Latest news with #coastlines
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Climate
- New York Times
This Hurricane Season Is One of the Slowest to Start in 20 Years
The first day of the Atlantic hurricane season came and went on June 1 without a named storm. And then the first week. And the second. Now we are in the third week, and the National Hurricane Center says it does not expect any activity in the next few days. That is both unusual, and not. The 'slow' start is unremarkable if you look at what meteorologists currently call 'normal': a 30-year average from 1991 to 2020. Over that span, on average, the first storm didn't form until June 20. But for many of the most recent years — 18 times since 2005 — storms developed before this point in the year. For the people who make their homes in the Caribbean or along the United States coastlines and watch the rhythms of a hurricane season closely, this has been an unusual dry spell. Other notable statistics over the last 20 years: In 10 years, the first named storm formed before June 1. In only two years — now three, including this year — the first named storm arrived after June 20. The latest first storm formed on Aug. 11, 2009. When does a storm get a name? When a tropical cyclone develops but its sustained wind speeds are 38 miles per hour or less, it's called a tropical depression. When they reach 39 m.p.h., it becomes a tropical storm and is given a name. It keeps that name if it becomes a hurricane (sustained winds at 74 m.p.h. or greater) or if it dissipates. Some storms form and get a name but never approach land before weakening. Others become so destructive at landfall that their names are retired afterward. Does it matter when the first storm forms? Not necessarily. A lack of activity in May and June doesn't mean it won't end up a busy season. Many experts don't expect significant storms until mid-August. Strong early storms, like Hurricane Beryl last year, are rare. Most of the storms that cause significant damage in the United States occur during August, September and October. Were the forecasts for an above-average year wrong? No. Well, maybe. This spring, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast an above-average season. If nothing forms between now and August, the experts are likely to revise — and reduce — the number of storms they expect to see this June remains quiet, but then July isn't, forecasters will probably continue to expect an above-average year, despite the slow start. The Pacific, meanwhile, has been active. The Eastern Pacific, where hurricane season began on May 15, has been off to a busy start. Storms that form off the west coast of North America typically get started before their counterparts in the Atlantic, and there have been five already this year: Alvin, Barbara, Cosme, Dalila and Erick. Seasons in both oceans run through Nov. 30.
CBS News
a day ago
- General
- CBS News
Do plastic bag bans and fees work? A new study says policies curb litter
State and local policies to regulate the use of plastic bags have significantly reduced how many of them are found littered along U.S. shorelines — potentially cutting that type of waste in half in certain places, a new study published Thursday in the journal Science found. More than 600 bag policies, along with records from more than 45,000 shoreline cleanups between 2017 and 2023, were reviewed by researchers to see whether implementing bans or fees on plastic bags led to fewer discarded bags found near coastlines, rivers and lakes – and if they did, to what extent. Co-authors environmental economist Anna Papp and Kimberly Oremus, a marine science and policy professor at the University of Delaware, found that the number of plastic bags collected as shoreline litter in places with bag policies dropped by at least 25%, and up to 47% over six years than in locations that did not have regulations. "When we found the database that had information on different shoreline cleanups, we realized we could look at the composition of litter before and after a policy to see what effect it had," Oremus said in a statement. "And then we could compare that to places that never got a plastic bag policy." These results bring fresh insights to an issue that gained prominence over the last decade or so, as awareness spread about the harms of plastic pollution and its threats to marine environments. Oremus said it's the first attempt to comprehensively review the effectiveness of plastic bag policies on shoreline litter, using a database of global shoreline cleanup initiatives from the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. A plastic bag on the banks of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., on March 21, 2019. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Since 2018, more than 100 countries around the world have implemented some form of policy to either ban or limit the use of plastic bags, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Program. The U.S. doesn't have a federal bag policy, but individual towns, cities and states have policies of their own. Some states, like New York, have completely banned retailers from distributing plastic bags. Others, like Washington, passed partial bans in recent years, where thinner plastic bags deemed "single use" are prohibited, but thicker plastic bags are not. Oremus and Papp noted in the study that, although those thicker bags are usually considered "reusable" under partial bans, "there is evidence that some consumers still treat them as single-use." In multiple states without bans, local jurisdictions such as counties have taken steps to regulate plastic bag use. For example, Arlington County, Virginia, requires stores to collect a fee from customers who purchase plastic bags, at 5 cents per bag. But 17 states prevent plastic bag regulations even at the county level, with statewide "preemption" laws in place to ensure the distribution of these bags isn't regulated at all. During the study period, plastic bag litter was collected less often in shoreline cleanups that took place in areas where some form of regulation existed to curb their distribution and use, the authors said. "Our findings make clear that plastic bag policies have been broadly effective in limiting—but not eliminating—shoreline plastic bag debris in jurisdictions where it was previously prevalent," Oremus and Papp wrote in the study. They also found evidence that suggests fees on plastic bags are more effective at limiting shoreline litter than bans, especially partial bans, but understanding why would require more research.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The little-known areas in Italy where you can retire to a beautiful holiday home for less than £45k, revealed by property experts
When searching for a holiday home in Europe, you may be surprised by the difference in price from country to country. Italy has some of the keenest priced properties on the market – making it a great choice for those on a budget, with unbeatable coastlines and landscapes adding to the charm. Access is easy and cheap too, with plenty of budget flights from the UK on offer.
National Post
05-06-2025
- National Post
10 Canadian beaches that prove paradise is closer than you think
As many Canadians choose to stay north of the border this summer, Postmedia Travel will be publishing a series of stories highlighting the best that Canada has to offer. This week we look at Canada's best beaches. Canada isn't exactly known for sun-soaked shorelines, but our magnificent coastlines and lakeshores are hiding glorious sandy treasures. From Caribbean-blue waters to sweeping dunes and rugged coastal gems, Canada delivers unexpectedly spectacular beach experiences.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The last time the earth was this hot — here's what the ocean did
Sea levels will rise — by metres, not centimetres — and the time to prepare is now. Drawing on ancient clues and the latest science, Johanna Wagstaffe explains what Earth's past reveals about our coastal future — and why smart planning today could protect millions in the decades and centuries to come.
