The second-warmest May on record, coupled with above-average rainfalls in the Murray-Darling Basin, have led climatologists to speculate that a drought-breaking La Nina event is still on its way.
An almost complete lack of cold southerlies, rather than extreme heat, had led to May being warm by day and night across almost the whole country, according to the National Climate Centre's Blair Trewin.
Earth Changes
Tropical Storm Barbara may strengthen over the next two days to become the first hurricane of the eastern Pacific season as it moves toward southeastern Mexico, U.S. and Mexican forecasters said.
Idaho's commercial honeybee operations have so far avoided a mysterious phenomenon in which the insects suddenly abandon their colonies, which is good news for the state's apple and onion crops that rely on the bees for pollination.
A strong earthquake hit Russia's far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday morning local time, with a magnitude of 6.4, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site on Wednesday.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
A child raised on dungeons and dragons and underground empires might have been enchanted.
But Virgil Poe, a crusty 60-year-old retiree, wasn't all that amused when recent heavy rains opened a 16-foot hole in his yard.
"I'm picking up sticks from the storm," Poe said. "As I was walking, I saw it, and I thought what on earth is that?"
He crawled closer to the hole, peered inside and found what looked like an old well.
But Virgil Poe, a crusty 60-year-old retiree, wasn't all that amused when recent heavy rains opened a 16-foot hole in his yard.
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| ©AP/The Capital/JOSHUA MCKERROW |
| The cylindrical hole is lined with bricks, suggesting it might have been the water supply for an old farm. |
"I'm picking up sticks from the storm," Poe said. "As I was walking, I saw it, and I thought what on earth is that?"
He crawled closer to the hole, peered inside and found what looked like an old well.
Because spring temperatures roller-coastered from freezing to summerlike heat, there were fewer tornadoes than usual in Illinois this year.
A year ago, Illinois logged about 90 funnel clouds heading into June on the way to a record 124. The state averages about 40 tornadoes annually.
A year ago, Illinois logged about 90 funnel clouds heading into June on the way to a record 124. The state averages about 40 tornadoes annually.
A wild Golden Eagle chick has hatched in Co Donegal, for the first time in almost 100 years.
The nest actually hatched two chicks, but as normally happens, the second chick died after five days. According to the Golden Eagle Trust, there will be a further wait of seven to eight weeks to see if the remaining chick can continue to grow and hopefully fledge in late July.
The nest actually hatched two chicks, but as normally happens, the second chick died after five days. According to the Golden Eagle Trust, there will be a further wait of seven to eight weeks to see if the remaining chick can continue to grow and hopefully fledge in late July.
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| ©Unk |
| Golden Eagle chick |
Deep in the heart of the Florida Keys, wildlife officials are laying bait laced with poison to try to wipe out a colony of enormous African rats that could threaten crops and other animals.
U.S. federal and state officials are beginning the final phase of a two-year project to eradicate the Gambian pouched rats, which can grow to the size of a cat and began reproducing in the remote area about eight years ago.
U.S. federal and state officials are beginning the final phase of a two-year project to eradicate the Gambian pouched rats, which can grow to the size of a cat and began reproducing in the remote area about eight years ago.
NASA administrator Michael Griffin is drawing the ire of his agency's preeminent climate scientists after apparently downplaying the need to combat global warming.
In an interview broadcast this morning on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" program, Griffin was asked by NPR's Steve Inskeep whether he is concerned about global warming.
"I have no doubt that a trend of global warming exists," Griffin told Inskeep. "I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with."
In an interview broadcast this morning on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" program, Griffin was asked by NPR's Steve Inskeep whether he is concerned about global warming.
"I have no doubt that a trend of global warming exists," Griffin told Inskeep. "I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with."
They're leaving behind people who banged on pipes and played a weird compilation of humpback hits, but the whales that lingered in the Delta are returning to an increasingly noisy ocean, where humans are the biggest noisemakers.
We pierce the depths with sub-seeking sonar. We rattle them with oil-exploration blasts. And we churn out a constant din from shipping.
The sounds sometimes kill, leaving beaked whales dead on shore after military exercises.
We pierce the depths with sub-seeking sonar. We rattle them with oil-exploration blasts. And we churn out a constant din from shipping.
The sounds sometimes kill, leaving beaked whales dead on shore after military exercises.
