Monthly Archives: December 2019

“2019 in review:  Polarised world entering era of climate impacts” (Climate Home News).  The past year saw a great collision between political and physical forces.  “As 2019 draws to a close, the rift between the climate vanguard and the laggards … Continue reading →

Australia’s heatwave and bushfires are now forcing evacuations as far south as Melbourne (Phys.org).  “Conditions worsened on Friday with high winds and temperatures soaring across the country—reaching 47 degrees Celsius (117 Fahrenheit) in Western Australia and topping 40 degrees in … Continue reading →

Things that scientists have learned in the past decade showing that the risks due to climate change are greater than what had been expected earlier.  Bob Berwyn wrote this for Inside Climate News, mostly covering changes in our natural surroundings … Continue reading →

An important new study about how Greenland’s ice cover has melted in the past (Inside Climate News).  The study determined how much melting occurred during the four interglacial periods preceding the one we are just emerging from.  The previous four … Continue reading →

Two notable scientists describe what constitutes the “Amazon tipping point” and say it has already arrived (Science Advances).  This article makes the essential rainwater recycling process clearly understandable.  (Be sure to note that the winds that make it possible regularly … Continue reading →

Somalia has gotten the rains it wanted, but then far too much, causing extreme flooding (Phys.org).  “The arid Horn of Africa country has always been hostage to climate extremes.  Rain is erratic, and drought a feature of life.  But catastrophic … Continue reading →

Another record hot day for the Australian continent (BBC News).  “The nation endured its hottest-ever day on Tuesday, but that record was smashed again on Wednesday – which saw an average maximum of 41.9C (107.4F).  Tuesday’s 40.9C had eclipsed the … Continue reading →

Australia has its hottest day on record (Phys.org).  Average highs for the entire continent were 105.6F, and still higher temperatures are expected this week.  “On Saturday parts of Sydney are forecast to tip over 46 degrees celsius (115 Fahrenheit).”  As … Continue reading →

Fascinating new research shows how rapidly the West Antarctic ice sheet can collapse (National Geographic).  Just 10-12,000 years ago, when Earth was cooler than today, it shrank to a size much smaller than now, then recovered because of isostatic rebound … Continue reading →

Why Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change (BBC News).  A professor of climate science offers this clear and concise explanation.  Here are two of the key reasons:  “First, African society is very closely coupled with the climate system; hundreds … Continue reading →