Wednesday, January 28News That Matters

Climate Actions

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

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

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...
Dust Storm Blankets Sydney, Triggered by Drought in South Australia

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

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

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...
Which Hurricane Models Can You Trust in 2025?

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

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

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...
Earth Core May Be Leaking Gold: Hawaiian Volcano Rocks Reveal Hidden Connection

Earth Core May Be Leaking Gold: Hawaiian Volcano Rocks Reveal Hidden Connection

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations, Learning & Developments
A new scientific breakthrough suggests Earth’s molten core may be releasing precious metals like gold into the planet’s surface, and the evidence has been found in volcanic rocks from Hawaii. In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the University of Göttingen in Germany used advanced isotopic analysis to investigate volcanic rocks from Hawaii. These rocks, formed by magma plumes rising from deep inside the Earth, contain unusually high levels of a rare form of ruthenium, a metal more common in the planet’s core than its upper layers. The discovery challenges long-standing assumptions that the Earth’s core is completely sealed off from the rest of the planet. Since the formation of Earth 4.5 billion years ago, scientists believed that over 99.99% of the planet’s g...
Monsoon Marches On: Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms, and Heatwave Alerts Across India

Monsoon Marches On: Heavy Rains, Thunderstorms, and Heatwave Alerts Across India

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
The southwest monsoon continues its steady advance across India, reaching more parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Karnataka including Bengaluru, and the entire northeastern region, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed in its latest update. As monsoon winds sweep in, several regions are bracing for intense rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds. Here’s a region-wise summary of what to expect in the coming days: West and Central India: Extremely heavy rain is forecast over the Konkan coast, including Mumbai, and ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra on May 26 and 27. Gujarat will see thundersqualls with wind speeds of 50–60 kmph, gusting up to 70 kmph. Marathwada and parts of Gujarat are likely to receive isolated heavy rain between May 26 and 29. Isolated heavy showers...