Earth ChangesS


Attention

'Unusual' bacteria may be responsible for Northern muskox population's decline


CBC News
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 05:28 UTC
decline in the muskox population
© Peter Klaunzer/Associated PressResearchers believe that erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, an 'unusual' bacteria, could be the culprit for a large decline in the muskox population on both Banks Island and Victoria Island.

Researchers figure bacteria, climate change among main factors causing decline in N.W.T., Nunavut population

A bacteria may be the culprit for the sharp decline of the muskox population in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, according to a team of researchers.

The bacteria, erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, has been observed in deceased muskoxen on Banks Island, in the Northwest Territories, as well as Nunavut's Victoria Island, since 2010. Researchers are now studying other animals in the northern ecosystem to observe the spread of the disease.

The bacteria is "normally found in pigs and poultry," said Susan Kutz, an associate professor at the University of Calgary. "This has never been found in the Arctic or in muskox before. It's very unusual to find such a thing."

The researchers believe lemmings have been transmitting the bacteria to the muskoxen. It's unclear whether it even affects the rodents; they may simply be a carrier.

"It's a hypothesis at this point," said Kutz.

Comment: See also:
  • Strange animal behaviour: Muskox repeatedly charged dog despite warning shots in Wales, Alaska - other similar incidents reported

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Bizarro Earth

Park rangers at Yellowstone catch suspected killer bear

Jennifer Calfas
USA Today
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 12:22 UTC
grizzly
© Jim Urquhart, AP

Rangers at Yellowstone National Park have captured a grizzly bear they believe may be the one that killed a hiker at the park on Friday.

On Monday, the park identified the victim as Lance Crosby, 68, of Billings, Mont. Park officials said Crosby was not carrying bear spray at the time of the attack.

Rangers believe a female grizzly bear killed Crosby, then fed on his remains. Autopsy results have not been released.

Yellowstone spokeswoman Julena Campbell told USA TODAY a female grizzly bear was caught early Saturday morning after rangers set up traps in the area hours after finding the victim's body Friday. Park officials will complete several tests to identify the grizzly bear as the one involved in the killing.

Tests include matching the shape and size of the bear tracks to ones found in the area and comparing the bear's DNA to that found on the victim's body. Campbell said park officials sent DNA evidence to a lab Monday morning for testing, and results will come in the next few days.

If officials identify the bear as the one involved in the attack, the bear will be euthanized. Campbell said this is due to the fact that the bear fed on the victim's body.

"We don't have any way of knowing the circumstances that led up to this one," Campbell said. "But we do know after she killed him, she was consuming him. She will be euthanized because of the facts that she was feeding on the person."
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Fire

Area of forest fires in Russia's Siberia has grown over three times in the last 24 hours


Phys.org
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 22:41 UTC
wildfire siberia
© Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. The area of forest fires in Russia's Siberian Federal District has grown over three times over the last 24 hours to 108,300 hectares (267,615 acres) for a total of 146 fires.
The area of forest fires in Russia's Siberian Federal District has grown over three times over the last 24 hours to 108,300 hectares (267,615 acres) for a total of 146 fires. More than half of forest fires on the area of 63,600 hectares are blazing in the Buryatia Republic in south Siberia (red dots indicating fires in this Terra satellite image). Lake Baikul cannot be seen in this image. It is obscured by clouds and smoke.
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Cloud Precipitation

At least five killed following torrential rains, floods and mudslides in Chile


Buenos Aires Herald
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 18:45 UTC
Image
© AFP-JIJITowering waves pound the seacoast of Vina del Mar, on Saturday as a storm marked by strong winds and fierce downpours approaches from the Pacific Ocean hitting the Chilean coast.
A state of emergency has been declared by the Chilean government in the northern cities of Antofagasta and Tocopilla due to the strong winds and heavy rains.

At least five people have been killed in the torrential rains in Chile this weekend, officials said yesterday. Three people were reported killed in extreme northern Chile, which has been battered by powerful winds, torrential rains and mudslides. Two people died on Saturday in the cities of Valparaiso and Coquimbo.

Brigadier general Claudio Hernández Muñoz is in charge of coordinating the response to the storm, Interior Minister Jorge Burgos announced during a press conference at the National Emergency Management Office (Onemi) where he declared a Constitutional State of Exception — a measure that is designed to protect the stability and security of the country, or of a particular area, through the law, when exceptional situations occur.


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Cloud Precipitation

One million affected by floods in Myanmar; death toll passes 100

Jayalakshmi K
International Business Times
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 17:54 UTC
Image
Myanmar is experiencing some of its worst flooding in decades
Close to one million people have been affected and more than 100 killed in floods in Myanmar as on Sunday (9 August), with many low-lying areas in the southwestern delta still inundated.

Two of the rivers receded a bit but could breach their banks again, reported local state-run media.

Responding to the country's appeal for aid, many nations and international organisations are rushing food and water to the region.

Most of the casualties have been reported from the Irrawaddy Delta, said Phyu Lei Lei Tun, director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement. The majority of people living here are impoverished.

The delta where many rivers meet on way to the sea has seen the floods submerge paddy fields and homes, reports AP.

Many refuse to leave their inundated homes while others used rafts to reach safety.

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Attention

Black bear attacks and wounds hiker at Douthat State Park, Virginia

Jeff Sturgeon
The Roanoke Times
Sun, 09 Aug 2015 17:13 UTC
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© Jess ThompsonBlack Bear
A black bear attacked and injured an adult hiker at Douthat State Park on Saturday.

Her wounds, which required stitches but were not life-threatening, represent Virginia's first ever bear-inflicted injury on a human that didn't involve hunting, said Jim Meisner, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Unprovoked bear attacks are unheard of, Meisner said. Officials tracked and killed the animal they believe is responsible for the attack. It was shipped off to be tested for rabies and to compare its DNA to bear saliva left on the victim's clothes.

The woman belonged to a party of five, possibly all in one family, who explored the area around Tuscarora Overlook on the west side of the park near Clifton Forge on Saturday afternoon. About 6 p.m., the group startled a bear and group members ran, Meisner said. The bear followed the woman and, in what he said was "an incredibly rare occurrence," knocked her down and bit and scratched her on the leg and back, causing lacerations.

Other members of the party returned and scared off the bear , he said.
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Fire

Canadian natural gas pipeline shutdown and burn-off implemented, after dangerous hydrogen sulfide build-up

Lauren Krugel
The Canadian Press
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:21 UTC
Alliance Pipeline in Canada
© Alliance PipelineThe Alliance Pipeline natural gas pipeline runs through northern B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and several states in the U.S.

The company shut its B.C.-to-Chicago pipeline after sensors detected high amounts of the corrosive, flammable gas

CALGARY—A natural gas pipeline that extends from northeastern British Columbia to the Chicago area was on August 7 shutdown while its operator disposed of dangerous hydrogen sulphide gas that got into the system.

Alliance Pipeline said it expects its mainline to be closed for an "indeterminate amount of time" as it deals with the gas, which is poisonous, corrosive, flammable and smells like rotten eggs. The company did not say how much of it entered the pipeline, only that the amount exceeded its standards.

"Our chief concern now is to ensure the safety of the public, employees and the environment," vice-president Daniel Sutherland in a news release late Thursday.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers and we are working with our partners and the regulator to determine the cause."

Alliance has begun burning off the gas at its Alameda compressor station about 250 kilometres southeast of Regina and at a block valve 24 kilometres northwest of the station, said Tony Straquadine, manager of commercial and government affairs.

Detectors along the pipeline alerted Alliance to the fact that hydrogen sulphide levels were too high and the pipeline was shut on Friday morning.

Alliance said the incident was the result of "complications experienced by an upstream operator," but did not identify the company involved.

Comment: This pipeline extends through the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Saskatchewan, which have suffered extensive wildfires this year.

Describing the biggest evacuation effort in Saskatchewan's history, Premier Brad Wall said recently, the number of evacuees affected by raging wildfires in the province's northern regions is "unprecedented" with the amount of hectares burning as about 10 times the average year.

Pipeline detectors alerted that "hydrogen sulphide levels were too high", indicating that some of these wildfires may have been fueled from outgassing, possibly 'sparked' by an increase in atmospheric electric discharge events, such as lightning strikes. See also:

Study: Wildfire seasons are more destructive and lasting longer almost everywhere on Earth

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Cloud Lightning

Lightning bolt kills 2 labourers in Bangladesh


Dhaka Tribune
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:53 UTC
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Two labourers have been killed in lightning strike in Tigharia area under Kosba upazila of Brahmanbaria.

The deceased are Gafur Mia, 50, and Sujon Mia, 52.

Five other labourers were also injured in the incident.

Kosba Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Ariful Islam said lightning struck the labourers while they were working in a paddy field around 2:30pm Monday.

Kosba police station Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman said the bodies of the labouers were recovered and sent to sadar hospital morgue.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes kill two in Andhra Pradesh, India


Business Standard
Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:47 UTC
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Two persons were killed in two separate incidents due to lightning strike following heavy rains in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

A 45-year-old woman was yesterday killed following a lightning strike due to heavy rains in Inapuru village of Pamidimukkala Mandal, an official of Pamidimukkala said.

The incident took place when the deceased Ch Veeramma, a agriculture labourer, had gone to the agriculture fields, he said.
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Arrow Down

Car falls into sinkhole in Worcester, Massachusetts

Michael D. Kane
masslive.com
Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:07 UTC
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© Michael D. Kane / MassLiveJeff Army watches as employees of Boulevard Towing pull his car from a sinkhole that opened up after 3 p.m. to day on Hastings Road.
The Worcester resident whose car fell into a sinkhole on Hastings Road this afternoon said he has effectively forfeited his car due to the cost of pulling it out of the hole.

Jeff Army was quoted a price from Boulevard Towing of $350 for the removal, or $550 if the car had to be taken if he could not pay. Since he did not have the money available, he said he was told it would be another $50 per day.

Army was asking friends for money, but said could not get enough.

"I don't have the money," Army said minutes after clearing his belongings from the car at around 6 p.m. on Friday, before returning to work. "I just lost my car."

The lower half of Hastings Road buckled and, in places, collapsed as the soil below it washed away after 3 p.m. Friday afternoon. West Boylston Street was closed briefly, but re-opened at around 5 p.m.
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