Friday, December 20News That Matters

Environment

Japan Earthquake Updates: Death Toll rises to 62 as Rescuers Race Against Time

Japan Earthquake Updates: Death Toll rises to 62 as Rescuers Race Against Time

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
The Japan Earthquake death toll rising day by day from a series of powerful earthquakes in Japan, including a magnitude 7.5 quake, it has risen to 62, according to NHK World, citing officials from the hard-hit Ishikawa prefecture. Most fatalities have been confirmed in Wajima and Suzu on the Noto Peninsula. Over 20 people are reported to be seriously injured, with rescuers facing the challenge of confirming the number of people still missing. Many individuals are feared trapped under collapsed houses. The earthquakes struck the Noto Peninsula in the central Ishikawa prefecture on Monday, causing buildings to collapse and triggering tsunami warnings as far away as eastern Russia. According to the country's meteorological office, a total of 155 earthquakes were reported on that day ...
Solutions for Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene:  A strategic blueprint for environmental resilience and empowerment

Solutions for Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene: A strategic blueprint for environmental resilience and empowerment

Breaking News, Environment, Thoughts & Talks
Circular economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and make the most of resources by promoting sustainability and longevity in product life cycles. In a traditional linear economy, goods are produced, used, and then discarded as waste. In contrast, a circular economy aims to close the loop, emphasizing the continual use, refurbishment, and recycling of products to extend their lifespan and reduce environmental impact. This approach encourages the design of products with recyclability in mind, efficient waste management, and the development of sustainable business practices. By shifting from the linear "take, make, dispose" model to a circular one, the goal is to create a more resilient and regenerative system that fosters environmental stewardship and economic prosperity. ...
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...
Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events in India Faces: Challenges and Impacts in year 2023

Alarming Surge in Extreme Weather Events in India Faces: Challenges and Impacts in year 2023

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
Climate Vulnerability and Increasing Frequency of Extreme Weather Events India has witnessed a staggering surge in extreme weather events, with almost daily occurrences in the first nine months of 2023, leading to nearly 3,000 deaths, according to a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Published on November 29, the report highlighted that the climate-vulnerable country experienced extreme weather on 86% of days from January to September, marking a concerning "new abnormal" in a warming world. The CSE's report, titled "India 2023: An Assessment of Extreme Weather Events," revealed alarming statistics, including 2,923 reported deaths, extensive crop damage covering almost two million hectares, destruction of 80,000 homes, and the loss of over 92,000 animals. H...
Severe Thunderstorms in Australia Claim Six Lives

Severe Thunderstorms in Australia Claim Six Lives

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
(27.12.2023) Austraila, Severe thunderstorms in Australia’s eastern states over the Christmas holidays have claimed the lives of at least six people, with three others reported missing. Tens of thousands of households in Queensland are without power due to the impact of the storms. Police in Victoria and Queensland have confirmed the deaths, including a nine-year-old girl who was reportedly swept away in a flooded stormwater drain. Two people are missing after their boat capsized south of Green Island near Brisbane, and a 46-year-old woman is also being sought after being caught in floodwaters north of Brisbane in Gumpie. Severe thunderstorms struck on December 25 and 26, bringing large hailstones, high winds, and torrential rains. The adverse weather conditions led to river flooding...
Volcanic Eruptions and Astronomical Cycles Linked to Historical Climate Change, Study Reveals

Volcanic Eruptions and Astronomical Cycles Linked to Historical Climate Change, Study Reveals

Disasters, Environment
A recent analysis published in the journal Earth-Science Reviews sheds light on the connection between large volcanic eruptions, astronomical cycles, and historical climate change. While human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for modern climate change, the study highlights that climate change in the Earth’s history was influenced by a different set of factors. Key Findings: Volcanic Eruptions in Earth’s History The study reveals that large volcanic eruptions in the Earth’s past released significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This resulted in extreme greenhouse climate warming, nearly causing mass extinctions and environmental crises. These volcanic events occurred cyclically, with a pattern of every 26 to 33 million years. Notably, the study ...
Polar Bear Populations Decline in Greenland Over 20,000 Years Due to Climate Change

Polar Bear Populations Decline in Greenland Over 20,000 Years Due to Climate Change

Breaking News, Environment
A comprehensive international study, including researchers from the University of Copenhagen, reveals a concerning decline in polar bear numbers in Greenland over the last 20,000 years. The research, combining genetic analysis, food habits, habitat study, and historical climate data, points to rising sea temperatures as the key driver behind this decline. The study, published in Science Advances, emphasizes the impact of global warming, leading to increased sea temperatures and reduced sea ice, consequently affecting the polar bear‘s primary food source – seals. Michael Westbury, lead author and assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen, highlights the non-linear relationship, where even small environmental changes significantly impact polar bear populations. The research ind...
Unprecedented Greenland Bedrock Core Reveals Past Ice Melt and Sea-Level Rise Secrets

Unprecedented Greenland Bedrock Core Reveals Past Ice Melt and Sea-Level Rise Secrets

Environment
In a historic feat, scientists have successfully extracted the longest-ever core of rock from beneath Greenland’s vast ice sheet. The GreenDrill project, with a budget of $7 million, achieved this breakthrough by drilling through 509 meters of ice at Prudhoe Dome, unearthing 7.4 meters of frozen sediment and rock. This achievement not only provides valuable insights into the island’s historical ice stability but also offers clues about its potential contributions to sea-level rise. The core, exposed to air at some point in the past three million years, presents a unique opportunity to understand Greenland’s complex environmental history. Preliminary analysis reveals high levels of beryllium-10, a radioactive isotope formed when rock is exposed to cosmic rays and air. The extensive prese...
Climate Change’s Chilling Impact on Global Rivers leads to Troubling Tale of Water Quality

Climate Change’s Chilling Impact on Global Rivers leads to Troubling Tale of Water Quality

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
In the intricate tapestry of our planet’s ecosystems, rivers have long been the lifeblood, nurturing not only the lands they flow through but also the communities that depend on them. However, a recent review of nearly a thousand studies has cast a somber shadow on the state of our world’s rivers. It tells a tale of climate change‘s relentless assault on water quality, a narrative of concern for the vital resource that sustains life. An international team of experts, led by Utrecht University in the Netherlands and including scientists from the University of Adelaide, delved into 965 studies from every corner of the globe, conducted between 2000 and 2022. Their findings paint a picture of climate change’s profound impact on our rivers, shaking the very foundations of these ecosystems. ...
Climate Change Poses Growing Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in the Third Pole Region

Climate Change Poses Growing Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in the Third Pole Region

Breaking News, Environment, Thoughts & Talks
December 17, 2023, A new study published in the journal Nature Communications has raised climate change alarms about the increasing threat of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the Third Pole region, encompassing the Tibetan Plateau, the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, and Tianshan Mountain ranges. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have highlighted the vulnerability of this ecologically crucial area to the impacts of climate change. The research indicates that the expansion of glacial lakes and the emergence of new ones in the Third Pole region are likely to result in a higher frequency of GLOFs in the coming years. This calls for the development of improved analytical methods and datasets to anticipate and mitigate potential disasters associated with these events. The Thi...