Earth ChangesS


Snowflake

Amid heavy snowfall, road agency calls on motorists to avoid travel in north-western Bulgaria

snow sofia
Bulgaria's Road Infrastructure Agency issued a call on December 16 for motorists to avoid travel in north-western Bulgaria, unless in the event of emergency, because of heavy snowfalls.

The agency said that passenger cars and heavy lorries should embark on journeys only if equipped with suitable tyres, while motorists should drive at a reasonable speed and cautiously, maintaining a safe following distance and heeding instructions from traffic authorities.

It also called for caution given the "Code Yellow" warning of potentially dangerous weather because of heavy snowfalls in the regions of Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Sofia - both the city and the district - Pernik and Kyustendil.


Ice Cube

Freak hail storm pummels Sun City, South Africa

Sun city hail storm
© @Namritha_ / Twitter
A sudden hailstorm slammed the South African resort town of Sun City on December 15, causing flash flooding and damage to various properties and vehicles. Sun International, which operates the Sun City Resort, said day visitors were immediately bussed away from the worst affected areas and said guests whose hotel rooms were affected were asked to return home, if possible.

Multiple social media users shared videos and photos showing the hail storm, leaks and flooding inside resort buildings and piles of hail in parking lots.


Cloud Precipitation

Weekend deluges flood areas of south Thailand

Vehicles crawl through a flooded road in Surat
© Supapong ChaolanVehicles crawl through a flooded road in Surat Thani.
Some provinces in the South were affected Sunday by flooding triggered by torrential rain that erupted in the region over the weekend.

The Meteorological Department also warned of more torrential rain in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Trang and Satun today.

As of Sunday, Nakhon Si Thammarat, in particular, appeared to have suffered the worst of the downpours.

In Thung Song district of the southern province, run-off from the forest burst into the municipality areas where the flood levels reached between 30cm and 50cm, said a source.


Attention

Report: Gujarat farmers in 401 drought-hit villages suffered over 33% crop loss - most over 50%

In a total of 269 villages, farmers have suffered crop loss of 50 per cent or more, states the SLBC report. (Representational )
In a total of 269 villages, farmers have suffered crop loss of 50 per cent or more, states the SLBC report. (Representational )
Though the total number of farmers suffering the crop loss has not been shared in the report, the maximum number of villages with 50 per cent or more crop loss are in the district of Kutch.

There are 401 villages in Gujarat where farmers have suffered crop loss of 33 per cent or more during this year's Kharif season.

The latest State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) report that was unveiled on Thursday show that the farmers incurred crop losses despite the state government's efforts to provide Narmada water to save the Kharif crops after a poor monsoon.

Snowflake Cold

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: What lengths will China go to feed its people as ancient cycles repeat

Mohe
With the first ever "red warning for cold" issued in cities of HeiLongJiang N.E China, it signals a shift to a cooler climate as well monsoons shift during Grand Solar Minimums so the signs of out of season dust storms, yellow snow events "tiramisu snow" with desert outpost in drought for centuries now snow cover. Shifting climate signs abound in China as it repeats the cycle of crop losses, change of leadership and what lengths will the current regime go to feed its people so Xi is not removed from power.


Sources

Fire

Trump was right about fire prevention and "raking" Finland's forests

finland forest management
Natural regeneration of pine is most suitable in sites where the humus layer over mineral soils and surface vegetation does not prevent germination and later development of saplings.
Heavy machinery "rakes" Finland's forest floors after tree cutting, greatly reducing fire risks

President Donald Trump was recently ridiculed for telling California Governor Jerry Brown that the Golden State should do as my country does. Trump critics laughed at what some called his "bizarre" claim that foresters in Finland "rake" areas that have been thinned or clear-cut, to remove leaves and other debris that could otherwise start conflagrations like the recent tragic fires in California.

The Washington Post spread similar misinformation. The Los Angeles Times carried an article by Finnish "green" journalist Anu Partanen. "Finland to President Trump: We don't rake the forest floor, but we do other things you should emulate," the headline read. Late night talk show hosts had more fun at the President's expense.

Ironically, all this happened at just about the time that Finland's own forest specialists declared that Mr. Trump was correct about what he told Governor Brown. The foresters disseminated that information widely to the Finnish media and public.

Seismograph

Magnitude 5.6 earthquake strikes off the coast of Western Australia, no threat of a tsunami

Flag
© Flickr / Neil Willsey
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck 203 kilometres north-west of Carnarvon in the state's north-west on Sunday night, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres and struck at 10.26pm local time.

Attention

Indonesian volcano eruption sends ash 7,500 metres into sky

Indonesia's Soputan Volcano
Indonesia's Soputan Volcano
Mount Soputan erupts hours before 6.2 magnitude earthquake hits east of country

A volcano in central Indonesia has erupted, sending columns of thick ash as high as 7,500m into the sky.

Mount Soputan, located on the northern part of Sulawesi island, erupted twice on Sunday morning, said the country's national disaster agency.

Locals have been urged to wear masks in case of ash rain and to stay clear of the mountain in anticipation of hot ash and lava sliding down its slopes.


Comment: See also: 6.1-Magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia


Seismograph

6.1-Magnitude earthquake strikes eastern Indonesia

graph
A 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Papua, in eastern Indonesia Sunday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake was about 158 kilometres (98 miles) south-southwest of the province's capital Jayapura at 6:42 pm (0942 GMT), at a depth of 61 kilometres, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was felt in Jayapura, but residents didn't panic, a military spokesman said.

"I felt it at home," Papua's military spokesman in Jayapura Dax Sianturi said.

Doberman

Dog attack leaves baby in 'critical' condition in Yaxley, UK - dies weeks later (UPDATE)

canine attack
© Angela Antunes / CC by 2.0
A baby is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by a dog.

The attack happened at a property in Wykes Road, Yaxley, near Peterborough, with emergency services called at 01:47 GMT on Sunday.

The boy is said to be in a "critical condition" and has been transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

A 28-year-old woman and a man, aged 31, from Yaxley, have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

Comment: UPDATE: The Sun reports on the 14th December:
A BABY boy has died weeks after being savaged by his family's Staffordshire bull terriers, police said.

Reuben McNulty, aged under a month old, was attacked at his home in Yaxley, near Peterborough, last month.

The infant had spent weeks fighting for life at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but cops confirmed he passed away yesterday.

Little Reuben died in hospital after being mauled by a dog
Little Reuben died in hospital after being mauled by a dog
Cambridgeshire Police say the dogs, named Fizzy and Dotty, were seized at the time but today said they have since been destroyed.

The dogs - named as Fizzy and Dotty - were seized at the time but police announced today they had been destroyed
The dogs - named as Fizzy and Dotty - were seized at the time but police announced today they had been destroyed
A 28-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both from Yaxley, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

The pair, named locally as Dan McNulty and Amy Litchfield, have been released under investigation.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been handed to the coroner.

Relatives of Reuben had been holding a vigil at his hospital bedside when he died.

Dan's sister Stacey McNulty posted on social media that she was "feeling heartbroken" at around 11am yesterday.

She earlier wrote: "Bye [sic] your side all the way, Dan McNulty and Amy Litchfield (McNulty).

"So proud of my little angel of a nephew. We love you so much."

The baby suffered "life-threatening injuries" and was taken to Peterborough City Hospital in the early hours of November 18.

The newborn was then transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where he remained in a critical condition.

On November 20, Amy's dad Paul Litchfield visited the unemployed couple's home where the attack happened.

He insisted that Reuben had been injured in a "freak accident" and that both Amy and Dan were good parents.

Speaking from the £160,000 two-bedroom flat, Mr Litchfield said: "They're not going to be here for months now because that kid is not good bless him.

"Even the parents are in a bad way.

"At the end of the day it's just a big freak accident and everyone's making a big thing of it.

"They've done nothing wrong and the way it's being portrayed at the minute, they're horrible parents.

"They bloody aren't, they've been fantastic.

"If they were horrible parents they wouldn't be sitting with that young lad now.

"People need to realise there's always two sides to the story.

"The thing is there's a lot at stake here for everybody, not just them, for us as well, as family."

Following the incident, a man at the property who did not want to be identified, said: "They're in bits, they're devastated."

A neighbour who lived opposite the couple's flat claimed he told them to 'be careful' around the dogs after bringing Reuben home from hospital last month.

Asking not to be named, the man said: "He (Dan) was showing people his new baby because he was so proud of it.

"When he showed me the pictures, I said be careful because those dogs might not be used to the baby.

"I know what dogs are like when they get jealous.

"He said I will do. He said, 'Me and Amy were thinking about that anyway'.

"I can't work out what happened."

Amy, 31, posted pictures of a newborn baby, believed to be Reuben, less than a month ago on social media.

Photos of Fizz and Dotty also appeared on her Facebook profile.

Another neighbour described the dogs as 'vicious'.

The man said: "I have seen those dogs before and they are vicious and will show their teeth at anyone.


"If that family left that poor baby on its own with those vicious dogs they should be locked away for many years.

"Any parent that would leave their poor little baby in the presence of those dogs is incredibly irresponsible."

He told how he was woken by police sirens in the early hours of Sunday, November 18.

"I was woken in the middle of the night to sirens and bright lights and I was worried," the man said.