Having been awarded a $100 000 grant by the international Million Cool Roofs Challenge last year to deploy solar-reflective roof coatings, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is now underway rolling out this low-tech cooling solution to communities across the country. This initiative is driven by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) with … [Read more...]
Whatever happened to False Bay’s white sharks?
Sightings of white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) have crashed this year in False Bay near Cape Town, South Africa—one of the best-known hot spots of the predators in the world—and scientists aren’t sure why. Orcas, which love to dine on shark liver, may have scared them off, researchers say, but human activities could also play a role. Shark Spotters, a local charity that … [Read more...]
Wildfires and heatwaves: how the Arctic is nearing a point of no return
Many of the globe’s far northern regions have been experiencing extreme weather events over the past two months. Plumes of smoke have been picked up by satellites from wildfires across Alaska and Siberia and Greenland has experienced rapid ice loss as usually frigid regions have experienced heatwaves and record temperatures. As the Arctic faces extreme weather events caused … [Read more...]
Keeping cool during those hot and sweaty nights
One of the worst aspects of summer heat is when there is no respite during the night. This is also when high temperatures can become dangerous to the young and elderly - as they battle to sleep and then succumb to exhaustion. Here are some cool eco-friendly tips in a story by Julie Ellis: We all know sleeping in an air-conditioned home on a sweltering night can feel … [Read more...]
Dealing with heat exhaustion and heatstroke
As we melt our way through the SA's climactic summer, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are two potentially serious conditions that can occur if you get too hot. This overheating can also be caused by very strenuous physical exercise. Heat exhaustion is where you become very hot and start to lose water or salt from your body, which leads to the symptoms listed below and … [Read more...]
Extreme temperatures causing drop in human fertility
If you're not feeling like sex when it's too darn hot, you're not alone. Latest research into human fertility and temperature extremes reveals that birthrates suffer a fall nine months after extreme temperatures events. Although there is a partial recovery in subsequent months, this does not make up for the lost fertility. The research is based upon data of the effects of … [Read more...]
Arctic sea ice reaches lowest annual maximum on record
This year's maximum Arctic sea ice extent was the lowest in the satellite record and occurred 15 days earlier than the average date for the period from 1981 to 2010, reported NASA and NSIDC. The sea ice cap of the Arctic appeared to reach its annual maximum winter extent on Feb. 25, according to data from the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) at the … [Read more...]
Western Cape anticipates heavy rain
Heavy rain is expected in places over West Coast District, Cape Winelands and parts of the Eden District. Heavy rainfall raises the water level. When the water level is higher than the river banks or the dams, water comes out from the river and flooding occurs. Preventive measures: Construct proper drainage system – Shallow drains due to silts must be cleaned constantly … [Read more...]
City urges caution as weekend fires claim 12 lives
The City of Cape Town’s Fire and Rescue Services section appeals to the public to be on high alert at all times, especially around open flames or any other potential fire hazards. Firefighters responded to a number of incidents over the past weekend. Tragically, several of these incidents resulted in fatalities. At 00:51 yesterday morning, 9 December 2013, three wood and … [Read more...]
Extremely high fire danger conditions expected
The South African Weather Service has issued a warning of extremely high fire danger conditions in the Northern Cape and on the West Coast. City of Cape Town Disaster Management spokesperson, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, says temperatures have increased into the mid 30's in some areas. "Disaster management teams have been placed on high alert to deal with issues where … [Read more...]
Extremely hot conditions expected in Western & Eastern Cape.
Extremely hot conditions are expected over the Karoo areas of the Western and Eastern Cape. Hot and humid weather will result in extremely uncomfortable conditions over the Breede River Valley and eastern interior of the Western Cape, as well as the southern interior of the Eastern Cape. In the light of this warning as produced by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and … [Read more...]
City appeals to residents to stick to watering times
The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department is appealing to all residents to please adhere to the specified times for watering gardens, lawns and plants in order to prevent water wastage. This is in line with the City’s water by-laws and is particularly important over the summer season which traditionally see a drop in dam levels. The City’s dam levels are … [Read more...]
Feeling bloated and uncomfortable? Time to detox!
The finally unfolding summer is a good time to help your body get rid of the winter’s indulgences, release built up toxins and clean out accumulated waste from the past year. No one is exempt from the industrial pollutants in the air we breathe, the water we drink and chemical residues in foods and cookware that have all embedded themselves in our tissues and organs. If you … [Read more...]
