A research team from Queen’s University Belfast considered air, noise, light, and water pollution in a meta analysis of 29 studies investigating the relationship between environmental exposures and death by suicide, attempted suicide, or suicide ideation. They found small particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide were associated with a higher risk. Similarly, another 16 studies indicated sulphur dioxide, ozone, and other pollutants including noise, were found to be associated with higher risk levels. The results for water and light pollution were inconclusive.

The findings have potential consequences for environmental, public, and social policymaking, the researchers say, since they suggest that improving air quality should be considered a public health issue alongside other suicide prevention strategies. Suicide is the cause of over 720,000 deaths annually and is the third biggest killer of 15– to 29-year-olds, the World Health Organization says.

If the studies findings can be taken at face value, the travel sector could be said to be implicated, after all transportation is known to be among the world’s most polluting sectors, responsible for around 14 to 15% of emissions. Travellers too, especially those on long-term trips away from home or choosing a digital-nomad lifestyle and residing abroad for lengthy periods, might decide to avoid destinations known to have poorer air quality in order to protect their mental wellbeing.

But some experts have questioned the study’s findings, pointing out that people’s reasons for attempting suicide are multi-factored, and that the study does not establish a causal link between air pollution and suicidal thoughts.

Every year, more than 727 000 lives are lost to suicide.

Behind each number is a story cut short.

We aimed for a 33% reduction in deaths by 2030, but progress is just 12%.

This is a crisis. We must act with urgency, compassion & investment in #SuicidePrevention … pic.twitter.com/RPb460PELw

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) September 2, 2025

Dr Jon Van Niekerk, the chair of the general adult faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, cited by The Guardian, noted that: “Air pollution is closely associated with other factors which we know can influence mental health, including socioeconomic deprivation, urban living, physical health and housing.” He went on to caution that “the findings should not be seen as supporting individual suicide risk prediction or suggesting that pollution reduction alone could be a suicide prevention measure.”

Still, the Belfast team conclude that their results “highlight the importance of considering environmental exposures as modifiable risk factors in suicide prevention,” raising questions about how humans have historically thought about suicide and mental health, and about how society manages complex threats to the population’s health and wellbeing.

L’article Air pollution could be associated with increased suicide risk, researchers say est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In the days after Hurricane Lowell, Kauaʻi was faced with a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, crews needed space and resources to clear fallen trees and utility poles, restore electricity, and repair storm-damaged roads. On the other hand, the Hawaiian economy heavily relies on tourism. Those who had plans to visit the island were thus asked to reconsider their plans – not by cancelling entirely but by opting for a different Hawaiian destination.

Initially, many small business concentrated their efforts on either saving their assets or helping their community in whichever way possible. After weeks of clearing and damage repair, however, the consequences of the lack of tourists is becoming increasingly clear. Business owners are forced to let go most of their work force due to a lack of footfall, a situation that could quickly escalate and destabilise the island’s entire community.

In an article for The Associated Press, Gabriela Aoun Angueira interviews multiple small business owners about the consequences of the hurricane and the associated lack of tourists on their situation.

“Now that power and water is being restored, we should start to switch the narrative before many of us go out of business. People are canceling their trips in November,” warned Kelly Kakalia, co-owner of The Musubi Truck.

While some regions on the island are still considered a no-go zone as the damage done by Hurricane Lowell remains great, many other parts of Kauaʻi are slowly recovering and are ready to reopen their doors to sympathetic tourists. 

“We are still recovering from Hurricane Lowell, so come with patience. Some parks and areas remain closed, and we are telling visitors to avoid areas like Wainiha and Hāʻena for now. Check with your accommodations and activity providers before you arrive. The best way to help is to spend local. Eat, shop, and book with our small businesses. Every dollar makes a difference,” Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami said in an Instagram post.

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Although Hawaii Governor Josh Green has requested an expedited federal disaster declaration, which could unlock low-interest Small Business Administration loans, President Donald Trump has not yet approved the request. At the moment, small businesses’ best bet is thus to take up their usual pace once again, which might allow them to partially make up for the damage done by the hurricane.

Tourists wanting to support Kauaʻi can do so in several ways. Visiting the island, while keeping in mind that things have not yet gone back too normal, is one way. Those looking to do so are urged to get in touch with their travel agent or local accommodation in order to know what exactly might be possible.

Shopping locally, whether it is in person, online, or by purchasing gift certificates, is another great way to boost the local economy. Last but not least, tourists can also sign up to volunteer and help the island get back on its feet.

L’article Kauaʻi urges tourists to return and support small businesses after Hurricane Lowell est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The global average jet fuel price rose by 6.1% in a week to $181.46 (€153) per barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), highlighting a cost increase that extends well beyond the United States and is also being closely watched by European carriers.

Executives from American, United and Southwest outlined plans to adjust their schedules at Morgan Stanley’s annual Laguna Conference on Wednesday, with some flights already set to disappear from schedules towards the end of the year.

American Airlines Chief Financial Officer Devon May said fuel prices for the fourth quarter were running approximately $1 per gallon above the level the carrier had forecast in July. The difference is expected to add around $1 billion (€843 million) to American’s fuel bill.

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“What’s happened in the last four weeks, though, is fuel’s run up probably $1 a gallon or something like that for the fourth quarter alone,” May said.

American is consequently planning further capacity adjustments towards the end of the fourth quarter. However, demand remains strong, with the airline expecting third-quarter revenue to increase between 16% and 19% compared with the same period last year.

United Airlines is also removing flights from its schedule. Chief Financial Officer Michael Leskinen said some services originally planned for December would no longer operate.

“As you look into the fourth quarter, there’ll be some flights in December that we won’t fly that we thought we were going to fly,” Leskinen said. “If fuel remains high, we’ll make some adjustments into the first quarter and beyond into 2027.”

The airline has not disclosed which routes will be affected. Leskinen said that routes at the lower end of profitability can become unprofitable when fuel prices rise sharply.

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Southwest Airlines has meanwhile reduced around half of the modest year-on-year capacity growth it had originally planned for 2026. Chief Financial Officer Tom Doxey said further reductions would be a “natural response” if fuel remained elevated.

However, Southwest later clarified that schedule adjustments made so far had been minimal and that Doxey was illustrating how the airline could respond if fuel remained expensive rather than announcing substantial additional cuts.

Cheaper flights under pressure

The reductions could have a disproportionate impact on travellers looking for lower fares. Flights operating at less popular times or on routes with thinner demand are generally more vulnerable to capacity cuts because their margins are already lower.

That could include services on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as well as very early morning or late-night flights, according to aviation experts cited by CNN.

The situation is particularly challenging for budget-conscious passengers in the United States following the disappearance of Spirit Airlines, which halted operations in May, while other low-cost carriers have increasingly sought to attract passengers willing to pay for more premium products.

Jet fuel costs more than crude oil. The difference between the two is called the jet fuel crack spread. The strong correlation between jet fuel and crude oil prices has weakened, meaning higher and more volatile crack spreads. Learn why in the #WeeklyChart https://t.co/MuuCoXlxrj pic.twitter.com/nS5HMPOd9C

— IATA (@IATA) September 12, 2026

Airlines have nevertheless reported little evidence that higher prices are significantly weakening overall passenger demand.

United said its fourth-quarter bookings remained “tremendously strong”, with premium travel, corporate demand and economy bookings all proving resilient.

“Bookings have continued as we expected, so that piece of the equation is resilient – very little evidence of demand destruction,” Leskinen said.

Strong demand combined with reduced capacity could make it more difficult for passengers to find cheaper tickets, particularly if fuel prices remain elevated into 2027.

European airlines also exposed to fuel surge

Although the latest capacity announcements concern US carriers, the underlying increase in jet fuel prices is global, meaning European airlines are exposed to the same energy-market pressures.

Fuel represents one of the aviation industry’s largest operating expenses, and sustained price increases can affect decisions on capacity, routes and ultimately ticket prices.

European airlines may have some protection through fuel hedging, whereby carriers lock in part of their future fuel requirements at predetermined prices. This can reduce exposure to sudden short-term increases, although it cannot completely protect airlines from a prolonged period of high prices.

The pressure also comes as European aviation faces additional costs associated with fleet renewal, sustainable aviation fuel requirements and the wider decarbonisation of the sector.

Aircraft delivery delays have added another challenge by forcing some airlines to operate older and generally less fuel-efficient aircraft for longer than originally planned. For passengers, however, higher fuel prices do not automatically translate into equivalent increases in ticket prices. Airfares ultimately depend heavily on supply and demand, as airlines balance operating costs against the number of seats available and passengers’ willingness to pay.

With US carriers already beginning to remove less profitable capacity, airlines on both sides of the Atlantic will be watching closely to see whether the latest jet fuel surge proves temporary or begins to influence schedules further into 2027.

L’article US airlines cut flights as jet fuel prices surge est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Kauaʻi’s visitor economy is facing a delicate trade-off once more, after Hurricane Lowell: the island needs space and resources for recovery, yet many livelihoods depend on tourism. State tourism officials are advising travellers to avoid Kauaʻi for now as crews clear fallen trees and utility poles, restore electricity and repair storm-damaged roads. At the same time, they are asking visitors to consider another Hawaiian island rather than cancel the state entirely.

Lowell’s winds and storm surge damaged coastal properties, washed out sections of road and left thousands of customers—including hotels—without power. Departing passengers also encountered long queues at Kauaʻi’s main airport. Two deaths in Hawaiʻi were linked to the storm, and the governor sought a major federal disaster declaration for Kauaʻi and Maui counties.

Tourism supports an estimated four in ten jobs on Kauaʻi, making any pause costly for hotels, holiday rentals, restaurants, activity providers, and their staff. The disruption is uneven, however. Koʻa Kea Resort in Poʻipū said affected guests could receive refunds and forecast a return to normal operations within about two weeks. The Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort reported no structural damage but temporarily closed while awaiting the restoration of power.

For small operators, the immediate calculation extends beyond lost sales. In the wake of the storm, the Musubi Truck has used its commercial kitchen, propane, and generators to provide nearly 600 free meals in Wailua, while nearby businesses contributed drinks and equipment. Its co-owner, Kelly Kakalia, prioritised residents’ access to food, water, and power over short-term trade, later passing generators to families still without electricity. The response illustrates how visitor-facing businesses are also part of the island’s emergency support network.

Conditions can vary sharply by district and property. Some parts of the island escaped major damage, and at least one Poʻipū rental owner reported functioning water and nearby beach access. Yet the South Shore suffered serious damage around Baby Beach, and local appeals warned that visitors could place additional demand on scarce food, fuel, and utilities. Travellers should therefore treat island-wide imagery and isolated reassuring reports with equal caution: the status of a specific accommodation and the route to it matter more than a general impression.

Advice to holidaymakers bound for the islands includes:

• Contact the provider directly: confirm power, running water, access roads, staffing and the property’s reopening date before travelling.
• Review flexible options: ask about rebooking or refunds; policies differ, although some affected resorts have offered both.
• Consider rerouting: moving the trip to another Hawaiian island can preserve the holiday while supporting the wider visitor economy.
• Avoid burdening relief operations: unless travelling for family needs or organised assistance, postpone if essential services remain constrained.
• Monitor transport: allow for airport congestion, service changes and longer journeys where roads are damaged or being cleared.

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Kauaʻi’s recovery will require tourism demand to return—but at a pace aligned with restored infrastructure and residents’ needs. Clear, property-level updates will be essential: overly broad alarm could prolong losses for businesses that are ready to operate, while premature arrivals could divert supplies and staff from harder-hit communities. For travellers, flexibility is the most useful form of support: verify, reroute, or postpone rather than assuming the whole island is either closed or unaffected.

L’article Kauaʻi asks visitors to pause as Hurricane Lowell recovery puts tourism under strain est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The global average surface air temperature reached 16.96°C last month, which is 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average. It made August the warmest August in the ERA5 dataset and the joint-warmest month across all calendar months along with July 2023.

Temperatures were 1.65°C above the estimated 1850–1900 pre-industrial average, marking the first month since November 2025 in which the global temperature anomaly exceeded 1.5°C.

Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, countries committed to pursuing efforts to limit long-term global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. A single month exceeding that threshold does not mean the long-term Paris Agreement target has been breached, which is measured over a longer period. The global average temperature for the 12 months from September 2025 to August 2026 was 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels.

“August 2026 was a remarkable month in the global climate record,” said Samantha Burgess, Strategic Lead for Climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). “Combined with record global sea surface temperatures and the warmest summer on record for Western Europe, these observations show how climate change is driving extremes across both the atmosphere and the oceans.”

Ocean temperatures also reached record levels. The average sea surface temperature across extra-polar oceans, between 60°S and 60°N, stood at 21.07°C, the highest recorded for August and equal to the all-month record set in March 2024. Copernicus said the exceptional temperatures reflected global heating alongside rapidly developing El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific.

Europe also experienced unusually high temperatures. The average temperature over European land in August reached 20.26°C, 1.10°C above the 1991–2020 average, making it the continent’s fourth-warmest August on record.

Summer 2026 was the third warmest recorded across Europe as a whole, behind 2024 and 2022. Western Europe, however, experienced its hottest summer on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2003 after a succession of early, persistent and intense heatwaves.

Dry conditions also affected large parts of Europe during the summer, with exceptionally low soil moisture and widespread low river flows. By August, several major European rivers were experiencing unusually low water levels, with the Danube stranding cruise ships and disrupting tourism in Hungary. Rhine, Southern Bug and Dnieper also saw exceptionally low flows, while the Vistula, Glomma, Rhône, Seine and Po also reached exceptionally low levels before recovering slightly following late-August rainfall.

Meanwhile, extreme heat and wildfires have affected large parts of Europe. In France, the largest wildfire began on 22 July in Saumos, in the Gironde department, burning or damaging around 42,000 hectares. 220,000 people across 23 towns were evacuated, including tourists, while 240 residential homes were destroyed. Around 2,500 firefighters were deployed, with 84 injured. Overall, wildfires across the Gironde and Landes regions near Bordeaux forced around 260,000 people to flee their homes.

Spain also faced widespread wildfires throughout the summer, with more than 170,000 hectares of forest land affected since the beginning of 2026, compared with just 29,000 hectares in 2025. Around 76,000 people were evacuated nationwide, and a further 30,000 were confined to their homes as firefighters battled major blazes near Madrid, Ávila and Valencia. The Ávila fire alone burned around 25,000 hectares, making it one of the largest in Spain’s recent history, while a blaze near Madrid forced 116,000 people to evacuate.

In Greece, dozens of fires have burned around 6,000 hectares on Crete and Paros, while fires around the Gulf of Corinth forced evacuations from Porto Germeno and nearby villages, destroying some 10,000 hectares as well as homes and vehicles. Athens also faced evacuations of more than 1,000 people, including over 250 rescued by boat from beaches. At least 12,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land were burned, while two helicopter pilots were killed during a firefighting operation.

Globally, the June-to-August period was the joint warmest on record, matching 2024. From January to August, 2026 ranked as the second-warmest year on record so far, behind 2024 and ahead of 2023. Copernicus said El Niño conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months, potentially developing into one of the strongest events on record and increasing the likelihood of continued high global temperatures during the remainder of the year.

L’article August 2026 was world’s joint hottest month ever recorded, Copernicus finds est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The “significant flash flooding” struck the Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch areas on Saturday, 29 August, according to the National Park Service (NPS). Two people were confirmed dead, while more than 80 people were evacuated from the affected areas. At least one person remained unaccounted for in the days following the disaster, according to CBS News.

The flooding caused widespread damage to infrastructure in the inner canyon, including nearly every footbridge spanning Bright Angel Creek. More than 60 people were evacuated by helicopter from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail as floodwaters swept through the area.

One of the most significant consequences has been damage to the Transcanyon Waterline, the system that supplies water from the canyon for use throughout the park. The waterline is currently not operational, leaving the Grand Canyon with limited water reserves and forcing officials to introduce Stage 4 water restrictions on the South Rim.

Under the restrictions, all overnight guest accommodation operated by park concessionaires has been closed for the foreseeable future. This includes El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village RV Park. Hotels located outside the park in Tusayan are not affected by the restrictions.

“These measures are crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water resources,” the NPS wrote in a statement. “We are asking residents and visitors to help conserve water by limiting showers to five minutes or less, turning off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth, flushing toilets selectively, washing laundry with full loads, and reporting leaks to the appropriate offices.”

Camping is also limited. Only dry camping is permitted on the South Rim, with campground water spigots turned off, although bathroom faucets remain operational. Fires are prohibited in the South Rim and inner canyon areas, including wood-burning and charcoal fires.

The park itself remains open for day use, with food and beverage services, the Grand Canyon Clinic and the Post Office continuing to operate, although some services may have reduced hours. 

The Colorado River has also been closed to river traffic until further notice because of metal structures and debris entering the river. Visitors with upcoming river trips have been advised to contact their commercial outfitter or the NPS River Permits office for information specific to their trip.

The flooding occurred during the region’s monsoon season, when intense rainfall can rapidly funnel through the Grand Canyon’s steep, rocky terrain. The Guardian reported that the storm also affected areas scarred by the 2025 Dragon Bravo wildfire, where reduced vegetation can increase runoff. Researchers cited by the newspaper also pointed to drought, warming temperatures and a potentially stronger El Niño as factors that may have contributed to the extreme rainfall.

With further thunderstorms and heavy rainfall possible, the NPS has warned that additional flash flooding, debris flows, rockfall and rapidly changing trail and river conditions could occur.

L’article Deadly Grand Canyon flash flood forces hotel closures and Stage 4 water restrictions est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Although the circumstances of last week’s flash flooding that hit Himalayan valleys along the Nepal-China border weren’t clear initially, it now seems likely that the natural catastrophe was caused by a failing mountainside. When the bedrock beneath a Himalayan glacier gave way, ice and rock fell into the rivers below, with devastating results – at the moment of writing, the death toll has exceeded 1,000, and some 3,900 people remain missing.

Recurring floods

The flash flood of 26 august might have been one of exceptional size but it is not an isolated event. Moreover, climate scientists have been warning for such scenarios for decades and have been studying the mountains in the region for decades. Rising temperatures cause multiple consequences – not only are the glaciers melting, the integral structure of the Himalayan mountains is also being altered.

The Global Mountain Safeguard Research programme (GLOMOS), part of UNU’s Institute for Environment and Human Security, has recently been researching flash floods in the region, from the earliest records through 2024. Since 1950, floods have become five times more frequent.

Generally speaking, rising temperatures lead to melting glaciers, the meltwater of whom is then collected in natural lakes held together by unstable rocks. When those dams break, the water pours into the rivers, leading to flash floods. On 26 August, however, the scenario seems to have been different. Although scientists are not yet sure whether or not a temporary dam maintained the failing bedrock and the ice above for a couple of instants, the whole process was sped up due to the fact that the mountain structure gave way.

“Scientists say thinning and retreating of glaciers can not only cause their collapse but can also rapidly fill up glacial lakes that can then burst out causing floods. They say ice and snow buttress mountain slopes – just like cement keeps buildings intact. When they fast melt, then mountains destabilise and we see increased incidents of rockfalls, landslides, avalanches and debris floods – as we are seeing in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region,” wrote Navin Singh Khadka, Environment correspondent at BBC World Service.

Although it is hard to determine whether or not global warming was directly responsible for the mountain collapse that caused the flash flood, it is nearly impossible to deny that the Himalayan ecosystem has been radically changed by the rising temperatures, from melting ice to failing mountains.

Changing living circumstances

Moreover, in an interview with UN News, Nepal-born climate researcher Dipesh Chapagain also pointed towards a changing human geography in the region. Whereas previously, people had been living on mountains and cultivating the grounds around the rivers, now, many actually live alongside the river. Caused by numerous reasons – including better economic opportunities, easier building, and access to water as higher sources are drying up – this also exposes them to greater risks in case of a flash flood.

“We’d ask the world… to take climate change as one of the major challenges that Nepal and its citizens face, and this has to be a global effort. We request the global community to come together and preserve the Himalayan ecosystem,” stated Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal following the flash flood.

For Chapagain, catastrophes such as the one that took place on 26 August are becoming ever more likely. Even if the global warming is capped, the consequences of the last decades will likely go on for a long time in the region. 

In order to deal with the future, people will thus need to adapt. But governments also have their role to play, especially when it comes to establishing a warning system allowing locals and tourists alike to evacuate and when it comes to aiding the most vulnerable communities to make the adaptations needed to adapt themselves to the rapidly-changing circumstances.

L’article Natural disasters to become more recurrent in the Himalayas, researchers warn est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The tragedy took place along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river, and was at first attributed to an earthquake. However, later seismic analysis by United States geologists suggested a massive landslide had triggered the disaster. Some outlets are speculating that climate change could have intensified both the phenomenon and its consequences.

As well as over 100 Nepalese visitors to the area, over 100 Indian citizens, 54 Americans, 34 Australians, and 33 Brits, including a child as young as 13, are among the missing, Nepal’s tourist board said. Chinese state media In Tibet are reporting at least three dead and 265 missing.

The victims were caught up in what one witness described to The Guardian as “a huge gush of mud.” Some survivors reported clinging to trees and rooftops while their loved ones were washed away. Some experts have suggested that people would have needed to gain at least six metres in elevation to escape the tide of water, sediment, and debris.

Verified videos show dwellings, power infrastructure, roads, and border crossings all affected by a fast-moving wall of sludge, with entire villages engulfed, according to aerial images. At least 28 police officers are missing at the time of writing.

The region where the catastrophe struck is along the Himalayan border, and is popular with Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims, trekkers, and other visitors who reach the site via bus. Tour company staff based in various countries have confirmed they have missing guests, and an Indian firm told press one of their buses had crashed off a mountain road during the land movement.

Embassy staff from the UK, Australia, Finland, France, Norway, Switzerland, and the EU are urging any citizens in the flooded areas to “follow the guidance of local authorities and official safety advisories.” A joint statement expressed solidarity with those affected and deep sadness at the “devastating flooding in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts and surrounding areas.”

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Due to a combination of monsoon rains, fragile geology, unregulated construction practices, and climate, Nepal records hundreds of landslides and related deaths annually. These risks are most frequent during the June to September monsoon season.

Looking ahead, Chitwan, a jungle safari destination known for its rare species like the one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger, and gharial crocodile, is one of several municipalities that continue to be on high flood alert.

L’article Hundreds of tourists missing or dead in Nepal-Tibet flash floods est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The findings from World Weather Attribution, involving researchers from Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, show that carbon pollution has supercharged sea surface temperatures, raising them by about 2C in the Mediterranean, 1.4C in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Peninsula, and 1.3C around Ireland and the Channel.

The marine heatwaves are being observed earlier in the year, more frequently, and at higher intensities than would have been usual in pre-industrial times, with temperatures occurring in the Celtic region that previously would have been considered a 1-in-100-year event. In the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Peninsula, the western Mediterranean and eastern Mediterranean, the sea surface highs “would have been virtually impossible in a pre-industrial climate,” the researchers said, noting that the increases in the western and eastern Mediterranean“substantially exceed the level of global warming.”

The high sea surface temperatures have occurred outside the summer months too. The shoulder months, especially in spring, show warming much greater than the global average, the study says.

Co-author Claire Bergin, a climate analyst at Ireland’s Maynooth University, said: “While warmer waters for swimming may sound appealing to beachgoers in cooler countries like mine, the impact on marine life beneath the surface is more serious.” She went on to warn of “the potential to completely reshape ecosystems that coastal communities rely on for food and income, and drive damaging extreme weather on land too.”

As marine species migrate and adapt their diets to the changing conditions, “shifts in marine species distributions may affect the range of fish and crustaceans available for human consumption and aquaculture,” the report warns, highlighting examples such as dolphins reportedly feeding on jellyfish due to changes in the availability of their usual prey.

Warmer seas not only bring a risk of different diseases and parasites, but in turn cause warmer air and higher humidity for coastal regions increasing the risk of heat stress in human populations, and the chance of extreme rainfall events later in the season.

The report calls for a rapid transition away from the climate supercharging fossil fuels which, the researchers say, “is essential to save crucial ecosystems, fisheries, food production and tourism along the European coasts.” They also suggest adaptation measures to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems, protect habitats, evolve fisheries and aquaculture management, and improve monitoring and early-warning systems.

L’article Climate change pushes European seas to unprecedented temperatures, study finds est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The eclipse on 12 August will cross northern and eastern Spain along a band stretching from A Coruña in Galicia to Mallorca, making the country one of the best places in Europe to experience totality. Up to six million people could gather along the eclipse path, while around 460,000 international tourists are expected to have travelled to Spain specifically for the astronomical event.

The influx is also expected to put significant pressure on Spain’s roads, with around 1.5 million additional car journeys anticipated. Authorities are urging travellers to avoid unnecessary journeys and not to stop on roads or hard shoulders to observe the eclipse, particularly where vehicles could obstruct access for emergency services.

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Extreme wildfire danger across Spain

The warnings come after weeks of extreme temperatures and destructive wildfires across the country. Around 200,000 hectares have already burned in Spain this year, approximately six times the area recorded at the same point in 2025. Fires have recently been active in several parts of the country, including Huelva, Segovia and Huesca.

Conditions have been exacerbated by an exceptionally hot and dry summer. July was mainland Spain’s joint-hottest July since records began in 1961 and its driest on record, with just 4.3 mm of rain, equivalent to around 26% of normal precipitation for the month.

A large proportion of Spain is under weather alerts for Wednesday, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 40°C in some areas. Spain’s national weather agency AEMET has also warned of very high or extreme forest fire danger across much of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.

“The vegetation is extraordinarily dry and the smallest spark or carelessness could lead to devastating forest fires,” Environment Minister Sara Aagesen warned during a visit to Niebla, the site of a recent fire.

Aagesen urged people heading into natural areas to exercise the utmost caution, particularly around forests and places with low humidity and large amounts of dry vegetation.

Authorities are particularly concerned about potential ignition sources such as discarded cigarettes, barbecues, fireworks and vehicles parked over dry vegetation. Drivers have been warned that hot components underneath vehicles could potentially start a fire when parked on dry grass.

“We’ve had an extremely tough summer in Spain, with yet another series of major forest fires. That’s why we must restrict any kind of activity that could generate a spark,” Virginia Barcones, Secretary-General for Civil Protection and Emergencies at Spain’s Interior Ministry, told Reuters.

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660 official observation points

Spain is treating the eclipse as a nationwide security operation, with more than 660 official viewing sites identified across the country and around 35,000 officers expected to be involved in managing crowds and protecting vulnerable areas. A national control centre in Madrid will coordinate surveillance and emergency operations.

Heavy traffic is another concern, particularly because congestion in rural areas could prevent firefighters and other emergency services from reaching incidents quickly.

Some regional authorities have gone further by restricting access to vulnerable areas. In Valencia, natural parks have been closed and access to rural footpaths restricted. Camping and activities involving fire have also been suspended in high-risk areas, while barbecues and fireworks are prohibited.

Some planned eclipse gatherings elsewhere in Spain have been cancelled altogether because of the fire risk.

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Eclipse triggers astrotourism boom

Despite the warnings, the eclipse has triggered a major tourism boom across the path of totality. Accommodation in small towns and villages has been booked for months, while demand for campsites, motorhomes and rural accommodation has surged. Around 70% of Spain’s caravan fleet has reportedly already been reserved for the event.

Hotel prices have also risen sharply in some of the main viewing destinations. A Coruña has recorded particularly strong demand, while Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao have also experienced significant increases as travellers compete for accommodation within or close to the path of totality.

The phenomenon is particularly significant for Spain, where mainland observers have not experienced a total solar eclipse for more than a century. Totality will be visible within a band running across the north of the country and towards the Mediterranean, with the eclipse visible from destinations including A Coruña, Bilbao, Zaragoza and the Balearic Islands.

The influx had been anticipated months in advance, with Spain already preparing for a major eclipse tourism surge as accommodation and viewing locations along the path of totality attracted growing demand.

NASA has selected the tiny village of Villalibado in north-western Spain as one of its observation bases, installing four high-powered telescopes next to its Romanesque church to livestream the eclipse to millions of viewers worldwide.

Eye and equipment safety warnings

Wildfires and traffic are not the only safety concerns surrounding the event. Spanish hospitals are also preparing for possible eye injuries caused by people looking directly at the Sun without adequate protection. Six brands of eclipse glasses have been withdrawn after being deemed unsafe by Spanish consumer organisation FACUA.

As well as wildfire concerns, authorities have warned eclipse watchers to protect their eyesight by using certified solar viewing glasses. Smartphones and cameras can also be vulnerable when pointed directly at the Sun, making the use of appropriate protection important for anyone planning to photograph the eclipse.

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The warnings come as Europe prepares for its most significant solar eclipse in decades, with large numbers of travellers heading to Spain and Iceland to experience totality and others across the continent able to see a partial eclipse.

For visitors heading into Spain’s countryside, authorities are stressing another precaution: avoiding anything that could produce a spark. With extremely dry landscapes, temperatures approaching 40°C and hundreds of thousands of additional visitors converging on rural viewing locations, officials are hoping the country’s unprecedented eclipse tourism boom does not add to an already severe wildfire season.

L’article Solar eclipse tourism boom puts Spain on high wildfire alert est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.