Heat Records Broken Across Earth
From north to south, temperatures are surging as greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and combine with effects from El Niño.
Earth
Japan May Start Controversial Fukushima Water Release Next Month
A United Nations watchdog approved Japan’s controversial plan to start releasing treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant next month. As Nikkei notes in its reporting, the water is still radioactive since “radioactive tritium cannot be remo…
Global heat wave shatters records. Will Wednesday break another?
When the heat spikes, humans suffer health effects — especially young and elderly people, who are vulnerable to heat even under normal conditions.
World Registers Hottest Day Ever Recorded on July 3
July 3 was the hottest day ever recorded globally, according to data from the U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction. From a report: The average global temperature reached 17.01 degrees Celsius (62.62 Fahrenheit), surpassing the August 2016…
Ecological Doom Loops: Why Ecosystem Collapses May Occur Sooner Than Expected
An anonymous Slashdot reader writes: An article in Nature Sustainability suggests that models may have underestimated the impact of warming on ecosystems. Two main reasons for this are the difficulty in accounting for variability and combining climate …
After 47 Years, the National Weather Service’s Daily TV Broadcast To Alaskans Will End
“Alaska Weather,” a daily 30-minute TV show that has broadcast across Alaska for the past 47 years, is going off the air due to a lack of funds. Gizmodo reports: In lieu of the news, residents seeking information on their state’s weather will be forced…
Pumping Groundwater Has Changed Earth’s Spin, Study Finds
Scientists knew the planet’s centerline could move. But it took a sharp turn sometime around the start of the 2000s.
India To Cut Daytime Power Tariffs, Raise Fees For Night Use
India will cut tariffs for daytime power use but charge a premium when electricity demand peaks during the night, in a bid to manage surging demand and boost the use of renewable energy. From a report: The new policy, outlined by the federal power mini…
Are Energy-Saving LED Lights Also Creating Glaring Problems?
LED streetlights “shine brightly while using less energy than traditional bulbs,” reports the Washington Post. After switching to LED streetlights one county in Washington state conserved 2,612,491 kilowatt-hours.
But they also discovered a downside….
Heatwaves Are Stressing Out Power Grids All Over the World
Heatwaves are pushing power grids to their brink around the world — a risk that can make an already dangerous situation deadly. From a report: When temperatures spike, people tend to need air conditioning the most. But that can put a lot of pressure o…