February is set to break numerous heat records, driven by both human-induced global warming and the natural El Niño climate pattern, leading to significant temperature increases on land and in oceans worldwide. The rapid warming, particularly evident in sea-surface temperatures, has left experts struggling to explain the extent of the change. This warming trend follows record-breaking months throughout 2023 and January 2024. Meteorologists predict a 2°C warming above pre-industrial levels for February, primarily due to El Niño, though uncertainties persist regarding future climate patterns. The surge in temperatures has shattered heat records in numerous countries, with unprecedented heatwaves observed across various regions. Ocean surface temperatures are also exceptionally high, raising concerns about potential intensified storms later in the year. While El Niño’s influence is waning, the continued warming trend underscores the urgent need for drastic emissions reductions to mitigate future climate risks.

Source: Guardian

A recent study has revealed significant transformations in Greenland’s landscape due to the melting of its ice sheet, leading to the emergence of vegetation in previously ice-covered regions. Over the past three decades, approximately 11,000 square miles of Greenland’s ice sheet and glaciers have melted, equivalent to 1.6% of its total ice cover, with barren rock, wetlands, and shrub growth replacing the ice. This vegetation expansion, along with a near-quadrupling of wetlands, poses risks of increased greenhouse gas emissions, rising sea levels, and landscape instability. Warmer air temperatures, heating up at double the global average rate since the 1970s, are driving the ice retreat. The study suggests that vegetation growth exacerbates ice loss, creating a feedback loop. Dr. Jonathan Carrivick, a co-author, notes that ice loss triggers further reactions, leading to additional ice loss and “greening” of Greenland. Lead author Dr. Michael Grimes highlights the significance of these changes, particularly for Indigenous populations reliant on stable ecosystems for traditional subsistence hunting. Moreover, the loss of ice mass in Greenland contributes substantially to global sea level rise, presenting significant challenges. The researchers have developed a model to predict areas likely to undergo accelerated change, aiding ongoing monitoring efforts.

Source: Guardian

A recent study has highlighted alarming findings regarding the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc), a crucial system of ocean currents that plays a significant role in global climate regulation. Researchers warn that the Amoc is approaching a tipping point, beyond which lies an abrupt collapse with dire consequences for the climate system and humanity. This collapse could lead to drastic shifts in weather patterns, sea level rise, and ecological disruptions. The accelerated melting of Greenland’s glaciers and Arctic ice sheets, coupled with changes in ocean salinity levels, are hastening this decline. Despite uncertainties about the exact timing, the study emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change and its impacts. The potential collapse of the Amoc underscores the need for immediate and concerted action to mitigate climate change and its far-reaching effects.

Source: Guardian, Nature

Recent satellite data analyzed by researchers from Sandia National Laboratories indicates that reduced reflectivity of Arctic ice, known as albedo, has amplified warming in the region. The data, covering 2014 to 2019, reveals a 20% to 35% loss in total reflectivity. The study suggests that the uneven warming in the Arctic is linked to both reduced sea ice and decreased reflectivity. The exposure of dark ocean as ice melts absorbs more sunlight than snow-covered ice, contributing to rising temperatures. The research provides a comprehensive multi-year examination of the relationship between albedo and Arctic warming throughout the entire region. Approximately one-third of the reflectivity loss is due to fully melted ice, while weathering of the remaining sea ice is responsible for the other two-thirds. The findings emphasize the impact of weathered ice on reducing reflectivity and contribute valuable insights for climate applications.

Source: Space , Nature

Greenland’s ice cap is melting at an alarming rate, losing an average of 30 million tonnes of ice per hour, which is 20% more than previously estimated, according to recent Nature publication by Greene et al. The additional freshwater flowing into the North Atlantic raises concerns about triggering the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc), with potential severe consequences. The study used satellite photos to analyze glacier retreats since 1985, revealing a trillion tonnes of lost ice. The accelerated ice loss may impact the Amoc, posing risks to global weather patterns, ecosystems, and food security. Source: Guardian , Nature

Ocean Ovens: 2023 Breaks Heat Records Again! A groundbreaking study by global scientists reveals alarming ocean warming trends, hitting record highs for the fifth consecutive year. The seas are absorbing unprecedented heat, sounding an urgent call to curb greenhouse gas emissions. As oceanographer Cheng Lijing warns, our planet’s vital signs are in jeopardy. Brace for impact as rising temperatures reshape marine life, intensify extreme weather, and raise sea levels. The clock is ticking – will we cool things down before hitting irreversible tipping points? Source: Link

Article by  Xiaoying You

Oxford University’s Smith School report warns against heavy reliance on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for net zero by 2050, estimating a staggering $30 trillion extra cost compared to a low-CCS route. While CCS gains attention at COP28, the analysis advises against widespread deployment, citing financial impracticality. Emphasizing the economic advantage of renewables, the report reveals stagnant CCS costs over the last 40 years. Choosing a low-CCS path proves more socially and ecologically beneficial, with smaller land use requirements. The report urges governments to prioritize investment, focus on essential CCS use, and avoid viewing it as a blanket solution. Scaling up renewables and reducing fossil fuel use is the economically sensible approach. Source: Link

Article by Rupert Way

By CLAUDIA WIENERS, DANIELE VISIONI, and HERMAN RUSSCHENBERG | Sep 11, 2023

The European Commission is cautiously considering solar radiation modification (SRM) as a means to combat climate change, focusing on risks over benefits. SRM, a method aimed at cooling the planet, is met with concerns that it may divert attention from essential emission reduction efforts. A call for balanced research must be made to evaluate SRM’s potential as a climate change mitigation tool. With global warming on the rise, dismissing SRM as science fiction is no longer an option .

Source: Link

The European Union has reached a groundbreaking agreement to implement methane emissions limits on oil and gas imports starting in 2030. This law aims to curb leaks of the potent greenhouse gas, emphasizing the urgency of reducing methane emissions to avoid severe climate change. The deal will enforce “maximum methane intensity values” on international fossil fuel producers supplying Europe. This regulation is expected to impact major gas suppliers like the US, Algeria, and Russia. Importers face penalties if they purchase from non-compliant suppliers. The law will apply to contracts signed after its enactment, pending final approval. The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers supports the regulation but seeks clarification on certain aspects. The EU’s specific methane emissions limit will be defined by the European Commission. This move is seen as a pivotal step ahead of the COP 28 climate talks, asserting that climate responsibilities extend beyond borders. The regulation mandates measurement, reporting, and fixing of methane leaks, while also phasing out most flaring and venting in the oil, gas, and coal sectors by 2025 or 2027, depending on the infrastructure type.

Source: Link

Six young Portuguese individuals, aged between 11 and 24, have brought a case against 32 governments, including the EU member states, Norway, Turkey, the UK, and Switzerland, at the European Court of Human Rights. They allege that these governments have failed to sufficiently reduce emissions, leading to extreme heat and wildfires in Portugal, which violated their rights to life, privacy, and family under the European Convention of Human Rights. The case, named Duarte Agostinho after three siblings among the plaintiffs, marks the largest climate-related case in Europe to date, involving unprecedented numbers of countries defending themselves in court. The outcome is anticipated to have far-reaching implications for future climate litigation (Link).