climate change Archives - Page 29 of 40

Jul172024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Researchers Develop Advanced AI Model for Accurate Typhoon Prediction

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

In a significant advancement for climate science, a team of researchers from the Department of Civil, Urban, Earth, and Environmental Engineering at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), led by Professor Jungho Im, has developed a pioneering deep learning-based model for predicting tropical cyclones (TCs). Their findings have been published in GIscience & Remote Sensing and iScience in March and May 2024, respectively. The newly developed Hybrid-Convolutional Neural Networks (Hybrid-CNN) model integrates real-time geostationary weather satellite data and numerical prediction model outputs to forecast TC intensity with lead times of 24, 48, and 72 hours. This approach offers a significant improvement over traditional methods, which often suffer from lengthy ...

Jul152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Shenzhen’s Mangroves: A Beacon of Conservation Amidst Rapid Urbanization

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Each spring, as Shenzhen's mangroves burst into life, the region becomes a prime spot for birdwatchers observing the endangered black-faced spoonbill. Known as the "giant panda of birds," this species winters in Shenzhen Bay from October to April, preparing for its northbound migration. Shenzhen Bay, located in southern China and part of the Pearl River Delta expanding into Hong Kong, is a crucial stop-off point for migratory birds using the East Asian-Australasian flyway. The mangroves support over 200 species of birds and host 100,000 migratory birds each winter, drawing enthusiasts and scientists alike to witness these natural spectacles against the backdrop of one of China's most bustling urban settings. Amid the rapid urbanization that defines modern China, Shenzhen stands out n...

Jul152024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Puts More Children at Risk by Excessive Heat Stress: Report

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Rising global temperatures and increasing frequency of historic heat waves are putting more children at risk of heat stress each year. According to recent studies, heat stress caused by extreme temperatures can significantly affect the health and well-being of infants and young children. As climate change continues to drive up temperatures, more countries are facing hotter days more frequently, with greater intensity and for longer periods. Currently, a third of the world's children experience 4-5 heat waves annually. This exposure involves enduring temperatures over 35°C for 83.54 or more days per year, enduring heat waves lasting at least 4.7 days, or facing temperatures 2°C or more above the local 15-day average. By 2050, nearly every child in the world, around 2.2 billion children, ...

Jul132024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Study Reveals Ancient Origins of LUCA Early Life on Earth

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations

Once upon a time, Earth was a barren planet. That changed dramatically when, out of the chemistry present during its early history, something began to squirm processing matter to survive, reproduce, and thrive. The nature of that something, and when it first appeared, have puzzled humanity for as long as we have been able to ask, "What am I?" Now, a groundbreaking study has provided some answers, revealing that life emerged surprisingly early in Earth's history. By analyzing the genomes of organisms alive today, scientists have determined that the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) the first organism that spawned all current life on Earth emerged as early as 4.2 billion years ago. Given that Earth is around 4.5 billion years old, this suggests that life began when the planet was s...

Jul112024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Temperatures Threaten Global Groundwater Safety: Millions at Risk by 2100

Breaking News, Disasters

In a stark warning, scientists highlight that without access to lakes or streams, one in four humans relies on underground reservoirs. However, as temperatures soar, these vital water sources face contamination risks. An international study using a global heat transport model reveals that by 2100, up to 590 million people could depend on groundwater that fails to meet safe drinking standards due to warming. This underlines a critical yet often overlooked consequence of climate change on Earth's land. Hydrologist Dylan Irvine from Charles Darwin University emphasizes the need to broaden focus beyond weather events and water availability. The study underscores that warming groundwater can alter its chemical composition, potentially making it unsafe for consumption due to dissolved mine...

Jul112024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Less than a Month into Summer 2024 Vast Majority of U.S. Population Experiences Extreme Heat Wave

Breaking News, Environment

Less than a month into summer 2024, an extreme heat wave has already gripped the vast majority of the U.S. population. Millions found themselves under heat warnings across the western U.S. in early July, while the eastern regions suffered through oppressive, humid conditions. On July 7, Death Valley hit a perilous 129 degrees Fahrenheit (53.9 C), a day after a motorcyclist succumbed to heat exposure there. Las Vegas shattered its all-time heat record with a scorching 120 F (48.9 C). In California, a series of over-100-degree days parched the landscape, igniting wildfires, while Oregon reported multiple suspected heat-related deaths. Heat Waves Sweeping the Globe Extreme heat is not confined to the U.S. In 2024, countries around the world have experienced unprecedented temperatures...

Jul102024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rare Tree Cactus Goes Extinct in Florida a Grim First for Sea Level Rise

Breaking News, Environment

In a heartbreaking first for the United States, a rare species of tree cactus has gone extinct in Florida due to rising sea levels. The Key Largo tree cactus (Pilosocereus millspaughii), which was confined to a single population in the Florida Keys, is now lost. The Key Largo tree cactus was first discovered in 1992 in the Florida Keys, a chain of islands off the southern tip of the state. Since its discovery, researchers have monitored its population intermittently. However, saltwater intrusion from rising seas, soil erosion from storms and high tides, and herbivory by mammals put immense pressure on this delicate species. Once thriving with around 150 stems in an isolated mangrove forest, the population had dwindled to just six fragile fragments by 2021. Researchers made a last-dit...

Jul82024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Future of Our Climate Shifting Zones and Increasing Extremes

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Extreme weather events, including storms, floods, fires, droughts, cold snaps, and heat waves, are hitting us harder and more frequently than ever. By the end of the century, more than half of our planet is predicted to shift into new climate zones. A new interactive map, The Future Urban Climates, allows you to explore how your home’s climate will be impacted. Using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), University of Maryland spatial ecologist Matthew Fitzpatrick has matched 40,581 places around the globe to nearby locations currently experiencing their future predicted climate in 2080. For instance, a trip to northern Mississippi today would give you an idea of the climate New York City is expected to experience by 2080. However, under a low emissions scenari...

Jul82024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Assam Floods Perennial Flood Crisis and government initiative and Projects Mitigation Efforts

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Guwahati, Assam: Last year in October, after flood waters had receded in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced 54 projects aimed at mitigating the effects of swelling rivers. These initiatives, he had asserted, “would bring us close to a flood-free Assam.” Yet, as the monsoon season of 2023 unfolded, the state government finds itself struggling to protect lives and properties from the fury of the floods. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), floods have claimed over 50 lives and displaced 360,000 people this year. More than 40,000 hectares of crop area have been affected, with significant portions of Dibrugarh and Guwahati submerged. Chief Minister Sarma has recently expressed despair, attributing the floods to “geographical factors beyond the...

Jul62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Assam Floods Devastate Communities 52 Dead And Thousands Homeless Amid Grim Situation

Breaking News, Disasters

The flood situation in Assam has escalated dramatically over the past 24 hours, claiming the lives of 52 people and displacing several thousand residents, according to a various report. With over 24 lakh people affected across 30 out of the state's 35 districts, Assam is grappling with the second wave of floods this season, which has wreaked havoc on lives, infrastructure, and agriculture. Jubbar Ali, a resident of Barpeta district, recounted the heartbreaking loss of his home due to erosion a month ago, forcing his family including his wife, two daughters, and ailing mother to seek shelter in a makeshift tent at a relief camp. "Almost 500 families in Rowmari Pathar area have lost their lands due to constant erosion and floods every year," Ali lamented, urging the government to interven...