Thursday, November 6News That Matters

Environment

Century of Climate Change From Discovery to Critical Decisions

Century of Climate Change From Discovery to Critical Decisions

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In September 1933, American meteorologist Joseph Kincer posed a now-crucial question: Is the climate changing? This query marked the beginning of modern efforts to understand humanity’s impact on the planet’s climate. By examining global temperature trends, Kincer concluded the world was warming, though he did not propose a cause. Five years later, in 1938, British engineer Guy Callendar attributed a 0.3°C rise in land temperatures over 50 years to increased carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal. This built upon earlier theories of the greenhouse effect, laying the groundwork for understanding human-driven climate change. Accelerating Warming Today, global climate monitoring relies on a sophisticated network of weather stations, satellites, and forecast models that track chan...
Snow to West Coast Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric River Bring Heavy Rain

Snow to West Coast Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric River Bring Heavy Rain

Breaking News, Disasters, Environment
The West Coast's rainy season has arrived with a dramatic start as an atmospheric river carrying tropical moisture collides with a powerful bomb cyclone off the Pacific Northwest coast. This weather duo is unleashing widespread heavy rainfall, strong winds, and mountain snow from Northern California to Washington. On Nov. 19, 2024, heavy wet snow began blanketing mountain regions while bursts of rain battered the coasts of Oregon and Northern California. Winds exceeding 70 mph have been recorded in parts of Washington as the bomb cyclone intensifies offshore. This storm’s strength is driven by the meeting of two potent weather phenomena. The atmospheric river a "river in the sky" transporting moisture from the subtropics feeds the bomb cyclone, a rapidly intensifying low-pressure sys...
Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Drifts Rapidly Towards Russia: Scientists Raise Concerns

Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Drifts Rapidly Towards Russia: Scientists Raise Concerns

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Earth's magnetic North Pole is moving toward Russia at an accelerating pace, raising concerns about its impact on navigation systems, technological infrastructure, and even life on Earth. British scientists tracking the pole’s movements report it has shifted 2,250 kilometers from Canada to Siberia and is now traveling at a speed of 50-60 kilometers per year up from just 15 kilometers per year in the 1990s. The magnetic North Pole is critical for modern navigation, including planes, ships, and smartphones, which rely on the Earth's magnetic field for direction. Scientists warn that continued rapid movement could cause compasses to point east of true north by 2040, requiring recalibrations across industries. The British Geological Survey (BGS), which monitors the pole, emphasizes t...
Great Barrier Reef Faces Record Coral Mortality Amid Bleaching Crisis

Great Barrier Reef Faces Record Coral Mortality Amid Bleaching Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Great Barrier Reef, a global icon of marine biodiversity, has suffered unprecedented coral loss, with Australian researchers reporting the highest mortality on record. Surveys conducted by the Australian Institute of Marine Science revealed up to 72% coral mortality across 12 reefs, driven by a summer of extreme weather, including mass bleaching, two cyclones, and flooding. Severe Decline in Northern Reefs In the reef's northern section, a third of hard coral perished the largest annual decline in 39 years of monitoring. Scientists fear similar devastation may have occurred in other parts of the 2,300-kilometer-long reef, known as the world's largest living structure. Mass bleaching occurs when rising sea temperatures force corals to expel the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae)...
Lonely Dolphin Found “Talking” to Himself Scientists Unveil Fascinating Findings

Lonely Dolphin Found “Talking” to Himself Scientists Unveil Fascinating Findings

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
In an extraordinary discovery, researchers studying marine life have documented a solitary bottlenose dolphin, named Delle, engaging in a peculiar behavior: seemingly talking to himself. Found in the Baltic Sea’s Svendborgsund channel near Denmark, Delle has been living in isolation since September 2019, far outside the usual range of bottlenose dolphins, which are known to thrive in social pods. This remarkable behavior was highlighted in a study published in the journal Bioacoustics last month. Despite being social animals, dolphins like Delle, who live alone, are rarely studied in detail due to their perceived outcast status. However, researchers took an unconventional approach, placing underwater recording devices to observe his behavior over 69 days between December 2022 and Februa...
Deep-Sea Discovery Underwater Volcano-Like Structure Found Near Alaska

Deep-Sea Discovery Underwater Volcano-Like Structure Found Near Alaska

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
In a groundbreaking discovery scientists aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy have identified a massive underwater volcano-like formation deep beneath the Arctic Ocean near Alaska. This remarkable structure, sitting more than 1,600 meters below the ocean's surface, was revealed during a seafloor mapping project aimed at improving navigation safety in the region. The team aboard the Healy, which included researchers from the National Science Foundation, University of New Hampshire, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), detected a potential gas plume rising from the formation. While details are still emerging, the discovery sheds light on the largely unexplored underwater terrain of the Arctic, offering new avenues for scientific exploration. Captain Meghan McGover...
Ethiopia Ranks Among Top Countries Feeling Unthreatened by Climate Change Despite Rising Risks

Ethiopia Ranks Among Top Countries Feeling Unthreatened by Climate Change Despite Rising Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
According to the Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll, Ethiopia ranks second globally among countries where a significant proportion of people feel unthreatened by climate change. The poll reveals that 39% of Ethiopians believe climate change is "not a threat at all" to their safety, while 40% see it as a threat, including 16% who regard it as "very serious." Additionally, 21% are unsure whether climate change poses a threat. This perception contrasts starkly with scientific projections about the country's climate future. The UN Development Programme's Human Climate Horizons platform predicts Ethiopia’s average annual temperature could rise from 20°C (68°F) to 24°C (75°F) by the century’s end. It also forecasts up to 71 days annually exceeding 35°C (95°F), exacerbating the nation...
Delhi’s Air Pollution Disrupts Flights and Trains Amid Smog Crisis

Delhi’s Air Pollution Disrupts Flights and Trains Amid Smog Crisis

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
Severe smog blanketed Delhi on Monday, reducing visibility and causing significant disruptions to train and flight operations. The worsening air quality, classified as “severe plus,” led to delays across the city’s transportation network. Over 160 flights, including 118 departures and 43 arrivals, were delayed at Indira Gandhi International Airport by 8:30 am due to reduced visibility, according to Flightradar24. The airport activated low visibility procedures and issued an advisory urging passengers to stay updated with their airlines about flight statuses. Smog also disrupted train operations, delaying over 28 trains arriving at New Delhi and Anand Vihar Railway stations by two to nine hours. Passengers were seen waiting outside stations amid the confusion. Severe Air Quality Tr...
Scientists Suggest That Octopus Could Rule Earth if Humans Disappear

Scientists Suggest That Octopus Could Rule Earth if Humans Disappear

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
As humanity grapples with existential threats like climate change and technological advancements, scientists have pondered a thought-provoking question: which species might dominate the Earth if humans were to vanish? One intriguing answer has emerged the octopus. Renowned for their intelligence and adaptability, octopuses possess a unique combination of traits that could position them as Earth’s future rulers in a post-human world. Their advanced nervous system, problem-solving abilities, and capacity for learning make them unlike most other animals. "Octopuses are among the most intelligent, adaptable, and resourceful creatures on Earth," said Professor Tim Coulson of the University of Oxford. "With their dexterity, curiosity, and ability to communicate, they are in pole position t...
Typhoon Man-yi Nears Philippines Forcing Evacuations Amid Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Typhoon Man-yi Nears Philippines Forcing Evacuations Amid Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment
The Philippines braces for another powerful storm as Typhoon Man-yi approaches, bringing winds of up to 150 kilometers per hour. Expected to make landfall on Catanduanes Island late Saturday, authorities have initiated mass evacuations, moving hundreds of residents to safer areas. Roberto Monterola, operations chief of the Catanduanes civil defense office, expressed concern over the lack of sufficient evacuation centers. “Some evacuees will need to shelter with neighbors whose homes are built with stronger materials,” he stated, adding that thousands more are expected to evacuate before the typhoon strikes. This comes as the nation is still reeling from Typhoon Usagi, which caused extensive flooding, uprooted trees, and damaged infrastructure in Kaigan Province earlier this week. Res...