* 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://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.
19 January - UK. Five people were killed in separate incidents of cars hitting fallen trees during Storm Isha. Source - Daily Mail Online.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
https://home.38degrees.org.uk/
https://grow.foodrevolution.org/
https://www.youtube.com/@dustupstexas
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