Sunday, March 23News That Matters

Disasters

Hidden Climate Clues Help Scientists Predict Unseen Extreme Weather

Hidden Climate Clues Help Scientists Predict Unseen Extreme Weather

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Learning & Developments
A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications unveils new methods to forecast extreme weather events that modern records have never captured. Conducted by researchers from the Climate Adaptation Services Foundation, the University of Reading, and other global institutions, the study expands the understanding of climate extremes beyond the last century’s conventional weather records. By tapping into nature archives such as tree rings and forgotten historical documents scientists have uncovered centuries of climate data that modern instruments missed. Lead author Timo Kelder emphasized the significance of this breakthrough, stating, “We’ve been limited by thinking extreme weather is only as bad as what we’ve measured. But looking back hundreds or even thousands of years reveal...
India Records Earliest Heatwave and Warm Nights in 2025 Break 125 Year Old Records

India Records Earliest Heatwave and Warm Nights in 2025 Break 125 Year Old Records

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
India has recorded its earliest heatwave and warm nights in 2025, marking a concerning trend in rising temperatures. On February 25, 2025, Goa and Maharashtra experienced the first heatwave of the year making it the first time a heatwave has been recorded during winter (January–February) according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD also confirmed that February 2025 was the hottest February in 125 years. The impact of extreme temperatures has been felt in Odisha and Jharkhand which recorded their earliest heatwaves in four years. On March 15 Odisha’s Boudh registered the highest temperature in India, reaching 43.6°C on March 16. Jharsuguda followed with 42°C, while Bolangir recorded 41.7°C. These extreme heat conditions arrived much earlier than in previous years indicatin...
Cyclone Jude Batters Mozambique Leaves Thousands Houses Without Power

Cyclone Jude Batters Mozambique Leaves Thousands Houses Without Power

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Cyclone Jude has wreaked havoc along Mozambique’s Indian Ocean coast, bringing fierce winds, torrential rains, and widespread destruction. This marks the third cyclone to hit Mozambique this season, disrupting lives and infrastructure across the region. Jude first emerged as a depression on March 14 near Diego Garcia before intensifying into a moderate tropical storm, hitting northern Madagascar on March 15. The storm has already caused six fatalities and damaged 900 houses before reaching Mozambique. Fueled by sea surface temperatures near 30°C, Jude strengthened into a tropical cyclone over the Mozambique Channel. It made landfall early this morning, delivering sustained winds of 120 km/h and gusts up to 193 km/h, comparable to a Category 1 hurricane. Coastal areas, including Memba...
Mexico City Shallow Earthquakes Reveal Unexpected Risks Study Finds

Mexico City Shallow Earthquakes Reveal Unexpected Risks Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
A new study has highlighted the surprising strength of ground shaking caused by recent shallow earthquakes in Mexico City, raising concerns about the potential impact of moderate seismic events on the city's buildings. Researchers Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) have modeled earthquake scenarios to assess possible damage emphasizing the role of local geology in amplifying shaking. Published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, the study analyzed three regions based on past seismic activity: La Magdalena Contreras (2023), San Juan de Aragón (2018), and the Milpa Alta and Juchitepec earthquakes (1995 and 1985, respectively). Their findings suggest that even moderate earthquakes, up to magnitude 5.5, could cause signi...
Tornadoes Rip Through Midwest Southeast Killing 33 Leaving Trail of Destruction

Tornadoes Rip Through Midwest Southeast Killing 33 Leaving Trail of Destruction

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
Tornadoes tore through the U.S. Midwest and Southeast, leaving at least 33 dead and entire communities in ruins. Missouri and Mississippi were among the worst-hit states with widespread devastation reported across multiple counties. Missouri authorities confirmed 12 fatalities across five counties. Butler County’s emergency management director, Robbie Myers, described the destruction of more than 500 homes church, and a grocery store. A mobile home park was completely leveled. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves reported six deaths in the state one in Covington County two in Jeff Davis County and three in Walthall County. At least 29 people were injured, with damage recorded in 21 counties. Arkansas also faced severe impacts with three deaths and 32 injuries confirmed by the state’s ...
Small Quakes Big Shakes Mexico City Faces Unexpected Seismic Threat

Small Quakes Big Shakes Mexico City Faces Unexpected Seismic Threat

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
recent study has revealed that a series of small, shallow earthquakes in Mexico City in 2019 and 2023 caused unexpectedly strong ground shaking, raising concerns about the impact of future moderate-sized quakes on the city's buildings. The findings, published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, suggest that even moderate tremors could cause significant damage, depending on the region’s underlying geology. Researchers Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México analyzed potential damage scenarios for three key areas within the Mexico City basin, modeling earthquakes up to magnitude 5.5. Their simulations were based on past seismic events, including a 2023 quake in La Magdalena Contreras, the 2018 San Juan de Aragón earthquake, and ea...
Small Mexico City Earthquakes Reveal Big Risks for Buildings

Small Mexico City Earthquakes Reveal Big Risks for Buildings

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check
A recent swarm of small, shallow earthquakes in Mexico City has raised new concerns about how moderate earthquakes might impact the city buildings. Researchers found that even relatively weak earthquakes produced surprisingly strong ground shaking prompting them to explore potential damage in future scenarios. In a study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México modeled the expected damage from moderate earthquakes in three key regions of the Mexico City basin. Their scenarios were based on past earthquakes including a 2023 event in La Magdalena Contreras the 2018 San Juan de Aragón earthquake and the 1995 Milpa Alta and 1985 Juchitepec earthquakes. Their findings highlight the criti...
Study Warns of Unexpectedly Strong Shaking from Moderate Earthquakes in Mexico City

Study Warns of Unexpectedly Strong Shaking from Moderate Earthquakes in Mexico City

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Fact Check
A new study has revealed that moderate earthquakes in Mexico City could cause significant damage to buildings, depending on the region’s underlying geology. The findings, published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America by Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, highlight the risks posed by local seismic activity beyond the well-known large subduction earthquakes. Mexico City has recently experienced swarms of small, shallow earthquakes, particularly in 2019 and 2023, which generated unexpectedly strong ground shaking. These events prompted researchers to investigate how shaking from a moderate earthquake with a magnitude up to 5.5 might impact buildings across different parts of the city. Geology MattersDamage Varies by Region ...
Marine Heatwaves Surge 240% in Two Years, Triggering Global Disruptions

Marine Heatwaves Surge 240% in Two Years, Triggering Global Disruptions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
A new study has revealed a 240% increase in marine heatwave (MHW) days worldwide during the 2023-24 summers, marking an unprecedented rise in ocean temperatures due to climate change, El Niño, and record-low cloud cover. The research, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that 10% of the world's oceans recorded their highest-ever sea surface temperatures (SSTs), reaching levels four times above historical averages. Extreme Weather and Oceanic Disruptions The prolonged marine heatwaves had far-reaching effects, influencing global weather patterns and triggering severe storms, flooding, and cyclones: Heatwaves struck the UK, North America, and Japan Severe flooding hit Ecuador, Libya, Japan, and Australia The Atlantic hurricane season saw near-record storms MHWs in...
Rising Climate Driven Wildfires to Reshape Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting

Rising Climate Driven Wildfires to Reshape Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
Wildfires fueled by climate change are becoming a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, forcing scientists and policymakers to rethink how these emissions are accounted for in global inventories. Minal Pathak, an associate professor at the Global Centre for Environment and Energy at Ahmedabad University and a contributing author of the United Nations Emissions Gap Report, discusses the challenges of including wildfire emissions in global emission estimates and the broader implications for climate policy. The recent wildfires in California have once again underscored the devastating effects of climate-induced disasters. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which ignited on January 7, 2025, burned over 23,000 and 14,000 acres, respectively. By January 23, the California Dep...