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Earth ChangesS
A significant active region is about to emerge over the sun's northeastern limb. The underlying sunspots are not yet visible from Earth, but the region's towering magnetic canopy is already in view. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) took this picture during the early hours of Feb. 23rd:
A better view is had by NASA's STEREO-B probe, stationed over the sun's eastern limb where it can see the region from top down. Recent movies beamed back by STEREO-B show flashes of extreme UV radiation and hints of magnetic instability. This could herald a period of renewed solar activity when the region turns toward Earth in the days ahead. Or the action could peter out beforehand. Stay tuned for updates.
A new study has suggested that it's not human activity but the Earth's rotation patterns that caused an increase in methane levels 5000 years ago.
Dr Joy Singarayer of the University of Bristol, and colleagues, suggest changes in the Earth's orbit and precession, not agriculture, played a major part.
The team used computer models, used to estimate future climatic conditions, to trace back over the past 130,000 years and then used this data to estimate vegetation types, and hence methane production, across the planet.
Singarayer and colleagues found the output of their models matched with measurements of methane from ice cores taken in Greenland.
"What we found was that our models were able to reproduce both the decrease that was seen around 100,000 years ago and the increase we've seen in the last 5000 years, without having to invoke human induced emissions through agriculture," ABC Science quoted Paul Valdes, also of the University of Bristol, as saying.
Dr Joy Singarayer of the University of Bristol, and colleagues, suggest changes in the Earth's orbit and precession, not agriculture, played a major part.
The team used computer models, used to estimate future climatic conditions, to trace back over the past 130,000 years and then used this data to estimate vegetation types, and hence methane production, across the planet.
Singarayer and colleagues found the output of their models matched with measurements of methane from ice cores taken in Greenland.
"What we found was that our models were able to reproduce both the decrease that was seen around 100,000 years ago and the increase we've seen in the last 5000 years, without having to invoke human induced emissions through agriculture," ABC Science quoted Paul Valdes, also of the University of Bristol, as saying.
© Rob Gunstone
The oceanic giants frolicked in waters to the city's west with marine experts keeping a close eye on the action as the whales pass through on a current known as the Bonney Upwelling.
Blue whales are often sighted off the south-west coast near Cape Bridgewater but this is the first time in several years that the world's largest animals have graced Warrnambool's coastline.
Blue Whale Study co-director Margie Morrice was at Thunder Point yesterday to identify and document the behaviour of the visiting whales. She said six whales had been sighted off the coast with three confirmed as blue whales.
"Blue whales are seen right along the coast here, from Cape Otway to the Great Australian Bight," Ms Morrice said.
"The unusual thing about this sighting is that they are so close to shore. We can see many blue whales off the coast near Cape Bridgewater because it's closer to the continental shelf, but usually the only sightings near Warrnambool are by fishermen out on boats."
© UnknownA viewer submitted these photos of the spill and clean up effort to iWitness.abc13.com
According to the US Coast Guard, a spill of some oil-like substance is affecting about a mile of rocky shoreline at April Fool's Point in San Leon. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the spill, which appears to be oil, but officials are testing the substance to determine exactly what it is.
© Unknown
There have been TWO mass whale deaths on NZ's South Island in less than three weeks.
In the latest bizarre incident on Sunday, less than 48 hours before the earthquake hit, a pod of whales beached themselves near Cavalier Creek on Stewart Island.
Discussing the earthquake and whale deaths on Twitter, Kate Redman 'DolphinSeeker30' asked: "could the stranding of 100 pilot whales be linked to the earthquake?"
© Héloïse PicotLava flow emitted during Etna's paroxysm of 18 February onto the western flank of the Valle del Bove, seen from the village of Stazzo at about 13:00 GMT.
The paroxysm has taken place once more at the pit crater located on the lower eastern flank of the Southeast Crater cone, the only active eruptive vent at this summit cone since the summer of 2007.
The paroxysm was preceded by an explosive sequence presumably from the Northeast Crater, on the late evening of 16 February. Also in that case, direct visual observation was difficult due to the presence of cloud cover.
The onset of today's paroxysm was abrupt, and thus quite different from the long buildup phase that led to the episode of 12-13 January.
© WTOL
When they first discovered the trend a few weeks ago, only a few birds were infected. As of Friday, around 200 birds have been linked to the mystery illness.
Infected birds simply throw their heads back and lose their motor skills before they die.
No one knows how far it could spread.
"This may be something that's not at all going to affect people, but it may be, and we need to figure it out to know what's going on," said Nature's Nursery's Laura Zitzelberger.
So far, labs tests confirm that the birds did not die of the avian flu.
© n/a
Dozens of the migratory birds have been found dead on the Kamyshovskoye highway in Sevastopol, along Kazachya Bay and in other coastal areas, ITAR-Tass reported Saturday.
Ornithologist Alexander Grinchenko of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds said it is not yet known if the blackbirds died from infection or poisoned food. They probably flew from North Africa, where no bird epidemics are reported.
The first examinations by the Sevastopol state veterinary center suggest frost as a cause. A recent storm brought heavy snow and frigid weather to the Crimea.
Tissues from the dead birds have been sent to a veterinary clinic in Simferopol, and a diagnosis is expected within a week.
The mass bird death is the first reported in Ukraine, and it is not known if there is any connection to recent incidents in the United States and Europe.
© Israel news photo
The National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research reported that tremors from the 3 a.m. quake lasted for 27 minutes, but caused no damage.
The ships had originally been expected to enter the Suez today (Monday), but Egyptian officials announced the delay this morning, without explanation.
Iran inexplicably announced Sunday morning that two of its warships had crossed the Suez, a report that was thoroughly denied by Egyptian authorities. Iranian media did not mention the ships on Monday, and the false report may have been for local consumption.
© Melissa Taniora60 homes in Karratha are without power after lines came down in a mini tornado yesterday
Woodside Petroleum, Australia's second-largest energy firm, froze production at its Enfield and Cossack Pioneer platforms, while Apache also halted work at its Stag and Van Gogh fields. Mining towns including Karratha and Dampier were on red alert as Carlos battered the coast, bringing heavy rains and winds gusting in excess of 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour, emergency officials said. "There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately," the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) warned residents, advising them to shelter in the safest part of their house.
