Major oil spill hits Orange County coast, California

Major oil spill hits Orange County coast, California

A major oil spill, believed to have originated from a pipeline leak, hit parts of California's Orange County, including Huntington Beach on October 2, 2021. The event triggered coastal closures and emergency responses. Wildlife officials warned residents not to…

Nepal shuts schools as air pollution hits alarming levels

Nepal shuts schools as air pollution hits alarming levels

The air quality of Kathmandu, Nepal, has reached hazardous levels on March 27, 2021, with the AQI hitting 421, according to the Real-Time Air Quality Index. The education ministry said about eight million students have been affected as schools were shut amid the…

Toxic algae bloom behind massive marine die-off in Russia’s Kamchatka

Toxic algae bloom behind massive marine die-off in Russia’s Kamchatka

A toxic algae bloom has been found to be responsible for the massive die-off of marine creatures off Russia's Kamchatka, Environment Minister Dmitry Kobylkin confirmed Friday, October 23, 2020. The mysterious pollution was first reported by local surfers in…

NOAA forecasts larger than average ‘dead ‘zone’ for Gulf of Mexico

NOAA forecasts larger than average ‘dead ‘zone’ for Gulf of Mexico

The hypoxic area or "dead zone"– an area of reduced oxygen level which kills marine life– in the Gulf of Mexico is forecast to be approximately 10 800 square km (6 700 square miles) larger than the long-term average of about 8 700 square km (5 400 square…