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

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

Font: Met Office

Title

Date of issue

1000s evacuated from wildfire threat

31 Jul 2007

Man killed by lightning

31 Jul 2007

Typhoon forms off Japanese coast

31 Jul 2007

Downpour disrupts city

31 Jul 2007

Farmers feeling the heat

31 Jul 2007

South Africa hit by wildfires

31 Jul 2007

Man dies in Cyprus heatwave

30 Jul 2007

Floods follow torrential downpour

30 Jul 2007

Heatwave triggers forest fires

30 Jul 2007

South Asia hit by more rain

30 Jul 2007

Japan lashed by rain

30 Jul 2007

Annual lightning death toll at 403

30 Jul 2007

Ski resorts welcome snowfall

29 Jul 2007

Heat overwhelms baby girl

29 Jul 2007

Lightning strikes kill 5

27 Jul 2007

South Africa hit by floods

27 Jul 2007

Heat triggers arms explosion

27 Jul 2007

Rain eases US drought

27 Jul 2007

Drought hits drinking water supplies

28 Jul 2007

Tornadoes hit Bangladesh

28 Jul 2007

Rain pours on earthquake victims

26 Jul 2007

Irish town hit by freak storm

26 Jul 2007

Heatwave hits Bosnian crops

26 Jul 2007

Mountaineers die from exposure

25 Jul 2007

Farmers need more rain

25 Jul 2007

Sudanese evacuate ahead of rain

25 Jul 2007

European heatwave continues

25 Jul 2007

Wildlife suffers in cold snap

25 Jul 2007

Floods hit India

25 Jul 2007

Moldova hit by major drought

24 Jul 2007

UAE experiences heatwave

24 Jul 2007

Man killed by lightning strike

24 Jul 2007

Storm hits Brunei’s capital

24 Jul 2007

18 die in Romanian heatwave

24 Jul 2007

Tropical storm forms in Pacific

24 Jul 2007

Woman dies in thunderstorm

23 Jul 2007

7 dead in Indonesian landslide

23 Jul 2007

Heat hampers firefighters’ work

23 Jul 2007

Bulgarian heatwave continues

23 Jul 2007

Cold snap hits New Zealand

23 Jul 2007

15 die in Bangladesh floods

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

Snow boosts skiing season

20 Jul 2007

Heatwave death toll rises

20 Jul 2007

Sudan flood death toll triples

21 Jul 2007

Heatwave leads to sickness

21 Jul 2007

Finland lashed by strong winds

19 Jul 2007

Pipes burst as frost bites

19 Jul 2007

Floods follow thunderstorm

19 Jul 2007

Five die in heatwave

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

Heat warps tram tracks

18 Jul 2007

Weather warnings issued in Sweden

18 Jul 2007

China suffers more flooding

18 Jul 2007

Hawaii experiences drought

17 Jul 2007

Winter weather bites New Zealand

17 Jul 2007

Wind forces fishing crews to down nets

17 Jul 2007

Cold snap hits Australia

17 Jul 2007

Rain clears smoke haze

17 Jul 2007

Forest fire forces evacuations

17 Jul 2007

Drought conditions improve in Australia

16 Jul 2007

Lightning sets church on fire

16 Jul 2007

One casualty in Japanese typhoon

16 Jul 2007

Floods hit New Zealand

16 Jul 2007

Heatwave overwhelms Hong Kong locals

16 Jul 2007

Rain triggers landslide

16 Jul 2007

Drought ‘will not affect power supplies’

15 Jul 2007

Thousands displaced by floods

15 Jul 2007

Soldiers die in avalanche

13 Jul 2007

High winds topple power lines

13 Jul 2007

Strong winds fan forest fire

13 Jul 2007

Typhoon hits Japan

13 Jul 2007

Seven people hit by lightning

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

30 die in Sudanese floods

12 Jul 2007

Firefighters die tackling forest blaze

12 Jul 2007

High winds cause chaos

11 Jul 2007

Man dies during downpour

11 Jul 2007

New York bakes in high temperatures

11 Jul 2007

Flood strands thousands

11 Jul 2007

Malaysia hit by strong gusts

11 Jul 2007

Five die in landslide

11 Jul 2007

Floods leave thousands homeless

10 Jul 2007

Rain prompts holiday boom

10 Jul 2007

Ski resort bosses welcome snow

10 Jul 2007

Road buckles in intense heat

10 Jul 2007

Storm lashes New Zealand

10 Jul 2007

Snow falls in Argentina

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

88 die in Chinese floods

09 Jul 2007

Cold snap disrupts travel

09 Jul 2007

Heatwave triggers wildfires

09 Jul 2007

Thunderstorm affects phone lines

08 Jul 2007

Thunderstorm lashes Australia

08 Jul 2007

Aid sent to flood victims

06 Jul 2007

Tornados hit New Zealand

06 Jul 2007

West coast endures heatwave

06 Jul 2007

Floods bring disease risk

06 Jul 2007

Farmers killed in thunderstorm

07 Jul 2007

Floods lead to travel chaos

07 Jul 2007

Lightning triggers house fire

05 Jul 2007

Commuter traffic disrupted by wind

05 Jul 2007

14 die in Chinese tornado

05 Jul 2007

Rain triggers mudslide

05 Jul 2007

Rain relieves drought

04 Jul 2007

Man dies from heat exhaustion

04 Jul 2007

Thousands made homeless by floods

04 Jul 2007

Heavy rains hit India

04 Jul 2007

Drought-stricken farmers get funding

04 Jul 2007

Rain floods rail lines

04 Jul 2007

Rain eases high temperatures

03 Jul 2007

Lightning strikes plane

03 Jul 2007

Australia lashed by storm

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

Storm disrupts Korean roads

02 Jul 2007

Rain floods Nigeria

02 Jul 2007

Wildfire claims three lives

02 Jul 2007

30 dead after Pakistan flood

02 Jul 2007

Drought brings out pests

01 Jul 2007

Woman trapped by snow rescued

01 Jul 2007

World weather impacts June 2007

Title

Date of issue

Strong winds hit Bulgaria

29 Jun 2007

Greek heatwave leads to forest fires

29 Jun 2007

Cold increases demand for power

29 Jun 2007

Flooding hits Australia

29 Jun 2007

Girl struck by lightning

30 Jun 2007

Turkish heatwave causes fires

30 Jun 2007

Heatwave leads to record power demand

28 Jun 2007

Winds set to spread wildfire

28 Jun 2007

Buildings closed after floods

28 Jun 2007

Floods hit Afghanistan

28 Jun 2007

Strong winds cause damage

27 Jun 2007

Swedish downpour triggers floods

27 Jun 2007

Cyclone hits Pakistan

27 Jun 2007

91 die in Indian storms

27 Jun 2007

Snow covers Johannesburg

27 Jun 2007

More deaths in European heatwave

27 Jun 2007

Lightning kills 5 in China

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

Storms lash Texas

26 Jun 2007

Heatwave leads to deaths

26 Jun 2007

Lightning kills camels in UAE

25 Jun 2007

New Zealand hit by snowstorm

25 Jun 2007

Heat overwhelms Bulgarians

25 Jun 2007

Millions short of water after drought

25 Jun 2007

Israel experiences heatwave

25 Jun 2007

200 die in Pakistan storm

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

Man killed by dry lightning

22 Jun 2007

Homes and schools damaged in storm

23 Jun 2007

Lightning kills 7 in India

23 Jun 2007

Heat fuels fire in Athens

21 Jun 2007

Rain prolongs Chinese floods

21 Jun 2007

Costa Rica hit by floods

21 Jun 2007

Lightning triggers wildfire

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

Ten die in Yemeni heatwave

20 Jun 2007

Lightning triggers fires in US state

20 Jun 2007

Stormy weather hits Australia

20 Jun 2007

Icy weather causes travel chaos

19 Jun 2007

Texas floods kill four

19 Jun 2007

Heatwave prompts prisoner release

19 Jun 2007

Rain swells Chinese rivers

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

Man dies in thunderstorm

18 Jun 2007

16 die in stormy weather

18 Jun 2007

Downpour leads to Texan floods

18 Jun 2007

Tasmania hit by cold snap

18 Jun 2007

Rain provides heat relief

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

Monsoon lightning kills 21

15 Jun 2007

China floods result in 76 deaths

15 Jun 2007

Lightning causes garden fire

15 Jun 2007

Rain lashes US state

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

Monsoon rains intensifying

13 Jun 2007

Canadians warned of heat hazard

13 Jun 2007

Oklahoma hit by flooding

13 Jun 2007

Tropical storm forms in Pacific

13 Jun 2007

Cold weather creates livestock hazard

12 Jun 2007

Three dead after Swiss storm

12 Jun 2007

Heat ‘could lead to food poisoning’

12 Jun 2007

Thousands affected by floods

12 Jun 2007

Locals die in Indian heatwave

12 Jun 2007

23 die in Iranian cyclone

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

Dozens die in Chinese floods

11 Jun 2007

Teen killed after lightning strike

11 Jun 2007

New Zealand endures wintry blizzard

10 Jun 2007

Three die in Chinese flood

10 Jun 2007

Istanbul hit by flooding

08 Jun 2007

Temperatures soar in Indian city

08 Jun 2007

Storm system affects US states

08 Jun 2007

Storm lashes Australian state

08 Jun 2007

Locals evacuate storm-hit village

09 Jun 2007

Norwegians enjoy heatwave

09 Jun 2007

Downpour hits Australian state

07 Jun 2007

12 die in Oman cyclone

07 Jun 2007

Storm disrupts South African roads

07 Jun 2007

Water use restricted to stave off drought

07 Jun 2007

Storms lash Canadian province

06 Jun 2007

Extended rainfall hits Queensland

06 Jun 2007

Malaysian homes flooded out

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

Surprise rain brings flooding

05 Jun 2007

Five die in Chinese lightning strike

05 Jun 2007

Bulgarian village flooded

05 Jun 2007

Canada prepares for floods

05 Jun 2007

Seven die in heavy rains

05 Jun 2007

Cyclone approaches Oman

05 Jun 2007

Kuala Lumpur hit by floods

04 Jun 2007

Farmers concerned over Bhutan heat

04 Jun 2007

Five die in Ghanaian floods

04 Jun 2007

37 die in Indian heatwave

04 Jun 2007

Ski season starts on time

04 Jun 2007

Floods follow heavy rain

04 Jun 2007

29 die in Bangladesh heatwave

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

Indian heatwave continues

02 Jun 2007

Severe hailstorms hit China

From: Met Office

2003 heat wave

Heat stress intensification in the Mediterranean climate change hotspot

Noah S. Diffenbaugh

Purdue Climate Change Research Center and Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Jeremy S. Pal

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

Filippo Giorgi

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

Xuejie Gao

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.

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 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