December 2024 - Page 5 of 9

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Delhi Chokes Again AQI Hits ‘Severe’ Levels Amid Winter Smog

Delhi’s air quality plummeted further on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, breaching the hazardous threshold with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 421 at 7 a.m., according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Key areas like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, and Alipur reported AQI levels ranging from 400 to 470, marking a dire escalation in the city's ongoing battle with toxic air. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classified Delhi’s air as “Very Poor,” though localized areas ventured into the more alarming “Severe” zone. Such levels pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. Adding to the city’s challenges, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reco...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Warns Claims that Pet Cats May Trigger New Bird Flu Pandemic

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment, Learning & Developments

A recent study has raised alarms about pet cats potentially becoming carriers of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which has devastated poultry farms in the U.S. over the past two and a half years. Published in the journal Taylor and Francis, the study warns that just one or two mutations in cats could allow the virus to jump to humans, posing significant public health risks. Bird Flu’s Hidden Threat H5N1, responsible for the deaths of over 100 million birds, has remained a limited threat to humans due to its difficulty in transmitting between people. However, scientists fear cats common household pets could serve as a bridge for the virus to evolve and spread more easily. The warning comes after the deaths of 10 cats in South Dakota earlier this year. Researchers found that the cat...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Low-Pressure Area in Bay of Bengal to Bring Heavy Rainfall to Tamil Nadu

Breaking News, Disasters

A new low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, and it is expected to intensify and move toward the Tamil Nadu coast over the next two days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC). This weather system is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several coastal districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu, until December 19. The low-pressure area, which developed on December 16 in the central part of the south Bay of Bengal, is being influenced by an upper air cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay. This circulation extends up to 3.1 kilometers above sea level and is predicted to strengthen further. As the system moves west-northwestward, it will impact coastal Tamil Nadu with significant rainfall. Rainfall Warnings ...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

North India Freezes Coldwave Grips Delhi, Punjab, Haryana with Dense Fog Predicted

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment

New Delhi: A severe cold wave swept across North India on Sunday, with temperatures plunging to as low as 1°C in some regions. Punjab’s Faridkot recorded the lowest at 1°C, while Haryana’s Hisar followed at 1.7°C. In the national capital, Delhi residents woke up to a frigid morning as Safdarjung reported 4.9°C, marking a sharp 3-degree drop in 24 hours. Palam recorded a slightly higher 6.2°C. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions will persist in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir from December 15 to 19. Rajasthan will experience similar weather from December 17 to 20. Dense fog is likely to blanket Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Northeast India on December 16 and 17, reducing visibility. Ground frost is also exp...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tepary Beans Offer Hope for Climate Resilient Crops

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

As climate change intensifies heat and drought conditions worldwide, the cultivation of common beans a staple food for millions is becoming increasingly challenging. Scientists are turning to the tepary bean, a desert-native legume, to develop more resilient bean varieties that can thrive under extreme conditions. The tepary bean, native to the Sonoran Desert, is uniquely adapted to hot and dry environments. “They are able to grow under drought and high heat conditions,” says Carlos Urrea, a dry edible bean breeding specialist at the University of Nebraska. Urrea and his team are working to harness the drought and heat tolerance of tepary beans by identifying and transferring their resilient genes into common beans. They’re also integrating disease resistance traits, creating hybrid ...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Super Typhoon Man-Yi Caps Unprecedented Month of Extreme Weather in the Philippines

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

On Saturday, November 16, 2024, Super Typhoon Man-Yi struck the Philippines with sustained winds of 195 km/h, marking the sixth typhoon to impact the nation within 30 days. This relentless series of storms underscores the mounting challenges posed by extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change. November 2024 shattered records for tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific. It witnessed four simultaneous named storms, a first since records began in 1951, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Typically, November averages just three named storms in the basin, with only one attaining super typhoon status. The storm barrage began with Tropical Cyclone Trami in late October, causing over a dozen fatalities and a month’s worth of rain in northern Philippines. This was followe...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Amazon Fires Intensify as Groundwater Depletion El Niño Fuel Catastrophic Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated a clear link between climatic phenomena and the rising propensity for fires in the Amazon rainforest. Researchers have identified compromised groundwater storage, exacerbated by El Niño-driven droughts, as a critical factor in escalating fire risks. The findings, backed by satellite data and fire reports, could pave the way for more effective prevention strategies. Role of Groundwater and El Niño in Amazon Fires The study highlights that regions with depleted groundwater storage are at greater risk of fires during extreme droughts. Researchers observed that during El Niño events, prolonged dry conditions impact three key water reservoirs: topsoil, the tree root zone, and groundwater, with groundwater being the slowest to recover. El Niño, chara...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rain to Return to Chennai as IMD Predicts Heavy Showers Next Week

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the return of rainfall to Chennai and its suburbs by the middle of next week, as another low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is expected to approach the Tamil Nadu coast. This system is likely to trigger widespread rain across several parts of the state. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Chennai and surrounding areas on Saturday, predicting light to moderate rain. The skies are expected to remain partly cloudy during the day, with similar weather conditions continuing on Sunday. The intensity of rainfall is likely to increase from December 16, culminating in heavy rainfall for districts like Chengalpet on December 17. On December 18, as many as 12 districts, including Chengalpet and Kancheepuram, are expected to receive h...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Greenland Experiences One of the Largest Documented Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A massive glacial lake outburst flood, among the largest ever recorded, has been documented in East Greenland, releasing over 3,000 billion litres of meltwater. The event, which occurred between September 23 and October 11, was caused by the sudden release of water from Catalina Lake into the Scoresby Sound fjord, as reported by researchers at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute. Notably, this marks the first time such a phenomenon has been observed in real-time. The flood was triggered when meltwater from Catalina Lake, held back by the Edward Bailey Glacier for over 20 years, carved a 25-kilometre-long tunnel beneath the glacier. This process caused the lake’s water level to plummet by 154 metres. Researchers equated the released volume of water to three times Denmark'...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Rains Predicted as New Weather System Brews Over Andaman Sea

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

CHENNAI: With the northeast monsoon in full swing, Tamil Nadu is bracing for another bout of heavy rains. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has predicted that a fresh low-pressure area will form over the Andaman Sea by Sunday, likely bringing intense rainfall back to the coastal and delta regions from December 16. On Thursday, vehicles waded through waterlogged roads near Thirumangalam Metro Station, as heavy rains continued to lash parts of Chennai and surrounding areas. However, meteorologists predict that the current weather system, a well-marked low-pressure area, will weaken by Saturday as it moves toward south Tamil Nadu and the Western Ghats. The RMC has issued an orange alert for Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, and Karaikal for Tuesday. Additionally, six districts...