Earth ChangesS


Windsock

Historic wind storm in Michigan knocks out power to nearly a million people


RT
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 22:03 UTC
man clearing fallen tree
© ZUMAPRESS.com / www.globallookpress.com
Wind gusts of more than 60 miles per hour downed thousands power lines across Michigan, leaving 10 percent of its residents without power. Many schools were closed and reports were coming in of damage to numerous properties.

Crews are working to restore power after high winds hit the state on Wednesday and knocked out electrical service in Michigan and several Great Lake states.

"Near hurricane force sustained winds pounded our state for over 10 hours. This is the largest weather event in DTE's 100-year history," DTE Energy said during a press conference on Thursday. DTE said 4,000 lines were downed, and they had more than who are working to restore power.

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Attention

Lake turns bright pink in Melbourne, Australia

Ben Hooper
UPI
Wed, 08 Mar 2017 21:46 UTC
Westgate Park’s salt lake
© Parks VictoriaWestgate Park’s salt lake
Parks officials in Victoria, Australia, are warning visitors to a popular park to avoid contact with a salt lake that has turned bright pink.

Parks Victoria said the salt lake in Melbourne's Westgate Park has turned pink, a natural phenomenon that has occurred before "in response to very high salt levels, high temperatures, sunlight and lack of rainfall."

"Algae growing in the salt crust at the bottom of the lake produces the red pigment (beta carotene) as part of its photosynthesis process and in response to the extremely high salt levels," Parks Victoria said in a Facebook post.

The group warned visitors not to drink or touch the pink water.

"Enjoy the views, but we recommend you don't come into contact with the water," the post said. "The lake is expected to return to its normal color towards winter, when the weather cools and rainfall increases."
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Info

Personal liability of company directors for climate change and broadcasters no consensus on CO2

Adapt 2030
You Tube
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 21:14 UTC
climate
In Australia now little talked about is company directors can be held personally liable if their companies do not take unrealistic actions to combat climate change. The beginning fines start at $200,000. This all based on "the 97% consensus" that dictates climate change is irrefutable and due to human activity. When looking at the 2016 National Survey of Broadcast Meteorologist just 12% believe changes in Earth's weather patterns are entirely due to human influence. There need to be some serious questions asked as to what a financial regulatory board is doing leading the climate change regulation rewrite.


Sources
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Attention

Steep decline in wading bird nesting reported for South Florida

Dacia L Johnson
tcpalm.com
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 19:20 UTC
White Ibis
White Ibis
The South Florida Water Management District this week released its annual South Florida Wading Bird Report which showed the lowest wading bird nesting count since 2008.

Compared to the 10-year average in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem:

* White ibis nesting was down 45 percent

* Wood stork nesting was down 38 percent

* Snowy egret nesting was down 51 percent

* Little blue Heron nesting was down 61 percent

* Tricolored heron nesting was down 16 percent

* Great egret nesting was down 7 percent

Roseate spoonbill nesting up 20 percent overall but mainly in inland areas

Comment: See also this report for the 2014 breeding season: The canary in the coal mine? Nesting wading bird population crashes by 28% in a year, Florida Everglades

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Wolf

Stray dogs kill seven-year-old girl, death toll climbs to 11 in 12 months for Moradabad, India

Nazar Abbas
The Times of India
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 18:57 UTC
stray dogs
It seems there is no end to the stray dog menace in the city. A group of stray dogs killed a seven-year-old girl at Murdapur village which is at few kilometers from the city.

The girl, identified as Sonia, was declared brought dead at a local hospital.

"Sonia and her friends had gone to the forest to pluck some flowers for the Holi festival. A group of stray dogs trapped her and started attacking her. The villagers rushed towards the forest to rescue my daughter ," Siphai Lal, the father of the victim said.

The incident sparked tension in the area with villagers blaming the administration for failing to curb the stray dog population.

Speaking with TOI, Abdul Basit, sub-divisional magistrate, said, "The rising incidents of dog attacks indicate that the canines here may have developed the habit of eating human flesh and find easy prey in children."

Comment: Other recent noteworthy dog attack reports: Woman 'shaken like toy' by dog, leaving her with horrific injuries in Swansea, Wales

Pit bull attacks 7-year-old in Baltimore County, Maryland

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Cloud Precipitation

Floods leave 1 dead, hundreds evacuated in Sarangani Province, Philippines

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 18:48 UTC
flood
Two rivers in Sarangani Province, southern Philippines, overflowed during the early hours of 09 March 2017 after a period of heavy rain.

The Kalaong River in Maitum and the Tual River in Kiamba both burst their banks, flooding nearby areas. Around 150 people were pre-emptively evacuated. Most of those displaced were families living near to the rivers. Several houses have been damaged or completely destroyed.

Temporary accommodation has been provided by Sarangani Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) for those displaced, although the flood waters in some areas have started to subside and some of those displaced have returned home.

PDRRMO reported earlier today that a 29 year old man has died in the flood. He went missing earlier today. Authorities have since found his body.
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Ice Cube

Extreme cold that gripped Canadian Arctic expected to invade eastern US

Jason Samenow
Washington Post
Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:00 UTC
us cold prediction
© Twitter/@Ryan Maue
In recent days, some of the coldest March air in decades has gripped portions of Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. Fragments of that frigid air will come crashing into the eastern United States on Friday and into the weekend.

The air spilling into the Great Lakes, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic may not fall to record levels, but it could bring the coldest weather to parts of the region since January.

Its pedigree is impressive.

On Saturday, Mould Bay in the Canadian Arctic set an all-time record low of minus-66.5 degrees (minus-54.7 Celsius).
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Attention

Whale washes up on beach in Devon, UK

Joel Cooper and Patrick Lion
Daily Mirror
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 15:20 UTC
The mammal is either a baleen or a fin whale
© Paul Willby/SWNS.COMThe mammal is either a baleen or a fin whale
A whale's dead body measuring at least 9 metres long has washed up on a Devon beach.

The mammal's body - said to be a fin or a baleen whale - was first spotted at 4pm yesterday after it was washed ashore near Hartland Quay.

Cheryl Fan Duerden wrote on Facebook: "Back from a BDMLR call out this evening to check on a whale that washed up on Hartland Quay.

"Exceptionally foggy drive and not the easiest access through slippery jagged rocks in the dark, but someone's gotta do it!

"Unfortunately it was dead, possibly a while ago, 9-10 metres at least and suspected small fin whale or large minke whale.

"Very sad to see it flopped over and lodged amongst the rocks and blood in the rockpools, but to see a whale in its entirety is still pretty awesome."
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Snowflake

10 resorts in California's Central Sierra mountains receive 50 feet or more snowfall for the season so far

J P Kelsey
Tahoe Daily Tribune
Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:58 UTC
A March 6 shot of Heavenly, after nearly two feet of snow had dumped over the weekend.
© Elizabeth RauchA March 6 shot of Heavenly, after nearly two feet of snow had dumped over the weekend.
This year's snowfall count has been creeping higher and higher with each winter storm that has hit Lake Tahoe, causing several area resorts to hit a notable mark: Northstar, Kirkwood and Heavenly all either reached or surpassed 600 inches of snow on the season after this most recent storm. Put another way, that's 50 feet of snow.

As of March 7, Northstar, Kirkwood and Heavenly have all collected between 600 and 612 inches.

It should be noted, however, that these aren't the only resorts piling on the powder. There are a total of 10 resorts in the region that have surpassed 600 inches this year. At a virtual tie, Mt. Rose and Sugar Bowl are leading the pack and nearing 700 inches. Mt. Rose is boasting 680 inches, while Sugar Bowl is just behind at 679.
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Bizarro Earth

3-hour volcanic eruption in Alaska threatens villages with ash


RT
Thu, 09 Mar 2017 14:10 UTC
Bogoslof Volcano
© Wikipedia
An Alaskan volcano experienced its largest eruption to date and created a large ash cloud. For the past several months, Bogoslof Volcano has had minor eruptions, but the most recent was its strongest, sending ashes 35,000 feet above sea level.

Residents of the Aleutian Islands are under ash advisory after Bogoslof Island's volcano had its strongest recorded eruption Tuesday night. The National Weather Service warned that the fishing communities could see a trace amount of ash following the powerful eruption.

This isn't the first time the volcano has erupted. Tuesday was the 36th recorded eruption over the last three months, with the next most recent one occurring February 19, CNBC reported. However, the length of the eruption and intensity were unexpected.

"It was the most significant event for the entire eruption," US Geological Survey geologist Kristi Wallace told CNBC.
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