Scientists warned that Planet Earth could be approaching a “hothouse” state that would be extremely difficult to reverse. Several key parts of the Earth’s climate system appear closer to destabilising than previously believed. These include critical “tipping points” – such as the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, the Amazon rainforest and major ocean currents – could shift abruptly once certain temperature limits are crossed. When one system destabilises, it can intensify warming elsewhere. Melting ice reduces the planet’s ability to reflect sunlight, causing further warming. Thawing permafrost and dying forests release additional  greenhouse gases, which trap more heat.

Many of the world’s largest river deltas—home to hundreds of millions of people—are sinking faster than rising seas, according to a sweeping global study. Using satellite radar maps, researchers found that human activities like groundwater pumping, reduced sediment flow, and rapid urban growth are driving widespread land subsidence across 40 major deltas.

Burning time for North American wildfires is going into overtime. Flames are lasting later into the night and starting earlier in the morning because human-caused climate change is extending the hotter and drier conditions that feed fires. And many of the world’s largest river deltas—home to hundreds of millions of people—are sinking faster than rising seas, according to a sweeping global study. In 18 of the 40 deltas, this downward movement, known as subsidence, already exceeds local sea-level rise. That trend is increasing near-term flood risk for more than 236 million people.

The Colorado River is currently facing the worst drought in 1,200 years. Seven US states share the river must reach a new water sharing agreement before the current one expires at the end of 2026, or the federal government will step in with a Trump plan. And Central Asian countries lack sufficient water for spring planting of food this year, setting the stage for massive population flight and even for military conflicts across the region. Also rivers are driving hidden permafrost meltdowns, with thaw 15% faster than expected said the Seismological Society of America.

More than 17 million people along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts are at the highest risk of being affected by flooding, with New York and New Orleans standing out, according to one of the most comprehensive studies ever of flood risk. Marine heat waves are supercharging damage caused by hurricanes and tropical cyclones across the globe, a new study found.

Researchers looked at 1,600 tropical cyclones — the broader category of storms that includes hurricanes — that made landfall since 1981 and found those that went over the extra-hot water were more likely to intensify rapidly, a problem that’s becoming more frequent. This resulted in 60% more disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damage — adjusted for inflation —........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)