Lower pollution during Covid boosted methane: Study

Delhi's air quality reached the 'good' category for the first time in nearly three years. Continuous monsoon rains washed pollutants away, lowering the Air Quality Index significantly. This event highlights how quickly weather can cleanse the city's atmosphere. However, maintaining this improvement remains a significant environmental challenge for Delhi. Experts emphasize that year-round emission reduction policies are crucial for sustained clean air.

The entire nation of India is now experiencing monsoon conditions, which has helped in mitigating the previous rainfall deficit. Unfortunately, ten states are still grappling with considerable shortages of rain, hampering kharif crop sowing operations. This year, kharif crop acreage is down by twenty-one percent when compared to last year. Moreover, some areas may soon face another reduction in rainfall activity as predictions indicate limited respite ahead.

A devastating landslide near the Wayanad tunnel construction site has claimed lives and injured several people. Rescue operations are ongoing for those still missing after the mudslide near Meenakshi Bridge. Videos captured the terrifying moments as mud and debris rushed downhill, engulfing vehicles. The state government alleges contractors ignored repeated safety warnings regarding excavated soil. Opposition leaders are calling for a thorough investigation into potential criminal negligence.

Europe is grappling with a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring towards 40°C, triggering health alerts and transport chaos. Italy has issued red alerts for eight cities, while France faces significant rail disruptions. Wildlife is also under immense pressure. Experts link these extreme conditions to climate change, with concerns growing over prolonged heat and its impact on public safety and infrastructure across the continent.

A new Standard Operating Procedure has been launched for sea turtle conservation in Lakshadweep, offering a unified framework for management and monitoring. This initiative aims to protect all four major sea turtle species, which are legally protected. The SOP addresses nesting site security, migration tracking, and rescue protocols, building on the success of a decade-long ban on poaching that has boosted green turtle populations in the region.

Tropical Storm Arthur unleashed torrential rains and powerful winds across the southeastern US, triggering widespread flooding and water rescues, particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi. A fatality was reported during storm cleanup in Mississippi, and evacuations were ordered near a dam. Meanwhile, severe storms and tornadoes battered the Midwest, causing significant damage and power outages, leaving residents in disbelief.

Climate change could push seabirds into smaller habitats and force them to fly farther to survive, a new study said Tuesday. "Every time, when the climate changed faster... the range of distribution (of seabirds) started to decrease, to contract, to be smaller," Jorge Avaria-Llautureo, lead author of the study in the journal Nature Climate Change, told AFP. Driven by planet-heating fossil fuel emissions, climate change is raising global temperatures and disrupting marine ecosystems as oceans get

Rivers, nature's vital arteries, shape landscapes and history. From the Nile's ancient reign to the Amazon's immense volume, these waterways are crucial. China's Yangtze, North America's Missouri-Mississippi, Siberia's Yenisey, and the Yellow River, cradle of civilization, highlight their global significance. Russia's Ob-Irtysh, South America's Rio de la Plata, and the deep Congo further showcase their power and reach.