Earth Changes
Associated Press reports indicate that the volcanic ash was sent trailing over the U.S. Virgin Islands and parts of Puerto Rico.
Officials at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory continue to monitor the volcano and post constant reports.
Scientists detected the morning eruption at Cleveland Volcano, a 5,676-foot (1,730-meter) peak, on satellite imagery, officials at the Alaska Volcano Observatory said.
The observatory issued a Code Red warning, the highest level of alert, for the volcano, because the ash cloud was near a level where it could interfere with jet traffic, said Chris Waythomas, a U.S. Geological Survey geologist.
There were no reports of falling ash from the highly active volcano located in the rugged chain of Aleutian Islands. The nearest community is Nikolski, a tiny Aleut village of 31 people that is 45 miles to the east of the volcano.
Its last eruptive period was in 2001 when three explosions occurred, according to the observatory.
"A member of the crew of the ship M.V. Ocean Wind, Indian citizen Shaikh Rafikque, died in Klaipeda Monday. The suspected cause of death is bird flu," a statement from the ministry said.
If avian flu is confirmed as the cause of death, it would be the first human case of the disease in the European Union.
Nagin, who has hosted a steady stream of foreign dignitaries since Hurricane Katrina hit in late August, says he may seek international assistance because U.S. aid has not been sufficient to get the city back on its feet.
About 1,200 homes were under evacuation orders, with some mandatory and the others voluntary, but the breakdown between the two was not immediately available, said city spokesman John Nicoletti.
Magnitude 5.4
- 2006/02/04 09:17:04 - Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Magnitude 6.0
- 2006/02/03 20:34:13 - Andaman Islands, India Regio
NMagnitude 5.5 - 2006/02/03 16:00:13 - Tonga
This spurt meant that current environmental models of the rate of retreat of Greenland's giant ice sheet which could add seven metres to the height of the world's oceans if it disappears had underestimated the problem.
The report raises fears that both the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are likely to melt, leading to a devastating rise in sea levels.
It warns of large-scale and irreversible disruption if temperatures rise by more than 3C (5.4F) - well within the range of climate change projections for the century.





Comment: Comment: Now that is so totally pathetic we are rendered speechless. Not only are the Neocon Thugs fleecing the American people to pay their cronies for more and better bombs and WMDs, they have exposed America to this embarrassment: they can't even help their own. Somebody find us a sickbag.