Breaking News Archives - Page 122 of 131

Apr302024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Heavy Rains and Snowfall Trigger Landslides and Flash Floods in Jammu and Kashmir

In Jammu and Kashmir, relentless rains and snowfall have unleashed havoc, causing landslides and flash floods across several regions, leading to significant damage to public infrastructure and private property. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway, a crucial lifeline connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, has been forced to shut down due to multiple landslides, leaving a multitude of vehicles stranded along its route. Video footage captured the terrifying sight of rocks and debris cascading down mountainsides, crashing onto the highway below. Landslides at Mehar, Gangroo, Mom Passi, and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban district have effectively blocked the highway, disrupting essential transportation services. With rains persisting in the region, authorities are facing challenges ...

Apr292024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Forest Fires Rage On in Uttarakhand, New Blazes Ignite as Firefighting Efforts Continue

Breaking News, Disasters

Despite concerted efforts to bring the raging forest fires under control in Uttarakhand, the situation remains dire as eight new blazes erupted in the last 24 hours, further exacerbating the firefighting operation in the hill state. The Kumaon region, particularly Nainital district, has emerged as a hotspot for forest fires, with multiple areas engulfed in flames. Latest Updates: The fresh fires, which erupted on Saturday evening, have consumed 11.75 hectares of forest land, adding to the devastation that has ravaged 735.815 hectares since November 2023. According to the state forest department, many of the fires in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal were man-made, highlighting human negligence as a significant factor in exacerbating the crisis. Law enforcement agencies have taken ac...

Apr292024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Indian Ocean Basin Faces Accelerated Warming, Alarming Research Predicts Dire Consequences

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A groundbreaking research paper has shed light on the alarming pace of warming in the Indian Ocean basin, projecting a rapid increase in temperatures with profound implications for global climate dynamics. Led by climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the study warns of accelerated warming at a rate of 1.7°C-3.8°C per century from 2020 to 2100. This unprecedented rate of warming is expected to trigger a cascade of severe weather events, prolonged marine heatwaves, and extreme Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events, significantly influencing monsoon patterns and cyclone development. The research, utilizing observed data and simulations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), paints a grim picture of the future trajectory of the ...

Apr282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

El Niño Fades, ENSO-Neutral Conditions Expected in May

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The recent observations from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC-NOAA) suggest a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific. Despite indications of El Niño persisting, the intensity has notably diminished since its peak in March 2024. Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific have shown a gradual cooling trend, with negative sub-surface anomalies extending westward. Key indicators like the Nino 3.4 index, which reflects sea surface temperature anomalies, are steadily declining and are projected to reach the threshold for ENSO-neutral conditions within the next few weeks. Additionally, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) remains within the ENSO-neutral range, indicating a shift towards neutral co...

Apr272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Nainital Forest Fire: Uttarakhand CM Calls Emergency Meeting as Blaze Threatens High Court Colony

Breaking News, Disasters

Since inception in 2000, Uttarakhand has witnessed over 54,800 hectares of forest land succumbing to the ravages of these fires, underscoring the urgent need for sustained efforts to mitigate this environmental crisis. Since November 1, 2023, Uttarakhand has witnessed a staggering 575 forest fire incidents, resulting in the destruction of over 689.89 hectares of forest land. The damage is widespread, with significant losses recorded in both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions, as well as in administrative wildlife areas. In the face of a relentless forest fire raging through Nainital district in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced an emergency meeting to address the escalating crisis. The inferno, which has persisted for over 36 hours, poses a grave threat to the...

Apr272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Drought Threatens Endangered Hippos in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

In Botswana's northern region near the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta, herds of endangered hippos are facing a dire situation as severe drought grips the area. The dried-up Thamalakane River, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, has left these magnificent creatures stranded in dried-up ponds, raising concerns about their survival. Conservation authorities have sounded the alarm, warning that the hippos, already endangered, are at risk of dying if immediate action is not taken. The scarcity of water has forced the animals to seek refuge in natural water reserves near the tourist town of Maun, further highlighting the severity of the situation. Lesego Moseki, spokesperson for Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), expressed concern over the compromi...

Apr252024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Russia’s Massive Flood Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Climate Preparedness

Breaking News, Disasters

As floodwaters inundate vast regions of Russia, leaving homes submerged, infrastructure damaged, and lives disrupted, the nation faces one of its most severe environmental crises in recent memory. The catastrophic flooding, which has affected areas from the Urals and western Siberia to the Far East Khabarovsk region, underscores the urgent need for enhanced climate preparedness and adaptation measures in the face of escalating climate change impacts. The scale of the disaster is staggering. Entire settlements have been plunged underwater, with thousands forced to evacuate their homes. In Orenburg, a regional capital near the border with Kazakhstan, residents have been grappling with rising water levels, anxiously monitoring the Ural River's relentless surge. High-rise buildings and cott...

Apr232024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Avalanche from Mt Manaslu Causes Overflow of Birendra Lake in Nepal

Breaking News, Disasters

Nepal's Birendra Lake, nestled below the towering slopes of Mt Manaslu, recently experienced a dramatic surge in water levels after being struck by a massive avalanche on Sunday morning. The avalanche, cascading down from the heights of Mt Manaslu, triggered an overflow of Birendra Lake, raising concerns about potential flooding downstream. Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage or casualties thus far, as the site of the overflow is located away from human settlements. However, officials have issued precautionary notices to residents living in downstream areas along the river to remain vigilant and prepared for any potential ramifications of the heightened water flow. Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Home Ministry, emphasized the need for residents near the a...

Apr212024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change to Shrink Global GDP by Almost a Fifth by 2050, Study Warns

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In a stark warning, researchers revealed on Wednesday that climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions already present in the atmosphere will lead to a substantial contraction of global GDP by 2050, amounting to nearly US$38 trillion, or almost a fifth of the total. Published in the journal Nature, the study underscores the urgent need for aggressive carbon emission reduction efforts to mitigate the economic fallout. Even under the most aggressive emission reduction scenarios, the researchers caution that significant economic losses are inevitable. The study predicts that economic repercussions from climate change could escalate to tens of trillions of dollars annually by 2100 if global warming exceeds two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. With Earth's average surfac...

Apr202024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Antarctic Ice Shelf Reveals Daily Movement Triggered by Elastic Waves from Whillans Ice Stream

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

In a fascinating revelation, researchers studying the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica have uncovered a phenomenon where elastic waves cause the entire sheet to lurch forward once or twice a day. This unexpected discovery sheds light on the dynamic nature of ice shelves and their response to changing environmental conditions. The Ross Ice Shelf, the largest in Antarctica and roughly the size of France, experiences these significant movements triggered by the Whillans Ice Stream, a fast-flowing belt of ice in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Geophysicist Doug Wiens from Washington University in St. Louis explains that the entire shelf suddenly moves about 6 to 8 centimeters (2.4 to 3.1 inches) due to a slip on the ice stream that flows into it. These slip events, akin to movements along faul...