The EPA just walked back Hawai'i's plan to retire its dinosaur power plants
Hawaiʻi has some of the freshest air in the nation, but in some parts of the state hazy skies can impact tourism and public health....
Observations from the Little Bunker
A systematic observation of climate change, extreme weather events, and their cascading effects on society
🌍 Latest Environmental Observations
UK heatwave expected as temperatures near record highs for May
Forecasters say temperatures could hit 34C on Monday, with amber health alerts in place across much of EnglandA heatwave is expected to be declared in...
Could nature itself hold the solution to climate change?
Technological interventions face huge financial or practical challenges, but there is another wayIn 2019, my scientific research was nearly brought to an early end when...
Malnourished Gray Whales of the Eastern North Pacific Are in 'Serious Trouble'
The population has plummeted over the past seven years as climate change triggers mass starvation in warming Arctic waters.By Blaine HardenSEATTLE—Exceptionally skinny gray whales—enfeebled by...
Sewage and Fuel Leaks Contaminate the Potomac River, Source of Drinking Water for More Than 5 Million People
Observers believe regulatory failures contributed to catastrophic sewage and fuel leaks in the watershed. The river was recently named the most endangered in the nation.By...
Community Leaders in Florida Say Trump's FEMA Pullback Leaves Them Struggling to Fill the Void
The president may have backed off killing the agency outright, but his FEMA Review Council clearly sees a much reduced emergency management role for the...
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Update, March and April 2026
Country: Afghanistan Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. Cross-border hostilities continue to drive humanitarian needs in...
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (April 2026)
Country: Afghanistan Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached Infographic. Access constraints in April 2026 continued to affect...
Turns out, ordinary people are smarter than many energy policies
What happens when a geopolitical crisis strikes? When wars start over oil reserves, prices spike at the pump and on household bills, and the fragility...
Yemen: Agrometeorological Early Warning Bulletin (20 - 31 May 2026) [EN/AR]
Country: Yemen Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Please refer to the attached files. Overview: May 2026 is expected to conclude with...
WFP Yemen Country Brief #4, April 2026
Country: Yemen Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file. Half of all households in Yemen were unable to obtain their minimum food...
WFP Sri Lanka Country Brief, May 2026
Country: Sri Lanka Source: World Food Programme Please refer to the attached file.
UK records hottest day of year as forecasters warn of more extreme heat
Temperature reaches 30.5C in Kent as amber health alerts issued before bank holiday temperatures riseThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so...
South Sudan Health Cluster Dashboard (April 2026)
Country: South Sudan Sources: Health Cluster, World Health Organization Please refer to the attached file.
Large Drifter Experiment in the Western Mediterranean Sea Reveals Dynamical Versus Noise Contributions in SWOT‐KaRIn Sea Level
Abstract The wide‐swath altimeter Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) provides unprecedented two‐dimensional sea‐level observations, whose ability to capture upper‐ocean dynamics requires assessment. The dynamically...
Northern Hemisphere Wintertime Stratospheric Circulation Response to Smoke Injection From a Regional Nuclear Conflict
Abstract Tropical stratospheric aerosol injections are known to strengthen the wintertime Stratospheric Polar Vortex (SPV). Here, we revisit the circulation response to aerosol perturbations during...
Influence of Surface Conditions on the 04 July 2025 Extreme Storms in Central Texas
Abstract The impactful 04 July 2025 Central Texas extreme rainfall event is examined to understand how surface conditions influence storm development. Utilizing convection‐permitting model simulations,...
Solar to overtake coal on Texas grid for the first time ever this year
The Texas sun keeps rising, as Texas coal wanes. For the first time ever, solar is set to generate more electricity than coal in the...
Feasibility Mapping of L‐Band InSAR for SWE Retrievals Across the Western United States
Abstract Mountain snowpacks provide vital water resources for communities in the western U.S. (WUS), but high spatial variability challenges accurate measurement of snow water equivalent...
River‐Floodplain Exchange Influences Basin‐Scale Mixing During Large Fluvial Flood Events
Abstract River‐floodplain exchange occurs when high flows inundate the floodplain and exchange water bi‐directionally between substrates and communities. While well‐understood locally, the full spatial heterogeneity...
'Turn off the juice of the rulers!' Who are the Volcano Group, mystery saboteurs behind a five-day Berlin blackout?
Earlier this year, the city was hit by its longest power cut since the second world war. But were those responsible eco-terrorists, agents of the...
Six Months After Oil Spilled Into California Tributary, Families Worry the Cleanup Was Never Finished
People in Ventura County are also concerned that an early estimate—which noted that about 420 gallons of crude oil was accidentally released into a waterway...
As Communities Warn of Health Risks, New York Will Weaken Its Landmark Climate Law
Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced revisions to the state’s greenhouse gas emissions targets that will push off its 2030 deadline. Organizers believe residents are already...
A Bit of Good News for Right Whales
With 23 calves born this season, what does the mini baby boom for the critically endangered species mean?Interview by Aynsley O’Neill, Living on EarthFrom our...
Stay Updated
Subscribe to our RSS feed for the latest climate observations and environmental news.