Breaking Waves: Ocean News

French wine industry facing historic low harvest after extreme summer heat

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:40:11 +0000

This year’s harvest expected to be down 2% on mediocre yield in 2025, when production was lowest in nearly 70 years

France’s wine industry is facing a historic low harvest after the country was hit by a series of summer heatwaves.

At about 35m hectolitres, the total harvest would be down 2% on a mediocre 2025 yield and 14% below the 2021-2025 average, according to estimates published on Wednesday by the ministry of agriculture.

World’s largest penguin colony suffers ‘enormous population crash’

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:00:53 +0000

Chinstrap penguins on Zavodovski Island in Antarctica down by two-thirds since 2011, probably due to climate crisis

The world’s largest penguin colony has declined by two-thirds since 2011, most likely because of the climate crisis, a study has revealed.

Scientists said the rapid demise of chinstrap penguins on Zavodovski, the northernmost of the South Sandwich Islands in Antarctica, increased the risk of a wider ecosystem collapse.

Landslides, flash floods and raging seas: is California ready for the ravages of El Niño?

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:30:52 +0000

A mix of natural disasters could all befall the state at once as it finds itself in the crosshairs of the climate phenomenon

On a cloudless autumn afternoon, sunlight sparkled on the water that had quietly swallowed a busy intersection to the north of San Francisco, as the surrounding rush-hour traffic slowed to a painful crawl.

There were no crashing waves or storm surges to blame for the flood. Marin county was one of many areas up and down the California coast affected by high tides last week, as parts of the Pacific swelled with excess warmth.

South West Water owner taps investors to fix infrastructure after sewage spills

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:14:35 +0000

Pennon slashes dividend and launches £550m cash call ‘to drive improved outcomes for customers and communities’

The owner of embattled South West Water has slashed its dividend and launched a cash call to investors as it attempts to fund infrastructure investment, days after it was hit by a record £7.9m fine for hundreds of sewage spills.

Flávio Bolsonaro’s advance in Brazil’s election is grim jolt for climate campaigners

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:03:52 +0000

Inquest under way into why President Lula’s success in curbing Amazon deforestation has not lead to success at polls

Heatstroke ruined his health. Years before, it took the life of another farm worker at the same company

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000

A farm labor contractor exposed laborers on H-2A agricultural visas to heat-related health hazards, but is still bringing hundreds of migrant farm workers to North Carolina

It was 4pm and 90F (32C) when Carlos Vargas Moreno and other farm workers set out to weed a watermelon field in Goldsboro, North Carolina, on 19 July 2022.

Tents, night-vision goggles, bear tracking kits – and even books: America’s first nature library opens

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:00:07 +0000

As well as books, the new facility in Colorado offers hundreds of kits to connect people with the natural world. We asked five of the first visitors what they thought of it

Mark Fink knows exactly why he opened the first public nature library in the US. “There are a lot of barriers for people to access nature here. We want people to learn about the birds and the plants in their own back yard and to appreciate that you don’t need a three-day camping trip in the mountains to experience nature.”

Q&A: ‘Godzilla-level’ El Niño is causing extreme weather – our environment writers answer your questions – live

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:52:06 +0000

Guardian reporters Jonathan Watts and Gabrielle Canon are online answering your questions on climate and extreme weather from what to expect this winter in the UK to the increasing risk of natural disasters.

‘Lawyers should be running to courts’ to stop coal approvals after landmark ruling, NSW MP says

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 07:24:31 +0000

High court finding in favour of Hunter Valley community group sets precedent other environmentalists should follow, advocate says

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Scientists who put faith in technology less likely to take climate action

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 06:00:36 +0000

‘Techno-optimism’ may lead to reliance on unproven solutions at expense of societal changes needed

Scientists who believe technology will largely solve the problems caused by the climate crisis are less likely to engage in civic action on the issue, according to a study.