Monthly Archives: March 2018

Climate Letter #1140

A report says the Sahara Desert has expanded about 10% since 1920.  Climate change and natural climate cycles both contributed to the cause, which was most extensive in summer months.  The area of increase, including Lake Chad and its surroundings, … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1139

Focus on India.  This post from Carbon Brief has all sorts of statistics needed to evaluate the prospects for India’s future impact on global climate change.  India has about the same population as China and has all the tools in … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1138

Thick boreal forests in Alberta are disappearing.  They are being converted to grassland and open deciduous forest, via a combination of drought and wildfire.  Researchers are looking for conversion of half to possibly 75% of Alberta’s current forests in this … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1137

The principal message of the long IPBES report that was posted in yesterday’s letter (Thomson Reuters).  “Billions of people live on farmland that is deteriorating and producing less food, and this situation could force hundreds of millions of people to … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1136

A major new report on land degradation and the loss of biodiversity.  This was issued by a scientific group backed by the UN, in many ways structured like the IPCC but without the longevity or level of publicity.  The message … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1135

A new IEA report:  Following two years of small declines, energy-related CO2 emissions rose to a record high in 2017.  The increase in carbon emissions “was the result of robust global economic growth of 3.7%, lower fossil fuel prices and … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1134

A new European report on extreme weather events has provocative information.  This update of a major study issued in 2013 has data confirming the fast-growing pace of change in recent decades.  It also reviews evidence of a weakening and even … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1133

The outlook for “internal migration” due to climate change over the next few decades.  As a companion to cross-border migration it gets less attention but the numbers of people likely to be involved are large and the potential for problems … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1132

Californians are being warned about the approach of an “atmospheric river” rainfall system.  This unusual type of event that is setting up could become one of the strongest on record because so much water vapor is involved in the current … Continue reading

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Climate Letter #1131

A report on the considerable effects of “short-lived climate pollutants.”  These are non-CO2 gases and other particles that play a major role in climate change, especially in the Arctic, and are capable of being controlled by changes in human behavior.  … Continue reading

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