Unusually Chilly Stratosphere Behind 2011′s Record Arctic Ozone Hole
Check the fine print on many cans of hairspray or shaving cream these days, and you'll probably find a reassurance that the product you are holding contains "No CFCs or chemicals known to harm the ozone layer." Located in the stratosphere, the ozone layer protects life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. To stop ozone destruction, chemical manufacturers phased out the production of CFCs (short for chlorofluorocarbons) over the past two decades.
So why is it that this past spring, scientists observed the largest, most severe ozone destruction ever witnessed in the Arctic since records began in 1978? In part, it's because CFCs stick around in the atmosphere for a very long time. But the maps above reveal the main reason this winter's Arctic ozone loss was so much worse than it normally is: unusually persistent cold temperatures.
From January through March 2011, monthly average temperatures in the Arctic stratosphere were colder than usual. Places where temperatures were up to 9 degrees Celsius warmer than the long-term average (1979-2009) are red, while places where temperatures were up to 16 degrees cooler than average are blue. Colder-than-usual temperatures dominated the stratosphere all three months, especially in March.
What does the cold have to do with the ozone hole? Extreme cold allows clouds to form in the stratosphere, even though the air there is extremely dry. The clouds make rare chemical reactions possible. Normally, when CFCs break down, the chlorine they release gets incorporated into very stable molecules that don't react with ozone. But on the surface of particles in these unusual ice clouds, the stable molecules are converted into forms of chlorine that are much more reactive.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, US: Mysterious bird deaths baffle hotel workers
The apparent death of 30-40 birds has workers at one Myrtle Beach hotel wondering what's to blame.
Ocean Forest Resort Hotel Security Guard Brandon Nelson said between 30 and 40 birds of various breeds fell from the sky around 2 Sunday morning while he was patrolling the building.
"The birds were just landing with a plop, some of them chirped and squirmed for a few minutes before they died. I've never seen anything like it," Nelson said.
Nelson's mother, Sarah Allen, stopped at the hotel to visit her son during his shift when she says one of the birds hit her in the shoulder as it fell from the sky.
Experts Concerned with Abnormal Seismic Activity - Azores
Experts in the Azores have alerted the population of São Miguel Island for seismic activity which they considered to be above normal. The seismic events where located in the system of Fogo and Congro lakes, the central region of the island.
"The situation is ongoing and the number of microseisms is slightly above reference values" said Wednesday João Luís Gaspar from the Center of Volcanology and Geological Risk Assessment (CVARG) of the University of the Azores.
He also said that the seismic activity was the result of "very low magnitude earthquakes" adding that "none of which have been felt by the population."
Declining to comment on what the evolution of the crisis could be João Luís Gaspar recalled that "seismological activity is difficult to predict," but that the possibility could not be eliminated of an earthquake occurrence which may be felt by the population. He said, "It does not mean it will happen; only that one cannot eliminate that possibility."
Trio of US Quakes Includes Largest Ever Recorded in Texas
Over the past 48 hours, small earthquakes have rocked various parts of the United States, including the largest ever recorded in Texas by the United States Geological Survey. The quakes, in San Francisco, San Antonio and Hawaii, are unrelated, seismologists said.
No casualties have been reported after the quakes.
"We have lots of earthquakes; it's common, really nothing out of the ordinary. None of the quakes are very big," said Paul Caruso, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center. "They are totally separate faults and in no way related at all."
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Texas, about 47 miles (76 kilometers) outside San Antonio, at 7:24 a.m. local time (8:24 a.m. EDT) yesterday (Oct. 20). The epicenter of the quake was close to Fashing, Texas, a natural gas and oil mining town.
Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra answers reporters' questions at Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) at Don Mueang Airport.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday assumed powers under the natural disaster law giving her full authority to implement a nationwide disaster relief plan.
Invoking the provisions of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act (2007) gives the prime minister full authority over state officials around the country. Those who refuse to follow orders can be prosecuted for negligence of duty. The prime minister becomes director of the relief operation.
Ms Yingluck said the move was necessary to streamline relief operations.
She has ordered the Defence Ministry and the army to oversee and protect key places including the Grand Palace, other palaces, Siriraj Hospital, flood barrier lines, utilities providers, and Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
The government has struggled to channel the massive amount of water that has caused widespread flooding in the country's Central Plains, around the outskirts of Bangkok.
Date-Time:
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 08:02:37 UTC
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 05:02:37 PM at epicenter
Location:
43.889°N, 142.477°E
Depth:
185 km (115.0 miles)
Region:
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
Distances:
17 km (10 miles) NE of Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
121 km (75 miles) NNW of Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
131 km (81 miles) NE of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
941 km (584 miles) NNE of TOKYO, Japan
This map shows the location of Thursday's earthquakes near Berkeley, Calif. (indicated by blue squares) occuring along the Hayward fault zone (red line running underneath).
A pair of earthquakes shook homes and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday.
The first quake, with a magnitude of 4.0 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, struck at 2:41 p.m. local time about 2 miles southeast of Berkeley.
A 3.8 magnitude aftershock centered a mile east of Berkeley followed more than 5 hours later at 8:16 p.m.
USGS officials estimate that more than 4 million residents of the Bay Area felt the quakes, with the worst shaking impacting the East Bay region.
Berkeley and Oakland police both reported no damage, though many in the area took to social media indicating their dishes were rattled.
Sean O'Donnell worked on the nets in Seattle after salmon fishing Wednesday.
Seattle - The scientist in Canada got the results from a respected lab and held a news conference. The ice and bait man at a fish processor in Sitka, Alaska, heard the news on Facebook. Vardon Tremain read it in the newspaper while working on his trolling boat docked here in Salmon Bay.
More scientists in Washington started talking, and 24 hours later everyone is asking more questions. As word spread that infectious salmon anemia, a deadly virus that has devastated farmed fish in Chile, had been found for the first time in prized wild Pacific salmon, there remained much uncertainty about the finding and what its potential impact could be.
So far it has been found in just two wild sockeye salmon in British Columbia and not in an active state. Nevertheless the reaction from fishermen has echoed that of some scientists: this is the last thing salmon need.
"On top of everything else, that would just be murder here," said Mr. Tremain, aboard his 40-foot boat, Heidi, at Fishermen's Terminal here.
Double magma bubble forms at Hades Vent at West Mata submarine volcano.
An underwater volcano bursting with glowing lava bubbles - the deepest active submarine eruption seen to date - is shedding light on how volcanism can impact deep-sea life and reshape the face of the planet.
Submarine eruptions account for about three-quarters of all of Earth's volcanism, but the overlying ocean and the sheer vastness of the seafloor makes detecting and observing them difficult. The only active submarine eruptions that scientists had seen and analyzed until now were at the volcano NW Rota-1, near the island of Guam in the western Pacific.
Now researchers have witnessed the deepest active submarine eruption yet. The volcano in question, West Mata, lies near the islands of Fiji in the southwestern Pacific in the Lau Basin. Here, the rate of subduction - the process in which one massive tectonic plate dives under another, typically forming chains of volcanoes - is the highest on Earth, and the region hosts ample signs of recent submarine volcanism.
A small earthquake hit the San Francisco area on Thursday afternoon, causing a sharp jolt but no immediate signs of damages or injuries.
The quake, with a preliminary 3.9 magnitude, was centered near Berkeley. San Francisco police and officials at University of California, Berkeley, said they had no reports of injuries or damages.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake hit two miles (3.2 kilometers) southeast of Berkeley at 2:31 p.m.
The quake was felt as a sharp jolt in the East Bay area, and across the bay in San Francisco.
The quake came almost 22 years to the day after the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area during the 1989 World Series.
It came on the same day Californians took part in an annual earthquake preparedness drill at 10:20 a.m. Thursday. More than 8½ million people signed up to participate in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Aarhus University have warned that polar bear species as primary predators are ailing as industrial pollutants get absorbed in the Arctic Ocean food chain.
A new and strange phenomenon is baffling scientists. This is the case of the vanishing lakes in the northern part of the Arctic which can have an impact on local wildlife and human populations, researchers said.
Canada lost some 1.2 percent of its water surface or 6700 square kilometers between 2000 to 2009 as revealed in a satellite survey of the 1.3 million lakes stretching from coast to coast, according to the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska,
"It's an important finding. We need to find out what's driving it," says Larry Hinzman, director of the research center.
Previous surveys showed that there had been shrinking Arctic lakes, but only in the southern-most part of the Arctic. But the new survey, carried out by Mark Carroll at the University of Maryland in College Park found that the reverse is happening: it is the northern lakes that appears to be shrinking.
US: Huge Haboob Hits Lubbock, Texas
A screenshot of a video that Sandy Clem shot as the haboob swept over Lubbock.
A giant dust storm known as a haboob swept through Lubbock, Texas, on Monday, blotting out the sun and turning everything a hazy copper.
The 8,000-foot-tall (2,400 meters) dust cloud knocked down trees and power lines, sparked small wildfires and damaged a hangar at the local airport, reported the Los Angeles Times.
Jerald Meadows, a meteorologist based in Lubbock, told the L.A. Times that smaller haboobs of around 1,000 feet (305 m) in height are fairly common in the area, but that yesterday's whopper was "fairly rare." He attributed the storm to the dry condition in the area, which have plagued most of Texas this year, and strong cold front with whipping winds that moved in from the Rockies. The storm traveled at an estimated 75 mph (120 kph).
Haboob is Arabic for "strong wind."
This dolphin was found on the Mobile Bay side of the Fort Morgan peninsula Saturday morning, one of four found since Friday. The death brings the total number of dead dolphins found since the BP oil spill to more than 400. Federal officials say an "Unusual Mortality Event" has been declared for the Gulf's dolphin population, which have been dying at a rate 5 to 10 times higher than average.
Dauphin Island, Alabama -- A dolphin carcass, bloated and violet in the morning sun, was found on Fort Morgan early Saturday, bringing the number lost since the BP oil spill to more than 400.
Three other dolphins have washed up in Alabama in the past week, including a pregnant female on Dauphin Island and a mother and calf pair on Hollingers Island in Mobile Bay.
"We should be seeing one (death) a month at this time of year," said Ruth Carmichael, a Dauphin Island Sea Lab scientist tasked with responding to reports of dead dolphins. "We're getting one or more a week. It's just never slowed down."
In Alaska's Arctic, mysterious outbreak kills dozens of ringed seals
An ill ringed seal on the North Slope.
A mysterious and potentially widespread disease is thought to have contributed to the deaths of dozens of ringed seals along Alaska's Arctic coast. Scores more are sickened, some so ill that skin lesions bleed when touched.
The animals are an important subsistence food, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed listing them as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
In July, biologists with the North Slope Borough's Department of Wildlife Management began receiving reports of ringed seals hauled out on beaches, an unusual behavior since the animals usually prefer the water or ice. Since then, they've found at least 100 seals with telltale mangy hair and skin lesions, mostly while traveling by four-wheeler along 30 miles of Beaufort and Chukchi sea coastline outside Barrow.
At least 46 of those seals have been found dead, and experts aren't sure if the disease is killing them or if other infections and polar bears are proving fatal once the seals become feeble.
U.S. Government Joins Probe of Mysterious Seal Deaths
Federal officials have joined an investigation into the mysterious deaths of young harbor seals on beaches across three New England states as the number of dead seals rose to 49.
Seals began washing up on the beaches of northern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and southern Maine last week, said Maggie Mooney-Seus, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's office in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
"Some of them have been decomposed," she told Reuters on Wednesday. "We're hoping we're not going to see a lot more. We don't know at this point what's caused it."
The densest cluster of seal deaths has been along New Hampshire's 18-mile (30-km) coast, where 17 seal carcasses have been recovered since Friday, said Tony Lacasse, a spokesman for the New England Aquarium in Boston.
The aquarium has conducted autopsies on three of the least-decomposed seals and found that they all had an adequate layer of blubber to survive.
Florida, US: Dead bee mystery has state officials buzzing
Millions of dead bees mysterious turn up in the southern part of Brevard County.
Millions of dead bees mysterious turn up in the southern part of Brevard County.
Officials with the Department of Agriculture are trying to figure out what caused them to die. They have gathered samples of the dead bees and send them to the state lab to be tested.
Officials with the state told News 13 over the phone that it appears some type of aerial application of a pesticide might have been sprayed on the area. However, they said it is too early in the investigation to know for sure.
Two beekeepers were affected and this mystery is a huge loss for both of them.
Fellsmere beekeeper Charles Smith said the dead bees were supposed to be bound for California to help pollinate almond trees.
Malaysia: Sinkhole closes road in Puchong
Policemen standing guard beside the sinkhole in Jalan TK 5/1, Taman Kinrara, Puchong, last night.
SUBANG JAYA: A portion of the road leading to houses and shoplots in Section 5, Taman Kinrara, off Batu 9, Jalan Puchong, collapsed yesterday, leaving a six-metre deep and 4.5-metre wide sinkhole.
The incident happened at 2pm. The earth in the middle of the road suddenly caved in, leaving a hole deep enough to fit four cars.
Luckily, no road users fell into the hole, located near several apartments,
Serdang police chief Superintendent Abdul Razak Elias said police were notified about the sinkhole at Jalan TK 5/1 by residents, before several officers cordoned off the area.
"We decided to close the road pending investigations and repair works by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council."
Ghana: Unknown pollutant kills nearly 10 tons of fish in the Butre Lagoon
The Environmental Protection Agency in the Western Region is investigating the source of a pollutant which has killed nearly 10 tons of fish in the Butre Lagoon in Takoradi.
Though details remain sketchy, the Agency is not ruling out the possibility of a chemical pollution as officials await laboratory results to ascertain the cause of this serious environmental breach.
Joy News' Western Regional correspondent, Kwaku Owusu Peprah reports that some residents of the area who consumed the dead fishes are said to be suffering from some serious stomach upsets.
Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) hits Earth's Magnetosphere Today, Causes Ground Currents In Norway
History's deadliest volcano comes back to life in Indonesia, sparking panic among villagers
Bold farmers in Indonesia routinely ignore orders to evacuate the slopes of live volcanoes, but those living on Tambora took no chances when history's deadliest mountain rumbled ominously this month.
Villagers like Hasanuddin Sanusi have heard since they were young how the mountain they call home once blew apart in the largest eruption ever recorded - an 1815 event widely forgotten outside their region - killing 90,000 people and blackening skies on the other side of the globe.
So, the 45-year-old farmer didn't wait to hear what experts had to say when Mount Tambora started being rocked by a steady stream of quakes. He grabbed his wife and four young children, packed his belongings and raced down its quivering slopes.
"It was like a horror story, growing up," said Hasanuddin, who joined hundreds of others in refusing to return to their mountainside villages for several days despite assurances they were safe.
India: Sikkim quake unusual, say geologists
Bangalore -- The earthquake that rocked Sikkim Sunday is unusual in terms of its magnitude and nature of origin, say leading geologists.
"There is nothing surprising in this earthquake as the region north of Sikkim, which forms the outliers of Tibetan tectonics, is known for moderate earthquakes in the past," C.P. Rajendran at the Indian Institute of Science here told IANS.
But what makes it different is its "unusually greater magnitude".
These earthquakes are different in the sense they are along the somewhat north-south structures trending transverse to the east-west Himalayan axis, Rajendran said. They are different from the usual Himalayan thrust earthquakes that are caused by the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate.
Is the End of Salmon Near?
A school of Chinook salmon. New research shows the fish could vanish from many rivers by the end of the century.
A warming climate is likely to wipe out spring-run Chinook salmon in at least one California watershed by the century's end, found a new study.
No matter which climate projections the researchers used, warmer waters spelled major trouble for the fish in the coming decades if people do nothing to help the fish. And the findings are likely to apply to a variety of salmon species up and down the West Coast, especially in California where temperatures are closest to the tipping point.
"I saw the results almost a year ago, and I just sat at my desk and cried," said Lisa Thompson, a fisheries biologist at the University of California, Davis. "Fish weren't making it through to the end of the century in almost all cases."
"Things look grim," she added. "But there are things we can do."
For the last five years, Thompson and colleagues have been studying spring-run Chinook salmon in the Butte Creek watershed, in the Central Valley of California. These types of fish are particularly sensitive to climate change because adults spend their summers in freshwater streams before spawning in the fall. And compared to the Pacific Ocean, where the fish spend the rest of the year, streams are far quicker to warm up in hot conditions.
More than a million spring-run Chinook used to live in the waters of the Central Valley, Thompson said. Today there are fewer than 10,000 of them -- a decline of 99 percent.
US: Quake Shook Virginia Nuclear Plant Twice as Hard as Design Allowed
Dominion Virginia Power's North Anna Power Station in Mineral, Virginia is pictured in this undated photograph obtained on August 23, 2011.
Last month's record earthquake in the eastern United States may have shaken a Virginia nuclear plant twice as hard as it was designed to withstand, a spokesman for the nuclear safety regulator said on Thursday.
Dominion Resources told the regulator that the ground under the plant exceeded its "design basis" -- the first time an operating U.S. plant has experienced such a milestone -- but said its seismic data from the site showed shaking at much lower levels than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Both the company and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have not yet found any signs of serious damage to safety systems at the North Anna nuclear plant, and the company said it is eager to resume operations once inspections and repairs are complete.
The NRC has said it plans to order all U.S. plants later this year to update their earthquake risk analyses, a complex exercise that could take two years for some plants to complete.
The North Anna quake shows the need for the nation's 104 aging reactors to reevaluate earthquake risks using up-to-date geological information, said Majid Manzari, an engineer at George Washington University who studies quake impacts.
Disasters in US: An Extreme and Exhausting Year
Typhoon Talas leaves deaths and landslides in Japan
Nigeria Floods: At Least 20 Killed in Ibadan
The damage was exacerbated by rubbish and debris clogging drainage systems in Ibadan
At least 20 people have been killed and thousands displaced by flooding in and around the city of Ibadan in south-western Nigeria.
The floods, resulting from heavy rains that began on Friday, caused a dam to overflow and washed away numerous buildings and bridges.
"It's a very serious situation," said Yushau Shuaib, an official in the city, 150km (90 miles) north of Lagos.
Typhoon Nanmadol Leaves 16 Dead in Philippines
A man pushes his motorbike through floodwaters caused by Typhoon Nanmadol in Linbian, Taiwan.
Strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year is slowly moving away
Manila: Tropical storm Nanmadol (locally known as Mina) left 16 dead, 21 injured, and eight people missing, many of whom were presumed dead, as it slowly moved away from Philippine territory, civil defence and weather bureau officials said.
As of 4pm local time, weather forecasters estimated Nanmadol at 340km northwest of Basco, Batanes, the northernmost part of the country, with maximum sustained winds of 95kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120kph. The storm, was moving west-northwest at 7kph and is expected to be 500km northwest of Basco by afternoon.
Volcano Agency Warns of Likely Papandayan Eruption
Two villagers walk pass Mount Papandayan which serves as a short cut to their farms on Aug. 14, 2011, warnings to stay at least two kilometers from the volcano, which is in imminent danger of erupting.
Indonesia's highly active Mount Papandayan volcano is in imminent danger of erupting, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency warned on Wednesday.
The agency, known as the PVMGB, said it was likely the volcano in Garut, West Java, would erupt either before or just after Idul Fitri, which marks the end of Ramadan.
The prediction was based on the increasing activity of the volcano, the agency said on its Web site.
"The volcano has more energy compared to its last eruption in 2002," agency head Surono said in Bandung, the provincial capital, on Tuesday.
Papandayan has shown an alarming increase in activities since the volcano's status was raised to standby. Between Aug. 19 and 20, there were 45 earthquakes.
Alaska's mysterious floating orange goo identified as 'rusting' fungal spores but local Eskimos fear fish will be poisoned
Sea of orange: An aerial view of the strange goo taken on August 3 when it appeared in a giant lagoon threatening the native community of Kivalina on the Chukchi Sea in north western Alaska.
Canada: Sinkhole opens on Bronson near Carleton University
Detroit Police have blocked off an area on the city's east side because of a massive sinkhole. Officials said a woman was driving down Beaubien at Smith when her SUV fell into the hole.
Detroit Water Department crews were on the scene, Thursday evening, on Beaubien just north of East Grand Blvd. near I-75.
"The front half of this SUV is inside, resting inside, this huge water sinkhole about five feet wide," reported WWJ Newsradio 950′s Stephanie Davis.
Witnesses said two women and a young child were rescued from the vehicle. "I talked to one of the young men who helped the people out of the car. He said he's just glad he was there," said Davis.
All three people escaped without injuries. There was no immediate word on how long repairs will take.
A Southern California earthquake today August 18, 2011 struck moments ago centered in Long Beach; the earthquake was felt over sections of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Today's earthquake was of a marginal magnitude.
But because it struck at a narrow depth, it was felt over a wide section of the South Bay and Southern California.
Ten minutes ago, at roughly 2:43 PM PST, a 3.2 earthquake struck Los Angeles County. Its epicenter was south east of Long Beach. Unlike previous earthquakes this year in the region, today's quake was not centered out in the Pacific Ocean.
Rather initial statements by USGS issued to news indicate that the quake was centered just a few blocks west of Pacific Coast Highway. Initial reports put the quake centered closest to the intersection of E7th Street and Park Avenue. It was centered apparently just north of the American Golf Pro Shops on the 9th Hole of the local Recreation Park Golf Course, near the East 7th street corridor.
Earth Opening Up? Strange Chemical-Like Odor in San Diego, California, US Area: Navy, Coast Guard Investigating
Pesticides Damaging Australia's Great Barrier Reef: Government Study
Agricultural pesticides are damaging Great Barrier Reef - one of the world's great natural wonders - according to a report by the Australian government on water quality.
The report stated that farmers are using to many toxic chemicals that are seeping into the water - in fact, almost 25 percent of horticulture producers and 12 percent of pastoral farmers are believed to using pesticides regarded as unacceptable.
Pesticides of toxic concentrations have been detected 38 miles inside the reef.
The severe flooding as well as cyclone Yasi that hit the region earlier this year are believed to have worsened the problem by sending pollutants into the ocean.
The report particularly blamed pesticides used by the sugar cane industry in northern Queensland province.
Great Britain: 'Several hundred tonnes' of oil in North Sea spill
Pressure is increasing on the oil giant Shell to be open about the scale of last week's spill, as UK government figures estimate "several hundred tonnes" of oil could have leaked into the North Sea.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change says the spill off the coast of Aberdeen is "substantial", with estimates showing it is the biggest such leak in more than a decade.
The slick is estimated to be some 20 miles by 2.6 miles at its widest point.
'Under control'
Royal Dutch Shell says it has brought the spill under control, but it has not yet confirmed the extent of the leak.
A DECC spokesman said the energy firm is still trying to "completely halt" any further leakage.
Philadelphia, Heat claims at least 18 in region, probably more
The death toll from one of the region's most-intense hot spells in the 138-year period of record has reached at least 18.
And that's probably a substantial undercount, in the view of one heat-mortality expert.
The Health Department added eight additional heat-related deaths to the list today, bringing the Philadelphia total to 15.
Three others were reported in neighboring counties as a result of the fifth, longest and most-oppressive heat wave of the season.
The big clean up is well underway across the country following yesterday's record snowfalls in what may well end up being the coldest day of 2011.
Most state highways have now reopened and city councils in Dunedin and Christchurch have set about clearing most of the local roads of snow and ice.
Snowfalls made way to harsh frosts this morning, particularly in the South Island, although some snow is expected on Arthurs Pass, Milford Rd and the Desert Road later today.
Westerlies are forecast to strengthen over the South Island today, with heavy rain forecast of the west of the country, however temperatures are forecast to pick up following a frigid past few days.
WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said yesterday may well have been the coldest day of the year.
The national high was just 12 degrees recorded in Northland yesterday.
A nearby resident checks out the large sinkhole that opened up on 2nd Ave SE near the corner of 1st St SE in Carman. No injuries reported as street closed
This was more than just a regular pothole.
Town of Carman work crews were called out to 2nd Ave SE near the corner of First Street SE after receiving a call about a large sinkhole approximately six feet by five feet and about five feet deep, on the street.
Sonja Morrison, who lives near the site with her family, said they heard a "thump" and then a second louder one when they went outside their home to take a look at around 5:15 p.m. on Monday (July 25).
Chad Swan points to one of three large sinkholes in his backyard, which backs up to Carpenter's Creek. Over the past six years, the creek has severely eroded the yards of some of the homes along Creek Side Circle.
Sinkholes spawned by erosion raising calls for city action
For seven years, Leanne Pickering has watched as erosion and sinkholes expanded in the backyard of her Pensacola home, and she now wonders when they will overtake her swimming pool.
They are getting close; a 5-foot-deep sinkhole currently is within 6 feet of her pool's enclosure.
In 2002, Pickering built her home in a Creek Side Circle neighborhood near Airport Boulevard and Davis Highway that backs up to Carpenter's Creek.
Before long, she noticed her backyard was steadily falling into the creek. She found soft spots in the grass. Sinkholes began to form. Every year for the last five years, she has paid to have a truckload of dirt dumped into the largest hole. The hole continues to grow.
A 15-by-20-foot sinkhole continued to cause traffic delays at the northwest corner of Dundee and Hicks roads in Palatine Monday. Officials say it may take up to two weeks before the hole is completely repaired.
It could take up to two weeks before crews completely repair a 15-by-20-foot sinkhole that opened up Saturday afternoon at Dundee and Hicks road in Palatine.
The good news, however, is that the Illinois Department of Transportation agreed to a request from village officials to resume southbound traffic on Hicks, which had been restricted most of Monday, Village Manage Reid Ottesen said.
"Traffic will begin flowing a lot better, but it's still an area to avoid if at all possible," Ottesen said.
The sinkhole formed at the northwest corner of the intersection after the heavy rainfall caused a sewer line to collapse about 30 feet below the surface. Readings showed 5.43 inches of rain fell on Palatine between midnight Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday, exceeding 100-year event standards, Ottesen said.
Workers surround a sinkhole in Hialeah on Tuesday morning.
Florida's largest insurer of homes and businesses, state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., will ask its board to approve a staggering rate increase for providing coverage on sinkhole policies, a company spokeswoman said Monday.
The company will ask its board Wednesday for an increase on average of more than 400 percent to purchase sinkhole coverage. In 2010, Citizens received about $32 million in premiums for sinkhole coverage with ultimate losses and loss-related expenses estimated to total $245 million. In areas where sinkhole claims have been particularly high, premium increases could be multiplied 20 times or more under the proposal.
Since the last major hurricane hit Florida in 2005, sinkhole claims have skyrocketed, totaling nearly $2 billion in the last four years. Most of the claims have come from Hernando, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, part of the Tampa Bay area.
ATS Euromaster is urging motorists to pre-order cold weather tyres after a meteorologist predicted this winter will "break all records" in terms of snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Specialist long-range forecaster James Madden, of Exacta Weather, correctly predicted the harsh conditions experienced over the last two years and gave his forecast to ATS Euromaster as it prepares to fit cold weather tyres in the UK for the second year running.
He warns: "The UK is to brace itself for well below average temperatures and widespread heavy snowfall throughout winter 2011/2012 which will result in the fourth bad winter in succession, and will prove to be the worst of them all.
South Korean rescue workers carry a survivor who was rescued from a collapsed house as a midnight landslide caused by torrential rains swept away several houses in Chuncheon, South Korea.
A blast of heavy rain sent landslides barreling through South Korea's capital and a northern town Wednesday, killing at least 32 people, including 10 college students doing volunteer work.
The students died as mud and debris engulfed them as they slept in a resort cabin in Chuncheon, about 68 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of the capital Seoul, said Byun In-soo of the town's fire station. A married couple and a convenience store owner also died.
About 500 officials and residents worked to rescue people trapped in the mud and wreckage. Twenty-four people were injured and several buildings destroyed, officials said. Witnesses interviewed on television likened the sound of the landslide to a massive explosion or a screaming freight train and described the screaming they heard as buildings were carried away by rivers of mud.
In southern Seoul, 16 people died when mud crashed through residences at the foot of a mountain, emergency official Kim Jong-seon said. Three others also died after a stream just south of Seoul flooded, Kim said, and 10 people were reported missing throughout the country.
The Idaho Transportation Department closed a section of Highway 55 east of Homedale Sunday evening after a culvert failed and irrigation waters ate a 20-foot wide hole into the side of the road.
Until it is repaired, drivers must take detours along Pershall, Edison and Thompson roads.
A Department of Transportation spokesman listed two probable causes for the culvert's failure: holes in the pipe allowed water to seep through or debris plugged the pipe so pooling water undermined surrounding earth.
A 20-foot sinkhole has appeared under Hicks Road near Dundee Avenue. Residents are encouraged to avoid the intersection if possible.
A 20-foot sinkhole has opened along and under Hicks Road near Dundee Road, Palatine police said.
The sinkhole forced the closure of all northbound lanes on Hicks. Traffic has been shifted to the southbound lanes, reducing Hicks to one lane of traffic in each direction, Palatine Fire Department Battalion Chief William Gabrenya said.
Gabrenya said the sinkhole opened because of a sewer line collapsed beneath the street following the Saturday, July 23 rain that caused flooding throughout Palatine.
Motorists are advised to avoid the Hicks and Dundee intersection if at all possible.
The roof of Main Street Hair & Beauty Supply has caved in on Friday, July 22, 2011, in Leesburg.
The roof of a Leesburg business building has collapsed, weeks after a sinkhole gulped part of it.
As the roof of the Main Street Hair and Beauty Supply of Saaraa Corner Store crumpled, more debris, including a Dumpster, trees, boxes and beauty products, was pushed into the sinkhole.
However, city officials are adamant that the sinkhole is not growing, and attribute the collapse instead to the building's wooden trusses that gave way.
"There's no indication that it's growing," said Robert Sargent, a spokesman for the city of Leesburg, adding that soil around the edges of the hole also has fallen in.
The discovery of the sinkhole came on the early morning of June 27, when Rafeek Mohamid, owner of the property, received a call from his alarm company that something was wrong.
Environmentalists have again warned of an ecological disaster at the southern end of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, following the discovery of a dead dugong.
It was found washed up on a beach in Gladstone Harbour, the fourth dugong, along with three dolphins and 40 turtles that have been found washed up around the harbour since May.
Friends of the Earth spokesman Drew Hutton said he had seen first-hand the destruction around the harbour since construction of the LNG facilities had started.
A giant underwater "dead zone" in the Chesapeake Bay is growing at an alarming rate because of unusually high nutrient pollution levels this year, according to Virginia and Maryland officials. They said the expanding area of oxygen-starved water is on track to become the bay's largest ever.
This year's Chesapeake Bay dead zone covers a third of the bay, stretching from the Baltimore Harbor to the bay's mid-channel region in the Potomac River, about 83 miles, when it was last measured in late June. It has since expanded beyond the Potomac into Virginia, officials said.
Especially heavy flows of tainted water from the Susquehanna River brought as much nutrient pollution into the bay by May as normally comes in an entire average year, a Maryland Department of Natural Resources researcher said. As a result, "in Maryland we saw the worst June" ever for nutrient pollution, said Bruce Michael, director of the DNR's resource assessment service.
Jakarta - Officials raised the alert for an Indonesian volcano with history of violent explosions to its highest level following a series of eruptions over the weekend.
Disaster managment official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Monday people living close to Mount Lokon in north Sulawesi province should be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Locals and tourists have been urged to stay up to 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) away from the 5,741-foot (1,750-meter) volcano.
A southern Italian airport was on Saturday closed due to ash from Mount Etna, forcing traffic to be diverted to Palermo, the ANSA news agency said.
Catania airport on the east coast of the island of Sicily was not expected to re-open before Sunday morning while the runway was cleared, the report said.
The volcano, which currently does not present any risk to local residents, spewed lava on to its southeastern slopes on Saturday afternoon and winds carried the ash further afield.
Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe at 3,295 metres (10,810 feet). The last eruption was in May.
A massive flood of meltwater from Iceland's Myrdalsjoekull glacier, meanwhile, has raised fears of an eruption from the powerful Katla volcano there.
Lake at Marden Park closed after dozens of dead fish found
Something's Fishy Flies dine on one of dozens of dead fish Wednesday washed up on the shores of the lake at Marden Park. The lake is closed to swimming and fishing due to what the Township of Guelph-Eramosa is calling "a public health concern."
Guelph - The Township of Guelph-Eramosa immediately cordoned off the lake at Marden Park after dead fish began washing ashore Monday.
By Wednesday morning, hundreds of flies were dining on dozens of dead, blanched fish floating on their sides in the shallow shoreline. At least one dead bird was found rotting near the water.
Guelph-Eramosa chief administrative officer Janice Sheppard said a fisherman called the township Monday after he noticed the dead fish. She called the closure a precaution.
Milwaukee -- Thousands of dead fish are washing up on the shores of Lake Michigan.
"It brings back the horror stories we used to have in Milwaukee with the enormous populations of alewives would wash up and destroy our beaches," said Dan Steininger, of Milwaukee.
Experts said small, shiny fishes, called alewives, have been dying off and showing up on beaches around Lake Michigan in recent weeks.
Radioactive strontium detected on seabed near Fukushima
This sinkhole is located on Hwy. 148 between Luskville and Quyon near Ch. Parker. A detour is in place.
A section of Highway 148 near Luskville, Ontario, is now a canyon 18 metres deep, a victim of Friday's heavy rains.
Remarkably, the family living next to the giant gap owns a construction company with expertise in exactly the type of work that will be needed to fix the road.
Not only does James Nugent, of R.H. Nugent Construction, have 35 years of experience in the field, he has the heavy machinery parked only a few hundred meters from the caved-in road.
"We were called in right off the bat," he said. "There's nothing signed, but we probably will be proceeding with the work under an emergency situation. They want a company that can start right away."
Nugent said the large pipe that ran under that stretch of the highway seems to have been blocked at the intake. The torrents of water late last week stressed the situation causing the pipe to buckle and the ground above the pipe became waterlogged and gave way.
Smoke fills the sky from a wildfire in New Mexico about 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos, on June 26, 2011. A fast-moving wildfire has broken out in New Mexico and forced officials at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to close the site Monday as residents nearby evacuate their homes.
Thousands of residents calmly fled Monday from the mesa-top town that's home to the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory, ahead of an approaching wildfire that sent up towering plumes of smoke, rained down ash and sparked a spot fire on lab property where scientists 50 years ago conducted underground tests of radioactive explosives.
Los Alamos National Laboratory officials said that the spot fire was soon contained and no contamination was released. They also assured that radioactive materials stored in various spots elsewhere on the sprawling lab were safe from flames.
The wildfire, which began Sunday, had destroyed 30 structures south and west of Los Alamos by early Monday and forced the closure of the lab while stirring memories of a devastating blaze in May 2000 that destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings.
"The hair on the back of your neck goes up," Los Alamos County fire chief Doug Tucker said of first seeing the fire in the Santa Fe National Forest on Sunday. "I saw that plume and I thought, 'Oh my God here we go again.'"
The San Andreas fault is highlighted in red. It strikes through the heart of Southern California, including the Salton Sea.
Like a steaming kettle with the top on, pressure is building beneath the surface of California that could unleash a monster earthquake at any time. That's according to a new study from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Geologists say Southern California is long overdue for a huge earthquake that could unleash widespread damage.
It all comes down to the Salton Sea, which lies to the east of San Diego. The Salton Sea lies directly on the San Andreas Fault and covers more than 350 square miles.
A big earthquake has hit the lake bed about every 180 years. But when officials started damming the Colorado River to reduce floods downstream (including in the Salton Sea), the moderate earthquakes stopped for the Salton.
Fear and Trembling in Saudi Arabia
Harrat Lunayyir basalt cinder cones and lava flows in Saudi Arabia seen from an aerial perspective. Deposits from the cinder cones cover nearby ridges and form fans at the base of the older non-volcanic ridge in the background. These well-preserved geomorphic forms indicate the relative youth of this northern part of the volcanic field.
Media warn of imminent earthquake, volcano, but geologists discount risk; correctly or not, many Saudis worry about Harrat Lunayyir.
Saudi Arabia's Harrat Lunayyir lava field doesn't seem the kind of place that would generate much concern from anyone. Rocky where it isn't covered by sand, the area is bereft of vegetation and human habitation. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. True, it is pockmarked with cones formed by eruptions, but those were formed quite a long time ago.
But, correctly or not, many Saudis worry about Harrat Lunayyir. Two years ago the area was shaken by a so-called swarm of over 30,000 mini-earthquakes, which geologists say was caused by magma flows deep underground. The swarm left a five-mile long fissure and forced some 40,000 people to evacuate their homes.
About 6 strong earthquakes, the latest in Indonesia, have been recorded in the past week
In March, a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake, now known as the Great East Japan Earthquake, hit Japan. One of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world overall since modern record-keeping began, the quake created a tsunami, killed more than 15,000, destroyed billions worth of infrastructure and caused a number of nuclear accidents.
On Sunday, a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Indonesia's Papua province. There were no immediate reports of damage or tsunami warnings issued.
Aside from Indonesia, during the past week moderate to strong earthquakes have hit Japan; nations in the Pacific like Fiji; Latin American countries like Chile and Argentina; Alaska in the United States; and even Antartica.
The Irish Weather Online reported that 2011 is on target to record the largest number of earthquakes in a single year for at least 12 years.
The Fort Calhoun nuclear power station in Fort Calhoun, Neb., currently shut down for refueling, is surrounded by flood waters from the Missouri River, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. On Tuesday, the releases at Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota hit the maximum planned amount of 150,000 cubic feet of water per second, which are expected to raise the Missouri River 5 to 7 feet above flood stage in most of Nebraska and Iowa.
A berm holding the flooded Missouri River back from a Nebraska nuclear power station collapsed early Sunday, but federal regulators said they were monitoring the situation and there was no danger.
The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station shut down in early April for refueling, and there is no water inside the plant, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said. Also, the river is not expected to rise higher than the level the plant was designed to handle. NRC spokesman Victor Dricks said the plant remains safe.
The federal commission had inspectors at the plant 20 miles north of Omaha when the 2,000-foot berm collapsed about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Water surrounded the auxiliary and containment buildings at the plant, it said in a statement.
The Omaha Public Power District has said the complex will not be reactivated until the flooding subsides. Its spokesman, Jeff Hanson, said the berm wasn't critical to protecting the plant but a crew will look at whether it can be patched.
Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale has no upper bound, on paper. But in theory, winds from a powerful hurricane could blow the scale out of the water, scientists say. There is no such thing as a Category 6 storm, in part because once winds reach Category 5 status, it doesn't matter what you call it, it's really, really bad.
The scale starts with a Category 1, which ranges from 74 to 95 mph. A Category 5 storm has winds of 156 mph or stronger. An extrapolation of the scale suggests that if a Category 6 were created, it would be in the range of 176-196 mph.
Hurricane Wilma, in 2005, had top winds of 175 mph.
Date-Time:
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 19:47:01 UTC
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 11:17:01 PM at epicenter
Location:
30.181°N, 57.559°E
Depth:
37.3 km (23.2 miles)
Region:
EASTERN IRAN
Distances
48 km (29 miles) ESE of Kerman, Iran
141 km (87 miles) NNW of Bam, Iran
152 km (94 miles) E of Rafsanjan, Iran
836 km (519 miles) SE of TEHRAN, Iran
A growing number of scientists are starting to worry that it is the magnetic pole shift that seems to be underway that is the real culprit behind climate change. Not man made air pollution, not the sun, not the underground volcanic activity heating up the oceans, but the slow beginning of a pole shift that has been thought to destroy entire civilizations in the past and be one major factor in mass extinctions. NASA recently discovered and released information about a major breach in the earth's magnetic field.
This breach in the earth/s magnetic field alone, in that it is allowing solar winds to enter the earths atmosphere, is sufficient to really mess up the weather. Not only is this accelerating magnetic pole shift messing up the weather it is having major effects on geopolitics. These magnetic shifts are not only capable of causing massive global super storms, but can cause certain societies, cultures and whole countries to collapse, even go to war with one another.
All yet remains to be seen, but the magnetic reversal of the earth's poles seems to be rapidly increasing and IS affecting world weather patterns. The real question is how bad will things get before it all settles backdown to a "new normal?" At one time in history it was thought the North Pole was in the area that is now known as Hudson Bay. If the Hudson Bay area was the last locatoin of the North Pole, where will it go next? And how bad will global super storms and climate change get before it is over? And can we stop blaming each other for causing this and work together to survive it and keep civilization in tact?
Now you see it, now you don't. That was the case at Inskip beach, north of Tin Can Bay, yesterday as a 100m-wide section of beach was swallowed by a sink hole.
The hole opened up on the popular stretch of beach about 10.30am and by mid-afternoon it looked like a giant bite had been taken out of the coastline.
Campers on Inskip Peninsula watched in awe as chunks of sand were sucked out to sea, followed by trees and signs.
Visitor Rhonda Harris said it was a "phenomenon''.
"When we first came up about 11am the water was actually bubbling like it was boiling,'' she said.
"We saw the 'no camping' sign get washed out.''
Camper Shane Hillhouse said four-wheel drives had been travelling along the popular stretch of sand, near Inskip Peninsula, shortly before the hole appeared.
Date and Time:
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 12:16:39 UTC
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 09:16:39 PM at epicenter
Location:
2.391°S, 136.663°E
Depth:
20.6 km (12.8 miles)
Region:
NEAR THE NORTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
Distances:
172 km (106 miles) N of Enarotali, Papua, Indonesia
331 km (205 miles) ESE of Manokwari, Papua, Indonesia
1286 km (799 miles) NNE of DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia
3336 km (2072 miles) E of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Hits Yushu, Qinghai Province
Thursday's was an imperfect storm, especially in hard-hit Rockland County. It dumped huge amounts of rain, much of it when large numbers of motorists were in transit. On top of that, the heavy rain fell upon ground already saturated, making for more runoff than might have been expected. Ongoing construction projects added to the congestion and the runoff; delays with other projects make it even harder to cope with inordinately heavy rains.
Such heavy rains have been an especially vexing problem for Rockland. Twice in March the area got hit hard, with rains causing spot flooding. On March 6 and 7, five communities - Valley Cottage, West Nyack, Hillburn, Nanuet and Thiells - all recorded rainfalls of 4 inches or more; Thiells registered 5.28 inches. This time there was less rain and more flooding. New City, with 3.4 inches, was treading water; Nyack had a river running through it; West Nyack was awash, as were several other communities.
Residents and officials in Minot, North Dakota, are bracing for record flooding from the swollen Souris River as the threat of more rain looms later today.
"A rain event right now would change everything. That's the scariest," Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman told The Associated Press.
Some 4,500 homes are expected to be damaged from the expected surge of the river.
The flooding is due to the combination of excessive snow melt from an above normal winter snow pack, and above normal rainfall this past spring from the northern Rocky Mountain states through the Plains and Midwest.
Flood waters from the breach in the dike at the hoop and holler bend fans out from the Assiniboine River, top of frame, to surrounding fields outside of Portage La Prairie, Man., on May 14, 2011. A massive flood that has turned fertile Manitoba pastures into lakes and driven people from their homes for weeks on end will probably deal another blow to the ailing prairie ocean known as Lake Winnipeg.
Winnipeg - A massive flood that has turned fertile Manitoba pastures into lakes and driven people from their homes for weeks on end will probably deal another blow to the ailing prairie ocean known as Lake Winnipeg.
Flood waters that have settled across much of southern Manitoba are expected to carry various nutrients picked up from farmers' fields and urban run-off when they do finally recede into the world's 11th largest freshwater lake. It already has dangerously high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which feed huge blue-green algae blooms so large they are visible from space.
Experts say this year's flood, combined with a hot summer, could push nutrient levels up even more, as previous floods have done.
"The more land you inundate, the more potential there is for nutrients to come in," says Peter Leavitt, Canada research chair in environmental change and society, who recently conducted a study on Lake Winnipeg.
The sight of two Nebraska nuclear plants fighting off a severely swollen Missouri River this week has brewed a furious, Internet-fueled scare that warns of impending disasters of a scale similar to the tsunami-stricken Fukushima plant in Japan.
Operators of the Fort Calhoun and Cooper plants and the federal agency that regulate them say the reactors are flood-proof, are in no danger of leaking, and extra precautions have been taken.
"The rumors have been as difficult to combat as the rising floodwaters," said Victor Dricks, spokesman for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Once all the flight disruptions have stopped, the ash has been cleared from the South American highways, and human affairs appear to have returned to normal, the legacy of the ash and dust thrown up by the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile may well live on.
The longer-term effects of all this ash and dust could be of wider environmental concern than, say, a few hundred thousand stranded passengers, as difficult as it is for those people.
Volcanic eruptions are awesome spectacles. In part this is due to millions of tonnes of tiny ash and dust particles, known as volcanic aerosols, being blasted high into the air. We've all marvelled at the photographs.
In volcanic terms, the ash and dust plume created by Puyehue-Cordon Caulle was modest, only reported to have reached a height of around 15 kilometres. Large explosions, such as the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, can create plumes in excess of 34 kilometres high and 400 kilometres wide, ejecting more than 17 million tons of aerosols.
But even as a modest eruption, the Chilean volcano could have ejected enough ash and dust into the stratosphere to have some long-term climatic effects, which could in turn affect agriculture and impact on human wellbeing and quality of life.
The reason is that large volumes of aerosols can, depending on how high they 'sit' in the air and how long they remain there, have a measurable cooling effect. The higher the dust gets into the atmosphere and the more of it there is, the greater its capacity to reflect heat from the sun, which cools the land below.
Experts say an earthquake surely will devastate the Northwest
Experts armed with seabed core samples and findings from Japan are ready to place odds on the likelihood of a giant earthquake rocking the Northwest.
Within the next 50 years, they say, Washington and northern Oregon face a 10 to 15 percent probability of an offshore quake powerful enough to kill thousands and launch a tsunami that would level coastal cities. Off southern Oregon, the probability of an 8-or-higher magnitude earthquake is greater -- 37 percent, according to Oregon State University's Chris Goldfinger, one of the world's top experts on subduction-zone quakes.
Goldfinger and other authorities who spoke at a Portland conference this week say the Northwest is dangerously unprepared for a massive quake they consider inevitable at some point. At least 300,000 Oregon children attend school in buildings vulnerable to collapse when the Big One comes.
"I think every parent should know this," said Kit Miyamoto, an earthquake engineer from Japan whose company is helping repair quake-damaged structures in Haiti. "Those schools should be banned."
Earthquake experts are speaking with new urgency after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 24,000 March 11, shattering long-held assumptions on safety and survival. A much smaller New Zealand quake in February showed what can happen in a city similar to Portland, killing 181 and destroying thousands of houses in Christchurch.
A massive earthquake on par with the recent catastrophic seismic event in Japan could happen in two places in the United States, scientists say.
Geophysicists estimate that the Cascadia Subduction Zone, an intersection of tectonic plates just off the northwestern coast that stretches from the northern tip of California up to Canada, is capable of generating an earthquake with a magnitude as high as a 9.0.
The last time the area shook that hard was 300 years ago. "There were hardly any people living on the Pacific Northwest Coast in 1700," said Heidi Houston, a seismologist at the University of Washington's Department of Earth & Space Sciences. "But it generated a huge tsunami that traveled to Japan and destroyed coastal villages there. The Japanese records show that the causative earthquake could only be our Cascadia Subduction Zone and it had to have been a magnitude-9.0."
This week ended up being a little busier than I expected - I had to make that quick transition from wedding/honeymoon to beginning to prepare for my field/labwork coming up in July. These things, sadly, don't turn on a dime anymore. So, I've glossed over a pile of interesting volcanically-related events this week in favor of longer posts, so today I will try to make up for it a bit.
Italy: Now, sometimes I worry that Boris thinks I don't take Etna seriously enough. It has had a number of explosions and ash emissions over the past few weeks (see below) that didn't get nary a mention in a post, and for that, I am sorry. If you have missed it, Etna might not be in full eruption but is still putting on a show as this image posted by Dr. Behncke proves. Much like Kilauea, Etna is just such a constant performer that it almost becomes underappreciated (well, by me).
Thousands of residents in North Dakota are forced to leave their homes after the Souris River bursts its banks and levees are breached.
Heavy rains and melting snow have raised water levels in Canadian reservoirs in the Souris River basin over the past few weeks, which has caused unprecedented water releases further south in North Dakota.
More than 12,000 residents have been ordered out of flood-threatened areas after levee defenses failed.
The Souris River is expected to hit nearly 1,563 ft above sea level by the weekend, beating the previous flood record set in 1881.
With forecasters predicting more rain, record flooding is expected to continue throughout August, affecting Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.
Storm looking like giant tidal wave sparks sideways lightning bolts
A huge storm rears up like a giant tidal wave, sparking horizontal bolts of lightning.
Mike Hollingshead took this snap in Nebraska, USA.
The storm chaser, 35, said: "I've seen some cool storms but this one takes the cake."
Pardubice - Tuesday's tornado not only struck Staré Čívice in Pardubice, but also other communities in the vicinity of Pardubice.
People reported damaged roofs in Staré Jesenčany, Mikulovice, and Blata a Hroubovice said the deputy of county firefighters.
Possibly multiple tornadoes rampaged through Pardubice, but meteorologists are still investigating whether in some cases these were so-called 'landspouts'.
The tornado caused most damage in an industrial zone in Staré Čívice, where it damaged the buildings of two businesses, leaving costs in damages running into tens of millions of crowns.
Sirens are blaring at this moment in Minot, N.D., as the overflowing Souris River floods over the top of local levees five hours before the evacuation deadline for 11,000 residents. Farther south, the overflowing Missouri River has put two nuclear power plants at risk, necessitated evacuations and produced a travel nightmare as interstate highways shut down.
An earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude struck off the east coast of Japan, near Honshu, early Thursday morning.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami about one-half meter (20 inches) could follow, CNN is reporting.
The quake struck in many of the same areas that were hit hard by the March earthquake and tsunami that left more than 23,000 dead or missing in Japan, AFP reports.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, according to CNN.
First Footage Emerges Of Eritrean Volcanic Eruption
Eritrean TV (Eri.TV) today broadcast images of the volcano which erupted for the first time in its history on Sunday 12 June last. The volcano continued to erupt Wednesday sending ash northwestards toward Sudan.
Meanwhile, the eruption of the stratovolcano has created a new landmass, according to the director general of Mines at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Mr. Alem Kibreab.
Mr. Alem said that the ash and lava emitted from the Southern Red Sea region volcano has created a new land mass measuring hundreds of square metres. The director general also disclosed that a team composed of geological and volcanic experts is conducting studies in the area.
Meanwhile, according to reports, 7 people have died while 3 people have sustained injuries due to the eruption. The Ministry confirmed that inhabitants of the area have been moved to safer locations while at the same time they are being given basic provisions.
Floods Swamp Earthquake-Ravaged Haiti, Killing 23
Children make their way to school through a flooded area in Port-au-Prince.
Torrential rains lashed Haiti on Tuesday, flooding shanty towns, swamping the squalid camps erected after a 2010 earthquake and killing at least 23 people, officials said.
The worst rains to hit the impoverished country this year -- at the start of the hurricane season -- paralyzed the capital, where most of the deaths took place, according to officials at Haiti's civil protection agency.
Thunderstorms were pounding several north Caribbean islands early Tuesday, but there was little chance of the large low pressure area developing into a hurricane, according to the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Several days of rain had already swelled rivers, however, and the NHC warned of "flash floods and mudslides over portions of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba."
Haiti was most at risk of devastation from the wet weather, due to its crumbling infrastructure and ramshackle shelters for tens of thousands left homeless after the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January 2010.
Health officials here also fear an uptick in fatalities from a cholera outbreak that erupted last October. The diarrheal illness thrives in crowded areas where people rely on contaminated water.
Thousands of fish turned up dead on the Ogeechee River. What led them to become suceptible to a common bacteria is a mystery that environmental officials and river watchdogs are trying to solve.
Federal environmental regulators say, they might never know what led to a fish kill in the Ogeechee River. Orlando Montoya of W-S-V-H in Savannah reports, state officials now are discovering dead mussels.
A US Environmental Protection Agency memo released this week repeats what's already known about the kill -- that it was caused by a common bacteria.
But it then concludes, it might be impossible to know for certain what made the fish suceptible to the bacteria in the first place.
Fisheries manager Tim Barrett of the state Environmental Protection Division says, it's frustrating, but there are many factors.
Huge Spinning Storm off California... in June!
Department of Environmental Protection investigators inspect sinkhole in midtown Manhattan.
A midtown sinkhole snarled rush hour traffic Monday night on W. 57th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues - its second appearance in a year.
No one was injured when the near five-foot by three-foot hole appeared mid-block around 2 p.m., officials said.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection, was on the scene, but could not explain the sinkhole. They said no leaks had been detected and promised to investigate the problem.
Date-Time:
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 08:10:34 UTC
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 03:10:34 AM at epicenter
Location:
38.121°N, 90.933°W
Depth:
5.1 km (3.2 miles)
Region:
MISSOURI
Distances:
18 km (11 miles) SE (137°) from Miramiguoa Park, MO
23 km (14 miles) ESE (116°) from Sullivan, MO
24 km (15 miles) NNW (327°) from Potosi, MO
48 km (30 miles) S (172°) from Washington, MO
82 km (51 miles) SW (227°) from St. Louis, MO
Something Strange With Volcano Eruption in Chile
What appears to be an enormous ash cloud rising from the eruption of a long dormant volcano named Puyehuein southern Chile on June 4, 2011, isn't quite matching up with the location of the recorded earthquakes today in the immediate area.
"The Cordon Caulle (volcanic range) has entered an eruptive process, with an explosion resulting in a 10-kilometer-high gas column," Chilean state emergency office said.
The thing is, for some unknown reason, as of this writing, eight earthquakes near magnitude 5 have shook the earth near the Puyehue volcano. The problem is, the earthquakes are located 20 to 40 miles away from the eruption! Very Strange Indeed.
There's something brewing quite a distance from the eruption, but is quite obviously directly related. We're talking about enormous energies here.
The 2011 Season for Noctilucent Clouds is Underway, and it is Intensifying
The entire city of San Carlos de Bariloche turned dark as ash spewed by the nearby Chilean volcano Puyehue began falling all over town. Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Municipal Board called an emergency meeting to decide on how to proceed.
Authorities told the population to remain calm, to keep their water reserves and to remain home at all times in order to avoid the falling ash. In case of an emergency, officials have suggested the use of face masks in order to avoid it.
As an orange alert was declared, authorities shut down the airport.
Earlier, five quakes ranging between 4.6 and 4.8 in the Richter scale had been registered in the south of the Neuquén province, while a few kilometres away, across the border with Chile, some 600 people were evacuated due to the sudden eruption.
Chile's Puyehue volcano explodes, unleashing massive ash cloud
A huge plume of smoke and ash from Puyehue volcano that is visible from Entre Lagos. The neighbors of that community have spotted the onset of eruptive activity conducted by the Sernageomin. The government issued an emergency Red Alert for the area surrounding the volcano. 600 people have been evacuated so far.
A transformer explosion at UMBC knocked out power to the campus and threw a massive fireball into the sky Thursday evening. As a result, UMBC was closed on Friday.
Around 8:40 p.m., one of several transformers adjacent to the campus police headquarters exploded, causing several small grass fires nearby.
A huge orange fireball rose above the police station.
Emergency services are mystified at how an explosive gas came to be present at the site of yesterday's fatal blast in Auckland.
The type of gas and its origin are unknown.
Gas levels were still at an explosive level late last night following the early morning tragedy in Onehunga.
A police spokeswoman said emergency services were continuously pumping air into the tunnel but the site was too dangerous to enter for closer inspection.
The spokeswoman said the type of gas remained unidentified and no one knew how it had come to be in the pipe. "It is a mystery to everybody," she said.
Fire Service staff would remain at the scene until it was safe, and nearby residents were able to stay in their homes because the gas is not toxic.
People across the Tri-State awoke to an unusual sight Thursday - thousands of earthworms lying dead on sidewalks and porches.
WLWT was first alerted to the issue by Rick in West Chester.
"This appears to have started sometime yesterday afternoon, as I do not remember seeing them yesterday morning," Rick wrote.
Shortly after Rick's email, WLWT reporter Brian Hamrick began taking photos from his home in Florence, where thousands of worms coated the sidewalks of his neighborhood.
After one post on FB, more than 90 people said they had seen the same thing, from Fairfield, to Mount Airy, Pleasant Ridge, Independence and Sardinia. We even got confirmation from our sister TV station in Louisville that they had a few hundred dead worms on their sidewalk.
A large plume of ash rises from the Popocatepetl volcano as seen from the highway to Atlixco, Mexico early Friday June 3, 2011. The 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) mountain shot a blast of ash about 2 miles (3 kilometers) above its crater but there is no report of threat to populated areas.
Mexico City -- The Popocatepetl volcano that towers over Mexico City began rumbling again Friday, shooting a blast of ash about 2 miles (3 kilometers) above its crater at dawn.
The ash cloud drifted first to the west and then turned back east toward the city of Puebla, Mexico's national disaster prevention agency said.
The 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) mountain shook for several minutes before the ash burst out.
The agency urged people to stay at least 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the crater, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Mexico's capital.
Puebla state civil defense Director Jesus Morales told a local television station that the cloud "has a high ash content, but it doesn't represent a risk."
"A little ash could fall in Puebla city," he said.
Both Morales and federal civil defense coordinator Laura Gurza warned residents in the region that they shouldn't wet down any ash that falls before sweeping it away.
Hail larger than a quarter pummeled Souris on Thursday
Clusters of thunderstorms with extensive lightning and large hail are hitting some areas hard.
"These thunderstorms are tracking east-northeast at 50 km/h and have a history of producing hail the size of golf balls in Melita and Souris earlier this morning," stated a warning issued by Environment Canada at noon.
"Brandon and communities west and south of the city are in the direct path of the strongest thunderstorms in this cluster and should prepare for large hail."
Residents along Twin Beach Road worked hard to protect their properties from flooding, but their efforts proved no match for a storm packing 90 km/h winds on rain-swollen Lake Manitoba.
The storm hit on Tuesday, damaging numerous properties in the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent - Twin Lakes Beach, Laurentian Beach, Delta Beach, and Sandpiper Beach.
David Sawicky said Wednesday he had to wade into rising floodwaters at his home to rescue his father and his dog.
Still, Sawicky said, he didn't expect the damage to his property to be that bad.d
Some 440 endangered saiga antelopes have been found dead in Kazakhstan in May this year; in Spring 2010 over 12,000 saigas died under similar, mysterious circumstances. A bacterial infection is thought to be the immediate cause of death, though underlying factors are not understood. Both incidents primarily affected females and their calves.
The saiga almost went extinct in the 20th century but recovered briefly. The World Wildlife Fund estimates there were over a million in the wild in the early 1990s, but they now number around 50,000 and are on the IUCN's critically endangered species list.
Vanuatu's department of geohazards has closed access to the Mt Yasur volcano on Tanna Island, after a lift in volcanic activity from the beginning of this year.
A geohazards team investigated the volcano earlier this week and says there were strong explosions and emissions from all three active vents.
They have lifted the hazard rating to level 3, which closes access to the volcano.
The officials say there's significant ash fall on nearby villages but there are currently no plans to evacuate the inhabitants.
The unusually large number of severe tornadoes this year may be a sign of large scale changes in the jet stream.
John Harrington Jr., a professor of geography at Kansas State University, notes that severe tornadoes are not unheard of historically. But when the events happen frequently such as the the destruction of Joplin, Mo., the outbreak of multiple tornadoes in Alabama, and yesterday's northeast outbreak in Massachusetts, it becomes a warning that there are changes afoot in the jet stream.
"The fact that this is happening all in one year and in a relatively short time frame is unusual," Harrington said in a Kansas State press release.
The jet stream in the upper atmosphere flows from west to east and tends to meander over the southern states during the winter and the northern states in the summer. Tornadoes tend to strike most during the spring and fall shifts of the jet stream.
"The system... may behave a bit like a tropical storm with a brief period of gusty winds and localized flooding downpours."
An area of disturbed weather in the Atlantic will bring heavy, gusty thunderstorms to part of the Florida Peninsula this afternoon and evening.
The feature, which started out as a cluster of thunderstorms over the Great Lakes this past weekend, blew off the mid-Atlantic coast Memorial Day morning.
That feature has now turned southwestward and will cross the Florida Peninsula from northeast to southwest this afternoon and evening.
Areas from Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral will be impacted first. Next, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando would be in the path of the stormy weather this afternoon. Finally, the Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Myers areas are fair game for some of the thunderstorms later today.
Volcano Expert Fears We'll See a Super Eruption
Volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer yesterday warned there was a one-in-500 chance of the world being hit by a super- volcano this century.
The reader in vulcanology at Cambridge University told a Hay audience: "That might not sound like much, but it is a lot more likely than an asteroid impact.
"The events in Japan remind us that you can have a tsunami and earthquake and a nuclear plant there as well and you can have these chain reaction events that are actually quite calamitous and they are not unimaginable."
Examining geological, historical and archeological records, the expert took the audience on a journey back to three volcanic eruptions that have shaken the world - the 1815 Tambora volcano in Indonesia that killed 100,000 people, the 1783 eruption of Kaki in Iceland and the massive Toba eruption in indonesia that pumped 3,000 cubic km of magma into the atmosphere around 75,000 years ago, leaving behind a lake-filled crater in North Sumatra 100km long and 30km wide.
Efforts were under way today to remove the body of a massive whale which died after being stranded on Redcar beach.
Work began after a post-mortem examination was carried out in a bid to establish what killed the gentle giant.
The 44-foot long male sperm whale was found washed up on the beach close to Green Lane by an early morning walker yesterday.
Extensive efforts were made to save the massive mammal but it later died.
Hundreds of Rare Saiga Antelope Die in Kazakhstan (Again)
One year after a mysterious epidemic wiped out 12,000 critically endangered saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) in Kazakhstan, the ailment has struck there again, this time killing more than 400 animals.
Kazakhstan Today reports that 442 saiga antelope - including 360 does and 82 calves - were found dead in May. Like a year ago, they fell victim to pasteurellosis, an infection that afflicts the lungs.
But what caused the infection? West Kazakhstan regional governor Baktykozha Izmukhambetov told a cabinet meeting on May 31 that "some sort of poisoning from the flora, which is to say from the grass, is taking place." (Translation via Eurasianet.org)
© Patrick McFeeley, National Geographic
Hot lava spills into the sea from under a hardened lava crust on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Hawaii's traditional birth story - that the volcanic islands were, and are, fueled by a hot-rock plume running directly to Earth's scorching core - could be toast, a new study hints.
Scientists say they've found solid evidence of a giant mass of hot rock under the seafloor in the region. But it's not a plume running straight from the core to the surface - and it's hundreds of miles west of the nearest Hawaiian island.
Until now, the researchers say, good seismic data on the region has been scarce, so it was tough to question the traditional explanation: that a stream of hot rock directly from around Earth's core formed the 3,100-mile-long (5,000-kilometer-long) chain of islands and undersea mountains in the Pacific Ocean.
Up to 420 whale sharks gathered off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, forming the world's largest known assembly of this species, according to a press release issued by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.
The discovery counters the widely held belief that whale sharks, which can weigh more than 79,000 pounds, are solitary filter feeders that prefer to be alone in the open ocean. The impressive shark assembly proves they will gather for the right reasons. Food now appears to be the draw.
"Whale sharks are the largest species of fish in the world, yet they mostly feed on the smallest organisms in the ocean, such as zooplankton," Mike Maslanka, biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and head of the Department of Nutrition Sciences, says in the press release. "Our research revealed that in this case, the hundreds of whale sharks had gathered to feed on dense patches of fish eggs."
Maslanka and his team identified the whale shark assembly using both surface and aerial surveys. Considering these sharks can grow to more than 40 feet long, the surface-level surveying must have been extraordinary.
Map showing the 11 March 2011 magnitude 9.0 off Tohoku mainshock and 166 aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 and greater until May 20. Warmer color indicates more recent events. Larger symbol indicates greater quake magnitude.
The massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Japan in March built up stress on other faults in the country, putting some areas, including Tokyo, at risk of aftershocks and even new main shocks over the next few years, scientists have found.
After studying data from Japan's extensive seismic network, researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Kyoto University and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have identified several areas at risk from the quake, Japan's largest ever, which already has triggered a large number of aftershocks.
Data from the Tohoku earthquake on March 11 has brought scientists a small step closer to a better assessment of future seismic risk in specific regions, said Shinji Toda of Kyoto University, a lead author of the study.
"Even though we cannot forecast precisely, we can explain the mechanisms involved in such quakes to the public," he said. Still, he added, the findings do bring scientists "a little bit closer" to being able to forecast aftershocks.
While rescuers scramble to dig out any remaining survivors from a weekend tornado that killed 116, residents in Joplin, Missouri, are bracing for the possibility of more tornadoes on Tuesday.
"There's no way to figure out how to pick up the pieces as is," Sarah Hale, a lifelong Joplin resident, said Tuesday. "We have to have faith the weather will change."
The National Weather Service warned there was a 45% chance of another tornado outbreak -- with the peak time between 4 p.m. and midnight Tuesday -- over a wide swath including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
Joplin is also in the area.
But if Monday's rescue efforts are any indication, even severe weather might not hamper the search for survivors.
City Manager Mark Rohr told reporters that more than 40 agencies are on the ground in the southwest Missouri city, with two first responders struck by lightning as they braved relentless rain and high winds searching for survivors.
By Monday night, they found 17 people alive. But many, including Will Norton, remain missing.
The 18-year-old was driving home from his high school graduation Sunday when the tornado destroyed the Hummer H3 he and his father were in.
Manila, Philippines - Tropical storm "Chedeng" continued to hurtle toward the Philippines with increased strength, threatening to become a "super-typhoon" and end the summer season with rolls of thunder and heavy rains, the state weather bureau said on Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Chedeng (international name: Songda) was seen to strengthen into a typhoon in the next 24 hours and bring strong winds, thunderstorms, and moderate to heavy rains all over the country.
Robert Sawi, Pagasa's chief forecaster, said Chedeng "is so far the strongest tropical cyclone to enter the country this year."
As of 10 a.m. on Monday, Pagasa said Chedeng, the third tropical cyclone of the year, was still at open sea, about 795 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
It was carrying maximum sustained winds at 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph. Sawi said Chedeng, which was moving west northwest at 15 kph, could reach over 100 kph in wind strength.
No storm warning signals were raised as of Monday afternoon, although Pagasa officials said they have advised local disaster coordinating councils to take appropriate actions.
More than a year after an Icelandic volcano wreaked havoc for millions of air travelers across the globe, a new eruption has spewed an ash plume 12 miles in the air. Iceland's airports have been shut down, and ash could affect Europe later this week.
Ash could reach northern Scotland by Tuesday and parts of Britain, France and Spain by Thursday or Friday if the eruption continues at the same intensity, airlines were warned on Sunday.
The warning is based on the latest 5-day weather forecasts, but is being treated cautiously because of uncertainties over the way the volcano will behave and interact with the weather.
The Grimsvotn (GREEMSH-votn) volcano, which lies beneath the ice of the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland, began erupting Saturday for the first time since 2004, sending ash, smoke and steam 12 miles into the air.
Largest Volcanic Eruption in Grímsvötn in 100 Years
The current volcanic eruption in Grímsvötn on Vatnajökull glacier is the largest in that volcano 100 years and larger than the one in Eyjafjallajökull last year. It is similar to the eruption of 1873, according to geophysicist Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson. A large flood is not expected.
This morning the ash cloud was 15 to 18 kilometers high which means that the volcanic eruption is ten times more powerful than the last eruption in Grímsvötn in 2004, Gudmundsson told ruv.is.
However, it is not unique. Grímsvötn goes through phases where it erupts often in a period of 60-80 years, then there are quieter periods of equal length.
Rescue team leader Alasdair Jack says some of the whales have serious head injuries.
Marine animal experts are preparing for a potential mass stranding by up to 100 pilot whales in South Uist in the Western Isles.
The whales were spotted in Loch Carnan on Thursday afternoon and about 20 were said to have had cuts to their heads.
It is thought the injuries may have been caused by the whales' attempts to strand themselves on the rocky foreshore of the sea loch.
Sick and injured whales are known to beach themselves to die.
However, at times, dying whales have been followed to shore by healthy animals.
Conservationists have also suggested the whales may have got lost, or entered the loch following prey.
Rescuers said inflatable pontoons for refloating whales were on the way.
The pod had been moving back and forth from the shore and rescuers said the animals were "very vocal", which may be a sign of distress.
The whales, a deep water species, have since moved from the loch back to a nearby bay, where they were seen earlier on Thursday.
Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) fear the whales could die in a massive beaching - which could be Scotland's largest stranding.
BDMLR Scottish organiser Alasdair Jack said preventing the mammals from stranding would cause unnecessary suffering and the animals would only move on to another shoreline.
Risk of geological disaster, state cabinet admits, as project is linked to soil erosion, quakes, drought and social upheaval
The Three Gorges dam, the flagship of China's massive hydroengineering ambitions, faces "urgent problems", the government has warned.
In a statement approved by prime minister Wen Jiabao, the state council said the dam had pressing geological, human and ecological problems. The report also acknowledged for the first time the negative impact the dam has had on downstream river transport and water supplies.
Since the start of construction in 1992 about 16m tonnes of concrete have been poured into the giant barrier across the Yangtze river, creating a reservoir that stretches almost the length of Britain and drives 26 giant turbines.
The team lost belongings such as shoes, towels and clothes.
Anwa Khan from Sydney who was driving from Nadi to Suva called FBC News from Sigatoka to say waves have reached the highway which is now strewn with debris.
"The water was just coming right on-top of the road so we stopped the car and actually the water spray went right over the car and threw all the rubbish onto the road and went back. There were some fishes on the roads. The villagers have started coming to the road and started picking things. Patches on the roads you can see all the woods, coconuts, logs and coral. All the villages along the coast have water in their backyard."
There has been no confirmation as yet of major damages or injuries but details are still coming in.
From California to England to India, people have periodically reported a fishy form of precipitation: small animals, such as fish, frogs, and snakes have occasionally fallen unexpectedly from the sky, sometimes miles away from water. Waterspouts whirling over lakes or oceans can suck water and whatever is in it up into the clouds above them. The strong winds of these storm clouds can carry their flopping cargo long distances before dumping them on unsuspecting people below.
Laurel Lockamy has seen her share of dead sea life washing up on the beaches of Mississippi. Like a few other residents, she's toted her camera along wherever she goes, documenting the dolphins, sea turtles, red fish and plethora of dead birds that seem to be washing in unusually high numbers.
That isn't stopping Gulf businesses from hoping for a better year than last, when beaches were soaked in oil and tourism vanished with the black tide. Now there are signs business is rebounding. Tourist industries in Florida panhandle report better than expected traffic this year. Some in Congress in fact are pushing for increased drilling in the Gulf, with fewer safety and environmental reviews of the process. It seems some lawmakers have short memories.
But not all is well in the Gulf. High numbers of endangered sea turtles and dolphins have washed into the beaches, although the number of fatalities is declining. Scientists still don't know what has caused this spike in deaths.
Comment: The scientists may claim they don't know what's caused the spike in deaths, but we think it's pretty obvious to everyone else. The BP oil spill is the greatest environmental disaster of its kind in our history. BP dumped two million gallons of toxic oil dispersants in the Gulf, and marine life continues to perish.
Efforts to remove climate-warming carbon dioxide from Earth's atmosphere appear to be getting a helping hand from a surprising source: the iron in meltwater from Antarctic icebergs.
Icebergs calving off of Antarctica are shedding substantial iron - the equivalent of a growth-boosting vitamin - into waters starved of the mineral, a new set of studies demonstrates. This iron is fertilizing the growth of microscopic plants and algae, transforming the waters adjacent to ice floes into teeming communities of everything from tiny shrimplike krill to fish, birds and sometimes mammals.
CORDIS
Wed, 18 May 2011
Scientists from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and the University of Iceland have created a protocol to give traffic authorities the help they need to quickly determine if planes should be grounded when ash threatens airspace safety. The results of the study are presented in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).
Researchers say volcanic ash could put planes, and the lives of passengers, in grave danger, particularly if particles are small enough to travel high and far. These particles could sandblast the bodies and windows of airplanes, and they could even melt inside jet engines.
Red flags went up when ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption materialized. The researchers say officials were right to ground all airplanes in April 2010. For her part, Professor Susan Stipp from the Nano-Science Center of the University of Copenhagen says the team's latest method to quickly evaluate future ash is a key development.
San Francisco Chronicle
Wed, 18 May 2011
This winter's heavy rains - beneficial to so many species - may, in fact, be diluting saltwater in San Francisco Bay so dramatically that leopard sharks are dying in the very spots where they prefer to give birth and search for food, scientists said Tuesday.
State biologists investigating a rash of leopard shark casualties around the region over the past month think the torrents of freshwater flowing into shoreline lagoons may be throwing the body chemistry of the fish fatally off balance.
Monster&Critics.com
Tue, 17 May 2011
Mount St. Helens has been mostly quiet since its most recent dome-building eruptions ended in January 2008. But scientists say it's a sure thing the volatile volcano in our backyard will reawaken.
The question they hope to answer is when.
Clues to the volcano's future lie in the faint signals of magma moving in a cigar-shaped chamber deep within the mountain, in the eruptive history of a similar volcano on Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula, and in the long geological record contained within Mount St. Helens itself.
Cynthia Gardner, a scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, predicts the mountain will resume rebuilding itself sooner rather than later.
"Mount St. Helens will probably erupt again within the next several decades," she says. "As we look at its eruptive history, we know there was a flank collapse 2,500 years ago. We saw the cone rebuild itself over a century or a century and a half."
Yet since the 1980 eruption, she said, the mountain has rebuilt only 7 percent of its pre-eruption mass. "If we look at patterns from St. Helens' past history, and from volcanoes around the world, we come to the conclusion we are likely to see more eruptions."
ABC News, Australia
Tue, 17 May 2011
Mangystaum, Kazakhstan -- Some 12-15 dead seals have washed up over the past week on the western Kazakh shore of the Caspian Sea, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
Erik Utebaliev, a local resident, told RFE/RL he found 10-12 dead Caspian seals of all ages, from full-grown adults to pups, on May 3 and three more on May 8.
Kirill Osin, director of the nongovernmental organization EKO Mangistau, told RFE/RL he and his colleagues planned to inspect the seals on May 10 and take tissue samples for analysis to try to determine whether they were poisoned.
He said he had only seen photos of the dead animals and it was too early to speculate about the cause of death.
Osin recalled that the local authorities attributed a mass death of seals in the region two years ago to a virus and inclement weather.
He rejected that conclusion, noting that dead seals are found only in the vicinity of intensive exploitation of offshore oil deposits.
Sediment-laden water pours into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Credit: Norman Kuring, Ocean Color Team.
As you can see from the image, a lot more than water comes down a river. The Mississippi and its distributary, the Atchafalaya River, carry an average of 230 million tons of soil into the Gulf of Mexico every year. On flood years, the total runs a lot higher.
That's going to cause downstream problems this year... all the way downstream to the ocean. But before we go there, let's take a quick look at how the system works.
Manitoba opened its dike on the swollen Assiniboine River on Saturday, starting a slow creep of water across rich farmland to avert a potentially catastrophic, unplanned breach in the Canadian province.
Opening the dike will, over days, flood at least 225 square kilometres (55,600 acres) of land that includes 150 homes while taking the pressure off strained dikes.
After the deliberate dike breach, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the gradual, controlled flood was going well and that he knew of no homes in its path that had been damaged.
Water was spreading rapidly across fields, however, swamping land when farmers are usually planting crops of wheat, canola and vegetables.
"This was a necessity because a catastrophic overflow would have taken all the people in this area, and around it they would have had up to five times more damage if the river opened up," Selinger told reporters near the breach site. "...The dikes are very stressed with the amount of water going through, which is why we had to do this opening here."
The controlled flood looked to continue for as long as a week with flows speeding up because the river was still rising, Selinger said
The number of evacuated residents near Slave Lake is climbing rapidly as forest fires continue to rage out of control near the community. So far five homes and ten other buildings have been destroyed while strong winds continue to hamper firefighting efforts.
Close to 1,000 people have been forced from their homes since the fires broke out Saturday afternoon. Initially, about 260 people were evacuated from the Poplar Lane and Mitsue areas but Sunday afternoon, another 700 residents were ordered out of the area because of another fire burning southwest of the community.
Displaced residents are being sent to a Red Cross reception centre at Northern Lakes College. Two schools in the area are being set up as temporary shelters for evacuees.
Earthquake Location
Lake Providence, La. - In an agonizing trade-off, Army engineers said they will open a key spillway along the bulging Mississippi River as early as Saturday and inundate thousands of homes and farms in parts of Louisiana's Cajun country to avert a potentially bigger disaster in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
About 25,000 people and 11,000 structures could be in harm's way when the gates on the Morganza spillway are unlocked for the first time in 38 years.
"Protecting lives is the No. 1 priority," Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh said aboard a boat from the river at Vicksburg, Miss., hours before the decision was made to open the spillway.
The opening will release a torrent that could submerge about 3,000 square miles under as much as 25 feet of water in some areas but take the pressure off the downstream levees protecting New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the numerous oil refineries and chemical plants along the lower reaches of the Mississippi.
Date-Time:
Friday, May 13, 2011 at 22:47:55 UTC
Friday, May 13, 2011 at 04:47:55 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
10.105°N, 84.261°W
Depth:
70 km (43.5 miles)
Region:
COSTA RICA
Distances:
25 km (16 miles) WNW (303°) from SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
126 km (78 miles) SSE (153°) from San Carlos, Nicaragua
137 km (85 miles) W (275°) from Limon, Costa Rica
Lake Charles, Louisiana - Thousands of dead fish were discovered Wednesday, lining the shore of the I-210 beach.
Most of the fish washed ashore on the southwest corner of the beach.
Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries identified the fish as Shad, which are known to travel in huge schools and are more common in creeks.
Biologists collected samples of the fish to send off for testing. Though no official results are back, biologists said the fish kill was most likely caused by low oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels are usually caused by low tides and high temperatures and usually affect one species.
Fish kills are common along the Gulf Coast, especially during the summer months.
Since officials don't believe the fish pose any threat to humans or animals, the I-210 beach remains open.
First accurate simulation "a big deal," could save lives, experts say.
Volcanologists have created the first ever 3-D simulation of the cataclysmic eruption of Mount St. Helens, which happened 31 years ago this month.
The model backs up current ideas about what led to the 1980 blast, which killed 57 people. The real news, though, is that the simulation could save lives in the future by helping researchers predict how dormant volcanoes may lose their tempers.
Residents were shocked to find this gaping hole as they arrived back from work late one afternoon.
The crevice, which is some 3ft deep and 2ft wide, appeared in Leopold Road, Harlesden without any sign of what caused it.
Concerned residents spotted the hole shortly before 5pm last Wednesday, and rushed out to put up makeshift barriers and scrawled a 'danger' sign warning motorists and pedestrians of the hazard.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake has hit the town of Lorca in southern Spain, leaving seven people dead and several medieval buildings collapsed.
The 5.2 magnitude earthquake was felt across the Murcia region, where hundreds of British expatriate live, from Alicante to Malaga and as far away as Madrid.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake has hit the town of Lorca in southern Spain, leaving a seven people dead and several medieval buildings collapsed.
The quake struck at a depth of just 1km (0.6 miles), some 120km south-west of Alicante, at 1850 (1650 GMT), the US Geological Survey reported.
TV shots showed rescue workers rushing through debris-littered streets.
Lorca Mayor Francisco Jodar told local radio the four deaths were caused by falling debris and cave-ins.
Old buildings, including a clocktower, were badly damaged by the quake, which followed a smaller 4.4-magnitude quake about two hours earlier.
Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has deployed emergency military units to the scene, the Spanish EFE news agency reported.
Earthquakes are common in southern Spain, but they rarely result in casualties.
A number of aftershocks have been felt in the Murcia region, where authorities fear the death toll could rise.
The area worst hit by Tuesday's quake suffered previous tremors in 2005 and 1999.
This provides an example of how much heat a volcano can generate.
And this is not the only lake that's running hot.
On March 1st of this year, the water temperature in New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu crater lake reached an astounding 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit (41C).
This was just short of the highest temperature ever reached since the lake was re-established in 2002, say volcanologists from New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS).
"The highest recorded temperature was 42.5degC (108.5F) in May 2003," says GeoNet duty volcanologist Agnes Mazot.
"The temperature of Crater Lake is a measure of amount of volcanic heat coming from Ruapehu," Mazot added.
April 2011 sure was a wild weather month. A record-breaking tornado outbreak capped a month of extremes, and many natural disasters, including historic flooding and devastating wildfires, continue into May.
Here are the numbers, according to the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.
Temperature
Average U.S. temperature in April: 52.9 degrees Fahrenheit (11.6 degrees Celsius).
Degrees above the 1901-2000 average: 0.9 degrees F (0.5 degrees C).
State that had its warmest April on record: Delaware. April 2011 was the fourth warmest April for Virginia and the fifth warmest for Texas. Florida and Louisiana had their seventh warmest, New Mexico and West Virginia their eighth, New Jersey its ninth and Maryland its 10th.
Washington State came in at its second coolest April, 5 degrees F (2.8 degrees C) below their long-term average. Oregon (with its fifth coolest April) and Idaho (10th coolest) were also much cooler than normal.
Xinhuanet
Tue, 10 May 2011 16:31 CDT
Thirty one dolphins were found dead in the Crimean Peninsula in Southern Ukraine, the press office of the Emergencies Ministry in Crimea reported Tuesday.
According to officials, the dead dolphins were scattered in an area of 2 km along the coastal zone.
Experts said the probable cause of the mammalian deaths is getting into the fishing nets. The majority of the dolphins have visible wounds on their body, some of them have damaged or missing fins.
Since the time of Trinity -- the first nuclear explosion in 1945 -- nearly 2,000 nuclear tests have been performed, with the majority taking place during the 1960s and 1970s. When the technology was new, tests were frequent and often spectacular, and led to the development of newer, more deadly weapons. But starting in the 1990s, there have been efforts to limit the future testing of nuclear weapons, including a U.S. moratorium and a U.N. comprehensive test ban treaty. As a result, testing has slowed -- though not halted -- and there are questions about the future. Who will take over for those experienced engineers who are now near retirement, and should we act as stewards with our enormous stockpiles of nuclear weapons? Gathered here are images from the first 30 years of nuclear testing. See also "Can We Unlearn the Bomb?" and "Atomic Weapons on Film."
Date-Time:
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 08:55:09 UTC
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 07:55:09 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
20.252°S, 168.273°E
Depth:
14.9 km (9.3 miles)
Region:
LOYALTY ISLANDS
Distances:
134 km (83 miles) SW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu
149 km (92 miles) NNE of Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
276 km (171 miles) S of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu
1741 km (1081 miles) ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
Date-Time:
Monday, May 09, 2011 at 23:28:53 UTC
Monday, May 09, 2011 at 05:28:53 PM at epicenter
Location:
37.139°N, 104.726°W
Depth:
4.9 km (3.0 miles)
Region:
COLORADO
Distances:
9 km (6 miles) W (266°) from Cokedale, CO
18 km (11 miles) W (278°) from Starkville, CO
20 km (12 miles) W (260°) from Trinidad, CO
126 km (78 miles) S (184°) from Pueblo, CO
288 km (179 miles) S (176°) from Denver, CO
Memphis - Parts of the Mississippi Delta are beginning to flood, sending white-tail deer and wild pigs swimming to dry land, submerging yacht clubs and closing casino boats, and compelling residents to flee from their homes.
The sliver of land in northwest Mississippi, home to hardship and bluesman Muddy Waters, is in the crosshairs of the slowly surging river, just like many other areas along the banks of the big river.
"We're getting our mamma and daddy out," said Ken Gelston, who helped pack furniture, photos and other belongings into pickup trucks in Greenville, Miss.
Buddies out mackerel fishing today came upon a giant great white shark like they've never seen before "bumping" and "nudging" a dead whale and then circling their boat off Martha's Vineyard.
The line from the seminal shark flick "Jaws" quickly came to mind for the crew -- "We're gonna need a bigger boat."
The monster of the sea was "20 feet" long, said captain Jeff Lynch of Chilmark. "To see something that big was crazy. It was as big as my boat."
The shark had zeroed in on a dead minke whale that was tangled in lobster gear and died. The shark, he said, kept at the whale but never chomped down - possibly sensing it was long dead.
"I was very surprised to see it," Lynch told the Herald.
The loss of ozone over Antarctica has been well-known since the late 1970s, when a major report exposed the crisis happening on the continent. But this spring, an Arctic hole in the ozone nearly opened up over the northern United Kingdom, Scandinavia and Russia.
Unusually cold temperatures in the stratosphere, the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, caused the Arctic near-miss, according to a statement by Jonathan Shanklin, the head of meteorology and ozone monitoring for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Most years, Shanklin wrote, the Arctic stratosphere is too warm for ozone-depleting chemical reactions to take place. This year, however, temperatures dove enough to destroy more than 40 percent of Arctic ozone.
Without the protective sheeting of ozone, more ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaches the Earth's surface. That makes ozone levels important for public health, said Ross Salawitch, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Maryland who studies atmospheric chemistry.
To handle all of the water flowing down the Mississippi River, the Army Corps of Engineers is opening the floodgates on a spillway north of New Orleans.
Opening the Bonnet Carre spillway diverts some of the floodwaters into Lake Pontchartrain and from there to the Gulf of Mexico. But nearly every flood control action taken by the Corps draws some controversy.
Residents stroll in a flooded street in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The area in this part of the city sunk nearly 2 feet 7 inches (0.8 meter) following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
When water begins to trickle down the streets of her coastal neighborhood, Yoshiko Takahashi knows it is time to hurry home.
Twice a day, the flow steadily increases until it is knee-deep, carrying fish and debris by her front door and trapping people in their homes. Those still on the streets slosh through the sea water in rubber boots or on bicycle.
"I look out the window, and it's like our houses are in the middle of the ocean," says Takahashi, who moved in three years ago.
Date-Time:
Monday, May 09, 2011 at 18:54:42 UTC
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 04:54:42 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
56.612°S, 147.837°E
Depth:
1 km (~0.6 mile) (poorly constrained)
Region:
WEST OF MACQUARIE ISLAND
Distances:
730 km (453 miles) WSW of Macquarie Island, Australia
1192 km (740 miles) NNE of Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica
1523 km (946 miles) S of HOBART, Tasmania, Australia
2100 km (1304 miles) S of MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia
Tropical storm Aere slammed into the eastern Philippine coast on Sunday, bringing heavy rains and landslides that have so far killed nine people and forced thousands to leave their homes.
The Philippines' state weather bureau said Aere made landfall over the island of Catanduanes before noon and moved northwest over the main island of Luzon.
Workers at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant in Port Gibson, Miss., last Thursday released a large amount of radioactive tritium directly into the Mississippi River, according to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and experts are currently trying to sort out the situation. An investigation is currently underway to determine why the tritium was even present in standing water found in an abandoned unit of the plant, as well as how much of this dangerous nuclear byproduct ended up getting dumped into the river. Many also want to know why workers released the toxic tritium before conducting proper tests.
The Mississippi Natchez Democrat reports that crews first discovered the radioactive water in the plant's Unit 2 turbine building after heavy rains began hitting the area last week. Unit 2 was a partially-constructed, abandoned structure that should not have contained any radioactive materials, let alone tritium, which is commonly used to manufacture nuclear weapons and test atomic bombs.
According to reports, alarms began to go off as workers were releasing the radioactive storm water into the river, which engaged the stop flow on the release pump. Neither NRC nor plant officials know how much tritium was released into the river during this release.
Colombia's rainiest April on record drenched Ismael Garcia's hillside coffee farm, causing a landslide that wiped out thousands of his trees in one swoop.
The loss would sting any year but hurts more now that coffee prices hit their highest levels in more than three decades this week.
Damage to farms like Garcia's from months of heavy rains in Colombia, the world's No. 1 producer of top-quality washed arabica beans, may threaten to push coffee prices even higher -- bad news for drinkers around the world.
Some 3 million Colombians, 6.4% of the population, have been affected by the heavy rains wreaking havoc across Colombia, revealed a study conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (DANE), Semana reported Thursday.
The official figure equates to just under 3 million people, with the greatest concentration of victims in the Caribbean region, where 1,479,434 people are affected, representing 3.2% of the Colombian population.
The video Steve Hoag shot of an April tornado bearing down on him in Wilson, N.C., is taking the Internet by storm.
More than 1 million viewers have watched the video and heard his calm narration as an EF2 twister blew up a transformer, exploded a building and then swirled debris around him on April 16.
Gutsy? Idiotic? Crazy?
Accident, Hoag said.
And it's not something amateurs should try, say storm experts - and Hoag himself.
"If I came upon a similar situation today, I'd see if I could turn around and drive the other way," Hoag said in an interview Thursday.
But it's also something that apparently is becoming more common in this digital age, when it seems that just about everyone has a camera as close as a cellphone.
That was apparent again last week when more than 300 tornadoes touched down in six Southern states and killed at least 318 people. Some amateur videos taken during that outbreak have added to concerns being voiced by National Weather Service officials.
Friday afternoon from about noon to 1 p.m. some folks in west central Minnesota looked up in the sky and saw a mysterious halo around the sun.
"What does it mean?" observers inquired.
"It's an angel," one person commented.
"Nah, it's some scientific thing," said another.
"I think it's God," declared another.
Sinkeston, Missouri, - The floodway is open, but the fight isn't over for the Corps of Engineers.
Following the completion of the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway at 2:35 p.m. May 5, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said they will continue to monitor the floodway and fight rising waters along the Mississippi River watershed.
"This floodfight is not over," Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh, Mississippi River Commission President, said. "We have hundreds of engineers working right now in the field fighting floods. Our goal is to reduce risk to people living behind our levees."
The rising Mississippi river lapped over downtown Memphis streets on Thursday as a massive wall of water threatened to unleash near record flooding all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Water lapped over Riverside Drive and onto Beale Street in Memphis, and threatened some homes on Mud Island, a community of about 5,000 residents with a river theme park. The island connects to downtown Memphis by a bridge and causeway.
Emergency officials in Millington near Memphis were "going door-to-door, asking people to leave," according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
A giant celestial snake is slithering into view in our current night sky this spring.
We can look to the south to trace it during the early evening hours. In fact, the snake is one of the most extensive of all star patterns: the long and mostly faint constellation of Hydra, the female water snake.
Interestingly, there is also a much shorter, male snake bearing the name Hydrus that is visible only in Southern Hemisphere skies.This sky map of the Hydra constellation shows where to look in the southern sky to spot the cosmic snake.
A long stream of stars
Hydra begins just below Cancer with a boxy shape of five stars representing the snake's head, between Procyon and Regulus, and south of the faint Cancer, the Crab.
Hydra's scraggly stream of dim stars then wriggles southeastward past its lone bright star - ruddy second magnitude Alphard - which appears brighter than it is because it has no competition star (hence it's sometimes called the "Solitary One").
A wicked storm that brought hail, waterspouts and torrential rain to the islands Monday night, also packed an electrical punch that rocked Oahu and Kauai.
Apparently lightning can strike twice.
"Yeah lightning can strike twice, it can strike 10-15 times in the same location," said Warning Coordinator Meteorologist Michael Cantin.
For the second time this year, Hawaii has experienced a spectacular electric show. In late February we saw nearly 21,000 lightning strikes in a five-hour window when a storm system stalled over Hawaii.
Monday night, Mother Nature was at it again.
"Each individual point represents a strike and what's kind of striking about this image right is here's the Big Island, Maui county, and then Oahu and Kauai are basically absorbed under the lightning strikes gives you an idea of how many we saw," said Cantin.
According to the Worldwide Lightning Detection system, the skies were busiest between 5 and 10 p.m.
"In total about 15,000 between that time period if you include that hour before from 4 p.m. it's almost 20,000," said Cantin.
Emergency officials in Quebec are closely watching water levels in the Champlain Lake and Richelieu River.
Several towns and villages in the Montérégie region have experienced flooding, evacuations and damages in recent weeks.
The weather forecast calls for heavy rain overnight, leaving emergency officials worried.
"We have 2,000 houses flooded right now, and we have more than 300 people evacuated, mostly in Henryville, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ste-Anne-de-Sabrevois," said Yvan Leroux, head of emergency preparedness for the region.
The Richelieu River could rise another 20 centimetres by Wednesday morning, he warned.
Evacuations are voluntary, and about half of residents in the area have refused to leave their homes.
Check the fine print on many cans of hairspray or shaving cream these days, and you'll probably find a reassurance that the product you are holding contains "No CFCs or chemicals known to harm the ozone layer." Located in the stratosphere, the ozone layer protects life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. To stop ozone destruction, chemical manufacturers phased out the production of CFCs (short for chlorofluorocarbons) over the past two decades.
So why is it that this past spring, scientists observed the largest, most severe ozone destruction ever witnessed in the Arctic since records began in 1978? In part, it's because CFCs stick around in the atmosphere for a very long time. But the maps above reveal the main reason this winter's Arctic ozone loss was so much worse than it normally is: unusually persistent cold temperatures.
From January through March 2011, monthly average temperatures in the Arctic stratosphere were colder than usual. Places where temperatures were up to 9 degrees Celsius warmer than the long-term average (1979-2009) are red, while places where temperatures were up to 16 degrees cooler than average are blue. Colder-than-usual temperatures dominated the stratosphere all three months, especially in March.
What does the cold have to do with the ozone hole? Extreme cold allows clouds to form in the stratosphere, even though the air there is extremely dry. The clouds make rare chemical reactions possible. Normally, when CFCs break down, the chlorine they release gets incorporated into very stable molecules that don't react with ozone. But on the surface of particles in these unusual ice clouds, the stable molecules are converted into forms of chlorine that are much more reactive.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, US: Mysterious bird deaths baffle hotel workers
The apparent death of 30-40 birds has workers at one Myrtle Beach hotel wondering what's to blame.
Ocean Forest Resort Hotel Security Guard Brandon Nelson said between 30 and 40 birds of various breeds fell from the sky around 2 Sunday morning while he was patrolling the building.
"The birds were just landing with a plop, some of them chirped and squirmed for a few minutes before they died. I've never seen anything like it," Nelson said.
Nelson's mother, Sarah Allen, stopped at the hotel to visit her son during his shift when she says one of the birds hit her in the shoulder as it fell from the sky.
Experts Concerned with Abnormal Seismic Activity - Azores
"The situation is ongoing and the number of microseisms is slightly above reference values" said Wednesday João Luís Gaspar from the Center of Volcanology and Geological Risk Assessment (CVARG) of the University of the Azores.
He also said that the seismic activity was the result of "very low magnitude earthquakes" adding that "none of which have been felt by the population."
Declining to comment on what the evolution of the crisis could be João Luís Gaspar recalled that "seismological activity is difficult to predict," but that the possibility could not be eliminated of an earthquake occurrence which may be felt by the population. He said, "It does not mean it will happen; only that one cannot eliminate that possibility."
Trio of US Quakes Includes Largest Ever Recorded in Texas
Over the past 48 hours, small earthquakes have rocked various parts of the United States, including the largest ever recorded in Texas by the United States Geological Survey. The quakes, in San Francisco, San Antonio and Hawaii, are unrelated, seismologists said.
No casualties have been reported after the quakes.
"We have lots of earthquakes; it's common, really nothing out of the ordinary. None of the quakes are very big," said Paul Caruso, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center. "They are totally separate faults and in no way related at all."
A 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Texas, about 47 miles (76 kilometers) outside San Antonio, at 7:24 a.m. local time (8:24 a.m. EDT) yesterday (Oct. 20). The epicenter of the quake was close to Fashing, Texas, a natural gas and oil mining town.
Thailand Prime Mininister assumes emergency powers as scope of flooding disaster widens
Prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra answers reporters' questions at Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) at Don Mueang Airport.
Invoking the provisions of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act (2007) gives the prime minister full authority over state officials around the country. Those who refuse to follow orders can be prosecuted for negligence of duty. The prime minister becomes director of the relief operation.
Ms Yingluck said the move was necessary to streamline relief operations.
She has ordered the Defence Ministry and the army to oversee and protect key places including the Grand Palace, other palaces, Siriraj Hospital, flood barrier lines, utilities providers, and Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
The government has struggled to channel the massive amount of water that has caused widespread flooding in the country's Central Plains, around the outskirts of Bangkok.
Japan: Earthquake Magnitude 6.1 - Hokkaido
© USGS
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 08:02:37 UTC
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 05:02:37 PM at epicenter
Location:
43.889°N, 142.477°E
Depth:
185 km (115.0 miles)
Region:
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
Distances:
17 km (10 miles) NE of Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
121 km (75 miles) NNW of Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
131 km (81 miles) NE of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
941 km (584 miles) NNE of TOKYO, Japan
California - 4.0 and 3.8 Magnitude Earthquakes Rattle San Francisco Bay Area
This map shows the location of Thursday's earthquakes near Berkeley, Calif. (indicated by blue squares) occuring along the Hayward fault zone (red line running underneath).
The first quake, with a magnitude of 4.0 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, struck at 2:41 p.m. local time about 2 miles southeast of Berkeley.
A 3.8 magnitude aftershock centered a mile east of Berkeley followed more than 5 hours later at 8:16 p.m.
USGS officials estimate that more than 4 million residents of the Bay Area felt the quakes, with the worst shaking impacting the East Bay region.
Berkeley and Oakland police both reported no damage, though many in the area took to social media indicating their dishes were rattled.
US: Knot of Worry Tightens for Fishermen as Infectious Salmon Anemia Spreads
Sean O'Donnell worked on the nets in Seattle after salmon fishing Wednesday.
More scientists in Washington started talking, and 24 hours later everyone is asking more questions. As word spread that infectious salmon anemia, a deadly virus that has devastated farmed fish in Chile, had been found for the first time in prized wild Pacific salmon, there remained much uncertainty about the finding and what its potential impact could be.
So far it has been found in just two wild sockeye salmon in British Columbia and not in an active state. Nevertheless the reaction from fishermen has echoed that of some scientists: this is the last thing salmon need.
"On top of everything else, that would just be murder here," said Mr. Tremain, aboard his 40-foot boat, Heidi, at Fishermen's Terminal here.
Northern Italy Rattled by Second Earthquake Swarm in 2 Months
At least ten earthquakes were recorded in northwestern Italy on Thursday, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
Epicentre of Thursday's earthquake.
The largest of the earthquakes measured 4.2 magnitude (mb) on the Richter Scale and occurred at 08:11 AM local time (00:11 AM EDT) at a shallow depth of 10 km. The epicentre was located in the Aveto Natural Regional Park, about 5 km northeast of Borzonasca (pop 2,046), 16 km northeast of Chiavari (pop 27,865), and 39 km east of Genoa (pop 601,951).
It was the strongest earthquake to hit northern Italy since a 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck on 25 July last.
The other nine tremors recorded on Thursday ranged between 2.2 and 3.4 magnitude.
The most significant earthquake to hit the region in recent years occurred on 23 December 2008 when a 5.4 magnitude quake was recorded WNW of Genoa and SW of Parma. Previous to that a 5.4 mb earthquake struck northeast of Verona on 24 November 2004.
Epicentre of Thursday's earthquake.
It was the strongest earthquake to hit northern Italy since a 4.3 magnitude earthquake struck on 25 July last.
The other nine tremors recorded on Thursday ranged between 2.2 and 3.4 magnitude.
The most significant earthquake to hit the region in recent years occurred on 23 December 2008 when a 5.4 magnitude quake was recorded WNW of Genoa and SW of Parma. Previous to that a 5.4 mb earthquake struck northeast of Verona on 24 November 2004.
Deepest and Most Explosive Underwater Eruption Ever Seen Happening Near Samoa Hotspot
Double magma bubble forms at Hades Vent at West Mata submarine volcano.
Submarine eruptions account for about three-quarters of all of Earth's volcanism, but the overlying ocean and the sheer vastness of the seafloor makes detecting and observing them difficult. The only active submarine eruptions that scientists had seen and analyzed until now were at the volcano NW Rota-1, near the island of Guam in the western Pacific.
Now researchers have witnessed the deepest active submarine eruption yet. The volcano in question, West Mata, lies near the islands of Fiji in the southwestern Pacific in the Lau Basin. Here, the rate of subduction - the process in which one massive tectonic plate dives under another, typically forming chains of volcanoes - is the highest on Earth, and the region hosts ample signs of recent submarine volcanism.
California: 3.8 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts San Francisco Area
The quake, with a preliminary 3.9 magnitude, was centered near Berkeley. San Francisco police and officials at University of California, Berkeley, said they had no reports of injuries or damages.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake hit two miles (3.2 kilometers) southeast of Berkeley at 2:31 p.m.
The quake was felt as a sharp jolt in the East Bay area, and across the bay in San Francisco.
The quake came almost 22 years to the day after the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area during the 1989 World Series.
It came on the same day Californians took part in an annual earthquake preparedness drill at 10:20 a.m. Thursday. More than 8½ million people signed up to participate in the 2011 Great California ShakeOut.
An Unusual Phenomenon: Vanishing Arctic Lakes
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Aarhus University have warned that polar bear species as primary predators are ailing as industrial pollutants get absorbed in the Arctic Ocean food chain.
Canada lost some 1.2 percent of its water surface or 6700 square kilometers between 2000 to 2009 as revealed in a satellite survey of the 1.3 million lakes stretching from coast to coast, according to the International Arctic Research Center in Fairbanks, Alaska,
"It's an important finding. We need to find out what's driving it," says Larry Hinzman, director of the research center.
Previous surveys showed that there had been shrinking Arctic lakes, but only in the southern-most part of the Arctic. But the new survey, carried out by Mark Carroll at the University of Maryland in College Park found that the reverse is happening: it is the northern lakes that appears to be shrinking.
US: Huge Haboob Hits Lubbock, Texas
A screenshot of a video that Sandy Clem shot as the haboob swept over Lubbock.
A giant dust storm known as a haboob swept through Lubbock, Texas, on Monday, blotting out the sun and turning everything a hazy copper.
The 8,000-foot-tall (2,400 meters) dust cloud knocked down trees and power lines, sparked small wildfires and damaged a hangar at the local airport, reported the Los Angeles Times.
Jerald Meadows, a meteorologist based in Lubbock, told the L.A. Times that smaller haboobs of around 1,000 feet (305 m) in height are fairly common in the area, but that yesterday's whopper was "fairly rare." He attributed the storm to the dry condition in the area, which have plagued most of Texas this year, and strong cold front with whipping winds that moved in from the Rockies. The storm traveled at an estimated 75 mph (120 kph).
Haboob is Arabic for "strong wind."
4 dead dolphins wash up on Gulf Coast beaches in 5 days; deaths part of 'unusual mortality event'
This dolphin was found on the Mobile Bay side of the Fort Morgan peninsula Saturday morning, one of four found since Friday. The death brings the total number of dead dolphins found since the BP oil spill to more than 400. Federal officials say an "Unusual Mortality Event" has been declared for the Gulf's dolphin population, which have been dying at a rate 5 to 10 times higher than average.
Dauphin Island, Alabama -- A dolphin carcass, bloated and violet in the morning sun, was found on Fort Morgan early Saturday, bringing the number lost since the BP oil spill to more than 400.
Three other dolphins have washed up in Alabama in the past week, including a pregnant female on Dauphin Island and a mother and calf pair on Hollingers Island in Mobile Bay.
"We should be seeing one (death) a month at this time of year," said Ruth Carmichael, a Dauphin Island Sea Lab scientist tasked with responding to reports of dead dolphins. "We're getting one or more a week. It's just never slowed down."
In Alaska's Arctic, mysterious outbreak kills dozens of ringed seals
An ill ringed seal on the North Slope.
The animals are an important subsistence food, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed listing them as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
In July, biologists with the North Slope Borough's Department of Wildlife Management began receiving reports of ringed seals hauled out on beaches, an unusual behavior since the animals usually prefer the water or ice. Since then, they've found at least 100 seals with telltale mangy hair and skin lesions, mostly while traveling by four-wheeler along 30 miles of Beaufort and Chukchi sea coastline outside Barrow.
At least 46 of those seals have been found dead, and experts aren't sure if the disease is killing them or if other infections and polar bears are proving fatal once the seals become feeble.
U.S. Government Joins Probe of Mysterious Seal Deaths
Federal officials have joined an investigation into the mysterious deaths of young harbor seals on beaches across three New England states as the number of dead seals rose to 49.
Seals began washing up on the beaches of northern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and southern Maine last week, said Maggie Mooney-Seus, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's office in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
"Some of them have been decomposed," she told Reuters on Wednesday. "We're hoping we're not going to see a lot more. We don't know at this point what's caused it."
The densest cluster of seal deaths has been along New Hampshire's 18-mile (30-km) coast, where 17 seal carcasses have been recovered since Friday, said Tony Lacasse, a spokesman for the New England Aquarium in Boston.
The aquarium has conducted autopsies on three of the least-decomposed seals and found that they all had an adequate layer of blubber to survive.
Florida, US: Dead bee mystery has state officials buzzing
Millions of dead bees mysterious turn up in the southern part of Brevard County.
Officials with the Department of Agriculture are trying to figure out what caused them to die. They have gathered samples of the dead bees and send them to the state lab to be tested.
Officials with the state told News 13 over the phone that it appears some type of aerial application of a pesticide might have been sprayed on the area. However, they said it is too early in the investigation to know for sure.
Two beekeepers were affected and this mystery is a huge loss for both of them.
Fellsmere beekeeper Charles Smith said the dead bees were supposed to be bound for California to help pollinate almond trees.
Malaysia: Sinkhole closes road in Puchong
Policemen standing guard beside the sinkhole in Jalan TK 5/1, Taman Kinrara, Puchong, last night.
The incident happened at 2pm. The earth in the middle of the road suddenly caved in, leaving a hole deep enough to fit four cars.
Luckily, no road users fell into the hole, located near several apartments,
Serdang police chief Superintendent Abdul Razak Elias said police were notified about the sinkhole at Jalan TK 5/1 by residents, before several officers cordoned off the area.
"We decided to close the road pending investigations and repair works by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council."
Ghana: Unknown pollutant kills nearly 10 tons of fish in the Butre Lagoon
The Environmental Protection Agency in the Western Region is investigating the source of a pollutant which has killed nearly 10 tons of fish in the Butre Lagoon in Takoradi.
Though details remain sketchy, the Agency is not ruling out the possibility of a chemical pollution as officials await laboratory results to ascertain the cause of this serious environmental breach.
Joy News' Western Regional correspondent, Kwaku Owusu Peprah reports that some residents of the area who consumed the dead fishes are said to be suffering from some serious stomach upsets.
Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) hits Earth's Magnetosphere Today, Causes Ground Currents In Norway
A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field at approximately 12:15 UT on Sept. 26th. The impact caused significant ground currents in Norway. Also, the Goddard Space Weather Lab reports a "strong compression of Earth's magnetosphere. Simulations indicate that solar wind plasma [has penetrated] close to geosynchronous orbit starting at 13:00UT." Geosynchronous satellites could therefore be directly exposed to solar wind plasma and magnetic fields.
Sept.26 2011,at 12.36 UTC a magnificent shockwave from a CME arrived in our atmosphere,with an effect on all of my instruments.The shockwave passed the ACE satellite at 11.52 UTC,just 44 minutes earlier.
Sept.26 2011,at 12.36 UTC a magnificent shockwave from a CME arrived in our atmosphere,with an effect on all of my instruments.The shockwave passed the ACE satellite at 11.52 UTC,just 44 minutes earlier.
History's deadliest volcano comes back to life in Indonesia, sparking panic among villagers
Villagers like Hasanuddin Sanusi have heard since they were young how the mountain they call home once blew apart in the largest eruption ever recorded - an 1815 event widely forgotten outside their region - killing 90,000 people and blackening skies on the other side of the globe.
So, the 45-year-old farmer didn't wait to hear what experts had to say when Mount Tambora started being rocked by a steady stream of quakes. He grabbed his wife and four young children, packed his belongings and raced down its quivering slopes.
"It was like a horror story, growing up," said Hasanuddin, who joined hundreds of others in refusing to return to their mountainside villages for several days despite assurances they were safe.
India: Sikkim quake unusual, say geologists
"There is nothing surprising in this earthquake as the region north of Sikkim, which forms the outliers of Tibetan tectonics, is known for moderate earthquakes in the past," C.P. Rajendran at the Indian Institute of Science here told IANS.
But what makes it different is its "unusually greater magnitude".
These earthquakes are different in the sense they are along the somewhat north-south structures trending transverse to the east-west Himalayan axis, Rajendran said. They are different from the usual Himalayan thrust earthquakes that are caused by the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate.
Is the End of Salmon Near?
A school of Chinook salmon. New research shows the fish could vanish from many rivers by the end of the century.
A warming climate is likely to wipe out spring-run Chinook salmon in at least one California watershed by the century's end, found a new study.
No matter which climate projections the researchers used, warmer waters spelled major trouble for the fish in the coming decades if people do nothing to help the fish. And the findings are likely to apply to a variety of salmon species up and down the West Coast, especially in California where temperatures are closest to the tipping point.
"I saw the results almost a year ago, and I just sat at my desk and cried," said Lisa Thompson, a fisheries biologist at the University of California, Davis. "Fish weren't making it through to the end of the century in almost all cases."
"Things look grim," she added. "But there are things we can do."
For the last five years, Thompson and colleagues have been studying spring-run Chinook salmon in the Butte Creek watershed, in the Central Valley of California. These types of fish are particularly sensitive to climate change because adults spend their summers in freshwater streams before spawning in the fall. And compared to the Pacific Ocean, where the fish spend the rest of the year, streams are far quicker to warm up in hot conditions.
More than a million spring-run Chinook used to live in the waters of the Central Valley, Thompson said. Today there are fewer than 10,000 of them -- a decline of 99 percent.
US: Quake Shook Virginia Nuclear Plant Twice as Hard as Design Allowed
Dominion Virginia Power's North Anna Power Station in Mineral, Virginia is pictured in this undated photograph obtained on August 23, 2011.
Dominion Resources told the regulator that the ground under the plant exceeded its "design basis" -- the first time an operating U.S. plant has experienced such a milestone -- but said its seismic data from the site showed shaking at much lower levels than those reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Both the company and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have not yet found any signs of serious damage to safety systems at the North Anna nuclear plant, and the company said it is eager to resume operations once inspections and repairs are complete.
The NRC has said it plans to order all U.S. plants later this year to update their earthquake risk analyses, a complex exercise that could take two years for some plants to complete.
The North Anna quake shows the need for the nation's 104 aging reactors to reevaluate earthquake risks using up-to-date geological information, said Majid Manzari, an engineer at George Washington University who studies quake impacts.
Disasters in US: An Extreme and Exhausting Year
Nature is pummeling the United States this year with extremes.
Unprecedented triple-digit heat and devastating drought. Deadly tornadoes leveling towns. Massive rivers overflowing. A billion-dollar blizzard. And now, unusual hurricane-caused flooding in Vermont.
If what's falling from the sky isn't enough, the ground shook in places that normally seem stable: Colorado and the entire East Coast. On Friday, a strong quake triggered brief tsunami warnings in Alaska. Arizona and New Mexico have broken records for wildfires.
Total weather losses top $35 billion, and that's not counting Hurricane Irene, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. There have been more than 700 U.S. disaster and weather deaths, most from the tornado outbreaks this spring.
Last year, the world seemed to go wild with natural disasters in the deadliest year in a generation. But 2010 was bad globally, and the United States mostly was spared.
This year, while there have been devastating events elsewhere, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Australia's flooding and a drought in Africa, it's our turn to get smacked. Repeatedly.
Unprecedented triple-digit heat and devastating drought. Deadly tornadoes leveling towns. Massive rivers overflowing. A billion-dollar blizzard. And now, unusual hurricane-caused flooding in Vermont.
If what's falling from the sky isn't enough, the ground shook in places that normally seem stable: Colorado and the entire East Coast. On Friday, a strong quake triggered brief tsunami warnings in Alaska. Arizona and New Mexico have broken records for wildfires.
Total weather losses top $35 billion, and that's not counting Hurricane Irene, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. There have been more than 700 U.S. disaster and weather deaths, most from the tornado outbreaks this spring.
Last year, the world seemed to go wild with natural disasters in the deadliest year in a generation. But 2010 was bad globally, and the United States mostly was spared.
This year, while there have been devastating events elsewhere, such as the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Australia's flooding and a drought in Africa, it's our turn to get smacked. Repeatedly.
Typhoon Talas leaves deaths and landslides in Japan
Typhoon Talas has triggered flooding and landslides across Japan leaving at least 17 people dead over the weekend with more than 40 still missing.
In some areas a record 18 cm of rain fell in just 24 hours after the tropical storm hit the island of Shikoku in western Japan at around 01:00 GMT and was moving north at a slow pace, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.
The agency expects the storm to finish passing through Japan later on Sunday and continue heading north into the Sea of Japan.
In some areas a record 18 cm of rain fell in just 24 hours after the tropical storm hit the island of Shikoku in western Japan at around 01:00 GMT and was moving north at a slow pace, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.
The agency expects the storm to finish passing through Japan later on Sunday and continue heading north into the Sea of Japan.
Nigeria Floods: At Least 20 Killed in Ibadan
The damage was exacerbated by rubbish and debris clogging drainage systems in Ibadan
The floods, resulting from heavy rains that began on Friday, caused a dam to overflow and washed away numerous buildings and bridges.
"It's a very serious situation," said Yushau Shuaib, an official in the city, 150km (90 miles) north of Lagos.
Typhoon Nanmadol Leaves 16 Dead in Philippines
A man pushes his motorbike through floodwaters caused by Typhoon Nanmadol in Linbian, Taiwan.
Manila: Tropical storm Nanmadol (locally known as Mina) left 16 dead, 21 injured, and eight people missing, many of whom were presumed dead, as it slowly moved away from Philippine territory, civil defence and weather bureau officials said.
As of 4pm local time, weather forecasters estimated Nanmadol at 340km northwest of Basco, Batanes, the northernmost part of the country, with maximum sustained winds of 95kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120kph. The storm, was moving west-northwest at 7kph and is expected to be 500km northwest of Basco by afternoon.
Volcano Agency Warns of Likely Papandayan Eruption
Two villagers walk pass Mount Papandayan which serves as a short cut to their farms on Aug. 14, 2011, warnings to stay at least two kilometers from the volcano, which is in imminent danger of erupting.
Indonesia's highly active Mount Papandayan volcano is in imminent danger of erupting, the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency warned on Wednesday.
The agency, known as the PVMGB, said it was likely the volcano in Garut, West Java, would erupt either before or just after Idul Fitri, which marks the end of Ramadan.
The prediction was based on the increasing activity of the volcano, the agency said on its Web site.
"The volcano has more energy compared to its last eruption in 2002," agency head Surono said in Bandung, the provincial capital, on Tuesday.
Papandayan has shown an alarming increase in activities since the volcano's status was raised to standby. Between Aug. 19 and 20, there were 45 earthquakes.
Alaska's mysterious floating orange goo identified as 'rusting' fungal spores but local Eskimos fear fish will be poisoned
The mystery of the floating orange goo has been solved.
Sea of orange: An aerial view of the strange goo taken on August 3 when it appeared in a giant lagoon threatening the native community of Kivalina on the Chukchi Sea in north western Alaska.
But the results have only served to increase the fears of the small Alaskan village which spotted the colourful sight struck on their lagoon for the first time ever two weeks ago.
It soon disappeared but the local Eskimo community, which relies on the surrounding waters for its very existence, feared long-term damage to the water quality and particularly the fish and plants they use for food.
At first the leading theory suggested the goo was made up of millions of microscopic eggs.
But now scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have confirmed the presence of fungal spores which create rust, explaining the luminous colour.
It soon disappeared but the local Eskimo community, which relies on the surrounding waters for its very existence, feared long-term damage to the water quality and particularly the fish and plants they use for food.
At first the leading theory suggested the goo was made up of millions of microscopic eggs.
But now scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have confirmed the presence of fungal spores which create rust, explaining the luminous colour.
Just in time for the Thursday evening commute, a sink hole on Bronson Avenue near Sunnyside Avenue narrowed the busy southbound artery to just one lane while city crews started repairs.
The sink hole was between Bronson Avenue and Brewer Way. There was no estimated repair time.
Power failures and downed wires were reported earlier Thursday afternoon as a small but strong storm cell made its way from west to east across Ottawa.
Environment Canada's website listed a severe thunderstorm watch for the Ottawa region as of 1:32 p.m., with the possibility of large hail and damaging winds. The small, intense storm was already making its way through Nepean at the time.
The sink hole was between Bronson Avenue and Brewer Way. There was no estimated repair time.
Power failures and downed wires were reported earlier Thursday afternoon as a small but strong storm cell made its way from west to east across Ottawa.
Environment Canada's website listed a severe thunderstorm watch for the Ottawa region as of 1:32 p.m., with the possibility of large hail and damaging winds. The small, intense storm was already making its way through Nepean at the time.
US, Michigan: 3 People Escape Massive Sinkhole
Detroit Water Department crews were on the scene, Thursday evening, on Beaubien just north of East Grand Blvd. near I-75.
"The front half of this SUV is inside, resting inside, this huge water sinkhole about five feet wide," reported WWJ Newsradio 950′s Stephanie Davis.
Witnesses said two women and a young child were rescued from the vehicle. "I talked to one of the young men who helped the people out of the car. He said he's just glad he was there," said Davis.
All three people escaped without injuries. There was no immediate word on how long repairs will take.
Earthquake Magnitude 3.2 Strikes Long Beach and Los Angeles
Today's earthquake was of a marginal magnitude.
But because it struck at a narrow depth, it was felt over a wide section of the South Bay and Southern California.
Ten minutes ago, at roughly 2:43 PM PST, a 3.2 earthquake struck Los Angeles County. Its epicenter was south east of Long Beach. Unlike previous earthquakes this year in the region, today's quake was not centered out in the Pacific Ocean.
Rather initial statements by USGS issued to news indicate that the quake was centered just a few blocks west of Pacific Coast Highway. Initial reports put the quake centered closest to the intersection of E7th Street and Park Avenue. It was centered apparently just north of the American Golf Pro Shops on the 9th Hole of the local Recreation Park Golf Course, near the East 7th street corridor.
Earth Opening Up? Strange Chemical-Like Odor in San Diego, California, US Area: Navy, Coast Guard Investigating
Authorities are investigating reports from around San Diego County of a strong, chemical-like odor.
People began making emergency calls about 2 p.m. to report a pervasive and pungent smell variously described as akin to kerosene, diesel fuel, bus exhaust, lighter fluid and other petroleum-based substances, according to Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
On Wednesday afternoon, 10News received dozens of calls from residents who said they smelled what they believed was jet fuel in the air.
Residents from areas such as Encinitas, Solana Beach, Pacific Beach, Mira Mesa and La Jolla all reported the odor. Residents living in inland areas such as North Park, Hillcrest and Rancho Bernardo told 10News they smelled the odor in their area.
People began making emergency calls about 2 p.m. to report a pervasive and pungent smell variously described as akin to kerosene, diesel fuel, bus exhaust, lighter fluid and other petroleum-based substances, according to Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
On Wednesday afternoon, 10News received dozens of calls from residents who said they smelled what they believed was jet fuel in the air.
Residents from areas such as Encinitas, Solana Beach, Pacific Beach, Mira Mesa and La Jolla all reported the odor. Residents living in inland areas such as North Park, Hillcrest and Rancho Bernardo told 10News they smelled the odor in their area.
Pesticides Damaging Australia's Great Barrier Reef: Government Study
The report stated that farmers are using to many toxic chemicals that are seeping into the water - in fact, almost 25 percent of horticulture producers and 12 percent of pastoral farmers are believed to using pesticides regarded as unacceptable.
Pesticides of toxic concentrations have been detected 38 miles inside the reef.
The severe flooding as well as cyclone Yasi that hit the region earlier this year are believed to have worsened the problem by sending pollutants into the ocean.
The report particularly blamed pesticides used by the sugar cane industry in northern Queensland province.
Great Britain: 'Several hundred tonnes' of oil in North Sea spill
Shell operates the Gannet Alpha platform off the coast of Aberdeen.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change says the spill off the coast of Aberdeen is "substantial", with estimates showing it is the biggest such leak in more than a decade.
The slick is estimated to be some 20 miles by 2.6 miles at its widest point.
'Under control'
Royal Dutch Shell says it has brought the spill under control, but it has not yet confirmed the extent of the leak.
A DECC spokesman said the energy firm is still trying to "completely halt" any further leakage.
Philadelphia, Heat claims at least 18 in region, probably more
And that's probably a substantial undercount, in the view of one heat-mortality expert.
The Health Department added eight additional heat-related deaths to the list today, bringing the Philadelphia total to 15.
Three others were reported in neighboring counties as a result of the fifth, longest and most-oppressive heat wave of the season.
Record snowfalls in New Zealand
Snow covers the earthquake damaged DTZ House in central Christchurch.
Most state highways have now reopened and city councils in Dunedin and Christchurch have set about clearing most of the local roads of snow and ice.
Snowfalls made way to harsh frosts this morning, particularly in the South Island, although some snow is expected on Arthurs Pass, Milford Rd and the Desert Road later today.
Westerlies are forecast to strengthen over the South Island today, with heavy rain forecast of the west of the country, however temperatures are forecast to pick up following a frigid past few days.
WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said yesterday may well have been the coldest day of the year.
The national high was just 12 degrees recorded in Northland yesterday.
Sinkhole shuts down portion of US 41 in Brown Country, Wisconsin
Suamico - A quarter-mile of a southbound lane of U.S. 41 in northern Brown County was closed for 9½ hours Tuesday after a 5-foot by 3-foot sinkhole in the road developed in the morning.
The sinkhole opened about a half-mile south of Brown Road when soil infiltrated a concrete culvert pipe and the pavement above the pipe sank, according to the state Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
"It doesn't happen very often, but it obviously happens," said Kim Rudat, a DOT spokesperson.
The sinkhole opened at 8:30 a.m. and shut down the affected southbound lane until about 6 p.m.
The sinkhole opened about a half-mile south of Brown Road when soil infiltrated a concrete culvert pipe and the pavement above the pipe sank, according to the state Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
"It doesn't happen very often, but it obviously happens," said Kim Rudat, a DOT spokesperson.
The sinkhole opened at 8:30 a.m. and shut down the affected southbound lane until about 6 p.m.
Part of town street collapses creating large sinkhole in Carman, Manitoba
A nearby resident checks out the large sinkhole that opened up on 2nd Ave SE near the corner of 1st St SE in Carman. No injuries reported as street closed
This was more than just a regular pothole.
Town of Carman work crews were called out to 2nd Ave SE near the corner of First Street SE after receiving a call about a large sinkhole approximately six feet by five feet and about five feet deep, on the street.
Sonja Morrison, who lives near the site with her family, said they heard a "thump" and then a second louder one when they went outside their home to take a look at around 5:15 p.m. on Monday (July 25).
Cracks and sinkholes form in creekside yards - Pensacola, Florida
Chad Swan points to one of three large sinkholes in his backyard, which backs up to Carpenter's Creek. Over the past six years, the creek has severely eroded the yards of some of the homes along Creek Side Circle.
For seven years, Leanne Pickering has watched as erosion and sinkholes expanded in the backyard of her Pensacola home, and she now wonders when they will overtake her swimming pool.
They are getting close; a 5-foot-deep sinkhole currently is within 6 feet of her pool's enclosure.
In 2002, Pickering built her home in a Creek Side Circle neighborhood near Airport Boulevard and Davis Highway that backs up to Carpenter's Creek.
Before long, she noticed her backyard was steadily falling into the creek. She found soft spots in the grass. Sinkholes began to form. Every year for the last five years, she has paid to have a truckload of dirt dumped into the largest hole. The hole continues to grow.
Sinkhole in Palatine, Illinois could take two weeks to fix
A 15-by-20-foot sinkhole continued to cause traffic delays at the northwest corner of Dundee and Hicks roads in Palatine Monday. Officials say it may take up to two weeks before the hole is completely repaired.
The good news, however, is that the Illinois Department of Transportation agreed to a request from village officials to resume southbound traffic on Hicks, which had been restricted most of Monday, Village Manage Reid Ottesen said.
"Traffic will begin flowing a lot better, but it's still an area to avoid if at all possible," Ottesen said.
The sinkhole formed at the northwest corner of the intersection after the heavy rainfall caused a sewer line to collapse about 30 feet below the surface. Readings showed 5.43 inches of rain fell on Palatine between midnight Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday, exceeding 100-year event standards, Ottesen said.
Florida insurance corporation seeking big premium increase on sinkholes
Workers surround a sinkhole in Hialeah on Tuesday morning.
The company will ask its board Wednesday for an increase on average of more than 400 percent to purchase sinkhole coverage. In 2010, Citizens received about $32 million in premiums for sinkhole coverage with ultimate losses and loss-related expenses estimated to total $245 million. In areas where sinkhole claims have been particularly high, premium increases could be multiplied 20 times or more under the proposal.
Since the last major hurricane hit Florida in 2005, sinkhole claims have skyrocketed, totaling nearly $2 billion in the last four years. Most of the claims have come from Hernando, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, part of the Tampa Bay area.
ATS Euromaster: Motorists Urged to Prepare as Forecaster Predicts the Worst Winter on Record
© Time.com
ATS Euromaster is urging motorists to pre-order cold weather tyres after a meteorologist predicted this winter will "break all records" in terms of snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Specialist long-range forecaster James Madden, of Exacta Weather, correctly predicted the harsh conditions experienced over the last two years and gave his forecast to ATS Euromaster as it prepares to fit cold weather tyres in the UK for the second year running.
He warns: "The UK is to brace itself for well below average temperatures and widespread heavy snowfall throughout winter 2011/2012 which will result in the fourth bad winter in succession, and will prove to be the worst of them all.
South Korea Landslides Leave 32 Dead, 10 Missing
South Korean rescue workers carry a survivor who was rescued from a collapsed house as a midnight landslide caused by torrential rains swept away several houses in Chuncheon, South Korea.
The students died as mud and debris engulfed them as they slept in a resort cabin in Chuncheon, about 68 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of the capital Seoul, said Byun In-soo of the town's fire station. A married couple and a convenience store owner also died.
About 500 officials and residents worked to rescue people trapped in the mud and wreckage. Twenty-four people were injured and several buildings destroyed, officials said. Witnesses interviewed on television likened the sound of the landslide to a massive explosion or a screaming freight train and described the screaming they heard as buildings were carried away by rivers of mud.
In southern Seoul, 16 people died when mud crashed through residences at the foot of a mountain, emergency official Kim Jong-seon said. Three others also died after a stream just south of Seoul flooded, Kim said, and 10 people were reported missing throughout the country.
Noctilucent Clouds Sighted From Germany!
"The morning of July 26th was electric blue!" says Heiko Ulbricht of Freital, Saxony, Germany. "I woke up at 3 clock, looked out my bedroom window to the north and saw a stunning display of noctilucent clouds." Moments later, he dashed outside with a camera to record the view:
July has been an odd time for noctilucent clouds (NLCs). The month began with an extravagant display that stretched as far south as Colorado and Kansas--odd because NLCs are usually confined to higher latitudes. The event seemed to herald a period of widespread sightings. Observers were disappointed, though, when the clouds quickly retreated to their usual northern habitat. Could this German apparition signal renewed activity? Sky watchers at all latitudes should be alert for electric-blue ripples around sunrise and sunset.
© Heiko Ulbricht
Image Taken: Jul 26 2011
Location: Freital, Saxony, Germany
Image Taken: Jul 26 2011
Location: Freital, Saxony, Germany
Strong 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes off Papua New Guinea
A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of the Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami alert was issued.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.2 quake struck Monday 46 miles (73 kilometers) south of the town of Kavieng on the island of New Ireland. The earthquake struck at a depth of 21 miles (34 kilometers).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami alert.
The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea lies on the "Ring of Fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim and where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur.
Source: The Associated Press
The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-6.2 quake struck Monday 46 miles (73 kilometers) south of the town of Kavieng on the island of New Ireland. The earthquake struck at a depth of 21 miles (34 kilometers).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue a tsunami alert.
The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea lies on the "Ring of Fire" - an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim and where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur.
Source: The Associated Press
Giant Hole Closes Hwy 55 Near Marsing
© Jessie L. Bonner/The Associated Press
Until it is repaired, drivers must take detours along Pershall, Edison and Thompson roads.
A Department of Transportation spokesman listed two probable causes for the culvert's failure: holes in the pipe allowed water to seep through or debris plugged the pipe so pooling water undermined surrounding earth.
US, Illinois: Sinkhole Causes Hicks Lane Closures
A 20-foot sinkhole has opened along and under Hicks Road near Dundee Road, Palatine police said.
The sinkhole forced the closure of all northbound lanes on Hicks. Traffic has been shifted to the southbound lanes, reducing Hicks to one lane of traffic in each direction, Palatine Fire Department Battalion Chief William Gabrenya said.
Gabrenya said the sinkhole opened because of a sewer line collapsed beneath the street following the Saturday, July 23 rain that caused flooding throughout Palatine.
Motorists are advised to avoid the Hicks and Dundee intersection if at all possible.
US, Connecticut: SUV Lands in Sinkhole
Sinkhole on West Raymond Street caused by water main break
A water main break on West Raymond Street in Hartford not only closed down the street but it also caused some problems for an SUV and its driver.
Willena Hardie's husband was backing out of their driveway when one of the front tires fell into a sinkhole.
"He was banged around and so frazzled, so he called me and that's what I found when I got here," she said.
A water main break on West Raymond Street in Hartford not only closed down the street but it also caused some problems for an SUV and its driver.
Willena Hardie's husband was backing out of their driveway when one of the front tires fell into a sinkhole.
"He was banged around and so frazzled, so he called me and that's what I found when I got here," she said.
US, Florida: Sinkhole Eats Local Business
The roof of Main Street Hair & Beauty Supply has caved in on Friday, July 22, 2011, in Leesburg.
The roof of a Leesburg business building has collapsed, weeks after a sinkhole gulped part of it.
As the roof of the Main Street Hair and Beauty Supply of Saaraa Corner Store crumpled, more debris, including a Dumpster, trees, boxes and beauty products, was pushed into the sinkhole.
However, city officials are adamant that the sinkhole is not growing, and attribute the collapse instead to the building's wooden trusses that gave way.
"There's no indication that it's growing," said Robert Sargent, a spokesman for the city of Leesburg, adding that soil around the edges of the hole also has fallen in.
The discovery of the sinkhole came on the early morning of June 27, when Rafeek Mohamid, owner of the property, received a call from his alarm company that something was wrong.
Australia: Dugong deaths 'ecological disaster'
Environmentalists have again warned of an ecological disaster at the southern end of Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, following the discovery of a dead dugong.
It was found washed up on a beach in Gladstone Harbour, the fourth dugong, along with three dolphins and 40 turtles that have been found washed up around the harbour since May.
Friends of the Earth spokesman Drew Hutton said he had seen first-hand the destruction around the harbour since construction of the LNG facilities had started.
U.S.: Alarming 'dead zone' grows in the Chesapeake
Mike Kirschner and his son Zachary, 10, of Bel Air, Md., fish below the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Annapolis, Md.
A giant underwater "dead zone" in the Chesapeake Bay is growing at an alarming rate because of unusually high nutrient pollution levels this year, according to Virginia and Maryland officials. They said the expanding area of oxygen-starved water is on track to become the bay's largest ever.
This year's Chesapeake Bay dead zone covers a third of the bay, stretching from the Baltimore Harbor to the bay's mid-channel region in the Potomac River, about 83 miles, when it was last measured in late June. It has since expanded beyond the Potomac into Virginia, officials said.
Especially heavy flows of tainted water from the Susquehanna River brought as much nutrient pollution into the bay by May as normally comes in an entire average year, a Maryland Department of Natural Resources researcher said. As a result, "in Maryland we saw the worst June" ever for nutrient pollution, said Bruce Michael, director of the DNR's resource assessment service.
Indonesia Issues Highest Alert for Mt. Lokon Volcano
© Manado Rizky Adriansyah / Tribun Manado
Mt. Lokon.
Mt. Lokon.
Disaster managment official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said Monday people living close to Mount Lokon in north Sulawesi province should be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Locals and tourists have been urged to stay up to 2.2 miles (3.5 kilometers) away from the 5,741-foot (1,750-meter) volcano.
Ash from Mount Etna closes Italian airport
Catania airport on the east coast of the island of Sicily was not expected to re-open before Sunday morning while the runway was cleared, the report said.
The volcano, which currently does not present any risk to local residents, spewed lava on to its southeastern slopes on Saturday afternoon and winds carried the ash further afield.
Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe at 3,295 metres (10,810 feet). The last eruption was in May.
A massive flood of meltwater from Iceland's Myrdalsjoekull glacier, meanwhile, has raised fears of an eruption from the powerful Katla volcano there.
US - San Andreas Fault is Overdue for Quake - Study
San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain, aerial view from 8500 feet altitude.
The southern end of the San Andreas Fault may be overdue for a large earthquake that could heavily damage the Los Angeles area, scientists have concluded after studying a record of ancient quakes and flooding around the seismically active region of the Salton Sea.
The researchers report finding evidence of many small past quakes that have ruptured along small "step-over" faults, which run at right angles to the fault's southern end. The underground stresses those small quakes have built up could trigger a much bigger one on the dominant San Andreas, they say.
A report from a group at the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole, Mass., the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, and the Nevada Seismological Laboratory in Reno suggests that a major temblor in the Salton Sea region could reach a magnitude greater than 7 - significantly larger than the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta quake of 1989 in the Bay Area.
The scientists' report is published online in the current issue of the journal Nature Geoscience.
The researchers report finding evidence of many small past quakes that have ruptured along small "step-over" faults, which run at right angles to the fault's southern end. The underground stresses those small quakes have built up could trigger a much bigger one on the dominant San Andreas, they say.
A report from a group at the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole, Mass., the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, and the Nevada Seismological Laboratory in Reno suggests that a major temblor in the Salton Sea region could reach a magnitude greater than 7 - significantly larger than the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta quake of 1989 in the Bay Area.
The scientists' report is published online in the current issue of the journal Nature Geoscience.
Loss of World's Top Predators Is Pervasively Changing Ecosystems
A healthy coral reef ecosystem with sharks off Jarvis Island, an uninhabited island located in the South Pacific Ocean. A loss of these large predators can alter the patterns of predation and herbivory, ultimately leading to an coral system where reef-building corals and coralline algae lose their competitive advantage.
The loss of top predators, such as lions, wolves and sharks, is causing unpredictable changes to food chains around the world, according to a review written by 24 scientists.
These animals, called apex predators, play a crucial role in ecosystems, and their disappearance - often due to hunting by humans and loss of habitat - can lead to changes in vegetation, wildfire frequency, infectious diseases, invasive species, water quality and nutrient cycles, according to the authors led by James Estes, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"The loss of apex consumers is arguably humankind's most pervasive influence on the natural world," the researchers conclude in a review published in the July 15 issue of the journal Science which examined findings from studies of ecosystems on land, in freshwater and in the ocean.
MV Brisk lands at Pentecost island, just east of Ambae.
Vanuatu's Ambae volcano has begun spewing volcanic gases, and residents could be forced to evacuate part of the island.
An expert from the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory has been sent to monitor the volcano, which has been known to trigger earthquakes.
They have measured an increase in tremor activity in the area and are expecting more explosions.
If the volcano does becomes more active, people living around it will be forced to evacuate.
Volcanologist Sylvain Todman, from the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory, told Pacific Beat they were watching the situation very closely.
"At the moment we have sporadic explosions but the explosions are getting bigger and bigger every time," he said.
A healthy coral reef ecosystem with sharks off Jarvis Island, an uninhabited island located in the South Pacific Ocean. A loss of these large predators can alter the patterns of predation and herbivory, ultimately leading to an coral system where reef-building corals and coralline algae lose their competitive advantage.
These animals, called apex predators, play a crucial role in ecosystems, and their disappearance - often due to hunting by humans and loss of habitat - can lead to changes in vegetation, wildfire frequency, infectious diseases, invasive species, water quality and nutrient cycles, according to the authors led by James Estes, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
"The loss of apex consumers is arguably humankind's most pervasive influence on the natural world," the researchers conclude in a review published in the July 15 issue of the journal Science which examined findings from studies of ecosystems on land, in freshwater and in the ocean.
Vanuatu Evacuation Alert as Volcano Rumbles
© ABC, Australia
MV Brisk lands at Pentecost island, just east of Ambae.
An expert from the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory has been sent to monitor the volcano, which has been known to trigger earthquakes.
They have measured an increase in tremor activity in the area and are expecting more explosions.
If the volcano does becomes more active, people living around it will be forced to evacuate.
Volcanologist Sylvain Todman, from the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory, told Pacific Beat they were watching the situation very closely.
"At the moment we have sporadic explosions but the explosions are getting bigger and bigger every time," he said.
Something's Fishy Flies dine on one of dozens of dead fish Wednesday washed up on the shores of the lake at Marden Park. The lake is closed to swimming and fishing due to what the Township of Guelph-Eramosa is calling "a public health concern."
Guelph - The Township of Guelph-Eramosa immediately cordoned off the lake at Marden Park after dead fish began washing ashore Monday.
By Wednesday morning, hundreds of flies were dining on dozens of dead, blanched fish floating on their sides in the shallow shoreline. At least one dead bird was found rotting near the water.
Guelph-Eramosa chief administrative officer Janice Sheppard said a fisherman called the township Monday after he noticed the dead fish. She called the closure a precaution.
Thousands of dead fish in Red River
Love County, Oklahoma -- Fishermen in a small community in southern Oklahoma are looking for answers after finding thousands of dead fish on the Red River.
"I've never seen anything like it..they just..for some unknown reason they're just dying," Bob Stewart.
Several residents in the Love County community of Courtney...near the Red River.. say thousands of fish have turned up dead over the past few days.
"I've never seen anything like it..they just..for some unknown reason they're just dying," Bob Stewart.
Several residents in the Love County community of Courtney...near the Red River.. say thousands of fish have turned up dead over the past few days.
Thousands of Dead Fish Wash Up On Lake Michigan Shores
Milwaukee -- Thousands of dead fish are washing up on the shores of Lake Michigan.
"It brings back the horror stories we used to have in Milwaukee with the enormous populations of alewives would wash up and destroy our beaches," said Dan Steininger, of Milwaukee.
Experts said small, shiny fishes, called alewives, have been dying off and showing up on beaches around Lake Michigan in recent weeks.
Radioactive strontium detected on seabed near Fukushima
Radioactive strontium has been found on the seabed near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Kyodo reported on Tuesday.
Tokyo Electric Power Company said strontium-89 and -90 was discovered in the seabed soil about 3 kilometers off the coast, some 20 kilometers north and south of the nuclear complex.
Between 10 and 44 becquerels per kilogram of strontium-90 were detected, which has a half-life of 29 years.
Shigeharu Kato, a member of the Nuclear Safety Commission, said further examination was needed to determine if or how the substances can accumulate in marine life, the NHK news agency reported.
Tokyo Electric Power Company said strontium-89 and -90 was discovered in the seabed soil about 3 kilometers off the coast, some 20 kilometers north and south of the nuclear complex.
Between 10 and 44 becquerels per kilogram of strontium-90 were detected, which has a half-life of 29 years.
Shigeharu Kato, a member of the Nuclear Safety Commission, said further examination was needed to determine if or how the substances can accumulate in marine life, the NHK news agency reported.
This sinkhole is located on Hwy. 148 between Luskville and Quyon near Ch. Parker. A detour is in place.
A section of Highway 148 near Luskville, Ontario, is now a canyon 18 metres deep, a victim of Friday's heavy rains.
Remarkably, the family living next to the giant gap owns a construction company with expertise in exactly the type of work that will be needed to fix the road.
Not only does James Nugent, of R.H. Nugent Construction, have 35 years of experience in the field, he has the heavy machinery parked only a few hundred meters from the caved-in road.
"We were called in right off the bat," he said. "There's nothing signed, but we probably will be proceeding with the work under an emergency situation. They want a company that can start right away."
Nugent said the large pipe that ran under that stretch of the highway seems to have been blocked at the intake. The torrents of water late last week stressed the situation causing the pipe to buckle and the ground above the pipe became waterlogged and gave way.
Wildfire shuts Los Alamos lab, forces evacuations in New Mexico
Smoke fills the sky from a wildfire in New Mexico about 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos, on June 26, 2011. A fast-moving wildfire has broken out in New Mexico and forced officials at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to close the site Monday as residents nearby evacuate their homes. Thousands of residents calmly fled Monday from the mesa-top town that's home to the Los Alamos nuclear laboratory, ahead of an approaching wildfire that sent up towering plumes of smoke, rained down ash and sparked a spot fire on lab property where scientists 50 years ago conducted underground tests of radioactive explosives.
Los Alamos National Laboratory officials said that the spot fire was soon contained and no contamination was released. They also assured that radioactive materials stored in various spots elsewhere on the sprawling lab were safe from flames.
The wildfire, which began Sunday, had destroyed 30 structures south and west of Los Alamos by early Monday and forced the closure of the lab while stirring memories of a devastating blaze in May 2000 that destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings.
"The hair on the back of your neck goes up," Los Alamos County fire chief Doug Tucker said of first seeing the fire in the Santa Fe National Forest on Sunday. "I saw that plume and I thought, 'Oh my God here we go again.'"
Scientists Say California Mega-Quake Imminent
The San Andreas fault is highlighted in red. It strikes through the heart of Southern California, including the Salton Sea.
Like a steaming kettle with the top on, pressure is building beneath the surface of California that could unleash a monster earthquake at any time. That's according to a new study from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
Geologists say Southern California is long overdue for a huge earthquake that could unleash widespread damage.
It all comes down to the Salton Sea, which lies to the east of San Diego. The Salton Sea lies directly on the San Andreas Fault and covers more than 350 square miles.
A big earthquake has hit the lake bed about every 180 years. But when officials started damming the Colorado River to reduce floods downstream (including in the Salton Sea), the moderate earthquakes stopped for the Salton.
Wildfire threatens Los Alamos National-Security Research Facility
The Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico will be closed Monday as fire crews battle a wildfire raging nearby, a statement on the facility's website said.
"All laboratory facilities will be closed for all activities and nonessential employees are directed to remain off site," the statement said. "Employees are considered nonessential and should not report to work unless specifically directed by their line managers."
A spokesman for the New Mexico State Forestry Division, however, told CNN the order to evacuate Los Alamos was voluntary, and stressed that there is no immediate threat to the facility.
"All laboratory facilities will be closed for all activities and nonessential employees are directed to remain off site," the statement said. "Employees are considered nonessential and should not report to work unless specifically directed by their line managers."
A spokesman for the New Mexico State Forestry Division, however, told CNN the order to evacuate Los Alamos was voluntary, and stressed that there is no immediate threat to the facility.
Sinkhole swallows south-east Queensland beach
A sinkhole up to 100m long and 50m deep has opened up on a south-east Queensland beach.
The hole appeared at Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach, on Saturday night and continued to grow yesterday. It is estimated to be up to 50m deep.
Hervey Bay man Ron Morgan told the Fraser Coast Chronicle he could only watch in shock as a small hole turned into a gaping chasm 30 metres wide and kept on growing.
The hole appeared at Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach, on Saturday night and continued to grow yesterday. It is estimated to be up to 50m deep.
Hervey Bay man Ron Morgan told the Fraser Coast Chronicle he could only watch in shock as a small hole turned into a gaping chasm 30 metres wide and kept on growing.
Fear and Trembling in Saudi Arabia
© John Pallister, United States Geological Survey
Harrat Lunayyir basalt cinder cones and lava flows in Saudi Arabia seen from an aerial perspective. Deposits from the cinder cones cover nearby ridges and form fans at the base of the older non-volcanic ridge in the background. These well-preserved geomorphic forms indicate the relative youth of this northern part of the volcanic field.
Saudi Arabia's Harrat Lunayyir lava field doesn't seem the kind of place that would generate much concern from anyone. Rocky where it isn't covered by sand, the area is bereft of vegetation and human habitation. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. True, it is pockmarked with cones formed by eruptions, but those were formed quite a long time ago.
But, correctly or not, many Saudis worry about Harrat Lunayyir. Two years ago the area was shaken by a so-called swarm of over 30,000 mini-earthquakes, which geologists say was caused by magma flows deep underground. The swarm left a five-mile long fissure and forced some 40,000 people to evacuate their homes.
Six Strong Quakes Strike at Ring of Fire in the Past Week
About 6 strong earthquakes, the latest in Indonesia, have been recorded in the past week
On Sunday, a strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Indonesia's Papua province. There were no immediate reports of damage or tsunami warnings issued.
Aside from Indonesia, during the past week moderate to strong earthquakes have hit Japan; nations in the Pacific like Fiji; Latin American countries like Chile and Argentina; Alaska in the United States; and even Antartica.
The Irish Weather Online reported that 2011 is on target to record the largest number of earthquakes in a single year for at least 12 years.
Flood Berm Collapses at Nebraska Nuclear Plant
The Fort Calhoun nuclear power station in Fort Calhoun, Neb., currently shut down for refueling, is surrounded by flood waters from the Missouri River, Tuesday, June 14, 2011. On Tuesday, the releases at Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota hit the maximum planned amount of 150,000 cubic feet of water per second, which are expected to raise the Missouri River 5 to 7 feet above flood stage in most of Nebraska and Iowa.
The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station shut down in early April for refueling, and there is no water inside the plant, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said. Also, the river is not expected to rise higher than the level the plant was designed to handle. NRC spokesman Victor Dricks said the plant remains safe.
The federal commission had inspectors at the plant 20 miles north of Omaha when the 2,000-foot berm collapsed about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Water surrounded the auxiliary and containment buildings at the plant, it said in a statement.
The Omaha Public Power District has said the complex will not be reactivated until the flooding subsides. Its spokesman, Jeff Hanson, said the berm wasn't critical to protecting the plant but a crew will look at whether it can be patched.
Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano More Active Experts Notice
The Turrialba volcano has been more active in recent days, spewing out greater emission of gases and with sound that appears similar to a jet engine.
"The gas column is more abundant, the noise is more noticeable in parts that were it is not usual", said Eliecer Duarte, volcanologist for the OVSICORI.
Duarte and other specialists visited the colossus on Thursday and found that the lake that formed in the western crater "blocked" the escape of gas which means they now soar over the entire crater.
"It is a process we have not seen before. The gases are distributed by sector but now gas is emanating 360-degrees around the crater", said Duarte.
"The gas column is more abundant, the noise is more noticeable in parts that were it is not usual", said Eliecer Duarte, volcanologist for the OVSICORI.
"It is a process we have not seen before. The gases are distributed by sector but now gas is emanating 360-degrees around the crater", said Duarte.
How Strong Can a Hurricane Get?
The scale starts with a Category 1, which ranges from 74 to 95 mph. A Category 5 storm has winds of 156 mph or stronger. An extrapolation of the scale suggests that if a Category 6 were created, it would be in the range of 176-196 mph.
Hurricane Wilma, in 2005, had top winds of 175 mph.
Earthquake Magnitude 5.1 - Eastern Iran
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 19:47:01 UTC
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 11:17:01 PM at epicenter
Location:
30.181°N, 57.559°E
Depth:
37.3 km (23.2 miles)
Region:
EASTERN IRAN
Distances
48 km (29 miles) ESE of Kerman, Iran
141 km (87 miles) NNW of Bam, Iran
152 km (94 miles) E of Rafsanjan, Iran
836 km (519 miles) SE of TEHRAN, Iran
On a Definitely Need to Know Basis: About Geomagnetic Reversal and Poleshift
This breach in the earth/s magnetic field alone, in that it is allowing solar winds to enter the earths atmosphere, is sufficient to really mess up the weather. Not only is this accelerating magnetic pole shift messing up the weather it is having major effects on geopolitics. These magnetic shifts are not only capable of causing massive global super storms, but can cause certain societies, cultures and whole countries to collapse, even go to war with one another.
All yet remains to be seen, but the magnetic reversal of the earth's poles seems to be rapidly increasing and IS affecting world weather patterns. The real question is how bad will things get before it all settles backdown to a "new normal?" At one time in history it was thought the North Pole was in the area that is now known as Hudson Bay. If the Hudson Bay area was the last locatoin of the North Pole, where will it go next? And how bad will global super storms and climate change get before it is over? And can we stop blaming each other for causing this and work together to survive it and keep civilization in tact?
Australia - Sink Hole Sucks Away Trees at Inskip Point
Inskip Peninsula campers cautiously check out the sink hole.
The hole opened up on the popular stretch of beach about 10.30am and by mid-afternoon it looked like a giant bite had been taken out of the coastline.
Campers on Inskip Peninsula watched in awe as chunks of sand were sucked out to sea, followed by trees and signs.
Visitor Rhonda Harris said it was a "phenomenon''.
"When we first came up about 11am the water was actually bubbling like it was boiling,'' she said.
"We saw the 'no camping' sign get washed out.''
Camper Shane Hillhouse said four-wheel drives had been travelling along the popular stretch of sand, near Inskip Peninsula, shortly before the hole appeared.
Near The North Coast Of Papua - Earthquake Magnitude 6.4
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 12:16:39 UTC
Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 09:16:39 PM at epicenter
Location:
2.391°S, 136.663°E
Depth:
20.6 km (12.8 miles)
Region:
NEAR THE NORTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
Distances:
172 km (106 miles) N of Enarotali, Papua, Indonesia
331 km (205 miles) ESE of Manokwari, Papua, Indonesia
1286 km (799 miles) NNE of DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia
3336 km (2072 miles) E of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Hits Yushu, Qinghai Province
An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted Nangchen County in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Yushu in northwest China's Qinghai Province at 3:48 p.m Sunday, said the China Earthquake Networks Center.
The epicenter was monitored at 32.4 degrees north latitude and 95.9 degrees east longitude with a depth of 10 km, the center said in a statement on its website.
A fresh 3.1-magnitude quake shook the Nangchen county four minutes after the 5.2-magnitude quake, according to the center.
No casualties have been reported so far, said Wen Guodong, vice secretary of the prefectural committee of the Communist Party of China.
"We felt the quake strongly in Nangchen, but near our office we haven't found any collapsed buildings," said Drimi Lhundrup, deputy chief of the county government.
The epicenter was monitored at 32.4 degrees north latitude and 95.9 degrees east longitude with a depth of 10 km, the center said in a statement on its website.
A fresh 3.1-magnitude quake shook the Nangchen county four minutes after the 5.2-magnitude quake, according to the center.
No casualties have been reported so far, said Wen Guodong, vice secretary of the prefectural committee of the Communist Party of China.
"We felt the quake strongly in Nangchen, but near our office we haven't found any collapsed buildings," said Drimi Lhundrup, deputy chief of the county government.
Storm drenches east China while drought plagues northwest
Shanghai - Extreme weather conditions are plaguing China with a strengthening tropical storm on the eastern coastline and a prolonged drought in the northwest.
The full force of Meari, still gaining in strength and likely to soon become a typhoon, would be felt in Zhejiang Province as it makes landfall there Saturday evening, according to an alert from the meteorological station of Zhejiang Province.
Meari, heading northward, is forecast to hit Shanghai soon after, with its center about 150 km to the east and out to sea of the city, according to the Shanghai municipal meteorological station.
Shanghai has emptied reservoirs to make room for the water the typhoon is likely to bring, said Zhang Zhengyu, spokesman for the Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters.
The full force of Meari, still gaining in strength and likely to soon become a typhoon, would be felt in Zhejiang Province as it makes landfall there Saturday evening, according to an alert from the meteorological station of Zhejiang Province.
Meari, heading northward, is forecast to hit Shanghai soon after, with its center about 150 km to the east and out to sea of the city, according to the Shanghai municipal meteorological station.
Shanghai has emptied reservoirs to make room for the water the typhoon is likely to bring, said Zhang Zhengyu, spokesman for the Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters.
Storm Haima wreaks havoc in North Vietnam
Contrary to previous predictions, tropical storm Haima landed in Thai Binh province yesterday evening. At least 10 people were killed, 14 were missing and hundreds of others were injured in some northern provinces, Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Central Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center, said.
Previously, the storm was expected to make landfall in the Vietnam-China border area, he said.
In the past few days, the storm has caused heavy rains in many Northern Vietnam provinces, with rainfalls measuring 50 mm to over 150 mm. In the central area of Hanoi, the rainfall reached 120 mm.
The coastal areas of Quang Ninh-Thai Binh province are experiencing winds of force 7-8.
After landing in Thai Binh with force of 6-7, the storm has weakened to a depression and continued moving west. It will fade away when it reaches Northern Laos this evening, he added.
The heavy rains are expected to continue in the next few days, Hai said.
So far the coastal city of Hai Phong suffered the most from the storm, with 6 people dead, including four by lightning, in four districts Thuy Nguyen, An Duong, Tien Lang and An Lao.
In the past few days, the storm has caused heavy rains in many Northern Vietnam provinces, with rainfalls measuring 50 mm to over 150 mm. In the central area of Hanoi, the rainfall reached 120 mm.
The coastal areas of Quang Ninh-Thai Binh province are experiencing winds of force 7-8.
After landing in Thai Binh with force of 6-7, the storm has weakened to a depression and continued moving west. It will fade away when it reaches Northern Laos this evening, he added.
The heavy rains are expected to continue in the next few days, Hai said.
So far the coastal city of Hai Phong suffered the most from the storm, with 6 people dead, including four by lightning, in four districts Thuy Nguyen, An Duong, Tien Lang and An Lao.
Tennessee- Storms add to woes
Power for some may not be restored until early next week, KUB says
After a second wave of major storms in three days, KUB said Friday that it is possible power may not be restored to all of its customers until early next week, even though it has an all-time high number of crews at work.
When the storms of Thursday night and Friday morning occurred, KUB had not fully recovered from Tuesday's storms that left more than 127,000 customers without power.
As of 9:17 p.m. Friday, 20,710 customers were still without power.
© Justin West
An image taken video shows a tree on Austin Womack's car June 24, 2011 on Silverwood Road in West Haven. The tree was toppled by the Tuesday evening storm. Womack's house was hit again early Friday morning when a tree hit the side of his home, pushing the bed from the wall.
An image taken video shows a tree on Austin Womack's car June 24, 2011 on Silverwood Road in West Haven. The tree was toppled by the Tuesday evening storm. Womack's house was hit again early Friday morning when a tree hit the side of his home, pushing the bed from the wall.
When the storms of Thursday night and Friday morning occurred, KUB had not fully recovered from Tuesday's storms that left more than 127,000 customers without power.
As of 9:17 p.m. Friday, 20,710 customers were still without power.
New York - Solutions needed in storm's wake
Such heavy rains have been an especially vexing problem for Rockland. Twice in March the area got hit hard, with rains causing spot flooding. On March 6 and 7, five communities - Valley Cottage, West Nyack, Hillburn, Nanuet and Thiells - all recorded rainfalls of 4 inches or more; Thiells registered 5.28 inches. This time there was less rain and more flooding. New City, with 3.4 inches, was treading water; Nyack had a river running through it; West Nyack was awash, as were several other communities.
Minot, North Dakota Floods: Threat of Rain Looms as Residents Brace for Flooding
Residents and officials in Minot, North Dakota, are bracing for record flooding from the swollen Souris River as the threat of more rain looms later today.
"A rain event right now would change everything. That's the scariest," Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman told The Associated Press.
Some 4,500 homes are expected to be damaged from the expected surge of the river.
The flooding is due to the combination of excessive snow melt from an above normal winter snow pack, and above normal rainfall this past spring from the northern Rocky Mountain states through the Plains and Midwest.
Massive flood expected to take toll on Lake Winnipeg, feed algae blooms
Flood waters from the breach in the dike at the hoop and holler bend fans out from the Assiniboine River, top of frame, to surrounding fields outside of Portage La Prairie, Man., on May 14, 2011. A massive flood that has turned fertile Manitoba pastures into lakes and driven people from their homes for weeks on end will probably deal another blow to the ailing prairie ocean known as Lake Winnipeg.
Flood waters that have settled across much of southern Manitoba are expected to carry various nutrients picked up from farmers' fields and urban run-off when they do finally recede into the world's 11th largest freshwater lake. It already has dangerously high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which feed huge blue-green algae blooms so large they are visible from space.
Experts say this year's flood, combined with a hot summer, could push nutrient levels up even more, as previous floods have done.
"The more land you inundate, the more potential there is for nutrients to come in," says Peter Leavitt, Canada research chair in environmental change and society, who recently conducted a study on Lake Winnipeg.
Floods spur wild rumors of nuclear plant perils in Nebraska
© Associated Press
In this June 14 photo, the Fort Calhoun nuclear power station in Nebraska is surrounded by Missouri River floodwaters. The photo alarmed some people who saw it.
In this June 14 photo, the Fort Calhoun nuclear power station in Nebraska is surrounded by Missouri River floodwaters. The photo alarmed some people who saw it.
Operators of the Fort Calhoun and Cooper plants and the federal agency that regulate them say the reactors are flood-proof, are in no danger of leaking, and extra precautions have been taken.
"The rumors have been as difficult to combat as the rising floodwaters," said Victor Dricks, spokesman for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Global cooling anyone?
© Reuters
The legacy of the ash and dust thrown up by the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile may well live on.
The legacy of the ash and dust thrown up by the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile may well live on.
The longer-term effects of all this ash and dust could be of wider environmental concern than, say, a few hundred thousand stranded passengers, as difficult as it is for those people.
Volcanic eruptions are awesome spectacles. In part this is due to millions of tonnes of tiny ash and dust particles, known as volcanic aerosols, being blasted high into the air. We've all marvelled at the photographs.
In volcanic terms, the ash and dust plume created by Puyehue-Cordon Caulle was modest, only reported to have reached a height of around 15 kilometres. Large explosions, such as the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, can create plumes in excess of 34 kilometres high and 400 kilometres wide, ejecting more than 17 million tons of aerosols.
But even as a modest eruption, the Chilean volcano could have ejected enough ash and dust into the stratosphere to have some long-term climatic effects, which could in turn affect agriculture and impact on human wellbeing and quality of life.
The reason is that large volumes of aerosols can, depending on how high they 'sit' in the air and how long they remain there, have a measurable cooling effect. The higher the dust gets into the atmosphere and the more of it there is, the greater its capacity to reflect heat from the sun, which cools the land below.
Experts say an earthquake surely will devastate the Northwest
A Japanese flag flies above wreckage in front of the city hospital in Onagawa, a community devastated by the March 11 tsunami and 9-magnitude earthquake. Experts estimate that at least 5,000 Oregonians will die in a similar quake and tsunami here. The only question, they say, is when.
Within the next 50 years, they say, Washington and northern Oregon face a 10 to 15 percent probability of an offshore quake powerful enough to kill thousands and launch a tsunami that would level coastal cities. Off southern Oregon, the probability of an 8-or-higher magnitude earthquake is greater -- 37 percent, according to Oregon State University's Chris Goldfinger, one of the world's top experts on subduction-zone quakes.
Goldfinger and other authorities who spoke at a Portland conference this week say the Northwest is dangerously unprepared for a massive quake they consider inevitable at some point. At least 300,000 Oregon children attend school in buildings vulnerable to collapse when the Big One comes.
"I think every parent should know this," said Kit Miyamoto, an earthquake engineer from Japan whose company is helping repair quake-damaged structures in Haiti. "Those schools should be banned."
Earthquake experts are speaking with new urgency after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 24,000 March 11, shattering long-held assumptions on safety and survival. A much smaller New Zealand quake in February showed what can happen in a city similar to Portland, killing 181 and destroying thousands of houses in Christchurch.
Could a 9.0 Earthquake Happen In the United States?
© USGS
Alaska Earthquake March 27, 1964. The Four Seasons Apartments in Anchorage was a six-story lift-slab reinforced concrete building which cracked to the ground during the quake.
Alaska Earthquake March 27, 1964. The Four Seasons Apartments in Anchorage was a six-story lift-slab reinforced concrete building which cracked to the ground during the quake.
Geophysicists estimate that the Cascadia Subduction Zone, an intersection of tectonic plates just off the northwestern coast that stretches from the northern tip of California up to Canada, is capable of generating an earthquake with a magnitude as high as a 9.0.
The last time the area shook that hard was 300 years ago. "There were hardly any people living on the Pacific Northwest Coast in 1700," said Heidi Houston, a seismologist at the University of Washington's Department of Earth & Space Sciences. "But it generated a huge tsunami that traveled to Japan and destroyed coastal villages there. The Japanese records show that the causative earthquake could only be our Cascadia Subduction Zone and it had to have been a magnitude-9.0."
Etna, fear-mongering in Chile and New Zealand, Philippine volcanoes and a new crater lake at Grimsvötn
© Eruptions reader Kirby
A webcam capture of activity at Chile's Puyehue-Cordón Caulle seen on June 22, 2011.
A webcam capture of activity at Chile's Puyehue-Cordón Caulle seen on June 22, 2011.
Italy: Now, sometimes I worry that Boris thinks I don't take Etna seriously enough. It has had a number of explosions and ash emissions over the past few weeks (see below) that didn't get nary a mention in a post, and for that, I am sorry. If you have missed it, Etna might not be in full eruption but is still putting on a show as this image posted by Dr. Behncke proves. Much like Kilauea, Etna is just such a constant performer that it almost becomes underappreciated (well, by me).
Heavy Rains Continue to Flood Midwestern USA
Thousands of residents in North Dakota are forced to leave their homes after the Souris River bursts its banks and levees are breached.
Heavy rains and melting snow have raised water levels in Canadian reservoirs in the Souris River basin over the past few weeks, which has caused unprecedented water releases further south in North Dakota.
More than 12,000 residents have been ordered out of flood-threatened areas after levee defenses failed.
The Souris River is expected to hit nearly 1,563 ft above sea level by the weekend, beating the previous flood record set in 1881.
With forecasters predicting more rain, record flooding is expected to continue throughout August, affecting Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri.
Active Week For Ring Of Fire As Earthquake Rattles Alaska
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake (revised down from 7.4 by the USGS) in Alaska, USA, late Thursday was the latest in a series of strong earthquakes to hit nations located along the Pacific Ring of Fire during the past week.
Among the other nations to record moderate to strong earthquakes this week include Japan, Fiji, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Antarctica.
The "Ring of Fire" is an arc stretching from New Zealand, along the eastern edge of Asia, north across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and south along the coast of North and South America. The Ring of Fire is composed over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes.
Among the other nations to record moderate to strong earthquakes this week include Japan, Fiji, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Costa Rica, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Antarctica.
The "Ring of Fire" is an arc stretching from New Zealand, along the eastern edge of Asia, north across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and south along the coast of North and South America. The Ring of Fire is composed over 75% of the world's active and dormant volcanoes.
© WIKI / USGS
Pacific Ring of Fire and the earthquakes from the last 7 days.
Pacific Ring of Fire and the earthquakes from the last 7 days.
Storm looking like giant tidal wave sparks sideways lightning bolts
This extraordinary photograph captures the incredible moments a 'supercell' storm reared up against a backdrop of lightning
Mike Hollingshead took this snap in Nebraska, USA.
The storm chaser, 35, said: "I've seen some cool storms but this one takes the cake."
Possible multiple tornadoes in the Pardubice region
Pardubice - Tuesday's tornado not only struck Staré Čívice in Pardubice, but also other communities in the vicinity of Pardubice.
People reported damaged roofs in Staré Jesenčany, Mikulovice, and Blata a Hroubovice said the deputy of county firefighters.
Possibly multiple tornadoes rampaged through Pardubice, but meteorologists are still investigating whether in some cases these were so-called 'landspouts'.
The tornado caused most damage in an industrial zone in Staré Čívice, where it damaged the buildings of two businesses, leaving costs in damages running into tens of millions of crowns.
Sirens Blare as Flooding Hits North Dakota
Sirens are blaring at this moment in Minot, N.D., as the overflowing Souris River floods over the top of local levees five hours before the evacuation deadline for 11,000 residents. Farther south, the overflowing Missouri River has put two nuclear power plants at risk, necessitated evacuations and produced a travel nightmare as interstate highways shut down.
Thousands move out as river seeps into North Dakota town
Nearly 12,000 expect their homes to be swamped within days
Minot, North Dakota - Driving away with what they could fit in their vehicles, thousands of Minot residents left their homes on Wednesday amid blaring sirens and floodwater that overtopped or seeped through some levees.
Steve and Michelle Benjamin were among the nearly 12,000 ordered out. Before they fled, however, they hauled an entertainment center, desk chairs and bicycles over an emergency levee to a trailered pickup truck. It was the last of nearly a dozen loads.
Michelle Benjamin, 46, stood on the deck along the rising Souris River, watching water trickle over the dike.
"Oh my God," she said as she fought back tears. "It's not easy starting over at this age."
Minot, North Dakota - Driving away with what they could fit in their vehicles, thousands of Minot residents left their homes on Wednesday amid blaring sirens and floodwater that overtopped or seeped through some levees.
Steve and Michelle Benjamin were among the nearly 12,000 ordered out. Before they fled, however, they hauled an entertainment center, desk chairs and bicycles over an emergency levee to a trailered pickup truck. It was the last of nearly a dozen loads.
Michelle Benjamin, 46, stood on the deck along the rising Souris River, watching water trickle over the dike.
"Oh my God," she said as she fought back tears. "It's not easy starting over at this age."
Tsunami Warning In Effect After Magnitude 6.7 Earthquake Hits Japan's Coast
The Japanese Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami about one-half meter (20 inches) could follow, CNN is reporting.
The quake struck in many of the same areas that were hit hard by the March earthquake and tsunami that left more than 23,000 dead or missing in Japan, AFP reports.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, according to CNN.
First Footage Emerges Of Eritrean Volcanic Eruption
Eritrean TV (Eri.TV) today broadcast images of the volcano which erupted for the first time in its history on Sunday 12 June last. The volcano continued to erupt Wednesday sending ash northwestards toward Sudan.
Meanwhile, the eruption of the stratovolcano has created a new landmass, according to the director general of Mines at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Mr. Alem Kibreab.
Mr. Alem said that the ash and lava emitted from the Southern Red Sea region volcano has created a new land mass measuring hundreds of square metres. The director general also disclosed that a team composed of geological and volcanic experts is conducting studies in the area.
Meanwhile, according to reports, 7 people have died while 3 people have sustained injuries due to the eruption. The Ministry confirmed that inhabitants of the area have been moved to safer locations while at the same time they are being given basic provisions.
Magnitude 6.7 Quake Rattles Northern Japan
Tokyo - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7 struck off the Pacific coast of northern Japan early Thursday, Japanese and U.S. seismologists reported.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami about one-half meter (19.5 inches) could be generated by the temblor, but there was no immediate report of damage or injuries.
The quake struck shortly before 7 a.m. (6 p.m. Wednesday ET) and was centered 530 kilometers (330 miles) north-northeast of Tokyo. The epicenter was off the northern prefecture of Iwate, about 175 kilometers (109 miles) north of where the magnitude 9 quake that devastated northern Japan struck in March.
The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami about one-half meter (19.5 inches) could be generated by the temblor, but there was no immediate report of damage or injuries.
The quake struck shortly before 7 a.m. (6 p.m. Wednesday ET) and was centered 530 kilometers (330 miles) north-northeast of Tokyo. The epicenter was off the northern prefecture of Iwate, about 175 kilometers (109 miles) north of where the magnitude 9 quake that devastated northern Japan struck in March.
Five Million Pakistanis at Risk from Floods
Monsoon floods began roaring through Pakistan in late July last year, leaving one-fifth of the country - an area the size of Italy - underwater, disrupting the lives of more than 18 million people.
The government and aid organisations were criticised for being too slow to respond while the military, seen as a far more efficient institution, took the lead in relief operations.
As Pakistan braces itself again for its annual monsoon season - which runs from late June to early September - the UN says authorities and the aid community have learnt lessons and are better prepared - even for the worst case scenario.
"Since the beginning of March, we have been in close contact with the government to make sure response is up and running and that we are better prepared this year," said Manuel Bessler, head of the UN emergencies office (OCHA) in Pakistan.
The government and aid organisations were criticised for being too slow to respond while the military, seen as a far more efficient institution, took the lead in relief operations.
As Pakistan braces itself again for its annual monsoon season - which runs from late June to early September - the UN says authorities and the aid community have learnt lessons and are better prepared - even for the worst case scenario.
"Since the beginning of March, we have been in close contact with the government to make sure response is up and running and that we are better prepared this year," said Manuel Bessler, head of the UN emergencies office (OCHA) in Pakistan.
Tropical storm Haima hits southern China, forcing ships to stop service.
Haikou, -- All passenger ships have been forced to cease operations in the south Qiongzhou Strait as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, due to the gusty winds brought by the fourth tropical storm of the year, "Haima", which formed early Tuesday morning, the local marine bureau of southern Hainan Province said.
Qiongzhou Strait is located between the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan.
Wu Qiang, deputy manager of Xiuying Passenger Ferry Company under the port affairs administration of Haikou, capital city of Hainan Province, said the temporarily suspended service has stranded about 100 travelers and vehicles.
"The port of Haikou has opened two spare parking lots and is ready to offer relevant services," Wu said
Qiongzhou Strait is located between the southern provinces of Guangdong and Hainan.
Wu Qiang, deputy manager of Xiuying Passenger Ferry Company under the port affairs administration of Haikou, capital city of Hainan Province, said the temporarily suspended service has stranded about 100 travelers and vehicles.
"The port of Haikou has opened two spare parking lots and is ready to offer relevant services," Wu said
Floods Swamp Earthquake-Ravaged Haiti, Killing 23
Children make their way to school through a flooded area in Port-au-Prince.The worst rains to hit the impoverished country this year -- at the start of the hurricane season -- paralyzed the capital, where most of the deaths took place, according to officials at Haiti's civil protection agency.
Thunderstorms were pounding several north Caribbean islands early Tuesday, but there was little chance of the large low pressure area developing into a hurricane, according to the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Several days of rain had already swelled rivers, however, and the NHC warned of "flash floods and mudslides over portions of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba."
Haiti was most at risk of devastation from the wet weather, due to its crumbling infrastructure and ramshackle shelters for tens of thousands left homeless after the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake in January 2010.
Health officials here also fear an uptick in fatalities from a cholera outbreak that erupted last October. The diarrheal illness thrives in crowded areas where people rely on contaminated water.
Five Injured in 5.3-Magnitude Earthquake in China's Xinjiang
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit a remote county in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Wednesday, causing a car pileup which left five injured.
The quake jolted Toksun County of Turpan Prefecture at 9:53 a.m., according to the China Earthquake Network Center.
Toksun County is about 160 km from Urumqi, the regional capital.
The quake caused several big rocks to roll down a mountain in the neighboring Dabancheng District, and onto a road forcing a driver to slam on his car brakes leading to a 17-car pileup, said Zhang Qirui, an official with the district's road bureau.
Five people were hurt in the collision, among whom two were severely injured, he said.
The epicenter was monitored at 43.0 degrees north latitude and 88.3 degrees east longitude with a depth of about 5 km, the center said.
The quake was followed by two large aftershocks, measuring 4.2- and 4.1-magnitude and occurring at 9:54 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively, according to the center.
The quake jolted Toksun County of Turpan Prefecture at 9:53 a.m., according to the China Earthquake Network Center.
Toksun County is about 160 km from Urumqi, the regional capital.
The quake caused several big rocks to roll down a mountain in the neighboring Dabancheng District, and onto a road forcing a driver to slam on his car brakes leading to a 17-car pileup, said Zhang Qirui, an official with the district's road bureau.
Five people were hurt in the collision, among whom two were severely injured, he said.
The epicenter was monitored at 43.0 degrees north latitude and 88.3 degrees east longitude with a depth of about 5 km, the center said.
The quake was followed by two large aftershocks, measuring 4.2- and 4.1-magnitude and occurring at 9:54 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively, according to the center.
Small 3.9 Magnitude Quake Hits St. Louis Region
A small earthquake rattled the St. Louis region early Tuesday, shaking some people awake but not causing any reported damage.
The quake, which hit at 3:10 a.m. Tuesday, was a magnitude 3.9 temblor, according to scientists examining data at the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo.
"A lot of people felt it, but we're not talking about damage," said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. "It was pretty short duration."
The city closest to the epicenter was Richwoods, six miles northeast of the quake center.
About 2,600 people logged on to the Geological Survey's website to report having felt the quake. Several hundred people from the St. Louis area's ZIP codes reported the quake as having the intensity of subtle shaking.
The quake, which hit at 3:10 a.m. Tuesday, was a magnitude 3.9 temblor, according to scientists examining data at the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo.
"A lot of people felt it, but we're not talking about damage," said Don Blakeman, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey. "It was pretty short duration."
The city closest to the epicenter was Richwoods, six miles northeast of the quake center.
About 2,600 people logged on to the Geological Survey's website to report having felt the quake. Several hundred people from the St. Louis area's ZIP codes reported the quake as having the intensity of subtle shaking.
Georgia, US: Fish Mystery Might Go Unsolved
Thousands of fish turned up dead on the Ogeechee River. What led them to become suceptible to a common bacteria is a mystery that environmental officials and river watchdogs are trying to solve. A US Environmental Protection Agency memo released this week repeats what's already known about the kill -- that it was caused by a common bacteria.
But it then concludes, it might be impossible to know for certain what made the fish suceptible to the bacteria in the first place.
Fisheries manager Tim Barrett of the state Environmental Protection Division says, it's frustrating, but there are many factors.
Huge Spinning Storm off California... in June!
Having lived in California for 14 years, I have never seen a storm like this during June. It is unheard of. Typically the rainy season has ended long ago, by this time of year.
The size of this monster storm is nearly 1,000 miles in diameter and is nearly perfectly symmetrical! Parts of California are currently getting pummeled with bands of record breaking rainfall for this time of year, while the storm is forecast to continue spinning its way east towards the coast.
Big Apple, Cracked! New York, US: Midtown sinkhole stops rush hour traffic, baffles investigators
Department of Environmental Protection investigators inspect sinkhole in midtown Manhattan.No one was injured when the near five-foot by three-foot hole appeared mid-block around 2 p.m., officials said.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection, was on the scene, but could not explain the sinkhole. They said no leaks had been detected and promised to investigate the problem.
Earthquake Magnitude 4.2 - Missouri
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 08:10:34 UTC
Tuesday, June 07, 2011 at 03:10:34 AM at epicenter
Location:
38.121°N, 90.933°W
Depth:
5.1 km (3.2 miles)
Region:
MISSOURI
Distances:
18 km (11 miles) SE (137°) from Miramiguoa Park, MO
23 km (14 miles) ESE (116°) from Sullivan, MO
24 km (15 miles) NNW (327°) from Potosi, MO
48 km (30 miles) S (172°) from Washington, MO
82 km (51 miles) SW (227°) from St. Louis, MO
Scores of Protected Golden Eagles Dying After Colliding with Wind Turbines
California's attempts to switch to green energy have inadvertently put the survival of the state's golden eagles at risk.
Scores of the protected birds have been dying each year after colliding with the blades of about 5,000 wind turbines.
Now the drive for renewable power sources, such as wind and the sun, being promoted by President Obama and state Governor Jerry Brown has raised fears that the number of newborn golden eagles may not be able to keep pace with the number of turbine fatalities.
Scores of the protected birds have been dying each year after colliding with the blades of about 5,000 wind turbines.
Now the drive for renewable power sources, such as wind and the sun, being promoted by President Obama and state Governor Jerry Brown has raised fears that the number of newborn golden eagles may not be able to keep pace with the number of turbine fatalities.
Something Strange With Volcano Eruption in Chile
"The Cordon Caulle (volcanic range) has entered an eruptive process, with an explosion resulting in a 10-kilometer-high gas column," Chilean state emergency office said.
The thing is, for some unknown reason, as of this writing, eight earthquakes near magnitude 5 have shook the earth near the Puyehue volcano. The problem is, the earthquakes are located 20 to 40 miles away from the eruption! Very Strange Indeed.
There's something brewing quite a distance from the eruption, but is quite obviously directly related. We're talking about enormous energies here.
The 2011 Season for Noctilucent Clouds is Underway, and it is Intensifying
The 2011 season for noctilucent clouds (NLCs) is underway, and it is intensifying. Observers are now reporting electric-blue waves and filaments in the sunset skies of both Europe and North America. Last night, Bob Conzemius photographed a vivid display over Trout Lake, Minnesota, and--bonus--he caught some Northern Lights, too. Click on the image to set the scene in motion:
NLCs are a summertime phenomenon. In the upper atmosphere, 80+ km high at the edge of space itself, tiny ice crystals nucleate around microscopic meteoroids and other aerosols; when the crystals catch the rays of the setting sun, they glow electric blue. Ironically, these highest and coldest of clouds form during the warmest months on the ground.
NLCs are a summertime phenomenon. In the upper atmosphere, 80+ km high at the edge of space itself, tiny ice crystals nucleate around microscopic meteoroids and other aerosols; when the crystals catch the rays of the setting sun, they glow electric blue. Ironically, these highest and coldest of clouds form during the warmest months on the ground.
Comment: Let us suggest another reason, why instances of noctilucent clouds are intensifying.
What we suspect has really been happening, based on our research thus far, is that the upper atmosphere is cooling because it is being loaded with comet dust, which shows up in the form of noctilucent clouds and other upper atmospheric formations.
Magnificent and mesmerizing noctilucent clouds (also called polar mesospheric clouds), were once considered to be rare. But now they are puzzling scientists with their recent dramatic changes. Apparently, the clouds are growing brighter, are seen more frequently, are visible at ever lower latitudes and are now appearing even during the day. If scientists were allowed to conduct honest interdisciplinary research, such changes wouldn't be a mystery.
They would be able to figure out that comet dust is electrically-charged which is causing the earth's rotation to slow marginally. The slowing of the rotation is reducing the magnetic field, opening earth to more dangerous cosmic radiation and stimulating more volcanism. The volcanism under the sea is heating the sea water which is heating the lower atmosphere and loading it with moisture.
The moisture hits the cooler upper atmosphere and contributes to a deadly mix that inevitably leads to an Ice Age, preceded for a short period by a rapid increase of greenhouse gases and "hot pockets" in the lower atmosphere, heavy rains, hail, snow, and floods.
What we suspect has really been happening, based on our research thus far, is that the upper atmosphere is cooling because it is being loaded with comet dust, which shows up in the form of noctilucent clouds and other upper atmospheric formations.
Magnificent and mesmerizing noctilucent clouds (also called polar mesospheric clouds), were once considered to be rare. But now they are puzzling scientists with their recent dramatic changes. Apparently, the clouds are growing brighter, are seen more frequently, are visible at ever lower latitudes and are now appearing even during the day. If scientists were allowed to conduct honest interdisciplinary research, such changes wouldn't be a mystery.
They would be able to figure out that comet dust is electrically-charged which is causing the earth's rotation to slow marginally. The slowing of the rotation is reducing the magnetic field, opening earth to more dangerous cosmic radiation and stimulating more volcanism. The volcanism under the sea is heating the sea water which is heating the lower atmosphere and loading it with moisture.
The moisture hits the cooler upper atmosphere and contributes to a deadly mix that inevitably leads to an Ice Age, preceded for a short period by a rapid increase of greenhouse gases and "hot pockets" in the lower atmosphere, heavy rains, hail, snow, and floods.
Caribbean Storm System Threatens Jamaica, Haiti With Mudslides
An area of disturbed weather with a 40 percent chance of becoming a tropical cyclone may bring heavy rain and mudslides to Haiti and Jamaica this week, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
The system, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of Grand Cayman, is expected to run into unfavorable conditions for additional development in about 24 hours, according to the center in Miami.
"As it goes further north it will encounter a more hostile environment," said Jim Rouiller, a senior energy meteorologist at Planalytics Inc. in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. "The whole northern Gulf of Mexico is drier and has a lot of wind shear and those will be the main things that will keep it sheltered from any real threat."
The system, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of Grand Cayman, is expected to run into unfavorable conditions for additional development in about 24 hours, according to the center in Miami.
"As it goes further north it will encounter a more hostile environment," said Jim Rouiller, a senior energy meteorologist at Planalytics Inc. in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. "The whole northern Gulf of Mexico is drier and has a lot of wind shear and those will be the main things that will keep it sheltered from any real threat."
Bariloche (Argentina) and Southern Chile on Alert After Volcano Eruption
The Puyehue volcano eruption, as seen from the Chilean side.
Authorities told the population to remain calm, to keep their water reserves and to remain home at all times in order to avoid the falling ash. In case of an emergency, officials have suggested the use of face masks in order to avoid it.
As an orange alert was declared, authorities shut down the airport.
Earlier, five quakes ranging between 4.6 and 4.8 in the Richter scale had been registered in the south of the Neuquén province, while a few kilometres away, across the border with Chile, some 600 people were evacuated due to the sudden eruption.
Chile's Puyehue volcano explodes, unleashing massive ash cloud
Transformer Explosion Knocks Out University of Maryland Power
Around 8:40 p.m., one of several transformers adjacent to the campus police headquarters exploded, causing several small grass fires nearby.
A huge orange fireball rose above the police station.
The Earth opens up? New Zealand: Source and the type of deadly gas in tunnel a mystery
Speaking at a Onehunga explosion press conference (front left) Derrick Adams, CEO of HEB Contractors, Mark Ford, CEO of Watercare Services and Auckland mayor Len Brown
The type of gas and its origin are unknown.
Gas levels were still at an explosive level late last night following the early morning tragedy in Onehunga.
A police spokeswoman said emergency services were continuously pumping air into the tunnel but the site was too dangerous to enter for closer inspection.
The spokeswoman said the type of gas remained unidentified and no one knew how it had come to be in the pipe. "It is a mystery to everybody," she said.
Fire Service staff would remain at the scene until it was safe, and nearby residents were able to stay in their homes because the gas is not toxic.
Earthworm Plague Sweeps Cincinnati, Ohio
WLWT was first alerted to the issue by Rick in West Chester.
"This appears to have started sometime yesterday afternoon, as I do not remember seeing them yesterday morning," Rick wrote.
Shortly after Rick's email, WLWT reporter Brian Hamrick began taking photos from his home in Florence, where thousands of worms coated the sidewalks of his neighborhood.
After one post on FB, more than 90 people said they had seen the same thing, from Fairfield, to Mount Airy, Pleasant Ridge, Independence and Sardinia. We even got confirmation from our sister TV station in Louisville that they had a few hundred dead worms on their sidewalk.
Noctilucent Clouds Over Europe
The 2011 noctilucent cloud (NLC) season has begun. For the past few nights, observers across northern Europe have spotted velvety, electric-blue tendrils rippling across the sunset sky. John Houghton sends this picture from Newtown Linford, Leicester, UK:
"This was the best display of noctilucent clouds I've seen to date," he says. "It was visible even before sunset."
NLCs are a summertime phenomenon. In the upper atmosphere, 80+ km high at the edge of space itself, tiny ice crystals nucleate around microscopic meteoroids and other aerosols; when the crystals catch the rays of the setting sun, they glow electric blue. Ironically, these highest and coldest of clouds form during the warmest months on the ground.
NLCs are a summertime phenomenon. In the upper atmosphere, 80+ km high at the edge of space itself, tiny ice crystals nucleate around microscopic meteoroids and other aerosols; when the crystals catch the rays of the setting sun, they glow electric blue. Ironically, these highest and coldest of clouds form during the warmest months on the ground.
Earthquake Magnitude 6.3 - off East Coast of Honshu
Date-Time:
Friday, June 03, 2011 at 00:05:03 UTC
Friday, June 03, 2011 at 10:05:03 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
37.294°N, 143.912°E
Depth:
31 km (19.3 miles)
Region:
OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances:
270 km (167 miles) E of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan
287 km (178 miles) ESE of Sendai, Honshu, Japan
308 km (191 miles) E of Fukushima, Honshu, Japan
412 km (256 miles) ENE of TOKYO, Japan
Friday, June 03, 2011 at 00:05:03 UTC
Friday, June 03, 2011 at 10:05:03 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
37.294°N, 143.912°E
Depth:
31 km (19.3 miles)
Region:
OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances:
270 km (167 miles) E of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan
287 km (178 miles) ESE of Sendai, Honshu, Japan
308 km (191 miles) E of Fukushima, Honshu, Japan
412 km (256 miles) ENE of TOKYO, Japan
Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano Blasts Tower of Ash
A large plume of ash rises from the Popocatepetl volcano as seen from the highway to Atlixco, Mexico early Friday June 3, 2011. The 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) mountain shot a blast of ash about 2 miles (3 kilometers) above its crater but there is no report of threat to populated areas.
Mexico City -- The Popocatepetl volcano that towers over Mexico City began rumbling again Friday, shooting a blast of ash about 2 miles (3 kilometers) above its crater at dawn.
The ash cloud drifted first to the west and then turned back east toward the city of Puebla, Mexico's national disaster prevention agency said.
The 17,886-foot (5,450-meter) mountain shook for several minutes before the ash burst out.
The agency urged people to stay at least 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the crater, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Mexico's capital.
Puebla state civil defense Director Jesus Morales told a local television station that the cloud "has a high ash content, but it doesn't represent a risk."
"A little ash could fall in Puebla city," he said.
Both Morales and federal civil defense coordinator Laura Gurza warned residents in the region that they shouldn't wet down any ash that falls before sweeping it away.
Canada: Large hail pounds western Manitoba
Hail larger than a quarter pummeled Souris on Thursday
"These thunderstorms are tracking east-northeast at 50 km/h and have a history of producing hail the size of golf balls in Melita and Souris earlier this morning," stated a warning issued by Environment Canada at noon.
"Brandon and communities west and south of the city are in the direct path of the strongest thunderstorms in this cluster and should prepare for large hail."
Lake Manitoba swallowed homes - residents
Many homes and cottages along the south shore of Lake Manitoba have been severely damaged by Tuesday's violent storm
The storm hit on Tuesday, damaging numerous properties in the Rural Municipality of St. Laurent - Twin Lakes Beach, Laurentian Beach, Delta Beach, and Sandpiper Beach.
David Sawicky said Wednesday he had to wade into rising floodwaters at his home to rescue his father and his dog.
Still, Sawicky said, he didn't expect the damage to his property to be that bad.d
Kazakhstan: Mysterious Mass Deaths of Endangered Antelopes Reported
The saiga almost went extinct in the 20th century but recovered briefly. The World Wildlife Fund estimates there were over a million in the wild in the early 1990s, but they now number around 50,000 and are on the IUCN's critically endangered species list.
Vanuatu Officials Raise Alert Level Over Mt Yasur Volcano
Vanuatu's department of geohazards has closed access to the Mt Yasur volcano on Tanna Island, after a lift in volcanic activity from the beginning of this year.
A geohazards team investigated the volcano earlier this week and says there were strong explosions and emissions from all three active vents.
They have lifted the hazard rating to level 3, which closes access to the volcano.
The officials say there's significant ash fall on nearby villages but there are currently no plans to evacuate the inhabitants.
Frequent Tornadoes a Symptom of Jet Stream Change
The unusually large number of severe tornadoes this year may be a sign of large scale changes in the jet stream.
John Harrington Jr., a professor of geography at Kansas State University, notes that severe tornadoes are not unheard of historically. But when the events happen frequently such as the the destruction of Joplin, Mo., the outbreak of multiple tornadoes in Alabama, and yesterday's northeast outbreak in Massachusetts, it becomes a warning that there are changes afoot in the jet stream.
"The fact that this is happening all in one year and in a relatively short time frame is unusual," Harrington said in a Kansas State press release.
The jet stream in the upper atmosphere flows from west to east and tends to meander over the southern states during the winter and the northern states in the summer. Tornadoes tend to strike most during the spring and fall shifts of the jet stream.
US: Arizona wildfire jumps to 40,000+ acres
There's been a dramatic increase overnight in the burned acreage numbers on the Wallow fire 12 miles southwest of Alpine in eastern Arizona.
U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Jonetta Trued tells The Associated Press the wildfire has increased to more than 40,500 acres with zero containment.
Trued says the wildfire is burning dead trees and branches lying on the forest floor. When an ember hits, there's 100 percent ignition which leads to spot fires and hazardous conditions for fire crews.
U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Jonetta Trued tells The Associated Press the wildfire has increased to more than 40,500 acres with zero containment.
Trued says the wildfire is burning dead trees and branches lying on the forest floor. When an ember hits, there's 100 percent ignition which leads to spot fires and hazardous conditions for fire crews.
US: Atlantic Disturbance Crossing Florida Today
This radar snapshot was taken at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, June 1, 2011. The system in question is affecting Daytona Beach from the east.
An area of disturbed weather in the Atlantic will bring heavy, gusty thunderstorms to part of the Florida Peninsula this afternoon and evening.
The feature, which started out as a cluster of thunderstorms over the Great Lakes this past weekend, blew off the mid-Atlantic coast Memorial Day morning.
That feature has now turned southwestward and will cross the Florida Peninsula from northeast to southwest this afternoon and evening.
Areas from Daytona Beach and Cape Canaveral will be impacted first. Next, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando would be in the path of the stormy weather this afternoon. Finally, the Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Myers areas are fair game for some of the thunderstorms later today.
Update: Eclipse of The Midnight Sun
A solar eclipse at midnight? It's not only possible, it actually happened last night. On June 1st, the new Moon passed in front of the midnight sun above the Arctic circle, producing a partial eclipse of exquisite beauty. Bernt Olsen photographed the event from Sommarøy, Tromsø, Norway:
"A rain shower threatened to spoil the show, but just before midnight the clouds parted and I got a fairly clear shot of the eclipse," says Olsen. "I'm glad I did, because we won't experience an eclipse like this again for 73 years."
© Bernt Olsen
Image Taken: Jun 1, 2011
Location: Sommarøy, Tromsø, Norway
Image Taken: Jun 1, 2011
Location: Sommarøy, Tromsø, Norway
© Bernt Olsen
Volcano Expert Fears We'll See a Super Eruption
Blast radius of a Yellowstone super-volcano eruption in the U.S.
Volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer yesterday warned there was a one-in-500 chance of the world being hit by a super- volcano this century.
The reader in vulcanology at Cambridge University told a Hay audience: "That might not sound like much, but it is a lot more likely than an asteroid impact.
"The events in Japan remind us that you can have a tsunami and earthquake and a nuclear plant there as well and you can have these chain reaction events that are actually quite calamitous and they are not unimaginable."
Examining geological, historical and archeological records, the expert took the audience on a journey back to three volcanic eruptions that have shaken the world - the 1815 Tambora volcano in Indonesia that killed 100,000 people, the 1783 eruption of Kaki in Iceland and the massive Toba eruption in indonesia that pumped 3,000 cubic km of magma into the atmosphere around 75,000 years ago, leaving behind a lake-filled crater in North Sumatra 100km long and 30km wide.
Saudi Arabia: Mystery Disease Kills 300 Sheep Within an Hour
A Saudi farmer who went into his barn to take his 300 sheep on their daily pasturing was shocked when he found them all dead, a newspaper in the Gulf Kingdom said on Saturday.
The farm said he checked the sheep an hour earlier and they were all alive in their barn at his far in the western town of Qunfudha.
The unnamed farmer had owned the sheep for years and they were his sole source of living for his family of 16.
The farm said he checked the sheep an hour earlier and they were all alive in their barn at his far in the western town of Qunfudha.
The unnamed farmer had owned the sheep for years and they were his sole source of living for his family of 16.
44-foot long sperm whale washes up on English beach
Work began after a post-mortem examination was carried out in a bid to establish what killed the gentle giant.
The 44-foot long male sperm whale was found washed up on the beach close to Green Lane by an early morning walker yesterday.
Extensive efforts were made to save the massive mammal but it later died.
Hundreds of Rare Saiga Antelope Die in Kazakhstan (Again)
One year after a mysterious epidemic wiped out 12,000 critically endangered saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) in Kazakhstan, the ailment has struck there again, this time killing more than 400 animals.Kazakhstan Today reports that 442 saiga antelope - including 360 does and 82 calves - were found dead in May. Like a year ago, they fell victim to pasteurellosis, an infection that afflicts the lungs.
But what caused the infection? West Kazakhstan regional governor Baktykozha Izmukhambetov told a cabinet meeting on May 31 that "some sort of poisoning from the flora, which is to say from the grass, is taking place." (Translation via Eurasianet.org)
800-Mile-Wide Hot Anomaly Found Under Seafloor off Hawaii
© Patrick McFeeley, National GeographicHot lava spills into the sea from under a hardened lava crust on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Scientists say they've found solid evidence of a giant mass of hot rock under the seafloor in the region. But it's not a plume running straight from the core to the surface - and it's hundreds of miles west of the nearest Hawaiian island.
Until now, the researchers say, good seismic data on the region has been scarce, so it was tough to question the traditional explanation: that a stream of hot rock directly from around Earth's core formed the 3,100-mile-long (5,000-kilometer-long) chain of islands and undersea mountains in the Pacific Ocean.
NASA: Songda Becomes a Super Typhoon
As predicted, Typhoon Songda intensified and was a super typhoon with wind speeds estimated at over 130 knots ( ~145 mph) when NASA's TRMM satellite passed directly over head on May 26, 2011 at 0806 UTC (4:06 a.m. EDT).
Songda had a circular eye with extremely heavy rainfall, particularly in the southeast quadrant. The red areas represent heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches/50 mm per hour). The yellow and green areas are moderate rainfall, falling at a rate between .78 to 1.57 inches (20 to 40 mm) per hour.
Songda had a circular eye with extremely heavy rainfall, particularly in the southeast quadrant. The red areas represent heavy rainfall (falling at about 2 inches/50 mm per hour). The yellow and green areas are moderate rainfall, falling at a rate between .78 to 1.57 inches (20 to 40 mm) per hour.
Strange He-She Birds Present Gender-Bending Mystery
US: Storms Will Drop Heavy Rains for 2 Days in West Michigan
Rainfall could accumulate to two inches or more through Thursday.
Scientists Ask Britons to Help Map Grimsvotn Ash
Geoscientists at the British Geological Survey (BGS.L) group asked members of the public for help on Wednesday with observations of volcanic ash from the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland.
BGS scientist Aoife O'Mongain said the group has developed a simple online questionnaire with questions like: 'Have you seen ash/dust on your car windscreen?' and 'Have you smelt sulphur (rotten eggs)?' which should help map the ash's reach.
"There is a short time window for ash observations for this eruption so any observations are welcomed, especially within the next 24 hours," O'Mongain said in a statement.
A map showing real-time survey results can be viewed by following the link at www.bgs.ac.uk.
BGS scientist Aoife O'Mongain said the group has developed a simple online questionnaire with questions like: 'Have you seen ash/dust on your car windscreen?' and 'Have you smelt sulphur (rotten eggs)?' which should help map the ash's reach.
"There is a short time window for ash observations for this eruption so any observations are welcomed, especially within the next 24 hours," O'Mongain said in a statement.
A map showing real-time survey results can be viewed by following the link at www.bgs.ac.uk.
US: Joplin Storm Contained a Rare Multivortex Tornado
The death toll from Sunday's tornado has risen to 122, making it the eighth-deadliest tornado in U.S. history, the National Weather Service said.
The Joplin twister was upgraded to EF-5, the strongest category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with winds exceeding 200 mph. The storm was apparently a "multivortex" tornado, with two or more small and intense centers of rotation orbiting the larger funnel, a rare occurrence.
It's the country's deadliest storm since 1950.
The number of those still missing isn't known because many have left Joplin to stay with relatives and friends. Rescue workers on Tuesday were able to save two more people from the wreckage, bringing the total to nine, even as they braced for more storms Tuesday night.
Those storms brought their own misery: Several tornadoes struck Oklahoma City and its suburbs during rush hour, killing at least five people and injuring at least 60 others, including three children who were in critical condition, authorities said.
The Joplin twister was upgraded to EF-5, the strongest category on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with winds exceeding 200 mph. The storm was apparently a "multivortex" tornado, with two or more small and intense centers of rotation orbiting the larger funnel, a rare occurrence.
It's the country's deadliest storm since 1950.
The number of those still missing isn't known because many have left Joplin to stay with relatives and friends. Rescue workers on Tuesday were able to save two more people from the wreckage, bringing the total to nine, even as they braced for more storms Tuesday night.
Those storms brought their own misery: Several tornadoes struck Oklahoma City and its suburbs during rush hour, killing at least five people and injuring at least 60 others, including three children who were in critical condition, authorities said.
420 Whale Sharks Swarm Mexican Coastline
Whale shark aggregation off the coast of Mexico.
Up to 420 whale sharks gathered off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, forming the world's largest known assembly of this species, according to a press release issued by the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.
The discovery counters the widely held belief that whale sharks, which can weigh more than 79,000 pounds, are solitary filter feeders that prefer to be alone in the open ocean. The impressive shark assembly proves they will gather for the right reasons. Food now appears to be the draw.
"Whale sharks are the largest species of fish in the world, yet they mostly feed on the smallest organisms in the ocean, such as zooplankton," Mike Maslanka, biologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and head of the Department of Nutrition Sciences, says in the press release. "Our research revealed that in this case, the hundreds of whale sharks had gathered to feed on dense patches of fish eggs."
Maslanka and his team identified the whale shark assembly using both surface and aerial surveys. Considering these sharks can grow to more than 40 feet long, the surface-level surveying must have been extraordinary.
Japan Quake Raises Shaking Risk Elsewhere in Country
Map showing the 11 March 2011 magnitude 9.0 off Tohoku mainshock and 166 aftershocks of magnitude 5.5 and greater until May 20. Warmer color indicates more recent events. Larger symbol indicates greater quake magnitude.
The massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Japan in March built up stress on other faults in the country, putting some areas, including Tokyo, at risk of aftershocks and even new main shocks over the next few years, scientists have found.
After studying data from Japan's extensive seismic network, researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Kyoto University and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have identified several areas at risk from the quake, Japan's largest ever, which already has triggered a large number of aftershocks.
Data from the Tohoku earthquake on March 11 has brought scientists a small step closer to a better assessment of future seismic risk in specific regions, said Shinji Toda of Kyoto University, a lead author of the study.
"Even though we cannot forecast precisely, we can explain the mechanisms involved in such quakes to the public," he said. Still, he added, the findings do bring scientists "a little bit closer" to being able to forecast aftershocks.
Philippines on Alert as Songda Turns into Typhoon
Manila, Philippines - A fierce storm approaching the Philippines intensified into a typhoon on Wednesday, the government said, warning it would unleash heavy rains across the main island of Luzon.
Typhoon Songda was expected to slam into the remote and mountainous northeast of Luzon on Friday, although it could change course and head towards more populated areas near the capital of Manila, forecasters said.
"We are asking the public (in storm-affected areas) to postpone travelling and stay indoors," chief state weather forecaster Graciano Yumul said.
"The public must follow instructions by their officials to prevent a possible tragedy brought by Chedeng (Songda)."
Forecasters said the typhoon, with sustained winds of 130 kilometres (80 miles) an hour and gusts of 160 kilometres an hour, was powerful enough to blow away roofs, uproot trees, damage crops and cause landslides.
Typhoon Songda was expected to slam into the remote and mountainous northeast of Luzon on Friday, although it could change course and head towards more populated areas near the capital of Manila, forecasters said.
"We are asking the public (in storm-affected areas) to postpone travelling and stay indoors," chief state weather forecaster Graciano Yumul said.
"The public must follow instructions by their officials to prevent a possible tragedy brought by Chedeng (Songda)."
Forecasters said the typhoon, with sustained winds of 130 kilometres (80 miles) an hour and gusts of 160 kilometres an hour, was powerful enough to blow away roofs, uproot trees, damage crops and cause landslides.
Iceland Ash Cloud Reaches Scandinavia
Ash from Iceland's erupting volcano reached Scandinavia Tuesday causing minor air traffic disruptions in Norway and closing a small part of Denmark's airspace, officials said.
On Tuesday morning, the ash blew in over Norway's southwestern towns of Karmoey and Stavanger before blowing back out to sea, the country's airport operator Avinor said.
In Denmark, a small zone of airspace in the northwest over the North Sea was closed from 0600 to 1200 GMT but has no real impact on air traffic, said Jan Eliassen, a spokesman for Danish air traffic control Naviair.
"According to the last estimates, the ash is of such a density that we thought it necessary to close a small part of Danish airspace over the North Sea, but it will not affect (air) traffic," he said.
The closure was up to an altitude of 6,000 metres (nearly 20,000 feet), and Eliassen explained that most aircraft in the region fly above that altitude.
On Tuesday morning, the ash blew in over Norway's southwestern towns of Karmoey and Stavanger before blowing back out to sea, the country's airport operator Avinor said.
In Denmark, a small zone of airspace in the northwest over the North Sea was closed from 0600 to 1200 GMT but has no real impact on air traffic, said Jan Eliassen, a spokesman for Danish air traffic control Naviair.
"According to the last estimates, the ash is of such a density that we thought it necessary to close a small part of Danish airspace over the North Sea, but it will not affect (air) traffic," he said.
The closure was up to an altitude of 6,000 metres (nearly 20,000 feet), and Eliassen explained that most aircraft in the region fly above that altitude.
America's Next Disaster: Multiple Floods in Western States as Monster Snowpacks Melt
It's been one long series of natural disasters this year - and now it looks like another is on the way.
The focus may soon be shifting from the epic flooding in the Mississippi Valley to Westwern states where enormous winter snows have piled up on mountain ranges.
More than 90 sites from Montana to New Mexico and California to Colorado have record snowpack totals on the ground for late May.
The focus may soon be shifting from the epic flooding in the Mississippi Valley to Westwern states where enormous winter snows have piled up on mountain ranges.
More than 90 sites from Montana to New Mexico and California to Colorado have record snowpack totals on the ground for late May.
Thousands of Fish Wash up Dead in Ogeechee River
Thousands of fish wash up on Ogeechee River banks, and now people are being warned not to eat from or fish the popular river in five different counties.
"I just ride down here, and I sit and look. I've been doing that for years anyway. I just look at the rivers. Just something to see for me," Nelson Hales said.
Nelson Hales has a sentimental attachment to the Ogeechee River. He's been fishing on the river since he was a little boy and was baptized in the water.
"I just ride down here, and I sit and look. I've been doing that for years anyway. I just look at the rivers. Just something to see for me," Nelson Hales said.
Nelson Hales has a sentimental attachment to the Ogeechee River. He's been fishing on the river since he was a little boy and was baptized in the water.
116 Dead from Missouri Tornado; More Twisters Possible
While rescuers scramble to dig out any remaining survivors from a weekend tornado that killed 116, residents in Joplin, Missouri, are bracing for the possibility of more tornadoes on Tuesday.
"There's no way to figure out how to pick up the pieces as is," Sarah Hale, a lifelong Joplin resident, said Tuesday. "We have to have faith the weather will change."
The National Weather Service warned there was a 45% chance of another tornado outbreak -- with the peak time between 4 p.m. and midnight Tuesday -- over a wide swath including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
Joplin is also in the area.
But if Monday's rescue efforts are any indication, even severe weather might not hamper the search for survivors.
City Manager Mark Rohr told reporters that more than 40 agencies are on the ground in the southwest Missouri city, with two first responders struck by lightning as they braved relentless rain and high winds searching for survivors.
By Monday night, they found 17 people alive. But many, including Will Norton, remain missing.
The 18-year-old was driving home from his high school graduation Sunday when the tornado destroyed the Hummer H3 he and his father were in.
Dense Ash Cloud From Icelandic Volcano Due Tuesday Morning
Reykjavik, Iceland - A volcanic eruption in Iceland over the weekend flung ash, smoke and steam miles into the air, and belched forth a plume of dense that is bearing down on Scotland -- and could disrupt flights there as early as Monday night, Britain's Met Office said.
The country's main airport was closed and pilots were warned to steer clear of Iceland as areas close to the Grimsvotn (GREEMSH-votn) volcano were plunged into darkness Sunday evening.
Officials appeared to be responding to the ash with a radically different approach than last year, when European aviation authorities were sharply criticized for closing large swathes of airspace in response to the April 2010 eruption of another Icelandic volcano. Many airlines said authorities overestimated the danger to planes from the abrasive ash, and overreacted by closing airspace for five days. Thousands of flights were grounded, airlines lost millions of dollars and millions of travelers were stranded, many sleeping on airport floors across northern Europe.
Britain's Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Jonathan Nicholson said authorities had no plans to close airspace, even though an ash cloud classified by Met Office spokesman David Britton as high-density was expected to cover parts of Scotland by 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT; midnight EDT) Tuesday.
The country's main airport was closed and pilots were warned to steer clear of Iceland as areas close to the Grimsvotn (GREEMSH-votn) volcano were plunged into darkness Sunday evening.
Officials appeared to be responding to the ash with a radically different approach than last year, when European aviation authorities were sharply criticized for closing large swathes of airspace in response to the April 2010 eruption of another Icelandic volcano. Many airlines said authorities overestimated the danger to planes from the abrasive ash, and overreacted by closing airspace for five days. Thousands of flights were grounded, airlines lost millions of dollars and millions of travelers were stranded, many sleeping on airport floors across northern Europe.
Britain's Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Jonathan Nicholson said authorities had no plans to close airspace, even though an ash cloud classified by Met Office spokesman David Britton as high-density was expected to cover parts of Scotland by 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT; midnight EDT) Tuesday.
Flights Cancelled as Ash Cloud Heads Towards UK
Flights in and out of Scotland have been cancelled as a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland heads towards the UK.
BA, KLM, Easyjet, Loganair and Eastern Airways have all cancelled flights on Tuesday, as ministers said some flights over the Atlantic were delayed.
The threat of further disruption led US President Barack Obama to fly out of the Republic of Ireland a day early to get to London for a state visit.
BA, KLM, Easyjet, Loganair and Eastern Airways have all cancelled flights on Tuesday, as ministers said some flights over the Atlantic were delayed.
The threat of further disruption led US President Barack Obama to fly out of the Republic of Ireland a day early to get to London for a state visit.
Storm 'Chedeng' Gathers Strength as it Hurtles Toward Philippines
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Chedeng (international name: Songda) was seen to strengthen into a typhoon in the next 24 hours and bring strong winds, thunderstorms, and moderate to heavy rains all over the country.
Robert Sawi, Pagasa's chief forecaster, said Chedeng "is so far the strongest tropical cyclone to enter the country this year."
As of 10 a.m. on Monday, Pagasa said Chedeng, the third tropical cyclone of the year, was still at open sea, about 795 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
It was carrying maximum sustained winds at 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph. Sawi said Chedeng, which was moving west northwest at 15 kph, could reach over 100 kph in wind strength.
No storm warning signals were raised as of Monday afternoon, although Pagasa officials said they have advised local disaster coordinating councils to take appropriate actions.
12-Mile-High Ash Plume Shutters Iceland Airports
Ash could reach northern Scotland by Tuesday and parts of Britain, France and Spain by Thursday or Friday if the eruption continues at the same intensity, airlines were warned on Sunday.
The warning is based on the latest 5-day weather forecasts, but is being treated cautiously because of uncertainties over the way the volcano will behave and interact with the weather.
The Grimsvotn (GREEMSH-votn) volcano, which lies beneath the ice of the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland, began erupting Saturday for the first time since 2004, sending ash, smoke and steam 12 miles into the air.
Largest Volcanic Eruption in Grímsvötn in 100 Years
The current eruption in Grímsvötn is larger in scale than the eruption in Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, according to geophysicist Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson.
The current volcanic eruption in Grímsvötn on Vatnajökull glacier is the largest in that volcano 100 years and larger than the one in Eyjafjallajökull last year. It is similar to the eruption of 1873, according to geophysicist Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson. A large flood is not expected.
This morning the ash cloud was 15 to 18 kilometers high which means that the volcanic eruption is ten times more powerful than the last eruption in Grímsvötn in 2004, Gudmundsson told ruv.is.
However, it is not unique. Grímsvötn goes through phases where it erupts often in a period of 60-80 years, then there are quieter periods of equal length.
Yellowstone Super Volcano is Even Bigger than First Thought
Planning a summer vacation? How about visiting one of the biggest, meanest active volcanoes on earth? It's right in our own backyard, just a five-hour drive north, at Yellowstone.
People come to the nation's first park every year to see bear, elk and herds of bison, but most visitors never realize they're inside the mouth of a volcanic beast.
The mouth of the Yellowstone super volcano is big. The caldera -- the crater left by an eruption -- is roughly 14-hundred square miles. The southern half of the national park is swallowed by the caldera.
People come to the nation's first park every year to see bear, elk and herds of bison, but most visitors never realize they're inside the mouth of a volcanic beast.
The mouth of the Yellowstone super volcano is big. The caldera -- the crater left by an eruption -- is roughly 14-hundred square miles. The southern half of the national park is swallowed by the caldera.
Iceland's Grimsvotn Volcano Erupting
Reykjavik, Iceland - Iceland's most active volcano has started erupting, scientists said Saturday - just over a year after another eruption on the North Atlantic island shut down European air traffic for days.
Iceland's Meteorological Office confirmed that an eruption had begun at the Grimsvotn volcano, accompanied by a series of small earthquakes. Smoke could be seen rising from the volcano, which lies under the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.
One eyewitness, Bolli Valgardsson, said the plume rose quickly several thousand feet into the air.
Grimsvotn last erupted in 2004. Scientists have been expecting a new eruption and have said previously that this volcano's eruption will likely be small and should not lead to the air travel chaos caused in April 2010 by ash from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano.
Iceland's Meteorological Office confirmed that an eruption had begun at the Grimsvotn volcano, accompanied by a series of small earthquakes. Smoke could be seen rising from the volcano, which lies under the uninhabited Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.
One eyewitness, Bolli Valgardsson, said the plume rose quickly several thousand feet into the air.
Grimsvotn last erupted in 2004. Scientists have been expecting a new eruption and have said previously that this volcano's eruption will likely be small and should not lead to the air travel chaos caused in April 2010 by ash from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano.
Kermadec Islands - Earthquake Magnitude 6.1
Date-Time
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 21:17:00 UTC
Location
30.775°S, 178.133°W
Depth
19.8 km (12.3 miles)
Region
KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
Distances
103 km (64 miles) NE of L'Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
169 km (105 miles) S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
942 km (585 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
1108 km (688 miles) SSW of NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga
Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 21:17:00 UTC
Location
30.775°S, 178.133°W
Depth
19.8 km (12.3 miles)
Region
KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
Distances
103 km (64 miles) NE of L'Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
169 km (105 miles) S of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
942 km (585 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
1108 km (688 miles) SSW of NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga
Volcano Erupts in Iceland, Spurs 50 Quakes
Reykjavik, Iceland - Iceland's most active volcano erupted Saturday, with a white plume shooting 18,000 feet into the air, scientists said.
The eruption was followed by around 50 small earthquakes, the largest of which measured 3.7 on the Richter Scale, according to Iceland's meteorological office.
There was a similar eruption at the same volcano in 2004.
Scientists don't believe this eruption will lead to air travel chaos like that caused by ash from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano in April 2010.
The Grimsvotn volcano is located underneath the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.
Sparsely populated Iceland is one of the world's most volcanically active countries and eruptions are frequent.
They often cause local flooding from melting glacier ice, but rarely cause deaths.
Last year's Eyjafjallajokul eruption left millions of air travelers stranded after winds pushed the ash cloud toward some of the world's busiest airspace and led most northern European countries to ground all planes for five days.
In November, melted glacial ice began pouring from, signaling a possible eruption. That was a false alarm but scientists have been monitoring the volcano closely ever since.
The eruption was followed by around 50 small earthquakes, the largest of which measured 3.7 on the Richter Scale, according to Iceland's meteorological office.
There was a similar eruption at the same volcano in 2004.
Scientists don't believe this eruption will lead to air travel chaos like that caused by ash from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano in April 2010.
The Grimsvotn volcano is located underneath the Vatnajokull glacier in southeast Iceland.
Sparsely populated Iceland is one of the world's most volcanically active countries and eruptions are frequent.
They often cause local flooding from melting glacier ice, but rarely cause deaths.
Last year's Eyjafjallajokul eruption left millions of air travelers stranded after winds pushed the ash cloud toward some of the world's busiest airspace and led most northern European countries to ground all planes for five days.
In November, melted glacial ice began pouring from, signaling a possible eruption. That was a false alarm but scientists have been monitoring the volcano closely ever since.
Dead Dolphins Wrecked on the Romanian Seashore
Another two dolphins were found dead on the beaches in Mamaia and Vama Veche, South East Romania in the last two days, news agency Agerpres reports. According to the executive director of the eco NGO Oceanic Club in Constanta, in the last two weeks the number of dead dolphins was over 15.
According to the director, just last week his organization was signalled regarding the presence of another 7 dead dolphins on the sea shore.
According to the director, just last week his organization was signalled regarding the presence of another 7 dead dolphins on the sea shore.
Australia: Earthquake Magnitude 4.6 - Western Australia
Date-Time:
Friday, May 20, 2011 at 20:03:27 UTC
Location:
23.412°S, 119.324°E
Depth:
12 km (7.5 miles)
Region:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Distances:
1008 km (627 miles) NNE (21°) from Perth, Australia
1779 km (1105 miles) SSW (201°) from DILI, East Timor
Friday, May 20, 2011 at 20:03:27 UTC
Location:
23.412°S, 119.324°E
Depth:
12 km (7.5 miles)
Region:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Distances:
1008 km (627 miles) NNE (21°) from Perth, Australia
1779 km (1105 miles) SSW (201°) from DILI, East Timor
Tropical Storm Eyes Philippines and Japan
Newly formed Tropical Storm 04W may pose threats for both the northern Philippines and eventually Japan.
As of Friday morning, EDT, the center of Tropical Storm 04W (which had yet to be given a name) was located approximately 200 miles east-southeast of the small island of Yap.
Due to light winds aloft, this storm will move very slowly over the next several days. The center of the storm will pass over or very close to Yap Sunday, EDT.
Early next week, the storm will be over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea, and should be able to strengthen into a typhoon.
The future track of the storm remains quite uncertain through the middle to end of next week. An upper-air trough of low pressure will dive southeastward over southeastern China. This upper-air trough will eventually steer the storm to the northeast.
As of Friday morning, EDT, the center of Tropical Storm 04W (which had yet to be given a name) was located approximately 200 miles east-southeast of the small island of Yap.
Due to light winds aloft, this storm will move very slowly over the next several days. The center of the storm will pass over or very close to Yap Sunday, EDT.
Early next week, the storm will be over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea, and should be able to strengthen into a typhoon.
The future track of the storm remains quite uncertain through the middle to end of next week. An upper-air trough of low pressure will dive southeastward over southeastern China. This upper-air trough will eventually steer the storm to the northeast.
Scotland: Fear For Mass Stranding of Whales on South Uist
Rescue team leader Alasdair Jack says some of the whales have serious head injuries.
Marine animal experts are preparing for a potential mass stranding by up to 100 pilot whales in South Uist in the Western Isles.
The whales were spotted in Loch Carnan on Thursday afternoon and about 20 were said to have had cuts to their heads.
It is thought the injuries may have been caused by the whales' attempts to strand themselves on the rocky foreshore of the sea loch.
Sick and injured whales are known to beach themselves to die.
However, at times, dying whales have been followed to shore by healthy animals.
Conservationists have also suggested the whales may have got lost, or entered the loch following prey.
Rescuers said inflatable pontoons for refloating whales were on the way.
The pod had been moving back and forth from the shore and rescuers said the animals were "very vocal", which may be a sign of distress.
The whales, a deep water species, have since moved from the loch back to a nearby bay, where they were seen earlier on Thursday.
Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) fear the whales could die in a massive beaching - which could be Scotland's largest stranding.
BDMLR Scottish organiser Alasdair Jack said preventing the mammals from stranding would cause unnecessary suffering and the animals would only move on to another shoreline.
China Warns of 'Urgent Problems' Facing Three Gorges Dam
Water being released from the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei province. The state council has admitted the dam is creating a legacy of major environmental and social problems.
The Three Gorges dam, the flagship of China's massive hydroengineering ambitions, faces "urgent problems", the government has warned.
In a statement approved by prime minister Wen Jiabao, the state council said the dam had pressing geological, human and ecological problems. The report also acknowledged for the first time the negative impact the dam has had on downstream river transport and water supplies.
Since the start of construction in 1992 about 16m tonnes of concrete have been poured into the giant barrier across the Yangtze river, creating a reservoir that stretches almost the length of Britain and drives 26 giant turbines.
Tidal Waves Hit Fiji's Coral Coast
Huge tidal waves hit Sigatoka and the Coral Coast areas of Fiji this morning strewing debris and fish along the Queen's Highway and sweeping belongings out to sea.
Fiji Under 20 rugby coach Inoke Male told FBC News - the team was training when the tidal waves struck.
Fiji Under 20 rugby coach Inoke Male told FBC News - the team was training when the tidal waves struck.
The team lost belongings such as shoes, towels and clothes.
Anwa Khan from Sydney who was driving from Nadi to Suva called FBC News from Sigatoka to say waves have reached the highway which is now strewn with debris.
"The water was just coming right on-top of the road so we stopped the car and actually the water spray went right over the car and threw all the rubbish onto the road and went back. There were some fishes on the roads. The villagers have started coming to the road and started picking things. Patches on the roads you can see all the woods, coconuts, logs and coral. All the villages along the coast have water in their backyard."
There has been no confirmation as yet of major damages or injuries but details are still coming in.
Venezuela Extends Emergency Efforts As Heavy Rains Return
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has extended for 90 days in seven states and parts of Caracas a state of emergency called in response to violent rainfalls in late 2010 that may return this year.
The states included in the decree are Vargas, Miranda, Zulia, Falcon, Merida, Trujillo and Nueva Esparta, state media reported late Tuesday. Officials last ordered the state of emergency to be prolonged in February, according to the release.
The states included in the decree are Vargas, Miranda, Zulia, Falcon, Merida, Trujillo and Nueva Esparta, state media reported late Tuesday. Officials last ordered the state of emergency to be prolonged in February, according to the release.
US: Mississippi Flooding Is Part of 'Global Weirding'
Extreme weather events, such as the heavy rains that recently flooded the Mississippi River and the tornadoes that ripped through an unprecendented 300 mile swath in Alabama, are extremely likely to occur more frequently in the future.
This is prompting local governments to prepare for the impact of climate change, according to scientists and adaptation experts participating in a telephone press conference held yesterday by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
This is prompting local governments to prepare for the impact of climate change, according to scientists and adaptation experts participating in a telephone press conference held yesterday by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Turkey: Earthquake Magnitude 6.0 - Western Turkey
Date-Time:
Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 20:15:23 UTC
Location:
39.115°N, 29.124°E
Depth:
4.6 km (2.9 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region:
WESTERN TURKEY
Distances:
53 km (32 miles) NNW of Usak, Turkey
82 km (50 miles) WSW of Kutahya, Turkey
120 km (74 miles) S of Bursa, Turkey
332 km (206 miles) WSW of ANKARA, Turkey
Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 20:15:23 UTC
Location:
39.115°N, 29.124°E
Depth:
4.6 km (2.9 miles) (poorly constrained)
Region:
WESTERN TURKEY
Distances:
53 km (32 miles) NNW of Usak, Turkey
82 km (50 miles) WSW of Kutahya, Turkey
120 km (74 miles) S of Bursa, Turkey
332 km (206 miles) WSW of ANKARA, Turkey
The World's Weirdest Weather
From California to England to India, people have periodically reported a fishy form of precipitation: small animals, such as fish, frogs, and snakes have occasionally fallen unexpectedly from the sky, sometimes miles away from water. Waterspouts whirling over lakes or oceans can suck water and whatever is in it up into the clouds above them. The strong winds of these storm clouds can carry their flopping cargo long distances before dumping them on unsuspecting people below.
For centuries, people have reported an electrical oddity invading their homes, usually during thunderstorms. Balls of light, ranging from the size of a golfball to a football, occasionally float through the air during storms, undoubtedly surprising anyone they happen to encounter. Known as ball lightning, they have no smell and emit no heat and little sound. They generally disappear with a ?pop? when they encounter something electrical, like a television, though they occasionally explode more violently, sometimes starting fires. These glowing spheres not only mystify those who happen to encounter them, but scientists as well?as yet, there is no prevailing explanation for how ball lightning forms.
Showers of blood falling from the sky may sound like something out of a Hollywood horror film, but such scarlet-tinted rains have been reported since ancient Roman times. Though they often horrified the people they fell upon, these rains were not actually blood?they were caused by dust or sand blown into the atmosphere and carried long distances by strong winds, eventually mixing with rain clouds and coloring the rain. In Europe, these red rains are usually dyed by dust carried across the continent from Saharan sand storms. (Other colored rains have also been spotted and seem to be caused by similar sources: pollens can create a startling yellow rain, dust from coal mines and ominous black rain, and some dusts a milky white rain.) Hurricane Season Forecast to Be Above Average
Start preparing now: This year's hurricane season is expected to be an active one.
On the heels of an already violent tornado season and other wild April weather, the 2011 hurricane season may see 12 to 18 named storms and six to 10 hurricanes, an above-average season.
That's the forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released today (May 19) for the Atlantic basin, which includes the East Coast, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. If the forecast is anything like last year's, it should be taken very seriously.
"If you live along the Gulf Coast or live along the Atlantic Coast, you've had your notice," said Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "It's going to be an above-average season."
The 2010 season was one of the busiest ever, with 12 hurricanes in the Atlantic - the second-highest number on record, tied with 1969 - and 19 named storms (which include tropical storms and hurricanes) - a tie with 1887 and 1995 as the third-busiest on record. The 2010 forecast called for 17 named storms and 10 hurricanes.
An average Atlantic season produces 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. The busiest season on record remains 2005, which saw 28 named storms, including Hurricane Katrina. Five of last year's hurricanes reached major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength).
On the heels of an already violent tornado season and other wild April weather, the 2011 hurricane season may see 12 to 18 named storms and six to 10 hurricanes, an above-average season.
That's the forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), released today (May 19) for the Atlantic basin, which includes the East Coast, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. If the forecast is anything like last year's, it should be taken very seriously.
"If you live along the Gulf Coast or live along the Atlantic Coast, you've had your notice," said Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "It's going to be an above-average season."
The 2010 season was one of the busiest ever, with 12 hurricanes in the Atlantic - the second-highest number on record, tied with 1969 - and 19 named storms (which include tropical storms and hurricanes) - a tie with 1887 and 1995 as the third-busiest on record. The 2010 forecast called for 17 named storms and 10 hurricanes.
An average Atlantic season produces 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. The busiest season on record remains 2005, which saw 28 named storms, including Hurricane Katrina. Five of last year's hurricanes reached major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane strength).
Is Extreme Weather The New Normal?
How do intense droughts and extreme flooding coexist together? Welcome to the "New Normal" of regional weather fueled by changes in global climate, Reuters reports.
"It's a new normal and I really do think that global weirding is the best way to describe what we're seeing," climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University explained.
Catastrophic rainstorms and tornado activity in the United States has coincided with prolonged drought, sometimes in the same region, she said, noting that West Texas has seen a record-setting dry period over the last several years, even as there have been two 100-year rain events.
"We are used to certain conditions and there's a lot going on these days that is not what we're used to, that is outside our current frame of reference," Hayhoe said on a conference call with other experts, organized by the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists.
Hayhoe, other scientists, civic planners and a manager at the giant Swiss Re reinsurance firm pin the cause on human-influenced climate change as the primary factor for more extreme weather. Although climate change cannot be blamed for any specific weather event, Hayhoe said a background of climate change had an impact on every rainstorm, heat wave or cold snap.
"What we're seeing is the new normal is constantly evolving," said Nikhil da Victoria Lobo of Swiss Re's Global Partnerships team. "Globally what we're seeing is more volatility ... there's certainly a lot more integrated risk exposure."
"It's a new normal and I really do think that global weirding is the best way to describe what we're seeing," climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe of Texas Tech University explained.
Catastrophic rainstorms and tornado activity in the United States has coincided with prolonged drought, sometimes in the same region, she said, noting that West Texas has seen a record-setting dry period over the last several years, even as there have been two 100-year rain events.
"We are used to certain conditions and there's a lot going on these days that is not what we're used to, that is outside our current frame of reference," Hayhoe said on a conference call with other experts, organized by the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists.
Hayhoe, other scientists, civic planners and a manager at the giant Swiss Re reinsurance firm pin the cause on human-influenced climate change as the primary factor for more extreme weather. Although climate change cannot be blamed for any specific weather event, Hayhoe said a background of climate change had an impact on every rainstorm, heat wave or cold snap.
"What we're seeing is the new normal is constantly evolving," said Nikhil da Victoria Lobo of Swiss Re's Global Partnerships team. "Globally what we're seeing is more volatility ... there's certainly a lot more integrated risk exposure."
Frequency of Tremors on the Rise in Guerrero
Acapulco,- So far in the month of May, 60 tremors have been registered in Guerrero, mostly in the Richter range of 3 or 4. Monday afternoon a tremor of 4.3 was felt and an earlier one of 5.5 was registered on May 5 with the same epicenter, in the municipality of Ometepec, in the Costa Chica, to the east and south of Acapulco. More than one-third of the tremors taking place in this month in Guerrero have had their origin in the Costa Chica.
Five tremor epicenters have occurred within the municipality of Acapulco since May 1, all of them between 3 and 4 on the Richter scale. The tremors felt in Guerrero in the first two weeks of May is double the number registered for the same period last year.
Five tremor epicenters have occurred within the municipality of Acapulco since May 1, all of them between 3 and 4 on the Richter scale. The tremors felt in Guerrero in the first two weeks of May is double the number registered for the same period last year.
India: Thunder, Duststorms Claim 56 Lives in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
New Delhi: At least 56 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar when severe duststorm, accompanied by rain and thundershowers, lashed some parts of the states on Wednesday evening, according to All India Radio.
In Uttar Pradesh, at least 30 people were killed in cyclonic storm that hit several districts of eastern UP. Eight people were killed in Siddhartha Nagar, seven in Jaunpur, five each in Varanasi, Bhadohi and Ambekarnagar.
According to AIR, high-velocity wind and scattered rain is still occurring at some places in Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Basti divisions.
In Uttar Pradesh, at least 30 people were killed in cyclonic storm that hit several districts of eastern UP. Eight people were killed in Siddhartha Nagar, seven in Jaunpur, five each in Varanasi, Bhadohi and Ambekarnagar.
According to AIR, high-velocity wind and scattered rain is still occurring at some places in Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Basti divisions.
U.S.: Dead Sharks Found in Redwood Shores were Suffering from Internal Bleeding, Necropsy Shows
Officials have completed a necropsy on one of the dozens of leopard sharks found dead in Redwood Shores last month but aren't any closer to pinpointing the cause of the sudden die-off.
The necropsy performed by a California Department of Fish and Game pathologist found "inflammation, bleeding, and lesions in the brain, and hemorrhaging from the skin near vents." Bleeding was also detected around the female shark's internal organs.
Additional tests, such as a bacterial study and microscopic tissue analysis, may provide an answer, according to a statement released by Redwood City. Results could be available by the end of the week.
The necropsy performed by a California Department of Fish and Game pathologist found "inflammation, bleeding, and lesions in the brain, and hemorrhaging from the skin near vents." Bleeding was also detected around the female shark's internal organs.
Additional tests, such as a bacterial study and microscopic tissue analysis, may provide an answer, according to a statement released by Redwood City. Results could be available by the end of the week.
Seismic Shift? As Bahamas Sink, One Island Mysteriously Rises
All the islands in the Bahamas were thought to be slowly sinking, but now scientists find one quirky isle going against the crowd.
This anomaly suggests the area may be less seismically stable than previously thought.
Scientists focused on the small island of Mayaguana in the southeast Bahamas, which measures about 33 by 7 miles (53 by 12 kilometers). They noticed shallow banks of rocks called marine carbonates above ground that are usually present dozens of feet below the surface on the other Bahamian islands.
This anomaly suggests the area may be less seismically stable than previously thought.
Scientists focused on the small island of Mayaguana in the southeast Bahamas, which measures about 33 by 7 miles (53 by 12 kilometers). They noticed shallow banks of rocks called marine carbonates above ground that are usually present dozens of feet below the surface on the other Bahamian islands.
These deposits are about 39 feet (12 meters) thick, span more than 17 million years of geologic history, and are only found on the isle's northern coast.
The unusual placement on these rocks gave researchers insights into the tectonic processes going on below the Caribbean.
"It took us about three years to process all the data and come up with a coherent story," said researcher Pascal Kindler, a geologist at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
The unusual placement on these rocks gave researchers insights into the tectonic processes going on below the Caribbean.
"It took us about three years to process all the data and come up with a coherent story," said researcher Pascal Kindler, a geologist at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
US: A Stroll on a Gulf Beach Yields a Dolphin Disposal
Laurel Lockamy has seen her share of dead sea life washing up on the beaches of Mississippi. Like a few other residents, she's toted her camera along wherever she goes, documenting the dolphins, sea turtles, red fish and plethora of dead birds that seem to be washing in unusually high numbers.
That isn't stopping Gulf businesses from hoping for a better year than last, when beaches were soaked in oil and tourism vanished with the black tide. Now there are signs business is rebounding. Tourist industries in Florida panhandle report better than expected traffic this year. Some in Congress in fact are pushing for increased drilling in the Gulf, with fewer safety and environmental reviews of the process. It seems some lawmakers have short memories.
But not all is well in the Gulf. High numbers of endangered sea turtles and dolphins have washed into the beaches, although the number of fatalities is declining. Scientists still don't know what has caused this spike in deaths.
Comment: The scientists may claim they don't know what's caused the spike in deaths, but we think it's pretty obvious to everyone else. The BP oil spill is the greatest environmental disaster of its kind in our history. BP dumped two million gallons of toxic oil dispersants in the Gulf, and marine life continues to perish.
Comment: They will never say for sure because they are either paid by BP, or silenced by government agencies.
Atmosphere Above Japan Heated Rapidly Before M9 Earthquake
Infrared emissions above the epicenter increased dramatically in the days before the devastating earthquake in Japan, say scientists.
Geologists have long puzzled over anecdotal reports of strange atmospheric phenomena in the days before big earthquakes. But good data to back up these stories has been hard to come by.
In recent years, however, various teams have set up atmospheric monitoring stations in earthquake zones and a number of satellites are capable of sending back data about the state of the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere during an earthquake.
Geologists have long puzzled over anecdotal reports of strange atmospheric phenomena in the days before big earthquakes. But good data to back up these stories has been hard to come by.
In recent years, however, various teams have set up atmospheric monitoring stations in earthquake zones and a number of satellites are capable of sending back data about the state of the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere during an earthquake.
Antarctic: Iron-laden Icebergs Fertilize Ocean
Icebergs calving off of Antarctica are shedding substantial iron - the equivalent of a growth-boosting vitamin - into waters starved of the mineral, a new set of studies demonstrates. This iron is fertilizing the growth of microscopic plants and algae, transforming the waters adjacent to ice floes into teeming communities of everything from tiny shrimplike krill to fish, birds and sometimes mammals.
Clipping Wings When Volcanoes Erupt
Wed, 18 May 2011
Scientists from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and the University of Iceland have created a protocol to give traffic authorities the help they need to quickly determine if planes should be grounded when ash threatens airspace safety. The results of the study are presented in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).
Researchers say volcanic ash could put planes, and the lives of passengers, in grave danger, particularly if particles are small enough to travel high and far. These particles could sandblast the bodies and windows of airplanes, and they could even melt inside jet engines.
Red flags went up when ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption materialized. The researchers say officials were right to ground all airplanes in April 2010. For her part, Professor Susan Stipp from the Nano-Science Center of the University of Copenhagen says the team's latest method to quickly evaluate future ash is a key development.
US: Heavy Rainfall May Be Linked to Sharks' Deaths
Wed, 18 May 2011
Hundreds of leopard sharks have been found dead or dying around the bay, including this one at Swede's Beach in Sausalito.
State biologists investigating a rash of leopard shark casualties around the region over the past month think the torrents of freshwater flowing into shoreline lagoons may be throwing the body chemistry of the fish fatally off balance.
Eruption at Nicaraguan Volcano
Tue, 17 May 2011
Managua - Nicaragua's Telica volcano spewed a massive cloud of gas and ash into the air Tuesday following several strong explosions.
Material was ejected 1.2 kilometres into the air above the crater of the 1,060-metre volcano, the seismological institute Ineter said. A total of 50 explosions were recorded.
Since May 9, Ineter has recorded 59 seismic shocks in the area, and Telica had ejected a large amount of sand on nearby cities since Friday.
Sixty nearby villages were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The volcano is located in Leon province, some 130 kilometres north-west of Managua. It last erupted in 1948.
Material was ejected 1.2 kilometres into the air above the crater of the 1,060-metre volcano, the seismological institute Ineter said. A total of 50 explosions were recorded.
Since May 9, Ineter has recorded 59 seismic shocks in the area, and Telica had ejected a large amount of sand on nearby cities since Friday.
Sixty nearby villages were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The volcano is located in Leon province, some 130 kilometres north-west of Managua. It last erupted in 1948.
US: Scientists Seek Sleepy Volcano's Wake-up Call
The Columbian
Tue, 17 May 2011
Tue, 17 May 2011
Mount St. Helens shook itself awake in October 2004 after eight years of relative quiet. Eruptions and dome-building continued until January of 2008, when the volcano entered a new period of hibernation. Scientists are now reading signals from deep within the mountain and rocks dating back thousands of years to try to predict when the mountain will recharge and become active again.
This view from 2005 looks east, showing lobes of new domes formed within the crater during its 2004-08 eruptive stage.
This view from 2005 looks east, showing lobes of new domes formed within the crater during its 2004-08 eruptive stage.
Mount St. Helens has been mostly quiet since its most recent dome-building eruptions ended in January 2008. But scientists say it's a sure thing the volatile volcano in our backyard will reawaken.
The question they hope to answer is when.
Clues to the volcano's future lie in the faint signals of magma moving in a cigar-shaped chamber deep within the mountain, in the eruptive history of a similar volcano on Russia's remote Kamchatka Peninsula, and in the long geological record contained within Mount St. Helens itself.
Cynthia Gardner, a scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, predicts the mountain will resume rebuilding itself sooner rather than later.
"Mount St. Helens will probably erupt again within the next several decades," she says. "As we look at its eruptive history, we know there was a flank collapse 2,500 years ago. We saw the cone rebuild itself over a century or a century and a half."
Yet since the 1980 eruption, she said, the mountain has rebuilt only 7 percent of its pre-eruption mass. "If we look at patterns from St. Helens' past history, and from volcanoes around the world, we come to the conclusion we are likely to see more eruptions."
Australia: Unusual Tropical Fish Washes up on Albany Beaches
Tue, 17 May 2011
The Department of Fisheries says a strong Leeuwin Current is causing an unusual species of fish to wash up on Albany's shores.
Dozens of oceanic sunfish have been found dead on Goode Beach and at Frenchman's Bay.
The sunfish is native to tropical and temperate waters.
The department's senior research scientist Dr Kim Smith says a strong current is dragging large numbers of sunfish to cooler, southern waters.
"This time of year is associated with the Leeuwin Current flowing across the South Coast at its strongest," she said.
Dozens of oceanic sunfish have been found dead on Goode Beach and at Frenchman's Bay.
The sunfish is native to tropical and temperate waters.
The department's senior research scientist Dr Kim Smith says a strong current is dragging large numbers of sunfish to cooler, southern waters.
"This time of year is associated with the Leeuwin Current flowing across the South Coast at its strongest," she said.
Exploding Transformers - More Than Meets the Eye?
Between the mass animal deaths, the deadly earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific rim, the record-setting extreme weather across the US, and the once meandering gulf-stream now shutting down, clearly something is up on the big blue marble this year. And now we may have a new one to add to the list: exploding transformers.
In the last couple weeks numerous electrical transformers have malfunctioned or exploded, in some cases causing major fires. Many of these are not your usual explosions either; some consisted of an almost fireworks-like display of electrical arcing as shown in some of the videos below. Given the sheer number of out-of-control transformers, this appears to be a new phenomena, or perhaps a sign of things to come.
With the connections we've noted between electrical activity in space and major events such as tornadoes, cyclones, volcanoes and earthquakes, one might suspect that the same electrical phenomena responsible for these displays of nature's fury could be responsible for these exploding transformers too. Typically large spikes in electrical current are the cause of transformer explosions. It seems that, like the exploding transformers, our planet is being electrically overloaded in ways it can't properly handle either, causing all manner of weather and ground-shaking chaos. Perhaps what we've seen so far this year in terms of crazy weather and earthquakes is only the start of things to come.
In the last couple weeks numerous electrical transformers have malfunctioned or exploded, in some cases causing major fires. Many of these are not your usual explosions either; some consisted of an almost fireworks-like display of electrical arcing as shown in some of the videos below. Given the sheer number of out-of-control transformers, this appears to be a new phenomena, or perhaps a sign of things to come.
With the connections we've noted between electrical activity in space and major events such as tornadoes, cyclones, volcanoes and earthquakes, one might suspect that the same electrical phenomena responsible for these displays of nature's fury could be responsible for these exploding transformers too. Typically large spikes in electrical current are the cause of transformer explosions. It seems that, like the exploding transformers, our planet is being electrically overloaded in ways it can't properly handle either, causing all manner of weather and ground-shaking chaos. Perhaps what we've seen so far this year in terms of crazy weather and earthquakes is only the start of things to come.
TEPCO Admits Nuclear Meltdown Occurred at Fukushima Reactor 16 Hours After Quake
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) admitted for the first time on May 15 that most of the fuel in one of its nuclear reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant had melted only about 16 hours after the March 11 earthquake struck a wide swath of northeastern Japan and triggered a devastating tsunami.
According to TEPCO, the operator of the crippled nuclear power plant, the emergency condenser designed to cool the steam inside the pressure vessel of the No. 1 reactor was working properly shortly after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake, but it lost its functions around 3:30 p.m. on March 11 when tsunami waves hit the reactor.
Based on provisional analysis of data on the reactor, the utility concluded that the water level in the pressure vessel began to drop rapidly immediately after the tsunami, and the top of the fuel began to be exposed above the water around 6 p.m. Around 7:30 p.m., the fuel was fully exposed above the water surface and overheated for more than 10 hours. At about 9 p.m., the temperature in the reactor core rose to 2,800 degrees Celsius, the melting point for fuel. At approximately 7:50 p.m., the upper part of the fuel started melting, and at around 6:50 a.m. on March 12, a meltdown occurredd
According to TEPCO, the operator of the crippled nuclear power plant, the emergency condenser designed to cool the steam inside the pressure vessel of the No. 1 reactor was working properly shortly after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake, but it lost its functions around 3:30 p.m. on March 11 when tsunami waves hit the reactor.
Based on provisional analysis of data on the reactor, the utility concluded that the water level in the pressure vessel began to drop rapidly immediately after the tsunami, and the top of the fuel began to be exposed above the water around 6 p.m. Around 7:30 p.m., the fuel was fully exposed above the water surface and overheated for more than 10 hours. At about 9 p.m., the temperature in the reactor core rose to 2,800 degrees Celsius, the melting point for fuel. At approximately 7:50 p.m., the upper part of the fuel started melting, and at around 6:50 a.m. on March 12, a meltdown occurredd
Wildfires in Alberta, Canada
Tan and gray smoke spanned hundreds of kilometers across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories, Canada, on May 16, 2011. At 10:00 a.m., the Alberta government reported 116 fires burning in the province, 34 of which were out of control. The following day, the total number of fires had dropped to 100, and the number of uncontrolled fires had dropped to 22, but four new fires had started to burn out of control.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite took this image at 12:35 p.m. local time on May 16. Similar images of central Canada are available twice daily.
The top view shows a wide area to illustrate how far the smoke traveled. The lower image provides a closer view of a massive fire burning south of Lake Athabasca. Fire detections are outlined in red. Strong winds fanned the fires on May 15 and 16, pulling thick plumes of smoke north.
The top view shows a wide area to illustrate how far the smoke traveled. The lower image provides a closer view of a massive fire burning south of Lake Athabasca. Fire detections are outlined in red. Strong winds fanned the fires on May 15 and 16, pulling thick plumes of smoke north.
Feral Camels Plague Australian Outback
More than 1 million feral camels are thrashing the remote Australian desert, destroying water supplies and disturbing Aboriginal communities to the tune of 10 million Australian dollars a year.
As part of plans to contain the camel's havoc and reduce the animals' numbers, managers have launched a website, CamelScan, where the public can report feral camel sightings and damages using a Google maps-based tool.
"They can do enormous damage," said Jan Ferguson, managing director of Ninti One Limited, the organization that manages the Feral Camel Management Project, which launched CamelScan. "They can eat up to very high heights in our trees. When water is short, they go for running water. They will take pipes and air conditioning units off of walls, and smash up toilet systems."
The program adds another species to the list of programs tracking other feral animals in Australia, including rabbits, foxes and myna birds. Since CamelScan launched earlier this month, the public has logged nearly 150 sightings.
"You need to count these animals. You need to know where they are and what they're doing," said Ferguson.
As part of plans to contain the camel's havoc and reduce the animals' numbers, managers have launched a website, CamelScan, where the public can report feral camel sightings and damages using a Google maps-based tool.
"They can do enormous damage," said Jan Ferguson, managing director of Ninti One Limited, the organization that manages the Feral Camel Management Project, which launched CamelScan. "They can eat up to very high heights in our trees. When water is short, they go for running water. They will take pipes and air conditioning units off of walls, and smash up toilet systems."
The program adds another species to the list of programs tracking other feral animals in Australia, including rabbits, foxes and myna birds. Since CamelScan launched earlier this month, the public has logged nearly 150 sightings.
"You need to count these animals. You need to know where they are and what they're doing," said Ferguson.
Quakes Could Rupture Glacial Lakes
Many lakes are said to be growing because of melting glaciers. Glacial lakes in the Himalayas could pose a major hazard to population centers if they are ruptured by earthquakes, scientists say.
The true risk to settlements and infrastructure downstream in the Hindu-Kush-Himalayas region is difficult to assess.
But the Himalayan region is dotted with glacial lakes and is in a seismically active zone.
Experts say that, on the basis of past records, a large quake in the region is overdue.
Many glacial lakes are said to be growing - some of them alarmingly - because of melting glaciers.
Some are at risk of rupturing, which would flood areas downstream.
There have been at least 35 glacial lake outburst events in Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and China during the last century, according to the United Nations Environment Program (Unep).
The true risk to settlements and infrastructure downstream in the Hindu-Kush-Himalayas region is difficult to assess.
But the Himalayan region is dotted with glacial lakes and is in a seismically active zone.
Experts say that, on the basis of past records, a large quake in the region is overdue.
Many glacial lakes are said to be growing - some of them alarmingly - because of melting glaciers.
Some are at risk of rupturing, which would flood areas downstream.
There have been at least 35 glacial lake outburst events in Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and China during the last century, according to the United Nations Environment Program (Unep).
North India Endures Another Hot Day
New Delhi, Torrid weather continued to bake North Indian plains as mercury soared over 46 deg C in parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while it remained above 40 deg C in the national capital. There was no respite to Delhittes as sultry condition persisted with the city recording a maximum of 41.4 deg, two notches above normal.
The humidity oscillated between 25 per cent and 56 per cent, the MeT department said. The maximum soared to the season's highest on May 12 when it touched 43.1 deg C. In the deserts of Rajasthan the condition was worse as the liquid silver climbed as high as 46.7 deg C in Churu, 46 deg C in Jhalawar and 45.4 deg C in Sriganganagar.
The humidity oscillated between 25 per cent and 56 per cent, the MeT department said. The maximum soared to the season's highest on May 12 when it touched 43.1 deg C. In the deserts of Rajasthan the condition was worse as the liquid silver climbed as high as 46.7 deg C in Churu, 46 deg C in Jhalawar and 45.4 deg C in Sriganganagar.
Philippines: 144 Quakes at Bulusan in Last 24 hours
Alert level 1 remains at Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon after state volcanologists noted a significant rise in seismic activity in the area, recording 144 volcanic quakes there in the last 24 hours.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said 80 of these quakes were recorded in a seven-hour period on Monday, from 5:00 a.m. to noon.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said 80 of these quakes were recorded in a seven-hour period on Monday, from 5:00 a.m. to noon.
Aso Volcano Alert Level Raised to 2
The Meteorological Agency on Monday raised the volcanic alert level for Mount Aso from 1 to 2, prompting local authorities in Kumamoto Prefecture to ban entry to areas within 1 km of the crater of Mount Naka, one of five peaks in the active volcano's central cone group.
The alert includes a warning for rocks ejected from Mount Naka in the off-limits areas.
The move came after the mountain belched a small amount of volcanic ash Friday and experienced a small eruption Sunday.
On Monday, a small eruption and a 500-meter-high column of volcanic smoke were observed at around 10 a.m.
The alert includes a warning for rocks ejected from Mount Naka in the off-limits areas.
The move came after the mountain belched a small amount of volcanic ash Friday and experienced a small eruption Sunday.
On Monday, a small eruption and a 500-meter-high column of volcanic smoke were observed at around 10 a.m.
Eastern Turkey Sees Snow as Other Regions Enjoy Sun
A blanket of snow has covered the eastern province of Ardahan in mid-May as temperatures continue to rise in the rest of the country.
Heavy rainfall turned into snow late Sunday through Monday morning. Residents of the province were surprised to wake up to a snowy day in the middle of May, a time when many expect spring to arrive. The provincial capital saw five centimeters of snowfall and registered a low of zero degrees Celsius.
Heavy rainfall turned into snow late Sunday through Monday morning. Residents of the province were surprised to wake up to a snowy day in the middle of May, a time when many expect spring to arrive. The provincial capital saw five centimeters of snowfall and registered a low of zero degrees Celsius.
Kazakh Ecologists Investigate Caspian Seal Deaths
Erik Utebaliev, a local resident, told RFE/RL he found 10-12 dead Caspian seals of all ages, from full-grown adults to pups, on May 3 and three more on May 8.
Kirill Osin, director of the nongovernmental organization EKO Mangistau, told RFE/RL he and his colleagues planned to inspect the seals on May 10 and take tissue samples for analysis to try to determine whether they were poisoned.
He said he had only seen photos of the dead animals and it was too early to speculate about the cause of death.
Osin recalled that the local authorities attributed a mass death of seals in the region two years ago to a virus and inclement weather.
He rejected that conclusion, noting that dead seals are found only in the vicinity of intensive exploitation of offshore oil deposits.
Canada: Alberta Town Burns, Wildfires Shut Oil Facilities
Wildfires whipped by high winds destroyed more than a third of a sizable town in northern Alberta and forced oil companies in Canada's largest energy-producing province to shut off tens of thousands of barrels of output on Monday.
Dozens of forest fires flared up across the province during a dry, gusty weekend, forcing the evacuation of several communities, including Slave Lake, a town of 10,000 people in northern Alberta known as a center for oil, gas and forestry.
Numerous homes and some public buildings had been razed in Slave Lake, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said.
She spoke to reporters from a command center in the town, about 200 km (125 miles) northwest of the provincial capital, Edmonton. It was deserted save for emergency personnel.
"You feel the intense heat, the sharp smell of smoke ... you see some areas still smoking and our fire-fighting crews are trying to contain any spot fires," Pillay-Kinnee said.
Two blazes, driven by winds gusting to 100 km per hour (60 miles per hour), converged on Slave Lake on Sunday. Complicating the situation on Monday were winds up to 50 km per hour (30 mph) in some regions as well as dry conditions.
Dozens of forest fires flared up across the province during a dry, gusty weekend, forcing the evacuation of several communities, including Slave Lake, a town of 10,000 people in northern Alberta known as a center for oil, gas and forestry.
Numerous homes and some public buildings had been razed in Slave Lake, Mayor Karina Pillay-Kinnee said.
She spoke to reporters from a command center in the town, about 200 km (125 miles) northwest of the provincial capital, Edmonton. It was deserted save for emergency personnel.
"You feel the intense heat, the sharp smell of smoke ... you see some areas still smoking and our fire-fighting crews are trying to contain any spot fires," Pillay-Kinnee said.
Two blazes, driven by winds gusting to 100 km per hour (60 miles per hour), converged on Slave Lake on Sunday. Complicating the situation on Monday were winds up to 50 km per hour (30 mph) in some regions as well as dry conditions.
Austria - Tornado Ravages Müllendorf
An 80 meter wide tornado front leaves shambles near Eisenstadt.
Karl Tinhof is left in disbelief about having actually experienced this scene. "It was like a bomb attack. Trees simply snapped off, the bricks of houses were ripped off and dashing like bullets into the walls of other houses, terrible." The operations manager of the fire department of Müllendorf says it's a miracle that nobody died.
Since Saturday 3:28 pm the tranquil location in the district of Eisenstadt-Umgebung has been in shock. An 80 meter wide tornado swept over houses and gardens, unroofed dozens of houses, uprooted trees, and in three of the houses the trusses came off. A weather phenomenon that's in fact only known from Hollywood Blockbusters such as Twister has become an eerie reality.
Karl Tinhof is left in disbelief about having actually experienced this scene. "It was like a bomb attack. Trees simply snapped off, the bricks of houses were ripped off and dashing like bullets into the walls of other houses, terrible." The operations manager of the fire department of Müllendorf says it's a miracle that nobody died.
Since Saturday 3:28 pm the tranquil location in the district of Eisenstadt-Umgebung has been in shock. An 80 meter wide tornado swept over houses and gardens, unroofed dozens of houses, uprooted trees, and in three of the houses the trusses came off. A weather phenomenon that's in fact only known from Hollywood Blockbusters such as Twister has become an eerie reality.
US: Five Injured when Whale Watch Boat hit by Rogue Wave off Provincetown
A whale watch boat carrying passengers out of Hyannis was hit by a rogue wave Monday morning causing minor injuries to five students from Barnstable High School.
The Coast Guard said in a release the crew of the 130-foot Whale Watcher notified Coast Guard Station Provincetown at 10:23 a.m., that five high school students suffered injuries after a five to seven foot wave struck the bow of the vessel during a whale watching tour about five miles north of Race Point.
The Coast Guard said in a release the crew of the 130-foot Whale Watcher notified Coast Guard Station Provincetown at 10:23 a.m., that five high school students suffered injuries after a five to seven foot wave struck the bow of the vessel during a whale watching tour about five miles north of Race Point.
Winter comes early as Melbourne is hit by chilly blast
Melburnians have been swamped with enough rain in the past two weeks to last the month of May and more is yet to come.
Other parts of the state have seen their coldest start to May since records began, with snow already falling in low-lying areas.
Mt Baw Baw has been blanketed with more than 30cm of fresh snow as eager snowboarders take to the slopes well ahead of the official opening to the ski season.
Other parts of the state have seen their coldest start to May since records began, with snow already falling in low-lying areas.
Mt Baw Baw has been blanketed with more than 30cm of fresh snow as eager snowboarders take to the slopes well ahead of the official opening to the ski season.
Heavy Rains Falling Across Africa
Above average rainfall has been falling in many parts of the sub-Saharan African region since 2010, including countries like Angola, Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Congo, and Madagascar.
The data comes from the Climate Prediction Center of the U.S. National Weather Service, which noted that large rainfalls have, in some places, exceeded the yearly average in a single day. In many parts of the continent, flooding persistent rains have flooded temporary rivers like the Kuiseb in Namibia and the Boteti in Botswana, both of which have recorded highs over the past year or so.
The map below depicts the rainfall for Namibia and South Africa on May 5, 2011, a day which saw more rain fall in the Namib Desert than normally falls in an entire year.
The data comes from the Climate Prediction Center of the U.S. National Weather Service, which noted that large rainfalls have, in some places, exceeded the yearly average in a single day. In many parts of the continent, flooding persistent rains have flooded temporary rivers like the Kuiseb in Namibia and the Boteti in Botswana, both of which have recorded highs over the past year or so.
The map below depicts the rainfall for Namibia and South Africa on May 5, 2011, a day which saw more rain fall in the Namib Desert than normally falls in an entire year.
Earth currently in a Solar Windstream
Earth is inside a solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole:
US: Snow Forecast Leads Some To Hope It's A Joke
Tour Of California Says Sierra Snow Could Cause Crashes Sunday
Lake Tahoe, Calif. -- Don't put your snow shovels away just yet.
The latest weather forecast is predicting 3 inches of snow at lake level in the Tahoe basin this weekend.
"It's going to be a dramatic change from today," said Placerville's Bill Rose as he prepared to hike near Echo Summit.
Forecasters said the snow is expected to start falling Saturday night and continue into Sunday.
"Today couldn't be better. It's sunny and beautiful. But, big weather changes are common this time of year," said backcountry skier Jake Maker.
The latest weather forecast is predicting 3 inches of snow at lake level in the Tahoe basin this weekend.
"It's going to be a dramatic change from today," said Placerville's Bill Rose as he prepared to hike near Echo Summit.
Forecasters said the snow is expected to start falling Saturday night and continue into Sunday.
"Today couldn't be better. It's sunny and beautiful. But, big weather changes are common this time of year," said backcountry skier Jake Maker.
US: Walls at Vicksburg Strain as Mississippi River Tops Record
Vicksburg, Mississippi - The temporary walls erected at Vicksburg to hold back floodwaters were under fresh strain on Sunday as Mississippi River water levels set new records.
One day after officials opened a floodway downriver to speed the flow through the lower Mississippi Valley and spare two of Louisiana's largest cities, the water at Vicksburg hit 56.48 feet on Sunday, more than an inch above the record 56.2 feet set in 1927, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Experts say the river will rise another foot still in Vicksburg before May 19, when it is expected to crest at 57.5 feet -- 14.5 feet above flood level.
The atmosphere in Vicksburg on Sunday remained remarkably calm with the police station closed, although the 911 emergency dispatch line remained open.
The Mississippi, swollen by a rainy spring and melt from an especially snowy winter, continues to rise as it moves south.
One day after officials opened a floodway downriver to speed the flow through the lower Mississippi Valley and spare two of Louisiana's largest cities, the water at Vicksburg hit 56.48 feet on Sunday, more than an inch above the record 56.2 feet set in 1927, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Experts say the river will rise another foot still in Vicksburg before May 19, when it is expected to crest at 57.5 feet -- 14.5 feet above flood level.
The atmosphere in Vicksburg on Sunday remained remarkably calm with the police station closed, although the 911 emergency dispatch line remained open.
The Mississippi, swollen by a rainy spring and melt from an especially snowy winter, continues to rise as it moves south.
Japan Widens Evacuation Zone Around Fukushima Nuclear Plant
Japan has started the first evacuations of homes outside a government exclusion zone after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami crippled one of the country's nuclear power plants.
About 4000 residents of Iidate-mura village and 1100 people in Kawamata-cho town, in the quake-hit northeast, began the phased relocations to public housing, hotels and other facilities in nearby cities.
Their communities are outside the 20km radius from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, officially designated as an area of forced evacuation due to health risks from the radiation seeping from the ageing and damaged plant.
The government told people in communities such as Iidate-mura they had to leave but authorities are unlikely to punish those who choose to stay.
About 4000 residents of Iidate-mura village and 1100 people in Kawamata-cho town, in the quake-hit northeast, began the phased relocations to public housing, hotels and other facilities in nearby cities.
Their communities are outside the 20km radius from the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, officially designated as an area of forced evacuation due to health risks from the radiation seeping from the ageing and damaged plant.
The government told people in communities such as Iidate-mura they had to leave but authorities are unlikely to punish those who choose to stay.
US: Transformer Explodes in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin on 5/12/11
The Fort Atkinson Fire Department tells us that an electrical transformer blew up early Thursday morning at Nasco International Inc., 901 Janesville Avenue.
The roof of the main office caught fire and had to be extinguished by the fire department. There is substantial electrical damage to the main office as well.
There were no injuries. The Nasco main office is closed for today.
The roof of the main office caught fire and had to be extinguished by the fire department. There is substantial electrical damage to the main office as well.
There were no injuries. The Nasco main office is closed for today.
US: Does a Monster Flood Have to Fuel a Monster Dead Zone Too?
Sediment-laden water pours into the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Credit: Norman Kuring, Ocean Color Team.
That's going to cause downstream problems this year... all the way downstream to the ocean. But before we go there, let's take a quick look at how the system works.
U.S.: Transformer fire may have tripped tornado sirens across St. Charles County
St. Charles County - Authorities believe a transformer fire near the county's fire and ambulance dispatch center in Wentzville about 3:45 p.m. today caused a power surge that tripped tornado warning sirens from the dispatch center for about three to four minutes.
The transformer was atop a pole on West Meyer and May roads, near St. Joseph Health Center, authorities said.
The dispatch center is at 1605 Wentzville Parkway.
The cause of the fire was unknown Saturday. The National Weather Service confirmed that it issued no tornado watches or warnings.
The transformer was atop a pole on West Meyer and May roads, near St. Joseph Health Center, authorities said.
The dispatch center is at 1605 Wentzville Parkway.
The cause of the fire was unknown Saturday. The National Weather Service confirmed that it issued no tornado watches or warnings.
Manitoba Floods Farms to Avoid "Catastrophic" Breach
Members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) work at shoring up a dike along the Assiniboine River near Poplar Point, Manitoba, May 13, 2011.
Opening the dike will, over days, flood at least 225 square kilometres (55,600 acres) of land that includes 150 homes while taking the pressure off strained dikes.
After the deliberate dike breach, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the gradual, controlled flood was going well and that he knew of no homes in its path that had been damaged.
Water was spreading rapidly across fields, however, swamping land when farmers are usually planting crops of wheat, canola and vegetables.
"This was a necessity because a catastrophic overflow would have taken all the people in this area, and around it they would have had up to five times more damage if the river opened up," Selinger told reporters near the breach site. "...The dikes are very stressed with the amount of water going through, which is why we had to do this opening here."
The controlled flood looked to continue for as long as a week with flows speeding up because the river was still rising, Selinger said
U.S.: I-15 shut down by Vegas transformer fire
Las Vegas, Nevada -- Las Vegas police said it took about two hours to clear up a traffic mess caused by an electrical transformer explosion behind the Monte Carlo casino.
The blast and resulting fire created a cloud of smoke that shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 15.
Metro Police told the Las Vegas Sun there were no injuries and Monte Carlo guests had to be evacuated.
The cause of the explosion, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. MDT, was not known.
The blast and resulting fire created a cloud of smoke that shut down the northbound lanes of Interstate 15.
Metro Police told the Las Vegas Sun there were no injuries and Monte Carlo guests had to be evacuated.
The cause of the explosion, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. MDT, was not known.
Canada: Forest Fires Force Hundreds to Evacuate from Their Homes Near Slave Lake
The Town of Slave Lake has declared a state of emergency as wildfires force 260 people from their homes.
Close to 1,000 people have been forced from their homes since the fires broke out Saturday afternoon. Initially, about 260 people were evacuated from the Poplar Lane and Mitsue areas but Sunday afternoon, another 700 residents were ordered out of the area because of another fire burning southwest of the community.
Displaced residents are being sent to a Red Cross reception centre at Northern Lakes College. Two schools in the area are being set up as temporary shelters for evacuees.
Papua New Guinea - Earthquake Magnitude 6.5 - Bougainville Region
Earthquake Location
Date-Time:
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 18:37:10 UTC
Monday, May 16, 2011 at 04:37:10 AM at epicenter
Location:
6.157°S, 154.446°E
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 18:37:10 UTC
Monday, May 16, 2011 at 04:37:10 AM at epicenter
Location:
6.157°S, 154.446°E
Depth:
43.2 km (26.8 miles)
Region:
BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances:
122 km (76 miles) W (273°) from Arawa, Bougainville, PNG
248 km (154 miles) WNW (283°) from Chirovanga, Solomon Islands
331 km (206 miles) SE (131°) from Rabaul, New Britain, PNG
709 km (441 miles) WNW (301°) from HONIARA, Solomon Islands
825 km (513 miles) E (86°) from Lae, New Guinea, PNG
43.2 km (26.8 miles)
Region:
BOUGAINVILLE REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances:
122 km (76 miles) W (273°) from Arawa, Bougainville, PNG
248 km (154 miles) WNW (283°) from Chirovanga, Solomon Islands
331 km (206 miles) SE (131°) from Rabaul, New Britain, PNG
709 km (441 miles) WNW (301°) from HONIARA, Solomon Islands
825 km (513 miles) E (86°) from Lae, New Guinea, PNG
Central Mid Atlantic Ridge - Earthquake Magnitude 6.0
Earthquake Location
Date-Time:
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 13:08:12 UTC
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:08:12 AM at epicenter
Location:
0.461°N, 25.601°W
Depth:
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region:
CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
Distances:
1276 km (793 miles) ENE (57°) from Natal, Brazil
1624 km (1009 miles) S (188°) from PRAIA, Cape Verde
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 13:08:12 UTC
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 11:08:12 AM at epicenter
Location:
0.461°N, 25.601°W
Depth:
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region:
CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
Distances:
1276 km (793 miles) ENE (57°) from Natal, Brazil
1624 km (1009 miles) S (188°) from PRAIA, Cape Verde
Palestine: Thunder, Lightning Bring in Heavy Rains Across Country
Unseasonal downpours spread throughout central and northern regions; rain expected to continue with risk of flash floods in Negev.
Unseasonal rainfall continued overnight Friday, with local thunderstorms breaking out across the country.
Heavy downpours were felt in central and northern areas. There were heavy downpours in central and northern areas, and rain was expected continue on Saturday, with the chance of flash floods in the Negev.
Unseasonal amounts of rain were measured, with 9.8 mm falling in Ariel, 8mm in Ashdod and 2.8 mm in Tel Aviv.
Unseasonal rainfall continued overnight Friday, with local thunderstorms breaking out across the country.
Heavy downpours were felt in central and northern areas. There were heavy downpours in central and northern areas, and rain was expected continue on Saturday, with the chance of flash floods in the Negev.
Unseasonal amounts of rain were measured, with 9.8 mm falling in Ariel, 8mm in Ashdod and 2.8 mm in Tel Aviv.
US: Floods Hit Bridgeport Ohio
Pounding rains shut down roads in Bridgeport on Friday.
Heavy rains pounded the Ohio Valley Friday. Water rushed down through the streets of Bridgeport, tearing up roads, crippling cars, and creeping into the basements of the people who live there.
Crews were called in around 4 p.m. Friday. Bridgeport Mayor, John Callarik, says that the heavy rain was just too much for the sewers to handle
"What happened up above, is our main sewer line is all clogged up and it came over the top", he says. Authorities say all that water than came rushing into town, closed a number of roads in the Kerwood section for about four hours and backed up traffic during rush hour. The Bridgeport Fire Department says that aside from flooding, the biggest issue was making sure people were able to get around..
Heavy rains pounded the Ohio Valley Friday. Water rushed down through the streets of Bridgeport, tearing up roads, crippling cars, and creeping into the basements of the people who live there.
Crews were called in around 4 p.m. Friday. Bridgeport Mayor, John Callarik, says that the heavy rain was just too much for the sewers to handle
"What happened up above, is our main sewer line is all clogged up and it came over the top", he says. Authorities say all that water than came rushing into town, closed a number of roads in the Kerwood section for about four hours and backed up traffic during rush hour. The Bridgeport Fire Department says that aside from flooding, the biggest issue was making sure people were able to get around..
US: Flash flooding; State of Emergency in Wellsville
Buffalo, New York - A flash flood watch is posted for Southern Erie, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Wyoming Counties from Noon Saturday through the evening.
Heavy rains caused flash flooding for portions of the Southern Tier Friday.
A state of emergency is in effect in the Village of Wellsville in Allegany County. Roads were damaged and flooded in Wellsville, Belmont and Scio.
Emergency crews evacuated some of the residents.
Wellsville Police say dozens of streets and roadways are impassable and are closed. Some of the roads could be closed for the next several days.
Officials are asking residents to avoid any unnecessary travel in areas affected by the flash floods.
Heavy rains caused flash flooding for portions of the Southern Tier Friday.
A state of emergency is in effect in the Village of Wellsville in Allegany County. Roads were damaged and flooded in Wellsville, Belmont and Scio.
Emergency crews evacuated some of the residents.
Wellsville Police say dozens of streets and roadways are impassable and are closed. Some of the roads could be closed for the next several days.
Officials are asking residents to avoid any unnecessary travel in areas affected by the flash floods.
New Zealand: Aftershocks Continue Daily after Christchurch Earthquake 2011
A series of aftershocks woke a number of Christchurch residents in the early hours of Sunday 15th May, 2011.
Aftershocks continue to rattle Christchurch on a daily basis with 7 occurring between 4pm on the 14th May and 3pm on the 15th May. Some of these shocks relate to the 7.1 September 2010 earthquake and others to the 6.3 February 2011 earthquake.
Aftershocks on the 15th May 2011
According to the Geonet website, Christchurch was shaken by 3 large aftershocks between 1am and 3am on Sunday 15th May. The first was a 4.0 magnitude centered near Springston. This aftershock was close to the area of the September 2010 earthquake. The second and third aftershocks measured 4.6 and 4.0 and both were in the ocean off the East Coast. They were centered just over 20 kilometers from Cathedral Square in Christchurch central.
These aftershocks disturbed many people's sleep and Facebook comments reported that frightened children ran and climbed into bed with parents. Other people described the tremors as a good shake and shudder. One person said their windows rattled and there was also a comment about chairs on wheels moving.
Aftershocks continue to rattle Christchurch on a daily basis with 7 occurring between 4pm on the 14th May and 3pm on the 15th May. Some of these shocks relate to the 7.1 September 2010 earthquake and others to the 6.3 February 2011 earthquake.
Aftershocks on the 15th May 2011
According to the Geonet website, Christchurch was shaken by 3 large aftershocks between 1am and 3am on Sunday 15th May. The first was a 4.0 magnitude centered near Springston. This aftershock was close to the area of the September 2010 earthquake. The second and third aftershocks measured 4.6 and 4.0 and both were in the ocean off the East Coast. They were centered just over 20 kilometers from Cathedral Square in Christchurch central.
These aftershocks disturbed many people's sleep and Facebook comments reported that frightened children ran and climbed into bed with parents. Other people described the tremors as a good shake and shudder. One person said their windows rattled and there was also a comment about chairs on wheels moving.
US: Here Are The Refineries And Nuclear Power Plants Threatened If The Morganza Spillway Is Opened-Shut
As we reported previously, Obama has found himself on the verge of another environmental scandal now that he has no choice but to redirect the Mississippi river via the Morganza spillway - either lose millions in barrels of daily refined production and potentially the impairment of the Colonial Pipeline, two events which would promptly cause gas prices to soar to new records, or redirect the river via the Spillway, and cause the flooding of millions of acres, and numerous towns and cities, and possibly another New Orelans bases crisis.
It seems Obama has picked the lesser of two evils: i.e., protect the oil: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Friday it anticipates opening the Morganza Spillway on the western bank of the swollen Mississippi River to divert floodwaters into the Atchafalaya River basin and protect Baton Rouge, Louisiana, New Orleans and refineries from flooding.
The Corps of Engineers had been planning next week to open the spillway, about 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Baton Rouge, but could do so as soon as Saturday as high water continues making its way downriver." On the other hand, opening the spillway will also lead to plant impairments: " Opening the spillway will disrupt operations at Alon USA Energy's 80,000-bpd Krotz Springs, Louisiana, refinery. An Alon spokesman said on Friday that the plant was operating normally as crews continued to build a second levee to prevent Atchafalaya River waters from flooding the refinery within 10 to 14 days of the Morganza opening.
It seems Obama has picked the lesser of two evils: i.e., protect the oil: "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Friday it anticipates opening the Morganza Spillway on the western bank of the swollen Mississippi River to divert floodwaters into the Atchafalaya River basin and protect Baton Rouge, Louisiana, New Orleans and refineries from flooding.
The Corps of Engineers had been planning next week to open the spillway, about 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Baton Rouge, but could do so as soon as Saturday as high water continues making its way downriver." On the other hand, opening the spillway will also lead to plant impairments: " Opening the spillway will disrupt operations at Alon USA Energy's 80,000-bpd Krotz Springs, Louisiana, refinery. An Alon spokesman said on Friday that the plant was operating normally as crews continued to build a second levee to prevent Atchafalaya River waters from flooding the refinery within 10 to 14 days of the Morganza opening.
More Dead Dolphins Wash Up On Orange Beach Alabama
"Our entire food chain within the gulf of Mexico is affected, there's no denying that."
British Parakeet Boom is a Mystery, and a Mess
Stanwell, England - The evening started peacefully enough at Long Lane Recreation Park in the western suburbs of London. But just before sunset, five bright green missiles streaked through the air toward a row of poplars at the park's edge.
Within minutes, hundreds more of the squawking birds - in formations 10, 20, 30 strong - had passed above the tidy homes and a cricket club, whizzing toward their nightly roost.
Native to the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa, the rose-ringed parakeet is enjoying a population explosion in many London suburbs, turning a once-exotic bird into a notorious pest that awakens children, monopolizes garden bird feeders and might even threaten British crops.
One rough estimate put the population in Britain at 30,000 a few years ago, up from only 1,500 in 1995. Researchers at Imperial College London are now trying a more scientific census through its Project Parakeet, which enlisted volunteer birders around the country for simultaneous counts on a recent Sunday evening.
Within minutes, hundreds more of the squawking birds - in formations 10, 20, 30 strong - had passed above the tidy homes and a cricket club, whizzing toward their nightly roost.
Native to the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa, the rose-ringed parakeet is enjoying a population explosion in many London suburbs, turning a once-exotic bird into a notorious pest that awakens children, monopolizes garden bird feeders and might even threaten British crops.
One rough estimate put the population in Britain at 30,000 a few years ago, up from only 1,500 in 1995. Researchers at Imperial College London are now trying a more scientific census through its Project Parakeet, which enlisted volunteer birders around the country for simultaneous counts on a recent Sunday evening.
It's Official- Cell Phones are Killing Bees
Scientists may have found the cause of the world's sudden dwindling population of bees - and cell phones may be to blame. Research conducted in Lausanne, Switzerland has shown that the signal from cell phones not only confuses bees, but also may lead to their death. Over 83 experiments have yielded the same results. With virtually most of the population of the United States (and the rest of the world) owning cell phones, the impact has been greatly noticeable.
Led by researcher Daniel Favre, the alarming study found that bees reacted significantly to cell phones that were placed near or in hives in call-making mode. The bees sensed the signals transmitted when the phones rang, and emitted heavy buzzing noise during the calls. The calls act as an instinctive warning to leave the hive, but the frequency confuses the bees, causing them to fly erratically. The study found that the bees' buzzing noise increases ten times when a cell phone is ringing or making a call - aka when signals are being transmitted, but remained normal when not in use.
Led by researcher Daniel Favre, the alarming study found that bees reacted significantly to cell phones that were placed near or in hives in call-making mode. The bees sensed the signals transmitted when the phones rang, and emitted heavy buzzing noise during the calls. The calls act as an instinctive warning to leave the hive, but the frequency confuses the bees, causing them to fly erratically. The study found that the bees' buzzing noise increases ten times when a cell phone is ringing or making a call - aka when signals are being transmitted, but remained normal when not in use.
US: New Orlean's Audubon Zoo, located along Mississippi River, has no plans to evacuate animals
While keeping a watchful eye on the nearby Mississippi River, officials at the Audubon Zoo say they have no plans to evacuate animals in the event of rising water.
There are plans in place for emergencies such as a flood, according to spokeswoman Sarah Burnette. However, she said those plans do not currently include evacuating animals.
Burnette pointed to disaster plans put into effect during Hurricane Katrina.
"In the hurricane, we gave many of the animals 'open house' so they could decide whether to be in the exhibit areas or in their nighthouse areas," she said in an email.
There are plans in place for emergencies such as a flood, according to spokeswoman Sarah Burnette. However, she said those plans do not currently include evacuating animals.
Burnette pointed to disaster plans put into effect during Hurricane Katrina.
"In the hurricane, we gave many of the animals 'open house' so they could decide whether to be in the exhibit areas or in their nighthouse areas," she said in an email.
Czech Republic: Frost seriously damages fruit crops
Last week's surprising frost which passed through the Czech Republic damaged this year's fruit crop. Growers estimate the damage at hundreds of millions of Czech Crowns. The Fruit Union claims that these are the highest losses in decades.
Some fruit growing businesses could face an existential problem, says the Fruit Union. The association's president Martin Ludvík wants to negotiate with the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the latest estimates the severe frost damaged under 6400 hectares of orchards, this represents 37 percent of all fertile orchards in the Czech Republic. "Harvest from the effected areas will be minimal or none at all," said Ludvík. About 24 percent of orchards sustained moderate damage and 39 percent have not sustained any major damage.
Some fruit growing businesses could face an existential problem, says the Fruit Union. The association's president Martin Ludvík wants to negotiate with the Ministry of Agriculture.
According to the latest estimates the severe frost damaged under 6400 hectares of orchards, this represents 37 percent of all fertile orchards in the Czech Republic. "Harvest from the effected areas will be minimal or none at all," said Ludvík. About 24 percent of orchards sustained moderate damage and 39 percent have not sustained any major damage.
US: Louisiana Spillway to Open, Flooding Cajun Country
In a May 12, 2011 photo, Robert Jones, 53, is afraid the rising flood waters behind his house will flood him out by the weekend in Yazoo City, Miss.
About 25,000 people and 11,000 structures could be in harm's way when the gates on the Morganza spillway are unlocked for the first time in 38 years.
"Protecting lives is the No. 1 priority," Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh said aboard a boat from the river at Vicksburg, Miss., hours before the decision was made to open the spillway.
The opening will release a torrent that could submerge about 3,000 square miles under as much as 25 feet of water in some areas but take the pressure off the downstream levees protecting New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the numerous oil refineries and chemical plants along the lower reaches of the Mississippi.
U.S.: Sharks Dying by the Dozens Due to Internal Bleeding
Costa Rica - Earthquake Magnitude 6.0
Earth Location
Friday, May 13, 2011 at 22:47:55 UTC
Friday, May 13, 2011 at 04:47:55 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
10.105°N, 84.261°W
Depth:
70 km (43.5 miles)
Region:
COSTA RICA
Distances:
25 km (16 miles) WNW (303°) from SAN JOSE, Costa Rica
126 km (78 miles) SSE (153°) from San Carlos, Nicaragua
137 km (85 miles) W (275°) from Limon, Costa Rica
U.S.: Dead walleye showing up by the thousands in Ohio
Port Clinton -- As anglers from more than a dozen states are trying to figure out how to catch the largest walleye this week, Ohio Department of Natural Resources biologists will be trying to figure out what killed thousands of others recently.
"I'm hearing thousands or tens of thousands maybe, on the high side," said biologist and ODNR Lake Erie Program Administrator Roger Knight. "This is something out of the ordinary."
According to Knight, there are several possible causes.
"I'm hearing thousands or tens of thousands maybe, on the high side," said biologist and ODNR Lake Erie Program Administrator Roger Knight. "This is something out of the ordinary."
According to Knight, there are several possible causes.
US: Mammatus Clouds Over Minnesota
On May 10th, a severe storm captured national attention when it dumped golf-ball-sized hail on a Minnesota Twins baseball game. "I missed the hail," reports John Rogers of New Hope, Minnesota, "but I got a nice view of the clouds that formed after the storm passed." He snapped this picture in waning twilight at 8:30 pm local time:
These are mammatus clouds. Named for their resemblance to a cow's underbelly, they sometimes appear at the end of severe thunderstorms when the thundercloud is breaking up. Researchers have called them an "intriguing enigma," because no one knows exactly how and why they form. The clouds are fairly common but often go unnoticed because potential observers have been chased indoors by the rain. If you are one of them, dash outside when the downpour stops; you could witness a beautiful mystery in the sky.
Red sky at night: Sicily looks on as Mount Etna erupts in spectacular fashion
After reports of mysterious mass animal deaths around the planet, photos of a fierce volcanic eruption might confirm that the end of the world is nigh.
Thankfully, these magnificent pictures of Mount Etna's latest eruption are merely a chance to revel in the awesome power of nature rather than a reason to start stocking up on canned goods.
The 3,329-metre (10,922-feet) volcano erupted for around an hour yesterday evening, lighting up the Sicilian sky and providing amazing scenery for the village of Milo, just 12 kilometres away.
Thankfully, these magnificent pictures of Mount Etna's latest eruption are merely a chance to revel in the awesome power of nature rather than a reason to start stocking up on canned goods.
The 3,329-metre (10,922-feet) volcano erupted for around an hour yesterday evening, lighting up the Sicilian sky and providing amazing scenery for the village of Milo, just 12 kilometres away.
Etna is Europe's tallest and most active volcano and has seen increased activity in recent months yet its seismic might poses no immediate threat to the nearby towns and cities.
According to the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, a slight increase in Etna's volcanic tremors had been recorded on Tuesday, reaching its peak at 7am local time yesterday.
The activity diminished but at 9:30pm local time on Wednesday night, Etna roared into life sending lava spewing down its sides.
According to the Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, a slight increase in Etna's volcanic tremors had been recorded on Tuesday, reaching its peak at 7am local time yesterday.
The activity diminished but at 9:30pm local time on Wednesday night, Etna roared into life sending lava spewing down its sides.
Expert says eruption of Etna volcano linked to earthquake in Spain
Rome - The eruption of the Etna volcano in southern Italy early Thursday is connected to the earthquakes that rocked the Spanish region of Murcia, killing 12 people and injuring more than 170 others, a seismology expert said Thursday.
"We are currently witnessing an intense seismic activity in the entire Mediterranean area from Spain all the way to Malta which has a certain impact on regional volcanoes," said Domenico Patane, director of the Sicily office of Italy s National Geophysics Institute.
Patane said volcanoes are like windows from where underground magma surfaces and it's normal that they respond to earthquakes occurring in a geographic proximity.
"The Spanish eastern coast hit by the quake, after all, lies close to Italy, in the Mediterranean. Both Spain and Sicily are on the same earth plate," he said.
The earthquakes in Spain on Wednesday, which could be felt in Madrid, reportedly had their epicenter near the towns of Lorca and Totana in the Murcia region. The initial tremor of 4.4 magnitude was followed by a quake of about 5.2 magnitude.
"We are currently witnessing an intense seismic activity in the entire Mediterranean area from Spain all the way to Malta which has a certain impact on regional volcanoes," said Domenico Patane, director of the Sicily office of Italy s National Geophysics Institute.
Patane said volcanoes are like windows from where underground magma surfaces and it's normal that they respond to earthquakes occurring in a geographic proximity.
"The Spanish eastern coast hit by the quake, after all, lies close to Italy, in the Mediterranean. Both Spain and Sicily are on the same earth plate," he said.
The earthquakes in Spain on Wednesday, which could be felt in Madrid, reportedly had their epicenter near the towns of Lorca and Totana in the Murcia region. The initial tremor of 4.4 magnitude was followed by a quake of about 5.2 magnitude.
US: Town that faces being wiped off map: Flood waters engulf every home in Mississippi community
It's a terrible waiting game for around 350 people evacuated from the camps at Tunica Cutoff.
With the Mississippi River 10ft out of its banks and heading towards a crest (peak) of 48ft on the Memphis gauge, county planners and emergency management officials fear that flood waters will enter nearly all the now-abandoned homes on the unprotected side of the levee.
On the bloated Mississippi River, the town of Tunica Cutoff, sits an hour's drive south of Memphis - recent flood waters have done significant damage to the town's housing and has left residents wondering if they'll have a community to return to when the water recedes.
CBS News reports that there are about 300 homes in the small town, and they have all been flooded.
With the Mississippi River 10ft out of its banks and heading towards a crest (peak) of 48ft on the Memphis gauge, county planners and emergency management officials fear that flood waters will enter nearly all the now-abandoned homes on the unprotected side of the levee.
On the bloated Mississippi River, the town of Tunica Cutoff, sits an hour's drive south of Memphis - recent flood waters have done significant damage to the town's housing and has left residents wondering if they'll have a community to return to when the water recedes.
CBS News reports that there are about 300 homes in the small town, and they have all been flooded.
US: Slow migration unfolds in flood's path
Yazoo City - A slow migration is unfolding here as people and wild animals - hogs, deer and snakes among them - seek higher ground from the floodwaters rising inexorably along the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
Brett Robinson drove slowly down River Road near his Yazoo City farm on Thursday, gazing out over corn fields now beginning to look more like lakes. He stopped his truck, pulled out a rifle and shot dead a wild hog swimming through his corn. He'll lose the crop anyway, but that hog could be a nuisance long after the water recedes.
"We lose a lot of crops to them," he said of wild pigs. "We can lose 40 acres in a night. They can give birth three times a year and have 15 in a litter."
Wild pigs multiply faster than farmers can deal with them. Yet the rising flood is driving them into the open, giving farmers an opportunity to kill them as wild animals seek higher ground.
Not far away, a raccoon clung atop a power pole, perched above several feet of water. Nearby, a snake swam through the inundated corn. Ants are seemingly everywhere and fish sought to swim against the current as water washed over a road.
Floodwaters invade downtown Vicksburg on Wednesday. Historic Vicksburg, the site of a pivotal Civil War battle, has been one of the hardest hit cities. All along the river's path, residents are worried about the flood's impact on homes and farmland.
Brett Robinson drove slowly down River Road near his Yazoo City farm on Thursday, gazing out over corn fields now beginning to look more like lakes. He stopped his truck, pulled out a rifle and shot dead a wild hog swimming through his corn. He'll lose the crop anyway, but that hog could be a nuisance long after the water recedes.
"We lose a lot of crops to them," he said of wild pigs. "We can lose 40 acres in a night. They can give birth three times a year and have 15 in a litter."
Wild pigs multiply faster than farmers can deal with them. Yet the rising flood is driving them into the open, giving farmers an opportunity to kill them as wild animals seek higher ground.
Not far away, a raccoon clung atop a power pole, perched above several feet of water. Nearby, a snake swam through the inundated corn. Ants are seemingly everywhere and fish sought to swim against the current as water washed over a road.
US: Fort Worth lightning strikes create fireball explosions
Dramatic explosions lighting up the Fort Worth night sky on Tuesday provided a multi-colored display that left residents in awe and thousands without power, thanks to an intense thunderstorm system that moved through the area.
The explosions resulted from lightning strikes hitting feeder lines used for electricity transmission throughout the neighborhoods. The explosions included intense blue, orange, purple and red colors, ranging over what appeared to be a multiple-block area.
The explosions resulted from lightning strikes hitting feeder lines used for electricity transmission throughout the neighborhoods. The explosions included intense blue, orange, purple and red colors, ranging over what appeared to be a multiple-block area.
Plan to Flood Fukushima Reactor Could Cause New Blast, Experts Warn
Experts have warned of a potentially dangerous radiation leak if Japan proceeds with plans to flood a damaged reactor containment vessel at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The facility's operator has admitted uranium fuel rods in the No 1 reactor partially melted after being fully exposed because of the 11 March tsunami.
Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said water levels had fallen to at least one metre below four-metre-long fuel rods inside the reactor core and melted fuel had slumped to the bottom of the reactor's containment vessel.
The damage is more severe than Tepco had previously reported and is almost certain to frustrate its quest to bring the plant under control within six to nine months. Officials said the leaked fuel was being kept cool and there was no risk of an explosion of the kind that blew the roof off the reactor in March.
Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) said water levels had fallen to at least one metre below four-metre-long fuel rods inside the reactor core and melted fuel had slumped to the bottom of the reactor's containment vessel.
The damage is more severe than Tepco had previously reported and is almost certain to frustrate its quest to bring the plant under control within six to nine months. Officials said the leaked fuel was being kept cool and there was no risk of an explosion of the kind that blew the roof off the reactor in March.
Fukushima - One Step Forward and Four Steps Back as Each Unit Challenged by New Problems
Gundersen says Fukushima's gaseous and liquid releases continue unabated. With a meltdown at Unit 1, Unit 4 leaning and facing possible collapse, several units contaminating ground water, and area school children outside the exclusion zone receiving adult occupational radiation doses, the situation continues to worsen. TEPCO needs a cohesive plan and international support to protect against world-wide contamination.
Multiple vortex forming over Northern America
There is an upper level low pressure system vortex storm forming of East Coast of US. It's an occluded front with a low pressure of 29.29hg or 992mb. The winds are rotating the system counterclockwise. In previous post we gave some possible explanation of the situation and we gave some notes about polar cyclones, arctic storms, nor'eastern storms and explanation of Coriolis effect.
The upper level low pressure systems are important to forecasting and can dramatically alter one's forecast. Upper level lows can occur in association with a mid-latitude cyclone or may begin without the aid of a mid-latitude cyclone. Upper level lows without the aid of a surface low can develop when air flows over a mountain range, in association with an upper level short wave, or in association with a jet streak.
Japan Reactor-Core Damage Worse Than Thought
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said one of the reactor cores at its stricken Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant is more seriously damaged than previously thought, setting back the utility's plan to resolve the crisis.
Fuel rods in the core of the No. 1 reactor are fully exposed, with the water level 1 meter (3.3 feet) below the base of the fuel assembly, Junichi Matsumoto, a general manager at the utility known as Tepco, told reporters at a briefing in Tokyo. Melted fuel has dropped to the bottom of the pressure vessel and is still being cooled, Matsumoto said.
Japan is trying to contain the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl after a quake and tsunami two months ago knocked out power and cooling systems at the Fukushima station. While authorities have previously suspected a partial meltdown at unit 1, high radiation levels had prevented workers from entering the building to check the damage until last week.
Fuel rods in the core of the No. 1 reactor are fully exposed, with the water level 1 meter (3.3 feet) below the base of the fuel assembly, Junichi Matsumoto, a general manager at the utility known as Tepco, told reporters at a briefing in Tokyo. Melted fuel has dropped to the bottom of the pressure vessel and is still being cooled, Matsumoto said.
Japan is trying to contain the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl after a quake and tsunami two months ago knocked out power and cooling systems at the Fukushima station. While authorities have previously suspected a partial meltdown at unit 1, high radiation levels had prevented workers from entering the building to check the damage until last week.
Made In Taiwan: Footage Of Taipei Tornado
This is a video shot by a Taipei resident as a tornado affected part of the Taiwanese capital on May 12th. The twister lasted around two minutes, flipping an SUV on top of some motorcycles, though there were no reports of casualties.
There was a stationary front lying over the area at the time, with an extremely humid airmass to its south. The 00Z Taipei sounding shows enhanced low-level moisture and some windshear, which both contributed to vigorous convection and updraft rotation.
The event, however, will not be recorded on Central Weather Bureau's list of natural disasters as it was not recorded by their weather station. This may have implications for the owners of the vehicles, as the local insurance industry normally relies on the CWB record for claims purposes.
There was a stationary front lying over the area at the time, with an extremely humid airmass to its south. The 00Z Taipei sounding shows enhanced low-level moisture and some windshear, which both contributed to vigorous convection and updraft rotation.
The event, however, will not be recorded on Central Weather Bureau's list of natural disasters as it was not recorded by their weather station. This may have implications for the owners of the vehicles, as the local insurance industry normally relies on the CWB record for claims purposes.
U.S.: Thousands of fish dead along I-210 beach
Lake Charles, Louisiana - Thousands of dead fish were discovered Wednesday, lining the shore of the I-210 beach.
Most of the fish washed ashore on the southwest corner of the beach.
Officials with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries identified the fish as Shad, which are known to travel in huge schools and are more common in creeks.
Biologists collected samples of the fish to send off for testing. Though no official results are back, biologists said the fish kill was most likely caused by low oxygen levels. Low oxygen levels are usually caused by low tides and high temperatures and usually affect one species.
Fish kills are common along the Gulf Coast, especially during the summer months.
Since officials don't believe the fish pose any threat to humans or animals, the I-210 beach remains open.
US: Cicadas Invade South After 13-Year Sleep
Another natural phenomenon has hit the Southern States as swarms of cicadas return after 13 years hibernating underground.
Every 13 years the inch-long insects emerge from their underground lairs to plague America's Deep South in a feeding and breeding frenzy.
It adds to the natural phenomena the region has battled with after tornadoes last month and floods in Mississippi this week.
Apart from their intense 120-decibel mating racket and the frustration of finding them in hair, clothes and lunch-boxes, they're completely harmless to humans.
Every 13 years the inch-long insects emerge from their underground lairs to plague America's Deep South in a feeding and breeding frenzy.
It adds to the natural phenomena the region has battled with after tornadoes last month and floods in Mississippi this week.
Apart from their intense 120-decibel mating racket and the frustration of finding them in hair, clothes and lunch-boxes, they're completely harmless to humans.
Namibia: Residents Face The Fury of Raging Floods
The waters of the raging floods in North-Central and North-Eastern Namibia might have subsided drastically over the last couple of weeks, but it would seemingly take more to restore the lives of an about 220 000 people estimated to have been affected by the floods.
According to the United Nation's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Namibia, Kari Egge, the figure is based on the assumption that about 15 per cent of residents of the country's seven flood hit regions would carry the consequences of the disaster.
The floods resulted in the loss of lives and severe damage to properties and infrastructure; led to the closure of school and clinics, and disrupted the daily routines of those it affected. Over 100,000 learners in 324 schools were affected by flooding, of which 163 were closed, and 22 health clinics were either submerged or completely surrounded by water.
The fact that the areas prone to the annual flooding hosts more than half of Namibia's total population did not ease the burden on government. Preliminary assessments showed that the priority requirements were food, shelter, transport and education.
According to the United Nation's Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Namibia, Kari Egge, the figure is based on the assumption that about 15 per cent of residents of the country's seven flood hit regions would carry the consequences of the disaster.
The floods resulted in the loss of lives and severe damage to properties and infrastructure; led to the closure of school and clinics, and disrupted the daily routines of those it affected. Over 100,000 learners in 324 schools were affected by flooding, of which 163 were closed, and 22 health clinics were either submerged or completely surrounded by water.
The fact that the areas prone to the annual flooding hosts more than half of Namibia's total population did not ease the burden on government. Preliminary assessments showed that the priority requirements were food, shelter, transport and education.
France heat wave could rival deadly '03 crisis
Joseph Menard, a dairy farmer in Brittany, says the country's driest spring in half a century has left him with just two weeks of animal fodder in stock.
"There hasn't been enough water for the grass to grow," Menard, who is also president of the agricultural office for Brittany's Ille-et-Vilaine region, said. "We get one or two hours of sporadic rain, but that's not enough to grow enough feed for both daily use and stock for the summer."
Unseasonably high temperatures that resulted in the second-warmest April since 1900 and the driest spring in about 50 years have prompted France to restrict water use in some areas.
The weather is raising prospects for a repeat of the 2003 heat wave, which resulted in more than 14,000 deaths in France and left Europe's agricultural and forest industries with about $18.5 billion in losses. Adverse global weather, ranging from the flooding of the Mississippi River to droughts in Kansas, Oklahoma and parts of Europe, is damaging farms and crops.
While the growing season is early in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, corn futures almost doubled in the past year as U.S. stockpiles headed for a 15-year low. Wheat prices rose about 64 percent in the same period.
"There hasn't been enough water for the grass to grow," Menard, who is also president of the agricultural office for Brittany's Ille-et-Vilaine region, said. "We get one or two hours of sporadic rain, but that's not enough to grow enough feed for both daily use and stock for the summer."
Unseasonably high temperatures that resulted in the second-warmest April since 1900 and the driest spring in about 50 years have prompted France to restrict water use in some areas.
The weather is raising prospects for a repeat of the 2003 heat wave, which resulted in more than 14,000 deaths in France and left Europe's agricultural and forest industries with about $18.5 billion in losses. Adverse global weather, ranging from the flooding of the Mississippi River to droughts in Kansas, Oklahoma and parts of Europe, is damaging farms and crops.
While the growing season is early in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, corn futures almost doubled in the past year as U.S. stockpiles headed for a 15-year low. Wheat prices rose about 64 percent in the same period.
US: Second Wave of Mystery Pelican Deaths Hits Topsail Beach, North Carolina
A second wave of mysterious pelican injuries and deaths has occurred in the past several weeks at Topsail Island in North Carolina following earlier incidents about six months ago in which about 250 pelicans died as a result of still undetermined causes.
Necropsies in the fall of 2010 performed at the University of Georgia on the first group of Brown Pelicans were inconclusive as to cause of injury though there was no evidence of toxicological causes such as poisons. The newly found birds have also been sent to the university for analysis.
This recent incident involves about 30 pelicans that washed up on the shores either dead or so badly injured that they had to be euthanized. In an interview with WNCT-TV, Toni O'Neil of the Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary commented on the injuries to one bird "... [it] looks like a bomb has gone off in the wing. It's that shattered and smashed so completely".
Necropsies in the fall of 2010 performed at the University of Georgia on the first group of Brown Pelicans were inconclusive as to cause of injury though there was no evidence of toxicological causes such as poisons. The newly found birds have also been sent to the university for analysis.
This recent incident involves about 30 pelicans that washed up on the shores either dead or so badly injured that they had to be euthanized. In an interview with WNCT-TV, Toni O'Neil of the Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary commented on the injuries to one bird "... [it] looks like a bomb has gone off in the wing. It's that shattered and smashed so completely".
Quakes Hit Italy, But None in Rome Despite Myth
More than 22 earthquakes struck Italy by noon on Wednesday, as is normal for the quake-prone country. But none was the devastating temblor purportedly predicted by a now-dead scientist to strike Rome.
Despite efforts by seismologists to debunk the myth of a major Roman quake on May 11, 2011 and stress that quakes can never be predicted, some Romans left town just in case, spurred by rumor-fueled fears that ignore science.
Many storefronts were shuttered, for example, in a neighborhood of Chinese-owned shops near Rome's central train station. And an agriculture farm lobby group said a survey of farm-hotels outside the capital indicated some superstitious Romans had headed to the countryside for the day.
The fears are all thanks to a purported prediction of a major Roman quake Wednesday attributed to self-taught seismologist Raffaele Bendandi, who died in 1979. However, Paola Lagorio, president of the association in charge of Bendandi's documentation, says there's no evidence Bendandi ever made such a precise prediction.
Adam Burgess, a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Kent said rumors like these tend to occur in "information vacuums," such as during war when there are situations of uncertainty. In this case, he suggested, the viral rumor-mongering about a Roman quake may reflect a lack of trust Italians feel toward their government.
Despite efforts by seismologists to debunk the myth of a major Roman quake on May 11, 2011 and stress that quakes can never be predicted, some Romans left town just in case, spurred by rumor-fueled fears that ignore science.
Many storefronts were shuttered, for example, in a neighborhood of Chinese-owned shops near Rome's central train station. And an agriculture farm lobby group said a survey of farm-hotels outside the capital indicated some superstitious Romans had headed to the countryside for the day.
The fears are all thanks to a purported prediction of a major Roman quake Wednesday attributed to self-taught seismologist Raffaele Bendandi, who died in 1979. However, Paola Lagorio, president of the association in charge of Bendandi's documentation, says there's no evidence Bendandi ever made such a precise prediction.
Adam Burgess, a senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Kent said rumors like these tend to occur in "information vacuums," such as during war when there are situations of uncertainty. In this case, he suggested, the viral rumor-mongering about a Roman quake may reflect a lack of trust Italians feel toward their government.
US: On the storm chase: Tornadoes possible today in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas
Pratt, Kansas - Following a sprint back south to the area (we were here for sight-seeing last week) from South Dakota, my storm chase team led by Jason Foster, and including meteorologist Mark Ellinwood, is on the road to try to find today's sweet spot of potential tornadic activity. The Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a "slight risk" of severe weather today over a large portion of the southern Plains into the upper Midwest.
It's been kind of quiet for May thus far in the Plains. Typically, this is the peak of both tornadoes in any given year, and it is also the peak for the Oklahoma and Kansas portion of Tornado Alley. Quiet days, and spreading wildfires aside, things have turned progressively more active lately, and today into tomorrow could end up making up for "lost time" last week.
It's been kind of quiet for May thus far in the Plains. Typically, this is the peak of both tornadoes in any given year, and it is also the peak for the Oklahoma and Kansas portion of Tornado Alley. Quiet days, and spreading wildfires aside, things have turned progressively more active lately, and today into tomorrow could end up making up for "lost time" last week.
26 dead as Tropical storm leaves Philippines
The latest tally showed that Aere affected 71,267 families or 376,888 people in 464 villages, 65 municipalities, five cities, and 12 provinces in six regions nationwide.
Manila: Tropical Storm Aere left northern Luzon on Wednesday, but not before battering the Bicol region and leaving at least 26 people dead, a disaster official told Gulf News.
Most of the newly listed fatalities came from central Philippines and Metro Manila, not in central Luzon which Aure drenched and hit with rough winds from Monday to Tuesday, said Ronald Flores, acting officer in charge of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
Manila: Tropical Storm Aere left northern Luzon on Wednesday, but not before battering the Bicol region and leaving at least 26 people dead, a disaster official told Gulf News.
Most of the newly listed fatalities came from central Philippines and Metro Manila, not in central Luzon which Aure drenched and hit with rough winds from Monday to Tuesday, said Ronald Flores, acting officer in charge of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
US: Mount St. Helens Erupts Again - This Time in 3-D
Pictured from the northwest, the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption is modeled in 3-D.
Volcanologists have created the first ever 3-D simulation of the cataclysmic eruption of Mount St. Helens, which happened 31 years ago this month.
The model backs up current ideas about what led to the 1980 blast, which killed 57 people. The real news, though, is that the simulation could save lives in the future by helping researchers predict how dormant volcanoes may lose their tempers.
US: A Bad Decision - FEMA must Help Tornado Victims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency should reconsider its decision to deny Gov. Bob McDonnell's request to declare a major disaster in parts of Southwest Virginia ravaged by tornadoes.
FEMA denied McDonnell's request for Washington and Pulaski counties over the weekend indicating the damage was not severe enough to qualify for federal assistance.
FEMA denied McDonnell's request for Washington and Pulaski counties over the weekend indicating the damage was not severe enough to qualify for federal assistance.
US: Washing Away the Fields of Iowa
To an untrained eye, the fields of Iowa have a reassuring solidity. You cannot tell that the state has lost half its topsoil in the past century. According to a new report from the Environmental Working Group, Iowa's soil is washing away at rates far higher than anyone realized.
For Iowa - and other Corn Belt states facing similar problems - this means an increasing loss of fertility that has to be replaced chemically. It marks a failure of stewardship, since these soils will have to feed future generations. And every particle that washes away causes problems downstream, including sedimentation - which can increase the risk of flooding - and the alarming dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, the result of runoff of the chemical fertilizers farmers apply to make up for lost fertility.
The Agriculture Department says that a "sustainable" rate of topsoil loss for most of Iowa is 5 tons per acre per year, and the actual average soil erosion is 5.2 tons. But using Iowa State University statistics and an aerial survey, the Environmental Working Group concluded that average annual soil loss in much of Iowa is double the federal government's estimates. This pace of erosion is caused partly by an increasing number of intense storms. As the report says, it has been exacerbated by a fundamental bias in federal farm policy and supports. In the dozen years before 2009, Iowa received nearly $17 billion in subsidies that fostered high-intensity farming and less than $3 billion to support conservation. In the recent budget battles, conservation programs were the hardest-hit farm programs.
For Iowa - and other Corn Belt states facing similar problems - this means an increasing loss of fertility that has to be replaced chemically. It marks a failure of stewardship, since these soils will have to feed future generations. And every particle that washes away causes problems downstream, including sedimentation - which can increase the risk of flooding - and the alarming dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, the result of runoff of the chemical fertilizers farmers apply to make up for lost fertility.
The Agriculture Department says that a "sustainable" rate of topsoil loss for most of Iowa is 5 tons per acre per year, and the actual average soil erosion is 5.2 tons. But using Iowa State University statistics and an aerial survey, the Environmental Working Group concluded that average annual soil loss in much of Iowa is double the federal government's estimates. This pace of erosion is caused partly by an increasing number of intense storms. As the report says, it has been exacerbated by a fundamental bias in federal farm policy and supports. In the dozen years before 2009, Iowa received nearly $17 billion in subsidies that fostered high-intensity farming and less than $3 billion to support conservation. In the recent budget battles, conservation programs were the hardest-hit farm programs.
UK: Mysterious hole sparks fears in Harlesden
The crevice, which is some 3ft deep and 2ft wide, appeared in Leopold Road, Harlesden without any sign of what caused it.
Concerned residents spotted the hole shortly before 5pm last Wednesday, and rushed out to put up makeshift barriers and scrawled a 'danger' sign warning motorists and pedestrians of the hazard.
Earthquake hits southern Spain, ten dead
At least ten people were reported dead and dozens injured after an earthquake shook southeastern Spain on Wednesday, toppling historic buildings in the medieval town of Lorca.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake has hit the town of Lorca in southern Spain, leaving seven people dead and several medieval buildings collapsed.
The 5.2 magnitude earthquake was felt across the Murcia region, where hundreds of British expatriate live, from Alicante to Malaga and as far away as Madrid.
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake has hit the town of Lorca in southern Spain, leaving a seven people dead and several medieval buildings collapsed.
Magnitude 5.3 earthquake kills at least 4 in Spain
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake has toppled several buildings in southern Spain, near the town of Lorca, killing at least four people, officials say.
The quake struck at a depth of just 1km (0.6 miles), some 120km south-west of Alicante, at 1850 (1650 GMT), the US Geological Survey reported.
TV shots showed rescue workers rushing through debris-littered streets.
Lorca Mayor Francisco Jodar told local radio the four deaths were caused by falling debris and cave-ins.
Old buildings, including a clocktower, were badly damaged by the quake, which followed a smaller 4.4-magnitude quake about two hours earlier.
Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has deployed emergency military units to the scene, the Spanish EFE news agency reported.
Earthquakes are common in southern Spain, but they rarely result in casualties.
A number of aftershocks have been felt in the Murcia region, where authorities fear the death toll could rise.
The area worst hit by Tuesday's quake suffered previous tremors in 2005 and 1999.
Volcano heats high-mountain lake to 108 degrees - Now imagine what a few thousand underwater volcanoes could do
Last month, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) announced that the water temperature in the main crater of Taal volcano in the Philippines had risen from 86.9 degrees Fahrenheit to 88.7 degrees Fahrenheit (30.5C to 31.5C), a sign that the volcano might soon erupt.
This provides an example of how much heat a volcano can generate.
And this is not the only lake that's running hot.
On March 1st of this year, the water temperature in New Zealand's Mt Ruapehu crater lake reached an astounding 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit (41C).
This was just short of the highest temperature ever reached since the lake was re-established in 2002, say volcanologists from New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS).
"The highest recorded temperature was 42.5degC (108.5F) in May 2003," says GeoNet duty volcanologist Agnes Mazot.
"The temperature of Crater Lake is a measure of amount of volcanic heat coming from Ruapehu," Mazot added.
US: Wild April 2011 Weather: Historic Month by the Numbers
Here are the numbers, according to the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C.
Temperature
Average U.S. temperature in April: 52.9 degrees Fahrenheit (11.6 degrees Celsius).
Degrees above the 1901-2000 average: 0.9 degrees F (0.5 degrees C).
State that had its warmest April on record: Delaware. April 2011 was the fourth warmest April for Virginia and the fifth warmest for Texas. Florida and Louisiana had their seventh warmest, New Mexico and West Virginia their eighth, New Jersey its ninth and Maryland its 10th.
Washington State came in at its second coolest April, 5 degrees F (2.8 degrees C) below their long-term average. Oregon (with its fifth coolest April) and Idaho (10th coolest) were also much cooler than normal.
Dozens of dolphins found dead in Ukraine
Xinhuanet
According to officials, the dead dolphins were scattered in an area of 2 km along the coastal zone.
Experts said the probable cause of the mammalian deaths is getting into the fishing nets. The majority of the dolphins have visible wounds on their body, some of them have damaged or missing fins.
When We Tested Nuclear Bombs
Comment: Still think smoking is to blame for lung cancer? Could the truth be more revealing? They are blaming the victims for their own evil...
Loyalty Islands: Earthquake Magnitude 6.8
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 08:55:09 UTC
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 07:55:09 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
20.252°S, 168.273°E
Depth:
14.9 km (9.3 miles)
Region:
LOYALTY ISLANDS
Distances:
134 km (83 miles) SW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu
149 km (92 miles) NNE of Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
276 km (171 miles) S of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu
1741 km (1081 miles) ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
US: Earthquake Magnitude 3.9 - Colorado
Monday, May 09, 2011 at 23:28:53 UTC
Monday, May 09, 2011 at 05:28:53 PM at epicenter
Location:
37.139°N, 104.726°W
Depth:
4.9 km (3.0 miles)
Region:
COLORADO
Distances:
9 km (6 miles) W (266°) from Cokedale, CO
18 km (11 miles) W (278°) from Starkville, CO
20 km (12 miles) W (260°) from Trinidad, CO
126 km (78 miles) S (184°) from Pueblo, CO
288 km (179 miles) S (176°) from Denver, CO
US: Mississippi Delta sees flooding from mighty river
The sliver of land in northwest Mississippi, home to hardship and bluesman Muddy Waters, is in the crosshairs of the slowly surging river, just like many other areas along the banks of the big river.
To points much farther north, thousands face the decision of whether to stay or go as high water kept on rolling down the Mississippi and its tributaries, threatening to soak communities over the next week or two. The flooding is already breaking high-water records that have stood since the 1930s.
"We're getting our mamma and daddy out," said Ken Gelston, who helped pack furniture, photos and other belongings into pickup trucks in Greenville, Miss.
US: Thousands in Memphis told to evacuate as flood waters close in
Memphis, Tennessee - Teams from Shelby County and the city of Memphis conducted a door-to-door operation Friday to tell thousands of residents it is time to evacuate.
Meanwhile, the parking lot of the Raleigh Springs mall was an oasis Friday for Shelby County residents being targeted by flood waters.
Elizabeth Benson checked in to see if her house off Thomas and Frayser Boulevard was in danger. The news wasn't good.
"I need to prepare for the possibility of being flooded out," she said.
Local authorities were uncertain whether they had legal authority to order evacuations, and hoped the fliers would persuade people to leave. Bob Nations, director of emergency management for Shelby County, which includes Memphis, said there was still time to get out. The river is not expected to crest until Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the parking lot of the Raleigh Springs mall was an oasis Friday for Shelby County residents being targeted by flood waters.
Elizabeth Benson checked in to see if her house off Thomas and Frayser Boulevard was in danger. The news wasn't good.
"I need to prepare for the possibility of being flooded out," she said.
Local authorities were uncertain whether they had legal authority to order evacuations, and hoped the fliers would persuade people to leave. Bob Nations, director of emergency management for Shelby County, which includes Memphis, said there was still time to get out. The river is not expected to crest until Wednesday.
US: Coast Guard reopens part of Mississippi River
River monitoring will continue and navigation will be restricted when necessary, says Coast Guard captain
From Illinois to Mississippi, record flooding is getting worse everyday, causing river communities to evacuate. Mark Strassmann reports from Finley, Tenn. on the disaster in slow motion.
Memphis - Children played in front yards and neighbors chatted under a cloudless sky Friday in a south Memphis neighborhood, yards away from the rising water of the Nonconnah Creek.
The unforgiving creek has soaked Johnny Harris' house as the rest of Memphis awaits flood waters from the Mississippi River. Harris estimated he had more than 3 feet of water in his small, rented house on a low-lying section of Hazelwood Street.
"It's like an ocean," he said.
From Illinois to Mississippi, record flooding is getting worse everyday, causing river communities to evacuate. Mark Strassmann reports from Finley, Tenn. on the disaster in slow motion.
Memphis - Children played in front yards and neighbors chatted under a cloudless sky Friday in a south Memphis neighborhood, yards away from the rising water of the Nonconnah Creek.
The unforgiving creek has soaked Johnny Harris' house as the rest of Memphis awaits flood waters from the Mississippi River. Harris estimated he had more than 3 feet of water in his small, rented house on a low-lying section of Hazelwood Street.
"It's like an ocean," he said.
US: Great white zeroes in on whale off Vineyard
Photo of a great white shark spotted near the carcass of a dead minke whale off Martha’s Vineyard.
The line from the seminal shark flick "Jaws" quickly came to mind for the crew -- "We're gonna need a bigger boat."
The monster of the sea was "20 feet" long, said captain Jeff Lynch of Chilmark. "To see something that big was crazy. It was as big as my boat."
The shark had zeroed in on a dead minke whale that was tangled in lobster gear and died. The shark, he said, kept at the whale but never chomped down - possibly sensing it was long dead.
"I was very surprised to see it," Lynch told the Herald.
US: Mysterious Maine Earthquakes Caused by Ice Age Rebound
On the last day of April and first five days of May, dozens of tiny earthquakes caused Maine's eastern coast to tremble. What could have shaken this geologically quiet region, located in the middle of a tectonic plate, far from any active faults?
The last ice age, say geologists. Like a trampoline's surface after liftoff, Earth's crust along the eastern seaboard is still springing back from the pressing weight of a massive ice sheet that has since melted. The earthquakes are a present-time reminder of processes that are prehistoric at a human scale, but from a geological perspective still ongoing.
"This action is still taking place," said Robert Marvinney, director of Maine's Bureau of Geology. "Five or ten thousand feet of ice weighs a lot."
The last ice age, say geologists. Like a trampoline's surface after liftoff, Earth's crust along the eastern seaboard is still springing back from the pressing weight of a massive ice sheet that has since melted. The earthquakes are a present-time reminder of processes that are prehistoric at a human scale, but from a geological perspective still ongoing.
"This action is still taking place," said Robert Marvinney, director of Maine's Bureau of Geology. "Five or ten thousand feet of ice weighs a lot."
Close Call: Ozone Hole Nearly Opens Over Arctic
These polar clouds, which are composed of frozen nitric acid and sulfuric acid, form when temperatures in the stratosphere fall below minus 108 F (minus 78 C). This is currently the case in vast sections of the Arctic. Chemical processes on the surface of the cloud particles transform the initially harmless chemicals from chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into aggressive ozone-depleting substances.
Unusually cold temperatures in the stratosphere, the second layer of Earth's atmosphere, caused the Arctic near-miss, according to a statement by Jonathan Shanklin, the head of meteorology and ozone monitoring for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Most years, Shanklin wrote, the Arctic stratosphere is too warm for ozone-depleting chemical reactions to take place. This year, however, temperatures dove enough to destroy more than 40 percent of Arctic ozone.
Without the protective sheeting of ozone, more ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaches the Earth's surface. That makes ozone levels important for public health, said Ross Salawitch, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Maryland who studies atmospheric chemistry.
US: Hundreds of fish die in Wichita park's pond
Hundreds of fish have died at Buffalo Park pond in west Wichita because of lack of water, and the city expects the toll to climb to about 1,000.
A combination of three factors have contributed to the kill, said Doug Kupper, the city's parks and recreation director.
The pond, near Central and Maize Road, has been leaking from the bottom and suffering from an invasive plant that has been removing oxygen from the water for a couple of years. Recent hot weather has evaporated more of the water, he said.
A combination of three factors have contributed to the kill, said Doug Kupper, the city's parks and recreation director.
The pond, near Central and Maize Road, has been leaking from the bottom and suffering from an invasive plant that has been removing oxygen from the water for a couple of years. Recent hot weather has evaporated more of the water, he said.
US: Memphis eyes crest; New Orleans gets some flood help
Mississippi swamps some areas of Tenn. city; spillway opened to ease La. danger
Memphis, Tenn. - The city of Memphis braced for the Mississippi River to peak on Monday at a near record level, and downstream the U.S. government opened a spillway to relieve flooding pressure on low-lying New Orleans.
The Army Corps of Engineers began opening the Bonnet Carre spillway 28 miles north of New Orleans Monday morning to divert part of the river flow to Lake Pontchartrain. Opening the spillway has no impact on homes or businesses.
"We are not going to open it up full bore immediately," said Victor Landry, the Corps' Bonnet Carre operations manager. "It will be a slow release."
The spillway has been opened nine previous times, most recently in 2008. The Corps expects to have about half of the spillway's 350 bays open by later this week and it could be fully opened before the flood season ends, Landry said.
Memphis, Tenn. - The city of Memphis braced for the Mississippi River to peak on Monday at a near record level, and downstream the U.S. government opened a spillway to relieve flooding pressure on low-lying New Orleans.
The Army Corps of Engineers began opening the Bonnet Carre spillway 28 miles north of New Orleans Monday morning to divert part of the river flow to Lake Pontchartrain. Opening the spillway has no impact on homes or businesses.
"We are not going to open it up full bore immediately," said Victor Landry, the Corps' Bonnet Carre operations manager. "It will be a slow release."
The spillway has been opened nine previous times, most recently in 2008. The Corps expects to have about half of the spillway's 350 bays open by later this week and it could be fully opened before the flood season ends, Landry said.
US: The Mississippi Nightmare Scenario
As the Mississippi River continues to rise and more residents are forced to evacuate, the great flood of 1927 is on a lot of Southern minds and questions of what's next on just as many lips.
According to reports in the Nashville Tennessean, history could be on the verge of repeating itself. To give a little perspective: in the Great Flood, the levees broke in 145 places, flooded 27,000 square miles in up to 30 feet of water over a stretch of land 100 miles long. At some points more than double the volume of Niagara Falls poured through as levees broke, nine states were affected and 246 people died.
According to reports in the Nashville Tennessean, history could be on the verge of repeating itself. To give a little perspective: in the Great Flood, the levees broke in 145 places, flooded 27,000 square miles in up to 30 feet of water over a stretch of land 100 miles long. At some points more than double the volume of Niagara Falls poured through as levees broke, nine states were affected and 246 people died.
US: Mississippi, Winners and Losers as Army Corps Opens Floodgates
When the Army Corps of Engineers blasted part of a levee holding back the Mississippi River last week, floodwater poured over Missouri farmland and surrounded this farm near New Madrid, Mo.
Opening the Bonnet Carre spillway diverts some of the floodwaters into Lake Pontchartrain and from there to the Gulf of Mexico. But nearly every flood control action taken by the Corps draws some controversy.
Quake Shifted Japan; Towns Now Flood at High Tide
Residents stroll in a flooded street in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The area in this part of the city sunk nearly 2 feet 7 inches (0.8 meter) following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Twice a day, the flow steadily increases until it is knee-deep, carrying fish and debris by her front door and trapping people in their homes. Those still on the streets slosh through the sea water in rubber boots or on bicycle.
"I look out the window, and it's like our houses are in the middle of the ocean," says Takahashi, who moved in three years ago.
US: Vermont, Lake Champlain Floods Slow to Retreat
Anne Conlin's lakefront home on Appletree Point Road was holding its own Sunday, and pumps were draining lake water from the yard and the crawl-space under the 80-year-old house - pumping it, ironically perhaps, back into Lake Champlain.
"Where else?" she said.
The wind was gusting at 10 to 20 knots from the north, National Weather Service meteorologist John Goff said, and looking ahead, he said no rain was likely before Thursday.
That was good news.
"Where else?" she said.
The wind was gusting at 10 to 20 knots from the north, National Weather Service meteorologist John Goff said, and looking ahead, he said no rain was likely before Thursday.
That was good news.
Fine particles responsible for clouds and rain
Natural and man-made impurities in the atmosphere, referred to as aerosols, play a huge role in the world's weather system.
"Without them, there would be no cloud cover and no rain," Andy Mussoline of State College, Pa., a meteorologist for AccuWeather, said in a telephone interview.
Mussoline explained that aerosols are fine particles of solids and liquids - but mostly solids - that are virtually minute in size. He said the atmosphere literally carries tons of these miniscule floating debris.
These aerosols comprise such things as soot and ash from fires, dust propelled into the air by gusting winds, sea spray and huge quantities of ash and droplets of gas from the eruption of volcanoes.
Mussoline said it is these floating bit particles that make the clouds. He said they provide a surface for the water vapour to condense in forming the clouds.
"Without them, there would be no cloud cover and no rain," Andy Mussoline of State College, Pa., a meteorologist for AccuWeather, said in a telephone interview.
Mussoline explained that aerosols are fine particles of solids and liquids - but mostly solids - that are virtually minute in size. He said the atmosphere literally carries tons of these miniscule floating debris.
These aerosols comprise such things as soot and ash from fires, dust propelled into the air by gusting winds, sea spray and huge quantities of ash and droplets of gas from the eruption of volcanoes.
Mussoline said it is these floating bit particles that make the clouds. He said they provide a surface for the water vapour to condense in forming the clouds.
Earthquake Magnitude 6.3 - West of MacQuarie Island
Monday, May 09, 2011 at 18:54:42 UTC
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 04:54:42 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
56.612°S, 147.837°E
Depth:
1 km (~0.6 mile) (poorly constrained)
Region:
WEST OF MACQUARIE ISLAND
Distances:
730 km (453 miles) WSW of Macquarie Island, Australia
1192 km (740 miles) NNE of Dumont d'Urville, Antarctica
1523 km (946 miles) S of HOBART, Tasmania, Australia
2100 km (1304 miles) S of MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia
Hurricane Hits China Food Factory, 4 Killed
Deadly Silence on Fukushima
I received the following email a few days ago from a Russian nuclear physicist friend who is an expert on the kinds of gases being released at Fukushima. Here is what he wrote:
"About Japan: the problem is that the reactor uses "dirty" fuel. It is a combination of plutonium and uranium (MOX).I have been following the Fukushima story very closely since the earthquake and devastating tsunami. I have asked scientists I know, nuclear physicists and others about where they find real information. I have also watched as the news has virtually disappeared. There is something extremely disturbing going on and having lived through the media blackout in France back in April and early May 1986, and speaking to doctors who are deeply concerned by the dramatic increase in cancers appearing at very young ages, it is obvious that information is being held back. We are still told not to eat mushrooms and truffles from parts of Europe, not wild boar and reindeer from Germany and Finland 25 years later.
I suspect that the old fuel rods have bean spread out due to the explosion and the surrounding area is contaminated with plutonium which means you can never return to this place again.
It is like a new Tchernobyl. Personally, I am not surprised that the authority has not informed people about this".
Tungurahua continues to erupt, Taal grows increasingly restless, explosions on Etna (and more)
The light at the end of the finals tunnel has appeared - only one set of papers (where I posed to my volcanoes class the question "if someone asked you 'why bother monitoring volcanoes?', how would you respond?") to grade now. There hasn't been a lot of new eruption news, but there has been a lot of news of simmering volcanoes and threats from volcanoes after eruption. However, we'll start with one that is actively erupting.
Ecuador: Tungurahua continues with its largest eruption since 1999 (video) - and thanks to the bevy of news that Eruptions reader Kirby has sent me, there is a lot to cover. The Instituto Geofisico has put the volcano on Orange Alert status after strombolian activity produced 2-7km / 6,500-23,000 foot ash plumes and a constant sound of explosions/rumbling. The volcano is putting on an impressive show at the summit, with incandescent blocks cascading down the upper flanks of the volcano (see top left), some of which are apparently the size of cars. IG geologists have been quoted as saying the volcano is showing signs of "increased pressure", but the details are scarce. Crop and livestock damage due to the ash in the villages around Tungurahua has been extensive, and now the government will purchase new lands for refugees to move that are a safe distance from the volcano. Even with all this activity, Tungurahua did not stop people from voting in Ecuador.
Ecuador: Tungurahua continues with its largest eruption since 1999 (video) - and thanks to the bevy of news that Eruptions reader Kirby has sent me, there is a lot to cover. The Instituto Geofisico has put the volcano on Orange Alert status after strombolian activity produced 2-7km / 6,500-23,000 foot ash plumes and a constant sound of explosions/rumbling. The volcano is putting on an impressive show at the summit, with incandescent blocks cascading down the upper flanks of the volcano (see top left), some of which are apparently the size of cars. IG geologists have been quoted as saying the volcano is showing signs of "increased pressure", but the details are scarce. Crop and livestock damage due to the ash in the villages around Tungurahua has been extensive, and now the government will purchase new lands for refugees to move that are a safe distance from the volcano. Even with all this activity, Tungurahua did not stop people from voting in Ecuador.
Lawsuits Filed to Protect Today's Youth from Climate Change
In what could be a groundbreaking approach to using the legal system to prompt action on climate change, attorneys are in the process of filing lawsuits in every state in the US, on behalf of young people whose futures will be affected by global warming. The effort, which is moving forward in courts in all fifty states as well as the District of Columbia, is a project of the youth-focused climate action group iMatter and its partner organizations. If attorneys fighting on behalf of their young plaintiffs are successful, they could establish the atmosphere as a legally recognized "public trust" that cannot be overloaded with greenhouse gases by one generation at the expense of all future generations.
According to the public trust doctrine - a legal concept that dates back to the days of the Roman Empire and which was recognized in England under the charter of the Magna Carta - certain public resources must be left accessible to everyone and can not be privatized for use by only a relatively small segment of the population. The US Supreme Court validated the public trust concept in the United States in an 1892 case, involving use of the Chicago harbor.
According to the public trust doctrine - a legal concept that dates back to the days of the Roman Empire and which was recognized in England under the charter of the Magna Carta - certain public resources must be left accessible to everyone and can not be privatized for use by only a relatively small segment of the population. The US Supreme Court validated the public trust concept in the United States in an 1892 case, involving use of the Chicago harbor.
Comment: Excerpt from Forget About Global Warming: We're One Step From Extinction! by Laura Knight-Jadczyk
One final point. There have been reports that Earth is not the only planet being hit by "global warming". Might it be possible that this apparently widespread change of "climate" in the solar system is linked to an incoming comet cloud? We do not know and are sorely lacking in the means to acquire data to refine or reject the working hypothesis. Perhaps someone else out there does have the means. Whatever the explanation for a generalized warming of several planets, it is clear that we know very little about the fundamental mechanisms behind it. We are a speck in the universe, a drop in an ocean more vast, more complex, and more mysterious than we can imagine.
One final point. There have been reports that Earth is not the only planet being hit by "global warming". Might it be possible that this apparently widespread change of "climate" in the solar system is linked to an incoming comet cloud? We do not know and are sorely lacking in the means to acquire data to refine or reject the working hypothesis. Perhaps someone else out there does have the means. Whatever the explanation for a generalized warming of several planets, it is clear that we know very little about the fundamental mechanisms behind it. We are a speck in the universe, a drop in an ocean more vast, more complex, and more mysterious than we can imagine.
New Zealand: Fears Bee Colony Collapse Has Arrived
Beekeepers fear an alarming phenomenon that is wiping out bees and leading to reduced food crops around the world has reached New Zealand.
Colony collapse disorder has caused American beekeepers to report losses of up to 90 per cent in some cases, prompting fears of crop shortages.
Honeybees are the planet's most effective pollinators, and industry leaders in New Zealand are calling for an investigation into the problem.
National Beekeepers Association joint chief executive Daniel Paul said reports coming in to the group were causing concern.
In the past six months, it had received reports of significant bee losses - up to 30 per cent in some places.
"It's significant enough to make us sit up and take notice."
Colony collapse disorder has caused American beekeepers to report losses of up to 90 per cent in some cases, prompting fears of crop shortages.
Honeybees are the planet's most effective pollinators, and industry leaders in New Zealand are calling for an investigation into the problem.
National Beekeepers Association joint chief executive Daniel Paul said reports coming in to the group were causing concern.
In the past six months, it had received reports of significant bee losses - up to 30 per cent in some places.
"It's significant enough to make us sit up and take notice."
Bolivia: Does the central Andean backarc have the potential for a great earthquake?
The region east of the central Andes Mountains has the potential for larger scale earthquakes than previously expected, according to a new study posted online in the May 8th edition of Nature Geoscience. Previous research had set the maximum expected earthquake size to be magnitude 7.5, based on the relatively quiet history of seismicity in that area. This new study by researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) and colleagues contradicts that limit and instead suggests that the region could see quakes with magnitudes 8.7 to 8.9.
Benjamin Brooks, Associate Researcher in the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at UHM and colleagues used GPS data to map movement of the Earth's surface in the Subandean margin, along the eastern flank of the Andes Mountains. They report a sharp decrease in surface velocity from west to east. "We relate GPS surface movements to the subsurface via deformation models", says Brooks. "In this case, we use a simple elastic model of slip on a buried dislocation (fault) and do millions of Monte Carlo simulations to determine probability distributions for the model parameters (like slip, width, depth, dip, etc.)." From these data, the researchers conclude that the shallow section in the east of the region is currently locked in place over a length of about 100 km, allowing stress to build up as the tectonic plates in the region slowly move against each other. Rupture of the entire locked section by one earthquake could result in shaking of magnitudes up to 8.9, they estimate.
This project is a long-term collaborative effort between UHM, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, the Bolivian Instituto Geografico Militar (IGM), the Bolivian Seismological Observatory (Observatorio San Calixto), the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina), and University of Memphis. The project's general name is the Central and Southern Andes Project (CAP).
Benjamin Brooks, Associate Researcher in the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at UHM and colleagues used GPS data to map movement of the Earth's surface in the Subandean margin, along the eastern flank of the Andes Mountains. They report a sharp decrease in surface velocity from west to east. "We relate GPS surface movements to the subsurface via deformation models", says Brooks. "In this case, we use a simple elastic model of slip on a buried dislocation (fault) and do millions of Monte Carlo simulations to determine probability distributions for the model parameters (like slip, width, depth, dip, etc.)." From these data, the researchers conclude that the shallow section in the east of the region is currently locked in place over a length of about 100 km, allowing stress to build up as the tectonic plates in the region slowly move against each other. Rupture of the entire locked section by one earthquake could result in shaking of magnitudes up to 8.9, they estimate.
This project is a long-term collaborative effort between UHM, Ohio State University, Arizona State University, the Bolivian Instituto Geografico Militar (IGM), the Bolivian Seismological Observatory (Observatorio San Calixto), the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (Argentina), and University of Memphis. The project's general name is the Central and Southern Andes Project (CAP).
Tropical Storm Hits Philippines, 9 Dead
Deadly storm: An officer directs traffic as motorists negotiate a flooded highway in the Philippines. Tropical storm Aere has killed nine and forced thousands from their homes.
The Philippines' state weather bureau said Aere made landfall over the island of Catanduanes before noon and moved northwest over the main island of Luzon.
US: Mother's Day Heat Wave for Kansas
A heat wave in May? It will certainly feel like summer across Kansas this Mother's Day, as afternoon high temperatures soar into the 90s. The warmest temperatures will top out in the middle and upper 90s across southwest Kansas. A high fire danger is expected this afternoon and evening, for western Kansas and critical fire weather warnings have been issued. If you're curious, record highs for today and tomorrow are in the middle and upper 90s across southcentral Kansas, so we will get close (Wichita Mid-Continent Airport record high for today 97 set in 1989).
US: Mother's Day Gift? Winter Storm Warnings Issued for Billings Region, Montana
A strong storm system is expected to move across the region late Sunday, bringing rain to lower elevations and lots of snow to the mountains through Tuesday.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning from midnight Sunday to 6 p.m Tuesday.
From 1 to 2 feet of snow may fall in the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains, Bighorn Mountains and Crazy Mountains.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning from midnight Sunday to 6 p.m Tuesday.
From 1 to 2 feet of snow may fall in the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains, Bighorn Mountains and Crazy Mountains.
US: Historic Floods Along the Mississippi
The Mississippi River is a disaster on the move. It's expected to crest in Memphis by Wednesday at or near record highs.
Memphis is getting ready. As the waters of the Mississippi River continue to rise, the city is bracing for a flood the likes of which most have never known.
Memphis is getting ready. As the waters of the Mississippi River continue to rise, the city is bracing for a flood the likes of which most have never known.
Hawaii: Heavy Downpours Cause Problems On Oahu
Heavy rain not only put a damper on some outdoor activities this weekend in Hawaii, on Oahu it also caused problems on the roads Saturday morning.
When the heavy rain came down on the windward side -- problems popped up. Kamehameha Highway near Waikane became waterlogged under several inches of runoff.
When the driver of an SUV came across it, he said he slid out of control and slammed into a guardrail before flipping over.
When the heavy rain came down on the windward side -- problems popped up. Kamehameha Highway near Waikane became waterlogged under several inches of runoff.
When the driver of an SUV came across it, he said he slid out of control and slammed into a guardrail before flipping over.
Thailand: Warnings of Heavy Rains in 8 Provinces
The Meteorological Department on Sunday issued an announcement warning people living in risk areas of eight provinces in the East and the South to brace for heavy rain and possible flash flood from May 8 to 11.
US: Unlucky Arkansas Town Struggles From Tornado and Then Flood
Vilonia, Arkansas - People are skittish in this small town of 3,000 residents.
On April 25, a nasty tornado touched down, leveling subdivisions, wrapping metal around trees like crepe paper and killing five people. In Black Oak Ranch Estates, more than 100 homes were destroyed.
Less than a week later, on May 1, the town was hit with flash flooding from the nearby Little Palarm Creek caused by heavy rains from a cold front that stalled over the state.
On April 25, a nasty tornado touched down, leveling subdivisions, wrapping metal around trees like crepe paper and killing five people. In Black Oak Ranch Estates, more than 100 homes were destroyed.
Less than a week later, on May 1, the town was hit with flash flooding from the nearby Little Palarm Creek caused by heavy rains from a cold front that stalled over the state.
US: Two Stranded Pilot Whales Released Off Cudjoe Key
There was a moment of joy for the tireless marine mammal rescuers working to save a pod of stranded pilot wales Saturday evening in the Keys: two of the seven surviving whales were deemed healthy and released in deep waters nine miles offshore.
Cheers erupted on the barge carrying the whales when the two adult males met in open water, touched each other, and then swam away together.
The whales, each over 12 feet long and more than 1,000 pounds, were first fitted with trackers that should last between 2-3 months.
The pair were part of a pod of 20 pilot whales who inexplicably beached themselves Thursday near Cudjoe Key, about 20 miles east of Key West.
Thirteen of them have died, and the surviving seven have been cared for in a makeshift waist-deep pen, where volunteers continue to cover the whales' exposed bodies in zinc and sheets to protect their sensitive skin from the sun.
Cheers erupted on the barge carrying the whales when the two adult males met in open water, touched each other, and then swam away together.
The whales, each over 12 feet long and more than 1,000 pounds, were first fitted with trackers that should last between 2-3 months.
The pair were part of a pod of 20 pilot whales who inexplicably beached themselves Thursday near Cudjoe Key, about 20 miles east of Key West.
Thirteen of them have died, and the surviving seven have been cared for in a makeshift waist-deep pen, where volunteers continue to cover the whales' exposed bodies in zinc and sheets to protect their sensitive skin from the sun.
Nuclear plant workers release unknown amount of radioactive tritium into Mississippi River
Workers at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant in Port Gibson, Miss., last Thursday released a large amount of radioactive tritium directly into the Mississippi River, according to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and experts are currently trying to sort out the situation. An investigation is currently underway to determine why the tritium was even present in standing water found in an abandoned unit of the plant, as well as how much of this dangerous nuclear byproduct ended up getting dumped into the river. Many also want to know why workers released the toxic tritium before conducting proper tests.
The Mississippi Natchez Democrat reports that crews first discovered the radioactive water in the plant's Unit 2 turbine building after heavy rains began hitting the area last week. Unit 2 was a partially-constructed, abandoned structure that should not have contained any radioactive materials, let alone tritium, which is commonly used to manufacture nuclear weapons and test atomic bombs.
According to reports, alarms began to go off as workers were releasing the radioactive storm water into the river, which engaged the stop flow on the release pump. Neither NRC nor plant officials know how much tritium was released into the river during this release.
Record flooding spreading down the Mississippi River
As the Mississippi River continued to rise to record levels in response to over 2 feet of rain in recent weeks, officials began to evacuate portions of Memphis Friday.
More evacuation orders will likely be given as historical flood levels spread southward along the Mississippi River. At Memphis, a crest of around 48 feet is forecast by National Weather Service hydrologists Wednesday of next week.
Rising waters along the White River in Arkansas forced the closure of part eastbound and westbound lands of Interstate 40 in the Natural State. The route is a major thoroughfare for trucking. It is possible that as waters continue to rise on the Mississippi and connecting rivers farther downstream additional highways may close. Additional neighborhoods of cities and towns will be inundated through nearly the end of May in some areas as the crest moves very slowly downstream. Additional evacuations of unprotected or levee compromised areas are likely.
More evacuation orders will likely be given as historical flood levels spread southward along the Mississippi River. At Memphis, a crest of around 48 feet is forecast by National Weather Service hydrologists Wednesday of next week.
Rising waters along the White River in Arkansas forced the closure of part eastbound and westbound lands of Interstate 40 in the Natural State. The route is a major thoroughfare for trucking. It is possible that as waters continue to rise on the Mississippi and connecting rivers farther downstream additional highways may close. Additional neighborhoods of cities and towns will be inundated through nearly the end of May in some areas as the crest moves very slowly downstream. Additional evacuations of unprotected or levee compromised areas are likely.
Philippine Tropical Storm Kills 9 People; 100,000 Residents Flee From Floods, Landslides
Manila - Tropical storm Aere lashed the northeastern Philippines on Sunday, killing at least nine people and forcing more than 100,000 villagers to flee from farming towns threatened by landslides.
The storm slammed into Catanduanes province with winds of 53 miles (85 kilometres) per hour and gusts of 62 mph (100 kph). It triggered landslides and floods, disrupted transportation and knocked out power in some towns.
More than 4,700 commuters were stranded in several seaports after ferries suspended trips and roads were closed due to floods and the danger of landslides, officials said. Several domestic flights were cancelled.
A landslide buried a house in Camarines Sur province's Balatan township at dawn, killing three people, including a baby, regional disaster-response director Bernardo Alejandro said.
The storm slammed into Catanduanes province with winds of 53 miles (85 kilometres) per hour and gusts of 62 mph (100 kph). It triggered landslides and floods, disrupted transportation and knocked out power in some towns.
More than 4,700 commuters were stranded in several seaports after ferries suspended trips and roads were closed due to floods and the danger of landslides, officials said. Several domestic flights were cancelled.
A landslide buried a house in Camarines Sur province's Balatan township at dawn, killing three people, including a baby, regional disaster-response director Bernardo Alejandro said.
Relocation of Taal volcano island residents pushed
Tagayta City, Philippines - The relocation of residents of Taal Volcano Island will take a long time to happen but this has to be given a priority since they are living in a permanent danger zone, said Celia Alba, the secretary general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.
Alba said National Housing Authority officials have had initial discussions with municipal leaders of Talisay, Batangas for possible areas on the mainland town where the island villagers could be relocated.
However, she added that the problem with the relocation is the people themselves because the Taal residents, who are mainly fishers and farmers, do not want to leave the volcano island due to their livelihood.
"We are still on social preparation stage but we are readying the possible housing requirements in case they (villagers) are ready to be evacuated," added Alba in an interview Friday at the sideline of the Pabahay Caravan here.
Main requirements
She added that the main requirements in setting up a relocation site are availability of land (the size would depend on how many families are affected), site development, and housing units.
Alba said National Housing Authority officials have had initial discussions with municipal leaders of Talisay, Batangas for possible areas on the mainland town where the island villagers could be relocated.
However, she added that the problem with the relocation is the people themselves because the Taal residents, who are mainly fishers and farmers, do not want to leave the volcano island due to their livelihood.
"We are still on social preparation stage but we are readying the possible housing requirements in case they (villagers) are ready to be evacuated," added Alba in an interview Friday at the sideline of the Pabahay Caravan here.
Main requirements
She added that the main requirements in setting up a relocation site are availability of land (the size would depend on how many families are affected), site development, and housing units.
Barbados: Heavy Flood Losses for Farmers
Farmers have been left with flooded fields, damaged crops and profits washed down the drain after heavy rains over the past few weeks.
From St Lucy to St Philip, tonnes of onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and watermelons lay destroyed in the fields as some farmers faced financial crisis and bleak futures.
From St Lucy to St Philip, tonnes of onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and watermelons lay destroyed in the fields as some farmers faced financial crisis and bleak futures.
Torrential Rains Threaten Colombia's Coffee Crop
The loss would sting any year but hurts more now that coffee prices hit their highest levels in more than three decades this week.
Damage to farms like Garcia's from months of heavy rains in Colombia, the world's No. 1 producer of top-quality washed arabica beans, may threaten to push coffee prices even higher -- bad news for drinkers around the world.
Nearly 3 Million Colombians Affected by Heavy Rains
The intense rainy season has caused heavy rains to beat down in Colombia for over a year.
The official figure equates to just under 3 million people, with the greatest concentration of victims in the Caribbean region, where 1,479,434 people are affected, representing 3.2% of the Colombian population.
Propaganda Alert!: Extreme Weather in the United States 2010
The extreme weather of 2010 was record-setting. But it may be the new normal. This year Americans have already suffered through "supercell thunderstorms" in Iowa, severe drought and record wildfires in Texas, and heavy rains across the United States. The recent southeastern storms and tornados took at least 340 lives across eight states. And residents of the Mississippi River Valley only narrowly avoided the most severe, damaging floods there in nearly a century. Comment: Bad 'science', fear mongering and global warming propaganda to divert attention from the real causes of change - and of course to prompt the public into beliefs and actions that benefit no one but those seeking to make profit from it. For an objective view of the changing reality here on the Big Blue Marble see: Connecting the Dots: Earth Changes Are Upon Us
Changes in the climate are having an effect on crop yields - but not yet a very big one
The problems climate change looks likely to bring in the future may increasingly be visible in the records of the past. Not just in the far-off ages of surging sea levels following ice-age thaws, spikes in prehistoric temperatures correlated with natural releases of greenhouse gas and ancient civilisations brought low by drought, but in records from living memory - which are based on reliable measurements made at the time. Using such data researchers have now compiled an estimate of global changes in crop yields which can be put down to recent increases in temperature and decreases in rainfall (the world as a whole is getting wetter, but the rain has stayed away from some agricultural plains). The bad news is that they find that climate change has lowered the amount of maize (or corn, if you prefer) and wheat produced in a given area. The good news is that the effect is so far reasonably small.
Guatemala: Alert in Two Areas for Volcanic Activity
Guatemalan departments of Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu were declared this Friday in yellow alert due to the increased activity of the volcano Santiaguito.
According to the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala (Insivumeh), the increase is manifested in the number of explosions per hour.
According to the National Institute for Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology of Guatemala (Insivumeh), the increase is manifested in the number of explosions per hour.
See a tornado? Don't grab camera
This still is taken from a video filmed by Steve Hoag of a tornado in Wilson, N.C.
The video Steve Hoag shot of an April tornado bearing down on him in Wilson, N.C., is taking the Internet by storm.
More than 1 million viewers have watched the video and heard his calm narration as an EF2 twister blew up a transformer, exploded a building and then swirled debris around him on April 16.
Gutsy? Idiotic? Crazy?
Accident, Hoag said.
And it's not something amateurs should try, say storm experts - and Hoag himself.
"If I came upon a similar situation today, I'd see if I could turn around and drive the other way," Hoag said in an interview Thursday.
But it's also something that apparently is becoming more common in this digital age, when it seems that just about everyone has a camera as close as a cellphone.
That was apparent again last week when more than 300 tornadoes touched down in six Southern states and killed at least 318 people. Some amateur videos taken during that outbreak have added to concerns being voiced by National Weather Service officials.
US: Heavy rains raise concerns over wheat scab
Heavy rain the past month, particularly in Southern Illinois, has wheat growers on high alert for an outbreak of fusarium head blight (FHB), commonly known as scab.
Steve Stallman, a wheat grower from Chester in Randolph County and president of the Illinois Wheat Association, last week contracted for aerial applications of fungicide on his wheat fields.
"We have the perfect conditions for a widespread outbreak of scab and disease problems," Stallman said. "I'm going to do whatever I can to protect my crop."
Steve Stallman, a wheat grower from Chester in Randolph County and president of the Illinois Wheat Association, last week contracted for aerial applications of fungicide on his wheat fields.
"We have the perfect conditions for a widespread outbreak of scab and disease problems," Stallman said. "I'm going to do whatever I can to protect my crop."
Horrific prehistoric fish landed off the Norway coast
This unusual specimen might look like something out of a horror movie, but it proved to be one of the highlights of Peter Bailey's most recent trip to the prolific waters off the north of Norway.
The prehistoric-looking wolf fish, which pulled the scales around to 16lb 15oz, is one of the biggest landed on rod and line so far this year.
It was caught on a baited pirk when Peter braved strong winds and snow in an area around Kokelv - which is perhaps better known for producing monster cod to well over 70lb in recent months.
It was caught on a baited pirk when Peter braved strong winds and snow in an area around Kokelv - which is perhaps better known for producing monster cod to well over 70lb in recent months.
Halo around the sun Friday
Friday afternoon from about noon to 1 p.m. some folks in west central Minnesota looked up in the sky and saw a mysterious halo around the sun.
"What does it mean?" observers inquired.
"It's an angel," one person commented.
"Nah, it's some scientific thing," said another.
"I think it's God," declared another.
New Light on the Black Death: The Viral and Cosmic Connection
This article was first published in issue 13, volume 1 / 2011 of The Dot Connector Magazine, official publication of Sott.net.
In 2007, a meteorite fell in Puno, Southeastern Perú. José Macharé - scientist of the Geologic, Mining and Metallurgic Institute in Perú - said that the space rock fell near a muddy area by Lake Titicaca, making the water boil for around ten minutes, and mixing with the soil and emanating a gray cloud, the components of which remain unknown. Having discarded radioactive poisons, this toxic cloud is said to have caused headaches and respiratory problems in at least 200 persons from a population of 1500 inhabitants. Other than this event, how often do we hear about people getting sick due to a rock coming from space? How about birds, fish or other animals? Ancient astrologers cite comets as ill omens of death and famine, but are there any other causes other than the ones due to physical/mechanical consequences of comet impact devastation in our fragile environment of which we should be aware?
As a physician, I usually concentrate strictly on medical and health-related issues, not history or catastrophism. However, like so many other people, I see signs of atmospheric changes on our planet which, according to many experts, may well be due to increasing comet dust loading. When I read about increasing reports of fireballs all around the world, and I know that these factors must have an effect on the health of individuals and societies, it motivates me to do the research to find the connections so that I am better prepared for what may lie in our future. If our planet is entering a new cometary bombardment cycle, and if these comets harbor new species of microbes unknown to mankind's collective immunological systems (as may well be the case), then being forewarned is being forearmed.
According to the late Sir Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe of the University of Wales at Cardiff, viruses can be distributed throughout space by dust in the debris stream of comets. Then as Earth passes though the stream, the dust and viruses load our atmosphere, where they can stay suspended for years until gravity pulls them down. They compare numerous plagues throughout our history which coincide with cometary bodies in our skies. These researchers are certain that germs causing plagues and epidemics come from space.
In a letter to Lancet [1],Wickramasinghe explains that a small amount of a virus introduced into the stratosphere could make a first tentative fallout east of the great mountain range of the Himalayas, where the stratosphere is thinnest, followed by sporadic deposits in neighboring areas. Could this explain why new strains of the influenza virus that are capable of engendering epidemics, and which are caused by radical genetic mutations, usually originate in Asia? Wickramasinghe argues that if the virus is only minimally infective, the subsequent course of its global progress will depend on stratospheric transport and mixing, leading to a fallout continuing seasonally over a few years; even if all reasonable attempts are made to contain an infective spread, the appearance of new foci almost anywhere is a possibility.
"Comets are vile stars. Every time they appear in the south, they wipe out the old and establish the new. Fish grow sick, crops fail, Emperors and common people die, and men go to war. The people hate life and don't even want to speak of it." -Li Ch'un Feng, Director, Chinese Imperial Astronomical Bureau, 648, A.D.
As a physician, I usually concentrate strictly on medical and health-related issues, not history or catastrophism. However, like so many other people, I see signs of atmospheric changes on our planet which, according to many experts, may well be due to increasing comet dust loading. When I read about increasing reports of fireballs all around the world, and I know that these factors must have an effect on the health of individuals and societies, it motivates me to do the research to find the connections so that I am better prepared for what may lie in our future. If our planet is entering a new cometary bombardment cycle, and if these comets harbor new species of microbes unknown to mankind's collective immunological systems (as may well be the case), then being forewarned is being forearmed.
According to the late Sir Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe of the University of Wales at Cardiff, viruses can be distributed throughout space by dust in the debris stream of comets. Then as Earth passes though the stream, the dust and viruses load our atmosphere, where they can stay suspended for years until gravity pulls them down. They compare numerous plagues throughout our history which coincide with cometary bodies in our skies. These researchers are certain that germs causing plagues and epidemics come from space.
In a letter to Lancet [1],Wickramasinghe explains that a small amount of a virus introduced into the stratosphere could make a first tentative fallout east of the great mountain range of the Himalayas, where the stratosphere is thinnest, followed by sporadic deposits in neighboring areas. Could this explain why new strains of the influenza virus that are capable of engendering epidemics, and which are caused by radical genetic mutations, usually originate in Asia? Wickramasinghe argues that if the virus is only minimally infective, the subsequent course of its global progress will depend on stratospheric transport and mixing, leading to a fallout continuing seasonally over a few years; even if all reasonable attempts are made to contain an infective spread, the appearance of new foci almost anywhere is a possibility.
More Frequent Whale Strandings Has Experts on Edge
In the last few years, there has been an unexplained spike in the number of whales washing ashore. While the National Marine Fisheries Service has declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, it's more than just oil spills that are causing increased strandings worldwide. And experts are worried.
The numbers of beached whales have been gradually rising, peaking in 2009 with 46 whales coming ashore, and The Department of Environment and Conservation is conducting an investigation into what could be causing the rise, reports ABC news.
It could be anything from nutrition issues to sonar that drives whales off course, disorients them, or can even cause internal damage. While there has been a rash of strandings in Florida, including at least 15 pilot whales that washed ashore this week in the Florida keys, experts are quick to point out that the BP gulf oil spill is a possible cause, but not the only factor. Earth Times points out that, "A number of recent strandings in other regions happened well before the Deepwater spill occurred. In March 2009, 194 whales and a small dolphin pod became stranded on the coast of Tasmania, and most did not survive. The previous November, 150 pilot whales died in another mass stranding in Tasmania... In February 2011, 107 whales died on the coast of New Zealand."
The numbers of beached whales have been gradually rising, peaking in 2009 with 46 whales coming ashore, and The Department of Environment and Conservation is conducting an investigation into what could be causing the rise, reports ABC news.
It could be anything from nutrition issues to sonar that drives whales off course, disorients them, or can even cause internal damage. While there has been a rash of strandings in Florida, including at least 15 pilot whales that washed ashore this week in the Florida keys, experts are quick to point out that the BP gulf oil spill is a possible cause, but not the only factor. Earth Times points out that, "A number of recent strandings in other regions happened well before the Deepwater spill occurred. In March 2009, 194 whales and a small dolphin pod became stranded on the coast of Tasmania, and most did not survive. The previous November, 150 pilot whales died in another mass stranding in Tasmania... In February 2011, 107 whales died on the coast of New Zealand."
Comment: It's astonishing that this - ahem - "journalist" doesn't go the distance and draw the obvious conclusion that whales, other sea life, and humans on the shores, are sickening and dying from the BP oil spill.
Levee blast means lost year for Missouri farmers
© The Associated Press / Jeff Roberson
In this photo made May 3, 2011, a farm is seen surrounded by floodwater near New Madrid, Mo. When the Army Corps of Engineers intentionally broke a clay levee holding back the rising Mississippi River, muddy water came pouring over Missouri farmland and raised fears that the fertile soil would be rendered unusable for months if not years. But soil experts say the long-term damage may not be so bad for farming and some land could even get planted with soybeans later this summer.
In this photo made May 3, 2011, a farm is seen surrounded by floodwater near New Madrid, Mo. When the Army Corps of Engineers intentionally broke a clay levee holding back the rising Mississippi River, muddy water came pouring over Missouri farmland and raised fears that the fertile soil would be rendered unusable for months if not years. But soil experts say the long-term damage may not be so bad for farming and some land could even get planted with soybeans later this summer.
Blasting open a levee and submerging more than 200 square miles of Missouri farmland has likely gouged away fertile topsoil, deposited mountains of debris to clear and may even hamper farming in some places for years, experts say.
The planned explosions this week to ease the Mississippi River flooding threatening the town of Cairo, Ill., appear to have succeeded - but their effect on the farmland, where wheat, corn and soybeans are grown, could take months or even years to become clear. The Missouri Farm Bureau said the damage will likely exceed $100 million for this year alone.
"Where the breach is, water just roars through and scours the ground. It's like pouring water in a sand pile. There is that deep crevice that's created," said John Hawkins, a spokesman for the Illinois Farm Bureau. "For some farmers, it could take a generation to recoup that area."
The issue is vital to farmers and the state of Missouri, whose attorney general repeatedly tried to block the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan to break the levee. Opponents of the move argued it would leave the farmland buried under feet of sand and silt, rendering it useless for years.
It's still not clear how much damage the intentional flooding will cause and how farmers will be compensated for losses to the land and roughly 100 houses scattered through the area. Experts said the extent of the damage can't be accurately assessed until the floodwaters recede, and that likely will take months.
The planned explosions this week to ease the Mississippi River flooding threatening the town of Cairo, Ill., appear to have succeeded - but their effect on the farmland, where wheat, corn and soybeans are grown, could take months or even years to become clear. The Missouri Farm Bureau said the damage will likely exceed $100 million for this year alone.
"Where the breach is, water just roars through and scours the ground. It's like pouring water in a sand pile. There is that deep crevice that's created," said John Hawkins, a spokesman for the Illinois Farm Bureau. "For some farmers, it could take a generation to recoup that area."
The issue is vital to farmers and the state of Missouri, whose attorney general repeatedly tried to block the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' plan to break the levee. Opponents of the move argued it would leave the farmland buried under feet of sand and silt, rendering it useless for years.
It's still not clear how much damage the intentional flooding will cause and how farmers will be compensated for losses to the land and roughly 100 houses scattered through the area. Experts said the extent of the damage can't be accurately assessed until the floodwaters recede, and that likely will take months.
US: Volcano Watch: Kilauea activity update
Lava erupted continuously within Pu'u 'O'o over the past week, feeding a small lava lake in the center of the crater. Changes in eruptive output commonly resulted in overflows from the lake that slowly built up the crater floor, which is about 70 m (230 ft) below the east rim of Pu'u 'O'o. No lava is erupting outside the crater.
A small, stable lava lake was also present deep within the Halema'uma'u Overlook vent during the past week. Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, resulting in relatively high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind.
A small, stable lava lake was also present deep within the Halema'uma'u Overlook vent during the past week. Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated, resulting in relatively high concentrations of sulfur dioxide downwind.
U.S.: Corps keeps fighting flood waters
Sinkeston, Missouri, - The floodway is open, but the fight isn't over for the Corps of Engineers.
Following the completion of the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway at 2:35 p.m. May 5, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said they will continue to monitor the floodway and fight rising waters along the Mississippi River watershed.
"This floodfight is not over," Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh, Mississippi River Commission President, said. "We have hundreds of engineers working right now in the field fighting floods. Our goal is to reduce risk to people living behind our levees."
US: Mississippi floods force evacuations near Memphis
Water lapped over Riverside Drive and onto Beale Street in Memphis, and threatened some homes on Mud Island, a community of about 5,000 residents with a river theme park. The island connects to downtown Memphis by a bridge and causeway.
Emergency officials in Millington near Memphis were "going door-to-door, asking people to leave," according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
US: Tennessee mayor tries to avoid panic in flood zone
Residents from Illinois to Louisiana are bracing for flooding as high water keeps rolling down the Mississippi River, threatening to swamp communities and farmland.
Among the places already affected by the rising flood waters is Dyersburg, Tenn.
On "The Early Show" Friday, John Holden, the town's mayor, said it's preparing for what could be the worst flooding since 1927.
Among the places already affected by the rising flood waters is Dyersburg, Tenn.
On "The Early Show" Friday, John Holden, the town's mayor, said it's preparing for what could be the worst flooding since 1927.
US: 16 Whales Mysteriously Stranded in Florida Keys
It's not yet clear why more than 16 pilot whales became stranded in the lower Florida Keys on Thursday, but the list of possible reasons is long -- and includes the whales' social nature.
Pilot whales live in groups called pods that consist of between 15 and 50 animals, and mass strandings like this one have happened before. Most recently, in 2003, about 25 pilot whales became stranded in the Keys, according to Anne Biddle, media relations director for the Marine Mammal Institute, which is responding to the stranding.
"They tend to strand in pods, they stick together, if one is sick, the whole pod is going to strand," Biddle told LiveScience. The whales are stranded in shallow water, and veterinarians are assessing them to determine if all or a couple are sick, she said.
Pilot whales are toothed whales that can grow to be between 14 and 17 feet (4.3 to 5.2 meters). They live in warm, tropical waters, according to Biddle.
There are many potential causes -- including diseases, parasites, loud noise, toxins or simple confusion -- so figuring out what is responsible for the mass stranding can be challenging, according to Chris Parsons, a professor at George Mason University who has tracked mass whale strandings around the world.
Pilot whales live in groups called pods that consist of between 15 and 50 animals, and mass strandings like this one have happened before. Most recently, in 2003, about 25 pilot whales became stranded in the Keys, according to Anne Biddle, media relations director for the Marine Mammal Institute, which is responding to the stranding.
"They tend to strand in pods, they stick together, if one is sick, the whole pod is going to strand," Biddle told LiveScience. The whales are stranded in shallow water, and veterinarians are assessing them to determine if all or a couple are sick, she said.
Pilot whales are toothed whales that can grow to be between 14 and 17 feet (4.3 to 5.2 meters). They live in warm, tropical waters, according to Biddle.
There are many potential causes -- including diseases, parasites, loud noise, toxins or simple confusion -- so figuring out what is responsible for the mass stranding can be challenging, according to Chris Parsons, a professor at George Mason University who has tracked mass whale strandings around the world.
US: For families of tornadoes' missing, a long torment
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Where is Johnnie Brown's sister?
Or the friend Billie Sue Hall talked to every day? A week after tornadoes ripped neighborhoods to shreds across the South, there still are no answers.
It's unclear how many people are missing across the seven states where 329 deaths have been reported. There are 25 unaccounted for in Tuscaloosa alone, the mayor says, but that number could be off because of the chaos the storm left behind.
Cadaver dog teams across the region are scouring the debris to uncover whatever tragedies may remain, and even bad news would be comforting to anguished families.
Tracy Sargent's dog team took just minutes to do what humans searching for hours could not: Locate the body of a University of Alabama student in a maze of twisted trees and debris. The young man's father was there when the body was found in Tuscaloosa this week.
"(The father) went over there and bent over and touched his son and started talking to him," Sargent said. "And he hugged him, started crying, and told him that he loved him and that he would miss him."
It's unclear how many people are missing across the seven states where 329 deaths have been reported. There are 25 unaccounted for in Tuscaloosa alone, the mayor says, but that number could be off because of the chaos the storm left behind.
Cadaver dog teams across the region are scouring the debris to uncover whatever tragedies may remain, and even bad news would be comforting to anguished families.
Tracy Sargent's dog team took just minutes to do what humans searching for hours could not: Locate the body of a University of Alabama student in a maze of twisted trees and debris. The young man's father was there when the body was found in Tuscaloosa this week.
"(The father) went over there and bent over and touched his son and started talking to him," Sargent said. "And he hugged him, started crying, and told him that he loved him and that he would miss him."
Montana, US: Firefighters warn new fires burn in mysterious ways
Fire officials in a tri-county area said they're seeing extreme fire behavior in areas with trees killed by the mountain pine beetle.
Sonny Stiger, a fire behavior analyst, told a group gathered in Helena Wednesday for a forum on the impact of the rice-size beetles, that he's seeing flame lengths of 200 to 300 feet in places they wouldn't expect it; they're experiencing unusual embers being thrown farther ahead of fires and groups of treetops torching; and ponderosa pines' low-hanging dead branches are creating ladder fuels that allow blazes to spread more rapidly than in the past.
"The kind of things we're dealing with is one fire grew to three acres in two minutes, 10 to 15 acres in the next eight minutes - that's moving - and over 100 acres in the first hour," Stiger said. "So we are experiencing unusual, extreme fire behavior now."
During the past decade, mountain pine beetles have devoured about 9 million acres of forest in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, and about 40 million acres in British Columbia. They kill mainly lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees by burrowing into them to lay eggs; when the eggs hatch, the young "girdle" the tree by eating around it in horizontal circles, cutting off the flow of nutrients, before they fly to new trees and re-create the deadly cycle.
Sonny Stiger, a fire behavior analyst, told a group gathered in Helena Wednesday for a forum on the impact of the rice-size beetles, that he's seeing flame lengths of 200 to 300 feet in places they wouldn't expect it; they're experiencing unusual embers being thrown farther ahead of fires and groups of treetops torching; and ponderosa pines' low-hanging dead branches are creating ladder fuels that allow blazes to spread more rapidly than in the past.
"The kind of things we're dealing with is one fire grew to three acres in two minutes, 10 to 15 acres in the next eight minutes - that's moving - and over 100 acres in the first hour," Stiger said. "So we are experiencing unusual, extreme fire behavior now."
During the past decade, mountain pine beetles have devoured about 9 million acres of forest in the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Montana, and about 40 million acres in British Columbia. They kill mainly lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees by burrowing into them to lay eggs; when the eggs hatch, the young "girdle" the tree by eating around it in horizontal circles, cutting off the flow of nutrients, before they fly to new trees and re-create the deadly cycle.
Earthquake shakes wide area of southern Mexico
A moderately strong earthquake shook Mexico's Pacific coast resort of Acapulco on Wednesday, sending people fleeing into the streets. No damages or injuries were reported.
The magnitude-5.8 quake occurred at 8:24 a.m. local time (1324 GMT) and was centered about 85 miles (138 kilometers) east of Acapulco, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on its website.
The quake occurred at a depth of nearly 6 miles (10 kilometers).
The magnitude-5.8 quake occurred at 8:24 a.m. local time (1324 GMT) and was centered about 85 miles (138 kilometers) east of Acapulco, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on its website.
The quake occurred at a depth of nearly 6 miles (10 kilometers).
Canada: The mystery of the disappearing salmon
The disappearance of millions of sockeye salmon from the Fraser River has been compared to Murder on the Orient Express by two scientists helping a federal inquiry solve an environmental mystery.
Andrew Trites and Villy Christensen, both professors at the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, made the comparison to the Agatha Christie whodunit as they testified Wednesday at the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River.
Led by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen, the commission has been given more than two years and a $25-million budget to figure out why sockeye salmon stocks have been in decline for the past two decades, and why only about one million fish returned to spawn in 2009, when 10 million were expected.
Andrew Trites and Villy Christensen, both professors at the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, made the comparison to the Agatha Christie whodunit as they testified Wednesday at the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River.
Led by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen, the commission has been given more than two years and a $25-million budget to figure out why sockeye salmon stocks have been in decline for the past two decades, and why only about one million fish returned to spawn in 2009, when 10 million were expected.
Czech Republic: February is back - lowlands report 3 and mountains 15 cm of snow
[Translated by Sott.net]
Czech Republic - Although it is May, the weather is more like in February.
Not only mountain tops were covered by a layer of snow during the night. In regions of Liberec, Karlovy Vary, Hradec Králove, Pardubice and Ústí snow fell even at lower elevations.
In the morning hours a layer of up to three centimeters lay on the ground. Also at midday it occasionally snowed even in the lowlands, Prague-Ruzyně reported sleet.
The midday air temperature on the Czech territory ranged from 0.2 °C in Liberec to 6.5 °C in the Brno area. At the top of Jeseník the temperature fell to -4.4 °C
Czech Republic - Although it is May, the weather is more like in February.
Not only mountain tops were covered by a layer of snow during the night. In regions of Liberec, Karlovy Vary, Hradec Králove, Pardubice and Ústí snow fell even at lower elevations.
In the morning hours a layer of up to three centimeters lay on the ground. Also at midday it occasionally snowed even in the lowlands, Prague-Ruzyně reported sleet.
The midday air temperature on the Czech territory ranged from 0.2 °C in Liberec to 6.5 °C in the Brno area. At the top of Jeseník the temperature fell to -4.4 °C
Cosmic Snake Star Pattern Now Slithering Across Night Sky
 |
© Starry Night Software
This sky map shows the location of the huge snake constellation
Hydra in the southern sky at around 9 pm ET as seen from the mid-latitudes
of the Northern Hemisphere.
|
We can look to the south to trace it during the early evening hours. In fact, the snake is one of the most extensive of all star patterns: the long and mostly faint constellation of Hydra, the female water snake.
Interestingly, there is also a much shorter, male snake bearing the name Hydrus that is visible only in Southern Hemisphere skies.This sky map of the Hydra constellation shows where to look in the southern sky to spot the cosmic snake.
A long stream of stars
Hydra begins just below Cancer with a boxy shape of five stars representing the snake's head, between Procyon and Regulus, and south of the faint Cancer, the Crab.
Hydra's scraggly stream of dim stars then wriggles southeastward past its lone bright star - ruddy second magnitude Alphard - which appears brighter than it is because it has no competition star (hence it's sometimes called the "Solitary One").
US: Hawaii Lightning Strikes Total 20,000...Again
A wicked storm that brought hail, waterspouts and torrential rain to the islands Monday night, also packed an electrical punch that rocked Oahu and Kauai.
Apparently lightning can strike twice.
"Yeah lightning can strike twice, it can strike 10-15 times in the same location," said Warning Coordinator Meteorologist Michael Cantin.
For the second time this year, Hawaii has experienced a spectacular electric show. In late February we saw nearly 21,000 lightning strikes in a five-hour window when a storm system stalled over Hawaii.
Monday night, Mother Nature was at it again.
"Each individual point represents a strike and what's kind of striking about this image right is here's the Big Island, Maui county, and then Oahu and Kauai are basically absorbed under the lightning strikes gives you an idea of how many we saw," said Cantin.
According to the Worldwide Lightning Detection system, the skies were busiest between 5 and 10 p.m.
"In total about 15,000 between that time period if you include that hour before from 4 p.m. it's almost 20,000," said Cantin.
U.S. DNR investigates large fish kill on Lake Du Bay
Wausau - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is investigating a large fish kill on Lake Du Bay and the Stevens Point Flowage.
The kill involved mainly black crappie, 3 to 4 years old, and was reported to DNR fisheries staff on April 25.
DNR biologists and fisheries technicians determined that the cause appears to be a virus primarily affecting 3-year-old black crappie.
The kill involved mainly black crappie, 3 to 4 years old, and was reported to DNR fisheries staff on April 25.
DNR biologists and fisheries technicians determined that the cause appears to be a virus primarily affecting 3-year-old black crappie.
US: Double waterspouts form off Hawaii shore
Two tall and skinny waterspouts appeared off the south shore of Oahu, Hawaii yesterday, as some of the bad weather that has lately assailed the U.S. mainland has now alighted on the Pacific island.
The Star Advertiser reports that the waterspouts appeared during a hail and lightning storm that had reportedly knocked out power for at least 60,000 East Honolulu and Windward Oahu residents Monday evening. The spouts lasted for about 12 minutes. Waterspouts can become twisters if they reach land, but are usually weak.
You can watch the video below:
The Star Advertiser reports that the waterspouts appeared during a hail and lightning storm that had reportedly knocked out power for at least 60,000 East Honolulu and Windward Oahu residents Monday evening. The spouts lasted for about 12 minutes. Waterspouts can become twisters if they reach land, but are usually weak.
You can watch the video below:
Canada: 2,000 homes flooded in southern Quebec
Thousands of homes are affected by flooding south of Montreal.
Several towns and villages in the Montérégie region have experienced flooding, evacuations and damages in recent weeks.
The weather forecast calls for heavy rain overnight, leaving emergency officials worried.
"We have 2,000 houses flooded right now, and we have more than 300 people evacuated, mostly in Henryville, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Ste-Anne-de-Sabrevois," said Yvan Leroux, head of emergency preparedness for the region.
The Richelieu River could rise another 20 centimetres by Wednesday morning, he warned.
Evacuations are voluntary, and about half of residents in the area have refused to leave their homes.
Tornado hits New Zealand's biggest city
At least two people have been killed and many others injured when a tornado ripped through Auckland, New Zealand's largest city.
55 Feet Long Unknown Fish Species Found in China
A 55 feet (16,7 meters) long fish has been found in the seashore of Guangdong, China. According to a local newspaper, the big fish weighs at least 10,000 pounds.
According to a local newspaper, the big fish weighs at least 10,000 pounds.
Hwang, a 66-years-old fisherman living in the near area, said he has never seen anything like this in his whole life and that the fish was tied with ropes when it was first found.
According to a local newspaper, the big fish weighs at least 10,000 pounds.
Rare Waterspout Spotted on Video Near Hawaii
A rare waterspout formed off the coast of Hawaii yesterday (May 2), and was caught in several pictures and videos.
Waterspouts, tornadoes that touch on water, are not themselves made of water; they are funnel clouds that shoot down from storm clouds. This "tornado on water" touched down over the ocean off Ala Moana, a district of Honolulu.
In areas where intense funnel clouds commonly form over water -- the Florida Keys and the Adriatic Sea are two examples -- waterspouts will frequently form along a line of developing thunderstorms.
That was the case yesterday, as an intense lightning storm with heavy rains knocked out power for 60,000 residents, according to the Hawaiian Reporter. The heavy rains soaked Honolulu and triggered a flash flood warning.
US: Swarm of Tiny Earthquakes Stretches From Belfast to Bucksport
Searsport, Maine - As many as 30 tiny earthquakes have been detected over the last few days in the area between Belfast and Bucksport, but geologists say there's no cause for alarm.
"Microquakes is what we call them," Henry Berry, a bedrock geologist with Maine Geological Survey, said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. "Unless you were right there, you wouldn't notice them."
But plenty of people have been noticing, Searsport Police Chief Dick LaHaye said Tuesday afternoon, just minutes after he dispatched an officer to Savory Road, where a resident had called to inform authorities about another earthquake.
They've responded to calls about gunshots and shotgun blasts, calls from people who felt their feet vibrate along with the earth and calls about things falling off shelves - all of which were determined to be related to the earthquake, he said.
"We'll continue to investigate," LaHaye said. "There's obviously something going on. It's outside of the police purview at this point, but we'll continue to respond to any and all calls that come in."
The quakes have all measured less than 2 on the Richter magnitude scale, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Conservation. On that scale, the threshold at which damage can occur is magnitude 5.
"Microquakes is what we call them," Henry Berry, a bedrock geologist with Maine Geological Survey, said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. "Unless you were right there, you wouldn't notice them."
But plenty of people have been noticing, Searsport Police Chief Dick LaHaye said Tuesday afternoon, just minutes after he dispatched an officer to Savory Road, where a resident had called to inform authorities about another earthquake.
They've responded to calls about gunshots and shotgun blasts, calls from people who felt their feet vibrate along with the earth and calls about things falling off shelves - all of which were determined to be related to the earthquake, he said.
"We'll continue to investigate," LaHaye said. "There's obviously something going on. It's outside of the police purview at this point, but we'll continue to respond to any and all calls that come in."
The quakes have all measured less than 2 on the Richter magnitude scale, according to a press release from the Maine Department of Conservation. On that scale, the threshold at which damage can occur is magnitude 5.
Strange cosmic ray hotspots stalk southern skies
Cosmic rays crashing into the Earth over the South Pole appear to be coming from particular locations, rather than being distributed uniformly across the sky. Similar cosmic ray "hotspots" have been seen in the northern skies too, yet we know of no source close enough to produce this pattern.
"We don't know where they are coming from," says Stefan Westerhoff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
"We don't know where they are coming from," says Stefan Westerhoff of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Westerhoff and colleagues used the IceCube neutrino observatory at the South Pole to create the most comprehensive map to date of the arrival direction of cosmic rays in the southern skies. IceCube detects muons produced by neutrinos striking ice, but it also detects muons created by cosmic rays hitting Earth's atmosphere. These cosmic ray muons can be used to figure out the direction of the original cosmic ray particle.
US: Kentucky - More Heavy Rains, Flooding Concerns
Heavy rains have returned to the Bluegrass.
Lexington has been receiving the rains throughout the morning, and it will continue falling throughout the day.
Areas in Franklin, Woodford, and Scott counties are also seeing heavy rains bring causing big concerns for drivers as water is ponding on roadways.
As flooding intensifies in western Kentucky, the commonwealth has opened a Regional Emergency Coordination Center at the Benton Armory in Marshall County. The center assists local emergency response efforts, allowing local, state, and federal officials to coordinate broad emergency responses across the region. Governor Steve Beshear is planning to return to western Kentucky, where flooding has forced evacuations and National Guard troops
have been sent in to help.
Beshear was planning to visit Paducah, Hickman and Benton today. On Monday, officials said more than 100 troops were helping with evacuations in the cities of Ledbetter in Livingston County and Hickman in Fulton County. Smithland was also being evacuated. The lower Ohio River is expected to crest at 58 feet, three feet above an earlier prediction.
Areas in Franklin, Woodford, and Scott counties are also seeing heavy rains bring causing big concerns for drivers as water is ponding on roadways.
As flooding intensifies in western Kentucky, the commonwealth has opened a Regional Emergency Coordination Center at the Benton Armory in Marshall County. The center assists local emergency response efforts, allowing local, state, and federal officials to coordinate broad emergency responses across the region. Governor Steve Beshear is planning to return to western Kentucky, where flooding has forced evacuations and National Guard troops
have been sent in to help.
Beshear was planning to visit Paducah, Hickman and Benton today. On Monday, officials said more than 100 troops were helping with evacuations in the cities of Ledbetter in Livingston County and Hickman in Fulton County. Smithland was also being evacuated. The lower Ohio River is expected to crest at 58 feet, three feet above an earlier prediction.
US: Heavy Rains Drench North Texas
The steady rain for much of the day made driving a miserable task for North Texans today.
"Yeah, going kind of slow, trying to be safe," said Driver Eddie Rocha.
"I think it's ridiculous. I want to expect the sun out, not rain. It makes us drive slower to work, from work and to work," said Dallas Resident Maribel Jaramillo.
"Yeah, going kind of slow, trying to be safe," said Driver Eddie Rocha.
"I think it's ridiculous. I want to expect the sun out, not rain. It makes us drive slower to work, from work and to work," said Dallas Resident Maribel Jaramillo.
US: Hawaii forecast calls for another day of wild weather
There is a weather disturbance nearby that has triggered the thunderstorms, heavy rains and even hail on Kula, Maui.
Currently most of the storm activity is centered over Maui county and Oahu.
However, downpours occurred over all islands from the Big Island and Kauai included.
Molokai and Lanai are seeing heavy downpours and on Oahu the heavy's rains are over central Oahu near Milalani but could move on to other areas.
Currently most of the storm activity is centered over Maui county and Oahu.
However, downpours occurred over all islands from the Big Island and Kauai included.
Molokai and Lanai are seeing heavy downpours and on Oahu the heavy's rains are over central Oahu near Milalani but could move on to other areas.
US: Rain May Curb Grain, Oilseed Output Globally, Oil World Says
Rainfall and cold weather has delayed planting of grains and oilseeds in Canada, Russia, Ukraine and the U.S., threatening already-low global inventories, Oil World said in a report today.
In the U.S., the world's biggest exporter of corn, soybeans and wheat, heavy rains through Midwest and Plains states have made fields too wet for planting, the researcher said. Rain in Canada has delayed seeding of spring wheat and canola, and cold, wet weather has kept farmers in Russia and Ukraine from seeding spring grains, according to Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World.
"The major threat is to be seen in planting delays caused by very wet fields and local flooding" in Canada, Oil World said. "In recent weeks the low temperatures have slowed melting of a comparatively thick snow cover on already saturated fields. There is the risk of considerable additional flooding in parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba."
About 13 percent of planned corn was sown in the U.S. as of May 1 versus 68 percent a year earlier, Department of Agriculture data show. About 3 percent of Russian grains were seeded as of April 21, about half of what was in the ground at the same time last year, according to Oil World. In Canada, canola and wheat seeding are behind the normal schedule.
In the U.S., the world's biggest exporter of corn, soybeans and wheat, heavy rains through Midwest and Plains states have made fields too wet for planting, the researcher said. Rain in Canada has delayed seeding of spring wheat and canola, and cold, wet weather has kept farmers in Russia and Ukraine from seeding spring grains, according to Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World.
"The major threat is to be seen in planting delays caused by very wet fields and local flooding" in Canada, Oil World said. "In recent weeks the low temperatures have slowed melting of a comparatively thick snow cover on already saturated fields. There is the risk of considerable additional flooding in parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba."
About 13 percent of planned corn was sown in the U.S. as of May 1 versus 68 percent a year earlier, Department of Agriculture data show. About 3 percent of Russian grains were seeded as of April 21, about half of what was in the ground at the same time last year, according to Oil World. In Canada, canola and wheat seeding are behind the normal schedule.
Winter in May? Its snowing in Poland!
About 10 thousand people in Lower Silesia region are left without electricity due to the heavy snowfall.
Wet, heavy snow broke branches in many places, damaging power lines of high and medium voltage.
Wet, heavy snow broke branches in many places, damaging power lines of high and medium voltage.
US: Explosion at Birds Point Levee Missouri
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