Wednesday, April 23News That Matters

Climate Actions

Study Reveals Major US Atlantic Coast Cities Are Sinking at Alarming Rates

Study Reveals Major US Atlantic Coast Cities Are Sinking at Alarming Rates

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Thoughts & Talks
A recent study has uncovered a concerning reality for major cities on the US Atlantic coast, including New York City, Long Island, and other coastal regions – they are sinking at a rate of 2mm per year. The sinking land poses significant threats, raising concerns about flooding, long-term viability, and the potential impact on densely populated areas. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, sheds light on the impact of sinking land on major metropolitan areas like Baltimore, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. These coastal cities are already susceptible to flooding, and the additional threat of sinking land amplifies the risks. While the sinking may appear gradual, researchers emphasize that the consequences are real and pose a serious threat to th...
Impending Catastrophe in Kashmir as Over 100 Rock Glaciers Face Melting Threat

Impending Catastrophe in Kashmir as Over 100 Rock Glaciers Face Melting Threat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the Amrita School for Sustainable Futures of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, has unveiled a looming environmental crisis in Kashmir. The research, led by Assistant Professor Remya S. N, reveals that more than 100 active permafrost structures, commonly known as rock glaciers, in the region are at risk of melting, posing a severe threat to the Jhelum river basin. According to a report published in Down To Earth (DTE), the study indicates that these rock glaciers, which accumulate large amounts of water, are showing signs of swelling and displacement, indicative of permafrost melting. If the temperatures continue to rise, it could lead to massive devastation in the Jhelum basin, with potentially disastrous consequences for the region...
Assessing Coastal Vulnerability to climate and non-climate drivers: Major Concerns for Coastal residing mega cities

Assessing Coastal Vulnerability to climate and non-climate drivers: Major Concerns for Coastal residing mega cities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
Climate change is global phenomena, which impacting humanity form multi-dimensional way. The sea level rise is currently one of the most important climate change pressures along the coastal belt across the globe before the humanity. Recent reports and analysis says that, it is expected to continue rising and possibly accelerate during this century due to the increase in the average global surface temperature, and contributions from changes in ice sheet dynamics. The data analyzed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) that the sea level is projected to rise between the present (1980 to 1999) and the end of the 21st century (2090 to 2099) under the six SRES scenarios1 by between 18 and 59 centimeters. The global mean sea-level rise scenarios or p...
Green signal given to PRITHvi VIgyan scheme to fight Natural Disasters

Green signal given to PRITHvi VIgyan scheme to fight Natural Disasters

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Union Cabinet Chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” of Ministry of Earth Sciences, for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of Rs. 4,797 crore. The scheme encompasses five ongoing sub-schemes namely “Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)”, “Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)”, “Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER)”, “Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE)” and “Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT)”. The major Objectives of the overarching Prithvi Scheme are: Augmentation and sustainance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid e...
Satellite Technology Emerges as a Lifesaver for Utilities and Disasters Impacts Assessments

Satellite Technology Emerges as a Lifesaver for Utilities and Disasters Impacts Assessments

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Space, Thoughts & Talks
Amidst these challenges, satellite technology has emerged as a beacon of hope for utilities. Leveraging high-resolution, multispectral imaging techniques, satellites contribute significantly to disaster management, offering real-time data, continuous monitoring, and risk assessment. The advantages of satellite technology for utilities in disaster management are manifold. Accuracy and Availability of Near Real-Time Data: In times of storms and disasters, rapid response is crucial for saving lives and minimizing risks. Satellites provide accurate, continuous, and near real-time data, transcending geographical, weather, and terrain limitations. With thousands of earth observation satellites capturing data through optical, LiDAR, radar, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, utilitie...
Germany Achieves Lowest CO2 Emissions Since 1950s to sustaining decline requires the major Policy Shifts

Germany Achieves Lowest CO2 Emissions Since 1950s to sustaining decline requires the major Policy Shifts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
Germany witnessed a significant drop in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2023, reaching levels not seen since the 1950s, attributed to reduced coal-fired power usage and decreased output by energy-intensive industries. However, a recent study by the Berlin-based Agora Energiewende think tank highlights that this decline is unsustainable without crucial changes in climate policies. Germany has set ambitious climate goals, aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990, with a broader target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. According to the study, CO2 emissions in Germany for the year 2023 reached 673 million tonnes, the lowest since the 1950s, representing a 46% decrease from 1990 levels. This surpassed the government's 2023 climate goal of 722 m...
Climate Mitigation through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)

Climate Mitigation through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
Climate change has profound and far-reaching effects on the environment, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural processes. One of the most pronounced consequences is the rise in global temperatures, leading to more frequent and severe heatwaves. This warming contributes to the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, causing rising sea levels and threatening coastal ecosystems and low-lying communities. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns also disrupt ecosystems and alter the distribution of plant and animal species, often leading to shifts in migration patterns and the emergence of new ecological challenges. Moreover, climate change intensifies extreme weather events, including hurricanes, droughts, floods, and wildfires. These events have devastating effects on both...
Arctic Glaciers Raises the Environmental Concerns due to traces of Common Sunscreen Ingredients Found

Arctic Glaciers Raises the Environmental Concerns due to traces of Common Sunscreen Ingredients Found

Climate Actions, Environment
In a paper published by the researchers, they noted that, for some of these chemicals, it marks the first time their presence has been reported in the snow in Svalbard. The chemicals include UV filters used in sunscreens, such as benzophenone-3 (BP3), and fragrances found in soaps and shampoos. The findings highlight the increasing challenge of understanding the distribution and behavior of these contaminants in remote regions, where primary sources of pollution remain largely unknown. The far-reaching consequences of human activity on the environment are once again underscored as a study reveals traces of 13 common ingredients found in sunscreens and personal care products in the snowpack of five Arctic glaciers in the Svalbard archipelago. The study, conducted by polar scientist Maria...
Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Scientists from Ohio State University (OSU) have studied ice cores from Nevado Huascaran, the world’s highest tropical mountain located in the Peruvian Andes, to gain unprecedented insights into the climate history of the Amazon Basin over the past six decades. Unlike polar regions, samples from tropical areas like Nevado Huascaran can provide valuable information about phenomena such as El Niño and the movement of monsoon winds. The research involved collecting ice core samples from the summit and the mountain col, the lowest point between two ridges. Key Points: •Nevado Huascaran, standing at nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, is the world’s highest tropical mountain. •Ice core samples were collected from the summit and the mountain col to analyze the impact of climate change ...
World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Begins Drifting After 40 Years Grounded

World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Begins Drifting After 40 Years Grounded

Climate Actions, Disasters
In a significant development, the world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has finally broken free from its grounded position, initiating its drift in the Weddell Sea. Originating from West Antarctica’s Fichner-Ronne ice shelf, A23a measures a staggering 4000 sq km (1,500 square miles) with a thickness of about 400 meters (1,300 feet), making it the largest iceberg globally. After being grounded for an extended period since 1986, recent observations by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite confirm its movement, estimated at approximately 4.8 km (3 miles) per day, propelled by winds and currents. Iceberg A23a Animation The colossal iceberg’s journey was tracked through an animation provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), showcasing its shifts on November 2, November 14, and November 26, 2023...