NUNZIUM

News That Matters

24/08/2022 ---- 25/08/2022

PAST MONHT

month -1

HOMEPAGE

go_today

NEXT MONTH

month +1
25.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Unprecedented heatwave continues in China

The world's second-largest economy has experienced over 70 days of heatwaves, flash floods and droughts - phenomena that scientists say are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. Dazhou, a city that is home to more than 5.3 million people in the Southwest, has seen particularly high temperatures. The heat reached up to 43 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the highest on local meteorological records since 1953. The extreme weather is also testing Dazhou’s power generation capacity. Some counties and rural areas have suffered prolonged and irregular power outages, which has affected both the lives of local residents and business production. Power shortages have been a problem for many areas across the country recently, notably in Sichuan and its neighbouring city Chongqing due to the extremely hot weather. Reports of extreme conditions also came from Chinese social networks: due to 40 reported Covid cases, in Chongqing authorities ordered more than 10 million people in the city's central urban districts to undergo mandatory tests. The highest temperature in Chongqing soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and some posted their exasperation during the long waiting in the queues. The regions affected by such extreme conditions also happen to be major grain-producing areas that satisfy a substantial percentage of the yearly need (more than 25%). The rapid expansion of drought, combined with heat waves, poses a serious threat to autumn grain harvest - the Ministry of Agriculture said on Tuesday. The Chinese government is continuously allocating more funds to support autumn harvest and help drought relief that is threatening crop growth.

READ MORE
24.08.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Dugong is declared extinct in China

Known as the ocean's most gentle giant, the dugong is a unique character of the sea. Weighing in at almost half a tonne and it is the only vegetarian marine mammal. Scientists at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Chinese Academy of Science reviewed all historical data on where dugongs had previously been found in China. They found there had been no verified sightings by scientists since 2000. Moreover, the researchers turned to citizen science to interview 788 community members living in those coastal regions identified, residents reported not having seen a dugong for 23 years. Only three people had seen one in the past five years. Researchers concluded that this beautiful mammal, related to the manatee and inspiration of the ancient tales of mermaids and sirens, is now irreversibly extinct in China. It still exists elsewhere in the world but it is a vulnerable species as defined by WWF. Dugongs are threatened by sea grass habitat loss or degradation because of coastal development or industrial activities that cause water pollution.  If there is not enough sea grass to eat then the dugong does not breed normally. This makes the conservation of their shallow water marine habitat very important. They also often become victims of bycatch, the accidental entanglement in fishing nets.

READ MORE

PAST MONTH

month -1

HOMEPAGE

go_today

NEXT MONTH

month +1