Climate Change: Warmest decade on record in 2000-2009

The past ten years have been the warmest in recorded history, according to the UK Meteorological (Met) Office.

The UN climate talks in Copenhagen show despite 1998 being the warmest year on record, the noughties has been the warmest decade evidenced in 160 years.

In a split announcement, the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva said today that 2009 will be one of the ten warmest individual years recorded. The provisional figure for warming during the year is 0.44C above the long-term average of 14C.

According to the Vicky Pope, head of climate change suggestion at the Met Office, the figures “highlight that the world continues to see global temperatures rise, most of which is due to rising emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and clearly shows that the argument that global warming has stopped is flawed.”

The German research group Germanwatch, showed that Burma, Bangladesh and Honduras were the three countries the majority affected in the past 20 years by extremes of climate.

Also in the top ten were Vietnam, Haiti, Nicaragua, India, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and China.

Frequency rises

We can not attribute all extremes of weather to climate change but we are already recording an increase in intensity and frequency.

A 2C rise in temperatures is safe for some, but not for the poorest. A 1.5C rise gives a safer world for everyone, but there is a vast difference between the two.

Only 4 developed countries were in the top 20 of countries most prone to weather disaster: U.S. at 18, Spain at 14, Portugal at 14 and the Italy at 12.

Climate change: India not acting under pressure

COPENHAGEN: As delegates of 193 nations ongoing tough negotiations on a climate change deal here, India said it was not acting under pressure to help work out a fresh agreement and that it would stick to the fundamental elements of its position.

As for its decision to cut carbon emissions by 20-25 per cent by 2020, Prime Minister’s individual Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran said on 8th December, Tuesday the government was not acting under pressure from the international community. “We should be aware that there are certain fundamental elements that should not change. In terms of those fundamental principles, the Indian situate has been quite consistent,” he told PTI.

According to him, the fundamental elements are the principle of general but differentiated responsibility; the legally binding quantitative emission reduction target resting on the urbanized nations, not on the developing nations; and mitigation action taken voluntarily by the developing nations should be backed by financial resources and technology.

The Climate Change effects Water level is rising

More than half of the world's population have made their home in coastal regions.

For many low-lying areas, scientists warn that the coming century is likely to see sea level rise that will change the shape of coastlines around the globe.

While industrialised nations are able to spend billions on flood protection schemes, many small island nations are at risk of disappearing beneath the waves.

But by how much will the waters rise in the coming century, and what are the factors driving the increase?

One of the latest assessments suggest that sea levels are likely to rise by about 1.4m (4ft 6in) globally by 2100 as polar ice melts.



A major review of climate change in Antarctica by an international team of researchers said that warming seas were accelerating melting in the west of the continent.

Indeed, the continent's largest portion, East Antarctica, appears to have cooled, bringing a 10% increase in the sea ice extent since 1980.

Other observers project a global average sea level increase of about one metre by 2100.

But there is a scientific consensus that the IPCC's 2007 projection of 43cm was too conservative.

for more info http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8399036.stm

The world map is heating slide show - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8394886.stm

India: Swine(H1N1) flu Claims Three more in Ahmedabad City

AHMEDABAD: 4 people died of H1N1 flu in the city on 5th December Saturday. Three of the victims were from Gujarat, which includes a young pregnant mother, while one case was from Rajasthan. The patients had come to Civil Hospital in the last 3 days. The official state death form stands at 48 till now and 333 people have been tested positive.

The 3 who died in Civil Hospital were Makshree Bhojraj, 21, a pregnant lady from Mundra in Kutch, Govind Raval, 27, from Palanpur and Virja Ramesh, 35, from Botad.

Three of the 4 new fresh patients who were tested positive in the last two days in the state had refused to stay in hospitals in Rajkot, Palanpur and Vadodara and come to Civil Hospital. What has surprised medical officials is that these H1N1 positive patients had come in contact with more people while coming to Ahmedabad.

Winters have been a worry for health authorities for a long time and it is the second onslaught of H1N1 virus that authorities are worried about. With marriage season and the influx of NRIs into the state, officials have previously pressed the alarm button.

In Ahmedabad a large number of swine flu victims -- 83% noticed since July 11 -- were between 13 and 45 years. As many as 112 people tested positive in various parts of the city while the city recorded its most cases in the posh new west zone.

Courtallam: Heavy rain forecast till Thursday

Kutrallam Main Falls

Since Tenkasi and Shencottai taluks registered good rainfall on December 2nd Wednesday and continue Thursday also.

All waterfalls at Courtallam were flowing dangerously for the second consecutive day, causing floods in the Chittaar River.

The people not allowed to path for kutrallam main falls and five falls.

Main falls water flowing heavily above the arch.

Aintharuvi (Five Falls)

Karthikai Deepam and Tiruvannamalai Kovil Festival

Today it is Kovil Thiru Karthigai and Thiru Annamalai Deepam. This festival is celebrated mainly in TamilNadu. The festival is celebrated on Poornima ( full moonday) of the tamil month Karthigai. This year Karthigai thepa thiruvila Oil lamps of all shapes and sizes are lit all over the house and the front yard in the evening. Karthikai Deepam is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by the Tamil people.



Karthigai festival in Tiruvannamalai hills is very famous. On Karthigai day, a huge fire lamp is lit up on the hill, visible for several kilometers around the hill. The fire (dheepam) is called Mahabharanidheepam, Hindu devotees visit here and pray to god Shiva.