5.25 trillion plastic particles currently floating in world’s oceans

Plastic threat increasing in world’s oceans

Researchers estimate at least 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing 268,940 tons are currently floating in world’s oceans (December 2014).

Model results for the total particle count and weight of plastic floating in the world’s oceans.

“Our estimates suggest that the two Northern Hemisphere ocean regions contain 55.6% of particles and 56.8% of plastic mass compared to the Southern Hemisphere, with the North Pacific containing 37.9% and 35.8% by particle count and mass, respectively. In the Southern Hemisphere the Indian Ocean appears to have a greater particle count and weight than the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans combined.”

‘Extraordinary’ levels of pollutants found in 10km deep Mariana trench, in the Pacific Ocean, shows nowhere is safe from human impact, say researches.

“Small crustaceans that live in the pitch-black waters of the trench, captured by a robotic submarine, were contaminated with 50 times more toxic chemicals than crabs that survive in heavily polluted rivers in China,” said a report citing researchers.

Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111913

Annual global production of plastics has increased from 5 million tons in the 1950s to well over 230 million tons today. However, because of their disposable nature substantial quantities of plastic items have been discarded to the environment and so the abundance of microplastic is likely to increase over the next few decade.

Related Links

• Moment Plastic Enters Food Chain Captured on Video

Day Zero

FIRE-EARTH Blog’s Symbolic Countdown: Day Zero

March 12 marks the last day of Blog’s Symbolic Countdown. FIRE-EARTH Models show your world has now entered a new phase.

Mass die-offs resulting from the combined effects of human impact on the planet and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could start soon.

Related Links

• Mass Die-offs
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs

365

Mass die-offs could begin by 2016 —FIRE-EARTH Models

Mass die-offs resulting from anthropogenic assault on Earth, and the additional stress caused by the planetary defense systems offsetting the human impact, could begin by 2016, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

Symbolic Countdown:

365 days left.

Overexploitation, Drought Destroying China’s Largest Freshwater Lake

E. China’s Poyang Lake drying up!

Fed by the Gan, Xin, and Xiu rivers, the area of Poyang Lake fluctuates considerably between the wet and dry seasons; however, the average size of the lake has continued to shrink in recent years.

The lake area averages about 3,500 km² in a normal year, but it reached a low of under 200 km² in 2012, due to drought and the water intercepted for storage at the Three Gorges Dam.

Each year, up to a million migratory birds visit the vanishing lake, the largest freshwater lake in China.

During the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) the lake area reached its greatest size of more than 6,000 km².

Poyang Lake is known as the “Bermuda Triangle of the East,” said a report.

Between early 1960s and late 1980s, more than 200 boats reportedly sank in the lake leaving a total of “1,600 people missing and 30 survivors who became mentally ill.”

“Among the boats missing in this area was one as large as 2,000 tons. It is documented that on Aug. 3, 1985, 13 boats had accidents in the Laoye Temple waters. The mystery is that those boats could not be recovered,” said the report.

Original caption: A stone bridge relic of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) is revealed on the bed of drought-affected Poyang Lake in east China’s Jiangxi Province, Dec. 30, 2014. Poyang Lake is renowned for its rich fishing resources, while in recent years, persistent drought and over-exploitation have endangered the lake’s resources. (Xinhua/Zhang Jun). More images…

Related Links

• With Water Sources Intercepted, Ecological Disaster Looms

Critical Overload Threatens Planet

Collapse of Planetary Life Support Systems Accelerates

HIoN skyrockets to yet another 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 382 this month. In other words, the anthropogenic impact on the living environment exceeded 3.82 times the planet’s diminishing carrying capacity.

• The index is rising exponentially.
• HIoN reached 323  in July 2013 .
• HIoN has risen 97 points, or more than 34 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.”

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.

RAPID CHANGE IN PROGRESS!

Tidal Surge of Global Change 28 Times Faster in 21st Century: FIRE-EARTH

FIRE-EARTH Models show the rate of global change has intensified by a factor of at least 28 in the last decade compared with the 1960s.

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

HIoN since End June 2012

• Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems July 6, 2013
• As of end-June 2012, the CASF Index of Human Impact on Nature (HIoN) was 285 !
• WARNING: RAPID CHANGE IN PROGRESS! July 4, 2012

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July 4, 2014 – SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN –

614 Days Left

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

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

• Human Impact
• Index of Human Impact on Nature
• Nature’s Warnings Exponentially Intensifying

Second Sandstorm in 3 Weeks Hits NW China

APOCALYPTIC SANDSTORMS
NIGHTMARE SCENARIO 067
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Sandstorms Plague NW China

A  second sandstorm to hit NW China in three weeks blew thousands of tons of sand into Gansu Province Wednesday afternoon, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters, according to weather officials.

On April 3, another  major sandstorm hit NW China, severely affecting parts of  Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Sandstorm hits Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province, April 23, 2014. Parts of Gansu was hit by a sandstorm Wednesday afternoon, which reduced visibility to less than 50 meters, according to the provincial meteorological center. (Xinhua/Nie Jianjiang). More images…


Photo taken on April 3, 2014 shows a sand-shrouded street in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.  (Xinhua/Wang Fei). More images…

Critical Overload Threatens Planetary Life Support Systems

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.”

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.

RAPID CHANGE IN PROGRESS!

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, caused by large-scale anthropogenic impact, which is leading to a total collapse.

Status as of End June 2012

•  As of end-June 2012, the CASF Index of Human Impact on Nature (HIoN) was 285 !
• WARNING: RAPID CHANGE IN PROGRESS! July 4, 2012

.

July 6, 2013 – SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN –

980 Days Left

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

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

• Human Impact
• Index of Human Impact on Nature
• Nature’s Warnings Exponentially Intensifying

‘Catastrophic Losses’ of Animals Feared due to UK Spring Snow

Many animals dead or dying in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales: NFU

The late snow has hit the UK during lambing season, making it impossible for hundreds of farmers to get to their animals.

Many animals are already dead or dying, said a NI farmer. “There are hundreds of farmers who have sheep buried.”

“Road conditions are just incredibly bad. There’s places where the snow at the side of the road is higher than the vehicles. It’s coming late in a very, very tough winter – it’s just putting the tin hat on it for many of us,” said another farmer.

There are fears of “catastrophic losses,” with thousands of animals buried on the Isle of Man, where the recent snowfall was reportedly the heaviest recorded in 50 years.

Southern Scotland has been the worst affected region, with many animals trapped, and no way of getting food to them, said Carolyn Lamb from NFU Scotland.

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DISASTER CALENDAR – March 26, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,082 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,082 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

Drought Expands in the U.S. Plains

Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma plagued by severe drought or worse

Severe drought has spread to 87.25 percent of the High Plains, up from 86.20 percent previous week, with 61.27 percent of the region rated in extreme drought, up from 60.25 percent.

• The entire land area in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma is currently affected by severe drought or worse.

U.S. Drought Map for 15 January 2013, released by U.S. Drought Monitor on January 17, 2013.

About 58.87 percent of the contiguous United States was in at least “moderate” drought as of January 15, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Oklahoma declares a state of emergency amid persistent drought

About 16,000 residents in rural Payne, Pawnee, and Lincoln counties are running out of water, prompting emergency managers to declare states of emergency.

• The water level at Lone Chimney Lake, the area’s only source, has dropped under four feet—11.5 feet below normal, reports said.

• “This month the small Oklahoma farming town of Wapanucka lost water completely when the spring-fed wells the community relies on ran dry. Officials closed schools and residents had to do without tap water until the town could run a line to a neighboring water district.”

“Last summer’s extreme weather locked two-thirds of the U.S. continental land mass in severe drought, cutting production of the biggest crop, corn, by 27 percent from early-season estimates,” said a report.

Drought Links

• Drought & Deluge 2013

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

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DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,149 Days Left 

[January 18, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,149 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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U.S. Drought Disaster Spreads

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,150 Days Left 

[January 17, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,150 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Dozens of additional counties across 8 states declared drought disaster areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated dozens of  additional counties across 8 states as drought disaster areas.  The designations include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

• The latest designations are for counties in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
• Drought Disaster 2013 has now spread to at least 904 counties across 27 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.

Previous Drought Entries

• Drought Disaster Declared in 4 States, Health Emergency in NY Posted January 13, 2013
• U.S. Drought 2013 January 11, 2013
• Disaster Declared in Much of U.S. Wheat Belt January 10, 2013
• The Land of Rising Heat January 9, 2013
• U.S. Drought: Little Change Despite Snowstorms January 3, 2013

Deadly floods paralyze Indonesian capital, Jakarta

A state of emergency was declared by the new governor of Jakarta as severe flooding triggered by days of heavy rain inundated large parts of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, blocking roads and forcing up to 100,000 people from their homes.

• Many businesses and government offices, especially in the capital’s central business district, were forced to close because staff could not get to work. Dozens of schools have told their students to stay at home.

• At least half dozen people have been killed in the extreme rain and flood-related incidents so far.

• “Rain will continue to fall in the greater Jakarta area … the potential for flooding remains,” a spokesman for the Meteorology Climatology Meteorology and Geophysics Agency told Reuters.

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

Drought Disaster Declared in 4 States, Health Emergency in NY

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,154 Days Left 

[January 13, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,154 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

Drought disaster declared for dozens of counties across MN, MT, ND and SD, flue emergency in NY

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared as drought disaster areas dozens of counties across Minnesota, Montana North and South Dakotas. The designations follow damages and losses caused by the recent drought.

• U.S. Drought 2013 Posted on January 11, 2013

Health emergency declared in NY state amid flu epidemic

New York State has declared a public health emergency, as a severe influenza outbreak tightened its grip across the country.

• About  20,000 cases of flu have been reported statewide so far this season, a rise of nearly 4 folds on the last season (4,400 confirmed cases in 2012).

• “We are experiencing the worst flu season since at least 2009, and influenza activity in New York State is widespread, with cases reported in all 57 counties and all five boroughs of New York City,” Governor Cuomo said in a statement. “Therefore, I have directed my Administration, the State Health Department and others to marshal all needed resources to address this public health emergency and remove all barriers to ensure that all New Yorkers – children and adults alike – have access to critically needed flu vaccines Gov. Cuomo said .

• Public health officials in NY announced last week that flu-related illnesses had reached epidemic levels, killing at least 20 children nationwide.

• Forty-seven states reported widespread geographic influenza activity for the week between December 30, 2012 and January 5, 2013.

• CDC estimates that from the 1976-1977 flu season to the 2006-2007 season, flu-associated deaths each season ranged from a low of about 3,000 people to a high of about 49,000 people.

• Twenty-four states and New York City are now reporting high ILI activity. Additionally, 16 are reporting moderate levels of ILI activity. States reporting high ILI activity for the week ending January 5, 2013 include Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia, CDC said.

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

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

U.S. Drought 2013

U.S. Drought Map for January 8, 2013

FEWW DROUGHT FORECAST: REMOVED BY A MODERATOR.

As of January 8, 2013 drought covered more than 60 percent of the contiguous U.S. and rendered a further 11.5 percent as ‘Abnormally Dry,’ according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

• ‘Severe’ to ‘Exceptional’ drought levels plagued more than 86 percent of High Plains including
  • 100 percent of Nebraska
  • 100 percent of Kansas
  • Nearly 97 percent of South Dakota
  • More than 86 percent of Wyoming
  • Over 95 percent of Colorado
• More than half of southern United States including the entire state of Oklahoma and about two-thirds of Texas were also experiencing ‘Severe’ to ‘Exceptional’ drought conditions.
• At least 44 percent of the West, a third of the Midwest and a fifth of the Southeast also reported similar drought conditions.

U.S. Drought Map for 8 January 2013, released by U.S. Drought Monitor on January 10, 2013.

• Disaster Declared in Much of U.S. Wheat Belt  January 10, 2013
• The Land of Rising Heat  January 9, 2013
• Hottest Hell on Earth  January 8, 2013
• U.S. Drought: Little Change Despite Snowstorms January 3, 2013

Recent Drought Links

• U.S. Drought Persists Despite Snow December 21, 2012
• Drought Continues to Expand through U.S. Farming Region December 14, 2012
• Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S. December 7, 2012

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

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: Little Change Despite Snowstorms

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,164 Days Left 

[January 3, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,164 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

About 73 percent of U.S. ‘Abnormally Dry’ or worse

More than 61 percent of the U.S. remained in ‘Moderate’ or worse drought conditions (D1 to D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale), as of January 1, 2013.

U.S. Drought Map for January 1, 2013.  Released January 3, 2013 by U.S. Drought Monitor

Recent Drought Links

• U.S. Drought Persists Despite Snow December 21, 2012
• Drought Continues to Expand through U.S. Farming Region December 14, 2012
• Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S. December 7, 2012

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

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

2013: Year One of Big “Surprises”

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,166 Days Left 

[January 1, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,166 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

Earth Dwellers Brief History:  No major inspiration since harnessing fire

The earth dwellers have entered a new year as the anthropogenic impact on the living environment reaches nearly three times the planet’s diminishing carrying capacity.

• 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, and that is leading to a total collapse.

Homo erectus making fire – source: arthursclipart.org

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• Human Impact
• Nature’s Warnings Exponentially Intensifying
• 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 Spreads

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,170 Days Left 

[December 28, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,170 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Drought spreads fractionally across the U.S.

Abnormally Dry or worse drought conditions (D0 to D4 levels on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale) spread to 73.84 of continental U.S. as of December 25 fractionally higher than the previous week (73.79%), while moderate to severe drought (D1 to D4) expanded to 61.82 percent of the country.

U.S. Drought Map for December 25, 2012. Released December 27 by U.S. Drought Monitor

Additional Counties Designated as Drought Disaster Areas

• California.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 30 counties in California as disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by drought that began Jan. 1, 2012, and continues. The designation includes 6 counties as primary disaster areas and 24 others as secondary disaster areas.

• Texas.  USDA has also designated 12 counties in Texas as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought. The designation include 2 counties as primary and 10 others as secondary disaster areas.

Recent Drought Links

• U.S. Drought Persists Despite Snow December 21, 2012
• Drought Continues to Expand through U.S. Farming Region December 14, 2012
• Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S. December 7, 2012

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

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 Persists Despite Snow

Nearly 74% of the U.S. remains abnormally dry or worse, despite  snowstorms 

“The snow is good, but in most instances it was less than one inch of liquid and if the soils are frozen, there will be little infiltration,” said a climatologist with the National Drought Mitigation Center.

• High Plains:  Severe drought covered 86.20% of the High Plains as of December 18, 2012, up from 86.12% percent the previous week , While extreme drought spread to 59.98% of the region, up from 58.39% and exceptional drought area increased to 26.99%, up from 26.91%.

• Contiguous United States:  About 61.79% of Continental U.S. was in moderate to exceptional drought (D1 to D4 on the Drought Monitor Scale), a marginal improvement from 61.87% on December 11.

U.S. Drought Map for December 18, 2012. Released December 20 by U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought Links

• Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S. December 7, 2012

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

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

The World NOT Ending Today!

The 2012 Doomsday Scenario a Corpo-government Disinformation Campaign

The world in NOT ending today, NOT even tomorrow, nor the day after. Statistically, there is less than 1 in 4,000,000,000 chance that the end is nigh!

The 2012 Doomsday Scenario is a carefully orchestrated global corpo-government disinformation campaign designed to ridicule and dismiss, by association to a non-event, the impact of ecological disasters caused by humans that have driven the world to the edge of collapse!

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

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,177 Days Left 

[December 21, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,177 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

Drought Continues to Expand through U.S. Farming Region

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,184 Days Left 

[December 14, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,184 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Drought affecting about two-thirds of U.S. new winter wheat crop

As of December 11, 2012 ‘severe’ to ‘exceptional’ drought levels (D3 – D5 on the U.S. Drought Monitor Scale ) pervaded through 42.59% of continental United States, up from 42.22% a week earlier.

• Some 61.87 percent of the contiguous United States was in at least ‘Moderate’ drought, down from 62.37 percent the previous week.

U.S. Drought Map for December 11, 2012. Release December 13 by U.S. Drought Monitor

Map of the U.S. Counties Designated as Drought Disaster Areas

As of December 12, 2012, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had designated as drought disaster areas  a total of 2,735 counties throughout  the country. The designations included 2,300 counties declared primary disaster areas and 435 additional counties as contiguous disaster areas.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map for December 12, 2012.

Drought Links

• Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S. December 7, 2012

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

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

Drought Continues to Expand through Central U.S.

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,191 Days Left 

[December 7, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,191 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

‘Abnormally Dry’ to ‘Exceptional Drought’ conditions plague more than ¾ of Contiguous United States

More than 76 percent of Contiguous United States was covered by Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought conditions, as of December 4, 2012, U.S. Drought Monitor said.

• The ongoing drought is seriously impacting winter wheat crop and restricting the movement of essential commodities along receding waterways.
  • Drought conditions in the South have expanded by 5 percent, covering additional parts of Texas, Oklahoma,  Missouri, Louisiana and Kansas.
  • The winter wheat conditions are worse than any November on record, USDA reported.
  • More than 65 percent of the new winter wheat crop is in drought areas.
  • Many producers may be forced to abandon the crop due to its extremely poor condition, USDA said.

• Record high temperatures kept 2012 on track for the warmest year on record, NOAA said.
  • The year-to-date has been the warmest first 11 months of any year on record for the contiguous United States.

• Nebraska remained the worst hit state with 100% of the area plagued by Severe to Exception Drought conditions (D2 – D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale).

Drought Links

• US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas December 4, 2012
• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

US: Dozens of Additional Counties Designated Disaster Areas

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,194 Days Left 

[December 4, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,194 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

USDA declares counties across 9 states disaster areas

Drought, excessive heat, unseasonably warm and cold weather, and Hurricane Sandy prompts USDA to declare 163 counties across nine states as agricultural disaster areas.

• The designated disaster areas are in the states of California (4 counties as both primary and contiguous disaster areas), Illinois (3), Michigan (3), Minnesota (6), New York (57), Pennsylvania (9), Vermont (2), Virginia (7) and  Wisconsin (72 counties).

• Some 2,709 counties across 45 states and D.C. are currently designated as agricultural disaster areas due to the ongoing drought.  [Note: Drought disaster designations include both primary and contiguous disaster areas,  2,268 and 441 counties respectively. ]

U.S. Drought Disaster Map.  This USDA map is incomplete because it does NOT show all 2,709 counties across the 45 states and D.C. that are currently designated as Drought Disaster Areas. For a recent update see List of Designated Drought Disaster Counties (PDF, 581KB)

U.S. Precipitation Chart, 26 November – 2 December 2012. Source: HPRCC

Highlights from November Drought Update (CPC/NOAA)

• Drought impacts to persist into winter and spring

• Mississippi River barge traffic being impacted by low flows above the Ohio River

• Severe impacts on agriculture, water supplies, river transportation and energy sectors expected if drought persists into next year

• 36% of  lower 48 currently in severe or worse drought

• Exceptional to Extreme Drought persists in Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas

• Extreme Drought persists in parts of Minnesota and Iowa

• 53% of Midwest still in the Moderate to Exceptional range – substantial improvements across the east

• 2012 remains the worst agricultural drought since 1988

U.S. Rain Map  18 – 24 Nov. 2012.  Source: CPC/NOAA

Drought Links

• U.S. Drought: 54 Additional Counties Declared Drought Disaster Areas Posted  November 2, 2012
• U.S. Counties Declared Disaster Areas October 25, 2012
• U.S. drought retreats fractionally, expected to persist through winter October 19, 2012
• U.S. Crop Disaster Losses Spreads to 2,673 Counties October 18, 2012
  
• Drought Disaster Spreads to 2,423 U.S. Counties October 12, 2012
• U.S. Drought: Little Change! October 4, 2012

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 Deepens

About 76 percent of continental United States abnormally dry or worse

‘Abnormally Dry’ to ‘Exceptional Drought’ conditions cover nearly 76 percent of contiguous U.S., an increase of more than 2 percent since last week.

U.S. Drought Map for November 27, 2012. Released by US Drought Monitor  November 29, 2012.

U.S. Weekly Rain Map.  Source: HPRCC

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

3.7 Million Somalis in Urgent Need of Humanitarian Aid

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,202 Days Left 

[November 26, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,202 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Somalia: Humanitarian Disaster

More than a million Somali refugees are currently hosted in Kenya, Yemen, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Tanzania and Uganda, and about 1.36 million others internally displaced, settled mainly in the South-Central region, UNHCR reported.

‘Somalia is the most affected country within the Horn of Africa by the ongoing drought, widely regarded as the worst in 60 years. Consecutive seasonal rain failures have led to sky-rocketing food prices, in a country already devastated by two decades of civil war,’ said the report.

• Somali people are facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today.
• Somalia is generating the third highest number of refugees in the world, after Afghanistan and Iraq.
• One in three Somalis is in urgent need of humanitarian help.
• One in every three children living in the South-Central region is malnourished.
• More than 66,000 Somalis have sought refuge in neighboring countries so far this year.

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 Widens Over Past Week

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,206 Days Left 

[November 22, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,206 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

‘Abnormally Dry’ to ‘Exceptional Drought’ conditions cover nearly 74 percent of contiguous U.S.

Extreme and Exceptional drought plague the Great Plains including virtually all of Nebraska and Kansas.

U.S. Drought Map, November 20, 2012. Released by US Drought Monitor on November 21, 2012.

Highlights from the weekly Drought Monitor Report:

• Nearly 94% of High Plains is now in drought with more than 84% of the region plagued by ‘Severe’ to ‘Exceptional’ drought levels.

• More than three-quarters of Texas is in at least a ‘Moderate’ drought, with about nearly half the state covered by ‘Severe’ or worse drought conditions.

• More than 72% of the West, 61% of the South, 30% of the Southeast and 52% of the Midwest are in drought.

Weekly Precipitation Map (November 14 – 20, 2012)

U.S. Weekly Rain Map.  Source: HPRCC

Other related stories

• ‘Thieves are stealing thousands of dollars in hay bales in central Kansas amid a drought that has tightened supplies and driven up prices.’
• Wheat Crop Hit Hard by Drought

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

United States: Drought Persists

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,212 Days Left 

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

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,212 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

U.S. Drought persists despite rain: Drought Monitor

As of November 13, about ¾ of contiguous United States remains Abnormally Dry or worse  according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

U.S. Drought Map, November 13, 2012. Released by US Drought Monitor on November 15, 2012.

U.S. Rain Map: Total precipitation (inches),  4 – 10 Nov 2012.

Highlights from November Drought Update (CPC/NOAA)

• Drought impacts to persist into winter and spring

• Mississippi River barge traffic being impacted by low flows above the Ohio River

• Severe impacts on agriculture, water supplies, river transportation and energy sectors expected if drought persists into next year

• 36% of  lower 48 currently in severe or worse drought

• Exceptional to Extreme Drought persists in Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas

• Extreme Drought persists in parts of Minnesota and Iowa

• 53% of Midwest still in the Moderate to Exceptional range – substantial improvements across the east

• 2012 remains the worst agricultural drought since 1988

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 Intensifies in the Plains

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,219 Days Left 

[November 9, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,219 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Middle America: Persistent hot and dry conditions hurting winter wheat crop

Abnormally Dry to Exceptional Drought conditions continue to affect 72.52 percent of the contiguous US as Exceptional Drought level widens, US Drought Monitor reported.

U.S. Drought Map, November 6, 2012. Released by US Drought Monitor on November 8, 2012.

U.S. Soil Moisture – Daily Soil Moisture Anomaly – USDA/NOAA

Drought Disaster Spreads  to 2,709 Counties Across the U.S.

USDA has designated additional counties in North Dakota and Montana as Drought Disaster Areas.  A total of 2,709 Counties across the country are currently designated as Drought Disaster Areas. The total includes 2,266 primary and 443 contiguous counties.

U.S. Drought Disaster Map.  This USDA map is incomplete because it does NOT show all 2,709 counties across the country that are currently designated as Drought Disaster Areas. For a recent update see List of Designated Drought Disaster Counties (PDF, 581KB)

CONTINUED…

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!