NARO MORU, Kenya -- Rivers of ice at the Equator -- foretold in the 2nd century, found in the 19th -- are now melting away in this new century, returning to the realm of lore and fading photographs.
From mile-high Naro Moru, villagers have watched year by year as the great glaciers of Mount Kenya, glinting in the equatorial sun high above them, have retreated into shrunken white stains on the rocky shoulders of the 16,897-foot peak.
Climbing up, "you can hear the water running down beneath Diamond and Darwin," mountain guide Paul Nditiru said, speaking of two of 10 surviving glaciers.
Earth Changes
A large electromagnetic "storm" has broken out on the face of the sun, sending masses of charged subatomic particles through the space that surrounds planet Earth.Images from the SOHO space probe -- short for Solar and Heliospheric Observatory -- showed a bright flare near the sun's equator on Wednesday, and another was reported by ground-based observatories today.
Several of SOHO's sensors were temporarily overwhelmed by the amount of radiation, engineers said.
Such flares, known as coronal mass ejections, are actually fairly common, scientists say. Earth is well protected by both its atmosphere and its magnetic field.
Several of SOHO's sensors were temporarily overwhelmed by the amount of radiation, engineers said.
Such flares, known as coronal mass ejections, are actually fairly common, scientists say. Earth is well protected by both its atmosphere and its magnetic field.
Previous estimates of how much the world's sea level will rise as a result of global warming may have seriously underestimated the problem, according to new research.
The study, published in Science, uses a new "semi-empirical" method instead of relying purely on computer modelling. While some modelling significantly underestimates the amount of sea-level rise that has already been seen over the last century, the new method matches the observed rise very closely, says Stefan Rahmstorf, at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany, who conducted the new study.
The study, published in Science, uses a new "semi-empirical" method instead of relying purely on computer modelling. While some modelling significantly underestimates the amount of sea-level rise that has already been seen over the last century, the new method matches the observed rise very closely, says Stefan Rahmstorf, at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany, who conducted the new study.
Tens of thousands of iconic Australian creatures including koalas and kangaroos may have died in fires that swept through vast tracts of southern Australia this week, environmentalists say.
The blazes have devastated thousands of hectares, razed clusters of homes and claimed one life since they began earlier this month.
But they will also leave a significant environmental legacy because of their impact on flora and fauna, according to Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Sandy Fernee.
The blazes have devastated thousands of hectares, razed clusters of homes and claimed one life since they began earlier this month.
But they will also leave a significant environmental legacy because of their impact on flora and fauna, according to Wildlife Victoria spokeswoman Sandy Fernee.
LOS ANGELES - The Pacific Northwest was on Saturday recovering from a violent windstorm as about 500,000 remained without power, officials said.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire proclaimed a state of emergency for the entire state, expanding one issued Friday night for 17 of the state's 39 counties, said Rob Harper of Washington State Emergency Management.
A break in the weather on Saturday allowed Oregon rescuers to renew their search for three missing hikers on Mount Hood but stormy weather expected overnight on Sunday gives them a limited search window, rescuers said.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire proclaimed a state of emergency for the entire state, expanding one issued Friday night for 17 of the state's 39 counties, said Rob Harper of Washington State Emergency Management.
A break in the weather on Saturday allowed Oregon rescuers to renew their search for three missing hikers on Mount Hood but stormy weather expected overnight on Sunday gives them a limited search window, rescuers said.
OSLO - The world's oceans may rise up to 140 cms (4 feet, 7 inches) by 2100 due to global warming, a faster-than-expected increase that could threaten low-lying coasts from Florida to Bangladesh, a researcher said on Thursday.
"The possibility of a faster sea level rise needs to be considered when planning adaptation measures such as coastal defences," Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research wrote in the journal Science.
"The possibility of a faster sea level rise needs to be considered when planning adaptation measures such as coastal defences," Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research wrote in the journal Science.
What if 12 asteroids were on collision courses with earth? What if we could alter their trajectories and save our planet by the cumulative effect of our individual efforts? What if science and history proved that we were fully capable of such heroism? What would it take to get us started?
A multibillion-dollar canal project that would divert water from the Red Sea to save the shrinking Dead Sea may inadvertently cause critical environmental side effects.
Israel, Syria, and Jordan all siphon water from upstream sources that drain into the Dead Sea.
Because of this, the sea's water level has dropped some 82 feet (25 meters) over the past century, losing between 31.5 and 39 inches (80 and 100 centimeters) every year.
Israel, Syria, and Jordan all siphon water from upstream sources that drain into the Dead Sea.
Because of this, the sea's water level has dropped some 82 feet (25 meters) over the past century, losing between 31.5 and 39 inches (80 and 100 centimeters) every year.
SALINE COUNTY - We are within an earthquake hot zone being between the New Madrid and Wabash Valley fault zones. A powerful earthquake can happen literally any time, but we don't think about it and we most likely are not ready for it.
Saline County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency Coordinator Allan C. Ninness is trying to get the public to prepare and reiterated the need to prepare during a seminar Wednesday at Southeastern Illinois College.
Ninness began talking about Ivan Browning who thought he could predict an earthquake. The date was Dec. 3, 1990. The day came and went, uneventfully, but people paid enough attention many prepared for it.
Saline County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency Coordinator Allan C. Ninness is trying to get the public to prepare and reiterated the need to prepare during a seminar Wednesday at Southeastern Illinois College.
Ninness began talking about Ivan Browning who thought he could predict an earthquake. The date was Dec. 3, 1990. The day came and went, uneventfully, but people paid enough attention many prepared for it.
Space weather forecasters revised their predictions for storminess after a major flare erupted on the Sun overnight threatening damage to communication systems and power grids while offering up the wonder of Northern Lights.
"We're looking for very strong, severe geomagnetic storming" to begin probably around mid-day Thursday, Joe Kunches, Lead Forecaster at the NOAA Space Environment Center, told SPACE.com this afternoon.
The storm is expected to generate aurora or Northern Lights, as far south as the northern United States Thursday night. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are not expected to be put at additional risk, Kunches said.
"We're looking for very strong, severe geomagnetic storming" to begin probably around mid-day Thursday, Joe Kunches, Lead Forecaster at the NOAA Space Environment Center, told SPACE.com this afternoon.
The storm is expected to generate aurora or Northern Lights, as far south as the northern United States Thursday night. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are not expected to be put at additional risk, Kunches said.
Comment: Comment: The higher levels of global governments are perfectly aware of the danger of Climate change and are feathering their bunkers accordingly. They may however have underestimated just how quickly change may arrive. See our research in Earth and Climate Changes supplment for more details.