Posted by feww on November 20, 2009
Big Oil Prods Congress for More Offshore Drilling
We’d like more rape and plunder before killing the marine environment: Big Oil
Big oil says they must have more offshore areas for oil and natural gas drilling, citing the same old, tired, discredited and pathetic excuse that America would be less reliant on foreign suppliers that way.
Offshore drilling: Rape and plunder in the high seas. Source of Photo: yourdemocracy.net.au
“There is some hypocrisy in locking these resources away while relying on resources produced in other countries,” said Marvin Odum, the President of Shell Oil Co., the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
“Instead, we should embrace policies that provide access to our own oil and gas resources,” Reuters reported Odum as saying to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at hearing on offshore energy production.
“The U.S. Interior Department is considering a five-year plan that might open new offshore areas to drilling.” Reuters reported.
“But many environmental groups oppose expanded offshore drilling, fearing oil spills could result, especially when energy companies move into the deeper waters of the Gulf of Mexico where platforms are susceptible to hurricanes.”
The recent Australian oil disaster in Timor Sea is but the latest deadly reminder of the perils of offshore oil and gas drilling. For about 11 weeks the leak from the West atlas drilling rig and the Montara wellhead platform, which eventually caught fire early November, spewed oil and gas condensate at a rate of at least 400 barrels a day, polluting the fragile ecosystems in the region leaving tens of thousands of marine creatures dead.
PTTEP Australasia, the company responsible for the major oil disaster in the Timor Sea, said they pumped mud into a relief well in their fourth attempt to plug the leak, which had spewed oil and gas condensate at at least 400 barrels a day for nearly 11 weeks, before extinguishing the platform fire. (PTTEP Australasia).
“The potentially irreversible effects of oil pollution on marine ecosystems and their dependent economies do not justify the potential short-term economic gains that might accrue from offshore oil and gas development,” said Jeffrey Short with the international marine conservation group Oceana.
The big oil says they have improved their drilling technology which allows oil companies to rape the marine environment in a friendly way.
“These advances enable more production while reducing environmental impacts and allowing for efficient use of existing facilities and infrastructure,” said David Rainey, VP of Gulf of Mexico Exploration at BP America, the U.S. arm of the British giant BP Plc.
And this came on a day when early impact of climate change wrought havoc on Britain, with torrential rains and up to 153 km/h wind gusts battering several coastal regions, triggering waist-high floods in several cities.
“Finding oil and gas for the future requires exploring in areas that are ever deeper and more complex,” Rainey boasted.
“We must stop ignoring the fact that oil and gas will play a major part in meeting America’s energy demands for several decades as we transition to a more sustainable energy future,” said Shell’s Odum.
You know full well Mr Odum that you don’t even have several years, let alone several decades. Stop the mass deception! Quit the unintelligent “transition to a more sustainable energy” mantra. You’re not fooling all of us all the time.
Take your sick economy and shoot her in the head because our oceans simply can’t cope anymore!
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Related News Links:
Recent Oil Spills:
Posted in BP, Gulf of Mexico Exploration, US energy, killing oceans, oil pollution, sick economy | Tagged: big oil, David Rainey, Marvin Odum, Oceana, offshore oil drilling, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Timor Sea oil spill | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 20, 2009
Human Induced Planetary Antiphase Events
UK Flooding: Military Helicopters Rescue Hundreds Trapped in Homes
Military helicopters were used to rescue hundreds of people after torrential rain triggered extensive flooding to Cockermouth, Cumbria, the UK.
The raging River Kent, Kendal, Cumbria, UK. Photo: A. Stephenson. Image source: BBC readers photos. Image may be subject to copyright.
Cumbria fire and rescue workers check flooded roads in Keswick after River Greta burst its banks. Photo: PA. Image may be subject to copyright.
Location Map of Keswick and Cockermouth, Cumbria, UK. Original Map from Google Maps. Image may be subject to copyright. Image Enhanced by FEWW.
Heavy rain reportedly battered northern England, northwestern Wales and western Scotland last night.
The village of Seathwaite in Cumbria recorded 173mm (6.8in) of rain in 24 hours, according to the UK Met Office, wich also forecast an additional 150mm (5.9in ) for the Lake District by noon Friday.
UK’s Environment Agency had issued 6 severe flood warnings, 25 flood warnings and 51 less serious flood watches for Cumbria alone.
Several other regions in northwestern Wales, as well as in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, also reported flooding.
The effects of the extreme rain event were worsened by severe gales and wind gusts of 100 – 120km/h (65- 75mp) in the coastal areas and hurricane strength wind gusts of up to 153 km/h (95mph) in the mountainous regions.
Our colleagues at EDRO estimate that climate change could directly affect about half the population in the UK in the next 3 to 5 years.
Related Links
Posted in Climate Change, Collapsing Cities, El Niño, Extreme Rain Events, flooding | Tagged: air rescue, Cockermouth, Cumbria, England, Keswick, River Greta, river kent, Seathwaite, torrential rain, UK Flooding, wales | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on November 19, 2009
Another Human Induced Planetary Antiphase Event
El Niño is experiencing a late-fall resurgence
Recent measurements of sea level height from the Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM)/Jason-2 oceanography satellite showed that a strong wave of warm water, known as a Kelvin wave, had spread from the western to the central and eastern Pacific. This warm wave appears as the large area of higher-than-normal sea surface heights in the area between 170 degrees east and 100 degrees west longitude.
This image was created with data collected OSTM/Jason 2 during a 10-day period centered on November 1, 2009. Red and white areas in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific were 100 to 180 millimeters (4 to 7 inches) above normal. In the western equatorial Pacific, blue and purple areas show where sea levels were between 80 and 150 millimeters (3 and 6 inches) below normal.
Sea surface height is an indication of temperature.The elevated sea levels in the central and eastern Pacific are equivalent to sea surface temperatures more than one to two degrees Celsius above normal (2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit).
The Kelvin wave was triggered by a large-scale, sustained weakening of trade winds in the western and central equatorial Pacific during October. The change in winds disturbs not only the surface currents but also the deeper ocean circulation. The disturbances reverberate along the thermocline—the boundary between warm, surface water and cold, deep water—as large, slow-moving waves. Similar, weaker events that began in June 2009 initially triggered and have sustained the present El Niño.
NASA image by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ocean Surface Topography Team. Caption adapted from the Planetary Photojournal. Edited by FEWW
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Posted in ENSO, Kelvin wave, Trade winds, eastern Pacific, thermocline | Tagged: El Niño, Equatorial Pacific, Jason-2, oceanography satellite, OLR anomalies, OSTM | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 19, 2009
VOW: Mayon
Mayon volcano spews smoke and ash for the second time in a day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 at Legazpi, Albay province, about 340 kilometers southeast of Manila, Philippines. AP Photo/Nelson Salting. Image may be subject to copyright.
Related News and Posts:
SI / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report
(11 November – 17 November 2009)
New activity/Unrest:
Volcano News (Source: GVP)
CENAPRED reported that on 14 November an ash plume from Popocatépetl rose to an altitude of 7.4 km (24,300 ft) a.s.l. During 14-17 November, steam-and-gas plumes sometimes contained ash.
INGEOMINAS reported that an overflight of Galeras on 14 November revealed thermal anomalies in the main crater measuring 110 degrees Celsius and very low rates of gas discharge.
Ongoing Activity:
Arenal, Costa Rica; Bagana, Bougainville; Chaitén, Southern Chile; Fuego, Guatemala; Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia); Kilauea, Hawaii; Kizimen, Eastern Kamchatka; Kliuchevskoi, Central Kamchatka (Russia); Nevado del Huila, Colombia; Popocatépetl, México; Rabaul, New Britain; Reventador, Ecuador; Sakura-jima, Kyushu; Sangay, Ecuador; Santa María, Guatemala; Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia); Soufrière Hills, Montserrat; Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan)
Related Links:
More Links:
FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast
Other Related Links:
Recent Posts on Chaitén:
Posted in volcanoes | Tagged: Arenal, Bagana, Chaiten, Fuego, Galeras, Karymsky, Mayon | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 19, 2009
Human Induced Planetary Antiphase Series
How Much Longer Could Australians Cope?
Australia on catastrophic fires warning
Fire authorities in South Australia have declared a catastrophic fire danger for two districts, the Flinders and North-West Pastoral districts.
The catastrophic fire warning comes in the wake of February’s bushfires, which killed at least 173 people across Victoria.
Extreme temperatures, low humidity and strong winds arte forecast. The temperature in some parts of Australia have topped 40 C, setting new records for November.
Weekly highest maximum temperature for Australia
Tropical OLR and Wind Anomalies During the Last 30 Days
Positive OLR anomalies (suppressed convection and precipitation, red shading) were present over
Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Source: ENSO Cycle: Recent Evolution, Current Status and Predictions Update prepared by Climate Prediction Center / NCEP 16 November 2009
Fire Warning UPDATE: Officials downgraded the warnings to severe, 3rd highest on their new scale, Thursday morning.
Related Links:
Links to HIPAP and Collapse:
Posted in Australia Temps., Australian climate, Climate Change, Extreme temperatures, Positive OLR anomalies, australian heatwave | Tagged: australian bushfires, catastrophic fire, Dust Bowl Australia, ENSO Cycle:, HIPAP, Human Induced Planetary Antiphase, suppressed convection and precipitation, tropical OLR, Uranium Dust Threat, Wind Anomalies | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 18, 2009
Censored by Google
Never Mind Water on the Moon
Image of the Day: Please, can we have some more water?
Her’s another egregious example of science gone awry from its intended purpose of serving humanity. At a time when socially blind NASA “elites” are spending tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money playing space invaders, bombing the moon and looking for water, people are perishing from the lack of water here on Earth, abandoned by science.
A villager walks in the partially dried-up Mahanadi river in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, November 17, 2009. REUTERS/Krishnendu Halder. Image may be subject to copyright.
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Posted in Climate Change, Drought, Food Crisis, India, water crisis | Tagged: LCROSS, Mahanadi river, Moon rape, Moon water, nasa, Orissa, role of science, Space Exploration, space invaders, water on the Moon | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 18, 2009
Censored by Google
Disappointed Your Last Baby Not a Girl?
Don’t Despair! You may still be in luck (!)
Did you always want to a have a baby girl and are disappointed because the ultrasound revealed your final attempt to be yet another boy?
Phthalates, chemicals found in plastics, are hormone endocrine disruptors. They can alter the brain of baby boys, making them “more feminine,” say University of Rochester researchers.
Chemicals in plastics alter the brains of baby boys, making them “more feminine,” the researchers said.
Male babies who were exposed to high doses of phthalates while still in the womb, ended up to be less interested in playing with “boys’ toys” such as cars, planes and trains, or join in rough physical activity, such as wrestling, the researchers found.
Luckily (!) phthalates are found in vinyl flooring, and other household items including plastic furniture, packaging, PVC shower curtains, shopping bags… as well as medical tubing and hundreds of other plastic items around you.
Two groups of phthalates DEHP and DBP seem to affect play behavior, researchers said.
Boys who were exposed to high levels of DEHP and DBP while in the womb showed less interest playing with “boys’ toys,” or engage in physical games like playfighting, than other boys who were not exposed to the gender-bending chemicals.
A Scandinavian epidemiologic team discovered in 2004 allergies in children that were caused by phthalates DEHP and BBzP. They also linked exposure to phthalates in the living environment to asthma, especially in children, however, the scope of evidence was said to be limited by vague data on the exposure levels.
If you are pregnant with a baby boy, perhaps you could drop us a line and say what you think!
Related and Possibly Related Links:
Posted in BBzP, DBP, DEHP, University of Rochester, endocrine disruptors, feminine boys | Tagged: boys' toys, causes of asthma, Chemicals in plastics, gender benders, packaging, plastic furniture, Pregnant Women, PVC, vinyl flooring | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 18, 2009
Earthquake Measuring up to 6.8 Mw followed by a Strong Aftershock Strikes Queen Charlotte Islands Region
A powerful earthquake measuring up to magnitude 6.8 followed by a cluster of aftershocks, the largest of which measured up to M 6.0, struck Queen Charlotte Islands Region on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at about 15:31 UTC, at a shallow depth of about 5 km.
Tsunami Information
The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer AK, said there was no threat of a damaging tsunami caused by the earthquake. However some neighboring regions could experience non-damaging sea level changes. “In coastal areas of intense shaking locally generated tsunamis can be triggered by underwater landslides.”
Earthquake location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW
Earthquake Details:
- Magnitude: 6.6 [Maximum quake magnitude estimated by FEWW at 6.8 Mw]
- Date-Time:
- Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 15:30:46 UTC
- Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 07:30:46 AM at epicenter
- Location: 52.151°N, 131.378°W
- Depth: 11.6 km (7.2 miles)
- Region: QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION
- Distances:
- 250 km (155 miles) SSW (197°) from Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
- 315 km (195 miles) WNW (303°) from Port Hardy, BC, Canada
- 331 km (206 miles) S (178°) from Metlakatla, AK
- 662 km (411 miles) WNW (302°) from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 5.5 km (3.4 miles); depth +/- 10.5 km (6.5 miles)
- Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
- Event ID: us2009pcaq
Historic Seismicity. USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW
The Largest Earthquake in Canada
Canada’s largest earthquake (magnitude 8.1) since 1700, occurred on August 22, 1949 off the coast of BC. It occurred on the Queen Charlotte Fault (Canada’s equivalent of the San Andreas Fault) – the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates that runs underwater along the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of British Columbia. The shaking was so severe on the Queen Charlotte Islands that cows were knocked off their feet, and a geologist with the Geological Survey of Canada working on the north end of Graham Island could not stand up. Chimneys toppled, and an oil tank at Cumshewa Inlet collapsed. In Terrace, on the adjacent mainland, cars were bounced around, and standing on the street was described as “like being on the heaving deck of a ship at sea”. In Prince Rupert, windows were shattered and buildings swayed. —Natural resources of Canada
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Posted in Canada Earthquake, earthquake, earthquake forecast, feww earthquake forecast, seismic activity report, tsunami | Tagged: British Columbia, Earthquakes, Lady Douglas, Port Hardy, Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte Fault, Queen Charlotte quake, Vancouver | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 17, 2009
ENSO Cycle: Recent Evolution, Current Status and Predictions
The following UPDATE is prepared by
Climate Prediction Center / NCEP – 16 November 2009
The latest weekly SST departures are:
- Niño 4 ~ 1.5ºC
- Niño 3.4 ~ 1.7ºC
- Niño 3 ~ 1.2ºC
- Niño 1+2 ~ 0.5ºC
El Niño Map. [SOURCE: NOAA/ Climate Prediction Center / NCEP]
SST Departures (°C) in the Tropical Pacific During the Last 4
During the last 4-weeks, SSTs were at least 1.0°C above average across much of the equatorial Pacific and more than 2.0°C above average between 175°E and 140°W.
Global SST Departures (°C)
During the last four weeks, equatorial SSTs were above-average in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Also, above-average SSTs covered large areas of the Northern Hemisphere subtropics.
Weekly SST Departures (°C) for the Last Four Weeks
- During the last four weeks, equatorial SST anomalies strengthened across the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
- During the last 30 days, equatorial SST anomalies increased across much of the central and eastern Pacific.
Central & Eastern Pacific Upper-Ocean (0-300 m) Weekly Heat Content Anomalies
Since April 2009, the upper-ocean heat content has been above average across
the eastern half of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. The heat content was previously below-average from mid-August 2008 through March 2009, with a minimum reached in late December 2008.
Sub-Surface Temperature Departures (°C) in the Equatorial Pacific
- During late September – early November 2009, temperature anomalies at thermocline depth increased and expanded eastward across the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, in response to the downwelling phase of an oceanic Kelvin wave.
- The most recent period (below) shows a continued eastward expansion of positive anomalies in the equatorial Pacific near 50 – 150m depth.
Tropical OLR and Wind Anomalies During the Last 30 Days
- Positive OLR anomalies (suppressed convection and precipitation, red shading) were present over Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Negative OLR anomalies (enhanced convection and precipitation, blue shading) were located over the western tropical Pacific Ocean just southeast of Papua New Guinea.
- Low-level (850-hPa) westerly anomalies were observed over the east-central equatorial Pacific.
- Upper-level (200-hPa) easterly anomalies were observed across most of the equatorial Pacific. Anomalous anticyclones were evident in the subtropics of both hemispheres, which is consistent with El Niño.
Atmospheric Circulation over the North Pacific & North America During the Last 60 Days
From mid-September through October, anomalous troughing was prevalent over the North Pacific Ocean. During October, the pattern of below-average heights became more zonal over the mid-latitudes and an anomalous ridge developed over the higher latitudes. This pattern contributed to below-average temperatures across Canada and much of the U.S. Since early November, the anomalous zonal pattern of below-average heights at mid-latitudes has been replaced by anomalous ridges with below-average heights across the northernmost latitudes. This pattern has led to above-average temperatures across much of Canada and the United States.
Summary
- El Niño is present across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
- Sea surface temperatures (SST) were at least 1.0ºC above-average across much of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific.
- Based on current observations and dynamical model forecasts, El Niño is expected to continue to strengthen and last through at least the Northern Hemisphere winter 2009-10.
Information and images on this page are sourced from Climate Prediction Center/NCEP/NOAA. Edited by FEWW
Related Links:
El Niño Updates:
Posted in Climate Prediction, ENSO, El Niño, El Niño weekly report, Ocean SST | Tagged: australia, eastern Pacific, equatorial Pacific Ocean, equatorial SSTs, Global SST anomalies, Indian Ocean SST, Indonesia, Malaysia, Negative OLR anomalies, North Pacific Ocean, Oceanic Kelvin waves, Pacific Ocean, Papua New Guinea, positive OLR, Positive SST, suppressed convection and precipitation, Tropical Pacific SST, western tropical pacific ocean, wind anomaly | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on November 16, 2009
Censored by Google
submitted by a blog contributor
Thought for the Day:
You may be undergoing natural ‘deselection’ processes at such phenomenal rates you cannot imagine!
- Are you insane?
- Following the wrong road map?
- Your systems too inflexible?
- Organizations burdensome?
- Your methods unsustainable?
- Do your schemes fly in the face of nature?
- Doing less with more, unaware of your impact on nature?
- Choosing sight over right?
- Lost the will to work in harmony with nature?
- Killing the oceans and polluting the air and ripping the heart out of nature?
If so, then nature wants you—out!
As Human Assault on Nature Accelerates, Nature’s ‘Deselection’ Engine Revs Up!
You may be undergoing natural ‘deselection’ processes at such phenomenal rates you cannot imagine!
Why is that such a bad thing for most everyone else?
‘Collateral Damage!’
How do you avoid the collateral damage?
That depends on your ‘cost-benefit’ analysis!
- How much money do you make?
- How often do you fly?
- On average, how many miles do you clock up per day?
- What’s your electricity consumption rate?
- What sort of food do you eat and how much?
- How much waste do you leave behind?
- How flexible is your lifestyle?
- Do you support war?
- How many people are being killed in your name?
- Are you single or married?
- How many children do you have?
- Really, how much do you love your kids?
…
Related Links:
Posted in Assault on Nature, Failing Ecosystems, deselection, energy dinosaurs, natural selection | Tagged: Homo Sapiens Sapiens, human impact, Human Induced Antiphase, major errors, Murphy’s law, Nature's Deselection Engine, new slant, State of the World | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 14, 2009
Censored by Google
submitted by a reader
NASA ‘Lacrosse’ Team Confirms Moon Water
When the Scientists Take the Taxpayers to the Cleaners Series
The argument that the moon is a dry, desolate place no longer holds water. —NASA
Well, whoever argued that in the first place, and which one of you thought of that smug opening line?
“Secrets the moon has been holding, for perhaps billions of years, are now being revealed to the delight of scientists and space enthusiasts alike.” [Watch out folks, you're being included, and that always comes at a price.]
It’s a painful day for science, when NASA Lunar scientists, behaving like lunatic coal-mining engineers with a mountaintop removal company, blow up a mountaintop to find coal. [And how does finding water on the moon help a dying species back here on earth? FEWW]
If finding water on the moon is so important to the evolution of mankind and advancement of his science, and it isn’t by any stretch of imagination, why not sending a probe to look for water.
There’s something inherently violent about NASA ‘Lacrosse’ team and their methods: To prove moon was ‘fertile’ they had to rape her.
“We’re unlocking the mysteries of our nearest neighbor and by extension the solar system. It turns out the moon harbors many secrets, and LCROSS has added a new layer to our understanding,” said Michael Wargo, chief lunar scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
As any high school student could probably tell you, most of celestial objects known to us contain some ice. The comets are half ice. [And that ought to reveal some of the "secrets" of universe... Also try Jupiter, Saturn... It's believed that water vapor is contained in a jet ejected from a supermassive black hole at the center of MG J0414+0534 galaxy. FEWW]
“We are ecstatic,” said Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS project scientist and principal investigator at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. “Multiple lines of evidence show water was present in both the high angle vapor plume and the ejecta curtain created by the LCROSS Centaur impact. The concentration and distribution of water and other substances requires further analysis, but it is safe to say Cabeus holds water.”
Don’t forget to take your bathing towel, buster.
To successfully venture into the galaxy, humankind needs a highly refined philosophical approach to the reason, strategy and outcome, the basis of which would determine the right method and appropriate technology. Mountaintop removal ’science’ is not a valid option.
Further, any attempt that does not satisfy the philosophical criteria would be doomed to failure in the long term.
If this is the best they’ve got and that’s the route they are taking, don’t hold your breath for NASA lunar missions.
Related Links:
Posted in Cabeus, Centaur impact, LCROSS, LRO, Moon rape, lunar surface | Tagged: Ames Research Center, Mountaintop Removal, nasa, NASA Lunar science, Water on Moon | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 14, 2009
Extremes of Weather Wreak Havoc Across the Globe
A for Adelaide heat wave (Australia)
Adelaide’s extreme hot weather has officially entered the record books as the city’s first ever heatwave in November.
Adelaide has experienced a week of soaring temperatures in the 35 – 40 degrees Celsius range.
More bushfire and sandstorms? Lots of it!
“You take one look at the satellite images of Australia and wonder when! Because it looks so imminent!” A reader commenting on the future of Australia as a habitable continent.
Australia UV Chart. The chart shows maximum clear sky UV Index at noon. Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2009, Bureau of Meteorology
B for Beijing’s November Snow [over-seeding the clouds?]
At least 21 people have perished in heavy snow in China including four children who reportedly died when two school canteens collapsed, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported.
“As of 5 p.m. Friday, more than 9,000 buildings collapsed and about 190,400 hectares of crops were affected, causing direct economic losses of around 4.5 billion yuan (about 659 million U.S. dollars), ministry said.”
Nearly 8 million people have been affected by the snow, of whom about 160,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes.
A work shed damaged by heavy snow is seen in Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan Province, Nov. 12, 2009. Six people were killed and 34 others got hurt or sick during the recent heavy snowfall in Henan, according to the provincial government. (Xinhua/Zhao Peng). Image may be subject to copyright.
F for flooded mid-Atlantic coastal areas
Nor’easter fed on remnants of Storm Ida battered mid-Atlantic coast
The governors of Virginia, Delaware and New York called up the National Guard to help with evacuations of hundreds of people using special trucks that operate in high water, the US Defense Department reported.
A coastal storm fed on remnants of Idea developed into a nor’easter with hurricane strength winds battering the mid-Atlantic coast from northeast North Carolina to New Jersey. It felled trees, flooded vast areas and left at least 5 dead with another three people missing.
WTKR reporter Kurt Williams encounters flooding up to his chest in the streets of Norfolk, VA. frame grab from CNN video.
M for the most powerful storm of the year to strike Britain
Britain was struck by “the most powerful storm of the year” yesterday as forecasters predicted fierce winds and flooding in many areas.
“For England it is probably likely to be the strongest winds this year,” British Met Office said. “It is not a surprise to see it. It is certainly a feature of weather at this time of year but 80 mph [129 km/h] is certainly getting in to the realms of winds where you are likely to see disruption due to structural damage, for instance trees coming down.”
The Met Office issued 85 flood watches, 20 flood warnings including a severe flood warning for Wales and the south of England last night as the weather system battered Britain. Flooded roads brought traffic to a standstill and forced delays and cancellations of ferry and train services.
In Cornwall gale force winds downed trees and some areas were submerged under 2 feet (60 cm) of water.
According to a weather report the storm is caused by a large low-pressure system in the North Atlantic, extending from Newfoundland to western Europe.
IR image provided by geostationary EUMetSat. Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office
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Posted in Climate Change, Extremes of Weather, drought and deluge, flood, storm | Tagged: Adelaide, australia heat wave, Beijing snow, Cornwall flooding, Drought, flooded coastal areas, habitable continent, heatwave in November, Henan Province, nor'easter, Norfolk, snow storm, Storm Ida, storm in Britain, Zhengzhou | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 13, 2009
Total UK, a subsidiary of French oil giant Total SA, pleads guilty to 2005 UK explosion charges
Total UK pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching the UK’s Health and Safety Act and one of causing pollution.
A major explosion at the Buncefield oil storage facility in Hertfordshire on December 11, 2005 devastated the area, injuring 43 people and forcing more than 2,000 others to evacuate their homes.
The Buncefield explosion measured 2.4 on the Richter scale and could be heard 200 km away. Photo: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.
In what was said to be the largest explosions in Europe since after World War 2, a vapor cloud formed after 300 tons of petrol was spilled, ignited resulting in an explosion with an intensity equivalent to a Magnitude 2.4 earthquake.
The oil terminal was jointly owned by two of the world’s giant oil companies: the French company Total, and the US company Chevron.
“Buildings on the surrounding industrial estate – and some homes up to three miles from the scene – suffered severe structural damage. The depot held massive stocks of not only oil and petrol but also the aviation fuel kerosene, used to supply airports across the region including Heathrow and Luton.” UKPA reported.
The High Court in the UK ruled in March 2009 that Total should pay £750m [$1.24billion] in damages to the individuals and businesses who sustained losses as a result of the explosion. Total UK will appeal the ruling next year, the report said.
Related Links:
Related News Links:
Recent Oil Spills:
Posted in Buncefield depot, damage award, oil company fined | Tagged: big oil, Chevron, explosion, Health and Safety Act, oil company damages, Total SA, total uk | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on November 13, 2009
Nature Defaults on Hydroelectric Supply
Localize or face the consequences: Brazil Power failure plunges its largest cities into darkness
The US, EU countries, China, Japan and other energy dinosaurs WILL experience similar disruptions…
Another Warning Shot Fired by Nature:
Your systems are too inflexible
Banking on the good side of nature. Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam. The world’s largest hydroelectric facility. Credit: Itaipu Binacional.
Remember the first time you heard the so-called Murphy’s Law?
“Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
Murphy’s law has no time vector! It doesn’t tell you when things WILL go wrong, and it’s often quoted after things have already gone wrong. It does not incorporate the ‘observer effect.’ Nature is more organized than “Murphy” would have lead you to believe. Now hear this.
FEWW Amendment to Murphy’s Law:
If more things can go wrong they will go wrong about now!
… in the world’s major cities, hydroelectric dams, nuclear power plants, oil rigs, production and processing facilities…
A name for this?
Blog Moderators call this phenomenon Secondary Interlude to Human-Induced Planetary Antiphase.
Previous Examples in recent times?
Repeated flooding in Manila, Philippines.
Examples to watch for in the Near future?
Watch out for disintegration or collapse of Cities, large-scale structures, bridges, tunnels, power plants… , e.g., collapse of China’s Three Gorges Dam in the next two to three years.
Other Examples?
More examples would be posted after the Moderators have evaluated the structures, or places.
Causes?
Earthquakes, Storms, Extreme Rain Events (ERE), Drought and Deluge, Fatigue … Antiphase and all other human-induced factors.
See also entry at
Related Links:
Posted in Failing Ecosystems, earthquake, energy dinosaurs, exponential growth economy, first wave of collapsing cities, political economy, vulnerability to power loss, world economy | Tagged: Brazil power failure, china power consumption, EU energy policy, Japan Power consumption, Murphy's Law, Nature Defaults, Prelude to Antiphase, Three Gorges Dam, US energy policy, US power consumption | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on November 13, 2009
Powerful Earthquake Measuring up to 6.7 Mw Strikes Offshore Chile
A powerful earthquakes measuring up to 6.7 Mw struck offshore Tarapaca, Chile about 95 km (60 miles) south of Arica, Chile at an estimated depth of 10 km on Friday, November 13, 2009 at 03:05:55 UTC.
This event occurred about 29 km north-northeast of another strong quake measuring at least 6.0 Mw that struck the area on April 17, 2009.
As of posting there were no report of damage in the area.
10-degree Map Centered at 20°S,70°W
Earthquake location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW
Tsunami Threat
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (NOAA, NWS) evaluated the event as follows:
No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical earthquake and tsunami data.
However, earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a hundred kilometers of the earthquake epicenter. Authorities in the region of the epicenter should be aware of this possibility and take appropriate action.
Earthquake Details:
- Magnitude: 6.5 [Maximum quake magnitude estimated by FEWW at 6.7 Mw] ]
- Date-Time:
- Friday, November 13, 2009 at 03:05:55 UTC
- Friday, November 13, 2009 at 12:05:55 AM at epicenter
- Location: 19.348°S, 70.246°W
- Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles)
- Region: TARAPACA, CHILE
- Distances:
- 95 km (60 miles) S of Arica, Chile
- 95 km (60 miles) N of Iquique, Chile
- 150 km (95 miles) S of Tacna, Peru
- 1,560 km (970 miles) N of SANTIAGO, Chile
- Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 6 km (3.7 miles)
- Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
- Event ID: us2009nyad
More on this quake as additional information become available.
Related Links:
Other Related Links [Including FEWW forecasts]
See Quake Forecast for Mindanao at:
http://feww.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/strong-earthquake-strikes-mindanao-philippines/#comment-4652
Posted in Earthquakes, bolivia quake, earthquake forecast, feww earthquake forecast, peru, tsunami | Tagged: Arica, chile, chile earthquake, Chile Quake, earthquake, Iquique, santa cruz bolivia, Tarapaca quake | Leave a Comment »
