Earth ChangesS


Blue Planet

Rainforest growth speeds up with high carbon dioxide emissions

Richard Gray
Mail Online
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 10:46 UTC
  • Nasa study shows tropical forests absorb 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year
  • Rainforests absorb more than half of CO2 taken up by vegetation globally
  • Scientists previously believed tropical forests emitted carbon dioxide
  • Researchers claim their findings emphasise the need to protect rainforests from deforestation to help counteract human greenhouse gas emissions
Jungle forest
© AlamyTrees and plants in tropical forests are absorbing 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. The researchers claim their findings show that rainforests are essential for soaking up excess greenhouse gases, and play a far greater role than had been previously realised.
Tropical forests are growing faster than scientists thought due to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

A Nasa-led study has found that tropical forests are absorbing 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year as they photosynthesise and grow.

And this is far more than is absorbed by the vast areas of boreal forest that encircle the Arctic.

Comment: See also:

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Cloud Precipitation

Uruguay suffers severe flooding with much of Montevideo under water

Everton Fox
aljazeera.com
Wed, 30 Dec 2015 21:07 UTC
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© EPATorrential rain left much of Montevideo under water
Montevideo suffers its worst flooding in more than 50 years.

Several days of torrential rain has led to widespread flooding across Uruguay. Among the worst hit is the capital city, Montevideo, much of which has been left under water.

Thousands of homes and businesses have been damaged in the process. This has been described as the worst flooding in almost a century.

Friday saw an incredible amount of rainfall with 63mm of rain falling in around half an hour. The average rainfall for the entire month of December is 78mm.

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Attention

Moose charges at ski patrolman on the slopes in Colorado

Michael Gadd
Daily Mail, UK
Thu, 01 Jan 2015 19:49 UTC
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A moose charges a ski patrolman on the slopes of Steamboat Springs in Colorado
As if there weren't already enough potential perils on the slopes, skiers in Steamboat Springs in Colorado had to contend with a charging moose this week.

In footage shot on Sunday, December 28, a moose wandered onto the popular ski fields of Routt County and took aim at a red jacket-wearing ski patrolman.

Luckily for the patrolman, who was not on skis, he was fleet of foot enough to evade the largest member of the deer like a matador.

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Fish

Rare deep sea Ocean Sunfish found for the first time in Pakistan's waters


The International News
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 17:00 UTC
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An extremely rare breed of fish called the Ocean Sunfish was found by fishermen in Pakistan’s waters for the first time
The fishermen released it back into the sea upon realising the special rarity and uniqueness of the breed.

According to WWF Pakistan, it was caught in a net by fishermen in Ormara town in Gwadar District of Balochistan.

The fish was a common 'mola' (Mola mola), that was seen in Pakistan's waters for the first time ever. According to experts, it is supposed to be the heaviest known bony fish in the world.

This particular fish was measured to be about 1.8 meters in length and weighed about 450Kg. The fishermen released it back into the sea after 20 minutes.
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Cow

Bulls 2 Matadors 0: Female bullfighters gored and spectators attacked, Mexico

Thomas Wyke
International Business Times
Mon, 29 Dec 2014 16:08 UTC
Image
© AlToroMexico.comKarla de los Angeles was gorded twice by the bull
Two female Mexican bullfighters, one a single mother competing for the first time in three years, have been gored in a bloody annual festival.

The two fighters, Karla de los Angeles and Lupita Lopez, were taking part in an all-women event called the "festejo de damas", alongside Hilda Tenorio. The event was staged at one of the world's biggest bullrings, Plaza Mexico.

De los Angeles, one of Mexico's best-known female bullfighters, was fighting for the first time since she withdrew from the sport in 2011 to look after her young daughter.

Before the fight, she had spoken of her dream of becoming a matador - a master bullfighter - and made national headlines by saying "being a mother is not an impediment".

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Snowflake Cold

Deadly winter storm kills at least 5 in California


PressTV
Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:43 UTC
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© UnknownA stretch of Interstate 17 in northern Arizona seen with an unaccustomed blanket of snow on December 31, 2014.
A severe winter storm across the western United States has taken five lives in the state of California.

The New Year in the US has started with a winter system bringing very cold temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain from southern California through the southern Plains, the National Weather Service reported Thursday.

Strong gusts toppled trees in Northern California, killing two people in the town of Paradise on Tuesday. Another person was killed by a tree early Wednesday in Redding.

Two other people died and a third was missing after storm winds up to 40 miles an hour broke boats loose from moorings at Santa Catalina Island off the Southern California coast Tuesday night.

Comment: See also: 'Unusually cold storm' to bring snow, rain and a freeze through most of California and the Desert Southwest

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Windsock

Freak 'tornado' hits Pasadena festival

Ian Hughes
Daily Mirror, UK
Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:44 UTC
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Gust: A large gazebo is sent flying through the air in Pasadena, Northern California
Four people were injured as tents and marquees were sent flying through the air when a freak tornado-like wind tore through a US music festival.

The violent gust was caught on camera at Fan Fest, in Pasadena, as terrified crowds ran for cover near The Rose Bowl outdoor athletic stadium.

People can be heard screaming shortly after a black gazebo is whipped up into the air.

It spirals in the wind, surrounded by smaller pieces of debris - and then smashes into a parked car.

The festival tent is then followed into the skies by much larger marquees, including one inflatable which flies around 30ft into the air.

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Snowflake

Freezing temperatures and snow in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans

Everton Fox
Al Jazeera
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:45 UTC
greek snow
Icy weather and heavy snowfall has hit a large part of Greece, resulting in many roads closing in northern and central Greece, as well as near the capital.
Cold air has made its way across much of Europe over the past week bringing snow to many parts. The snow was probably most welcome when it made its way across the Alps, finally allowing the long awaited ski-season there to get underway.

The wintry weather has since dug further south. It now extends across the Balkans into Greece, Turkey and the Hungarian Plain.

There has been widespread travel disruption in Greece with snow forcing the closure of several roads, especially in the north and over the central mountains. Athens hasn't been as badly affected, but there has been a healthy dusting of snow across the nation's capital.

Comment:

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Candle

Massive fire erupts in Philippines, destroys about 2,000 buildings


Sputnik
Thu, 01 Jan 2015 12:31 UTC
A huge, quickly spreading fire erupted in Quezon City, Philippines, Thursday morning.

A massive fire broke out in Quezon City, Philippines, burning around 2,000 buildings to the ground Thursday morning and threatening to destroy even more, Rappler reported.

The fire broke out around 6:45 a.m. local time (23:45 GMT Wednesday). Two people have been injured and their life is not threatened.
Image
© Unknown
According to the news website, around 4,000 people have been affected by the fire. The fire in Quezon City, making up Metro Manila, Philippines' National Capital Region, was only declared under control three and a half hours after it broke out.

The cause of the fire is still unknown as an investigation is underway by police.

Comment: Earlier this week, the Philippines were hit by tropical storm Jiangmi, leaving at least 54 people dead and 13 missing.

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Fish

Thousands of fish, animals dying in Turkey Creek, Florida

Dan Billow
Wesh.com
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:29 UTC

Palm Bay - Thousands of fish and animals are dying in a local waterway, and longtime residents say it's not just an ordinary fish kill.

Turkey Creek in Palm Bay is known for its clean, fresh water. It flows into the Indian River Lagoon downstream, and it's there in the lagoon where most fish kills happen, not in the creek.

Chris Jones grew up along Turkey Creek.

"You can get out and be in old Florida, natural Florida, the way it was hundreds of years ago before people were here," said Jones.

But now, catfish have been dying for weeks.

People have reported dead animals including an alligator and some raccoons and turtles. They've taken pictures of a film on the water.

"I've never seen catfish or any fish die off to this extent," said Jones.
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