Earth ChangesS

Attention

Black, Azov Sea oil spill contamination to last six months


RIA Novosti
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:03 UTC
Experts said it will take six months for oil products spilled into the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov at the weekend to dissolve or be washed ashore.

About 2,000 metric tons of oil, and almost 7,000 tons of sulfur in containers, were spilt into the sea amid a powerful storm on Sunday that killed at least six sailors, sank four ships and split open an oil tanker.

©Unknown

"Most of the fuel oil will settle on the bottom and will be thrown ashore gradually," said Vitaly Spiridonov of World Wildlife Fund Russia, adding that the seabed's fauna and flora would suffer the most.
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Bizarro Earth

Chile's San Rafael glacier fast disappearing


Agence France Presse
Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:23 UTC
Chunks of glacial ice tinkled in whisky glasses as chilled tourists gazed in wonder from their boat at the massive San Rafael glacier and the markers tallying its losing battle against global warming.

"How can we stop this," asked German visitor Herman Kirst, 70, reflecting on the 100 meters (yards) that the glacier has shrunk this year, and every year since Captain Luis Kochifas began ferrying tourists to this spot in 1978.

©AFP
Graphic showing Chile's 30,000-year-old San Rafael glacier, which has receded 12 kilometres since 1871.
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Cloud Lightning

High winds in southern British Columbia down power lines, strand travellers

Jeff Lee
CanWest News Service
Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:19 UTC
High winds battered much of southern British Columbia Monday, leaving more than 200,000 people without power and stranded thousands more as almost every form of air and water transportation was affected.

Environment Canada estimated winds would reach 90 kilometres per hour, disrupting travel by ferries, float planes and even small regional commuter aircraft between the Lower Mainland and much of Vancouver Island.

©CBC News
Wind and waves washed through the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal Monday morning as a major storm shut down ferry service on several routes.
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Cloud Lightning

146 accidents on record snow day in Alaska


United Press International
Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:12 UTC
A record-setting 5 inches of snow fell on Anchorage, Alaska, contributing to 146 traffic accidents.

Sunday's record snowfall for the calendar day -- which beat the previous record of 3 inches for a Nov. 11, 1944, snowstorm -- led to 146 accidents and 86 cars being caught in ditches between midnight and 11 p.m., the Anchorage Daily News reported Monday.
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Cloud Lightning

Record early onset of severe winter weather in Austria


Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:09 UTC
The coldest winter in large parts of Austria has struck unexpectedly early, with meteorologists talking Sunday of weather conditions that occur in the Alpine republic once every 30 to 50 years. About 150 centimetres of fresh snow fell in the Alps within 48 hours.

A storm brought on by a low pressure system moved across Upper Austria on Sunday afternoon, leaving houses and roads covered or blocked by fallen trees.
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Smiley

Hoax bacteria study tricks climate skeptics

Alister Doyle
Reuters
Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:48 UTC
It must have seemed almost too good to be true to climate sceptics who doubt mounting evidence that global warming is man-made - finally, a report showing that nature is to blame.

Only one problem - it's a hoax.

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Cloud Lightning

Flashback Water rage victim to be farewelled


The Age
Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:19 UTC
A 66-year-old Sydney man who died after a fight over water use will be farewelled by his many family and friends this week.

Ken Proctor suffered a massive heart attack on Wednesday last week after he was allegedly punched in the head by a stranger, and kicked as he lay on the ground. He died a short time later in hospital.
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Life Preserver

At least six Russian vessels hit by storm in Kerch Strait


RIA Novosti
Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:51 UTC
Several crew are missing after at least six Russian vessels have been hit by a storm in the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov in southern Russia, the emergencies ministry said on Sunday.

"Two dry cargo ships, Volnogorsk and Nakhichevan, loaded with sulfur sank [on November 11] during the storm. The first vessel's crew and three crewmembers from the second ship have been rescued. The fate of eight sailors from the Nakhichevan is not known," a ministry spokesman said.
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Cloud Lightning

High winds, lunar tides blamed for North Carolina island's beach erosion


Associated Press
Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:11 UTC
The eastern side of this North Carolina resort island is accustomed to seeing beach erosion, but after tide changes and a recent offshore hurricane, the west side is experiencing the same.

Mayor Debbie Smith said some beachfront properties don't have relief plans like those on the east side of the island. Some local homeowners were surprised by areas of significant erosion - in one case, nearly 300 feet of sand dunes was said to have washed away.
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Cloud Lightning

Storm smashes Russian oil tanker near Black Sea, causing 1,300-tonne spill


Agence France Presse
Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:07 UTC
Five-metre high waves smashed a Russian tanker in half on Sunday, spilling 1,300 tonnes of fuel oil into the Kerch Strait between Russia and Ukraine and sank two other cargo ships, officials said.

Two vessels each carrying some 2,000 tonnes of sulphur went under nearby and eight crew members were reportedly missing amid worsening weather in waters between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

©AFP
Five-metre high waves have sunk three ships in the Kerch Strait. A Russian oil tanker was smashed in half causing it to spill 1,300 tonnes of fuel oil into the strait that divides Russia and Ukraine.
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