Global Warming

Africa: Millions Face Hunger Due to Climate Change and 'Super El Nino'

At least 10 million poor people face hunger this year and next because of droughts and erratic rains linked to record global temperatures and an expected "super" version of the evolving El Nino weather pattern, aid charity Oxfam has warned.

In Ethiopia alone, 4.5 million people need food aid because a combination of El Nino and long-term climate change has made the rainy season more unpredictable, according to United Nations agencies.

El Nino, caused by Pacific Ocean warming, leads to dry weather in some parts of the world and causes floods in others.

This year the phenomenon is expected to peak between October and January and could turn into one of the strongest on record. The last "super El Nino" was in 1997-8.

"Rice and maize crops are both at risk, with serious implications for millions of poor people from Southern Africa to Central America who are dependent on these staples," Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB's chief executive, said in a statement on Thursday.

A scorching drought has ravaged crops in southern Africa already, with South Africa's key maize crop falling by a third and poor yields set to continue into the southern hemisphere summer, according to the country's weather service.

In neighbouring Zimbabwe, where the maize harvest is 35 percent below average, the government blamed the drought-stricken farm sector for a halving of its economic growth forecast in July.

Harvests in Central America have fallen by as much as 60 percent for maize and 80 percent for beans this year due to prolonged dry spells linked to El Nino, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Southeast Asia is also affected, Oxfam said.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.9 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.6 Earthquake hits Lac Kivu, Congo.

5.5 Earthquake hits Lac Kivu, Congo.

5.3 Earthquake hits Gulf of California.

5.2 Earthquake hits Gulf of California.

5.1 Earthquake hits Gulf of California.

5.1 Earthquake hits south of Africa.

5.1 Earthquake hits the central MidAtlantic ridge.

5.0 Earthquake hits eastern Xizang, China.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global

6.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.7 Earthquake hits south of Africa.

5.6 Earthquake hits southern Iran.

5.6 Earthquake hits southern Iran.

5.0 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global

5.7 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

5.1 Earthquake hits western Xizang, China.

5.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.1 Earthquake hits New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Africa.

5.0 Earthquake hits western Xizang, China.

5.0 Earthquake hits southwest of Africa.

A second 5.0 Earthquake hits south of Africa.

Global Warming

Climate Change Threatens Food Security in Asia and Africa

Growing crops is predicted to become more difficult if not impossible in parts of Africa and Asia as global climate change shifts rainfall patterns and temperatures.

Millions of people across Africa and parts of Asia could become destitute and face a mounting threat of starvation in the coming decades as greenhouse gas-induced climate change shifts how and where crops can be grown.

That was one of the issues being discussed at an international conference in Dublin, convened to examine the link between food security and global warming.

Many researchers and activists there believe climate change may spell lower crop yields, higher food prices and widespread hunger later on in the 21st century.

As the climate of the Earth continues to change, there are concerns that extreme weather and changing seasonal precipitation patterns will limit both crop yields and livestock production.

Warmer weather may also exacerbate the spread of disease, fungi, and insect pests.

Some regions are already experiencing the effects of climate change, says Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the UN’s World Food Programme. Speaking in Ireland, she warned that “we are entering an uncertain and risky period.”

Nature - Images

Interesting Images:

Fairy circles are circular patches of perennial grasses with a barren center that emerge in the deserts along the southwest coast of Africa. Dotting the Namibian deserts, these rings can persist for decades and occur in regular patterns. Now, research detailed in the March 29, 2013, issue of the journal Science suggests a species of sand termite (Psammotermes) may be the artists behind the grassy artwork.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global

5.7 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

5.5 Earthquake hits offshore El Salvador.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Africa.

5.0 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Mariana Islands.

Earthquakes

5.7 Earthquake hits the Tonga Islands.

5.2 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.2 Earthquake hits far south of Africa.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Timor region.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan.

Drought

Global food prices rose 10% in July according to the World Bank's food price index due to the drought across the USA midwest, Russia and Europe.

Maize and wheat prices rose 25% and soybean prices 17% during the period June - July.

The highest price increases were seen in Africa with maize rising 113% in Mozambique and sorghum rising 220% in southern Sudan.

Despite the rising prices, the organization said it does not predict people will riot as they did in 2008 when food prices last spiked to record levels.

Earthquakes

5.3 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

5.3 Earthquake hits south-east Turkey.

5.1 and 5.0 Earthquakes hit south west of Africa.

5.1 Earthquake hits south east of the Loyalty Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Kai, Indonesia.

 

Transportation

An overcrowded ferry has sunk near Zanzibar off the east coast of Africa. At least 68 people have drowned.

 

Floods in Africa

Floods in the Magarini, Malindi and Muranga districts in Kenya cause substantial damage to crops and force at least 3 000 families from their homes.

Mild flooding in the Caprivi in Namibia. However the humanitarian situation in the area is serious.