This year a record breaking solar flare hit earth. On May 5th a mega blast of an X-class (most powerful) solar flare or sun storm hit the sparsely populated Pacific ocean nations. Apart from causing a temporary 'no-biggee' blackouts here and there it will be most remembered for the amazing Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis it caused. Just google Aurora Borealis 2015 and enjoy the amazing images. What a sight.
Our Sun provides the energy that drives our life. From the free daylight light and heat to food production we have much to be grateful for our unique place in the solar system. The balance of energy to sustain our relatively comfortable lives depends as much on Earth receiving energy from the sun as it is earth radiating the sun's energy back into space, thus cooling the planet. Global Warming is a consequence of earth not radiating out enough of the sun's energy it receives, instead collecting it like how a blanket helps us stay warm, hence the phenomenon of earth getting hotter. So we can expect that this last mega solar flare is going to contribute somehow to our experience of weather this year. The last I heard in Malaysia was the meteorological department warning of a super hot and dry July and August. Yes its been hot, not like the recent Indian heatwave but uncomfortably searing heat nonetheless. However it is far from dry, when it rains it pours a sea-load, with big heavy drops of water causing flash floods here and there. There is some relief though, because we usually brace ourselves for the annual Southeast Asian horrid open-burning haze pollution in August.
There is no established connection between solar flares and rain in Malaysia or anywhere else but what we know for sure is that we can use slightly less energy from the sun–though whose to tell the sun when to have a storm and when not to. Without a doubt our planet is a hotter place than it used to be three decades ago, scientific data show animals and plants from warmer zones slowly creeping northward and there is less ice on the poles than ever since scientific recording of polar ice volumes began. And this year we all have a chance to experience earth's most intense and far reaching weather phenomenon–the hottest El Niño since the 70's–nothing to look forward to. 1997 was the most intense El Niño on record. I am going to use this post to collect a record of intense weather events this year and next that are blamed on El Niño 2015.
El Niños strength prediction for 2015
Our future may come to depend heavily on how we read the effects of El Niño since this phenomenon is key to earth dissipating pent-up energy from the sun. If Global Warming continues unabated it will only be natural to expect more ferocious El Niños more often. This could change livelihood and living conditions in established cities in ways we cannot write of as minor inconveniences; more importantly for the next generation in planning where to live.
Report on El Nino, August 2015 by CNN Weather
Tuna Crabs en masse appear on beaches off San Diego. Warming waters off the coast of California is the likely cause.
July 2015
South China Sea, Super-active typhoon (hurricane) season–Super TyphoonChan Hom and others
August 2015
South China Sea, Super Typhoons Soulder, Goni and Atsani
California– Hot, Dry, Fiery, also Wet with Flash Floods
Caribbeans–Super quiet hurricane season
September 2015
Cape Verde, off the Atlantic coast of Africa–Hurricane Fred, very rare occurrence for this part of the world
3 Category 4 hurricanes spawn in the Pacific but do not make land–fortunately. Very unusual for for this many very intense hurricanes spawning in one go.
California prepares for more rain than it wants. Its extremely parched geography may cause a lot of run off leading to flooding.
Unprecedented flooding in Japan caused by Tropical Storm Etau–2.8 million advised to evacuate. In Picture from Weather.com.
The Haze in Southeast Asia worsens with a predicted dry spell on the way.
World rice production at risk from drought, lower yields will push rice prices up next year. Preparations already underway by nations to ensure food security.
October 2015
The Haze in South East Asia continues past October with more than 1.7 million hectares of peat burning. Indonesia declares emergency and ask for help from other nations.
The Haze Worsens in SEA and 2 Super Typhoons Slam South China Sea nations.
Earth's Lungs in Flames–South East Asia's Haze is confirmed as an ecological disaster
Super Hurricanes and Super Thyphoon continues to form in the Pacific late into the season. Super Typhoon Koppu drenches the Philippines and Hurricane Patricia, the strongest hurricane yet to be recorded in the Western Hemisphere (320 km/h winds) fortunately downgrades to 96 km/h winds before hitting towns and villages in Mexico.
November 2015
El Nino 2015-2016 is confirmed to be the strongest on record after upping the 1997-1998 by 0.2 degrees Celsius.
South India has been raining and flooding for weeks. Monsoon precipitation that should be heading toward the ganges delta and Himalayas remain in the South causing havoc. The change in the monsoon's movement is blamed on El Nino.
After a very dry and incredibly hazy October in Malaysia strong rains and wind bring relief from the haze but cause flash floods and landslides all over Malaysia. The excessive precipitation early in the wet season could spell a drought stricken 2016 if El Nino 1997 based predictions are come thru.
December 2015
Chennai receives record rains and floods all over, even the airport has to be closed, city is as marooned as an island. People are out of electricity in Chennai for more than five days as of December 4 with more precipitation to come. Mosquitos borne disease and cholera cases are on the rise as the city starts to run out of essential supplies like even mosquito coils and water. The military is called out to assist the city, there are fatalities.
Australia's bush fire season starts with a tempest. El Nino 1997-998 caused catastrophic burning. 4 people have been killed and worries that the fires might wipe out some endangered animal species surface.
Unnatural forest fires become a concern in the Amazon as El Nino induced extreme drought turns the forest into tinder.
January 2016
Welcomed heavy rainfall usually falls in the state of California during peak El Nino years. This year's El Nino which was predicted to bring floods all across the state did not materialise. Scientist are blaming the lack of rainfall on the combined effects of global warming on El Nino. California's 4 year drought continues, though California still records more rain and snow than it has had in years.
Australia records the hottest year end, predicting a very hot summer to come on record as bush fire fears continue as an entire town is destroyed in Perth.
Amazon basin forest can be destroyed by the combined effect of severe El Nino induced drought and global warming. Scientist are trying to study how to identify drought stress in the Amazon basin to help preserve it.
February 2016
Category 5 cyclone Winston hits Fiji. Category 5 hurricane in the souther pacific are very rare occurrence. El Nino 2016 is possibly the cause of this anomaly in the Fiji Islands.
Drought preparedness begins in South East Asian nations based on the experience of 1997-1998 El Nino. It is predicted the annual unnatural haze problem in the region is going to be exasperated by drying forests ignited by lightning. A tough year for agriculture is anticipated.
March 2016
Heat waves strike South East Asia however sporadic rains quell fear of drought blanketing the region.
California, USA gets the precipitation it badly needs but not as intensely as they had hoped, still it is likely to lift the state out of its drought crisis.
April 2016
Drought in Thailand's north hits farmers hard, its government has take measures to protect potable water but water for agricultural needs cannot be guaranteed.
In some Malaysian states haze problem comes early due to burning peat forests that have dried to tinder. Some to the highest temperatures are recorded in the country.
El Nino 2016 is going to make this year the hottest ever on record beating the newly minted record of 2015 being the hottest year on record.
China faces a time of deluge as Ethiopia fend's off the worst drought in 50 years.
May 2016
Canada's Fort McMurray experiences unnerving spring wild fire.
India blisters in heat as Sri Lanka bathes in floods.
June 2016
Europe's turn for flooding as East Africa continues to battle a terrible drought.
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