Earth ChangesS


Hardhat

Hail damage to croplands in South Dakota so immense it can be imaged from space

south dakota hall damage space
© NASAJuly 7, 2018
The long lines of damage visible in these satellite images of South Dakota may look like a product of tornadoes. However, the width of the damage swath -well over 10 kilometers (6 miles) in many areas - is a clue that it was hail that pummeled these croplands. According to Jordan Bell, a research meteorologist with NASA's Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center (SPoRT), tornado tracks rarely appear wider than a few kilometers.

The storms that produced these hail swaths came in a one-two punch, according to a summary from the National Weather Service. The first arrived on June 27, 2018, charting a southeasterly path of destruction as it moved across Sully and Stanley counties, narrowly missing the city of Pierre, South Dakota. A second storm left an even longer swath, stretching from the Wyoming-South Dakota border for hundreds of miles before ending east of the Missouri River. Some areas reported hail larger than 4 inches (10 centimeters) in diameter, about the size of a grapefruit. The large hail-in conjunction with strong winds-stripped corn stalks bare and pummeled soybean leaves.

Comment: And this isn't the first devastating hail storm the area has experienced in recent years:


Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills 2 in Odisha, India

LIGHTNING
Two persons were killed after lightning struck a field they were working on at Dhben Surda village in Kalahandi district, police said today.

Lightning accompanied by rain struck when the two were working in a paddy field on the outskirt of their village located under M Rampur block yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Srikara Majhi and Biswakarma Majhi.

Source: PTI

Comment: On the same lightning strikes killed 4 and injured 5 across the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.


Ice Cube

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: Intense ice anomalies on Greenland and heat on our Earth

ice ice
Ice anomalies on Greenland as eight billion tons snaps off the end of calving Helheim Glacier, but at the same time Greenland gains 600 billion tons of ice since Sept 2017 and five feet of snow is forecast for Greenland over the next week. Incredible 15+ foot thick ice west of Baffin Island, Arctic temperatures below the 30 year average and June global temperatures are below 2017 June temperatures.


Sources

Attention

Five pygmy sperm whales wash up on Māhia Beach, New Zealand in 2 weeks

Two pygmy sperm whales were found washed up on Māhia Beach on Monday morning. (File photo)
© Ben Curran/StuffTwo pygmy sperm whales were found washed up on Māhia Beach on Monday morning. (File photo)
Two whales which were stranded and died at Māhia Beach are the latest in a string of whale beachings in the area.

On Monday afternoon Department of Conservation community ranger Sandra Groves said the organisation was made aware of two pygmy sperm whales which were stranded at the Hawke's Bay beach.

A young male calf was found dead on the beach, and a decision was made to euthanise the mother, Groves said.

Both whales were in a reasonable condition with no visible signs of injury.

Burial of the whales was organised in discussion with local iwi. Samples and measurements were also taken to be sent to Auckland University.

Info

Pollution damages fungi that nourish trees

TREES
© Getty
Scientists are warning that pollution could be starving Europe's trees of vital nutrients by damaging essential fungi.

The fungi live on the roots of trees, supplying them with minerals and water.


Current pollution limits may not be strict enough to protect the forest fungi, say researchers.

Signs of tree malnutrition, such as discoloured or missing leaves, have been seen across Europe's forests.

Loss of fungi may be a factor, according to the study, published in the journal, Nature.

Attention

Rare, double shark attack off Fernandina Beach, Florida

shark attack
Surfers warily returned to the waters off Fernandina Beach in northern Florida on Saturday after what appeared to be a rare, double shark attack the previous day.

Fernandina Beach Fire Department got a call late Friday afternoon that a 30-year-old man was bitten by a shark. Three minutes later it got a second call that a 17-year-old had been bitten just over a mile south down the beach, according to a statement by the city of Fernandina Beach.

The beach was immediately closed but reopened on Saturday, with ocean rescue services watching the waters for "dangerous marine life."

Attention

New tiny island of lava forms off Hawaii island

A tiny island is seen off the coast of Hawaii island. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s field crew noticed the new island on Friday.
© U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEYA tiny island is seen off the coast of Hawaii island. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s field crew noticed the new island on Friday.
A tiny island of lava has formed north of the Kapoho ocean entry on Hawaii island.

During a Friday morning flight, a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory field crew noticed the new island oozing lava and producing a steam plume along the coastline.

HVO believes the new island could be part of the fissure 8 lava flow, which continues to flow into the ocean. It could also be a submarine tumulus that's created when slow-moving lava pushes the earth's outermost crust above sea level.

Question

At least 50 birds found dead around mall in Abilene, Texas

DEAD BIRDS
Dozens of birds were mysteriously found dead around the Mall of Abilene.

The mall's general manager, Steven Niles, told KTXS that his staff discovered at least 50 purple martins dead on the mall's property.

Niles said that he believes that lightning is to blame and that this was an isolated incident.

Annaliese Scoggin, a district biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department based in Taylor County, drove around the Mall of Abilene on Friday to see where the dead birds were found.

Scoggin said that she first learned of the dead birds found at the mall on Thursday.

Attention

Eastern Greenland community on high alert as massive iceberg looms

iceberg greenland village
© Scanpix Denmark/ReutersInnaarsuit, on the west coast of Greenland, this week. The iceberg rises about 300 feet above the water level.
There are 180 inhabitants and we are very concerned and are afraid,' says Innaarsuit local Karl Petersen

Residents in Innaarsuit are on standby for evacuation because a giant iceberg is looming over the island community in northwestern Greenland.

Innaarsuit ideberg
© Google MapsInnaarsuit is an island settlement in northwestern Greenland.
The iceberg is so big it's grounded on the sea floor.

On Tuesday a small section of it collapsed and caused large waves. Residents are afraid a tsunami will occur if the iceberg calves. Rivers near the community could also experience a water surge.

"There are 180 inhabitants and we are very concerned and are afraid," said Karl Petersen, chair for the local council in Innaarsuit.

Residents in houses near the shore are prepared for an evacuation. Petersen said Greenland's emergency responders are closely monitoring the iceberg. A Danish Royal Navy ship is also standing by.

Another concern is that the community's power plant is near the ocean, and large waves could destroy it. Rain in the forecast could also precipitate calving.

Petersen said everyone is hoping a strong wind will dislodge the iceberg and move it farther away from the community.


Snowflake

Snow blankets South Africa again

A Snow Report SA vehicle is covered in snow at the Matroosberg Reserve in Ceres‚ Western Cape, on July 2, 2018.
© Snow Report SAA Snow Report SA vehicle is covered in snow at the Matroosberg Reserve in Ceres‚ Western Cape, on July 2, 2018.
Snow blanketed vast parts of South Africa's mountainous regions on Saturday in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and large parts of the Drakensberg.

Neighbouring Lesotho also received its fair share of snow, according to Rob Ansell of the Snow Report SA.

Spectacular winter wonderland-like images were posted on the Snow Report's Facebook page, illustrating the extent of the snowfall.


Comment: For details and videos of the first event on July 2nd and 3rd, see: Heavy snowfall across South Africa