Month: June 2026

Srinagar: A new study by the University of Kashmir has identified five glacial lakes in the Kashmir Himalaya that are highly vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) raising concerns about the safety of thousands of people living downstream. Among the lakes flagged as high risk are Gangabal and Nundkol, located beneath the iconic Harmukh Peak in Ganderbal district. Despite the findings local residents and shepherds say they have not received any warning, evacuation guidance or information about the potential dangers. The study published in the Journal of Glaciology examined 155 glacial lakes using satellite data collected between 1992 and 2024. Researchers found that ice contact lakes in the region have expanded by 26 percent during this period, while the glaciers feeding them...

A powerful cloudburst struck the remote Tulail Valley in North Kashmir's Bandipora district on Wednesday, triggering flash floods, damaging dozens of residential houses, and submerging vast stretches of agricultural land. The sudden weather event created panic among residents, forcing families to flee to safer locations while rescuing children and livestock. The cloudburst occurred in Tartei Kilo village of Tulail Valley near the Line of Control in the Gurez region of Bandipora district. According to local reports, intense rainfall accompanied by a rapid flow of water, mud and debris transformed the area into a flood like zone within a short period. Several houses suffered damage as floodwaters rushed through the village. Hundreds of acres of farmland were also affected, raising conc...

Madrid: For decades eucalyptus plantations were celebrated as an economic success story in north west Spain. Fast growing and highly profitable the Australian tree species helped fuel the paper and timber industries while transforming vast areas of Galicia's landscape. However scientists now warn that this green expansion has come at a significant ecological cost. New research shows that the rapid spread of eucalyptus plantations is contributing to the decline of native bird populations and weakening the region biodiversity. While the landscape may still appear lush and green experts say the ecological functions of these forests are very different from those of native woodlands. Eucalyptus trees were introduced to the Iberian Peninsula in the 19th century, but their large scale expan...

New Delhi: The loud siren suddenly rings. Phones vibrate across offices, homes, classrooms, and public spaces. For a brief moment, many people fear a major emergency. Then they read the notification. Thunderstorm warning. Heavy rain expected. Strong winds likely. Over the past few weeks millions of residents across Delhi NCR have received repeated emergency weather alerts on their mobile phones. While the technology behind these warnings is being praised as a major step forward in India's disaster preparedness system, experts are raising concerns that frequent alerts could create a new problem: people may eventually stop paying attention. India's emergency alert system is powered by a network developed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Department o...

A major international climate study has found that Earth is heating at an accelerating pace with human caused global warming reaching 1.37°C above pre industrial levels in 2025. Scientists warn that if current trends continue, the world could exceed the critical 1.5°C warming threshold in just four years. The findings come from the latest Indicators of Global Climate Change (IGCC) report, published in the journal Earth System Science Data. More than 70 climate scientists from 56 institutions across 17 countries contributed to the assessment. Researchers say the most worrying signal is the growing imbalance in Earth energy system. This indicator measures how much extra heat the planet is absorbing compared to how much it releases back into space. According to the report Earth energ...

Open Source Climate Platform Now Supports 42 Countries and Has Boosted Public Warning Issuance by 3,000%. A digital platform helping African countries improve weather forecasting and disaster warnings has been shortlisted for the prestigious United Nations 2.0 Innovation Award. Known as ClimWeb the platform was developed through a partnership between the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and NORCAP a programme of the Norwegian Refugee Council. It was selected as a finalist from more than 200 submissions received from across the United Nations system. The award recognises innovative solutions that create meaningful impact through new approaches and technologies. ClimWeb was created to solve a major challenge facing meteorological agencies across Africa. Until recently, many n...

A new study by researchers at Stanford University has found that expanding the use of prescribed fires in California's conifer forests could significantly reduce harmful wildfire smoke pollution over the long term. According to the research published in the journal Science treating around 500,000 acres of forest annually with controlled burns could lower dangerous smoke pollution by approximately 10% over a decade and by as much as 20–25% during the state's worst wildfire years. The findings come as California continues to battle increasingly severe wildfire seasons fueled by climate change prolonged droughts and decades of fire suppression policies. Researchers Ivan Higuera Mendieta and Marshall Burke analyzed two decades of wildfire and smoke data and discovered that low severity fire...

The Union government ambitious tourism expansion plans in the Himalayas have triggered a debate over environmental sustainability after an opinion piece criticized trekking tourism for its impact on mountain ecosystems. The discussion comes as authorities prepare to invest heavily in adventure tourism while scientists continue to warn about the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate change and human activity. The criticism follows a budget announcement that earmarked ₹2,500 crore for tourism development including the creation of new trekking routes and the training of 10,000 guides. While the initiative aims to boost local employment and attract more visitors critics argue that unchecked trekking activities could worsen environmental degradation in already fragile m...

India southwest monsoon has entered a worrying phase after a dramatic slowdown in rainfall activity during June, triggering concerns over agriculture, water availability, food prices and economic growth. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country received only 19.2 mm of rainfall between June 4 and June 15 against the normal 53.7 mm, resulting in a massive 64 percent rainfall deficit. Satellite images from INSAT-3DS reveal unusually clear skies over large parts of peninsular, central and eastern India, where thick monsoon cloud bands are normally seen at this time of year. Although the monsoon has officially advanced into several regions, including parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and central India, rainfall activity has remained signif...

  India's battle against air pollution is entering a new phase as ground level ozone pollution increasingly threatens public health during summer months. Traditionally, winter has been considered the most dangerous season for air quality due to the accumulation of particulate matter caused by stagnant weather conditions. However, experts now warn that the seasonal relief usually experienced during summer is fading as rising temperatures and intense sunlight fuel the formation of ozone pollution across major cities. According to the latest State of Global Air 2025 report, India ranks third globally in exposure to ozone pollution. The report estimates that long term exposure to ground level ozone contributed to around 470,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, with nearly half of those dea...