water Archives - Disasters News

Feb142025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Panama Canal Faces Climate Risks But 2025 Brings Hope with High Water Levels

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The Panama Canal, a vital 82-kilometer shipping artery connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, has long been a key player in global trade. As much as 5% of the world’s shipping relies on the canal, making it essential for supply chains. However, recent years have highlighted a growing concern: climate-driven water shortages. Since its opening in 1914, the canal has operated through a system of locks, raising ships about 25 meters to cross Gatun Lake before lowering them again. The lake, fed by rainfall, is critical to ensuring smooth passage for massive Neopanamax vessels carrying over 13,000 cargo containers. Each day, about 7 billion liters of water are extracted from the lake to operate the locks, making consistent rainfall essential. Panama’s typically high annual rainfall ov...

Jan162025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

DO NOT DRINK Notice in LA Wildfires Pose Dual Threat High Winds and Water Contamination Risks

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

As LA wildfires rage on, high winds are expected to worsen conditions, amplifying the destruction and raising new concerns about drinking water safety. Last week, Pasadena Water and Power issued its first-ever "Do Not Drink" notice to a third of its customers, citing the risk of toxic chemicals infiltrating the water supply after infrastructure damage. Although the advisory has since been lifted for most areas, the incident highlights the hidden dangers urban fires pose to water systems. Unlike wildfires in forests, urban fires wreak havoc on critical infrastructure. Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University professor, explains that ash, soot, and debris can enter water systems when pressure drops during a fire. Compounds released from burning synthetic materials are especially harmful, even ...

Dec272024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

China Approves Construction of World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra, Sparking Concerns in India and Bangladesh

Breaking News, Fact Check, Thoughts & Talks

China has greenlit the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border, raising geopolitical and environmental concerns in downstream nations India and Bangladesh. With an estimated cost of $137 billion, the project will surpass all other infrastructure projects globally, including China’s Three Gorges Dam. The hydropower project, part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, will be built along the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra. Located at a massive gorge where the river takes a U-turn into Arunachal Pradesh, the dam will exploit a vertical drop of 2,000 meters over a 50 km stretch to generate more than 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to power over 300 million people. ...

Dec242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Astronomers Discover Universe’s Largest Water Reservoir in Distant Quasar

Breaking News, Learning & Developments, Space

Astronomers have identified an enormous water reservoir surrounding a quasar located over 12 billion light-years away, offering a glimpse into the universe’s distant past. This quasar, APM 08279+5255, is powered by a supermassive black hole approximately 20 billion times the mass of the Sun and emits energy equivalent to a thousand trillion suns. The discovery reveals an astonishing 140 trillion times the volume of Earth’s oceans in water vapour, making it the largest and farthest known water source in the universe. The quasar’s environment is highly unique, with a mix of hydrogen-rich gases like water vapour and carbon monoxide forming a region spanning hundreds of light-years. Despite the gases being sparse compared to Earth’s atmosphere, they are remarkably warm and dense for such...

Dec182024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Staying Hydrated New Study Highlights Health Benefits of Drinking More Water

Breaking News, Fact Check, Learning & Developments

Drinking plenty of water has always been considered essential for good health, but a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), sheds new light on the specific advantages it provides. By analyzing 18 previous studies, the research emphasizes the broad health benefits associated with increased water consumption. Key Findings Among the studies reviewed, researchers found significant health benefits in drinking more water, including: Reducing the risk of kidney stones Supporting weight loss Preventing urinary tract infections Managing migraines Improving blood sugar control in diabetes Regulating low blood pressure Not all the studies offered conclusive evidence of causal relationships, but the trends suggest that ...

Apr32024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Water Crisis Looms as Rivers Run Dry and Reservoirs Dwindle Across India

Breaking News, Climate Actions

An alarming water crisis is unfolding across India as rivers run dry and reservoirs reach critically low levels. According to data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), at least 13 east-flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar currently have no water. These rivers, including Rushikulya, Bahuda, and Vamsadhara, play a crucial role in supplying water for irrigation and domestic consumption in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. The storage in the basin has witnessed a continuous decline, with the current storage standing at zero. Last year, the storage was 32.28 per cent of the basin's capacity, highlighting the severity of the current situation. Furthermore, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have experienced large rainfall deficits since March 1, exacerbating the water scarcity...