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EartherNatural Disasters
Yosemite National Park Blanketed in Smoke as California Burns
There’s nothing like a trip to Yosemite National Park to escape the daily horrors of civilization and bask in the stark beauty of nature. Except this is 2018, so of course Yosemite is now shrouded in smoke from a raging, deadly wildfire. The Ferguson fire, which began Friday evening, has swelled to 12,525 acres, threatening … Continued
By Maddie Stone -
EartherClimate Change
Record-Breaking Heat in California Led to Home-Destroying Wildfires
Record-setting heat plagued much of southern California Friday, with temperatures touching as high as 117 degrees during the day. The unseasonably hot weather sparked a number of brush fires that swept across hundreds of acres of land and destroyed several homes. The National Weather Service reported that at several locations in California saw new, all-time … Continued
By AJ Dellinger -
EartherNatural Disasters
It’s Ridiculously Hot and Smoky in Siberia Right Now
Heat over Siberia and parts of the Arctic Ocean is wreaking havoc on forests and could have impacts on sea ice. It’s possible that temperatures could crack the 90s in Siberia to end the week, which is bad news because the region is already a smoldering, smoky mess. It’s the second time in two months … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
The Explosive County Fire Is California’s Latest Climate Disaster
An enormous wildfire is roaring across the hills of Northern California, consuming land at a rate of 1,000 acres an hour, or more than 12 football fields a minute. The blaze is much larger and more out of control than the other fires that plagued the region last week, and a heat wave will only … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
A Massive Wildfire Is Burning Near Manchester in the United Kingdom
The bucolic countryside surrounding Manchester has been turned into a fiery inferno. The Saddleworth Moor fire erupted on Sunday night as hot, dry weather fanned the flames across the fields and peatlands. The blaze also has sent smoke streaming into Manchester, forcing school closures and evacuations. This is a view of the climate future we’re … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
Northern California Is Burning Up Again
Destructive wildfires have lit up Northern California less than a year after 2017’s record-setting wildfire season. Three large fires are burning, serving as yet another reminder of the dangers of living in wildfire prone areas, especially as the climate changes. The fires began this weekend riding the back of hot, windy weather that almost always … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherExtreme Weather
Hurricane Bud Could Dump Some Serious Rain on the Drought-Stricken Southwest
Weather whiplash is the perfect descriptor for what’s on tap for the Southwest. Things have been hot and dry since this winter, but they could get wet and wild this weekend as the remnants of Hurricane Bud drench Arizona and parts of New Mexico. Bud is currently churning over the eastern Pacific and is expected … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
Southern California Is Losing Its Clouds and That’s Bad News For Fire Season
June Gloom season is upon Southern California. For as long as anyone can remember, that’s meant clouds wrapping the landscape in a milky white cocoon as cool, moist ocean air known as the marine layer moves inland. But as with everything in our world, this is now changing. June—and summer as a whole, it turns out—is … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
Enormous Wildfires Are Spreading in Siberia
Dry, warm weather has primed Siberia for wildfires this spring. After a moderate outbreak in April, the countryside has lit up in a major way in May. The fires are the latest in a litany of changes taking place in the northern part of the world. Wildfires lit up last week in Russia’s Far East … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherNatural Disasters
A Massive Wildfire Is Spiraling Out of Control in Oklahoma
It’s been a rough start to wildfire season on the Southern Plains. Oklahoma’s third megafire in three years is currently raging across the state, fueled by a spate of hot, dry weather. Neighboring states have been on high alert as hot, dry conditions and strong winds lock in serious fire danger across the region. On … Continued
By Maddie Stone -
EartherConservation
Fires in the Amazon Are a Problem For the Entire Planet
The Amazon Rainforest is known to emit a whopping 255 million metric tons of carbon a year. The reality is that this number could be much, much higher due to forest fires that South American governments don’t typically quantify, according to a study out in Nature Communications Tuesday. This study involved a regional assessment of the … Continued
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EartherEnvironmental Justice
Natural Disaster Victims Are Banking on the Budget Deal
Disaster aid appears to finally be coming for survivors of hurricanes in the Southeast and wildfires in the West. The Senate agreed on a $90 billion aid package Wednesday to help communities still reeling from natural disasters in Texas, Florida, California, and, of course, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. If the Senate votes … Continued
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EartherConservation
LA Wants a Climate Emergency Department, Because, Yeah [Updated]
Life has not been idyllic in Southern California as of late. Drought, wildfires, and most recently mudslides have upset the balance of a region renowned for its warm, sunny vibe. Climate change has played at least some role in these disturbances, and models predict its influence will only grow in coming decades. Los Angeles’ lawmakers … Continued
By Ari Phillips -
EartherClimate Change
California’s Thomas Fire Is Now the Largest Wildfire in Official State History
Southern California’s Thomas fire is now officially the largest in modern state history, Cal Fire announced late Friday night, after surpassing the 273,000-plus acre Cedar fire from 2003. Per CNN, Cal Fire says the blaze has now burned through some 1,063 buildings and is just 65 percent contained weeks after starting on December 4th. It … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Earther
The Massive Thomas Fire Reminds Us We Need to Get Our Shit Together
The Thomas Fire on its way to being the largest wildfire in California history. It started just two months after the Wine Country fires, the state’s most destructive ever. Both events are odd conflagrations, with the Thomas Fire being particularly out of character for this time of year. But in a world where climate change … Continued
By Brian Kahn -
EartherClimate Change
Large Swaths of Southern California Are in Ruins Thanks to the Catastrophic Thomas Fire
Wildfires in California have continued to ravage large portions of the state, with the Thomas fire in southern California now entering its 13th day and claiming over 267,500 acres of land, CNN reported. The wildfire is now the third-largest in California history and is just 40 percent contained, with over 8,400 firefighters and $110 million … Continued
By Tom McKay -
EartherEnvironmental Justice
Wildfires Might Shorten Californians’ Lifespans
In 10 days since igniting, the Thomas Fire in Southern California has burned through over 242,000 acres, cost more than $55 million, and destroyed nearly 1,000 structures. At only 30 percent contained, it recently became the state’s fourth-largest wildfire on record. Some think it could become the largest ever by the end of the month. … Continued
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EartherEnvironmental Justice
The GOP Tax Bill Eliminates Critical Deductions for Disaster Victims
If devastating wildfires sweep across California again next year—not unlikely considering even Governor Jerry Brown has called it the “new normal”—the hardest hit may not be eligible for the same support as they are this year, thanks to the GOP’s fast-moving tax bill. As Congress pushes full steam ahead with its controversial plan to cut … Continued
By Ari Phillips -
Tech NewsApple
Apple’s Donation to Wildfire Relief Is Great, But It’s Just a Drop in the Bucket
Hundreds of thousands of people had to evacuate their homes in Southern California over the span of a week due to wildfires sweeping the region. In response to the ongoing devastation, Apple announced on Monday that it is donating $1 million to aid in relief efforts. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the … Continued
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Earther
Blanketing California in Fire Retardant Is Potentially Very Harmful
As a firestorm rages across Southern California near the end of one of the state’s worst wildfire seasons, much attention has been drawn to the bright red foam that’s dropped from planes in an effort to slow the fire’s spread. Chemical fire retardant can be an important firefighting tool. But it can also have some … Continued
Renee Lewis