A giant iceberg is heading towards the coast of Australia. The iceberg broke off from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf ten years ago and has been drifting ever since. It is twice the size of Manhattan (approximately 87 square miles) and is threatening shipping lanes in the Pacific. The superberg is called B17B and is around 1,000 miles off the coast right now.
The superberg is not expected to hit the coast of Australia, it will break off into smaller pieces and melt before then. Glaciologist Neal Young told the Telegraph that icebergs of its size have probably not been seen since 19th-century clipper ships traveled between Britain and Australia, but that with climate change they may become more common.
It's an unusual, rare -- and disturbing -- site. Take a look:
Members of the Maldives' cabinet wearing wet suits and scuba gear held an underwater meeting today. The Maldives' officials communicated with hand signals during the meeting. The meeting was held underwater to raise awareness about the threat of global warming to the Maldives, which is Earth's lowest-lying nation. The Maldives has an average ground level of just 1.5 meters above sea level. Take a look:
World's Ocean Temperatures Are the Hottest on Record
This year has seen the warmest ocean temperatures since scientists began keeping records. Even oceans that are normally cool have heated up this summer. Scientists say that hot oceans feed hurricanes and harm coral. Take a look:
Obama Administration to Require Vehicles to Get 42 Miles Per Gallon
In what will be a sweeping change for the entire auto industry, the Obama administration will soon require
cars and light trucks to get 42 miles to the gallon by 2016. There is a timetable that phases in the new standards over time. The new standards are part of the administration's efforts to curb emissions related to smog and global warming.
While the 30 percent increase would be an average for both cars and light trucks, the percentage increase in cars would be much greater, rising from the current 27.5 mpg standard to 42 mpg starting in 2016. The average for light trucks would rise from 24 mpg to 26.2 mpg.
California, 13 other states and the District of Columbia had earlier urged the federal government to let them enact more stringent standards than the federal government's requirements. The states' regulations would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and trucks by 2016.
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The Detroit News reported that automakers were on board with the new rule because of that, and because they worked with the administration on creating a timeline for the transition.
California has substantially raised fuel efficiency requirements, which prompted lawsuits from the auto industry who says that it can't be required to meet multiple efficiency standards. This will end those lawsuits because there will be a new, federal standard for all cars and light trucks.
Harrison Ford gets his chest waxed to illustrate the devastating effects of deforestation. When the forests are destroyed, massive amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere: that accelerates climate change. So, save a forest, help save the planet. Oh, and Harrison Ford is looking mighty fine, isn't he? And he didn't even yell out "Kelly Clarkson!!" when she ripped the wax off. Most impressive.
According to an interesting article
in Australia's The Age, global warming is wreaking havoc on the clothing industry. In many parts of the world, there just isn't as much difference between the seasons anymore and overall the trend is towards warmer weather. The clothing industry relies on delineated seasons to sell different types of apparel. But if you can wear flip flops all year long (and not just in Southern California), clothing sales will drop. Warmer weather also affects the type of fabrics designers use and the styling.
It is forcing fashion houses to ditch traditional seasonal collections for transeasonal garments that may lead to a drastic overhaul of fashion show schedules and retail delivery dates.
"The whole fashion system will have to change," Beppe Modenese, founder of Milan Fashion Week, told The New York Times last week.
"The fashion system must adapt to the reality that there is no strong difference between summer and winter any more... You can't have everyone showing four times a year to present the same thing. People are not prepared to invest in these clothes that, from one season to the other, use the same fabrics at the same weight."
Mr Modenese's comments came as New York fashion retailers blamed a prolonged "Indian summer" for poor autumn sales. Who needs a woollen pea coat when it is 30 degrees-plus?
So worried are some fashion houses about the impact climate change is having on the way we dress and shop, they are calling in the climate experts.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that American retail giant Liz Claiborne Inc had enlisted a New York climatologist to speak to 30 of its executives on topics ranging from the types of fabrics they should be using to the timing of retail deliveries and seasonal markdowns.
Other US fashion retailer giants, including Target and Kohl's, have also started using climate experts to plan their collections and schedule end-of-season sales. And from January, Target will sell swimwear year-round.
Closer to home, fashion designers say they are increasingly designing transeasonal collections using lighter- weight fabrics for a more temperate climate and readjusting their in-store delivery dates in line with the unpredictable seasons.
"There's really no such thing as defined autumn/winter and spring/summer collections any more," says Margaret Porritt, of Melbourne fashion label Feathers.
"A lot of my garments are more transeasonal and rather than dropping them into store twice a year like I used to, I tend to move things in and out of store every couple of weeks, depending on the weather."
Things were different when she started the business 35 years ago.
"Back then winter went into store in mid-January and summer in mid-June and that was it. There was nothing in between. I also used a lot more heavier wools and made great big heavy coats. I can't do that anymore; it just doesn't get cold enough, even here in Melbourne. They just don't sell."
It's true that we don't buy as much heavy winter clothing as we used to, now that we think about it. And our boot purchases have also tapered off, which is a shame since we adore boots. But unlike Mary-Kate Olsen, we just can't wear sweaters, coats and boots on an 80 degree day.
We adore winter clothes: cashmere sweaters, fabulous boots, wonderful hats and a gorgeous coat all make an appearance after the first frost. The thought of living year round in shorts is appalling to us. We may have to consider moving north in the future.
A blistering heat wave is affecting fashion in Italy. The heat has gotten so bad -- it's 100 degrees in Florence, of all places -- that the Ministry of Health has asked businesses in Rome to switch to a no-tie policy.
Health officials are urging fashion-conscious Italians to beat the heat by taking off their ties.
Amid an unforgiving heat wave, the Health Ministry is advising employers to let male workers in loosen their ties.
"Taking off the tie produces an immediate decrease in the body temperature, by about 2 or 3 degrees Celsius degrees (4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit)," health officials said in a news release.
Temperatures registered Tuesday at 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit) in the northern city of Ferrara, and at 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) in cities such as Florence and Bologna, with hot winds and high humidity gripping most of the country.
Forecasters say the temperatures will stay the same in coming days, and electricity demand is soaring.
A no-tie policy would lower demands for electricity by reducing the need for air conditioning, health officials noted.
"It is a small gesture that costs nothing but which can help people better tolerate the exceptional heat of this period," it said.
Reaction to the no-tie policy has reportedly been mixed. The Romans are very fashion-conscious. Some large corporations are going along with the suggestion, but others are unhappy that Roman businessmen will now look untidy. It's a sad day for tie-makers, that's for sure.
