Earth ChangesS


Snowflake

Japan's biggest snowfall in years paralyzes Tokyo transportation system


Sputnik
Mon, 22 Jan 2018 19:12 UTC
japan snow
© Anastasia Fedotova
The biggest snowfall in years has partially paralyzed Japan's transportation system and has led to scores of injuries. Emergency services have been working overtime in the capital Tokyo.

At least 67 people have suffered various injuries due to severe weather in Japan's metropolitan area according to national broadcaster NHK.

The snowfall has prompted the country's weather agency to issue a heavy snow warning for Tokyo for the first time in four years.
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Biohazard

Deer are dying from mysterious chronic wasting disease sparking concerns the infection could spread to humans

Fiza Pirani
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:00 UTC
chronic wasting disease deer, deer zombie virus
Deer across North America are dying from a mysterious disease that gradually destroys the animals' nervous systems.

And scientists are concerned that the infection could make its way to humans.

Chronic wasting disease - or "zombie deer disease" - was first observed in 1967 in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has since infected wild herds in 24 states and Canada, as well as in South Korea and Norway, NPR reported.

"CWD passes from animal to animal through prions, misfolded proteins that cause other proteins to misfold around them," NPR reported. "Different prion diseases tend to only harm certain species, but can evolve to overcome those limitations."
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Snowflake

Over a meter of snow in 24 hours for Mount Washington in British Columbia

Leeanna McLean
The Weather Network
Sun, 21 Jan 2018 14:22 UTC
Mount Washington
© Terry BergenMount Washington
In addition to widespread power outages across British Columbia's Lower Mainland due to high winds, Mount Washington was closed Sunday as more than a metre of snow fell in a 24 hour period, raising the avalanche danger rating to high.

As a result of the massive amount of fresh powder, Mount Washington Road was closed from the resort to the junction of Highway 19, according to Drive B.C.

Meaghan Barker of Victoria, is one of many people who are stuck in the area. She arrived Thursday night and is staying in a cabin on a road called Fosters Place with her parents, husband and daughter.

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Snowflake

Snow depth in Sweden sets new seasonal record


The Local (Sweden)
Mon, 22 Jan 2018 14:10 UTC
snow
Most of Sweden, apart from the very far south and the west coast, was covered in snow on Monday morning - but meteorologists advised snow lovers to enjoy it while it lasts.

Mountain ski resort Kittelfjäll in Vilhelmina municipality recorded weekend snow depths of more than 150 centimetres - the deepest snow cover so far this winter, according to national weather agency SMHI.

Further north, the town of Jokkmokk, currently busy preparing for its annual Sami winter market which gets under way on February 1st, boasted 135 centimetres of the white stuff.

The central Svealand region, which includes Stockholm, recorded its deepest snow cover in Lillhamra in Dalarna where 102 centimetres of snow had fallen by Sunday, according to SMHI.
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Seismograph

Mystery grows as earthquake swarm in Reno, Nevada lasts 7 days straight

Meghan Bartels
Newsweek
Sat, 20 Jan 2018 01:27 UTC
earthquake swarm Reno 2018
More than 250 earthquakes hit South Reno, Nevada since January January 12, 2018.
In the past month, parts of Reno, Nevada, have experienced a total of 274 known earthquakes. But if you're surprised you haven't heard about them by now, consider that the vast majority of those have been truly tiny tremors-just five of those quakes have been stronger than a magnitude 2.0, which means they've mostly been too gentle to feel. Some have even been so tiny that seismological networks haven't even alerted scientists there has been a quake. Instead, they've pored through data to identify the small quivers.

According to Ken Smith, an earth scientist at the University of Nevada Reno's Nevada Seismological Laboratory, the swarm kicked off on December 18, then quieted down until January 12. Then seismological activity picked back up and has continued since, although in the past day or so the tremors have slowed down again. "Things are starting to cool off a little bit, so that's good news," Smith told Newsweek.

Comment:

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Snowflake

Several ski resorts in the Alps cut off AGAIN as heavy snowfall closes rail and road links

Patrick Thorne
inthesnow.com
Sun, 21 Jan 2018 20:18 UTC
snow
A number of ski resorts in the Alps are currently in accessible as heavy snow either makes mountain roads and rail lines impassable or local authorities close them due to the avalanche danger.

The latest heavy snow, which may deposit a metre of snow at some resorts over the next three days, is the latest in a series of heavy snowfalls over the past month

Zermatt announced yesterday evening that it was closing its rail access from neighbouring Tasch due to the avalanche danger at 10pm and this morning said access remained closed for the time being with no end point yet known. Last night they advised arriving skiers to look for accommodation in Swiss cities rather than making the journey up to Zermatt.


Comment: See also: Over a meter of snow dumps on the Alps in 72 hours, with another meter forecast over next 3 days

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Snowflake Cold

At least 12 snowy owls from the Arctic found dead in Kansas, likely starved to death

Beccy Tanner
The Wichita Eagle
Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:24 UTC
This snowy owl was photographed while alive
© Bob GressThis snowy owl was photographed while alive but was later found dead at Lake Cheney. The birds normally inhabit the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia but have been pushed south this winter.
A snowy owl was found dead recently at Cheney Lake Reservoir.

It most likely starved to death.

It is among nearly a dozen snowy owls found dead this winter by wildlife officials, and there may be more.

More than five dozen of the majestic white owls have shown up in Kansas this winter, pushed far from their usual habitat of the Arctic.

"Several of us, based on information, believe three-fourths of the owls seen in Kansas will not survive," said Chuck Otte, secretary of the Kansas Ornithological Society. "That's not uncommon. These are first-year birds hatched this year. In the wild, 80 percent of birds do not survive the first 12 months. People get upset about this but it's a rough world out there."
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Attention

New eruption at Kadovar Island volcano in Papua New Guinea


Los Angeles Times
Sun, 21 Jan 2018 15:07 UTC
Ash plumes rise from the volcano on Kadovar Island in the South Pacific.
© Brenton-James GloverAsh plumes rise from the volcano on Kadovar Island in the South Pacific.
An island volcano in Papua New Guinea erupted again Sunday, sending plumes of steam and ash into the air.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from islands surrounding Kadovar Island off the South Pacific nation's north coast since the volcano there began erupting on Jan. 5. Flights nearby have been canceled due to the risk posed by ash plumes and ships were warned to stay away from the island.

Experts warned last week that seismic activity beneath the volcano meant that a major eruption could be imminent.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has previously said state resources were being made available to support evacuations and he has warned northern coastal communities to be alert for possible tsunamis.
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Snowflake

Snow blocks 5,000 kilometers of roads in Morocco


Morocco World News
Sat, 20 Jan 2018 14:23 UTC
snow
© Saadia Dinia
The Moroccan Minister of Transport, Abdelkader Amara, told parliament on Monday that nearly 5,000 kilometers of national, regional, and provincial roads were closed this year due to "exceptional" snowfall.

To address the unprecedented road conditions, the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment, Transport, and Logistics mobilized 117 snow plows. Amara also made a public reminder that, before getting behind the wheel, Moroccans can use the application "MaRoute" to access the most recent information about the state of the roads across the country.

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Attention

Over 1,000 turtles stunned by the unusually cold weather are rescued off Florida Panhandle


Daily Mail
Sat, 20 Jan 2018 13:28 UTC
Rescued turtles are transported to Gulf World Marine Park, with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back in the bay
Rescued turtles are transported to Gulf World Marine Park, with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back in the bay
More than 1,000 sea turtles stunned by unusually cold weather have been rescued from waters off the Florida Panhandle this month.

U.S. Geological Survey sea turtle expert Margaret Lamont said cold-stunned sea turtles began appearing in St. Joseph Bay in early January as freezing temperatures gripped the region and water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico plummeted.

'It's now over 1,000, maybe up to 1,100,' she told the Tampa Bay Times, referencing the number of turtles that had been collected so far from the bay.

That number is usually 30 or 40.
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