Earth Changes
On May 17th, NASA's AIM spacecraft detected the first noctilucent clouds (NLCs) of summer. Those first electric-blue smudges were barely visible. Since then, however, the clouds have rapidly intensified. Recent images from orbit show a growing bank of NLCs pinwheeling just inside the Arctic Circle:
NLCs are Earth's highest clouds. Seeded by meteoroids, they float at the edge of space more than 80 km above the ground. The clouds form when summertime wisps of water vapor rise up to the mesosphere, allowing water to crystallize around specks of meteor smoke. Last summer, they spread as far south as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, setting records for low-latitude sightings.
© Robert Foubister
Robert's excellent photos managed to capture the white 'chin' and silvery appearance to the primaries
Robert's excellent photos managed to capture the white 'chin' and silvery appearance to the primaries
A white beak was the first thing I noticed as being unusual - it was almost eagle-like - but I knew it wasn't bird of prey and more likely a skua of some description, so I decided to get some photos. The bird had first appeared at approximately 7.30 am along the east coast of Scapa Flow just below Gaitnip Farm and headed over Scapa Bay, to the west coast of the flow, and up over Lingro Farm where it gained height, circling above the fields in an almost Common Buzzard-like manner.
As I was watching it I started thinking that it was something different to normal, as it had an unusual wingbeat and flying style (almost reminscent of an owl!) and a white beak and black body with long wings. What was this? The bird then started to head east again back over Scapa Bay, before flying up over the hill towards the airport. That was the last I saw of it.
According to the daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one person was killed at Rongjuli in Goalpara district.
At present, around 2.72 lakh persons are affected due to flood in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Hojai, Darrang, Barpeta, Nalbari, Goalpara, West Karbi Anglong, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, it said.
Goalpara is the worst-hit district with 2.15 lakh people affected, followed by Nalbari with over 22,000 people hit and Nagaon with nearly 11,000 persons.
© YouTube/Adapt 2030 (screen capture)
© Twitter/Schmidt Ocean
A team of ocean researchers stumbled across what appeared to be some type of 'underwater tornado' (pictured) while conducting a study near Moore Reef, off the coast of Cairns
A team of ocean researchers stumbled across what appeared to be some type of 'underwater tornado' (pictured) while conducting a study near Moore Reef, off the coast of Cairns
Schmidt Ocean Institute researchers were performing a remote expedition on Moore Reef, off the coast of Cairns in Queensland, when they made the discovery on May 22.
'That's amazing. It's like it's created an underwater tornado, I've never seen that before,' one of the researchers is heard saying.
Australian marine geologist Dr Robin Beaman watched the live feed and explained how unusual the sighting was.
'There is such a thing called benthic storms, this is kind of at a broader level, this is like a benthic tornado,' the researcher said.
'It is actually leaving a trail on the sea floor, that was so strange.'
Comment: Fire-nadoes, snow-nadoes, and now underwater-nadoes. Clearly, the cyclonic theory about how tornadoes form ('hot air-meets-cold air') needs updating!
Meili Snow Mountains in Deqen County, southwest China's Yunnan Province.
On Wednesday May 27th local authorities stated that the park's inside and outside roads suffered damage due to the continuous rain and heavy snow, and to guarantee the security of tourists and pilgrims, publicity department mentioned that the company operating the park carried out urgent situation effort.
Sources
Maria Veronica Ligtasy, 16 years old, resident of Barangay 149 Raxa Bago Street, Tondo, Manila and Marilyn Rutur, 15 years old, resident of Block 96, Lot 6 Kawal Purok 4, Dagatdagatan, Caloocan City were pronounced dead on arrival when rushed to the Mapandan Community Hospital in Mapandan, Pangasinan.
Both were reportedly staying with relatives in Barangay Aseda as they were stranded during the lockdown. Being minors, the two were not allowed to travel during the duration of the lockdown.
© AMNA
The scene at Zogori on May 26.
The scene at Zogori on May 26.
Heavy snowfall at the the region of Zagori, near Ioannina, turned the landscape wintery. According to residents of the area, the snow reached 10cm while temperatures dropped to 2°C.
Roads were covered in snow and driving conditions were particularly difficult.
Comment: For more information on this and much more read, Earth Changes and the Human-Cosmic Connection by Pierre Lescaudron and Laura Knight-Jadczyk.