Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Hurricane Erin intensified at a near-record rate. Is Florida ready for the next big storm? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hurricane-erin-intensified-near-record-rate-florida-ready-next-big-storm <p>Erin went from a tropical storm to a category 5 in about 24 hours, underscoring the danger of hurricane season amid a diminished Fema and National Weather Service</p> <p>This season’s first hurricane – and the first of the Trump administration’s new era of meteorological austerity – has been making its closest pass to the US this week.</p> <p>On Friday morning, weaker than days earlier, it was still a large storm, heading north-east, and affecting the US east coast with threats of coastal flooding.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/hurricane-erin-intensified-near-record-rate-florida-ready-next-big-storm" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:11:47 +0000 admin 101036 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Wolf hunting in western US does little to prevent livestock losses, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wolf-hunting-western-us-does-little-prevent-livestock-losses-study-finds <p>Analysis of legal hunting in Montana and Idaho shows that eliminating one wolf protected just 7% of a single cow</p> <p>Legalized wolf hunting in the western US has had only a minimal impact on preventing livestock loss, a new study led by the University of Michigan suggests.</p> <p>The research, published in <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu8945">Science Advances</a>, compared data from Montana and Idaho, two states where public wolf hunts have been permitted, with Oregon and Washington, where hunting remains illegal.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wolf-hunting-western-us-does-little-prevent-livestock-losses-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:00:36 +0000 admin 101037 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Alarm over Fema aid rule requiring email address for disaster victims https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alarm-over-fema-aid-rule-requiring-email-address-disaster-victims <p>Experts call change likely to pose problems for Americans with limited internet access ‘troubling to say the least’ </p> <p>Current and former Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) officials are concerned over a new agency rule requiring disaster victims to have an email address in order to apply for federal aid.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/alarm-over-fema-aid-rule-requiring-email-address-disaster-victims" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:00:33 +0000 admin 101035 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Weather tracker: monsoon rains cause deadly floods in Pakistan and India https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/weather-tracker-monsoon-rains-cause-deadly-floods-pakistan-and-india <p>More than 300 dead after downpours in mountainous regions and several killed in Indian city of Mumbai</p> <p>Heavy monsoon rains have continued to pummel the Indian subcontinent over the past week, bringing devastating flooding and landslides and leaving hundreds of people dead in what has already been one of the deadliest monsoon seasons in recent years.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/weather-tracker-monsoon-rains-cause-deadly-floods-pakistan-and-india" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:12:20 +0000 admin 101034 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife: a clumsy fox, a swinging orangutan and a rescued jaguarundi cub https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-clumsy-fox-swinging-orangutan-and-rescued-jaguarundi-cub <p>The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/aug/22/week-in-wildlife-a-clumsy-fox-swinging-orangutang-and-rescued-jaguarundi-cub">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:00:25 +0000 admin 101033 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Bee buffets’: the pollinator pathways turning drab alleys into insect havens https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bee-buffets-pollinator-pathways-turning-drab-alleys-insect-havens <p>Corridors of nectar-rich plants encourage pollination and brighten up city streets at the same time</p> <p>Take a closer look at the colourful plants dotted along an initially unassuming Bristol alleyway and you’ll see them teeming with insects. Bumblebees, hoverflies and ladybirds throng around a mixture of catmint, yarrow, geraniums and anemones. “It’s buzzing with pollinators now,” Flora Beverley says.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bee-buffets-pollinator-pathways-turning-drab-alleys-insect-havens" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:24 +0000 admin 101031 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Bumper whale calving season a ‘sign of hope’ for South Australia’s oceans https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bumper-whale-calving-season-sign-hope-south-australia-s-oceans <p>Almost 200 endangered southern right wales have been spotted off state’s coastline this year, amid concerns about impact of algal bloom</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Scientists say a bumper season for southern right whales in South Australia is a “sign of hope” for the state amid the ongoing effects of a devastating algal bloom.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bumper-whale-calving-season-sign-hope-south-australia-s-oceans" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:22:08 +0000 admin 101032 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Mystery ‘debris balls’ return to NSW beaches as residents warned to steer clear https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/mystery-debris-balls-return-nsw-beaches-residents-warned-steer-clear <p>Central Coast council says residents should not touch the balls and avoid beaches where they wash ashore</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/22/australia-news-live-penny-wong-gaza-israel-netanyahu-anthony-albanese-childcare-safety-education-database-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/mystery-debris-balls-return-nsw-beaches-residents-warned-steer-clear" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:51:45 +0000 admin 101030 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Light pollution causes urban birds to stay awake longer each day, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/light-pollution-causes-urban-birds-stay-awake-longer-each-day-study-finds <p>Researchers ‘shocked’ to discover some species settling down for sleep 50 minutes later than rural counterparts</p> <p>Urban birds stay up significantly later than their rural counterparts, according to research that highlights the impact of light pollution on wildlife.</p> <p>The study, based on recordings submitted by bird enthusiasts to a popular species identification and mapping website, showed that light pollution caused birds to sing for an average of 50 minutes longer each day, with some species waking up an hour earlier and settling down for the evening an hour later.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/light-pollution-causes-urban-birds-stay-awake-longer-each-day-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 21 Aug 2025 18:00:09 +0000 admin 101029 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Gina Rinehart’s apocalyptic visions for bush summits just the latest in a history of climate science denialism | Temperature Check https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/gina-rinehart-s-apocalyptic-visions-bush-summits-just-latest-history-climate-science-d <p>Sponsorship of News Corp’s event series has given Australia’s richest person a vehicle for her anti-net zero crusade</p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/aug/22/australia-news-live-penny-wong-gaza-israel-netanyahu-anthony-albanese-childcare-safety-education-database-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/gina-rinehart-s-apocalyptic-visions-bush-summits-just-latest-history-climate-science-d" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:00:09 +0000 admin 101028 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org