Red Alert Board 3 - January - December 2024 (Updated).

 * RED ALERT 3 * 

Hi Everyone,

                      This is my third Climate Change Red Alert Board, where I post the unusual weather events that have been battering people in one way or another during this year. It is a partial record, just the snippets I have heard about and posted.

4 January - United Kingdom - Storm Henk caused flooding along the River Trent, it is expected to top 5 meters above level. Over 200 Flood Alerts were issued by the UK Meteorological Office. A previous flood in this area occurred in 2003. Source - BBC Radio 4.

Southern France - Continued flooding affects Calais. Source - YouTube video clips.

7 January - River Soar, UK. A narrow boat was ripped away from its moorings during a flood and then got pinned against a bridge, where it subsequently sunk, blocking the river access to the area. Thankfully, the owner was not on board, but this contained all of his worldly possessions. There is a "GoFundMe" Appeal if you would like to contribute. Source - YouTube video clips. and Metro, The Independent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mklpGkqylA

https://metro.co.uk/video/narrowboat-trapped-against-bridge-river-soar-swells-following-heavy-downpours-leicestershire-3094211/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/narrowboat-sinking-at-barrowonsoar

10 January - Maine, USA - Flooding Hampton and other areas along the coast. 80 km winds caused 42,000 people to lose power. Tides expected to be 11 feet were actually 31 feet. Roads have been forced to be closed. Source - The Nature (On Youtube).

12 January - 2023 was officially the warmest year since records began in the 1850's. Both ground and space observations agree. Source - NASA.

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures#:~:text=According%20to%20an%20ongoing%20temperature,1.9%C2%B0%20Fahrenheit)%20since%201880.

19 January - UK. Five people were killed in separate incidents of cars hitting fallen trees during Storm Isha. Source - Daily Mail Online.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12993241/Pictured-Storm-Ishas-victim-Jimmy-Rowe-car-crash.html

Storm Jocelyn is on the way to the UK. It is the tenth named storm in five months. Previously a named storm season has only reached K in 2016.  Source - The Independent.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scotland-met-office-dublin-airport-glasgow-airport-river-b2483666.html

27 January - Patagonia, Argentina - Fire in a National Park.

7 February - I am not certain of this, but I thought a news broadcaster said that we had passed the

 1.52 'C temperature mark since records began. I would not be surprised to find it was true. This totally blows away all of the promises and pledges made worldwide by governments and big companies to clean up their act. 

                         People are trying to make a difference by re-hydrating the soils in arid regions and other projects, but it needs to happen faster and on a bigger scale to make a difference.

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures

22 February - The UK is out of the Energy Charter Treaty, which means oil companies cannot sue the Government.

15 April - (Inserted) Europe is demolishing its dams, weirs and culverts at a record rate. 2023 is the best so far, 487 were removed, up from 325 in 2022. 4,300 km of habitat were reconnected. Europe currently has 1.2 million barriers. 150,000 are listed as old or obsolete, ripe for demolition. France removed 156 and the UK, in 5th place removed 36.  46% of removals were weirs, 36% were culverts, and 12% were dams.

SOURCE - Discover Wildlife. (YouTube) by Graeme Greene. April 15 2024. (A British photographer and reporter).

28 April - Floods in Africa. In Kenya, a dam collapsed and killed 45 people.

6 May - Porto Alegre, Brazil - Flooding due to torrential rain.

19 May - Update - 600,000 people displaced from the flooded city of Porto Alegre.

10 May - Good news on Fuels

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/05/10/fossil-fuels-are-on-the-way-out-in-the-eu-as-they-dropped-to-record-low-in-april

11 May - Flooding in Afghanistan - 100 homes washed away.

14 May - I saw my local fox in the back garden, frolicking with three cubs.

04 June -  I saw two of the cubs today.

07 June - 15 people died in India as the heat reached 50 ° C.

13 June - I had a water meter fitted, they took away my old area water monitor, which was just used for statistics.

15 June - Norway, Faroe Isles, Scientists are testing a tide-powered energy source. Underwater gliders tethered to the seabed generate power through turbine blades. More are planned for the first array.

20 June - In a landmark decision, the UK Supreme Court has ruled in favour of climate in a case that could have big implications for new oil drilling.

 

This is a massive win for climate activists. Until now, the government granted permits based on emissions from extracting fossil fuels and the oil companies’ assessment of those emissions. Now, they will have to report on the emissions from burning fossil fuels, too. This ruling is groundbreaking and could stop future oil and gas projects from getting the green light. 

 

But the fight isn’t over. We may have won today, but we’re still facing huge threats from oil giants like Shell, who want to silence us so they can continue their climate-wrecking activities.

 

This case has shown that people power really works – and that Big Oil can be held to account – but we can’t and won’t back down. We’re being sued by Shell in an intimidation lawsuit, and we need your support to keep fighting the fossil fuel industry. 

SOURCE - GREENPEACE.

05 July - Rossallerton, UK. Heavy showers delivered 2/3 of the month's rainfall in one day.

06 July - The western USA is having a  record-breaking heatwave, as Storm Beryl is due to make landfall as a hurricane.

06 July - I saw my local fox in the back garden again, frolicking with three cubs.

22 July - UK, bats are struggling to find insects to feed their pups with. If you find a bat, do not handle it with your bare hands. Call the Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228.

https://www.bats.org.uk/our-work/national-bat-helpline

24 July -  The record for the world's hottest day has tumbled twice in one week, according to the European climate change service.

On Monday the global average surface air temperature reached 17.15C, breaking the record of 17.09C set on Sunday.

It beats the record set in July 2023, and it could break again this week.

Parts of the world are experiencing powerful heatwaves, including the Mediterranean, Russia and Canada.

It's depressing and alarming. for the full story, click on the link below.

Georgina Rannard

Climate reporter

PubliSOURCE - BBC Online.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg7pen1xj7o

30 July - Tennessee, USA. 4 inches of rainfall in 15 minutes.

07th August -  July 2024 was the second warmest on record.

https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/july-was-second-hottest-on-record-6132124/

 Source - LinkedIn.

13th August - Cambridge UK, Hottest day, 34.8'C.

14th August - Greece, the wildfire is almost out.

20th August -The European Union's total greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 25% during the period 1990 - 2022.

https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/data-viewers/greenhouse-gases-viewer

Source - Europa Data.

The UK's total greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 50% during the period 1990 - 2022.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c0d15863a23d0013c821e9/2022-final-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistical-release.pdf

The USA's total greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 3% during the period 1990 - 2022, down from a high of 15.2% above 1990 levels in 2007. 

https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions

03 September - This has been the wettest Scottish summer ever. SOURCE BBC Weather.

09 September - Typhoon Yagi hit China and Vietnam, causing flooding and the demolition of tower blocks. A collapsed bridge caused 60 fatalities. The military was going to install a pontoon bridge. It was the worst in 30 years, with 126 mph winds, trees blown down and 50,000 people evacuated from coastal towns.

15 September - Glucholazy, Poland. Storm Boris wreaks havoc across central Europe, SW Poland. Two people drowned; one was a firefighter. 50,000 homes were without electricity. It was the worst flood in 30 years. A dam gave way, worsening the situation, and homes were underwater.

22 September - Flooding in southern England after flash floods deposit a month's rain in two days. 80 flood warnings were in place.

25 September - Woburn, UK. has the wettest September and wettest month ever at 192 mm of rain. The average is 55 mm. 

First hurricane in Tampa Bay, Florida in 100 years.

27 September - Dowdswell 256 mm of rain, Winchcombe 214 mm.

29 September - In Nepal,  Floods and landslides caused 150 deaths.

N Carolina, USA - Storm Helene caused flooding and over 30 deaths.

30 September - In the UK, some places have had double the usual rainfall for the month.

2 October - N Carolina - Worst flooding from hurricane Helene, causes dam to burst. Interstate 81 bridge washed away. It beat the 1916 record of  23.1 feet., 24.67 feet. There were over 100 killed. Homes washed away, roads washed out.

    In Erwin, A hospital was flooded, ambulances were cut off, and 60 people had to be rescued from the roof after hours of waiting. The same in Marshall, NC. 25 deaths in Florida. A Fire station and a tender got washed away. 230 were killed overall. The small town of Chimney was wiped off the map.

 5 October - Another category 5 storm is expected today in Florida.

9 October - 55 counties declare emergencies as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida. This triggers the National Guard Aid Program.

10 October - 10 inches of rain fell in  one hour at Tampa, Florida. A flash flood alert is in force.

29 October - Flash flooding in Spain. More than a year's rain fell in 8 hours, over 211 people died.39 people were arrested for looting. 100 roads have been closed. The high speed rail network was disrupted.A lake more than tripled in size. Source - BBC and DW Broadcasting.

One town was saved from destruction by its ancient Roman Dam that diverted water around it instead of through it. At "Almonaced de la Cuba" the dam contained the flood and let it out at a controlled manner, helping with the flood downstream.

6 November - A mountain wildfire near LA, a threat to 3,500 communities. Blaze is out of control due to Santa Anna winds. Thousands have been evacuated. The area is without power. SOURCE -Associated Press, ABC7, Los Angeles Crux.live.

8 November - Cadaquesne, Catalan and Paiporta, Spain, More flooding, with mounds of destroyed cars. 78 people are still missing.

19.November - Greenpeace court case against Shell.Now waiting the judges decision. It could be months.

23 November - Storm Bert ravages the UK, flooding locally. 80% of the rain in November came over the weekend.

25 November - 150 flood warnings given out in the UK. Pontypridd, the river Taff burst its banks, A suspected landslip in the area. 1 death on Conwy, Tenbury Wells flooded as a wall collapsed and the town brook was released. More than a month's rain fell over the weekend. Northampton station flooded, Trains were cancelled. Snow in Scotland.

1 December - UK, Since the 1960's, the robin population has increased by 49%. Source - BBC Radio 4.

6 December - Norway suspends deep sea arctic mining after massive campaign - GREENPEACE.

12 December - The UK is generating almost 50% of its energy by renewable sources. The government publish a 5 year plan to expand the electricity grid, so that 95% renewables can use it.  SOURCE - BBC RADIO 4.

14 December - Iceland, "Climeworks", the Co2 capture company is now planning to build 72 stations that can capture 36,000tonns a year, equivalent to 8,000 cars. It costs $1,000 to remove 1 ton of co2. They intend to keep expanding the technology. By the end of the decade they want to reduce the cost to $300 - $400 per ton.

             We release 40 billion tons of co2 per year.Project Cyprus in the states will capture 1 million tons a year. SOURCE - BBC CLICK PROGRAMME.

BIODIVERSITY - 1 square km of rainforest is being sampled for electronic dna, to discover the biodiversity contained within it. Sampling is done by drones dangling probes through the canopy tops.

Thank you for reading and caring about the climate crisis. Please do whatever you can to help the situation in your local area. Sign all of the online petitions you can.

See red alert board 4 for 2025.

I support the following organisations.

change@e.change.org

https://home.38degrees.org.uk/

https://grow.foodrevolution.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@dustupstexas

***********************************

Your Blog Host.

Ivor Cogdell

Thoughts On - An Eco Warrior Special

 Hi Everyone,

                     Today, I bring you an ECO WARRIOR special announcement, not that it will be a surprise to most if not all of you reading this, but I just wanted to wave my arms about, shouting it from the rooftops one more time.

NASA Scientists announced that it has been the HOTTEST EVER SUMMER since records began in the 1800's.

All of you know the reputation that NASA has for truth and honesty in the community. Governments and scientists have used their data for baseline measurements. They are peer-reviewed, meaning that everything is cross-checked for accuracy by the finest brains in science.

You may dispute the how of it,

But whatever caused it - "Global Boiling" is here.

 RIGHT NOW!

IT HAS ARRIVED EARLY.

What are WE going to do about it?

What are YOU going to do to help?

RIGHT NOW?

I have just got a job working from home to reduce my carbon footprint. I appreciate that everybody cannot do that.

How about getting together with your neighbours and sharing a car to go to work. (Put a note in your local store with contact details). You save a few bucks on gas that you can spend on hobbies or other things later, and you spill a few yarns on the way.  Fewer cars on the road mean the journey is less snarled up and takes less time.

 You arrive less stressed at work, so everybody is happy. Same on the way home, more energy to do stuff. What's not to like.

No doubt you can think of other things too. Ask around. It is the future of the planet that is at stake here. Don't leave it up to the government, some of them are trying, but they are just fighting with each other most of the time.

PLEASE ACT NOW.

You will feel better about it.

So will the planet.

Ivor Cogdell

Check it out on the Space.com website.

https://www.space.com/nasa-2023-summer-hottest-on-record

Red Alert Board 2 - January - December 2023 Updated

  Hi Everybody,

                     This is the second of my Red Alert Board Posts, the first was for 2022. Depending on the number of items and the news topics I hear about will dictate how often it gets updated. I will do backdated posts too if I hear relevant information on stories I have already covered.

4 January - California flooding. 180,000 homes and businesses have been affected.

                - Bosnia. No snow at all on the ski resort due to the warm December. Europe experienced the warmest January ever - 10 'C.

6 January - The Great Bustard is being reintroduced into Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, UK. Russian eggs were brought here and a breeding colony has been introduced.

                - There are calls to add nature information onto company accounts so that a record can be kept of the impact they have on wildlife.

10 January - Southern California is expecting more flooding and landslides after another 9 hours of rain fell on already saturated ground. 19 people have died.

13 January - 2022 is tied for the fifth warmest year on record. Source - NASA.

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/150828/2022-tied-for-fifth-warmest-year-on-record

14 January - Protesters, including Greta Thurnberg, were detained when they protested against the expansion of a German coal mine which would destroy a village. ,https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2023/jan/14/germany-is-embarrassing-itself-greta-thunberg-joins-climate-protesters-at-lutzerath-video 

 https://www.voanews.com/a/german-police-remove-climate-protesters-from-abandoned-village-/6915942.html

I'm sure both the protesters and the police wish they were doing something more productive, but that's what you get when governments do not see the big picture, and just make knee-jerk reactions.

16 January - 3 metres of snow fell across the States following weeks of rain and flooding.

                    - UK Electric Car battery manufacturer start-up company British Volt goes into administration, laying off most of its workforce. Some are saying a lack of assistance from the UK Government has not helped the situation. They were due to pump £30 GBP into the company.

21 January - Four red squirrels being reintroduced into a forest in northern Ireland, with more to follow in England.

27 January - Flooding in Auckland NZ. Three feet of water in some places. Three people died.

1 February -  Chilbolton, UK, - Thanks to a 7336 petition, Southern Water has stopped pumping waste water into the river Trent. Pipes have been dug up preventing discharges.

3rd - 4th February - Over 200 wildfires were raging in Chile. 23 dead, and over 1,000 injuries were reported.

                - New Hampshire, USA, new record low wind chill temperature, would have felt like -108'F.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/04/weather/winter-storm-northeast-new-england-saturday/index.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/nyregion/mount-washington-cold-new-hampshire.html

6th February - Cornish Lithium have a start-up company that aims to be able to extract Lithium from underground aquifers. It filters it out of the water, which is then treated at a waste company.

https://cornishlithium.com/  for the latest information.

10th February - Islands of Abandonment by Cal Flynn - Life in the post-human landscape. How nature reclaims old areas and buildings.

https://buuks.co.uk/shop/islands-of-abandonment-423698p.html?gmsp=1&campaign=UK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkbuwwdqS_QIV9pBoCR14dw5-EAQYASABEgKU6PD_BwE

20 February - San Paulo, Brazil - Landslides and flooding after record rainfall. 40 are dead.

An alligator was captured in Brooklyn Lake.

Korok, Afghanistan - Rains cause landslides which kill 13 people.

Chilie - Over a million hectares of trees were destroyed in fires which are still raging.

New Zealand - Cyclone Gabrielle is causing havoc, 11 are dead. Flooding has caused 4,500 out-of-contact. Looters are taking generators.

22 February - Belize has found a new way of making charcoal, This will stop deforestation there. (I did not see the full article.)

23 February - There are low river levels in Europe already. It is similar to summer. Venice canals have run dry. The Swiss Alps need 56 days of rain to resupply the rivers. Source - METRO.

27 February - Winter storms batter the USA. California has been hit for the first time in 30 years. A similar situation is happening in the Balkans. Canada is having the third warmest winter ever. The World's largest skating rink will not open due to safety concerns over thin ice. The Canal Rideau will not be able to support the machinery and people that normally flock to the event. - Source EURONEWS. 

Africa's Pangolin is under threat from animal poaching, which is on the increase, there are also problems with habitat loss. - Source EURONEWS. 

3 March - Argentina - Fires cause blackouts across the country.

Andalucia - Wind turbines are being turned off when migratory birds are passing over to Africa, then turned on again. This has a negligible effect on the overall power supply. It takes one minute to turn them off.  - Source BBC RADIO 4.

4 March - The Ocean Protection Treaty has finally been ratified. It protects 30% of the world's oceans.

9 - 11 March - Mozambique is hit with a return of the tropical storm for the second time. Mud huts have been washed away by flooding and landslides. Water sources have been contaminated.  

24 March - A tornado in the USA killed 30 people in Mississippi and Alabama. It was a supercell, travelling at 100 km per hour. It covered a 100-mile-long stretch of devastation. - Source BBC News.

31 March - Another tornado hit Little Rock, Arkansas.

Oil production is being cut by 1 million barrels to raise prices for OPEC. Further cuts are expected.

12 March - Climate gasses have been reduced by about 5% as more UK energy is produced by renewable sources. - Source BBC.

14 April - Germany shuts down its last three nuclear power plants. France still has 6 active plants running.

17 April - The first partial flight of Starship 1. I was not aware of the fuel composition and the soot components that it would be spreading into the upper atmosphere, damaging the ozone layer. What with the satellite constellation problem, we seem to be getting unwanted consequences from these projects. 

22 April - President Obama announces new emission capture laws. Source BBC.

25 April - Spain is 15 degrees hotter than usual. A new record April temperature was 38.8 'C. This is causing crop losses.

Italy is also having problems. Drought, Olive Oil and wine prices have shot up.

1 May - The Emirates are testing a "green" aviation fuel - SAF Sustainable Aviation Fuel was used to power one engine through a flight of an hour over the Dubai area.

3 May - Dry lake Tulare in Tulare County may be regenerating after high water events in the area. Source WION - Climate Tracker.

 Update - The lake bed has been used for crops with levees around the edges to protect the two towns situated around the edge. Stratford and Corcrane. Source - Youtube.

A tornado flips cars on a freeway. Roofs were ripped off in the area. Source WION - Climate Tracker.

MEXICO - They are driving a rail track through forests containing destruction to cenotes and Maya ecosystems. Source WION - Climate Tracker.

4 May - If you voted GREEN in the UK local elections, I would just like to say a big THANK YOU. They won outright control in Mid Suffolk They have 481 seats in total, up by 241. Source BBC.

5 May - Rwanda flooding. Source - WION. 

             Spain - The wetland in Donna is drying out because of droughts. 60% of the lagoons have been lost. Source - WION. 

            Italy - Sea level surface temperatures have made a record rise. Topless protestors have blocked roads. They say not enough is being done. Source - WION. Bologna - Flooding.

            India - They have announced that they will not be sanctioning any new coal mines.

6 May - CONGRATULATIONS to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on your Coronation. King Charles III is a staunch Eco Warrior. His estates in Cornwall have been Eco-friendly for many years. He has passed this mantle to The Prince of Wales. Source BBC.

7 May - Democratic Republic of Congo - Flooding, 400 killed. Source BBC.

9 May - Landslide at a mine traps over 100 men.   At a gold mine near Kamituga town in the Democratic Republic of Congo collapsed on Friday amid torrential rain. Rescuers are digging through rubble after the incident, leaving about 50 people feared dead. Local officials say most of those feared dead are young people and have called for two days of mourning. 

Source BBC.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-54132354

More information - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-49912811

The mine was not located on the Kamituga gold concession owned by Canadian miner Banro Corporation, the company’s chief executive said.

Source - The Guardian.com  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/11/at-least-50-killed-in-collapsed-gold-mine-in-east-congo-says-ngo

Video of some escaping in a similar collapse.

Source - CNN https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/03/28/congo-gold-mine-collapse-rescue-lon-orig.cnn

8 May - Alberta, Canada - 108 wildfires are burning, and a State of Emergency has been declared. Source SKY News.

11 May - Nigeria  - Shell escaped liability for oil spills in Nigeria for years. Then four farmers took them to court – and won.

Source CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/25/africa/shell-oil-spills-nigeria-intl-cmd/index.html

Above average UK rainfall. Source BBC

21 May - China suffering under a heatwave, and power grids are under pressure.

22 May - UK - The Lychen and Footman moths numbers have increased by 84,000 since the clean air Act was introduced in 1984. Source BBC 4 Radio.

23 May - 13.20 - Saw a fox in my back garden, going towards the top fence. Not much hair in its brush, sadly.

24 May - COP 28 will be chaired by a member of an oil company, who is an expert in finances - what a farce. Source BBC Radio 4.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/07/uae-oil-firm-cop28-climate-summit-emails-sultan-al-jaber-adnoc  Source - The Guardian.

30 May  - Saw a fox in my back garden, going towards the top fence.

4 June - German spruce forests are dying because of drought and beetles attacking the weak trees. It is not helped by being a monoculture cash crop. Farmers will get a subsidy if they replant mixed woodlands, but they worry about where the needed timber will come from. Source - BBC Radio 4.

4 June - Hati, Flooding and landslides. International aid requested. Gang violence is endemic in the area. Source - BBC Radio 4.

14 June - Scientists beam solar power from a satellite to a receiver in space and down to Earth. For full details, click the link below. Source - Space.com

https://www.space.com/space-solar-power-satellite-beams-energy-1st-time?utm_term=9E58C20A-CAF0-430B-9CCA-2EF6E44AB3F4&utm_campaign=58E4DE65-C57F-4CD3-9A5A-609994E2C5A9&utm_medium=email&utm_content=5515ECA1-F93D-461C-966E-9047980AFE0E&utm_source=SmartBrief

23 June - Flooding in the streets of Oman.

4 July - The UK has recorded the warmest June temperatures since records began in 1881. Source: BBC Radio 4.

5 July - The World average air temperature topped 17 C for the first time on 4 July, reaching

 17.04 'C, then on the 5 July reaching 17.18'C or 62.9'F. 

Sadly this is in line with the predicted climate models. When will the Government people wake up and do something about it? When it is too late, as usual. Source - BBC.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/05/tuesday-was-worlds-hottest-day-on-record-breaking-mondays-record

I have posted this to my Facebook page to get better coverage. Make some noise, write to your Member of Parliament, and demand to know what they are doing NOW to help the situation. Show them that we expect action from them on this matter, not just vague woolly promises. 

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/515/environment-and-climate-change-committee/

 9 July - The fox was back again today. Happily taking a snooze in the sun.

10 July - I have written to mine now - The Rt. Hon Lyam Byrne, Hodge Hill MP and The Right Hon. The Lord Deben, formerly Chairman of the Environment and Climate Change Committee.

USA, Londonderry - Berkes County flooding. 7 inches of rain fell and the river burst its banks. Part of the road was washed away. In Hudson Valley, one woman was washed away and drowned and 2 were rescued. Flooding in West Point. Historic buildings may be damaged.

SW Iceland - A volcano erupts NE of previous outpourings, 16.40 local time and lasts for 22 days. 

11 July - Last year's summer heatwave killed 61,672 people. SOURCE - Barcelona Institute of Global Health, using data from 35 countries, 3,469 in the UK and 18,010 in Italy.

 12 July - The fox was back again today. Happily taking a snooze in the sun and getting rid of some fleas.

Photo Copyright (C) 2023 Ivor Colin. Cogdell. All Rights Reserved.

19 July - Flash floods in Mayfield, Graves County, Kentucky, Paduka are knee-deep in water. 5 feet deep in Arlington. 11.28 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, a new record. SOURCE -  US National Weather Service.

22 July - GREECE, Longest heatwave prediction, 16 days at 39'C.

25 July - The fox and a cat were warming themselves in my garden with no animosity between them today. Fairytale stuff.

30 July - China suffers flooding after severe rainfall after a heatwave earlier this month. Typhoon Doksuri caused flooding, and cars were swept away. Rivers burst their banks. Diverted waters made the situation worse. People were evacuated by rescue services using boats, but not enough of them to go around. Ropes, pulleys and slings were used to evacuate people over flooded streets. People's Liberation Army were using helicopters for rescues. Landslides and mudslides were reported. Other provinces were also hit as well. Flooding is common at this time, but not as strong as this.

UK, Manchester - Wettest July on record.

7 August - Australia has enacted a new law that all new projects must take into account all climate effects that they may cause.

10 August - Hawaii, Maui - 93 people dead in wildfires. Lahaina was partially evacuated. 2,000 buildings have been destroyed. Now declared a Major Disaster.

20 August - There is a wildfire in Tenerife. 26,000 people have had to be evacuated from the area.

Canada - Wildfires at Yellowknife, 30,000 people evacuated. Worst known in their history. Two people have been arrested for starting fires in the City Limits.

China - Flooding in one of the provinces.

11 September - Lybia. Flooding due to Storm Daniel. Two of their dams burst the next day. 13,000 people are missing.5,300 are dead in Durma. 4 bridges have collapsed.

15 September - The Orkneys in Scotland are to trial electric ferry boats to cut pollution, if they are a success they will begin operation in 2024. Source - The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/sep/11/orkney-islands-to-trial-electric-ferries-to-cut-carbon-emissions?utm_term=6502e8df8ab72438479798b73e7d2a18&utm_campaign=DownToEarth&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&CMP=greenlight_email

25 September - The fox was back again today.

27 September - Bolos, Greece, Flooding after Heavy rainstorms. 3 inches per hour in some places.

17 - 19 October -Cork, Southern Ireland  Storm Babet with 80 mph winds and rain caused havoc. A month's rain fell in 24 hours. Flooding in the streets. The River Lea burst its banks. The electricity was knocked out. The sea was over a meter high.

    Aberdeen, Scotland - 70 mph winds were recorded. 250 mm rainfall expected. 120 mm of rain was expected in Manchester.

20 October - 3 died in the flooding.

29 October  - Loo and Seaton were flooded.

 4 November - Tuscany flooding.

 5 November - River Rother burst its banks.

 10 November - It is now official, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is doomed to collapse, which will eventually cause a FIVE METRE sea level rise. Source -   journal Nature Climate Communications. 

 NBC NEWS - 

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/west-antarctic-ice-sheet-collapse-may-unavoidable-study-finds-rcna120993

Iceland - Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake in Grindavik fishing town.

 19 November - Brazil is having a heatwave in its spring. temperatures have reached 60'C. At least one person has died.

21 November - Catalonia - Their water reserves are only 19% full after a drought lasting three years so far. One of the water safety measures now going into effect is to stop the fountains being filled.

2 December - Tanzania flooding kills 47, with 87 getting injured.

Indonesia - The Marafi Volcano erupts, killing 11 people.

8 December - Panama Canal - Drought in the area is causing delays in the lock system, the two lakes that feed it are very low. There are fears that delays may run all through 2024.

9 December - Somalia Worst drought for 30 years, followed by a flood. The seasonal rains did not arrive, and some bridges were destroyed when the rains did come. Livestock lost.

18 December - Iceland A 4.5 km long volcano fissure opened up near the fishing village of Grindavik. The village had previously been evacuated due to many thousands of minor earthquakes in the area. No one was injured in the eruption, which spread lava over a 4.5 square kilometre area. Roads had been closed in the area. It was the shortest eruption on the island.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

Thoughts On - Eco Warriors 2

 Hi Everyone,

                     I have my Green hat on again. I was chatting with one of my mates regarding the Pro's and Con's of protesting, leaving the legal argument aside. This had been prompted by a protest group demonstrating outside oil terminals recently. My friend stated that most of the protestors would be only there for the sake of protesting and causing disruption, regardless of what the actual issue was. As he put it, they belonged to "Rent-A-Mob".

                     I agreed that the "Any protest will do" attitude was not a good basis for protesting, but stated that some may be there for that reason, but that there would still be the vast majority of people who did care about the actual issues involved and whose voices should be heard and their views considered, none the less. He did give way on the vague possibility, but I don't think my argument gave him any misgivings.

         Another friend mentioned the problems that we face going along this route. I reminded him that these green activists are fighting for HIS future along with everybody else’s. I asked him "What would you prefer in your senior moments, to be relaxing in the back garden on a nice summer’s day, sipping a cool drink in hand, or coughing and spilling the warm drink all over your trousers, peering through smog and heat haze".

    There is a very good Podcast authored by The Guardian newspaper in the UK, entitled "Carbon Bombs". This gives an insight into what the energy companies are planning, against what they say they are doing. Have a listen. Then start worrying and do something to help the situation.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2022/may/18/the-carbon-bombs-set-to-blow-up-the-worlds-climate-pledges

To our Green Warriors out there, please keep plugging away, don't give up heart. Your voices and actions DO COUNT FOR A GEAT DEAL. You will prove to history that at least some of us had heard the alarm bells ringing and were trying to do something about it before it was too late. I personally think it is already too late, but we have got to mitigate the problems as much as we can.

Have you been on a protest march ? Would you go on another one ? How were you treated ?

I would like to read your comments below.

Regards to all,

Ivor Cogdell.

 

Red Alert Board 1 - 2022. - Updated 13.02.2026

 Hi Everybody,

                     This is the start of my Climate Red Alert Board Post. I will do backdated posts too.

Red Alert Board - January 2022

31st December 2021 - 1st January  - Colorado Wildfires started by power lines being blown over, destroying over 500 homes. Three people are missing.

2nd January - Obituary Richard Erskine Frere Leakey, paleoanthropologist, conservationist and politician, born 19 December 1944; died 2 January 2022.

 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/03/richard-leakey-obituary

I remember the original amazement at the discovery of fossil number 1470 and the others as they gradually made their appearance on the human tree or rather, as we think of it now, the bush of life.

4th January - The stark truth is that many of our rivers are little more than open sewers or chemical soup, rather than highways of life and beauty. They are also heavily contaminated by fertiliser runoff. Some farms near the rivers have seen the light and are not going to plough the areas close to the rivers, but they do say it will take over ten years to recover. 

Update 1st Nov 2022 - A BBC report highlights the problem, pointing the finger at too many poultry farms in the Welsh uplands, which produce fertiliser to be added to fields already saturated with waste, which eventually finds its way into the River Wye. Not enough monitoring occurs of the spreading and the water quality, due to a lack of funds. The report states that Scotland has been doing something about its river problem since the early 2000s, and it is seeing quality improvements in their rivers and beaches. So a solution can be found, but it will take time, the will to do it, and, as always, money.

6th January - China has improved the capability of its prototype Fusion reactor. These create energy by fusing atoms together instead of splitting them in an atomic bomb. . Many countries take part in nuclear fusion research to some extent, led by the European Union, the USA, Russia, and Japan, with vigorous programs also underway in China, Brazil, Canada, and Korea.

8th January - Hundreds of Indians were killed in a blizzard. They were trapped by trees that fell down on the cars and on the road; the trees were snapped by the weight of the snow. Some died of hypothermia, and others died of carbon monoxide poisoning when they ran their heaters to keep warm.

9th January -

Gabriella D'Cruz: Global Youth Champion

The Food Chain

This year's BBC Food Chain award-winner and her mission to change lives and revive oceans using seaweed. A new pilot project to harvest seaweed in the Bay of India has begun production. It does not plan to sell its harvest to the big companies that have established supply chains, but to local food outlets and Japanese Sushi bars that will pay a better price for quality items grown locally, instead of having to import it at high prices.  Once the demand has been established, it plans to use local environmentalists in the fishing community to expand the project, with a guaranteed market established for its product and at a guaranteed price point.

For the full story, click the link below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct1rgm

5 January - Mercedes-Benz plans to bring out an all-electric car with a range of 600 miles in 2024.

14th January - Wildfires are raging in Argentina.

15th January - Snowstorms, flooding, and tornadoes battered the USA.

26th January - Oil spill in Peru.

30 January  - Flooding in Brazil. This is a self-made disaster, the cut-down rainforest ecosystem so brutally would have been able to absorb more water.

14th February - Storm Eunice rips through the UK countryside, leaving devastation in its wake, with 122 miles per hour winds recorded. Power lines were torn down. Roofs ripped off in Runcorn.

A flash flood in the Dominican Republic kills 120.

March - The Indian heatwave season begins earlier than usual.  Fish begin to die in Poland. It comes to a head in August, thousands of fish die, due to algal blooms depriving the rivers of oxygen. The same occurs elsewhere in other rivers.

Flooding in Sydney, Australia.

12th April - KwaZulu-Natal - Flooding caused the loss of life of 443 people, with at least 60 more people missing. 4,000 homes were destroyed, and bridges were washed away.

Flooding in the Philippines.

17. May - The worst drought in Somaliland in 40 years.

18 May - 40 injured by a tornado in Germany.

29 May - Brazilian mudslides and landslides cause destruction after intense rainfall.

12 June - The start of another heatwave in the western states of America.

5 different heatwaves all; at once. 3 hottest days on record in the UK - 32.7 C Stanton Downham. Japan records the hottest June on record.

17 June - Record flooding in Bangladesh. China has flooding events, also.

France had the earliest temperatures of 40 degrees C on record.

1 July - Flooding and coastal erosion occurred in Sydney, Australia. This was caused by 8 months' worth of rain falling in two days, causing 60,000 homes to be flooded. Insurance companies urge people to move.  

2 July - Marina Lake above Hoover Dam is almost dry. The water levels have dropped 178 feet. Water shortages in Las Vegas are imminent. One houseboat has already been stranded, due to an engine failure. It was finally dragged off the mudflats by a specialist team (documented on YouTube). The water levels have been in decline for 20 years. Power production by the dam has been reduced, and power cuts are expected. Houseboats will soon be stranded; there is no way to get them out of the water. Currently, they are crammed into an ever-shallower area.

November 2022 update. Less water being taken out of the lake results in a rise of 23 feet. A new slipway jetty is being constructed.

A volcanic eruption in Japan will damage the air quality in the area.

Australia's La Niña event is the worst on record. It is now forecasted to occur more often.

3 July - Trentino, Italy. The front of the Marmolada Glacier breaks off and causes an avalanche that kills at least 6 people, with 15 injured and 8 people missing. The area was ten degrees warmer than usual.

6 July - Flooding in Germany and Switzerland. Bern affected.

11 July - Fire burns in Yellowstone National Park. The Sequoias are in danger.

13 July - Fires rage in France and Spain. At least one village has been destroyed. Firefighters lose their lives in a helicopter crash.

19 July - Record hottest day in the UK. 40.3 C -  A fire caused by an overheated compost bin causes the destruction of 21 homes. Wales records its hottest temperature too. 102.7 F reached in Charwood. Heathrow Airport then recorded 104.5 F. Average London temperatures were in the 70 degrees or above mark

Dublin in Southern Ireland reached 91.6. France reached over 108 F.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-k-shatters-heat-record-three-times-in-a-matter-of-hours/#:~:text=Before%20now%2C%20the%20highest%20temperature,Charlwood%2C%20officially%20breaking%20the%20record.

24 July -  Fires in Greece, close to the archaeological site of the original Olympic Games.

More health fires in the London area.

The Yosemite fire destroyed 22 square miles so far. Still alight in 27 July.

Later, flooding washes out a number of roads and bridges. 

27 July - Documents show that research labs inside major oil companies knew what the global effects would be on the climate in the 1970s, but covered up data and discredited researchers, and began a smokescreen that continues today. Source - TV Documentary - "Big Oil and the climate".

30 July - Flooding in Kentucky. 28 dead. 100,000 people were displaced.

05 August - A hosepipe ban comes into force in the southeast UK. It has been the driest July since 1837 in the southern UK.

The Loire River in France is almost dry. 

9 August - Seoul, South Korea. Hit by the heaviest rain in 80 years. 3.9 inches of rain per hour. 8 people dead so far. 765 buildings destroyed, 52 roads blocked. 391 people displaced, staying in schools and gyms.

12 August - Sudan. Flooding in the rainy season. 800 properties destroyed.

14 August - Lake Mead, controlled by the Hoover Dam, United States. Water level is at 184.96 feet, its capacity is 12290.0 feet. 

Update - November - Water levels have risen 23 feet after reduced water outflow by the dam. 

22 August - Flooding in Dallas, Texas. They received 40% of their annual rainfall in 12 hours. 3.1 inches fell at the airport. Several floods across the United States. St.Louis, Kentucky and Illinois. Rescue teams carried out 141 rescues, with another 43 rescues later.

23 August - The Dogong is declared EXTINCT in China. Currently a drought in some places. Fires burn for at least three days. Low river levels. Water is pumped from nearby provinces.

Australia - Rewilding successes, mammals are thriving. The Dogong colony is fine there. 

Germany - The first hydrogen train goes into operation.

25 August - United Kingdom The large blue butterfly has made a comeback, it's numbers are the best for 150 years, after going extinct 40 years ago.72 mm of rain fell in the south east, 74.5 mm in Bury St. Edmunds.

27 August - A national emergency was declared as the worst flooding in Pakistan for 30 years. 1130 killed, millions are displaced. 8 times more rainfall fell than normal. Syn and Rajistan are affected. Kabul river river breaks its banks. Bridges destroyed two days ago, 14 dead. Tourists have been evacuated.

Statistic - More that 20% greater area destroyed in wildfires than 20 years ago.

The Grantham Institute Climate Change Tracking Centre - A pre-monsoon study, shows a melting glacier caused flooding and destroyed a massive bridge. A longer-lasting El Niño event (Ocean warming) is occurring to the north of Australia.

The Oceanic Pact - Designed to protect 30% of the world's oceans against overfishing, failed to be agreed by the assembled nations.

18 October - Flooding in Melbourne, Australia. Bridges were destroyed, and levees were built.

4 November - The Sizewell C nuclear reactor funding is in the "Yes, it's going ahead - The Prime Minister" to "We can't afford it - The Treasury" -"Oh, yes, we, CAN- PM" stage at the moment. So much for the PM's "Green Energy" street cred.

7 November - The COP 27 Summit is taking place in Egypt. Methane and CO2 are at higher levels than last year. China and Russia do not attend. More than 600 delegates to the conference are from oil and Gas companies, some want them to be banned.

8 November - "Say no to oil" protesters, including at least one elderly lady wearing a day glow orange jacket and trousers, have been climbing up sign gantries above the M25 Motorway, which loops around London, causing police to have to close off the flow of cars while they are removed. Some protesters have been jailed for a month. 

Update - They suspended the protests on the 11th November. The news report did not state a reason why.

10 November - It is the warmest November night on record in Kinloss, Scotland. The temperature did not drop be3low 14.6'C.

Acnegar, on the northern tip of Scotland, had 258 mm of rainfall, a month's worth in a week.

17 - 18 November - Charr - 140 mm of rain. Flooding in Scotland, Nottingham and West Sussex is causing rail and road disruption. Cars and vans were driven into ditches.

23 November - Aboyne, in Scotland, had 190 mm of rainfall, 220% of the monthly average. Shoreham by Sea 176 mm  (195%) for the month, with a week still to go.

30 November - UK water storage is at 90%.  https://riverlevels.uk/

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-situation-local-area-reports

12 December - Derwent dam is full.

                         UN Biodiversity Conference - COP 15  is taking place in Canada. For a breakdown of the results - CLICK HERE.

22 December - USA winter snow storms worst in 40 years. 1500 flights cancelled, trains cancelled. Temp -12 C, 23 km per hour winds causing snow drifts in Minnesota. 60 dead so far. 51.5 inches of snow fell per day. In Florida, Iguanas were falling out of trees, as they were frozen and could no longer hang on.

More flooding in the Philippines.

A new weather satellite was launched - Meteosat 12.

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These are only the few that I have heard about; it is not an extensive list.

Keep recycling,

Ivor Cogdell