climate change Archives - Page 36 of 40

May122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Venezuela’s Last Glacier Melts Away Grim Milestone in the Fight Against Climate Change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

In a stark symbol of climate change's impact, Venezuela has become the first nation to lose all its glaciers, marking a somber milestone in the battle against global warming. Once boasting six glaciers spanning 1,000 square kilometers in 1910, the country now stands devoid of these icy formations, reduced to mere remnants unable to meet glacier classification criteria. The Humboldt glacier, or La Corona, nestled in the Sierra Nevada National Park, was the last to resist the thawing trend. Yet, its decline has been precipitous, with the once sprawling 4.5 square kilometer expanse reduced to less than 0.02 square kilometers, falling far short of the minimum size for glacier status. Professor Julio Cesar Centeno of the University of the Andes (ULA) lamented, "In Venezuela, glaciers no l...

May122024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India’s Antarctic Research to Feature in School Textbooks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Idea & Innovations

India's significant contributions to research in the Arctic, Antarctica, and the Himalayas are set to become part of school textbooks, as the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences collaborates with the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to incorporate the latest developments into the curriculum. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, revealed that NCERT has formed a committee tasked with highlighting the importance of research in these regions, including Antarctica, the Arctic, the Himalayas, and climate change, in school textbooks. This initiative aims to update the content, which currently lacks recent advancements in Antarctica, Arctic, and Himalayan research. Following a rationalization exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic, certain to...

May102024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Scientists Develop Novel “Cage of Cages” Material for Greenhouse Gas Capture

Breaking News, Disasters, Learning & Developments

In a significant breakthrough, scientists have engineered a groundbreaking porous material, described as a "cage of cages," designed to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) and other potent greenhouse gases, potentially offering a promising solution to combat climate change. Synthesized through a meticulous two-step process by researchers in the UK and China, this innovative material boasts a unique molecular structure composed of triangular prism building blocks assembled into larger, symmetrical tetrahedral cages. This molecular architecture, a first of its kind, exhibits exceptional potential for capturing and storing greenhouse gases effectively. According to Marc Little, a senior author of the study and a materials scientist at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, this discovery holds tremen...

May72024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Karnataka Govt Seeks Time from Supreme Court for Additional Information in Plea for Drought Relief Funds

Breaking News, Disasters

The Karnataka government has requested more time from the Supreme Court of India to submit additional information in its plea seeking the release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drought relief. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal informed the bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta about discrepancies in the filed reply, prompting the court to list the matter for post-vacation hearing. A month earlier, the Supreme Court had instructed the Attorney General and Solicitor General to provide instructions on the plea within two weeks. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that the Karnataka government could have directly engaged with the Union government to address its concerns, instead of filing a petition. The Karnataka government's plea see...

May62024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Future of Hydropower in a Changing Climate Challenges, Innovations, and Strategies for Sustainability

Breaking News, Environment, Opinions

The history of hydrocarbons traces back millennia, with early civilizations recognizing their natural occurrence and limited applications. Ancient cultures utilized natural tar and bitumen for waterproofing and adhesive purposes, while early records suggest hydrocarbons were employed for lighting and heating. However, it was during the Industrial Revolution that hydrocarbons gained prominence, particularly with the emergence of coal as a primary fuel source. The mid-19th century witnessed a pivotal shift with the discovery of oil deposits, leading to the rapid expansion of the petroleum industry and the development of refining technologies. Subsequently, the widespread adoption of petroleum-based fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, during the early 20th century fueled industrialization ...

May52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Understanding the Future Indian Ocean: Implications, Projections, and Urgent Calls for Action

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A comprehensive study led by Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, offers crucial insights into the evolving climate of the Indian Ocean and its far-reaching implications. As the Indian Ocean region grapples with rapid changes, understanding these dynamics becomes imperative for effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, particularly in safeguarding coastal communities and ecosystems. Ocean Warming and Climate Shifts The study reveals alarming trends, indicating that the Indian Ocean is warming rapidly, with projections suggesting accelerated warming in the coming decades. This warming trend, coupled with shifts in seasonal cycles and weather patterns, underscores the heightened risk of extreme weather events, including heavy ra...

May12024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Record-Breaking April Temperatures Grip Eastern and Peninsular India Amid General Elections

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As the nation remains gripped by the ongoing polling for the 2024 general elections, eastern and peninsular India has been facing an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring to record-breaking levels throughout April. Scientists attribute this scorching heat to the looming climate crisis, underscoring the urgent need for climate action. According to data from the Meteorological Department, April marked the warmest on record in eastern and northeastern India in terms of night temperatures since 1901, and the third warmest in mean temperatures. Similarly, it was the second warmest April in the peninsula in terms of maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures. The sweltering conditions have been exacerbated by factors such as El Nino and climate change, as explained by OP Sreejith,...

Apr292024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Indian Ocean Basin Faces Accelerated Warming, Alarming Research Predicts Dire Consequences

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A groundbreaking research paper has shed light on the alarming pace of warming in the Indian Ocean basin, projecting a rapid increase in temperatures with profound implications for global climate dynamics. Led by climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the study warns of accelerated warming at a rate of 1.7°C-3.8°C per century from 2020 to 2100. This unprecedented rate of warming is expected to trigger a cascade of severe weather events, prolonged marine heatwaves, and extreme Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events, significantly influencing monsoon patterns and cyclone development. The research, utilizing observed data and simulations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), paints a grim picture of the future trajectory of the ...

Apr282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

El Niño Fades, ENSO-Neutral Conditions Expected in May

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The recent observations from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC-NOAA) suggest a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific. Despite indications of El Niño persisting, the intensity has notably diminished since its peak in March 2024. Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific have shown a gradual cooling trend, with negative sub-surface anomalies extending westward. Key indicators like the Nino 3.4 index, which reflects sea surface temperature anomalies, are steadily declining and are projected to reach the threshold for ENSO-neutral conditions within the next few weeks. Additionally, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) remains within the ENSO-neutral range, indicating a shift towards neutral co...

Apr272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Drought Threatens Endangered Hippos in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

In Botswana's northern region near the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta, herds of endangered hippos are facing a dire situation as severe drought grips the area. The dried-up Thamalakane River, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, has left these magnificent creatures stranded in dried-up ponds, raising concerns about their survival. Conservation authorities have sounded the alarm, warning that the hippos, already endangered, are at risk of dying if immediate action is not taken. The scarcity of water has forced the animals to seek refuge in natural water reserves near the tourist town of Maun, further highlighting the severity of the situation. Lesego Moseki, spokesperson for Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), expressed concern over the compromi...