The tornadoes that tore across the south-eastern US on Thursday, killing at least 19 people, were devastating but not unprecedented, say tornado experts. However, the twisters did strike unusually early in the year.
The tornado season in the US normally reaches its peak between mid-April and June. The tornadoes tend to get stronger as the year progresses because warming temperatures increase the amount of energy in the atmosphere.
Earth Changes
State College, PA - While wicked weather will not return to the nation early next week, arctic air will make a comeback across the Northeast. After a seasonable day on Monday, frigid air from the north Tuesday will send temperatures back to the brutally cold values of this past February.
Channel 4 Thursday 8 March at 9pm
In a polemical and thought-provoking documentary, film-maker Martin Durkin argues that the theory of man-made global warming has become such a powerful political force that other explanations for climate change are not being properly aired.
The film brings together the arguments of leading scientists who disagree with the prevailing consensus that a 'greenhouse effect' of carbon dioxide released by human activity is the cause of rising global temperatures.
In a polemical and thought-provoking documentary, film-maker Martin Durkin argues that the theory of man-made global warming has become such a powerful political force that other explanations for climate change are not being properly aired.
The film brings together the arguments of leading scientists who disagree with the prevailing consensus that a 'greenhouse effect' of carbon dioxide released by human activity is the cause of rising global temperatures.
Accepted theories about man causing global warming are "lies" claims a controversial new TV documentary.
'The Great Global Warming Swindle' - backed by eminent scientists - is set to rock the accepted consensus that climate change is being driven by humans.
The programme, to be screened on Channel 4 on Thursday March 8, will see a series of respected scientists attack the "propaganda" that they claim is killing the world's poor.
'The Great Global Warming Swindle' - backed by eminent scientists - is set to rock the accepted consensus that climate change is being driven by humans.
The programme, to be screened on Channel 4 on Thursday March 8, will see a series of respected scientists attack the "propaganda" that they claim is killing the world's poor.
High levels of pesticides are wafting into protected rain forests in Costa Rica, even though the lowland farms being sprayed with the chemicals are miles away, a recent study reports.
Vermont's maple syrup makers are seeing a change in their industry, as warmer winters and shorter seasons reduce the sap produced by their trees.
Tom Vogelmann, chairman of the plant biology department at the University of Vermont, told the New York Times that tapping technology can help sugar makers keep up syrup production for a while, but eventually it won't be worth it.
"It's within, well, probably my lifetime that you'll see this happen," Vogelmann told The Times. "How can you have the state of Vermont and not have maple syrup?"
Tom Vogelmann, chairman of the plant biology department at the University of Vermont, told the New York Times that tapping technology can help sugar makers keep up syrup production for a while, but eventually it won't be worth it.
"It's within, well, probably my lifetime that you'll see this happen," Vogelmann told The Times. "How can you have the state of Vermont and not have maple syrup?"
|
| ©USGS |
| A map showing the average crust thickness on the Earth. The red dot marks the location of the exposed mantle that scientists aboard the RSS James Cook will study. |
There's a huge hole that extends over thousands of square miles in the Atlantic seafloor between the Cape Verdes Islands and the Caribbean nearly 2 miles below the ocean surface where Earth's deep interior is exposed without any crust covering and a team of scientists wants to find out why.
"It's quite a substantial area," said Chris MacLeod, a marine geologist at Cardiff University in the UK, who will be part of the expedition.
SALT LAKE CITY -- A 17-year U.S. study shows the power of the huge volcanic hotspot beneath Yellowstone National Park is much greater than thought.
At least 40 people have been killed and scores more are missing in landslides on the Indonesian island of Flores, officials have said.
The Mont Blanc tunnel connecting France and Italy has been closed to traffic due to a landslide on the French side, the ATMB company which jointly runs the tunnel said on Saturday.
Experts were on site to decide on how to clear the blockage but the company said the 11.6 km (7 mile) tunnel beneath western Europe's highest mountain was unlikely to be reopened to traffic before the end of the day.
Experts were on site to decide on how to clear the blockage but the company said the 11.6 km (7 mile) tunnel beneath western Europe's highest mountain was unlikely to be reopened to traffic before the end of the day.
Comment: And then, there is the possibility of cometary impact...