“Climate change disasters engulf Northern Hemisphere as global air and ocean temperatures set new records in July[picture from Norway floods yesterday]…
“On Tuesday, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (CCCS) confirmed the average global temperature for July 2023 was the highest on record for any month.
“According to the CCCS, July was 0.72 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1991-2020 average for the month and 0.33C warmer than the previous warmest month, which was July 2019.”
“Siberian forests burn as wildfires engulf eastern Russia…
“Wildfires are raging in Russia’s eastern Siberia with hundreds of firefighters and dozens of vehicles deployed to tackle the blazes, the Russian emergency ministry said. Up to 27,000 wildfires occur in Siberia every year, covering areas of up to 18 million hectares, according to environmental specialists.”
“A Siberian glacier has turned crimson red from algae bloom, raising the likelihood of even faster ice melt than at the current rate triggered by climate change, Russian scientists warned Monday.
“Red algae covers glaciers in the Altai Mountains near Russia’s borders with Kazakhstan and Mongolia every year, Tomsk State University’s (TSU) Faculty of Geology and Geography said in a statement.”
“A major storm swept through Scandinavia on Tuesday, bringing in strong winds and heavy rain that have triggered landslides and damaged infrastructure. Norway’s emergency services evacuated residents from various communities, which were threatened by the landslides.”
“Dam in Norway partially bursts after days of heavy rain, flooding and evacuations.
“Authorities initially considered blowing up part of the dam at the Braskereidfoss hydroelectric power plant to prevent communities from being inundated. But the idea was scrapped after water later broke through the structure, police said.”
“A fifty-one year flood record was broken on Monday on the Dráva river at Őrtilos in southwest Hungary, at the confluence of the Mura and the Dráva rivers, the National Water Directorate General told MTI.
“The record flood level of 1972 was broken by 493 centimeters, when the river crested 17 centimeters above the previous highest water level.”
“Slovenia floods: First German emergency team starts work…
“The team’s head of operations, Thorsten Meier, told public broadcaster ZDF that the destruction in Slovenia reminded him of similar sights following the Ahr Valley floods in western Germany two years ago… Slovenian authorities say the flooding affected two-thirds of the country’s 2.1 million residents.”
“Monthly low temperatures for August fell in different regions, in particular in Sardinia with 14.2C [57.6F] at Capo Frasca and near freezing temperatures in the interior of Sardinia with 0.9C at Ilorai, 1.8C Gavoi and 2.7C at Villanova. Extraordinary for early August.”
“Fruit is disappearing from Italian orchards due to extreme weather, farmers warn.
“Extreme weather is decimating crops in Italy, farmers warn. Farmers association Coldiretti says six out of 10 pears have disappeared from Italian orchards. They put this down to floods, hail, record-high temperatures and non-native insect attacks.”
“…the price of olive oil has surged to an all-time high, double a year ago…
“The supply outlook is “critical,” says Oil World, the industry bible that has tracked the ups and downs of the market for the last 65 years. “Demand rationing is inevitable… Spain’s southern region of Andalusia, the Saudi Arabia of olive oil, accounting for about one-third of the global supply, is the epicenter of the crisis.”
“Record heat warning as forest fires rage in Spain and Portugal…
“Experts say the recurring heatwaves, which have been getting longer and more intense, are a consequence of climate change. The Iberian Peninsula is bearing the brunt of climate change in Europe, with droughts and wildfires becoming more and more common.”
“Changing weather patterns saw Sudan’s Northern State battered by heavy rain, damaging at least 464 houses… SUNA described the vast region bordering Egypt and Libya as “a desert area that rarely received rain in the past, but has been witnessing devastating rains for the past five years”.”
“Extreme heat wave from Middle East spreading to Caucasus
“51C [123.8F] in Irak Kurdistan (>37C Tmin at Kirkuk); TURKEY: 48.4C [119.1F] Derik August Record highest temperature for Turkey beaten again; RUSSIA: 42.9 Komsomol; 41.6 Buddenovsk August record tied; 40.7 Astrakhan (all time high is 40.8C).”
“Iraq witnesses fourth consecutive summer of drought and high temperature.
“Baghdad – Iraq’s rising temperatures and protracted drought are a “wake-up call” for the world, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said in Baghdad on Wednesday. Turk spoke to AFP during a visit to Iraq, which the UN says is one of the five countries in the world most touched by some effects of climate change.”
“Hot tub-like Persian Gulf fuels 158-degree [70C] heat index in Iran[there have been some crazy heat indexes in this part of the world recently but that figure seems too high, surely?].
“Fueled by water temperatures in the upper 90s (upper 30s Celsius), the Persian Gulf region is enduring a brutal combination of heat and humidity that is making it feel intolerable… Heat indexes have regularly surpassed 140 degrees (60 Celsius) in the region in recent weeks.”
“At least 19 people, including three Rohingyas, died, and over a million people were affected as flash floods hit Bangladesh’s southern Chittagong region, officials said Wednesday.
“Authorities have set up 2,234 shelters in five districts of Chittagong and launched rescue operations after heavy rains, accompanied by an onrush of water from rivers in India and Myanmar, left large parts submerged.”
“Seven die after sudden river flood in China’s Sichuan province.
“Seven people died after being swept away by a sudden surge of water at a dam in China’s southwestern Sichuan province, state media reported on Wednesday, in a tragic incident following widespread flooding. China has seen an unusually wet and rainy summer season with massive floods in the north and northeast…”
“Dozens Die in China Floods as Typhoon Remnants Batter North…
“China’s typically arid northeast may again expect torrential rain this weekend, after accumulating more than 100 millimeters, around 4 inches, of rainfall in some areas over five days last week, China’s meteorological service said. That is more than a fifth of the annual average for Heilongjiang province.”
“Japan is living the worst heat wave in its history with weeks of record heat. Yesterday 13 more stations had their highest Tmins for August (9 all time).
“Today Tmins up to 30.2C, Tmaxes >39C [102.2F] and deadly humidity. All time highs: Akita 38.2; Aikawa 38.5; Hamochi 38.3; Mikuni 39.7.”
“Typhoon Khanun makes landfall in South Korea after lashing Japan.
“Typhoon Khanun made landfall on the southeast coast of South Korea on Thursday after dumping heavy rain across southern Japan over the past week. Warnings have been issued across South Korea, with more than 330 flights cancelled and more than 10,000 people moved to safety.”
“Rice in Asia Soars to Highest Level Since 2008 on Supply Risks.
“Rice prices in Asia rose to the highest since 2008 on mounting concerns over global supplies of the food staple as dry weather threatens output in Thailandand after top shipper India banned some exports.”
“Desperate for a drink: Indonesian villagers dig up dry river bed in drought.
“It’s been four, long, hot months since Sunardi’s village has seen any rainfall as an El Nino-induced drought parches Indonesia, so the tobacco farmer does the only thing he can do to get water: dig up a dry river bed. In an hour or two, water – salty and muddy – will fill the freshly dug hole.”
“Drought fears in eastern Victoria [Australia] as July rain record lowest in 160 years.
“Chris Nixon has seen dry years before, but he is worried about what might be ahead for communities in eastern Victoria after the hottest, driest winter on record… “We’ve had 12 millimetres of rain for the past two months,” the Orbost cattle farmer said.”
“Never ending record warmth in Australia: Yesterday more records of highest Tmins for August fell in Western Australia… Record warmth also in the tiny Republic of Tuvalu: On 3 August the capital Funafuti with 33.6C [92.5F] tied its monthly record high.”
“Southern Hemisphere Sees Unprecedented Summer-Like Winter.
“As the Northern Hemisphere recorded the hottest July, countries in the Southern Hemisphere have also experienced unprecedented heat at the beginning of August, the middle of winter, with temperatures in many places up to record high.”
“There is quite the streak of anomalously high SST’s extending from a currently sweltering Japan through the north Pacific, which is higher than those in association with the burgeoning El Niño and a stronger signal than that from a record warm Atlantic.”
“Hawaii wildfires: 36 killed in ‘apocalyptic’ blaze on Maui island.
“At least 36 people have been killed by wildfires fanned by winds of a distant hurricane in Hawaii. The flames devastated much of the resort city Lahaina on Hawaii’s Maui island on Wednesday, forcing thousands to evacuate.”
“From scarfs to shorts: South America sees record-high temperatures in the dead of winter…
“Chile’s Environment Minister Maisa Rojas pointed out that the high winter temperatures are just the latest extreme weather phenomenon to hit the country, which saw fires in February, floods as a result of torrential rains in June and is now facing unprecedented highs.”
“‘This is going to get worse before it gets better’: Panama Canal pileup due to drought reaches 154 vessels…
“The massive pileup is a result of water conservation measures the Panama Canal Authority deployed in late July due to drought. The PCA has temporarily lowered the availability of booking slots from August 8-August 21 for Panamax vessels, which are the largest vessels that can cross the canal…”
“Cuba in July recorded its hottest month since [records began in] 1951, officials said, with the soaring temperatures on land and sea straining the country’s decrepit electric grid and pressuring fragile ocean resources.
“The average temperature in July hit 29.1 degrees Celsius (84.38 degrees Farenheit)… The previous record on the Caribbean island, known for its sultry summers, was set in August 2020.”
“Most of Caribbean, Central and South American countries are beating records.
“Historic day in the Bahamas and Cayman Islands with the highest Tmins ever recorded in climatic history: 30.1C / 86.2F (Nassau) and 30.2C. Monthly record at Lethem, Guyana with 35.6C. Brazil over 40C [104F].”
“In one word: Historic. Terribly hot summer for Southern USA with records broken every day
“88F [31.1C] Tmin at Key West is the highest reliable Tmin ever recorded in Florida + all Caribbeans. Miami THI 114F is the highest on records.113F Wichita Falls TX ties its August 1936 monthly record.”
“Orange juice futures have surged to fresh all time-highs as a series of hurricanes and the spread of an incurable disease have devastated thousands of acres of citrus crops in the US.
“Overall orange juice production in the US is the lowest in “over 100 years”, said Matthew Joyner, chief executive of Florida Citrus Mutual…”
“A massive hailstone from a supercell thunderstorm in eastern Colorado Tuesday might have set a new state record, the latest example in a prolific summer for giant hail in the United States.
“The hailstone was found by stormchaser Dan Fitts outside the town of Kirk, near the border with Kansas about 125 miles east of Denver, just before 7:30 p.m. MDT.”
“Unprecedented damage from storms is upending the insurance industry.
“Waves of severe thunderstorms in the U.S. during the first half of this year led to $34 billion in insured losses, an unprecedented level of financial damage in such a short time, according to Swiss Re Group, as climate change contributes to the frequency and severity of violent meteorological events.”
“Weird Weather Hits Utility Profits and a Blistering Summer Is Little Help.
“Abnormal weather this past winter and spring has put a major dent in US utilities’ earnings — an impact so severe that even a scorching summer likely won’t be enough to erase it… The blow to utility’s earnings suggests that the industry is struggling to find its footing as climate change fuels extreme weather…”
“Climate change is making hydropower less reliable.
“As drought settled in over the Pacific Northwest this year, some electric utility managers did something unusual: They looked to California for hydropower…The hydropower variability this year represents one example of some of the changes the country can expect in a warming world, according to a new report from Stanford researchers.”
“Hundreds of people have been trapped overnight atop a mountain in Canada’s Banff national park after a a lightning strike shut down a popular gondola ride.
“As many as 300 people were stranded after the power failure on Monday evening disabled the 40-car ride that scales Sulphur mountain.”
“In the middle of a severe wildfire season, July in Yellowknife [NWT] was the equal-warmest ever recorded while also being one of the driest ever…
“…this year, just 7.6 mm of rain was recorded in July at the city’s airport, where Yellowknife’s main weather station is based. That’s the lowest figure for July since 1964.”
“Fears over Antarctic sea ice as yearly ozone layer hole forms ‘very early’.
“The hole in the ozone layer has begun to form early this year, prompting warnings that a larger-than-average hole may further warm the Southern Ocean while the level of Antarctic sea ice is at a record low.”
“Well then. Global sea ice lowest on record for time of year.
“The primary contribution here is from the Antarctic… The Southern Ocean itself is a very important basin, which helps to drive the entire global climate circulation.”
“How climate change might trigger more earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
“…research suggests that our changing climate may not solely influence hazards at the Earth’s surface. Climate change – and specifically rising rainfall rates and glacial melting – could also exacerbate dangers beneath the Earth’s surface, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
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“‘Tumbling’ records and ‘unprecedented’ changes in Antarctica prompt [UK] Foreign Office review of climate change impacts…
“Professor Martin Siegert, glaciologist at the University of Exeter, said they were extremely worried about “the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme events and the cascading influences that they have in other areas”.”
“The rapid warming of Svalbard is triggering a positive feedback loop…
“To collect samples of groundwater, Kleber and colleagues drilled deep into these fields of ice, until they hit the pressurized springs. “We were surprised to find just how much methane was present in these groundwater springs,” Kleber told Advanced Science News.”
“Northern Alaska follows global trend with warmest July on record.
“The global average temperature has hit record high marks recently, with some estimates that Earth is warmer now than it has been in hundreds of thousands of years. It’s been hot in Alaska, too, even after a cool start to the summer for much of the state.”
“Deadhorse, Alaska, on the Arctic Coast, had their warmest August day on record yesterday (84F / 29C).
“They followed that with their 3rd warmest August day on record today (81F). These were the 2nd and 11th warmest days overall for any month respectively.”
“Record Alaska Glacial Flood Prompts Emergency Measures in Juneau.
“Officials in Juneau, Alaska, have issued an emergency declaration after record-breaking river floodwaters swept through the area, destroying at least two homes and threatening others… Mendenhall Lake crested Saturday night at nearly 15 feet, about 3 feet higher than the previous record, set in July 2016.”
“‘The trauma is ongoing’: Canadian First Nation flees wildfire for second time in two years…
“Residents of the Lytton First Nation were ordered to evacuate late on Friday. By Sunday, the out-of-control Stein Mountain fire was just 300 meters (328 yards) from reserve land, burning its way down a steep slope that has stymied firefighting efforts, the community’s chief, Niakia Hanna, told Reuters.”
“Hundreds of cattle died in Iowa from extreme heat and humidity in late July, the state and livestock producers said, as the world recorded its hottest month ever.
“The deaths show the toll of severe weather on farm animals and food production. The losses further trim the U.S. cattle herd, which is already the smallest in decades after drought drove ranchers to slaughter more cows due to a lack of pasture to feed them.”
“Severe weather sweeps east, knocking out power to more than 1 million and canceling flights…
“”Some perspective: This is the first moderate risk for severe weather in at least 10 years for much of our forecast area,” the NWS service out of the Baltimore-Washington area said on social media… Parts of the region have already dealt with extreme rain and flooding in recent weeks.”
“Inside Death Valley, the hottest place on Earth being pushed to tipping point.
“…climate change is now pushing even the toughest of Death Valley’s native species to an existential tipping point. The Great Basin bristlecone pine, the world’s oldest tree species, formerly revered as an icon of stability, has lost 70 per cent of its population on the slopes of Telescope Peak…”
“16 dead, thousands in emergency departments in Louisiana amid record heat.
“…Louisiana has already shattered its annual average for heat-caused emergency department visits. From April 1 to July 29, there were 3,305 visits, compared to 10-year annual average of 2,700, said Dr. Alicia Van Doren, a preventive medicine physician…”
“With a high temperature of 97F [36.1C] so far today, New Orleans now has its longest extreme heat event… on record. The extreme heat should last through much of the week.”
“The fierce heat wave in Southern USA/Mexico/Cuba goes on:
“TEXAS: Dallas Forth Worth tied its highest Min. Temp. on records with 86F; MEXICO, New August records: 41 [105.8F] Nuevo Casas Grande; 39.5 Chihuahua; 38 Durango; 42.6 Ciudad Victoria; CUBA: 36.6 Bahia Honda all time high tied.”
“Winter heatwave in Andes is sign of things to come, scientists warn…
“The heatwave in the central Chilean Andes is melting the snow below 3,000 metres (9,840ft), which will have knock-on effects for people living in downstream valleys who depend on meltwater during the spring and summer.”
“The South American heat wave is still active with up to 37C/39C [102.2F]: For the Northern Argentina town of Las Lomitas this is the 7th consecutive day with a Tmax >35C/95F.
“The abnormal heat will go on for weeks in Central Brazil, even worsening- 1 month in advance of the hot season.”
“‘The fields are too wet to harvest’: Farmers fear loss of crops due to record rainfall [Ireland]…
“On the banks of the rolling river Foyle in Co Donegal, tillage farmer David Moody is considering when he’ll be able to harvest crops after a July of “impossible” weather. “The wheat is ripe now and ready to go but the fields are too wet to go in and harvest,” he says.”
“Sweden, Norway issue red alerts as heavy rain derails train, floods roads.
“Heavy rainfall has drenched Norway and Sweden, causing a train to derail and roads to flood. Swedish and Norwegian meteorologists issued red alerts, the most severe warning level, covering several days this week.”
“Devastating floods and other adverse weather conditions in Slovenia have killed at least six people and caused $500 million worth of property damage, a government spokesperson told CNN on Monday.
“Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob said on Saturday the flooding which began on Friday has become the “worst natural disaster to ever hit” the country.”
“Italy: storm brings thick layer of hail and flooding to north-east.
“Footage showed roads blanketed by thick hail and areas covered in flood water in Reana del Rojale and Tarcento. Italy has experienced deadly floods and record heatwaves over the last few months.”
“Drought Forces Spain to Source Drinking Water From the Sea.
“Fill a glass with tap water in Barcelona these days and one-fifth of it will be processed seawater. Another fifth will be treated wastewater derived from toilets, showers and other urban uses. This mix is emerging as the drinking water of the future in Mediterranean countries.”
“Spain, Portugal battle wildfires as temperatures soar.
“A thousand firefighters were deployed in central and southern Portugal, supported by 12 water-bombing planes, to battle blazes, according to the national civil protection authority. At least nine crew have been injured in the southern fire near the town of Odemira, which is being fanned by winds, an official told local media.”
“Another hot day with 44C [111.2F] in Spain (getting hotter from tomorrow).
“The heat in Morocco has been record in the past days… Records for August: 47.6 [117.7F] Kasba Tadla; Tangier Tmin 28.2; ALL TIME record at Ifrane, the famous cold pole at 1665m asl (record low -23C) with 37.6C yesterday.”
“Multinational force fights stubborn wildfire in Cyprus, including Lebanon, Greece and Jordan…
“Gregoriou, who surveyed the area by helicopter along with the country’s fire chief, told state broadcaster CyBC that “hundreds” of fire fighters, including volunteers, managed to contain the fire overnight because winds had died down considerably.”
“The severe grip of global warming has tightened its hold on Cilo Mountain in Hakkari, the country’s second-highest peak, causing glaciers to undergo a rapid and unsettling change.”
“Taliban Prepare Suicide Bombers in Water Dispute With Iran…
“After two decades fighting the US, Taliban leaders now find themselves sparring with neighbors as the realities of global warming hit home. The dispute with Iran over depleted water resources is further destabilizing an already volatile region.”
“Sri Lanka has been with an intense heat for several days:
“Today the central-northern town of Vavuniya rose to 39.1C [102.4F], breaking its monthly record (38.4C in 2004) which is just 1C from the all time Lanka national recordset at the same place in April 1983.”
“Climate change: The record summer that scorched Asia.
“Rain or shine, Mohammad Shukkur Ali, a rickshaw puller in his 50s, shows up for work on the streets of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka. The work is already punishing as it requires massive physical effort. But this year, the heat has made things even worse.”
“Fierce heat and records broken in several parts of Asia:
“JAPAN: Records high Tmin:29.8C Sasebo and 28.8C Kumamoto; CHINA: highest Tmin on record at Fuzhou: 30.1C… Heat indexes up to 57C with extreme humidity… INDIA, August record heat: 41.7 Madurai; 40.4 Rentcahitala; 40.1 Palayankottai.”
“Record rainfall paralyzes Chattogram city life [Bangladesh] as two-third areas inundated.
“Patenga Meteorological Office recorded 306 millimetres [12 inches] of rainfall during the last 24 hours ending 6 pm today and 698.7 millimetres [27.5 inches] rainfall in last five days causing serious disruptions to civic life and port and businesses activities in the city.”
“China floods: at least 14 killed after torrential rain in north-east.
“At least 14 people are dead after torrential rain hit China’s north-eastern Jilin province, state media has reported, in the latest fatalities from more than a week of weather-related disasters across the country. Thousands of troops have been sent into affected areas…”
“More Japanese regions brace for storms as Typhoon Khanun heads west…
“Thunderstorms, with precipitation of up to 400 mm (16 inches), were expected to lash areas of Kyushu and neighbouring Shikoku island in the next 24 hours, JMA said. Areas as far north as Osaka and Nagoya are also likely to be affected.”
“Flash floods and landslides have killed at least eight people across northern Vietnam, disaster officials said Monday.
“After months of prolonged heatwaves and drought, heavy downpours that began at the beginning of August have damaged hundreds of homes and destroyed crops.”
“30 killed in the Philippines after typhoon hit the country.
“30 people have been killed and 171 others were injured in the Philippines as of 8 a.m. on Monday after typhoon Doksuri hit the country, according to Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.”
“Marine heatwaves: Why New Zealand’s waters are only getting warmer.
“…scientists report that higher sea temperatures – currently taking a bite out of winter’s chill – is something our part of the planet can especially expect as the world continues to warm. New Zealand’s waters have been experiencing relentless marine heatwaves over recent years…”
“Now sharks could become even angrier after the world’s oceans have hit their highest recorded surface temperature, according to scientists…
“…predators such as sharks could become aggressive because they get confused in hotter conditions. The University of Southampton’s Dr Simon Boxall told the Telegraph: ‘Sharks getting grumpy wouldn’t surprise me at all. Fish are pretty jumpy about temperature.'”
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.
“The surface temperature of the world’s oceans has hit its highest ever level… Global average daily sea surface temperatures (SST) hit 20.96C this week, breaking the record of 20.95C reached in 2016, according to the Copernicus climate modelling service.
“Scientists say it is likely the record will continue to be broken, as usually oceans are at their hottest globally in March, not August.”
“The world just got its first real taste of what life is like at 1.5 degrees Celsius…
“According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, July of this year was the most scorching July on record, clocking in at somewhere between 1.5 and 1.6 Celsius hotter than the average before the widespread use of fossil fuels.“It’s just shocking just how big an excursion this is from anything we’ve seen before,” said Zeke Hausfather…”
“‘We’re changing the clouds.’ An unforeseen test of geoengineering is [helping fuel] record ocean warmth…
“Regulations imposed in 2020 by the United Nations’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) have cut ships’ sulfur pollution by more than 80% and improved air quality worldwide. The reduction has also lessened the effect of sulfate particles in seeding and brightening the distinctive low-lying, reflective clouds that follow in the wake of ships and help cool the planet.”
“As the climate changes, increasing amounts of warm water from the Atlantic Ocean are flowing into the Barents Sea and reducing the amount of sea ice. As these changes play out, scientists are using satellites to track how phytoplankton populations are responding.”
“The Northern Hemisphere has seen significant wildfire activity since the beginning of May this year, with widespread record-breaking fires in Canada and large fires across eastern Russia… From 1 January to 31 July, accumulated carbon emissions from wildfires across Canada total 290 megatonnes. This is already more than double the previous record for the year as a whole…”
“Virus-carrying tropical mosquitos found in Finland as climate heats.
“Research into the number of mosquito species resident in Finland has just added number 44: Culex modestus. This is a surprise because this is a tropical species and a known carrier of the West Nile virus, which causes an illness that used to associated mainly with central Africa.”
“Isle of Man’s July was wettest since records began…
“Ronaldsway Met Office measured 5.7in (14.48cm) of rain, which was more than double the island’s monthly average. A representative said that figure “comfortably exceeded” the previous record of 5.5in (13.97cm), which was set in 1985.”
“Fears of food inflation rise as UK harvests hit by cool, wet summer…
“The wettest July on record for parts of the UK risks colliding with rising prices of essential ingredients on global markets due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and unpredictable weather affecting harvests from southern Europe to China.”
“Bark beetles are eating through Germany’s Harz forest. Climate change is making matters worse…
“Two-thirds of the spruce in the region have already been destroyed, said Alexander Ahrenhold from the Lower Saxony state forestry office, and as human-caused climate change makes the region drier and the trees more favorable homes for the beetles’ larvae, forest conservationists are preparing for the worst.”
“30 centimetres of hail – storm causes snow ploughs to arrive in Reutlingen [Germany]…
“Winter service operation in the middle of summer: A localized storm has covered streets in the city center of Reutlingen in Baden-Württemberg on Friday with a 30-centimeter-high hail layer. At first glance, it looked like a thick blanket of snow.”
“Heavy rains caused large-scale flooding and left at least three people dead in Slovenia, where authorities in badly-affected northern areas have been advising people to stay at home because roads are under water… The record rainfall that caused the floods is nowhere near its end…”
“At least 11 people have been killed after a landslide hit a resort area in the mountains of the south Caucasian country of Georgia, with rescue efforts continuing…
“Officials said the landslide apparently was triggered by heavy rainfall, aggravated by recent erosion in the area. Local geologist Merab Gaprindashvili told local television that it was the first time a landslide of this scale had happened in the region…”
“Lisbon on ‘red’ alert as temperatures soar on last days of pope’s visit.
“The Portuguese state weather agency on Friday put the capital Lisbon on high weather alert for the weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) on the last day of Pope Francis’ visit.”
“Malaga sets record overnight temperature for August, with mercury not dropping below 30.3C [86.5F].
“Not only has Malaga just recorded the hottest month of July since records began in 1942, but the province has now registered its hottest overnight temperature for the month of August – specifically yesterday evening Wednesday 2nd.”
“Algeria is another country which has been beating heat records nearly every single day since several weeks and today it wasn’t an exception; August records: 47.7C [117.9F] El Golea; 48.3C Beni Abbes; 40.5C Tamanrasset.”
“South Sudan: extreme weather conditions raise concerns of food insecurity.
“Extreme weather due to the climate crisis has driven hunger in South Sudan to unprecedented levels… The World Food Program says that South Sudan is simultaneously drowning and drying due to a catastrophic combination of extreme climate events.”
“Extreme temperatures and a lack of electrical power are a deadly combination, and one that is being felt across Iraq. The country is one of the world’s most vulnerable to climate change, faced with scorching heatwaves, reduced rainfall, water scarcity, and desertification.”
“Wildfires in Western Iran Rage for Second Consecutive Day.
“As the forest fire near the border with Iraq enters its second day, an Iranian government official has highlighted the alarming extent of the blaze. Saeed Karimi, the Director General of Kordestan Governorate Crisis Management, revealed that the fires are spreading across the forests of three border villages in Marivan.”
“Afghans suffer water shortages after years of drought.
“In Afghanistan, years of drought have led to a severe water crisis. More than 70% of households face shortages, presenting yet another challenge for the Taliban government. Afghanistan’s water crisis has also complicated relations with neighboring Iran.”
“A year on, the devastating long-term effects of Pakistan’s floods are revealed.
“A year after Pakistan’s worst floods in living memory, a report by Islamic Relief Worldwide has revealed the devastating long-term impact on people, especially children, and argued that rich nations must compensate those countries most affected by the climate emergency.”
“Southwest monsoon breaks 74-Year rainfall record in Himachal Pradesh.
“The Indian Meteorological Department recently announced that this year’s South West Monsoon has shattered rainfall records dating back to 1949. The monsoon, which began in last week of June, saw a remarkable 71% increase in rainfall compared to the historical average.”
“Himachal monsoon mayhem: 199 people dead, 31 missing till now.
“Nearly 200 rain related-deaths were reported and 31 people went missing during the past 41 days since the onset of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh, the state disaster management authority said. Out of 199 deaths, 57 were due to landslides…”
“Extreme weather such as drought and floods have become major threats to China’s agricultural and food supplies. Over the past 70 years, China’s average temperature has risen faster than the global average, making the country extremely vulnerable to floods, droughts and typhoons. Extreme rainfall has reduced China’s rice yields by 8 per cent over the past two decades.”
“Floods hit China’s grain belt as storms following Doksuri head northeast.
“Rain pelted swathes of China’s biggest grain producing province on Friday, submerging farms and worsening floods that have already swamped cities around the country as rescue workers scramble to contain the havoc caused by Typhoon Doksuri. Northeastern Heilongjiang, known as China’s “great northern granary”, is the latest area to suffer the aftermath of Doksuri…”
“Typhoon Khanun forecast to turn back to Japanese islands where it already caused damage and injuries.
“A typhoon that damaged homes and knocked out power on Okinawa and other southern Japanese islands this week is slowly moving west but is forecast to make a U-turn and dump even more rain on the archipelago.”
“Endless heat wave in Japan with dozens records falling every single day.Yesterday highest Tmin and today highest Tmaxes for August (and many all time) include 18 more records.
“In South Korea extreme heat wave: Gangneung recorded 2 Tmins in a row above 30C [86F] and a Tmax >38C.”
“Death toll in South Korea increases to 23 due to blazing heatwave.
“The mortality rate in South Korea has increased to 23 due to this summer’s heat wave, three times the number of people died in a heat wave in 2022, officials stated on Wednesday, as the administration’s heat alert stayed at the highest level of “serious.””
“Over 3M people affected, 200K displaced due to typhoon-enhanced monsoon rains [Philippines]…
“More than 3 million persons have been affected and over 200,000 were displaced due to the effects of the southwest monsoon or “habagat” enhanced by typhoons Egay (international name Doksuri) and Falcon (international name Khanun), according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council…”
“Australia may face a summer of heatwaves, even without El Niño[BOM still the hold out in not having called one]…
“Dr Karl Braganza, the bureau’s national manager …said the current record breaking heat in the world’s oceans could be one reason behind the failure of El Niño to form so far. “Historically we have not seen a situation like this before going into an El Niño event with record global ocean temperatures,”he said.”
“Tonga experiences unusual cold during El Nino alert.
“Tonga’s Meteorology Department said on Friday that the Pacific island country is experiencing unusually cold weather, with cool days and cooler nights, and climate is leaning towards El Nino conditions… a recorded low of 9.3C [48.7F] …is the second lowest to the national minimum temperature record at 8.7C, which was recorded in 1994 during the 1994/95 El Nino.”
“Drought-hit Panama Canal must ‘adapt or die’ as water levels drop.
“…a water shortage due to low rainfall has forced operators to restrict the number of vessels passing through, which is likely to result in a $200 million drop in earnings in 2024 compared to this year, canal administrator Ricaurte Vasquez said Thursday.”
“Record heat again in Costa Rica: Today Cipanci National Park beat both the national monthly records of highest Tmins and highest Tmax for August with 28.0/37.9 [ 102.2F].
“Costa Rica already beat the June national record and barely missed by few decimals the April, May and July records.”
“The French territory of St. Barthelemy broke the records of both July and August: 34.5C [94.1F] on 22 July St. Barth Meteo and 35.2C St. Barth AP on 2 August.”
“Life-threatening flash flooding forced evacuations and water rescues across parts of the Southern US Friday morning.
“Some of the worst flooding centered on portions of western Kentucky and Tennessee, where multiple flash flood emergencies were issued Friday morning… Union City officials confirmed to CNN. Nine to 11 inches of rain had fallen in parts of the areaThursday night into early Friday.”
“Arizona’s extreme heat is killing honeybees and melting their homes…
““It’s a very major concern,” Shaku Nair, an entomologist with the University of Arizona, told CNN, “Honeybees can forage up to 113 degrees. As of July, we’ve had many days over 113 degrees, so bees are taking a bad hit right now.””
“California’s Waves Are Getting Bigger With Climate Change…
“Waves along California’s Central Coast are getting bigger as human-caused climate change warms the planet, according to a new study published this week in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. Average winter wave height has increased by roughly one foot since 1970, the year that corresponds with global warming’s rapid acceleration…”
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.
“Polar heat record. July average above 10°C [50F]. Never before has the average monthly temperature at Svalbard been measured above 10°C. That is not good news.
“Polar Climate is a meteorological term for Arctic regions with mid-average temperature for the warmest month in the year less than 10°C. Such areas are with glaciers and permafrost.
“Svalbard, Norway’s Arctic Archipelago, has since measuring started had Polar Climate. Until this July, according to the Meteorological Institute.
““For the first time, we have measured temperatures above Polar Climate at Arctic stations. That is middle temperatures at 10 degrees or more,” says climate scientist Helga Tilley Tajet.”
“Russia’s Polar Regions See Record High Temperatures in July.
“Russia’s far northwestern regions witnessed a surge in warm weather in July, with air temperatures soaring 3-4 degrees Celsius above average, according to Tatyana Pozdnyakova, the chief meteorologist at the Meteonovosti news agency.”
“Russia is also with two separate heat waves: One in the South where >40C [104F] is expected in the Caucasus next days and one in the European Arctic Russia with some >30C [86F] above the Arctic Circle.
“New August heat record yesterday at Indiga with 29.7C. More records are expected next days.”
“Our permafrost is thawing – and with it bacteria and viruses…
“As the permafrost thaws, so too do these cells. And scientists are discovering that some ancient species can spring to life – and maybe begin infecting anew. “Even if this is rare, all it takes is one. And there are so many of them,” said Corey Bradshaw, a professor of global ecology at Flinders University. “This isn’t just sci-fi, this is real.””
“Hot weather records set in B.C. and Yukon in July…
“Bobby Sekhon, a meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, said most of northern Yukon was about five degrees hotter than usual for the month. For example, the average monthly temperature in Old Crow in July was 19.5 C, compared with the normal 14 C. “It was the hottest month on record for all our reporting stations up there,” he said. “This is quite extraordinary.””
“Peatlands are swampy vaults for toxic chemicals. Wildfires are setting those toxins loose.
“In areas rich in peat, like those surrounding Alberta’s oilsands, wildfires are releasing thousands of years’ worth of absorbed pollution, unleashing long-dormant toxic contents upon the world.”
“BC Breaks Records for Area Burned in Wildfires, Data Show.
“The year 2023 has become the most destructive year on record for wildfires in British Columbia, burning through 1.49 million hectares as of July 24. This is over 10 times the average area burned annually in the past decade. This year has also become the most destructive year on record for Canada…”
“An ocean heat wave has come ashore in the Pacific Northwest.
“While the world’s oceans have been hitting record temperatures in 2023, Northwest coastal waters have, until recent weeks, remained cooler than their long-term average. Now the Pacific Northwest has joined the rest of the world in having exceptional ocean heat.”
“California’s largest wildfire of the year threatens fragile desert ecosystem…
“The York fire, which erupted last Friday, has burned through more than 125 sq miles (323.7 sq km) across the California desert toward the Nevada border. The preserve’s delicate ecosystem, home to desert tortoises and about 200 rare plants, has already undergone devastating damage.”
“This Colorado city just had its wettest day on record… Leadville saw almost two inches of rain on Tuesday, making it the town’s wettest day in almost 50 years of official record-keeping…
“Because Leadville is at such a high elevation, it’s generally much cooler than other places. Cooler air can’t hold as much moisture as warmer air, making extreme rainstorms like Tuesday’s a very rare occurrence.”
“Phoenix just posted the hottest month ever observed in a U.S. city…
“Phoenix’s average temperature for July was a blistering 102.7 degrees… The previous highest monthly average temperature in a U.S. city was 102.2 degrees, set in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., in July 1996, according to the Arizona State Climate Office. Phoenix beat that mark by 0.5 degrees, a significant margin for such an already lofty record.”
“July was the hottest month in Tampa’s history. Again.
“July was the hottest month in Tampa’s recorded history, dethroning a milestone set just last year. A stubborn westerly wind and steamy overnight temperatures contributed to the scorching month. Tampa’s average temperature was 86.5 degrees, 0.2 higher than the record set in July 2022.”
“38.7C [101.7F] at Vicuña and Chiguinto hottest winter day for Chile; for Coquimbo even an all time high for any month. Argentina is not joking either with 9 stations >35C including Cordoba AP and 44 stations >30C including B. Aires. Remember – it’s winter…”
“It’s midwinter, but it’s over 100 degrees in South America…
“Abnormally warm winter temperatures have also been observed in Australia, Africa and some island regions.These hot and persistent high-pressure zones have become more probable with climate change, according to scientists… August in the Southern Hemisphere is equivalent to February in the Northern Hemisphere. It shouldn’t be hot, let alone scorching.”
“The Atlantic Main Development Region (MDR) averaged 82.4°F this July according to NOAA data, the first time on record the MDR averaged above 82°F in July, shattering the previous July 2010 record by 1°F (0.5°C).
“The extreme warmth will stick with for the hurricane season peak.”
“Northeastern Spain’s Catalonia region declared a drought emergency in 24 municipalities Wednesday following a severe lack of rain in recent years.
“Restrictions put in place as part of the emergency will principally affect agricultural and industrial water usage but not drinking water, Catalonia Water Agency Director Samuel Reyes said at a news conference.”
“July was the hottest on record in Mallorca, says Met Office.
“July in Mallorca was the hottest on record according to the Palma Met Office with two heatwaves during the month. The average temperature was 27.3 degrees, two degrees higher than normal. Last July beat the record set during the month in 2015 with a temperature of 27.2.”
“Provisional statistics from the Met Office weather station at the Airport showed the mean temperature for the month was 26.4C, 2C above the long term average. The Met Office said July 2023 beat the previous record of 26.0C recorded in both July 1994 and July 2015.”
“Algeria’s scorched earth leaves state searching for answers.
“North Africa has experienced droughts for decades but now has reached a critical point where governments are looking for immediate solutions. Drought has been intensified by climate change and the scarcity of water resources… North Africa is already the largest wheat importer and is expecting to see a rise in imports due to the high probability of crop failure.”
“From Egypt to Iran, heatwave compounds Middle East electricity problems, climate change burdens.
“A heat wave continued to hit the Middle East on Wednesday, leading to electricity issues in Egypt and Jordan, closures in Iran and continued challenges in drought-hit Iraq. The following is a breakdown of the scorching conditions in countries throughout the region.”
“Water cut for nearly one million people in Hasakah Province [Kurdistan] since June 23: UN report…
“The station’s closure, under the control of Turkish-backed factions, is causing significant humanitarian concerns for the affected population. The report also added that water scarcity in northeastern Syria has been exacerbated by low water levels in the Euphrates River since Jan. 2021.”
“With 31.4C [88.5F] on 1 August it ties the Mauritius national record heat for August after beating the monthly records of the previous 4 months.We can expect this 31.4C to be exceeded few or many times during the month.”
“Pakistan Floods: Government aid remains elusive as floods wreak havoc in Gilgit Baltistan.
“The Sandhi region in …Gilgit Baltistan has been hit hard by floods, and the aftermath is devastating. Two key water channels that used to supply water to the region have been completely destroyed, resulting in a severe shortage of drinking water for the local population. The residents are facing acute hardships…”
“Beijing rains heaviest since records began 140 years ago.
“The maximum (amount) of rainfall recorded during this storm, which was 744.8 millimetres [29.3 inches], occurred at the Wangjiayuan Reservoir in Changping,” the service said, adding the largest volume previously recorded was 609 millimetres in 1891.”
“Flooded rivers, cities test China’s disaster response systems.
“As the remnants of the typhoon drift to China’s northeastern border provinces and rains start to taper off, a region the size of Britain is grappling with the logistics of safely discharging waterways and reservoirs and rescuing tens of thousands trapped in their homes.”
“Typhoon Khanun brought record-breaking winds and rain to Okinawa [Japan], the No.1 popular destination in summer for Japanese people. One third of the prefecture lost power at one point.
“The effects of the typhoon are expected to persist at least into the weekend.”
“Japan last month recorded its hottest July on record, according to the national meteorological agency, which has collected data for the 125 years since 1898.
“The temperatures recorded in the Japanese archipelago reached 38 degrees Celsius in the second half of the month, and July’s average temperature was 1.91C higher than normal.”
“Japan is another country with an unprecedented heat wave. Since weeks, every single day all time high records fall. Already hundreds records fell and there will be more.
“Today’s main records: 37.9C [100.2F] Kurayoshi all time; 34.8C Ashibe all time; 36.3C Nakatsuhara Record for August.”
“Hundreds of attendees at the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea have fallen ill as the country grapples with an extended heatwave affecting large swathes of the country.
“The event, which started earlier this week, has drawn 43,000 young Scouts from 158 countries this year. By the end of the first day, Tuesday, officials had counted at least 400 patients who needed treatment…”
“‘I lost hope in farming’: Extreme weather devastates South Korean watermelon farmer.
“Kwon Gye-soon has been farming for more than a quarter of a century but she is not hopeful she can get back on her feet this time after climate change-driven flooding in July devastated her watermelon farm and her damaged crop now rots in extreme heat.”
“An extended period of drought in Central Papua has been blamed for a famine that has killed six residents and left thousands scrambling for food.
“At least two districts in Puncak regency have faced a food crisis since early June due to prolonged drought-induced crop failure. Around 7,500 people in Agandugume and Lambewi districts have been affected…”
“Australian ski season: warm winter weather makes for bare snowfields at many resorts.
“Aussie ski slopes are looking uncharacteristically bare of snow after unseasonably warm weather has kept big falls to a minimum. Limited snowfall has lead to limited ski-lifts running at Selwyn Snow Resort, north of the Kosciuszko National Park in NSW, and at Mount Baw Baw, about three hour’s drive east of Melbourne.”
“After an warm July, August starts with record warmth in Australia.
“On 1 August new monthly record at Coconut Island with 35.0C [95F]and today 2 August record of highest minimum temperatures in Western Australia at Leonorda with 18.0C and Paraburdoo with 20.2C.”
“Bureau of Meteorology declares El Niño ‘likely in coming weeks’ but still not ready to say it’s underway…
“The decision puts the bureau at odds with other international weather agencies… There are a few indicators used to judge the state of the atmosphere over the Pacific, and none are currently showing a strong El Niño signal… climate scientists and meteorologists say there is little evidence the record July temperatures are due to El Niño.”
“This Summer Is Pointing Us Toward Uncharted Territory…
“It was, worldwide, the hottest month on record. June was the hottest June on record. August appears poised to be the hottest August… “The speed of us passing limits is mind-bending,” wrote the Texas A&M atmospheric scientist Andrew Dessler…”
“We’re Gambling With the Only Good Oceans in the Universe. Earth’s precious water made life possible. Now it’s simmering…
“In the face of climate change, the thrill of discovery is tinged with melancholy; as we learn more about how our ocean planet came to be, we’re subjecting its waters to intense heat, and the entire planet is facing the 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.
“It’s not just hot. Climate anomalies are emerging around the globe.
“A glimpse of a more tumultuous future seemed on full display throughout July, a month packed with weather anomalies that exceeded any definition of normal… some events were so abnormal that they sent a wave of consternation through the scientific community.”
“Heat domes, record temperatures aren’t scaring us enough…
““In this age of climate crisis, the world is consuming more crude than ever,” writes Javier Blas. “Currently there’s no chance that the world will reduce oil consumption by 2030 nearly as much as needed to meet its net-zero emissions targets. And that’s why many Western governments, while preaching green in public, in private tell oil executives to keep investing in more production.””
“We did it! Here’s what we missed while we were sleeping. Before this year, the highest recorded 2-meter surface temperature for the Arctic was 5.694°C on July 26, 2020.
“This year: July 26: 5.696°C; July 27: 5.813°C; July 28: 5.907°C (42.63°F).Yay for us f&%king humans!”
“Extreme Rain From Atmospheric Rivers and Ice-Heating Micro-Cracks Are Ominous New Threats to the Greenland Ice Sheet.
“At the current level of human-caused global warming, extreme rainfall from atmospheric rivers, as well as an extensive network of previously undetected micro-cracks, could degrade large parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet faster than expected and accelerate melting toward worst-case projections for ice loss and sea level rise, recent research shows.”
“‘Something weird is going on’: search for answers as Antarctic sea ice stays at historic lows.
“Some scientists fear the ‘shocking’ shift is the beginning of a global heating-linked collapse of the ice that could have alarming knock-on effects… By now there would usually be about 16.4m square kilometres of Antarctic sea ice. But this week, there was just 14.1m sq km.”
“The ‘world’s coldest village’ just experienced the highest temperature it’s ever recorded: ‘A particularly acute threat’.
“A heat wave roasted the Russian village of Oymyakon, bringing record temperatures to “the world’s coldest permanently inhabited settlement,” the Russian news outlet RT reported in July.”
“Eight people died and another 10 were hospitalised in Russia when trees fell at a campsite during a severe storm described as a hurricane.
““According to the latest information, eight people died in Mari El due to the hurricane that took place the day before,” said Yevgeny Maslov, the mayor of the city of Yoshkar-Ola.”
“In The Summer Heat, Central Asia Suffers Water, Power Shortages.
“Resource scarcity has severely disrupted daily life across Central Asia this summer. Electricity failures have compelled Kyrgyzstan to declare a three-year energy emergency, starting on August 1. Additionally, much of the region is grappling with water shortages, which scientists say is the latest sign that Central Asia will be one of the regions hardest hit by climate change.”
“Water-Short Kazakhstan Becoming Ever More Dependent On Flows From Neighboring Countries.
“Seven of the eight water basins of already water-short Kazakhstan are dependent on flows of water from foreign countries, and over the next two decades, six of these will nevertheless be suffering from serious drought and desertification…”
“Torrential Rains And Flash Floods Claim 11 Lives In Pakistan’s Balochistan Province.
“Balochistan, known for its security challenges posed by separatist groups and militants, has been severely impacted by the recent floods caused by incessant rainfall. The disaster has led to widespread damage, particularly in remote areas where mud houses have been destroyed.”
“With 738.7 mm [29 inches] rain in July, Chandigarh [northern India] braved its wettest month of all time.
“According to IMD officials, the rain in July this year was 170% surplus from normal; of the total rain in the month, 531.6 mm was recorded in just 48 hours between July 8 and July 10 in Chandigarh.”
“Several killed, dozens missing after heavy rainstorms in Beijing.
“At least 11 people are dead and 27 missing after heavy rains lashed Beijing, Chinese state media said Tuesday. Military helicopters have been deployed to deliver supplies to stranded train passengers after the deadly rainstorms wreaked havoc in the capital.”
“According to incomplete statistics, the maximum rainfall in Beijing in the past 48 hours reached 687mm [27 inches], breaking the historical record of Beijing.
“Since a large number of weather stations have lost contact + rain is still falling, this data will continue to rise.”
“Another waterfall of records in Japan: Only in 1 day, 115 monthly records were broken, of which 38 were all time records.
“33 highest minumum temperatures, mostly in Hokkaido including Asahikawa and Otaru. Today 31 July: 36.9 Omoto all time high; 37.3 [99.1F] Odawara July record.”
“Sydney records hottest July as unseasonably warm weather set to persist across most of Australia.
“By mid-afternoon on Monday, each of the eastern state capital cities had topped their forecasts by a degree or more. Sydney’s 23.5C [74.3F] was enough to have elevated July’s average maximum above the previous record of 19.89C set in 2018…”
“Tasmania equals wild wind record with 200 km/h gust.
“Between 4:17 pm and 4:20 pm Monday, gusts of 200 km/h were recorded at Maatsuyker Island, the tiny speck of land located just off the state’s southwestern tip. These gusts equalled the strongest wind gust ever recorded in Tasmania of 200 km/h [124.3mph] at kunanyi/Mt Wellington in March, 1998.”
“Several monthly records of high temperature are falling in different parts of Brazil, especially in the State of Tocantins but also in other States, most significative records in the past days include:
“Spurred by drought, Panama Canal reduces daily transit to 32 vessels.
“The measure came into force just after midnight, when, like normal, some 50 vessels were in Panama Bay, on the Pacific Ocean side, waiting their turns to pass through the Canal, which lights up the horizon like a coastal city… a reduction in the number of daily transits over a prolonged period will increase the waiting time for some vessels.”
“A Desperate Push to Save Florida’s Coral: Get It Out of the Sea…
““The coral didn’t even have a chance to bleach, it just died,” said Ms. Thomasson, who works for the Coral Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit group based in the Keys. The brown color was not healthy coral but dead tissue sloughing off the skeleton, almost as if it had melted. “It just felt like, ‘Oh my God, we’re in the apocalypse,’” she said. “What’s happening?””
“‘People are dying’: Texas prisoners say heatwave turns cells into ovens…
“Across the state, in prisons that have no cooling systems, up to 100,000 incarcerated people are baking in concrete and metal cells that act as heat traps. Inside temperatures are estimated to rise regularly above 115F (46C), and have even been recorded to reach as high as 149F, pushing individuals to the point of mental or physical breakdown, or even death.”
“Phoenix’s record streak of temperatures above 110F ends after 31 days…
“The previous record was 18 straight days, set in 1974. The streak was finally broken Monday, when the high topped out at 108F (42.2C), the National Weather Service reported. But the reprieve was expected to be brief, with the forecast calling for highs again above 110F for several days later in the week.”
“July brought Nevada record heat and hospitalizations…
“Dr. Ketan Patel, the associate medical director at University Medical Center’s adult emergency department in Southern Nevada, said the unrelenting triple-digit heat across Las Vegas has led to a massive spike in patients needing emergency care for heat-related illnesses.”
“Huge wildfire explodes in southern California and spreads into Nevada.
“The York Fire erupted on Friday near the remote Caruthers Canyon area of the wildland preserve. It crossed the state line into Nevada on Sunday and sent smoke further east into the Las Vegas Valley. The fire is one of two major blazes burning in California as the region faces hot and dry weather.”
“An out-of-control blaze burning in northern Washington state exploded in size, crossed the Canadian border and set off a cascade of evacuations over the weekend. The so-called Eagle Bluff Fire has burned thousands of acres on both sides of the border…”
“Portland’s record-breaking heat wave [Maine] came to an end early Sunday morning when temperatures dipped below 60 degrees for the first time in more than a month.
“The 32-day streak was the longest in Portland’s history, besting a 24-day run in 1988, said Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Gray.”
“Mount Washington’s summit recorded its wettest July ever this month, with 16.91 inches of precipitation measured as of the morning of July 31.
“That breaks the previous record held since 1996… rising sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean fuel heavy rain in New England because it puts more moisture into the atmosphere.”
“July was Ireland’s wettest on record with 215% of expected rainfall.
“The past month massively exceeded the long-term average rainfall for July, with the country receiving 215 per cent of expected rainfall. The country received an average of 178.9mm of rain during the month of July. The previous record for the wettest July on record was in 2009…”
“Smaller bridges were washed away in a short but powerful storm that hit the Italian region of South Tyrol, and a landslide was triggered under the Gardena pass in the Dolomites in the northeast of the country.
“Streams in the municipality of Olang near the border with Austria turned into torrents, and several wooden bridges were washed away.”
“Spain worries over ‘lifeless land’ amid creeping desertification…
“In the dock are the usual suspects: global warming, which is driving rising temperatures leading to water evaporation that causes more wildfires, but also human activity, which is the biggest culprit, notably due to intensive farming.”
“More high temperatures in North Africa besides Algeria include:
“48.5 [119.3F] Remada Tunisia all time high; LIBYA: 48.0 Abu Njiam; 46.5 Essbeea (near Al Azizya, all time high is 48.9C,not 58C as was pushed for nearly 1 century). Be aware of fraudulent data: Real African record is 51.3C.”
“After quake, Syria’s northern coast ravaged by wildfires.
“At 72, Syrian farmer Izzadin Zuhaira has survived war, displacement and a devastating earthquake in February. But the forest fires razing his home province of Latakia this week, turning his beloved orchards to ash, were the worst he had seen.”
“Business booms for Gaza repairman as heatwave fans demand.
“While soaring temperatures across the Middle East are causing discomfort for many, Gaza electrical appliance repairman Mustafa Abdou is enjoying a boom in business amid surging demand for electric fans. “I have been in the business for 40 years, it has never been so hot,” said the 70-year-old…”
“This morning frost in the South up to -7.4C in South Africa,-6.8C in Botswana and -6.0C in Namibia but without breaking cold records. Record heat instead more north in Tanzania: Tabora 33C [91.4F] set a national record high for July.”
“Agalega Island did it again. Yesterday 32.0C [93.2F] is a new July national record for Mauritius.
“10 days this month tied or exceeded the previous national record and the last 4 months all national monthly records were broken multiple days each month. A true champion of heat records.”
“Carbon capture isn’t just a disaster for the environment, it’s entirely unworkable…
“Unfortunately, there is now overwhelming evidence that carbon offsetting schemes have systemic problems, with the vast majority of them doing absolutely nothing to reduce climate impacts. The fundamental issue is one of timescales.”
“Ignore the doom-mongers, says new UN climate change chief.
“Doom-mongers do more harm than good, the United Nations’ new climate change chief has said. Professor Jim Skea, the newly elected head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), warned that apocalyptic messaging merely “paralyses” the public and fails to motivate them to protect the planet…
“He added: “…we should not despair and fall into a state of shock when the world exceeds 1.5 degrees.””
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.
I do apologise to anyone who was foxed by the incorrect month in the headline; now fixed. Had a senior moment.
“BREAKING… The Earth’s Energy Imbalance from NASA satellite data reached 1.97 W/m² (12-month mean)! I called this the most important graph in the world. This helps to explain all the records currently being broken around the word!
“Two years ago NASA and NOAA published a paper (Norman Loeb et al. 2021) that the rate of global heat uptake had doubled since 2005 up to 2019… They estimated that the Earth’s Energy Imbalance would decrease with La Niña and a negative PDO. The opposite happened.
“In our preprint paper ‘Global warming in the pipeline’ (lead by and co-authored by Norman Loeb) we write that this recent increase can likely be attributed to the decrease in sulphur emissions from global shipping [as far as I can tell, as a layman, this is certainly an issue but the extent/apparent rapidity of the impact are still somewhat contentious].
“But I didn’t expect we would already touch 2 W/m² (12 month mean June 2022-May 2023) by now. This helps to explain all these records being broken simultaneously. This is a clear indication of more heat in the (surface) of the Earth system.”
“Ocean temperatures are off the charts. Here’s where they’re highest.
“The Earth’s oceans have never been warmer… Marine heat waves are affecting about 44 percent of the global ocean, whereas only 10 percent is typical… Baffled scientists are unsure what exactly has caused the rapid spike in ocean temperatures first detected in March.”
“This month is the planet’s hottest on record by far – and hottest in around 120,000 years, scientists say.
“As vast swaths of three continents bake under blistering temperatures and the oceans heat to unprecedented levels, scientists from two global climate authorities are reporting before July has even ended that this month will be the planet’s hottest on record by far.”
“It is a summer of extremes. Burning temperatures followed by raging fires. Wild storms and torrential rain. And a run of broken climate records… UN chief Antonio Gueterres has warned the world has now entered an era of “global boiling”.”
“Meltwater from Antarctic Glaciers Is Slowing Deep-Ocean Currents…
“…diminishing glaciers in West Antarctica—primarily the Amundsen Sea—are freshening the shelf waters in the Ross Sea and slowing the production of bottom water, according to research led by Kathy Gunn, a physical oceanographer at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Hobart, Tasmania.”
“Even the coldest of Svalbard fjords show effects of climate change….
“A recent study led by PhD student Èric Jordà-Molina from Nord University suggests that warming impacts are being felt even in the far north of Svalbard. Results indicate that marine heatwaves are at least partially responsible for periodic mortality events in seafloor communities.”
“Landslides and uncertainty: As Nunavik’s permafrost thaws, locals and researchers focus on adaptation…
“”Cameron says those changing temperatures, causing winters to be shorter and summers longer in Nunavik, is also thawing the permafrost… Due to the thaw, Cameron says the community has experienced two landslides just this year.”
“Canadian wildfires produce catastrophic carbon emissions this year.
“… the greenhouse gas emissions from these fires are equivalent to about 1.11 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Additionally, about 1/8 of these wildfires occurred in permafrost areas, promoting the release of methane stored in the permafrost… wildfires also release air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, organic aerosols, and black carbon.”
“‘They will eat anything’: Grasshoppers and heat continue to deteriorate Saskatchewan crops…
“According to the crop report released Thursday, topsoil moisture in hay and pasture lands as well as croplands continues to decrease. “Strong winds, drought stress, hail, extreme heat, grasshoppers and gophers took their toll on some crops this past week,” read the report.”
“…a saguaro can appear “fairly normal” or feel somewhat squishy before it suddenly collapses and reveals it has been rotting from the inside out due to heat-related stress… McCue said since 2020, when record temperatures caused stress in many of the saguaros, she and her team have seen more of the garden’s cactuses die.”
“Not much else needs to be said re: Phoenix heat, but it boggles my mind that America’s hottest major city will obliterate its previous record hottest month by almost 4˚F. In the realm of monthly mean temperatures, that’s truly incredible.”
“Florida has some of the most amazing rain contrasts.
“After their wettest July day on record Thursday, & the (potential state 24-hour record) rain event from mid-April, it’s Ft. Lauderdale’s wettest year-to-date. Just 175 mi. away, it’s Sarasota’s driest year-to-date.”
“A drought alert for receding Lake Titicaca has Indigenous communities worried for their future.
A 70-year-old man’s feet sink into the soil as he passes abandoned boats where there used to be the water of Lake Titicaca. The highest navigable lake in the world has receded to what Bolivian authorities say are critically low levels due to a persistent drought.”
“Rhine water levels plummet after record temperature across Europe.
“Water levels on the Rhine have fallen to 1.6m (164cm) this week after record heatwaves across Europe have caused levels to plummet, resulting in a restriction in navigation for cargo vessels attempting to use the vital waterway. This is far below the 2.1m mark when the Rhine officially enters “low-water” status…”
“Southern Europe and north Africa count heavy cost of wildfires.
“After more than a week of fierce wildfires, once again southern Europe is counting the heavy costs to livelihoods and its environment, as the extreme heat recedes and temperatures drop by up to 10C.”
“New Heatwave with Up to 47 Degree [116.6F] Temperature to Hit Several Provinces Across Morocco.
“High temperatures between 44 and 46 degrees will hit southern provinces including Tata, Zagoura and Errachidia, while Assa Zag, Es-Semara, Boujdour, Oued Eddahab and Aousserd are set to experience heatwaves between 45 and 47 degrees from Sunday to Tuesday.”
“Today in Algeria brutal heat with 49.6C [121.3F] at Hassi Messaoud, 49.5C at Adrar, 49.1C at Ouargla and Timimoun. All time records: 45.8C Bechar 809m asl; 39.5C Midelt (Morocco) 1508m asl… It will get even worse next days.”
“Istanbul sees record heat of 23 years as country fights wildfires.
“Istanbul has recorded the highest temperatures in 23 years, with 44.1 degrees [111.4F] on July 26, as the firefighting crews continue to battle massive wildfires in several parts of the country, including a four-day-long one in the southern province of Antalya’s Kemer district.”
“Iraq facing severe droughts as Turkey cuts off rivers Tigris, Euphrates.
“The ground water in Syria and Iraq has been unable to replenish itself in recent years due to several dry winters and Turkey’s dozens of dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates reducing flow into the southern countries.”
“Syria fishermen despair at water loss, river pollution.
“Tabqa Dam – Around war-torn Syria’s biggest freshwater dam reservoir, fishermen say their catch is now a fraction of what it used to be as environmental pressures have decimated aquatic life… The flow of the Euphrates — one of the region’s mighty streams, where the world’s earliest civilisations flourished — has been further impacted by upstream dams in Turkey.”
“Wildfires break out in the woodlands of Latakia province in Syria.
“Firefighters have been working to put out major wildfires that broke out in the woods of Latakia in northern Syria. Footage published on Wednesday showed huge flames taking over the woodlands in the town of Mashquita and large plumes of smoke rising from a distance.”
“Telangana [India] records highest ever rainfall in a single day as state battles floods.
“Telangana recorded the highest-ever rainfall in a single day with Mulugu district recording 649.8 mm [25.6 inches] by 8am on Thursday… the earlier record was 517.5 mm at Wajedu in the same district of Mulugu on July 2, 2014.”
“Philippines: 26 people killed after overloaded ferry capsizes amid Typhoon Doksuri winds.
“Officials said it remained unclear how many people were aboard the M/B Princess Aya, which capsized on Thursday in Laguna de Bay in Rizal province, east of Manila. The boat overturned just 46 metres from shore…”
“Just now, the center of Typhoon Dusurui passed the Haixia No. 2 buoy in the Taiwan Strait, and recorded a 10-minute sustained wind speed of 49m/s, gust of 61.3m/s, and minimum air pressure of 930.9hpa.
“This is the lowest air pressure record in the history of the Taiwan Strait!”
“Hong Kong and Macau are having the worst heat wave in their history: Minimum temperatures up to 32.2C [90F] at Etar de Macau and 31.7C at Kai Tak in Hong Kong.
“Maximum temperatures up to 38.8C in Hong Kong and 38.0C in Macau. Nearly 40C in Vietnam as well.”
““Double” Heat Wave in China: both the North and South are with record hot conditions.
“Min. temperatures again >31C in Macau and max. 39C in Southern China with stifling humidity. In Xinjiang near 50C again and all time record broken at Naomahou Lake 45.4C [113.7F].”
“Heat records were broken mainly in western Japan on Thursday. Tokyo, meanwhile, reached 36.9C/98F, once again renewing the record for the highest number of temperatures above 35C/95F in July.
“Normally, El Nino brings a cooler summer to Japan, but this year is unusual.”
“Climate change-driven extreme weather events impacting HIV control in Asia Pacific.
“”Climate change and related disasters as upstream factors can affect all aspects of HIV, primarily leading to the increased vulnerability to HIV and decreasing coping ability,” Izumi said. While the overall trend of HIV infections has declined, in some countries such as the Philippines, new infections are rising.”
“Dengue is breaking records in the Americas — what’s behind the surge?
“…rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns might help to explain the trend, researchers say. Dengue’s main vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, thrives at temperatures around 30 °C and in humid conditions, which have become more frequent in the past few years as a result of record heat and extreme weather events.”
“Dangerous fungus is becoming more prevalent. Scientists believe climate change could be to blame…
“Candida auris is a globally emerging public health threat that can cause severe illness, including bloodstream, wound and respiratory infections. Its mortality rate has been estimated at 30% to 60%, and it’s a particular risk in healthcare settings for people already with serious medical problems.”
“Climate change and malaria: predictions becoming reality. The impact of climate change on malaria is becoming increasingly evident, from spreading vectors to increased transmission after floods. Udani Samarasekera reports.”
“Extreme heat and pollution can double the risk of a heart attack…
““We’re seeing record-breaking heat after record-breaking heat year after year,” said Catharina Guidice, an emergency medicine physician. “It’s getting hotter, lasting longer and happening more frequently. Heat makes cardiovascular disease worse. Pollution makes it worse. The two together are worse than each one independently.””
“G20 environment meeting ends without agreement on climate crisis.
“No consensus reached on key points, including curbing emissions and scaling up renewable energy, despite record temperatures and wildfires across the globe… The failure to reach an agreement comes just a week after the G20, a bloc made up of 19 countries and the EU, disagreed on phasing down fossil fuels.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
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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.
“Climate change disasters engulf Northern Hemisphere as global air and ocean temperatures set new records in July [picture from Norway floods yesterday]…
“Siberian forests burn as wildfires engulf eastern Russia…
“A Siberian glacier has turned crimson red from algae bloom, raising the likelihood of even faster ice melt than at the current rate triggered by climate change, Russian scientists warned Monday.
“Extraordinary heat wave in Lapland – yesterday new Monthly records… Finland: 31.0 [87.8F] Kemi-Tornio AP; 30.1 Kemi Ajos… Sweden: 31.1 Haparanta; 30.2 Overkalix; 29.2 Pajala.
“Storm ‘Hans’ batters Scandinavia.
“Dam in Norway partially bursts after days of heavy rain, flooding and evacuations.
“A fifty-one year flood record was broken on Monday on the Dráva river at Őrtilos in southwest Hungary, at the confluence of the Mura and the Dráva rivers, the National Water Directorate General told MTI. 
“Slovenia floods: First German emergency team starts work…
“Record cold in Italy.
“Fruit is disappearing from Italian orchards due to extreme weather, farmers warn.
“…the price of olive oil has surged to an all-time high, double a year ago…
“Record heat warning as forest fires rage in Spain and Portugal…
“War-torn Sudan battered by torrential rains.
“Extreme heat wave from Middle East spreading to Caucasus
“Iraq witnesses fourth consecutive summer of drought and high temperature.
“Hot tub-like Persian Gulf fuels 158-degree [70C] heat index in Iran [there have been some crazy heat indexes in this part of the world recently but that figure seems too high, surely?].
“At least 19 people, including three Rohingyas, died, and over a million people were affected as flash floods hit Bangladesh’s southern Chittagong region, officials said Wednesday.
“Seven die after sudden river flood in China’s Sichuan province.
“Dozens Die in China Floods as Typhoon Remnants Batter North…
“Japan is living the worst heat wave in its history with weeks of record heat. Yesterday 13 more stations had their highest Tmins for August (9 all time).
“Typhoon Khanun makes landfall in South Korea after lashing Japan.
“Rice in Asia Soars to Highest Level Since 2008 on Supply Risks.
“Desperate for a drink: Indonesian villagers dig up dry river bed in drought.
“Drought fears in eastern Victoria [Australia] as July rain record lowest in 160 years.
“Southern Hemisphere Sees Unprecedented Summer-Like Winter.
“Ominously interesting.
“Hawaii wildfires: 36 killed in ‘apocalyptic’ blaze on Maui island.
“From scarfs to shorts: South America sees record-high temperatures in the dead of winter…
“‘This is going to get worse before it gets better’: Panama Canal pileup due to drought reaches 154 vessels…
“Cuba in July recorded its hottest month since [records began in] 1951, officials said, with the soaring temperatures on land and sea straining the country’s decrepit electric grid and pressuring fragile ocean resources.
“Most of Caribbean, Central and South American countries are beating records.
“In one word: Historic. Terribly hot summer for Southern USA with records broken every day
“Orange juice futures have surged to fresh all time-highs as a series of hurricanes and the spread of an incurable disease have devastated thousands of acres of citrus crops in the US.
“A massive hailstone from a supercell thunderstorm in eastern Colorado Tuesday might have set a new state record, the latest example in a prolific summer for giant hail in the United States.
“Unprecedented damage from storms is upending the insurance industry.
“Weird Weather Hits Utility Profits and a Blistering Summer Is Little Help.
“Climate change is making hydropower less reliable.
“Hundreds of people have been trapped overnight atop a mountain in Canada’s Banff national park after a a lightning strike shut down a popular gondola ride.
“In the middle of a severe wildfire season, July in Yellowknife [NWT] was the equal-warmest ever recorded while also being one of the driest ever…
“The whole North Atlantic Ocean just reached a record average Sea Surface Temperature of 25.1°C [77.2F] for the first time in observational history.
“Fears over Antarctic sea ice as yearly ozone layer hole forms ‘very early’.
“Well then. Global sea ice lowest on record for time of year. 
“How climate change might trigger more earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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“Again brutal contrasts in Europe with 44C in Spain, 41C in Russia, 38C in Ukraine, 34C in Lithuania and very cold in Central areas.
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