Earth Changes

Lagoon's 'incredible refuge' may hold secret to coral survival

Thomas Moore
Sky News
Sun, 24 Mar 2019 12:21 UTC

Shoals of fish use the channel as a highway, dodging the prowling sharks

In a huge 'sea' in the Seychelles coral reefs survive rapid changes in temperatures and scientists are keen to find out why.

The secret to coral survival in a warming world could lie in Aldabra's vast inland 'sea'.

Coral reefs in the huge lagoon, which is big enough to swallow Manhattan twice over, survived the mass bleaching event in 2016 in much better health than those that ring the outside of the atoll.

Preliminary results from new research show that tiles placed on the bottom of the lagoon attract many more coral larvae than identical tiles placed on the fringing reef.

One-year-old boy mauled to death by two dogs in Fresno, California

Brianna Calix
The Sacramento Bee
Fri, 22 Mar 2019 14:52 UTC

A 1-year-old boy was killed and his grandmother was injured Friday morning after being attacked by two dogs in southeast Fresno, Fresno police reported.

Officers were dispatched about 11 a.m. to a home in the 5900 block of East Kaviland Avenue where they found the child suffering from dog bites, Fresno police Lt. Mark Hudson said. The officers performed CPR and the child was then taken by ambulance to Community Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Hundreds of birds die as massive hailstorm hits Newcastle, South Africa

SA People
Fri, 22 Mar 2019 14:17 UTC

Dead falcons

Over 1,000 falcon birds are reported to have been injured or died overnight after a massive hail storm swept suddenly into Newcastle in South Africa, wreaking havoc in the space of just 15 minutes (see photos below). Fortunately for the quick thinking of local caring residents, more of the birds - which have migrated to SA from the Amur River bordering Russia and China - didn't die and will be rehabilitated.

Residents of the KwaZulu-Natal town awoke this morning to destruction with car windows smashed and shattered by the hailstones which were the size of golfballs (some said there were even bigger pieces, the size of tennis balls). Many roofs were destroyed, and rainwater flooded into homes. Even some pets sadly died.

Passenger video shows cruise ship issue mayday during stormy weather and engine failure off coast of Norway

The Epoch Times
Sat, 23 Mar 2019 12:00 UTC

© Odd Roar Lange/NTB scanpix via AP
The cruise ship Viking Sky as it drifts after sending a Mayday signal because of engine failure in windy conditions near Hustadvika, off the west coast of Norway, on March 23, 2019.

Police say a cruise ship with engine problems has sent a mayday call off Norway's western coast and is making plans to evacuate its 1,300 passengers and crew.

Norwegian newspaper VG said the Viking Sky cruise ship ran into propulsion problems as strong winds and heavy seas hit Norway's coastal regions on Saturday, March 23.

Police in the western county of Moere og Romsdal said Saturday the ship has managed to moor in Hustadsvika Bay, between the western Norwegian cities of Alesund and Trondheim.

Rescue teams with helicopters and boats have been sent to help and evacuate the vessel, a process expected to take several hours.

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: How much food prices will rise after Midwest USA floods

Adapt 2030
Sat, 23 Mar 2019 23:52 UTC

Bartlett Grain Company grain elevators are surrounded by floodwaters in Hamburg, Iowa

The biggest floods to hit the USA Midwest crop growing belts since 1993 and 1927, this appears to be the largest event event ever recorded in that area of North America in the last 150 years. Since the trade war with China, more 6.7 billion bushels in storage of the 17 billion bushels total has been lost due to flooding and contamination. Going by 1993 price rises after the flood a jump of 30% at the minimum is forecast. Global grain production down 7% over the last two years and poor conditions in the fields will make refilling the silos difficult at best.

Comment: Erratic seasons and extreme weather devastating crops around the world

Crop and cattle losses are on the rise everywhere, whether it is due to extensive drought, massive hail, epic flooding, unexpected frosts, and even epidemics. See also:

Dust devil hits Mexico's Chichen Itza a day after Spring Equinox

Yucatán Expat Life
Sat, 23 Mar 2019 10:23 UTC

A day after tourists came to Yucatan to see a "serpent" climb down a temple's steps, a different natural phenomenon wowed tourists.

A dramatic, mysterious whirlwind hit an open area near the same pyramid Friday afternoon, startling amazed onlookers at the archaeological site.

The narrow dust devil, reaching up into the sky, kicked up dirt but caused no injuries or damage. A video of the incident was shared on social networks.

"Kukulkan is mad," said one witness, referring to the Mayan serpent deity for whom the temple is named.

Cyclone Idai: Satellite images show extent of flooding around Beira, Mozambique - new lake forms measuring 80 by 15 miles

Peter Beaumont and Ruth Maclean
The Guardian
Sat, 23 Mar 2019 20:20 UTC

Tens of thousands still trapped by flood waters as rescuers in Mozambique race against clock

© AFP/Getty
A satellite image released by the European Space Agency shows the extent of flooding, depicted in red, around Beira in Mozambique.

New satellite images of the Mozambican port city of Beira have revealed the vast scale of flooding, as rescuers race to reach tens of thousands of people trapped by flood waters from Cyclone Idai.

European Space Agency images show a huge new inland "lake" measuring about 80 miles by 15 miles (125km by 25km).

A large number of people in and around Beira who sought refuge on rooftops and trees are still waiting to be rescued a week after the cyclone struck. As flood waters recede, the priority is to deliver food and other supplies to people on the ground rather than take people out of affected areas, although that is also happening, Mozambique's land and environment minister said.

Comment: Other recent massive flooding events elsewhere in the world: Australian river swells to 37 miles wide due to flooding, creates its own weather system

Over 10 million impacted by fatal and historic US flooding

Atacama desert, world's driest place suffers massive flooding in northern Chile

Strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits western Colombia

Sandra Maler
Reuters
Sat, 23 Mar 2019 19:58 UTC

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck western Colombia in the Andes on Saturday but it was deep, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake struck 32 miles (51.5 km) northwest of the city of Tula, but it was 70.4 miles (113 km) deep, which would have dampened the shaking.

Death toll rises to 732 with hundreds missing in devastating Cyclone Idai

RT
Sat, 23 Mar 2019 15:41 UTC

The death toll from a devastating cyclone that struck Zimbabwe and neighboring Mozambique a week ago has spiraled to 732, and is expected to rise even further as hundreds remain missing.

Survivors are struggling to deal with the aftermath of the huge disaster, with an estimated 1 million people affected in Mozambique alone. Tens of thousands have sought refuge in emergency shelters after hurricane-force winds of up to 200kph and heavy flooding forced them from their homes.

The UN has repeated calls for emergency support to help aid agencies cope with the immediate impact of the disaster, while the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned that cases of cholera have been reported in Beira, Mozambique.

Comment: See also:

Rare moonbow captured over UK's Cumbria heralds arrival of spring

BBC
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 08:24 UTC

rare coloured moonbow in Alston, Cumbria

A moonbow - a rare lunar rainbow - has been photographed over Cumbria during the super worm moon.

It was captured late on Wednesday above Alston by BBC Weather Watcher Andrew Hewison, who posts as Kimspics.

BBC weather presenter Simon King described it as a "rare and amazing colourful moonbow".

He said normally moonbows are much fainter and seen as white but the extra brightness of Wednesday's moon meant colours could be seen.

The super worm moon coincided with the spring equinox, the midway point between mid-winter and mid-summer.

During a full moon, Mr King said, there can be enough light to produce a moonbow.

"The FDA has many decisions to make beyond just approving the drug, or not. It must decide whether pregnant women - and any other at-risk groups -...

prehistoric

Many people who are hesitant to be vaccinated for Covid-19 see the drug as a treatment or prophylactic for the disease, though so far there is no...

Good Optics

With mail in voting likely to become a thing, does it really matter any more? Stick a fork in us...this country is done.

Bezel Bub

Other comets coming sooner, although not quite as big. E.g. "Leonard" this December https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2021_A1_(Leonard)

Tsidkenu

Tornadoes here in Aus too, as I reported here [Link]

Tsidkenu

Earth Changes

Lagoon's 'incredible refuge' may hold secret to coral survival

One-year-old boy mauled to death by two dogs in Fresno, California

Hundreds of birds die as massive hailstorm hits Newcastle, South Africa

Passenger video shows cruise ship issue mayday during stormy weather and engine failure off coast of Norway

Adapt 2030 Ice Age Report: How much food prices will rise after Midwest USA floods

Dust devil hits Mexico's Chichen Itza a day after Spring Equinox

Cyclone Idai: Satellite images show extent of flooding around Beira, Mozambique - new lake forms measuring 80 by 15 miles

Strong magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits western Colombia

Death toll rises to 732 with hundreds missing in devastating Cyclone Idai

Rare moonbow captured over UK's Cumbria heralds arrival of spring

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