“So-called Doomsday Glacier [Thwaites, Antarctica] is ‘in trouble,’ scientists say after finding surprising formations under ice shelf…
In two studies, published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, scientists revealed while the pace of melting underneath much of the ice shelf is slower than previously thought, deep cracks and “staircase” formations in the ice are melting much faster.”
“Another day, another record shattering low for Antarctic sea-ice extent, now down from 1,995,759 km² to 1,968,016 km² [first year on record below 2M km²] with several more days of melt ahead.“
“An increase in the pace at which sea levels are rising threatens “a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale”, the UN secretary general has warned.
“The climate crisis is causing sea levels to rise faster than for 3,000 years, bringing a “torrent of trouble” to almost a billion people, from London to Los Angeles and Bangkok to Buenos Aires…”
“Arctic Northeast Passage: Navigability Changes in 40 Years…
“…the number of navigable days has been steadily growing, reaching 89±16 days for Open Water (OW) ships and 163±19 days for Polar Class 6 (PC6) ships in the 2010s. In addition, more consecutive NWs have emerged for both OW ships and PC6 ships since 2005 because of the faster sea-ice retreat. Since the 1980s, according to the simulation, the number of Arctic routes has continuously increased…”
“Alarming levels of PFAS in Norwegian Arctic ice pose new risk to wildlife.
“The Oxford University-led study’s measurements of ice around Svalbard, Norway, detected 26 types of [toxic] PFAS compounds, and found when ice melts, the chemicals can move from glaciers into downstream ecosystems like Arctic fjords and tundra.”
“New technique maps large-scale impacts of fire-induced permafrost thaw in Alaska.
“About 40 percent of interior Alaska is underlain by ice-rich permafrost—permanently frozen grounds made up of soil, gravel and sand—bound together by ice. Certain conditions, such as climate warming, have intensified tundra wildfires which have profound implications for permafrost thaw.”
“Waters off New England had 2nd warmest year on record in ’22…
“The Gulf of Maine, a body of water about the size of Indiana that touches Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Canada, is warming faster than the vast majority of the world’s oceans. Last year fell short of setting a new high mark for hottest year by less than half a degree Fahrenheit…”
“Positively New Jersey: Warm winter leaves ice boat and yacht club members frustrated…
“New Jersey saw temperatures in the mid-60s on Wednesday – incredibly warm for February… members of the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club, which was founded in 1880. For the fifth straight winter, …have been unable to feel the thrill of ice boating on their home turf due to a lack of ice.”
“It’s 60 Degrees in February. This Is What Climate Change Looks Like.
“Whether it’s winter or summer, it’s been difficult to avoid freakishly warm weather around the world this year. It might seem like a fluke, but it’s really a reflection of temperatures being driven inexorably higher by a changing climate.”
“Million of Americans are fleeing their homes because of extreme weather.
“More than a million Americans last year were forced from their homes for more than a month due to a weather disaster, according to a first-of-its-kind release from the Census Bureau. When counting temporary evacuations lasting less than a week, the number balloons to more than 3.4 million — or 1.4% of the U.S. population.”
“Wall Street sees profits in dropping Colorado river levels.
“As Wyoming and other Colorado River Basin states grapple with ways to keep a river more than 40 million people, agriculture and industry depend on flowing, Wall Street is tapping water scarcity to deliver steep profits.”
“California’s snowpack is melting faster than ever before, leaving less available water.
“For decades, Californians have depended on the reliable appearance of spring and summer snowmelt to provide nearly a third of the state’s supply of water. But as the state gets drier, and as wildfires climb to ever-higher elevations, that precious snow is melting faster and earlier than in years past — even in the middle of winter.”
“Water Shortages Threaten to Increase Violence and Disappearances in Mexico…
“Changing weather patterns, the failure of government institutions to accommodate growing and moving populations, and the realities of decaying infrastructure are reducing the availability of usable fresh water in several parts of Mexico. This, I believe, is adding to crime, civil unrest and migration, as people search for more habitable or safer ground.”
“Argentina’s drought-stricken crops could bring in 23% fewer export dollars this season versus a year earlier, the Buenos Aires grains exchange said in a report on Tuesday.
“For much of the last year, Argentina’s worst drought in sixty years has delayed planting and withered crop outlooks, making life ever harder for farmers in a country where inflation nears 100%.”
“A relentless drought in Rio Grande do Sul continues to limit Brazil’s soybean output potential this year…
“In the worst case scenario, output there could fall by 40% to 12.6 million tonnes, a large drop from the state’s 21 million tonne production potential, said Decio Teixeira, vice-president of Rio Grande do Sul’s farmer group Aprosoja-RS.”
“Number of fires in the Brazilian Amazon in August-September 2022 was highest since 2010.
“The number of active fires recorded in the Brazilian Amazon in August-September 2022 was the highest since 2010, according to an article published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. Besides the record number of fires (74,398), the researchers found they were due not to extreme drought, as in 2010, but to recent deforestation by humans.”
“Invisible destruction: 38% of remaining Amazon forest already degraded.
“…over time, there has been an increase in the areas that were not completely deforested but suffered various stages of degradation. “Deforestation is really important – but yes, if we only look at that, we ignore changes in the remaining forests that can emit as much CO2 as deforestation,” warns professor Jos Barlow from the UK’s Lancaster University.”
“More than half of England’s rivers are filled with chemical pollution which can kill wildlife.
“Chemical pollution in Britain’s rivers is as bad, if not worse, than sewage discharges and needs urgent action to tackle it, campaigners have warned… More than half of England’s rivers and three-quarters of its lakes are considered to have too much phosphorus in them… There is also evidence of extensive chemical pollution in the UK’s waterways, including from pharmaceuticals and domestic products…”
“Flowering into frost: Climate change is ‘destroying’ Spain’s treasured almonds.
“Almond blossoms always used to be a welcome sign that spring was on its way in Spain. But the pretty pink flowers are no longer a reliable indicator, as climate change throws the seasons out of sync. 2023 was the third-driest year in Spain since records were started in 1964. The Mediterranean country also had its hottest summer on record.”
“Africa in 2022 saw flooding and landslides occur on an unprecedented scale. Many leaders – including DR Congo’s President Felix Tshesekedi – blamed the phenomenon on the climate crisis. Judging from extreme weather in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique it looks like Africa will continue to feel the impact of this phenomenon.”
“Record numbers of displaced Africans face worsening prospects.
“Across many parts of Africa, conflict, political violence, climate change and food insecurity are converging to forcibly displace more Africans than ever. High inflation rates, rising energy costs and repercussions from COVID-19 and the Ukraine war compound already complex situations.”
“KwaZulu-Natal towns [South Africa] pick up the pieces after severe floods, extent of damage still being assessed.
“Just 10 months after KwaZulu-Natal suffered catastrophic flooding and loss of lives, the province has been hit by more destruction due to heavy rains. The Presidency announced late on Monday night that the government had… declared a national state of disaster.”
“Record heat wave in the Southern Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
“Sharurah at 720m above sea level rose to 38C [100.4F], while Najran at 1200m to 36C. In Iran 32C at Iranshar (590m) and Bam (940m),31C at Saravan (1200m). In India 36C in Rajastan. 36C also in the Emirates. Heat will just get worse.”
“Pakistan ravaged by water-borne diseases after last year’s floods.
“Pakistan still faces a crisis situation more than six months after its catastrophic floods. Waters have not receded in parts of the south and cases of water-borne diseases are surging, making restoration of medical infrastructure an urgent need.”
“Temperatures [potentially set to exceed] 50 degrees [122F] in parts of Western Australia this weekend as national heatwave continues.
“Dangerous conditions have been forecast in Western Australia this weekend with near-record temperatures set to skyrocket above 50 degrees, prompting a bushfire warning from officials.”
“Cyclone Gabrielle: fresh storm warnings for New Zealand’s worst-hit regions as death toll rises to five.
“At least five people have died and evacuations are continuing as fresh storm warnings are announced in regions of New Zealand already devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle and the prime minister warns of the likelihood of further fatalities.”
“Why New Zealand is no safe haven from the climate crisis…
“…heavy rainfall isn’t the only risk posed by climate change in New Zealand, long considered a safe haven by those seeking refuge from global troubles. Parts of the country have experienced drought in recent years, and even a few years ago, Auckland – the city hit by a short bout of intense rainfall in January – was close to running out of water.”
“Chinese researchers have found that greenhouse warming and internal variability have increased the frequency of extreme El Nino and Central Pacific El Nino events since 1980…
“According to the researchers, El Nino has changed its properties since the 1980s, characterized by more common extreme El Nino and Central Pacific El Nino events.”
“Climate change may make it easier for mosquitoes to spread malaria…
“Using data dating back to 1898, a team of Georgetown University researchers found the limits of the malaria mosquitos’ ranges moved away from the equator by 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles) a year on average over the past century. Mosquitos did some mountain climbing, too…”
“Climate change and conflict are supercharging cholera, a diarrheal disease caused by ingesting contaminated water and food, killing thousands of people from Haiti to Malawi. More people died of cholera last year globally than in the previous five years combined…”
“Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop “war” on poultry.
“Avian flu has reached new corners of the globe and become endemic for the first time in some wild birds that transmit the virus to poultry, according to veterinarians and disease experts, who warn it is now a year-round problem… Some experts suspect climate change may be contributing to the global spread by altering wild birds’ habitats and migratory paths.”
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 an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
Thank you to all my readers and especially paying subscribers for their patience in my absence. I hope February is treating you kindly. I’ll be back at my station for the foreseeable now…
“There are signs of an “extraordinary marine heatwave” in the Antarctic, a scientist monitoring ocean temperatures in the region has warned.
“While the south pole previously appeared to buck the trend of global heating seen elsewhere, cooling until the 1980s, the continent is now one of the fastest-warming places on the planet – and is seeing record-high temperatures as sea ice levels hit new lows.”
“New Zealand declared a national state of emergency for only the third time in its history on Tuesday as Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread flooding, landslides and huge ocean swells, forcing evacuations and stranding people on roof tops.
“Cancelled flights stranded thousands of people, while hundreds of thousands remained without power.”
“-Whangārei had its wettest Feb day on record
-Napier had its 2nd wettest Feb day on record
-Auckland has had over 55% of its annual normal rainfall in 45 days!”
“Bushfires flare out of control in south-west Queensland as residents urged to flee.
“Communities in south-west Queensland have been evacuated and homes hit by fast-moving bushfires, as residents of Myall Park and Hookswood near the town of Miles were urged to leave immediately.”
“The Government of Chile reported that there are about 300 active fires in the country.
“The Chilean Government has reported on Monday that there are 303 fires detected in the country as a whole, of which 82 are “in combat”, that is, uncontrolled, three more than on Sunday.”
“This is by a huge margin the hottest summer ever recorded in Argentina.The extreme heat started in November (last meteorological spring month but with full summer conditions).
“The Nov 2022-Jan 2023 record warm period is being joined by a stifling February.”
“The town of Colonia with 40.8C [105.4F] had its highest temperature on records, the Carrasco AP of the capital Montevideo with 41.0C tied its record of January 2022. Monthly records: Durazno, Tacuarembo, Rocha 39.0 (tied),Treinta y Tres (today).”
“Peru mudslides leave villagers with ‘nothing left’.
“Torrential rain late last week in Mariano Valcarel district of the southwestern Arequipa region provoked a mudslide on the San Martin mountain. Several communes were buried under mud and rocks, leaving 18 dead and around 20 others missing.”
“‘Double-edged sword’: why the badly needed rains in California could fuel catastrophic fires.
“…the rains that hammered California this winter came as a mixed blessing, delivering badly needed relief while posing new risks. Along with seeding the tinder of tomorrow, the inclement weather hampered efforts to perform essential landscape treatments needed to mitigate the risks of catastrophic fire.”
“Following an unseasonably warm winter, spring has arrived historically early in parts of the US, despite Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions of a long winter.
“Parts of the South are seeing either the earliest spring on record or a spring that only occurs this early every 40 years, according to the National Phenology Network.”
“The National Weather Service reports that the average temperature for the month of January on Martha’s Vineyard was just over 40° [4.4C], the warmest on record.
“The weather service has been tracking temperatures on the Island since 1946… That beats out the previous record of 38.9°, recorded in 2006.”
“Authorities in Vermont are warning ice fishers to stay off the ice of a lake after three people died after falling into the lake last week.
“According to the U.S. National Weather Service Burlington, the area has experienced temperatures between 7 degrees to 15 degrees above normal in the past week, saying Tuesday that it’s been an “abnormally warm” February so far.”
“A much milder-than-average weather pattern across the Great Lakes for most of this winter has produced the lowest ice cover on record for the Great Lakes… As of Monday, ice covered only 8 percent of the Great Lakes.”
“‘Race against time’: Rideau Canal skating rink faces 1st year without opening.
“The opening of Canada’s iconic Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa has been pushed back continually this year as the nation’s capital and much of Ontario are experiencing an unusually “mild” winter season. The famous canal-turned-ice-rink has opened to the public every year since 1971.”
“[Canada’s] Tornado count in 2022 tied all-time record – report.
“The researchers of Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) have confirmed that 117 tornadoes were reported across Canada in 2022 – matching the all-time record set by the year prior, 2021… Ontario had the most number of tornadoes last year, with 51.”
“‘Exceptional’ warming: January temperatures 2.2 degrees higher than average in Europe…
“The month started with a record-breaking heatwave, as New Year’s Day saw an alarming number of heat records fall across the continent, with at least eight countries experiencing their warmest-ever January day. The climatologist Maximiliano Herrera… told CNN at the time that it was “the most extreme heat wave in European history.””
“Kenya seeks divine help to end crippling, ongoing drought.
“With the prospect of a sixth consecutive failed rainy season in the east and Horn of Africa, Kenya’s president is hoping the heavens will finally open with the help of a national day of mass prayer on Tuesday. William Ruto announced the plans for the country’s first ever day of prayer on Sunday…”
“Since early February, heavy rains (reaching up to 100 mm in 24 hours) hit the southern region of Mozambique over the past ten days, causing widespread flooding and structural damages, particularly in Maputo city and Maputo province. At least 30,600 people (5,721 families) have reportedly been affected by flooding…”
“South Africa Declares National State of Disaster Over Floods…
“It was the second such pronouncement in less than a week. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday declared a national state of disaster over an energy crisis that’s crippling the nation’s economy… The floods have damaged homes, businesses, basic infrastructure, roads, bridges and affected crops and livestock…”
“Global Warming Making India Vulnerable to Extreme Weather Events…
““The extremes are increasing — hot is becoming hotter and cold is becoming colder,” said M. Ravichandran, the top bureaucrat at the country’s earth sciences ministry. This trend is only going to intensify every year, driven by a warming planet, he said in an interview…”
“The rapid melting of glaciers in Kashmir and Ladakh has worried experts who say it would enhance serious implications for regional water availability and hydrological regimes…
“Kolahoi, the largest glacier of Kashmir valley’s Jhelum Basin, is retreating rapidly due to spurt rise in temperature triggered by global warming and extreme pollution.”
“Central Asia is boiling under an unprecedented heat wave for early February with temperatures reaching:
“38.8C [101.8F] in India at Karwar, 38.3C at Ratnagir, 37.9C at Goa. 38.6C in NE Thailand at Mukdahan. Further West in Saudi Arabia 37.0C at Sharurah at 720m above sea level. Next heat wave: Pakistan.”
“In recent days, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has seen strong winds.
“Today, 20 stations have recorded gusts of ＞30 m/s, and Everest Base Camp Station has recorded gusts of 60.0m/s [134.2mph], breaking the record of wind speed in Tibet! Strong wind blew sand, and stained the clouds yellow.”
“Historic heat wave in Taiwan with temperatures never seen before in February.
“36.3C [97.3F] at Dawu destroys the previous Taiwanese record 35.2C set at the same town on 24 February 1942. 36.0C at Neimen, 35.8C at Yujing. Monthly record also at Taichung with 33.2C and many others.”
“New data gives NOAA more extensive picture of global climate.
“The new version of NOAA’s Global Temperature dataset shows similar warming trends in the Earth’s climate when compared to the previous version… This new information comes at a critical time in the Earth’s climate history.”
“When NOAA released its 2020 numbers for atmospheric methane, many scientists were surprised. Though economic data showed that COVID-19-related lockdowns had led to improvements in air quality and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, atmospheric methane still soared…
““The research team attributed about half of the increase in the 2020 growth rate to heightened emissions from wetlands… The scientists attributed the other half of the increase in the growth rate to a decline in emissions of NOx due to COVID-19 lockdowns.”
“Myth-buster: Why two degrees of global warming is worse than it sounds.
“…impacts will only intensify as the temperature continues to tick up… With every degree of warming, there’s also an increased likelihood of reduced crop yields, loss of biodiversity, and coral reef die-off, underscoring the fact that a seemingly small change can have major consequences.”
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 an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
A reminder that tomorrow will be my last thread until the 14th Feb, as I am heading for England. I do apologise for deserting my station for so long but family calls. If it’s any consolation, this will likely be my last significant trip until Christmas.
“Let’s have our cake and eat it, too!” say humans: “The fight against global warming should not be at the expense of economic growth, the United Arab Emirates’ oil chief who will lead this year’s UN climate talks said on Monday.
“Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’ special envoy for climate change and CEO of oil giant ADNOC, said the energy transition needed to make the planet “wealthier and healthier”.”
“Germany made ‘painful choices’ in clearing village to make way for coal mine, climate envoy says.
“In an interview with Sky News, Germany’s climate envoy Jennifer Morgan admitted Germany was “vulnerable” to the energy crisis, saying it had “learned the hard way” to reduce dependence on fossil fuels or on any one country.”
“…as the Dutch this week commemorate the great flood of 1953, thoughts are inevitably turning to current-day climate change and how the low-lying country remains vulnerable to rising ocean levels. Horrific images of men, women, children and cattle trying to stay afloat in icy waters that swamped villages and thousands of acres of farmland remain etched in the collective memory…”
“Spain’s prized jamón ibérico bellota is under threat from the climate crisis as rising temperatures and low rainfall imperil a key ingredient of the pigs’ diet – acorns.
“In a country where pigs are as populous as people, there are many varieties of ham but none is so revered as jamón ibérico bellota, which retails at upwards of €100 (£88) a kilo.”
“Sub-Saharan Africa Heat Wave: Temperatures again around 38C/40C even at 300m-400m above sea level between Northern Nigeria, Niger and Chad.
“Kano in Nigeria with 38.2C 100.8F (hourly max) set a record for January, while many other stations just across the Nigerien border were few decimals short.”
“Over 450 families face starvation as hailstorm wreaks havoc in Mitooma, Uganda…
“The hailstorm claimed the lives of several animals including cows, goats, and pigs, and destroyed several acres of banana, coffee and cassava plantations as well as beans, maize, and Irish potato gardens.”
“Cyclone in Madagascar kills dozens [30, latest toll], displaces tens of thousands.
“More than two dozen Madagascans have died and tens of thousands have been left homeless since a severe tropical cyclone made landfall last week and swirled for days off the island’s western coast, official records show.”
“Unusual cold weather in the Strait of Hormuz area in the Middle East:
“Yesterday cold and rainy with just 14.4C of Tmax. in the Kish Island of Iran. After very mild weeks, the cold reached Oman where snow has been falling on the Jabal al Shams Mountain (>2700m) in the past 5 days.”
“UAE received rainfall for three days straight. At the end of it, one station — Al Faqa’a — received 118mm [4.6 inches] of precipitation. This is significant, considering the UAE records an annual average of 100mm rainfall.
“Storm Centre posted a stunning video that shows a valley bloom green after the rains.”
“UAE president’s trip to Islamabad postponed due to ‘extreme weather conditions’…
“The leader of the oil-rich Gulf nation was scheduled to meet Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here to discuss bilateral ties and broaden his country’s investment footprint… Islamabad’s sky was overcast with intermittent rains accompanied by gusty winds lashing it since Sunday night, which apparently made it impossible for the royal aircraft to land.”
“Unseasonal rain, hailstorm hit crops on 14.9L hectares [Rajasthan, India]…
“Jaipur: Agriculture minister Lalchand Kataria on Monday informed the state assembly that according to preliminary estimates crops over 14.92 lakh hectares (out of 109 lakh hectares of rabi crop) were affected by the untimely rain, frost and hailstorm in the state in the last two days. The loss to crops ranges from 2 to 65 per cent.”
“Study links record-breaking rainfall events in separate regions.
“In September 2021, record-breaking rainfall occurred in both Northwest India and North China. This was unexpected… A study published in Advances of Atmospheric Sciences found that the rainfall and large-scale circulations in September 2021 resembled those of the peak rainy season (July and August), possibly due to warmer conditions over continental Eurasia.”
“In Hongyuan, Sichuan, the lowest temperature is – 24.2C [-11.6F] this morning, the highest temperature is 14.4C [57.9F] in the afternoon, and the temperature difference throughout the day is as high as 38.6C!
“This is the second largest temperature difference between day and night since China has meteorological records.”
“With the exception of western Tibet, which is snowing, the whole [of China] is warming violently. Yunnan and western Sichuan may hit the highest record in January today.”
“In the North China Plain, the temperature has risen to the highest this year. Beijing 14.0C [57.2F] and Tianjin 13.6 C are not only the highest this year, but also the highest in late January, the second highest in January.”
Update: “Today, 12 provinces and 89 stations across the country broke the record of January; three stations equalled the record, including 48 stations in Yunnan. Kunming was 24.7C [76.5F], breaking the January record again after five days.”
“A forest fire broke out on Saturday in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and firefighters continued to battle the blaze as of 9 p.m. Monday, local authorities have said… More than 500 firefighters and other emergency response personnel have been dispatched to tackle the blaze.”
“Floods followed by droughts, or droughts followed by floods, will rise in frequency in a warming world. Global warming will amplify a new type of natural hazard in East Asia: drastic and rapid swings in weather, from heat or drought to flood, and vice versa.”
“The death toll from flooding and landslides prompted by persistent rains since December [Philippines] has climbed to 43 while eight others have been reported missing, according to Jan. 30 update of the national disaster management council.
“Rains are expected to continue this week in affected areas, including southern parts of Luzon, eastern Visayas, and parts of Mindanao…”
“A number of rainfall records have been broken in Albury and parts of north-east Victoria [Australia] following heavy downpours…
“The Bureau of Meteorology said Albury Airport received its highest 24-hour rainfall total on record with a reading of 132 millimetres [5.2 inches] at 9am on Monday.”
“A torrential downpour overnight capped off Sydney’s wettest start to the year in more than three decades. Locals watched a steamy, still day turn into a summer storm on Monday evening… Sydney’s main rain gauge at Observatory Hill recorded 52mm between 5:20pm and 6:20pm.”
“-48.7C [-55.7F] at Vostok in Antarctica yesterday 29 January is the lowest reliable temperature on records in January (a couple of lower temperatures in 1994 and 1998 didn’t pass the quality control) and few decimals from the Antarctic lowest on records for this month.“
“South America under an endless sequences of heat waves:
“Yesterday very hot in Patagonia up to 41.0C [105.8F] at San Antonio Oeste; Monthly record at Chapelco (779m) with 37.0C and missed by just 0.1C at Bariloche (845m) with 34.3C. More severe heat waves are looming and more records can fall.”
“Record heat in Florida and Georgia today. Jacksonville Int. AP with 87F [30.6C] broke its record of hottest January day on records. Even hotter the Cecil AP with 88F.
“In Georgia 86F at Stafford and Oke West, just 1F from the State record of highest temperature in January.”
“January 2023 will be remembered more for its tornadoes and severe weather than for more traditional winter weather like snow and ice for everyone east of the Rockies. January is not typically a severe weather month, but this year was a big one.”
“NYC just broke the record for the longest winter without snowfall…
“Not only is there no snow in sight for the near future, but NYC is also seeing some above-normal temperatures. Today, Monday, January 30, the high was predicted to be 52 degrees…in the supposed dead of winter. Many New Yorkers have been describing the lack of snow and warmer temps as “weird” and “unnerving.””
“Honey bee colony loss in the U.S. linked to mites, extreme weather, pesticides…
“The research team found that several stressors impacted honey bee colony loss at the national level, including the presence of nearby pesticides, frequent extreme weather events, and weather instability.”
“Hinman Glacier, largest between Mount Rainier and Glacier Peak [Washington State], melts away…
“Hinman Glacier, which sits on the Cascade Mountains spine between Snoqualmie and Stevens passes, shrunk to just 0.04 square kilometers in 2022, according to glaciologist Mauri Pelto. This is just 4% of its 1958 size.”
“Warmer climate may drive fungi to be more dangerous to our health…
“A new study out of Duke University School of Medicine finds that raised temperatures cause a pathogenic fungus known as Cryptococcus deneoformans to turn its adaptative responses into overdrive.”
“Earth is on track to exceed 1.5C warming in the next decade, study using AI finds.
“The world is on the brink of breaching a critical climate threshold, according to a new study published on Monday, signifying time is running exceedingly short to spare the world the most catastrophic effects of global heating.”
Missed this one a couple of weeks ago: “New report shows alarming changes in the entire global water cycle…
“The key conclusion? Earth’s water cycle is clearly changing. Globally, the air is getting hotter and drier, which means droughts and risky fire conditions are developing faster and more frequently.”
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 an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Torrential rain in Auckland left three people dead and another missing, police said on Saturday, after widespread flooding hit New Zealand’s largest city…
“The city has broken all its rainfall records – 249mm [nearly 10 inches] compared with a previous record of 161mm in 24 hours – making this its wettest day and month on record.”
“Southland’s record-breaking summer [New Zealand] set to continue, but when do we call it a drought?
….””There is no significant rain forecast and the long-term outlook is for more of the same… “Tiwai Point near Bluff has only recorded 1mm this year; that’s the driest start to a year recorded since records began in 1975.””
“Record dry spell threatening Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area…
“Tasmania’s west is predicted to continue to dry out due to climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change February 2022 report. Unusually dry weather is leaving the sensitive ecosystems of the Wilderness World Heritage Area sensitive to fire.”
“Swarms of slimy gray fish are clogging up irrigation water filters in Australia thanks to a flood-triggered boom in their population.
“”#BreakingNews another unprecedented boom in class 1 noxious pest [weatherloach] in #MurrayDarlingBasin,” the NSW Irrigators’ Council, a group representing Irrigation Farmers in New South Wales, tweeted.”
“3-meter-high flood submerges Indonesia’s North Sulawesi, 1 killed.
“One people died after floods 80 to 300 cm high destroyed dozens of homes in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi on Friday. “Heavy rains in several areas of Manado City have caused the Tondano River to overflow, and flooding cannot be avoided,” said Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.”
“‘We are getting sick of this’: Anguish among Johor villagers [Malaysia] amid recurring floods… After experiencing their second major flood in three years, some residents of Kampung Contoh have grown weary…
“…the frequency of floods has intensified over the last decade… “Over the last five years especially, it has happened almost every year. And it is getting bad.””
“People displaced by the growing climate disasters in Bangladesh’s coastal region are vulnerable to human trafficking, a report has said…
“Human trafficking has increased in Bangladesh after millions of people were displaced by devastating cyclones and typhoons, providing traffickers an opportunity to organise large recruitment campaigns, the report said.”
“A dust storm hit the southeastern Mongolian province of Dornogovi on Friday, causing low visibility on roads…
“Around 90 percent of the province’s total territory had been somehow affected by desertification and land degradation… In 2021, Mongolia launched a national campaign initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh to plant a billion trees by 2030 to combat climate change and desertification.”
“Alarming rise in landslides now a pan-India peril…
“While there has certainly been a rise in outlier climate events, especially intense rainfall as seen in Maharashtra and Kerala in recent years, their effect on populations has been outsized mainly because of human folly in the form of deforestation, massive growth in traffic, unsustainable rise in permanent settlements, and a significant rise in buildings, both unauthorised and otherwise.”
“The United Arab Emirates spent almost 1,000 hours trying to encourage rainfall last year, representing the latest push for one of the world’s driest countries to remain a leader in tackling global water security. There were 311 missions involving aircraft shooting chemical flares into clouds…”
“Qatar is set to increase scientific research and experimentation in order to manage wastewater and salts discharged from desalination plants…
“.. the desalination process releases brine, a highly concentrated and saline effluent with a variety of chemical compositions – posing an environmental threat.”
“When the authorities look at the records and archives, they say that such a situation has not been encountered in previous years. Mount Nemrut, whose roads have been opened, welcomes tourists for the first time in winter.”
“At least 16 people have been killed while 19 are missing after strong tropical storm Cheneso hit Madagascar, according to the government’s risk management agency…
[If you’re confused to see this story recurring, the cyclone re-strengthened over sea after its initial landfall, returned to Madagascar and then pretty much stalled out over the same location for four days.]
24 hour rain records set: 469.7mm (18.5 inches) Gros Piton Ste-Rose, and 441.2mm The Colossus.
“Nelson Mandela Bay residents are seeking divine intervention as it deals with an extended drought in its eighth year.
“Combined dam levels have reached an all-time low of just below 15%. A series of church services have been held since Sunday to pray for rain. Mayor Retief Odendaal said that the situation was dire.”
“Tunisia milk market ‘collapsing’ as feed prices soar…
“The North African country’s farming union says the price of cattle feed has risen by up to 40 percent in the past year due to the impact of the war in Ukraine on imported fodder ingredients. The dairy sector’s woes have been exacerbated by years of drought, drying up reservoirs and making it harder for farmers to grow their own fodder.”
“Pilot whale stranded off Pembrokeshire coast [Wales] shows impact of climate change, say scientists.
““The identification of this short-finned pilot whale in UK waters adds to the growing evidence of a clear trend of cetacean life being affected by climate change, part of a wider impact across our seas and oceans.“”
“Parts of Scandinavia witnessed very high temperatures in the past 2 days for local fohn winds. Stunning 17.0C [62.6F] on Tuesday evening 11pm at Marstein in Norway.
“Yesterday in Finland, Vaasa Airport rose to 8.2C which is a new January heat record for the station.”
“Ice coverage in the Gulf of St. Lawrence was measured at less than two per cent this week, putting it on course for breaking the low-ice record for the second time in three years.
“In the last 10 to 15 years, normal ice coverage for this time of year is about 15 per cent, but that is a recent change… [1995 was the watershed]
“The Colorado River is overused and shrinking. Inside the crisis transforming the Southwest.
“…the region has for years depended too heavily on the river, taking more than its flows can support. And in recent years, the river’s water-generating heart in the Rocky Mountains has begun to fail. The Colorado River can no longer withstand the unbridled thirst of the arid West.”
“Historically, tornadoes were most likely to strike within a column of the central U.S. that was nicknamed “Tornado Alley.” The area includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. In recent years, however, researchers noticed that fewer tornadoes were touching down in the Great Plains and that more were hitting the Southeast.”
“Texas heat-related deaths reached a two-decade high in 2022 amid extreme temperatures.
“Heat-related deaths in Texas last year reached a new high for this century amid a sharp rise in migrant deaths and soaring temperatures enhanced by climate change, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of state data going back to 1999.”
“New day, new records in Cuba. Another very hot day with temperatures up to 34C/93F. Hottest January day on records were set at Velasco with 33.8C and al El Jibaro with 32.5C. 7 stations so far in Cuba had their warmest January day on records (some beat it twice).”
“Cuba poised for production of wheat modified by radiation mutagenesis that adapts to extreme heat and climate fluctuations.
“The history of Cuban science is full of the challenges faced by daring, diligent and, above all, persistent researchers. An example of this are the scientists who have tried to introduce and promote wheat in our country, a staple food on a global scale.”
“‘The country’s on fire’: wildfires hit every province in Argentina in 2022…
“According to government figures… 561,165 hectares of land were hit by wildfires in 2022. Communities in affected areas told the report’s authors they’ve seen a significant decline in the presence of animals like caimans, capybaras, monkeys, and reptiles, as fires kill wildlife and destroy species’ natural habitats.”
“An agricultural emergency was declared in October and recently extended through April as the situation has not improved, according to a press release by the agriculture ministry. Since the original declaration, 1,300 producers had requested assistance from an emergency fund, with over half of the applications having been submitted this month.”
“Human activity and drought ‘degrading more than a third of Amazon rainforest’.
“Human activity and drought may have degraded more than a third of the Amazon rainforest, double the previous estimate, according to a study that heightens concerns that the globally important ecosystem is slipping towards a point of no return.”
“Climate extremes in the Amazon rainforest are directly affecting those in the Tibetan Plateau, scientists said Thursday, warning that the Himalayan region crucial for the water security of millions was close to a potentially disastrous “tipping point”…
“…can one tipping point have a domino effect on another region? Recent research suggests this is already happening.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday 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 an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“‘Heat February’ likely to follow Germany’s warmest January on record so far [2022 was Germany’s joint-hottest year on record; lower gas consumption is the very thin silver lining].
“After seeing the hottest January so far since records began, meteorologists in Germany are now predicting a warmer-than-usual February, which could bring about problems for winter sports resorts…
“We are now experiencing hot spells and intensities that we would actually not have expected from climate models for a few decades,” said Andreas Becker, head of the DWD’s climate monitoring department.”
“Climate migrants: How even rich Bavaria cannot provide shelter from global warming.
““We took ketchup.” …This is the only food Karl Bretzendorfer remembers taking up to the attic where he spent 13 days trapped with his wife Irina, as the waters rose around them in what Chancellor Angela Merkel called “the flood of the century” in Bavaria, south-east Germany.”
“Netherlands on track for the rainiest January ever.
“The Netherlands is on track for the wettest January since weather services started keeping track of the rainfall. This month is already in the top 5 wettest Januaries ever recorded, and more rain is expected in the week to come, Weeronline reported.”
“Fish removed from ‘toxic’ Canvey Island lake where hundreds of dead fish found [Essex, UK]…
“The Essex lake was significantly impacted by extreme heatwave conditions last summer, which also caused thousands of fish to die across the UK. The lake was ‘so deprived of oxygen’ during the summer, that caused the dead fish.”
“Satellite data shows sustained severe drought in Europe.
“Europe lacks groundwater – a lot of groundwater. The continent has already been suffering from a severe drought since 2018. This is confirmed by satellite data analysed at the Institute of Geodesy at TU Graz… The result of this cooperation shows that the water situation in Europe has now become very precarious.”
“Water woes: Drought raises tensions between Spain and Portugal.
“In September of 2022, Spain announced that it would no longer fully honour the Albufeira Convention, a treaty on water transfers to neighbouring Portugal… Portuguese farmers are finding the decision difficult to accept, while environmentalists say it creates a major ecological risk.”
“The Costa Del Sol has been blanketed with a thick layer of snow less than a month after it registered record-breaking temperatures.
“The Spanish coastal strip recently experienced its warmest winter since records began, with temperatures reaching highs of 23°C on Christmas Day in Valencia and Castellon.”
“The National Emergency Management Agency [of Nigeria], NEMA, said, yesterday, that flood disasters, in 2022, left over 2.4 million persons displaced and 662 dead.
“Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed said… “As we are all aware, this event is taking place in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2022 flood disaster which is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.””
“South Africans urged to bury dead within four days amid load shedding, heatwave…
“The South African Funeral Practitioners Association’s (SAFPA) national secretary-general Vuyisile Mabindisa urged people to bury their loved ones within four days of their death to ease pressure on funeral parlours, and to ensure that they are buried with minimal decay.”
“Cyclone Cheneso hits Madagascar and destroys roads to capital…
“Cyclone Cheneso continues to hit the island with more than 15,000 people affected to date. “I left my house because it was destroyed by the strong winds of the cyclone. The house tilted, so I ran away. My house was totally destroyed,” said flood victim Bonne Fehy.”
“Horn of Africa may see record sixth straight failed rainy season.
“The eastern Horn of Africa just saw an unprecedented fifth straight failed rainy season on record, making it the longest and most severe drought in 70 years of precipitation data. The region is likely headed for a sixth poor rainy season this spring, a new forecast warns.”
“Drought hits Türkiye’s 3rd-largest city İzmir amid global warming.
“In İzmir, Türkiye’s third-largest city, which lies on the Aegean coast, levels in dam reservoirs sounded an alarm about a severe drought and no prospects of precipitation in the near future.”
“In the Middle East, temperatures are soaring. Will the region remain habitable?
“…“If we assume the business-as-usual scenario, we are going to face extreme heatwaves, the likes of which we haven’t seen before,” he says. “This scenario would be disastrous; some places can expect 60-degree temperatures [140F] from 2060, for several weeks at a time.”
“The Islamic republic of Pakistan is running out of fresh water at an alarming rate, and authorities anticipate that is likely to suffer a shortage of 31 million acre-feet (MAF) of water by 2026. The shortfall will be for a devastating country with an agriculture-based economy [seems a bitter irony, given the deluge they’ve just endured – one that I am sure is not lost on the Pakistanis themselves!]”
“Amid the financial and food crisis in Pakistan, major regions of Balochistan are suffering from an acute shortage of drinking water as filtration plants installed have gone out of order due to “poor maintenance”, as per a report by The Express Tribune.”
“Warmer winters in the Kashmir Valley are leading to early flowering of the gul toor.
“The Kashmir Valley is experiencing warmer winters and as a result the flowering period for the Sternbergia vernalis flower has shifted from mid-March to mid-February. Changing climatic conditions have the potential to disrupt the plant-pollinator interaction…”
“Thousands swarm airport in South Korea and five die in Japan as snow and ice cause chaos in east Asia.
“Travellers face severe delays as planes, trains and cars are halted due to snowstorms and high winds, as temperatures plummet to -20C [-4F]. In Japan, the deaths of up to five people are being linked to the weather and thousands are forced to sleep in train carriages or stations.”
“More than 1,000 people [now 5,500] evacuated from flood-hit Johor districts [Malaysia].
“The number of flood victims seeking shelter in relief centres in Johor state rose to 1,093 in the late afternoon on Tuesday, as several districts were inundated with rising river waters amid the heavy rain.”
“Tensions are running high in the far-north West Australian town of Derby as the clean-up begins following the state’s biggest flooding disaster on record.
“The small town of about 3000 people, more than 2000 kilometres north of Perth, has been cut off geographically from the outside world since ex-tropical cyclone Ellie hit the Kimberley region at the start of January.”
“Tolaga Bay residents still stranded as 22 roads remain closed following Cyclone Hale [NZ].
“Some families in Tolaga Bay are still stranded, two weeks on from the devastation of Cyclone Hale. There are 300 identified faults across the Tairāwhiti region, such as dropouts and damaged bridges, with 22 roads still closed.”
“January storms leave L.A. County flood-control dams at risk of overflowing.
“Now that the shock of a series of January storms has worn off, Los Angeles County officials face a herculean chore: Five reservoirs along south-facing San Gabriel Mountain slopes are filled with so much debris and soupy mud that they pose a flood risk to the communities below.”
“Texas refining facilities report upsets following tornado…
“Shell said it was experiencing an incident at its Deer Park chemicals facility following severe weather, according to a company tweet. Petroleos Mexicanos also reported operational upsets due to weather at its neighboring oil refinery, according to a company alert.”
“One example of this incredibly mild January in USA is New York City. Central Park hasn’t dropped below 28F/-2C this month. No trace of snow was recorded.
“Its average temperature so far is 42.86F (+9.16F above average) and it’s the warmest January on records (Jan 1932 42.0F).”
“The US Federal Reserve is running its very first climate change experiment.
“The central bank this month announced details about how it will conduct a “pilot climate scenario analysis exercise” involving the six largest US banks: Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo.”
“Climate Is Forcing the Most Risk-Aware Industry to Reinvent Itself.
“When it comes to climate impacts, the frontline of the finance industry is insurance. Last year’s payout from damages caused by extreme-weather events totaled $120 billion—about the same as the economic output of Kenya. And that’s a 50% increase over the previous decade’s average.”
“Inuit warn of ‘rock concert-like’ noise from ships affecting Arctic wildlife…
“Ship noise can be caused by everything from propellers to hull form to onboard machinery. It can disrupt activities that marine mammals need to survive, by shrinking their communication space, causing stress and displacing them from important habitats.”
“Arctic Swedish mine poses threat to indigenous Sami.
“The indigenous reindeer-herding Sami people in northern Sweden say they are facing an existential threat from an iron-ore mine billed as a pivotal shift towards the EU’s green transition.”
“Norway plans to offer record number of Arctic oil, gas exploration blocks…
“Norway’s push to keep producing oil and gas comes as energy firms are under contradictory pressures, with a need on the one hand to produce hydrocarbons that are not from Russia, and on the other to limit the effects of climate change.”
“This article explains why traditional climate science methods cannot keep up with rapid change. It provides an analysis of the psychological defences that prevent most climate scientists from admitting this in public when, unofficially, they all do and say they are afraid.”
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 an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up here in the UK.
“Chinese City Experiences Coldest Temperature in Nation’s Records – the temperature in Mohe, a city in northern China’s Heilongjiang province, dropped to -53C (-63.4F) on Jan. 22.”
[Given that temperatures exceeded 47C in Xinjiang last year, as China endured possibly the world’s worst recorded heatwave, the nation has now seen temperatures span a range of 100C+ within the past seven months].
“Two die, seven missing after flash flood hits holidaymakers on China’s Yellow River.
“At least two people are dead and seven remained missing on Monday after families celebrating Lunar New Year were swept away in a sudden flood from China’s Yellow River, state media reported. Video of the tragedy circulated widely on social media…”
“At least 104 people have been killed in Afghanistan by a powerful cold wave and flash floods in recent weeks, the Taliban government said on Monday.
“The Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in nonprofits, which led to many organizations pulling out of the country, has been criticized for leaving millions of Afghans without crucial assistance.”
“El Niño could worsen India’s inflation worries in 2023…
“The annual monsoon rains are usually the worst-hit by this phenomenon. Considering how important these rains are for its agricultural sector and the overall economy, El Niño is a major cause for worry for India, which is already battling inflation.”
“Sundarbans has ‘lost 110 square kilometres of mangroves in two decades’.
“West Bengal has lost 110 square kilometres of mangroves in the Sundarbans in the past two decades due to climate change and global warming, according to experts. They said the “climate refugees”, who have been forced to migrate from various islands in the Sundarbans, are facing the rage of nature.”
“Over 21,000 Affected by North Aceh Floods [Sumatra, Indonesia].
“The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of North Aceh district, Aceh province, has reported that 21,389 people from 4,234 families have been affected by the floods in the region over the past three days. The floods have been caused by the overflow of several rivers due to heavy rain…”
“Argentine government, farm exporters seek relief from historic drought.
“Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa met with agricultural exporters on Friday to analyze and “seek solutions” to help the country’s key grain industry after it was hammered by the worst drought the country has faced in at least 60 years. The dry spell is contributing to a broader economic slump battering the South American country…”
“Record hot day… in Western Cuba: Santa Lucia (Pinar del Rio Province) pulverized its January record of highest temperature with 33.2C [91.8F].Pinar del Rio fell 0.1C short with 31.4C.
“In the Isla de la Juventud (Youth Island) new record at Punta del Este with 31.4C [a location of particular interest, as it it is the site of the world’s largest panopticon!].”
“California strawberry industry could see $200 million in losses due to storm damage…
“According to the California Strawberry Commission, due to the onslaught of rain, wind and flooding, 1,840 acres of strawberry crops are facing losses that could reach $200 million from crop, property, and equipment damage.”
“Ghost Squirrels: Numbers in Texas down 92% from 2020.
“Many who lived through the polar vortex will remember it as a chaotic week when Texas froze over and all sorts of problems followed impacting millions of people as well as fish and wildlife populations.”
“New York City’s snow drought nears all-time record.
“The Big Apple is just days away from breaking a record that might seem unimaginable: the latest date to see measurable snowfall in recorded history. While the city has seen precipitation since the winter season officially began, it has primarily come in the form of rain instead of snow due to abnormally warm temperatures.”
“Scallops dying off in Long Island are ‘a cautionary tale’ for New England…
“Data shows over the past two decades, the Peconic Bay estuary — and the entire Northeast — are warming at rates during summer that far exceed global average; Gobler said, “about threefold higher.” “We found that when placed in areas that were experiencing heatwaves, all the scallops died, whereas the ones that were in cooler temperatures, they survived,” he said.”
“Preparing for ‘Firmageddon,’ researchers watch B.C.’s forests for die-offs and droughts.
“Across the Pacific Northwest, firs are dying in record numbers as beetles, extreme heat and fires test the trees’ endurance… “We’re calling it Firmageddon,” said Danny DePinte, who runs the aerial survey program for Oregon and Washington State, in an interview. “Or, Fir Zombie Land.””
“Environment Canada believes January [in New Brunswick] could become one of the warmest ever since weather records began in the late 1800’s.
““The whole province of New Brunswick is running nearly six degrees above normal in terms of the mean temperature for the month and that is very much above normal,” noted Maepea.”
“Emergency pesticide authorisation approved to protect national sugar beet crop [UK].
“Defra has approved an emergency temporary authorisation for the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide treatment on this year’s sugar beet crop due to the risk to the crop from yellows viruses.”
“More than 13,000 trees will be planted to replace the newly-planted ones which died in Gloucester [UK] after not being watered during last summer’s drought.
“Gloucester City Council planted thousands of new saplings across all the city’s wards last year. But the trees died due to lack of water during the summer heatwave.”
“Volunteers plant mini-forests in Paris to slow climate change, tackle heatwaves.
“French volunteers are using a pioneering Japanese tree-planting method to create pocket forests in Paris in the hope they will slow climate change, create biodiversity hotspots and tackle the growing number of heatwaves in the capital.”
“Europe Sees Record-breaking Hailstorms As Severe Weather Disrupts Life & Damages Houses.
“Amid winter storms, 8,224 large hail have been reported in 2022 which exceeded 2021’s record by nearly 2,800 reports, said the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL)…”
“Records come and go in this wild 2023 full of extreme weather so far. On 22nd January the station of Tepak in Cyprus, with the support of fohn winds from the Trodos Mountains, rose to 25.5C [78F] which is a new record for January in Cyprus.
“Van’s Çaldıran [Turkey] embraces sudden spring amid extra-mild winter.
“Eastern Van province’s Çaldıran district, usually one of the coldest spots in Türkiye with record-breaking frigid temperatures, remained snowless this winter due to the effects of global warming. In fact, the region has embraced a surprising spring instead.”
“Weather tracker: Storm Cheneso brings flooding risk to Madagascar.
“Storm likely to bring huge rainfalls to African country this week… Rainfall totals of 75-100mm are expected each day, bringing storm totals in excess of 500mm [nearly 20 inches] – approaching the average annual rainfall in the west coast town of Morondava of 764mm.”
“Locals resort to dirty water amid scarcity [Uganda]…
“Ms Joyce Nagudi, another resident, says her family often suffers from diarrhoea, which she blames on drinking contaminated water… Ms Joan Nambozo, a resident of Nabweya Ward in Northern City Division, says most of the boreholes in the area have dried up.”
“Heatwave, load shedding blamed for Johannesburg’s latest water woes…
“High temperatures, in most of the country since the second week of January, have been especially severe in the Northern Cape. Johannesburg suffered severe water restrictions last year after Rand Water, which purifies water from the Vaal Integrated System and sells it to Joburg Water, throttled its water supply in October.”
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 an enormous help as the cost-of-living crisis ratchets up 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.
“So-called Doomsday Glacier [Thwaites, Antarctica] is ‘in trouble,’ scientists say after finding surprising formations under ice shelf…
“An increase in the pace at which sea levels are rising threatens “a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale”, the UN secretary general has warned.
“Arctic Northeast Passage: Navigability Changes in 40 Years…
“Alarming levels of PFAS in Norwegian Arctic ice pose new risk to wildlife.
“New technique maps large-scale impacts of fire-induced permafrost thaw in Alaska.
“Waters off New England had 2nd warmest year on record in ’22…
“Positively New Jersey: Warm winter leaves ice boat and yacht club members frustrated…
“It’s 60 Degrees in February. This Is What Climate Change Looks Like.
“Million of Americans are fleeing their homes because of extreme weather.
“Wall Street sees profits in dropping Colorado river levels.
“California’s snowpack is melting faster than ever before, leaving less available water.
“Water Shortages Threaten to Increase Violence and Disappearances in Mexico…
“Argentina’s drought-stricken crops could bring in 23% fewer export dollars this season versus a year earlier, the Buenos Aires grains exchange said in a report on Tuesday.
“A relentless drought in Rio Grande do Sul continues to limit Brazil’s soybean output potential this year…
“Number of fires in the Brazilian Amazon in August-September 2022 was highest since 2010.
“Invisible destruction: 38% of remaining Amazon forest already degraded.
“More than half of England’s rivers are filled with chemical pollution which can kill wildlife.
“Flowering into frost: Climate change is ‘destroying’ Spain’s treasured almonds.
“Extreme Weather Patterns In Africa Wreak Havoc.
“Record numbers of displaced Africans face worsening prospects.
“KwaZulu-Natal towns [South Africa] pick up the pieces after severe floods, extent of damage still being assessed.
“Record heat wave in the Southern Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
“Pakistan ravaged by water-borne diseases after last year’s floods.
“Temperatures [potentially set to exceed] 50 degrees [122F] in parts of Western Australia this weekend as national heatwave continues.
“Cyclone Gabrielle: fresh storm warnings for New Zealand’s worst-hit regions as death toll rises to five.
“Endless record heat in New Zealand between deluges in the North Island and unprecedented warmth specially in the Southwest.
“Why New Zealand is no safe haven from the climate crisis…
“Chinese researchers have found that greenhouse warming and internal variability have increased the frequency of extreme El Nino and Central Pacific El Nino events since 1980…
“Climate change may make it easier for mosquitoes to spread malaria…
“Cholera racks the world again.
“Bird flu spreads to new countries, threatens non-stop “war” on poultry.
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Missed this one a couple of weeks ago:
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“Chinese City Experiences Coldest Temperature in Nation’s Records – the temperature in Mohe, a city in northern China’s Heilongjiang province, dropped to -53C (-63.4F) on Jan. 22.”
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“Records come and go in this wild 2023 full of extreme weather so far. 
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