Latest news with #hypoxia
CTV News
7 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
‘There was some growing concern': Extreme heat events potentially impacting Lake Erie conditions
Extreme heat waves are impacting the Great Lakes and may have negative impacts on the health of the ecosystem. CTV London's Gerry Dewan reports. Local researchers are keeping an eye on Lake Erie temperatures, with warmer conditions creating potential risks. It was a surge in the lake's average surface temperature that caught Mike McKay's attention, with those temperatures reaching around 27 degrees Celsius, 'Last week there was some growing concern, as the temperatures were starting to reach what had been, in recent years, the highest temperature for mid-July. That was (established) 2020.' McKay is the director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research at the University of Windsor. He told CTV News that extreme heat warnings issued by regional health units in late June and early July were also impacting the lake. Overnight temperatures in the 20s offered little relief and contributed to a rare phenomenon known as hypoxia. According to McKay, 'Hypoxia is when usually deeper waters in the lake lose their oxygen.' PORT STANLEY BEACH A boat passes near the beach at Port Stanley on July 23, 2025. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London) That can have three impacts; the first is discoloured water in the drinking water supply, not dangerous but also not pleasant. It can also contribute to the blue-green algae, with farm fertilizer stored in sentiment on the lakebed getting stirred up and feeding the algae. McKay said the third issue is the detrimental impact on small creatures that are an important part of the food chain. 'Which really is what drives the impressive fishery we have in Lake Erie. Lake Erie has roughly 2 per cent of the water in the Great Lakes, but about 50 per cent of the fish,' explained McKay. 'So, the commercial fishery on the Canadian side, the massive recreational fishery on the U.S. side.' The average surface temperature has slipped to 24 degrees this week, but with another surge in high temperatures expected, McKay said he and other researchers will be closely watching the impacts on Lake Erie.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Oxygen levels in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay decline after heavy rain in May, data shows
The Chesapeake Bay saw historically low oxygen levels in June, after heavy rain in May, according to data from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to a DNR report, the low oxygen levels led to hypoxia in the bay, which happens when the water has less than 2 mg/l of oxygen. An increase in hypoxia levels can impact fish and crabs that live in the water. The hypoxia increase in the Chesapeake Bay was reported between early and late June. However, no hypoxia was recorded in May. In the past 41 years, there were only nine times when hypoxia was not seen in May, according to the DNR. Data shows hypoxia increased from below average levels in early June to above average in late June. It comes after heavy rainfall in Maryland and Pennsylvania during May and hot temperatures during June. According to the DNR, heavy rainfall can lead to lower oxygen levels as runoff pushes excess nutrients into the Chesapeake Bay. This can impact algal blooms and reduce the clarity of the water. The regional weather patterns fueled algal blooms and resulted in less oxygen consumption. Temperatures also impact hypoxia levels as warmer water holds less oxygen. Data shows hypoxia in the Bay was triple the normal average in late June, the largest volume of hypoxia seen in Maryland since the monitoring program began. The increase in hypoxia levels can impact wildlife in the Chesapeake Bay, as crabs, fish, oysters and other animals need the dissolved oxygen to live. According to the DNR, some watermen reported finding dead crabs in shallow water in early July. An analysis found that winds between July 1 and July 4 likely pushed water east, allowing low oxygen levels to come closer to the surface in some locations. The DNR is studying the level and duration of hypoxia in the Bay to determine specific impacts to wildlife. DNR officials also emphasized that reducing phosphorus pollution from industrial and wastewater runoff, farms and cities could reduce hypoxia conditions in the Bay.
ABC News
20-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Hypoxia is rare, but it's been behind several fatal plane crashes in Australia
Blue lips, slurred speech, euphoria, confusion — these are just some of the warning signs of hypoxia, a lack of oxygen in the body, which can be deadly in the air. It's rare, but hypoxia has been behind several fatal plane crashes in Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which investigates aircraft incidents, recently found that a 2023 triple-fatal crash near Cloncurry was "entirely preventable" and that the pilot likely suffered hypoxia caused by a well-known, long-standing defect. Respiratory specialist Dr Ian Yang says, put simply, it's low oxygen in the body and brain. Dr Yang says common symptoms include confusion, rapid breathing, a racing heart and a false sense of calm. "A lot of our patients living with moderate to severe conditions like COPD (lung disease) will have low oxygen but it's very rare in the general community," he says. "If someone comes to us with moderate to severe lung conditions we test in our laboratory to test what their oxygen levels are, if it drops too low we'll recommend they need oxygen on the plane." Aviation doctor and pilot Dr Hui Tan says hypoxia can start silently above 10,000 feet, if cabin pressure drops and oxygen systems fail. "Pilots might feel fine, then suddenly can't function," he says. Dr Tan says some have reported tingling ears, nausea, or warmth before losing awareness. The ATSB has investigated seven major hypoxia-related incidents since the late 90s, from a 2000 crash that killed all onboard, to a 2020 case where a pilot passed out mid-flight. In many cases, pressure systems failed or oxygen masks weren't working. Yes, with training and awareness. Some pilots, particularly those in the military, undergo hypoxia simulation training to learn to spot the symptoms early. Dr Tan operates a specialised hypoxia chamber in Western Australia to help pilots experience and recognise the signs of low oxygen in a safe way. He himself has experienced it first-hand. "I was quite taken aback by the symptoms, it was similar to being under the influence where you have the light-headedness and I was convinced if I experienced that again in an aircraft I'd know what those symptoms were and I could do something about it," he says. "That's why we offer the training we do, so pilots can experience these symptoms first-hand in our enclosure and, if something happens in future, recognise the same hypoxia symptoms and put their oxygen mask on before they start troubleshooting. "Where people get in trouble is where they don't recognise the symptoms. "I set this up to give pilots awareness and if I save one life from hypoxia then this training has been worth it." In-flight? Immediate oxygen and descent. Air traffic controllers are also trained to spot signs including slurred pilot speech and can direct aircraft to descend quickly to safer altitudes. Dr Yang says on the ground, treatment depends on the cause, but in aviation, it is all about quick recognition and fast action. "The treatment for those with underlying conditions like COPD can include inhalers or exercise, and in serious cases oxygen," he says. "In aviation the treatment for patients with low oxygen is oxygen on the plane." The fatal 2023 crash is subject to an open coronial investigation. In a statement, a CASA spokesperson says the Cloncurry incident highlights the importance of being aware of the risk of hypoxia. "We note the ATSB's report and are considering the findings," the spokesperson says.
ABC News
19-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Final report into fatal outback plane crash blames pressure issue for lack of oxygen, finds operator AGAIR was aware
A pressurisation defect that deprived the pilot of oxygen resulted in a fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of three people in outback Queensland in 2023, a transport safety investigation has found. The Gulfstream 695A aircraft took off from Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, on November 4, 2023 and was on its way to photograph fire zones north of Mount Isa. But the plane crashed about 55 kilometres south-east of Cloncurry in open bushland and burned up after impact. On board were a pilot and two camera operators, including 22-year-old William Jennings from the United States, all of whom died in the crash. The flight was operated by operated by Victorian company AGAIR. In its final report, released this morning, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the pilot was experiencing hypoxia when the crash occurred. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the "aircraft's pressurisation system was not reliably maintaining the required cabin altitude", which had been in issue for "many months". "This led some company pilots to employ a variety of actions in the aircraft to manage the potential and deadly effects of hypoxia, including at times briefly descending to lower altitudes, and improperly using emergency oxygen systems," he said. On the day of the accident, the pilot had descended from 28,000 feet to 15,000 feet for about six minutes before climbing back up to 28,000 ft, he said. "Later, while the aircraft was ... nearing Cloncurry at 28,000 ft, both power levers were probably reduced, possibly with the intention of undertaking a similar descent," the ATSB report found. "This caused the aircraft's speed to decay, before it ultimately entered a steep, descending, anticlockwise turn. Mr Mitchell said it was almost certainly due to pilot control inputs made in an unsuccessful attempt to regain control. "The ATSB found the onset of hypoxia during the flight significantly degraded the pilot's ability to safely operate the aircraft, and it is possible that at stages the pilot also experienced some loss of consciousness," he said. The ATSB said the pressurisation defect in the plane was known to senior AGAIR management, who attempted to have it rectified. "However, they did not formally record the defect, communicate it to the safety manager, undertake a formal risk assessment of it, or provide explicit procedures to pilots for managing it," Mr Mitchell said. An online fundraiser to bring Mr Jennings home received over $92,625 US in donations — about $142,000 AUD. In the fundraiser, his family said William was "a bright light extinguished too soon". "William was a 22-year-old promising mechanical engineer who recently graduated from Northeastern University," his family said. "He had an exciting life ahead of him, but tragically lost his life in a plane accident while surveying fires in Australia. "William was known to bring light to any room he walked into, and his sense of humour was infectious. "He was an avid hiker and lover of nature, always seeking new adventures in life." The other two people on board the aircraft are yet to be publicly identified.
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Paraglider survived being sucked 8.5km into the sky in rare ‘cloud suction'
A shocking video shows the terrifying moment a paraglider was sucked 8.5km into the sky and endured bone-chilling conditions among the clouds. He reportedly became trapped in a rare 'cloud suction' that pulled him more than 8.5km into the air during a flight over China. The paraglider, who miraculously survived the ordeal on Saturday, caught the nerve-shredding moments on camera. His jaw-dropping footage has now gone viral on social media. He took off for his flight from an altitude of around 3,000 metres over the Qilian Mountains according to local media reports. But the paraglider quickly malfunctioned and became uncontrollable, as he was dragged up thousands on feet into the clouds. He was sucked to the sort of heights at which passenger aeroplanes might cruise. The footage lays bare the icy conditions he had to endure, suffering from extensive frostbite at the terrifying altitude. He can be seen clinging onto his parachute for dear life in the frightening conditions. Visibility is initially poor at the start of the clip as the paraglider is sucked to high altitudes over the mountains. But at the peak of the trip, he can be seen dangling over the clouds – visibly freezing cold and covered in frost. He was not wearing an oxygen mask, fully exposing him to the hostile elements. However, the man miraculously remained conscious throughout the ordeal and successfully brought his parachute to a safe landing. He later recalled experiencing hypoxia and having his hands exposed to the blistering cold above the clouds, local media reported. 'I just kept communicating over the radio the entire time,' he said. An experienced paraglider, surnamed Ou, told local media that few people would survive being pulled to such high altitudes. 'This is truly miraculous,' Ou said. 'His mental resilience was extraordinary.' Ou added that paragliders will typically come prepared for such flights with cold weather gear, as it would already be extremely cold at the takeoff altitude. But at 8,000 metres, temperatures can drop to as low as -40, and oxygen supplies would be critically low, Jiupai News reported. The incident is now being investigated by regulatory authorities. A source told Jiupai News that he had failed to file the necessary flight plan – including getting airspace clearance for the launch site. Chinese national aviation sports regulations state that aerial activities need prior airspace approval from air traffic control. Paragliding activities have to be carried out according to a prearranged plan, and trips are prohibited under adverse weather conditions. Changing flight plans without authorisation is also not allowed. Penalties for those found in breach of the rules range from warning and fines to criminal charges, local media reports.
