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Earth ChangesS
Some very observant KVOA viewers captured atmospheric awesomeness on Sunday.
Every so often, Southern Arizona is treated to a huge ring surrounding the sun or moon. So what causes it? Let's explore the world of optics. (I promise to keep it simple.)
Following a storm and shot of cold air that sweeps across the northern part of the nation into this weekend, there is the potential for very cold air with a punishing wind to take root over the Midwest and Northeast during the long Thanksgiving weekend.
"If indications are correct, some locations may be hit by up to one foot of snow, while gusty winds sweep cold air from the northern Plains to the Gulf Coast, Appalachians and eventually the Atlantic Seaboard," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
It is during that press of arctic air when another storm may come about with a swath of steady rain, ice and snow in the Northeast.
A piece of the Polar Vortex may break loose and settle in the swath from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The jet stream is a high speed river of air at the level where jets cruise at.
Sources
© AP Photo/Petros GiannakourisPeople are reflected in the front window of a flooded bus as water engulfs an interchange of a highway in Elefsina, western Athens, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017.
There were fears the death toll could rise further as rescue crews searched for potentially missing people in flooded homes and streets on the western outskirts of Athens.
The flooding came after a severe overnight storm brought driving rain to the area. Roads turned into muddy rivers that carried away vehicles, tossing them into piles on roadsides and against fences and buildings. Several walls from yards and low buildings collapsed, filling the streets with rubble.
Twelve of the people killed - four women and eight men - were found in or near Mandra, a small town on the western outskirts of Athens that was hardest-hit by the flood. The coast guard recovered the bodies of two more men believed to have been swept out to sea by the flood.
The python, pictured, only 5-feet long, desperately tried to evade the attack by wrapping itself around the cobra’s head
The two serpents were spotted by Krabi residents under a palm tree yesterday, where they immediately called the emergency services to remove the predator from the premises.
Three hours went by before the five person rescue team could do anything, forced to watch the black coloured cobra sink its deadly fangs into the python.
The python, only 5-feet long, desperately tried to evade the attack by wrapping itself around the cobra's head.
© China News ServiceThe humpback whale calf was first found stranded on the shore near Qidong city, Jiangsu Province on Monday.
The 7-meter long whale, 3 to 5 years old, was found stranded in shallow water and died after struggling for hours in a rising tide.
Local police and fishermen twice tried to rescue the whale after it was first discovered stranded at noon on Monday, with a boat sent to direct it toward deeper sea.
On Tuesday afternoon, the 2.8-tonne whale ran ashore again only 3 km away, and was again rescued.
The tornado, which moved swiftly towards the land from the sea, hit the farming fields and uprooted trees particularly in areas closer to the coastline, according to the report.
The heavy storm and rainfall left a large-scale damage in the areas. And greenhouses, houses and vehicles were destroyed. The power lines were broken which caused hours of electricity shortage.
Hail in the size of walnuts was also effective in some areas, causing great damage in crops and outer covers of greenhouses.
Several districts in Antalya province, including Finike, Kumluca, Demre, Kas and Kemer districts, were affected severely in the storm. Fires were reported in some regions.
Antalya province is an important agriculture region which is among Turkey's largest fruit and vegetable production centers.
The damage caused by the storm is more or less expected to increase food prices in the upcoming months, experts said.
Comment: A large rare tornado struck southern Turkey a couple of weeks ago on October 29, 2017. Some other rare tornadoes have formed around the planet in recent times including countries such as Netherlands, Mexico, United States, Russia and China.
© USGS
The quake, which was felt across much of the country including in the capital Seoul, struck at the shallow depth of nine kilometres near the southeastern industrial city of Pohang at around 2:30pm, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.
The Korean peninsula rarely has to worry about significant quakes, unlike neighbouring Japan.
But seismic activity is closely monitored because a spike in activity is often the first indication that North Korea has carried out a nuclear test.
The South Korean port city of Pohang is the home to the headquarters of Posco - the country's top, and the world's fourth largest, steelmaker.
Photos and video footage sent to local TV stations showed crumbled street walls and furniture violently shaking inside people's homes.
Local nuclear reactors were operating without disruption, Yonhap news agency said, citing officials at Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power.
The most quake recorded in the south was a 5.8-magnitude tremor that hit the southeastern city of Gyeongju in September last year.
Comment: Earlier today a 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook Guam as recent seismic activity continues worldwide.
© ReutersA woman reacts next to a dead body following the earthquake in Kermanshah, Iran
The tremor rumbled south-east of the city of Kamaish, on the country's Pacific coast, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake happened six miles beneath the Earth's surface at around 10.24pm, with the epicentre recorded 180 miles off the coast of Japan, scientists have said.
It is unclear whether the quake has caused any impact on land.
It came just hours after the huge 7.3 magnitude earthquake near the Iran/Iraq border, with the death toll currently at 320 and almost 2,000 others reportedly injured. Iran quake of 7.3 magnitude kills more than 130
© KUSI
The ruptured 30-inch-diameter pipeline near the intersection of Damon Avenue and Mission Bay Drive began overflowing shortly before 1 p.m., city spokesman Arian Collins said. It took crews about a half-hour to deactivate the failed line, which caused a large sinkhole on Mission Bay Drive.
"As a result of the shutdown, there were reports of low water pressure in several parts of the city,'' Collins said.
Comment: More coverage from San Diego's ABC 10 News:
Comment: This has actually become a rather common sight in Greece (and the wider eastern Med) in recent years, where deluges have repeatedly inundated coastal towns and cities.
For a snapshot of the extreme weather occurring around the world, check out our Earth Changes Summary video for October 2017: