“Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Set an All-time Record Low at the End of the Austral Summer with a Marked Negative Anomaly after a Season Dominated by Föhn Events…
“A warm summer in Antarctica and several strong föhn wind events smashed the Antarctic sea ice extent setting an all-time record low in 44 years of satellite observations.
“It is impressive to witness this frozen ocean melting down, and for the first time since satellite measurement began in 1979 the Southern Ocean sea ice coverage has dropped below 2 million square kilometers.”
“Tasmania records driest summer in 40 years as La Niña ‘swings the wind around’…
“The island state’s west and south-west – both sparsely populated and typically wet – recorded their lowest levels of rainfall on record, the Bureau of Meteorology said.”
“Stalled weather: How stuck air pressure systems drive floods and heatwaves.Climate change—fuelled by increasing greenhouse gases—is causing more extreme weather events worldwide.
“Many of these events, such as the “rain bomb” inundating Australia’s east coast and the recent heatwave in Western Australia, are associated with “stalled” weather systems.”
“Flooded Australian towns brace for more rains, several people still missing.
“Australian authorities on Friday warned of more rains over the weekend in several flooded regions in the country’s east, likely hampering relief efforts as defence personnel try to reach worst-hit towns cut off by days of downpours.”
“Little reprieve in sight for central and north Queensland as sweltering heatwave conditions continue.
“It’s only the fourth day of the month but temperature records for March have been broken in central and northern Queensland, with little reprieve in sight from the extreme heatwave conditions.”
“South America sees record wildfire activity in early 2022.
“A heatwave and the resulting dry conditions across northern Argentina and Paraguay have resulted in record wildfires in the region, with much higher than average fire emissions and smoke transport. Colombia and Venezuela have also been experiencing some increases in fire activity…”
“The heat wave in Argentina is accompanied by an invasion of beetles.
“In Argentina, the week was not only marked by intense heat. Residents of several municipalities in the province of La Pampa have also registered an unprecedented invasion of beetles. Discover the images that circulate on social networks.”
“Drought-Riven Chile Makes World First in Environmental Bonds.
“Chile issued bonds tied to sustainability goals, the first nation in the world to do so, as the country wracked by a decade-long drought looks to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and obtain cheap financing.”
“Brush Fire Burns Hundreds of Acres in Cleveland National Forest.
“Smoke could be seen for miles around after a brush fire broke out Wednesday in Southern California‘s Cleveland National Forest… The fire started around 11:20 a.m. in the Holy Jim trail area…”
“Lake Powell is about to drop below a critical level never reached before, as drought rages on.
“For the first time since it was filled more than 50 years ago, Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the country, is projected to dip past a critical threshold, threatening water supplies and putting a key source of hydropower generation at heightened risk of being forced offline…”
“Climatologists: Drought to worsen in Oregon, Idaho this year.
“Climate scientists in the U.S. Pacific Northwest warned Thursday that much of Oregon and parts of Idaho can expect even tougher drought conditions this summer than in the previous two years…”
“[Ireland’s] Winter was one of mildest on records, but ended with three storms in a row.
“The winter just past was one of the mildest on record with temperatures above normal everywhere. Temperatures ranged from 0.8 degrees above the seasonal average at Dublin Airport to 1.8 degrees in Finner, Co Donegal.”
“A drought affecting the River Po is worsening, the authority that manages Italy’s longest river said Thursday.
“The drought in the Po Basin “is getting worse and is serious”, it said. “There is an emergency in the Delta and Piedmont but the whole area is in difficulty”.”
“Tanzania records extreme weather events in 2021 caused by climate change.
“Tanzania’s weather watchdog said on Thursday in 2021 the country experienced extreme weather events, mainly heavy rainfall, floods, prolonged dry spells, strong winds, and high temperatures caused by climate change.”
“”The dry spell has disastrously affected farmers. Things are not looking good here,” Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Shadreck Makombe said. “Most crops as we speak now have wilted because we have not received rain for a long time. Even if the rains come, they will not recover. It’s really a disaster.””
“Environment: Experts Ring Alarm Bells as Extreme Weather Events Rapidly Increasing in India…
“”Glaciers are depleting and increasing the flow of rivers in north India. The northern sides of the country will receive more rain compared to the eastern side. Cloudburst is becoming common, and we have found that in case of a cloudburst along the foothills of the Himalayas, the precipitation goes up by 14%.””
“Air pollution increases in South East Asia, combined with pollution cuts in Europe, may have had an important influence on European and Asian weather patterns in recent decades, new research has found…
“…[producing] atmospheric conditions that favored prolonged summer extremes in Europe, as well as causing dry spells in Central Asia.”
“Thailand to make artificial rain to tackle looming threat of drought.
“The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry launched a “rainmaking” project on Thursday in a bid to ease the scarcity of water across the country. The project was launched in a special ceremony presided over by Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on…”
“Floods: Landslide causes Sultan Mahmud Power Station in Hulu T’ganu [Malaysia] to shut down temporarily.
“The Sultan Mahmud Power Station (SJSM) in Kenyir near Hulu Terengganu has been temporarily shut down since Sunday (Feb 27) after the high voltage transmission tower, which supplies electricity from SJSM to the National Grid, collapsed due to a landslide.”
“Arctic Council in upheaval over Russia as climate change transforms region.
“Countries of the Arctic Council said on Thursday they would boycott future talks in Russia over its Ukraine invasion, throwing international cooperation in the region into upheaval at a time when climate change is opening it up to resource exploitation.”
“The Arctic Seafloor Is Degrading and Could Be a Climate Time Bomb.
“…new research confirms previous studies that raised alarms about the potentially catastrophic release of methane from icy gas-rich solids known as hydrates, while also revealing new insights about the [East Siberian Arctic] shelf with much-needed in-situ measurements from the field.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Risks to global supply chains are rising from the increasingly severe effects of climate change laid bare in a landmark UN report this week, and could place extra pressure on fuel stability and essential goods worldwide.
“Recent crises have thrown the vulnerability of supply chains into sharp focus, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted Europe’s dependence on oil and gas imports, while the international manufacture and distribution of goods remains chaotic following the pandemic.
“Climate-related shocks such as extreme weather events will become more common and severe as the world warms, and could further upend interconnected supply chains…”
“‘Nothing to sell’: Queensland and NSW flood waters hit supermarkets and grocery supplies.
“In his small store in Mount Isa, almost 2,000km from the flood zones, grocer Joe da Silva is struggling to fill his shelves. His fresh produce is gone. Stocks of other basics are dwindling. And there’s no certainty about when the next truck will arrive.”
“A quad bike has been pictured hanging from the power lines of a regional Queensland town – a terrifying insight into how high the floodwaters peaked.”
“How unusual is this rain? Very unusual. The rainfall totals from this event have been staggering.
“From 9am Thursday to 9am Monday three stations recorded over a metre of rain: 1637mm [64.4 inches] at Mount Glorious, QLD; 1180mm at Pomona, QLD; 1094mm at Bracken Ridge. Brisbane has absolutely smashed its three-day rainfall record with 677mm [26.7 inches].”
“North-west Sydney residents preparing to evacuate as Warragamba Dam spill rate revised upwards.
“New South Wales authorities have warned communities at risk of major flooding in the Sydney region to prepare to evacuate as the Hawkesbury-Nepean River continues to rise… There are also concerns Redbank Dam could fail…”
“Australia’s summer weather data suggests an ‘average’ year, disguising several incidents of extreme weather…
“…in the nitty gritty are some phenomenal weather events. Australia had the equal hottest day ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere this summer — on January 13, the mercury climbed to 50.7C, matching a record set in 1960 at Oodnadatta.”
“Smoke injected high into the atmosphere by the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires resulted in a depletion of the ozone layer, new research has found.
“Scientists have found that the smoke from the devastating bushfires caused a 1% loss in ozone – an amount that typically takes one decade to recover.”
“Red alert for forest fire in Chilean region of Valparaiso.
“The fire at the intersection of Route 68 and Camino La Pólvora in the city is consuming hundreds of hectares of scrubland and eucalyptus forests… The geographical location of the fire between Placilla and Valparaíso could cross Route 66 and threaten an electrical substation, the road itself and many towns…”
“Paraguay capital choked by colossal smog cloud from Argentina wildfires.
“A massive, fast-moving cloud of ash hundreds of metres tall and several kilometres wide has swept over southern Paraguay, as storms blew debris from wildfires raging in neighbouring Argentina following two years of severe drought.”
“Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, which account for more than half of the world’s soybean supply, are expecting smaller harvests this crop season.
“Major agricultural agencies and consultancies have already slashed their forecasts for the soybean output in 2021-22 as a result of severe drought since November.”
“A team of Brazilian and British scientists have discovered that extreme wind and water-deficiency are the main causes of tree death in the southern Amazon.
“The study revealed that more than 70% of all trees dying at the edge of the Amazon rainforest already had severely broken and damaged crowns due to climate change years before they died…”
“Crucial for biodiversity and freshwater supplies, Peru’s share of the Amazon basin has bored the brunt of rising deforestation and the increased prevalence of mining… Peru’s share of the biome is the second-largest in South America…”
“Record precipitation for King Salmon [Alaska] as winter temperatures flip-flop…
“King Salmon …received the most winter precipitation on record, with more than 7 inches of rain and melted snow from December through February. The average is four inches lower. That’s almost an inch more than the previous record…”
“California Drought Grows Dire Again After Two Record Dry Months.
“California’s snowpack has shrunk to about two-thirds of normal, as the state’s relentless drought produced the driest January and February on record and raised the likelihood of more wildfires and deeper water cuts to cities and farms.”
“U.S. Farmers Contend With Drought Conditions Headed Into Planting Season.
“The current drought conditions in these regions started back in the summer of 2020 which led to last year’s historic drought conditions in the Northern Plains. North Dakota, for example, saw 22 weeks of “exceptional” drought and are currently facing 46 weeks of “extreme” drought — both records for the state.”
“Ukraine War and Oklahoma drought will push bread prices higher…
“Mike Shulte says this year’s Oklahoma’s crop is not looking good. He declined to give an estimate on potential yields per acre but says the lack of rain is taking a toll. In fact, he calls the crop predictions “pretty dismal.””
“UN: Droughts, Less Water in Europe as Warming Wrecks Crops.
“The saints are out again this year as large swaths of Spain face one of the driest winters on record. Even as irrigation infrastructure boomed along with industrial farming, the country’s ubiquitous dams and desalination plants are up against a looming water crisis…”
““A very dangerous” year for fires ahead [Portugal]…
““Whenever there have been periods of severe drought like the one we are experiencing, those periods of the year have always been problematic,” he said, anticipating “a very dangerous year” of fires.”
“Climate change is hitting Africa’s staple crops, increasing parasites…
“The report shows that in Africa, climate change has reduced agricultural productivity growth by more than a third (34%) since 1961. This is more than any other region. “Future warming will negatively affect food systems in Africa by shortening growing seasons and increasing water stress.””
“Nigerian floating slum braces for more storm damage…
“Africa has contributed very little to climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions, but the world’s hottest continent hosts some of the people who are most vulnerable to current and future fallout from the planet’s further warming…”
“Climate change erodes glacier on Turkey’s Cilo mountain.
“”Cilo, Turkey’s third highest mountain with a height of 4,116 meters (13,500 feet), is feeling the impact of climate change, which eats away its glacier… scientists examining the state of the glacier detected the rate of melting in the past three decades to be at 48%.”
“Three dust storms over Mumbai in a month, linked to rising temperature…
“Researchers with the Indian Tropical Meteorology Institute, Pune said westerly disturbances coinciding with dust storms emanating from across the Pakistan-Afghanistan borders causing the worst air pollution recorded in the region in decades could be due to rising heat.”
“Flood-ravaged villages in Kottayam district [Kerala] hit by a double whammy of climate crisis…
“Pullukayar, a river that burst its banks to wreak havoc in the settler villages of Koottickal and Kokkayar just four months ago, might sound the most unlikely place to look for an impending drought situation. A walk along the riverbanks here , however, suggests otherwise…”
“China backpedals on climate promises as economy slows…
“The country’s central economic planner has watered down a roadmap to slash emissions, greenlighted giant coal-fired power plants, and told mines to produce “as much coal as possible” after power shortages paralysed swathes of the economy last year.”
“At least 17 people are feared dead after a landslide trapped dozens of workers inside a Myanmar jade mine…
“The incident came on Monday evening near Hpakant township in northern Kachin state — the same region where a massive landslide in 2020 entombed 300 workers in the country’s worst ever mine disaster.” [torrential rain a factor there.]
“UN: Climate Change to Uproot Millions, Especially in Asia.
“The walls of Saifullah’s home in northern Jakarta are lined like tree rings, marking how high the floodwaters have reached each year — some more than four feet from the damp dirt floor.”
“Climate crisis poses global risk to biodiversity causing mass mortality events and threatening food shortages…
“”Climate change has caused local species losses, increases in disease, and mass mortality events of plants and animals, resulting in the first climate-driven extinctions, ecosystem restructuring, increases in areas burned by wildfire, and declines in key ecosystem services.””
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Residents of Lismore have been left reeling after “unprecedented” floods inundated the New South Wales regional city [Australia] with rescue efforts expected to continue throughout the night.
“The situation is expected to worsen on Monday night with the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, saying the Wilsons River was expected to peak at 16m, far higher than predicted earlier on Monday [previous record peak: 12m].”
“Western Australia weather delivers Perth its hottest summer on record as scientists predict trend to continue…
“While numbers will not be technically official until Tuesday, Bureau of Meteorology figures show Perth’s average maximum temperature is currently 33.2 degrees Celsius — well above the previous record of 32.3 set in 2012/13.”
“Coldest morning of summer ends Christchurch’s wettest February on record [NZ].
“The city’s total rain this month (148mm) puts it ahead of the second-wettest February (144.3mm) on record which occurred in 1945 – over seven decades ago. Adding to the weather gloom, Monday was also the coldest morning of this summer at 2.6 degrees…”
“Marine heatwaves expected to become norm for Northland [NZ]…
“New data from MetOcean Solutions shows coastal waters in many parts of Aotearoa New Zealand have been warmer than usual for increasingly longer periods of time, and forecasts predict these conditions will persist. This is a concern for Northland where marine heatwaves can have disruptive implications…”
“New rainfall record for Fiji during Tropical Cyclone Cody.
“The tipping bucket rain gauge at an automated weather station in Nadarivatu, Ba recorded an astounding 524.5mm [20.7 inches] of rainfall from 9am 8th January to 9am 9th Januaryduring tropical cyclone Cody this year, which is the highest ever recorded since its installation in 2008.”
“Japan Struck by Record-Breaking Winter Snowfall… This includes snow 12 to 15 feet deep…
“Honshu is home to several resorts and hot springs that take advantage of the climate and frequent snowfall. But there’s also a difference between a region that gets a lot of snow and a region where there’s too much snow for daily activities to take place — or where bomb cyclones make driving hazardous.”
“Seismic study reveals key reason why Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt.
“The icefields that stretch for hundreds of miles atop the Andes mountain range in Chile and Argentina are melting at some of the fastest rates on the planet… Geologists have discovered a link between recent ice mass loss, rapid rock uplift and a gap between tectonic plates that underlie Patagonia.”
“[The Brazilian state of] Rio Grande Do Sul Records the Highest Temperature in its History…
“The maximum temperature in Uruguaiana on this afternoon reached 42.9ºC [110F] …it is the highest maximum temperature ever officially observed in the state since the regular measurements began between the years 1910 and 1912.”
“On 26th February the Island of St Helena [southern Atlantic] recorded its warmest night on record on its highlands with a minimum temperature of 21.5C /70.7F (altitude 435m).
“There is data for almost 150 years. The station is close to Longwood House,where Napoleon Bonaparte lived his last years.”
“This May Be the Driest Start to a New Year Ever Recorded in San Francisco.
“Between January 1 and February 26, just 0.65 inches of rain have fallen in San Francisco — about 8% of the usual average rainfall observed during the same time period. And if the city doesn’t receive any rain by Monday, it will beat the 1852 record for driest January-February stretch ever recorded in SF.”
“‘Atmospheric River’ Threatens to Pummel the Pacific Northwest.
“The Pacific Northwest is bracing for what meteorologists call an “atmospheric river,” a stream of water vapor that is set to arrive from the Pacific Ocean on Sunday night and bring heavy rains and flooding through Wednesday.”
“Alaska Worries for Its Salmon Run as Climate Change Warms Arctic Waters…
“Salmon all but disappeared from the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) Yukon River run last year, as record-high temperatures led to the fish piling up dead in streams and rivers before they were able to spawn.”
“SE USA Warm Spell: Another Historic day in the Carolinas with temperatures up to 89F /31.7F in South Carolina (if verified it ties the State February records) and 87F in North Carolina (1F shy of NC February record).”
“Councils ‘will have to cut key services to pay for UK storm damage’.
“Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin brought hurricane-force winds and heavy rain to large parts of the UK in the past week, leaving more than 1m homes without power and hundreds under water. Local authorities said they faced multimillion-pound bills to clean up and repair damage…”
“The construction of ‘transvases’ (channels) to carry water from rivers in the north of Portugal to regions in the south “could be the solution for the problem of drought” that all experts accept is here to stay.
“The last few years have seen increasingly dry winters. This year’s ‘crisis’ may be more acute than most, but it is part of a pattern that needs as many solutions as possible.”
“Severe lack of water drives farmers to migrate to the cities [Morocco]…
“…the situation is not on track to improve. Morocco is attempting to mitigate the impact of climate change by building wastewater stations, water desalination plants and dams — over 140 are present in the country to cope with water scarcity.”
“Dry conditions continue affecting global wheat production…
“Iran, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Egypt have all seen crop reductions during the 2021/22 growing season, contributing to lower global wheat production. That suggests higher wheat import volumes will be needed to meet domestic demand. This is significant…”
“Fears for farmers as crops fail due to drought [Kenya]…
“For farmer Safari Mbuvi, it’s a devastating blow. He sank 50,000 Kenyan shillings in this season alone in planting. “Since I was young, my father used to get a bounty harvest in this farm, but now, there seems to be a change in climate and the rains are no longer dependable,” he says.”
“Seven farmers killed by lightning strike in southern Tanzania… in Tanzania’s southern highlands region of Rukwa, police said on Sunday.
[Also… The Tanzania Railways Corporation has suspended passenger and cargo operationsbetween the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, and central and northern regions after flash floods washed away rail track].
“Days of rain trigger floods in Narathiwat [Thailand].
“Communities in 13 districts have been flooded, as rains caused by northeasterly winds over the Gulf of Thailand have continued for three consecutive days in this southern border province… 6,891 houses damaged…”
“About 12,000 people in Malaysia had to evacuate from their homes after heavy rain caused flooding in the country’s northern states over the weekend, reported local media.
“Official data showed that 11,831 people housed in flood relief centres in the northern states of Kelantan and Terengganu as at 4.30pm on February 27.”
“Prolonged heavy rain over many areas of Singapore on Sunday (Feb 27) afternoon sparked flash floods in several areas…
“…the heaviest rainfall recorded in eastern Singapore was 141.8mm… “This corresponds to 135 per cent of Singapore’s average monthly rainfall in February and lies within the top 0.6 per cent of maximum daily rainfall records since 1981.””
“Climate Change and Extreme Weather Will Have Complex Effects on Infectious Disease Transmission…
“The study suggests it will be increasingly difficult to predict the consequences of climate change on host-pathogen interactions as global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common.”
“A new UN report on the impacts of climate change is set to be the gravest assessment yet of how rising temperatures are affecting every living thing.
“The study, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), summarises several years of research. The report will likely say that the world is fast approaching the limits of adapting to climate change.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Freezing Austin [Texas] records biggest 24-hour temperature swing ever: 56-degree drop from 88 to 32F. Austin’s main weather station at Camp Mabry recorded its largest 24-hour temperature swing ever: From 88 degrees at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday to 32 degrees as of 3:15 p.m. Wednesday — a stunning plummet of 56 degrees.
“The previous 24-hour temperature-swing record was 51 degrees, and the National Weather Service said it had happened on three occasions.”
“A dangerous ice storm is developing as cold and warm temperatures clash.
“It might seem like déjà vu in regard to a storm dropping a wintry mix and heavy rain across the US earlier this week. And in many ways, it is. However, the new storm is bringing more substantial amounts of ice. Ice accumulation totals associated with the storm pose a major threat to travel and infrastructure.”
“Kodiak [Alaska] sets a series of record temperatures… Last Thursday was the first day in a four-day run for record high temperatures in Kodiak…
“These are the latest events in a record winter that featured the coldest February on record in Kodiak, and the state record highest December temperature.”
“Bangor with 65F [18.3F] destroyed its previous record of highest temperature in February of 60F which was set on 21 Feb 1937, while Augusta with 64F did the same with the record of 60F set on 18 Feb 1981.”
“‘We can’t make it rain’: California farmers left out to dry as US government allots no water.
“The federal government said Wednesday that it won’t deliver water to farmers in California’s agricultural belt, which produces roughly a quarter of the nation’s food, due to the extreme water shortages that are expected to deepen if the direly dry conditions continue through March.”
“Drought, pesticides take a toll on Chile’s crucial honeybees…
“Andrés González, a regional expert on biodiversity for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, said a reduced population of pollinating insects “has to do … with the use of pesticides and fertilizers, monocultures, droughts caused in great part by climate change and by bad management of (water) resources.””
“Capybaras, marsh deer, anteaters flee Argentina wildfires; many don’t escape.
“Wildfires in Argentina’s north are forcing local species of wildlife including capybaras, marsh deer and anteaters to attempt to flee ahead of the flames, with many animals killed or injured while trying to escape as the fires spread.”
“Fires in Corrientes: the touching reaction of a melero bear to receive water from a rescuer…
“The first movement of the bear melero is of some distrust but seeing how the rescuer caresses his head, he throws himself in the grassland belly up and receives the liquid in some parts of the body to relieve somewhat the heat and injuries caused by the fires.”
“Windows smashed and roofs destroyed as monster hail storm hits Mendoza, Argentina…
“Heavy rainfall caused roofs of buildings to collapse under the weight of the water. Damage was caused to possessions and produce as buildings flooded. Warnings are in place across the region due to the potential for floods as well as danger from high winds.”
“The death toll from flash floods and landslides caused by torrential rain in the Brazilian city of Petropolis has surpassed 200, authorities said Wednesday, as they continue to recover bodies more than a week after the storm.”
“New research from the University of Southampton found the average speed of the northern hemisphere jet stream in winter had risen by 8 per cent to 132mph. It had also moved around 200 miles northwards. Scientists said the changes were likely related to warmer winters in the Arctic.”
“‘Pervasive’ river pollution affecting eco-systems, warns top UK environment researcher…
“Sir Andy Haines, unveiled as the winner of the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement on Wednesday, warned in an interview that recent studies documenting the extent of chemical pollution in rivers across the globe are a “wake up call”.”
“Green groups say Romania failing to stop illegal logging.
“Environmental groups say Romania has failed to tackle illegal logging and nature destruction in areas protected by European Union law, two years after Brussels warned the country to put an end to illicit deforestation.”
“New warm spell in Morocco: On 22nd February temperature spike to 32.4C [90.3F] at Agadir. The port of Essaouira rose to 31.1C – its warmest February day on record.
“Last night was also very warm. Sidi Ifni had a minimum temperature of 23.4C. Today it ‘s expected to be similar hot.”
“Crossroads of despair in drought-ravaged Somalia…
“Desperate, hungry and thirsty, more and more people are flocking to Baidoa from rural areas of southern Somalia, one of the regions hardest hit by the drought that is engulfing the Horn of Africa… nearly 13 million people, mostly farmers and herders, are going hungry.”
“Cyclone Emnati hits Madagascar; island’s 4th major storm in a month.
“Winds of up to 135 kilometres per hour (84 mph) battered Madagascar early on Wednesday as Cyclone Emnati made landfall, becoming the fourth major storm to hit the Indian Ocean island in a month.”
“… on 7 February, when the people of Guwahati found all the trees in the area had been mercilessly chopped down by the public works department (PWD), they were gutted. The trees had been killed to pave the way for construction of a 580-metre two-way flyover.”
“Farmers and authorities in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have started storing water, building dams and planting seeds early to avoid drought and salinity.
“Living near Kenh Lap, Mekong Delta’s largest manmade reservoir in Ben Tre Province, Le Van Hao said he had witnessed how the reservoir, which has a capacity of nearly one million cubic meters, ran dry in April 2020.”
“Lots of rain. Sticky, hot nights. And record-breaking humidity [Victoria, Australia].
“As the summer of 2021-22 draws to a close, it ends a season in which a “classic” La Nina atmospheric pattern meant more rain and cloud, particularly in December, and temporarily masked the warming trend of climate change.”
“Antarctic ice cores suggest Australia’s drought risk is worse than we thought.
“Associate Professor Anthony Kiem is a hydroclimatologist at the University of Newcastle and co-authored the paper with Dr Vance. He said the research represented a profound shift in how we understand climate risk in eastern Australia. “It basically resets our understanding of what ‘normal’ is,” he said.”
“Earth’s coldest forests are shifting northward with climate change.
“New research from Northern Arizona University shows rising temperatures are causing Earth’s coldest forests to shift northward, raising concerns about biodiversity, an increased risk of wildfires and mounting impacts of climate change on northern communities.”
“The number of major wildfires worldwide will rise sharply in coming decades due to global warming, and governments are ill-prepared for the death and destruction such mega-blazes trail in their wake, the UN warned Wednesday.”
“Climate change drives rise in extreme lake water temperatures.
“The world’s largest lakes are hit by severe lake heat waves—when water temperatures soar far above normal—six times as frequently as they were about two decades ago, according to a new study.”
“Methane Emissions from Energy Production Are Massively Undercounted.
“Governments across the world are massively undercounting the amount of methane that energy production is releasing into the environment, according to a report this morning from the International Energy Agency.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend with an ‘Economic’ thread, possibly on Sunday rather than Saturday, family-duties depending.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“US winter-wheat area in grips of worsening drought… the influence of the Ukraine crisis aside, the drought situation in the United States is becoming a huge concern for global wheat supply in 2022.
“Much of the nation west of the Mississippi Valley is either in drought or abnormally dry, and the latest long-range weather outlook shows very little relief as the critical spring months approach…
“The concern in the US is if spring rain is poor, the drought can be locked in place into the summer, as parched soil heats faster, leaving less moisture to evaporate into the air.”
“‘We’re already running out of water’: the reality and future of Utah’s drought…
““I spend a lot of my time worrying, frankly, and being concerned about our current situation,” says Kelly Kopp, a water conservation specialist and professor at Utah State University. “We should have been thinking about this more carefully decades ago.””
“As drought lingers, larger and more destructive wildfires pose new threats to [California’s] water supply…
“In a UCLA-led study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers determined that increasing forest fire activity is “unhinging” western U.S. stream flow from its historical predictability.”
“First >100F in USA so far this year. On 22nd February the Texan station of Falcon Lake rose to 101F/38.3C and Zapata to 100F, finally surpassing the 99F recorded on 1st January [which was the highest Jan temp in US history].
“In Georgia, the Southwest Airport station of Albany rose to 87F/30.6C which is a new record for February.”
“‘Weather whiplash’: 6+ inches of snow expected Friday after near-record highs on Wednesday [Boston]…
“Another bout of snow is predicted to hit the Boston area early Friday morning and last until Friday night. The storm will greatly affect the morning commute and could also affect evening commutes.”
“Sand dunes at a nature reserve have been blown away by winds caused by recent storms, the National Trust said. Sand on Formby beach in Merseyside was shifted as Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin battered the UK in one week.”
“‘We’re devastated’: Yorkshire town hit by floods for third time in decade… As Storm Franklin raged through the night, Mick Malkinson, 72, lay awake with a familiar sense of fear about what the morning would bring…
“By dawn, the house he shares with his wife, Elizabeth, and their one-year-old cocker spaniel Miska, was among three properties completely cut off by several feet of flood water.”
“Sting jets that fuelled Storm Eunice set to become more common in the UK…
““We expect a warmer and moister world to create the conditions required for such severe storms to form more frequently,” Colin Manning, of Newcastle University, which was also involved in the study, told i.”
“This has been the mildest and driest winter on the southern side of the Alps since records began in 1864, the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, said on Tuesday.
“It said this winter will end with an average temperature that is 1.8 °C above the average for 1991-2020, while the total level precipitation has been less than a quarter of the normal value, 22% to be precise.”
“‘Spain needs to change its ways’: Scientists warn over worsening drought.
“Jorge Olcina, a geographer and director of the University of Alicante’s Climatology Laboratory, has warned that climate change is increasing the intensity of drought and Spain will have to change the way it manages water.”
“Persistent rain deficits in Mediterranean regions have led to droughts, harming grasslands and crops such as wheat and barley…
“Rainfall this year has been 64% less than average in Morocco, climate experts say, leaving farmers facing the worst drought in decades that will force the government to hike grain imports and subsidies.”
“Kenya ramps up emergency relief supplies to 2.3 million drought-hit Kenyans…
“Kenyatta said the latest emergency is part of the many interventions that his government has undertaken since September 2021 when he declared the ongoing drought a national disaster and immediately put in place measures to cushion the affected populations.”
“Winter Heat Wave in Pakistan: On 21st February the town of Tando Jam (Hyderabad District) rose to 38.5C /101.3F, this is the highest reliable temperature ever recorded in Pakistan in February.
“38.2C also at Nawabshah,34.5C further north at Sibbi.”
“Sydney breaks monthly rainfall average in 24 hours, as rain moves further north.
“Sydney has broken its monthly rainfall average in the past 24 hours as rescue agencies turn their attention to the north of the state, which could be inundated with as much as 300mm [12 inches] of rain in the coming days.”
“One dead, at least 10 believed missing in Australia floods [Queensland].
“The body of a 63-year-old woman was found early Wednesday inside a submerged vehicle at Belli Park on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, police said… At least 10 people are believed to be missing, including a 54-year-old man whose motorcycle has been found in floodwaters…”
“Bull survives being swept 80km down a river, over a waterfall and almost out to sea [NZ]…
““It’s the highest I’ve ever seen on my farm. They forecast 60mm and I tipped out over 160mm [6.3 inches] from the rain gauge the next morning,”farmer Tony Peacock said. He had not had time to prepare for that amount of rain, and while he was able to save some from the rising waters, the young Hereford and two others were swept away.”
“Argentina Wildfires Spread to Engulf Key Cattle Farming Region.
“Blazes are tearing through northeast Argentina, consuming more land than a typical California wildfire season and threatening a key cattle farming region of this major beef exporter. “I’ve never seen fires like this,”said 81-year-old rancher Juan Jose Ramirez…”
“Forest fires in Chile have consumed three times as many hectares as the previous season.
“There are 111 forest fires that remain active in the country, the most serious situation being the one that La Araucanía is going through. Compared to last season, the hectares consumed by accidents in the national territory have tripled: from 28 thousand they went to 80 thousand.”
“Chilean Patagonia’s pristine glaciers are disappearing.
“Mount San Valentin’s Exploradores glacier has shrunk to the point that the ice that used to welcome visitors half an hour into Laguna San Rafael National Park is now only visible after two and a half hours. “It’s been a slow but steady rollback,” Manuel Berrocal tells Efe.”
“Black carbon pollution from tourism and research increasing Antarctic snowmelt, study says.
“Black carbon pollution from tourism and research activities in Antarctica is likely increasing snowmelt on the continent by an estimated 83 tonnes for each visitor, according to new research.”
“Accelerating melt rate makes Greenland Ice Sheet world’s largest ‘dam’.
“Researchers have observed extremely high rates of melting at the bottom of the Greenland Ice Sheet, caused by huge quantities of meltwater falling from the surface to the base. As the meltwater falls, energy is converted into heat in a process like the hydroelectric power generated by large dams.”
“Bees are explosively ejaculating to death during heat waves.
“What’s black and yellow and ejaculates until it dies during heat waves? Male bees, it turns out… When the males get too hot, they convulse until they explosively ejaculate to death, and a phallus the size of their abdomen bursts from their lifeless body.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“The first two months of 2022 are shaping up to be the driest January and February in California history, prompting state officials to warn of dire water conditions ahead.
““There’s no precipitation forecast through the remainder of February. And there’s very little precipitation in the long-range forecast for March,” Erik Ekdahl, a deputy director with the State Water Resources Control Board, said at a board meeting Tuesday. “All this is pointing to, again, some pretty dire conditions statewide for drought.””
“500-pound black bear nicknamed ‘Hank the Tank’ wreaks havoc in California…
“Hank… is not alone in his inadvertent terrorising of human populations. Climate-driven conditions across North America are impacting food sources for bears, experts told The Independent this summer – forcing them to venture further afield and into neighborhoods.”
“‘Roller coaster ride’ weather sets records, washes out roads and brings snow around Newfoundland and Labrador…
“Strong winds, rain, flooding and large snowfalls have broken weather records and left some roads damaged or closed around Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday. “It’s been a roller coaster ride for sure,” said Rodney Barney, a meteorologist at Environment Canada’s Weather Office in Gander.”
“Hadrian’s Wall [UK] under threat from climate change on 1900th birthday…
“Hadrian’s Wall and its surroundings have long been a rich area of discovery for archaeologists. Many artefacts and treasures have been pristinely preserved in the peat bogs that dominate the landscape. But climate change has caused these peat bogs to shrink back and dry up.”
“Up to 56,000 homes remained without power today as Britain suffered its third storm [Storm Franklin] in less than a week with rail commuters told to avoid travelling following severe flooding, landslides and evacuations amid 87mph winds.
“National Rail said the first services on most UK train routes were cancelled, with a reduced timetable for today, alternative travel unavailable and further disruption expected.”
“‘Tornado’ wrecks string of Doncaster homes as violent winds rip through street.
“This was the scene of devastation after a ‘mini-tornado’ ripped through Doncaster’s streets, blasting holes in roofs, ripping off tiles and sending debris scattering.”
A further update on the record-breaking winds brought by Storm Eunice:
“At 11:00 this morning [Friday] a gust of 122mph was recorded with the Met Office provisionally declaring it the highest gust ever recorded in England. However, just 36 minutes later, that record-breaker was topped with a gust of 125.4mph – 109 knots.”
“Peak peril: Why are there more avalanche deaths than ever in Europe?
“Scientists and researchers have expressed serious concerns about the safety of winter sports in Europe as climate change triggers a rising number of avalanches and deaths.”
“It’s supposed to be winter in Spain, but Valentians are swimming and playing beach volley in this incredibly warm day.
“Xativa rose to 28.9C / 84F (29.6C at the unofficial station of Sumacarcer). Warmest February day on records at Gerona (26.2C town, 25.5C AP) and at Teruel 24.7C.”
“Drought begins to be alarming in many [Spanish] communities…
“It does not rain enough nor is there any prospect that it will do so in the coming weeks. The average level of the swamps is already below 50 percent. The lack of rainfall during this winter is causing the reservoirs to be in a critical situation.”
“In the Mediterranean region, the soil is degrading, and land is turning to desert faster than anywhere else in the European Union, according to a new analysis.
“Experts warn that the combined effects of unsustainable land practices and climate change have depleted a finite resource to a critical point.”
“Morocco Enacts Measures to Ration Water Amidst Severe Drought.
“Morocco is facing the prospect of severe drought this year following record low rainfall… Traditionally part of the second-largest grain importing region worldwide, the North African country is already straining under the weight of a rising deficit on the backdrop of the soaring global food prices, especially that of grains.”
“Flash floods, heavy rains leave one dead, 187 homeless, 3 missing in Ivory Park, South Africa…
“Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse, together with MMC for Public Safety, David Tembe, Region A director, ward councillors, and City and provincial disaster management teams, visited the area on Saturday to assess the damage and to address the needs of residents.”
“Rwanda: Government Sheds Light on Two-Month Disaster Status, Blames Climate Change.
“From January to February 19 at least 467 hectares of crops have been destroyed… about 50 people have lost lives of whom 20 were struck by lightning, while 11 people were killed by landslides in mining sites and others by flooding.”
“Madagascar braces for next cyclone as at least 14 killed by storm Dumako…
“A total of 124 people were killed earlier this month when tropical cyclone Batsirai slammed the southeastern coast of the island. read more. Another cyclone, Emnati, is forecast to hit close to the same area affected by Batsirai.”
“Conflict and Climate Change Ravage Syria’s Agricultural Heartland.
“In a region ravaged by ISIS and armed conflict, prolonged drought and drying rivers have made stability even more precarious. Here, the normally abstract idea of climate change can be seen in the city’s daily bread.”
“Historic day in the Chinese city of Xiamen (24N). During the morning hours snowflakes fell in the city centre mixed with rain, an extremely rare event (last full snowfall in the city was in January 1893).
“Temperatures were between 5C and 6C during the event.”
“Perth weather: WA on track for hottest summer ever after breaking another record…
“As the city sweltered to 36.3C [97.3F] on Sunday it matched the previous record, set in the summer of 1977-78, of 31 days over or equal to 35C… Onslow Airport recorded a maximum temperature of 50.7 °C on January 13, which was the highest temperature in WA, and equalled with the all-time highest temperature in the country…”
“The sound of magpies warbling in the morning is synonymous with life in Australia, but Perth researchers are predicting a bleak future for the beloved species.
“Research conducted by associate professor Amanda Ridley and her team at the University of Western Australia has found that very hot weather is affecting the birds’ ability to survive, reproduce and raise their chicks.”
“Fires rage out of control in Argentina… Almost 800,000 hectares of the province of Corrientes in northwestern Argentina has been devastated by wildfires.
“According to a report by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology released on Friday, 785,238 hectares of land had been burned due to the blazes, which represents 9% of the province’s area.”
“The death toll from torrential rains that triggered flash floods and landslides in the scenic Brazilian city of Petropolis has risen to 165, authorities said Sunday, as more violent storms killed two people in another region nearby.
“It is unclear how high the steadily rising death toll will go. It is unlikely any more survivors will be found…”
“Unexpected Fish and Squid Found Thriving in Rapidly Warming Central Arctic Ocean…
“Scientists participating in the international MOSAiC expedition with research icebreaker Polarstern have found fish and squid in deep water in the middle of the Arctic Ocean as single individuals of Atlantic cod and squid happen much farther north than already anticipated.”
“A major Atlantic current is at a critical transition point… where it could rapidly turn off…
“New evidence suggests that the larger system the Gulf Stream is part of is approaching a tipping point that could cause dramatic shifts in global weather patterns.”
“A global analysis of sea levels over the past 2,000 years has found a rapid rate of increase in line with the Industrial Revolution.
“By 1863, researchers found the rate of sea level rise had clearly surpassed background variability. Unsurprisingly, it’s around this time that the first hints of ocean warming and glacier melt from human activity also show up in research…”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“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.”
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Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Set an All-time Record Low at the End of the Austral Summer with a Marked Negative Anomaly after a Season Dominated by Föhn Events…
“Tasmania records driest summer in 40 years as La Niña ‘swings the wind around’…
“Stalled weather: How stuck air pressure systems drive floods and heatwaves. Climate change—fuelled by increasing greenhouse gases—is causing more extreme weather events worldwide.
“Flooded Australian towns brace for more rains, several people still missing.
“Australia’s health experts fear mosquitoes flourishing in the rainbomb floods of Queensland and New South Wales could spread a deadly new threat.
“Little reprieve in sight for central and north Queensland as sweltering heatwave conditions continue.
“New Zealand has just completed its fifth-warmest summer on record, with temperatures 1.1 degrees Celsius above the 1981-2010 summer average.
“South America sees record wildfire activity in early 2022.
“The heat wave in Argentina is accompanied by an invasion of beetles.
“Drought-Riven Chile Makes World First in Environmental Bonds.
“Brush Fire Burns Hundreds of Acres in Cleveland National Forest.
“Lake Powell is about to drop below a critical level never reached before, as drought rages on.
“Climatologists: Drought to worsen in Oregon, Idaho this year.
“[Ireland’s] Winter was one of mildest on records, but ended with three storms in a row.
“A drought affecting the River Po is worsening, the authority that manages Italy’s longest river said Thursday.
“Tanzania records extreme weather events in 2021 caused by climate change.
“Zimbabwe: Ravaging Drought Sparks Famine Fears.
“Environment: Experts Ring Alarm Bells as Extreme Weather Events Rapidly Increasing in India…
“Air pollution increases in South East Asia, combined with pollution cuts in Europe, may have had an important influence on European and Asian weather patterns in recent decades, new research has found…
“Thailand to make artificial rain to tackle looming threat of drought.
“Floods: Landslide causes Sultan Mahmud Power Station in Hulu T’ganu [Malaysia] to shut down temporarily.
“Arctic Council in upheaval over Russia as climate change transforms region.
“The Arctic Seafloor Is Degrading and Could Be a Climate Time Bomb.
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“Japan Struck by Record-Breaking Winter Snowfall
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“[The Brazilian state of] Rio Grande Do Sul Records the Highest Temperature in its History…
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“First >100F in USA so far this year. On 22nd February the Texan station of Falcon Lake rose to 101F/38.3C and Zapata to 100F, finally surpassing the 99F recorded on 1st January [which was the highest Jan temp in US history]
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A further update on the record-breaking winds brought by Storm Eunice:
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