Air quality briefly improved amid 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, UN says
The World Meteorological Organization, releasing its first ever Air Quality and Climate Bulletin on Friday, cautioned that the reductions in pollution were patchy.
Lake Huron sinkhole may hold secrets to how Earth got its oxygen
Scientists have discovered a previously unconsidered link between the length of daytime and the oxygen levels on Earth. Their theory was inspired by what they found at the bottom of Lake Huron.
Agency ups scrutiny of Georgia nuclear plant, citing issues
Nuclear regulators said Friday that they will give greater scrutiny to construction of two new nuclear reactors being built at Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle after a special inspection found electrical cables were not properly separated.
Rain falls atop Greenland's ice sheet for first time on record
Greenland’s ice sheet experienced temperatures above freezing for about nine hours on Aug. 14, allowing rain to fall.
National forests closed as California wildfires surge
The U.S. Forest Service announced Thursday that beginning on Aug. 22 it will close nine national forests from near Lake Tahoe at the Nevada border on the east all the way west to Six Rivers National Forest, which stretches north to the Oregon border and contains more than 1 million acres of land alone.
SoCal water district declares water supply alert as drought worsens
According to Metropolitan Water District officials, Southern California's water supply has been severely impacted by extreme drought in both the Northern Sierra and the Colorado River, saying crucial storage reservoirs have never been lower.
US declares 1st federal water shortage in Colorado River, Lake Mead
U.S. officials declared the first-ever water shortage from a river that serves 40 million people in the West.
Georgia wins fresh ruling in water war with Florida, Alabama
A judge has ruled that a federal agency doesn’t have to revise its plans for how it operates dams along the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, another win for Georgia in its struggles with Florida and Alabama over the water that flows into the Apalachicola River.
Park Service pushes back against licensing Georgia spaceport
The National Park Service is pushing back after a U.S. government report recommended approval of a launchpad for commercial rockets on the Georgia coast, saying a chance of explosive misfires over a federally protected island popular with tourists and campers poses an “unacceptable risk.”
Wildfire smoke reaches North Pole for 1st time in recorded history
Smoke from dozens of wildfires burning in Russia reached the North Pole for the first time in recorded history, NASA said.
'Code red for humanity': UN climate change report warns of 'unprecedented' impacts
A U.N. report said Earth’s climate is getting so hot that temperatures will probably blow past a level of warming that leaders have sought to prevent.
Orange skies blanket California again due to wildfires
The story of wildfires in California is tragic, but familiar. Homes and businesses get destroyed as people flee for survival. Even the strange sight of heavy smoke turning skies orange is becoming a recognizable part of the landscape.
Biden signs executive order targeting 50% of all US vehicles to be zero-emission by 2030
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday targeting half of all vehicle sales in the United States to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
Emperor penguin colonies may be pushed to brink of extinction by 2100 because of climate change
Emperor penguins currently number fewer than 300,000 breeding pairs and require stable sea ice to survive and raise chicks.
Hawaii's Big Island battles record wildfire amid drought
Hawaii’s Big Island is currently battling a record size wildfire that forced thousands to evacuate amid worsening drought conditions.
Federal officials discuss $1M fines after nitrogen kills 6 at Georgia poultry plant
Federal workplace safety officials are proposing nearly $1 million in fines against four companies following a January liquid nitrogen leak that killed six workers at a Georgia poultry processing plant.
Greenland ice melting event could cover Florida in 2 inches of water
This data comes as melting rates across the world, including Greenland, have accelerated in recent decades.
Georgia nuclear plant cost tops $27B as more delays unveiled
Two new reactors at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle will cost another billion dollars, with shareholders of the parent company of Georgia Power Co. taking a $460 million loss and other owners absorbing the rest.
Fishing industry devastated by warming waters in US West
Fishermen who make their living off adult salmon, once they enter the Pacific Ocean, are sounding the alarm as blistering heat waves and extended drought in the U.S. West raise water temperatures and imperil fish from Idaho to California.
As western wildfire smoke spreads across America, who's at risk?
Smoke from wildfires in the western U.S. and Canada is blanketing much of the continent. Here’s a look at why and how dangerous it is.