India, Pakistan and Sudan battle record rain, flood levels

Rain continued to lash several parts of India with the country recording its rainiest August in 44 years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 25% excess rain this past month, almost as much as the 28.4% recorded in 1976. Overall, the country recorded 8% excess rain so far. 

In neighbouring Pakistan, Capital Karachi reported widespread flooding because of incessant rain last month (484mm) that shattered an 89-year-old record for August rain. Flooding in Sudan reached its highest levels on record, killing dozens of people and rendering several homeless. While flooding is a common occurrence during summer in this part of the world, this year has seen unprecedented levels that have spilled onto the streets and left large patches of farmland submerged. 

US turns extreme weather central as it battles wildfire and hurricanes

The US witnessed more extreme weather this past fortnight. While wildfires continued to rage in California largely because of a heatwave that recorded a high of 54.4°C – which could possibly be the highest temperature sustained till date on Earth — Hurricane Laura devastated the US Gulf Coast. An inland hurricane wreaked havoc in Iowa and left Chicago without electricity.

Environmentalists said they would send teams to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Laura to the petrochemical and oil production sites along the Gulf Coast to check for oil, gas and chemical releases. 

Fires across globe up by 13% from 2019’s record-breaking numbers: WWF report

As California firefighters work around the clock to douse some of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, a new report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) revealed the outbreak of fires across the world is up by 13% from 2019’s record-breaking numbers. According to the report, fire seasons are also 20% longer than they were in the 1970s. The report also found 75% of the fires were man-made and have released carbon emissions that are equivalent to that released annually by all the EU countries combined.

Arctic Amplification caused more by atmospheric processes, not be sea ice loss: Study

Arctic Amplification, which is a phenomenon where climate warming is greater in the Arctic than at lower altitudes, occurs when atmospheric C02 is increased and not as much because of sea ice loss as was previously believed, according to a new study. In other words, atmospheric processes can alone cause Arctic Amplification. Although sea ice loss does cause warming, the response is not as rapid as it is when atmospheric CO2 is increased, the study stated. 

Meanwhile, scientists have zeroed in on the temperature of the last ice age — 7.8°C. The study, published in the journal Nature, found that the average global temperature of the ice age was 6 degrees Celsius (11 F) cooler than it is today.

About The Author

Editorial Team

A team of handpicked and dedicated writers committed to fact check each climate-related statement. Go to the roots and intent of each policy implemented, internationally and at home to help you understand climate better

See author's posts