Earth ChangesS


Butterfly

Huge decline in US butterfly populations mirrors UK Butterfly Emergency - 22% drop in just 20 years


butterfly-conservation.org
Sun, 09 Mar 2025 13:23 UTC
The Empress Leilia, Asterocampa leilia,one of the six fastest-declining species.
© Katja Schultz/ Wikimedia CommonsThe Empress Leilia, Asterocampa leilia,one of the six fastest-declining species.
The abundance of butterflies across the United States fell by an alarming 22% in just 20 years, a new study has concluded.

Between 2000 and 2020, 33% of species (114 of 342) showed significantly declining trends in abundance, according to the research led by Collin B Edwards of Washington State University and published this week in Science.

The results mirror the picture in the UK, where 80% of butterfly species have decreased in abundance, distribution or both since the 1970s.

It comes after Butterfly Conservation recorded the worst-ever results of its annual Big Butterfly Count in 2024 and declared a Butterfly Emergency in the UK, calling on the Government to take tougher action to save wildlife, starting with a total ban on butterfly-killing neonicotinoid pesticides.

Comment: Related: Lowest number of UK butterflies ever recorded during summer of 2024 due to wet weather

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Doberman

'Aggressive' sausage dog kills baby in Seversk, Russia

Ryan Fahey
Mirror
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:50 UTC
Dachsunds may look cute, but they're actually bred for hunting and flushing out badgers
© GettyDachshunds may look cute, but they're actually bred for hunting and flushing out badgers
A newborn baby was killed by an aggressive sausage dog after vets ignored its owner's concerns and refused to euthanise.

The dachshund clamped its jaws around the tiny baby in her crib in the Russian city of Seversk in Siberia. The newborn had been brought home from the hospital just a month earlier when the dog gripped tightly around her neck and strangled her to death while her parents were asleep.

The vicious dog dispatched the baby without making a sound by barking or growling, meaning the parents woke up the following day to the horrific discovery of their second child dead in her crib. A relative claims the dog had been more aggressive since they welcomed the baby back home.

They called on a vet to euthanise the pooch, but they refused because it was healthy. Instead, the owners kept the dog leashed during the night, hoping it would keep the dog away from their baby - but on the night in question they forgot to tie it up.
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Windsock

At least 3 dead in dust storm crashes in West Texas


WesternMassNews.com
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 12:22 UTC
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Strong winds swept through the Texas panhandle on Friday, causing crashes that killed at least three people.

Dust clouds covered the sky, leading to low visibility and dangerous driving conditions.

State authorities say at least three people in two counties died in car crashes from the dust storm.

In Canyon, multiple injuries were reported in an incident involving approximately 38 vehicles on Interstate 27.

The wind also exacerbated grass fires and caused some damage.

The town of Kress reported that the gusts ripped the roof from its fire department.


CNN
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Seismograph

6.0 magnitude earthquake hits off the South Sandwich Islands


Earthquake Track
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:09 UTC
mmmmmmmm
6.0 magnitude earthquake

UTC time: Friday, March 14, 2025 23:42 PM
Your time: Friday 14 March 2025 at 23:42 GMT
Magnitude Type: mww
USGS page: M 6.0 - South Sandwich Islands region
USGS status: Reviewed by a seismologist
Reports from the public: 0 people

35 km depth
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Earthquake

Earthquake hits Naples: 'Whole city is awoken by huge roar'

Elena Salvoni
The Daily Mail
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 21:19 UTC
earthquake naples
© Alessandro Garofola/LaPress/ShuRubble falls from buildings crushed a vehicle below, after the powerful quake hit the Naples area March 13, 2025
City is rocked by strongest quake in 40 years, sending people rushing into the streets

Naples has been rocked by a 4.4-magnitude earthquake, the strongest to hit the area in the last 40 years.

The tremors were preceded by a 'huge roar', local media reports, sending people running into the streets at around 1.25am. The powerful quake lasted about 20 seconds and awoke the entire city and large parts of the surrounding region.

The epicentre was recorded at a depth of 2.5 kilometers beneath the municipality of Pozzuoli, a city along the coast from Naples, according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

It triggered a seismic swarm which saw a series of less powerful tremors shake the city for two more hours as panicked residents huddled in the street.

Comment: Activity near Naples continues:



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Cloud Lightning

Tropical Cyclone Jude hits Mozambique on March 10, killing 14 people - 8 inches of rain in 24 hours - 120mph wind gusts


163.com
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:40 UTC
Drone footage shows the impact, devastation and flooding caused by Cyclone Jude in Nampula Province.
Drone footage shows the impact, devastation and flooding caused by Cyclone Jude in Nampula Province.
The Mozambican government said on March 14 that Tropical Cyclone Jude, which made landfall in northern Mozambique on the evening of the 9th, brought strong winds, heavy rains and floods to several provinces of Mozambique, killing 14 people and displacing more than 100,000 people.

Mozambique government spokesman Impisa said on the 14th that the casualties mainly occurred in Nampula and Niassa provinces. "Jude" also caused damage to about 20,000 houses. Currently, more than 100,000 disaster victims in Nampula province have taken refuge in nine temporary resettlement centers set up by the government.


Comment: The Guardian reports:
Cyclone Jude was the third cyclone to hit Mozambique this season. First spotted as a depression last Friday to the south-west of the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, it intensified over the next few days to a moderate tropical storm, affecting northern Madagascar on Saturday and killing at least one person.

Jude strengthened into a tropical cyclone as it tracked westwards over the Mozambique Channel, where sea surface temperatures of close to 30C provided the heat and moisture necessary to fuel the cyclone.

It hit Mozambique early on Monday morning, with sustained wind gusts of 75mph (120km/h) and gusts of up to 120mph, equivalent to a category 1 hurricane. More than 200mm of rain fell over the coastal districts of Memba, Monapo, Mossuril, Mozambique Island and Nacala in 24 hours, leading to significant flooding.


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Arrow Down

Huge sinkhole opens in road in Pittsburgh


MSN
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:51 UTC
BBBBBBBBB
A sinkhole has opened up in Homewood.

The hole is at the intersection of Bennett and Hale Streets.

City Councilman Khari Mosley said his office noticed it and quickly called for repairs.

Pittsburgh Water, the Department of Public Works, Wilkins Penn Join Water Authority and the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure are on the scene.


Source: WPXI Pittsburgh
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Tsunami

Italy's Florence on red alert after heavy rain, flooding


RTE
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:09 UTC
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Heavy rain swelled rivers and flooded streets in Florence, with authorities issuing a red weather alert for the historic Italian city and its surroundings, urging residents to stay indoors.

Eugenio Giani, head of the central Tuscany region which includes Florence and Pisa, urged citizens to exercise "maximum care and attention", warning of "intense and persistent rain" during the day.

The fire service published images of cars partially submerged in water in the Sesto Fiorentino neighbourhood north of Florence's historic centre.

It said that by mid-morning on Friday it had received dozens of requests for help across the city.

Schools, parks and cemeteries in Florence and nearby Prato had already been closed Friday after an amber weather alert - one down from the maximum red - had been declared the previous day.

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Snowflake

Best of the Web: Over a meter (40") of snowfall in 24 hours at Californian Ski Area with 10 resorts getting at least 2 feet

Patrick Thorne
snow-forecast.com
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:03 UTC
California's Bear Valley reported the second most snowfall in the last 24 hours - 32
California's Bear Valley reported the second most snowfall in the last 24 hours - 32"
California has had some huge snowfalls, as forecast, over the last 24 hours.

China Peak has recorded the largest accumulation, with 42" (105cm) falling within 24 hours between Thursday and Friday.

Bear Valley, pictured above yesterday, reported the second most snowfall in the last 24 hours - 32" (80cm).
"We received 32" - almost 3 FEET of fresh snow overnight! All upper mountain lifts are spinning! Grizz chair will be on delay this morning as our team conducts avalanche mitigation. Get ready for the best riding of the season!!!" the resort posted on social media.
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Tsunami

Flooding in southern Ecuador collapses bridge, damages buildings on March 10


Euronews
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 11:53 UTC
Images of the La Banda sector in northern Loja
Images of the La Banda sector in northern Loja, which suffered flooding from the rains on March 13, 2025.
Heavy rains in southern Ecuador caused the Malacatos and Zamora rivers to overflow, damaging buildings and collapsing a bridge.

A cleanup operation began on Tuesday in southern Ecuador after heavy rains caused the Malacatos and Zamora rivers to overflow.

Floodwaters damaged multiple buildings, and a bridge collapsed, the National Secretariat of Risk Management (SNGR) reported.

The city of Loja, home to 215,000 people, was among the affected areas. Authorities warned of more heavy rainfall expected on Wednesday, urging residents to remain cautious.

As crews worked to clear debris, locals braced for further potential flooding in the Andean region near the Peruvian border.

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