblebees to snow leopards and emperor penguins is under threat from climate change, according to a new report. Even the coffee plants that produce one of the world’s favourite brews are at risk from rising temperatures, WWF has warned.”
“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.
“Chamoli disaster [India]: ‘It hit the valley floor like 15 atomic bombs’… A wedge of glacier-covered rock more than 500m wide and 180m thick just suddenly let go.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan] closes primary, middle schools amid heatwave…
“Torrential rains, wind storms claim 10 lives across country [Pakistan]…
“Drought-hit Jordan to build Red Sea desalination plant…
“Turkish farmers battle extreme drought in Karapinar – in pictures.
“10th June was the hottest June day ever in the Republic of Congo (with capital Brazzaville). Ouesso recorded 36.3C [97.3F] which beats the previous record of 36.1C set at Gamboma in June 1950. 
“Deforestation in Brazil Amazon rainforest soars 67 percent compared to the same month last year…
“Rains in Medellín [Colombia] leave floods, landslides and a dead young woman.
“Guyana’s President declares flooding a national disaster.
“11th June was a historic day in the Mexican town of Temosachic located in the State of Chihuahua at 1870m above sea level. 
“The Wild Plan to Save 17 Million Salmon From California’s Megadrought by Driving Them to Sea.
“‘Dire situation’: Silicon Valley cracks down on water use as California drought worsens.
“‘Really Nervous’: Washington Heads Into Wildfire Season With a Drought and Record Number of Early Fires.
“Brainerd lakes [Minnesota] area heat wave breaks 6 of 7 records for week…
“We can now officially say that this June has started in a way unlike any other June on record in the Stateline [Illionois]!
“Melting permafrost is giving much of northern Alaska a sinking feeling.
“Toxic, long-lasting contaminants detected in people living in northern Canada…
“Illegal sewage discharge in English rivers 10 times higher than official data suggests.
“Wildfires blaze in Siberia, Russian Far East…
“China’s sea-level rise raises threat to economic hubs to extreme.
“Thousands remain without power in Victoria, Australia days after deadly storm.
“Some of Canterbury’s floods [NZ] labelled a one-in-200-year event.
“‘Worst-case scenario’: Study shows coral reefs could go extinct in 30 to 50 years.
And in case you missed this on my economic thread: “Pine Island Glacier’s Ice Shelf Is Ripping Itself Apart – Speeding Up Key Antarctic Glacier...
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And here is a bit more on the extraordinary heatwave in the Middle East
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