“The number of people on the brink of starvation across Africa’s Sahel region is ten times higher than it was in 2019, the World Food Program (WFP) is warning, while the number of people who are displaced is up by 400%.
“The Sahel, which runs south of the Sahara desert, is encompassing Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, is currently experiencing some of its driest conditions in years.“
“Somalis in crowded camps on ‘brink of death’ as drought worsens…
“Somalia’s displacement camps are coming under intense pressure with more than 300,000 people leaving their homes in search of food and water so far this year as the country experiences its worst drought in decades.”
“The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for extremely high fire danger conditions expected over the Hantam and Kamiesberg municipalities of the Northern Cape and West Coast District of the Western Cape interior.
“Heatwave conditions with persistently high temperatures are expected over the Cape Metropole and Stellenbosch municipality in the Western Cape until Saturday.”
“Heavy rains were reported as the storm moved across the island to the Analanjirofo region. Dumako is forecast to continue moving westward to bring winds and rain to northern Mozambique, according to meteorology offices in southern Africa.”
“The impact of climate change can be felt in Turkey, especially after recent unusual weather incidents. Experts say more is in store for the country in terms of rising temperatures.
“The country’s usually warm Aegean and Mediterranean regions, in particular, will experience a further increase in temperatures during the summer.”
“Conflict and climate fragmenting Rojava: new report…
“Rojava, like its neighbours, frequently experiences acute water shortages in the summer months due to a lack of rainfall, with residents in the northeast Syrian city of Hasaka particularly vulnerable to a struggling local water supply. The problem is exacerbated by disputes over water with Turkey…”
“Jordan’s agricultural industry has a significant impact on the country’s water crisis, placing the financial situation of farmers under high pressure, according to farmers and experts.
“For the past 10 years, the agricultural sector in Jordan has been under severe strain, facing issues such as extreme weather, water scarcity and difficulties in trading, according to experts.”
“Iraq’s second largest lake dries up, threatening human lives, agriculture.
“Milh Lake was once a popular destination for tourists to cool down during scorching summer temperatures. It is now experiencing a dangerous drought, threatening the lives of local Iraqis.”
“Uttarakhand: Year after Chamoli floods, body of engineer found.
“More than a year after 27-year-old engineer Gaurav Prasad went missing at NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad project site as flash floods that killed nearly 200 hit Chamoli’s Raini village on February 7, his family cremated his mortal remains in Rishikesh on Wednesday.”
“How can warmer winters mean more intense snowstorms? An expert explains…
“Akin to warmer temperatures acting as fuel for summer storms to drop significant rainfall, above-average winter temperatures can allow moisture to be stored in the atmosphere and cause subsequent precipitation to be intense.”
“Another Heat Wave in Western Australia… 17th February the temperature shot to 45.4C [113.7F] at Carnarvon on the coast thanks to winds reversal and low humidity.“
“Dire warning Sydney could face ‘extreme heat’ over 35 degrees [95F] for an entire month by 2050 as climate change drives up temperatures…
“…real-world figures have already outstripped these projections, with Lindsay reporting 44 days over 35 degrees in both 2018 and 2019. That number, 44 days of over 35 degrees, exceeds the projected average for 2090 of 42.5 days – 70 years ahead of schedule.”
“Unprecedented drought fuels devastating fires in Corrientes Province [Argentina]…
“The fires are advancing every day, consuming thousands of hectares of land, but heavy smoke is preventing up-to-date satellite measurements from being taken. For now, no casualties have yet been reported by locals.”
“Survivors dig for loved ones as Brazil flood death toll reaches 105…
“Rubens Bomtempo, mayor of the city, was not able to offer an estimate for how many people were missing, as recovery efforts continued. “We don’t yet know the full scale of this,” Bomtempo said. “It was a hard day, a difficult day.””
“Brazil scientists warn of possible election-year spike in deforestation…
“Deforestation researchers warned on Thursday that destruction in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest could rise another 16% this year, based on their models, as destruction often rises in an election year, according to an analysis by a Brazilian non-profit.”
“Paraguay soy crushers, hit by drought, risk running out of beans…
“The landlocked South American country, the world’s fourth largest soybean exporter, is facing its worst soy harvest in a decade, with a drop in production that could see just half the amount of soy versus the previous season.”
“India makes record U.S. soyoil purchases as drought parches South America…
“Indian traders have contracted to import a record 100,000 tonnes of soyoil from the United States because of limited supplies from drought-hit South America, at a time when prices of rival palm oil are scaling record highs, three dealers told Reuters.”
“California’s largest wildfire of 2022 grows uncontained to 1,800 acres near Bishop.
“A wind-driven wildfire that broke out near Bishop in the Owens Valley spurred evacuations and grew to 1,800 acres by Wednesday night, officials said, quickly becoming California’s largest fire of the year so far.”
“Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has hit half of the corals along the Florida Keys, and it’s now targeting the Caribbean.
“A deadly disease is thriving in warmer waters, creating an uncertain future for the Florida coast… Scientists are blaming warmer temperatures for this environmental crisis: Warmer ocean water is helping to fuel this disease that has now attacked 95% of Florida’s coral reefs. The coral is now at risk of extinction.”
“London on RED alert for Storm Eunice: Now Met Office issues most extreme weather warning for capital and South East as 100mph ‘sting jet’ tempest hits…
“Hundreds of schools were closed, all trains in Wales were suspended and rail passengers across England were told not to travel amid mass cancellations as the Army was on standby for what could be the worst storm in 32 years.”
UPDATE: “The Needles on the Isle of Wight recorded a wind gust of 122 mph this morning. This is provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England.”
“Hamburg ferry passengers injured as Storm Ylenia batters central Europe…
“Storm Ylenia has swept across central Europe today, bringing winds with a speed of up to 100mph that left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity and killing two drivers in Germany…”
“A tornado damaged up to 40 buildings in Dobrzyca Wielkopolskie province, Poland, on Thursday morning, the fire brigade has reported, while in Krakow two construction workers were killed and two others wounded when strong winds felled a crane…
“The National Fire Brigade described the destruction in Dobrzyca as “really massive””…
“17th February was a very warm day in France with temperatures up to 24.7C at Les Arcs. Locally it was historic.
“In fact, the city of Toulon had its warmest February day on record with 23.2C / 73.8F (prev. 22.5C on 23-2-1990) and Marignane with 22.5C (prev. 22.4C on 28-2-2019).”
“Hoteliers demand to act in the face of the “alarming” drought in Malaga [Spain]…
“”We are risking our future. It can cause very serious problems. The low rainfall of recent months anticipates an imminent drought that, if we do not act urgently and decisively, can put in check the entire tourism sector of the Costa del Sol and the province, “warned the president of Aehcos…”
“Air pollution affecting ability of sperms to swim in right direction: Study…
“In the analysis of sperm of over 30,000 men in China, researchers concluded that reducing air pollution could help increase male fertility and reduce the risk of asthenozoospermia.”
“Conditions at most of the world’s large meat, fish and dairy producers are said to be “incubating” future pandemics, according to a report by the FAIRR Initiative.
“An assessment of the industry as part of the organisation’s Emerging Disease Risk Ranking found that 63% of animal protein producers are failing to take the necessary steps to prevent future zoonotic pandemics.”
“Latest YouGov survey: Has the pandemic changed views on human extinction? “When will human beings go extinct? Perhaps sooner than we first predicted.
“Britons are less sure than they were that humanity is here to stay. The number of those who believe human beings will never die out has dropped by seven points since 2016 to 23%.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
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.
“Brazil: Mudslides and floods kill 18 people after 26cm of rain [over 10 inches] falls in just three hours in Rio…
“The state fire department said more than 180 soldiers were involved in a rescue mission in the city of Petropolis… Footage posted on social media showed cars and houses being dragged away by landslides and water swirling through the city and neighbouring districts.”
“The drought map: an official report confirms that there are 2 million hectares of crops with severe damage [Argentina]…
“The study noted that “drought conditions worsened severely during the month of January, mainly in the northeast of the country. The combination of unusual lack of rainfall and record temperatures caused an extreme situation in provinces such as Corrientes, Misiones, northern Entre Ríos, and eastern Chaco and Formosa.””
“Flames surround one of the largest wetlands in South America.
“The fires have burned more than half a million hectares of the Argentine province of Corrientes, which is home to the Esteros del Iberá… In just over a month, the flames have devoured more than half a million hectares, mostly productive areas and pastures…”
“Several areas of Paraguay wake up under intense smoke due to forest fires.
“Several areas of Paraguay, including the capital Asunción, woke up on Monday under intense smoke. Specialists believe that the phenomenon is due to the outbreaks of forest fires in the south of the country and in the northeastern provinces of Argentina.”
“The heavy rains and winds that hit the Caribbean and north in Guatemala left 2,600 affected and 990 evacuated by floods, landslides and damage to infrastructure, civil protection reported on Tuesday…
“In one region of Alta Verapaz a bridge collapsed and in those provinces and in irazabal there are floods and landslides.”
“La Niña forecast: NOAA gives update amid dry California winter… La Niña is expected to stick around for at least a little while longer…
“This is the second consecutive winter with a La Niña event, which unfortunately for drought-stricken Southern California usually means below-average precipitationfor the region during its traditionally wettest months.”
“Climate-boosted drought in western US worst in 1,200 years…
“”The turn-of-the-21st-century drought would not be on a megadrought trajectory without anthropogenic climate change,” lead author Park Williams, an associate professor at the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues wrote.”
“Hailstorm creates winter wonderland in Pasadena as cold front brings dramatic weather shift to SoCal.
“After a week of roasting under summer-like temperatures, Southern California underwent a dramatic cooling Tuesday, with some light rain and hail even falling in select areas.”
“Minivan fills with snow after sunroof left open on 63-degree day; ‘This could only happen in New England’.
“With record high temperatures in New England to start the weekend, Saturday presented the perfect opportunity to enjoy the warm air and take a drive with the windows down… as long as you remembered to close them back up before several inches of snow fell on Sunday.”
“U.S. corn-based ethanol worse for the climate than gasoline, study finds.
“Corn-based ethanol, which for years has been mixed in huge quantities into gasoline sold at U.S. pumps, is likely a much bigger contributor to global warming than straight gasoline, according to a study published Monday.”
“Study suggests climate change made B.C. floods [Canada] at least twice as likely…
““We do find substantial ongoing increases in the probability of these kinds of events,” said Nathan Gillett, an atmospheric physicist and manager of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis.”
“A 300ft wind turbine has been blown over in a south Wales valley as the UK braces for more dangerous stormy weather and high winds later this week.
“Residents of the village of Gilfach Goch, near Bridgend, were woken at 6.50am on Monday when the £20m turbine – double the height of Nelson’s Column – snapped apart and crashed into the valley below.”
“January 2022 in Montenegrohad temp. anomalies from -0.7C below 81-10 norm in Berane to +1.4C above in Budva. (+0.8C in Podgorica).
“Precipitations were from 15% of normal in Bijelo Polje to 75% in Rožaje. The month saw both new record high and low temperatures for January: -33.4C [-28.1F] and +22.3C [72.1F].”
“Drought crisis puts Horn of Africa ‘on the brink of catastrophe’.
“In a region where livestock and agriculture are the mainstays of people’s lives, droughts in the Horn of Africa have wrought havoc as more than 1.5 million heads of cattle died and cereal production nosedived drastically.”
“Heavy floods destroy roads and crops in Salima, Malawi on February 15th 2022…
“Four days of rain and poor drainage led to floods that isolated rural communities, with roads collapsing into sinkholes. Houses and shops were flooded, destroying possessions and produce.”
“Madagascar, Southern Africa Brace for More Tropical Storms.
“Even as southern African nations assess the devastation caused earlier this month by Cyclone Batsirai, a new tropical storm is approaching… Tropical Storm Dumako is projected to slam into the northeastern coast of Madagascar Tuesday evening.”
“Floods hit the city of Muscat in Oman on February 14th 2022.
“Heavy rain during the night caused flash floods throughout Oman’s capital city. The streets filled with water, stranding some residents as their vehicles were surrounded by the floods. Sewers overflowed…”
“Christchurch [New Zealand] has seen just 15 per cent of its usual sunshine hours for February, the all-time dimmest first two weeks of the month in the city…
“Andat the same time the sun hid away, the rain came out. Christchurch has smashed its rain record for a fortnight in February of 122.4mm; More than 139mm has fallen so far this month.”
“Dead or alive: Seagrasses continue to release methane after their die-off…
“”We believe that the reason behind this continuing methane production is that methylated compounds persist in the plant tissue for a very long time,” Milucka says. They could even be detected in plant tissue that had died more than two decades ago.”
“Flourishing plants show warming Antarctica undergoing ‘major change’.
“Antarctica’s two native flowering plants are spreading rapidly as temperatures warm, according to the first study to show changes in fragile polar ecosystems have accelerated in the past decade.”
““According to the study, not only is more and more land mass being lost in absolute terms; with each degree of temperature increase, the annual rate of erosion increases – in meters, but also in millions of tons of carbon released.””
“The reality is that the Arctic is in a death spiral at only a 1.2 C temperature rise.
“Radioactive lemmings! I kid you not. (see below). We are on track to lose the Arctic as we know it whether in five years or thirty-five years. When the media does bother to inform the public it is with kick the can down the road language such as Net-Zero, 1.5, and 2.0.”
“Drugs have dangerously polluted the world’s rivers, scientists warn.
“Pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds used by humans are known to harm wildlife and antibiotics in the environment drive up the risk of resistance to the drugs, one of the greatest threats to humanity.”
“Pollution causing more deaths than COVID, action needed, says U.N. expert…
“The report said pollution from pesticides, plastics and electronic waste is causing widespread human rights violations as well as at least 9 million premature deaths a year, and that the issue is largely being overlooked.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon.And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Gigantic Expanse of Sea Ice Breaks Free From Antarctica and Disintegrates [in] Yet Another Sign of What’s to Come as The Climate Warms Further…
“An expanse of sea ice more than three times the size of New York City has torn free from Antarctica and broken up in dramatic fashion.
“For 11 years, in one of the fastest warming regions on Earth, the 1,000-square-mile sheet of floating ice had tenaciously held fast to the coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula. But then, in just a few days, warm winds racing down from the peninsula’s mountains delivered a death blow.”
“Another record mild day in Antarctica: This time in the Terra Nova Bay:
“The Italian base of Zucchelli (Base terra Nova) rose to at least 8.8C [47.8F], same value in the South Korean Base Jang Bogo (highest since it was opened in 2014). 8.3C at Cape Bird in the Ross Island, New Zealand Base.”
“Pilot dies after helicopter crashes while fighting Tasmanian bushfires.
“Police have confirmed a man has died after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a field in Tasmania’s north. The helicopter had been fighting a bushfire in the Lebrina area which has burned through more than 1600 hectares.”
“Bushfires, dry lightning, rapid spark and spread all indicate climate change, southern fire chief [southern Western Australia] says…
“Superintendent Green said the fire became “absolute chaos” for volunteers attempting to protect the town. That fire and 13 others were sparked by severe thunderstorms which hit the region after temperatures surpassed 44 degrees Celsius in some areas.”
“Rains mock drought-hit Australian farms [central Queensland]…
“”We’ve got rainfall records on this property back to 1968, we’re used to dry times and to droughts, but the length and severity of this drought is … unprecedented.” …Almost 65 per cent of Queensland remains drought declared.”
“Australia has designated the koala an endangered species amid unprecedented pressure on the marsupials’ eucalyptus tree habitats across the country’s eastern states.
“Environment Minister Sussan Ley said there would be increased protection for the animal, classed as vulnerable only 10 years ago, in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.”
“The first part of February has seen a complete turnaround in the weather. Taupō [New Zealand] went from close to complete drought conditions to record-breaking rainfall within a matter of days…
“The new record established at the weekend was a 24-hour fall of 96mm recorded at the 8am observation time on Saturday.”
“Wellington has just experienced its second wettest day on record as Cyclone Dovi brings torrential downpours and gale-force winds to the capital.
“Police are urging those in the lower North Island to stay home unless they absolutely must travel today, with the weather causing evacuations, closing roads, bringing down landslips and trees and leading to widespread flooding.”
“13th February the record heat wave in New Zealand is reaching its end after one last hot night:
“The minimum temperature in the remote Raoul Island -29S- (Kermadec group) was 25.6C [78.1F],this is the highest minimum temperature ever recorded in New Zealand (prev. 25.4C Napier 19-2-55).”
“First national monthly record of highest temperature this February 2022 was in Papua New Guinea.
“On 5th February the Nadzab Airfield serving the city of Lae rose to 38C [100.4F], tying the highest temperature recorded in February in PNG just 0.9C from the all time record.”
“High waves kill 10 during Indonesia beach ritual.
“At least 10 Indonesians died after tidal waves swept away a group of people meditating on a beach during Sunday’s early hours, police said. The group of 23 people was holding hands and meditating on Payangan beach, East Java province, shortly after midnight.”
“Four-story high rogue wave breaks records off the coast of Vancouver Island…
“”Only a few rogue waves in high sea states have been observed directly, and nothing of this magnitude. The probability of such an event occurring is one in 1,300 years,” said Johannes Gemmrich… “”Rogue waves are generated by wind, so they are just a rare occurrence of wind generated waves.””
“San Diego experiences hottest February day in history as temperature hits 91F.
“An odd shift in the wind helped push the temperature to 91 degrees Saturday at San Diego International Airport, producing the hottest February day in the city’s history [eclipsing the record set on] Feb. 19, 1995…”
“Wild Horses Are Removed From Government Land as Drought Shrinks Food Supply…
“Bureau officials say wild horses, as well as burros, need to be removed from Nevada and other Western states because there are too many of them for the amount of grass and plants they feed on, supplies of which are shrinking due to drought.”
“Various Christian congregations went to the ‘La Boca’ Dam, in the municipality of Santiago [Nuevo Leon, Mexico], and launched a prayer in the face of the lack of rains in the State…
“Every day the dam presents less water and, currently, they report that it is below 22 percent of its capacity.”
“A thousand tons of food dammed in Putumayo [Colombia] by low river flow.
“More than 1,000 tons of food, beverages and toiletries destined for the city of Leticia in the department of Amazonas, are dammed in Puerto Asís, Putumayo, because the low flow of the river prevents the navigability of the 20 vessels of five heavy cargo transport companies.”
“Food prices in the basic basket soared [Argentina]…
“… in the case of yerba, sugar, dairy and even rice, the sharp increases are due to the heat wave, the persistent drought and the fires in some areas of the country, which destroyed a good part of agricultural production.”
“Federovisky: “We are facing a colossal drought” [Argentina]…
“”The dry season in the center of the country, which is usually in winter, is not just happening there. In Córdoba it was six months without rain, in Corrientes the amount of water fallen in the last year represents less than 30% of the last years, “added the national official.”
“Northern Quebec communities concerned about impact of burning garbage on health, environment…
“North of the 55th parallel, the permafrost means the earth is too hard to dig landfill sites. Since there are no incinerators, waste is burned in the open. There are 14 such landfills in Nunavik — one for each community.”
“Thames Water is being investigated after more than two billion litres of raw sewage was discharged into the river over a period of two days.
“Mogden wastewater treatment works, in Isleworth in west London, released the equivalent of 400 Olympic swimming pools of untreated waste into the Thames on October 3 and 4, 2020.”
“Climate change-induced extreme winter drought devastates crops in Spain and Portugal…
“While the arid zones of the Iberian Peninsula have historically experienced periods of drought, experts say climate change has exacerbated the problem… In the last three months of 2021, Spain recorded just 35% of the average rainfall [1981 to 2010]. But there has been almost no rain since then.”
“As cities ration water in Morocco, the record low rainfall in cultivating season will likely result in small harvests, deepening the country’s reliance on grain imports…
“…at a time when food prices are soaring worldwide on the backdrop of the global supply chain disruptions…”
“Thousands displaced in Ntungamo [Uganda] following hailstorm
“More than 500 families in Kitashekwa ward, Ruhaama Ntungamo district are facing food shortage after heavy rains characterized by hailstorms destroyed several plantations in the area on Saturday.”
“Madagascar: Death toll from Cyclone Batsirai rises to 120.
“The death toll from Cyclone Batsirai in Madagascar jumped to 120 on Friday with tens of thousands needing shelter after their homes were destroyed… Batsirai was Madagascar’s second destructive storm in two weeks, after Tropical Storm Ana killed at least 38 people.”
“Polar bear inbreeding and bird ‘divorces’: Weird ways climate change is affecting animal species.
“”Climate change is like this global killer,” Maria Paniw, an ecologist at the Doñana Biological Station, is a public research institute in Seville, Spain, told ABC News. “In effect, it often makes all the other risks that animals face much worse.””
“The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, on Spitsbergen island halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, is only opened a few times a year to limit its seed banks’ exposure to the outside world. On Monday, gene banks from Sudan, Uganda, New Zealand, Germany and Lebanon will deposit seeds…”
“Co-occurring droughts could threaten global food security.
“Droughts occurring at the same time across different regions of the planet could place an unprecedented strain on the global agricultural system and threaten the water security of millions of people, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change.”
“UN science report to sound deafening alarm on climate…
“Species extinction, ecosystem collapse, crippling health impacts from disease and heat, water shortages—all will accelerate in the coming decades even if the carbon emissions that drive global warming are drawn down, the report is likely to find.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Brush fires rage in Southern California amid record heat, worsening drought…
“Talk about weather whiplash. Desiccating drought has become reinforced in California after a brief spell of heavy precipitation in the fall, dashing hopes of a long-term pattern change that would spell wetter weather for a state where 12 million acres have burned in the past decade.”
““We thought maybe we’d be talking about a winter storm or something that might impact the game,” said Eric Boldt, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Los Angeles and Oxnard. “Instead we’re talking about a heat wave.””
“Washington state’s new maximum temperature record: 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
“After a months-long investigation, the State Climate Extremes Committee accepted a 120° reading taken at the Hanford site as the state’s new maximum temperature… The reading was taken by the Department of Energy at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation on June 29, 2021…”
“Historic flooding and a housing crisis left evicted Nooksack members [NW Washington] with nowhere to go…
“In the last year alone, Whatcom County has faced a deadly, unprecedented heat wave, record-breaking rainfall, and landslides. Historic flooding in November caused nearly $50 million in disaster costs – the highest ever in Whatcom County…”
“January driest on record for Jackson; Top 10 driest for many other Michigan cities…
“…this January was really dry. In a strip from Kalamazoo to Lansing and Jackson to Detroit, Flint and Saginaw, it was really, really dry. Jackson only had 0.31 inches of moisture, making it the driest January on record at Jackson.”
“Feeding Cattle Gets Costly as Drought Grips U.S. Pasture… Widening drought in the U.S. High Plains is putting more pressure on cattle ranches already squeezed by soaring feed prices and a lack of hay.
“A week of dry weather worsened drought in top U.S. cattle states including Nebraska and Kansas, with recent precipitation totals in the region among the sparsest on record.”
“A rare waterspout on Wednesday struck the eastern part of the Cuban capital of Havana…
“Evolving into a tornado after coming onshore, the natural disaster damaged properties and brought down electric wires… On the night of Dec. 27, 2019, a large-scale tornado hit Havana, claimed at least six deaths, and left nearly 200 people injured and thousands of homes damaged…”
“Forest fires devastate 300,000 hectares in northeastern Argentina.
“The forest fires that hit the Argentine province of Corrientes (northeast) have already devastated 300,000 hectares, including a large area of native forests, official sources reported on Thursday.”
“Argentina soy belt drought awakens ghost of 2018 production ‘disaster’.
“Dry weather in recent weeks and scant hopes of significant rains for the rest of the month in Argentina’s soy belt are igniting fears of a “productive disaster” akin to that in 2018…
“Argentina exchange slashes corn harvest outlook over drought, says rain needed… Argentina’s Buenos Aires grains exchange cut its forecast for the country’s 2021/22 corn harvest to 51 million tonnes on Thursday, down from its previous estimate of 57 million tonnes…”
“January 2022 in Uruguay was very hot. Temperature anomalies ranged between +1C (SE) to +3C (north) above average. During the month the country tied its hottest temperature on records with 44.0C [111.2F].”
“‘Loophole’ allowing for deforestation on soya farms in Brazil’s Amazon.
“… in recent years deforestation has climbed steeply… With the moratorium applying only to soya, farmers have been able to sell the crop as deforestation-free, while still clearing land for cattle, maize or other commodities.”
“Lisbon [Portugal] needs more trees to cope with the coming heat…
“In 2018, Lisbon thermometers reached 44ºC [111.2F; it’s all-time heat record]… Now, in the middle of winter, the territory around Lisbon is in a situation of severe drought. In 2019, the municipality officially recognized the climate emergency and due to climate change, an intensification of extreme weather events is expected…”
“Malaga [southern Spain] is facing its driest year since records began.
“The province is facing its worst drought since records began in 1942, according to Aemet’s Meteorological Centre in Malaga. In Spain, the hydrological year begins on 1 October of one year and ends on 30 September of the next year, according to the Ministry of Ecological Transition.”
“Worst Drought in Decades Grips Swathe of North Africa.
“Wheat is wilting, and cities are planning to ration water…
“For now, near-term forecasts show little relief, and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI called for nationwide Islamic prayers for rain to aid an industry employing one in three workers.”
“The Southern African nations are reeling from the effects of Tropical Storm Ana and Batsirai… Food security is threatened. Parts of Southern, Western, Eastern, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces are currently experiencing flash floods which are causing untold misery on the affected communities.”
“At least six more tropical cyclones that will develop in the south-west Indian Ocean this season are expected to reach Zimbabwe during the current rainy season, although there are no predictions of the strength and rain content they may have once they cross the border.”
“In Pakistan’s hottest city, summers force half of population to leave…
“Jacobabad’s inability to cope with the extreme weather has pushed it into a vicious circle, as increased use of energy during the summer results in deforestation, which only exacerbates the effects of rising heat.”
“Poorest people bear growing burden of heat waves as temperatures rise…
“People with lower incomes are exposed to heat waves for longer periods of time compared to their higher income counterparts due to a combination of location and access to heat adaptations like air conditioning. This inequality is expected to rise as temperatures increase…”
“‘Warming in Himalayas accelerating snow melt, flooding in rivers’.
“Two independent studies point to increasing risk from warming in the Himalayas that is accelerating snow melt and contributing to flooding in rivers. Last February, an avalanche and snow melt in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand killed at least 70 persons and destroyed two hydropower projects.”
“Mekong Drought Enters Fourth Year; Worst Conditions in 60 Years.
“Mainland Southeast Asia is entering its fourth year of drought, with climate change and unrelenting dam construction taking an unprecedented toll on the Mekong River and the 65 million people who rely on the waterway for their livelihoods.”
“Several Siberian cities are under “black sky” emergency weather alerts as polluted air blankets swathes of the region and locals report a distinct smell of smoke.
“Authorities in eight cities issued warnings for air pollution exceeding permissible levels, making it one of the largest areas to ever to be under an air pollution emergency at a single time…”
“Vast swathes of Australia have already lost 20 per cent of their rainfall and the country’s fire risk has gone beyond worst-case scenarios developed just a few years ago… without urgent action, conditions that spawned the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 could be the new normal by the end of this decade.”
“Residents warned to leave as firefighters tackle emergency blazes in West Australia…
“Western Australian firefighters are tackling two emergency bushfires in the state’s south that are threatening lives and property. On Friday evening, residents in Jerramungup and southern Hopetoun areas were told to take immediate action to protect themselves.”
“State [NSW] hit with two weather ‘extremes’ as one part floods, another burns.
“As parts of south-west Western Australia burns the north has been warned to brace for flash flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said monsoon storms “fired up” again over the Pilbara last night bringing the risk of destructive winds and heavy rain.”
“State of emergency declared in Buller. Another bout of record breaking rain for the West Coast [of New Zealand]… Looks like Westport Airport has broken it’s wettest 9am-9am record with already more than 160mm with a few hours to go.
“Also appears the wettest month on record there – sitting near 460mm currently.”
“New Zealand keeps beating heat records: 10th February Whanganui AP reached 32.7C [90.9F] beating the record of 32.3C set in 1989. More records can fall next days…”
“Antarctic research links warming to fish decline.
“A long-term study in the Southern Ocean reveals a clear correlation between warming waters, decreased sea ice, and reduced abundance of Antarctic silverfish. These small, abundant fish are important prey for penguins, seals, and other regional marine life…”
Perhaps not directly relevant but interesting nonetheless: “SpaceX’s newest fleet of satellites is tumbling out of orbit after being struck by a solar storm.
“Up to 40 of the 49 small satellites launched last week have either re-entered the atmosphere and burned up, or are on the verge of doing so, the company said in an online update Tuesday night.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back over the weekend with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Vernadsky, Ukraine (formerly UK Base Faraday), Galindez Island 12.7C / 54.9F new record (formerly 11.7C Feb 1960); Carlini, Argentina, King George Island 13.6C / 56.5F new record; Palmer, USA 11.6C /52.9F record tied; King Sejong, South Korea 13.0C /55.4F (record 13.2C)”
“New Antarctic Penguin Colonies Discovered Farther South Than Normal…
“Until recently, these areas were too icy for the penguins, which prefer warmer temperatures to raise their chicks. But as climate change melts Antarctic ice, the penguins are expanding their habitat, a phenomenon some scientists refer to as “gentoofication.””
“Greenhouse gas emission impact from peatland fires underestimated by 200–300 percent.
“Deforestation fires in Brazil and Indonesia accounted for 3 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the planet’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in 2019 and 2020, finds a new study in Frontiers in Climate.”
“Fires threaten vital peatland in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego.
“A forest fire that has been spreading for weeks in Chile’s Tierra del Fuego is threatening the ancestral land of an Indigenous group and destroying some of the world’s highest concentration of peatlands. The fires… started in mid-January…”
“Heat wave returns to the South [of Brazil] and temperature can approach 40 °C [104F].
“In the South, after the passage of the cold front last weekend, the weather remains firm in the three states. If rain record happens, it will be punctual. Thus, the trend is to rise in temperatures, with a new heat wave reaching Rio Grande do Sul, where thermometers approach 40 °C.”
“River overflows, flooding Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…
“Heavy rains cased flash flooding as the Paraíba do Sul river overflowed, flooding low lying areas. Buildings filled with water, ruining produce and possessions. Residents were advised not to leave their homes unless necessary.”
“Torrential rain in western Colombia led to a landslide late at night, sweeping away homes while people slept… Rescue teams have been searching in the mud for more survivors, Colombia’s disaster management officials said.”
“In Puerto Rico, floods and torrential rains close schools.
“Dozens of schools in Puerto Rico closed on Monday following torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and several landslides across the U.S. Caribbean territory over the weekend… Up to six inches of rain fell in less than six hours…”
“Excessive heat watch issued for Los Angeles amid winter heat wave in California. It’s the kind of weather forecast that stands out in the middle of winter, even in sunny California: Downtown Los Angeles is expected to hit a high of 90 degrees this week, the National Weather Service said.”
“North State districts brace for water supply cuts as California drought worsens.
“Monday marked a month since the last drop of rain fell in Redding, and with the prospects of any precipitation falling in February diminishing, water shortages this year are becoming more of a reality.”
“Multiple collisions reported as dust storm blows across southern Alberta.
“Alberta RCMP say they are responding to multiple collisions west of Taber as high winds created a dust storm that is reducing visibility… Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for several parts of Alberta, warning of strong winds with gusts of up to 110 km/h…”
“Preparing for Category 6 hurricanes, a new facility [at Florida International University] will test winds of 200 mph and storm surge…
“…in our changing climate, sadly, 160 mph isn’t strong enough. So, the National Science Foundation (NSF) just awarded a $12.8 million grant to FIU’s Extreme Events Institute for the design of a full-scale testing facility capable of producing winds of 200 mph…”
“Farmers Are Facing the Brunt of Portugal’s Worsening Drought…
“Experts warn that diminished water levels in the country’s resevoirs will decrease water availabilty and lower water quality. Dryness and higher-than-usual temperatures are also exacerbating wildfires, which are traditionally rare during winter.
“Tshwane floods [South Africa]: Death toll rises to 4 as two more bodies discovered…
“The death toll, following recent flooding in Tshwane, has risen to four as two more bodies were recovered on Tuesday… over 800 families affected by the floods are receiving relief assistance from the City, while other families have been temporarily relocated to community halls.”
“Malawi risks more food inflation after Cyclone Ana destroyed crops.
“Malawi may face faster-rising food prices after at least 77,532 hectares (191,586 acres) of crops such as corn, soybeans, groundnuts, tobacco, rice and cotton were washed away by Cyclone Ana last month. Approximately 870,000 people were affected by the floods…”
“More than 90 people have died… after a cyclone battered Madagascar.
“Over 90,000 residents were left with damaged or destroyed homes… Initially, 29 people were reported to have died but now a local MP has confirmed that figure is around 96, with fears mounting that the total could increase further.”
“Livelihoods lost as climate disaster woes mount in Kenya…
“The semi-arid region has been the scene of a prolonged drought. Then, when the rains finally came, the deluge pushed communities, who rely exclusively on livestock for their survival, to the edge of disaster.”
“An estimated 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing severe hunger, the United Nations’ World Food Programme has said.
“Drought conditions have affected pastoral and farmer populations across southern and southeastern Ethiopia, southeastern and northern Kenya and south-central Somalia, with forecasts of below-average rainfall threatening to worsen already dire conditions in the coming months.”
“Punjab and Sindh [Pakistan] break all records for rainfall in January.
“The highly populated province of Punjab recorded 100.4mm average rain last month as compared to 55.8mm in the year 1992. Sindh [a desert region] recorded 23.4mm rain this year as compared to the last highest 18.4mm in 1992.”
“Sapporo [Japan] in deep disarray after record snowfall pounds city…
“In Sapporo, a record 60 centimeters [23.6 inches] of snow fell over the 24-hour period through 2 p.m. on Feb. 6… the cancellation of all services connecting Sapporo, a city with a population of 1.76 million, on Feb. 7 posed a rare insurmountable obstacle to most commuters.”
“Just days after receiving a deluge of rain that threatened major flooding, two West Coast towns [New Zealand] have set new records for their highest temperatures.
“The mercury rose to 29.8 degrees Celsius in Greymouth and 29.2C in Westport on Tuesday, topping the respective previous highs of 29.7C set in February 2010 and 28.6C from March 1959…”
“Aoraki/Mt Cook’s driest January in nearly 100 years has been followed by a nearly 500 millimetre [19.7 inches] dumping of rain in early February.
“A monthly climate summary by the National Institute of Weather and Atmospheric Research said Aoraki/Mt Cook airport recorded just 22mm [0.9 inches] of rain in January, its lowest since records began in 1928.”
“Water Supplies From Glaciers May Peak Sooner Than Anticipated…
“The world’s glaciers may contain less water than previously believed, a new study has found, suggesting that freshwater supplies could peak sooner than anticipated for millions of people worldwide who depend on glacial melt for drinking water, crop irrigation and everyday use.”
“Thawing permafrost could expose Arctic populations to cancer-causing radon…
“They show that in buildings with basements, the presence of radon gas can increase to more than 100 times its initial value for up to seven years, depending on the depth of the permafrost and how fast the permafrost thaws.”
“Plastic pollution affects 88% of marine species: WWF.
“WWF said… that plastic has infiltrated all parts of the ocean [and] 88% of marine species are affected by severe contamination of plastic in the ocean. The report said that many animals have ingested these plastics, including animals commonly consumed by humans.”
“Climate pledges from top companies crumble under scrutiny.
“The report underscores longstanding worries among scientists, environmentalists and policymakers about how to assess and monitor corporate climate commitments. This is particularly true for net-zero pledges…”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated [which you can do on a one-time basis on my “Support” page] – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“Cyclone Batsirai: Whole villages swept away in Madagascar. At least 10 people have been killed and nearly 50,000 displaced after Cyclone Batsirai brought strong winds and rain to Madagascar on Saturday evening.
“Batsirai – the second major storm in two weeks – made landfall on the east coast, with gusts of 235km/h (146mph) and high waves hitting coastal areas.”
“Malawi Loses 30% of Its Electricity to Tropical Storm Ana.
“The Department of Disaster Management Affairs says in Malawi, the storm killed 32 people and displaced 188,000 from their homes in 17 districts. Meanwhile, donor partners and well-wishers including United Nations agencies in Malawi have started providing aid to victims.”
“At least 138 people have been left homeless in KwaZulu-Natal [South Africa] after strong winds and heavy downpourslead to localised flooding in two municipalities.
“Disaster management teams in the province said they were left homeless when their homes were flooded.”
“At least 306,358 animals, including cattle, goats, sheep and donkeys have been killed by drought in Tanzania in the past five months, a cabinet minister has said.
“Mashimba Ndaki, minister for livestock and fisheries, said an assessment conducted by experts from the ministry in January showed that the animals were killed…”
““It is on the grasses, it is spreading and very windy,” the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, explaining that he was not authorised to speak to media. “We have mobilized the community and staff around and today they have really tried their best… it is only that they were overwhelmed.””
“Charity workers delivering Scottish Government funded aid to families in flood-hit South Sudan have told of their shock at the scale of suffering.
“The flood-hit communities are struggling to find enough to eat, with water lilies sometimes the only food source they can find… More than two million people are at risk of famine.”
“Jujube supplies suffer as last year’s heatwave takes toll [Pakistan]…
” Season for new jujube began in the middle of January, but this year market arrivals remain slow as last September’s heatwave damaged the fruit in its early flowering stage. Traders and contractors also pin the low yields on water shortage.”
“Hundreds of heron birds were found dead after heavy rains and hailstorms lashed Shantivan area of Barhampur, Nagaon in Assam. A coldwave has gripped northeast India with reports of heavy rainfall and hailstorm in some parts of Assam.”
“Historic snowstorms in Bhutan and in the Indian State of Himachal Pradesh.
“Accumulations in some places were over 50cm and snow also fell at unusually low elevations. According to locals,the former Bhutanese winter capital Punakha (1250m) had its first snow (5cm) since 1958.”
“Perth’s record summer hot streak continues as city tops 40C for thirteenth day.
“Perth may only be five days into February but the city has nearly doubled the previous record of seven days over 40C during summer. Saturday marks the thirteenth day the city has sweltered through extreme temperatures this summer, hitting 40C at 11:30am.”
“‘Hellish night’: homes lost in Western Australia bushfires as specialist crews called in from interstate…
“Fires remained out of control on Sunday afternoon and had burned more than 5,000 hectares. Dawson said 210 firefighters had been battling the fires at Denmark and Bridgetown on Sunday.”
“Broome’s rough sleepers battle through town’s record rainfall…
“With many of their normal haunts ruled out due to the unrelenting rain, Mr Lawford said he and many others had slept outside during last weekend’s damaging storms.
“”We sleep with no rugs, all our clothes are fully wet,” Mr Lawford said.”
“Record-breaking rains bring the Kimberley [Northern Territories] to life…
“As the rain fills up local creeks, banks are spilled creating a film of water over the sand plains. “This is when insect abundance goes through the roof. The frogs and geckos are all out feeding on termites and the purple-crowned fairy-wrens are having a bumper breeding season because of the extra food resources.”
“South Island weather stations [New Zealand] record 1 metre of rain – more than Christchurch’s annual rainfall.
“According to NIWA Weather, the highest reading was taken at Tuke at Tuke Hut in Westland, which recorded a whopping 1177mm [46.3 inches]. Mt Philistine in the Arthur’s Pass National Park recorded 1125mm and Cropp at Waterfall had 1054mm from the early hours of Wednesday to Friday night.”
“Whanganui [North Island, NZ] has had its wettest February day since records began.
“The city’s dry spell was well and truly snapped this weekend, with 82.6 millimetres of rain falling at Whanganui Airport between 9am Saturday and 9am Sunday, according to Metservice meteorologist Dan Corrigan.”
“Heavy snow has been buffeting wide swathes of Japan, with some areas observing record accumulations. Weather officials are warning of possible transport system disruptions and snow-related accidents.
“The Japan Meteorological Agency says a wintry pressure pattern and a cold air mass have been bringing snow to places along the Sea of Japan and elsewhere.”
“Rain that drenched Quito for 17 straight hours caused flooding and surges of mud that damaged roads, agricultural areas, clinics, schools, a police station and an electric power substation.”
“Brazil hit by extreme weather conditions causing deaths, evacuations.
“In recent months, Brazil has been hit by the worst drought in over ninety years to severe rainstorms that have caused nearly 100 deaths and 150,000 evacuations… The intensity of extreme weather events will increase and their impacts are being enhanced by human action, Santos said.”
“A third of Americans are already facing above-average warming.
“The US as a whole has heated up over the past century… and swathes of the US west, northeast and upper midwest – representing more than 124.6 million people – have recorded soaring increases since federal government temperature records began in 1895.”
“Blizzard-like ‘bomb cyclones’ get boost from warming oceans.
“The warming of ocean waters through climate change creates ideal conditions for more “bomb cyclone” events like the one that battered the Northeast with extreme winter weather in late January, experts say.”
“Super trawler spills 100,000 dead fish off French coast.
“An investigation has been ordered after the world’s second-biggest trawler shed more than 100,000 dead fish into the Atlantic, sparking claims they were dumped deliberately… France’s maritime minister Annick Girardin has described the images as “shocking”…”
“A continued shortage of rainfall in Spain has led to a dramatic period of drought in the country.With temperatures reported to be rising again this week, the outlook is looking bleak for the moment.
“…the Spanish water reserve is in an extremely poor condition, with the country’s reservoirs currently reported to be holding around only 44.8 per cent of their capacity.”
“Nine killed in three days after more than 100 avalanches hit Austria
“Authorities dub situation ‘unprecedented’ as heavy snowfall followed by warm weather makes for dangerous conditions… Most of the avalanches hit the western Tyrol region and Friday alone saw five fatalities.”
“Snow, wet snow has continued in the Krasnodar Region since the end of January. Snow levels have reached an almost all time high of over one meter in some settlements. Now, snow is actively melting.”
“Mammoth tusk mining in the Arctic, and the price of ‘ethical ivory’…
“As the ground melts, the remains of the ancient beasts are easier to prise from their icy graves. This has created a “mammoth rush” over the past decade, explains Zara Bending of the Centre for Environmental Law of Macquarie University.”
“The Polar Vortex starts to behave strangely, cooling down to record levels and going into overdrive…
“This is not without consequences, as it will strengthen the polar circulation into late winter and will be ready to continue into early Spring, influencing the weather in the United States and Europe.”
“Climate change is effecting the way snow smells, said Parisa A. Ariya, a chemist and chair of the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department at McGill University. As the ground and air get warmer, that encourages the circulation — and intensity — of the odor molecules.”
You can read the previous ‘Climate’ thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an ‘Economic’ thread.
If you found value in this content, please help me continue this work by becoming a patron of my work via Patreon. And if you are already a subscriber or have donated – thank you! It is a huge help, especially as the cost of living crisis is biting here in the UK.
“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.
“The number of people on the brink of starvation across Africa’s Sahel region is ten times higher than it was in 2019, the World Food Program (WFP) is warning, while the number of people who are displaced is up by 400%.
“Somalis in crowded camps on ‘brink of death’ as drought worsens…
“The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for extremely high fire danger conditions expected over the Hantam and Kamiesberg municipalities of the Northern Cape and West Coast District of the Western Cape interior.
“Tropical storm Dumako hits northern Madagascar; 2 missing.
“The impact of climate change can be felt in Turkey, especially after recent unusual weather incidents. Experts say more is in store for the country in terms of rising temperatures.
“Conflict and climate fragmenting Rojava: new report…
“Jordan’s agricultural industry has a significant impact on the country’s water crisis, placing the financial situation of farmers under high pressure, according to farmers and experts.
“Iraq’s second largest lake dries up, threatening human lives, agriculture.
“Uttarakhand: Year after Chamoli floods, body of engineer found.
“Hotter and Wetter: Rainfall and Temperatures Rise in Japan in 2021.
“An intense low-pressure system has been spinning near Japan, dumping record-breaking intense snow. More records may be broken into Friday.
“How can warmer winters mean more intense snowstorms? An expert explains…
“Dire warning Sydney could face ‘extreme heat’ over 35 degrees [95F] for an entire month by 2050 as climate change drives up temperatures…
“Unprecedented drought fuels devastating fires in Corrientes Province [Argentina]…
“Survivors dig for loved ones as Brazil flood death toll reaches 105…
“Brazil scientists warn of possible election-year spike in deforestation…
“Paraguay soy crushers, hit by drought, risk running out of beans…
“India makes record U.S. soyoil purchases as drought parches South America…
“California’s largest wildfire of 2022 grows uncontained to 1,800 acres near Bishop.
“Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has hit half of the corals along the Florida Keys, and it’s now targeting the Caribbean.
“London on RED alert for Storm Eunice: Now Met Office issues most extreme weather warning for capital and South East as 100mph ‘sting jet’ tempest hits…
“Hamburg ferry passengers injured as Storm Ylenia batters central Europe…
“A tornado damaged up to 40 buildings in Dobrzyca Wielkopolskie province, Poland, on Thursday morning, the fire brigade has reported, while in Krakow two construction workers were killed and two others wounded when strong winds felled a crane…
“17th February was a very warm day in France with temperatures up to 24.7C at Les Arcs. Locally it was historic. 
“Hoteliers demand to act in the face of the “alarming” drought in Malaga [Spain]…
“Air pollution affecting ability of sperms to swim in right direction: Study…
“Conditions at most of the world’s large meat, fish and dairy producers are said to be “incubating” future pandemics, according to a report by the FAIRR Initiative.
“Latest YouGov survey: Has the pandemic changed views on human extinction? “When will human beings go extinct? Perhaps sooner than we first predicted.
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Perhaps not directly relevant but interesting nonetheless
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