PLANET IN PERIL

EcoWatch Scientists studying the troposphere—the lowest level of the atmosphere—have found "powerful evidence" that  climate change  is altering seasonal temperatures. More here.

Texas A&M University The bad news: Dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa -- totaling a staggering 2 to 9 trillion pounds worldwide -- has been almost a biblical plague on Texas and much of the Southern United States in recent weeks. The good news: the same dust appears to be a severe storm killer. More here.

The Guardian Sweden worst hit as hot, dry summer sparks unusual number of fires, with at least 11 in the far north. More here.

Canada’s National Observer Ashcroft Reserve wildfire as seen across Loon Lake, BC. July 2017  Photo by Shawn Cahill. With warm weather, a high snowpack and floodwaters rising throughout the province, it may seem like B.C. is set to repeat last year’s weather patterns, which led to a catastrophic summer of fires. But it’s still too early to reliably predict…. More here.

RCI Radio Canada International The Cape May warbler, while not named in this story, also migrates from the  West Indies to the Boreal forests of Canada. A PinP photo. Examination of tail feathers suggests that mercury is one of the determining factors for the steep declines of many songbird populations that migrate long distances to and from North America. More here.

ECOWATCH At least 109 people have died in Japan following historic  flooding  and mudslides over the weekend that prompted evacuation orders covering about five million people,  The Guardian reported Monday .