Faster disaster: Climate change fuels ‘flash droughts’, intense downpours and storms

After the northern summer of extreme heat and disastrous fires, we’ve seen more exceptional autumn weather over Europe with record-breaking heat in the UK. Meanwhile, record-breaking rain and intense…Continue readingFaster disaster: Climate change fuels ‘flash droughts’, intense downpours and storms

Century’s end may bring annual 100-year floods

Most coastal communities will encounter 100-year floods annually by the end of the century, even under a moderate scenario where carbon dioxide emissions peak by 2040, a new study…Continue readingCentury’s end may bring annual 100-year floods

US hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters so far this year

Between January and August, the United States was struck by a record-breaking 23 weather and climate disasters where losses exceeded $1 billion in each case. The tally for 2023…Continue readingUS hit by record number of billion-dollar disasters so far this year

Mediterranean’s devastating Storm Daniel may be harbinger of storms to come

Storm Daniel, which wrought devastation across the Mediterranean in the past week, killed 15 people in central Greece where it dumped more rain than previously recorded before sweeping across…Continue readingMediterranean’s devastating Storm Daniel may be harbinger of storms to come

After slew of disasters, Greeks wonder what is happening to their democracy

Floods, wildfires and a deadly train collision this year have raised questions about the competence of state authorities and central government.Continue readingAfter slew of disasters, Greeks wonder what is happening to their democracy

Greece’s record rainfall and flash floods: Across the Mediterranean, the weather is becoming more dangerous

Flash floods were triggered by rainfall from the arrival of Storm Daniel on Monday September 4 which also affected Turkey and Bulgaria. The following day, in the village of…Continue readingGreece’s record rainfall and flash floods: Across the Mediterranean, the weather is becoming more dangerous

Record rainfall causes flooding in Hong Kong days after typhoon

Record rainfall in Hong Kong caused widespread flooding in the early hours of Friday, disrupting road and rail traffic just days after the city dodged major damage from a…Continue readingRecord rainfall causes flooding in Hong Kong days after typhoon

Death toll rises to four in Greece after floods, more than 800 rescued

The death toll from floods in central Greece has risen to four after severe rainstorms turned streets into raging torrents, hurled cars into the sea, and washed away roads…Continue readingDeath toll rises to four in Greece after floods, more than 800 rescued

Roads turned into rivers as torrential rains lash Spain

At least three people have died and two are missing in Spain after heavy rains triggered flash floods and impacted transportation systems. The weekend storm affected almost the whole…Continue readingRoads turned into rivers as torrential rains lash Spain

Dramatic climate action needed to curtail ‘crazy’ extreme weather

The “crazy” extreme weather rampaging around the globe in 2023 will become the norm within a decade without dramatic climate action, the world’s leading climate scientists have said. The…Continue readingDramatic climate action needed to curtail ‘crazy’ extreme weather

A year on, the devastating long-term effects of Pakistan’s floods are revealed

The flooding in Pakistan in August and September 2022 – described by UN secretary general António Guterres as a “monsoon on steroids” – led to the deaths of more…Continue readingA year on, the devastating long-term effects of Pakistan’s floods are revealed

Slovenia asks for support from EU and Nato after devastating floods

Slovenia on Sunday called for help from the EU and Nato alliance to deal with the aftermath of flooding that killed at least three people and caused damage estimated…Continue readingSlovenia asks for support from EU and Nato after devastating floods

Anger in China over plan to use cities as ‘moat’ to save Beijing from floods

Chinese social media users have reacted angrily to comments from a local Communist party official suggesting that the city of Zhuozhou and other flood-hit areas near Beijing should be…Continue readingAnger in China over plan to use cities as ‘moat’ to save Beijing from floods

Climatologist warns of Italy’s vulnerability to climate crisis

The collapse of a glacier in the Dolomites and a landslide on the island of Ischia. Devastating floods, wildfires and record-breaking heatwaves. The worst drought of the Po, Italy’s…Continue readingClimatologist warns of Italy’s vulnerability to climate crisis

Streets become rivers as Beijing records heaviest rain in 140 years

Millions of people have been hit by extreme weather events and prolonged heatwaves around the globe in recent weeks, events that scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change.…Continue readingStreets become rivers as Beijing records heaviest rain in 140 years

Mediterranean on fire as blazes spread across nine countries

Algeria: At least 34 people were killed, where 8,000 firefighters battled blazes across the tinder-dry north. Fires burned in a total of 15 provinces, leading to the evacuation of…Continue readingMediterranean on fire as blazes spread across nine countries

From scorching heat to deadly storms, Europe has no rest from ‘summer of hell’

Temperatures have consistently topped 40 degrees Celsius this week across southern and eastern European countries, and for some areas like Sicily there remains no respite. The Italian island was…Continue readingFrom scorching heat to deadly storms, Europe has no rest from ‘summer of hell’

Exploring the multi-billion-dollar risk to economic activity from climate extremes affecting ports

More than $122 billion of economic activity—$81 billion in international trade—is at risk from the impact of extreme climate events, according to new research from Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute.Continue readingExploring the multi-billion-dollar risk to economic activity from climate extremes affecting ports

Greenland melted recently, says study that raises future sea level threat

A mile-thick ice sheet in Greenland vanished around 416,000 years ago during a period of moderate natural warming, driving global sea rise to levels that would spell catastrophe for…Continue readingGreenland melted recently, says study that raises future sea level threat

Greenland melted some 416,000 years ago, shows high risk of causing sea level rise today

Camp Century is 138 miles inland from the coast and only 800 miles from the North Pole; the new Science study shows that the region entirely melted and was…Continue readingGreenland melted some 416,000 years ago, shows high risk of causing sea level rise today

‘We are damned fools’: scientist who sounded climate alarm in 80s warns of worse to come

The world is shifting towards a superheated climate not seen in the past 1m years, prior to human existence, because “we are damned fools” for not acting upon warnings…Continue reading‘We are damned fools’: scientist who sounded climate alarm in 80s warns of worse to come

The ‘kidneys of Kolkata’: Indian wetlands under threat

The wetlands system processes about 60 percent of Kolkata’s sewage free of charge, saving the city over $64 million a year. Farms in the wetlands provide about 150 tons…Continue readingThe ‘kidneys of Kolkata’: Indian wetlands under threat

Deadly flooding hit several countries at once. Scientists say this will only be more common

Extreme rainfall accompanied by deadly flooding hit the United States and several other countries over the weekend and last week. In the U.S., flooding claimed five lives in Upper…Continue readingDeadly flooding hit several countries at once. Scientists say this will only be more common

Global warming is supercharging weather events, say scientists

Schools in Delhi closed after monsoon rains caused landslides and flash floods on Monday. More than 50 people died across northern India, including in the Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand…Continue readingGlobal warming is supercharging weather events, say scientists

At least 50 dead in Pakistan monsoon floods

At least 50 people, including eight children, have been killed by floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains that have lashed Pakistan since last month, officials said Friday. The…Continue readingAt least 50 dead in Pakistan monsoon floods

Antarctic tipping points: The irreversible changes to come if we fail to keep warming below 2˚C

The slow-down of the Southern Ocean circulation, a dramatic drop in the extent of sea ice and unprecedented heatwaves are all raising concerns that Antarctica may be approaching tipping…Continue readingAntarctic tipping points: The irreversible changes to come if we fail to keep warming below 2˚C

Dangerous slowing of Antarctic ocean circulation sooner than expected

“Our data show the impacts of climate change are running ahead of schedule,” said lead author Kathryn Gunn, of the Australian Science agency CSIRO and Britain’s Southampton University. The…Continue readingDangerous slowing of Antarctic ocean circulation sooner than expected

Flooding in Somalia displaces 200,000 people: official

Experts say extreme weather events are happening with increased frequency and intensity due to climate change—and Africa, which contributes the least to global warming, is bearing the brunt.Continue readingFlooding in Somalia displaces 200,000 people: official

Study shows warming planet is leading to an increase in ‘atmospheric river’-associated flooding in India

AR events impacted the country 596 times, 95% of which occurred during a monsoon season. They also found that 54% of the biggest AR events occurred over the past…Continue readingStudy shows warming planet is leading to an increase in ‘atmospheric river’-associated flooding in India

Rising seas are causing septic systems to fail, finds researcher

Continue readingRising seas are causing septic systems to fail, finds researcher

Researchers discover a cause of rapid ice melting in Greenland

“These ice-ocean interactions make the glaciers more sensitive to ocean warming,” said senior co-author Eric Rignot, UCI professor of Earth system science and NASA JPL research scientist. “These dynamics…Continue readingResearchers discover a cause of rapid ice melting in Greenland

Seas have drastically risen along southern U.S. coast in past decade

Multiple new studies highlight a rate of sea level rise that is ‘unprecedented in at least 120 years’ along the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern U.S. coast.Continue readingSeas have drastically risen along southern U.S. coast in past decade

“Buckle up. More extreme events are expected,” says head of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The United States is Earth’s punching bag for nasty weather. Blame geography for the U.S. getting hit by stronger, costlier, more varied and frequent extreme weather than anywhere on…Continue reading“Buckle up. More extreme events are expected,” says head of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

More than 90% of world’s salt marshes likely to be underwater by 2100, study concludes

Continue readingMore than 90% of world’s salt marshes likely to be underwater by 2100, study concludes

‘Uncharted territory’: South Sudan’s four years of flooding

Four straight years of flooding, an unprecedented phenomenon linked to climate change, has swamped two-thirds of South Sudan but nowhere more dramatically than Bentiu, a northern city besieged by…Continue reading‘Uncharted territory’: South Sudan’s four years of flooding

Confirmed: Global floods, droughts worsening with warming

Continue readingConfirmed: Global floods, droughts worsening with warming

‘Everyone should be concerned’: Antarctic sea ice reaches lowest levels ever recorded

Continue reading‘Everyone should be concerned’: Antarctic sea ice reaches lowest levels ever recorded

Sea level rise poses particular risk for Asian megacities

The study showed that internal climate variability could increase sea level rise in some locations by 20–30% more than what would result from climate change alone, exponentially increasing extreme…Continue readingSea level rise poses particular risk for Asian megacities

Sea ice in Antarctic at record low: US data center

Continue readingSea ice in Antarctic at record low: US data center

Satellites observe speed-up of glaciers on the Antarctic peninsula

Continue readingSatellites observe speed-up of glaciers on the Antarctic peninsula

Study of Yellow River flooding over past 1,000 years shows human activities made flooding worse

Continue readingStudy of Yellow River flooding over past 1,000 years shows human activities made flooding worse

Climate, ice sheets & sea level: the news is not good

Parts of Earth’s ice sheets that could lift global oceans by meters will likely crumble with another half degree Celsius of warming, and are fragile in ways not previously…Continue readingClimate, ice sheets & sea level: the news is not good

Building higher islands could save the Maldives from sea-level rise, says study

Continue readingBuilding higher islands could save the Maldives from sea-level rise, says study

Rising seas threaten ‘mass exodus on a biblical scale’, UN chief warns

António Guterres calls for urgent action as climate-driven rise brings ‘torrent of trouble’ to almost a billion people.Continue readingRising seas threaten ‘mass exodus on a biblical scale’, UN chief warns

Dutch flood memories unleash new climate fears

Seventy years after the worst natural disaster to strike the Netherlands, Chiem de Vos, seven at the time, still hears his neighbour’s desperate cries of “My children are drowning!”…Continue readingDutch flood memories unleash new climate fears

Climate change is coming for the Jersey Shore, retiring coastal expert warns

A minimal [sea level] rise of another 2 feet (0.6 metres) is projected from now through 2100, though the Federal Emergency Management Agency uses an intermediate rise of 4.65…Continue readingClimate change is coming for the Jersey Shore, retiring coastal expert warns

Philippines floods force tens of thousands to flee homes

Continue readingPhilippines floods force tens of thousands to flee homes

Climate change made deadly floods in West Africa 80 times more likely

Devastating floods this [northern hemisphere] summer and fall [autumn] displaced 1.5 million Nigerians and killed 612. In all of West Africa, more than 800 people died. Researchers have determined…Continue readingClimate change made deadly floods in West Africa 80 times more likely

Why scientists are using the word scary over the climate crisis

More and more scientists are now admitting publicly that they are scared by the recent climate extremes, such as the floods in Pakistan and west Africa, the droughts and…Continue readingWhy scientists are using the word scary over the climate crisis

Ocean heat found to be accelerating and fuelling extreme weather

More than 90% of the heat caused by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels is taken up by the ocean. 15 scientists carried out a…Continue readingOcean heat found to be accelerating and fuelling extreme weather

‘Like a waterfall’: deadly Italian storms spark climate debate

At least 10 people died and 4 were missing after an extraordinary thunderstorm sparked major flooding in central Italy. Prime Minister Mario Draghi confirmed the toll, while saying it…Continue reading‘Like a waterfall’: deadly Italian storms spark climate debate

World heading into ‘uncharted territory of destruction’

The world’s chances of avoiding the worst ravages of climate breakdown are diminishing rapidly, as we enter “uncharted territory of destruction” through our failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions…Continue readingWorld heading into ‘uncharted territory of destruction’

Rising seas fueled by climate change to swamp $34 billion in US real estate in just 30 years

Higher high tides, supercharged by rising sea levels, could flood all or parts of an estimated $34 billion worth of real estate along the nation’s coasts within just 30…Continue readingRising seas fueled by climate change to swamp $34 billion in US real estate in just 30 years

Warming of up to 5°C in this century projected for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East

Unprecedented and societally disruptive extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts, dust storms and torrential rains, will soon become a reality unless immediate, ambitious, and transboundary climate action is…Continue readingWarming of up to 5°C in this century projected for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East

Chad’s heaviest rains in 30 years leads to ‘catastrophic’ floods

Chad’s heaviest seasonal rainfall in more than 30 years has left parts of the capital N’Djamena navigable only by boat and forced thousands to flee their flooded homes over…Continue readingChad’s heaviest rains in 30 years leads to ‘catastrophic’ floods

The Indonesians living in flooded villages

The rice fields are washed away. The coconut trees and chilli plants, flooded with salt water, are all dead. The farmers’ fish ponds fail, the water so high that…Continue readingThe Indonesians living in flooded villages

Why are Pakistan’s floods so extreme this year?

Pakistan is experiencing its worst floods this century. At least one-third of the country is under water. Scientists say several factors have contributed to the extreme event, which has…Continue readingWhy are Pakistan’s floods so extreme this year?

Pakistan declares floods a ‘climate catastrophe’ as death toll tops 1,000

Flash floods, which have intensified in recent days, have swept away villages, roads, bridges, people, livestock and crops across all four provinces. Pakistan has appealed for international help as…Continue readingPakistan declares floods a ‘climate catastrophe’ as death toll tops 1,000

World’s biggest ice sheet could cause massive sea rise without action

The world’s biggest ice sheet could cause “several meters” of sea-level rise over centuries if the global temperature rises more than 2°C, according to a British study. Researchers at…Continue readingWorld’s biggest ice sheet could cause massive sea rise without action

Troubling new research about East Antarctica

The eastern two thirds of Antarctica is covered by an ice sheet so large that if it melted the sea would rise by 52 meters (170 feet). An estimated…Continue readingTroubling new research about East Antarctica