Earth ChangesS


Attention

US, Tennessee: Crew stabilizing sinkhole that swallowed creek in Sevier County, building sluice


The Republic
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:43 UTC
A crew is working to ensure that water continues to flow in a Sevier County creek where a sinkhole opened, draining a three-mile section of the stream.

The plan is to plug the holes that first formed last year in Middle Creek under the Collier Drive bridge.

The bridge had to be stabilized and now work is under way to ensure the stream continues to flow above ground. A dam was built and pumps are channeling the water through temporary pipes along the bank while the holes are filled and a concrete sluice is built over them.

Rain on Wednesday raised the water level in the stream and forced a temporary halt to the work, according to The Mountain Press.

Source: The Associated Press
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Arrow Down

Canada, Yellowknife: Sinkhole Growing at Giant Mine Site


CBC News
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:42 UTC

Federal officials in Yellowknife are worried that a growing sinkhole at the former Giant Mine could result in water seeping into the site's underground arsenic chambers.

The sinkhole first appeared in May and is currently six square metres in size. It is located between Baker Creek and an open pit that is connected to the underground section of the mine.

As well, the depression is close to four underground chambers in which thousands of tonnes of arsenic trioxide - a toxic byproduct of gold production - are being stored.

Officials with the federal Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development are concerned the sinkhole could make it easier for water from Baker Creek to seep into the arsenic chambers, should the creek flood again next spring.
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Stop

US, Iowa: Sinkhole Results in Street Closing


The Daily Nonpareil
Sat, 23 Jul 2011 12:13 UTC
Image
© Cindy ChristensenSouth 26th St. between 6th and 7th Avenues has been blocked off due to a large sink hole spanning the width of the street. The sink measured 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep on Thursday and was caused by the high water table causing the sewer to collapse.
Officials say a large sinkhole in Council Bluffs started as a dip in the road and just kept growing.

South 26th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues is now barricaded because of a giant sinkhole in the street caused by high water tables, a city spokesman said.

Cost to repair the sinkhole, which had grown to 50 feet long by 50 feet wide by late Friday, is $216,000, said Don Gross.

When water levels get higher than normal, underground pipes become surrounded by water, he said. If there are cracks or openings in the pipe, the water and soil material flowing in it will eventually create a "cavity" in the pipe and eventually the street surface will collapse.

It's hoped the repairs can begin next week, Gross said. MFT Construction has received the bid, he added.
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Umbrella

US, Montana: Cold front exits the area later today

Fred Pfeiffer
KRTV
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 01:21 UTC
Image

Showers and thunderstorms are on the increase this afternoon as a cold front pushes across the state. A Tornado WATCH is in effect until 9 pm for much of the eastern third of the state. The strongest activity this afternoon is in the northeast around Glasglow. Severe weather is expected in the east with highs climbing into the 90's.

The western two-thirds of the state will see highs in the 70's.

Overnight partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers before midnight. Low in the upper 40's.

Saturday sunny and pleasant with a high near 80.
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Radar

6.5-magnitude quake hits N Japan


Press TV
Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:51 UTC
Image
© USGS
An earthquake with the magnitude of 6.5 has struck northern Japan around the same area that was affected by the March 11 quake and tsunami, geologists say.

The tremor hit at 1:34 p.m. (0434 GMT) off the Pacific coast of Miyagi prefecture, but no tsunami warning has been issued, AFP reported on Friday.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was "no destructive widespread tsunami threat."

The earthquake happened at the depth of 40 kilometers (25 miles), Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

No damage or casualties have been reported yet.

The Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train service stopped operations due to the quake, but resumed shortly afterwards.

The epicenter of the quake was 125 kilometers (77 miles) northeast of Sendai city, Miyagi's capital, according to the United States Geological Survey.
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Bulb

US, Florida: Severe Weather to Blame for Power Outages


CF News 13
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:26 UTC
clouds
© Scott B of W Melbourne
Intense showers and lightning moved into the Central Florida area Friday evening, causing some power outages.

A viewer, who shared a picture of what they called a 20 foot tree in their back yard, said that lightning cut it in half earlier in the day.

At the height of the stormy weather, Progress Energy said more than 3,000 customers were without power in the areas of Maitland and Casselberry, near SR 436 between Red Bug Lane and Lake Howell Road around 5:30 p.m. A spokesperson for the company said the outages were related to the severe conditions.

The company said power was expected to be out for about three hours.
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Radar

Moderate unusual earthquake near Lake Kariba, Zambia: Is the man made lake to blame ?

Armand Vervaeck and James Daniell
Earthquake Report
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:24 UTC
Image
© unknown
Earthquake overview : Moderate shallow earthquake in a location with very few prior earthquakes. Earthquake-Report.com calls this earthquake moderately damaging as the houses are not prepared to resist earthquakes and as the epicenter location is surrounded by many villages.

22/07-08:17 UTC : Felt reports from the epicenter area. "It was very bad in itezhi tezhi, some buildings have developed cracks.Thanks heavens that no damage was done to humans so that we can VOTE (ER: there are soon elections in Zambia)." "The tremor was at 15:56 hours. Two of my office glass panes cracked."

22/07-08:06 UTC : In local media a fierce discussion is going on to find out why this earthquake happened. Some people blame the Itezhi Tezhi Dam project. Below are 2 people with a diffrent opinion on the origin of this earthquake.
Lemekani Phiri : "The tremor was located in Itezhi-Tezhi district. This is due to the man-made lake there. The weight of the new water body and lubrication of formerly idle faults by the water most likely caused it. And yes, Zambia has the ability to measure (so called Richter scale) and accurately locate the quake. Check with the Geological Survey Zambia. There have been such tremors infrequently since the completion of the lake construction."
"We've always have tremors in Zambia even before the Kariba was made. Its just that they are not as often as those in Asia and South Europe. In Zambia they are like a comet, a rare phenomenon. How do you explain the one that took place in Mocambique and Zim? I think it has something to do with the rift valley. The only advice I can give is for those building houses to put up strong ones. Let's take a leaf from Japan. Thank God no major damages nor serious injuries reported."
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Bizarro Earth

UK: Rescue Operation Under Way After Three Whales are Beached in Sea Loch


The Daily Mail, UK
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 19:44 UTC
Three pilot whales became stranded on the shore of a remote Highland sea loch today.

Rescuers at the scene said the whales were part of a pod of around 60 which got trapped in the Kyle of Durness, one of Britain's most northerly points.

Beached Whales_1
© The Daily Mail, UKRescue divers administer first aid to two of the stranded pilot whales in the Kyle of Durness today.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity said the three mammals were being given first aid on the beach.

Between 15 and 20 pilot whales which were thought to be in danger of stranding have been herded back to a deeper channel of water where they rejoined the larger group.

Beached Whales_2
© The Daily Mail, UKTwo members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity herd up to 20 whales out to deeper water.
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Bizarro Earth

US: Massive Lake County Sinkhole Continues To Swallow Building


WFTV
Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:50 UTC

Leesburg, Florida. -- A large sinkhole has been swallowing downtown Leesburg and many neighbors said they are concerned.

The sinkhole at Main and East streets has already gobbled up one business, and the damage is getting worse.

City leaders said the mess is in the hands of the landowner, and city officials said since it's only been a couple of weeks, they're not ready to issue any ultimatums.

Douglass Anderson has a good view of the sinkhole because it's just 50 paces from his Leesburg home.

"No. I don't think we've got to pull out. I think the thing is going that way," said Anderson, pointing away from his house.

The sinkhole opened at the corner of East and Main on June 27. "There's no indication that this hole has been growing," said Robert Sargent, Leesburg city spokesman.

Sargent said even though half the roof of Main Street Hair and Beauty Supply caved in, the width and depth of the pit remains the same. The sinkhole is 60 feet across and 20 feet down.
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Bizarro Earth

Rare Sei Whale Spotted in Scottish Waters


BBC
Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:26 UTC
Sei Whale
© Danny KerrDanny Kerr captured a shot of the whale between Islay and Gigha.
Scientists believe a rare Sei whale has been sighted in Scottish waters - possibly only the ninth such sighting here in the past 50 years.

The mammal was photographed by Scots paramedic Danny Kerr off the west coast, between Islay and Gigha, as he was flying to pick up a patient.

He later sent the image to the marine charity Sea Watch, which enlisted the help of two American academics.

All three independently concluded that it was a Sei whale.

Adult Sei whales can weigh between 20 and 30 tonnes and grow up to 19.5m in length.
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