Latest news with #RaulCordero
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Science
- Malay Mail
Snow blankets Atacama Desert, the world's driest, in rare weather event
SANTIAGO, June 27 — Residents of the world's driest desert, the Atacama in northern Chile, woke up Thursday to a jaw-dropping spectacle: its famous lunar landscape blanketed in snow. "INCREDIBLE! The Atacama Desert, the world's most arid, is COVERED IN SNOW," the ALMA observatory, situated 2,900 meters (9,500 feet) above sea level, wrote on X, alongside a video of vast expanses covered in a dusting of white. The observatory added that while snow is common on the nearby Chajnanator Plateau, situated at over 5,000 meters and where its gigantic telescope is situated, it had not had snow at its main facility in a decade. University of Santiago climatologist Raul Cordero told AFP that it was too soon to link the snow to climate change but said that climate modelling had shown that "this type of event, meaning precipitation in the Atacama desert, will likely become more frequent." The Atacama, home to the world's darkest skies, has for decades been the go-to location for the world's most advanced telescopes. The ALMA telescope, which was developed by the European Southern Observatory, the US National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, is widely recognized as being the most powerful. — AFP
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Worsening phenomenon threatens global economy by forcing closure of major ports: 'A lot of money will have to be invested'
Key South American trading ports are gearing up for brutal winter storm surges, according to Agence France-Presse. The storms share a common cause: rising global temperatures. "A lot of money will have to be invested in protection against [extreme] waves," climatologist Raul Cordero told AFP. He wasn't wrong. Rising sea levels, caused by the planet's warming, have rendered the sea wall in San Antonio, Chile, nearly obsolete. If put out of commission, it could have dire consequences for the country's biggest port. $11 million has been allocated for building reinforcements, which Jose Aldunate, the project's leader, told AFP would be finished in 2026. Until then, San Antonio could suffer financially. In 2024, the port was unusable for 30 days. The year prior, it was 47. Even more naturally protected ports, such as Peru's Callao, have been impacted. Last year, trade was halted for 10 days after it was battered by huge waves. Extreme weather also caused Ecuador's Manta to shut down for several days. These South American storm surges are a symptom of a much larger issue: the warming planet. While extreme storms have always existed, rising global temperatures have added fuel to the fire, making them that much more destructive. This worldwide phenomenon could wreck the global economy. Australian farmlands were recently flooded by the remnants of Cyclone Alfred, driving up food prices. Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the United States cost $50 billion in damages. There's only one way to fix it. According to NASA, "More greenhouse gas emissions will lead to more climate extremes. … If we can reduce emissions, we may avoid some of the worst effects." Do you think the federal government should give us tax breaks to improve our homes? Definitely Only for certain upgrades Let each state decide instead No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. At the moment, it seems like officials are more concerned with mitigating the symptoms than tackling the root cause. Most funds are being poured into sea wall reinforcements. The best thing an individual can do is reduce the amount of pollution they release into the atmosphere. Upgrading to an electric vehicle or switching to community solar are both great ways to start. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
