Recent Environmental News: Climate Crisis, Drought Expansion, La Niña Developments, and Legal Actions for Climate Justice
Recent Environmental News: Climate Crisis, Drought Expansion, La Niña Developments, and Legal Actions for Climate Justice
Recent environmental news highlights the ongoing climate crisis, drought expansion, La Niña developments, and legal actions for climate justice.
Climate Crisis
The climate crisis is intensifying, with extreme weather events like megafires, hurricanes, and floods becoming more frequent and severe. These events are exacerbating water scarcity, affecting over 920 million children. The crisis is also leading to massive displacement, with 154 million people living less than one meter above sea level. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for urgent global action to mitigate and adapt to these changes.
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Drought Expansion
The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that moderate to exceptional drought now covers 36.8% of the United States, affecting over 244 million people. The drought is expanding in regions like the Desert Southwest, Texas, and Florida. This expansion is driven by a persistent ridge of high pressure over the West, which inhibits precipitation. The situation is worsening, with more areas experiencing abnormal dryness.
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La Niña Watch
There is a 59% chance that weak La Niña conditions will develop in the coming months. This phase of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific. While the traditional Niño-3.4 index does not yet indicate La Niña, the relative index suggests we might already be in a La Niña phase. This could influence global weather patterns, potentially bringing drier conditions to some regions.
