Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Big fire at California battery plant prompts evacuations amid toxic smoke https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/big-fire-california-battery-plant-prompts-evacuations-amid-toxic-smoke <p>Blaze erupts at one of world’s largest battery storage plants in Monterey county, leading to highway and school closures</p> <p>A large fire burning on Friday at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants in northern <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/california">California</a> is sending up flames of toxic smoke, leading to the evacuation of 1,700 people and the closure of a major highway.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/big-fire-california-battery-plant-prompts-evacuations-amid-toxic-smoke" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:00:12 +0000 admin 98628 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org These are the hazards Californians face after fires – and what can homeowners do to protect themselves https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/these-are-hazards-californians-face-after-fires-and-what-can-homeowners-do-protect-the <p>Angelenos returning to homes in burned areas could be exposed to toxic materials and mudslides</p> <p>The wildfires raging across the Los Angeles landscape have destroyed many thousands of homes and buildings and damaged hundreds more.</p> <p>And each property, experts warn, could pose a risk to Angelenos even long after the flames are extinguished.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/17/california-homes-fire-toxic-mudslides">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:00:04 +0000 admin 98629 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Martin Rowson on the record leap in global CO2 levels – cartoon https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/martin-rowson-record-leap-global-co2-levels-cartoon <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/jan/17/martin-rowson-global-co2-levels-met-office-carbon-dioxide-emissions-global-heating-cartoon">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:32:16 +0000 admin 98627 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Otters among UK wildlife carrying toxic ‘forever chemicals’, analysis shows https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/otters-among-uk-wildlife-carrying-toxic-forever-chemicals-analysis-shows <p>Some wildlife species have accumulated many times more than safe amount of PFAS in their tissue and organs</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/otters-among-uk-wildlife-carrying-toxic-forever-chemicals-analysis-shows" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:00:30 +0000 admin 98625 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Don’t Look Up director says ‘half a billion people’ have now seen film despite critics https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/don-t-look-director-says-half-billion-people-have-now-seen-film-despite-critics <p>Adam McKay says the Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio-starring satire resonates with a widespread feeling of being deceived by government and media</p> <p>Adam McKay, writer-director of climate-crisis satire Don’t Look Up, says that the film’s popularity with viewers shows the popular will to tackle climate change, despite the critical brickbats the film attracted and political inertia around the issue.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/don-t-look-director-says-half-billion-people-have-now-seen-film-despite-critics" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:34:34 +0000 admin 98626 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘It’s going to be rough’: what Trump’s response to LA fires portends for future climate disasters https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-going-be-rough-what-trump-s-response-la-fires-portends-future-climate-disasters <p>Big oil executive plans to celebrate Trump’s inauguration as California burns – though experts say climatic conditions are only getting more extreme</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/it-s-going-be-rough-what-trump-s-response-la-fires-portends-future-climate-disasters" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 11:00:29 +0000 admin 98624 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife in pictures: chilly pelicans, a baby gorilla and a spider fan’s dream come true https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-pictures-chilly-pelicans-baby-gorilla-and-spider-fan-s-dream-come-true <p>The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/jan/17/week-in-wildlife-in-pictures-chilly-pelicans-a-baby-gorilla-and-a-spider-fans-dream-come-true">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 08:25:05 +0000 admin 98623 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘Everyone thought it would cause gridlock’: the highway that Seoul turned into a stream https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/everyone-thought-it-would-cause-gridlock-highway-seoul-turned-stream <p>Cheonggyecheon stream in the South Korean capital has become an attraction – and helps with flood management, fighting air pollution and cooling the city</p> <p>On a crisp December morning, office workers and tourists stroll along a tree-lined stream in central Seoul, pausing on stepping stones that cross its flowing waters. It’s difficult to imagine that just over 20 years ago, this was a vast elevated highway carrying 168,000 cars daily through the heart of South Korea’s capital.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/everyone-thought-it-would-cause-gridlock-highway-seoul-turned-stream" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 06:00:22 +0000 admin 98622 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Colombian tree frog found by Sheffield florist highlights invasive species threat https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/colombian-tree-frog-found-sheffield-florist-highlights-invasive-species-threat <p>Scientists say frog’s journey shows difficulty of spotting insects or fungi spread by global plant trade</p> <p>A tiny tree frog hitchhiking in a bunch of roses to Sheffield from Colombia has inspired a study into invasive species reaching the UK’s shores.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/colombian-tree-frog-found-sheffield-florist-highlights-invasive-species-threat" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 05:00:22 +0000 admin 98619 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Scottish government must do more to control salmon farming, inquiry finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scottish-government-must-do-more-control-salmon-farming-inquiry-finds <p>Report criticises ‘slow progress’ on industry regulation, amid record fish mortality and concerns over welfare and environmental pollution</p> <p>The Scottish government has been criticised for its “slow progress” on regulating the salmon farming industry by a parliamentary inquiry that took evidence for five months before reaching its conclusion.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/scottish-government-must-do-more-control-salmon-farming-inquiry-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 Jan 2025 05:00:21 +0000 admin 98620 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org