Tag: Environmental impact
Climate Risks Highlighted by New Mexico Wildfire Flash Flooding
After two weeks of destructive wildfires in New Mexico, the town of Ruidoso experienced severe flash flooding and debris flows over the weekend. The flooding, caused by heavy rainfall, was exacerbated by the damage...
The Dangers of the Heat Dome: Understanding the Impact on the United States
June is here, but it feels more like July or August with the scorching summer heat hitting record highs in the United States. A high-pressure weather system known as a heat dome has trapped...
Hunting Blue Whales in Medieval Iceland: A Probable Practice
In the fall of 1385, a man named Ólafur went fishing off the northwestern coast of Iceland and encountered a blue whale, the largest animal on record. Jón Guðmundsson, the poet and scholar who...
Rethinking the Ecocide Narrative on Easter Island
The settlers of Rapa Nui, known for their iconic stone statues, are often blamed for causing ecological and social disasters due to overpopulation. However, a recent study challenges this narrative, suggesting that the Polynesian...
How Rat Eradication Helped Seabirds Flourish on Small Island
Tromelin Island, a small teardrop-shaped piece of land in the Indian Ocean, saw a surprising resurgence of wedge-tailed shearwaters after rats were eradicated in 2005. The rats, which had been on the island for...
Uncovering Climate Patterns: Analyzing Whaling Logbooks for Insights
During the height of the U.S. whaling industry in the mid-19th century, sailors heavily relied on wind to propel their ships as they hunted whales for oil. With limited instrumental data available, sailors recorded...
Impact of Climate Change on Aging Dams in the U.S.
The impact of climate change on aging dams in the United States is becoming increasingly concerning. Recently, heavy rainfall in the Upper Midwest put an aging dam at risk of failing. The Blue Earth...
Climate Change Emerges as a Major Opponent in the Sports World
Madeleine Orr, a sport ecologist at the University of Toronto, has recently released her debut book, "Warming Up: How Climate Change Is Changing Sport." In this eye-opening book, Orr explores the various ways in...
Tonga Eruption 2022: Unprecedented Water Vapor Retained in Atmosphere
The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in 2022 has had a significant impact on the Earth's atmosphere. According to experts, millions of tonnes of water vapor were released into the air during...
Harnessing AI for Climate Change Solutions: Bill Gates Emphasizes the Importance of Responsible Use
Bill Gates, the philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, recently discussed the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in combating climate change during an interview at the Breakthrough Energy Summit in London. He emphasized the importance...