Earth Changes
The New Zealand, German and U.S. scientists found the pockmarks at a depth of about 1,000 meters on the seafloor of the Chatham Rise, about 500 km east of Christchurch. The three giant pockmarks, the largest measuring 11 km by 6 km in diameter and 100 meters deep, were possibly twice the size of the largest pockmarks recorded in scientific literature, said a statement from New Zealand's Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science). The craters were part of a much larger field of thousands of smaller pockmarks that extended eastward along the Chatham Rise for several hundred kilometers. "Some of the pockmarks on the Chatham Rise are huge compared to similar structures observed elsewhere in the world," GNS Science marine geophysicist Bryan Davy said in the statement.
"They are big enough to enclose the Wellington city urban area, or (New York's) lower Manhattan." Gas release from the larger pockmarks could have been sudden and possibly even violent, with a massive volume expelled into the ocean and atmosphere within hours or days. Scientists could not rule out volcanic activity having caused the release of gas, but another possibility was the release of sub- seafloor hydrocarbon gas, which would have coincided with drops in the sea level of about 100 meters during ice ages and subsequent warming of sea temperatures.
Snow hit much of the UK this March, with 12 foot snow drifts burying thousands of cattle alive
Screen shot from Louisiana State Police video shot on March 21, 2013, of the Assumption Parish sinkhole.
The 13-acre sinkhole and consequences of its emergence and continued growth, such as methane trapped under the Bayou Corne area, have forced the evacuation of 350 residents for more than seven months.
The sinkhole, found in swamps between Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou on Aug. 3, is believed to have been caused by a failed Texas Brine Co. LLC cavern mined into the Napoleonville Dome.
Members of the new panel are being asked to set up scientifically based benchmarks in regard to the sinkhole and then determine when they have been met in order to give assurances that the Bayou Corne area is safe for the return of evacuated residents.
"The work of this commission is crucial to the future of public safety in the Bayou Corne area," DNR Secretary Stephen Chustz said in a prepared statement announcing the 13 appointments.
Update 10:49 UTC : The swarm continues and the most recently listed earthquakes had a Magnitude of M4.3 and M4.2. The number of earthquakes during the last 48 hours has risen to 484 ! The hypocenter depth is mainly varying in 3 layers, one at only a few hundred meter, another at 1.1 km and the last one at 20 km.
Most of the epicenters are located in an area of 15 to 30 km from Grimsey.
There have been earthquakes cycles of a similar nature in 1969, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1994 and 2002. The cycles were all from a few days up to several weeks.
Most of the epicenters are located in an area of 15 to 30 km from Grimsey.
There have been earthquakes cycles of a similar nature in 1969, 1974, 1980, 1986, 1994 and 2002. The cycles were all from a few days up to several weeks.
© Earthquake Report
© Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Sea lions in rehab.
Sea lions in rehab.
Officials say the strandings have intensified this month, and they're starting to investigate the possible causes, while marine mammal rehabilitation centers in the area have been overwhelmed with starving, hypothermic and dehydrated pups.
The problem is most pronounced in Los Angeles County, where 395 sea lion strandings have been reported this year as of March 24, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). During the same period in 2012, just 36 strandings were reported.
Stranding rates are also high in Orange County, where 189 sickly sea lions have come ashore, compared with 20 last year. And in San Diego County, strandings stood at 214, compared with 32 last year.
"Mount Guntur is still at a level that poses no danger; so we ask people not to panic," Zat Zat told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Tuesday evening.
Mount Guntur spewed lava and pyroclastic materials such as hot gas, volcanic ash and rocks, between 1840 and 1847.
"Mount Guntur has not erupted for 162 years," said Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) head Surono via text messages.
© Stefaan van Damme/Newsforce
Dead penguins like this one at Holdfast Shores are being found along the metropolitan Adelaide coastline.
Dead penguins like this one at Holdfast Shores are being found along the metropolitan Adelaide coastline.
SA Health told The Advertiser algal blooms, found across the state's coastline most likely due to March's prolonged hot weather and heavy winds, did not affect human health in any way.
"Consumption of fish caught alive do not represent health concerns, however SA Health advises fish caught dead should not be eaten due to concerns over decomposition and spoilage," a spokeswoman said yesterday.
The assurance comes as a taskforce of experts today start testing water to help solve the mystery of the thousands of dead fish and 16 dead dolphins.
The Fisheries Department, Environmental Protection Authority and SA Water will lead the taskforce, which will also conduct tests on the fish and some of the dolphins.
Several other nations around the world have also experienced unexplained mass sea deaths in recent months.
I loathe having to write this story because I truly dislike giving any attention to the people who are known as the "slayers" from the Slaying the Sky Dragon book. They now operate under the moniker of "Principia Scientific".
But, somebody has to do it because some really bad mangling of the intent of a NASA press release by the "slayers" group is getting some traction. They have completely misread the NASA study and reinterpreted it for their purpose, claiming in a story titled "New Discovery: NASA Study Proves Carbon Dioxide Cools Atmosphere" :
The NASA story is about the thermosphere when it gets hit by solar flares. Here's the Press release
But, somebody has to do it because some really bad mangling of the intent of a NASA press release by the "slayers" group is getting some traction. They have completely misread the NASA study and reinterpreted it for their purpose, claiming in a story titled "New Discovery: NASA Study Proves Carbon Dioxide Cools Atmosphere" :
NASA's Langley Research Center has collated data proving that "greenhouse gases" actually block up to 95 percent of harmful solar rays from reaching our planet, thus reducing the heating impact of the sun. The data was collected by Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry, (or SABER). SABER monitors infrared emissions from Earth's upper atmosphere, in particular from carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitric oxide (NO), two substances thought to be playing a key role in the energy balance of air above our planet's surface.Source
The NASA story is about the thermosphere when it gets hit by solar flares. Here's the Press release
The Civil Protection office of the National Commissioner in Iceland has declared a State of Uncertainty in North Iceland because of a series of earthquakes. The first earthquake came around one o'clock last night (GMT) and the quake was measured to be 5.5 points in magnitude. The earthquake originated East of Grimsey Island. Another earthquake came shortly after, and it was measured to be 4.3 points in magnitude. The State of Uncertainty means increased surveillance with events, because at later stages the safety of people in the area might be compromised.
To declare a State of Uncertainty is part of regular procedure at the Civil Protection in Iceland, to insure formal communications and flow of information between emergency teams. According to Sigthrudur Armannsdottir, scientist at the Icelandic Meteorology Office, it is expected that the earthquakes will continue and their effects might be felt on mainland Iceland. These earthquakes do not come as a surprise to the scientists. There is nothing that indicates that an eruption will begin. The earthquake last night is one of the largest for quite some time, but an earthquake of 7 in magnitude happened in the same area roughly one century ago. But an earthquake of 5 in magnitude happened last in 2002, in that area. - News of Iceland
