Environment Archives - Disasters News

Dec182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

World Largest One Trillion Iceberg Melt Down After Decades of Stillness

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

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...

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

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

Rain to Return to Chennai as IMD Predicts Heavy Showers Next Week

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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

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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...

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...