Posted by feww on September 23, 2015
Methane eruptions continue to puncture permafrost in Siberia
Dozens of punctures, caused by methane eruptions/explosions, continue to rip through the permafrost in Yamal Peninsula, northern Siberia, and other parts of Far North (Russia), according to a report.
Researches have prepared a 3D-model of the first large hole, named B-1, that appeared on Yamal, which rapidly became a lake. Picture: Vladimir Olenchenko/Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics/ via http://siberiantimes.com.
The first hole, measuring about 80 meters wide and 100 meters deep, was discovered last year in Yamal, means the “end of the world,” located in the far north of Siberia, said a report.
Dozens of craters, small and large, have appeared in Far North (Russia), including the Taymyr Peninsula.
Researchers warn more explosions will occur leaving behind ever larger craters as warmer temperatures melt permafrost releasing explosive methane gas.
The methane concentration at the bottom of the craters is reportedly many orders of magnitude higher than average atmospheric content of the gas.
More images, videos and details posted at
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: clathrate destabilization, Far North, methane craters, permafrost, Siberia, Taymyr Peninsula, Yamal Peninsula | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 24, 2015
World’s biggest freshwater lake facing potential ecological catastrophe
Lake Baikal contains 20% of the unfrozen freshwater on the planet
Dozens of raging wildfires threaten Lake Baikal in Siberia, the world’s largest freshwater lake, as they burn uncontrollably along its shores, according to local media.
Major wildfires have been destroying forests surrounding “the world’s oldest and deepest lake” since July, said a report.
“Fires near the lake’s shores actually kill the water arteries, thus damaging the water balance in the lake,” said the deputy head of the Russian parliament’s committee on natural resources and ecology.
At least 36 major blazes, fueled by drought and abnormally high temperatures, have scorched about 77,000 hectares of the surrounding pristine forests.
“It feels like doomsday,” the report quoted an eyewitness as saying.
On August 15, Siberian Times reported:
“More than 100 fires are burning on an area of almost 150,000 hectares in Siberia, according to official figures, which critics say often underestimate the problem.”
Images are posted here.
Lake Baikal is a rift lake located in southern Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast (northwest) and the Buryat Republic (southeast), Russia.
The largest (volume: 23,615 km³) freshwater lake in the world, Lake Baikal contains about 20% of the planet’s unfrozen surface fresh water. Baikal is also the world’s
- Deepest lake at 1,642m, and is one of the planet’s clearest lakes.
- Oldest lake, with an estimated age of 25 million years.
- The seventh-largest lake by surface area (31,722 km²).
- It contains more water than all the North American Great Lakes combined.
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: ecological catastrophe, freshwater, Lake Baikal, Russia, Siberia, Siberian Times | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on April 14, 2015
State of Emergency Declared in Siberia
Deadly new wildfires are raging in eastern Siberia claiming at least three lives in Zabaikal region, while many others have been killed in similar blazes further west, said local officials.
In Khakassia (southern Siberia), at least 23 people lost their lives and about 500 others were injured, many of them severely. The blazes have also destroyed more than 1,300 homes, killed thousands of farm animal.
Up to a 100 blazes in Zabaikal have incinerated tens of thousands of hectares of grassland and continue to burn uncontrollably.
See also: Deadly Wildfires Devastate 30 Towns and Villages in Siberia
Critical fire weather conditions: Northern Plains, Rockies and Great Basin
The NWS Storm Prediction Center expects critical fire weather conditions to persist on Tuesday for portions of the Northern Plains into the Rockies and Great Basin. This critical fire weather threat is due to a combination of above normal temperatures, very gusty winds, and low relative humidity. Any fires that start in these areas will quickly spread and become hard to control.
Red Flag Warnings, Extreme Fire Danger, Fire Weather Watch, High Wind Warning, Gale Warning and Hazardous Weather Outlook and are in effect across portions of at least 20 states.
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: biosphere, extreme weather, Khakassia, Red Flag Warning, Siberia, Triassic, U.S., wildfire, Zabaikal | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on April 13, 2015
Ferocious fires kill 17, injure 500, destroy 1,000 homes in Siberia’s Khakassia region
Deadly grassland fires in the Siberian region of Khakassia have destroyed about 1,000 homes in more than 30 communities, killing at least 17 people, injuring about 500 others, with 77 victims hospitalized, a dozen of them in serious condition, according to officials.
The raging fires, fanned by strong winds and abnormally high temperatures, have also killed scores of farm animals, including at least 700 cattle and some 3,000 sheep, said the reports.
Authorities have declared a state of emergency, as more than 5,000 rescuers attempt to bring the fire under control.
Wildfires are also raging out of control in the region of Chita in eastern Siberia, said reports, where at least two of the fatalities have occurred.
The following video was posted on Youtube, available only in the original language.
Posted in News Alert | Tagged: grassland fire, Khakassia, major disaster, Russia, Siberia, state of emergency, wildfire | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on June 26, 2014
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
STATES OF EMERGENCY
SCENARIOS 900, 444, 111, 101, 023
Mechanicville Declares State Of Emergency
A state of emergency has been declared in Mechanicville City, NY, due to severe flooding.
No traffic is being allowed in or out of the city, and residents are told to stay indoors until further notice. “A boil water advisory is in effect for the city,” said a report.
“Thunderstorms have dropped one to two inches of rain in parts of Washington, Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties and more rain is in the forecast.”
Forest fires cause state of emergency in Krasnoyarsk region
The authorities in central Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region have declared a state of emergency due to forest fires, most of which are burning in hard-to-reach terrain, the region’s acting Natural Resources and Ecology Minister told reporters, said a report.
Aided by hot, dry weather, more than 50 forest fires have consumed at least 2,000 hectares.
State Of Emergency Declared In St. Paul, Minn. due to Flooding
St. Paul Mayor has declared a state of emergency as the Mississippi River continues to rise there causing severe flooding, said a report. “It’s the same situation in Ramsey County, and Harriet Island is under water.”
St-Colomban, Que. Canada
The town of St-Colomban, Que., has declared a state of emergency after heavy rain flooded roads, triggered landslides and inundated sewers, said a report.
Posted in Climate Change, Global Disaster watch, global disasters | Tagged: extreme climatic events, Extreme Rain Events, flood, forest fire, Krasnoyarsk, Mississippi river, Siberia, St-Colomban, St. Paul, state of emergency | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on December 25, 2012
Xmas Madness: 93.3 million Americans expected to travel 50 miles plus from home
More than 93.3 million travelers are expected to travel longer than 50 miles from home, including 84.4 million by car and at least 5.6 million by air, through January 1, said AAA.
- Snowstorms have already forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights.
- Thunderstorms and multiple tornados are forecast on Christmas Day.
- Heavy snowfall and strong winds are forecast for the Northeast, which could lead to more flight delays or cancellations.
- Tough driving conditions are reported in parts of New York state, Ohio, Pennsylvania and northern New England.
Weather Hazards Map for December 25, 2012. Source: NWS
The authorities have declared a state of emergency in Khovu-Aksy, the Republic of Tyva, and evacuated thousands of people as the temperature fell to -38ºC (-36ºF), a report said.
- As the coldest ever December rolled through Russia, hundreds more were evacuated in Siberia, where the temperatures plunged below -50ºC, and Moscow experienced its coldest night in the season, so far.
- A lingering anticyclone, has forced the temperatures below -50 degrees Celsius (-58ºF) in some parts of Russia over the past ten days, the report said.
- “Yakutia, which makes up the bigger part of Russia’s Far East, is set face frosts down to -54C (-65F).”
Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background
Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012 | Tagged: AAA, anticyclone, deadly cold, extreme weather, moscow, Siberia, state of emergency, Tyva, U.S. Weather, Weather Hazards Map, Xmas 2012, Xmas Day storms, Xmas Madness, xmas travel, Yakutia | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on December 20, 2012
DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,178 Days Left
[December 20, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.
- SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,178 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
- Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...
Global Disasters/ Significant Events
Three weather systems pound the U.S., as freezing temperatures kill/ injure hundreds in Russia
The storms have knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers across Nebraska and Iowa, reports said.
“Significant snow will impact all or parts of 21 states—five by a storm in the Pacific Northwest, two by a storm in New England and 14 by the storm in the middle of the country.” NOAA reported.
One storm is winding down in Northern New England after dropping 8-14 inches on northern Maine. The system moving into the Rockies and Central Plains will gain strength today and a new system is moving onshore in the Pacific Northwest, where another 12-20 inches are in the forecast.
The northwest storm will affect parts of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho and Montana. The New England storm has affected mostly Main and New Hampshire. The monster storm taking over much of the Plains will impact significant parts of Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.
Hundreds of people are dead or injured, as Russia endures its harshest winter in more than 7 decades, with temperatures dipping to as low as minus 50ºC (-58ºF).
“The country has not witnessed such a long cold spell since 1938, meteorologists said, with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees lower than the seasonal norm all over Russia.” RIA Novosti reported.
- Russia’s Emergency Ministry has issued warnings throughout 15 regions, as record cold temperatures are forecast to linger for several more days.
- The temperatures fell to -18ºC Moscow region and -50 degrees in Siberia on Wednesday.
- The temperatures will plunge to as low as -25ºC in the Moscow-2 region, forecasters said.
- “Across the country, heat pipelines have broken down due to the cold. In southeastern Russia’s Samara, the cold has broken down many heat pipelines, leaving hundreds of homes without heating, including an orphanage and a rest house. Many schools and kindergartens have been closed for almost a week.” RIA Novosti reported.
- “The cold spell, along with snowfalls, has disrupted flights all over the country, and led to huge traffic jams. In the southern city of Rostov-on-Don some highways were closed due to snowfalls over the past two days, triggering a traffic collapse.”
Ecuador: Tungurahua volcano
Seventy-two hours after the Tungurahua alert level was raised to ‘orange,’ the activity level remains between ‘moderate’ and ‘high.’
Tungurahua eruption viewed from the city of Banos in this AFP photo dated December 17, 2012. Image may be subject to copyrights.
The Geophysical Institute observatory reported volcanic activity as being between ‘moderate’ and ‘high,’ with regular expulsions, emitting ashes high into the sky.
The roaring sounds from the volcano is rattling windows in nearby towns, where volcanic ashes continue to rain down.
Tungurahua, (“Throat of Fire” in the native Quechua language), is located about 135 kilometers (84 miles) south of Quito, the capital city of Ecuador (Group D – see map).
Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background
Posted in Global Disaster watch, global disasters, global disasters 2012, global Temperature Anomalies, global temperatures | Tagged: Baños, cold snap, cold spell, energy dinosaurs, First Phase of Collapse, moscow, Primordial Future, Quechua, Quito, Russia, Siberia, Temperature, Throat of Fire, Tungurahua eruption, Tungurahua Volcano, U.S. Blizzards, U.S. snow, U.S. Snow Storm, U.S. Storm | 1 Comment »
Posted by feww on June 11, 2008
The Big Arctic Thaw
The fast melting Arctic sea ice will cause inland temperatures to rise, according to a new study, releasing more greenhouse gases in Alaska, Canada and Russia, and more severely affecting the ecosystems
The Arctic sea ice shrank to 30 percent below its annual retreat levels and another record melt is forecast for 2008.
Siberians call this a “drunken forest.” Permafrost (long-frozen soil) in its natural state holds the trees upright. If permafrost melts, as in the photo, the soil becomes loose and can no longer provide a solid foundation for the trees, which tip over and lean randomly. NASA Photo. Kochechum River, Evenkiyskiy Avtonomnyy Okrug, Russia; 66°20’N 99°00’E
As we traveled down river, I saw what the Siberians call a “drunken forest”. This area is permafrost, where the soil stays firmly frozen year round. Larch grows well here, but their roots are shallow. When permafrost melts, the trees lose their footing and tilt to the side. I guess the trees look like a drunk trying to walk home, tilted at crazy angles. It is a curious sight, but it is also a clear sign that the temperature in that spot has been warm enough to melt the permafrost. — Weblog of Dr. Jon Ranson in Siberia.
“Our climate model suggests that rapid ice loss is not necessarily a surprise,” said David Lawrence of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, one of the study authors.
“When you get certain conditions in the Arctic—thin ice, a lot of first-year ice (as opposed to older, sturdier ice)—that you can get a situation where … you get a rapid and steady loss over a period of five to 10 years,” Lawrence said.
In a period of rapid ice loss, autumn temperatures on the Arctic coasts of Alaska, Canada and Russia could rise by about 5 °C, the study’s climate model revealed.
Last year’s temperatures from August to October over land in the western Arctic were In the unusually warm autumn of 2007 the western Arctic temperatures rose by about 2 °C above the average recorded temperatures for the previous 28 years. As the sea ice melted rapidly, the scientists discovered, Arctic land warmed three and a half times faster than the rate predicted by most climate models. Simulations show that the warmer ocean temperatures can affect inland areas as far as 1,500km away.
Where permafrost is already at risk, for example, in central Alaska, warmer ocean temperatures are causing a quicker permafrost thaw. Thawed clumps of permafrost soil are already collapsing in parts of Alaska causing highways to buckle, houses to tilt and trees to tip over at random angles [a phenomenon which Siberians call “drunken forests.”]
“There’s an interconnectedness about the Arctic,” Lawrence said. “When sea ice retreats and retreats very rapidly it impacts other parts of the system, like warming temperatures over land. And warming temperatures over land can also accelerate the degradation of permafrost, particularly permafrost that’s warm right now.”
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Posted in Climate Change, energy, environment, food, Global Warming, health, politics, Travel | Tagged: Alaska, Big Arctic Thaw, Canada and Russia, degradation of permafrost, Drunken Forest, melting Arctic ice, National Center for Atmospheric Research, permafrost, positive feedback, rapid ice loss, Siberia, Tipping Point | 1 Comment »