“‘Devastating’: 91% of reefs surveyed on Great Barrier Reef affected by coral bleaching in 2022.
““The surveys confirm a mass bleaching event, with coral bleaching observed at multiple reefs in all regions,” a statement accompanying the report said. “This is the fourth mass bleaching event since 2016 and the sixth to occur on the Great Barrier Reef since 1998.””
“Woman dies in floodwaters as Queensland’s north coast cops further drenching, BOM says records will be broken…
“The Bureau of Meteorology said the rain’s focal point will move south tomorrow, with the heaviest rainfall remaining off shore, though some pockets will stray onto the coast. The Bohle River at Mt Bohle surpassed record flooding levels set in January 1980, swelling to more than 7 metres…”
“Paraguay’s Severe Drought Weakens 2022 Growth Prospects...
“Paraguay’s economic vulnerability to droughts – which may become more frequent and severe due to climate change – contributes to GDP growth volatility and is a sovereign rating weakness. It reflects dependence on agriculture and hydroelectricity exports, and on river transport for international trade.”
“Floods leave 47 dead and more than 18,000 families affected in Colombia…
“The rains also destroyed 185 homes and another 9,300 were damaged by the action of the waters. In other infrastructure, there was damage to 480 roads, 48 vehicular bridges, 24 pedestrian bridges; 64 aqueducts, 27 sewers; 2 health centers and 54 educational institutions, most of them colleges or schools.”
“8th May was a historic day in the Mexican city of Monclova ,Coahuila State (altitude 620m/2034 feet above sea level). With a temperature of 45.8C/114.4F it tied its highest temperature on records (=27 May 2011).”
“Summerlike heat bakes central states, breaks records…
“A sprawling dome of summerlike heat is parked over the central United States… Temperatures spiked to 99 degrees in Kansas on Monday and a staggering 107 degrees in Oklahoma, setting a record in the Sooner State for early May… And many more hot days are ahead.”
“This May is the hottest on record in Austin [Texas], and it’s not even close.
“According to data from the National Weather Service, the “normal” average temperature for May 1-9 is 73.9°. That means this month is running a fever of 7.7° above normal. No other May in Austin, with records dating back to 1898, has come close…”
“California water use leaps 19% in March, amid one of the driest months on record…
“[Governor Gavin] Newsom responded on Tuesday by pledging to spend $100m on a statewide advertising campaign to encourage water conservation. The campaign will include traditional radio and television spots while also paying people with large followings on social media to urge others to save water.”
“‘Our mountains are gone’: Grief as sacred New Mexico forests burn.
“Forests in Ella Arellano’s family for nine generations burned in a day on Monday as fierce winds drove the United States’ largest wildfire through a New Mexico valley towards a third county… The fire has burned 189,767 acres (76,890 hectares) and is 43% contained.”
“The Desert’s Fragile Skin Can’t Take Much More Heat… Climate change and human activity are destroying the layers of fungi, lichen, and bacteria that protect deserts from erosion…
“Finger-Higgins’s study suggests that even without human interference, “warming may partially negate decades of protection from disturbance, with biocrust communities reaching a vital tipping point.””
“‘We’re basically underwater’: Flooding displaces Hay River, N.W.T [Canada]., residents…
“Residents are setting up at the evacuation centre in Hay River after unprecedented flooding pushed waters up, engulfing the Paradise Gardens area and requiring an emergency rescue by the Canadian Coast Guard.”
“Plastic found inside Arctic char has Nunavut hunters fearing for local food sources.
“Bobby Greenley, chairperson of the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization in Cambridge Bay, said the issue started cropping up four or five years ago. “We’re finding it in the stomachs of the fish we’re doing studies on,” he said. “We’re starting to get more whales around our area, they might be sucking [plastic] into their stomachs as well.””
“Crews respond to fast-moving forest fire in southwestern Nova Scotia.
“Provincial crews are battling a growing forest fire burning near South Horseshoe Lake in Yarmouth County, N.S., which sent thick smoke into the air and prompted an air quality statement from Environment Canada.”
“Putin Demands Action As Devastating Wildfires In Russia Claim 16 Lives.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on regional officials to act quickly in battling forest fires amid a series of blazes in Siberia and the Urals that have killed 16 people in recent weeks, raising fears that this season may be even worse than last year, the worst on record.”
“A drought at the beginning of the year has triggered water restrictions in 15 departments across France, sparking fears about the winter harvest.
“The French agricultural department on Monday warned the unusually low winter rainfall will hit crop yields, just as the world grapples with supply chain disruption from the war in Ukraine.”
“Lots of sun in Berlin and Brandenburg – but drought causes problems…
“As a result of climate change, rainfall in Berlin is decreasing and drought is increasing: the region is facing its fifth consecutive year of drought… This also continues the debate about the right climate policy. Berlin has committed itself in the Climate Protection and Energy Transition Act…”
“Dam constructions by Turkey not acceptable for Iran…
“”Given the environmental conditions prevailing in the region, it is not acceptable for us that our neighbor country, Turkey, takes measures in the field of dam construction which will cause problems for our people in the country and the region, as well as has a negative effect on the amount of water inflow,” said Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Iranian Parliament on Tuesday…”
“Iran faces second year of big wheat imports after drought, says grain union.
“Iran will need to import at least 7 million tonnes of wheat in the year to March 2023, marking a second year of high imports as drought continues to affect domestic production, the chairman of Iran’s Grain Union said on Tuesday.”
“Karachi [Pakistan] is warming up faster than the global average, warn experts.
“Since 1960, Karachi’s temperature has increased by 2.4ºC at night and 1.6ºC during the day, which is much higher than the global average increase in temperature, reveals a new alarming report… “In regions such as South Asia, temperatures have already reached levels that are higher than what is considered biologically livable,” the researchers note.”
“Exploding e-scooters kill four as heatwave damages batteries [India]…
“At least four Indians have died since March after their electric scooters caught fire, with record-breaking temperatures caused by climate change now feared to be behind the deadly blazes.”
“Tropical Cyclone Asani threatens eastern India as another brutal heat wave continues across the country.
“Parts of eastern India are preparing for torrential rain and strong winds as a tropical cyclone warning is in effect for the Andhra Pradesh coast — as other portions of the country battle extreme heat.”
“Hong Kong braces for record-high rainfall this week… Regional weather authorities convene meeting to discuss heavy precipitation and warning systems…
“Daily rainfall readings at individual weather stations in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces could reach historic highs, or 500mm [19.7 inches], the national forecaster warned…”
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.
“Fires in Siberia kill at least 10 as ‘violent winds’ fan flames… “”Extinguishing [the fires] is being complicated by meteorological conditions – violent winds are fanning the flames and preventing them from being put out,” the regional ministry for emergencies said on Telegram….
““Aircraft cannot be used in fighting the fires due to the high wind load,” Krasnoyarsk’s emergencies service said on its Telegram channel.”
“‘Nature doesn’t fix itself fast’: Greenland weighs up economy v climate crisis…
“To be a farmer in Greenland is to have a front row seat to the climate crisis. Egede tracks the changes – “summer is sometimes really dry, other times there is too much rain. This winter was really late”. Where once they could drive on the frozen fjord during winter, now that never happens, he says.”
“Landslide buries primary road connecting Alaska resort community to city of Seward…
“Marissa Beck, who owns a rental property in Seward, told CNN there are many cabins and rental houses in the area, and guests are now stuck in town or cannot get to their rentals. Many people are taking water taxis or their own boats to get to the other side of the slide.”
“Flood forecasters watching closely as Manitoba expected to get more rain over coming days…
“Flooding continues in the Interlake, Red River Valley and many other parts of central and southern Manitoba, the bulletin said… However, that flooding is now becoming more concentrated around rivers, streams and drains that are above capacity as water moves through the system.”
“Extreme weather events have strained farmers’ mental health [BC, Canada]. But asking for help still a hurdle for many…
“”I just really started to burn out pretty hard,” she said. “You feel guilty because you didn’t lose as much as some people, but you just want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head. But you can’t, because there’s so many terrible things going on.””
“The two largest reservoirs in California are already at ‘critically low levels’ and the dry season is just starting.
“Against the backdrop of the water crisis in the Colorado River Basin, where the country’s largest reservoirs are plunging at an alarming rate, California’s two largest reservoirs — Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville — are facing a similar struggle.”
“Las Vegas: ‘More human remains’ found in drought-hit Lake Mead.
“The “human skeletal remains” are reported to have been found on Saturday at the reservoir, which is facing record-low water levels. It comes a week after a barrel containing the body of a man who was shot was discovered, with police considering whether the death may be linked to the Mafia.”
“Potentially historic winds forecast as firefighters battle New Mexico wildfire.
“Extreme wind conditions described as potentially historic were forecast for New Mexico on Saturday and for the next several days as hundreds of firefighters and a fleet of airplanes and helicopters worked feverishly to bolster lines around the largest fire burning in the US.”
“Record-breaking temperatures recorded in Llano on Central Texas’ hottest day of 2022…
“The National Weather Service says the Llano Airport reached 106 degrees Saturday afternoon, the highest temperature recorded there in the month of May.”
“Most of Mexico is with a severe heat wave even at mid/high elevations. Temperatures reached 44.6C [112.3F] at Monclova (615m),37.8C at Zamora (1562m),36.4C at Morelia (1913m).Many areas in the West,East and highlands have been close to all time records. 7 May Tmaxes.”
“Stunning images of floods and fallen trees in Medellin [Colombia] from heavy rains…
“The rains that occurred on the afternoon of this Saturday, May 7 in Medellín generated emergencies in four communes of the city. According to the report from the Administrative Department of Disaster Risk Management, relief agencies attended to flooding, mass movements and falling trees.”
“‘Record after record’: Brazil’s Amazon deforestation hits April high, nearly double previous peak.
“Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon surged to record levels for the month of April, nearly doubling the area of forest removed in that month last year – the previous April record – preliminary government data has shown, alarming environmental campaigners.”
“Between searing drought and Ukraine war, Iraq watchful over wheat.
“After decades of war and insurgency, Iraq faces another huge challenge: severe water scarcity driven by climate change. It is highly sensitive issue for Iraq and its 41 million people, who feel the impacts on a daily basis, from depleted rivers to rapid desertification and more intense sandstorms.”
“Drought causes $107m damage to [Iran’s] environment… Unfortunately, over 70 percent of the country is suffering from severe drought.
“The severity of the drought is devastating in areas such as the Zagros, which is both a source of water and natural habitats, he lamented. Perhaps the first and most important damage of drought is the weakening of vegetation, which seriously disrupts the wildlife food chain.”
“Shishper Glacier outburst sweeps away bridge in Hassanabad area of Hunza [Pakistan]…
“Hunza Superintendent of Police (SP) Zahoor Ahmed said the glacier had started melting on Saturday due to heat and caused a flood that damaged the bridge and rendered it unusable for traffic.”
“Pollution paradox: India and Pakistan may suffer worse heatwaves if they try to clean up their air…
“Reducing pollution will have an unintended consequence of likely accelerating warming at a local scale, as pollution has helped mask some of the greenhouse gas-induced warming in the region.”
“India Warns of Heatwaves Across Six States Next Week.
“India warned of heatwaves in six states next week, as extreme weather conditions threaten lives and livelihoods across the subcontinent… Scorching temperatures may worsen energy shortages, hurt crops.”
“Heatwave pattern is shifting to a ‘significant hazard’ for health, crops in Bangladesh.
“An analysis of data from the past few decades indicates that climate change is causing summer heatwaves at unexpected times and is affecting a wider range of areas, according to meteorologists. Hotspots are also growing larger. Heatwaves have become a ‘significant hazard’ at the start of summer…”
“Bangladeshi children leaving school to work due to climate crisis.
“For many of their children – who are battling the impacts of climate change alongside their parents – the move means the end of education and the start of a lifetime of hard labour… Globally, about a billion children in 33 countries face that level of threat…”
“Torrential rain inundates South, causes flash flooding in North [Thailand]…
“Officials were sent to help people in five badly hit areas, namely Lang Suan district in Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Nopphitam district and Surat Thani’s Vibhavadi, Chaiya and Tha Chang districts.”
“China’s sea levels touched new high in 2021, govt study shows.
“China’s sea levels reached their highest on record last year, swelled by rising water temperatures and the melting of glaciers and polar icecaps, the government said in a report. Coastal sea levels were 84 mm (3.3 inches) higher in 2021 than the average over the period from 1993 to 2011…”
“Out-of-season cyclone ‘spawns’ off Western Australia coast as record rain set to hammer Queensland…
“As Queensland braces for a record rain event to hit “multiple areas and multiple regions” tonight, Western Australia is also preparing for a deluge. Weatherzone says a late season tropical cyclone has formed over the Indian Ocean, which will see rain fall over WA later this week.”
“Fears farmers will be ravaged by a second mouse plague that destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of crops last year…
“Australia’s government science agency says farmers have reported increased mice activity in northern NSW, central Queensland, north western Victoria, the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and the wheat belt in Western Australia.”
“Without a better plan, New Zealand risks sleepwalking into a biodiversity extinction crisis…
“Despite all that we are doing to try to protect and restore habitats and assist species, Papaptūānuku and Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity is in crisis. Around 4,000 species are threatened or at risk of extinction. Many plants and wildlife continue to decline or are just hanging on.”
“Antarctica’s majestic underwater world is trying to adapt to a warmer planet.
“The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, roughly the size of Florida, is melting at a rapid rate. In fact, most of the ice in western Antarctica is melting. But the Thwaites Glacier — also known as Doomsday Glacier — is one of the most unstable in Antarctica. This is very worrisome because of the sea level rise it could cause. But it’s more than that.”
“Emperor penguin at serious risk of extinction due to climate change…
“”If the water reaches the newborn penguins, which are not ready to swim and do not have waterproof plumage, they die of the cold and drown,” said biologist Marcela Libertelli, who has studied 15,000 penguins across two colonies in Antarctica at the IAA.”
“Monthly average carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have reached above 420 parts per million (ppm) for the first time on record….
“Last year’s highest month, May, recorded 419.13 ppm. Twenty years ago, the highest month of the year had 375.93 ppm – and in 1958, the first year scientists started collecting CO2 data at Mauna Loa, the highest month of the year had just 317.51 ppm.”
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.
“One person died and more than 5,000 were treated in hospitals for respiratory ailments as the latest severe sandstorm swept across Iraq, the health ministry said.
“As the seventh storm in a month hit Iraq on Thursday, the capital city Baghdad and the holy city of Najaf were shrouded in ghostly orange clouds of choking dust…
“Dust storms have increased dramatically in frequency in Iraq in recent years, driven by soil degradation and intense droughts made worse by climate change, with rising average temperatures and sharply lower rainfall.”
“Floods Destroy over 830 Houses in Southern Kyrgyzstan.
“Heavy rains in southern Kyrgyzstan caused mudslides and landslides, flooding 835 homes and forcing more than 1,000 people to flee, according to the country’s Ministry of Emergency Situations… infrastructure… was severely damaged by landslides and mudflows…”
“Heavy rain and floods in Afghanistan kill 22, destroy hundreds of homes.
“Heavy rain and flooding has killed 22 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged crops in Afghanistan, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis, a disaster management official said on Thursday.”
“12 locations across Maharashtra [India] record over 40 degree Celsius [104F] temperature.
“Maximum temperatures surged again in north Madhya Maharashtra and Vidarbha on Thursday, with at least 12 locations in Maharashtra recording over 40°C. In Pune, Lohegaon, Chinchwad and Magarpatta recorded 40°C, 40.4°C and 40.2°C, respectively.”
“Thirsty birds struggle to survive in scorching Indian heat…
“One animal hospital in the western city of Ahmedabad has treated around 2,000 birds over the past month, many weak and severely dehydrated, with some suffering from broken wings after falling from trees.”
“Pyongyang orders residents indoors due to dust storm, not COVID outbreak [North Korea].
“Concerns about a dust storm passing through Pyongyang led North Korean authorities to order residents to stay indoors on Wednesday… residents in the capital were told to stay indoors the same day due to heavy concentrations of particulate matter in the air…”
“South Korea experienced second warmest April on record.
“Data compiled by the Korea Meteorological Administration showed the average temperature last month was 13.8 C, the second highest for April since nationwide record-keeping began in 1973. It was 1.7 degrees above the 30-year average of 12.1 C.”
“Leading scientist calls for Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching report to be released before election.
“One of the world’s leading coral reef scientists has called on the agency responsible for managing the Great Barrier Reef to release maps showing the extent of coral bleaching, after a key report was delayed with no reason given.”
“‘More than a month’s rain in 12 hours’: …storm lashes Tasmania… there is a warning more extreme weather is on the way…
“A strong cold front is also passing across the nation’s south-east, making for a chilly weekend. Lows of 1C are expected in Canberra on Saturday, while Hobart while shiver through a chilly 7C.”
“Warmer winter set to follow wider NZ region’s third-hottest summer.
“Unusually balmy sea conditions predicted to delay our winter by a month follow one of the wider New Zealand region’s warmest seasons on record, a climate scientist says… As well, coastal waters were running abnormally hot…”
“Thousands homeless as floods hit Santa Catarina May 5 2022 [Brazil]…
“Heavy rains caused flash floods throughout the state, as rivers burst their banks, flooding low lying areas. Thousands of residents have been forced to leave their homes following the floods, as houses filled with water, destroying possessions.”
“Officials worry Southern California won’t have enough water to get through summer without unprecedented cuts.
“The state’s top natural resources officer told CNN that California’s water emergency clearly shows the climate crisis in action. “Some would consider this a wake-up call. I disagree,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary for natural resources, told CNN. “The alarm’s already gone off.””
“A giant dust storm in Colorado collides with three wildfires in New Mexico, as seen in satellite video.
“On Friday evening, a time lapse film shows a massive sandstorm, tens of miles wide, descending from southern Colorado and becoming entangled with smoke from adjacent wildfires in New Mexico over the course of two hours.”
“Resilience, anger as New Mexico wildfire burns ‘sacred land’…
“Daniel Encinias… is among upwards of 10,000 evacuees from the fire that has torn through centuries-old villages in the Sangre de Cristo mountains 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Santa Fe and burned the house Encinias had built from the ground up.”
“Farmers in the Plains are in ‘dire straits’ due to drought, wildfire conditions…
“It’s the driest spring Randy Uhrmacher can remember in his 38 years of farming… More than 80% of the Nebraska-Kansas-Oklahoma region is abnormally dry, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center’s most recent data. And more than half of the area is severely dry.”
“Triple digit heat is back in the forecast! There is a potential for record-breaking highs this weekend through early next week across the Central United States. The Weather Prediction Center has highlighted the risk of excessive heat into Texas Saturday through Tuesday.”
“Manitoba floods continue to wreak havoc on communities across the province.
“Arborg Mayor Peter Dueck told 680 CJOB says the Icelandic River — normally a small stream — rose quickly this year. “People are saying this is probably the highest the water has ever been since 1974,” he said.”
“Satellite Images Show Disappearance of Iconic Canadian Glacier.
“The Peyto Glacier in Canada’s Banff National Park has shrunk by around 70 percent over the last half-century, a dramatic change highlighted in newly released satellite imagery from NASA… Rising summer temperatures have accelerated melting, scientists say, as has soot from nearby wildfires…”
“Bugs Away! Number plate spatter-count reveals shocking insect decline [UK]…
“Using data gathered from the dead insects collected on car number plates, 2021 Bugs Matter data shows numbers have dropped by a shocking 59 percent since 2004. Of the UK nations, England’s flying bug population has suffered the most, with a 65 per cent drop…”
“The farmers association, ZLTO, fear that the lack of rain this spring could lead to crop failure and a food shortage, broadcaster NOS reports… Dutch farmers have had to take on extra work to keep up with production, but the lack of rain has made it difficult for seeds to germinate.”
“Spain: Record rainfall of more than 201mm [approx 8 inches] leads to flooding in Valencia.
“More than 200mm of water fell in Valencia in a 24-hour period, the highest daily figure for May since records began in the 19th Century. Police were called almost 100 times as the waters rose in the city.”
“Elephants orphaned by drought fill Kenyan sanctuaries…
“In Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, home to Kenya’s second largest elephant population, the youngest are struggling to keep up with their herds. An influx of lost calves into elephant sanctuaries has followed record high temperatures and the worst drought for 40 years.”
“For the first time, scientists have found a huge groundwater system below ice in Antarctica. [impact on future sea level rise as yet unclear]
“The reservoir of groundwater – water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock – lies beneath the Whillans Ice Stream in West Antarctica, they say.”
“As oceans warm will the methane ‘Kraken’ be released?
“A vast amount of the powerful greenhouse gas is sequestered as frozen crystals in the world’s oceans. Of great concern among experts is the growing risk that, as the Earth warms and ocean temperatures rise, these highly disruptive, potent greenhouse gases will “flee” their frozen confinement.”
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.
New study reveals that subsea permafrost in the Arctic, previously thought to be impermeable, is degrading, allowing for increasing rates of methane release.
“Significant reserves of methane (CH4) are held in the Arctic shelf, but the release of CH4 to the overlying ocean and, subsequently, to the atmosphere has been believed to be restricted by impermeable subsea permafrost, which has sealed the upper sediment layers for thousands of years.
“Our studies demonstrate progressive degradation of subsea permafrost which controls the scales of CH4 release from the sediment into the water-atmospheric system.”
“Canadian police fatally shoot polar bear that wandered into Quebec community.
“Canadian police have shot and killed a polar bear that wandered into a Quebec community hundreds of kilometres south of the species’ normal territory, in an incident that experts warn could become more common as sea ice coverage becomes more unpredictable thanks to global heating.”
“April was wettest on record for Grand Forks [North Dakota], second wettest for Fargo.
“Grand Forks set a precipitation record for the month of April with 6.49 inches, easily besting the 5.28 inches of precipitation that fell in April in 1896. The third-wettest April in Grand Forks was in 1937, when 4.62 inches of precipitation fell.”
“Central U.S. faces severe storms, tornadoes on multiple days this week…
“Evan Bentley, a forecaster at the Storm Prediction Center, described the forthcoming weather pattern as “absolutely insane”on Twitter, writing “Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, Monday, [and] Tuesday all have potential to be high-end severe weather days.””
“New Mexico governor urges Biden to declare wildfires a disaster to free funds…
“Authorities in northeastern New Mexico said the flames were a couple miles from Las Vegas, which serves as an economic hub for most of northeastern New Mexico, and the ranching and farming families who have called the rural region home for generations”
“Drought-starved Lake Mead reveals a decades-old barrel with a body inside.
“A body inside a barrel was found over the weekend on the the newly exposed bottom of Nevada’s Lake Mead as drought depletes one of the largest US reservoirs – and officials predicted the discovery could be just the first of more grim finds.”
“Water is so low in the Colorado River, Feds are holding some back so one dam can keep generating power…
“The federal government on Tuesday announced it will delay the release of water from one of the Colorado River’s major reservoirs, an unprecedented action that will temporarily address declining reservoir levels fueled by the historic Western drought.”
“Since the beginning of the year, the weather gave no respite to the summer crops [BA, Argentina], which first suffered the harsh drought and then the relief of the rains towards the end of January.
“However, as a paradox, the rain they waited so long in the field became a headache for producers, where flooding worsens day by day… so far this year [the area] received about 800 millimeters [31.5 inches], when the annual average is 900.”
“Deforestation and logging aren’t just decimating the Amazon’s forests. They’re making them quieter…
“The acoustics, which were combined with airborne satellite data, were recorded during September and October of 2016. The researchers found that in forests where blazes happened repeatedly, communication between animals was quieter than in forests that were logged or burned only once.”
“South Africa: Flood Survivors Endure Thirst, Trauma and Disease…
“The sun has been shining almost every day since flash floods tore through the KwaZulu-Natal province’s most populous urban areas on 11 April, but for many people the suffering continues. Large parts of the eThekwini Municipality around the coastal city of Durban, remain without water and sanitation, with no indication of when these services will be restored.”
“Flooding due to torrential rain in Tanzania has killed several people and caused the displacement of several thousand residents, based on reports as of Tuesday, May 3.
“The incident was a result of prolonged heavy rain since late April in the Mbeya and Songwe regions of the East African nation.”
“Worst drought in decades devastates Ethiopia’s nomads.
“There has hardly been a drop of rain in Hargududo in 18 months. Dried-up carcasses of goats, cows and donkeys litter the ground near the modest thatched huts in this small village in the Somali region of southeastern Ethiopia.”
“On 2nd May the village of Faya Largeau in Northern Chad, near an oasis, had an hourly temperature of 47C /116.6F(no Tmin/Tmax released for this station).
“That would be the highest reliable temperature recorded in May in Chad, with the limitation of scarce data in certain areas.”
“The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation launched a campaign to monitor and remove violations on the Nile River before the start of the third-stage filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir.
“Egypt derives 90 percent of its water needs, or 55.5 billion cubic meters, from the Nile.”
“Last month was one of Israel’s three warmest Aprils over the past 70 years, another sign of the country’s accelerated warming trend, the Israel Meteorological Service said this week… Israel is warming at twice the global rate…
“The difference between March and April reached 10 to 13 degrees Celsius, the largest gap between the two months since Israel began accurately recording temperatures 70 years ago.”
“A big sandstorm hit Kandahar, Afghanistan on May 3rd 2022. Residents were forced inside as air quality deteriorated. Buildings were damaged by the strong winds and flying debris.”
“Pakistan likely to face acute water shortage within three years.
“Of all the crises confronting Pakistan today, water scarcity is the least talked about but most challenging for a country where over 30 million citizens have no access to clean drinking water. In three years, Pakistan will be staring at acute water scarcity, a situation which would leave millions of people and their land gasping for a trickle.”
“India and Pakistan heatwave is ‘testing the limits of human survivability,’ expert says…
““This heatwave is definitely unprecedented,”said Dr. Chandni Singh, IPCC Lead Author and Senior Researcher at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. “We have seen a change in its intensity, its arrival time, and duration. This is what climate experts predicted and it will have cascading impacts on health.””
“With scanty rains owing to feeble western disturbances, Delhi had recorded its second hottest April this year since 1951 with a monthly average maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius. The city’s normal monthly average temperature in April is 36.30 degrees Celsius.”
“Hong Kong weather expert calls coldest day in May for more than 100 years ‘good sign’.[no comment!]
“Hong Kong recorded its coldest day in May for more than a century on Monday morning, according to the city’s weather forecaster, with a veteran meteorologist saying it was a “good sign” amid climate change fears.”
“China is upside down these days, with a record cold spell in the tropical areas and intense heat in the North.
“In the NE Beijing rose to 32.0C /89.6F (first 30, 31, 32 of 2022),Tianjin 33.0C. In the NW Turpan 36.9C.First 30C of 2022 also in Mongolia with 30.3C at Sainshand.Hotter tomorrow.”
“North Korea mobilises office workers to fight drought amid food shortages.
“North Korea’s office workers and factory labourers have been dispatched to farming areas around the country to join a fight against drought, state media reported on Wednesday, amid concerns over prolonged food shortages.”
“Trauma, disbelief and plenty of ideas shared at NSW flood inquiry hearing in Lismore…
“Some suggested flood-zone houses should have mandatory roof hatches, like skylights, to prevent people in attics being drowned by rising waters. There were multiple calls for the insurance system to be overhauled…”
“Flood and cyclone-prone areas in eastern Australia may be ‘uninsurable’ by 2030, report suggests.
“Extreme weather due to the climate crisis is expected to increasingly make some Australian homes “uninsurable”, with a new report suggesting up to one in 25 households will struggle to be covered by 2030.”
“Floods, new mystery disease impact starving marine turtles.
“University of the Sunshine Coastresearchers and wildlife rescuers have joined forces as they deal with a large increase in stranded, sick, and deceased marine turtles from recent floods and the discovery of a mystery disorder that is eating away at turtle shells.”
“Climate change has NZ sinking – floods to become routine events.
“Climate change is taking its toll as the sea keeps crawling onto New Zealand’s sinking coastline, halving the time authorities thought they had to take action, according to an NZ SeaRise study released earlier this week.”
“A Concerning Change Is Happening to Earth’s Water Cycle, Satellite Data Reveal.
“Climate change is throwing Earth’s water cycle severely out of whack. According to new satellite data, freshwaters are growing fresher and salt waters are growing saltier at an increasingly rapid rate all around the world. If this pattern continues, it will turbocharge rainstorms.”
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.
“Iraq yet again hit by increasingly frequent dust storms. Flights were grounded due to poor visibility at airports serving the capital Baghdad and the Shiite holy city of Najaf, with the phenomenon expected to continue into Monday, according to the weather service…
“Iraq was hammered by a series of such storms in April, grounding flights and leaving dozens hospitalised with respiratory problems.”
“Accidents caused by floods kill 7 people in Iran.
“Valipour, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s Rescue and relief Organization said over the past days, it has been raining cats and dogs in 12 Iranian provinces, mainly in the northwest and west of the country, as well as in the central part of Semnan and Yazd provinces.”
“The heat wave in Asia was exceptional also in the Central Asian Republics.
“Today 1 May both Turkmenistan (40.3C /104.5F) and Uzbekistan (40.0C) reached 40C. Also 37.4C in Tajikistan,35.5C in Kazakhstan and 31.3C in Siberian Russia. After a pause,next weekend will be similar.”
“After India’s hottest March ever, average April max for NW, Central India hits 122-year high (ie also its hottest since record-keeping began).
“The average maximum temperature over Northwest and Central India for April this year has been the highest in the past 122 years, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data until April 28 show.”
“Heat to Scorch India’s Wheat Supplies, Adding Food-Shortage Worries to World.
“Soaring Temperatures …shrivelled India’s wheat crop during a crucial growth period. That’s spurring estimates that yields have slumped 10% to 50%this season…”
“75 days without rain: It’s driest March, April in 50 yrs [Punjab].
“K K Gill, weather expert at PAU’s School of Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, said this is after 52 years that there has been no rainfall in Ludhiana in last about 75 days. She said in the whole of April month, the maximum temperature has been 4 to 5 degrees more than normal…”
“Uttarakhand has witnessed 30% uptick in forest fires this April compared to the corresponding month last year.
“Experts attributed the spike to the unprecedented heat wave this year, coupled with a prolonged dry spell… In April alone 1,137 incidents have been recorded in the state.”
“In This Himachal Village, Debris From Flash Floods Has Made Half the Farmland Unusable.
“‘We have no role in disturbing the climate. We are living peacefully, away from the daily hustle and bustle of urban life. But it is us who are suffering disproportionately from the effects of the changing weather,’ says one villager.”
“Today 2 May is a historic day in Hong Kong. The Observatory dropped to 16.4C [61.5F] and Macao to 14.9C, for both it’s the coldest May day since 1917.
“The Chinese city of Guangzhou with 13.7C [56.7F] had its coldest May day in history. The cold air is moving into Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.”
“Rains cause floods, landslides and a death in Rio de Janeiro.
“The rain gauges of INMET and Cemaden recorded volumes close to 200 mm [7.9 inches] in the 12-hour period in the metropolitan region of the capital of Rio de Janeiro. Almost double what is expected during the month of April.”
“In certain regions of the center, west and south of Yucatan, and in most of Campeche, the heat could even reach 45 degrees [113F]… All these weather conditions will not only generate a lot of humidity but the thermal sensation could even exceed 50 degrees.”
“Kansas tornado generated 165 mph winds as it tore apart more than 1,000 homes and carved path of destruction 13 miles long.
“The Weather Service said the tornado was on the ground for 21 minutes Friday evening. Drone footage from the area shows the tornado’s whirlwinds demolishing everything in its path, including the roof of residential homes.”
“Farming, producing prices rising, while extreme drought conditions plague Texas…
“According to Ronnie Schnell with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, the acres are down and farmers are now paying more to produce with higher fertilizer prices… On top of the extreme drought plaguing the state, Schnell said it’s making producing much harder.”
“‘Turning the dial up’: US south-west braces for extended wildfire season amid drastic drought.
““Climate change is taking a situation that would be bad for us normally,” says Gregg Garffin, a climatologist at the University of Arizona, “and turning the dial up.” Once confined to specific times of year, wildfire conditions are stretching across more months…”
“Vegas water intake now visible at drought-stricken Lake Mead.
“The water supply for Las Vegas has marked a milestone, with a water intake breaking the surface of drought-depleted Lake Mead and the activation of a new pumping facility to draw water from deeper in the crucial Colorado River reservoir.”
“Portland broke its record for the rainiest April in city history, getting drenched with at least 5.60 inches of rainfall by 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service…
“This year’s April was a far cry from last year’s, when Portland got just 0.39 inches of rain, breaking the city’s record for the driest April in history, Rockey said.”
“A number of communities in Manitoba’s Interlake are dealing with flooding, crumbling roads and states of emergency after the third heavy rainfall in as many weeks.
“Over the weekend, Environment Canada recorded 40.6 millimetres of rain in Gimli, prompting the rural municipality to call a state of local emergency.”
“Video shows helicopter fighting Corwen forest fire [North Wales] as operation may run into third day…
“The fire service said the initial call was received at about 2.30pm on April 30. Crews from Cerrigydrudion, Bala, Ruthin, Johnstown and Colwyn Bay are at the scene tackling the fire.”
“Raw sewage ‘pumped into English bathing waters 25,000 times in 2021’.
“Untreated sewage was discharged into England’s coastal bathing waters for more than 160,000 hours last year, according to figures collated by the Liberal Democrats to mark the start of the summer sea-swimming season.”
“India’s UPL applies to flush toxic pesticides into South African sea.
“Indian agrochemicals manufacturer UPL Ltd has applied for permission to flush water contaminated by a toxic pesticides spill [caused by flooding disaster] in South Africa’s city of Durban directly into the sea or the sewerage system, the company said on Saturday.”
“Changing climate impacts biodiversity in protected areas globally.
“”As the planet continues to warm, we expect a number of species to move out of some protected areas and into others as they shift their ranges in response to climate change,” says lead-author Sean Parks, a research ecologist with the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station…”
“Scientists Warn That Climate Change Could Spark the Next Major Pandemic.
“Researchers anticipate that as the earth’s temperature continues to warm, wild animals will be compelled to migrate their habitats – most likely to areas with dense human populations – drastically raising the danger of a viral jump to humans, which might lead to the next pandemic.”
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.
“Record temperatures in India are causing toxic landfills to burst into flames as the country grapples with heatwaves.
“”We are seeing increasing incidents of fires in various places—in jungles, important buildings, and in hospitals—in the past few days,” Modi said in an online conference on Thursday. On top of the sweltering heat, fires have broken out in Delhi’s dump yards, also filling the air with toxic smoke in the world’s most polluted capital.”
“Gurugram [next to Delhi] records its hottest April day ever.
“With the national Capital region (NCR) reeling under yet another heatwave, Gurugram witnessed its hottest April day ever on record with the mercury climbing up to 45.6 degrees Celsius [114.1F] on Thursday, according to data from the India Meteorological Department.”
“Extreme heatwave in India and Pakistan causes power and water shortages…
“Media reports said power stations were also facing shortages of coal, the main source of electricity in the nation of 1.4 billion people. Many regions also reported falling water supplies that will only worsen until the annual monsoon rains in June and July.”
“It is getting hotter on the roof of the world. A rapidly melting Tibetan Plateau spells disaster for people across Asia…
“…the glaciers, snowfields and permanently frozen ground on the ‘roof of the world’ are thawing, making Tibet’s lakes bloat by 58.5 cubic km just in the past 40 years.”
“SE Asia Heat Wave: On 28th April China rose to 40.1C [104.2F] at Yuanyang in Yunnan.
“In Okinawa (Japan) Hateruma tied its April record of 31.3C [88.3F] again (set yesterday). Terrible humid heat in Bangkok, Thailand with a min temp of 29.9C after a Tmax of 39.2C yesterday with high humidity.”
“On 29th April Australia returns >40C with 40.1C [104.2F] at Victoria River Downs in the Northern Territory. Temperatures are expected to reach 40C for the next couple of days.
“40C is very rare anyway for late April and 41C has never been recorded this late. (40.6C is Australian May record).”
“27th April was a historic day in South America with 40.1C [104.2F] at Las Palmas in Paraguay.
“Nearby Filadelfia had extremes of 28.6C/39.9C. Yesterday 39.0C at Las Lomitas, Argentina(record) and 39.1C at Villamontes, Bolivia. Over 34C also at Porto Alegre, Brazil. Unprecedented for late April.”
“Corn and Soybeans Near Record Prices, Push Food Costs Higher. Soybean gains have been driven lately by Brazil’s severe drought and record temperatures, which threaten to shrink the biggest bean grower’s crop.”
“Floods devastate an agricultural region of Venezuela.
“Floods caused by heavy rains that affect more than 20,000 people this week in an agricultural region of western Venezuela, keep its inhabitants between anguish and despair over the destruction of crops and their flooded houses.”
“A total of 102,405 people in Havana currently have problems with water supply due to drought, according to Cuban authorities.
“The figure represents 5% of the residents registered in the capital of the country, who cannot regularly access drinking water “either because they stopped receiving water through pipes and now it arrives in pipe cars…”
“When the desert runs dry. It’s time to talk about the future of Glen Canyon…
“Under the pressures of overuse and climate change, the fate of the entire Colorado River system is being redetermined in real time, amid what scientists think is the worst drought in over 1,200 years… Now that the reservoir is below 3,525 feet, it has officially crossed the “hydropower buffer”…”
“New Mexico wildfire burns 166 homes, thousands ready to evacuate.
“The blaze is the largest and most destructive of a dozen wildfires that are burning in the U.S. Southwest. Scientists say the fires are more widespread and have started earlier this year due to climate change. Heaps of metal are all that are left of homes burned along road 94 into Mora…”
“Alaska hit by largest April wildfire in a quarter century…
“It is historically uncommon for Alaska to face such a large fire at this time of the spring. But the area around Kewthluk got a below average amount of snowfall over the winter which quickly melted, leaving the tundra open. A lack of rain this spring has further dried it out…”
“Wildfires in US, Canadian boreal forests could release sizable amount of remaining global carbon budget…
“”Wildfires in boreal forests can be especially harmful in terms of the amount of emissions they release into the atmosphere since they store about two-thirds of the world’s forest carbon, most of which is contained in the soil and has accumulated over hundreds or even thousands of years,” said Dr. Phillips.”
“Massive wildfires helped fuel global forest losses in 2021. Fires accounted for more than a third of the world’s tree cover losses last year — the largest share on record…
“Unprecedented wildfires raged across Russia in 2021, burning vast swaths of forest, sending smoke as far as the North Pole and unleashing astounding amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.”
“Firefighters have been battling a significant wildfire in the hills near Kyle of Lochalsh [Scotland] since Wednesday morning.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is using specialist resources including a helicopter to limit the spread of the three miles long blaze at Ersbuig. Images from the blaze have shown large amounts of smoke billowing from the moorland.”
“Floods hit Onitsha, Anambra State in Nigeria on April 27 2022.
“Heavy rainfall caused floods in the city, as drains failed to cope with the volume of water. Markets were closed as produce was washed away. Traffic was stopped, as floods caused roads to close.”
“How the climate crisis is changing Greenland’s weather…
“Greenland holds the unenviable record of the lowest temperature ever recorded in the northern hemisphere. In December 1991, near the summit of the Greenland ice sheet, it fell to -69.6C. But with the onset of the climate crisis, summer temperatures in the high 20s are now being recorded; an ominous sign for the future.”
“Diminishing Arctic sea ice has lasting impacts on global climate…
“”Through our study, we demonstrated for the first time that fluctuations in sea ice-air interactions can greatly enlarge or amplify multi-decadal climate variations not only in the Arctic, but also the North Atlantic,” said Dai, a distinguished professor at UAlbany’s Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences.”
“La Niña could enter rare third straight year. Here’s what that means….
“There is evidence to suggest that La Niña patterns bolster the risk of severe weather across parts of the South and the southern Plains during tornado season… La Niña could also be a concern in the upcoming hurricane season, which is already projected to be above average.”
“The most devastating hurricanes could double by 2050 in nearly all regions of world, scientists say…
“Researchers also found the wind speeds in these storms could increase by as much as 20%, as well as a tremendous increase in the frequency of category 4 and category 5 storms — by more than 200% in some regions.”
“In the most comprehensive review yet of the risks facing reptiles, scientists find that more than a fifth of all these species are threatened with extinction.
“A new study, published today in Nature, assesses more than 10,000 reptiles around the world — from turtles, snakes and lizards to crocodiles — and warns that we must conserve them to prevent dramatic changes to Earth’s critical ecosystems.”
“Greenhouse gas emissions could trigger a mass extinction of marine life to levels not seen since before the dinosaurs, a new study says…
“If emissions are not curbed, the loss of marine species from global warming and oxygen depletion could mirror the ‘Great Dying’, Earth’s deadliest extinction event, by around 2100, scientists say.”
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.
“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.
“‘Devastating’: 91% of reefs surveyed on Great Barrier Reef affected by coral bleaching in 2022.
“Woman dies in floodwaters as Queensland’s north coast cops further drenching, BOM says records will be broken…
“Paraguay’s Severe Drought Weakens 2022 Growth Prospects...
“Floods leave 47 dead and more than 18,000 families affected in Colombia…
“Summerlike heat bakes central states, breaks records…
“This May is the hottest on record in Austin [Texas], and it’s not even close.
“California water use leaps 19% in March, amid one of the driest months on record…
“‘Our mountains are gone’: Grief as sacred New Mexico forests burn.
“The Desert’s Fragile Skin Can’t Take Much More Heat… Climate change and human activity are destroying the layers of fungi, lichen, and bacteria that protect deserts from erosion…
“‘We’re basically underwater’: Flooding displaces Hay River, N.W.T [Canada]., residents…
“Plastic found inside Arctic char has Nunavut hunters fearing for local food sources.
“Crews respond to fast-moving forest fire in southwestern Nova Scotia.
“Putin Demands Action As Devastating Wildfires In Russia Claim 16 Lives.
“A drought at the beginning of the year has triggered water restrictions in 15 departments across France, sparking fears about the winter harvest.
“Lots of sun in Berlin and Brandenburg – but drought causes problems…
“Festive nougat shortage threat as worst April weather on record wipes out 70% of almond harvest on Spain’s Costa Blanca…
“Dam constructions by Turkey not acceptable for Iran…
“Iran faces second year of big wheat imports after drought, says grain union.
“Karachi [Pakistan] is warming up faster than the global average, warn experts.
“Exploding e-scooters kill four as heatwave damages batteries [India]…
“Tropical Cyclone Asani threatens eastern India as another brutal heat wave continues across the country.
“Hong Kong braces for record-high rainfall this week… Regional weather authorities convene meeting to discuss heavy precipitation and warning systems…
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“Significant reserves of methane (CH4) are held in the Arctic shelf, but the release of CH4 to the overlying ocean and, subsequently, to the atmosphere has been believed to be restricted by impermeable subsea permafrost, which has sealed the upper sediment layers for thousands of years. 
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