Earth ChangesS


Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills two in Chivhu, Zimbabwe

Jairos Saunyama
The Zimbabwe Daily
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 10:43 UTC
Lightning
Two family members from Chivhu were fatally struck by a bolt of lightning two weeks ago soon after disembarking from a local bus.

Although Mashonaland East provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Nobert Muzondo was unreachable for comment yesterday, sources at the provincial police headquarters said the incident occurred on December 24.

They identified the deceased as Georgina Sigudhu (32) and Orlens Nyabadza (age not given), of Chirume Village, under Chief Mutekedza.

Sources said the two were struck by a bolt of lightning and died on the spot as they walked home.

Officers from Masasa Police Station later attended the scene and took the corpses to Chivhu Hospital for post-mortem.
Read More...
Seismograph

Strong 7.3 magnitude undersea earthquake strikes near the Philippines


The Independent (UK)
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 08:04 UTC
Celebes Sea quake map
© USGSThe point where the earthquake struck.

Quake measured at a depth of 617 km, according to the US Geological Survey

A major undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck southeast of the Philippines on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake was measured at a depth of 617 km (380 miles), the USGS said. It struck in the Celebes Sea and comes five days after a smaller, 4.7-magnitude tremor in the same area, according to the USGS.

Journalist Barnaby Lo said he felt "no significant tremor" on the island of Jolo, which lies north-east of the epicentre. The US Tsunami Warning Centre has issued no warning, advisory, watch or threat after the quake.

Philippine seismologists said the earthquake was far too deep to cause any damage and casualties or generate a tsunami.
Read More...
Cloud Grey

Cirrus clouds create 22-degree sun halo in Alabama sky

Jake Reed
WHNT19 News
Sun, 08 Jan 2017 18:22 UTC
Huntsville solar halo
© Via Instagram/spannpixSun halo today over East Alabama...
A veil of high and mid-level clouds spreading across the Tennessee Valley Sunday was the perfect setup to see a rare sight in the sky.

Several WHNT News 19 viewers, including Ramona Edwards and Tressi Downs, shared pictures with us of a large ring around the sun.

This optical feature is called a 22-degree sun halo.

Earthsky.org explains it very simply:
Halos are a sign of high thin cirrus clouds drifting 20,000 feet or more above our heads. These clouds contain millions of tiny ice crystals. The halos you see are caused by both refraction, or splitting of light, and also by reflection, or glints of light from these ice crystals.
Read More...
Attention

Iconic 1,000yo California Pioneer Cabin tree falls victim to winter storm at Calaveras Big Trees State Park


RT
Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:23 UTC
Pioneer Cabin Tree
The powerful winter storm affecting California has claimed its oldest victim; the iconic Pioneer Cabin Tree, which is thought to be up to 1000 years old, was felled yesterday.

Photos of the fallen icon, captured by park volunteer Jim Allday, were posted to the Calaveras Big Trees Association Facebook page, accompanied by the caption: "The Pioneer Cabin tree has fallen! This iconic and still living tree - the tunnel tree - enchanted many visitors. The storm was just too much for it."
Read More...
Seismograph

Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 recorded at Bárðarbunga volcano, Iceland

Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir
Iceland Review
Mon, 09 Jan 2017 20:02 UTC
Bárðarbunga.
© Páll Stefánsson.Bárðarbunga.
An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 occurred in the northern caldera of Bárðarbunga volcano in Vatnajökull glacier shortly before noon yesterday. A few aftershocks followed, the largest of which measured 2.3 magnitude.

The Icelandic Met Office, which reported the seismicity, stated that there were no indications of volcanic activity in the area, ruv.is reports.

Bárðarbunga caused the 2014-2015 eruption in Holuhraun in the northeastern highlands.
Read More...
Attention

Up to 80 swans killed by bird flu at UK nature reserve; avian influenza found at 8 other sites in the country


Daily Mail
Mon, 09 Jan 2017 19:31 UTC
Up to 80 wild swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset have died after a bird flu outbreak
Up to 80 wild swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset have died after a bird flu outbreak
A famous swannery owned by one of the richest women in Britain has been struck by a bird flu epidemic.

Eighty wild swans have died at the historic Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset - with nine confirmed cases of H5N8 strain of avian influenza.

The site is owned by Charlotte Townshend, the granddaughter of the 7th Earl of Ilchester and daughter of the 9th Viscount Galway.

The 61-year-old - whose fortune has been estimated at £420 million - is the only person in Britain other than the Queen entitled to own swans.

It is the same strain of avian flu that has broken out in other areas of Britain, including the Wildfowl and Wetlands Slimbridge reserve in Gloucestershire.

The case is the latest of wild birds testing positive for avian influenza this winter
The case is the latest of wild birds testing positive for avian influenza this winter
Read More...
Attention

Surfer injured in suspected shark attack off Bali, Indonesia


Coconuts Bali
Mon, 09 Jan 2017 19:12 UTC
Shark attacks
An Australian man has reportedly been injured in a suspected shark attack while he was surfing at Balian Beach, Bali.

Local newspaper Tribun Bali is reporting that Daniel Qeran, 48, was out surfing when he was allegedly attacked by a shark at 7:30 am on Monday morning.

Qeran has reportedly suffered wounds on his right big toe from the suspected shark attack.

"It's alleged that the victim is suffering from a shark bite. The victim has been taken to BIMC Hospital in Badung," Tabanan Police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Putu Oka Suyasa told Tribun Bali.
Read More...
Attention

Bullshark attack on spearfisherman filmed on the Great Barrier Reef

Chris Pleasance
Daily Mail
Sun, 08 Jan 2017 19:03 UTC
This is the moment diver Kerry Daniel, 35, was almost eaten by a bull shark after the predator charged at him while in the water off the coast of North Queensland
This is the moment diver Kerry Daniel, 35, was almost eaten by a bull shark after the predator charged at him while in the water off the coast of North Queensland
They are known as one of the most dangerous sharks in the world - as footage of this terrifying bull shark attack seems to prove.

Diver Kerry Daniel, 35, was spearfishing off the coast of north Queensland near the Great Barrier Reef when he recorded the moment the predator charged at him.

Fortunately he was able to jam his spear gun into the shark's mouth, leaving the creature writhing around in pain while he escaped uninjured.

But as the video shows, a moment more of hesitation and the roles could have easily been reversed.


Daniel, who runs spearfishing channel Liquid Vision, told Daily Mail Australia that he was on a trip with friends when the incident took place.

He said: 'We've done this trip once a year for the past six years.
Read More...
Seismograph

Shallow 4.9 magnitude earthquake recorded at Antirrio, Greece


Earthquake Track
Mon, 09 Jan 2017 16:24 UTC
GRAPH
4.9 magnitude earthquake 2 km from Antirrio, West Greece, Greece

2017-01-09 09:53:17 UTC

UTC time: Monday, January 09, 2017 09:53 AM

Your time: 2017-01-09T09:53:17Z

Magnitude Type: mb

USGS page: M 4.9 - 6km NNW of Rion, Greece

USGS status: Reviewed by a seismologist

Reports from the public: 4 people

2017-01-09 09:53:17 UTC 4.9 magnitude, 10 km depth
Read More...
Snowflake Cold

Deadly icy snap sweeps across Europe, first deaths of the new year reported (PHOTOS)


RT
Sun, 08 Jan 2017 20:17 UTC
Russia winter
© Osman Orsal / ReutersA girl walks under snow-covered trees during a snowfall in Istanbul, Turkey, January 7, 2017.
Europe is beginning to count the cost of the deadly cold snap sweeping across the continent, with the first deaths reported over the weekend.

Social workers in Serbia have been trying to ease the living conditions of migrants living in makeshift shelters enduring the below-freezing temperatures. In the capital Belgrade, hundreds of people, mostly from Afghanistan and Pakistan, are staying in an abandoned customs warehouse, with local aid groups providing heaters, blankets, clothes and food.

Comment: See also: Excessive snowfall forecast in some areas of Europe for Jan 8-11, 2017

Read More...