Tuesday, July 1News That Matters

Tag: disasters

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...
Use of Emerging Technologies like Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects

Use of Emerging Technologies like Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in Disaster Risk Reduction: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects

Breaking News, Tech, Thoughts & Talks
In the recent era of digital world, Artificial intelligence has become most popular and innovative technology, which is playing a critical role in managing disaster risk and predicting the extreme events. It has a wide range of applications from the forecasting the extreme weather events, to development of hazard maps, to the detection of events in real time basis, and integrated with spatial technology can provide the real-time situational awareness for any disaster event, and beyond. When we talk about AI let’s try to understand the AI form technology perspectives and how this can improve the disasters management practices.  AI refers to emerging technologies that mimic or even outperform the human intelligence while performing certain tasks or even to automate the things. AI tools an...
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...
Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Breaking News, Climate Actions
Scientists from Ohio State University (OSU) have studied ice cores from Nevado Huascaran, the world’s highest tropical mountain located in the Peruvian Andes, to gain unprecedented insights into the climate history of the Amazon Basin over the past six decades. Unlike polar regions, samples from tropical areas like Nevado Huascaran can provide valuable information about phenomena such as El Niño and the movement of monsoon winds. The research involved collecting ice core samples from the summit and the mountain col, the lowest point between two ridges. Key Points: •Nevado Huascaran, standing at nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, is the world’s highest tropical mountain. •Ice core samples were collected from the summit and the mountain col to analyze the impact of climate change ...
World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Begins Drifting After 40 Years Grounded

World’s Largest Iceberg A23a Begins Drifting After 40 Years Grounded

Climate Actions, Disasters
In a significant development, the world’s largest iceberg, A23a, has finally broken free from its grounded position, initiating its drift in the Weddell Sea. Originating from West Antarctica’s Fichner-Ronne ice shelf, A23a measures a staggering 4000 sq km (1,500 square miles) with a thickness of about 400 meters (1,300 feet), making it the largest iceberg globally. After being grounded for an extended period since 1986, recent observations by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite confirm its movement, estimated at approximately 4.8 km (3 miles) per day, propelled by winds and currents. Iceberg A23a Animation The colossal iceberg’s journey was tracked through an animation provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), showcasing its shifts on November 2, November 14, and November 26, 2023...
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. ...
How space technology helped humanity in the field of early warning of weather related disasters and connectivity

How space technology helped humanity in the field of early warning of weather related disasters and connectivity

Breaking News, Space
Space technology can measure and predict the effects of unforeseen disasters that can threaten both the environment and the population. Atmospheric technology can take care of disaster risk assessments, mitigation, and disaster risk management adjustments. Before using this type of technology worldwide, there must be a growing awareness of potential disasters, building national capacity and developing a solution that is more specific and specific to the needs of the developing world. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model of early warning and control system using satellite telemetry, as well as to determine what current unresolved issues and future needs of advance warning platforms are currently analyzing current global trends. Climate change is changing the global ...
Cosmic Slide-Whistle: Mysterious Signal from Deep Space Baffles Scientists

Cosmic Slide-Whistle: Mysterious Signal from Deep Space Baffles Scientists

Breaking News, Space
In a cosmic symphony of peculiar signals, scientists have captured an unprecedented occurrence within the depths of the cosmos. Amidst the repetition of fast radio bursts (FRBs), researchers have identified a drop in the center frequency of the signals, likened to a cosmic slide-whistle when translated into musical notes on a xylophone. The mysterious nature of fast radio bursts, or FRBs, continues to intrigue scientists, defying easy explanations and offering glimpses into the enigmatic workings of the universe. FRBs are powerful bursts of radio emission lasting from microseconds to seconds, each releasing energy equivalent to 500 million Suns. While elusive and challenging to study, a select few FRB sources exhibit a unique behavior—they repeat, allowing for detailed analysis and pote...
2°C Global Temperature Rise Could Make Indus Valley Uninhabitable for 2.2 Billion

2°C Global Temperature Rise Could Make Indus Valley Uninhabitable for 2.2 Billion

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
A new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that if global temperature rise by 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, about 2.2 billion people living in the Indus River Valley in northern India and eastern Pakistan may face prolonged periods of heat exceeding human tolerance. The research indicates that regions including northern India, eastern Pakistan, eastern China, and Sub-Saharan Africa will experience high-humidity heatwaves, which are even more dangerous due to reduced evaporative cooling capabilities. These areas are primarily home to lower-to-middle-income countries, where many individuals lack access to air conditioning or effective means to combat the health risks associated with extreme heat. Beyond specific thresholds of he...
Iceland Declares State of Emergency Amidst Seismic Surge: Volcanic Eruption Imminent?

Iceland Declares State of Emergency Amidst Seismic Surge: Volcanic Eruption Imminent?

Breaking News, Idea & Innovations
Iceland, known for its stunning landscapes, is on high alert as a series of powerful earthquakes strike the Reykjanes peninsula, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency. The seismic activity near Grindavik has raised concerns about a potential volcanic eruption, leading to the evacuation of the village and heightened vigilance across the region. Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management has declared a state of emergency due to intense earthquake activity, particularly at Sundhnjukagigar north of Grindavik. The seismic events have not only damaged infrastructure but also heightened the risk of a volcanic eruption. Authorities warn that the earthquakes could escalate, emphasizing the need for immediate civil defense measures. Seismic Surge Points to Poss...