Who needs air con when you can sit in a recycling bin full of water?
Mind you, things are going the same way in London, where 25 degrees used to be a scorcher but now counts as blessed relief from the 30-plus saunas the capital has been enduring of late. It's already hot by 9am, like in the Med, and the bus to work is a (scarcely) mobile greenhouse, the paltry ventilation overwhelmed by the thermic energy of 80 commuters packed in tight. The Tube is an oven, the air through the end-of-carriage window pumping like the outflow from a tumble dryer. Summer in the city.
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Weather tracker: Mediterranean heatwave sparks concern for marine life
A recent heatwave in the Mediterranean Sea has been so severe scientists are concerned for marine life. The human-induced climate crisis is making marine heatwaves more intense and prolonged, with sea surface temperatures off the coast of Mallorca since late June frequently exceeding 30C (86F). Portugal's maritime authority said the southern Algarve had experienced a marine heatwave between the 28 June and the 9 July. Temperatures have been significantly higher than the average observed over the past 20 years – with some areas 5C above normal. This most recent marine heatwave has been the western Mediterranean's most extreme for this time of year. While sea surface temperatures above 30C are not that unusual later in the summer, such conditions are unprecedented in late June. The impact on marine wildlife and ecosystems from marine heatwaves can be significant. Prolonged exposure can drain the energy from sea creatures to a point where they can no longer survive. There is also evidence that some species go into survival mode and will not reproduce. Meanwhile, days of torrential rain across South Korea have been responsible for at least four deaths, with two people still unaccounted for. The country has been pounded by heavy rainfall since Wednesday, prompting the authorities to warn of landslides and flooding. Landslide alerts were raised to the highest level in several regions late last week, including across Chungcheong. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said more than 500mm had been recorded in Seosan, South Chungcheong province, since Wednesday. As of Saturday, almost 3,000 people had not returned to their homes after more than 7,000 were evacuated. More than 600 properties were reported damaged. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Wipha has brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of south-east Asia. The weather system hit parts of the Philippines before passing to the south of Taiwan on Saturday. Rain lashed Hong Kong on Sunday as Wipha moved southwards before making landfall on the coast of Guangdong province in China. The storm is expected to reach northern Vietnam this week, bringing very heavy rain. More than 110mm of rain was recorded in three hours in Hong Kong, with up to 100mph (161km/h) gusts. Cathay Pacific cancelled all flights for much of Sunday and elsewhere trees and scaffolding were toppled.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
The areas set for half a month's worth of rainfall in less than a day
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BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Kashmir's summers are getting hotter, taking a toll on people and farms
Zaina Begum stood helplessly next to her withering paddy field.A farmer in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pulwama district, she had been waiting for rainfall for more than a month, hoping to save her crop from dying. So when it finally rained earlier this week, she was hopeful. "But it was already too late by then," she said. "Our land had completely dried up."An intense heatwave has gripped Kashmir, a picturesque Himalayan region dotted with glaciers and known for its cool climate, as temperatures have soared to record-breaking levels this region recorded its highest daytime temperature in 70 years at 37.4C (99.32F) - at least 7C above the seasonal average. The valley also witnessed its hottest June in 50 years, prompting authorities to shut down schools and colleges for two respite came earlier this week after parts of the region received heavy rains, but experts say the relief is temporary and warn of even higher temperatures in the coming changing weather patterns have had a devastating impact on locals, most of whom rely on farming for their livelihoods. Many are struggling to stay in the business, while others complain about a drop in the quality of the produce, causing them huge Begum's family has been cultivating paddy - a highly water-intensive crop - for decades on their one-acre land (4046 sq m) in Chersoo they haven't had a single batch of healthy harvest in the last five years, as rains have become progressively more erratic, she said. "This summer, it feels like our worst fears have come true," she added. "We have nothing left." According to a 2021 study, the maximum temperature in the Kashmir rose by 2C between 1980 and 2020, indicating an average rise of 0.5C rise per decade. Mukhtar Ahmad, head of the Indian weather department's centre in Srinagar city, said the region had already witnessed three heatwaves this season, causing major rivers and streams to dry signs of damage were visible everywhere. In Bandipore district, rows of wilted apple trees dot Ali Mohammad's 15-acre years ago, he decided to turn land, where he grew paddy, into an apple orchard because he felt the weather and water supplies had become too unreliable for growing now, even his apple crop - which typically requires less water - is struggling to survive."The orchards need water at least three times a month, but for the last two months there was no rain and the irrigation canals dried up," he scorching heat has also taken a toll on residents, who are unaccustomed to living in such high temperatures."I have never witnessed such an intense heatwave in my life," said 63-year-old Parveez Ahmad, who lives in northern Kashmir.A few days ago, Mr Ahmad had to be rushed to the hospital after he complained of severe breathlessness."The doctors told me it was caused by the heat and humidity," he say that climate change has been impacting the region, causing extreme weather events and prolonged dry spells in both winter and year, the snow-clad mountains in the region stayed oddly brown and barren for months, after a prolonged delay in the annual snowfall. While warmer winters have led to reduced snowfall, hotter summers have sped up the melting of glaciers, disrupting the availability of water and putting human health and crops at risk, said Mohammad Farooq Azam, a glaciologist and hydrologist."These trends are not just seasonal anomalies - they represent a systemic shift that could have long-term consequences for water security, agriculture and biodiversity in Kashmir," Mr Azam Azam explained that most of Kashmir's winter rain and snow come from western disturbances - storms that form over the Mediterranean and move eastward. But these systems have become weaker and less frequent, leading to reduced snowfall and delays in snowmelt."This exposes the bare ground sooner than usual, which absorbs more heat. As glaciers shrink and snow cover reduces, the land reflects less sunlight and traps more heat, making the region even warmer," he Bashir, a professor at the Islamic University of Science and Technology in Awantipora district, points out that Kashmir contributes very little to global carbon emissions, as it has limited industry and relies mostly on agriculture and the region is being hit hard by climate change - making it a victim of a crisis it played little part in creating, she said. "This tells you how climate change is a global phenomenon, not restricted to any particular region."That said, the region has also witnessed rapid urbanisation in recent farmlands and forests have been replaced with concrete buildings, reducing the region's ability to naturally regulate the local to a report by Global Forest Watch (GFW), the wider Jammu and Kashmir region lost nearly 0.39% of its total tree cover between 2001 and 2023 due to deforestation and forest addition, government figures reveal that more than 600,000 trees have been felled in Kashmir over the last five years after being identified as river Bashir said urban areas of Kashmir were also experiencing higher energy demands, especially for air conditioners, which has increased the greenhouse gas emissions."This sets off a vicious cycle: rising temperatures lead to greater energy use, which fuels more emissions and further warming," she say that despite the growing risks, environmental issues rarely make headlines and are still not a priority for Kashmir's Sadiq, the spokesperson for the region's elected government, denied this and said the administration was taking the problem of climate change "very seriously"."Climate change is a global phenomenon and the government alone cannot tackle it," he added. "Still, we are exploring all available options to minimise its impact on the people."But for farmers like Ms Begum, any action must happen quickly."Otherwise, we will be doomed," she BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
