I search in the newspapers around the world for news that corroborates the climate emergency in which humanity is mired almost to the waist. I also follow various climate scientists and other related profiles on Twitter to collect more information that ends up not being published in the media. Then I gather all this data and make a monthly collection here, in the Apocalypse Bulletin.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND THE ECONOMY
HEAT WAVES AND ENDLESS DROUGHT
UNEXPECTED AND SCARY
The World’s Rivers, Canals and Reservoirs Are Turning to Dust. Bloomberg 08/26/2022
Macron warns France of ‘the end of abundance’ and tough times ahead. France 24 08/24/2022
Sebastian Vettel withdraws from F1 for the climatic reasons. As a competitor, he can no longer justify his role in the climate crisis. 24 Heure 08/01/2022
A 20-month-old child has died in Spain after being struck on the head by a hailstone. BBC 08/31/2022
French power producer EDF announced another three power plants would curtail output because of rising temperatures. Rivers have become too hot in the latest heatwave to be used to cool the reactors. Renew Economy 08/05/2022
Iraq’s Garden of Eden, parched by drought, is now ‘like a desert’. Times of Israel 08/17/2022
The ocean absorbs 93% of the energy from greenhouse gas emissions, which causes ocean waters to warm, which then contributes to extreme weather events. Twitter: Peter D Carter (Director Climate Emergency Institute, IPCC expert reviewer) 08/05/2022
Methane hunters: what explains the surge in the potent greenhouse gas? Unravelling the mystery will reveal whether or not the world might face the worst-case scenario of a “methane bomb”. Financial Times 08/23/2022
2021 saw record-high greenhouse gases, sea levels and ocean heat, new report shows. ABC News 08/31/2022
THE ICE IS MELTING
Switzerland’s 1,400 glaciers have lost more than half their total volume since the early 1930s) It is worth remembering that most rivers in Europe are formed by meltwater. Phys.org 08/27/2022
From June 1st to July 31st, the thaw on Svalbard was 1.5 times greater than the previous record, which was set in 2018. Year after year the climate emergency worsens. Twitter: National Snow and Ice Data Center 08/04/2022
Warm waters marching south threaten the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. University of Southampton 08/03/2022
Finnish researchers say climate models have underestimated the pace of warming in the Arctic region. Al Jazeera 08/11/2022
Satellite imagery shows Antarctic ice shelf crumbling faster than thought. Reuters 08/11/2022
(Landslide in Monte Perdido: heat accelerates the destruction of the last glaciers. El País 08/10/2022
HAVOC IN PAKISTAN
In 2022, Pakistan has been battered by adverse weather. In the Apocalypse Bulletim July 2022 there are several news about the heat wave in this country with the thermometers reaching 50ºC+. Now, it is the floods, caused both by the record rains brought by the monsoons and also by the volume of water that forms due to the melting of glaciers, that are part of the scenario of this country. There, the climate emergency led to the decree of national emergency.
According to World Metereological Organization, one particular site at Padidan (Sindh province) reported 1228 mm monthly rainfall (as of 30 August) compared to the average monthly rainfall of 46 mm!
Half of the country of 220 million people is under water due to melting glaciers and a totally out of control monsoon. More than 1,000 people have died since June. Le Monde 08/29/2022
Pakistan – Flash floods wreak havoc in Swat, damage houses and block roads. Dunya News TV 08/26/2022
No province safe from the ravages of rain. Dawn 08/23/2022
Pakistan appeals for international assistance after floods. Reuters 08/24/2022
In the post “The 10+ Flood Videos” has more about Pakistan, and this Twitter by journalist @Dareenkhann has another video that also impressed me a lot.
HISTORIC HEAT WAVE IN CHINA
The most intense heat wave since national weather records began in 1961, which has caused power crunches, forest fires and dried-up rivers across China. Chinadaily 08/24/2022
Extreme China heatwave could lead to global chaos and food shortages. NZ Herald 08/27/2022
The extreme heat in China has also resulted in crop failures in many parts of the country, adding to inflationary pressures last month. CNN 08/17/2022
China fires rods into de sky to make it rain, as it faces worst heat wave on record. CNN 08/16/2022
“DERECHO” IN EUROPE
This gale was characterized as a “derecho”, which is a long-lasting storm that hits a very large area, causing considerable damage. Europe Severe Storms Laboratory studied the phenomenon and presented an analysis in The derecho and the hailstorms of August 18, 2022.
Storms in Europe: Girls, 4 and 8, among a dozen dead in Austria, France and Italy. Gusts of 220 kph were recorded in France on Thursday. Euronews 08/19/2022
Five people dead after violent storms hit Austria. Austria is currently experiencing a heatwave and authorities have warned of thunderstorms. The Local 08/19/2022
In Corsica, after violent and sudden storms: “People were screaming everywhere, trees were falling like dominoes”. Le Monde 08/18/2022
Ferris wheel in Piombino amid the fury of the wind: the cabins fly (be sure to watch the video in the news link). The storm front, which started in Corsica, crossed Tuscany causing damage. Il Corriere della Sera 08/18/2022
Gusts of 150 km/h: two deaths. Damage from Tuscany to Venice. Il Corrière della Sera 08/18/2022
Storms, rains and hailstorms: thirteen departments on orange alert, a “risk of violent phenomena” according to Météo-France. Le Monde 08/17/2022
THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND THE ECONOMY
The climate emergency is deeply affecting the economy and is responsible for part of the rising inflation the world is experiencing. Windstorms and heavy rains can destroy buildings and infrastructure, but in the countryside, drought also wreaks havoc, affecting crops and livestock.
Texas’ cotton industry is facing its worst harvest in years — costing the state more than $2 billion. Texas Tribune 08/31/2022
India: Govt may curb export of rice to maintain ‘food security’. Hindustan Times 08/27/2022
Dry farms from China to Iowa will put pressure on food prices. Yahoo Finance News 08/28/2022
‘No sign of rain coming our way’: Europe’s extreme weather risks lower harvests and higher prices, CNBC 08/31/2022
American farmers are killing their own crops and selling cows because of extreme drought. ctvnews.ca 08/17/2022
Drought, heat greatly damage agricultural crops in Croatia. Xinhua 08/16/2022
One-third of the food we eat is at risk because the climate crisis is endangering butterflies and bees. CNN 08/15/2022
St David’s fire: Huge wildfire erupts with thousands of pounds of crop being destroyed. Mirror 08/13/2022
‘Carnage’ as millions of factory farm chickens die in sweltering sheds during record heatwave. Independent 08/02/2022
Apples are baking on branches and hosepipe bans hit millions as England falls into drought. The climate crisis, driven by burning fossil fuels, is making hot weather, drought and flooding more frequent and intense in the UK, and the hotter the planet gets, the worse these impacts will be. CNN 08/13/2022
‘Very scary’: European agriculture hit hard by climate change and drought. Yahoo News 08/11/2022
As climate change threatens more homes, some properties are getting too costly to insure. CNBC 08/07/2022
Half the country is in drought, and no region has been spared. Cattle ranchers in the state told CNN the conditions have been so dire and the economic strain so large that they can no longer maintain healthy livestock. CNN 08/04/2022
Read also Climate crisis and losses in agribusiness.
RAIN AND FLOODING
At least 6 people have lost their lives after torrential rains caused floods and landslides across parts of Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone. Floodlist 08/29/2022
Flash flooding washes away Interstate 10 near Arizona-California border. Fox News 08/25/2022
(Dallas, Texas) Record Deluge Includes Totals Nearing 15 Inches as Rain Continues to Fall. NBC 08/22/2022
Northern India: 40 killed in floods and landslides as forecasters warn of more heavy rain to come. Sky News 08/21/2022
Torrential rain causes havoc in New Zealand, hundreds forced from homes. Reuters 08/19/2022
Torrential rain, floods in Sudan kill 77 and destroy 14,500 homes. Al Jazeera 08/18/2022
Record rainfall kills at least 9 in Seoul as water floods buildings, submerges cars. In just one night, parts of Seoul received 497mm of rain, and more to come! CNN 08/10/2022
Flash floods wash away homes in Sudan; over 60 dead. Africanews 08/18/2022
Three people killed by heavy rains in Mexico (see video in the news). Milenio 08/14/2022
(Saudi Arabia) Flood waters raid homes and detain vehicles in the road… and transfer residents to shelter centers. Archyde 08/06/2022
People Run for Cover, Wade Through Water as Mass Floods Wreak Havoc on Disney World. Entrepeneur 08/05/2022
India Monsoon News Highlights: IMD declares red-alert in 8 districts of Kerala; Heavy rain alert issued for Odisha. The Indian Express 08/04/2022
Residents are isolated, and houses are invaded by water in the midst of rains in Recife, Brazil. Globo 08/04/2022
U.S. high tide flooding breaks records in multiple locations. NOOA.gov 08/02/2022
VIDEO: Heavy rain paralyses life in Oman, road collapses due to floods. Gulf Today 08/02/2022
WILDFIRES EVERYWHERE
Wildfires, in addition to the damage, still add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, worsening the climate emergency.
Brazil records worst day for Amazon fires in 15 years. Phys.org 08/25/2022
Photos: Algeria reels from deadly forest fires. The prime minister blames the abnormal heat and winds. Al Jazeera 08/21/2022
Fires in Sicily, fear in Palermo: flames threaten homes in Borgo Nuovo. The scorching temperatures, with the mercury column that exceeded 40 degrees, and the strong sirocco wind fuel the fires in the Palermo area. Italian Post 08/18/2022
Fire affects vegetation area in western Bahia; smoke reaches residential area. It hasn’t rained in the western region of the state for about two months and the weather is dry. Due to the wind, the spread of the flames happens faster. G1 08/16/2022
France battles ‘monster’ wildfire as heatwaves scorch Europe. Reuters 08/11/2022
HEAT WAVES AND ENDLESS DROUGHT
Four years of poor rains in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia have left the region facing catastrophe this year. An unprecedented four failed rainy seasons has killed millions of livestock, destroyed crops and forced 1.1 million people from their homes in search of food and water. The Guardian 08/20/2022
UK weather: This heatwave could be more dangerous than the one last month as country under heat dome. Sky News 08/11/2022
France broke several heat records. The highest temperature until 11/08/2022 was 41.5ºC in Navarrenx and Ile d’Yeu also broke record maximum of 36ºC. Twitter: Extreme Temperatures Around The World
Europe’s worst ever drought: in pictures. The Guardian 08/08/2022
Europe’s drought on course to be worst for 500 years, European Commission researcher warns. Sky News 08/09/2022
‘The new normal’: how Europe is being hit by a climate-driven drought crisis. The Guardian 08/08/2022
Power grid shuts down as Iraq pushes 50C in crippling heatwave. News.com.au 08/08/2022
All over Europe, rivers are drying up. This is the case in Germany, with the dramatic case of the Rhine, but the scenario is repeated in countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Holland or England. Jornal de Negócios aug/2022
London’s River Thames has shrunk as extreme heat and looming drought dries up its headwaters. CNN 08/05/2022
Workers in Iraq get day off as temperatures pass 50C (BBC 08/04/2022). The next day, August 5th, the temperature hit 53ºC!
In Japan, record highs being broken in this extreme heat wave. Twitter: Extreme Temperatures Around the World
Drought in France: What restrictions on water use apply in your region? Le Monde 08/03/2022
Pacific Northwest heat wave suspected as cause of 14 deaths in Oregon, officials say. USA Today 08/02/2022
Seattle just recorded 6 straight days of 32ºC+ for the first time. Portland just recorded 7 straight days of 35°C+ for the first time. There are records and more records of maximum temperature corroborating the climate emergency. US Storm Watch 08/01/2022
Driest July in England since 1935 – Met Office. BBC 08/01/2022
Heat wave hits Japan with soaring temps expected around Tokyo. The Mainichi 08/01/2022
Europe Drought 2022: France in a critical situation. Europeans24.com 08/01/2022
How are floods and droughts happening at the same time? The short answer is that, as the Earth warms, its atmosphere can hold more water vapor. VOX 08/09/2022
CLIMATE CRISIS AND NATURE
A swordfish has been spotted in UK waters, an “incredibly rare” occurrence which could be the result of rising sea temperatures. The Telegraph 08/30/2022
As many as one in six U.S. tree species is threatened with extinction. Washington Post 08/23/2022
UK drought: Why do the trees think it’s autumn already? Experts warn the heatwave and drought has pushed trees into survival mode, with leaves dropping off or changing colour as a result of stress. BBC 08/19/2022
African wildlife parks face climate, infrastructure threats. A prolonged drought in much of the continent’s east, exacerbated by climate change, and large-scale developments, including oil drilling and livestock grazing, are hampering conservation efforts in protected areas. AP 08/11/2022
Global heating means almost every sea turtle in Florida now born female. The Guardian 08/04/2022
Record amount of seaweed is choking shores in the Caribbean. AP 08/03/2022
To finish the August bulletim, follow an analysis of the news below. The typical news that everyone ignores, maybe it’s because of the “maybe”, or maybe it’s due to the mention of an event in the future. Humans love to gamble and the actuall bet is the future of our own existence on the planet, and also of the other species that, unfortunately, share the house with us.
Extinction Risk May Be Much Worse Than Current Estimates. Scientific American 08/04/2022