Earth ChangesS


Fire

Another fire scorches through moorland parched by heatwave in Bradford, UK

Andrew Bardsley
Machester Evening News
Sun, 08 Jul 2018 16:24 UTC
Another moor fire scorches through land parched by heatwave in Bradford, UK
BLAZE: A picture of the flames that have engulfed the moor.
A FIRE has broken out near Cullingworth Moor in Bradford. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service says four fire engines are at the scene. The fire is reportedly on heathland between Harden and Cullingworth, known as Catstones Moor, according to a source.

Another source said: "I believe the fire is between Cullingworth, Ryecroft and The Guide Inn, at Hainworth Shaw, Keighley." One onlooker could see smoke building on the moor, from the nearby Cullingworth Gala.

Fearne Grist said: "The flames are spreading bad." Sulley Baynham said: "It's now spreading across and lighting the woodland, so potentially could become alot bigger especially as it nears the St Ives woodland estate. He added: "There's limited access for fire crews due to the location."

Comment: The ignition of the unprecedented number of fires in the UK has been speculated to be arson or carelessness, but there may be other factors not yet considered. What is clear is that after the UK's brutally cold winter followed by an unusually, unsettled spring, summer too is proving to be much hotter and drier than would be considered normal. And these erratic weather patterns are wreaking havoc across the planet:

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Fire

Martin Fire burning northeast of Winnemucca, Nevada grows to 164,971 acres


kolotv.com
Sat, 07 Jul 2018 12:43 UTC
The Bureau of Land Management released this photograph of the Martin Fire.
The Bureau of Land Management released this photograph of the Martin Fire.
The Bureau of Land Management says the Martin Fire has expanded into Elko County. It was last reported at Monument Hill going towards the Desert Road Reservoir, and is currently threatening several homes and other pieces of land in its path.

The Martin Fire is burning about 48 miles northeast of Winnemucca and has burned 164,971 acres and 2% contained as of Saturday according to the Central Nevada Interagency Dispatch Center. That is 258 square miles, and almost double its estimated size on Friday. .

Wind gusting to 35 mph and highly flammable cheatgrass and sagebrush are pushing the fire, said Norm Rooker, fire information officer for the Martin Fire. There were no heavy snows this year to push down the cheatgrass, so it is standing tall and there is more than 200 percent of the normal amount.

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Attention

Elephant attacks kill 20 over 15 months in forest district in Odhisa, India


The New Indian Express
Sun, 08 Jul 2018 11:23 UTC
Charging elephant
© GettyCharging elephant
A herd of elephants claimed its 12th human victim in the last six months on Monday night under Bisra forest range prompting Rourkela Forest Division to change its strategy. Rourkela Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sanjay Swain said the deceased Umesh Munda (40), a resident of Budikani village under Mahipani police limits, was trampled to death by a tusker.

The DFO said after the latest incident, the Forest department is mulling to install high mast lights, solar fencing and elephant proof trenches in the vulnerable villages. Rourkela Assistant Conservator of Forest D K Sahu said between April 2017 and March 2018, about 15 human deaths were reported from Rourkela Forest division.

This year, five deaths have been recorded taking the total toll due to elephant attacks to 20 in 15 months.

Comment: Also in Asia on the island nation of Sri Lanka elephants killed a total of 10 people in just a few days during June. In that same country and in the same month a video emerged of an elephant at the roadside chasing several approaching vehicles.



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Attention

Dead sperm whale found on beach in Marlborough, New Zealand

Jonathon Guildford
Stuff
Sun, 08 Jul 2018 10:48 UTC
How the sperm whale died is unknown.
© RICKY WILSON/STUFFHow the sperm whale died is unknown.
A sperm whale has washed ashore on a beach near Blenheim.

Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers discovered the dead whale at Marfells beach near Blenheim about 8.30am on Saturday.

A Facebook post from marine mammal charity Project Jonah said DOC rangers were quick to the scene but they were unable to assess the condition and species of the whale due to strong swells.

The next step was for the local iwi to bless the whale before deciding on a suitable burial site, the post said.
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Snowflake

Global cooling: Excessive spring snowfall results in non-breeding year for shorebirds in north-east Greenland - 1 meter deep snow

Jeroen Reneerkens
Team Piersma
Tue, 03 Jul 2018 17:18 UTC
The study area in NE Greenland: in mid-June 2018 the tundra surface was close to 100% covered in snow.
© Jeroen ReneerkensThe study area in NE Greenland: in mid-June 2018 the tundra surface was close to 100% covered in snow.
Jeroen Reneerkens of the University of Groningen studies breeding Sanderlings, for the first time in 2003 and since 2007 annually. He works from the Danish Zackenberg Research Station (74°28'N 20°34'W) in NE Greenland that was established in 1996, and is the research base for various experts monitoring the biotic and abiotic environment of NE Greenland.

Jeroen reports about his remarkable 2018 field season:

I study how rising temperatures may affect the reproductive success of Sanderlings in Zackenberg, NE Greenland. Due to a disproportionate degree of climate warming in the Arctic, shorebirds that migrate to the Arctic to breed are strongly suspected to be negatively affected by ongoing climate change. Niels Martin Schmidt and his team have indeed established that the summer temperatures in Zackenberg have steadily increased during the last decades.

Comment: Some additional data just to show the size and extent of the Northeast Greenland national park and how much land surface was (still is?) covered with snow:

Northeast Greenland National Park
Northeast Greenland National Park


From Wikipedia:
Northeast Greenland National Park (Greenlandic: Kalaallit Nunaanni nuna eqqissisimatitaq, Danish: Grønlands Nationalpark) is the world's largest national park and the largest protected land area.[1] Established in 1974 and expanded to its present size in 1988, it protects 972,000 km2 (375,000 sq mi)[2] of the interior and northeastern coast of Greenland and is bigger than all but twenty-nine countries in the world. It was the first national park to be created in the Kingdom of Denmark and remains Greenland's only national park.


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Seismograph

Shallow 6.0-magnitude earthquake hits off eastern Japan

Shi Yinglun
Xinhua
Sat, 07 Jul 2018 17:03 UTC
quake
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 struck off Japan's eastern Chiba prefecture, Japan Meteorological Agency said Saturday.

The temblor, which occurred at 8:23 p.m. local time, was centered off the coast of Chiba prefecture, with the epicenter at a latitude of 35.1 degrees north and a longitude of 140.6 degrees east, and at depth of 50 km.

The earthquake logged lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale which peaks at 7 in some areas of Chiba prefecture and could be felt in Tokyo.

So far, no major damage or injuries were reported, and no tsunami warning has been issued.
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Cloud Grey

Ice Age Farmer Report: Darkest skies in 100 years, no Summer for Iceland, hail destroys crops


Ice Age Farmer
Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:10 UTC
Reykjavik, Iceland
© Boyloso/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty ImagesReykjavik, Iceland
Iceland's meteorologists--some requiring anonymity--speak of a "Year Without a Summer" there, as well as the darkest June in 100 years. As galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) increase, so will cloud cover. This complicates growing, and further drops temperatures.

ALSO: slew of reports about major destruction of crops by hail storms.


Sources

Comment: See also:

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Cloud Precipitation

Extreme weather affecting crop harvests in Europe - North too dry, south hit by hail


Fresh Plaza
Thu, 05 Jul 2018 11:10 UTC
Valencia fruit damage
© AVA-ASAJA
Temperatures well above 20 degrees Celsius are being recorded far into the topmost northern regions of Europe. These sunny days are, however, accompanied by a lack of rain and low humidity. There are concerns about drought in several countries in north-west Europe. Further to the south, farmers have no issues with this. In some cases, it is just the opposite. Severe hailstorms have damaged crops in various countries.

The European Union is worried about this year's harvests. This is according to June's JRC MARS Bulletin. This document contains the harvest forecasts for the season. In general, estimates have been adjusted downward. The map below shows the areas of concern. From these, the division in Europe immediately becomes obvious. The north is dealing with a drought while further to the south there has been too much precipitation.
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Cloud Lightning

Man killed by lightning strike in Kingston, Tennessee


newschannel5.com
Fri, 06 Jul 2018 10:48 UTC
lightning
A person was hit and killed by a lightning strike in East Tennessee during thunderstorms.

According to WVLT News in Knoxville, Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton said former school board member Everett Massengill was hit by lightning Friday.

Sheriff Stockton said Massengill had just finished mowing his lawn and was walking to his home when he was hit by lightning and killed instantly.

It happened on the 200 block of Walnut Grove Road in Kingston just before 5 p.m. Friday.
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Cloud Lightning

Man killed by lightning strike in Russellville, Arkansas


kark.com
Fri, 06 Jul 2018 10:32 UTC
lightning
A 67-year-old man has died after he was struck by lightning Friday afternoon.

According to the Russellville Fire Department, it happened around 1:30 p.m. near the 1500 block of Lands End Point South.

According to River Valley Now, the victim's wife called 911, and said her husband was out in the yard and she saw him get struck by lightning.

Officials say it had been raining, but had stopped at the time the man was outside.
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