Earth ChangesS


Igloo

Twisted logic? "Global Warming could bring colder UK winters"

Penny Palmer
BBC
Thu, 13 Nov 2003 14:13 UTC
Image
© Unknown
Britain could be heading for a "big freeze" if global warming switches off an important ocean current in the Atlantic, some scientists say.

Britain is kept relatively mild in the winter by the warm air blanket brought to us from the tropics by a branch of the Gulf Stream.

But if global warming continues to melt major ice sheets, that supply of warm air could come to an abrupt end, according to a number of experts.

The Gulf Stream relies on a sensitive "conveyer belt" action, which could be "switched off" - quite suddenly - if it becomes diluted by fresh water from the melting ice-sheets, they claim.
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Bizarro Earth

Moderate earthquake hits Philippines


Agence France Presse
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:09 UTC
A moderate, 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao early today, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

There was no immediate tsunami warning.

The quake struck at 5.38am(8.38am AEDT) and was centred 102km southeast of Davao, on Mindanao island, at a depth of 46km, the USGS said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue any tsunami warning.
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Bizarro Earth

4.3-magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand North Island


Xinhua
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:58 UTC
An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck New Zealand North Island's Gisborne area early Monday.

The quake occurred at 5:01 a.m. local time (16:01 GMT Sunday) and was centered 30 km southeast of Gisborne at a depth of 40 km, New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Science reported.
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Cloud Lightning

Record snow brings travel chaos to China and Korea


Agence France-Presse
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:40 UTC
Image
© Lee Sang-hak/APSeoul, South Korea: Passengers wait in front of a screen that shows cancelled flights at Kimpo Airport
Planes were grounded and thousands of schools were forced to close as the heaviest snow in over six decades blanketed Beijing and Seoul on Monday, with temperatures plummeting across much of Asia.

One person was killed and at least two others were missing in the mountains of central Japan after heavy snow.

With temperatures falling in several Asian countries, Indian officials said over 40 people had died in a cold snap that has gripped parts of the north and prompted authorities to shut thousands of schools and dole out firewood.

Parts of China experienced heavy snow flurries, with the capital Beijing recording its heaviest daily snowfall in nearly six decades on Sunday, the state Xinhua news agency reported.

The Central Meteorological Administration reported that up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) had fallen on Beijing and Tianjin over the weekend. While skies were clear in the capital Monday, more snow was expected in northeast China.
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Bizarro Earth

Solomon Islands - Earthquake Magnitude 7.2


US Geological Survey
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:39 UTC
Image
© USGS

Date-Time:
Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 22:36:30 UTC

Monday, January 04, 2010 at 09:36:30 AM at epicenter

Location:
8.912°S, 157.307°E

Depth:
30.5 km (19.0 miles)

Distances:
105 km (65 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.

210 km (130 miles) WSW of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands

295 km (185 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

2100 km (1310 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
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Bizarro Earth

Peru - Earthquake Magnitude 5.7


US Geological Survey
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:35 UTC
Image
© USGS
Date-Time:
Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 20:39:12 UTC

Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 03:39:12 PM at epicenter

Location:
8.876°S, 77.695°W

Depth:
104.9 km (65.2 miles)

Distances:
75 km (45 miles) NNW of Huaraz, Peru

100 km (60 miles) ENE of Chimbote, Peru

365 km (225 miles) NNW of LIMA, Peru

960 km (600 miles) S of QUITO, Ecuador
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Bizarro Earth

Thousands of dead octopuses wash up on Portugal beach


BBC News
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:51 UTC
Dead octopus Portugal
© BBC News
Thousands of dead octopuses have washed up on a beach in northern Portugal, in what is being called an environmental disaster.

They cover a 5-mile stretch of Vila Nova de Gaia beach - no reason has yet been found for their appearance.

The authorities have warned the public not to eat them.

Comment: Something is happening in the Atlantic. This doesn't bode well.

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Bizarro Earth

Strong earthquake shakes Tajikistan


Al Jazeera
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:38 UTC
At least 10,000 people have been left homeless in Tajikistan after an earthquake hit the Gorno-Badakhshansky region in the east of the country.

The Emergency Situations and Civil Defence Committee said no casualties were reported after the magnitude 5.3 quake struck about 10 villages in the Pamir Mountains.

Azimdzhon Shamsiddinov, the deputy head of the Vanj district, on Sunday, said: "1,050 residential buildings were destroyed in our region."
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Cloud Lightning

Snow paralyses Beijing as China braces for big chill


Agence France-Presse
Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:43 UTC
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© Agence France-PresseTemperatures could fall as low as -16 degrees in Beijing over the next few days
A freezing front swept over much of northern China Sunday with snowstorms snarling road and air traffic, schools set to stay closed, and some of the lowest temperatures in decades forecast in coming days.

Snow storms were expected to continue through Monday and the mercury was set to plunge in the next 48 hours when China returns to work following a three-day New Year holiday, the Beijing meteorological station said.

Gale force winds sweeping down from Siberia could result in temperatures as low as minus 16 degrees Celsius (three degrees Fahrenheit) in the capital on Monday and Tuesday, it added.

In some parts of northern China temperatures were expected to drop as low as minus 32 degrees Celsius.
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Bizarro Earth

Australia: Wild Thunderstorms Lash Victoria

Amelia Harris
The Herald Sun
Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:59 UTC
Image
© Ben SwinnertonLightning lashed Melbourne for two consecutive nights.
Wild thunderstorms have lashed Victoria for the second night in a row, causing flooding and lightning to strike houses.

Areas northwest of Melbourne received up to 60mm of rain, while the storms also brought down trees and power lines.

Gisborne, about 50km northwest of Melbourne, was worst affected, with the State Emergency Service receiving more than 60 calls for flash flooding.

SES operations manager Tim Wiebusch said extra crews were needed to help clean up.

"The word back we've had from the crews is it's large storm water drains that aren't coping with the downpour,'' Mr Wiebusch said.
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