Heavy crop losses have been reported throughout the Southeast after last weekend's frigid temperatures, and farmers are bracing for another expected cold snap next week.
In South Carolina, at least 90 percent of the peach crop was destroyed and officials said Wednesday they would seek federal aid.
"This is comparable to a hurricane," Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said of the damage to the state's $40 million-a-year industry. "Growers say we'll be fortunate to get 10 percent of a crop."
In Georgia, farmers and agriculture officials were still assessing the damage, but the weekend freeze may have wiped out more than half the state's peach crop.
Earth Changes
Wind-whipped flames destroyed a multimillion-dollar home and damaged at least two other structures as fire consumed about 15 acres of brush in Franklin Canyon, along Beverly Drive, off Coldwater Canyon.
The fire started at about 1 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Beverly Drive. Fire officials initially reported about 50 acres burned but revised the estimate to 15 acres after surveying the burn area by air.
The blaze broke out after powerful winds toppled power lines, igniting brush behind a residence, Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Myers said strong winds spread embers onto dry vegetation. Formal evacuations were not ordered.
"I've never seen winds like this," a resident told NBC4. "It's unbelievable. The roads are covered with palm leaves and pine cones. It's a mess."
One massive home appeared to be completely destroyed.
Homeowners in the area scrambled to escape as fire crews rushed in to attack the flames. Other residents tried desperately to get into the area to check on their homes but were stopped by police and fire crews, who had blocked off streets.
The fire started at about 1 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Beverly Drive. Fire officials initially reported about 50 acres burned but revised the estimate to 15 acres after surveying the burn area by air.
The blaze broke out after powerful winds toppled power lines, igniting brush behind a residence, Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Myers said strong winds spread embers onto dry vegetation. Formal evacuations were not ordered.
"I've never seen winds like this," a resident told NBC4. "It's unbelievable. The roads are covered with palm leaves and pine cones. It's a mess."
One massive home appeared to be completely destroyed.
Homeowners in the area scrambled to escape as fire crews rushed in to attack the flames. Other residents tried desperately to get into the area to check on their homes but were stopped by police and fire crews, who had blocked off streets.
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.0 shook Mexico early on Friday, sending thousands of tourists in Acapulco fleeing into the streets in panic and knocking out electricity as far away as the capital.
On its way to becoming a major Nor'easter off the Northeast coast, a potent storm will slam places just east of the Colorado and New Mexico Rockies with a major snowstorm and spread dangerous thunderstorms across the southern Plains and South during the next two days. The raging Nor'easter will then blast the Northeast coast with flooding rain and gale-force winds, while a historical snowstorm could be in store for the interior.
The groundhog's prediction for an early spring is proving wrong in New York City, where a cold front has kept temperatures about 7 degrees below the historical average this month, the National Weather Service said.
Just 10 days into April, temperatures have averaged 42 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius), about one degree warmer than the average for April 1874, the coldest on record, said Michael Silva, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Upton, New York, station.
Just 10 days into April, temperatures have averaged 42 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius), about one degree warmer than the average for April 1874, the coldest on record, said Michael Silva, meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Upton, New York, station.
Scientists using NASA satellite data have found strong evidence that a major earthquake can lead to a nearly immediate increase in regional volcanic activity. The intensity of two ongoing volcanic eruptions on Indonesia's Java Island increased sharply three days following a powerful, 6.4-magnitude earthquake on the island in May 2006. The increased volcanic activity persisted for about nine days.
A series of moderate earthquakes shook central Greece yesterday, unsettling residents and causing widespread minor damage but no injuries.
SCIENTISTS on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion have discovered hundreds of fish of unknown species, floating belly-up in the sea, following a spectacular volcanic eruption over the past week.
"It's crazy. We've never seen this with previous eruptions," said Alain Barrere, a scientific adviser to the island's Volcano Observatory.
"It's crazy. We've never seen this with previous eruptions," said Alain Barrere, a scientific adviser to the island's Volcano Observatory.
Two medium earthquakes rattled the Azores islands within 12 hours, Portuguese weather services and the U.S Geological Survey reported.
An international global warming conference approved a report Friday warning of dire threats to the Earth and to mankind - from increased hunger to the extinction of species - unless the world adapts to climate change and halts its progress.
Agreement came after an all-night session during which key sections were deleted from the draft and scientists angrily confronted government negotiators who they feared were watering down their findings.
"It has been a complex exercise," said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Agreement came after an all-night session during which key sections were deleted from the draft and scientists angrily confronted government negotiators who they feared were watering down their findings.
"It has been a complex exercise," said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Comment: There it is, folks. Life on the Big Blue Marble in a microcosym. Let's separate out the facts and the players.
Let's start with the data:
Global warming is real. It is here. It will "affect billions of people" and will lead to the extinction of many species, storms, drought, and the possible cutting by one-half of food production in certain countries. The model used doesn't include, from what we can glean from this article, any research into the effects of a sudden global drop in temperatures leading to a new ice age. So keep in mind the report, as dire as it is, could be optimistic.
Next we get the governments who don't want to admit publically that the situation is so bad. That is to be expected, and anyone who still thinks that governments have the best interests of their citizens at heart is delusional. Global warming and the war on smoking while filling the Middle East and the atmosphere with depleted uranium... yeah, these people really care about humanity.
Then we come to the explanation for why the Earth is warming. Of course, it is our fault! Get out the whips and the guides to self-flaggellation. "I'm bad! I'm bad!" and beat yourself because of the SUV in the driveway.
The problem isn't that you are driving the SUV. The problem is that you are a self-centered, narcissistic, mechanical robot, inbided with a pathological culture, who is incapable of seeing the ramifications of even the smallest and least important of your acts. That's why you drive the damn SUV.
People! We are so screwed! Do you get it yet?!
What does that have to do with global warming? Check out the following articles to learn more:
Climate Change Swindlers and the Political Agenda
Forget About Global Warming: We're One Step From Extinction!
The Hope
The Body Snatchers
Environment of Evil