Disasters Archives - Disasters News

Dec182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

World Largest One Trillion Iceberg Melt Down After Decades of Stillness

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The world’s largest and oldest iceberg, A23a, has broken free after decades of being grounded on the seabed near Antarctica. This colossal "mega-berg," weighing over a trillion tonnes and spanning an area twice the size of Greater London, is now drifting into the Southern Ocean. A23a was calved from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, marking the beginning of its extraordinary journey. For over 30 years, it remained grounded on the seabed of the Weddell Sea. In 2020, it began to shift northward, but its progress was slowed by a Taylor Column, an oceanographic phenomenon that kept it spinning in one spot for months. Dr. Andrew Meijers, an oceanographer at the British Antarctic Survey, remarked, “It’s exciting to see A23a on the move again after periods of being stuck. We are curi...

Dec182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Delhi Air Quality Hits ‘Severe Plus’ as GRAP Stage 4 Restrictions Return

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Delhi air quality deteriorated further on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing 440, marking another day in the ‘severe’ category. By 7 am, several monitoring stations reported AQI levels above 450, pushing parts of the city into the ‘severe-plus’ category. Areas like Anand Vihar, Nehru Nagar, and Jahangirpuri recorded AQI levels near 480, signifying hazardous air. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) defines AQI above 450 as “severe-plus,” with serious health implications for all age groups. In response, authorities have reimposed Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), banning construction, restricting diesel trucks, and recommending work-from-home for 50% of employees. Public health experts warn breathing Delhi’s air is akin to smoking 10 cigarett...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Delhi Chokes Again AQI Hits ‘Severe’ Levels Amid Winter Smog

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Delhi’s air quality plummeted further on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, breaching the hazardous threshold with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 421 at 7 a.m., according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Key areas like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, and Alipur reported AQI levels ranging from 400 to 470, marking a dire escalation in the city's ongoing battle with toxic air. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classified Delhi’s air as “Very Poor,” though localized areas ventured into the more alarming “Severe” zone. Such levels pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. Adding to the city’s challenges, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reco...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Study Warns Claims that Pet Cats May Trigger New Bird Flu Pandemic

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment, Learning & Developments

A recent study has raised alarms about pet cats potentially becoming carriers of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which has devastated poultry farms in the U.S. over the past two and a half years. Published in the journal Taylor and Francis, the study warns that just one or two mutations in cats could allow the virus to jump to humans, posing significant public health risks. Bird Flu’s Hidden Threat H5N1, responsible for the deaths of over 100 million birds, has remained a limited threat to humans due to its difficulty in transmitting between people. However, scientists fear cats common household pets could serve as a bridge for the virus to evolve and spread more easily. The warning comes after the deaths of 10 cats in South Dakota earlier this year. Researchers found that the cat...

Dec172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Low-Pressure Area in Bay of Bengal to Bring Heavy Rainfall to Tamil Nadu

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A new low-pressure area has formed over the Bay of Bengal, and it is expected to intensify and move toward the Tamil Nadu coast over the next two days, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC). This weather system is likely to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to several coastal districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, and Chengalpattu, until December 19. The low-pressure area, which developed on December 16 in the central part of the south Bay of Bengal, is being influenced by an upper air cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay. This circulation extends up to 3.1 kilometers above sea level and is predicted to strengthen further. As the system moves west-northwestward, it will impact coastal Tamil Nadu with significant rainfall. Rainfall Warnings ...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

North India Freezes Coldwave Grips Delhi, Punjab, Haryana with Dense Fog Predicted

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New Delhi: A severe cold wave swept across North India on Sunday, with temperatures plunging to as low as 1°C in some regions. Punjab’s Faridkot recorded the lowest at 1°C, while Haryana’s Hisar followed at 1.7°C. In the national capital, Delhi residents woke up to a frigid morning as Safdarjung reported 4.9°C, marking a sharp 3-degree drop in 24 hours. Palam recorded a slightly higher 6.2°C. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), cold wave conditions will persist in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir from December 15 to 19. Rajasthan will experience similar weather from December 17 to 20. Dense fog is likely to blanket Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Northeast India on December 16 and 17, reducing visibility. Ground frost is also exp...

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Super Typhoon Man-Yi Caps Unprecedented Month of Extreme Weather in the Philippines

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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

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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

Greenland Experiences One of the Largest Documented Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

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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

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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...