Amazon carbon sink threatened by drought
Amazon carbon sink threatened by drought
Science Centric (6 Mar 2009 15:44 GMT) – The Amazon is surprisingly sensitive to drought, according to new research conducted throughout the world’s largest tropical forest. The 30-year study, published today in Science, provides the first solid evidence that drought causes massive carbon loss in tropical forests, mainly through killing trees… [full story]
World weather impacts September 2007
World weather impacts September 2007
8-N, Global Warming Action Day.
8-N, Global Warming Action Day.
From 8th to 17th November, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will meet in Valencia to adopt and approve the draft Synthesis Report of their Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) and the 27th Sesion of IPCC
On occasion of this meeting, on 8th November, 8-N, I will insert an article in my blog about Global Warming in order to call the attention of governments, institutions and citizens in general about the need to take immediate and urgent actions to stop the global warming.
World weather impacts August 2007
World weather impacts August 2007
Font: Met Office
World weather impacts July 2007
Title
Date of issue
1000s evacuated from wildfire threat
31 Jul 2007
31 Jul 2007
Typhoon forms off Japanese coast
31 Jul 2007
31 Jul 2007
31 Jul 2007
31 Jul 2007
30 Jul 2007
Floods follow torrential downpour
30 Jul 2007
Heatwave triggers forest fires
30 Jul 2007
30 Jul 2007
30 Jul 2007
Annual lightning death toll at 403
30 Jul 2007
29 Jul 2007
29 Jul 2007
27 Jul 2007
27 Jul 2007
27 Jul 2007
27 Jul 2007
Drought hits drinking water supplies
28 Jul 2007
28 Jul 2007
Rain pours on earthquake victims
26 Jul 2007
26 Jul 2007
26 Jul 2007
Mountaineers die from exposure
25 Jul 2007
25 Jul 2007
Sudanese evacuate ahead of rain
25 Jul 2007
25 Jul 2007
25 Jul 2007
25 Jul 2007
24 Jul 2007
24 Jul 2007
Man killed by lightning strike
24 Jul 2007
24 Jul 2007
24 Jul 2007
Tropical storm forms in Pacific
24 Jul 2007
23 Jul 2007
7 dead in Indonesian landslide
23 Jul 2007
Heat hampers firefighters’ work
23 Jul 2007
23 Jul 2007
23 Jul 2007
23 Jul 2007
Maltese told to keep hydrated in heat
22 Jul 2007
Bulgarians fall ill in heatwave
22 Jul 2007
China’s lightning death toll hits 282
20 Jul 2007
Drought emergency in California
20 Jul 2007
20 Jul 2007
20 Jul 2007
Sudan flood death toll triples
21 Jul 2007
21 Jul 2007
Finland lashed by strong winds
19 Jul 2007
19 Jul 2007
19 Jul 2007
19 Jul 2007
Students flee storm-hit school
18 Jul 2007
Council hands out water in heatwave
18 Jul 2007
Rain triggers floods in Ireland
18 Jul 2007
18 Jul 2007
Weather warnings issued in Sweden
18 Jul 2007
18 Jul 2007
17 Jul 2007
Winter weather bites New Zealand
17 Jul 2007
Wind forces fishing crews to down nets
17 Jul 2007
17 Jul 2007
17 Jul 2007
Forest fire forces evacuations
17 Jul 2007
Drought conditions improve in Australia
16 Jul 2007
16 Jul 2007
One casualty in Japanese typhoon
16 Jul 2007
16 Jul 2007
Heatwave overwhelms Hong Kong locals
16 Jul 2007
16 Jul 2007
Drought ‘will not affect power supplies’
15 Jul 2007
15 Jul 2007
13 Jul 2007
13 Jul 2007
13 Jul 2007
13 Jul 2007
14 Jul 2007
Fire crews treated for heat exhaustion
14 Jul 2007
Hundreds dead after summer floods
12 Jul 2007
Canada sees record temperatures
12 Jul 2007
12 Jul 2007
Firefighters die tackling forest blaze
12 Jul 2007
11 Jul 2007
11 Jul 2007
New York bakes in high temperatures
11 Jul 2007
11 Jul 2007
11 Jul 2007
11 Jul 2007
Floods leave thousands homeless
10 Jul 2007
10 Jul 2007
Ski resort bosses welcome snow
10 Jul 2007
10 Jul 2007
10 Jul 2007
10 Jul 2007
55 children die in cold weather
09 Jul 2007
Temperatures drop in Slovak mountains
09 Jul 2007
Rain hampers flood rescue efforts
09 Jul 2007
09 Jul 2007
09 Jul 2007
09 Jul 2007
Thunderstorm affects phone lines
08 Jul 2007
08 Jul 2007
06 Jul 2007
06 Jul 2007
06 Jul 2007
06 Jul 2007
Farmers killed in thunderstorm
07 Jul 2007
07 Jul 2007
05 Jul 2007
Commuter traffic disrupted by wind
05 Jul 2007
05 Jul 2007
05 Jul 2007
04 Jul 2007
04 Jul 2007
Thousands made homeless by floods
04 Jul 2007
04 Jul 2007
Drought-stricken farmers get funding
04 Jul 2007
04 Jul 2007
03 Jul 2007
03 Jul 2007
03 Jul 2007
Los Angeles in record heatwave
03 Jul 2007
Extreme weather in Cyprus settles down
03 Jul 2007
Rain triggers floods and landslides
03 Jul 2007
Record temperatures in Tasmania
02 Jul 2007
Heavy rain strands travelling pilgrims
02 Jul 2007
02 Jul 2007
02 Jul 2007
02 Jul 2007
02 Jul 2007
01 Jul 2007
01 Jul 2007
World weather impacts June 2007
World weather impacts June 2007
Title
Date of issue
29 Jun 2007
Greek heatwave leads to forest fires
29 Jun 2007
Cold increases demand for power
29 Jun 2007
29 Jun 2007
30 Jun 2007
30 Jun 2007
Heatwave leads to record power demand
28 Jun 2007
28 Jun 2007
28 Jun 2007
28 Jun 2007
27 Jun 2007
Swedish downpour triggers floods
27 Jun 2007
27 Jun 2007
27 Jun 2007
27 Jun 2007
More deaths in European heatwave
27 Jun 2007
26 Jun 2007
Storms force people from homes
26 Jun 2007
Malta sees record temperatures
26 Jun 2007
Snow disrupts Australian roads
26 Jun 2007
26 Jun 2007
26 Jun 2007
25 Jun 2007
25 Jun 2007
25 Jun 2007
Millions short of water after drought
25 Jun 2007
25 Jun 2007
25 Jun 2007
Strong winds cut power for 7,200
24 Jun 2007
Europe heatwave triggers 19 deaths
24 Jun 2007
Flash floods prompt search efforts
22 Jun 2007
Snow blocks roads in New Zealand
22 Jun 2007
Storms cancel Frankfurt flights
22 Jun 2007
22 Jun 2007
Homes and schools damaged in storm
23 Jun 2007
23 Jun 2007
21 Jun 2007
21 Jun 2007
21 Jun 2007
21 Jun 2007
Snow boosts Australian skiing season
20 Jun 2007
Chinese province hit by drought
20 Jun 2007
Storm brings down trees and power lines
20 Jun 2007
20 Jun 2007
Lightning triggers fires in US state
20 Jun 2007
20 Jun 2007
Icy weather causes travel chaos
19 Jun 2007
19 Jun 2007
Heatwave prompts prisoner release
19 Jun 2007
19 Jun 2007
Heatwave evaporates water supplies
19 Jun 2007
Drought hits Ukraine agriculture
19 Jun 2007
High temperatures hit fish supplies
18 Jun 2007
18 Jun 2007
18 Jun 2007
Downpour leads to Texan floods
18 Jun 2007
18 Jun 2007
18 Jun 2007
Snow follows heatwave in Sweden
17 Jun 2007
Snows close South American highway
17 Jun 2007
Storms prompt flooding in Houston
15 Jun 2007
15 Jun 2007
China floods result in 76 deaths
15 Jun 2007
15 Jun 2007
16 Jun 2007
Heavy snow surprises observers
16 Jun 2007
Thousands affected by Kenyan floods
14 Jun 2007
Temperatures above average in Ireland
14 Jun 2007
One dead after US thunderstorm
14 Jun 2007
Drought leads to food shortage
14 Jun 2007
Contaminated water threat follows flood
13 Jun 2007
Pakistan heatwave set to continue
13 Jun 2007
13 Jun 2007
Canadians warned of heat hazard
13 Jun 2007
13 Jun 2007
Tropical storm forms in Pacific
13 Jun 2007
Cold weather creates livestock hazard
12 Jun 2007
12 Jun 2007
Heat ‘could lead to food poisoning’
12 Jun 2007
12 Jun 2007
12 Jun 2007
12 Jun 2007
Rain prompts Bangladesh landslides
11 Jun 2007
Australian storm causes evacuations
11 Jun 2007
Man dies in Ohio thunderstorms
11 Jun 2007
German storm results in 27 injuries
11 Jun 2007
11 Jun 2007
Teen killed after lightning strike
11 Jun 2007
New Zealand endures wintry blizzard
10 Jun 2007
10 Jun 2007
08 Jun 2007
Temperatures soar in Indian city
08 Jun 2007
Storm system affects US states
08 Jun 2007
08 Jun 2007
Locals evacuate storm-hit village
09 Jun 2007
09 Jun 2007
Downpour hits Australian state
07 Jun 2007
07 Jun 2007
Storm disrupts South African roads
07 Jun 2007
Water use restricted to stave off drought
07 Jun 2007
06 Jun 2007
Extended rainfall hits Queensland
06 Jun 2007
06 Jun 2007
Farmers ‘face worst drought in 125 years’
06 Jun 2007
Motorists warned in bad weather
06 Jun 2007
Millions short of drinking water
06 Jun 2007
05 Jun 2007
Five die in Chinese lightning strike
05 Jun 2007
05 Jun 2007
05 Jun 2007
05 Jun 2007
05 Jun 2007
04 Jun 2007
Farmers concerned over Bhutan heat
04 Jun 2007
04 Jun 2007
04 Jun 2007
04 Jun 2007
04 Jun 2007
03 Jun 2007
Drought hits Florida water supplies
03 Jun 2007
Melbourne temperatures break records
01 Jun 2007
Toddler dies from heat exposure
01 Jun 2007
Man dies after lightning strike
01 Jun 2007
Farmers ordered not to go on fields
01 Jun 2007
02 Jun 2007
From: Met Office
2003 heat wave
Heat stress intensification in the Mediterranean climate change hotspot
Purdue Climate Change Research Center and Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy
Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy
Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy
Abstract
We find that elevated greenhouse gas concentrations dramatically increase heat stress risk in the Mediterranean region, with the occurrence of hot extremes increasing by 200 to 500% throughout the region. This heat stress intensification is due to preferential warming of the hot tail of the daily temperature distribution, with 95th percentile maximum and minimum temperature magnitude increasing more than 75th percentile magnitude. This preferential warming of the hot tail is dictated in large part by a surface moisture feedback, with areas of greatest warm-season drying showing the greatest increases in hot temperature extremes. Fine-scale topographic and humidity effects help to further dictate the spatial variability of the heat stress response, with increases in dangerous Heat Index magnified in coastal areas. Further, emissions deceleration substantially mitigates heat stress intensification throughout the Mediterranean region, implying that emissions reductions could reduce the risk of increased heat stress in the coming decades.
Received 13 March 2007; accepted 14 May 2007; published 15 June 2007.
G8 Declaration about Climate Change
CLIMATE CHANGE
48. We take note of and are concerned about the recent UN Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. The most recent report concluded both, that global
temperatures are rising, that this is caused largely by human activities and, in addition,
that for increases in global average temperature, there are projected to be major
changes in ecosystem structure and function with predominantly negative consequences
for biodiversity and ecosystems, e.g. water and food supply.
Fighting Climate Change
49. We are therefore committed to taking strong and early action to tackle climate
change in order to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Taking into account the
scientific knowledge as represented in the recent IPCC reports, global greenhouse gas
emissions must stop rising, followed by substantial global emission reductions. In setting
a global goal for emissions reductions in the process we have agreed today involving
all major emitters, we will consider seriously the decisions made by the European
Union, Canada and Japan which include at least a halving of global emissions by 2050.
We commit to achieving these goals and invite the major emerging economies to join us
in this endeavour.
50. As climate change is a global problem, the response to it needs to be international.
We welcome the wide range of existing activities both in industrialised and developing
countries. We share a long-term vision and agree on the need for frameworks that will
accelerate action over the next decade. Complementary national, regional and global
policy frameworks that co-ordinate rather than compete with each other will strengthen
the effectiveness of the measures. Such frameworks must address not only climate
change but also energy security, economic growth, and sustainable development objectives
in an integrated approach. They will provide important orientation for the necessary
future investment decisions.
51. We stress that further action should be based on the UNFCCC principle of common
but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. We reaffirm, as G8 leaders,
our responsibility to act. We acknowledge the continuing leadership role that developed
economies have to play in any future climate change efforts to reduce global
emissions, so that all countries undertake effective climate commitments tailored to their
particular situations. We recognise however, that the efforts of developed economies
will not be sufficient and that new approaches for contributions by other countries are
needed. Against this background, we invite notably the emerging economies to address
the increase in their emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of their economic development.
Action of emerging economies could take several forms, such as sustainable
development policies and measures, an improved and strengthened clean development
mechanism, the setting up of plans for the sectors that generate most pollution so as to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions compared with a business as usual scenario.
52. We acknowledge that the UN climate process is the appropriate forum for negotiating
future global action on climate change. We are committed to moving forward in that
forum and call on all parties to actively and constructively participate in the UN Climate
Change Conference in Indonesia in December 2007 with a view to achieving a comprehensive
post 2012-agreement (post Kyoto-agreement) that should include all major
emitters.
53. To address the urgent challenge of climate change, it is vital that major economies
that use the most energy and generate the majority of greenhouse gas emissions agree
on a detailed contribution for a new global framework by the end of 2008 which would
contribute to a global agreement under the UNFCCC by 2009.
We therefore reiterate the need to engage major emitting economies on how best to
address the challenge of climate change. We embrace efforts to work with these countries
on long term strategies. To this end, our representatives have already met with the
representatives of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa in Berlin on 4 May
2007. We will continue to meet with high representatives of these and other major energy
consuming and greenhouse gas emitting countries to consider the necessary components
for successfully combating climate change. We welcome the offer of the United
States to host such a meeting later this year. This major emitters’ process should include,
inter alia, national, regional and international policies, targets and plans, in line
with national circumstances, an ambitious work program within the UNFCCC, and the
development and deployment of climate-friendly technology.
This dialogue will support the UN climate process and report back to the UNFCCC.
IPCC – Working Group II Reports
IPCC – Working Group II ReportsScientists meeting in Brussels this week, as members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have today (Friday 6 April 2007) presented their Summary for Policymakers to government representatives from around the world.
As a leading climate research centre, the Met Office has played a key role in the IPCC process.
- The UK’s national weather service was a lead contributor to the scientific effort for Working Group I, which reported in February 2007.
- For Working Group II, as well as providing further scientific evidence on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, the Met Office has hosted the IPCC’s Technical Support Unit. This unit pulls together the global research effort that goes into the report and ensures that deadlines are met in delivering the report to the IPCC.
The summary report released today, has examined the current scientific understanding of impacts of climate change on the Earth’s systems, their vulnerability and capacity to adapt. Looking at over 75 individual studies, using in excess of 29,000 data sets, this unprecedented scientific effort has found that all continents are already experiencing the effects of climate change. Over the last three decades, human activity has had a discernible influence on many of the planet’s systems.
The content of the report is wide-ranging, laying out predicted impacts for all continents and identifying six major systems with specific detail.
Some of the main findings are in the following areas:
1. Water
- Impacts on water resources are geographically extensive and in some locations dramatic. As the planet warms it is highly likely that, depending on location, there will be an increase in the frequency and severity of floods and droughts.
2. Food
- Crop yield is projected to increase in temperate regions for a global temperature rise of up to 3 °C, above this value, if warming continues, yield declines.
- In tropical areas, crop yield will tend to decrease, even with relatively modest rises in global average temperature.
3. Ecosystems
- Mass extinction, claiming between 20-30% of species, is likely if the global temperature increase exceeds the range 1.5–2.5 °C.
- In the second half of this century terrestrial ecosystems will become a net source of carbon for the first time.
4. Coastal areas and low-lying areas
- These areas will be under increased pressure from changes in climate and human activity.
- Most corals will experience a major decline if the global temperature increases by more than 2 °C.
- Millions more people will become vulnerable to flooding if the average sea level rise exceeds 20 cm.
5. Health
- Projected changes to the climate will affect the health of millions of people worldwide. The changes will be most felt by those least able to adapt, such as the poor, the very young, the elderly and those who already have certain conditions.
6. Industry, settlement and society
- Areas most likely to be affected are the poorer, often rapidly expanding communities near rivers and coasts which use climate sensitive resources and are prone to extreme weather.
- The economic impact of extreme weather is predicted to increase.
The report highlights current knowledge about responding to climate change, emphasising the point that future vulnerability not only depends on climate change, but also on development in key areas. It emphasises that more needs to be done to take research forward and give policymakers more detailed information in the future.
For the full report see the IPCC web site
Font: Metoffice
Global Warming News 