Friday, December 20News That Matters

Tag: coastal belt

Mysterious Black Balls on Sydney Beaches May Be “Fatbergs” Containing Human Waste and Chemicals

Mysterious Black Balls on Sydney Beaches May Be “Fatbergs” Containing Human Waste and Chemicals

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In mid-October, Sydney beaches were alarmingly littered with black, tar-like balls. Initial suspicions pointed to tar balls from an oil spill, but a detailed analysis revealed a more disturbing source: these black lumps are likely "fatbergs," congealed masses of human waste and pollutants, including chemicals from industrial and domestic runoff. The first sightings appeared on October 16 at Coogee Beach, with subsequent reports from Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama, and Maroubra. Authorities closed the beaches amid concerns of toxic exposure, initially linking the spheres to oil. However, scientific analysis, led by a team from the University of New South Wales and multiple environmental agencies, found that only 30% of the black balls’ carbon content was fossil-based, ruling out oil as the prim...
Human Activities Driving Record Levels of Global Warming, Study Finds

Human Activities Driving Record Levels of Global Warming, Study Finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Human activities are accelerating global warming at unprecedented rates, leading to a temperature rise of 1.19 degrees Celsius between 2014 and 2023, according to new research by over 50 leading international scientists. This marks an increase from the 1.14 degrees Celsius observed between 2013 and 2022, as revealed by the second annual Indicators of Global Climate Change report, spearheaded by the University of Leeds, UK. The study highlights that global warming induced by human actions is progressing at 0.26 degrees Celsius per decade, the fastest rate since record-keeping began. "Our analysis shows that the level of global warming caused by human action has continued to increase over the past year, even though climate action has slowed the rise in greenhouse gas emissions," stated Pr...
Why people should never take Pebbles from Coastal Beach or side space form Rivers: Scientist suggest with scientific reasoning

Why people should never take Pebbles from Coastal Beach or side space form Rivers: Scientist suggest with scientific reasoning

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Idea & Innovations
Cumberland Council in northern England has announced new measures to protect its beaches, imposing fines of up to £1,000 on individuals caught removing pebbles. This decision, while frustrating to some beachgoers, is essential for preventing coastal erosion and maintaining natural habitats, as research has shown. For many, visiting the beach evokes joyful childhood memories, where collecting pebbles as souvenirs seemed harmless. However, these pebbles play a critical role in providing habitats for various creatures and offering natural protection for homes and infrastructure from the sea. While many might have taken the odd pebble or even bags of them for garden rockeries, the removal of beach materials is illegal in the UK. This law, established under the 1949 Coastal Protection Act...
Mild Heatwave Sweeps Across Bangladesh Amid Rising Temperatures

Mild Heatwave Sweeps Across Bangladesh Amid Rising Temperatures

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters
As temperatures continue to soar across the country following a period of continuous rains earlier this month, a mild heatwave has gripped over 58 districts, with the potential to spread further in the coming days. The Department of Meteorology has issued a two-day heatwave warning or 'heat alert' in response to the escalating temperatures. Meanwhile, meteorologists have raised concerns about a potential cyclonic formation in the South Bay of Bengal after May 20, with the risk of down pressure in the sea that could intensify into a cyclone. Meteorologist Dr. Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallick warned of the likelihood of a cyclone forming in the South Bay of Bengal after the 21st, based on observations from various cyclone models. While the trajectory and intensity of the potential cyclone, ...
Aral Sea Catastrophe: ESCAP’s Multifaceted Approach to Environmental Recovery

Aral Sea Catastrophe: ESCAP’s Multifaceted Approach to Environmental Recovery

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In a region marked by stark environmental degradation and socio-economic upheaval, the Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest inland sea, stands as a tragic emblem of human-induced catastrophe. Over the past decades, the sea has dramatically shrunk by a staggering 90%, primarily due to extensive water diversion for irrigation and hydropower, exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The consequences are dire, with severe environmental and socio-economic repercussions plaguing the surrounding countries. The Grim Reality: Environmental and Socio-economic Fallout The depletion of the Aral Sea has triggered a cascade of crises, including the loss of water, increased salinity, and the collapse of local ecosystems. These changes have wrought havoc on livelihoods, plunging communitie...
Record Warmth in North Atlantic Raises Alarm Bells: What It Means for the Planet and Its Inhabitants

Record Warmth in North Atlantic Raises Alarm Bells: What It Means for the Planet and Its Inhabitants

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Amidst the wintry chill, an unsettling reality lurks beneath the surface of the North Atlantic waters: they're warmer than ever before. The sea surface temperature in this region, between South Carolina and Spain, is currently running about 2 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the average temperature over the last three decades, marking a record high. Visualizing the data reveals a stark picture: the thick orangey-red line representing 2023 stretches conspicuously above all others on the chart, signaling unprecedented warmth. Even more concerning is the shorter line from 2024, indicating a continued surge in temperature well above historical norms. Brian McNoldy, a climate researcher at the University of Miami, expressed deep concern over this alarming trend, emphasizing its implications...
Revealing the Hidden World: Satellite Technology Unveils Vast Expansion of Global Coral Reefs

Revealing the Hidden World: Satellite Technology Unveils Vast Expansion of Global Coral Reefs

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Idea & Innovations
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers utilizing advanced satellite imagery and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms have unveiled a stunning revelation: the world's coral reefs are nearly 25 percent larger than previously estimated. Through a collaborative effort involving satellite imagery, machine learning algorithms, and on-ground observations from a global network of experts, an additional 64,000 square kilometers (24,700 square miles) of coral reefs have been identified – an area equivalent to the size of Ireland. This newfound expanse brings the total area of the planet's shallow reefs – spanning depths of 0 to 20 meters – to a staggering 348,000 square kilometers, akin to the dimensions of Germany. Within this vast domain lies approximately 80,000 square kilometers of ha...
Unprecedented Geological Changes Unveiled by Drone Footage due to recent Japan 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake: Massive Ground Uplift observed

Unprecedented Geological Changes Unveiled by Drone Footage due to recent Japan 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake: Massive Ground Uplift observed

Breaking News, Disasters, Thoughts & Talks
In the wake of the catastrophic 7.5 magnitude earthquake that jolted Japan on January 1, 2024, shocking drone footage has emerged, exposing a harrowing reality. The ground in various locations across Japan has risen, reaching staggering heights of up to 13 feet. Watch the drone footage here to witness the dramatic transformation of the landscape. Earlier reports detailed the substantial shift of Japan's coasts by more than 800 feet after the seismic event struck the Noto Peninsula. The earthquake's impact is now vividly displayed in the drone footage, revealing raised land and altered topography. Satellite images captured the stark changes in the affected areas, showcasing a significant retreat of the sea by 820 feet. This retreat has led to the emergence of once-submerged land, r...
Study Reveals Major US Atlantic Coast Cities Are Sinking at Alarming Rates

Study Reveals Major US Atlantic Coast Cities Are Sinking at Alarming Rates

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Thoughts & Talks
A recent study has uncovered a concerning reality for major cities on the US Atlantic coast, including New York City, Long Island, and other coastal regions – they are sinking at a rate of 2mm per year. The sinking land poses significant threats, raising concerns about flooding, long-term viability, and the potential impact on densely populated areas. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, sheds light on the impact of sinking land on major metropolitan areas like Baltimore, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. These coastal cities are already susceptible to flooding, and the additional threat of sinking land amplifies the risks. While the sinking may appear gradual, researchers emphasize that the consequences are real and pose a serious threat to th...
Assessing Coastal Vulnerability to climate and non-climate drivers: Major Concerns for Coastal residing mega cities

Assessing Coastal Vulnerability to climate and non-climate drivers: Major Concerns for Coastal residing mega cities

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Thoughts & Talks
Climate change is global phenomena, which impacting humanity form multi-dimensional way. The sea level rise is currently one of the most important climate change pressures along the coastal belt across the globe before the humanity. Recent reports and analysis says that, it is expected to continue rising and possibly accelerate during this century due to the increase in the average global surface temperature, and contributions from changes in ice sheet dynamics. The data analyzed by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) that the sea level is projected to rise between the present (1980 to 1999) and the end of the 21st century (2090 to 2099) under the six SRES scenarios1 by between 18 and 59 centimeters. The global mean sea-level rise scenarios or p...