Earth ChangesS


Binoculars

Lost black-browed albatross from the southern hemisphere seen along the coast of Yorkshire, UK


Filey and Hunmanby Mercury
Sun, 16 Oct 2016 17:01 UTC
The black-browed albatross is pictured at RSPB Bempton.
The black-browed albatross is pictured at RSPB Bempton.
An unusual feathered visitor to the shores of Britain had bird enthusiasts all of a flutter when it was first spotted over Filey Brigg.

A black-browed albatross, which would normally be based around the Falkland Islands in the southern hemisphere, was seen last week along the Yorkshire coast.

News of the rare arrival prompted hundreds of birdwatchers to travel to Flamborough Head. It is believed to be a young bird still honing its navigations skills.

David Aitken, warden at the RSPB Bempton nature reserve, said: "It's the Holy Grail of seabirds - and it's here."

An eastern crowned warbler had also been spotted at the Bempton reserve.
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Attention

Mount Bulusan spews ash column 2.5 kilometers high in Bicol, Philippines


Rappler
Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:02 UTC
The ash column from the Mt Bulusan phreatic eruption on October 23, 2016 is 2.5 kilometers high.
© Ronald Ballon The ash column from the Mt Bulusan phreatic eruption on October 23, 2016 is 2.5 kilometers high.
Phivolcs records a phreatic eruption at 3:31 pm on Sunday, October 23, as the volcano in Sorsogon remains under Alert Level 1

Mt Bulusan, a restive volcano in Sorsogon province, again spewed ash on Sunday, October 23.

In a bulletin issued 5 pm on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a phreatic eruption occurred 3:31 pm, producing an ash column 2.5 kilometers high.

"The event was recorded as an explosion-type earthquake and lasted for approximately 15 minutes based on the seismic record," said Phivolcs.

"The eruption originated from the summit crater, while a smaller eruption also transpired at the southeast vent."
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Cloud Precipitation

4 dead and 13,000 families affected by flooding in Chocó, Colombia

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:12 UTC
Colombia Army and Civil Protection workers assist flood hit communities in Choco.
© Ejército Nacional de ColombiaColombia Army and Civil Protection workers assist flood hit communities in Choco.
Colombia's National Unit for Risk Management Disaster (UNGRD) says that 13,000 families are in need of humanitarian aid and relief after recent heavy rain and flooding in the department of Chocó on the country's Pacific coast.

UNGRD also report that four people have died as a result of the flooding. The victims, which included 1 adult and 3 children, were part of an indigenous community in the municipality of Tadó.

Flooding has affected a total of 17 municipalities of the province since 18 October. The affected municipalities are: Medio San Juan, Sipí, Itsmina, Riosucio, Carmen del Darién, Juradó, Lloró, Bahía Solano, Atrato, Río Iró, Alto Baudó, Bajo Baudó, Quibdó, Tadó, Novita, Condoto and Litoral.


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Ice Cube

Freak hailstorm rips through town in New South Wales, Australia


The Daily Telegraph
Sat, 22 Oct 2016 03:26 UTC
freak storm in Parkes
© John SarkissianHailstones the size of golf balls fell in Parkes.
A LARGE storm ripped through Parkes, in the state's central west overnight, bringing down dozens of trees and damaging buildings. Strong winds and hailstones, some as big as golf balls, caused major damage.

The wild weather swept through the town from about 7pm last night, with the majority of residents without power for several hours.

SES crews are today working to clean up the damage, with many residents still yet to have their power restored today.

Locals reported hailstones the size of golf balls and ferocious winds lasting for less than 10 minutes, but causing significant damage across the township.

The SES received more than 90 call-outs, including trees down, damaged roofs and other hail damage to property.


Comment: Freak hailstorm hits drought stricken Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Attention

Shark attacks surfer off Ho'okipa, Hawaii


Maui Now
Fri, 21 Oct 2016 18:02 UTC
Shark attacks
At 5:01 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, Pā'ia firefighters responded to Ho'okipa Beach Park for a person with a possible shark bite.

When firefighters arrived at 5:09 p.m., paramedics already had the male shark bite victim loaded in the ambulance and transported him shortly after to Maui Memorial Medical Center in serious condition.

The victim is a 36-year-old male from Pā'ia . The man was surfing about 50 yards from shore off the west point of Ho'okipa Beach Park at the surf spot known as "H-Poko."

A surfer near the victim looked over after hearing the man scream, and saw a five-foot reef shark biting the surfer's left arm.

The shark let go and then bit the man again in the left leg.

Other surfers came to the victim's aid and helped to paddle the man back to shore.

Firefighters and state conservation officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement cleared the ocean of surfers at the beach park and will warn people against entering the water until an assessment is made at noon tomorrow.
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Attention

2 sperm whales wash up on Kenya and Tanzania beaches

Alphonce Gari
The Star (Kenya)
Sat, 22 Oct 2016 16:43 UTC
Tanzanians view the dead sperm whale found three days ago in Kilwa
© Alphonce GariTanzanians view the dead sperm whale found three days ago in Kilwa
Marine scientists have raised concerns about the safety of sea mammals after two large sperm whales were found dead in Kenya and Tanzania along the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The first sperm whale was found dead two weeks ago at Ngomeni Beach in Magarini subcounty. Three days ago another one was spotted in Kiilwa, Tanzania. It was larger than the one found in Kenya.

The one found in Ngomeni was stranded while the one in Tanzania died under unclear circumstances.

Fishermen believe the two could have died as a result of offshore oil and gas exploration.

"No one is sure what's caused the death of these sperm whales," Hadley Becha of Conservation and Community Advocates said. The organisation raises awareness about the problems of the oil and gas industry.

Experts say oil and gas survey interfere with marine animals' hearing and orientation and cause stranding.
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Arrow Down

Earthquake causes large sinkhole outside Ioannina, Greece


ekathimerini.com
Sat, 22 Oct 2016 16:32 UTC
Sinkhole
An investigator from the fire department takes photographs of a large sinkhole that swallowed up part of a dirt track and an olive grove in Kalpaki, a rural area outside Ioannina in northwestern Greece, on Saturday.

The sinkhole is estimated to have a depth of 20-30 meters at least, and an overall surface area of around 200 square meters, and is believed to have been caused by a series of earthquakes that struck the region a week ago.

On October 14, Ioannina was hit by a strong tremor measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale and followed by hundreds of aftershocks, some of them quite powerful.
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Bizarro Earth

Hundreds of thousands evacuated as Typhoon Haima strikes southern China


RT
Sat, 22 Oct 2016 16:09 UTC
Typhoon Haima
© Bobby Yip / ReutersPeople run away from a big wave on a waterfront as Typhoon Haima approaches in Hong Kong, China, October 21, 2016 .
Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated as Typhoon Haima slammed into southern China after killing at least 13 people in the Philippines.

The storm struck the city of Shanwei in eastern Guangdong on Friday afternoon, forcing more than 700,000 evacuations from the region, according to CCTV News.

The tropical cyclone reached wind speeds of up to 166 kilometers (103 miles) per hour before weakening to a tropical storm.

Comment: Update: Typhoon Haima kills at least 8 in the Philippines; tens of thousands of homes destroyed

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Cloud Grey

'Angel cloud' captured on video over South Carolina

Rosie Vare
AOL Travel UK
Thu, 20 Oct 2016 14:17 UTC
angel cloud
© Cory Hearnon/Facebook
This unusual shaped cloud has been spotted in the sky over South Carolina.

Cory Hearn captured the rare weather phenomenon on camera, which appears in the shape of an angel with its wings spread wide.

Speaking on the footage, Cory says: "Check that out. Is that not an angel or what?"

"Nobody would believe me if I didn't do this live but I want you to look at this cloud in the sky.

"I don't know that I've ever seen with my own two eyes this type of cloud. Isn't it amazing?

"I'm seeing an angel, I don't know if anybody sees anything different."

He later told People that it was the most amazing thing he'd ever seen in my life.

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Cow

Woman killed in cattle attack in County Down, Northern Ireland

Cate McCurry
The Independent (Ireland)
Thu, 20 Oct 2016 20:41 UTC
cow face
A woman has been killed after she was attacked by cattle on a family farm in Co Derry.

The pensioner, who has been named locally as Brigid McKeefry and is aged in her 70s, was rushed to the Causeway Hospital for treatment.

However she later died from her injuries and a post-mortem is taking place.

The tragic incident happened on the family farm off Carhill Road in Garvagh at about 2.30pm when the woman was attacked by cattle.

It is understood Mrs McKeefry had been working with livestock at the time.

DUP east Londonderry MLA Adrian McQuillan expressed his sympathies to the elderly woman's family.

Mr McQuillan said late last night: "This news is very shocking to the entire close-knit community of Garvagh and the surrounding areas.
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