Category: Ecology and Sustainability
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Record Fires Consume the Pantanal
The largest continuous wetland area on the planet, the Pantanal recorded 9,014 fire hotspots in the last 12 months, nearly seven times more than the 1,298 recorded in the same period last year. The data comes from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Particularly striking, in addition to the higher number of fires, is…
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Summer Solstice: This Thursday Is the Longest Day of the Year in the Northern Hemisphere
This Thursday (June 20), everyone in the northern half of the planet will experience the summer solstice, the longest day of the year north of the Equator. The Earth has a solstice every six months, in June and December. Before the summer solstice, the sun appears at a higher point in the sky at the…
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The Northeast of the U.S. Will Be Hit by the First Heat Wave of the Season Next Week
Scorching temperatures will suffocate the Northeast of the United States next week, and Americans will undoubtedly sweat a lot during the first heat wave of the season in the region. After a weekend with wonderful temperatures, thermometers will rise to what “could be classified as a heat wave” by mid-next week, with temperatures exceeding 90…
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A Series of Mini Earthquakes Shakes Los Angeles. Is It a Sign That Something Bigger Is Coming?
Southern California has recently been shaken by several small earthquakes. They produced minor tremors and left that lingering question: is this the beginning of something bigger? First, a magnitude 3.6 earthquake in the Ojai Valley sent weak tremors from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles on May 31. Then, two small earthquakes occurred in the El…
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First Week of Hurricane Season in the U.S.
Last Saturday (June 1) marked the official start of the hurricane season in the Atlantic. Meteorologists are predicting an “extremely active” season, with some forecasting the highest number of storms ever recorded. These storms could endanger not only coastal areas but also regions further inland, especially during the months of August and September, the peak…
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Brazil Has 1,942 Cities at Risk of Environmental Disaster
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With the worsening of climate change caused by human action on the environment, environmental and climatic disasters have increased worldwide, as seen in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. The Brazilian government has identified 1,942 cities susceptible to disasters associated with landslides and floods — nearly 35 percent of all municipalities…
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United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Support for Flood-Affected Areas in Brazil
The United States, through USAID, plans to provide $800,000 in humanitarian assistance to meet the immediate needs of people affected by the devastating floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. This brings the total USAID humanitarian assistance in response to the recent floods in Brazil to $1 million. Widespread flooding…
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Storms Hit Several U.S. States Leaving Deaths
Strong storms with high winds and hail hit northern Texas on Tuesday morning (28), as much of the United States was recovering from severe weather that left at least 23 people dead during the Memorial Day weekend. The weekend storms caused fatalities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kentucky. Approximately 160,000 homes and businesses were…
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Afraid of Turbulence? These Are the Routes with the Most Turbulence in the World
The recent incident involving a Singapore Airlines flight that had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday (21) after “severe turbulence” has raised awareness about the dangers of turbulence and the areas where passengers are likely to experience it. The Boeing 777-300ER was traveling from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18…
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Global Wave of Extreme Weather Events Indicates Summer with Increased Risks
A series of unprecedented weather and climate events has hit several continents in recent weeks, killing hundreds of people and displacing many others. The relentless heat in Southeast Asia, flooding in southern Brazil and Texas, and other events forecast an intense summer and align with scientific expectations of a warmer climate. The extremes occurring this…