WASHINGTON - More than a foot of rain washed out highways around the nation's capital Monday, toppled a 100-year-old elm tree on the White House lawn and caused flooding that closed major government departments and the National Archives, where the Declaration of Independence is kept under glass.
Motorists were stranded during the morning rush hour, commuter trains were halted and emergency crews used boats to rescue dozens of people marooned by high water.
Many government employees were told to stay home, and tourists found that some of the major landmarks that had drawn them to Washington were closed.
Earth Changes
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear a case on whether the Bush administration should be forced to regulate carbon dioxide to fight global warming.
The decision comes after a federal appeals court ruled against the plaintiffs, which consist of states, cities and environmental groups.
At issue is the responsibilities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The decision comes after a federal appeals court ruled against the plaintiffs, which consist of states, cities and environmental groups.
At issue is the responsibilities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
An asteroid possibly as large as a half-mile or more in diameter is rapidly approaching the Earth. There is no need for concern, for no collision is in the offing, but the space rock will make an exceptionally close approach to our planet early on Monday, July 3, passing just beyond the Moon's average distance from Earth.
Astronomers will attempt to get a more accurate assessment of the asteroid's size by "pinging" it with radar.
And skywatchers with good telescopes and some experience just might be able to get a glimpse of this cosmic rock as it streaks rapidly past our planet in the wee hours Monday. The closest approach occurs late Sunday for U.S. West Coast skywatchers.
Astronomers will attempt to get a more accurate assessment of the asteroid's size by "pinging" it with radar.
And skywatchers with good telescopes and some experience just might be able to get a glimpse of this cosmic rock as it streaks rapidly past our planet in the wee hours Monday. The closest approach occurs late Sunday for U.S. West Coast skywatchers.
JAKOBSHAVN GLACIER, Greenland - Gripping a bottle of Jack Daniel's between his knees, Jay Zwally savored the warmth inside the tiny plane as it flew low across Greenland's biggest and fastest-moving outlet glacier.
Greenland is losing 52 cubic miles of ice each year, more than anyone anticipated. The amount of freshwater ice dumped into the Atlantic Ocean has almost tripled in a decade. Climate experts have started to worry that the ice cap is disappearing in ways that computer models had not predicted.
Greenland is losing 52 cubic miles of ice each year, more than anyone anticipated. The amount of freshwater ice dumped into the Atlantic Ocean has almost tripled in a decade. Climate experts have started to worry that the ice cap is disappearing in ways that computer models had not predicted.
FEDERALSBURG, Md. - Heavy rains caused serious flooding Sunday in parts of Maryland's Eastern Shore, washing out roads and forcing evacuations.
Federalsburg Mayor Betty Ballas declared an emergency for the town of about 2,600 on Sunday morning after 10 to 12 inches of rain fell overnight. About 30 people had to evacuate, police said.
Federalsburg Mayor Betty Ballas declared an emergency for the town of about 2,600 on Sunday morning after 10 to 12 inches of rain fell overnight. About 30 people had to evacuate, police said.
MANILA - The Philippines put civil defense personnel on alert for possible deadly volcanic mudflows as a tropical storm began bearing down on a volcano that has been spitting ash for weeks.
Civil defense reports said a ferry sank in rough seas off Sorsogon province, leaving at least two missing and feared dead. More than 40 others were rescued and rushed to hospital, the reports said.
Before leaving on a visit to Europe, President Gloria Arroyo said the civil defense office has prepared contingency plans in case rain from the storm mixes with ash on the slopes of Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon to form deadly mudflows.
Civil defense reports said a ferry sank in rough seas off Sorsogon province, leaving at least two missing and feared dead. More than 40 others were rescued and rushed to hospital, the reports said.
Before leaving on a visit to Europe, President Gloria Arroyo said the civil defense office has prepared contingency plans in case rain from the storm mixes with ash on the slopes of Bulusan volcano in Sorsogon to form deadly mudflows.
NORWALK, Ohio - Gov. Bob Taft on Saturday surveyed damage from two days of severe storms and declared emergencies in two northern Ohio counties.
Floodwaters had mostly receded in Norwalk, about halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas. Residents continued piling blankets, clothes, carpets and other ruined possessions on the curb to be carted away.
About 800 homes in Huron County were damaged in the storms, including at least 45 with major damage, said Bill Ommert, director of the county's emergency management agency. He estimated the damage at $2 million to homes and businesses and $5 million to farmers' crops.
Floodwaters had mostly receded in Norwalk, about halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, which was one of the hardest-hit areas. Residents continued piling blankets, clothes, carpets and other ruined possessions on the curb to be carted away.
About 800 homes in Huron County were damaged in the storms, including at least 45 with major damage, said Bill Ommert, director of the county's emergency management agency. He estimated the damage at $2 million to homes and businesses and $5 million to farmers' crops.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck near the north-eastern Indonesian island of Sulawesi early today, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
A moderate earthquake measuring a preliminary magnitude of 3.9 jolted southern Nagano Prefecture and surrounding areas in central Japan Saturday night, Kyodo News reported.
LONDON (Reuters) - The southern end of the San Andreas fault near Los Angeles, which has been still for more than two centuries, is under immense stress and could produce a massive earthquake at any moment, a scientist said on Wednesday.
Yuri Fialko, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La Jolla, California, said that given average annual movement rates in other areas of the fault, there could be enough pent-up energy in the southern end to trigger a cataclysmic jolt of up to 10 meters (32 ft).
Yuri Fialko, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at La Jolla, California, said that given average annual movement rates in other areas of the fault, there could be enough pent-up energy in the southern end to trigger a cataclysmic jolt of up to 10 meters (32 ft).
Comment: Comment: Despite all the "expert" claims about climate change, it is clear from this article that the so-called "experts" really have no idea what they're talking about since they neglected to account for many of the variables involved.