Wednesday 17 June 2015

The Dying Earth - Stores 06/16/2015

Today seems to be a story of crazy weather everywhere - from extreme heat and floods in North America to drought leading to  cancelling of the rice planting in Thailand


The perfect storm: ‘Brown ocean effect’ threatens disaster for Texas residents

The center of Tropical Storm Bill. (Reuters/NOAA)


RT,
16 June, 2015

Texas is already soaked after an unprecedented amount of rainfall in May. However, things could get even worse. Tropical Storm Bill made landfall on Tuesday, but rather than weaken, it could actually gain in power due to the ‘brown ocean effect.’

The phenomenon known as the ‘brown ocean effect’ could muddy the waters yet further for residents in the lone star state. A team of scientists involved in a NASA-funded project has discovered that the moisture from saturated soil can actually be absorbed by the storm, allowing it to wreak even more havoc as it hits land.
There she goes.... Thanks#TropicalStormBill#portLavacaTx@karinarenee83pic.twitter.com/cBbvU7AMpx
melissa crowley (@melissacrowley3) June 16, 2015

Storms normally lose strength as they pass over land because water, their primary energy source, is cut off. However, Marshall Shepard, a climate expert told AP this might not happen when Tropical Storm Bill reaches the shores of Texas.
"All the things a hurricane likes over the ocean is what we have over land right now," said Shepherd, director of atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia, who was one of the project’s leading researchers.
Tropical Storm #Bill could dump up to 1 FOOT of rain in parts of TX & OK:http://t.co/y3EDQo8WV2 #TXwx #OKwx #floodpic.twitter.com/rjEd3OxvY4
The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) June 16, 2015

Shepard said it won’t be possible to tell if the brown ocean effect will have an impact on Tropical Storm Bill. He mentioned the key will be to see if the ‘eye’ is formed well inland. Research sponsored by NASA concerning storms from 1979 to 2008 showed that of the 227 inland storms that were reviewed, 182 weakened and died out. However, 45 either kept their original strength or grew stronger.

Parts of the Gulf Coast are already reeling from the month of the May, when unprecedented amounts of rainfall affected Texas and Oklahoma, with the resulting floods killed more than 30 people. At one point, Houston received almost a foot of rain, as thousands of homes were damaged and 2,500 vehicles had to be abandoned.
Tropical Storm #Bill capture by @StationCDRKelly aboard @Space_Station:http://t.co/hkWV6Zzh9P#YearInSpace#TSBillpic.twitter.com/ZbH8N6V4de
NASA (@NASA) 

June 16, 2015
Texas governor Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster in 24 counties, due to the deadly weather conditions which had been tormenting the state since early May.
With river levels still high and the soil still saturated, the added precipitation could make for an ugly combination.
"If we get that much rain in that time, there's probably going to be a resurgence of flooding along these rivers," said Kurt Van Speybroeck, meteorologist for the weather service in Fort Worth, according to AP.
Todville Rd in Seabrook right along Galveston Bay#TropicalStormBill#TEXASpic.twitter.com/X6BJi43kZ6
Richard Guerra (@richardassigns) June 16, 2015

Weather experts say things could be just as bad with the advent of Tropical Storm Bill, has already started to batter parts of the Texas coastline, between Corpus Christi and Galveston.
Parts of Texas have been preparing for the worst, with Houston activating its Emergency Operation Center on Monday, while Dallas is expected to take a similar course of action on Tuesday evening.
Live shot was sunny. Two minutes later, this. Not everything you see on TV is 24hr reality.#TropicalStormBill@krgvpic.twitter.com/x8rz33KqJf
krgv_erica (@krgv_erica) June 16, 2015

The National Weather Service says that parts of north Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma could receive up to nine inches of rain in the space of just five days, with the onset of more bad weather.

"We have had time to recover but not a whole lot," said NWS hydrologist Tabitha Clarke in North Little Rock, Arkansas. "(The tropical system) is going over areas that are already sensitive. ... It's kind of a perfect storm. There are a lot of things lining up," AP reported.




Texas at grave risk of even more flooding due to rare 'brown ocean' effect



A low pressure area is spinning its way northwestward over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On its eastern flank, massive thunderstorms tower to heights of 40,000 feet or more, dumping rainfall at rates of greater than two inches per hour.

This storm may soon become tropical storm Bill, but even if it does not develop fully, it is making a beeline for the Texas coast, between Houston and Corpus Christi.



This couldn't come at a worse time, considering that Texas just had its wettest month of any month on record during May, as did Oklahoma, which will also be affected by this storm. Flooding in these states, and others, killed more than three dozen people in May. Any new heavy rainfall is likely to result in flooding.




The heavy rains that caused major flooding along several Texas rivers over the past several weeks are fueling the creation of a new "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and soon could lead to significant problems for marine life and commercial fishing, a Texas A&M University oceanographer said Thursday.

"Dead zones" are formed when freshwater empties into the salty waters of the Gulf, causing oxygen levels to drop and depriving marine life of oxygen.

"When this happens, the coastal waters become stratified, meaning that the lighter freshwater will stay at the surface and cap the saltier, and heavier, ocean water beneath," Steve DiMarco, a Texas A&M scientist who's researched the phenomenon for more than a decade, said.


"That is exactly what is going on right now and in the weeks to come, and when this happens, it almost always means many marine organisms, particularly those that live near and at the ocean bottom, can't get enough oxygen and they can get sick and die."

El Niño or Not, Floods Are Coming to California


With El Niño conditions strengthening over the Pacific Ocean, Californians are crossing their fingers for “drought-busting” rainstorms this winter. The San Jose Mercury News reports:

The probability of an El Niño—defined as warmer water at the equator and shifting winds that can bring major weather changes—being present through the end of 2015 is now 85 percent, up from 80 percent last month, and 50 percent three months ago, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Though those are powerful calculations, it’s still too early too tell whether the infamous climate cycle will in fact produce significant rainfall, or even flooding, over thirsty California. Even if it does, it’ll take more than one major event to “bust” the state’s historic drought.



Today’s high temperature in Washington, D.C. (as observed at Reagan National Airport) was 96 degrees at 3:01 p.m. That’s the hottest reading of the year so far, but 3 degrees shy of the record for the date.

The sun is blazing and temperatures have shot up in Washington, reaching 95 degrees at noon. That’s the hottest it’s been this year in Washington and as hot as anywhere east of the Rockies (on weather.com’s map) today. As of noon, the only place as hot as D.C. east of Phoenix was Charleston, S.C




The heat is on! Excessive temps are expected to continue through the rest of the week.

Severe weather may not be too far off, either. Gov. Doug Ducey declared June 14-19 "Monsoon Awareness Week" since it is the official start of the season.

"Right now we're going to be dealing with the deadliest weather we have every single year, which is extreme heat," National Weather Service Meteorologist Paul Iniguez said. "Temperatures 110 to 115 degrees, yes, they typically happen this time of year, but that doesn't make it any less dangerous."


Extreme triple digits may be the first sign monsoon is here.


Flash flooding hits Colorado Springs



Colorado - Flooding along South Platte River



First significant heat wave expected to hit Southwest; 120-Degree plus heat in Death Valley

Heat Wave

The first significant heat wave of the year sweeps into the Desert Southwest this week, possibly pushing temps above the 120 degree mark. High and low temperatures will be up to 15 degrees above average for much of the region. Desert areas can expect a period of temperatures well above 100 degrees, along with dry conditions. Desert locations below 3,500 feet will see temperatures rise well into the 100s, while the Colorado River Valley will be even hotter with highs in the 110s likely. The hot spot as usual will be Death Valley which may see temperatures over 120 degrees. An excessive heat watch has been issued for Thursday through next Monday for the Death Valley and Las Vegas area.
Tropical Storm "BILL" hitting Texas -- Midwest flooding to come soon






The nine cities with the worst drought conditions in the country are all located in California, which is now entering its fourth consecutive year of drought as demand for water is at an all-time high. The long-term drought has already had dire consequences for the state’s agriculture sector, municipal water systems, the environment, and all other water consumer.



Heavy rain across Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in South China since Thursday has left eight people dead and three missing, local authorities said Tuesday.Some 788,900 people in the region have been affected, with 11,200 evacuated. Of the deceased, two were struck by lightning, five drowned, and another died when a building collapsed, the local civil affairs department said.




Some 49,000 hectares of crops have been damaged and 1,415 houses collapsed. The weather has caused estimated direct economic losses of 420 million yuan ($67.66 million).

Access to 16 major roads in the region had been cut off, traffic on seven of the main arteries had resumed as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Economic losses due to the damage to the roads was estimated at 16.25 million yuan, local transport authorities said.

The National Meteorological Center issued a storm alert for southern China on Sunday, forecasting heavy rain across parts of Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Hubei and Anhui provinces as well as Guangxi.




Rice growers who have not started their main crop are being instructed to delay planting until next month, or see their crops shrivel in the fields as they fight over the increasingly scarce water supply.

Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Monday that farmers should postpone planting crops that require excessive amounts of water.


Farmers who did not follow the instruction would see their crops wither as the water supply dried up.
 


6 February, 2015

As dry season begins drought expected in at least 30 provinces with water stored in reservoirs at lowest in 15 years. Affected farmers hired to work on state projects

Severe water shortages are expected in at least 30 provinces this year as the dry season digs in, with parts of eight provinces already declared drought disaster areas, but household water supply should be safe.
 

The dangerous silence on climate change and extreme weather



We know that CO2 emissions are bad for climate and subsequently the weather.

We know that we have to do something about it, because if not things will turn really ugly with large scale carbon releases (i.e. permafrost melt). However, the current projected changes are bad for many, and because of irreversible changes.

So why then is it that the media is still ignoring the science when it comes to extreme weather?

Alaska wildfires destroy dozens of homes, menace highway



Two fast-spreading Alaska wildfires have forced a series of evacuations, destroyed up to 45 homes and forced authorities to restrict traffic on a major highway connecting two of the state’s largest cities, state officials said on Monday.

As many as 200 firefighters have been battling a 6,500-acre fire about 40 miles (64 km) north of Anchorage since Sunday afternoon.

About 137 miles (220km) south of Anchorage, crews are fighting a much smaller, but equally dangerous blaze that threatens nearly 200 homes.

Additional specially trained firefighting teams from the lower 48 states and Canada were scheduled to arrive on Monday night and begin assisting on Tuesday, Alaska Forestry Division spokesman Sam Harrel said.

Crews have been battling the fires on the ground and from the air, with help from the three Alaska National Guard Blackhawk helicopters, according to state reports.




A new study shows that water temperatures off the northeast coast of the US have been trending upward, with unprecedented warming occurring over the last 13 years. The study also suggests a connection between sea level anomalies and water temperature along the continental self.


Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed legislation aimed at killing a lawsuit filed by a New Orleans area regional levee board against 97 oil and gas companies, despite concerns that the new law could negatively affect state and government claims against BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

"This bill will help stop frivolous lawsuits and create a more fair and predictable legal environment, and I am proud to sign it into law," Jindal said in a written statement Friday (June 6).

The oil and gas industry, which lobbied heavily in favor of the bill, cheered Jindal's decision to sign it. But Louisiana's Attorney General and local officials in parishes that have sued BP expressed renewed concerns. Environmentalists decried Jindal's action, saying it could have long-lasting negative consequences for the state.



People “should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gardens to be beautiful,” Yuhas fumed recently on social media. “We pay significant property taxes based on where we live,” he added in an interview. “And, no, we’re not all equal when it comes to water.”



A tornado caused the Eastern Star cruise ship to capsize on the Yangtze River in China earlier this week, the China Meteorological Administration said Wednesday. The report emerged as Chinese authorities escalated efforts to recover more than 400 people believed to be trapped inside the overturned boat, deploying scores of additional divers Wednesday.





According to the state health officials, up till now seven people have become infected and two have lost their lives due to the attack of deadly bacteria that dwells in the warm seawater. This deadly bacteria is found in the warm marine water of Florida beaches. Florida health department has revealed that by far in 2015, almost seven had become severely infected due to the bacteria and two people have lost their lives. “People can get infected with Vibrio vulnificus when they eat raw shellfish,” revealed Florida Health Department spokesperson Mara Burger. “Since it is naturally found in warm marine waters, people with open wounds can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with seawater.”





Fuel spill in Vancouver's False Creek triggers cleanup


Up to 5,000 litres of fuel spilled into Vancouver's False Creek

Coast guard officials now say as much as 5,000 litres of diesel fuel may have spilled into Vancouver's False Creek near Fisherman's Wharf on Sunday night.

A small fishing vessel has been identified as the source of the spill, says coast guard spokesperson Jeff Brady. 



A pipeline explosion sparked a huge fire near Cuero in Texas, on Sunday evening, prompting evacuations of nearby residents.

A huge column of fire was visible for over 20 miles after the pipeline caught fire.

The blaze from a ruptured gas pipeline is being allowed to slowly burn out.


And thanks to the Extinction Protcol, some articles about earthqiake and volcano activity



Records from the U.S. Geological Survey show the first of 14 earthquakes occurred on Nov. 20, when a magnitude 3.8 earthquake was recorded about 10 miles northwest of the community of Eutaw. The second occurred in mid-December, followed by another in January and three within a few hours of each other on Feb. 19. The tremors have continued ever since, with the most recent occurring June 6, when a magnitude 3.0 quake rattled the area. All the tremors have been weaker than the initial jolt in November, and Ebersole said some have been too slight for residents to detect.




A volcano in western Indonesia unleashed a new powerful burst high into the sky on Saturday, sending hot ash far down the mountain’s slopes, an official said. Authorities have been closely monitoring 2,460-metre-high Mount Sinabung on Sumatra, one of Indonesia’s main islands, since June 2, when its status was raised to the highest alert level due to the growing size of its lava dome. Hot ash tumbled down the slopes of the mountain as far as three kilometers southeastward on Saturday, said Wendy Cahya, an official at the mountain’s monitoring post. No injuries were reported from the latest eruption, he said. Cahya said that as of Saturday evening, 11 avalanches of hot ash had been recorded, with volcanic ash released as high as two kilometers into the air.

Volcanologists have warned that smoldering rocks mixed with hot gases may tumble down from the mountain at any time. More than 2,700 people from villages within the danger zone of seven kilometers from the crater have been evacuated to temporary shelters. No casualties have been reported from this month’s eruptions. Mount Sinabung is among about 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. The volcano has sporadically erupted since 2010, after being dormant for 400 years. An eruption last year killed at least 17 people.

Indonesia



And the MERS epidemic looks as if it might be spreading

German MERS patient dies from ‘subsequent’ lung disease - after previously recovering


Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji

The third person to have suffered from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Germany has died. However, the local Health Ministry said it was not MERS that killed him.

The 65-year-old man, who contracted MERS during a trip to the Arabian peninsula in February, died of "another, subsequent lung disease," a statement by the Lower Saxony Health Ministry says.

According to local media, the man had undergone successful treatment for MERS and almost recovered. In mid-May he was transferred from an infection ward of the Osnabruck clinic to a hospital in Ostercappeln.

There are no indications so far that the man infected others. Some 200 people he had contact with were tested for MERS, and all the tests were negative, according to Die Welt newspaper.

A woman wearing a mask to prevent contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) walks in central Seoul, South Korea, June 15, 2015. (Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji)


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