2012 one of 10 warmest years on record globally

The following excerpts are from ‘State of the Climate in 2012,’ a 2-dimentional annual report prepared by the American Meteorological Society (AMS), with researchers from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, NC acting as lead editors.

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Earth more rapidly warming since 1970: Report

Since 1976, the earth has experienced annual temperatures above the long-term average. The rate of warming is 0.06°C (0.11°F) per decade since 1880 and a more rapid 0.16°C (0.28°F) per decade since 1970, according to the 2012 annual report from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center.

Earth’s average annual surface temperature is higher today than it was when record keeping began more than a century ago. The red line shows how far above or below the 1981–2010 average (dashed line at zero) the combined land and ocean temperature has been each year since 1880. The data shown are from NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, one of several temperature analyses included in the State of the Climate in 2012, all of which show a similar warming trend. Graph adapted from Figure 2.1, in BAMS State of the Climate in 2012.

The largest of warm anomalies in 2012 were observed across the Northern Hemisphere higher latitudes: The United States,  Canada, southern Europe, western Russia and the Russian Far East, said the report.

Sea levels reached record highs in 2012. Globally, sea level has been increasing at an average rate of 3.2 ± 0.4 mm per year over the past two decades.

The global surface temperature ranked among the top 10 warmest years on record. Over land and ocean combined, 2012 was between 0.14° and 0.17° Celsius (0.25°and 0.31° Fahrenheit) above the 1981–2010 average, depending on the analysis. The globally averaged annual temperature over land was 0.24°–0.29°C (0.43°-0.52°F) above average. And averaged globally, the 2012 ocean temperature was 0.10°–0.14°C (0.18°-0.25°F) above average. [NOAA]

Surface temperatures in 2012 compared to the 1981-2010 average. NOAA map by Dan Pisut, NOAA Environmental Visualization Lab, based on based on Merged Land and Ocean Surface Temperature data from the National Climatic Data Center. Full report is posted HERE.

Related Links [External]

• State of the Climate: 2011 Global Surface Temperature
• Past Three Decades Warmest on Record

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – June 8, 2013

Excessive Heat Warning issued for parts of 3 states

National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Southern Nevada, Southeastern California and Northwestern Arizona. 

NWS has warned that high temperatures will remain at potentially dangerous levels
through Sunday.

Very hot weather is expected across the region through the weekend. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect through Sunday evening for elevations below 4000 feet in the Mojave Desert.

Very hot weather is expected across the region through the weekend. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect through Sunday evening for elevations below 4000 feet in the Mojave Desert. Forecast high is represented by the orange bars while record values are denoted in red. Source: NWS

-oOo-

Severe Sandstorm Hits NW China (Again)

A severe sandstorm enveloped Yinchuan, capital of northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 8, 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Peng). More images …

-oOo-

Three major wildfires burning in N.M.

The largest of the three fires is the Thompson Ridge Fire which broke out in the Jemez Mountains just over a week ago.

Thompson Ridge Fire

• Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve
• Started: May 31, 2013
• Personnel: 1,015
• Cause: Downed power line
• Size: 14,430 acres
• Containment: 10 percent, as of Friday 8:30 a.m.
• Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine

Evacuations:  An evacuation order remains in effect for Thompson Ridge, Rancho de la Cueva and Elk Valley.

Tres Lagunas Fire

• Location: 10 miles north of Pecos
• Started: May 30
• Personnel: 1,011
• Cause: Downed power line
• Size: 10,048 acres
• Containment: 34 percent, as of Friday 8:00 a.m.
• Fuels: Timber

Evacuations: Some evacuation orders remain in effect; residents north of Windy Bridge are still evacuated.

Red Flag Warnings are in effect for parts of N. Calif., W. Colorado,  N. Central and Western New Mexico.

-oOo-

Lubbock, Texas Declares a State of Emergency

City and County of Lubbock have declared a state of emergency due the damage caused by severe thunderstorms Wednesday.

“The storm’s 80-plus mph winds caused severe damage to infrastructure throughout the entire service territory, which led to more than 19,000 reported outages at its peak,” said a report citing LP&L.

Continued…

DISASTER CALENDAR – June 8, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,008 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,008 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

World Record High Temperature Could Be Broken This Year

Death Valley World Record High Temperature of 134ºF Could Be Shattered in 2013

FIRE-EARTH Models show the world record high temperature of 134ºF set 100 years ago cold be broken this year with a probability of  about 78 percent [probability revised up after running additional simulations – June 5, 2013.]  

The world’s highest reliably recorded air temperature was 134°F (56.7°C) set at Furnace Creek Ranch (formerly Greenland Ranch) in Death Valley, California on July 10, 1913.

Excessive Heat Watch for Mojave Desert

Meantime, NWS issued an Excessive Heat Watch for SE Calif., S Nevada and NW Arizona.

• HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB TO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LEVELS FOR
  THIS TIME OF YEAR FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

• Very hot weather is expected across the region this weekend as high pressure builds overhead. An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect starting Friday afternoon and continuing through Sunday evening for elevations in the Mojave Desert below 4000 feet.
  

• Expected Temperatures: HIGHS ranging from 105 to 110 for much of the MOJAVE DESERT region including Las Vegas Valley, 110 to 114 along the Colorado river Valley and from  119 to 123 degrees at Furnace creek in   DEATH VALLEY national Park
  

Related Links

•  Fueled by Heat from Hell? January 31, 2013 [FIRE-EARTH Forecast]
• Drought Disaster 2013

‘Britain Running Out of Wheat’

Unseasonably cold spring severely affecting Britain’s wheat and vegetable crops

“The last 12 months have been unreal for farmers. Last April we had a drought and talk of a hosepipe ban, then we had to contend with heavy rains and flooding and then the wintery weather, frozen land and snow,” the National Farmers Union (NFU) said.

UK temperatures over the past week fell to among the coldest experienced in April for nearly 100 years, with maximum temperatures barely above the freezing in many parts of the southeast, according to local reports.

At -11.2ºC (11.8 degrees Fahrenheit), the village of Braemar in Scotland, about 90 km west of Aberdeen, on Tuesday, held the joint coldest April weather anywhere in the UK for nearly a century.

The unseasonably cold spring is severely affecting Britain’s wheat and vegetable crops.

“A disastrous 12-month cycle of poor weather has ruined harvests across the UK, costing farmers an estimated £500m, the chief economist of the National Farmers Union (NFU) warned,” said a report.

“The crop damage deals a further blow to Britain’s beleaguered farming industry, which is already reeling from a spate of recent livestock deaths due to the cold weather. To make matters worse, the weather has made planting new crops more difficult and damaged many of the seeds that have been sown in recent weeks.” The report said.

UK is expected to import about 1.5m tons more wheat than it exports this “crop year,” from July 2012 to June 2013, which compares to net exports of 1.6m tons last crop year and 2.2m tons 4 years ago, the report quoted the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) as saying.

Potato plantings are also down from  30,000 hectare this time last year to just 4,000 hectares, as of March end 2013.

The cold weather has also led to a heightened demand for gas, pushing the wholesale price much higher and forcing the government to source emergency deliveries of liquified gas from Qatar.

Related News Links

• Exclusive:  Britain running out of wheat as cold weather crisis hits farmers

FIRE-EARTH Links to Related Entries

• ‘Catastrophic Losses’ of Animals Feared due to UK Spring Snow March 26, 2013
• Britain: Blizzards, 100 Flood Warnings and a Deadly Landslide March 23, 2013
• United Kingdom: Britain could run out of gas in 36 hours March 22, 2013

• How Homo Ignarus Killed Spring

Wildfires Rage Across Australia

Intensive thunderstorm ignites wildfires in Western Australia

An emergency warning remained in place in Western Australia’s South West as a dozen wildfires raged.

At least 130 personnel are battling an out of control fire in forest between Bridgetown and Nannup, which has consumed more than 1,700 hectares in less than 24 hours.

Australia experienced its hottest month on record in January 2013, with both the average mean temperature of 29.68°C and the average mean maximum temperature of 36.92°, topping previous records set in January 1932, Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABOM) reported.

“The heatwave in the first half of January was exceptional in its extent and duration. The national average maximum temperature on 7 January was the highest on record. Numerous stations set records for the most days in succession above 40°C, including Alice Springs (17 days) and Birdsville (31 days).”

January heatwave set all-time record high temperatures in many locations including Sydney (45.8°C on 18 January) and Hobart (41.8°C on 4 January). The highest temperature recorded during the heatwave was at Moomba in South Australia (49.6°C on 12 January), ABOM reporetd.

Extreme Rain Events

Extreme rain events plagued coastal areas of Queensland and New South Wales as a low pressure system associated with ex-tropical cyclone Oswald tracked steadily south between 22 and 29 January.

“Many coastal areas from Sydney to Cape York received more than 200 mm of rainfall. The most extreme rainfalls were in the region between Rockhampton and Bundaberg, and in the ranges along the New South Wales – Queensland border region.” BOM reported.

Some 1,496 mm of rain fell in Upper Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland in eight days, and 1,426 mm in Boolaroo Tops, southwest of Gladstone.

Related Links

• Disaster declared in NSW
• Australian floods force evacuation of thousands in 2 states

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February 13, 2013 – DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,123 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,123 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History
• The countdown began on May 15, 2011 …

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

Killer Tornadoes Wreak Havoc in U-S

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,137 Days Left 

[January 30, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,137 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Deadly storms, tornadoes hit US Southeast, Midwest

A massive system barreled through central and southern U.S., dumping heavy rains in Kentucky and Tennessee, spawning about two dozen tornadoes and leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

• The strongest tornado was an EF-2 which reportedly touched down near Mt. Juliet, a suburb of Nashville, with winds of about 115 mph.

Filtered Storm Reports for Jan. 29, 30. Source: SPC

• Tornadoes have been reported in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.
• The storms damaged or destroyed homes, killing at least three people and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the affected areas.
• Extreme rain and golf-ball sized hail struck several areas, NWS reported.
• “Authorities in Adairsville enacted a mandatory dusk-to dawn-curfew, where the storm affected a wide swath of homes and businesses,” said a report.

Probability Map for Tornadoes in January

The probability of having one or more days with a tornado within 25 miles of a point during month of January. The base data for all tornadoes are the reports from 1980-1994. The values are probabilities in percent. Source: Severe Thunderstorms Climatology

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

Hottest Hell on Earth

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,159 Days Left 

[January 8, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,159 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Australia: Entombed by a ‘dome of heat’

Hundreds of fires fanned by record temperatures and high winds are currently burning across Australia, many of them out of control.

About 90 percent of New South Wales (NSW) was in severe danger, with “catastrophic” conditions declared in five areas: the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, the Southern Ranges, the northern and eastern Riverina and southern parts of the lower Central West Plains.

• Temperatures soared to near 46ºC (118ºF) today.
• Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecast temperatures of up to 54ºC (129ºF)  in central Australia next Monday and has accordingly extended its temperature chart by adding two new colors, pink and purple, to allow for the extremes.
• High winds and atmospheric conditions have created a ‘dome of heat’ entombing Australia, experts said.

Australia Forecast Map for 06:00 UTC on Saturday 12 January 2013 . Source: BOM

Global Temperature Forecast Map for 06:00 UTC on Saturday 12 January 2013 . Source: BOM

SH Temp Forecast for 06:00 UTC on Sunday 13 January 2013

Power Outages

“The blistering heat also caused a blaze at a nuclear research facility in southern Sydney after cabling overheated in a nearby electricity substation, while thousands of homes in the city’s north experienced power outages due to soaring demand,” said a report.

FEWW Links and Forecasts

• Australia’s Runaway Bushfires Threaten Lives and Property

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Australia on Fire: Tasmania Burning

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Blizzards Blast Half of the US, Temp Dips to Minus 58 in Russia

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,178 Days Left 

[December 20, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,178 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Three weather systems pound the U.S., as freezing temperatures kill/ injure hundreds in Russia

The storms have knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers across Nebraska and Iowa, reports said.

“Significant snow will impact all or parts of 21 states—five by a storm in the Pacific Northwest, two by a storm in New England and 14 by the storm in the middle of the country.” NOAA reported.

One storm is winding down in Northern New England after dropping 8-14 inches on northern Maine. The system moving into the Rockies and Central Plains will gain strength today and a new system is moving onshore in the Pacific Northwest, where another 12-20 inches are in the forecast.

The northwest storm will affect parts of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana. The New England storm has affected mostly Main and New Hampshire. The monster storm taking over much of the Plains will impact significant parts of Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.

Russia

Hundreds of people are dead or injured, as Russia endures its harshest winter in more than 7 decades, with temperatures dipping to as low as minus 50ºC (-58ºF).

“The country has not witnessed such a long cold spell since 1938, meteorologists said, with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees lower than the seasonal norm all over Russia.” RIA Novosti reported.

• Russia’s Emergency Ministry has issued warnings throughout 15 regions, as  record cold temperatures are forecast to linger for several more days.

• The temperatures  fell to -18ºC  Moscow region and -50 degrees in Siberia on Wednesday.
  • The temperatures will plunge to as low as -25ºC in the Moscow-2 region, forecasters said.

• “Across the country, heat pipelines have broken down due to the cold. In southeastern Russia’s Samara, the cold has broken down many heat pipelines, leaving hundreds of homes without heating, including an orphanage and a rest house. Many schools and kindergartens have been closed for almost a week.” RIA Novosti reported.

• “The cold spell, along with snowfalls, has disrupted flights all over the country, and led to huge traffic jams. In the southern city of Rostov-on-Don some highways were closed due to snowfalls over the past two days, triggering a traffic collapse.”

Ecuador: Tungurahua volcano

Seventy-two hours after the Tungurahua alert level was raised to ‘orange,’ the activity level remains between ‘moderate’ and ‘high.’

Tungurahua eruption viewed from the city of Banos in this AFP photo dated December 17, 2012. Image may be subject to copyrights.

The Geophysical Institute observatory reported volcanic activity as being  between ‘moderate’ and ‘high,’ with regular expulsions, emitting ashes high into the sky.

The roaring sounds from the volcano is rattling windows in nearby towns, where volcanic ashes continue to rain down.

Tungurahua, (“Throat of Fire” in the native Quechua language),  is located about 135 kilometers (84 miles) south of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador  (Group D – see map).

Related Links:

• Volcanoes [FEWW Links]
• Earthquakes
• Volcano Watch Weekly [6 May 2009]

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Heavy Snow, Cold Temperatures Paralyze East Europe

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,180 Days Left 

[December 18, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,180 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

East Europe Cold Snap: Hundreds Dead or Injured 

• Ukraine. Cold has killed dozens of people and left hundreds hospitalized in Ukraine as temperatures dipped to minus 24.5 Celsius (-12º F).
  • Heavy snowfall dumped about 55cm of snow in some areas.
  • Night temperatures are expected to fall to -28 degrees this week, forecasters said.
• Czech Republic. Cold temperatures of as low as -20ºC (-4ºF) left at least a dozen people dead and many others suffering from frostbites.
• The Balkans. More than 110 centimeters (43 inches) of snow in the Balkans left dozens of people dead or injured in Croatia and Serbia.
• Romania. “Above-average snowfall cut electricity supplies across Romania, leaving about 90 towns without power amid falling temperatures, the Bucharest-based Economy Ministry said,” according to a report. 
• Slovenia. Multiple accidents and sliding trucks blocked roads in Slovenia, leaving scores of drivers stranded without food and water.
• Russia.  Moscow temperature dipped to minus 17ºC, and is expected to further drop to as low as minus 26ºC, with snow flurries forecast.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

U.S. Drought Update

U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter

Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought conditions (D0 to D4 drought levels on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale) now cover 74.98 percent of Continental United States, down from 76.72 percent last week, due to multiple storm system moving across the country.

U.S. Drought Map

U.S. Drought Map, October 16, 2012. Released by US Drought Monitor on October 18, 2012.

“The large majority” of the drought is expected to persist, however, and spread westward, said deputy director of NOAA.

“We even see drought expanding westward … into Montana, Idaho and part of Oregon and Washington.” He said.

Forecasters at NOAA also predict a dryer-than-usual and warmer winter.

“The main issues facing the U.S. going into this (winter) outlook period stem from persistent heat and drought,” chief of climate monitoring at NCDC told Reuters. “It is likely that 2012 will be the warmest of the 118-year record for the contiguous United States.”

2012 Drought Disaster Update

USDA has designated 2,673 counties as agricultural disaster areas. The designations, which extend across 47 states and D.C., include 2,234 counties listed as primary and 439 as contiguous disaster areas, as of October 17, 2012.

Total All Crop Approved Designations Disaster Incidents as of 10/17/2012- USDA Farm Service Agency Production, Emergencies and Compliance Division.   NOTE: The above map does NOT appear to have been fully updated.

CONTINUED…

Global temperature tied with 2005 as record highest for September

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,243 Days* Left 

[October 16, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,243 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

*Countdown has been revised

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Global temperature for September 2012 tied with 2005 as the warmest on  record: NOAA

“The globally-averaged temperature for September 2012 tied with 2005 as the warmest September since record keeping began in 1880.” NOAA reported.

• Combined average temperature over land and ocean surfaces for September was 60.21°F (15.67°C) or 1.21°F (0.67°C) above the 20^th century average.
• September 2012 was also the 36^th consecutive September and 331^st consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20^th century average.
• 2012 January-September period was the warmest first nine months of any year on record for the contiguous United States, with the national temperature of 59.8°F, which  was 3.8°F above the 20^th century average.
• “The October 2011-September 2012 period was the warmest such 12-month period on record for the contiguous U.S., with an average temperature of 56.2°F, 3.2°F above average. This 12-month temperature average tied the June 2011-May 2012 period as the 3^rd warmest of any 12-month period. The six warmest 12-month periods have all ended during 2012.” NOAA said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Hard Freeze Hits the U.S.

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,258 Days Left

[October 5, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,258 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

“Early season” snowstorm surges south and east across the U.S.

A powerful early season snow storm is forecast to bring light to heavy snow, freezing temperatures and strong winds to the north-central Plains today. Snow will expand to the central Plains and the northern Rockies on Friday and Saturday, NOAA forecasters said.

• Forecasters in several locations are calling for overnight low temperatures in the 20s that will bring an end to the growing season. A hard freeze with temperatures in the 20s is expected through 9 a.m. Friday in western South Dakota and northeast Wyoming. Freezing overnight temperatures are also expected in parts of Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.
• The cold front is expected to move into much of the Eastern United States and the Deep South.
• Hard Freeze Warnings,  Freeze Warnings, Hazardous Weather Outlook,  and various winter-weather watches and advisories are in effect across much of the country.

Other Disasters/ Significant Events

China. Landslide death toll in Yiliang County, located in SW China’s Yunnan province,  has climbed to at least 19, including 18 primary school children.

• Eight-hundred residents were relocated after the landslide.

• Yiliang was struck by a cluster of earthquakes on September 7, which left 81 people dead and 800 others injured, said a report.

Rescuers search at the landslide site in the village of Zhenhe, located in Yiliang County, Zhaotong City,  Yunnan Province, southwest China, October 4, 2012. Nineteen people, including 18 primary school students, who were buried in the landslide on Thursday are now confirmed dead. (Xinhua/Long Jiao).  More photos…

South Africa.  Anglo American Platinum, world’s largest platinum producer, has fired 12,000 striking South African miners after a protracted strike over wages, reports said.

• Clashes between striking miners and police left one worker dead.
• Some 34 miners were shot dead by the “post-apartheid” police in August.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

U.S. Drought: Little Change!

U.S. drought areas change less than 1 percent since a week ago

As of October 2, 2012, Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought levels (drought conditions D0 – D4 on the US Drought Monitor chart) covered 75.90% of Contiguous U.S. compared with 76.59% a week ago, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

U.S. Drought Map, October 2, 2012. 

Previous Drought Maps

• U.S. Drought Intensifies Posted  September 27, 2012
• U.S. Drought Disaster Grows Posted September 21, 2012
• U.S. Drought Persists Posted  September 13, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

August 2012 Fourth Warmest on Record

Global Land Temperature:  Second Warmest August on Record

Average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces was the 4th highest on record for August, at 61.22°F (16.22°C) or 1.12°F (0.62°C) above the 20^th century average, NOAA reported.

• August 2012 was the 36^th consecutive August and 330^th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20^th century average.
• Global land temperature was 58.52°F, which tied with 2001 and 2011 as the second warmest August on record, behind 1998.
• Temperature for global land and ocean surfaces for June–August tied with 2005 as the third highest on record for this period at 61.25°F (16.24°C), or 1.15°F (0.64°C), above the 20^th century average.

Related Links

• U.S. Climate: Warmest YTD on Record Posted  September 11, 2012

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

U.S. Climate: Warmest YTD on Record

Drought-related stress affecting 80% of U.S. corn and soybeans, causing crops failure

The January-August 2012 was the warmest first 8 months of any year on record for the contiguous United States. The national temperature of 58.7°F (14.3°C) was 4.0°F above the 20^th century average, and 1.0°F above the previous record warm in 2006, NOAA said.

• Summer 2012 was the 3rd hottest summer on record for the contiguous United States since recordkeeping began 117 years ago. [ 2011 and 1936 had higher summer temperatures for the Lower 48.]

Temperature Anomalies, June – August  2012

Reds show June-August temperatures up to 8° F warmer than average. Blues show temperatures up to 2° F cooler than average—the darker the color, the larger the difference. Source: NOAA climate.gov

• During the period, 33 states had record warm and an additional 12 states experienced top ten warm.
• The average temperature for the Lower 48 between June and August was higher than 74°F (24.3°C), which is more than 2° F above the 20^th century average.
• “The average global temperature across land and oceans during July 2012 was 0.62°C (1.12°F) above the 20^th century average of 15.8°C (60.4°F) and ranked as the fourth warmest July since records began in 1880. The previous three months—April, May, and June—also ranked among the top five warmest for their respective months. July 2012 marks the 36^th consecutive July and 329^th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20^th century average.” NOAA reported.

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought and Deluge Disasters Declared

Disaster declared in dozens of additional counties due to lingering drought, Hurricane ISAAC

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated the entire state of Michigan, which includes 83 counties, as primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that began March 1, 2012, and continues.

• USDA has designated 147 additional counties in 14 states as natural disaster areas-128 counties in 10 states due to drought.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map 2012. [August 29, 2012] Source: USDA. Edited for brevity by FIRE-EARTH.

Since the second week of July, USDA has designated 1,892 unduplicated counties in 38 states as disaster areas-1,820 due to drought.

• The disaster declaration extends also to 15 counties in three surrounding states because they are contiguous.
  • Indiana: Five counties.
  • Ohio. Three counties.
  • Wisconsin. Five counties.

• Iowa. USDA has designated 11 counties in Iowa as agricultural disaster areas  due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Minnesota. The declaration extends to four Minnesota counties because they are contiguous.

• Montana. USDA has designated 23 counties in Montana as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Idaho.  The declaration extends to three Idaho counties because they are contiguous.
  • Wyoming.  The declaration extends to two Wyoming counties because they are contiguous.

• Idaho. USDA has designated 6 counties in Idaho as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Montana.  The declaration extends to two Montana counties because they are contiguous.

• Alabama. USDA has designated five counties in Alabama as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Georgia. The declaration extends to three Georgia counties because they are contiguous.

• South Dakota.USDA has designated 50 counties in South Dakota as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat, high winds, hail, frosts and freezes that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues. The declaration extends to counties in the following bordering states.
  • Iowa.  One county.
  • Minnesota. Three counties.
  • Montana. Two counties
  • North Dakota. Six counties.

• Mississippi. USDA has designated ten counties in Mississippi as as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Tennessee. The declaration extends to two Tennessee counties because they are contiguous.

• Maryland. USDA has designated 18 counties in Maryland as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought and excessive heat that began April 20, 2012, and continues.  The declaration extends to areas in the following surrounding states.
  • Independent City: Baltimore.
  • Delaware. Four counties.
  • District of Columbia.
  • Pennsylvania.  Two counties.
  • Virginia. Two counties.
  • Independent City:  Alexandria.

• Kentucky.   USDA has designated three counties in Kentucky as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Indiana.  The declaration extends to three counties in the adjacent state of Indiana because they are contiguous.

• Tennessee. USDA has designated 6 counties in Tennessee as a primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
  • Mississippi.  The declaration extends to three counties in the adjacent state of Mississippi because they are contiguous.

Wildfires

• Oregon. USDA has designated seven counties in Oregon as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by wildfires that began July 8 and continue. The disaster declaration extends to counties in the adjacent states:
  • Idaho.  Four counties.
  • Nevada. Two counties.

Multiple Freezes

• Pennsylvania. USDA has designated four counties in Pennsylvania as a primary and contiguous natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by multiple freezes that occurred April 3-30, 2012.
  • Maryland.  The declaration extends to two counties in Maryland because they are contiguous.

• Maine. USDA has designated seven counties in Maine as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by frost, freezes, hailstorms and excessive rain.
  • New Hampshire. The declaration extends to four counties in New Hampshire because they are contiguous.

Flood Disaster Declarations

• Minnesota. USDA has designated 28 counties in Minnesota as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred April 1-July 31, 2012.
  • Wisconsin. The declaration extends to three counties in Wisconsin because they are contiguous.

• Maine. Seven counties in Maine been named as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain that occurred June 15-30, 2012.

Hurricane ISAAC Disaster Declarations

• Mississippi. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Mississippi  in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012, and continuing.
  • The worst affected counties are Amite, Attala, Carroll, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Montgomery, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Rankin, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, Wilkinson, and Yazoo.

• Louisiana. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana in the area affected by Hurricane Isaac beginning on August 26, 2012, and continuing.
  • The worst affected areas are parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Franklin, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, and West Baton Rouge.

Other Disaster Declarations

• New Mexico.The President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Mexico  in the area affected by flooding during the period of June 22 to July 12, 2012.
  • The worst affected areas are the counties of Lincoln and Sandoval and the Santa Clara Pueblo.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• Disaster Declared for 142 U.S. Counties Posted August 23, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Global Warning

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Extreme Drought Creeping Up in Northern Plains

 U.S. Drought Map

The area impacted by Extreme drought increased marginally last week. As of August 28, Extreme and Exceptional drought levels covered 23.18 percent of the United States.

U.S. Drought Map – August 28, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

Previous Drought Map

U.S. Drought Map – August 21, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• Disaster Declared for 142 U.S. Counties Posted August 23, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Global Warning

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Disaster Declared for 142 U.S. Counties

Drought disaster declared in 100 additional counties across 13 states

Fifteen counties in Nebraska have been declared agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that began March 1, 2012, and continues, USDA reported.

• Those disaster areas are (primary disaster areas)  Gage, Johnson, Nuckolls, Richardson, Jefferson, Nemaha, Pawnee and Thayer counties;  (contiguous disaster areas) Adams, Clay, Fillmore, Lancaster, Otoe, Saline and Webster counties.

Nine counties in bordering states of Kansas and Missouri also designated as  natural disaster areas  because they are contiguous.

• Kansas: Brown, Doniphan, Jewell, Marshall, Nemaha, Republic and Washington counties.

• Missouri: Atchison and Holt counties.

Drought disaster areas have also been declared in California, Nevada and Utah.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map as of August 22, 2012.

• California.  USDA has also designated 6 counties in California and one in bordering Nevada as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. Those counties are Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and Tuolumne in California, and Douglas County in Nevada.

• Utah.  USDA has designated nine counties in Utah as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought. Those counties are (primary disaster areas) Beaver, Iron and Piute counties;  (contiguous disaster areas) Garfield, Millard, Washington, Kane, Sevier and  Wayne counties.

• Idaho.  USDA has designated 17 counties in Idaho as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat and high winds that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues.

The Idaho disaster designation also includes 9 counties in 4 bordering states.

• Montana: Beaverhead, Gallatin and Madison counties.
• Nevada: Elko County.
• Utah: Box Elder, Cache and Rich counties.
• Wyoming: Lincoln and Teton counties.

• Kansas.  USDA has designated 5 counties in Kansas as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought, excessive heat, high winds and wildfires that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues. Those counties are (PDA) Marshall County; and (CDA) Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley and Washington counties.

• Indiana.  USDA has designated 5 counties in Indiana as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.
• Ohio.  Darke County in Ohio also designated as natural disaster area because it is contiguous.

• Georgia. USDA has designated 12 counties in Georgia as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

• Tennessee.  USDA has designated 13 counties in Tennessee as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• United States.  The number of reported West Nile cases nationwide has tripled, with at least 1,118 reported so far this year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
  •  Seventy-five percent of the cases have been reported in five states—Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma,  South Dakota and Texas—with more than a half in Texas.
  • “We are in the midst of one of the worst West Nile virus outbreaks ever seen in the U.S.,” Lyle R. Petersen, director of the Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases at CDC, told reporters.
  • West Nile virus have caused at least 41 fatalities, so far this year.
  • Texas has reported 640 West Nile infections and at least 22 deaths this year.
  • Dallas County, where the mayor declared a health emergency last week, accounts for 270 cases and at least 11 deaths.

• Ohio. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Ohio in the area affected by severe storms and straight-line winds during the period of June 29 to July 2, 2012.
  • The worst affected areas are in the counties of Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Champaign, Clark, Coshocton, Fairfield, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Meigs, Miami, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Shelby, Van Wert, and Washington.

• Oklahoma. The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma in the area affected by the Freedom Wildfire during the period of August 3-14, 2012.

• California. California Governor has declared a state of emergency in 3 Northern California counties—Plumas, Shasta and Tehama—due to raging wildfires.
  • Wildfires have destroyed dozens of homes and threaten hundreds more, forcing evacuations and road closures.
  • Ponderosa Fire, which had already consumed about 25,000 acres, destroying more than 85 homes and other structures, was threatening the small community of Mineral, south of Lassen National Volcanic Park.
  • The blaze has already forced about 3,500 people to flee their homes in Tehama and Shasta counties, north of Sacramento.
  • The fire is threatening more than 500 homes and businesses
  • Chips Fire in Plumas County has scorched about 100 square miles since late July and threatens more than 900 homes.

• Idaho.  USDA has designated 34 counties in Idaho as natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the combined effects of hail, excessive rain, frost and freezes that occurred from Jan. 1 – July 25, 2012.

The Idaho disaster designation also includes 9 counties in 6 bordering states.

• Montana: Three counties.

• Nevada: One county.

• Oregon: Two counties.

• Utah: Two counties.

• Washington: Two counties.
  

• Wyoming: Two counties.
  

DROUGHT DISASTER

• United States.  Drought conditions continue worsening in key farm states, with 63.20 percent of Continental U.S. experiencing Moderate to Exception Drought condition (D1 to D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor).

U.S. Drought Map – August 21, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Heatwave Fuels Wildfires Ravaging Balkans

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,302 Days Left

[August 22, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,302 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

–

State of emergency declared as wildfires threaten Bosnia towns

Residents and tourists are being  evacuated from Bosnian towns, as raging wildfires fueled by the extreme heat and strong winds approach.

• Authorities declared a state of emergency in the town of Bratunac (eastern Bosnia) as wildfires approached from 4 directions.
• Residents and tourists are being evacuated from the town TouKonjic (southern Bosnia) as multiple wildfires engulf the surrounding areas.

Authorities both in Serbia and Croatia have issued extreme heat warnings, instructing people to stay indoors to avoid dehydration and heatstroke.

• Italy. The Ministry of Health raised the extreme heat warning to the maximum level ‘red’  after heatwave enveloped 8  cities including the capital Rome.
  • Wildfires were reported at multiple locations across southern Italy.

• France. Heatwave has also affected most parts of France since last week.
  • In southern France, temperatures exceeded 40ºC (104 degrees).

• Spain. A major wildfire fueled by the extreme heatwave has scorched more than 8,000 hectares in the central Spanish province of Leon, reports said.
  • Fires in Spain have consumed about 150,000 hectares of wild land killing several people this summer.

• Greece.  Hundreds of fires were ignited across the Greek Islands over the weekend, scorching thousands of  acres of forest.

• Belgium and Germany have also been affected by the heatwave since late last week.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Ecuador. Tungurahua volcano (summit elevation: 5,030 m) near Banos erupted again on Tuesday, August 20, 2012 spewing lava, ash and volcanic debris  into the air.  Authorities raised the alert level to ‘orange, and evacuated some of nearby residents, while advising others to leave the are voluntarily.
  • Tungurahua’s last major eruption occurred from 1916 to 1918, but the volcano became active again in October 1999.

Tungurahua volcano seen from Huambalo, Ecuador, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012. (Photo: Dolores Ochoa/AP). Image may be subject to copyright.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Arctic Sea Ice Extent Rapidly Decreasing

Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent drops below 4.5 million km²: FIRE-EARTH

FIRE-EARTH estimates the Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent dropped below 4.5 million km² on August 19, 2012.

A week earlier (August 13, 2012), the Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent was 5.09 million square kilometers (1.97 million square miles), which was 2.69 million km² below the 1979 to 2000 average extent for the date, and 483,000 km² below the previous record low set in 2007, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).

FEWW model shows the Arctic sea ice extent could fall below 3.8 million km² during the 2012 melt season with a probability of 0.7 [P≥65%]

Arctic ice cover shrank to a new record low of 4.28 km² in 2007, about 23 percent below the previous record set in 2005 and almost 40 percent lower than the 1979 – 2000 average.

Arctic Ice Cover Maps for August 13 and 19, 2012. Source: NSIDC

Arctic Sea Ice Extent: Area of ocean with at least 15% sea ice. Source: NSIDC

The graph above shows Arctic sea ice extent as of August 13, 2012, along with daily ice extent data for the previous five years. 2012 is shown in blue, 2011 in orange, 2010 in pink, 2009 in navy, 2008 in purple, and 2007 in green. The gray area around the average line shows the two standard deviation range of the data. Source: NSIDC

“The average pace of ice loss since late June has been rapid at just over 100,000 square kilometers (38,000 square miles) per day. However, this pace nearly doubled for a few days in early August during a major Arctic cyclonic storm,” said NSIDC.

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Disaster Calendar – 19 August 2012

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,305 Days Left

[August 19, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,305 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

State of Emergency Declared in Oregon Due to Wildfire

Oregon declares a statewide state of emergency due to ‘imminent threat of wildfire’ 

Oregon Gov Kitzhaber has  declared a statewide State of Emergency due to ‘the imminent threat of wildfire,’ after  extreme fire danger and red flag warnings were issued for much of the state.

• A wildfire has scorched about 85,000, threatening at least 200 structures and prompting evacuation orders for residents near Lakeview.
  • The Barry Point Fire, sparked by lightning on Monday August 6, is located about 22 miles southwest of Lakeview, OR on the Fremont-Winema National Forest and private lands.

• Another Wildfire, Ten Mile Complex Fire, consisting of the Ten Mile fire (10,000 acres), and the Banana Lake Fire(5,000 acres), also sparked by lightning, is reportedly 90 percent contained.

• The Holloway Fire, a Mega Wildfire, has  scorched 700 square miles along the Nevada-Oregon state line, more than half of it in Oregon.

• Other wildfires in the state include the Fort Complex fire, three blazes burning together from California into SW Oregon, the Waterfalls 2 fire near Warm Springs, and the Butte fire in Douglas County.

‘Thunderstorms this weekend in the Pacific Northwest, particularly western Washington through Oregon into northern California and Nevada, will be capable of abundant lightning with little or no rain. Given the very dry fuel conditions, lightning has the potential to start new wildfires across the region,’ NWS said.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Texas, USA.Dallas Mayor has declared a state of emergency and ordered aerial pesticide spraying in Dallas following a surge in the cases of the West Nile virus which have killed at least 26 people nationwide this summer.
  • Dallas County has reported more than 200 infections, which have resulted in at least ten deaths.
  • About 450 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported in 2 dozen Texas counties, with at least 16 fatalities attributed to the infections.
  • In Houston, 95% of mosquitoes tested carry the virus.
• See also: Forest Fires Force Thousands to Evacuate in Canary Islands

2012 West Nile virus update: as of August 14

At least 43 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 861 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including at least 26 deaths, have been reported to CDC. Of these, 59% were classified as neuroinvasive disease (such as meningitis or encephalitis) and 41% were classified as non-neuroinvasive disease.

More than 80 percent of the cases have been reported from six states (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and California) and almost half of all cases have been reported from Texas, CDC reported.

West Nile virus (WNV) activity reported to ArboNET, by state, United States, 2012 (as of August 14, 2012)

Eight hundred sixty-one (861) human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

Non-human WNV Cases

Non-human West Nile virus infections have been reported to CDC ArboNET from Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

• Louisiana, USA.   Gov Jindal has declared a state of emergency for Plaquemines Parish due to encroaching salt water, which is threatening drinking water in the New Orleans area.
  • “Due to the Mississippi River’s low water levels, salt water has been moving far upriver and was at the outskirts of New Orleans by Wednesday, nearly 90 miles north of the mouth of the Mississippi,” said a report.
  • High levels of sodium and chloride have been detected in Plaquemines Parish’s drinking water.

Links to Recent Wildfires

• U.S. Wildfires Burning 2M Acres Across 11 States Posted August 17, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Homes, Large Areas Across the West Posted August 14, 2012

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

U.S. Wildfires Burning 2M Acres Across 11 States

Disaster Calendar – 17 August 2012

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,307 Days Left

[August 17, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,307 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History…

Symbolic countdown began to the ‘worst day’ in human history on May 15, 2011...

.

About 2 million acres on fire across Western U.S.

Dozens of wildfires are burning out of control across 11 drought-stricken western states, consuming scores of homes and threatening hundred of other structures, and forcing thousands to evacuate entire towns.

• Dozens of wildfires are currently raging across Western U.S. consuming about 2 million acres in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

• In Idaho, the massive Trinity Ridge Fire has consumed more than 100 square miles since early August, forcing thousands to evacuate the mountain resort towns of Pine and Featherville, about 100 miles NE of Boise.
  • About a dozen large wildfires are burning in Idaho.

• In Washington, at least 1,000 evacuation orders were issued in rural areas east of Cle Elum, about 75 miles east of Seattle, as hundreds of residents voluntarily fled their homes.
  • The fire, which started Monday, quickly spread, destroying about 400 homes, barns and other structures, and threatening many more building.

• “In California, a dozen major blazes up and down the state were keeping more than 9,000 firefighters busy, with the greatest immediate danger facing the rural community of Ranchita, about 50 miles northeast of San Diego,” said a report.
  • About 500 residents have been ordered to leave Ranchita and Santa Fe, authorities said.

• California. Rush Fire. The fire is located approximately 15 miles southeast of Ravendale, California. “The fire is burning near a major natural gas line and transfer station, and power transmission lines that supply the Reno area.”
  • The fire started Sunday August 12th, 2012, and has already consumed more than 160,000 acres, with growth potential reported to be ‘extreme.’
  • Voluntary evacuations in several areas are currently in effect.
• In northern California, a large blaze has consumed about 50,000  acres near the town of Belden in the Plumas National Forest, threatening about 1,000 homes, and prompting evacuations.

• Holloway Fire, a Mega Wildfire burning along the Nevada-Oregon state line, grew to about 700 square miles, forcing many evacuations. The fire was reportedly 86 percent contained, as of posting.

• As of August 16, about 43,000 wildfires had been reported in the U.S. this season, consuming a total of 6.4 million acres (~10,000 square miles). The 10-year average for the period is 52,005 fires, and 5 million acres, said the National Interagency Fire Center. [See previous blog comments about quality of the NIFC reporting.]

• See also Wildfires Destroy Homes, Large Areas Across the West Posted August 14, 2012

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Exceptional Drought Spreads Across Midwest

More than six percent of Continental U.S. experiencing exceptional drought

Drought covered about 62 percent of the contiguous 48 states as of August 14, 2012, with almost a quarter of the country experiencing extreme to exceptional drought levels (D3 – D4) on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

U.S. Drought Map – August 14, 2012. Source: US Drought Monitor.

U.S. Precipitation Map (Weekly)

U.S. Precipitation Map. 7-Day Total for Week Ending August 15, 2012. Source: HPRCC

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

Drought, Heat Spell More Disaster

Hundreds more U.S. counties declared drought disaster areas

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated hundreds of additional counties across 22  states as agricultural disaster areas due to drought and heat. As of August 15, the agency has designated at least 1,792 counties as disaster areas—1,670 due to drought.

[Note: Additionally, about 280 other counties throughout the country have been designated as contiguous disaster areas due to drought and heat.]

U.S. Drought Disaster Map, August 13, 2012 (released August 15, 2012).

Drought Disaster Spreads

Hundreds of additional counties in the following states have been designated as drought disaster areas:

• Alabama (6 counties)
• Arkansas (9 counties)
• Colorado (7 counties)
• Illinois (31 counties)
• Indiana (42 counties)
• Iowa (67 counties)
• Kansas (5 counties)
• Kentucky (90 counties)
• Louisiana (11 counties)
• Michigan (2 counties)
• Minnesota (5 counties)
• Mississippi (14 counties)
• Missouri (3 counties)
• Montana (5 counties)
• Nebraska (23 counties)
• Ohio (20 counties)
• Oklahoma (10 counties)
• South Dakota (3 counties)
• Tennessee (6 counties)
• Virginia (3 counties)
• West Virginia (2 counties)
• Wyoming (22 counties)

Related Links

• U.S. Disaster Impact Leaps 24 Folds Posted August 1, 2012
• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Corn Progress

• More Corn Grilled on the Cob Posted on August 7, 2012
• Half U.S. Corn in Very Poor or Poor Condition Posted July 30, 2012
• Deadly Drought Worsens Corn, Soybean, Pasture and Range Conditions Posted July 24, 2012

Drought – Recent Links

• U.S. Disaster Areas Expand as Drought Deepens Posted August 1, 2012
• Extreme and Exceptional Drought Spread Across Midwest, South Posted August 2, 2012
• Wildfires Destroy Oklahoma Town Posted August 5, 2012

• Watching Events Unfold, Frame by Frame, Exactly as Forecast Posted July 20, 2012
• Deadly Heat Continues to Devour U.S. Crops Posted July 19, 2012

• Drought Continues to Plague Two-Thirds of Continental U.S. Posted July 17, 2012
• Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding July 14, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012
• Drought and deluge 

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar