July 2013 climate change news

July 26 - Lake forms at the North Pole
A shallow lake began forming earlier this month at the North Pole and a time lapse sequence of the event was recorded by the research team at the North Pole Environmental Observatory. Read more.

July 25 - A melting Arctic could cost $60 trillion
The ripple effects of climate change in the Arctic could cost the world $60 trillion. By means of comparison, the world economy in 2012 was worth around $70 trillion. Read more.

July 24 - Subarctic fires increasing
The frequency of wildfires subarctic regions is higher now than at any other time in the last 10,000 years and is transforming landscapes. The finger is being pointed at climate change. Read more.

July 23 - Harp seal pups suffer the effects of climate change
Duke University scientists say while stranding rates for adult harp seals off the east coast of Canada have generally not increased as sea ice cover has declined; the number of incidents among seal pups is increasing. Read more.

July 22 - CIA backs geoengineering study
The Central Intelligence Agency is reportedly funding a scientific study to be carried out by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) that will investigate whether geoengineering techniques could be used to alter Earth's environment in order to address climate change. Some would say that if the situation has gone so far to require such massive action, then there is little hope for humanity. Read more.

July 21 - Pacific Northwest's nights heating up.
According to researchers at the University of Washington, night-time heat waves have more than quadrupled in the last 30 years in the USA's Pacific Northwest. Read more.

July 20 - Heat stress causing "summer branch drop"
Trees under “stress” during the UK's recent heatwave have been dropping branches. Particularly susceptible to the phenomenon are beeches, oaks and horse chestnuts. Read more.

July 18 - Majority of Australians believe in climate change
According to findings from "Climate of the Nation 2013", two-thirds of Australians think that climate change is occurring and almost all those people believe it is already impacting the country; citing concerns of increases in the cost of food and insurance as a result of increased severe weather events. Read more.

July 17 - Australia to 'terminate' carbon tax
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced yesterday that the nation would move from a fixed price on carbon to an emissions trading scheme one year earlier than planned in order to alleviate cost of living pressures for families and to reduce costs for small business. Read more.

July 15 - Threat of peak oil recedes - but at what cost?
Things have changed a lot in the oil industry and previously unviable deposits are now feasible thanks to the high price of oil. But it also involves a high environmental cost. Read more.

July 14 - CO2 'fertilizing' the deserts
In one of those "it's an ill wind" type of stories, it appears increased levels of carbon dioxide have helped boost green foliage across the world’s arid regions over the past three decades. However, how this will effect water availability, the carbon cycle, fire regimes and biodiversity is yet to be determined. Read more.

July 11 - A Chicago-sized iceberg is born
A chunk of ice the size of Chicago and around 200 feet thick has broken away from Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. Read more.

July 9 - Unprecedented warming in deep oceans
Researchers have found 30 percent of the excess energy trapped by the anthropogenic greenhouse effect has gone into warming the deep ocean. This may account for the "missing heat" phenomenon puzzling scientists. Read more.

July 8 - Rural vs. city dwellers and carbon emissions
A study carried out in Finland has found city dwellers are responsible for more carbon emissions than their country counterparts. Read more.

July 7 - Amazon deforestation increases
Information released from the Brazilian government shows an increase in forest loss in the nation's Amazon region during May 2013 to be nearly five times that of May in 2012. Read more.

July 7 - Microbe wars and climate change
Studies that show that microbial activity will alter with climate change; and that could have massive consequences for the planet. One type of bacteria that could be threatened binds dust and sand in deserts and without it, more dust storms may occur. Read more.

July 4 - Facebook, carbon and coffee
Facebook's 1.1 billion users were on average each responsible for 3.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions; simply by posting and viewing content on the social network last year - using the equivalent to the energy required to make 1 latte coffee or a couple of glasses of wine. Read more.

July 3 - Climate change = cha-ching
Despite a slew of negative impacts caused by climate change, it will also be a huge business opportunity says the UK government and every $1.50 spent on adaptation now could yield $6 in avoided damage. Read more.

July 2 - US heatwave: climate change or weather?
The heatwave in part responsible for fires in Arizona that claimed the lives of 19 firefighters has already been attributed by some to climate change. Martin Tingley, a climatologist at Harvard University, isn't so sure, but acknowledges there appears to be a trend toward more hot extremes and fewer cold extremes. Read more.

July 2 - Conifers threatened
Global warming might be making conifers, trees including cypresses and firs, vulnerable to new pathogens as temperatures and rainfall patterns change. A third of the world's conifers are now at risk of extinction. Read more.

July 1 - Australia's climate conditions a "tug of war".
A 'tug of war' between El Niños pushing winds north and a greenhouse gas-warming effect driving winds south has been observed in the Australian and New Zealand region. Read more.

July 1 - El Niño more frequent
The conditions that causes droughts, floods, and other severe weather globally; known as El Niño, was more active than usual in the late 20th century say scientists. Read more.

July 1 - Australia's new climate change minister
Australia's new Prime Minister - which is the country's old Prime Minister (it's complicated) - has announced his new cabinet. Mark Butler is the new Minister in charge of affairs associated with climate change. It's expected that Australia will shift from a fixed-price carbon tax to a market-priced emissions trading scheme. Read more.