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Flashback Ocean drift disruption may chill Europe

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© planetforlife.comGreat Ocean Conveyor Belt
Scientists have found evidence that the Atlantic Ocean current which gives Europe its mild climate is being disrupted.

If it stopped, then the temperatures in western Europe would plunge by five degrees Celsius, creating bitter winters. The culprit for the changes could, ironically, be global warming.

The current, called the North Atlantic Drift, brings warm water northwards from the Gulf Stream. It is being disrupted by a growing amount of freshwater entering the Arctic Ocean, reports New Scientist magazine.

Star

Ray of Creation: Cosmic radiation and tree growth patterns linked

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© NASAPhotograph by Jason A.C. Brock of Roundtimber, Texas.
Here's a surprise. The growth of trees in Britain appears to correlate to cosmic ray intensity. University of Edinburgh researchers have found that trees are growing faster when high levels of cosmic radiation arrive from space. This may also correlate to the Interplanetary Magnetic Field which tends to modulate Galactic Cosmic Rays. The discover lends credence to Svensmark's work on GCR to cloud cover correlation by demonstrating yet another tangible effect.

The researchers made the discovery studying how growth rings of spruce trees changed over the past half a century.

Here's the kicker: the variation in cosmic rays affected the tree growth more than changes in temperature or precipitation.

The study is published in the scientific journal New Phytologist.

A relationship between galactic cosmic radiation and tree rings

Sigrid Dengel, Dominik Aeby and John Grace

Institute of Atmospheric and Environmental Science, School of GeoSciences, Crew Building, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3JN, UK

Snowman

Britain facing coldest winter for 30 years and temperatures could reach -18

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Freezing Britain is facing its coldest winter in three decades with temperatures as low as -18C.
Weathermen yesterday predicted at least 15 days of icy hell with the deepest layers of snow for years in some parts.

The freeze will cause travel chaos for millions returning to work today after Christmas. And charities warned the big chill would put many pensioners at risk.

The Met Office said: "It will be very cold over the next days with severe night frosts and snow. Temperatures could well be in the range of -12C, even -18."

If the Arctic conditions continue through January it will be the coldest winter since the big freeze of 1978/79.

Igloo

Twisted logic? "Global Warming could bring colder UK winters"

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© Unknown
Britain could be heading for a "big freeze" if global warming switches off an important ocean current in the Atlantic, some scientists say.

Britain is kept relatively mild in the winter by the warm air blanket brought to us from the tropics by a branch of the Gulf Stream.

But if global warming continues to melt major ice sheets, that supply of warm air could come to an abrupt end, according to a number of experts.

The Gulf Stream relies on a sensitive "conveyer belt" action, which could be "switched off" - quite suddenly - if it becomes diluted by fresh water from the melting ice-sheets, they claim.

Bizarro Earth

Moderate earthquake hits Philippines

A moderate, 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao early today, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

There was no immediate tsunami warning.

The quake struck at 5.38am(8.38am AEDT) and was centred 102km southeast of Davao, on Mindanao island, at a depth of 46km, the USGS said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue any tsunami warning.

Bizarro Earth

4.3-magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand North Island

An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck New Zealand North Island's Gisborne area early Monday.

The quake occurred at 5:01 a.m. local time (16:01 GMT Sunday) and was centered 30 km southeast of Gisborne at a depth of 40 km, New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science reported.

Cloud Lightning

Record snow brings travel chaos to China and Korea

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© Lee Sang-hak/APSeoul, South Korea: Passengers wait in front of a screen that shows cancelled flights at Kimpo Airport
Planes were grounded and thousands of schools were forced to close as the heaviest snow in over six decades blanketed Beijing and Seoul on Monday, with temperatures plummeting across much of Asia.

One person was killed and at least two others were missing in the mountains of central Japan after heavy snow.

With temperatures falling in several Asian countries, Indian officials said over 40 people had died in a cold snap that has gripped parts of the north and prompted authorities to shut thousands of schools and dole out firewood.

Parts of China experienced heavy snow flurries, with the capital Beijing recording its heaviest daily snowfall in nearly six decades on Sunday, the state Xinhua news agency reported.

The Central Meteorological Administration reported that up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) had fallen on Beijing and Tianjin over the weekend. While skies were clear in the capital Monday, more snow was expected in northeast China.

Bizarro Earth

Solomon Islands - Earthquake Magnitude 7.2

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© USGS

Date-Time:
Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 22:36:30 UTC

Monday, January 04, 2010 at 09:36:30 AM at epicenter

Location:
8.912°S, 157.307°E

Depth:
30.5 km (19.0 miles)

Distances:
105 km (65 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.

210 km (130 miles) WSW of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands

295 km (185 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

2100 km (1310 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia

Bizarro Earth

Peru - Earthquake Magnitude 5.7

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© USGS
Date-Time:
Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 20:39:12 UTC

Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 03:39:12 PM at epicenter

Location:
8.876°S, 77.695°W

Depth:
104.9 km (65.2 miles)

Distances:
75 km (45 miles) NNW of Huaraz, Peru

100 km (60 miles) ENE of Chimbote, Peru

365 km (225 miles) NNW of LIMA, Peru

960 km (600 miles) S of QUITO, Ecuador

Bizarro Earth

Thousands of dead octopuses wash up on Portugal beach

Dead octopus Portugal
© BBC News
Thousands of dead octopuses have washed up on a beach in northern Portugal, in what is being called an environmental disaster.

They cover a 5-mile stretch of Vila Nova de Gaia beach - no reason has yet been found for their appearance.

The authorities have warned the public not to eat them.

Comment: Something is happening in the Atlantic. This doesn't bode well.