topic: Storms

topic: Storms

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As lightning strike fatalities increase, Bangladesh still has no reliable preventive measures
- Between 2011 and 2020, lightning strikes claimed the lives of 2,164 people, or nearly four people every week, in Bangladesh, according to the country’s disaster management department. However, a Bangladeshi NGO reports at least a thousand more lightning related fatalities between 2010 and 2021.
- Researchers linked the increased frequency of lightning with climate change; as for the increased death toll, they blamed the government’s inefficient protection measures, including the lack of tall trees.
- To reduce the number of fatalities, the government has started working on long-term solutions, such as installing lightning arresters and growing palm trees. Nevertheless, a significant sum of money is being squandered and nothing functions as expected, say experts.

In Philippines, climate change tests Indigenous farming like never before
- In the uplands of the Philippines’ Iloilo province, Indigenous Suludnon farmers maintain deep connections to the agroecosystem that has sustained their community for generations.
- Agroforestry systems and diversified planting have helped the Suludnon cope with a changing climate, and traditional knowledge of natural signs of hazardous weather have allowed them to prepare for storms.
- However, with climate change bringing increasingly frequent extreme weather events, along with crop pests and disease, the Suludnon’s time-refined methods are coming under strain.

Organic farming, and community spirit, buoy a typhoon-battered Philippine town
- After their town was devastated by floods in 2004, residents of Kiday in the Philippines shifted to organic methods when rebuilding their farms.
- Today, the Kiday Community Farmers’ Association practices agroecology and agroforestry, maintaining communal plots as well as private gardens.
- The association receives nonprofit support, but government funding continues to prioritize conventional agriculture over more sustainable methods.
- Farmers in Kiday also face a new threat in the form of the government-supported Kaliwa Dam, which is under construction upstream of the village.

Global study reveals widespread salt marsh decline
- The world lost 1,453 square kilometers (561 square miles) of salt marsh between 2000 and 2019, an area twice the size of Singapore, according to a new study based on satellite imagery.
- In addition to providing wildlife habitat and numerous ecosystem services, salt marshes store a great deal of carbon.
- Salt marsh loss resulted in 16.3 teragrams, or 16.3 million metric tons, of carbon emissions per year, according to the study. That’s the rough equivalent of the output of around 3.5 million cars.
- Climate change is one of the greatest threats to marshes. Other contributors to their global decline include conversion to aquaculture, coastal erosion, eutrophication, drainage, mangrove encroachment and invasive species.

Deadly landslides prompt Philippine president to call for tree planting
- Typhoon Nalgae, which made five landfalls on Oct. 29, killed 123 people across the Philippines, including at least 61 who died in floods and landslides on the southern island of Mindanao.
- After inspecting the damage wrought by the storm, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. blamed deforestation and climate change for the scale of the disaster, and called on flood control plans to include tree planting.
- The Philippines already has an ambitious tree-planting program, but an audit found it has so far fallen short of its target.

As stronger storms hit Bangladesh farmers, banks are climate collateral damage
- Farmers in coastal areas of Bangladesh are increasingly defaulting on their loans due to climate change-driven storms that are destroying the farms they put up as collateral.
- Agricultural loans for the year to May 2022 amounted to the equivalent of $3 billion, or a fifth of the value of all loans distributed in Bangladesh.
- Increasingly frequent and severe storms therefore pose as much of a threat to the country’s financial sector as to farming communities and the environment.
- The warming of the sea in the Bay of Bengal as a result of climate change is supercharging storms, giving them more energy, helping them to drive tidal surges farther inland and dump larger volumes of rain than before.

Bangladeshi coastal communities plant mangroves as a shield against cyclones
- Bangladesh’s southwestern coastal districts are prone to tidal surges, which can become extreme during cyclone seasons, with surges as high as 3 meters (10 feet).
- The coasts have embankments built across to keep the seeping seawater from reaching the coastal settlements, but as cyclones get more severe under a changing climate, these embankments aren’t enough, and losing houses to cyclonic floods has become the norm for coastal communities here.
- As a protection measure, the Bangladeshi government and several NGOs, with the communities’ participation, have initiated large-scale planting of mangrove trees along the embankments to act as a natural shield against tidal surges.
- The NGOs have provided the initial financial and technical support to the communities and are encouraging a self-reliant process of planting native mangrove species.

In landslide-prone Colombia, forests can serve as an inexpensive shield
- Scientists say that climate change and high deforestation rates will worsen the severity of landslides across Colombia.
- Regular landslides in the country already have a huge human and economic toll; a disaster in Dosquebradas municipality in February killed 14 people after a heavy rainstorm hit the coffee-growing region.
- Yet scientists say that targeted forest restoration and protection offers an inexpensive way to mitigate landslides, with one study in the Colombian Andes showing that it would be 16 times cheaper to invest in forests than to pay the high costs of repairing destroyed roads, power lines and pipelines after landslides.
- Scientists say that using forests to fight landslides would also have major biodiversity benefits in Earth’s second-most biodiverse nation.

In Puerto Rico, a marathon effort builds to restore mangroves and dunes
- Hurricane Maria in 2017 devastated several mangrove ecosystems in Puerto Rico, leading ecologists to start restoration efforts.
- Mangroves provide myriad benefits: storm protection, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and pollution filtering, among others.
- In addition to mangroves, organizations are working to restore sand dunes to add an extra buffer against tropical storms and protect turtle nesting sites.
- And while they’ve benefited from recent injections of funding and collaboration with experts from around the world, the restoration groups note that they have more work ahead than they can currently take on.

As rising seas destroy Ghana’s coastal communities, researchers warn against a seawall-only solution
- Some 37% of Ghana’s coastal land was lost to erosion and flooding between 2005 and 2017.
- Severe storm surges flooded several communities in 2021, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people.
- Research indicates around 340 million people worldwide will be affected by global warming-fueled sea level rise by the middle of the century. Ghana’s government is responding to the growing crisis by fortifying some coastal areas with seawalls, but researchers say relying on seawalls alone may do more harm than good.
- This story was produced with support from the Pulitzer Center.

In trio of storms hitting Western Europe, role of climate change is complicated
- In early February, a polar vortex caused a series of three storms — Dudley, Eunice and Franklin — to hit the U.K. and Western Europe, unleashing heavy rains and winds across the region.
- The most powerful storm was Eunice, which had wind measurements of up to 196 kilometers per hour (122 miles per hour).
- Storms striking in quick succession are not unusual for Western Europe.
- While climate change did not necessarily drive these winter storms, it likely made the rainfall and storm surge more intense.

Two storms in two weeks carve trail of death and destruction in Madagascar
- Batsirai, a category 4 cyclone, struck Madagascar’s eastern coast on Feb. 5, leaving 10 people dead.
- The island nation is still recovering from another tropical storm, Ana, which made landfall on Jan. 22 and left dozens dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.
- Data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that 12 storms of category 4 or 5, the highest level, made landfall on Madagascar between 1911; of these 12, eight occurred since 2000.

Typhoon exposes biodiversity haven Palawan’s vulnerability — and resilience
- On Dec. 17, 2021, Typhoon Rai hit the Philippines’ Palawan Island, causing severe damage to protected areas including Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP), Cleoptra’s Needle Critical Habitat, Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape, and El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area.
- The full impact of the storm has not yet been assessed; at PPSRNP, where preliminary surveys have been conducted, more than 2,200 trees were damaged on the park’s fringes and sightings of birds were down by 90%.
- Experts say the storm-damaged forests can recover — if they aren’t disturbed by human incursions, fires, or additional storms.

Coastal deforestation fuels more frequent storms in West Africa, study warns
- Storms are hitting the densely populated coastal pocket of West Africa twice as frequently as 30 years ago, a new study says.
- Declining forest cover is fueling this increased storm frequency in the coastal regions of southern West Africa.
- With the loss of forests, the daytime temperature difference between land and sea is widening, generating stronger winds and feeding convective storms.
- “The coastal location of deforestation in SWA [southern West Africa] is typical of many tropical deforestation hotspots, and the processes highlighted here are likely to be of wider global relevance,” the study authors write.

Women on storm-hit Philippine island lead Indigenous effort to restore mangroves
- Residents of low-lying coastal areas in archipelagic countries like the Philippines are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including the increase of powerful storms like 2013’s Typhoon Haiyan.
- Mangrove forests can buffer the impact of storm surges and high winds, but many of the Philippines’ mangrove ecosystems are severely degraded and efforts to restore them often fail.
- Busuanga Island, in the western province of Palawan, has a particularly effective mangrove restoration program, one that is spearheaded by Indigenous women who play a key role in planting, monitoring and protecting the forests.

US economy will take biggest hit if we continue with business as usual: report
- New research finds that if humans carry on with business as usual and the environmental degradation that results, we will pay a steep price — quite literally.
- Researchers found that if we simply continue under the status quo, the global economy will lose at least $479 billion a year, adding up to nearly $10 trillion in losses by 2050, as compared to the “baseline” scenario in which there is no change in ecosystem services over the next 30 years.
- Of the 140 countries included in the study, the United States stands to take the biggest economic hit, losing $83 billion per year by 2050 under this “business as usual” scenario that includes intense consumption of energy and raw materials, widespread land-use change, ongoing rises in greenhouse gas emissions, and continued loss of biodiversity.

World is fast losing its cool: Polar regions in deep trouble, say scientists
- As representatives of the world’s nations gather in Madrid at COP 25 this week to discuss global warming policy, a comprehensive new report shows how climate change is disproportionately affecting the Arctic and Antarctic — the Arctic especially is warming tremendously faster than the rest of the world.
- If the planet sees a rise in average temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius, the polar regions will be the hardest hit ecosystems on earth, according to researchers, bringing drastic changes to the region. By the time the lower latitudes hit that mark, it’s projected the Arctic will see temperature increases of 4 degrees Celsius.
- In fact, polar regions are already seeing quickening sea ice melt, permafrost thaws, record wildfires, ice shelves calving, and impacts on cold-adapted species — ranging from Arctic polar bears to Antarctic penguins. What starts in cold areas doesn’t stay there: sea level rise and temperate extreme weather are both linked to polar events.
- The only way out of the trends escalating toward a climate catastrophe at the poles, say scientists, is for nations to begin aggressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions now and embracing sustainable green energy technologies and policies. It remains to be seen whether the negotiators at COP 25 will embrace such solutions.

As climate chaos escalates in Indian Country, feds abandon tribes
- South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Oglalla Sioux Indian Reservation is one of the most impoverished places in the U.S. But in 2018 and 2019, the reservation was struck by two horrific storms — with economic harm to their homes and livelihoods that the community’s low income residents have found it extraordinarily difficult to absorb.
- High Plains weather has been getting more variable, erratic and destructive: in 2011 came severe drought and wildfires, followed in 2012 by severe flooding. Sometimes these oscillations take the form of high-powered storms, with a rash of tornadoes in 2016, a destructive ice storm in 2018, and a bomb cyclone in 2019.
- According to the National Climate Assessment issued at the end of 2018, “Climate change is expected to exacerbate these [extreme weather] challenges.” But starting with Bill Clinton and continuing under Donald Trump, the federal government has severely slashed federal aid to Indian reservations and their low income residents.
- As a result, Pine Ridge is increasingly forced to rely on its own resources and on creative solutions, including crowdfunded local and national volunteer teams who have risen to the challenge and helped the communities repair storm damage. But as extreme weather intensifies on the High Plains, surviving there will get tougher.

Climate change may make hurricanes and cyclones deadlier, study finds
- New research suggests that tropical cyclones may become deadlier under climate change.
- According to simulated estimates of past storm mortality in Mexico, storm-related deaths are projected to increase under five out of six climate change models, in one case by as much as 52 percent.
- In one climate scenario, storm-related mortality may decrease if increases in storm severity are outweighed by storms becoming less frequent.
- Developing nations are especially vulnerable to cyclones exacerbated by climate change due to poverty and poor government coordination.

Study finds people apt to shrug off extreme weather as normal
- A new study published Feb. 25 that tracked Twitter posts on weather-related topics has found that people are quick to accept unusual weather as normal.
- The researchers calculated that we humans set our baseline for what we consider normal weather from what we’ve experienced in just the past two to eight years.
- The authors of the study write that, as people get used to wilder swings in temperature and other weather patterns, they might be reticent to find ways to deal with climate change or even see it as a problem.

Cyclone harmed Fijian crab fishery in 2016, research finds
- Research published in the journal Climate and Development demonstrates that Tropical Cyclone Winston damaged mud-crab fisheries in Fiji in 2016.
- Surveys of the mostly women crab fishers in Bua province before and after Winston, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, revealed that mud crabs were smaller and less numerous following the cyclone.
- The research could help government agencies address the lingering impacts of natural disasters to community fisheries.

Drone 3D models help assess risk of turtle nesting beaches to sea level rise
- In a recent study, researchers took drone-based images to map the structure of sea turtle nesting beaches in northern Cyprus to determine their susceptibility to flooding from sea level rise.
- Automated drone flights with on-board cameras can record sequences of photos of the surface below, which can be merged in a process called photogrammetry to construct three-dimensional models of the survey area.
- The fast pace of innovation and versatility of drones can improve sea turtle conservation efforts through cheaper, more efficient monitoring.

Critically endangered Philippine eagle hangs on despite horde of threats
- Once inhabiting every island in the Philippines, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) – the world’s longest eagle – now occupies a fraction of its former range and is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
- Habitat loss is the eagle’s biggest threat. More than 70 percent of the Philippine’s forests have been cleared since the 1970s to make room for urban and agricultural expansion, pushing the eagles higher into the mountains and fragmenting their available habitat.
- Satellite data show recent encroachment into primary forest in several areas of remaining eagle habitat. Conservationists say one of these areas – a protected watershed area on the island of Mindanao – is controlled by armed groups, which reap profits from illegal logging enterprises. Eagle habitat further north on the island of Luzon was recently affected a strong typhoon, which hit the east coast of the island in September and which the World Meteorological Association attributed to human-caused climate change.
- Conservationists worry a national ban on open-pit mining will be overturned, leading to more habitat loss as mining companies rush to exploit gold and copper deposits, and that hydroelectric projects will further reduce nesting sites for the eagles.

Dress like a polar bear: learning to love muskoxen at 15 below zero
- Enduring subzero temperatures that make your face freeze, dressing as a bear, and getting chased by an angry male muskox, are all in a day’s work for biologist Joel Berger. His experiences and scientific insights are featured in a new book that focuses on the lives and survival strategies of muskoxen and other cold-adapted animals.
- The autobiographical book, “Extreme Conservation: Life at the Edge of the World,” profiles Berger’s studies of inhospitable ecosystems, ranging from the high latitudes above the Arctic Circle, to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.
- Mongabay contributor Gloria Dickie interviews Berger to see what makes a human want to live and work in some of the Earth’s most brutal environments. The quick answer: to see how barely studied Northern and alpine large mammals — especially muskoxen — are adapting, or not adapting, to a rapidly warming world.
- Berger’s findings regarding instinctual and learned behavior, evolution and survival in a globally warmed world turn out to be revelatory not only to cold-adapted animals, but also relevant to wildlife species around the globe — and to the scientists who want to conserve them.

In Malaysia, an island drowns in its own development
- Malaysia’s Penang Island has undergone massive development since the 1960s, a process that continues today with plans for transit and land-reclamation megaprojects.
- The island is increasingly facing floods and landslides, problems environmentalists link to paving land and building on steep slopes.
- This is the second in a six-part series of articles on infrastructure projects in Peninsular Malaysia.

Climate change could be intensifying dust storms in India, experts say
- In the past couple of weeks, severe dust storms, thunderstorms and lightning have hit several parts of India, resulting in the deaths of more than 150 people and injuries to at least 300 others.
- With the rise in global temperatures, the intensity of dust and thunderstorms is expected to increase in the future, experts say.
- But even though dust storms and thunderstorms are a common feature in India, there has been no focused work on studying the trends related to it.

Beyond polar bears: Arctic animals share in vulnerable climate future
- The media has long focused on the impacts of climate change on polar bears. But with Arctic temperatures rising fast (this winter saw the warmest October to February temperatures ever recorded), a wide range of Arctic fauna appears to be at risk, though more studies are needed to determine precise causes, current effects on population, and future projections.
- Diminishing Arctic snow, especially in the spring, may leave wolverines without ideal places to den. Caribou and reindeer populations have been in serious decline due to natural population fluctuation, but scientists don’t know if their numbers will recover under changed climate conditions.
- Lemmings are also being impacted by diminishing snow, often leaving the rodents without cover in spring and autumn. Their decline could impact the predators that prey on them, including Arctic foxes, red foxes, weasels, wolverines, and snowy and short-eared owls.
- Snowy owls have raised concerns because the seabirds they hunt in winter, which congregate around small holes in the Arctic ice, could become more widely dispersed in broader stretches of open water and therefore be harder to prey on. Scientists say more study of Arctic wildlife is urgently needed, but funding and media attention remains sparse.

Muskox and other Arctic mammals are feeling the heat of climate change
- Past studies have looked at Arctic climate change impacts on wildlife primarily among marine animals and with polar bears, but there is little data on most terrestrial mammals.
- Now, As part of a broader attempt to develop an ecological baseline for Arctic wildlife, researchers have focused on muskoxen, the least studied mammal in North America.
- According to a new study, increasingly common extreme weather events – such as rain-on-snow and extremely dry winter conditions occurring in Russia and Alaska during muskox gestation – result in smaller head size among muskox young. Smaller animals generally have poor survivorship rates.
- Scientists say that, with the Arctic warming twice as fast as the world average, new studies are urgently needed on cold climate mammals including muskoxen, reindeer and caribou, to determine how rapidly escalating climate change up North is impacting wildlife, habitats and ecosystems.

As 2017 hurricane season ends, scientists assess tropical forest harm
- This year’s Atlantic hurricane season – one for the record books – ended on 30 November, seeing six Category 3 to 5 storms wreaking massive destruction across the Caribbean, in the U.S. and Mexico. While damage to the built environment is fairly easy to assess, harm to conserved areas and species is more difficult to determine.
- Satellite images show extensive damage to the 28,400-acre El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico, the United States’ only national tropical rainforest. However, observers on the ground say the forest is showing signs of a quick recovery.
- More serious is harm to already stressed, endangered species with small populations. El Yunque’s Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrot was hard hit: out of 50 endemic wild parrots, 16 are known dead. Likewise, the Endangered imperial parrot endemic to Dominica, spotted just three times since Hurricane Maria.
- Ecosystems and species need time to recover between storms. If the intensity of hurricanes continues to increase due to escalating global warming as predicted, tropical ecosystem and species resilience may be seriously tested.

Trees provide ecosystem services worth $500 million to the world’s megacities
- Just as they do in forests and other natural ecosystems, trees deliver a variety of ecosystem services in cities. They sequester carbon and reduce air pollution and stormwater runoff, for instance.
- Researchers looked at 10 megacities on five continents that lie in five different biome types: Beijing, China; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cairo, Egypt; Istanbul, Turkey; London, UK; Los Angeles, United States; Mexico City, Mexico; Moscow, Russia; Mumbai, India; and Tokyo, Japan.
- They determined that trees provide an average of $505 million in benefits to each megacity every year, or about $1.2 million per square kilometer of trees.

New study: Climate change shifts timing of floods in Europe
- A team of 46 scientists analyzed five decades of data on river flooding in Europe, leading to the strongest evidence yet that climate change affects this important natural process.
- In northeastern Europe, where rising temperatures have accelerated snowmelt, the team found earlier flooding at more than 80 percent of the data collection locations.
- Across the rest of the continent, the impacts of climate change were less direct.
- In some places, such as the Atlantic coast, the researchers found a shift toward earlier flooding. Some parts of Europe near the Mediterranean Sea experienced flooding later in the year.

NASA and NOAA: 2016 hottest recorded year ever
- NOAA reported an average temperature for the year of 14.83 degrees C (58.69 degrees F) in 2016 – 1 degree C (1.69 degrees F) warmer than the average for the 20th century.
- NOAA also said that, at 10.15 square kilometers (3.92 million square miles), the Arctic’s sea ice level is the lowest it’s been since 1979.
- Weather- and climate-related disasters cost the U.S. 138 lives and $46 billion in 2016.

Towards the poles: tropical cyclones on the move

If you thought your relatively northerly or southerly location sheltered you from Mother Nature’s worst storms, think again For years we have known that the tropics are expanding towards the poles. However, there is something decidedly destructive accompanying that shifting warm weather: tropical cyclones. In a recent study led by Dr. James Kossin from the […]
Invasive species worsen damage from Hawaii’s storms

Iselle damage in Hawaii. Photo by Greg Asner Damage from Hurricane Iselle, which recently battered Hawaii’s Big Island, was exacerbated by invasion of non-native tree species, say experts who have studied the transformation of Hawaii’s native forests. Iselle, which made landfall on the Big Island on August 7, was the third-strongest tropical cyclone to hit […]
Will Haiyan’s impact in the Philippines be worsened by deforestation?

While it’s too early to assess the impact of Super Typhoon Haiyan — reportedly the strongest tropical storm ever recorded to make landfall — in the Philippines, the damage could be exacerbated by the large-scale loss of the country’s forests. According to the national Forest Management Bureau, forest cover in the Philippines declined from 21 […]
Sea and storm: coastal habitats offer strongest defense

Surging storms and rising seas threaten millions of U.S. residents and billions of dollars in property along coastlines. The nation’s strongest defense, according to a new study by scientists with the Natural Capital Project at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, comes from natural coastal habitats. Of the 25 most densely populated counties in […]
Drastic cuts to greenhouse gases could save hundreds of U.S. cities from watery grave

More than 1,700 American cities and towns – including Boston, New York, and Miami – are at greater risk from rising sea levels than previously feared, a new study has found. By 2100, the future of at least part of these 1,700 locations will be “locked in” by greenhouse gas emissions built up in the […]
Hurricane intensity, frequency to increase with climate change

Warmer ocean temperatures will increase the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones, typhoons and hurricanes in “most locations” this century, concludes a new study based on simulations using six global climate models. The research, published by MIT’s Kerry Emanuel in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, projects the largest increase in cyclones in the […]
Featured video: How climate change is messing with the jetstream
Weather patterns around the globe are getting weirder and weirder: heat waves and record snow storms in Spring, blasts of Arctic air followed by sudden summer, record deluges and then drought. Climate change due to fossil fuels emissions has risen the global temperature by 0.8 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the last century, impacting […]
Proposed coal plant threatens Critically Endangered Philippine cockatoo

One kilometer off the Philippine island of Palawan lies the Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary; here forest grows unimpeded from a coral island surrounded by mangroves and coral reefs. Although tiny, over a hundred bird species have been recorded on the island along with a major population of large flying foxes, while in the waters below […]
Rate of tree die-off in Amazon higher than conventionally believed

This image taken from a helicopter shows the same blowdown region a few years after the event that is imaged on the Landsat mortality map. The regrowing vegetation has covered up most of the downed trees, but some tree stems are still visible. Courtesy of the authors. The rate of tree mortality in the Amazon […]
Typhoon Bopha decimated coral reefs

Three weeks after Typhoon Bopha: all the Acropora coral species are dead and covered in algae and sediment. Photo courtesy of ESI. When Typhoon Bopha, also known as Pablo, ran ashore on Mindanao, it was the largest tropical storm it ever hit the Philippine island. In its wake the massive superstorm left over 1,000 people […]
Climate change already pummeling U.S. according to government report

State-by-state temperature records for 2012. Last year was the warmest on record for the continental U.S. going back to the late 19th Century. Courtesy of NOAA. Climate change is on the march across the U.S. according to a new draft report written by U.S. government scientists with input from 240 experts. It documents increasing and […]
2012 was America’s warmest year on record

2012 was the warmest year on record for the contiguous U.S. according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In a report posted on its web site, NOAA said the average temperature for 2012 was 55.3°F, or 3.2°F above the 20th century average and 1.0°F above 1998, the previous warmest year on record. The […]
Lessons From Sandy: extreme weather will be the new normal

In a recent forum held at the Harvard School of Public Health four expert panelists discussed the most important lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy. Daniel Schrag, climate scientist and Director of the Harvard Center for the Environment said that “hurricane Sandy has been connected by the public to climate change in a way that other […]
Illegal logging, mining worsened impact of Philippines’ killer typhoon

Typhoon Bopha as seen by satellite on December 1st. Photo by: NASA MODIS Rapid Response System. According to Filipino officials, rampant illegal logging and mining were likely a part of the cause for the high casualty count from Category 5 Typhoon Bopha (Pablo), especially in the Compostela Valley where government officials had warned people to […]
Hurricane Sandy pushes Haiti toward full-blown food crisis

Hurricane Sandy on October 25th in the Caribbean. Photo by: NASA. Although Haiti avoided a direct hit by Hurricane Sandy, the tropical storm caused severe flooding across the southern part of the country decimating agricultural fields. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs now warns that 1.5 million Haitians are at risk of […]
Facing ‘critical’ situation, New York Aquarium closed indefinitely

Google Earth image of the New York Aquarium location on Coney Island The New York Aquarium on Coney Island suffered “serious flood damage” during Hurricane Sandy and will be closed “indefinitely”, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which runs the aquarium and other zoos in New York City. WCS says its staff is working […]
New York Aquarium entirely ‘underwater’

Update: New York Aquarium closed indefinitely The WCS New York Aquarium sits on the boardwalk of Coney Island. Photo by: David Shankbone. Hurricane Sandy, which brought storm surges that reportedly reached 14 feet to New York City, has put the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium “under water,” according to a statement from the organization. […]
Hours before Hurricane Sandy hit, activists protested climate inaction in Times Square

Activists protest climate silence in New York City ahead of Hurricane Sandy. Photo courtesy of 350.org. On Sunday, as Hurricane Sandy roared towards the coast of the Eastern U.S., activists took to the streets in New York City to highlight the issue of climate change. Activists organized by 350.org unfurled a huge parachute in Times […]
How climate change may be worsening Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy near Jamaica. Sixty-nine people were killed in the Caribbean from the storm to date. Photo by: NOAA. While scientists are still debating some fundamental questions regarding hurricanes and climate change (such as: will climate change cause more or less hurricanes?), there’s no debating that a monster hurricane is now imperiling the U.S. East […]
Over 70 percent of Americans: climate change worsening extreme weather

Wind turbine in Minnesota, U.S. Photo by: Tiffany Roufs. According to a new poll, 74 percent of Americans agree that climate change is impacting weather in the U.S., including 73 percent who agreed, strongly or somewhat, that climate change had exacerbated record high temperatures over the summer. The findings mean that a large majority of […]
Great Barrier Reef loses half its coral in less than 30 years

Outbreaks of the coral eating crown of thorns starfish have been responsible for 42 percent of the decline in coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef between 1985 and 2012. Photo by: Katharina Fabricius, Australian Institute of Marine Science. The Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its coral cover in the last 27 years, […]
Mangroves protect coastal areas against storm damage

Extent of mangroves in Southeast Asia. Image courtesy of NASA and the US Geological Society. Click to enlarge. Mangroves reduce wave height by as much as 66 percent over 100 meters of forest providing a vital buffer against the impacts of storms, tsunamis, and hurricanes, according to a new report published by The Nature Conservancy […]
U.S. government raises hurricane outlook for 2012

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) raised its estimate of the number of storms that will likely form during this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA now predicts 12 to 17 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including 5 to 8 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher). The agency says […]
Earth systems disruption: Does 2011 indicate the “new normal” of climate chaos and conflict?

Before and after satellite images of flooding in Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. Photo by: NASA. The year 2011 has presented the world with a shocking increase in irregular weather and disasters linked to climate change. Just as the 2007 “big melt” of summer arctic sea ice sent scientists and environmentalists scrambling to re-evaluate the severity of […]
Vanishing mangroves are carbon sequestration powerhouses

Mangroves may be the world’s most carbon rich forests, according to a new study in Nature Geoscience. Measuring the carbon stored in 25 mangrove forests in the Indo-Pacific region, researchers found that mangroves forests stored up to four times as much carbon as other tropical forests, including rainforests. “Mangroves have long been known as extremely […]
Freak floods in US predicted by 2009 climate change report
A rash of flash floods has struck the US during this spring: Rhode Island, Tennessee, Arkansas, and most recently Oklahoma have all faced devastating floods that have resulted in the loss of property and in some cases tragic deaths. While flash floods have occurred throughout US history, the number of big floods this year appears […]
16 percent of mangrove species threatened with extinction

The first ever assessment of mangrove species by the IUCN Red List found 11 out of 70 mangrove species threatened with extinction, including two which were listed as Critically Endangered. Threats include coastal development, logging, agriculture, and climate change. Species were evaluated by mangrove specialists and the Global Marine Species Assessment Unit (GMSA), a joint […]
Healthy coral reefs produce clouds and precipitation

Climate change threatens coral reefs and precipitation along coasts. Twenty years of research has led Dr. Graham Jones of Australia’s Southern Cross University to discover a startling connection between coral reefs and coastal precipitation. According to Jones, a substance produced by thriving coral reefs seed clouds leading to precipitation in a long-standing natural process that […]
Chinese official links extreme snowstorm to global warming
Bitter cold and snow have shut down Beijing after it received 4-8 inches (10-20 centimeters) of snow on Sunday, the largest snowfall since 1951, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Guo Hu, the head of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau linked the storm to global climate change. “In the context of global warming, extreme atmospheric flows […]
Bangladesh tops list of most vulnerable countries to climate change
According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh is the most vulnerable nation to extreme weather events, which many scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change. From 1990 to 2008, Bangladesh has lost 8,241 lives on average every year due to natural disasters. In addition, rising sea levels also threaten millions of Bangladeshis. The […]
Photos of 10 strongest storms of the 2000s

Massive deforestation in the past decreased rainfall in Asia

Widespread deforestation led to a 30 percent decline in precipitation in India and 10 percent decline in China. Between 1700 and 1850 forest cover in India and China plummeted, falling from 40-50 percent of land area to 5-10 percent. Forests were cut for agricultural use across Southeast Asia to feed a growing population, but the […]
New report predicts dire consequences for every U.S. region from global warming

Sobering report is the most comprehensive to date. Government officials and scientists released a 196 page report detailing the impact of global warming on the U.S. yesterday. The study, commissioned in 2007 during the Bush Administration, found that every region of the U.S. faces large-scale consequences due to climate change, including higher temperatures, increased droughts, […]
Tropical storms affect carbon sinks by knocking down forests
Studying nearly a hundred and fifty years of tropical storm landfalls in the United States, researchers have discovered that the storm systems have a sizable impact on forest carbon sinks due to the large-scale destruction of trees. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study found that on average tropical storm systems […]
Mangroves save lives by softening cyclone’s blow

In 1999 a super cyclone struck the eastern coast of India, leaving 10,000 people dead. At the time, the Orissa cyclone, named after the Indian state which it battered, was the deadliest storm in India in over a quarter century. However, according to a new study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of […]
Revolutionary new theory overturns modern meteorology with claim that forests move rain

Largely ignored by scientific community, new theory could change how future generations view forests Two Russian scientists, Victor Gorshkov and Anastassia Makarieva of the St. Petersburg Nuclear Physics, have published a revolutionary theory that turns modern meteorology on its head, positing that forests—and their capacity for condensation—are actually the main driver of winds rather than […]
Global warming to strengthen Arctic storms

2008 Atlantic hurricane season second costliest on record
2008 Atlantic hurricane season second costliest on record 2008 Atlantic hurricane season second costliest on record mongabay.com December 1, 2008
Powerful hurricanes may be getting stronger due to warmer seas

Powerful hurricanes may be getting stronger due to warmer seas Powerful hurricanes may be getting stronger due to warmer seas mongabay.com September 3, 2008 Warming climate is causing the strongest hurricanes to strengthen and more moderate storms to stay the same, claims a new study published in Nature. However the data on which research is […]
Scientist forecast 4 Atlantic hurricanes in September

Scientists forecast 4 Atlantic hurricanes in September Scientists forecast 4 Atlantic hurricanes in September mongabay.com September 2, 2008 Prominent hurricane researchers are forecasting five tropical storms in the Atlantic for September, including four hurricanes. Two of these are expected to be “major” — category 3 or greater. Retired Colorado State University climatologist William Gray and […]
Could hurricane Gustav be stopped or diverted?

Could hurricane Gustav be stopped or diverted? Could hurricane Gustav be stopped or diverted? mongabay.com August 31, 2008 With Gustav threatening to become the second major hurricane to hit New Orleans in three years, the question emerges, is there something that could be done to redirect or at least diminish storms from major population areas? […]
Global warming increases “extreme” rain storms

Global warming increases “extreme” rain storms Global warming increases “extreme” rain storms mongabay.com August 7, 2008 Global warming is increasing the incidence of heavy rainfall at a rate greater than predicted by current climate models have predicted, reports a new study published in the journal Science. The findings suggest that storm damage from precipitation could […]
Cyclone batters Madagascar
Cyclone batters Madagascar Cyclone batters Madagascar wildmadagascar.org February 23, 2008 29 people were reported dead after Cyclone Ivan, a category 3 storm, struck Madagascar. The storm flooded key rice-producing regions in the country and comes a month after Cyclone Fame killed 13 on the island. Authorities in Madagascar say nearly 70,000 people were left homeless […]
Hurricane forecast calls for 7 hurricanes, 3 major, in 2008

Hurricane forecast calls for 7 hurricanes, 3 major, in 2008 Hurricane forecast calls for 7 hurricanes, 3 major, in 2008 mongabay.com December 7, 2007 2008 forecast: 13 named storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 major hurricanes, 1 U.S. strike probable Hurricane forecasters William Gray and Philip Klotzbach are predicting a “somewhat above-average” hurricane season for 2008. The […]
Global warming to boost severe thunderstorms in NYC, Atlanta

Global warming to boost severe thunderstorms in NYC, Atlanta Global warming to boost severe thunderstorms in NYC, Atlanta mongabay.com December 3, 2007 Global warming could lead to weather conditions that spawn severe thunderstorms in the United States, according to research appearing in the early edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. […]
Historical records of Atlantic hurricanes are accurate says study

Historical records of Atlantic hurricanes are accurate says study Historical records of Atlantic hurricanes are accurate says study Penn State University November 28, 2007 EDITOR SUMMARY: Historical records of Atlantic hurricane activity are more accurate than previously believed, reports a study published in the current issue of Geophysical Review Letters. A statistical model based on […]
Ecomigration: global warming will increase environmental refugees

Ecomigration: global warming will increase environmental refugees Ecomigration: global warming will increase environmental refugees mongabay.com November 28, 2007 Climate change could spawn the largest-ever migration of environmental refugees due to intensifying droughts, storms and floods, according to a new study published in Human Ecology. “People facing environmental disasters have no choice but to leave the […]
Felix: first time two Category-5 storms hit land in same season

Felix: first time two Category-5 storms hit land in same season Felix: first time two Category-5 storms hit land in same season mongabay.com September 4, 2007 Hurricane Felix made landfall in Nicaragua around 7:45 a.m. Eastern Time as a Category 5 storm with top winds at 160 mph (260 km/h), according to the U.S. National […]
Global warming to cause more severe thunderstorms, reports NASA

Global warming to cause more severe thunderstorms, reports NASA Global warming to cause more severe thunderstorms, reports NASA mongabay.com August 31, 2007 Global warming will increase the incidence of severe storms and tornados, report NASA scientists. Tony Del Genio, Mao-Sung Yao, and Jeff Jonas at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies have developed the first […]
Dean was 3rd most intense Atlantic hurricane at landfall

Dean was 3rd most intense Atlantic hurricane at landfall Dean was 3rd most intense Atlantic hurricane at landfall mongabay.com August 21, 2007 Hurricane Dean was the third most intense Atlantic hurricane to make landfall, according to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center who measured the storm’s central atmospheric pressure. Jamie Rhome, a hurricane specialist with […]
Could a hurricane hit California?

San Diego has been hit by hurricanes in the past and could be affected by such storms in the future, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While a hurricane in San Diego would likely produce significantly less damage than 2005’s Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, it could still exact a […]
U.S. government weather agency cuts hurricane outlook

U.S. government weather agency cuts hurricane outlook U.S. government weather agency cuts hurricane outlook mongabay.com August 6, 2007 The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday reduced its forecast for the number of tropical storms and hurricanes expected during the 2007 Atlantic season. NOAA said it now expected between 13 and 16 named storms, […]
2007 hurricane season downgraded, questions over climate role remain

2007 hurricane season downgraded, questions over climate role remain 2007 hurricane season downgraded, questions over climate role remain mongabay.com August 6, 2007 Hurricane researcher William Gray from Colorado State University cut his 2007 hurricane season outlook, saying there will likely be fewer storms than previously projected due to weak La Niña conditions and more atmospheric […]
2007 hurricane season to be weaker than expected says forecaster

2007 hurricane season to be weaker than expected says forecaster 2007 hurricane season to be weaker than expected says forecaster mongabay.com July 24, 2007 Forecaster downgrades 2007 hurricane season projections WSI Corp, a private forecaster, cut its 2007 hurricane season outlook, saying there will likely be fewer storms than previously projected, reports Reuters. WSI now […]
Hurricanes can help coral reefs

Hurricanes can help coral reefs Hurricanes can help coral reefs mongabay.com July 17, 2007 A close call with a hurricane can be beneficial to a stressed coral reef, reports a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The new research shows that hurricanes, which can form when surface temperatures reach about […]
9 Atlantic hurricanes expected in 2007

9 Atlantic hurricanes expected in 2007 9 Atlantic hurricanes expected in 2007 mongabay.com May 31, 2007 Hurricane forecaster William M. Gray of the Colorado State University updated his hurricane predictions for the 2007 storm season, expecting 17 named storms and nine hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. The forecasts were unchanged from his last bulletin. This […]
Hurricanes may help cool climate

Hurricanes may help cool climate Hurricanes may help cool climate mongabay.com June 1, 2007 Tropical cyclones and hurricanes play an important role in the ocean circulation patterns that transport heat and maintain the climate of North America and Europe, report researchers from Purdue University. “It was thought that hurricanes occurred over too short of a […]
Hurricanes occur during cool periods as well

Hurricanes occur during cool periods as well Global warming may not worsen hurricanes Hurricanes occur during cool periods as well mongabay.com May 28, 2007 A team of scientists have found evidence of intense hurricane activity during both cool and warm periods reports The New York Times. The findings suggest that factors other than sea temperature […]
Wind shear could reduce future hurricane activity

Wind shear could reduce future hurricane activity Wind shear could reduce future hurricane activity Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com April 17, 2007 The debate over the impact of global warming on hurricane intensity rages on with a new study published April 18 in Geophysical Research Letters. The research, conducted by Gabriel A. Vecchi of the National […]
2007 hurricane season will be ‘very active’ but not due to global warming

2007 hurricane season will be “very active” but not due to global warming 2007 hurricane season will be “very active” but not due to global warming Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com April 3, 2007 Developing La Nina conditions, not global warming, should make the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season “very active,” according to a top U.S. hurricane […]
Sixth cyclone hits Madagascar; impact ‘like tsunami’

Sixth cyclone hits Madagascar; impact “like tsunami” Sixth cyclone hits Madagascar; impact “like tsunami” Successive cyclones bring Madagascar to its knees IRIN April 3, 2007 JOHANNESBURG, 3 April 2007 (IRIN) – As the sixth mayor cyclone to hit Madagascar this season tears across the northeast of the impoverished Indian ocean island, a relentless succession of […]
Deadly cyclones hurt conservation efforts in Madagascar

Deadly cyclones set back conservation efforts in Madagascar Deadly cyclones set back conservation efforts in Madagascar Rhett A. Butler, wildmadagascar.org April 2, 2007 As Madagascar braces for the arrival of the sixth major cyclone (Gaya) to hit the Indian Ocean island this season, researchers from a prominent conservation have asked for help in the relief […]
Madagascar needs relief help after deadly cyclones

Madagascar needs relief help after deadly cyclones Madagascar needs relief help after deadly cyclones wildmadagascar.org March 30, 2007 Photo by Julie Larsen Maher A deadly cyclone has struck one of the most biologically diverse parts of the planet, forcing people from their homes and damaging their only source of livelihood. Cyclone Indlala has displaced more […]
Madagascar cyclones may be boon to vanilla market

Madagascar cyclones may be boon to vanilla market Madagascar cyclones may be boon to vanilla market mongabay.com March 27, 2007 A string of destructive cyclones that have struck the Indian island nation of Madagascar, off the southeastern coast of Africa, may serve as a boon to the depressed vanilla market. Madagascar, the largest producer of […]
Global warming is causing stronger Atlantic hurricanes finds new study

Global warming is causing stronger Atlantic hurricanes finds new evidence Global warming is causing stronger Atlantic hurricanes finds new study Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com March 1, 2007 Global warming is fueling stronger hurricanes according to a new Geophysical Research Letters study that revises that database of historic hurricanes. Previously the hurricane database was considered inconsistent […]
Caves may reveal if global warming is causing stronger hurricanes

Caves may reveal whether global warming is causing stronger hurricanes. Caves may reveal if global warming is causing stronger hurricanes mongabay.com January 29, 2007 (modified from a Jan. 26 article) Scientists have shown that cave formations could help settle the contentious debate on whether hurricanes are strengthening in intensity due to global warming. Measuring oxygen […]
Is global warming causing stronger hurricanes? Caves may hold the answer

Is global warming causing stronger hurricanes? Caves may hold the answer. Is global warming causing stronger hurricanes? Caves may hold the answer. mongabay.com January 26, 2007 Scientists have shown that cave formations could help settle the contentious debate on whether hurricanes are strengthening in intensity due to global warming. Measuring oxygen isotope variation in stalagmites […]
2006 is sixth warmest year, but hurricanes below average

2006 is sixth warmest year, but hurricanes below average 2006 is sixth warmest year, but hurricanes below average mongabay.com December 14, 2006 2006 will be the sixth-warmest year on record according to the World Meteorological Organization (WHO). The United Nations weather agency said the ten hottest years have all occurred in the past 12 years. […]
Saved by el Nino! Warm Pacific means fewer hurricanes

Saved by el Nino! Warm Pacific means fewer hurricanes Saved by el Nino! Warm Pacific means fewer hurricanes mongabay.com November 30, 2006 El Niño’s to blame for the quiet 2006 hurricane season according to researchers at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While some climate scientists forecast a big hurricane year in 2006, […]
New map shows paths of historic hurricanes

New map shows paths of historic hurricanes New map shows paths of historic hurricanes mongabay.com November 7, 2006 NASA posted a new historic hurricane map showing all storm tracks available from the National Hurricane Center and the Joint Typhoon Warning Center through September 2006. The map was created by Robert A. Rohde of Global Warming […]
Dust may weaken Atlantic hurricanes

Dust may weaken Atlantic hurricanes Dust may weaken Atlantic hurricanes mongabay.com October 9, 2006 Sahara Desert dust may weaken Atlantic hurricanes according to a new study published in the latest issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters An image, captured on Sept. 4, 2005, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard NASA’s TERRA satellite, shows […]
One year later: Hurricane Katrina in review

One year later: Hurricane Katrina in review One year later: Hurricane Katrina in review Historical look at the most damaging storm in U.S. history mongabay.com August 28, 2006 The 2005 hurricane season was the most active on record. While hurricane Katrina was the most devastating, causing 1833 fatalities and over $81 billion in damage, it […]
Americans believe hot weather, hurricanes linked to global warming

Americans believe hot weather, hurricanes linked to global warming Americans believe hot weather, hurricanes linked to global warming National Wildlife Federation (NWF) August 23, 2006 As first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina nears, a just-released Zogby poll shows that not only are Americans more convinced global warming is happening, they are also linking recent intense weather […]
Hurricane intensity linked to global warming

Hurricane intensity linked to global warming Hurricane intensity linked to global warming mongabay.com August 15, 2006 A new study says climate change is affecting the intensity of Atlantic hurricanes and that hurricane damage will likely worsen in coming years due to increasing ocean temperatures. Unlike recent studies that have linked higher sea temperatures to an […]
Fewer hurricanes predicted for 2006 season

Fewer hurricanes predicted for 2006 season Fewer hurricanes predicted for 2006 season Colorado State University August 4, 2006 William Gray and Philip Klotzbach of the Colorado State University hurricane forecast team issued a report today reducing the number of storms expected to form in the Atlantic basin this season. However, the researchers still call for […]
Global warming link to hurricanes challenged

Global warming link to hurricanes challenged Global warming link to hurricanes challenged mongabay.com July 31, 2006 Last week a leading meteorologist challenged a proposed link between global warming and hurricane intensity, based on inaccuracies in the historical data used in the studies. Warm ocean waters fuel hurricanes, and there was plenty of warm water for […]
NASA to study how African winds and dust influence hurricanes

NASA to study how African winds and dust influence hurricanes NASA to study how African winds and dust influence hurricanes NASA July 31, 2006 Scientists from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, universities and international agencies will study how winds and dust conditions from Africa influence the birth of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean. […]
Global Warming Fueled Record 2005 Hurricane Season Conclude Scientists

Global Warming Fueled Record 2005 Hurricane Season Conclude Scientists Global Warming Fueled Record 2005 Hurricane Season Conclude Scientists National Center for Atmospheric Research June 22, 2006 Global warming accounted for around half of the extra hurricane-fueling warmth in the waters of the tropical North Atlantic in 2005, while natural cycles were only a minor factor, […]
2006: Expect another big hurricane year says NOAA

2006: Expect another big hurricane year says NOAA 2006: Expect another big hurricane year says NOAA mongabay.com May 22, 2006 The 2006 hurricane season in the north Atlantic region is likely to again be very active, although less so than 2005 when a record-setting 15 hurricanes occured, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration […]
Study questions link between hurricanes and global warming

Link between hurricanes and global warming questioned Link between hurricanes and global warming questioned University of Virginia May 10, 2006 Study questions linkage between severe hurricanes and global warming New research calls into question the linkage between major Atlantic hurricanes and global warming. That is one of the conclusions from a University of Virginia study […]
La Nina will not affect 2006 Atlantic hurricanes

La Nina will not affect 2006 Atlantic hurricanes La Nina will not affect 2006 Atlantic hurricanes NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center May 4, 2006 NASA oceanographers agree that the recent La Niña in the eastern Pacific Ocean is not expected to have an effect on the Atlantic hurricane season this year. That’s good news, because normally […]
Birthplace of hurricanes heating up say NOAA scientists

Birthplace of hurricanes heating up say NOAA scientists Birthplace of hurricanes heating up say NOAA scientists NOAA May 3, 2006 The region of the tropical Atlantic where many hurricanes originate has warmed by several tenths of a degree Celsius over the 20th century, and new climate model simulations suggest that human activity, such as increasing […]
Global warming causing stronger hurricanes

Global warming causing stronger hurricanes confirms study Global warming causing stronger hurricanes confirms study Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com March 16, 2006 The link between warmer ocean temperatures and increasing intensity of hurricanes has been confirmed by scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Last year, two studies published in the journals Nature and Science found […]
Natural disasters of 2005 partly man-made says WHO

Natural disasters of 2005 partly man-made says WHO Natural disasters of 2005 partly man-made says WHO By Theresa Braine January 9, 2006 The high death toll in 2005 from tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, mudslides, earthquakes, volcanoes, locusts and pandemics can not necessarily be blamed on “natural” disaster, according to the United Nations health agency which today […]
Caribbean reefs suffer severe coral bleaching event

Caribbean reefs suffer severe coral bleaching event, NASA sends research team to investigate Caribbean reefs suffer severe coral bleaching event Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com December 20, 2005 The Caribbean experienced one of the most devastating coral bleaching events on record during September and October while hurricanes battered the Gulf of Mexico. In response, NASA and […]
Snails may have worsened Hurricane Katrina’s impact

Snails may have worsened Hurricane Katrina’s impact Snails may have worsened Hurricane Katrina’s impact Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com December 19, 2005 Periwinkle snails may have indirectly worsened the impact of Hurricane Katrina by decimating an estimated 250,000 acres of Gulf salt marsh between 1999 and 2003, according to research presented in the journal Science last […]
2006 Hurricane season likely to be active

2006 Hurricane season likely to be active 2006 Hurricane season likely to be active Colorado State University release December 6, 2005 The United States faces another very active Atlantic basin hurricane season in 2006, but with likely fewer landfalling intense hurricanes than in 2005 – the costliest, most destructive hurricane season ever – according to […]
US denies hurricane link with climate change

US denies hurricane link with climate change US denies hurricane link with climate change Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com December 1, 2005 Harlan Watson, chief climate control negotiator for the U.S. State Department, told the Associated Press that the Bush administration does not blame global warming or climate change for extreme weather — including the hurricanes […]
2005 Atlantic hurricane season worst on record

2005 Atlantic hurricane season worst on record 2005 Atlantic hurricane season worst on record NOAA release November 29, 2005 The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season is the busiest on record and extends the active hurricane cycle that began in 1995 — a trend likely to continue for years to come. The season included 26 named storms, […]
Army Corps of Engineers lacks plan for restoring coastal wetlands

Army Corps of Engineers lacks plan for restoring coastal wetlands Army Corps of Engineers lacks plan for restoring coastal wetlands National Academies’ National Research Council news release November 9, 2005 The Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Louisiana lack an overall plan for restoring coastal wetlands, says a new report from the National […]
Sea turtle first animal returned to New Orleans Aquarium after hurricane

Sea turtle first animal returned to New Orleans Aquarium after hurricane Sea turtle first animal returned to New Orleans Aquarium after hurricane mongabay.com October 13, 2005 “King Midas,” a 136 kg (300lb) green sea turtle, sits in a plastic bin with a wet towel over his shell as he is returned to his tank at […]
Amazon at record low — communities isolated, commerce stalled

Amazon at record low — communities isolated, commerce stalled Amazon at record low — communities isolated, commerce stalled Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com October 11, 2005 Residents of a small community of houseboats in the Brazilian Amazon basin remain isolated as the river that provides their only means of communicating with other towns has dried up […]
Extreme drought drops Amazon river to record low levels

Extreme drought drops Amazon river to record low levels Extreme drought drops Amazon river to record low levels By Peter Blackburn, Reuters October 7, 2005 EDITOR’S NOTE: The Amazon River in Peru and parts of Brazil is at its lowest level in 30 years of record keeping. While variable water levels are characteristic of the […]
Poor aid response to storm damage in Central America
Weak aid response to tropical storm damage in Central America Poor aid response to storm damage in Central America mongabay.com October 5, 2005 Tropical storm Stan has killed more than 210 people across Central America, including more than 60 in El Salvador and 120 in Guatemala, but international aid has been slow to arrive in […]
Sea turtles temporarily lose protection in wake of Hurricane Katrina

Sea turtles temporarily lose protection from trawlers in wake of Hurricane Katrina Sea turtles temporarily lose protection from trawlers in wake of Hurricane Katrina Release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries October 2, 2005 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has granted shrimp trawlers a temporary 30-day exemption from federal Turtle Excluder Device […]
Louisiana seafood products safe for consumption — LSU AgCenter
Louisiana seafood products safe for consumption — LSU AgCenter Louisiana seafood products safe for consumption — LSU AgCenter Release from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries October 2, 2005 Louisiana seafood products making their way to the market now are safe despite disruptions and losses the industry suffered as the result of Hurricane […]
Is there a link between the Arctic and hurricanes?
Is there a link between the Arctic and hurricanes? Is there a link between the Arctic and hurricanes? Press release from the National Snow and Ice Data Center September 29, 2005 Mark Serreze and Ted Scambos, scientists from the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, answer some questions […]
Galveston aquarium survives Hurricane Rita
Galveston aquarium survives Hurricane Rita Galveston aquarium survives Hurricane Rita Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 26, 2005 The aquarium and other animal facilities at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas appear to have weathered Hurricane Rita according to press reports. Most of the animals were evacuated from the facilities well prior to the storm’s arrival. According […]
Galveston, Houston aquariums survive Hurricane Rita
Galveston aquarium survives Hurricane Rita Galveston aquarium survives Hurricane Rita Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 26, 2005 The aquarium and other animal facilities at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas along with the Houston aquarium appear to have weathered Hurricane Rita according to press reports. In Galveston, most of the animals were evacuated from the facilities […]
Hurricane news for specific towns in Texas
Hurricane damage news for specific towns in Texas Hurricane news for specific towns in Texas Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 24, 2005 Texas – Hurricane Rita slammed into Texas and Louisiana early Saturday, flooding coastal towns, sparking fires and knocking power out to more than 1 million customers, but largely sparing Houston, New Orleans and […]
NOAA Biologists to study marine contaminants from hurricane

NOAA Biologists to study marine contaminants from hurricane NOAA Biologists to study marine contaminants from hurricane NOAA release September 23, 2005 Oil spill in Meraux, La., taken on Sept. 3, 2005, as a NOAA Cessna Citation surveyed and photographed the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina. Credits: NOAA The NOAA Research vessel the Nancy Foster this […]
Penguins and sea otters rescued from hurricane settling in at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Penguins and sea otters rescued from hurricane settling in at Monterey Bay Aquarium Penguins and sea otters rescued from hurricane settling in at Monterey Bay Aquarium Modified Monterey Bay Aquarium press release September 23, 2005 Penguins from the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Credits: Monterey Bay Aquarium The 19 […]
European Space Agency analyzes Hurricane Rita

European Space Agency analyzes Hurricane Rita European Space Agency analyzes Hurricane Rita European Space Agency release September 23, 2005 This zoom from a larger Envisat ASAR image shows the signal return from the sea surface beneath the eye of Hurricane Rita. It was acquired in Wide Swath Mode early on 22 September UTC and has […]
Modeling Hurricane Rita’s Path

Modeling Hurricane Rita’s Path Modeling Hurricane Rita’s Path National Center for Atmospheric Research press release September 22, 2005 Three-day storm track [Snapshot at 9:17 AM PDT] Once or twice daily, NCAR’s Advanced Research WRF calculates a possible track over the next three days for hurricanes active near the southeastern United States. The high-resolution plot, created […]
What is a Category 5 Hurricane?
Can hurricanes be weakened using oil slicks or other techniques? Can hurricanes be weakened using oil slicks or other techniques? Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 21, 2005 Hurricane Katrina was the most expensive natural disaster in the history of the United States. Hurricane Rita threatens to add to the 2005 hurricane season’s toll. Is there […]
Last 4 missing Gulfport dolphins rescued following hurricane

Last 4 Gulfport dolphins rescued following Hurricane Katrina NOAA Final 4 missing Gulfport dolphins rescued following hurricane NOAA September 21, 2005 The first eight dolphins to be rescued after they were washed out of their pool at the Marine Life Aquarium in Gulfport, Miss., by a huge wave generated by Hurricane Katrina. Photo courtesy of […]
Stronger New Orleans’ levees could have high real estate and environmental cost
Louisiana officials want government to pay total cost for stronger New Orleans levees Stronger New Orleans’ levees could have high real estate and environmental cost Louisiana officials want government to pay total cost for stronger New Orleans levees Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 21, 2005 Today The Wall Street Journal published an article on proposals […]
Hurricane Katrina damage just a dose of what’s to come

Hurricane Katrina damage just a dose of what’s to come Hurricane Katrina damage just a dose of what’s to come Ken Caldeira Carnegie Institution release September 21, 2005 Warm ocean waters fuel hurricanes, and there was plenty of warm water for Katrina to build up strength once she crossed over Florida and moved into the […]
US summer wetter, warmer than usual says NOAA

Summer wetter and warmer than usual in US – NOAA Summer wetter, warmer than usual in US says NOAA NOAA September 21, 2005 Climate of 2005 – August in Historical Perspective Including Boreal Summer. Image courtesy of NOAA. The June-August summer season was the tenth warmest on record for the contiguous U.S., while precipitation was […]
33% of evacuees report experiencing health problems or injuries as a result of the hurricane
33% of evacuees report experiencing health problems or injuries as a result of the hurricane 33% of evacuees report experiencing health problems or injuries as a result of the hurricane Harvard School of Public Health September 20, 2005 Boston, MA — To give voice to people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina and […]
Number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has nearly doubled over past 35 years

Number of category 4 and 5 hurricanes has doubled over 35 years Number of category 4 and 5 hurricanes has doubled over 35 years UCAR Press Release September 16, 2005 Hurricane Katrina reached Category 5 status on August 28 while churning across the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall the next day at Category 4. […]
Missing Gulfport dolphins rescued following Hurricane Katrina

Missing Gulfport dolphins rescued following Hurricane Katrina Missing Gulfport dolphins rescued following Hurricane Katrina Reuters September 16, 2005 GULFPORT, Mississippi (Reuters) – Wildlife experts on Thursday began rescuing a group of eight bottlenose dolphins swept from their aquarium home into the Gulf of Mexico by Hurricane Katrina. Gulfport, Miss., showing the damage to the port […]
Tampa Bay could be hit by 25-foot storm surge in Category 4 hurricane

Tampa Bay could be hit by 25-foot storm surge in Category 4 hurricane Tampa Bay could be hit by 25-foot storm surge in Category 4 hurricane By Chad Binette September 16, 2005 A Category 4 hurricane could cause a storm surge of as much as 25 feet in Tampa Bay, according to a University of […]
Hexavalent chromium, lead and arsenic found in flood waters
Hexavalent chromium, lead and arsenic found in flood waters Hexavalent chromium, lead and arsenic found in flood waters EPA release September 15, 2005 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released its daily update on Hurricane Katrina flood water sampling data for chemicals. Flood Water Analysis — On 9/14, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of […]
Hurricane Katrina to cost Louisiana fisheries $1.1 billion
Hurricane Katrina to cost Louisiana fisheries $1.1 billion Hurricane Katrina to cost Louisiana fisheries $1.1 billion Louisiana Department and Wildlife and Fisheries release September 13, 2005 The Louisiana Department and Wildlife and Fisheries’ preliminary estimates indicate a potential $1.1 billion loss in retail fisheries revenue over the next year and an additional $150 million loss […]
New Orleans Aquarium animals shipped to Monterey Bay Aquarium
New Orleans Aquarium animals shipped to Monterey Bay Aquarium New Orleans Aquarium animals shipped to Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey Bay Aquarium release September 12, 2005 Two sea otters and 19 penguins from the New Orleans Aquarium have been sent to Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium will start providing updates on the animals once they have […]
Hurricane Katrina Surface Water Monitoring Plan prepared
Hurricane Katrina Surface Water Monitoring Plan prepared Hurricane Katrina Surface Water Monitoring Plan prepared Modified Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality release September 12, 2005 The Louisiana Office of Environmental Assessment has prepared a “Hurricane Katrina Surface Water Monitoring Plan” to determine the impact of Hurricane Katrina on water quality in affected areas. Phase I sampling […]
Surviving animals from New Orleans aquarium to be sent elsewhere
Surviving animals from New Orleans aquarium to be sent elsewhere Surviving animals from New Orleans aquarium to be sent elsewhere Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 9, 2005 Surviving animals from the New Orleans aquarium will find new homes according to aquarium spokeswoman Melissa Lee, who spoke with CNN. Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina with little physical […]
Gator season delayed due to Hurricane Katrina
Gator season delayed due to Hurricane Katrina Alligator season delayed due to Hurricane Katrina Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries September 9, 2005 The Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has delayed the opening and closing dates of the 2005 wild alligator harvest season in accordance with the provisions […]
States housing thousands of evacuees — state by state estimates
States housing thousands of hurricane victims State by state estimates of evacuee housing Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 8, 2005 Almost 240,000 hurricane victims are in Texas; 25,000 in Alabama; 60,000 in Arkansas; 15,000 in Tennessee; 15,000 in Georgia. More than 485 Red Cross shelters have been opened in 18 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, […]
Hurricane could hit San Diego

Hurricane could hit San Diego Hurricane could hit San Diego Rhett Butler, mongabay.com September 8, 2005 Picture of San Diego county and the California Coast. Courtesy of NASA San Diego has been hit by hurricanes in the past and may be affected by such storms in the future according to data from the National Oceanic […]
$50 electronic food cards for hurricane refugees TEST POST
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$170 million in emergency assistance for farmers
USDA provides $170 million in emergency assistance to farmers USDA provides $170 million in emergency assistance to farmers Modified USDA release September 7, 2005 WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2005 – Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that USDA is making more than $170 million in emergency assistance available to agricultural producers suffering from Hurricane Katrina. In […]
Number of hurricane evacuees sheltered in various states, cities
Number of hurricane evacuees sheltered and housed in various states Estimates of hurricane evacuees sheltered in various states, cities Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 7, 2005 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has established a toll-free number (866-641-8102) for the public to get information on housing needs. Below are estimates of the number […]
NASA offers assistance to hurricane victims

NASA assists hurricane victims NASA assists hurricane victims NASA release September 7, 2005 NASA science instruments and Earth-orbiting satellites are providing detailed insight about the environmental impact caused by Hurricane Katrina. Images and data are helping characterize the extent of flooding; damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure; and potential hazards caused by the storm and […]
Economic impact of hurricane close to neutral
Overall economic impact of hurricane close to neutral Overall economic impact of hurricane close to neutral Regional effect to be significant Congressional Budget Office September 7, 2005 Copy of a letter sent from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in addition to the CBO’s assessment of the economic cost of […]
White alligator, sea otters, penguins at New Orleans Aquarium OK, fish are not
White alligator, sea otters, penguins at New Orleans Aquarium OK, fish are not White alligator, sea otters, penguins at New Orleans Aquarium OK, fish are not Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 8, 2005 Sept 9 Update: Surviving animals moved from aquarium Aquarium loses most fish in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina with […]
An environmental disaster in New Orleans

An Environmental Disaster in New Orleans An Environmental Disaster in New Orleans Reuters September 6, 2005 A film of oil is visible in this aerial picture of flooded New Orleans. Courtesy of NOAA Katrina environmental issues “almost unimaginable” By Jim Loney Reuters Tue Sep 6, 3:18 PM ET BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Reuters) – Hurricane Katrina […]
Personal account of hurricane destruction along Mississippi Gulf Coast

Personal account of hurricane destruction along Mississippi Gulf Coast Personal account of hurricane destruction along Mississippi Gulf Coast Peter Benvenutti September 6, 2005 The following is an eyewitness account of hurricane destruction along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Included is information on plans to provide pro bono services from out of state lawyers to the storm […]
Poverty worsens hurricane impact — AP analysis
Poverty worsens hurricane impact — AP analysis Poverty worsens hurricane impact — AP analysis September 5, 2005 The following is from an Associated Press report. An Associated Press analysis of Census data shows that the residents in the three dozen hardest-hit neighborhoods in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama also were disproportionately minority and had incomes $10,000 […]
Mississippi’s poor areas have worst hurricane impact

Mississippi’s poor areas have worst hurricane impact — AP analysis Mississippi’s poor areas have worst hurricane impact — AP analysis September 5, 2005 The following is from an Associated Press report. People living in the path of Hurricane Katrina’s worst devastation were twice as likely as most Americans to be poor and without a car […]
Zoo and Aquarium likely closed a year after hurricane
New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium Likely Closed for a Year New Orleans Aquarium and Zoo to be Closed for a Year Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 7, 2005 Sept 9 Update: Surviving animals moved from aquarium Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina with little physical damage, the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans has suffered significant […]
Global Wildlife Center; Jackson, Birmingham, Baton Rouge Zoos OK
Global Wildlife Center; Jackson, Birmingham, Baton Rouge Zoos OK Global Wildlife Center; Jackson, Birmingham, Baton Rouge Zoos OK September 5, 2005 Update The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) reports that the Jackson zoo, Birmingham zoo, Montgomery Zoo, and Baton Rouge Zoo came through Hurricane Katrina with relatively little damage. None of the facilties lost […]
How to help the New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium after hurricane
How to help the New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium in hurricane aftermath How to help the New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium after hurricane September 5, 2005 [9:49 am PDT update] Sept 9 Update: Surviving animals moved from aquarium Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed, the zoo and aquarium facilities in New Orleans could use donations […]
NOAA posts photos from inside Hurricane Katrina

NOAA posts photos from inside Hurricane Katrina Photos from inside Hurricane Katrina captured by NOAA plane NOAA release September 2, 2005 Hurricane Katrina taken on Aug. 28, 2005, at 11:45 a.m. EDT when the storm was a Category Five hurricane. Photo courtesy of NOAA Hurricane Katrina photos from NOAA Hurricane Katrina eyewall images taken on […]
New Orleans Aquarium and Zoo faring well since hurricane
New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium faring well since hurricane New Orleans Zoo and Aquarium faring well since hurricane Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com September 4, 2005 (updated 11:56 am Eastern) Sept 9 Update: Surviving animals moved from aquarium This is an update from a story posted earlier. The Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, the […]
Aerial photos of Hurricane Katrina destruction

Aerial photos of destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina Aerial photos of Hurricane Katrina destruction Adapted from NOAA releases September 2, 2005 New Orleans, La., where homes were nearly swallowed up by flood waters.Photo courtesy of NOAA NOAA posted online more than 1450 aerial images of the U.S. Gulf Coast areas that were decimated by Hurricane […]
NASA releases satellite photos showing flooded New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina

NASA releases satellite photos showing flooded New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina NASA releases satellite photos showing flooded New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina NASA Release September 1, 2005 NASA released satellite photos showing destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The images, available on NASA’s Earth Observatory web site clearly show signficant parts of the city inundated with […]
Hurricane news, by county and city, for LA, MS
Hurricane news for individual counties and cities in Louisiana, Mississippi Hurricane news for individual counties and cities in Louisiana, Mississippi mongabay September 1, 2005 Hurricane Katrina left a path of destruction in its wake across Louisiana, Mississippi, and other southern states. If an effort to provide timely and location-specific information, below is a list of […]
Environmental problems worsened Hurricane Katrina’s impact

Environmental problems worsened Hurricane Katrina’s impact Environmental problems worsened Hurricane Katrina’s impact Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com August 31, 2005 Updated: September 2, 2005 The loss of coastal marshlands that buffer New Orleans from flooding and storm surges may have worsened the impact of Hurricane Katrina. In the past, the region’s wetlands have served as a […]
Food safety tips after Hurricane Katrina
Food safety tips after Hurricane Katrina Food safety tips after Hurricane Katrina FDA Release August 30, 2005 As Hurricane Katrina hits Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants area residents to be prepared for the aftermath. FDA is providing important tips to help people affected by this storm to protect […]
New Orleans Aquarium, Zoo escape Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans Aquarium, Zoo escape Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Zoo escape Hurricane Katrina; Aquarium suffers heavy losses Rhett Butler, mongabay.com September 9, 2005 Surviving animals from the New Orleans aquarium will find new homes according to aquarium spokeswoman Melissa Lee. Despite escaping Hurricane Katrina with little physical damage, the Aquarium of the Americas in New […]
Hurricanes getting stronger due to global warming says study

Hurricanes getting stronger due to global warming says study Hurricanes getting stronger due to global warming says study Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com August 29, 2005 SUMMARY: Late last month an atmospheric scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology released a study in Nature that found hurricanes have grown significantly more powerful and destructive over the past […]

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