Earth ChangesS


Snowflake Cold

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: Once in a century snow hits South Africa & ancient Kalahari desert canal system


Adapt 2030
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 14:39 UTC
A motorist removes the snow from his car on the Swaarmoed Pass, 10 km outside Ceres in Western Province Cape, South Africa, on July 3, 2018.
A motorist removes the snow from his car on the Swaarmoed Pass, 10 km outside Ceres in Western Province Cape, South Africa, on July 3, 2018.
What can be described as a once in a century snow fall event with record cold swept across southern Africa over the last four days, leaving record snow and snow accumulation in areas of South Africa that have never recorded snowfall over the last 150 years. Additionally record cold records smashed through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, all the way to 20 degrees S Latitude. Climate cycles shifted so we take a look at the ancient Kalahari megalithic cities and worlds largest canal system left by a previous civilisation some 30,000 years ago in the same areas.


Comment: Heavy snowfall across South Africa

Read More...
Attention

Extreme weather to drop European cereal production 6%

Barry Cassidy
Irish Farmers Journal
Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:02 UTC
Combine harvester
To help farmers stay afloat Copa Cogeca has called on the EU Commission to issue an advance payment to those suffering the effects of extreme climatic conditions.
New estimates for this year's EU grain harvest are forecasting a 6% drop in EU cereal and oilseeds production, due to extreme weather conditions.

The estimate comes from Copa Cogeca, the farmer and agri cooperative representative body in the EU. The total harvest is expected to be in the region of 273.8m tonnes.

Copa Cogeca cereals working party chair Max Schulman said: "Farmers in some central European and northern countries [Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany and Finland] have been hit by severe drought, which is reaching catastrophic proportions. Whilst some southern countries [Iberian Peninsula, Italy, France] have been experiencing floods."


Comment:

Copa Cogeca oilseeds working party chair Arnaud Rousseau went on to warn of the estimated 6% drop, around 2m tonnes, in EU oilseeds production. Last year's production figure stood at 31.5m tonnes.

"We are concerned about the substitution of EU crop-based biofuels by palm oil and biodiesel imports. EU crop-based biofuels which generate a protein-rich co-product for use in animal feed must be promoted against palm oil in the EU. In addition, we call on the Commission to implement urgently the countervailing duty on biodiesel imports originating from Argentina".
Read More...
Ice Cube

Intense hailstorm hits Valencia, Spain affecting 11,000 ha (27,200 acres) of crops, damage up to €47 million (US$58 million)


Fresh Fruit Portal
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 06:33 UTC
Valencia fruit damage
© AVA-ASAJA
An "intense hailstorm" that hit Spain's Valencia region on Sunday has caused widespread damage to persimmon and citrus crops, according to farming association AVA-ASAJA.

There had been "extremely serious damage" in the La Ribera area, with many growers having lost the entirety of their crop, the organization said.

Some 11,000 hectares are estimated to be affected, with economic losses of up to €47 million (US$58 million), it said. The large storm affected numerous areas in Valencia, passing from east to west.

"It was a brief storm but it was very strong and has been a real disaster for thousands of Valencian growers. Even the wood on the trees has been affected," said AVA-ASAJA president Cristóbal Aguado. He has requested state support for fungicides to protect the trees from rotting.

Persimmons are the most affected crop, with around 3,500 hectares seriously affected. The organization estimated this would translate into a 15% drop in production on the next crop, which, added to the 10% reduction the industry was already expecting due to frosts in February and March, will lead to Valencia's persimmon production dropping by a quarter.

Comment: With extreme weather increasing around the world, from intense hailstorms, extreme cold, scorching heatwaves and epic flooding, farmers are losing more crops to disease and damage, and consumers are seeing prices rise. Are you prepared? See also:

Read More...
Snowflake

Heavy snowfall across South Africa

Robert W. Felix
Ice Age Now
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 18:33 UTC
A motorist removes the snow from his car on the Swaarmoed Pass, 10 km outside Ceres in Western Province Cape, South Africa, on July 3, 2018.
A motorist removes the snow from his car on the Swaarmoed Pass, 10 km outside Ceres in Western Province Cape, South Africa, on July 3, 2018.
Globull warming in South Africa. Much of SA covered in snow. Gydo, Theronsberg and Matroosberg mountain passes closed.

3 July 2018 - Official snow reporter in the Western Cape says it's the most impressive snowfall since he began reporting.

Read More...
Cloud Precipitation

Evacuations after major floods in Trentino, Italy - 5 inches of rain in under 4 hours

Richard Davies
FloodList
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 16:45 UTC
Floods in Moena, Trentino, Italy, 03 July 2018.
© Government of TrentinoFloods in Moena, Trentino, Italy, 03 July 2018.
As much as 130 mm of rain fell in under 4 hours on 03 July in the town of Moena and surrounding areas in the province of Trentino, northern Italy.

The torrential rain caused rivers to overflow and sent mud and flood water raging through Moena's streets.

Authorities pre-emptively evacuated around 50 people from their homes in Moena and areas near San Pellegerino. Safe accommodation was provided in a local school.

Read More...
Attention

3 Dead gray whales found on shores of Kodiak Island, Alaska


U.S. News and World Report
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 15:26 UTC
gray whale
Officials are investigating after three dead gray whales have been discovered on the shores of Kodiak Island since last week.

The Kodiak Daily Mirror reports a Kodiak resident found the body of a gray whale calf on a beach near Pasagshak Bay on June 25 and alerted the Alaska Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

A dead adult gray whale was found on June 28, and another adult gray whale washed up Monday.

Mandy Migura, the Alaska coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Services, says the short timespan between each body discovery is "enough to raise an eyebrow."

Migura says the calf likely died from an orca attack, and necropsy results for the second whale are pending. Officials were headed to the site of the third whale to investigate Monday.

Sources: AP, The Kodiak Daily Mirror
Read More...
Cloud Lightning

India records 50% increase in deaths caused by lightning during the 2006 - 2015 decade compared to the one prior

Malavika Vyawahare
Hindustan Times
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 15:03 UTC
Higher particulate matter pollution and loss of vegetation is making urban areas more susceptible to lightning strikes.
© Ajay AggarwalHigher particulate matter pollution and loss of vegetation is making urban areas more susceptible to lightning strikes.
Lightning strikes claim more lives annually in India than other natural disasters such as floods and cyclones. They have turned deadlier over the years.

Climate change is leading to extreme weather events such as storms, rain, heatwaves and lightning are getting more frequent and more intense, causing more deaths and destruction.

However, while floods and heat waves that impact large swathes of the population attract the spotlight, lightning strikes that prove dangerous to individuals get less attention.

The average number of people who died of lightning strikes every year between 2006 and 2015 was about 50% higher than the decade before, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows. Taking into account population growth, the average deaths from lightning strikes per million people in 2006-2015 was 26% more than in 1996-2005.

Comment: Sott Exclusive: Shocking weather! Lightning fatalities across the planet on the increase

Lightning caused more deaths than floods, landslides across India in 2015 - with 2,641 fatalities

Read More...
Eye 2

Deputy opens fire on alligator that chased girl up a tree at Freak Creek, Florida


wbtv.com
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 14:53 UTC
A Florida teenager was enjoying a day on the water when an unexpected deadly visitor approached.
© PixabayA Florida teenager was enjoying a day on the water when an unexpected deadly visitor approached.
What started as a lazy afternoon on the water ended up being a terrifying experience for a 15-year-old girl who found herself hanging from a tree branch, trapped by an angry gator.

"I'm at Freak Creek. My daughter is stuck in a freaking tree and there are gators surrounding her and we can't get her out. Please, she's fifteen," her mother said in a frantic 911 call.

It happened Friday near Alexander Springs Creek in the Ocala National Forest.

According to deputies, the teenager was floating on her raft when a gator swam up to her. It started hissing and chased her to a tree.

"There was a low-hanging tree. She was able to climb up into the tree and get out of the water and stay high enough to where the gator couldn't get her," Sgt. Mark Fulmer explained.

Read More...
Phoenix

Agung volcano in Bali explodes again sending rocks and flares of lava into the air


RT
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 11:57 UTC
Mount Agung volcano
© Andre Ardiansyah / Reuters
A volcano on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali erupted Monday, sending rocks and lava spewing into the air and unleashing a wave of panic across the island.

Residents reported hearing a loud explosion as Mount Agung flung volcanic rocks at least 2 km in the air. A sea of lava spewed from the crater, which ignited nearby vegetation.

Indonesia's National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) said the explosions began just after 9pm local time and that the ash column was seen as high as 2,000 meters above Mount Agung's peak.

Comment: Less than a week ago: Agung volcano eruption in Indonesia forces closure of international airport, hundreds of flight cancellations

Read More...
Wine

'Red rain' falls in Siberia - Rust from nearby metal plant?


RT
Wed, 04 Jul 2018 11:39 UTC
red rain Siberia
© БИЗНЕС OnlineScreenshot from YouTube video.
Car owners in Siberia could be forgiven for thinking a biblical plague had descended upon their city, after finding their vehicles soaked by blood-colored rain in a Norilsk parking lot.

Photos of the phenomenon showed the parking lot and cars coated in brownish-red residue from the rain. But the owner was quick to reassure everyone there's no calamity in store for the city. According to him, blood-red water was simply colored by rust from the roof of a nearby workshop. The parking lot in Siberia's major industrial center is located next to a metal plant.


Comment: Although this appears to have been a man-made phenomenon, we can learn from it that dust particles in the atmosphere will turn rain into 'blood'. Which has happened before:

Read More...