156 Weather Records Broken in 90 Days across Australia

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
WEATHER RECORDS BROKEN
CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS
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Climate change already increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in Australia

“Continuing hot on the heels of the ‘Angry Summer’ of 2012/2013, Australians again endured record breaking extreme events this summer.” —Climate Council of Australia

Intense and prolonged heatwaves and record hot days, severe drought and rainfall deficiency, and bushfires dominated the 2013/2014 summer, according to the latest “Angry Summer” report issued by the Australian Climate Council.

The report finds that many of Australia’s largest population centers face increased risk from extreme weather events, including heatwaves, drought and bushfires, impact of which are serious and costly on people, property, communities and the environment.

Examples of the extreme weather events include

• Eight of the hottest summers on record in Australia have occurred in the last fifteen years
• Sydney had its driest summer in 27 years
• Canberra experienced 20 days of at least 35°C
• Melbourne experienced its hottest ever 24 hour period (average 35.5°C)
• Adelaide had a record of 11 days of 42°C or more during the summer
• Perth had its second hottest summer on record
• 38 spots in New South Wales and 45 in Queensland saw their driest summer on record
• More than 280,000 hectares of Victoria’s land were consumed by  February fires

Record high maximum temperatures plagued more than 8.8 percent of Australia during the first four days of January, including 17 percent of New South Wales, 17 percent of the Northern Territory, 16 percent of Queensland and 8 percent of South Australia, said the report.

Record-breaking heatwaves significantly impacted Australia’s major population centers.

• Victoria experienced its hottest four days on record from 14–17 January,
• Melbourne set a record for four consecutive days at 41°C or higher (14–17 January)
• Adelaide experienced a record-breaking five consecutive days of 42°C and above
• Canberra had a record run of four days of 39°C and recorded 20 days of at least 35°C

Related Links

• Record Drought Plagues Australia’s Queensland March 7, 2014
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast 2011

Record Drought Plagues Australia’s Queensland

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
RECORD DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
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Back-to-Back Disasters Continue to Hit Australia as Forecast…

Australia’s Queensland is experiencing its worst drought on record, with about 80% of the state affected.

Rainfall deficits for the 17-month (October 2012 to February 2014) period

Serious to severe deficiencies (lowest 10% to 5% of records) remain in central Queensland and in an area inland of the Great Dividing Range extending from southern Queensland into northern New South Wales as well as in small areas around the Queensland–South Australian border (affecting the Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland) and in eastern New South Wales, western Victoria and on the coast of Western Australia near Shark Bay.

Rainfall deficiencies for the 23-month (April 2012 to February 2014) period

Serious to severe deficiencies (lowest 10% to 5% of records) persist in areas of western and inland northern Queensland, a large area around the Queensland–South Australia border and smaller areas along the eastern border of South Australia, an area extending from inland southern Queensland through much of New South Wales inland of the coastal ranges and into northwestern and north-central Victoria. Deficiencies also persist in an area between Geraldton and Shark Bay on the west coast of Western Australia. [Source: Australia BOM]

Rainfall deficiencies for the 23-month (April 2012 to February 2014) period. Source: Australia BOM.

Related Links

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast 2011

Record Heat Scorching Australia

EXTREME CLIMATIC EVENTS
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Extreme conditions continue as searing heat wave moves across Australia

Temperature records shattered again in central, western and north-west Queensland, with 40+ degrees (Celsius) recorded in multiple locations on Thursday.

“It is unusually hot. It’s at least 15 degrees above the average up there at the moment and those are pretty unusual temperatures,” said a weatherman at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

“Century Mine in the far north-west of the state got up to 44.6 today, Camooweal 45.5, a new January record, the Monument Airport 45.9, another January record,” said a senior weatherman at BOM.

“Bedourie police station [recorded] 47.3 [degrees Celsius], which is an annual extreme for them, and Birdsville got up to 48.6 [degrees Celsius.]”

“Our temperatures have been near record, the highest temperature we had was at Moomba at 49.3 degrees but a lot of centres up there are pushing up around that 50 mark,” said another official at BOM.

“It is unusually hot. It’s at least 15 degrees above the average up there at the moment and those are pretty unusual temperatures.”

In the Northern Territory, top temperatures at Alice Springs have remained above 43ºC since the New Year, several record broken already.

Meantime, highest-ever temperature of 45.4ºC was recorded at Tennant Creek airport on Thursday, breaking the previous record  set on January 25, 2013 by 1.2ºC,  said a report.

Australia’s Drought Spells Absolute Disaster

The heat wave has brought more misery for drought-hit cattle farmers who have been slaughtering livestock as Australia sweltered through the hottest year on record in 2013, said a report.

“Water supplies are fast diminishing and whatever feed supplies that were left are cooking off to the point where there won’t be any left,” said Charles Burke, chief executive of Agforce, a Queensland cattle industry group.

“This drought is shaping to be an absolute disaster.”

Australia is the third largest beef exporter in the world after India and Brazil, followed by the US, NZ, EU-27, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico and Belarus (Source: USDA).

Hottest Year Since Records Began in 1910

Australia experienced its hottest year in 2013  since records began more than a 100 years ago, said BOM on Friday. The continent recorded average temperatures of 1.2ºC above the long-term average of 21.8 degree Celsius, shattering the previous record set in 2005.

The authorities have issued multiple health warnings on Friday for several major cities as fire crews continued to control bushfires across the continent.

Australian PM May Live to Regret…

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott abolished the country’s Climate Change Commission in September, denying that climate change was responsible for bushfires across New South Wales state in October.

Ex-tropical cyclone Christine

South Australia’s far north also experienced near-record temperatures on Thursday, as ex-tropical cyclone Christine moved across the state.

You can run, you can even hide, BUT…

Symbolic Count- down: 854 Days Left

Tidal Surge of Global Change 26 Times Faster in 21st Century: FIRE-EARTH

FIRE-EARTH Models show the rate of global change has intensified by a factor of at least 26 in the last decade compared with the 1960s.

FIRE-EARTH defines ‘global change’ as the deterioration in the planet’s life-support capacity that is caused by large-scale anthropogenic impact, leading to a total collapse.

The reality: Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems

Diagram shows the exponential growth of Human Impact on Nature (HION) between 1960  and July 2013. Source: FIRE-EARTH Real-Time Earth Models. Copyright: FIRE-EARTH Blog Authors.

Index of Human Impact on Nature (HIoN) skyrockets to a new high

The FIRE-EARTH/CASF Index of Human Impact on Nature (HIoN), an index for calculating the human impact on the planetary life support systems, climbed to a critically high level of 323 on July 1, 2013. In other words, the anthropogenic impact on the living environment exceeded 3.23 times the planet’s diminishing carrying capacity.

• The index is rising exponentially.
• HIoN has risen 38 points, or more than 13 percent, since July 2012 when it reached 285.
• The index was less than 80 in 1960, and rose to about 100 in 1980.

“According to HIoN projections, our cities and population centers could become almost entirely unsustainable by as early as 2015.”

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

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

Australia’s Bushfire Losses Top 1,000

Insurers Receive 1,011 claims for bushfire losses totaling $138 million

As of October 25, insurers in Australia have received 1,011 claims, with the losses caused by October bushfires estimated at $138 million, said the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).

“While claims lodgements have stabilised over the past couple of days, we expect these to begin climbing again as returning residents assess any property damage,” said ICA CEO Rob Whelan.

An aerial photo of some of the hundreds of NSW homes destroyed in the October bushfires.

Meantime, Australia’s new Prime Minister Abbott, talking through his hat, has dismissed any link between climate change and the NSW bushfires as “complete hogwash.”

Long-time readers of this blog may recall that FIRE-EARTH climate-related models forecast the extent of damage caused by Victoria’s February 2009 bushfires with great accuracy.

Related Links

• Costs of Back-to-back Disasters in Australia Continue to Mount October 22, 2013
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast (2011)
• More Australian Coal, Anyone? Posted on January 31, 2011
• State of Emergency Declared in NSW amid Firestorm October 20, 2013
• Australia Declares Emergency as NSW Bushfires Destroy “Hundreds of Homes” October 17, 2013
• Thousands Evacuated due to Bushfires in NSW September 10, 2013
• Australia: Entombed by a ‘dome of heat’ January 8, 2013
• Australia’s Runaway Bushfires Threaten Lives and Property
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Australia on Fire: Tasmania Burning

Costs of Back-to-back Disasters in Australia Continue to Mount

Extreme fire danger issued for Sydney and Hunter region, as fire conditions worsen

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has issued the following fire alerts for New South Wales warning that fire conditions will significantly worsen on Wednesday, October 23, 2013.

NSW declared a state of emergency on Sunday, amid the states worst fires in living memory.

• Extreme Fire Danger is forecast for Greater Hunter and Greater Sydney Region.
• Severe Fire Danger is forecast for  North Coast.
• Worsening fire conditions are forecast.

In addition to Blue Mountains National Park, all state forests in Sydney, the Hunter, the central west and the Southern Highlands will be closed due to  high fire danger.

Other parks closed to the public include Kanangra-Boyd National Park, Wollemi National Park south of the Capertee River, all Hunter and Central Coast national parks and all fire-affected Port Stephens parks, said a report.

The bureau has raised its maximum temperature forecast for Sydney to 35ºC, up from 32ºC, as the air pollution levels turn hazardous.

NSW Health has warned people against heavy outdoor exercise because many areas in the state are experiencing poor to dangerous air quality, even hundreds of kilometers away from the fires.

“The last thing you want to do is to go out for a jog when you’re breathing in such heavy pollution,” AAP quoted The Australian Medical Association’s NSW president as saying.

How Many Fires?

At least 63 fires were burning, more than 14 of them uncontained, as of posting. The blazes have so far devoured more than 160,000 hectares (4000,000 acres), destroying or damaging hundreds of homes, and forcing thousands of evacuations.

As of noon on October 21, some 855 claims had been lodged with insurers, with losses of nearly $94 million, said Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), warning insurers that more claims will be lodged later this week.

Back-to-back disasters since the start of 2010 have caused billions of dollars of damage across Australia, with the insurance losses of nearly $9 billion, according to ICA.

The Global Threat Posed by Coal Consumption – Australian Coal Statistics

Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter. Coal is Australia’s second-largest export earner behind iron ore, worth nearly A$40 billion ($38 billion), with A$16 billion from exports of thermal coal. Iron ore exports are worth about $57 billion.

Coal accounts for 18 percent and oil and gas for 9 percent of Australia’s exports.

Black coal exports accounted for 60% of total energy exports, and 87% of black coal production. Black coal exports have increased by more than 50% over the past 10 years.

In 2009-2010 Australia exported 293.4 million tons of black coal to 33 destinations–Japan (39.3% of Australia’s black coal exports); China (14.5%, almost double the previous year), South Korea (13.9%), India (10.9%), Taiwan (9%), with 28 other countries taking the remaining 12%.

Australians boast their trains transporting coal are among the longest in the world, with as many as six locomotives and 148 wagons, extending more than two kilometers back to back, and capable of . carrying about 8,500 tons of coal.

The global seaborne trade in 2013 is forecast to increase to a total of 919 million tonnes. Japan’s 2013 imports are forecast to increase to 129 million tons.

According to International Energy Agency (IEA) data, world thermal coal trade is estimated to have jumped 14 percent in 2012 to 989 million tonnes, driven by demand in China and India. Growth is projected to slow to an average 2.1 percent a year between 2013 and 2018.

• Australia’s average production costs in 2012 were about $85 a ton!

Australia’s thermal coal exports grew to a total 148 million ton in 2011.  In 2012 they increased by 10% to 162 million tons, and further growing  at an average annual rate of 11% between 2013 and 2017, to total 271 million ton by the end of the period has been forecast.

Australia’s exports of metallurgical coal are forecast to increase at an average annual rate of 8%, reaching 218 million tonnes in 2017, said a report.

• Total coal production forecast for 2013:  405 million tons

Related Links

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast (2011)
• More Australian Coal, Anyone? Posted on January 31, 2011
• State of Emergency Declared in NSW amid Firestorm October 20, 2013
• Australia Declares Emergency as NSW Bushfires Destroy “Hundreds of Homes” October 17, 2013
• Thousands Evacuated due to Bushfires in NSW September 10, 2013
• Australia: Entombed by a ‘dome of heat’ January 8, 2013
• Australia’s Runaway Bushfires Threaten Lives and Property
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Australia on Fire: Tasmania Burning

The Chances Are…

If Homo sapiens sapiens couldn’t get their act together in 200,000 years…

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 911 Days Left

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Models show mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

Critical Planetary Overload

• Earth is fighting to stay alive! A dead planet cannot support life
• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems
• RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

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

Collapse in Progress

• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

ZERO to none!!

Sum total of the remaining options?

You can run, but you can’t go far!

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 920 Days Left

Critical Planetary Overload

• Earth is fighting to stay alive! A dead planet cannot support life
• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems
• RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

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

Collapse in Progress

• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Obama Itching to Accelerate Global Collapse

Who needs a liveable planet!

Russian President Vladimir Putin has challenged the US to present to the UN Security Council evidence that Syria attacked the so-called rebels with chemical weapons near Damascus, saying the idea that Syrian government has used chemical weapons on its own people was “utter nonsense.”

US President Barrack Obama said on Friday the US was planning a “limited, narrow” military action against Syria after intelligence reports that 1,429 people were killed by chemical weapons on  August 21.

A confused President with a corrupt moral compass, “driving the world closer to the brink of war and destruction.” Photo credit: Reuters. Image may be subject to copyright.

Mr Putin said it was ridiculous to suggest that Syrian government was to blame for the chemical attack on its own people.

“Syrian government forces are advancing, while the so-called rebels are in a tight situation, as they are not nearly as equipped as the government,” Putin told ITAR-TASS.

“What those who sponsor the so-called rebels need to achieve is simple – they need to help them in their fight… and if this happens, it would be a tragic development,” he said.

“In these conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for a military intervention is utter nonsense.”

“So I’m convinced that is nothing more than a provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict.”

Putin said that the US failure to present evidence to the international community was “simply disrespectful”.

“If there is evidence it should be shown. If it is not shown, then there isn’t any,” he said.

Russia has previously warned that “any unilateral military action bypassing the UN Security Council” would be a “direct violation of international law.”

Both Moscow and Beijing have vetoed two previous Security Council draft resolutions on Syria.

Mr Putin urged Mr Obama—a Nobel Peace Prize laureate—to consider future victims in Syria before taking military action.

Syrian President Assad has vowed his country will defend itself against any “aggression.”

• US, UK Munitions ‘Cause Birth Defects’ in Iraq October 14, 2012

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SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 924 Days Left

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

Critical Planetary Overload

• Earth is fighting to stay alive! A dead planet cannot support life
  
• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems
• RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

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

Collapse in Progress

• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Ask not why your planet is pulling the plug…

Ask what you have done for your planet lately!

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 931 Days Left

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

Critical Planetary Overload

• Earth is fighting to stay alive! A dead planet cannot support life
  
• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems
• RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

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

Collapse in Progress

• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 936 Days Left

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

Critical Planetary Overload

• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems
• RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

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

Collapse in Progress

• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Humans “Truth Band” Below Threshold

Nothing to bid on…!

SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 942 Days Left

FIRE-EARTH Climate Models show climate change forcings and feedbacks switching global weather patterns onto “primordial tracks.”

FIRE-EARTH Population Model shows mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

Critical Planetary Overload

• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems
• RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
  

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

Collapse in Progress

• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

RUSTY Upgraded to a Cat 4 Cyclone

Powerful Cyclone RUSTY Could Cause Severe Flooding in Australia’s NW Coast

Severe Tropical Cyclone RUSTY Forecast Track Map. Source: Australia BOM (Note: WST = UTC + 8hrs)

• Cyclone RUSTY  intensified to a Cat 4 storm early Wednesday, Australia’s BOM reported.
• At 3:00am UTC (11am WST) February 27, 2013  RUSTY was located at 19.5S, 19.4E.
• The cyclone was quasi-stationery for about 6 hours, hovering some 100km off the coast, BOM reported.
• The storm could make landfall east of Port Hedland, about 1,300km north of Perth, Wednesday PM local time.
• High winds have already been reported in Australia’s north-west coast.
• Up to 600mm of rain (~24in) has been being forecast over a 24-hour period.
• People in low-lying areas have been evacuated.
• RUSTY could dump the equivalent of Perth’s entire winter rainfall  over the next 3 days, BOM has warned.

Related Links

• Back-to-back Australian Disasters [index page for Australian disasters 2010 – 2013]

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February 27, 2013 – DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,109 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,109 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 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

Disaster Declared in 11 Australian Zones

NOTE: This Blog is virtually blocked in Australia, NZ, UK …

Australia: Back-to-back disasters intensify

Two Major floods in 2 months cause more disasters in NSW

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell have declared 11 areas in northern NSW as disaster zones due to severe storms and widespread flooding.

• The disaster areas are Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Camden, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Kiama, Nambucca, Port Macquarie Hastings and Randwick.

• It is northern NSW’s second major flood this year.
• In southern Queensland, at least one person drowned in floodwaters north east of Brisbane.
• Kiama declared disaster zone

Related Links

• Towns Evacuated as Major Flooding Hits NSW, Australia February 23, 2013
• Wildfires Rage Across Australia February 13, 2013
• Final Eviction Notice to Australians? January 28, 2013
• Australian floods force evacuation of thousands in 2 states January 29, 2013
• Disaster declared in NSW

• Back-to-back Australian Disasters [index page for Australian disasters 2010 – 2013]

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February 25, 2013 – DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,111 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,111 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 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

Final Eviction Notice to Australians?

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,139 Days Left 

[January 28, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,139 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

You’ve overstayed your welcome!

Forced evacuations of about 5,000 people are under way in flood-hit city of Bundaberg (pop: ~ 72,000), with authorities warning people could die if they stay.

Severe flooding continues to bury large areas in Queensland, destroying or damaging thousands of properties and forcing mass evacuation of residents in the city of Bundaberg.

Queensland flood map. Source: Bureau of Meteorology

• Floodwater is surging through some parts of the city at  a speed of about 40 knots (~ 75kmh).
• “The velocity of the water, and the rises in the water levels, means that literally houses, particularly in north Bundaberg, and maybe other locations, could be swept away,” said Queensland premier.
• “The communities of Gympie and Maryborough are flooding, Gladstone had suffered severe flooding downstream from Awoonga dam, and Rockhampton was braced for a significant flood from this weekend.”

• The storm is heading to NSW, while floodwaters threaten two major cities of Brisbane and Sydney.

• Earlier this months hundreds of fires in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria burnt more than 750,000 hectares of the state, destroying dozens of properties and forcing the government to declare disaster in at least 43 local government areas.

Meantime, the Australian PM, who was visiting bushfire-ravaged states of Victoria and NSW, said: 

• “Whether it’s bushfires, whether it’s floods we are being challenged by nature…”
• “Across Queensland the wild weather has broken a lot of hearts. It’s a very tough period…”

• “To those right now, in the grip of this disaster, I say to you: `You are not alone’. This state and its people will rise to the challenge I am supremely confident of that.” Ms. Gillard said.

• “We’ll do whatever we can to protect you, in some cases to rescue you, and to do everything to stand by you in the days, weeks and months ahead. Together we will get through this.”

Challenged by nature? We beg to differ!

We believe you have overstayed your welcome, as far as Mother Nature is concerned.

In the words of Queensland police commissioner:  “Do not wait. Move now. Yr life depends on it.”

• Back-to-back Australian Disasters [index page]

• Wild storms hit Canberra
• Floods likely to isolate hundreds in NSW
• Brisbane expected to flood
• LARGE, out-of-control bushfire continues to threaten homes on the outskirts of the central Victorian community of Violet Town.
• Mass evacuation under way in Qld city

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

Fire ‘like an atom bomb’ destroys homes damages Australian observatory

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,153 Days Left 

[January 14, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,153 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

A ‘perfect storm’ of a fire destroys dozens of homes in NSW

• The massive fire has consumed more than 40,000 hectares near the Warrumbungle National Park in Coonabarabran area in New South Wales (NSW), destroying dozens of homes.

• The destructive blaze with a 100-km front has also destroyed scores of other structures, hundreds of livestock and farming machinery, and remained uncontained as of  Monday, local reports said.

• The mega blaze has severely damaged several buildings at Siding Spring Observatory in the national park, but “the main telescope facilities are okay,” said the acting director for the Australian Astronomical Observatory.

• “There was just absolutely no stopping that fire,” a fire official said, adding that wind conditions had created “perfect storm” conditions for the fire to burn “with such a ferocity we haven’t seen in years.”

• “It looked like an atom bomb the way it went up,” said a property owner who lives to the west of the fire.

• “The smoke plume of that fire extended some 14km (8.6 miles) into the air and even prevented us from getting aircraft overhead because of just how dangerous and bumpy the conditions were,” a fire official told reporters.

• At least 200 wildfires sparked by lightning and fueled by hot and windy weather are burning in NSW.

• About 3 dozen fires remain uncontained, officials said.

• Dozens of fires are also burning in Victoria and Tasmania.

• Hottest Hell on Earth Posted January 8, 2013

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

Australia’s Runaway Bushfires Threaten Lives and Property

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,160 Days Left 

[January 7, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,160 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

Wildfires force thousands from homes as Australian heatwave persists

Temperatures are forecast to exceed 45ºC in some areas of Australia, with hundreds of wildfires already burning in five of Australia’s six states.

• As Australia braced for “catastrophic” wildfire day,  authorities warned a massive runaway bushfire near southwest Victorian settlement of Drik Drik had the potential to double in size to 8,000 hectares, a report said.

• At least 100 fires are burning in New South Wales (NWS), Australia’s most populous state.
  • The heatwave will spread across much of NSW on Tuesday, with strong westerly winds creating “catastrophic” bushfire conditions, fire officials have warned.
  • NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner warned that fire danger ratings across “a significant part” of the state would be raised to either severe or extreme.
  • “It could be some of the worst fire weather conditions we’ve seen for years, both in terms of fire ratings and the geographic spread of the conditions,” he said.”Couple that with the fact the last two years have been dominated by rainfall and moisture, which means we’ve got fuel loads across NSW the likes of which we haven’t seen for 30 or 40 years.”
  • “Any fire that burns under the predicted conditions — 40 degree (Celsius) temperatures (104 Fahrenheit), below 10 percent humidity, winds gusting over 70 kilometers an hour (43mph) — those conditions are by any measure horrendous,” said NSW Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner.

Related News Links

• Australia braces for “catastrophic” wildfire day
• Vic bushfire spreads to farming community

FEWW Links and Forecasts

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

China: “Watergate” crisis

• “20 million residents in Beijing are waiting for a response from the government after the national capital was embarrassed by a media report that said inappropriate sewage discharge and garbage disposal led to the deteriorating quality of tap water,” said a report.
  

• Chinese city of Handan, located in Hebei province, fails to report huge toxic leak into Zhanghe River, cuts off water to 1 million.

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

Australia: 5 disaster areas declared in NSW following severe flooding

Days of severe flooding turns north of NSW state into disaster zone

The state government of Australia’s New South Wales (NSW)  has declared 5 northern districts as disaster zones after days of severe flooding transformed Bellingen, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore and Richmond Valley areas into swampland.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 30

[January 30, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,507 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• NSW, Australia. Nearly a week of severe flooding has turned northern parts of Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state into disaster zones.
  • The state government of NSW has declared 5 northern districts as disaster zones after days of severe flooding transformed Bellingen, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore and Richmond Valley areas into swampland.
  • “This weather system has caused a lot of damage to critical infrastructure, property and road networks,” said a senior official.
  • At least 1,500 people remain isolated by the floods since the mega deluge began on January 24, reports said.

Weather systems to remember!

MTSAT – Australia – IR – Greyscale – Source: ABOM.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

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

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

• Flooded Australia: Thousands Evacuated in 3 States
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Wildfire Consumes 1 Million Acres in WA

Disaster Zones Declared in NSW and WA, Australia

Severe Flooding in NSW, catastrophic bushfires in WA destroy homes, farms and businesses in Australia

Disaster zones have been declared in two Australian states due to catastrophic bushfires in Western Australia (WA), which began on 23 November, and severe flooding in northwestern New South Wales (NSW).  

Disaster Calendar 2011 – November 29

[November 29, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,569 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• NSW, Australia. The state government in Australian state of New South Wales has declared 3 shires in the northwest as disaster zones after flooding destroyed farms and businesses.
• Thousands of people and livestock and hundreds of farms remain isolated after days of torrential rains which triggered mega flooding, creating an inland sea.
• The three shires of  Armidale Dumaresq, Inverell and Moree Plains have been declared disaster areas.
• “I saw first-hand how widespread the devastation is,” said the Emergency Services Minister.
• “There are many families and business owners who have been affected by these recent floods.”
• Evacuation orders remain in effect at various locations.
• WA, Australia. The Government of Western Australia (WA) has  declared the Margaret River region a disaster zone following devastating fires that consumed thousands of hectares of bushland and destroyed dozens of homes, sheds and chalets.
• Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador. Ecuador’s government is urging about 700 people in 4 villages on the slopes of the Tungurahua Volcano in the Andes to evacuate the area after the 5,023-meter volcano began erupting on Monday, sending pyroclastic flows down the volcano flanks.
  

Strombolian eruptions observed during the night of November 28, 2011. Photo by J. Bustillos / IGEPN. Image may be subject to copyright.

Related Links

• Australian Disasters [Index]
• Tungurahua volcano erupts

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities  (EDRO Forecast)
• 2011 Much More Disastrous: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs  (FIRE-EARTH Forecast)

• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Texas Wheat Harvest Falls 60 Percent

The “worst wheat harvest” in living memory!

Drought Decimates Harvest in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas

[August 16, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,674 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

READ THIS FIRST

Continued hacking and content censorship

In view of the continued hacking and censorship of this blog by the Internet Mafia, the Moderators have decided to maintain only a minimum presence at this site, until further notice.

FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

WordPress is HACKING this blog!

WordPress Continues to Hack Fire-Earth, Affiliated Blogs

The Blog Moderators Condemn in the Strongest Possible Terms the Continued Removal of Content and Hacking of FIRE-EARTH and Affiliated Blogs by WordPress!

Disaster Calendar 2011 – August 16 Entry

• USA. Texas harvested only 52 million bushels of wheat, compared with 127.5 million in 2010. Oklahoma’s harvest was down to 74.8 million bushels, from 129 million last year. Kansas could only harvest 273 million bushels, down from 360 million, USDA reported.
• “We’re always saying next year it will be better, but it doesn’t look very hopeful at this point,” said veteran Kansas wheat farmer Larry Kepley.
• It’s “the worst wheat harvest” he has ever known. “We’re always saying next year it will be better, but it doesn’t look very hopeful at this point,” added Kepley.

Related Links

• 40 percent of the entire U.S. cowherd severely impacted by killer drought
• Heat, Worsening Drought Kill Thousands of Cattle
• WARNING: About 20 percent of the world population could perish by 2016
• Drought Deepens in the South

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

U.S. back-to-back disasters phase has begun

40 percent of the entire U.S. cowherd severely impacted by killer drought: Report

Deadly drought in the South, compounded by unrelenting heat, is forecast to linger, even intensify in coming months.

[August 15, 2011]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,675 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

READ THIS FIRST

Continued hacking and content censorship

In view of the continued hacking and censorship of this blog by the Internet Mafia, the Moderators have decided to maintain only a minimum presence at this site, until further notice.

FIRE-EARTH will continue to update the 2011 Disaster Calendar for the benefit of its readers.

WordPress is HACKING this blog!

WordPress Continues to Hack Fire-Earth, Affiliated Blogs

The Blog Moderators Condemn in the Strongest Possible Terms the Continued Removal of Content and Hacking of FIRE-EARTH and Affiliated Blogs by WordPress!

Disaster Calendar 2011 – August 15 Entry

• USA. Killer drought in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and parts of Kansas and Colorado is compounded by unrelenting heat. Some 40 percent of the entire cowherd in the U.S. is now severely impacted by “exceptional” and “extreme” levels of drought, according to Northwest Oklahoma livestock specialist Greg Highfill.
• New Jersey, USA. A State of Emergency has been declared for Salem and Cumberland counties following widespread flooding caused by torrential rain.
• Pittsgrove in Salem County, New Jersey, has received about 12 inches of rain since the storm began on Sunday.
• Flood watches have been issued for Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and most parts of New Jersey, NWS said.

Related Links

• Drought Deepens in the South

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• 2011 Disaster Calendar – August
• 2010 Disaster Calendar 
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Army of ‘giant rats’ invade Goodna, Australia

First Came the Floods

Image of the Day

Rats ‘the size of possums’ plague Goodna in flood-stricken QLD, Australia

“Some are as big as possums, they’re massive things,” a Goodna resident said.

“My greyhounds have caught a few big ones.”

“With so many abandoned properties around and mess everywhere, rats are bound to thrive.”

Giant rats are running amok in the flood-stricken suburbs of Brisbane, Australia. Photo: The Advertiser/via news.com.au. Image may be subject to copyright.

“People are intimidated by them, some get pretty comfortable if there’s enough of them around,” a pest control expert said. “One woman rang and said there was one on her front step, it just sat there looking at her.”

Moderator Notes:

Goodna is a suburb located on the eastern edge of Ipswich about 20 km from Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.

The largest possum species is the Bear Cuscus, which could weigh up to 20lb.

Related News Links

• Giant rats invade Goodna
• Army of rats ‘the size of possums’ invade Goodna
• Over-sized rats has invaded Goodna

FIRE-EARTH Links

• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

New System Headed Australia Way?

Area of Convection 90P, ENE of Vanuatu, Continues Developing

• Time/Date: 01:00UTC Feb 18, 2011
• Current Position: 14.1S 168.9E
• Location: ~ 260km ENE of Vanuatu

Convection Area 90P – IR satellite image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Convection Area 90P – IR satellite image (NHC Enhancement). Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.

Related Links:

• More Australian Coal, Anyone?
• In Nature They Don’t Trust
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia

In Nature They Don’t Trust

The Disaster Continent

TC Bianca Moves South along Western Australia’s Coast, as Anthony Returns for Queenslanding

NOT Smart!

Waging a war against nature and expecting to win it are two frightfully unintelligent acts.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, wildfires, drought and deluge as well as all other natural forces work as nature’s  defense mechanisms. Australia is not immune to any of those forces (hint!)

Australia is not alone. All around us there’s a growing body of evidence that nature has begun targeting communities that are participating directly or indirectly in the vicious and destructive wars of resource depletion, poisoning and pollution against her.  In these worsening wars of aggression, there are no such things as innocent victims and, unfortunately, some collateral damage should be expected because nature’s response is often collective.

Satellite Images of Tropical Cyclone BIANCA

TC BIANCA – MTSAT-2 Satellite image – Source: Digital Typhoon – Date/Time as inset. Click images to enlarge.

Cyclone BIANCA. IR Satellite Image (NHC Enhancement). Source: CIMSS. See inset for status. Click image to enlarge.

A natural-color image of TC BIANCA, a massive cyclone, captured by MODIS instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite at 6:30 UTC on January 28, 2011. Source: NASA-EO.

Oceania Weather Animation for January 2011

• MPEG2
• WMV

Rainfall in Tropical Storm Bianca (TRMM – NASA)

Tropical Storm Bianca’s rainfall was captured by NASA’s TRMM satellite January 26, 2011. Heavy rainfall of about 2 inches (50 mm) per hour recorded. Source: NASA

Tropical Storm Bianca Forecast Track

Click images to enlarge.

Tropical Cyclone Anthony: Who would have thought Anthony will return?

Details for: TC Anthony

• Forecast Track Map (QLD)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Details for: Severe TC Bianca

• Forecast Track Map (WA)
• Tropical Cyclone Advice
• Coastal Waters Warning issued by Perth
• High Seas Warning
• Tropical Cyclone Technical Bulletin

Australia: Current Warnings

TROPICAL CYCLONE | NSW/ACT | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | NT

Related Links:

• Cyclone WILMA Powers Up to Cat 4 Strength
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia