Climate Actions Archives - Page 56 of 77

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...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

La Niña Fails to Arrive Weather Models Miss the Mark

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

BENGALURU: As 2024 edges closer to its end it is on track to become the warmest year ever recorded, surpassing 2016. Among the key factors driving this record-breaking warmth is the unexpected absence of La Niña, a climatic phenomenon that global weather models had predicted to emerge earlier this year. Despite repeated forecasts, La Niña has failed to materialize, leaving experts scrambling to understand what went wrong. La Niña, a cooling phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), typically brings colder sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, stronger trade winds, and increased rainfall in regions like India. This phase is part of a larger cycle that includes El Niño, a warming phase, and the neutral phase, characterized by average sea surface temper...

Dec132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Delhi Experiences Coldest December Day in Three Years at 4.5°C

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Thursday marked Delhi's coldest December day in three years as the minimum temperature plummeted to 4.5°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Cold wave conditions gripped the city, with temperatures in the Pusa and Ayangar areas dropping even further to 3.2°C and 3.8°C, respectively. The IMD defines a cold wave as temperatures below 4.1°C or a deviation of over 4.4°C below normal. Thursday's 4.5°C minimum was 0.4°C below the average, and significantly lower than the 5°C recorded the previous day. December temperatures hadn’t dipped below 4.9°C in 2022 or 2023, with the lowest in December 2023 being 4.9°C and 5°C in December 2022. The IMD forecasts further cold wave conditions for Delhi on Friday, with the minimum temperature expected to hover around 4°C. Clear sk...

Dec122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Antarctic ‘Plastisphere’ A New Ecosystem with Hidden Dangers Surprisingly

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

Antarctica, often considered the last pristine frontier, is no longer untouched by human activity and its environmental consequences. Plastic pollution, a hallmark of human impact, has given rise to a unique ecological phenomenon: the plastisphere—microbial communities colonizing plastic debris in the ocean. While offering intriguing scientific insights, this ecosystem poses significant threats to marine life and global ecological balance. When plastic enters the ocean, it provides surfaces for microbial communities to colonize rapidly, forming biofilms. This collection of organisms known as the plastisphere evolves through ecological succession into a complex network of microbes. These communities can carry harmful pathogens, such as Vibrio spp. and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, sprea...

Dec122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Tamil Nadu Declares School Holiday Amid Heavy Rains

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Chennai, December 12, 2024 – Schools in several districts of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu, will remain closed today due to heavy rainfall. District collectors in Salem, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, and Ramanathapuram have also announced holidays for schools, while in Tiruvannamalai, both schools and colleges will remain shut. Thiruvalluvar University in Vellore has postponed its November and December exams due to weather conditions. Rainfall of up to 8 cm has been recorded in several areas, including Karaikal and parts of Chennai. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert and follow updates as the situation develops. From News Desk

Dec122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

North India Faces Severe Cold Wave Delhi Shivers at 4.8°C

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

New Delhi, December 12, 2024 – North India is reeling under intense cold wave conditions, with Delhi recording its coldest day of the season at 4.8°C on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the minimum temperature may dip further to 4°C on Thursday. This marks the first time in 14 years that early December temperatures have dropped below 5°C in the national capital. States including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are also experiencing freezing conditions, while Jammu and Kashmir witnessed fresh snowfall on Wednesday. Chilly winds from the northwest, blowing at 8-10 km/h, have exacerbated the cold, particularly in Delhi, where smog and mist are prevalent during the mornings and evenings. The IMD predicts "mainly clear skies with cold wa...