Climate Actions Archives - Page 4 of 77

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flash Floods Shock Drought-Prone Latur Amid Monsoon Onset, IMD Forecasts Under Scrutiny

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The drought-hit city of Latur in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region has been left reeling after a sudden bout of extreme rainfall led to flash floods on May 27, 2025. Independent reports, including from All India Radio and the Press Trust of India, point to cloudburst-like conditions that caught residents and authorities off guard. This severe weather event comes despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) not issuing specific warnings for heavy rain in Latur or surrounding Marathwada districts in its regular regional bulletins. While the IMD’s Mumbai centre had predicted thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds for May 27, it did not flag extreme rainfall for Latur. The only relevant mention was a general note in the national press release that said “isolated heavy rainfall likely...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mumbai Breaks Rainfall Records, Scientists Demand Better Early Warning for Extreme Rains

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Mumbai is witnessing a monsoon like never before. On May 26, the southwest monsoon arrived in the city a staggering 16 days ahead of its usual date, setting a new record for the earliest-ever onset in the financial capital. What followed was relentless rain that brought the city to a halt and shattered century-old records. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai City (Colaba observatory) received 456.5 mm of rain and the Suburbs (Santacruz observatory) 342 mm between May 1 and May 27. This makes May 2025 the wettest May ever recorded in Mumbai, breaking the previous record of 280 mm set in 1918. The most dramatic rainfall occurred in just two days. From 8:30 am on May 25 to 8:30 am on May 26, Colaba received 135.4 mm of rain a 67,600% excess over the average of...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Global temperatures likely to stay near record highs till 2029: WMO warns of 1.5°C breach risk

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Arctic warming at over three times the global rate; chances of surpassing Paris Agreement threshold reach 86% Global temperatures are expected to hover near record highs over the next five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, released May 28, 2025. The findings raise serious alarms about the planet approaching irreversible climate thresholds, particularly with the Arctic heating up at more than three times the global average. Near-term warming trends Between 2025 and 2029, the global average near-surface temperature is projected to range between 1.2°C and 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels (1850–1900 baseline). Critically, the WMO report notes an 86% probability that at least one year in this period will b...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Texas A&M Researchers Pioneer New Method to Predict Submarine Landslides Threatening Offshore Infrastructure

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

Beneath the vast network of offshore wind farms, oil rigs, and other marine energy installations lies a complex web of underwater infrastructure pipelines, cables, risers, and anchors that plays a critical role in supporting energy operations. Yet these subsea structures are increasingly threatened by natural events like submarine landslides, which can severely disrupt or destroy vital offshore systems. Now, a team of researchers from Texas A&M University has developed a cutting-edge approach that could revolutionize the way engineers predict underwater landslides. By applying a structured sequence of site characterization and leveraging advanced statistical modeling, the method allows for more accurate forecasts of these geohazards, potentially safeguarding billions in offshore inf...

May292025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Dust Storm Blankets Sydney, Triggered by Drought in South Australia

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A thick layer of dust unexpectedly settled over Sydney on Tuesday morning, following a week of heavy rainfall. The sudden haze was the result of a powerful dust storm that began in South Australia's Mid-North region on Monday, highlighting how climate and land conditions in one part of the country can impact regions hundreds of kilometers away. The dust storm formed east of Spencer Gulf around 11am and traveled across western Victoria into New South Wales, reaching Sydney approximately 18 hours later. The event was sparked by a strong cold front passing through drought-stricken areas of South Australia, where dry, exposed soils provided ideal conditions for dust to be picked up and carried long distances. While dust storms are more typical in late spring or early summer, this autumn ...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mangrove Forests Over 500 Metres Wide Proven to Cut Wave Energy by 75%, Prompting Policy Rethink

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

A global study based on more than 216,000 simulations has found that mangrove forests wider than 500 metres offer far more effective coastal protection than previously assumed. The research, led by the Deltares institute, shows that these broad mangrove belts reduce incoming wave heights by at least 70% regardless of wave intensity, water levels, or local conditions. Using the SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) model, researchers analyzed 15,773 coastal locations worldwide with mangrove cover. From this dataset, 1,000 representative situations were selected to simulate wave reduction performance under a variety of environmental conditions. The results produced tens of millions of data points and highlighted a clear trend: wider mangroves are consistently more effective at weakening wave ...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Trees in Niger’s Schoolyards Offer Shade, Food, and Climate Education

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments

In the scorching cities of Niamey and Maradi, Niger's two largest urban centers, schoolyards are becoming unexpected green sanctuaries. A recent study of 60 schools has revealed that trees in school compounds are not only cooling overheated classrooms but also serving as tools for education, sources of nutrition, and symbols of resilience in the face of climate change. With rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves across the Sahel region, where temperatures often exceed 45°C, the importance of urban forestry is gaining new recognition. Trees in schoolyards play a critical role in reducing heat stress, creating shaded outdoor learning environments, and improving air quality. In overcrowded or under-resourced schools, these shaded spaces often double as open-air classrooms, offering a c...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Which Hurricane Models Can You Trust in 2025?

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Tech

When a hurricane is brewing in the ocean, where do you turn for the most accurate forecast? With so many computer models out there especially two brand-new ones introduced just last year it can get confusing. But experts still say: trust the National Hurricane Center (NHC) first. Their track forecasts are the most reliable. In the 2024 hurricane season, which was very active, NHC broke accuracy records. Their storm path predictions up to five days in advance beat all other models, nearly every time. Even the best individual models couldn’t outperform NHC or its top three “consensus” models (which are created by blending forecasts from multiple models). The Most Trusted Track Models in 2024 European Model (ECMWF) and GFS Model (USA): These two were the top performers. GFS was b...

May282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Monsoon Bliss: Early Rains Boost India’s Agricultural Prospects Amid Heavy Downpours

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Kerala experienced an unusually early arrival of the southwest monsoon on May 24, eight days ahead of the usual schedule, marking the earliest onset in 16 years. This early arrival offers a promising start to the agricultural season and relief from recent heatwaves that have affected much of the country. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the monsoon has already begun advancing into Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and parts of the northeast. This early onset allows farmers to start sowing summer crops sooner, with increased soil moisture supporting better crop growth and potentially higher yields. However along with the early arrival, heavy monsoon rains are expected across several regions, including Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. While these rains are crucial for ag...

May272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Saltwater Creep: Bengal Delta’s Salinity Crisis Warns Coastal World of Climate Future

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments

As sea levels rise and extreme weather intensifies, a silent but destructive force is infiltrating coastlines across the globe: salt. A new international study reveals how creeping salinisation caused by the inland movement of seawater is posing an escalating threat to freshwater supplies, agriculture, and communities in low-lying coastal areas, starting with the Bengal Delta in Bangladesh. The study, published in Ecological Indicators, offers one of the most detailed long-term analyses of salinity trends in any delta system worldwide. Led by scientists from the University of Portsmouth, in collaboration with Dhaka University and Curtin University, the research tracked salinity levels in coastal rivers and estuaries using nearly two decades of data from over 50 monitoring stations acros...