Observations from the Little Bunker
A systematic observation of climate change, extreme weather events, and their cascading effects on society
🌍 Latest Environmental Observations
As the world warms, freezing rain shifts to the U.S. South
Recent winter storm traced the path of an emerging ice corridor
Here’s why US household energy bills are soaring – and how to fix it | Mark Wolfe
Trump has prioritized fossil fuel companies over consumers, hitting the lowest-income families hardestDonald Trump promised to cut energy prices by 50%. Instead, average electricity prices...
This Hillside City in South America Rebuilt Itself Around Nature — and Got Healthier
On most mornings, Cati Ochoa walks the green corridor along the Zamora River near her home in Loja, Ecuador, before starting work. The moment she...
UK government faces legal challenge over deep sea mining permits to “opaque” firm
The UK government may have broken the law by approving the transfer of two deep-sea mining licences for exploration of mineral-rich seabed in the Pacific...
Landslides on one side, floods on the other: the Costa Rican village desperate to escape the climate crisis
With government action stalled and living in ‘inhumane’ conditions, families in San José are making plans to relocateIn Emilio Peña Delgado’s home, several photos hang...
Human-made materials make up as much as half of UK beaches, study finds
Researchers say sediment changes due to waste dumping and coastal erosion intensified by climate breakdownAs much as half of some British beaches’ coarse sediments consist...
New catalyst turns carbon dioxide into clean fuel source
Researchers have found that manganese, an abundant and inexpensive metal, can be used to efficiently convert carbon dioxide into formate, a potential hydrogen source for...
The role of projects of common interest in reaching Europe’s energy policy targets
The European Union aims to achieve climate-neutrality by 2050, with interim 2030 targets including 55% greenhouse gas emissions reduction compared to 1990 levels, 10 Mt...
Interdecadal changing pathways of Rossby wave energy propagations and their impact on winter climate in the Northern Hemisphere under global warming
The interdecadal changes in climate under accelerating global warming have a profound impact on various countries in the Northern Hemisphere (NH). Using ERA5 reanalysis data,...
The expanding Indo-Pacific freshwater pool and changing freshwater pathway in the South Indian Ocean
Nature Climate Change, Published online: 03 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02553-1Ocean salinity could change as the climate warms. Here the authors show that the South Indian Ocean...
West Africa’s first lithium mine awaits go-ahead as Ghana seeks better deal
Lawmakers in Ghana are weighing up whether to greenlight one of Africa’s largest lithium mines after civil society groups urged them to do more to...
Composting Fines for Buildings Are Back on in New York City
“There’s a lot more than just writing tickets that needs to be done to make this program solid and work in the long run,” one...
From global north to south: governing contaminants of emerging concern in water systems
Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), notably per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceuticals, and microplastics (MPs), are increasingly detected in water systems, posing growing risks to...
Fire-driven formaldehyde enhancement and population health burden revealed by TROPOMI in the contiguous U.S.
Ambient formaldehyde (HCHO) is a leading contributor to cancer risk among the 187 hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) regulated in the United States (U.S.). Fires emit...
Japan’s unprecedented project could test the limits of deep-sea mining
The year 2010 was a reckoning for Japan’s economic security. On September 7, the Chinese fishing trawler Minjinyu 5179 refused an order by Japan’s coast...
Why the future of meat production is in vats, not farms
I recently ate a pig that’s alive and well at a sanctuary in upstate New York. Her name is Dawn, and she donated a bit...
RELEASE: World Resources Institute Names Mirela Sandrini Executive Director of WRI Brasil
São Paulo (January 29, 2026) — World Resources Institute (WRI) today announced the appointment of Mirela Sandrini as Executive Director of WRI Brasil, following her successful tenure...
Persisting Modulation of Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation on Near‐Future Winter Precipitation Projections in Northern Europe
Abstract European winter precipitation profoundly influences regional hydroclimate, yet the relative roles of internal variability and external forcing in its decadal changes remain elusive. Using...
Warming of the Mid‐Troposphere Driven by Evapotranspiration During Compound Heatwave and Drought Events
Abstract During compound heatwave and drought events (CHDE), a significant amount of soil moisture is released into the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. In this study, we...
Role of the Diurnal Tide in Driving the Westward Phase of the Mesospheric Semiannual Oscillation Around March Equinox
Abstract The mesospheric semiannual oscillation (MSAO) in tropical zonal‐mean zonal winds exhibits a strong westward phase around March equinox. It has been thought that the...
Drying Soil Moisture Dominates Enhancing Summer Soil Moisture‐Temperature Coupling Under Climate Change
Abstract Global warming enhances soil moisture (SM)‐temperature (SM‐T) coupling, exacerbating extreme climates. However, the mechanisms and future trends of this enhancement remain inadequately understood. Analysis...
Weakening of Regional Hadley Circulation Delays Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall Onset
Abstract The timing of the Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) onset significantly influences agriculture, food security, livelihoods, and the Indian economy. While the drivers of...
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