Earth ChangesS


Attention

Best of the Web: Astonishing discovery: First-ever 'space hurricane' was observed in upper atmosphere above North Pole in 2014

Arve Aksnes
Birkeland Centre for Space Science
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 22:24 UTC
Space hurricane
© Birkeland Centre for Space ScienceIllustration of a space hurricane by Shandong University at Weihai in China.
In a new study in Nature Communications by Zhang et al. [2021], the first observations of a space hurricane over the Earth's polar ionosphere is shown.

Co-author and professor at the Birkeland Centre for Space Science, Kjellmar Oksavik, finds the new results remarkable: "Hurricanes are well-known in the Earth's lower atmosphere, causing destruction and harm to people and infrastructure. We had no idea that a similar phenomenon could be found in the upper polar atmosphere, several hundred kilometers above the ground".

The space hurricane was observed on August 20, 2014, when four DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) satellites detected a cyclone-like auroral spot around the north magnetic pole, having a diameter over 1000 km with multiple arms and anti-clockwise rotation. After showing its presence for nearly 8 hours, the space hurricane gradually decayed and merged into the duskside auroral oval.


Comment: WOW!


Comment: This happened 7 years ago, but was carefully kept under wraps.

We wonder if it has happened since.

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Cloud Precipitation

Floods worsen in Greater Jakarta Region, Indonesia 5 people reported dead, over 30,000 displaced

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:30 UTC
Floods in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia
© BNPBFloods in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia, February 2021.
The flood situation in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia, has worsened over the last 2 days. As of 22 February as many as 5 people have died, 2 are missing and over 30,000 people displaced.

As reported here, flooding struck in Greater Jakarta from 19 February, prompting 1,300 evacuations mostly in South and East Jakarta and also affecting parts of West Jakarta.

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Arrow Up

Bermuda's hurricanes are twice as strong as they were six decades ago

Harry Baker
LiveScience
Wed, 17 Feb 2021 00:00 UTC
Hurricane Florence
© ShutterstockHurricane Florence off US Coast in 2018
Ocean warming is fueling stronger hurricanes.

Hurricanes are blasting Bermuda with wind speeds that have more than doubled in strength over the last 66 years, due to rising ocean temperatures in the region as a result of climate change, according to a new study.

Within a 62-mile (100 kilometers) radius of Bermuda, the average maximum wind speed of hurricanes increased from 35 to 73 mph (56 to 117 km/h) between 1955 and 2019, the researchers found. This is the equivalent of a 6 mph (10 km/h) increase every decade.

During this time, sea-surface temperatures in the region also increased by up to two degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius), according to the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS), a long-running dataset collected by the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

Scientists already knew that higher sea surface temperatures fuel stronger tropical cyclones. But the new findings show that temperatures below the sea surface also play a key role in how these storms form.

Comment: See also:

Bad news: Study claims hurricanes' translational speed is slowing down, potentially increasing damage

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Attention

Pod of 49 long-finned pilot whales strand on beach in New Zealand - 9 die


WION
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 14:07 UTC
The worst danger to stranded whales is overheating in the sun, as their dark skin and layers of blubber work to trap heat.
© NINA HINDMARSHThe worst danger to stranded whales is overheating in the sun, as their dark skin and layers of blubber work to trap heat.
Rescuers in New Zealand had to race against time to save dozens of pilot whales that were stranded on the beachside in New Zealand on Monday.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) reported that a pod of 49 long-finned pilot whales was discovered at Farewell Spit, which is nearly 90 kilometres (55 metres) north of Nelson.

As soon as the pod was discovered, more than 60 people set to work to rescue the whales and bring them back to a healthy life. However, by mid-afternoon nine of the whales from the pod were declared dead.


Comment: This comes just 3 days after 52 short-finned pilot whales died after stranding on a beach in Java, Indonesia.

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Boat

Over 100,000 hit by floods as rivers overflow in Acre, Brazil

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 13:39 UTC
Flooding of the Juruá River at Cruzeiro do Sul,
© Marcos Vicentti / SecomFlooding of the Juruá River at Cruzeiro do Sul, State of Acre, Brazil, February 2021.
Over 100,000 people have been affected by flooding in the state of Acre, northwestern Brazil, after several rivers in the state broke their banks fin the last week.

The State has declared an emergency situation. Governor Gladson Cameli said Acre is facing one of the most challenging times in its history, dealing with the worsening of the coronavirus pandemic, dengue outbreak, migratory crisis on the border with Peru and the overflow of rivers which has affected several municipalities across the state, including the capital Rio Branco.

Around 33,000 people have been affected in Cruzeiro do Sul municipality after the Juruá River reached record levels of 14.31 metres on 19 February, beating the previous high of 14.24 set in February 2017.

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Cloud Precipitation

Deadly floods and landslides in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Richard Davies
Floodlist
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 13:28 UTC
Floods in Minas Gerais, Brazil, late February 2021
© Defesa Civil Minas GeraisFloods in Minas Gerais, Brazil, late February 2021.
Heavy rain caused landslides and flooding in parts of Minas Gerais state in Brazil during the period 18 to 21 February 2021.

Two people died and 4 are missing after a landslide caused a house to collapse in Santa Maria de Itabira. Other landslides and flooding also caused severe damage in the city. Damage assessments are ongoing. State Governor Romeu Zema visited affected areas of the city on 21 February to closely monitor the assistance actions of the Fire Service and the State Civil Defence in the municipality

Flooding and landslides affected other areas of the state, including in the municipalities of Caparaó, Carangola and Matipó, where authorities are distributing relief supplies to affect communities. Minas Gerais Civil Defence reported rain-related fatalities in Divino (1) and Durandé (1).

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Cloud Precipitation

'Pineapple Express' atmospheric river is headed for the rain-soaked US Northwest

Alison Chinchar
The Mercury News
Sun, 21 Feb 2021 18:53 UTC
atmospheric river
© CNNAn atmospheric river event known as the Pineapple Express is forecast to bring a prolonged period of wet weather and the potential for avalanches to Washington and Oregon beginning Sunday.
An atmospheric river event known as the "Pineapple Express" is forecast to bring a prolonged period of wet weather and the potential for avalanches to Washington and Oregon beginning Sunday.

The effects from rain and considerable mountain snow will be felt through early this week. With the ground already saturated from previous storms, flooding is possible even from the few inches of rain the storm is forecast to produce.

Avalanche warnings have been issued for much of the Cascades across Washington ahead of this heavy snow. A "high" avalanche danger warning (level 4 out of 5) has been issued for Sunday by the Northwest Avalanche Center. Large natural avalanches are possible even at lower elevations.

Avalanches have killed 30 people across the United States this winter season, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.

"This will mark the beginning of a wet period across Western Washington, as the southern periphery of the Atmospheric River will affect the region before it shifts southward over the area Monday," the National Weather Service office in Seattle warned Saturday.

Comment: Study reveals atmospheric rivers to double in size

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Cloud Precipitation

Philippines evacuates thousands in southern areas as storm approaches


Bangkok Post
Sun, 21 Feb 2021 18:55 UTC
Tropical Storm Auring Dujuan Philippines flooding
© Gov. Ayec PimentelAn aerial photo shows the extent of flooding in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 after a river overflowed its banks due to heavy rains from Tropical Storm Auring (international name: Dujuan).
Philippine authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people in the south of the country on Sunday as tropical storm Dujuan approaches.

About 51,400 people have been moved to 331 evacuation centres in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Butuan City, the disaster risk reduction and management agency said.
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Attention

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: (Humans to be de-commissioned) Grains are not essential


Adapt 2030
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 18:25 UTC
Mount Etna lava flow
© YouTube/Adapt 2030 (screen capture)
Massive Etna eruption marks the World Economic Forum's new policies for global food production, just as Wales government deems planting seed for spring gardens off limits and non-essential for purchase.


Comment: See also:

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Snowflake

Saudi Arabia sees snowfall for first time in 50 years - photo, video

Evgeny Mikhaylov
Sputnik
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 08:44 UTC
Saudi Arabia Snow
© Photo : YouTube/ EXTREME WEATHER & NATURAL DISASTERS

Earlier this winter, Saudi Arabia, among other countries, experienced unusually cold weather, with the temperature falling below 0 degrees Celsius and massive snowfall blanketing the desert for the first time in 50 years.

Several parts of Saudi Arabia have experienced an extremely rare phenomenon for the region - a snowy winter, as blizzards hit the Middle Eastern country this week. Weather warnings have been issued for several parts of Saudi Arabia, with the Aseer region being the worst-hit by the heavy snowfall.

Comment: See also:

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