“2022 will be ending with *record low* levels of global sea-ice extent for late December…
“Graphics at https://zacklabe.com/global-sea-ice-extent-conc/….
Note: the two poles are experiencing low sea ice [Arctic now fourth lowest on record; Antarctica lowest on record], but are affected by different Earth system processes and seasonality.”
“Map shows the ice sheets and glaciers melting that scientists most fear will be the source of catastrophic rising sea levels.
“Here are the sites around the world scientists are keeping a close eye on, and why they are important, according to Alex Brisbourne, a Glaciologist at the British Antarctic Survey, and Theodore Scambos, an Antarctic researcher at the University of Colorado.”
“Ireland could see 35C [95F] weather this summer as scientists warn of more extremes in 2023…
“Last year was Ireland’s warmest on record, according to provisional figures released as part of Met Eireann’s review of the year’s climate last week. With an average temperature of 10.8C, last year exceeded the previous record for Ireland’s warmest year [set in 2007].”
“Scotland records first sunburn-related death in 20 years.
“Scotland has recorded its first sunburn-related death in 20 years. It comes as the number of fatalities from skin cancer hits a record high. A pensioner in her 80s was among the large number of deaths linked to extreme heat in 2021 in Scotland.”
“Well that’s a wrap on 2022 and what a year of weather it’s been [UK].
“Red warnings for Storm Eunice wind in Feb and extreme heat in Jul. First UK 40°C [104F] on record, wildfires, drought and record-smashing 26.8°C [80.2F] min temp. Coldest day since 2010 with a max temp of -9.3°C in Braemar in Dec.”
And, before we look at the extraordinary winter heatwave that has engulfed much of Europe, a quick reminder that the UK and parts of Europe experienced freakish warmth at exactly this time last year:
“The warmest New Year’s Eve on record has been followed by the hottest New Year’s Day [2022], early figures show. Thanks to warm subtropical air flowing from the Azores, temperatures topped 16C at a time of the year when they usually reach about 7C.”
“Record of highest TMin. ever recorded in Germany in January [following on from record Tmin for Dec the day before]:
“13.5C [56.3F] Tmin at Nossen and Dresden; 9 stations above the previous national record; 186 monthly stations… Now hold on: J Tmin 186 +J Tmax 281 +D Tmin 132 + D Tmax 270 = 869 MONTHLY RECORDS BEATEN IN GERMANY IN 2 DAYS. Just 1 country.”
“Germany recorded its hottest year in 2022, with an annual mean temperature of 10.5 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Service said on Friday.
“The country saw an “exceptional weather year,” the DWD said. Temperatures were 2.3 degrees Celsius above the value of the internationally valid reference period (1961-1990) and were higher than in 2018, the previous record holder.”
“Skiing in the Alps faces a bleak future thanks to climate change.
“…finding cold and snow has proved harder in recent years. The small French village of Saint-Firmin recently removed its ski-lift (which dated back to 1964) because there has simply been a lack of snow for over a decade. This year, seven of eight early-season World Cup skiing events have been cancelled due to another very warm summer in the Alps.”
“I grew up here in Gstaad [Switzerland] and learned skiing on this slope in the 70s. Back then scientists had evidence that fossil fuel causes warming.
“This is Jan 1, 2023.
“Climate science is my profession, but this is where it gets personal. When do we understand that we need to change?”
“Poland lived something historic with up to 19C [66.2F] recorded in the middle of the night, something uncommon in summer, but in January?
“Ukraine: Incredible 20.0C [68F] at Ivano Frankivsk and 17.8C at Chernivtsi new records (only Crimea recorded 20C in January); Moldova: 16.5C at Bravicea.”
“Beach time and mid summer temperatures in Northern Spain. It is 1 January but it could be 1 July.
“24.9C [76.8F] at Bilbao, hottest January day on records and not far is San Sebastian AP with 24.5C. Most of stations in Cantabria, Asturias and Basque region had their hottest January day.”
“Heat waves killed 5,300 people in Spain in 2022, a century record.
“The high temperatures that Spain suffered this summer caused more than 12,000 deaths between June and August, of which more than 5,300 were caused by the effects of extreme heat. This new calculation reveals that deaths associated with heat were much more numerous than initially estimated…”
“Mudslides killed at least 10 people at two makeshift mines in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after torrential rain, local officials said Saturday.
“The disasters came after heavy rain overnight… In mid-December, floods caused by torrential rain killed more than 160 people in the capital Kinshasa, in the west of the country.”
“Saudi Arabia: Heavy rain floods Jeddah for second time in weeks. Authorities issue weather warnings in different cities as more rain is expected in the coming days…
“The heavy rain forced Jeddah universities to postpone classes and flights at the King Abdulaziz International Airport to be delayed, as a combination of thunderstorms, wind and hail led to poor visibility.”
“An Iranian official has confirmed that 270 cities and towns are suffering from acute water shortage as water levels at dams have dropped to critically low levels…
“Water reservoirs in Iran are at an all-time low, threatening nationwide rationing soon, local media and officials say.”
“Jiangxi; East China — Two years ago, Sixth Tone reported on the devastating floods that struck communities living around Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake. This October, we returned to the same area to record a very different scene: a historic drought.”
“The heavy rains that battered the Philippines on Christmas weekend, causing great damage and casualties to the country, have inflicted 49 deaths according to recent updates… The damage caused by the flooding to infrastructure and agricultural land is estimated at 1.43 billion Pesos ($24.4 million).”
“The annual precipitation of Ximao Mountain in Yilan, Taiwan, reach 12,000 mm [nearly 40 feet] in 2022, making it the place with the most precipitation since the meteorological records of the whole East Asia!
“The precipitation of the station reached 4574mm in October, which is very abundant!”
“A heatwave warning is in place for multiple Australian states amid a sweltering start to 2023.
“Hot and steamy conditions have settled over Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory. In some states, severe heat warnings are colliding with flood warnings.”
“Major floods and wild weather isolate towns across northern Australia as ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie maintains strength.
“Roads have turned into rivers, cows are struggling to survive in fast flowing waters and boats have become the only form of transport in parts of the central Kimberley as ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie continues to batter Northern Australia.”
“Sydney beach lifeguards join rescue effort as floods ravage the outback.
“Surf lifesavers from Sydney’s beaches have been rushed to the Australian outback as the nation’s longest river, swollen by months of intense rainfall, inundates homes, farms and vineyards… the 1,500-mile Murray River has been closed to swimmers and most boats, with the waters reaching levels never before recorded.”
“And that’s a wrap for Sydney’s wettest year on record:
“The city’s final annual total for 2022 was 2530 mm nearly 100 inches]. Its previous annual record was 2194 mm in 1950. Long-term annual average is 1213 mm. Sydney has 164 years of annual rainfall records (1859 to 2022).”
“Large hail stones damage cars as severe storms cross Tasmania…
“Severe thunderstorm warnings for large hailstones and heavy rain were issued for parts of the east coast and midlands throughout Monday… The Bureau of Meteorology said “giant hail” had been reported at Carlton River, north-east of Hobart. Senior meteorologist Brooke Oakley said hail that size was “very dangerous”.”
“The water temperature in the South Island is set to soar this week as a marine heatwave sweeps the West Coast [NZ].
“It’s expected to reach a whopping 18.4C – five degrees hotter than the average water temperature for this time of year. MetService oceanographer Dr Joao de Souza said… “Last year, a similarly warm marine heatwave in Fiordland reached great depths and caused widespread bleaching of sea sponges.””
“San Francisco just had its second-rainiest day since 1849.
“On the last day of 2022, an atmospheric river parked over San Francisco. And it rained and rained and rained… In 24 hours, San Francisco’s downtown gauge measured 5.46 inches. That’s second only to Nov. 5, 1994, which beat that number by a hair at 5.54 inches.”
“Winter storm bringing snow, ice and tornadoes, expected to wallop US this week.
“Over 3 feet of snow fell in the Sierra mountains in California over the weekend. According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, up to 7.5 inches of snow fell per hour on Saturday in the Sierras. Sixteen states are under winter and/or wind alerts…”
“The sheriff of Erie County, New York, said the deadly winter storm that led to almost 40 deaths in Buffalo last week was “unlike anything” he has seen before…
“He said the 70-mile-per-hour winds that the storm brought along with the snow caused zero visibility, which produced a “domino effect” of snowplows not being able to get on the streets safely and power lines coming down. The fallen power lines caused people to lose electricity and heating amid freezing temperatures.”
“Ontario and Quebec will begin the first week of the new year basking in extreme warmth spreading over the region.
““Extreme warmth” is a relative term in the middle of January, of course. But temperatures coming in 15+ degrees above seasonal is no small feat for a time of year that usually requires multiple layers to take out the trash.”
“Halifax [Nova Scotia] hasn’t seen any snowbanks or snowplows so far this winter, and the lack of lasting flakes is about to break a record.
“Saturday will break the record for the latest date into winter without having at least two centimetres of snow on the ground at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, according to Jim Abraham, president of the Canadian Meteorological Oceanographic Society.”
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 haven’t been comprehensively news-watching on my travels but it seems that the biggest story in my absence has been winter storm Elliott in the US and Canada. I hope my readers in the affected parts managed to stay warm. What an extraordinary polar incursion that was.
Equally remarkable was the warmth in the attendant jet stream “ridges” – so, December heat temperature records fell in Spain and France (with Verdun seeing a staggering 26.3C / 79.3F); London was warmer than Miami on Christmas day. The latter had its coldest Christmas day on record; whilst Los Angeles on the other side of the trough had its second hottest Christmas day on record.
“2022 was a year in which multiple records for extreme weather events were broken as the impact of climate change becomes more devastating and more dramatic.
“Across every continent, the changing climate led to more frequent and severe storms, heatwaves, droughts, and other extreme weather events, which wreaked life-changing devastation on people, infrastructure, and ecosystems.”
“British experts on Wednesday said 2022 was set to be the UK’s warmest on record after a year of heatwaves and minimal rainfall.
“The findings come as communities across the globe reel from a catalogue of extreme weather this year including soaring temperatures and drought across Europe that saw crops wither and forest fires ravage swathes of land.”
“The UK’s wildlife has been devastated by extreme weather this year, according to an annual audit by the National Trust.
“Violent storms, heatwaves and cold snaps have caused severe damage to Britain’s flora and fauna, the conservation charity has said. Its yearly survey found that wildlife from toads to trees has struggled to survive the unpredictable weather conditions.”
“During this record warm 2022 in Europe, the most staggering anomaly is probably that of Mont Aigoual in France.
“According to infoclimat, its 2022 anomaly is an incredible +2.8C vs 1981-2010 (+2.4C vs MF 1991-2020), with all 12 months of the year much warmer than average (see table).”
“Temperatures in Europe will close out 2022 much like they started — and where they spent a lot of the year — with record warmth overtaking much of the continent.
“Widespread areas of record-challenging temperatures are set to expand into Central and Eastern Europe through the holiday weekend and into next week…”
“Italy is experiencing a year that broke all heat records since records began in 1800, the National Research Center of Italy said Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.
“High temperatures recorded in December 2022 are in line with the remaining 11 months, according to the Center’s climatologist Bernardo Gozzini.”
“Violent floods have ripped through the ancient city of Petra in southern Jordan, triggering the evacuation of 1,700 tourists from the Unesco world heritage site.
“Videos posted on Monday showed brown water careering down the steep cliffs surrounding Petra’s ancient rock-cut Nabatean temple dubbed “the Treasury”, the best-known part of the sprawling, 260-sq-km site.”
“Rare hailstorm hits Kuwait, one of the hottest countries on Earth.
“Kuwait, one of the hottest countries on Earth, has been hit by a rare hailstorm that delighted children and their parents, with images of the winter white shared widely on social media Wednesday.”
“Months after devastating floods in Pakistan, millions remain homeless and need shelter, an aid volunteer says.
“Up to 33 million people were affected earlier this year amid widespread devastation in monsoon season… Imran Hameed, founder of Bearded Broz, in Smethwick, said more help was needed from around the world otherwise “it’s only going to get worse”.”
“A massive hailstorm swept through several areas of upper Assam [India], damaging nearly 4,500 houses in four districts, officials said on Tuesday.
“According to an Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report, a total of 4,483 houses were damaged across 132 villages in Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts.”
“On December 26th, the station of Brahmavar (Udupi district), in the state of Karnataka (SW India) recorded 37.8°C [100F] and broke the December national record [*reliable*].
“The previous fully reliable December record was 37.6°C and was recorded in Karwar in 2018 & 2019.”
“Bangladesh farmers swap rice for vegetables as water dries up.
“For decades, Shafiqul Islam Babu grew rice on his land in northwest Bangladesh — until climate change made rainfall more erratic and overused groundwater began drying up in the mid-2000s. As his rice harvest declined, so did his earnings. In response, the 45-year-old farmer decided to grow cabbage on his land…”
“Record Snowfall in Japan Kills 17 and Injures More Than 90…
“With record snowfall enveloping various parts of the country, three municipalities in Japan’s northeastern region measured over a meter of snow within a 24-hour period on Monday morning—the highest these areas have ever recorded.”
“The death toll from flooding and landslides caused by Christmas Day rains in the southern Philippines rose to 44, with 28 others still unaccounted for, the national disaster agency said on Friday…
“Heavy rains submerged villages, towns and highways in the Visayas and Mindanao regions on Christmas Day, forcing more than 50,000 people to flee their homes.”
“Floods cut off ‘entire road networks’ near Queensland-NT border as travellers urged to stay put.
“Emergency services have warned motorists against travelling throughout north-west Queensland, the Gulf of Carpentaria and across the Northern Territory-Queensland border as the region grapples with floods and heavy rain from ex-tropical cyclone Ellie.”
“One month after the forest fires started in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, the authorities are still unable to put down the flames as new “hot spots” keep being found with over 100 firefighters deployed. Over 9,000 hectares of native forests burned down, it was reported.”
“This year, I only needed to open my window in Brazil to witness the climate crisis…
“Watching the forest burn from my window is, for me, like some kind of anti-metaphor. When Greta Thunberg said: “Our house is on fire!”, in the Amazon the image is literal. It already feels like a cliche to say we don’t need to read scientific reports to understand the climate crisis, we just have to open our windows.”
“Cozumel [Mexico] records historic 213 mms [8.4 inches] of rain in 24 hours due to recent cold front…
“Paul André Quintero Marí, who heads Cozumel Civil Protection, confirmed the historic rainfall. He said the previous record was 113 mms of rain in a 24 hour period. He also said that municipal personnel toured areas known to flood and were forced to temporarily shut several streets until they were able to drain.”
“A winter storm dumped more than 7 inches of heavy, wet snow on the Intermountain West Wednesday night into Thursday morning, shutting down a major interstate in Colorado and knocking out power to thousands in the state.”
“Human toll of deadly US storm [Elliott] grows in ‘blizzard of the century’.
” Since the “blizzard of the century” swept through multiple parts of the nation last week, at least 60 people have died countrywide, and details about the heartbreak their families are enduring have been trickling out. In Buffalo, New York, alone, the death toll has climbed to 37…”
“Oregon’s extreme weather in 2022 included April snow and a record hot October.
“Snowfall in spring, a seemingly endless summer and an unusually hazardous ice storm in 2022 marked another year of tumultuous weather in Oregon… Portland also tied the record for most days in a year with temperatures equal to or greater than 100 at five days.”
“Warmest Dec. 29 in Ottawa history as mild stretch begins…
“Environment Canada is calling for above-seasonal temperatures to wrap up 2022 and kick off 2023. Ottawa will see a high of 8 C on Friday and Saturday, while temperatures could hit 10 C by next Wednesday… The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of minus 6 C…”
“Warmer Labrador temperatures spell trouble for coastal sea ice season; Researcher warns warmer temperatures are here to stay.
“People throughout central and coastal Labrador have been grappling with warmer than expected temperatures this year, and Environment Canada warns this is looking like the new trend.”
“In case you’ve been wondering, yes, the Antarctic is at a record low sea-ice extent. As of Dec. 26, it is about 9200 km² below the previous record low in the super El Niño year, 2016.”
“The end is nigh? Climate, nuclear crises spark fears of worst.
“For thousands of years, predictions of apocalypse have come and gone. But with dangers rising from nuclear war and climate change, does the planet need to at least begin contemplating the worst?”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with a “Climate” 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.
This will be my last “Climate” thread before Christmas (although I will be posting an “Economic” one tomorrow), as we must hit the road, Griswolds-style, and visit family. I’ll be back with with a new thread on the 30th December.
I had a vague notion, as I lay in bed this morning, of putting together a bit of an annual recap but I quickly realised that it is actually a challenge, probably an impossible one, to find a corner of the planet that hasn’t generated some eye-popping statistic this year. It would take me longer than I have to do even a moderately thorough one.
Europe had its worst drought in 500 years with a heatwave that pushed the UK over 40C for the first time on record. China’s heatwave was the most intense and prolonged we have yet seen anywhere. Central/NW India and Pakistan had an unprecedented spring heatwave. The latter then experienced a mind-boggling summer of floods, as did vast swathes of sub-Saharan Africa. Australia’s rainfall likewise smashed records…
So many heat records, both land and marine, have fallen in what is supposed to be a cooler La Nina year. The prospect of an El Nino in 2023 is concerning, to say the least, in that context. The odds for that currently seem to be in the 50/50 ballpark… So, I’ll just keep keeping track, as best I can, of the evidence that the climate is increasingly destabilised and tilting to extremes.
In the meantime, I wish you all a very Happy Christmas/Holidays; I send cyber-hugs to anyone who has donated or subscribed; and, if you happen to be in the large areas of the States and Canada about to be enveloped by a blast of Arctic air, I hope you manage to keep warm!
“Forest Fires in Argentine Tierra Del Fuego the Worst Ever:
“Authorities in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego Friday confirmed that over 10,000 hectares of land have already been consumed by forest fires, making the current episode the largest such catastrophe in the history of the province.”
“Rural producers concerned about the effects of the heat wave [Argentina]…
“The problems for the Mendoza countryside accumulate. To the consequences of late frosts and hail are now added the effects of a historic heat wave whose damage gives its first signs. Many crops are being affected by high temperatures, low rainfall and water scarcity that is already a constant.”
“Disaster scenarios raise the stakes for Colorado River negotiations.
“The water managers responsible for divvying up the Colorado River’s dwindling supply are painting a bleak portrait of a river in crisis, warning that unprecedented shortages could be coming to farms and cities in the West and that old rules governing how water is shared will have to change.”
“A ship that sank mysteriously 86 years ago has resurfaced as Utah’s Great Salt Lake continues to dry up… Water levels in Utah’s Great Salt Lake have reached historic lows…
“The receding water of the lake, which has shrunk to about half its size according to ABC4, has exposed the intact hull of the W.E. Marsh No. 4. According to the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the ship was originally part of the Southern Pacific Railroad fleet…”
“How states across the West are using cloud seeding to make it rain.
“Whenever there’s a big storm in the American West, pilots are likely flying into the eye, seeding clouds with a substance called silver iodide… It’s no cure for drought, but cloud seeding can be an important water management tool… Experts say cloud seeding generally yields a 5% to 15% increase in precipitation.”
“Canada’s polar-bear capital Churchill warms too fast for bears.
“In Churchill’s frozen Hudson Bay, bears use the sea-ice as a platform to hunt seals. But the sea-ice-free season in this part of the Canadian Arctic is lengthening, leaving bears unable to hunt for long periods… The polar-bear capital of the world is simply getting too warm for polar bears.”
“Attu: Climate change and Inuit resilience in the Arctic…
“In recent years, they’ve seen a decline in fish such as the Atlantic cod, and are having to go further out into the water to be able to catch enough of them. They’re also seeing more musk ox on reindeer migration paths, which wasn’t as common an occurrence before. That shows migration paths are changing, because the two animals don’t get along well.”
“Heavy snowfall descended on the Russian capital on Sunday, disrupting traffic, delaying flights and leaving pavements buried with snow.
“In parts of Moscow, snow piled into mounds over 30 centimetres (12 inches) high, something not usually observed until the end of winter in February, the Fobos weather centre said. The last time a similar depth of snow was recorded in Moscow in mid-December was in 1989 and in 1993…”
“Cold snap gives way to great thaw as homes are flooded by burst pipes.
“Britain has seen a swing of almost 30 degrees celsius in less than a week, as the country defrosted from a record-low of -15.7C in Scotland on Tuesday to widespread mid-teen temperatures on Monday.”
“[UK] Household water connections will need to be turned off “for weeks” on end and widespread rationing introduced as summers get hotter, according to the country’s biggest supplier.
“Thames Water, which has faced a barrage of criticism for leaks and dumping sewage in seas and rivers, raised the spectre of widespread outages as droughts become more common during the summer.”
“Earthworms may have declined by a third in UK [over the past 25 years], study reveals.
“Earthworms are vital for the healthy soil that underpins all ecosystems and scientists said a large decline would sit alongside concerns about “insectaggedon” and the global destruction of wildlife.”
“Drought, extreme heat, major fires: 2022 pulverizes all records [Spain]…
“Records of hectares burned by macrofires, reservoirs at minimum water levels, the hottest summer since 1961: climatic anomalies pulverize all records in 2022 in Spain leading to cascading impacts, increasingly frequent and difficult to manage.”
“Libya: Zuara 32.0C [89.6F]; Italy: Torregrotta 30.2C (0.7C from December European record), Stromboli Island 24.2C, Trapani 23.8C; HOTTEST DECEMBER DAY EVER FOR ALBANIA: Vlora 25.6C [78.1F]; Romania: Sibiu 20.1C.”
“Death toll after Congo capital floods rises to 169, U.N. says…
“Heavy downpour caused floods and landslides from Monday night through early Tuesday, levelling at least 280 houses in Kinshasa’s Mont-Ngafula district and a large stretch of Congo’s main national highway, according to U.N. estimates.”
“South Africa: Drought-Stricken Nelson Mandela Bay Flooded…
“In June, Nelson Mandela Bay was a mere three days away from Day Zero of no water. No significant dam-filling rain had fallen in the metro in six years… Although these downpours may have seemed significant, SAWS’ weather guru Garth Sampson says to alleviate the current water crisis, a lot more rain is required.”
“Zimbabwe starts cloud seeding to augment rainfall…
“Zimbabwe has over the years experienced floods and droughts with a devastating impact on lives and livelihoods. The country now faces severe power shortages, which have been worsened by low water levels at its major hydropower plant at Kariba Power Station.”
“Thousands of Kenyans are facing starvation following a drought that has ravaged 10 out of the 47 counties. Already, the government has declared the drought a national disaster.
“Mostly affected are rural women struggling to feed their families and make ends meet. Matters have been made worse by human-wildlife conflict in worst-hit counties of Laikipia, Taita Taveta, and Kajiado hit hardest.”
“[Pakistan] Flood-hit farmers demand increase in assistance…
“Rejecting the government’s relief package of Rs10,000 per acre, the flood-affected farmers have demanded increase in the compensation amount and provision of free agriculture products… The farmers also demanded supply of agricultural products to make their lands re-cultivable.”
“More on Sri Lanka: Last week a depression from the Bay of Bengala moved W to India.
“During its passage,heavy rains and low temperatures were recorded in Sri Lanka, especially in the NE Coast, Trincomalee dropped to 16.5C [61.7F], a new historic lowest temperature, beating its record set in 1947.”
“Spooked by a historic drought, local authorities in China have renewed controversial plans to dam the country’s biggest freshwater lake.
“But environmentalists warn damming Poyang Lake, a winter stopover for over half a million birds, would threaten the fragile ecosystem and the endangered birds and other wildlife it supports.”
“Torrential rains have led to flooding in eight regions in Thailand leaving more than 15,000 households displaced.
“The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, in a statement, listed the affected regions as Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Yala, Songkhla, Narathiwat, and Pattani in southern Thailand as well as Amnat Charoen (northeast) and Chanthaburi (east).”
“Victoria floods [Australia]: Roads ravaged by floods and councils left without funds to fix them.
“Widespread wet weather has created havoc on the state’s roads and rail networks and left many councils unable to foot the repair bill… Bendigo recorded its wettest ever October with 239.6 millimetres [9.5 inches] of rain and the wet weather has devastated roads.”
“Climate change is fuelling a global cholera upsurge, the WHO said Friday, warning the situation was compounded by vaccine shortages and will only worsen unless it is stamped out soon.
“The World Health Organization is responding to cholera outbreaks in 29 countries, including Haiti, which has more than 1,200 confirmed cases, more than 14,000 suspected cases and more than 280 reported deaths.”
And, I’ll end on an upbeat note, for whatever it may be worth: “Cop15: historic deal struck to halt biodiversity loss by 2030.
“Governments appear to have signed a once-in-a-decade deal to halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems, but the agreement seems to have been forced through by the Chinese president, ignoring the objections of some African states.”
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.
“Record heat wave in Chile: On 15th December it was the Chilean Hottest day ever recorded in December with:
“41.6C [106.9F] at San Felipe, 41.2C at Llay Llay and 40.9C at Santa Maria, all in Valparaiso Region and all above the previous national record of 40.8C.”
“New sources of forest fires continue to affect the central zone of Chile amid the intense heat wave that is registered in the country.
“On Wednesday, a fire was reported in Curacaví, an area that is 46 kilometers from Santiago. The flames were registered in the Carén farm and 1,500 hectares of vegetation have been affected.”
“Santiago may run out of water as crisis intensifies.
“Santiago’s water crisis shows no signs of diminishing and is currently coinciding with a heat wave, which is prompting local authorities to begin drawing up their own plans. “Santiago has no future without water and we are running out of water,” said Claudio Orrego, governor of the metropolitan region.”
“Ice covers white fields in southern Brazil ten days from Christmas.
“The news earlier in the week was a powerful heat wave with several days in a row with highs of up to 46ºC in Argentina and highs above 40ºC in Rio Grande do Sul. Today, ten days before Christmas, the fact is the cold that brought frost that covered the fields of São Joaquim in white, in the Southern Plateau of Santa Catarina.”
“In Brazil’s agricultural heartland, rivers run dry as monoculture advances.
“The Paraná River Basin has suffered an unprecedented drought since 2021, affecting hydropower generation, river-borne food shipments, and freshwater supplies for 40 million people across Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. In Brazil, the prolonged drought has hit some of the region’s most important reserves…”
“Record low water levels on the Mississippi River in 2022 show how climate change is altering large rivers…
“In 2022, water levels in some of the world’s largest rivers, including the Rhine in Europe and the Yangtze in China, fell to historically low levels.The Mississippi River fell so low in Memphis, Tennessee, in mid-October that barges were unable to float, requiring dredging and special water releases from upstream reservoirs to keep channels navigable.”
“Drought emergency declared for all Southern California.
“As California faces the prospect of a fourth consecutive dry year, officials with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have declared a regional drought emergency and called on water agencies to immediately reduce their use of all imported supplies.”
“A massive winter storm spawned several tornadoes, leaving buildings wrecked and several people injured, and caused widespread disruption across large parts of the US.
“Emergency services including sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, volunteers and dog teams were searching the debris after a tornado touched down about 10 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana, on Tuesday.”
“A blast of Arctic air straight from Siberia is poised to spread across the continental U.S. around Christmas, shattering records and potentially spinning up major storms.
“Meteorologists tell Axios this may be the most extreme cold air mass to affect the U.S. during December in many years, with computer model data showing temperatures running 30 degrees below average by Dec. 23.”
“Alaska Native community relocates as climate crisis ravages homes…
“Perched near the Pacific Ocean, on the edge of the Ninglick River, Newtok is part of the ancestral lands of the Yup’ik people, an Indigenous group from subarctic Alaska. But the community is quickly destabilising as climate change thaws the ground, putting residents like George in danger.”
“Alaska’s Arctic waterways are turning orange, threatening drinking water.
“Dozens of once crystal-clear streams and rivers in Arctic Alaska are now running bright orange and cloudy, and, in some cases, they may be becoming more acidic. This otherwise undeveloped landscape now looks as if an industrial mine has been in operation for decades, and scientists want to know why.”
“Record-setting snowfall gives Anchorage wettest year ever.
“According to weather data collected, in 2022, we have seen 27.65 inches of precipitation — this also includes the water ratio equivalent of snow… and December isn’t over yet. The latest round of snow — currently up to more than 18 inches for the month in the city — has put Anchorage in the top spot.”
“Warmer and stormier conditions are destabilizing the Arctic, report says…
“Since the first report card was issued in 2006, researchers have documented a decline in the polar environment, with loss from sea ice to wildlife. As time goes on, many of the effects of a warmer, wetter and stormier Arctic are coming into a clearer focus.”
“The power cuts in Shetland have been declared a major incident…
“Keith Brown, lead minister for resilience, said it was clear that many properties would face days without power… The power cuts have been caused by “line icing”, where snow and ice sticks to overhead power lines, weighing them down and causing them to break.”
“As record-breaking rains on Tuesday left widespread damage in several parts of Portugal, most of the country remains on alert on Wednesday for continued heavy rains.
“Portuguese meteorology institute IPMA confirmed that four weather stations in Lisbon, Barreiro, Almada, and Mora have seen the most intense 24 hours of rain since record-keeping began in 1931.”
“Storm Efrain sweeps away cars and roads as torrential rain batters Spain.
“Incredible scenes are emerging all across the country as Storm Efraín brings record rainfall, with torrential downpours completely flooding homes and roads, sweeping away cars and leaving countless people stranded. The deluge continues on Wednesday…”
“Signs of life draining away from Spanish wetland ruined by drought and farmers.
“The rain in Spain has recently drawn flocks of flamingos back to the country’s most famed national park, but ecologists have warned that it may not be enough to save the prized wetland. Years of agricultural overexploitation combined with drought led the largest permanent lake in Donana national park, one of Europe’s biggest and most important wetlands, to dry up completely this summer.”
“Today Tunisia had temperatures as high as 31.1C [88F] at Medenine (0.3C from national monthly record). New December records set in many stations, including: Gabes 30.8C, Monastir 30.1C and Djerba 30.0C. In Libya 31.5C at Zuara (record tied).”
“More than 120 people have been killed following the worst floods in years in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, the authorities say.
“Major roads in the city centre were submerged as heavy rains continued for hours and several homes collapsed… the government has announced a three-day period of national mourning.”
“Namibia – Floods in Windhoek After 3 Months’ Worth of Rain in 24 Hours.
“Local media later reported that the bodies of 2 street children who were swept away by floods were found near Goreangab dam by joint Nampol and City of Windhoek emergency services. Eleven street kids were missing yesterday after heavy rains, but 8 were found safe.”
“UN May Run Out of Food for Pakistan Flood Victims on Low Funding…
“The UN World Food Organization will run out of funds to feed 2.7 million people by Jan. 15, Chris Kaye, the agency’s representative in Pakistan, told reporters in Islamabad. UN and Pakistan’s joint garnered only 30% of the $816 million funds requested…”
“Access to water has been a point of conflict in Central Asia for years. Environmental changes have raised temperatures in Central Asia faster than the global average. While the upstream Kyrgyzstanis and Tajikistanis have plenty of water, Uzbekistan wholly relies on a steady supply of water for its food security.”
“Malaysia campsite landslide kills 18, including children, as they sleep.
“A landslide killed at least 18 people, including children, as they slept in their tents at an unlicensed campsite in Malaysia on Friday, officials said, as search teams scoured thick mud and downed trees for survivors.”
“November 2022 in Taiwan was the hottest on records in almost all stations of the country:
“Average temperature was 22.09C [71.8F] which is +1.54C above the 91-20 normal. (see percentiles in the left map). Average rainfall was 86% of normal: dry in the South, wetter in the North (right map).”
“Record-smashing heavy snow has been pounding N. Japan’s Yamagata prefecture.
In 48 hours, Hijiori had 134cm, surpassing the previous December record of 107cm. Shinjo had 89cm, making it the all-time record and 390% of normal. Shinkansen bullet trains are still running.”
“Melbourne recorded its coldest summer day in 16 years and a temperature record was broken in Victoria as the southern states shiver through another freezing morning.
“The maximum temperature of 15.8C in Melbourne was the lowest on record for summer since 2006 [and lowest ever for December], while the mercury dipped to -5.4C on Mt Hotham for the state’s coldest ever summer day.”
“Another record coming today: This time from the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia, in the Chagos Islands (US Military Base in the British Indian Ocean Territories) rose to 98F/36.7C which is the highest temperature ever recorded in December.
“During the coronavirus lockdowns, emissions of the potent greenhouse gas somehow soared. The culprit wasn’t humans—but the Earth itself… humanity’s methane emissions did indeed fall in 2020, but nature’s didn’t: Wetlands belched up significantly more of the gas compared to 2019…
“The story of the other half is more ironic… as we polluted less—heavy industry spun down, flights got cancelled, people stopped commuting—we also produced less of the pollutant [Nitrogen Oxide] that normally breaks down methane.”
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.
So, more fun at the dentist tomorrow and then back to Business as Unusual on Thursday with an economic thread…
“UK and western Europe in middle of a wind drought – and a ‘global stilling’ is coming. The UK is gambling on wind in the future of renewables – but as we’re seeing, having the turbines doesn’t make them turn.
“Britain is in the middle of a wind drought – and the timing couldn’t have been worse. For several days now, the UK and western Europe have been calm, with barely a breeze…
“Even if the world reaches net zero soon after 2050, limiting the rise in temperature, winds will weaken significantly in the northern hemisphere.
“”It’s called global stilling. And it’s caused by the rapid warming of the Arctic, which is narrowing the temperature difference with the tropics, a gap that drives wind.”
“Big contrasts in Europe between full wintry conditions and very mild weather:
“Funchal Sta. Catarina, Madeira (Portugal) 26.9C [80.4F] new monthly record; Calarasi, Romania 21.3C new monthly record; 25.3C in Greece; 19.9C in Russia; and 16.1C in Moldova.”
“In the southern province of Antalya’s Kumluca and Finike, “the heaviest torrential rain of the last 50 years” has caused flooding in the two districts, while houses and workplaces have been flooded due to overflowing streams… many cars were dragged towards the sea…”
“Heavy rain causes flash flooding in parts of Bosnia, Croatia.
“Overflowing rivers in parts of Bosnia and Croatia have flooded dozens of houses and roads, prompting authorities to warn residents in affected areas to prepare to evacuate their homes if heavy rainfall does not subside. Police in Bosnia confirmed workers found a body on Sunday…”
“Heavy rain, floods batter Lisbon[again; bad flooding last Wednesday, too], residents urged to stay home…
“Heavy rain battered the Portuguese capital on Tuesday, flooding tunnels, sweeping away cars and forcing authorities to suspend bus and tram services and close some main roads. The Lisbon mayor’s office put the city on a “red” weather warning…”
“After a cool November, the past few days were very hot in Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular in Senegal where many stations rose above 40C [104F] for several days in a row. Matam and Diourbel shot as high as 41.5C, not far from the December records.”
“South Africa: Floods Leave Hundreds Destitute in Johannesburg…
“The situation in Alexandra township’s Sewetla is… bleak. Johannesburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse and other members of the mayoral committee visited the community over the weekend. Tembe described the situation in that area as that of a community in distress.”
“Alert as six million Kenyans to be hard hit by drought by January.
“The number of Kenyans affected by drought is expected to hit six million by 2023 according to the latest projection by the National Drought Management Authority. This, according to the authority, is due to the failed fifth rain season…”
“79% households in Afghanistan suffer water shortage, shows survey…
“Drought and a scarcity of water have become a new difficulty for ordinary people to contend with in these challenging economic times. Hunger, poverty, unemployment, security, and a lack of access to adequate healthcare and education have already had a negative influence on people’s lives.”
“A trash heap 62 meters high shows the scale of India’s climate challenge.
“At the Bhalswa landfill in northwest Delhi, a steady flow of jeeps zigzag up the trash heap to dump more garbage on a pile now over 62 meters (203 feet) high. Fires caused by heat and methane gas sporadically break out – the Delhi Fire Service Department has responded to 14 fires so far this year…”
“Beijing and large swaths of northern China woke to choking sand and dust on Monday, as a winter sandstorm sent air pollution levels off the charts.
“A thick cloud of dust blanketed the Chinese capital, where the air quality index of PM10 – particles of pollution that are less than 10 micrometers in diameter and can enter through the nose and travel to the lungs – hit 999, meaning it exceeded the top of the scale, far beyond the point deemed hazardous to health.”
“An important record has been born! Today, the annual precipitation at Ximao Mountain in Yilan, Taiwan, rose to 11,517mm [453.4 inches or 37.8 feet], surpassing the Taiwan precipitation record of 11516mm at Shilin Oil Field in 1974!
“The next step is to hit the East Asian rainfall record(11718 mm)!”
“7 senior citizens, 1 child die in Tanay flash flood [Philippines] on the way to get cash assistance.
“Seven senior citizens died in a flash flood in Tanay, Rizal, on Saturday, December 10, while they were on their way to claim their assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), at the local Land Bank branch. One child also died in the accident.”
“Australia never misses the “party” of some extreme weather event; today it was by heat in Western Australia.
“Mandora rose to a scorching 48.5C [119.3F] which is: 1 – its highest temperature on record (prev. 48.4C in 1981); 2- the highest temperature of this summer in the Southern Hemisphere so far.”
“A South Australian caravan park has disappeared in floodwaters as the River Murray continues to rise.
“Waters rose and began pouring over the road near the Blanchetown Caravan Park overnight. Park owner Cassie Powell said she thought she had more time but was then forced to leave.”
Santiago, Chile may be headed for longest heatwave on record: “On March 8, 2015, the thermometer in Santiago exceeded 32 ° C [89.6], thus initiating an extensive heat wave, which lasted for 14 days and since then, is the longest since there is record in the capital.
“However, this historic mark could be broken this week, if the high temperatures do not loosen.”
“Chile battles to combat forest fires amid threat to residents.
“Chile is battling to control the spread of several wildfires that have already destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) of woodlands and are putting local communities at risk.”
“Hailstorm kills 7 in Bolivian village graduation celebration.
“Seven people attending a school graduation ceremony were killed when a roof fell during an intense hailstorm in Santiago de Pacharia, a small rural community in the high plains of Bolivia, local officials said Monday.”
“Bad flooding in Guyana: Several villages underwater.
“Continuous rainfall has led to flood waters rising to unbelievable heights in several villages in Guyana. In what is being described as another year of unprecedented rainfall and flooding, several communities in Guyana have been put on alert.”
“Droughts are associated with increase in suicides in the U.S.
“Abadi and her colleagues examined data on suicide rates from the National Center for Health Statistics… They found a positive association between drought and suicide. The association was higher for firearm suicide compared to non-firearm suicides.”
“Vegetable prices in the US are increasing [up 38%] due to farming states like Arizona being plagued by drought and the nation’s ongoing inflation…
“A new report from Bloomberg states the increase in cost is due to states that grow fresh produce seeing water cuts because of drought and storms destroying crops.”
“Water Experts: Wyoming Can’t Avoid Potential ‘Doomsday’ Colorado River Crisis…
““Wyoming is a part of the Colorado River Compact, and the compact imposes flow obligations on Wyoming,” he said. “What those flow obligations really mean to me is, Wyoming is connected to Mexico. Wyoming is connected to the other upper (Colorado River) basin states and the lower basin states.””
“‘Firmageddon’: Researchers find 1.1 million acres of dead trees in Oregon…
“Oregon’s dead firs are a visceral example of how drought is reshaping landscapes in Western states that have been experiencing extreme heat conditions.”
“‘Anomaly’ winter storm closes Anchorage and Mat-Su schools, slows traffic…
“Anchorage got hit Sunday with another record-breaking snowfall, just days after a prior storm dropped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of town… “We had an atmospheric river come from the central Pacific, so literally the moisture was coming from Hawaii… It was an anomaly, it was really strong – it was a deep fetch of tropical moisture, and that’s what fed this system.””
“Just in: The Yakutian cold pole of Oymyakon just dropped below -60C / -76F (-60.3C provisional) for the first time this winter and this is the first in the Northern Hemisphere.
“Incredibly, Summit Camp at 3200m in Greenland hasn’t even touched -50C yet.”
“Climate Change Induced Cold Waves Increase The Mortality Risk Of People With Heart Failure By 37%.
“A new global analysis published in the journal Circulation, found that being exposed to heatwaves or extremely cold weather accounted for additional cardiovascular disease deaths which occurred in 567 cities in 27 countries from 1979 to 2019.”
“Climate Change Could Force 1.2 Billion to Move by 2050. Is the World Even Ready?
“n a world beset by rising temperatures, devastating storms, and flash floods, climate migration and disaster displacement are quickly becoming the signal 21st century crisis. The vast majority of those worst affected are in the world’s poorest and fastest warming countries.”
“The Pope has offered a harrowing vision of the future, saying he has seen signs of an even darker time for humanity…
“At a Mass at the Vatican, the Pope, 85, said on Sunday that he has a dire vision for the world with ‘omens of even greater destruction and desolation’.”
You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back on Thursday 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 latest long-term ENSO forecast was just released, and it now looks like almost 50% that El Niño will return by next late Summer or early Fall, 2023.
“Given the massive ocean heat content that could get released, 1.5°C in 2024 is within the realm of what’s possible.”
“The UK’s Massive Tree-Planting Campaign Isn’t Moving Fast Enough…
“The effort to reforest the UK is a race against time. Planting rates are ramping up far more slowly than will be needed to hit the government’s 2025 target, stymied by reluctant landowners, difficulties recruiting planting crews and planning regulations that often favor farms over forests.”
“Deadly floods in Lisbon kills one person and causes chaos.
“Lisbon is on high alert after heavy rains caused flooding in buildings and tunnels, swept away cars, and killed at least one person. In the Lisbon metropolitan area, a 55-year-old woman was found dead in the flooded basement of the building where she lived.”
“Streets that look like an “ocean” and furniture floating: heavy rains cause flooding in Huelva [Spain… hopefully this is filling their reservoirs a bit].
“Although the rains have been the protagonists of these days throughout Spain, in the province of Huelva they have caused numerous damages. In 24 hours it has fallen the same as usual throughout the month of December.”
“‘God’s plan’: Family flees amid catastrophic Nigeria floods…
“The environmental crisis has unfolded alongside a humanitarian one: a decade-long conflict with roots in an extremist-pushed insurgency against the government. Violent attacks are common, especially in the north where the Islamic State-backed extremists now collaborate with armed groups of former herdsmen fighting communities over access to water and land.”
“Flash flooding hits Gauteng province in South Africa.
“Heavy rains during Thursday and Friday morning have provoked flash floods in parts of Gauteng province in South Africa. In Lenasia, a suburb south of Soweto, residents quickly mobilised to respond to cries for help. The rise in water levels left some residents with no choice but to abandon their homes.”
“Horror of a Hotter World on Stark Display in Parched East Africa.
“Vast tracts of countryside transformed into barren wasteland, decimated crops and animal herds and children dying of starvation. The grim reality confronting drought-stricken east Africa is a frightening portent of what could come elsewhere as the effects of climate change become increasingly pronounced.”
“Thousands of Somalis cross over to Kenya fleeing drought, insecurity.
“As drought grips the Horn of Africa region, tens of thousands of Somalis are crossing over into Kenya in search of water and food for their families. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), over 80,000 Somalis have arrived in Kenya in the past two years, fleeing a complex mix of conflict and drought.”
“Dugongs — large herbivorous marine mammals commonly known as “sea cows” — are now threatened with extinction, according to an official list updated Friday…
“Their primary threats are unintentional capture in fishing gear in East Africa and poaching in New Caledonia… In East Africa, fossil fuel exploration and production, pollution and unauthorized development are also degrading their seagrass food source…”
“Deforestation threatening massive natural habitat in Iran’s Zagros Mountains…
“The report cited Mozaffar Afshar, an expert on forestation whom Tasnim called “Iran’s father of oak,” as saying that oak trees constitute 45 percent of the forests in Zagros and if those plantations are destroyed, “aquifers in Zagros will be destroyed and life will be impossible in Zagros.””
“Iran’s Water Crisis Will Make It Harder for the Regime to Regain Control…
“The regime has disastrously mismanaged Iran’s water resources in the decades since the 1979 revolution.
“In a push for food self-sufficiency to shield the country from Western sanctions, authorities have championed a shift to unsustainable agricultural practices…”
“Shrinking glaciers threaten Chinese and Indian energy transitions.
“The worsening condition of the Parlung No. 4 glacier is causing concern over water supply, flood risk and the viability of hydropower, a key part of both countries’ plans to become carbon neutral.”
“Sri Lanka shuts schools as cyclonic storm raises pollution, India braces for landfall.
“Schools were closed across Sri Lanka on Friday due to high air pollution levels as a cyclonic storm passed by its coast, raising strong winds and rain, with forecasts that it will make landfall on India’s southeastern coast around midnight.”
“Australia’s mountain mist frog declared extinct as red list reveals scale of biodiversity crisis.
“The mountain mist frog, a species once found across two-thirds of Australia’s wet tropics, has been declared extinct on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list.”
“Heatwave alert for Australia’s north as temperatures tipped to hit 48 degrees this weekend [118.4F].
“Among the hottest is a remote area just inland of Eighty Mile Beach in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, which is forecast to reach up to 48C on Sunday, while Marble Bar is expected to reach 46C.”
“Just in: 9th December 2022 is a historic day in Australia:
“The station of Perisher Valley (1738m above sea level) dropped to -7.0C [19.4F],which ties the Australian lowest temperature ever recorded in December(=Charlotte Pass 20 Dec 1999) and in the whole summer (also Perisher Valley 17 Feb 1979).”
“South American Heat Wave: Today 9 December it was record heat in Paraguay:
“IPTA AWS Min. Temperature 31.6C [88.9F]; Cooperativa Fahrein Max. temp: 45.4C [113.7F]; Highest minimum and highest reliable maximum temperatures ever recorded in Paraguay in December.”
“This exceptional heat wave in Argentina broke several records, including Oran 45.0C [113F] hottest day ever (previous 44.7C 1 Dec 1935).
“Monthly records: Las Lomitas 45.3C; Santiago del estero 45.3C; Tartagal; 44.2C; Tucuman 44.0C; Villa de Maria 43.9C. Some storms are on the way for a relief…”
“Arid wheat fields and dead cows: a snapshot of Argentina’s worst drought in decades.
“In the fields around the town of Navarro in Argentina’s Pampas farm belt, the dried-out bed of a huge lagoon and decaying bodies of dead cattle are stark signs of a historic drought that is hammering crops and farmers like Ignacio Bastanchuri.”
“Brazil risks losing control of the Amazon to organized crime, judge warns.
“”Brazilian authorities will have to be very committed to confronting environmental crimes such as illegal logging and mining, deforestation, land grabs and the murder of defenders of the forest,” Justice Luis Roberto Barroso said.”
“Mennonites deforest Peruvian Amazon, encroach on Indigenous lands.
“Mennonites, an ultra-conservative religious group, are illegally converting pristine forests in the Peruvian Amazon into agricultural land. They are not only threatening biodiversity but also encroaching on Indigenous territory. Satellite data show that Mennonite colonies are now the leading cause of large-scale deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon.”
“Deforestation in Venezuela surges as gold miners ransack the Amazon…
““No one is seeing this destruction because it’s happening so fast that it’s impossible to measure,” says Alejandro Álvarez Iragorry, the coordinator of Clima21, an NGO that promotes environmental human rights in Venezuela. “The environmental damage and the speed with which it’s happening is disastrous.””
“Orlando [Florida] just had its wettest fall ever on record…
“On top of record rainfall from back-to-back hurricanes, stalled out fronts in between contributed to the highest rainfall totals for a fall season ever on record in Orlando and Sanford.”
“Orange growers struggling as recent storms devastate crops…
“Over the past 30 years citrus growers have faced challenges that have put many out of business. Hurricane damage, various citrus diseases, citrus canker most notably and even NAFTA… Despite it all, Mixon Farms in Bradenton has survived. But now, the farm’s store will be scaling back and it may be in jeopardy.”
“Heat in the southern U.S. is off the charts to start December.
“The South has roasted to start December, with record-breaking warmth from Houston to Tallahassee… Several locations have not only seen record-warm calendar days but also their warmest temperatures ever during December, including Macon, Ga., Mobile, Ala., and Savannah, Ga.”
“Household water wells are drying up in record numbers as California drought worsens.
“Across California, domestic wells are drying up in record numbers due to severe drought and the overpumping of underground aquifers. The crisis has hit rural farming areas particularly hard and left some families to fend for themselves or wait years for permanent solutions…”
“Severe water shortage at B.C. ski resort forces staff to ask visitors to bring their own [Canada]…
“Mount Washington Alpine Resort, located about a 30-minute drive from the Comox Valley, is set to open Friday, Dec. 9, and a lack of snow on the hill and water in the local reservoirs mean visitors will have limited terrain to play on and will have to bring their own drinking water.”
““Due to 100 days of drought, followed by immediate freezing at our main water sources, Chapman and Edwards Lakes, we have been in a period of relative unknown for the past few weeks,” wrote an EOC spokesperson in a bulletin Wednesday.”
“2022 is Juneau’s [Alaska] wettest year on record.
“”A mix of rain and snow this week has officially made 2022 the wettest year in Juneau’s history, breaking the record set in 1991. With three weeks left in the year, 2022 could surpass that record by several inches.”
“Photos: Expressions of ecological grief around the world.
“Glacier funerals, reef grief song contests, art projects, memorials – around the world, as the climate crisis intensifies, communities are gathering to mourn the loss of natural formations, species, a landmark or a way of life. Take a look at some of the ways in which people are channeling their ecological sorrow and climate anxiety.”
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.
“As far as I know, your work is unique in pulling together stories from all over the world. Very sobering but a better and more complete view. Terrific and necessary work. Thank you!” – Simon
“With the inundation of so much depressing news, Justin Panopticon presents it in a succinct format that one can quickly go thru and see the big picture of climate and economics/politics to stay current and if a particle topic is of interest one can delve into the details… I try never to miss any of his posts…I am a Patreon of his work.”
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Weekday updates on both climate change and the global economy. Stay current with what’s happening around the world with a quick scan of top news.
“2022 will be ending with *record low* levels of global sea-ice extent for late December… 
“Map shows the ice sheets and glaciers melting that scientists most fear will be the source of catastrophic rising sea levels.
“Ireland could see 35C [95F] weather this summer as scientists warn of more extremes in 2023…
“Scotland records first sunburn-related death in 20 years.
“Well that’s a wrap on 2022 and what a year of weather it’s been [UK].
And, before we look at the extraordinary winter heatwave that has engulfed much of Europe, a quick reminder that the UK and parts of Europe experienced freakish warmth at exactly this time last year:
“Record of highest TMin. ever recorded in Germany in January [following on from record Tmin for Dec the day before]:
“Germany recorded its hottest year in 2022, with an annual mean temperature of 10.5 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Service said on Friday.
“Hottest January days in history in these countries:
“Skiing in the Alps faces a bleak future thanks to climate change.
“I grew up here in Gstaad [Switzerland] and learned skiing on this slope in the 70s. Back then scientists had evidence that fossil fuel causes warming.
“Poland lived something historic with up to 19C [66.2F] recorded in the middle of the night, something uncommon in summer, but in January?
“Beach time and mid summer temperatures in Northern Spain. It is 1 January but it could be 1 July.
“Heat waves killed 5,300 people in Spain in 2022, a century record.
“Mudslides killed at least 10 people at two makeshift mines in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after torrential rain, local officials said Saturday.
“Saudi Arabia: Heavy rain floods Jeddah for second time in weeks. Authorities issue weather warnings in different cities as more rain is expected in the coming days…
“An Iranian official has confirmed that 270 cities and towns are suffering from acute water shortage as water levels at dams have dropped to critically low levels…
“Poyang Lake: Life Under Climate Whiplash.
“Death toll from Philippines floods rises to 49.
“The annual precipitation of Ximao Mountain in Yilan, Taiwan, reach 12,000 mm [nearly 40 feet] in 2022, making it the place with the most precipitation since the meteorological records of the whole East Asia!
“A heatwave warning is in place for multiple Australian states amid a sweltering start to 2023.
“Major floods and wild weather isolate towns across northern Australia as ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie maintains strength.
“Sydney beach lifeguards join rescue effort as floods ravage the outback.
“And that’s a wrap for Sydney’s wettest year on record:
“Large hail stones damage cars as severe storms cross Tasmania…
“The water temperature in the South Island is set to soar this week as a marine heatwave sweeps the West Coast [NZ].
“San Francisco just had its second-rainiest day since 1849.
“Winter storm bringing snow, ice and tornadoes, expected to wallop US this week.
“The sheriff of Erie County, New York, said the deadly winter storm that led to almost 40 deaths in Buffalo last week was “unlike anything” he has seen before…
“Ontario and Quebec will begin the first week of the new year basking in extreme warmth spreading over the region.
“Halifax [Nova Scotia] hasn’t seen any snowbanks or snowplows so far this winter, and the lack of lasting flakes is about to break a record.
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Santiago, Chile may be headed for longest heatwave on record
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