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☆ Powerful Hurricane Hilary to weaken before reaching California Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Proteccion Civil Estatal Colima (PC_Colima) via X/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Estado de Baja California FollowMEXICO CITY, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Category 4 Hurricane Hilary was rushing toward Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Friday morning, a U.S. government agency said, though it should weaken before hitting the U.S. Pacific coast this weekend. The powerful storm is threatening parts of Mexico and the south-western United States with "significant flooding" and prompted the country's National Hurricane Center (NHC) to issue its first ever tropical storm watch for California. Hilary is expected to approach the west coast of Mexico's Baja California as a hurricane this weekend but weaken to a tropical storm before hitting the U.S. state on Sunday afternoon. Rhome said California and southern Nevada faced risks from severe flooding caused by up to 10 inches of rainfall. A storm surge could cause coastal flooding and destructive waves along the Baja California peninsula, the NHC said.

Persons: Hurricane Hilary, Jamie Rhome, Hilary, Rhome, Valentine Hilaire, Rich Mckay, Timothy Ahmann, Frank McGurty, Isabel Woodford, Jonathan Oatis, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Estado, Hurricane, Mexico's, U.S, National Hurricane Center, NHC, National Weather Service, Thomson Locations: Hurricane, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, PC_Colima, California, MEXICO, Mexico's Baja California, U.S, Pacific, United States, Nevada, Baja California, California , Nevada, Arizona, Phoenix , Arizona, Mexico City, Atlanta, New York

☆ Conditions are ripe for a global coral bleaching event: ‘Florida is just the tip of the iceberg’
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

NOAA, coral reefs, Florida Keys, coral reefs, coral bleaching, climate change, warm oceansCoral reefs off the coast of Florida are being hit by a mass bleaching event due to record high ocean temperatures, and early indications suggest a global mass bleaching event could be underway. The Sentinel climate research and monitoring site in the Florida Keys has recorded 100% coral bleaching since late July. There have been eight mass coral bleaching events that have impacted the entire Florida Keys since 1987, Manzello said. "We're talking about thousands upon thousands of miles of coral reefs undergoing severe bleaching heat stress," Manzello said. "Now, it's still way too early to predict whether or not there will be a global bleaching event, but if we compare what is happening right now to what happened in the beginning of the past global bleaching event, things are worse now than they were in 2014 to 2017."

Persons: Derek Manzello, Ian Enochs, They're, Enochs, Manzello, zooxanthellae, El Nino, Andy Bruckner, Bruckner, what's, Jennifer Koss, Koss Organizations: NOAA, National Oceanic, Reef Watch, Oceanographic, Meteorological Laboratory, Southeast, Florida Keys, Florida Keys National, Islands, Reef Conservation Locations: Florida, Southeast Florida, Columbia, Cuba, El, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Belize, Panama , Puerto Rico, elkhorn

☆ Maps: Tracking Hurricane Hilary
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Judson Jones | Madison Dong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Maps: Tracking Hurricane HilaryHurricane Hilary is expected to intensify into a major hurricane on Thursday before rapidly weakening on Saturday and making landfall somewhere along the west coast of Baja California or Southern California this weekend. By Madison DongForecasters are confident that Hilary will track parallel to the Mexico coast for a day or so, which makes it difficult to pinpoint where the storm will come ashore. Satellite image of Hurricane Hilary. Source: NOAAThe farther west it tracks, the greater the rainfall and winds that are expected in Southern California. If the storm moves inland over the Baja California Peninsula, the rainfall is likely to be more significant in places like Arizona.

Persons: Hurricane Hilary, Madison Dong, Hilary Organizations: Daylight, Madison, NOAA Locations: Baja California, Southern California, Mexico, California, Arizona

☆ Israel says US approved record-breaking Arrow missile defense deal to Germany
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The US has approved Israel’s request to sell the Arrow-3 missile system to Germany, the Israeli defense ministry said Thursday, in what will become Israel’s largest ever defense deal. The approval paves the way for Israel and Germany to sign a landmark $3.5 billion defense agreement, according to the Israeli defense ministry. Israel will sell the Arrow-3 missile system to Germany, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles that can travel outside the atmosphere. Israel Ministry of Defense/Xinhua/Getty ImagesIsrael and the United States have been jointly developing the multi-billion-dollar Arrow missile defense system since 1986. Senior Israeli and German officials will sign a letter of commitment worth $600 million to enable immediate work on the project, the Israeli ministry spokesperson said.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, ” Organizations: CNN, US Department of State, Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Israel Ministry of Defense, Xinhua, Getty Images Israel, Arrow, Senior Locations: Germany, Israel, United States

☆ Hurricane Hilary forms off Mexico’s Pacific coast and could bring rain to U.S. Southwest
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This satellite image taken at 10:50am EDT on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, and provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Hurricane Hilary off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Hilary strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane off Mexico's Pacific coast Thursday, and it could bring heavy rain to the U.S. southwest by the weekend. The hurricane center said it could possibly survive briefly as a tropical storm and cross the U.S. border. No tropical storm has made landfall in Southern California since Sept. 25, 1939, according to the National Weather Service. The outlook for excessive rainfall in Southern California stretches from Sunday to Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles weather office.

Persons: Hilary, Daniel Swain Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, Southwestern, UCLA Locations: Mexico, U.S, Baja California, Los, Baja, Southern California, Southwestern United States, arroyo, San Diego , California, Yuma , Arizona, Bakersfield , California, Tucson , Arizona, Angeles, California

☆ Hurricane Hilary rapidly intensifying, could bring significant flooding to Southern California, Southwest
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hurricane Hilary is rapidly intensifying in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Mexico on Thursday and is on track to deliver potentially significant rain and flooding to parts of the Southwest as a weaker system starting this weekend. One of those places is Death Valley, California, the hottest place on Earth. The combination of rainfall and increased cloud cover across the Southwest is expected to bring a significant cooldown over the weekend. The most recent was an unnamed tropical storm in 1939, NOAA records show. 1997’s Nora was the last and only other tropical storm to maintain its status after crossing into California.

Persons: Hilary, Daniel Swain, San Diego Hurricane, —, Nora Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, University of California, US Drought Monitor, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, San Diego Locations: Mexico, Cabo San Lucas, Peninsula, California, Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Central California, Los Angeles, Death Valley , California, Death, floodwater, New Mexico, Phoenix

☆ Dolphins are dying in droves in the Black Sea, and Ukraine says it's evidence that Russia is committing a new kind of war crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian officials have documented an uptick in dolphin and porpoise deaths near the Black Sea. They may use the data to build a case accusing Russia of environmental war crimes, NYT reported. That's according to The New York Times, which reported that there's been a significant increase in dead dolphins and porpoises washing ashore in the Black Sea. In a peace plan he laid out last November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the environmental damage Russia's war was causing. Currently, there are four acts that are considered international crimes that the International Criminal Court (ICC) oversees: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression.

Persons: there's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Ukraine, The New York Times, The Times, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Criminal Court, ICC Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, ecocide, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, Russian

☆ How climate change drives heatwaves and wildfires in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Here's how climate change drives these events. FINGERPRINTS OF CLIMATE CHANGETo find out exactly how much climate change affected a specific heatwave, scientists conduct "attribution studies". CLIMATE CHANGE DRIVES WILDFIRESClimate change increases hot and dry conditions that help fires spread faster, burn longer and rage more intensely. The study found that human-induced climate change played an absolutely overwhelming role in the extreme heatwaves that swept across North America, Europe and China in July. But scientists concur that without steep cuts to the greenhouse gases causing climate change, heatwaves, wildfires, flooding and drought will significantly worsen.

Persons: Alexandros Avramidis, Friederike Otto, Sonia Seneviratne, Seneviratne, Rhodes, Copernicus, Mark Parrington, Victor Resco de, Kate Abnett, Gloria Dickie, Katy Daigle, Barbara Lewis, Josie Kao, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Firefighters, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, Union, Spain's Lleida University, Thomson Locations: Sesklo, Greece, Europe, Spain, France, Netherlands, Paris, North America, China, Victor Resco de Dios

☆ Rapid intensification, explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Jennifer Gray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

So as the climate crisis forces up ocean temperatures, rapid intensification becomes more likely, pushing storms to explode at a rapid pace into deadly hurricanes, scientists say. Mike Lang/USA Today Network Workers and residents clear debris from a destroyed bar in Fort Myers on Saturday, October 1. Thomas Cordy/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network This aerial photo shows damaged homes and debris in Fort Myers Beach on Thursday. Wilfredo Lee/AP Jake Moses and Heather Jones explore a section of destroyed businesses in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on Thursday. Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire Sarah Peterson fills sandbags in Fort Myers Beach on September 24.

Persons: ”, Phil Klotzbach, Klotzbach, ” Klotzbach, Ricardo Arduengo, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Hurricane, Evan Vucci, Greg Guidi, Thomas Bostic, Joe Raedle, Win McNamee, Stephanie Fopiano, Kenya Taylor, Mike Lang, Giorgio Viera, Jonathan Drake, Candy Miller, Ana Kapel, Amy Beth Bennett, Meg Kinnard, Shannon Stapleton, Steve Helber, Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentintel, Alex Brandon, Jim Watson, Eva Marie Uzcategui, Bob Levitt, Thomas Cordy, Wilfredo Lee, Jake Moses, Heather Jones, Douglas R, Clifford, Tom, Jonathan Strong, Kylie Dodd, Brenda Brennan, Sean Rayford, John Raoux, Stefanie Karas, ZUMA, Ian, Marco Bello, Ben Hendren, Pedro, Reuters Melvin Phillips, Crystal Vander, Bryan R, Smith, Hurricane Ian, Greg Lovett, Stephen M, Dowell, Zuram Rodriguez, Joe Cavaretta, Crews, Ramon Espinosa, Yamil Lage, Chris O'Meara, Maria Llonch, Willie J, Allen Jr, Alexandre Meneghini, Reuters Frederic, Mary Herodet, Pete, Adalberto Roque, Phelan M, Ryan Copenhaver, Siesta, Gregg Newton, Cathie Perkins, Martha Asencio, Sarah Peterson, Andrew West, Ida, Laura, Hurricane Dorian Organizations: CNN, of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, North Atlantic, Getty, Fort Myers, Venice High, USA Today Network Workers, Reuters, South Florida Sun, AP, US Army National Guard, AP University of Central, Bloomberg, Texas, Force, USA, Tampa Bay Times, Zuma Workers, Orange County Government, An, AP Vehicles, NOAA, NASA, City, Naples Police, Anadolu Agency, Punta Gorda, El, El Nuevo Herald, TNS, Officials, Orlando Sentinel, AP Highways, Wednesday, Sentinel, AP People, Southwest, Tampa International Airport, Bistro, Vehicle, Kennedy Space Center, International, Costco, ZUMA Press, Louisiana, Simpson Locations: North, Matlacha , Florida, AFP, Fort Myers , Florida, Island , Florida, Fort, Fort Myers Beach, Kenya, North Port, Venice , Florida, Fort Myers, Myrtle Beach , South Carolina, South Florida, Quarterman, North Charleston , South Carolina, North Port , Florida, Sanibel, Florida, AP University of Central Florida, Orlando , Florida, Orlando, Charleston , South Carolina, New Smyrna Beach , Florida, Cape Coral , Florida, Palm Beach County , Florida, Fort Myers Beach , Florida, Naples , Florida, Orange County , Florida, Orange County, Punta Gorda , Florida, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte , Florida, Captiva, Port Charlotte, Iona , Florida, Bonita Springs , Florida, An Orlando, Sanibel , Florida, Tampa , Florida, Punta, Tampa, Roberts, El Nuevo, Stuart , Florida, Tampa Bay, Delray Beach , Florida, The, Hurricane, Pembroke Pines , Florida, Davie , Florida, Havana, Cuba, Batabano, Pinar del Rio, St, Pete Beach , Florida, Cape Canaveral , Florida, Cuban, Fanguito, Sarasota , Florida, Havana Bay, Kissimmee, Pinellas County , Florida, Bahamas

☆ Oceans absorb 90% of the heat from climate change — here's why record ocean temps are so harmful
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +22 min

"Over 90 percent of the excess energy on earth due to climate change is found in warmer oceans, some of it in surface oceans and some at depth." Put simply, the greenhouse gases serve to trap more heat, some of which is absorbed by the ocean," Kirtman told CNBC. In addition to the daily record on July 31, the monthly sea surface temperature for July was the hottest July on record, "by far," Copernicus said. CopernicusThese record sea surface temperatures arise from multiple factors, including the El Niño weather pattern, which is currently in effect. "These climate variations occur when sea surface temperature patterns of warming and cooling self-reinforce by changing patterns of winds and precipitation that deepen the sea surface temperature changes."

Persons: Baylor, Carlos E, Del Castillo, Castillo, Benjamin Kirtman, Kirtman, Copernicus, Gavin Schmidt, Kemper, Zeke Hausfather, Sarah Kapnick, Kapnick, Kempler, Hurricane Ian, Michael Lowry, Lowry, Rainer Froese, Daniel Pauly, Pauly, Vigfus, pollack, Sean Gallup, Lorenz Hauser, Hauser, Froese, Phanor Montoya, Javier, Carolyn Cole, Hans W, Paerl, Justin Sullivan, Christopher Gobler, Gobler, Gary Griggs, Kimberly McKenna, Angela Weiss, Griggs, it's, Judith Kildow, Kildow, It's Organizations: International, Baylor Fox, Kemper, Brown University, CNBC, Ecology Laboratory, NASA, University of Miami, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Fox, El, Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, heatwave, NOAA, Northern Hemisphere, Miami Herald, Tribune, Service, Getty, Helmholtz, Ocean Research, University of British Columbia's Institute, Fisheries, School of, Fishery Sciences, Restoration Foundation, Coral Restoration Foundation, Looe Key, Los Angeles Times, University of North, Chapel Hill's Institute of Marine Sciences, Berkeley Marina, San, Quality, Centers for Disease Control, Stony Brooke University's School of Marine, Atmospheric Sciences, University of California, Stockton University Coastal Research, Afp, Ocean Economics Locations: Florida, El, Pacific, Berkeley, Fort Myers, Hurricane, Germany, New York, Nova Scotia, Hofn, Hornafjordur, Iceland, Seattle, Alaska, Looe, University of North Carolina, San Francisco Bay, Berkeley , California, San Francisco, Europe, Santa Cruz, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Atlantic City, Antarctica, Greenland

Consumers purchase gasoline at a gas station as a plane approaches to land at the airport in San Diego, California October 8, 2012. National retail gasoline prices will average $3.90 a gallon this month, predict analysts at Goldman Sachs. Jones said he was relieved prices were not close to the $5 a gallon level of last summer. Total U.S. gasoline stocks this month fell to 216.4 million barrels, the fifth decline in six weeks, according to U.S. government data. Reporting by Laura Sanicola and Shariq Khan; editing by Stephanie Kelly and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Blake, Goldman Sachs, Martin Jones, Jones, Irving Oil's, Patrick De Haan, Laura Sanicola, Shariq, Stephanie Kelly, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Consumers, American Automobile Association, Toyota Corolla, Washington , D.C, U.S . Midwest, Total U.S, U.S . National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Hurricanes, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, California, Washington, Massachusetts, Washington ,, U.S, Ohio, Michigan, Whiting , Indiana, New Brunswick, Canada, Trainer ,, Texas, Gulf

☆ Earth just had its hottest July 'by a long shot,' NASA and NOAA say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Denise Chow | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

NASA and NOAA together found that last month's average global surface temperature was 2.02 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average. Last month was also the fourth consecutive month that global ocean surface temperatures hit a record high, the scientists said. This trend in ocean warming carries far-reaching consequences, he said. Changes in ocean temperatures can also have enormous impacts on marine species and their broader ecosystems, he said. This phenomenon is characterized by warm ocean surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean and tends to boost global temperatures and influence weather conditions around the world.

Persons: Sarah Kapnick, Carlos Del Castillo, Del Castillo, El, Gavin Schmidt, El Niño, Kapnick Organizations: NASA, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Ecology Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight, Northern, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 533rd, El Locations: Greenbelt , Maryland, New York, El

☆ Maui wildfires: What are the deadliest wildfires in US history?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Stephen Culp | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The causes of the Hawaii wildfires, which started on Tuesday night, have not yet been determined. Hawaii Governor Josh Green on Sunday called a part of the island of Maui that was devastated by wildfires a "war zone". Reuters GraphicsHOW MANY DIED IN THE CLOQUET AND GREAT HINCKLEY FIRES? Since 2018, wildfires in the United States have destroyed nearly 63,000 structures, the majority of which were homes. In 2022, there were 66,255 wildfires in the United States, compared with 18,229 in 1983, when record keeping began, per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Persons: Josh Green, Peshtigo, Partridge, Hinckley, Stephen Culp, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: National Fire Protection Association, Historical Society, Reuters, HINCKLEY, Library of Congress, NFPA, Federal Emergency Management Association, FEMA, Environmental Protection Agency, Interagency Fire Center, Fire, Hinckley, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Thomson Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Hinckley, Mission, Miller, United States, California

☆ Canadian wildfires could persist for rest of 'marathon' summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"This summer has turned into a challenging marathon," Canadian Forest Service official Michael Norton told a media briefing on Friday. "Our most recent projections indicate the potential for higher-than-normal fire activity remains across much of Canada in August and September," Norton said. The fires have also sent plumes of smoke across Canadian and U.S. skies, raising health alarms and concerning scientists about the impact on the atmosphere. The EU's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service estimated last week that Canadian wildfires have released 290 million metric tons of carbon, over 25% of the global total for 2023 to date, and emissions are set to rise as hundreds of flames rage on. Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jesse Winter, Michael Norton, Norton, Ismail Shakil, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, OTTAWA, Forest Service, Atmospheric Monitoring Service, Thomson Locations: Canada, U.S, Washington, Osoyoos, British Columbia, Ottawa

☆ Record-setting Canadian wildfires could persist for rest of 'marathon' summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jesse Winter/File PhotoOTTAWA, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Record-setting wildfires in Canada could potentially continue burning at an abnormally high rate for several more weeks, though the spread of blazes is likely to start diminishing in September, according to federal projections released on Friday. "This summer has turned into a challenging marathon," Canadian Forest Service official Michael Norton told a media briefing on Friday. "Our most recent projections indicate the potential for higher-than-normal fire activity remains across much of Canada in August and September," Norton said. The fires have also sent plumes of smoke across Canadian and U.S. skies, raising health alarms and concerning scientists about the impact on the atmosphere. The EU's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service estimated last week that Canadian wildfires have released 290 million metric tons of carbon, over 25% of the global total for 2023 to date, and emissions are set to rise as hundreds of flames rage on.

EL CAJON, California, Aug 11 (Reuters) - California firefighters are using artificial intelligence to help spot wildfires, feeding video from more than 1,000 cameras strategically placed across the state into a machine that alerts first responders when to mobilize. But AI alerted a fire captain who called in about 60 firefighters including seven engines, two bulldozers, two water tankers and two hand crews. Part of Leininger's job is to help the machine learn. With hundreds of specialists repeating the exercise up and down the state, the AI has already become more accurate in just a few weeks, Driscoll said. "We need to use technology to help move the needle, even if it's a little bit."

Persons: Neal Driscoll, ALERTCalifornia, Shane Montgomery, Mike Blake, Suzann Leininger, Driscoll, Daniel Trotta, Donna Bryson, Diane Craft Organizations: Cleveland National Forest, Cal Fire, University of California, UCSD, Cal, Bronco, Cal Fire Air Attack, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: CAJON , California, California, Cleveland, San Diego, University of California San Diego, Chico , California, Hawaii, Canada, Ramona, San Diego County , California, U.S, El Cajon

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Is China a no-go for U.S. investment?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our new, international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Almost all of the monthly inflation increase came from shelter costs, which rose 0.4% and were up 7.7% from a year ago. Markets reacted favorably, expecting July's tame inflation reading to mean no more interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. Investors may want to consider using the recent weakness in chipmaker Nvidia to snatch up shares of the artificial intelligence darling, some Wall Street analysts are saying.

Persons: Dow Jones, Hong, Joe Biden, Biden, they're Organizations: CNBC, of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, Dow, Nasdaq, U.S, Wednesday, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Nvidia, Investors Locations: United States, China, U.S, Japan, Hawaii, Maui

☆ U.S. forecasters raise 2023 hurricane forecast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Marco Bello/File PhotoHOUSTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - U.S. government forecasters on Thursday said they expect a more dangerous Atlantic storm season than previously projected, raising their Atlantic hurricane outlook due to high sea surface temperatures. In May, NOAA had predicted 12-17 named storms, 5-8 hurricanes and one to four major hurricanes. An average Atlantic season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. NOAA's forecast was raised "to account for record warm sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic," said meteorologist Matthew Rosencrans with the agency’s Climate Prediction Center. "We normally have our 4th named storm on August 14th and first hurricane on August 11th, and we are at 4 named storms and one hurricane."

Persons: Hurricane Ida, Marco Bello, Matthew Rosencrans, El, El Nino, Jim Foerster, Chris Hewitt, Erwin Seba, Gloria Dickie, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Colorado State University, El Nino, El, World Meteorological Organization, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Montegut , Louisiana, U.S, Pacific, United States, Hawaii, El Nino, Gulf, Mexico, Coast, Texas , Louisiana, Mississippi, London

☆ Record hot ocean temps could turbocharge the hurricane season, says NOAA
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Don was the first hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Record hot ocean temperatures could turbocharge this hurricane season, according to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA scientists increased the chance that this year will be an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season to 60% on Thursday. In May, NOAA predicted a "near-normal" hurricane season with 30% likelihood of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The revised estimate of 14 to 21 named storms puts this year close to last year when there were 14 named storms and relatively close to 2021, when there were 21 named storms.

Persons: Don, Atlantic . Don, Matthew Rosencrans, Rosencrans Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA Locations: Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, North Atlantic, Ready.gov

☆ Vaquita porpoise: Extinction alert issued for critically endangered marine mammal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Amaya Mcdonald | Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The International Whaling Commission released its first-ever extinction alert Monday to warn of the potential danger facing the critically endangered vaquita porpoise. The scientific committee believes the vaquita population has a chance of recovery if stronger enforcement is placed on the ban on gillnets in their habitat. The vaquita population has varied from a few thousand to 5,000 over the last 250,000 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But maintaining a small population for so long has actually helped the vaquitas, which have a 21-year lifespan, reducing the risks of inbreeding because they have less genetic variation among them. The marine mammals are also less susceptible to harmful genetic mutations that might otherwise cause their offspring to die.

Persons: ” Vaquitas “, Kate Wilson, ” Kirk Lohmueller, CNN’s Kristen Rogers Organizations: CNN, Whaling Commission, International Union for Conservation, IWC, Gulf of, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, University of California Locations: Gulf of California, Mexico, Gulf, China, Mexico’s Gulf of California, Cortez, Los Angeles

☆ Massive explosions from the sun pose a radioactive triple threat to the moon, Earth, and Mars
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An explosion from the sun blasted radiation into space, reaching the Earth, Mars, and the moon in 2021. These particles cannot harm humans on Earth, but they may harm people in space, research shows. These are called coronal mass ejections, and a particularly intense one produced particles that hit Mars, Earth, and the moon in October of 2021. That's why his team is in near constant communication with the Space Radiation Analysis group. In the future, similar safeguards could be established on the moon and Mars.

Persons: CMEs, Robert Steenburgh, Steenburgh, NASA We're, That's, they've Organizations: Service, European Space Agencies, NASA, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, International

☆ The sun is growing more active, which could shower the moon with lethal doses of radiation and threaten the lives of astronauts who dare set foot on it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Maiya Focht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An explosion from the sun blasted radiation into space, reaching the Earth, Mars, and the moon in 2021. These are called coronal mass ejections, and a particularly intense one produced particles that hit Mars, Earth, and the moon in October of 2021. If there had been an astronaut up on the moon or Mars at the time these particles hit, they would've been exposed to radiation, though the levels were below a lethal dose. As the sun begins entering a more active stage, CMEs will likely become more common and stronger, which means more radiation risk for astronauts. That's why his team is in near constant communication with the Space Radiation Analysis group.

Persons: CMEs, Robert Steenburgh, Steenburgh, NASA We're, That's, they've Organizations: Service, European Space Agencies, NASA, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, International

☆ No quick fix to reverse Antarctic sea ice loss as warming intensifies, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Stanway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Penguins are seen on an iceberg as scientists investigate the impact of climate change on Antarctica's penguin colonies, on the northern side of the Antarctic peninsula, Antarctica January 15, 2022. There's no quick fix to replacing this ice," said Caroline Holmes, polar climate scientist at British Antarctic Survey and one of the study's co-authors. The precise impact of climate change on Antarctica and the surrounding ocean has been uncertain and scientists have struggled to measure how much global warming is affecting the thickness of Antarctic ice. "Antarctica is fragile as an environment, but extreme events test that fragility," he said. "What we're deeply concerned about is the increase in intensity and frequency of extreme events and the cascading influences that they have in other areas."

Persons: Natalie Thomas, Caroline Holmes, Tim Naish, " Naish, Martin Siegert, Siegert, David Stanway, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Penguins, REUTERS, Environmental, Antarctic Survey, Antarctic Research, Australia's Victoria University of Wellington, Global, University of Exeter, Thomson Locations: Antarctica, SINGAPORE, New Zealand, Australia

☆ The secret side of the Mediterranean – by boat in Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Rob Hodgetts | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Tropez of Turkey,” but there are plentiful nooks and crannies to discover away from the crowds. Jetties jut into the emerald water enticing boat crews to dine at the small tavernas, including Captain Ibrahim’s and Rosemary Restaurant. Across the gulf on its own peninsula is pretty waterfront town Bozburun, known for its thyme honey, sponge fishing and traditional boat builders. Bestas Limani is known as Cold Water Bay as it's fed by chilly mountain springs. To the south of Fethiye is Bestas Limani, more commonly known as Cold Water Bay because of the cold springs that flow from the mountains.

Persons: Ada, Tropez of, Captain Ibrahim’s, Rosemary, Cleopatra, Mark Antony, Aphrodite, Sleepy Selimiye, Marmaris, Bükü, Mattia Sobieski, St, Nicholas –, – Organizations: CNN, Baba, Q Locations: Coast . Gulf, Gökova, Yalıkavak, Gümüşlük, Kalymnos, Fenerci, Kos, St, Tropez, Tropez of Turkey, ”, Bodrum, Orak, Maldives, North Africa, Kedrai, Değirmen, Knidos, Hisarönü, Simi, bougainvillea, Turkey, Palamut, Bençik Bay, Loryma, Hellenic, Çiftlik, Marmaris, Ekinçik, Kaunos, . Gulf, Fethiye, imageBROKER.com, Telmessos, Turkish, Tersane, Ottoman, Ruin, Wall, Kayaköy, Lausanne, Gemiler

☆ Opinion | It’s August. Californians Are Still Skiing. Don’t Ask.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Daniel Duane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Some ski resorts had to close because they had too much snow. Two of the biggest ski resorts on Lake Tahoe were still hopping on the Fourth of July, a time of year when the mountains are usually full of wildflowers. And don’t bother trying to get used to them in their new form, because they’re going to keep changing, at an ever-faster pace. On an emotional level, there’s something undeniably frightening about that — where’s it all going? — but it can also, in a rare instance like the chance to ski in the dog days of summer, bring a disorienting joy.

Persons: San Francisco — Organizations: Nevada snowpack Locations: San Francisco, Phoenix, California, Nevada

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