At least 11 more dolphins have stranded themselves on the shores of Cape Cod this morning as the mass strandings enter the second month. The International Fund for Animal Welfare said at least one of the 11 had died.
The animal welfare group said the dolphins were found in an area commonly known as "the gut," a muddy area near the Herring River in Wellfleet.
"The team is out there now with 10 live dolphins," the group's spokesman Michael Booth said. "It could take quite awhile; it's a treacherous location with lots of mud. The team is trying to pull them out of the mud and bring them to our rescue trailers."
Earth Changes
© AFP/ Alberto Pizzoli
European Cold Snap Damages Rome's Coliseum
European Cold Snap Damages Rome's Coliseum
The Coliseum, which is included in the list of the World's New Seven Wonders, was built 1,932 years ago and is now gradually falling apart with almost 3,000 cracks in its walls.
The recent heavy snowfalls and low temperatures that hit most of Europe may have caused the Coliseum's damage as little fragments had split from it, La Repubblica said.
An overall restoration of the ancient theater is scheduled for March, 2012.
Power cut off in major towns; authorities tell drivers to stay off roads
Antananarivo, Madagascar - A category 4 cyclone pummelled Madagascar's eastern shores on Tuesday, killing at least one person and causing power shutdowns in some major towns, the authorities said.
In the eastern port city of Tamatave, schools and offices were closed for a second day as heavy rains and powerful gusts lashed the seaboard after Cyclone Giovanna hit the island.
"One person died in Brickaville after an electricity pole fell on her," Alain Mahavimbina, the top official in Antsinanana, told Reuters.
Madagascar is prone to cyclones and tropical storms, especially in the rainy season, from February to May. In 2008, Cyclone Ivan smashed Madagascar, killing more than 80 people and leaving over 200,000 homeless.
"Tamatave is like a ghost town," resident Joel Milamaro told Reuters. "The roads are deserted."
© NASA
Tropical Storm 12S built up steam and became a cyclone on February 10, 2012 as NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead.
Tropical Storm 12S built up steam and became a cyclone on February 10, 2012 as NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead.
In the eastern port city of Tamatave, schools and offices were closed for a second day as heavy rains and powerful gusts lashed the seaboard after Cyclone Giovanna hit the island.
"One person died in Brickaville after an electricity pole fell on her," Alain Mahavimbina, the top official in Antsinanana, told Reuters.
Madagascar is prone to cyclones and tropical storms, especially in the rainy season, from February to May. In 2008, Cyclone Ivan smashed Madagascar, killing more than 80 people and leaving over 200,000 homeless.
"Tamatave is like a ghost town," resident Joel Milamaro told Reuters. "The roads are deserted."
© AP
The crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, northern Japan, pictured nine days after the March earthquake struck
The crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma, northern Japan, pictured nine days after the March earthquake struck
Research using data from more than 6,000 recent tremors has found that last March's disaster has reactivated a seismic fault practically beneath the power station.
Now scientists are telling Japanese authorities to urgently shore up the damaged reactor in expectation of more massive 'quakes.
Fukushima Daiichi was the scene of the worst nuclear disasters in history after it was damaged by the March 11, 2011, magnitude 9 earthquake and following tsunami.
But this tremor's epicentre was about 100 miles from the site, off the coast of Japan, and a much closer one could occur in the future at Fukushima.
© USGS
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 06:21:58 UTC
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 03:21:58 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
36.154°N, 141.494°E
Depth:
10 km (6.2 miles)
Region:
NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Distances:
93 km (57 miles) ESE of Mito, Honshu, Japan
113 km (70 miles) SSE of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan
151 km (93 miles) ESE of Utsunomiya, Honshu, Japan
165 km (102 miles) ENE of TOKYO, Japan
© USGS
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:19:58 UTC
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:19:58 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
10.387°S, 161.262°E
Depth
54.7 km (34.0 miles)
Region
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Distances
72 km (44 miles) W of Kira Kira, San Cristobal, Solomon Isl.
178 km (110 miles) SE of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
189 km (117 miles) SSE of Auki, Malaita, Solomon Islands
2082 km (1293 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
Tokyo - A powerful earthquake rocked eastern Japan Tuesday, but no tsunami warning was issued and no damage was reported at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
The US Geological Survey said the 6.0 magnitude quake, with an epicentre 10 kilometres (six miles) deep, was centred 166 kilometres east-northeast of Tokyo, where correspondents said buildings swayed.
Japan's meteorological agency also located the quake off the coast of Ibaraki prefecture, south of the stricken plant.
A very small change of tidal level was forecast but was not expected to cause any damage.
Nuclear plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant remained stable.
Office buildings in Tokyo swayed for around a minute when the quake struck at 3.21pm (0621 GMT), but there was no sign of panic in a city well accustomed to tremors.
A 9.0-magnitude earthquake in March 2011 triggered a monster tsunami that killed more than 19,000 people and crippled the cooling systems at the Fukushima plant, causing meltdowns in some of its reactors.
The US Geological Survey said the 6.0 magnitude quake, with an epicentre 10 kilometres (six miles) deep, was centred 166 kilometres east-northeast of Tokyo, where correspondents said buildings swayed.
Japan's meteorological agency also located the quake off the coast of Ibaraki prefecture, south of the stricken plant.
A very small change of tidal level was forecast but was not expected to cause any damage.
Nuclear plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant remained stable.
Office buildings in Tokyo swayed for around a minute when the quake struck at 3.21pm (0621 GMT), but there was no sign of panic in a city well accustomed to tremors.
A 9.0-magnitude earthquake in March 2011 triggered a monster tsunami that killed more than 19,000 people and crippled the cooling systems at the Fukushima plant, causing meltdowns in some of its reactors.
Moorhead - A new study finds Minnesota groundwater is contaminated with low levels of chemicals. It's the first study to examine groundwater across Minnesota for "chemicals of emerging concern."
Researchers tested 40 shallow wells for 92 contaminants. They found 20 different contaminants. One or more chemicals were found in about one-third of the sampled wells.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency scientist Sharon Kroening says the chemicals come from products like medications, detergents, insect repellents and fire retardants.
The most chemicals were found at wells near landfills. Researchers also found a higher incidence of chemicals in wells near residential areas with septic systems. The state Health Department will set an exposure limit for emerging chemicals.
The $400,000 study was paid for by the Minnesota Legacy Fund.
Researchers tested 40 shallow wells for 92 contaminants. They found 20 different contaminants. One or more chemicals were found in about one-third of the sampled wells.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency scientist Sharon Kroening says the chemicals come from products like medications, detergents, insect repellents and fire retardants.
The most chemicals were found at wells near landfills. Researchers also found a higher incidence of chemicals in wells near residential areas with septic systems. The state Health Department will set an exposure limit for emerging chemicals.
The $400,000 study was paid for by the Minnesota Legacy Fund.
© Alaska Department of Fish and Game, NOAA Permit No. 14325
A Steller sea lion has picked up a discarded band that is cutting into its neck.
A Steller sea lion has picked up a discarded band that is cutting into its neck.
The scientists who study these animals know that becoming entangled with items such as these can injure or even kill the unlucky animals.
A video, put together by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, documents the effects of loops, fishing gear and other debris, including a tire and a wind sock - which drowned a sea lion by pinning her flippers to her body.
The researchers posted the video on YouTube recently to let people know about the problem.
© mesebar2/flickr
On Feb. 6, 2012, Venice's famed canals were choked with ice.
On Feb. 6, 2012, Venice's famed canals were choked with ice.
Until this past weekend, much of North America -- except for Alaska -- has enjoyed a mild winter. The return of La Niña, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon featuring cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures that influences global weather patterns, has pushed the jet stream north, which is partly to blame for Alaska's snowy winter. But in the European region, the effects of La Niña are relatively weak and variable, according to the Met Office, the UK's weather service.
Regardless, cold air pouring southward into southern and eastern Europe has created a brutal winter. The cold has been blamed for tens to hundreds of deaths, according to news reports.
