# data[].attributes.body
The blue Macaw which inspired the animated movie "Rio" has gone extinct due to deforestation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The blue macaw parrot known as a Spix's macaw has gone extinct in the wild, according to a new study from BirdLife International.

Native to Brazil, the species, known for its sharp blue coloration, exists only in captivity, the study found.

The bird, which was the subject of the 2011 animated film "Rio," has gone extinct in the wild due to deforestation, according to the organization. The species nests in now-rare 200- to 300-year-old caraibeira trees, where other invasive species, including predators, also live.

Some of the birds still survive in special breeding programs, according to CBS News.

The species was considered under threat of habitat extinction as far back as the 1980s. A book, "Spix's Macaw: The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird," was published by author Tony Juniper in 2002 in an attempt to spur public support for conservation efforts to save the species.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Blue macaw parrot extinct in wild, study concludes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The blue macaw parrot known as a Spix's macaw has gone extinct in the wild, according to a new study from BirdLife International. Native to Brazil, the species, known for its sharp blue coloration, exists only in captivity, the study found.

# data[].attributes.body
Our climate is changing drastically and we are soon too have more drouts and heat waves because of a reduction of soil  and moisture
. Also hurricanes will become more stronger and intense , because the climate is continuing to warm . lastly sea levels are rising 1-4 feet , because of melted water from ice that is melting because the earth is getting hotter .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Trajectory

Earth Will Continue to Warm and the Effects Will Be Profound

The potential future effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions, and an increase in the wind intensity and rainfall from tropical cyclones. Credit: left - Mike McMillan/USFS, center - Tomas Castelazo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, right - NASA.

Global climate change is not a future problem. Changes to Earth's climate driven by increased human emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are already having widespread effects on the environment: glaciers and ice sheets are shrinking, river and lake ice is breaking up earlier, plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting, and plants and trees are blooming sooner.

Effects that scientists had long predicted would result from global climate change are now occurring, such as sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more intense heat waves.

" The magnitude and rate of climate change and associated risks depend strongly on near-term mitigation and adaptation actions, and projected adverse impacts and related losses and damages escalate with every increment of global warming."

- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Some changes (such as droughts, wildfires, and extreme rainfall) are happening faster than scientists previously assessed. In fact, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the United Nations body established to assess the science related to climate change - modern humans have never before seen the observed changes in our global climate, and some of these changes are irreversible over the next hundreds to thousands of years.

Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for many decades, mainly due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

A Degree of Difference

So, the Earth's average temperature has increased about 2 degrees Fahrenheit during the 20th century. What's the big deal?

Read more

The IPCC's Sixth Assessment report, published in 2021, found that human emissions of heat-trapping gases have already warmed the climate by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) since 1850-1900. The global average temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5 degrees C (about 3 degrees F) within the next few decades. These changes will affect all regions of Earth.

What's the difference between climate change and global warming?

"Global warming" refers to the long-term warming of the planet. "Climate change" encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet, including rising sea levels; shrinking mountain glaciers; accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic; and shifts in flower/plant blooming times.

detailed answer

The severity of effects caused by climate change will depend on the path of future human activities. More greenhouse gas emissions will lead to more climate extremes and widespread damaging effects across our planet. However, those future effects depend on the total amount of carbon dioxide we emit. So, if we can reduce emissions, we may avoid some of the worst effects.

" The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss the brief, rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future." ²

- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Future Effects in the U.S.

U.S. Regional Effects

U.S. Regional Effects

Climate change is bringing different types of challenges to each region of the country. Some of the current and future impacts are summarized below. These findings are from the Third and Fourth National Climate Assessment Reports, released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

Is it too late to prevent climate change?

Humans have caused major climate changes to happen already, and we have set in motion more changes still. However, if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the rise in global temperatures would begin to flatten within a few years. Temperatures would then plateau but remain well-elevated for many, many centuries.

detailed answer

Northeast. Heat waves, heavy downpours, and sea level rise pose increasing challenges to many aspects of life in the Northeast. Infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and ecosystems will be increasingly compromised. Farmers can explore new crop options, but these adaptations are not cost- or risk-free. Moreover, adaptive capacity, which varies throughout the region, could be overwhelmed by a changing climate. Many states and cities are beginning to incorporate climate change into their planning.

Northwest. Changes in the timing of peak flows in rivers and streams are reducing water supplies and worsening competing demands for water. Sea level rise, erosion, flooding, risks to infrastructure, and increasing ocean acidity pose major threats. Increasing wildfire incidence and severity, heat waves, insect outbreaks, and tree diseases are causing widespread forest die-off.

Southeast. Sea level rise poses widespread and continuing threats to the region's economy and environment. Extreme heat will affect health, energy, agriculture, and more. Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impacts.

Midwest. Extreme heat, heavy downpours, and flooding will affect infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality, and more. Climate change will also worsen a range of risks to the Great Lakes.

Southwest. Climate change has caused increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks. In turn, these changes have made wildfires more numerous and severe. The warming climate has also caused a decline in water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, and triggered heat-related health impacts in cities. In coastal areas, flooding and erosion are additional concerns.

References
References
Header image shows cracked mud stretches across sections of the Panamint Valley. Credit: NPS/Kurt Moses; A degree of concern thermometer image credit: Pixabay/geralt

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
intergovernmental panel on climate change

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Vital Signs of the Planet: Global Climate Change and Global Warming. Long-term effects of global climate change in the United States.

# data[].attributes.body
might not be many hurricanes, but when there are they are huge and dangerous.
 
New Evidence That Climate Change Is Altering Hurricane Season as You Know It | The Weather Channel
A new report finds climate change is likely impacting hurricane season in two contradictory ways. The new research was published this week in Nature Climate Change by Florida State georgraphy professor Jim Elsner and Namyoung Kang, deputy director of the National Typhoon Center in South Korea.
The Weather Channel
favorite
3

 
more_vert
Species hit hard due to climate change. 

Selene Duarte
23h
Species hit hard due to climate change. 
So basically animals have to suffer due to climate change. Some animal have to move north due to this situation and suffer along the path.  
 
7 Species Hit Hard by Climate Change-Including One That's Already Extinct
Climate change is doing "widespread and consequential" harm to animals and plants, which are struggling to adapt to new conditions, according to a major report released Monday. The report, from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), finds that many life-forms are moving north or into deeper waters to survive as their habitats shift.
National Geographic News
favorite
2

 
Elephants

Jocie ( ;
23h
Elephants
African Elephants are being affected because the rainfall could increase and flood their food supply or rainfall and decrease and the elephants wont get enough water.
 
The Effects Of Climate Change
We're facing the biggest environmental challenge our generation has ever seen. No matter what we're passionate about, something we care about will be affected by climate change. Over the past 150 years, we've changed the balance of our planet by living beyond our means.
WWF
favorite
2

 
California high speed rail "wont cause global warming" 

Stephanie Ayala
23h
California high speed rail "wont cause global warming" 
It actually does affect it they have promises but they wont be kept .
 
California's Global Warming High-Speed Train
The California High-Speed Rail Authority promises to "achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in construction" and is committed to operate the system on "100% renewable energy" by contracting for "400 to 600 megawatts of renewable power". These promises may please environmentalists, but they cannot be kept.
Newgeography
favorite_border
0

 
Poor Polar Bear

Daisy Vaca Marron
23h
Poor Polar Bear
The ice in Greenland and other cold places is melting, leaving the polar bears without a home.
 
Climate Change Causes Habitat Loss and Species Extinction
Each species evolves to thrive in its own particular ecological niche - to live in a particular "home" with specific living conditions (including temperatures ranges and other plant and animal species). Some species are more adaptable than others.
Greenpeace East Asia
favorite
1

 
Hurricane Maria

Cecelia Olmedo
23h
Hurricane Maria
Last year, Puerto Rico was hit with a category 5 hurricane. Many still haven't fully recovered.
 
Months After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico Still Struggling
This story appears in the July 2018 issue ofNational Geographic magazine and was updated on August 30, 2018, to reflect the new death toll from Hurricane Maria. Nearly a year after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc in Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, the island's governor, raised the storm's official death toll from 64 to 2,975.
Magazine
favorite
3

 
Climate Change Conferences 

Alla Ali
23h
Climate Change Conferences 
Explains climate change and how to cope with it.
 
Climate Change Conferences | Climate Change Events | Paris Conferences | 2018 | USA, Europe, Asia
Meet World's leading Environmental Scientists, Environmental Professionals at Leading Climate Change Conferences 2018 USA Europe Asia and Middle East
Global-summit
favorite
5
1 comment
 
Alla Ali 23h 
ayyyyyy

 
Climate affecting Golf

Damian Perales
23h
Climate affecting Golf
Due to rainy weather and in the UK, many fields and courses are unplayable. Evidence to this is that 6 of 7 wettest years on record have been after 2000; an addition to this is the rising sea levels on coastal golf courses. 
 
Climate change affecting sports, claims study | The Express Tribune
OSLO: Golf, cricket and football are suffering from wetter weather linked to climate change in Britain, the nation which laid down the modern rules for the games, a study said on Wednesday.
The Express Tribune
favorite_border
0

 
Climate Causes Evacuations 

Cassandra Mazon
23h
Climate Causes Evacuations 
Due to the climate change and the heat , it's causing the hurricanes to happen .
 

favorite
1

 
Sea Life Endangerment

Harmonie Hallam
6m
Sea Life Endangerment
From polar bears to turtles sea life is being threatened by the growing and dangerous climate change. More greenhouse gases being burned everyday and trapped in the atmosphere heats up the Earth. The changes disrupt many wildlife's habitats and causes endangerment leading to extinction. 
 
Effects of Climate Change | Threats | WWF
Sea levels are rising and oceans are becoming warmer. Longer, more intense droughts threaten crops, wildlife and freshwater supplies. From polar bears in the Arctic to marine turtles off the coast of Africa, our planet's diversity of life is at risk from the changing climate.
World Wildlife Fund
favorite
1

 
Blue Macaw extinction

Macie Abrego
23h
Blue Macaw extinction
The blue Macaw which inspired the animated movie "Rio" has gone extinct due to deforestation. 
 
Blue macaw parrot extinct in wild, study concludes
The blue macaw parrot known as a Spix's macaw has gone extinct in the wild, according to a new study from BirdLife International. Native to Brazil, the species, known for its sharp blue coloration, exists only in captivity, the study found.
TheHill
favorite
2

 


add 

# data[].attributes.headline
Adelie Penguins are endangered due to climate change

# data[].attributes.subject
Adelie Penguins are endangered due to climate change

# data[].attributes.body
The Antarctic sea ice is melting which is effecting the Adelie penguins to have to migrate further to find food. The penguins waste a lot of energy doing this which makes the penguins less likely to reproduce and raise their babies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.

# data[].attributes.body
wildfires are becoming more often due too global warming getting warmer leading many people to evcuate there homes and effecting landscapes causing problems for animals and plants.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How climate change is increasing the risk of wildfires

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The army has been called in to help firefighters deal with a huge wildfire on Saddleworth Moor, Greater Manchester, where residents have been forced to evacuate. Wildfires are also blazing across Northern California while ...

# data[].attributes.body
The climate change has caused the hurricanes to get more destructive over the years

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 1960, roughly 845,000 people lived in the 24 counties along the Carolina coast.

By 2000, the number had grown to more than 1.5 million as the demand for beach living and ocean views continued to rise.

The coastal population today tops 2 million.

The development boom persisted despite warnings that global warming would continue to raise sea levels and could increase the intensity of storms. As in many places with strong Republican traditions, the issue of climate change remains highly contentious in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

But you don't have to trust the science of climate change to see the obvious: With more development along the coast, there is more to destroy when a hurricane pays a visit.

"We know that the cost of hurricanes have been rising over time and that's largely due to coastal development," said Christy Dahl, a senior climate scientist at the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists. "We simply have more stuff and more property in harm's way."

Residents of the Carolina coast are now confronting that reality as Hurricane Florence - now a tropical storm - bears down on their billions of dollars in real estate. All they can do now is hope that it shows them some mercy.

Scientists say that it is difficult to attribute any given storm or other extreme weather event to climate change. There were powerful hurricanes before the industrial age started pumping carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

But there has been an increase in the intensity of storms in the North Atlantic since 1970 and growing evidence that climate changes is to blame. Rising ocean temperatures give hurricanes more power. A warming atmosphere gives hurricanes more moisture. And rising sea levels mean stronger storm surges and more flooding.

"We won't necessarily see more hurricanes but we would expect them to become stronger," Dahl said.

That is unless the world drastically reduce its emissions, an unlikely prospect given the current state of global politics and economics.

In the meantime, researchers say that a good share of future damage could be averted with better development and land use policies.

Roger A. Pielke, professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has studied hurricane damages dating back decades and concluded that the the rising toll has less to do with the power of those storms than with the increasing amount of development in their path.

"The fact that there's more people and property and wealth is why damage increases," he said.

One of the problems is that in the U.S., land-use policy is usually decided at the local level, making it difficult to institute a broader strategy.

Dahl said that Hurricane Harvey was especially devastating because rapid development in the Houston area had changed the character of the land in a way that provided limited escape paths for the record rainfall that accompanied the 2017 storm.

"It went from a natural landscape to having imperfect surfaces like concrete and asphalt," she said.

The result was massive flooding.

"We need to be thinking about two things: where we are developing and ensuring we are not putting more people and property in high risk zones," Dahl said.

North Carolina flouted that advice.

In 2009, the state's Coastal Resources Commission contacted scientists to report on sea level rise.

The scientists published a report the next year projecting that by 2100 the sea would rise by at least 39 inches.

That was unwelcome news amid a development boom that was pumping billions of dollars into coastal projects. Skeptical of the science and beholden to the interests of developers, the Republican-dominated state legislature rejected the study.

Then in 2012 legislators passed a law ordering local agencies to ignore consideration of sea level rise when it came to making development policies for at least the next four years.

Bob Emory, who was chairman of the coastal commission when the report was released, was at home Friday in New Bern, N.C. - which sits on on ocean and was hit hard by the hurricane - already preparing for recovery efforts.

In the years since the report was published, development along North Carolinas coast has continued to boom.

He said there has been some progress: Several communities have developed policies associated with mitigating frequent flooding.

"They talk about flooding rather than sea level rise," he said in an e-mail. "We are part of the wider world where such discussions are ongoing."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Yes, hurricane damage is getting worse. But that's largely because there's more stuff to damage - Los Angeles Times

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hurricane damage has been getting significantly worse in the United States, and many people see climate change as the culprit. But scientists say the main problem may be that there's vastly more development on the coasts than there used to be.

# data[].attributes.body
Cape Penguins are going extinct because of the pollution and the oil us humans use

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The expansive and majestic ocean is home to some of the world's most amazing animals. Due to pollution and commercial fishing, though, many undersea creatures are endangered and decreasing in population.

Krill
Krill is the main source of energy for whales, salmon and other sea animals. You may not be able to see krill with the naked eye, but it is one of the most important ocean species. Without krill, the largest sea creatures cannot survive. Krill is endangered because they are harvested to feed farm-raised fish.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Turtles are some of the oldest species on earth. Loggerheads are named for their bulky heads that support their powerful jaws, which can crush clams and sea urchins. Loggerheads are popular in the Mediterranean regions and are endangered due to tourism development overtaking their nesting spaces. Also, fishing nets and lines catch and tangle the hapless turtles.

Cape Penguin
South Africa's prized penguins are also known as Jackass Penguins, making a sound similar to a hee-hawing donkey. These penguins are popular at Boulder Beach, where humans have face-to-face interaction with the birds. Due to human pollution, lose of nesting sites, lack of food and oil spill pollution, these birds are now endangered.

Coral
Yes, it's true; coral is a sea animal and is vital in the ocean's ecosystem. Coral provides protection and shelter to small sea creatures and barrier reefs buffer the shores by reducing the size of waves. Coral is endangered due to ocean acidification and commercial fishing. Also, humans touching or standing on the reefs while snorkeling or diving damages them further.

Gray Whale
The 50-foot gray whales are distinguished by their unique vocalization capabilities. Gray whales are found throughout the Pacific and North Atlantic waters, but the northwestern Pacific population is critically endangered. Beyond fishing entanglement, gas and oil development impacts gray whales with noise pollution and reducing food sources.

Hector's Dolphins
These dolphins reside in New Zealand waters. They are the smallest and rarest dolphin on the planet. They live closer to shore, and one major threat is getting caught in fishing nets. There is an estimated 7,400 of these creatures remaining and are a red list endangered species.

Manatees
The largest population of manatees resides in Florida waters. There are less than 3,000 of these gentle giant vegetarian mammals in the world. Manatee populations are at risk due to algae intoxication, winter freezes that affect shallow water, boating collisions and loss of habitat.

Hammerhead Sharks
Hammerheads are creatures of the deep and roam the ocean in peace. This red list endangered shark's population continues to decline in Mediterranean, Caribbean, Atlantic and South African waters. The major threats include fishing for shark fins and illegal sport fishing in the Indian Ocean.

Comments

comments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The expansive and majestic ocean is home to some of the world's most amazing animals. Due to pollution and commercial fishing, though, many undersea creatures are endangered and decreasing in population. Krill Krill is the main source of energy for whales, salmon and other sea animals.

# data[].attributes.body
Sub-Arctic forests are likely to be particularly badly affected, with tree lines gradually retreating north as temperatures rise. In tropical forests such as the Amazon, where there’s biodiversity, even modest levels of climate change can cause high levels of extinction.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Learn about the effects of climate change

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The effects of climate change are likely to be some of the biggest environmental challenges our generation has ever faced.

# data[].attributes.body
Carbon monoxide is affecting California's weather, which is causing global warming .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
California is being plagued by massive wildfires, and the effects on air quality from those fires can extend far beyond the state's borders. In addition to ash and smoke, fires release carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is a pollutant that can persist in the atmosphere for about a month and can be transported great distances.

New images made with data acquired by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on NASA's Aqua satellite show the high concentrations of carbon monoxide emitted from the fires (in orange/red) between July 29 and August 8. As the time series progresses, carbon monoxide high in the atmosphere is shown drifting east -- with one branch moving southward toward Texas and the other forking to the northeast.

From space, AIRS measures carbon monoxide high up in the atmosphere -- where it has little effect on the air we breathe. However, strong winds can carry this pollutant downward to where it can have significant effects on air quality. The time series of images shows just how far the carbon monoxide from California's wildfires has travelled eastward and what areas may be at greater risk of experiencing its effects.

Other NASA instruments contribute to the study of carbon monoxide as well, including the Measurement of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT), which looks at carbon monoxide in the lower atmosphere, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) which can detect carbon monoxide (and provide other useful surface data) over large areas of land.

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, AIRS, in conjunction with the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit, AMSU, senses emitted infrared and microwave radiation from Earth to provide a three-dimensional look at Earth's weather and climate. Working in tandem, the two instruments make simultaneous observations all the way down to Earth's surface, even in the presence of heavy clouds. With more than 2,000 channels sensing different regions of the atmosphere, the system creates a global, three-dimensional map of atmospheric temperature and humidity, cloud amounts and heights, greenhouse gas concentrations, and many other atmospheric phenomena. Launched into Earth orbit in 2002, the AIRS and AMSU instruments fly on board NASA's Aqua spacecraft and are managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. JPL is a division of Caltech in Pasadena.

For more information about AIRS, visit:
https://airs.jpl.nasa.gov/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Carbon monoxide from California wildfires drifts east - Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
California is being plagued by massive wildfires, and the effects on air quality from those fires can extend far beyond the state's borders. In addition to ash and smoke, fires release carbon monoxide into the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is a pollutant that can persist in the atmosphere for about a month and can be transported great distances.

# data[].attributes.body
when water warms up it puts stress on the sea and then the sea level rises and then stronger storms disrupt and up root coral reefs killing and destroying their beauty. Lack of food and the spread of diseases also hurt the coral reef

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How does climate change affect coral reefs?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms, tsunamis, and landslides have the potential to be the source of a tremendous amount of marine debris. High winds, heavy rain, storm surge, and flooding associated with these disasters can pull large structures, household products, and outdoor items into surrounding waters.

# data[].attributes.headline
Hurricanes worsening due to climate change 

# data[].attributes.subject
Hurricanes worsening due to climate change 

# data[].attributes.body
Studies show that hurricanes are getting worse due to climate change and the temperature rising. There might not be many hurricanes, but when there are they are huge and dangerous.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A new report finds climate change is likely impacting hurricane season in two contradictory ways.

The new research was published this week in Nature Climate Change by Florida State georgraphy professor Jim Elsner and Namyoung Kang, deputy director of the National Typhoon Center in South Korea. The study finds that warmer ocean temperatures, caused by climate change, may be fueling stronger hurricanes, while at the same time, creating fewer storms.

"We're seeing fewer hurricanes, but the ones we do see are more intense," Elsner said. "When one comes, all hell can break loose."

In order for a tropical disturbance to develop, the conditions need to be just right. While that includes a moist and unstable atmosphere, as well as weak vertical wind shear, ocean temperatures are also very important. Sea-surface temperatures need to be warm -- usually greater than 80 degrees -- therefore, those warmer oceans would allow for stronger hurricanes and typhoons.

Earth's temperatures have met three major milestones recently, setting the set the stage for warmer conditions:

( MORE: Where Hurricanes Come From)

The study found from 1984 to 2012, wind speeds in tropical cyclones have increased by 3 mph. During that same time period, they discovered there were 6.1 fewer storms than they would expect if ocean and land temperatures have not increased.

"It's basically a tradeoff between frequency and intensity," Elsner said.

( MORE: Is Earth Still on Pace for a Record Warm 2015?)

This isn't the first study to link climate change to hurricane activity. According to Michael Lowry, hurricane specialist at The Weather Channel, this one is a little different because the authors reviewed what's already happened based on the past 30 years. Lowry says while the research shows change is happening, the changes weren't overly dramatic.

"The authors found that hurricanes have become slightly more intense (about 3 mph stronger) at the expense of other hurricanes," Lowry said. "So there have been fewer storms globally since 1984, but less than 1 percent fewer when compared to the total number of storms."

Implications of the Study?

Elsner and Kang say that their results might even be an indication of what a future season may look like. "In a warmer year, stronger but fewer tropical cyclones are likely to occur," explained Kang. "In a colder year, on the other hand, weaker but more tropical cyclones."

For the 2015 Atlantic storm season, which begins June 1, The Weather Channel has projected a total of nine named storms, five hurricanes and one major hurricane, which is below the 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

( MORE: 2015 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook)

As mentioned earlier, there are many factors that need to come together for a hurricane to develop. Dry air and an increase in wind shear can inhibit the formation of tropical cyclones. El Nino conditions are expected to continue through this Atlantic hurricane season, which could limit the number of storms that form due to an increase in wind shear in the tropical Atlantic Basin.

The United States has not seen a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) make landfall in a record nine and a half years. However, it is important to pay attention during hurricane season, as it only takes one storm to cause destruction and it doesn't have to be a major hurricane to be damaging or deadly.

( MORE: Major Hurricane Drought)

It's also already been an active year in the western Pacific with Typhoon Dolphin becoming the earliest occurrence of the seventh named storm of the year on record.
MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Hurricanes of the Future (PHOTOS)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New Evidence That Climate Change Is Altering Hurricane Season as You Know It | The Weather Channel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new report finds climate change is likely impacting hurricane season in two contradictory ways. The new research was published this week in Nature Climate Change by Florida State georgraphy professor Jim Elsner and Namyoung Kang, deputy director of the National Typhoon Center in South Korea.

# data[].attributes.headline
Species hit hard due to climate change. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Species hit hard due to climate change. 

# data[].attributes.body
So basically animals have to suffer due to climate change. Some animal have to move north due to this situation and suffer along the path.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore National Geographic. A world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.

# data[].attributes.body
African Elephants are being affected because the rainfall could increase and flood their food supply or rainfall and decrease and the elephants wont get enough water.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Learn about the effects of climate change

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The effects of climate change are likely to be some of the biggest environmental challenges our generation has ever faced.

# data[].attributes.headline
California high speed rail "wont cause global warming" 

# data[].attributes.subject
California high speed rail "wont cause global warming" 

# data[].attributes.body
It actually does affect it they have promises but they wont be kept .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The California High-Speed Rail Authority promises to "achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in construction" and is committed to operate the system on "100% renewable energy" by contracting for "400 to 600 megawatts of renewable power". These promises may please environmentalists, but they cannot be kept.
Construction Emissions
The Authority has provided only limited information regarding GHG construction emissions. Its 2013 Emissions Report estimated 30,107 metric tons in GHG "direct emissions" for the first 29 miles of construction. "Indirect emissions" associated with the manufacture and transport of materials, primarily concrete, steel, and ballast were not reported because, according to the Authority, precise quantities, sources, and suppliers were not known. A more plausible reason is the their desire to hide from the public more than 90% of GHG emissions associated with their project. Regardless, recent testimony by the Authority's CEO clearly indicates that indirect emissions can now be tallied.

Speaking before the Assembly High-Speed Rail Oversight Committee on January 27, 2016, CEO Jeff Morales, spoke at length on how costs were estimated. He described the assemblage of 200,000 individual line items including concrete, steel, dirt, electrical, etc. and said each includes a unit cost which is multiplied by the units required to build the system.

Total GHG construction emissions would still be unknown today were it not for the work of professors Mikhail V. Chester and Arpad Horvath working in UC Berkeley's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They studied this issue, published their findings in 2010, and estimated that 9.7 million metric tons of GHG would be emitted during the construction of the statewide system; primarily because of the production of massive amounts of concrete and steel. Using mid-level occupancy for the three competing modes of travel (high-speed train, auto, and airplane) the authors estimated it would take 71 years of train operation to mitigate the project's construction emissions. California's Legislative Analyst Office came to a similar conclusion in a 2012 report critical of using GHG reduction funds to pay for Phase 1 (Los Angeles to San Francisco) of the statewide system because "if the high-speed rail system met its ridership targets and renewable electricity commitments, construction and operation of the system would emit more GHG emissions than it would reduce for approximately the first 30 years". Here, the LAO appears to be citing an updated Chester and Horvath study, published in July 2012, which focused on only Phase 1 of the high-speed rail project, as outlined in the Authority's Revised 2012 Business Plan. They took into account additional highway infrastructure that could be avoided as well as claims that "a future CAHSR system will likely see improved train performance and an opportunity for increased renewable electricity usage".

However, the Authority promised "zero net greenhouse gas emissions in construction". A reduction in California's GHG emissions due to the trains' operations was to help reduce the state's future GHG emissions, not merely mitigate construction releases. The Authority's zero construction emissions promise relies heavily on a tree planting program. More than 5 million trees, each more than 50 feet tall, would need to be grown and perpetually maintained to recapture the 9.7 million tons of GHG construction emission. However, one year into construction, the Authority's CEO admitted that not a single tree had been planted. Worse, as part of their project, the Authority plans to cut down thousands of trees south of San Francisco to electrify Caltrain trackage.
Emissions from Operation
Chester and Horvath generously assumed the trains would run on a power mix relatively high in renewable sources. However, high-speed electric trains would replace fossil fueled propelled automobiles and airplanes. When Phase 1 is completed, the trains will place a new demand on the electric grid that must be met immediately by starting up an idle generator capacity. It may be a peaking unit in California powered by natural gas or a coal burning plant in Utah. The exact source is unknowable, but it will not be a wind or solar powered electric plant. These sources will already be generating all the power they can produce when the first trains require additional power.

The Authority's business plans are constantly changing as are their assumptions on energy consumption and energy cost. The 2012 Business Plan is cited, a plan that referred to paying 15.2 cents/kWh for electrical energy, inclusive of a 3 cent premium for renewable energy. Energy consumption was established at 63 kWh/mile. Train miles traveled between 2022 and 2030 was projected to be 99 million, resulting in an energy use of 6,300 million kWh. In order to make good on their claim that they will power the trains with 100% renewable energy the Authority needs to fund the construction of the necessary renewable power plants.

California Valley Solar Ranch, a 250MW facility producing 650 million kWh/year recently built at a cost of a $1.6 billion ($1.2 billion financed at a 3.5% interest rate using a federal loan guarantee coupled with a check from the U.S. Treasury for $430 million), serves as a proxy for the needed capital. The Authority's trains would consume 1,200 million kWh in 2030 and need the output of 1.85 Solar Ranches; 460MW of capacity costing $3.0 billion. A premium of 42 cent/kWh, fourteen times the Authority's offer, would be needed to raise the necessary capital by 2030. More than 20% of this capacity, costing half a billion dollars, must be constructed before the first trains run. Otherwise, those trains will be totally powered by fossil fuels, meaning the GHG emissions per passenger mile will be no better than for two passengers traveling in an automobile which meets the federal fuel efficiency standards scheduled to be in place in 2022.

The issue of global warming needs to be addressed. However, the planting of millions of trees and the spending of billions of dollars on a fossil fuel propelled train is not a practical or cost effective way to address the problem. From the climate point of view, the Authority's project is detrimental because of its massive construction GHG emissions and because it diverts funds from other actions, such as providing financial incentives for ride-sharing and for the purchase of zero emission or low emission vehicles that could really help address the serious problem of global warming.

Michael J. Brady has been a litigator and appellate lawyer for 50 years; he has worked on opposing California's high speed rail for 10 years.

Mark Powell has been assisting Mike Brady for seven years; he is a retired chemist for Union Oil Co.

Photo by California High-Speed Rail Authority [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
California's Global Warming High-Speed Train

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The California High-Speed Rail Authority promises to "achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in construction" and is committed to operate the system on "100% renewable energy" by contracting for "400 to 600 megawatts of renewable power". These promises may please environmentalists, but they cannot be kept.

# data[].attributes.body
The ice in Greenland and other cold places is melting, leaving the polar bears without a home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Standard Page - 2006-01-06

A polar bear walks along the edge of 'the ice bridge' in the Robeson channel, near the border between Greenland and Canada. Polar bears are facing extinction as they are losing vast areas of their sea ice habitat due to global warming. 06/28/2009 © Nick Cobbing / Greenpeace

Unless we drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we can expect several factors to combine that will make the coming die out astonishingly severe. The climate is changing faster than at almost any time in our plane's history. Also, many ecosystems are already stressed by human activities - destructive logging, excessive grazing, over fishing, toxic pollution and the like. And expanding human development destroys habitats and impedes many species from migrating - superhighways effectively block land animals, for example.

Some studies have indicated that with a mid-range temperature rise of 1.8-2° C (3.2-3.6°F), a million species would be threatened with extinction over the next fifty years. This can only be avoided by rapid emissions reductions in the next few decades. There is still time to save many species, but it is fast running out. If temperatures go even higher, more species will be lost.

Some examples of species and habitats at risk:

Coral Reefs

Coral bleaching is a condition that can seriously damage and kill entire coral reefs. Corals contain microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which provide the coral with food and give them their vibrant colours. Rising ocean temperatures cause corals to become stressed, and they expel the zooxanthellae and turn white or "bleach". If zooxanthellae do not return to the coral's tissue, the coral will die.

As little as a 1°C (1.8°F) increase in temperature above the summer maximum can cause corals to bleach. An example of this problem is Australia's world-famous Great Barrier Reef. At around 2,000 kilometres (1,243 miles) long, it is the world's largest reef. But in 2002, the reef experienced its worst-ever case of coral bleaching, with over 60% of the reef affected. Unless projected levels of climate change are slowed, much of the reef will be dead in decades. Deprived of their living homes, hundreds of species relying on the reef will also die out.

Polar Bears

Arctic sea ice could disappear this century, and wild polar bears with it.

Polar bears are the world's largest land predator. They can go for long periods, even months, without eating, but need to build up fat to live through lean times. The polar bear does this mostly by eating seals they catch on the ice. Without the ice they can't get to their prey.

In fact, without sea ice, much of the Arctic ecosystem would change or collapse. Polar bears also use floating sea ice platforms for travel, and pregnant polar bears build snow dens for giving birth. Polar bears must also swim further and further to find ice on their hunting trips - putting them at risk of death by hunger and exhaustion.

Plants

Like animals and insects, plant species require specific climates. You don't find yellow birch trees growing next to Saguaro Cactus, for example. Changes in precipitation and temperature will mean that some species can no longer survive where they are now growing. Also, like animals, plants are vulnerable to competition. As warming occurs, species that have adapted to living in cooler climates can be pushed out of existence by newcomers better suited to the new temperatures.

Most plants can't migrate very quickly, compared to animals and insects. They are restricted by how far their seed or pollen can travel. Thus, the climate will change too fast for plants to migrate if current trends continue. Human barriers (such as farm sand urban areas) will also impede plant migrations.

Many animals and insects need specific plants, or types of plants, as part of their habitat. So the loss of plant species will have a ripple effect, leading to more animal and plant extinctions.

More info

Learn more about:

Extreme Weather
Glacier Retreat in the Third Pole
Health, Food and Water
Sea Level Rise

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Climate Change Causes Habitat Loss and Species Extinction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Each species evolves to thrive in its own particular ecological niche - to live in a particular "home" with specific living conditions (including temperatures ranges and other plant and animal species). Some species are more adaptable than others.

# data[].attributes.body
Last year, Puerto Rico was hit with a category 5 hurricane. Many still haven't fully recovered.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Months After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico Still Struggling

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The new death toll from the worst natural disaster to affect the island is a reminder of the longest blackout in U.S. history.

# data[].attributes.body
Explains climate change and how to cope with it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Climate Change Conferences | Climate Change Events | Paris Conferences | 2018 | USA, Europe, Asia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Meet World's leading Environmental Scientists, Environmental Professionals at Leading Climate Change Conferences 2018 USA Europe Asia and Middle East

# data[].attributes.body
Due to very rainy weather in the UK, many fields and courses are unplayable. Evidence to this is that 6 of 7 wettest years on record have been after 2000; an addition to this is the rising sea levels on coastal golf courses.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
OSLO: Golf, cricket and football are suffering from wetter weather linked to climate change in Britain, the nation which laid down the modern rules for the games, a study said on Wednesday.

More downpours meant pitches and fairways were more likely to be soggy or unplayable while sea level rise was also aggravating erosion of coastal golf courses in Scotland, such as Montrose which dates back to 1562, it said. The Climate Coalition, of 130 non-governmental groups in Britain, said its report underscored that warming threatens sports beyond those dependent on snow and ice on display at this month's Pyeongchang Olympics.

A main problem is that six of the seven wettest years on record in Britain have been since 2000, said Piers Forster, a professor of climate change at the University of Leeds who contributed to the study. "Britain is particularly susceptible to storms coming in from the North Atlantic," he told Reuters. Rain, extreme weather and and erosion meant "cancelled football matches, flooded cricket grounds and golf courses crumbling into the sea," it said.

Steve Isaac, director of golf course management at the R&A, the governing body for golf outside the United States and Mexico, said in the report that he reckoned golf was "more impacted by climate change than any sport aside from skiing".

Coastal golf courses were suffering from storm surges and a rise in sea levels, caused by a melt of ice from Greenland to the Himalayas. Montrose, for instance, has moved tees and fairways inland because of erosion, said Chris Curnin, director at the Montrose Golf Links. Dredging and natural shifts in the North Sea explained some of the erosion, of 70 metres in places. "Climate change and rising seas are accelerating the retreat," he told Reuters.

US President Donald Trump, who doubts that greenhouse gas emissions are the prime driver of climate change, owns two courses in Scotland.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has also said it was suffering from less predictable weather. 27% of England's home ODIs have been played with reduced overs since 2000 due to rain disruptions, the study said. And for football, extreme weather events caused the cancellation of 25 Football League fixtures during the 2015-16 season, the study said. It did not give comparisons to other years.

Read full story

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Climate change affecting sports, claims study | The Express Tribune

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
OSLO: Golf, cricket and football are suffering from wetter weather linked to climate change in Britain, the nation which laid down the modern rules for the games, a study said on Wednesday.

# data[].attributes.body
Due to the climate change and the heat , it's causing the heat to bottle up and the heat is causing the hurricanes to happen .

# data[].attributes.body
From polar bears to turtles sea life is being threatened by the growing and dangerous climate change. More greenhouse gases being burned everyday and trapped in the atmosphere heats up the Earth. The changes disrupt many wildlife's habitats and causes endangerment leading to extinction.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Effects of Climate Change | Threats | WWF

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sea levels are rising and oceans are becoming warmer. Longer, more intense droughts threaten crops, wildlife and freshwater supplies. From polar bears in the Arctic to marine turtles off the coast of Africa, our planet’s diversity of life is at risk from the changing climate.
Climate change poses a…