Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Atmospheric rivers – what to know about the storms inundating the Pacific north-west

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 20:17:47 +0000

This week’s weather system dumped 5tn gallons of rain on Washington state – and another one is threatening Canada

Just as record-level flood waters that triggered widespread evacuations begin to recede in western Washington state, residents of the Pacific north-west are bracing themselves for another strong weather system that is likely to swell rivers back to dangerous levels – again.

Australia’s best news agency photography for 2025 – in pictures

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 19:00:42 +0000

Floods, fires, festivities and legal wins are all captured in the best images from the wire agencies in 2025

Best of Australian politics 2025 – in pictures

New ghost marsupial related to the kangaroo found in Australia

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 16:41:21 +0000

Researchers analyzing ancient fossils from caves across Western Australia have uncovered a completely new species of bettong along with two new woylie subspecies—remarkable finds made bittersweet by signs that some may already be extinct.

Mining company claims government didn’t follow proper process for Aboriginal heritage protection order

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:00:18 +0000

Regis Resources told a federal court hearing the partial protection order, which blocks construction of a planned tailings dam, would make its development unviable

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Home batteries subsidy overhauled with $5bn injection as Australians rush to take up discount

admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:35:08 +0000

Chris Bowen says first 50kWh of a system would still be eligible, but discounting would not be as generous per kWh for medium- and larger-sized batteries

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Discounts for larger systems will be wound back under a popular home battery scheme as the program’s budget is tripled.

Ancient lake reappears in Death Valley after record-breaking rains

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:24:05 +0000

Repeated fall storms led to the temporary lake, known as Lake Manly, appearing in basin 282ft beneath sea level

After record-breaking rains, an ancient lake in Death Valley national park that had vanished has returned to view.

Hunger’s whip: why connecting US food stamps to work is outdated and ineffective

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:00:11 +0000

In many parts of the country, there are new work requirements to get food aid. But starving people doesn’t motivate them – despite centuries of this rhetoric

Families washed out of tents as flood waters course through Gaza

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:26:02 +0000

Gaza has been hit by heavy rains and low temperatures, deepening the misery of most of its 2.2 million population who are living in tents after two years of Israeli bombardment. Thousands of homeless people have been washed out of their makeshift shelters and forced to seek emergency refuge

Scientists find hidden rainfall pattern that could reshape farming

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:20:47 +0000

New research shows that crops are far more vulnerable when too much rainfall originates from land rather than the ocean. Land-sourced moisture leads to weaker, less reliable rainfall, heightening drought risk. The U.S. Midwest and East Africa are particularly exposed due to soil drying and deforestation. Protecting forests and improving land management could help stabilize rainfall and crop yields.

Flooding remains threat in Pacific north-west as Washington declares emergency

admin — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 14:53:14 +0000

Torrential rain has caused mudslides, washed out roads and submerged vehicles with more deluges expected on Sunday

The Pacific north-west is reeling from catastrophic flooding that inundated communities across the region this week, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate and prompting a federal emergency declaration.