Earth ChangesS


Alarm Clock

Bulusan volcano in Philippines explodes, ejecting steam and ash


Interakyson.com
Fri, 01 May 2015 19:15 UTC
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© errolgatumbato.wordpress.com
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in its 1:30 p.m. advisory Friday, disclosed that Bulusan Volcano (12.7667°N, 124.0500°E) situated in Sorsogon Province, produced a steam and ash explosion which lasted for 5 minutes based on seismic records.

The volcanic activity was recorded at 8:09 a.m., although it may not have been observed visually due to thick rain clouds covering the summit.

"At around 10:30 a.m., when the crater became visible, strong to moderate, dirty white steaming was observed, reaching 200 meters high and drifting west-northwest coming from the northwest vent of the volcano," Phivolcs said.

Only five (5) volcanic earthquakes were detected during the past week by the Bulusan seismic network, but after the steam and ash explosion, the network recorded approximately 40 volcanic earthquakes.

Alert Level 0 status currently prevails over Bulusan Volcano, Phivolcs added.

However, local government units and the public are reminded that entry to the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) remains strictly prohibited due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions.

Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ejecta from any sudden phreatic eruption can be hazardous to aircraft.
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Cloud Grey

Spectacular sun halo captured over Wirral, UK

Rob Pattinson
Liverpoolecho.co.uk
Fri, 01 May 2015 17:13 UTC
Haloes are formed by light being reflected by ice crystals that have formed in high cirrus clouds
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These stunning photos show a spectacular sun halo forming in the skies over Wirral.

Haloes - rings that form around the sun or moon - are created by light being reflected by ice crystals formed in high cirrus clouds.

While they can be an indicator of rain, as the ice crystals often indicate an approaching frontal system, it is thought this halo was formed as a result of unusually cold overnight temperatures.

The photos were taken in Bromborough by Kirsty Bakstad outside her home this morning.

She told the ECHO: "It was about 11am, we were just pulling up outside our home in Bromborough when my husband Will, who had his sunglasses on, spotted it.

"He told me to look through the sunglasses, and there was this huge ring around the sun.

"I took a few pictures with my phone through the sunglasses, then a few directly.

"I had to Google it to find out what it was.

"I love taking weather pictures, usually red sunsets or funny-shaped clouds, but I've never seen anything like this before."
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Black Cat

Cougar attacks dog near Powell River, British Columbia


cbc.ca
Fri, 01 May 2015 18:11 UTC
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© Ron Smid/FacebookBruce, a 4-year-old pit bull, has a drainage tube running from his forehead to the side of his cheek to help him recover from a cougar attack.
A four-year-old pit bull is recovering after being attacked by a cougar near Powell River, B.C., last week.

Bruce, who lives with his owner Ron Smid in a secluded area, disappeared into the woods last Thursday, April 23, returning a few minutes later — bleeding.

"He must have caught a scent and he didn't want to be called back," said Smid.

It wasn't until Bruce was examined by the vet and his body shaved, that the full extent of his injuries could be seen.

There were puncture wounds all over the dog's body and lacerations across his head.

"The largest wound that is apparent is a large tooth-like fang that went through the middle of his skull and it actually penetrated right to the bone," said Smid.
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Cloud Lightning

Lightning strikes kill 5, injures 3 in Bangladesh


The Express Tribune
Sat, 02 May 2015 18:16 UTC
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They say lightning does not strike the same place twice. Even as that may be, it managed to kill no less than five people and injured three others in separate incidents in Sunamganj, a borderline district in north-eastern Bangladesh on Saturday.

Those killed by nature's wrath were identified as Abdul Jalil, 50, Harivokto Das, 45, Razu Miah, 20, Abdul Kader, 18, and Rasheda Begum, 31.

According to police and eyewitnesses, four people were killed as they were harvesting a paddy at the croplands during the morning in Dirai and Dharampasa areas when the thunderbolts killed them.

Another victim of lightning, Rasheda was struck when she ventured outside the safety of her home to save her cattle in Kuna Kucha village, according to Mohammad Shahidullah, officer-in-charge of Tahirpur Police Station.

Those injured in the incident were then taken to Dirai Upazila health complex for treatment.
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Attention

Man trampled to death by elephant in Nilgiris, India


The Hindu
Sat, 02 May 2015 17:21 UTC
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Elephant kicking up some dust.
K. Balan (47) of Bokkapuram was killed by an elephant late on Thursday, when he along with a few other people were collecting firewood in the nearby forest of The Nilgiris North division.

The group was chased by the elephant.

While the rest managed to flee to safety, Balan went missing. On Friday, Balan's body was found at Nelson estate near Bokkapuram. On behalf of the State Government,

Forest Department officials gave away the first instalment solatium of Rs. 25,000 to his family.

The body was sent to Gudalur Government Hospital for post-mortem examination.
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Better Earth

What's happening with the water in Oregon's Lost Lake?

Ellie Zolfagharifard
Daily Mail
Fri, 01 May 2015 15:40 UTC
lost lake oregon
The 'Lost Lake' off Oregon's Highway 20 has a deep, dark secret.

Most of the year, it looks like any other lake; peaceful and still.

But come winter, and a mysterious hole begins draining it of all its water, leaving a barren landscape that has baffled scientists for centuries.

As the eruption cooled, the hardened pipes emptied, leaving behind tubes in the form of vast tunnels.

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Cloud Lightning

Tornadoes ruin houses and destroy crops in North Cotabato, Philippines

Williamor Magbanua
Inquirer Mindanao
Fri, 01 May 2015 12:24 UTC
Tornadoes North Cotabato
© WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA/INQUIRER MINDANAOA farmworker checks the banana plants devastated by a twister in Barangay Manongol, Kidapawan City.
Tornadoes have ravaged houses and croplands for weeks in some parts of North Cotabato, a province already experiencing a dry spell for months. The latest of seven twisters to hit the province this month alone was reported Monday night in Barangay Manongol city. At least 5,000 banana plants were damaged, but no human casualty was reported.

It was the third to occur in the city this month, officials said. On Monday last week, a tornado damaged some P2 million worth of fruiting banana plants in Barangay Paco. Another damaged 27 houses in Barangay Magatos in Kabacan town, according to Mayor Herlo Guzman.
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Info

Global decline of large herbivores could lead to an 'empty landscape'


sciencedaily.com
Fri, 01 May 2015 13:17 UTC
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© Halska HrabarThis is a mountain zebra, Equus zebra.
The decline of the world's large herbivores, especially in Africa and parts of Asia, is raising the specter of an "empty landscape" in some of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, according to a newly published study.

Many populations of animals such as rhinoceroses, zebras, camels, elephants and tapirs are diminishing or threatened with extinction in grasslands, savannahs, deserts and forests, scientists say.

An international team of wildlife ecologists led by William Ripple, Oregon State University distinguished professor in the College of Forestry, conducted a comprehensive analysis of data on the world's largest herbivores (more than 100 kilograms, or 220 pounds, on average), including endangerment status, key threats and ecological consequences of population decline. They published their observations in Science Advances, the open-access online journal of Science magazine.
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Attention

More than 20 whales beach in Murdeira, Cape Verde


Ocean Press
Thu, 30 Apr 2015 12:31 UTC
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Beached whale at Murdeira, Cape Verde
Teams of biologists, environmentalists are already on Jorge Fonseca beach where they seek at all costs to save the life of the sea mammals and bring them back to the open sea.

Some vessels also already in place to support the rescue.

Experts on site frantically go forward because the main concern is to minimize the environmental tragedy and try to save the whales. At least twenty-three cases have been counted already. It is not yet possible to advance the causes but we know that we are in the time of year that this phenomenon tends to happen.

Ocean Press is already on the site and will continue to monitor on location this news, updating it soon with more information

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Question

Hundreds of methane gas flares discovered off coast of Gisborne, New Zealand

Jamie Morton
The New Zealand Herald
Thu, 30 Apr 2015 11:54 UTC
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© Michael Coghlan Poverty Bay.
A team of scientists have found around 766 individual methane gas flares within an area of seabed off the coast of Gisborne, in what has been described as a "major advance" for science and a first for New Zealand.

The finding comes as the 11-member expedition ends tomorrow morning with the NIWA deepwater research vessel Tangaroa arriving back in Wellington.

The team, led by marine geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy, had been investigating the area after German and Kiwi researchers last year revealed 99 seabed gas flares there using state-of-the-art 3D and 2D seismic and echosounder technology.

Following this discovery, Dr Mountjoy and his team sought to find out whether methane was getting through the water column to the ocean's surface and into the atmosphere, and determine what contribution it was making to global greenhouse gas.

The first objective of the voyage was to remap gas flares in the area in fine detail, using a range of acoustic techniques.

Comment: See also these reports for the last 12 months:

Large volumes of methane being released in Arctic Ocean

Hundreds of methane plumes erupting along U.S. Atlantic coast

Methane gas seeping out of the ground in China

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