Climate Impact Report – 2/20
February 20, 2024
tags
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70 M
exposedThe EPA checked one-third of the nation’s public water systems and found that about 70 million people are exposed to toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in U.S. drinking water.
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wettest
FebruaryLos Angeles is just 2 inches of rainfall away from having its wettest February on record.
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3/4 coral
killedRecord hot seawater killed more than three-quarters of human-cultivated coral that scientists had placed in the Florida Keys in recent years.
Key Facts Of The Day 2/20
Storms and Flooding
- A flood watch remained in effect Tuesday across California as a powerful storm continued to unleash rain, snow, and wind.
- The coastal California counties of Santa Barbara and Ventura have seen the most rainfall so far, with 8 to 11 inches accumulating over the past three days.
- On Monday, Santa Barbara Airport shut down due to flooding.
- Los Angeles is just 2 inches of rainfall away from having its wettest February on record.
- LA County Public Works officials issued a “phase 2 debris flow forecast” for the Land Fire burn area east of Sun Valley.
Wildfires
- In response to the Lahaina wildfires, Hawaii proposed a conservation-related tourist tax.
Extreme Heat
- Record hot seawater killed more than three-quarters of human-cultivated coral that scientists had placed in the Florida Keys in recent years.
- Global average surface air temperatures reached or exceeded 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels during several days in February.
- A February 2024 study found that reforestation efforts in the southeastern U.S. have helped cool the region over the last century.
- Mental health experts are reporting a rising number of patients experiencing high levels of stress over global climate change and its impacts.