Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.8 Earthquake hits the Samoa Islands.
6.8 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.8 Earthquake hits the Sandwich Islands.
5.8 Earthquake hits north of Ascension Island.
5.7 Earthquake hits the Sandwich Islands.
5.3 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Sandwich Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Caucasus, Russia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Sandwich Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Sandwich Islands.
Surging hand-foot-mouth disease in Beijing
Beijing saw an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease with more than 2,600 cases reported per week from May 26 to June 22, said the capital's disease prevention center on Sunday.
In the four consecutive weeks during the period, the number of weekly reported hand-foot-mouth cases increased from 2,645 to 3,013 in Beijing, said the Beijing Disease Prevention and Control Center.
The cases were more than the same period last year, but the critical or death cases were almost the same, said the municipal health authorities.
Hand-foot-mouth disease is a viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than five years old. The disease starts with a slight fever followed by blisters and ulcers in the mouth and rashes on the hands and feet. The virus is usually transmitted through digestive and respiratory systems or through intimate contact.
Tropical Storms
In the Eastern Pacific:
Tropical storm Douglas forms and is located about 490 mi (790 km) SSW of the southern tip of Baja California.
In the Atlantic:
Tropical disturbance 91L is growing more organized - Will Bring Heavy Rains to Florida and the Bahamas. An area of disturbed weather over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, about 230 miles east of Jacksonville, Florida (Invest 91L) has grown more organized since Saturday, and is a threat to develop into a tropical depression early this week.
Regardless of the exact track of 91L, the coast of Central Florida and the Northwest Bahamas are likely to receive heavy rains of at least 2 - 4" on Monday and Tuesday from 91L. If 91L develops into a tropical depression or tropical storm, widespread rainfall amounts of 4 - 8" will likely fall in coastal Central Florida and the Northwest Bahamas.
NewsBytes:
China - Rain hits south China, while heat scorches north - Heavy rain swept south China and will continue for the next few days, while heat waves scorched the northern regions, the National Meteorological Centre said Saturday. Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China have experienced heavy downpour since June 17. Two people were killed in rainstorms in Yunnan on Saturday, with houses being submerged and bridges collapsed. Heavy rain also triggered landslides and flash floods in some areas. Rain will continue in Yunnan and Jiangxi, according to the weather observatory. Meanwhile, a heat wave has scorched northern China. Temperatures climbed above 36 degrees Celsius in Beijing and some parts of neighbouring Hebei Province. Beijing issued yellow warning for high temperature for Saturday and Sunday. China has a four-colour-coded warning system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.
Canada - Flash floods lead to states of emergency in southeast Saskatchewan. The cities of Melville and Yorkton in Saskatchewan declared states of emergency Sunday due to heavy rainfall that flooded streets and overwhelmed sewer and drainage systems.
Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for a big stretch of southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including the cities of Regina and Brandon, Man. As much as 125 to 150 millimetres of rain fell throughout the weekend.
Kansas, USA - A severe storm damaged parts of western Kansas overnight, bringing a tornado, strong winds and heavy rains. The small tornado touched down about 12 miles south of Gove around 5 a.m. Sunday, damaging three buildings on a farm.
Brazil - Severe flooding caused by a week of torrential rain in southern Brazil has forced more than 50,000 people from their homes, officials said Sunday, increasing an earlier estimate almost tenfold. The emergency agency for Santa Catarina state said 40,000 people had been forced to leave their homes, while neighboring Rio Grande do Sul said 10,700 people had evacuated, revising earlier estimates as the extent of the damage became clear. On Saturday, the two states had reported a combined total of 6,000 evacuees. Images of the affected areas showed entire neighborhoods with houses covered in water up to their roofs. The floods have hit 37 towns in Santa Catarina and 59 in Rio Grande do Sul, officials said. Rio Grande do Sul reported that more than twice the average rainfall for June in the state from Monday to Friday alone. The rains continued over the weekend, though they let up slightly Sunday afternoon. The southern state of Parana was also hit by heavy rains this month, causing floods that killed 11 people and affected more than 700,000. The flooding comes as Brazil hosts the World Cup round of 16. Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, hosts the knockout match between Germany and Algeria on Monday, but has not been hit by the recent floods.
Wildfires - USA - Arizona - Update
Crews making progress against Arizona wildfire - Crews battling a wildfire in Arizona's eastern mountains are making headway with successful burnout operations, even as the blaze blackens more territory.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Activity at the volcano increased further and produced several lava overflows both inside the crater and on the upper Sciara del Fuoco. At the moment, the latter one is still active and has a length of approx. 200 m. Following intense phases of continuous spattering (or small lava fountaining) from the cntral and other vents, accompanied by increasing tremor, a first intra-crater lava flow started around 08:30 local time from the NE hornito (S2). Shortly after, starting from 11:18 an effusive vent starts to open up on the outer northwestern slope of the crater terrace, some ten meters beneath the NW vent complex (vent S3), and issue a lava flow directly onto the Sciara. Both lava flows were relatively short-lived, while strombolian and spattering activity continued intense at the various vents.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.2 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
6.2 Earthquake hits the Volcano Islands off Japan.
5.2 Earthquake hits Arizona, USA.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
Wildfires - USA
Arizona - A wildfire that has charred nearly 8 square miles in eastern Arizona's White Mountains held steady Saturday, though the human-caused blaze has not been brought under control at all, officials said.
Communities mostly populated with summer homes remained under mandatory evacuation orders because of the fire about 135 miles east of Phoenix, near the New Mexico line, which was reported around noon Thursday. There have been no reported injuries, and no new evacuations or notices to be ready to flee have been issued.
Nine Hotshot crews, 12 engines, five heavy air tankers and a helicopter were fighting the fire on part of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation and in the national forest.
Ebola outbreak now most deadly ever in West Africa
West Africa's first-ever Ebola outbreak in humans is now the most deadly and geographically widespread outbreak on record and is threatening to spread, health officials say.
According to the latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been more than 635 cases of Ebola across three countries in the region since the outbreak was first declared in southeastern Guinea in March. It has since spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. At least 400 people have died.
The virus, one of the world's most virulent, is transmitted by contact with the blood, fluids or tissues of infected animals or people. It causes high fever, vomiting, muscle pain and diarrhea, and can result in unstoppable internal bleeding and organ failure.
Transmission risk is especially high among doctors, nurses and other health care workers. There is no vaccine for it, nor any known cure.
Tropical Storms
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean:
Tropical depression 4-E is moving quickly west-northwestward away from Mexico.
A area of disturbed weather over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream current off the Southeast U.S. coast has been designated Invest 91L. Satellite loops on Saturday morning showed 91L with only a small amount of heavy thunderstorm activity that was poorly organized. There was no hint of a surface circulation trying to form.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Activity remains elevated. A high level of magma causes continuous spattering and many strombolian eruptions from several vents on the crater terrace. Frequent rockfalls are occurring on the Sciara del Fuoco, but (so far at least) no new lava overflows.
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): A stronger phase of activity is occurring at the volcano. During the past 24 hours, 4 vulcanian-type explosions were registered, ejecting ash plumes to up to 13,000 ft (4.2 km) altitude. In addition, the volcano has continuous phases of ash emissions following the explosions. Ash plumes, some of them relatively thick have been drifting S, SE and E. Compared to last year, the volcano has been less active, however. So far, there have been approx. 240 recorded eruptions (explosions), while this number last year at the same time was already almost double (435).
Kilauea (Hawai'i): A new lava breakout occurred Friday early morning (local time) from a new vent on the outer northern flank of Pu'u 'O'o crater. It feeds a new lava flow with several branches headed to the north and northeast. The most advanced of the them traveled to the NW and had quickly reached a length of approx 1 km yesterday, but has not advanced much since. The event was marked by a sudden deflation of the cone, indicating that magma drained from underneath the Pu'u 'O'o crater terrace and moved to the new vent. This rapid drop in magma level under the crater terrace resulted in the collapse of several of the spatter cones. Until yesterday, these had been the site of frequent overflows and were feeding the Kahaual'a2 flow field. Overall, activity at the volcano has been relatively stable over the past months, with good magma supply to both the summit lava lake in Halema'uma'u and the Pu'u 'O'o vents on the eastern rift zone in 10 km distance. The new vent at Pu'u 'O'o is simply a change in the surface configuration of vents for Kilauea's continued magma supply.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Bonin Islands off Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Volcano Islands off Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits the western Indian-Antarctic ridge.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Serbia - Extreme weather is continuing in Serbia this summer, with a new round of storms hitting many areas of the country late on Wednesday. A tornado-like storm was reported in a village near the town of Lazarevac. Strong winds in Šopići ripped off roofs from homes, caused significant damage to a local church, and turned over vehicles, including a tank truck. Heavy rain and high winds affected several other towns, including Topola and Aranđelovac in central Serbia, Šabac, Bogatić, and Koceljeva in the west, and Belgrade.
USA - Heavy rains over the past couple of weeks have rivers rising all across the Upper Midwest, flooding homes, swamping fields and washing out roads.
India - Landslides and floods in Guwahati today have claimed the lives of at least nine people. Around 154 flood relief camps have been opened across Assam, where nearly 2 lakh people have taken shelter. The floods are the worst in Assam since 1998.
Paraguay - Floods caused by torrential rains have forced the evacuation of 200,000 people living near the Paraguay and Parana Rivers.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update
On 22-23 and 25 April 2014, Taipei Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 2 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9). These are the third and fourth cases with infection of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus reported from Taipei CDC.
Outbreak Of Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease In Huron County, UK
The Huron County Health Unit is advising people to be aware of an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.
The virus spreads very quickly and often in schools and day care centres, although adults can get it as well.
Symptoms can include a fever and general tired or run down feeling as well as blisters inside of the mouth and on the hands and feet. The symptoms don’t usually last for more than a few days, but the virus is very contagious, particularly in the first week when symptoms are often not evident.
The Hand, Foot and Mouth virus commonly shows up in the late spring or early summer and she says the best prevention is frequent hand washing.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
San Miguel volcano (El Salvador) activity update The volcano continues to be in an unstable phase. Tremor remains elevated, but has dropped significantly during the past days.
Fuego volcano (Guatemala) activity update Activity has been relatively low recently. The volcano observatory only reported weak to moderate explosions with ash plumes up to 500 m height above the crater.
Dukono volcano (Halmahera, Indonesia) activity update Explosive activity at the volcano continues at elevated levels. Ash-rich strombolian explosions produce a plume that rises 1-2 km above the crater sometimes extends up to approx. 100 km and is often visible on satellite imagery.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
New York, USA - Severe storm near Phelps, New York has claimed the lives of at least two people after a tree fell on a moving car.
Brazil - Rain Floods Streets Before U.S. World Cup Game With Germany. Heavy, persistent rain in the coastal city slowed traffic ahead of the match, with cars and buses making slow progress toward the Arena Pernambuco as water created rivers on some access roads. About 85 millimeters (3.3 inches) of rain fell on the city from 9 a.m. yesterday to 9 a.m. this morning, according to Brazil’s Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. About half the seats in the stadium were empty 30 minutes before kickoff.
New Satellites Reveal Weakening of Earth's Magnetic Field
Earth’s magnetic field has weakened this year, possibly leaving the planet more vulnerable to cosmic radiation and charged particles from the sun, scientists say.
Initial readings from a new three-satellite observation network for the planet’s magnetic field also revealed that the magnetic north pole is drifting southward toward Siberia.
Each satellite in the European Space Agency’s “Swarm” mission is equipped with several sensors, including magnetometers that measure the magnetic field's strength and direction.
But given the limited amount of time the mission has been operating, researchers aren’t too concerned with the weakening of the field.
They say it’s probably normal, and the protective cloak around Earth should regain its strength in the near future.
Changes in Earth’s magnetic field from January to June 2014. These changes are based on the magnetic signals that stem from Earth’s core. Shades of red represent areas of strengthening while blues show areas of weakening.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 120.7 degrees Fahrenheit (49.3 degrees Celsius) at In Salah, Algeria.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 97.1 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 71.1 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
On 3 June 2014, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 113 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including 34 deaths. These cases and deaths were identified through retrospective review of hospital records, dating between 5 May 2013 and 6 May 2014.
The majority of the cases (84) occurred after 1 March 2014; and the rest of cases (29) occurred between 5 May 2013 and 28 February 2014.
On 19, 20, 22 and 23 June 2014, National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 4 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Sea of Othotsk.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Sumbawa region, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Canada - Heavy rain washes out roads, causes flooding in southern Quebec. Several spots around Quebec are coping with the aftermath of heavy rainfall on Wednesday with one town declaring a local emergency.
The heat is on in Greenland
It's been a hot June at Kangerlussuaq, where the temperature peaked at 73°F on June 15. That's not far below the all-time hottest temperature ever recorded in Greenland of 78.6°F, set just last year on July 30 at nearby Maniitsoq Mittarfia. The unusual warmth this year melted nearly 40% of the Greenland Ice Sheet in mid-June - far above the usual 15% figure.
The warm June temperatures could be setting the stage for a big Greenland melt season this summer, and scientists with the Dark Snow Project are on the ice, 48 miles east Kangerlussuaq, conducting a two-month field experiment on the causes and implications of Greenland ice melt. The results, soon to be published, showed a pronounced spike in black carbon at the critical layer, and indicated the strong need for more research.
The "burning question": How much does wildfire and industrial soot darken the ice, increasing melt? Was the record melt and record darkness of the ice sheet in 2012 a harbinger of the future? A darker ice sheet absorbs more solar energy, in a vicious cycle that raises temperatures, melts more ice, and further darkens the ice sheet.
The amount of melting that was caused by soot from forest fires is important to know, since global warming is likely to increase the amount of forest fires in coming decades. However, the amount of forest fire soot landing on the Greenland Ice Sheet is almost completely unknown.
Greenland's ice sheet holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 7.36 meters (24.15 feet) were it all to melt, and civilization would be hard-pressed to deal with 10 - 13 feet of sea level rise from West Antarctica, let alone another 20+ feet from Greenland. "If we've committed to 3.3 meters (10.8') from West Antarctica, we haven't committed to losing Greenland, we haven't committed to losing most of East Antarctica. Those are still out there for us."
Unfortunately, the Greenland Ice Sheet is much more vulnerable to melting than previously thought, found a May 2014 study. Deeply incised submarine glacial valleys beneath the Greenland ice sheet. The researchers found that widespread ice-covered valleys extend much deeper below sea level and farther inland than previously thought, and would likely melt significantly from steadily warming waters lapping at Greenland's shores.
The ice core study found that black carbon from forest fires helped caused a RARE, near-ice-sheet-wide surface melt event that melted 97% of Greenland's surface on July 11 - 12 2012, and a similar event in 1889. Another factor contributing to a darker Greenland Ice Sheet and more melting may be additional wind-blown dust landing on the ice. "Our hypothesis is that now that seasonal snow cover in the Arctic is retreating earlier than before, and bare soil is available earlier in the Spring for dust transport."
Drought - USA
Drought brings disaster declaration for all of Utah - Every county in Utah will be covered by a disaster declaration because of the ongoing drought.
Drought Nudges Nevada Wildlife Toward Urban Areas - Three years of drought in Nevada is drying up fisheries in the valleys and pushing some animals to urban areas looking for food and water.
Oceans Under Threat of Collapse
The Global Ocean Commission is out with a scathing report on the state of our oceans. To put it bluntly, our oceans are on the brink of collapse. One area the report points out is the heavy subsidizing of fishing fleets. It isn’t advances of fishing technology allowing them to catch around 10 million per year, it’s the massive fuel subsidies that keeps the industry afloat.
In addition to the overfishing, the oceans are also suffering from increased pollution. Plastics are harming the ecosystem in a way that is causing a collapse in some species. Outside of pollution, habitat destruction, climate change and ocean acidification also pose dangers to the ecosystem.
In the report, the commission is urging governments to put the hammer down on these threats quickly. If not, it may be necessary to ban industrial fishing in some areas. Already, governments have implemented marine reserves and imposed off-limits areas that ban industrial fishing.
The issue with the zones and reserves are that they are not well guarded, and fishing vessels get into them without regard to the law.
This renewed call to protect the ocean comes about a week after President Obama outlined plans to create the world’s largest protected area in the south-central Pacific Ocean.
What the report shows is that you may create an area, but you better be ready to police it. Without enforcing the rules, who is to stop vessels from encroaching on designated off-limits zones.
To read the full report, jump over to this PDF document. It outlines threats facing the world’s oceans today.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
On 17 June 2014, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 2 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Update on polio in central Africa
On 17 March 2014, WHO elevated the risk assessment of international spread of polio from central Africa, particularly Cameroon, to very high. A new exportation event from Equatorial Guinea demonstrates that the risk of international spread from central Africa remains very high (http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_03_17_polio/en/). On 18 June 2014, Brazil reported that wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) had been detected in a sewage sample collected in March 2014 at Viracopos International Airport in Sao Paolo state. Genetic sequencing indicates that this virus is most closely related to the virus that is circulating in Equatorial Guinea.
Four wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases have been reported in Equatorial Guinea in 2014. The index case – Equatorial Guinea’s first case to be reported since 1999 – had onset of paralysis on 28 January 2014; the country’s most recent case occurred on 3 April 2014. Genetic sequencing indicates these cases are linked to an ongoing WPV1 outbreak in Cameroon (Cameroon’s most recent case was on 31 January 2014). Equatorial Guinea is implementing outbreak response activities, with three National Immunization Days (NIDs) with bivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV) in April and May, and plans for further NIDs in July and August. NIDs are deemed essential to stop the outbreak as an estimated 40% of children are fully immunized against polio through the routine immunization programme in the country.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Pavlof volcano (Alaska) activity update: eruption ends. Eruptive activity at the volcano appears to have ceased, the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reports:
"Clear web camera and satellite images over the past several days have shown no evidence of continued lava fountaining from the summit. Only weakly elevated surface temperatures in the vicinity of recent lava flows northeast of the summit have been recorded. AVO has observed no evidence of ash emission from the volcano since early June."
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits Mindoro in the Philippines.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Prince Edward Islands.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
India - Over 24,000 people have been affected by floods in four districts of Assam.
Minnesota, USA - As flood waters around the state keep rising, the Governor has extended an emergency declaration for 35 counties for another 30 days.
New Report Puts Price Tag on Climate Change in U.S.
Climate change poses “multiple and significant risks” to the U.S. economy, particularly along coastlines and to the energy and agriculture sectors, a new report released Tuesday concludes.
The report, the first to quantify the damage the American economy could sustain from unabated climate change, was compiled by the non-partisan Risky Business Project, a venture launched in October and co-chaired by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and former hedge fund manager and environmental activist Thomas Steyer. “It makes the true costs for inaction on climate change frighteningly clear,” Bloomberg said at a press conference here announcing the report’s release.
The goals of the project and report, the co-chairs and members of Risky Business’s Risk Committee said, were to urge American businesses to lead the way on mitigating the effects of global warming and to pressure the national government into crafting a coherent public policy around the issue, though it stops short of making specific policy recommendations. Such efforts by businesses could not only protect Americans from the worst effects of climate change, but also grow and better insulate the American economy, the project’s members said.
While the report focused primarily on the most likely climate change scenarios to occur, it also examined the less likely but extremely high-risk scenarios, something the authors emphasized that businesses and individuals naturally do, for example, when they purchase fire insurance.
The report used climate projections through 2100 and what the participants said was a standard risk-assessment approach used by businesses to estimate how rises in temperature, sea level and other impacts of climate change would affect various parts of the U.S. economy and different geographic regions of the nation. “It’s important to look at these things and look at them from an economic perspective,” said Henry Cisneros, a Risk Committee member and former secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
They found that the effects vary from region to region, with sea level rise posing the biggest threat to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and that ever-increasing heat and humidity will particularly impact the Southwest, Southeast and upper Midwest.
Sea level rise and storm surge are likely -- defined in the report as having at least a 2-in-3 chance of occurring -- to increase the average cost of coastal storms in the East by $2 billion to $3.5 billion over just the next 15 years. When combined with anticipated changes in hurricane activity, such as stronger storms, the report found that average total annual losses from coastal storms could reach $35 billion.
Bloomberg raised the spectre of Hurricane Sandy as an example of how the effects of global warming can exacerbate a storm’s impact. There’s “no question that rising sea levels and temperatures made Sandy worse,” Bloomberg said.
Sea level rise also poses a risk separate from its amplifying effects on storms surge, as it increasingly encroaches on valuable coastal property. The report estimates that by 2050, between $66 billion and $106 billion worth of such property will likely be below sea level nationwide. By 2100, that figure could grow to anywhere between $238 billion and $507 billion.
Sea level rise in the Miami area has led to the intrusion of saltwater into freshwater areas and has increased non-storm related flooding, said Donna Shalala, a Risk Committee member and president of the University of Miami. “The future prosperity of Florida is inextricably linked to the sun and the sea,” Shalala said at the press conference.
The report also found that increasing heat will strain the nation’s energy systems, as it causes efficiency to decline while demand — in the form of a greater need for air conditioning — rises. Those simultaneous trends would drive the need for more power generation, which could simply add more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the climate system.
Heat and humidity pose public health threats, as higher humidity disrupts the body’s natural ability to cool itself since it prevents the evaporation of sweat from the skin. Urban dwellers are particularly at risk from this problem because of the urban heat island effects, as are those who work outside. Productivity of such workers could decline by 3 percent by the end of the century as it becomes increasingly too hot to work outside during parts of the day, the report found.
U.S. agriculture faces threats as a changing climate shifts where and how well particular crops grow. The report found that the production of key crops like corn, soy and wheat could decline by 14 percent by mid-century and up to 42 percent by the end of the century. Some areas, particularly northern states, could actually see increased crop yields, though.
All of the committee members and the three co-chairs emphasized the need for businesses to start examining these issues and pressing for public policy solutions now, due to the fact that greenhouse gases emitted today can last in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, effectively “baking in” a certain amount of warming.
Widespread impacts of neonicotinoids 'impossible to deny'
Neonicotinoid pesticides are causing significant damage to a wide range of beneficial species and are a key factor in the decline of bees, say scientists.
Researchers, who have carried out a four-year review of the literature, say the evidence of damage is now "conclusive".
The scientists say the threat to nature is the same as that once posed by the notorious chemical DDT.
Manufacturers say the pesticides are not harming bees or other species.
Neonicotinoids were introduced in the early 1990s as a replacement for older, more damaging chemicals. They are a systemic insecticide, meaning that they are absorbed into every cell in a plant, making all parts poisonous to pests.
But some scientists have been concerned about their impact, almost since the moment they were introduced.
Much of the worry has surrounded their effects on bees.
There's been a well documented, global decline in these critical pollinators.
Many researchers believe that exposure to neonicotinoids has been an important destabilising factor for the species.
In 2011, environmental campaigners, the IUCN, established an international scientific taskforce on systemic pesticides to look into the impacts of these chemicals.
The members have reviewed over 800 peer reviewed papers that have been published in the past 20 years. Their assessment of the global impact says the threat posed goes far beyond bees.
In their report, to be published next month, they argue that neonicotinoids and another chemical called fipronil are poisoning the earth, the air and the water.
The pesticides accumulate in the soil and leach into water, and pose a significant problem for earthworms, freshwater snails, butterflies and birds.
The researchers say that the classic measurements used to assess the toxicity of a pesticide are not effective for these systemic varieties and conceal their true impact.
They point to one of the studies in the review carried out in the Netherlands.
It found that higher levels of neonicotinoids in water reduced the levels of aquatic invertebrates, which are the main prey for a whole range of species including wading birds, trout and salmon.
"There is so much evidence, going far beyond bees," Prof Dave Goulson from the University of Sussex told BBC News.
"They accumulate in soils, they are commonly turning up in waterways at levels that exceed the lethal dose for things that live in streams.
"It is impossible to deny that these things are having major environmental impacts."
The scientists are very worried about the prophylactic use of neonicotinoids, where seeds are coated in the chemicals and the plant grows up with the ability to destroy pests already built in.
"It is a bit like taking antibiotics to avoid getting ill," said Prof Goulson, one of a team of 29 scientists involved in the research.
"The more they are used, the stronger the selective pressure you place on pest insects to become resistant to them. Using them as prophylactics is absolute madness in that sense."
Campaigners have protested against the continued use of neonicotinoid chemicals The task force argues that with neonicotinoids and fipronil making up around a third of the world market in insecticides, farmers are over-relying on them in the same way as they once became over reliant on chemicals like DDT.
"We have forgotten those lessons and we're back to where we were in the 1960s," said Prof Goulson.
"We are relying almost exclusively on these insecticides, calendar spraying 20 times or more onto a single field, it's a completely bonkers way."
While neonicotinoids don't accumulate in human or animal tissue in the way that DDT once did, the modern pesticides are more lethal, about 6,000 times as toxic compared to the older spray.
Representatives of manufacturers say that there is nothing new in the task force study.
"There is very little credible evidence that these things are causing untoward damage because we would have seen them over 20 years of use," said Dr Julian Little from Bayer, one of the manufacturers of neonicotinoids.
"If you look at the tree bumblebee, it is eating the same food as the other bees, and is being exposed to the same pesticide load and weather conditions and yet it is flourishing, whereas some other bees are not.
"If it were pesticides causing the mass destruction of our fauna, surely you would see effects on all bees?"
The European Crop Protection Association said the task force was being selective in their evidence, pointing to recent studies carried out by industry showing that the declines in bee populations have been overstated.
"We respect the scientists who have produced this research, but it appears that they are part of a movement that brings together some academics and NGOs whose only objective is to restrict or ban the use of neonicotinoid technology regardless of what the evidence may show," a spokesperson said.
Europe already has a two-year moratorium in place meaning that neonicotinoids can't be used on flowering crops such as oilseed rape.
Last week, President Obama announced the creation of a pollinator health task force to look at the impact of pesticide exposure on bees and other insects.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Stromboli volcano (Eolian Islands, Italy): intense activity, short-lived lava flow on Sciara del Fuoco. A lava overflow erupted from the NW hornito on Sunday and traveled approx. 200 m down the Sciara del Fuoco. This followed a particularly intense phase of activity at this vent, marked by frequent and strong explosions and continuous spattering. Smaller, short-lived overflows have occurred from the same vent since, and activity remains high, with many explosions from several vents.
Ebola virus disease, West Africa – update
Between 18 and 20 June 2014, there were no new cases of Ebola virus disease, but 3 deaths were reported from Gueckedou (0 cases and 2 deaths) and Telimele (0 case and 1 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Guinea to 390 (260 confirmed, 87 probable, and 43 suspected) and 270 deaths.
The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Conakry, 65 cases and 33 deaths; Gueckedou, 226 cases and 177 deaths; Macenta, 41 cases and 28 deaths; Dabola, 4 cases and 4 deaths; Kissidougou, 6 cases and 5 deaths; Dinguiraye, 1 case and 1 death; Telimele, 25 cases and 9 deaths; Boffa, 21 cases and 12 deaths; and Kouroussa, 1 case and 1 death. Currently, 19 patients are in EVD Treatment Centres in Conakry (9), Gueckedou (9), and Telimele (1).
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update
On 23 June 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of one additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.
The patient is a 51-year-old male from Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province. He had onset of symptoms on 2 June, was admitted to hospital on 6 June, and is currently in a severe condition. The patient has a history of exposure to live poultry.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.9 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
The strong earthquake near Alaska's Aleutian Islands triggered a tsunami warning Monday, but only small waves measuring several inches hit coastal communities.
7.0 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
6.9 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
6.3 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
6.2 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
6.2 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.9 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.9 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.9 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.9 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.7 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.6 Earthquake hits the North Pacific Ocean.
5.5 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits east of the Volcano Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits the north Pacific Ocean.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.3 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits east of the Kuril Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Mid-Indian ridge.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Bonin Islands off Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5 0 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Nepal - A landslide at Aglung VDC in Gulmi district of Nepal has claimed the lives of nine people. Heavy rainfall on Thursday afternoon caused landslides at several different places of Aglung VDC.
Ebola virus disease, West Africa – update
Between 16 and 18 June 2014, a total of 3 new cases and 3 deaths were reported from Gueckedou (3 cases and 0 death), Telimele (0 case and 2 deaths), and Boffa (0 cases and 1 death). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Guinea to 390 (258 confirmed, 88 probable, and 44 suspected) and 267 deaths.
The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Conakry, 64 cases and 33 deaths; Gueckedou, 227 cases and 173 deaths; Macenta, 41 cases and 28 deaths; Dabola, 4 cases and 4 deaths; Kissidougou, 8 cases and 5 deaths; Dinguiraye, 1 case and 1 death; Telimele, 26 cases and 10 deaths; Boffa, 18 cases and 12 deaths; and Kouroussa, 1 case and 1 death. Sixteen (16) patients are currently in EVD Treatment Centres in Conakry (4), Gueckedou (11), and Telimele (1).
Detection of poliovirus in sewage, Brazil
On 18 June 2014, the National IHR Focal Point for Brazil reported the isolation of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) from sewage samples collected in March 2014 at Viracopos International Airport, in Campinas municipality in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Virus has been detected in the sewage only; sewage samples collected from the same site subsequent to the detection of WPV1 have been either negative or only positive for Sabin strains or non-polio enteroviruses; to date no case of paralytic polio has been reported. The isolate was detected through routine environmental surveillance testing of sewage water; there is no evidence of transmission of WPV1.
Genetic sequencing indicated a close match with a strain of WPV1 that was recently isolated from a case of polio in Equatorial Guinea. Additional epidemiological investigation is ongoing.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits central Peru.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
China - The death toll following the recent torrential rains in China has risen to 26. Eleven people died in Hunan, five in Jiangxi and four in Fujian. Guizhou, Guangxi and Chongqing each reported two deaths. Flash floods and landslides have toppled more than 8,700 houses, damaged another 66,000 homes.
Philippines - Heavy rains have caused floods and landslides in four southern Philippines provinces, displacing thousands of villagers. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the provinces of Cotabato, Maguindanao and Bukidnon, where 91 villages have been flooded. More than 13,000 families are receiving food aid and other assistance in evacuation centres. Thirty-five schools in Maguindanao province have been inundated and closed since last week.
New Zealand - A brief tornado blew through the West Coast township of Rutherglen on Saturday, lifting a shed off the ground and throwing it into a fence.
Drought - India
National drought fears loom as India gets deficient rainfall. India is staring at the spectre of a possible drought as the progress of the monsoon has been abysmally slow. If the city of Pune doesn’t receive a good rainfall by June 25, “tough measures” will be taken to tackle the looming water scarcity. Pune is the seventh largest metropolis in India and the second largest in the state of Maharashtra. The dams that supply water to the city hold a storage which can only last till July 25.
“We have water storage that will last a month. Every year the city receives at least some rains in the first fortnight of June. This year, however, there hasn’t been any rainfall in the city nor in the catchment areas of the dams which provide water to the city. We shall see how monsoon behaves for a couple of days. If it doesn’t rain we will call a review meeting on June 25 and will take some tough measures."
Drought -North Korea
North Korea is suffering such a serious drought that soldiers have been mobilized to irrigate fields and paddies.
Lassa Fever Outbreak Reported In Nigeria
At least four people have died and another 11 are infected in the latest Lassa fever outbreak recorded in Jos-North, Jos-South and Bassa Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
Lassa fever virus is endemic in Nigeria and is now a serious problem in 23 of the 36 states of that country.
Malaria Outbreak in Tipura - Bengal
The death toll in recent malaria outbreak in the state of Tripura has gone up to 41, including 31 children and 10 adults. More than 22,000 people have fallen ill due to the sudden outbreak of malaria in the hilly areas of Tripura.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Poas (Costa Rica): Phreatic explosions from the acid crater lake continue to occur at the volcano. During a field campaign on 18 June, OVSICORI scientists observed 5 eruptions during 3 hours. Some of them damaged solar panels of measuring instruments. A strong eruption on 20 June ejected a dense plume of steam and mud up to 200m above the lake. As the pictures show, it also produced a circular base surge (fast-traveling turbulent pyroclastic flow), typical for explosive magma-water interaction.
Ubinas (Peru): Activity has been lower during the past days. Ash emissions have become less frequent and smaller.
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): The new eruption at the SE flank of the Dolomieu crater appears to have ended already during the night Saturday to Sunday 22 June. It had produced a series of small lava flows that traveled down to the base of the cone and remained well inside the Enclos. It was one of the volcano's shortest and smallest eruptions in recent years, which is surprising given the relatively long interval of repose.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.2 Earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Philippines.
5.0 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Northwest Alaska Quakes Crack Eskimo Village
Geologists are stumped as to why a remote and historically quake-free village in northwestern Alaska has been rattled since mid-April by an ongoing swarm of moderate earthquakes.
Walls of buildings in the Inupiat Eskimo community of Noatak have sustained cracks from the five quakes of magnitude 5.7 during that period, along with hundreds of aftershocks.
Alaskan seismologist Natasha Ruppert says there are no known active faults in the area.
Other than rattled nerves, there have been no reports of injuries from the shaking.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
China - Torrential rains have affected about 55 million people in Shangrao. About 100 buildings and more than 300 hectares of crops were damaged. Violent rainstorms have been pounding China’s central and southern regions. The heavy downpour has already caused flight suspension, widespread flooding and claimed more than a dozen lives. The torrential rains have killed 14 people over the past few days.
Bulgaria - After the floods that drowned half of Bulgaria, the country has been hit by hurricane-like winds. In Varna and Shabla the wind blew with a speed of 18-20 meters per second.
USA Midwest, Plains - Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed across the US by heavy rain early Friday.
Nebraska - Heavy rain floods some streets; 1 man killed. Nearly 7 inches of rain fell Friday night and early Saturday on parts of Omaha, causing some flooding of low-lying streets.
Minnesota - Storms damage crops but may ease drought. Flooding rains and hail have caused millions of dollars of damage to homes, roads and crops in southwest Minnesota.
Emperor Penguins Shifting their Nesting Location Due to Climate Change
Emperor Penguins do not return to the same location every year to nest, as per findings of a new study carried out by group of researchers led by University of Minnesota. Contrary to earlier research projects which termed penguins as philopatric, emperor penguins are shifting their nesting place in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Over a period of three years, the research team found six instances when the emperor penguins didn’t return to the same place for breeding. The research team noticed the shifting patterns with satellite images. With high resolution satellite images, researchers across the world can easily keep track of the population of emperor penguins in the region and along the coastline.
Researchers from different universities across the world have been monitoring the population emperor penguins of Pointe Géologie colony. It was earlier suggested that the population of the flightless birds is facing threat due to climate change. In late 1970s, the population in the region declined by 50 percent within five years leading to fear among researchers that the population was declining fast.
The current study presents a contrary viewpoint and suggests that the population might be shifting between different colonies in the region. Penguins are smart enough to decide a different place each year, most probably, depending on the weather conditions.
The ice sheet in the Antarctic Peninsula is melting and researchers across the world have voiced their concerns on the climate change and its impact on then native species.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): (21 Jun) A new eruption, the first after 3 1/2 years of repose, started at the volcano this morning at 01:35 local time, from a vent on the upper SE flank of the central crater (Dolomieu) cone. The eruption followed a recent increase in seismic activity, although it still came as a surprise because this seismicity had been relatively weak and no other signs of an impending eruption had been detected (deformation, increase in gas emissions). First signs of unrest had been detected during around 9-13 June, followed by a pause in seismic activity. Another swarm occurred on 17 June with 170 quakes and over volcanic-tectonic-induced 380 rockfalls. The alert level of the volcano was raised to 2 and access to the Enclos Fouqué is now closed to the public.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 Earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
5.5 Earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Fox Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.0 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits east of the Philippines.
Tropical Storms
In the Eastern Pacific:
A tropical disturbance has formed near Daytona, California. The system is given a 10 percent chance of developing into a tropical storm or hurricane over the next two days.
NewsBytes:
Turkey - A rare tornado descended on eastern Istanbul Thursday as Turkish officials warned that up to 50 kilos of rain per square meter were expected to fall.
African Elephants Slaughtered for Ivory at Alarming Rate
The slaughter of more than 20,000 African elephants for their ivory last year is putting some local populations at an immediate threat of extinction, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The United Nations-linked conservation agency warns that criminal bands and rebel militias are killing the animals to cash in on the thousands of dollars per kilo the ivory fetches.
CITES says this is the third consecutive year that more than 20,000 elephants were illegally killed in Africa, leaving only about 500,000 left on the continent.
Meanwhile, one of the world’s largest and best-known elephants was killed and mutilated for its ivory in Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park.
“Satao” was a favorite among visitors and rangers alike before poachers hacked off his face and took his long, massive tusks.
"Satao" before poachers killed and mutilated the popular Kenyan tourist attraction for its ivory.
Great white sharks seeing a population boom in waters off Eastern US and Canada
A report that scientists are calling one of the most comprehensive studies of great white sharks finds their numbers are surging in the ocean off the Eastern U.S. and Canada after decades of decline.
The study by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists, published this month in the journal PLOS ONE, says the population of the notoriously elusive fish has climbed since about 2000 in the western North Atlantic.
The scientists behind the study attribute the resurgence to conservation efforts, such as a federal 1997 act that prevented hunting of great whites, and greater availability of prey. The species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
"The species appears to be recovering," said Cami McCandless, one of the authors. "This tells us the management tools appear to be working."
Great whites owe much of their fearsome reputation to the movie "Jaws," which was released 39 years ago Friday. But confrontations are rare, with only 106 unprovoked white shark attacks — 13 of them fatal — in U.S. waters since 1916, according to data provided by the University of Florida.
They are, though, ecologically critical. They are apex predators — those at the top of the food chain — and help control the populations of other species. That would include the grey seal, whose growing colonies off Massachusetts have provided food.
Near-Record May Warmth Could Lead to Strong El Niño
May 2014 was calculated to be the third-warmest May in the past 35 years of satellite-measured global temperatures, which could portend massive global weather shifts later this year.
It was also the warmest May that didn’t occur during an El Niño ocean warming in the tropical Pacific, according to University of Alabama in Huntsville atmospheric scientist John Christy.
The Earth System Science Centre (ESSC), where Christy is director, determined that May was about 0.6 degrees Fahrenheit above seasonal normal for the month.
The warmest May on record was in 1998 and occurred during the warmest and most influential El Niño in the climate record.
The global seasonal average for that month was about 1.0 degree above normal.
Given that this year is already unusually warm, Christy says the potentially emerging El Niño in the Pacific could challenge the 1998 episode’s record.
“With the baseline so much warmer, this upcoming El Niño won’t have very far to go to break that (1.0 degree) record,” Christy said. “That isn’t to say it will, but even an average-sized warming event will have a chance to get close to that level.”
The ESSC uses data gathered by advanced microwave sounding units on NOAA and NASA satellites to get accurate temperature readings for nearly all regions of the world. This includes remote desert, ocean and rain forest areas where surface weather observations are not available.
Antarctica, parts of Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as the northern Pacific, experienced some of the warmest May conditions. The Persian Gulf was cooler than normal.
West Africa’s ebola outbreak is “totally out of control”
The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa is “totally out of control,” according to a senior official for Doctors Without Borders, who says and the medical group is stretched to the limit in its capacity to respond.
International organizations and the governments involved need to send in more health experts and to increase the public education messages about how to stop the spread of the disease, Bart Janssens, the director of operations for the group in Brussels, told The Associated Press on Friday.
Ebola has already been linked to more than 330 deaths in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, according to the latest numbers from the World Health Organization.
“The reality is clear that the epidemic is now in a second wave,” Janssens said. “And, for me, it is totally out of control.”
The outbreak, which began in Guinea either late last year or early this year, had appeared to slow before picking up pace again in recent weeks, including spreading to the Liberian capital for the first time.
TB crisis in South African mines
The incidence of TB among South Africa's mineworkers and their partners and children is the highest of any working population in the world.
For every worker who dies each year as a result of an accident on a South African mine, nine more die of tuberculosis, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Thursday.
"There are 41,810 cases of active TB in South African mines every year. It is eight percent of the national total, and one percent of the population.
"It is the highest incidence of TB in any working population in the world. It affects 500,000 mineworkers, their 230,000 partners, and 700,000 children."
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 Earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
5.7 Earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
5.2 Earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
5.2 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Bulgaria - The Black Sea town of Varna has received the equivalent of a month's rainfall in 24 hours. At least 10 people have died and several are missing after torrential rain and heavy floods hit eastern Bulgaria. Floodwaters in Varna surged up to 1m (3.2ft). Many residents had to be rescued as cars were swept away. Hundreds have been left without electricity or food. There have been hailstorms and heavy rain in several parts of Bulgaria in recent days. Forecasts say the extreme weather is set to continue. More bad weather is forecast for the end of the week.
USA - Heavy rains have caused flooding in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and in the interior of Alaska.
Great Lakes Are Ice-Free at Last
After seven chilling months across the North American Great Lakes, winter’s grip on the region has finally ended.
With only days before the official start of summer, all five lakes became clear of the ice, which at one point in early March covered more than 92 percent of their combined surfaces.
That was the second-highest coverage on record, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
Temperatures in the 80s helped finish off the few floating chunks that remained after the more than 2,000 hours of ice-clearing efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard this spring.
The last surviving chunk was on Lake Superior, near Marquette, Michigan.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 119.3 degrees Fahrenheit (48.5 degrees Celsius) at Sibi, Pakistan.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 89.3 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 67.4 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Towards the end of May 2014, activity at Stromboli volcano strongly increased as the magma level inside the conduit rose considerably.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
Tropical Storms
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
South Dakota, USA - A tornado tore through a small town in southeastern South Dakota on Wednesday night, destroying businesses and homes and injuring at least one person. The twister hit Wessington Springs just before 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said.
Minnesota, USA - Heavy rains cause flooding in Mankato, Minnesota. The nearly seven inches of rain also triggered a mudslide. No injuries were reported.
Ontario, Canada - A tornado moved through Ontario, Canada, Wednesday. The storm ripped the tops off four homes and seriously damaged at least 20 other homes.
Nebraska, USA - Slow-moving tornadoes loomed over the plains of northeastern Nebraska overnight, touching down just 40 miles from where nearly simultaneous twisters levelled the town of Pilger a day earlier, knocking down power lines and trees and killing a 5 year old girl.
Wisconsin, USA - A tornado smashed the Verona elementary school; and rendered 19 homes uninhabitable.
Michigan, USA - A wave of severe thunderstorms passed through northern lower Michigan, knocking down trees, blocking some roads and spawning a tornado.
The Three Policies That Can Counter Global Warming
A wide variety of policies have been proposed to help cut emissions and stabilize the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. This profusion of options can make it difficult for policymakers to decide what to do: Which policies can achieve emissions cuts on a meaningful scale and at a reasonable cost?
The answer is not "all of the above." There are policies that may sound promising, but in reality would be ineffective or even harmful. For example, one such policy is to convert heavy-duty trucks to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) rather than diesel fuel. Ramón Alvarez and his colleagues at the Environmental Defense Fund, Princeton University, Rochester Institute of Technology and Duke University studied this option and found that it is "not a viable mitigation strategy for climate change," as it would be nearly 300 years after the fuel switch before net climate benefits are achieved.
Given limits on political bandwidth and funding, it is important to focus efforts on enacting policies that work. Policies that are effective at reducing emissions generally come in three types: economic signals, performance standards and policies to support innovation. None of these policy types is sufficient on its own, but when implemented together, they are mutually reinforcing.
Economic signals
Economic signals are policies that change the price of goods or activities in order to influence the choices made by people and businesses. For example, economy-wide measures — such as a carbon tax or cap-and-trade — as well as subsidies for environmentally beneficial technologies and taxes on goods or activities that generate emissions (such as gasoline taxes, roadway usage fees and congestion pricing — all of which reduce driving).
Economic signals counter a key failure of markets: they do not properly value "externalities" (the positive and negative effects of an activity on society). These effects are not limited to climate change, for example, Steven Barrett and his colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that air pollution causes the premature deaths of 200,000 Americans each year.
Economic signals have the advantage of flexibility. For example, a carbon tax does not tell a manufacturer specifically what to do in order to reduce emissions, so the company can choose the most cost-effective options available. The manufacturer also has an incentive to engage in research and development to create even more cost-effective options for the future.
These policies are not perfect, nor by themselves sufficient, to achieve the necessary emissions reductions to stop global warming . Problems arise because the real world is far messier than an idealized economic simulation. Businesses and consumers do not have complete information, businesses must satisfy investors whose time horizons may be shorter than would be ideal for long-term planning, and sometimes the payer of a tax is not the same actor who is able to bring about emissions reductions (a problem known as "split incentives.") For example, tenants typically pay the utility bills for their rented homes, while landlords are responsible for purchases that improve the energy efficiency of these homes, such as upgrading to a more efficient water heater or HVAC system. A tax that raises the price of natural gas is unlikely to cause a landlord to buy a more efficient water heater, because the landlord does not pay the tax directly and cannot recover the value of an improved water heater by pricing it into the rent (since prospective renters do not consider the efficiencies of water heaters when deciding which home to rent).
Performance standards
Performance standards include building codes, appliance energy consumption standards, car and truck fuel economy standards, and power plant pollutant emissions limits. Rather than putting a price on an activity's negative effects on society, standards specify a minimal level of performance.
Standards are a strong tool for addressing laggards and removing the worst products from the market, but they are less effective than economic incentives for motivating industry-leading companies and products. Performance standards can help address split incentives, and they reduce the negative impact of a lack of information in the marketplace. (A buyer who knows very little about energy-efficiency options might not be able to quantify or take account of energy savings when choosing a product, but a standard guarantees that the buyer cannot purchase a product any worse than the floor set by the standard.)
Well-written performance standards do not mandate that a particular technology be used in order to meet the standard (allowing for the flexibility and cost minimization brought about by competition between technologies), and they are designed to automatically tighten over time. For example, Japan's Top Runner program periodically sets new standards based on the performance of the best products in the marketplace. This means that the standards continue to improve (driving innovation and reducing emissions), while ensuring they do not tighten so rapidly that manufacturers cannot produce the necessary products (since the new standards are based on products that already exist in the marketplace).
Innovation policies
Policies to support innovation are crucial for research and development (R&D) success. Examples include support for government research or federal funding of research at private companies, research partnerships, improvements to the patent system, tax credits for R&D activities, and improvements to the education and immigration systems that make it easier for companies to hire top science and engineering talent.
Public support for R&D has been tremendously important in the past: Government research or funding has played a role in the development of just about every major energy technology (to name a few: nuclear energy, solar cells, aeroderivative combustion turbines, hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" for natural gas and oil, and compact fluorescent light bulbs).
Government partnerships can also be an asset to private companies' R&D efforts. For example, in order to design a more efficient engine, Cummins Engine Company partnered with Sandia National Laboratory. In an interview I conducted for the American Energy Innovation Council, Cummins' CTO, John Wall, indicated that Sandia offered a "wonderful combustion [research] facility with laser diagnostics." Cummins could not have justified the cost of building or operating such a facility for itself, but they could partner with Sandia to temporarily use their facility, resulting in high-quality research at an affordable price and, ultimately, a more efficient engine on the market.
Economic signals, performance standards and innovation policies work best in concert. Performance standards provide clear targets for R&D efforts and a motivation to conduct research in a socially beneficial area, such as emissions reduction. Similarly, economic signals make it financially rewarding to reduce emissions, which makes R&D a better investment and lessens the cost of complying with performance standards. And with good R&D, it becomes easier and cheaper to comply with standards and to obtain the rewards or avoid the penalties offered by economic signals. Other policies — for instance, a requirement that products bear prominent labels disclosing their energy consumption — would complement those three main policy types.
Only with the right set of policies, incorporating all three approaches, will nations be able to cut emissions to the level required to stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and stop climate change.
Ebola virus disease, West Africa – update
Between 14 and 16 June 2014, a total of 7 new cases and 5 new deaths were reported from Gueckedou (4 cases and 5 deaths) and Boffa (3 cases and 0 deaths). This brings the cumulative number of cases and deaths reported from Guinea to 398 (254 confirmed, 88 probable and 56 suspected) and 264 deaths.
The geographical distribution of these cases and deaths is as follows: Conakry, 70 cases and 33 deaths; Gueckedou, 224 cases and 173 deaths; Macenta, 41 cases and 28 deaths; Dabola, 4 cases and 4 deaths; Kissidougou, 8 cases and 5 deaths; Dinguiraye, 1 case and 1 death; Telimele, 30 cases and 9 deaths; Bofa, 19 cases and 10 deaths; and Kouroussa, 1 case and 1 death.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update
On 16 June 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of one additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.
The patient is a 42 year-old man from Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province. He became ill on 25 May, was admitted to a hospital on 31 May and died on 5 June. The patient had no exposure to live poultry.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Etna (Sicily, Italy): The latest eruptive episode at the New SE crater, which again grew a few meters during this time, is now over. The lava flow is no longer active and there are no (or only very weak and sporadic) explosions at the crater itself. Tremor has descended back to low levels. ...18 Jun: This morning, weak strombolian activity and lava effusion were still going on. Marco Fulle who is still on location took this picture of the scene complete with a rare steam ring. Activity and tremor have further decreased - it seems that the latest eruptive (explosive-effusive) phase at the New SE crater is coming to an end.
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): A new explosion occurred at the volcano minutes ago. An ash plume rising several 100 meters from the active crater can be seen on webcam images.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 Earthquake hits northern Alaska.
5.4 Earthquake hits north of Panama.
5.3 Earthquake hits near the south coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Jan Mayen Island region.
5.0 Earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
Gigantic Underground Ocean 400 Miles beneath Earth’s Surface Discovered
Researchers from Northwestern University have discovered an enormous underground ocean 400 miles beneath earth's surface. The lately discovered ocean is three times the volume of the oceans on earth's surface.
Steve Jacobsen, Geophysicist of Northwestern University, and team were able to make the discovery with the help of 2,000 seismometers. Researchers studied seismic waves produced by around 500 North Americans earthquakes.
Jacobsen said the ocean is contained within highly-pressurized rock called ringwoodite. Scientists hope that their findings would be able to throw light on where earth's oceans came from.
After studying the speed of the waves at differnet depths, scientists were able to know which types of rocks the waves were passing through and that is how, researchers concluded about the presence of ringwoodite in the transition zone 400 miles down.
Ringwoodite is a blue-colored rock that acts like a sponge due to a crystal structure allowing it to trap hydrogen and water. Jacobsen added that the hidden water may be able to explain why they have been able to remain the same for millions of years.
"If the stored water wasn't there, it would be on the surface of the Earth, and mountaintops would be the only land poking out", said Jacobsen. The new research adds to the existing theories that oceans originate on earth.
However, more tests will be required to move forward. The current research could only finalize that the massive reservoir exists below the continental United States. But it is unclear how far this ocean extends.
Tropical Storms
In the Western Pacific:
Tropical storm Hagibis is located approximately 200 nm northeast of Kadena AB, and is tracking eastward at 34 knots.
NewsBytes:
Nebraska, USA - The National Weather Service says at least two tornadoes have touched down in northeast Nebraska, causing widespread damage in the town of Pilger. The massive tornadoes claimed the lives of at least two people leaving 19 people injured and destroying more than half of the town.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
On 12 and 13 June 2014, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 2 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Globally, 701 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 249 related deaths have officially been reported to WHO.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Etna (Sicily, Italy): June 16 - Lava effusion and pulsating low lava fountains continued from the New SE crater throughout the night and today. Tremor remains at fluctuating elevated levels but with a now slightly decreasing trend. The lava flows have descended the western slope into the Valle del Bove where they spread into several broad fronts.
June 17 - Activity continues with little changes, at fluctuating and overall slowly decreasing intensity, reflected also by the tremor signal. Last evening, liquid lava spattering from the central vent of the New SE crater occurred at rapid succession reaching heights of 50-150 m and often throwing incandescent material to the upper outer flanks of the cone. Lava flows continued to descend through the channel on the eastern side of the cone and spread into several channels on the upper half of the Valle del Bove wall, but not extending beyond the fronts emplaced during yesterday night. The situation this morning is similar, but the spattering at the summit has decreased.
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity of the volcano continues. Since the larger explosion on 11 June, the volcano has only produced a few smaller explosions and ash emissions. Not much glow is currently visible on clear night-time images, suggesting that extrusive activity of the lava dome is reduced at the moment.
Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): Activity at the volcano is relatively intense at the moment. Several ash plumes rising to 5-7,000 ft (1.5-2.1 km) altitude, originating from stronger-than-normal strombolian explosions, were seen on satellite imagery during the past days.
Kavachi (Solomon Islands): Some intermittent eruptive activity seems to be occurring at the volcano. On 10 June, another spot of discolored water had been visible above the shallow submarine volcano.
Ubinas (Peru): Near-continuous, but light ash emissions interrupted by sporadic explosions continue at the volcano. Two stronger explosions on 12 and 13 June produced ash plumes that rose 2.5-3.5 km above the summit.
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): Seismic activity above normal background levels have been detected under the volcano past week. The prefecture decided to raise the alert level and advises climbers and hikers to avoid the rims and crater walls of Dolomieu crater due to an increased risk of rockfalls and collapses.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
Two 5.6 Earthquakes hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.4 Earthquake hits near the coast of Ecuador.
5.2 Earthquake hits Guatemala.
5.2 Earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
Tropical Storms
In the Western Pacific:
Tropical storm Hagibis is located approximately 146 nm east-northeast of Hong Kong. It has made landfall and weakened significantly. The remnants are forecast to re-emerge over the East China Sea but are not expected to regenerate. The final warning on this system has been issued.
NewsBytes:
South Africa - flooding in Cape Town has affected more than 8,000 people in Khayelitsha, Strand, Vrygrond, Lotus River, Gugulethu, Delft and Philippi areas.
Russia - As Friday the 13th’s luck would have it, a devastating tornado hit the Sakhalin Region in Russia’s Far East, ripping off roofs, knocking down trees and power lines, cutting electricity for nearly 20,000 residents.
Brazil - Two days of near non-stop rain have dumped a month's worth of precipitation on the World Cup city of Natal, leading to a flood alert and raising worries that the deluge could affect the U.S. team's debut match against Ghana. No deaths or injuries have been reported in the rains, which began early Friday and abated only on Sunday, dumping in 50 hours as much rain as is usually seen in the northeastern Brazilian city during the entire month of June.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update
On 31 May 2014, the National IHR Focal Point of Algeria notified WHO of two laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This is the first report of laboratory-confirmed cases in Algeria.
Globally, 699 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV including at least 211 related deaths have officially been reported to WHO.
Whooping Cough Epidemic in California
The number of whooping cough cases in California has officially reached epidemic proportions, the California Department of Public Health reported.
Whooping cough, known to doctors as pertussis, has experienced a resurgence this year with more than 3,400 new cases reported between January 1 and June 10, according a statement released by the department.
The department said whooping cough is cyclical, peaking every three to five years. The last big spike in cases was in 2010.
Los Angeles County has experienced around 350 new cases so far this year with Long Beach being hit especially hard. The city has seen more than 90 new infections, making up nearly 20 cases per 100,000 people.
Pertussis is a highly infectious bacterial disease that can be spread by coughing. Symptoms of the disease vary by age group.
Adults can find themselves beset with respiratory problems that can last for weeks, while infants who are too young to be vaccinated are in danger of serious illness or death. The common name for the disease comes from the “whooping” sound children can make when experiencing the violent coughing attacks associated with the disease.
Chikungunya Outbreak in El Salvador
At least 1,200 people have been formally diagnosed with the chikungunya viral disease in El Salvador.
Drought - USA
Drought Hurts California's Pistachio Crop - The impact of California's drought just keeps growing. One large Northern California pistachio producer says its crops are in trouble and you could pay the price.
Late Spring Rains Welcome, But Drought Persists Across Much of Kansas - One long drought settled over Kansas for years. They've now had several inches of rain over a few short weeks.
Drought Conditions Ease up in Oklahoma - A new report says drought conditions are improving in Oklahoma, though more than half of the state remains in extreme or exceptional drought. New data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that 17 percent of Oklahoma is in exceptional drought - the most severe classification of drought. That's down from 21 percent a week ago. 53 percent of the state is in extreme or exceptional drought, primarily in the northern, central and western parts of the state. That's down from 61 percent last week. About 8 percent of Oklahoma, all in the southeast, is experiencing no drought conditions.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Semisopochnoi volcano (United States, Aleutian Islands) activity update The earthquake swarm at the volcano that started on June 9 and escalated on June 12 continues. No eruptive activity is currently indicated and nothing was observed in cloudy satellite images over the past day. (AVO)
Shishaldin volcano (United States, Aleutian Islands) activity update Low-level eruptive activity continues at Shishaldin, although nothing was observed in cloudy satellite images over the past 24 hours. Web camera views of the volcano were obscured by clouds. (AVO)
Sangeang Api volcano (Indonesia) activity update Small ash emissions continue at the volcano. VAAC Darwin last reported a volcanic ash plume rising to approx. 7,000 ft (2.1 km) and extending 30 nautical miles to the NW on Saturday.
Batu Tara volcano (Sunda Islands, Indonesia) activity update Activity at the volcano is relatively intense at the moment. Several ash plumes rising to 5-7,000 ft (1.5-2.1 km) altitude, originating from stronger-than-normal strombolian explosions, were seen on satellite imagery during the past days.
Kavachi volcano (Solomon Islands) activity update Some intermittent eruptive activity seems to be occurring at the volcano. On 10 June, another spot of discolored water had been visible above the shallow submarine volcano.
Pavlof volcano (Alaska) activity update: eruption decreases Based on seismic data, eruptive activity continues at the volcano according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory. However, it has significantly dropped (if not stopped) over the past week. No hot spot is currently visible on satellite imagery. No ash emissions or lava fountains could be detected recently. A weekly alimented lava flow could still be seen on satellite data from 9 June
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 Earthquake hits eastern Honshu, Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Tropical Storms
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean:
Tropical Storm Cristina is located about about 130 mi (210 km) NNW of Socorro island about 280 mi (450 km) SSW of the southern tip of Baja California. Cristina has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and its present movement is W or 270 degrees at 6 mph (9 km/h).
Cristina is dissipating and is expected to be downgraded to a remnant on Sunday.
In the Western Pacific:
Tropical Storm Hagibis forms approximately 153 nm east-southeast of Hong Kong, and is tracking northward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Sri Lanka - Thousands of people have been affected in hill country by flood and landslides. Several areas in the upcountry have been hit by floods, a rare occurrence according to the Meteorological Department. More than 2,000 people have been affected.
Malawi’s prized chambo fish faces extinction
In the last decade the once abundant catch of fresh fish in Lake Malawi has shrunk by 90 percent.
In the past, fishermen would on average catch roughly 300 kilograms of fish a day, but that haul has dropped to no more than 25 kilograms.
“We go fishing but never come back with much,” said Njeleza, a local fisherman, waiting by the lake with a bag full of homemade jewellery slung over his shoulder. “And we don’t catch big fish.”
Lake Malawi, one of the deepest in the world, is estimated to have the largest concentration of freshwater fish species — up to 1,000, according to the UN Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
And a local favorite, the Oreochromis lidole or “chambo” as it is known in this landlocked southeast Africa state where it is a vital source of protein for millions of poor, is among the hardest hit.
In its last study on chambo, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature estimated in 2004 that the population had declined 70 percent over the previous 10 years.
Overfishing is the main cause, and scientists blame both a lack of government muscle to enforce seasonal fishing bans as well as environmental degradation.
“The primary reasons why the fish stocks, specifically chambo, are going down is overfishing, and degradation issues because of factors related to the effects of climate change,” said William Chadza, director of the Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy in Blantyre, the country’s finance and commerce hub.
Climate change is said to have affected rainfall patterns and caused a drop in the lake’s water levels, also hit by the effects of deforestation on tributaries feeding the lake.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
San Miguel (El Salvador): Seismic activity, in particular volcanic tremor levels, have sharply increased since 9 June and reached the so-far highest values measured since the beginning of this crisis. A new eruption of the Chaparrastique volcano is becoming more and more likely. The volcano's visible activity continues to consist in pulsating gas and minor ash emissions. Civil protection is trying to evacuate more and more people living close to the volcano, but many residents are hesitating or refusing to leave their homes. Gas masks are being distributed.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 Earthquake hits the South Indian Ocean.
5.7 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
5.6 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.2 Earthquake hits Guatemala.
5.1 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 Earthquake hits eastern Kashmir.
Tropical Storms
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean:
Hurricane Cristina is located about about 35 mi (60 km) NNW of Socorro island about 260 mi (420 km) SSW of the southern tip of Baja California. Cristina has maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and its present movement is NW or 310 degrees at 7 mph (11 km/h).
In the Western Pacific:
Tropical Storm Hagibis forms approximately 183 nm east-southeast of Hong Kong, and is tracking northward at 03 knots.
In the Arabian Sea:
Tropical Storm Nanauk was dissipating in the Arabian Sea on Friday, June 13 as it ran into increasing vertical wind shear, dry air moving into the tropical cyclone and cooler sea surface temperatures.
NewsBytes:
Brazil - A weekend forecast for heavy rains in Paraná, where flooding has killed 11 and affected more than half a million people in the past five days.
Texas, USA - A tornado touched down in Burnet County, just outside Bertram. It even carried a home about a football field distance away with the family still inside.
Mississippi, USA - The National Weather Service said today that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Chickasaw County as a line of thunderstorms crossed the state. The tornado uprooted and snapped several trees along its path. Two homes suffered considerable damage from fallen trees.
Oil Drilling Contaminated Western Amazon Rainforest, Study Confirms
Peru's Amazon rainforest is extensively contaminated from decades of oil and gas drilling, researchers reported Thursday at the annual Goldschmidt geochemistry conference.
In the past decade, volatile demonstrations by indigenous groups and tangled lawsuits against oil companies have exposed the toxic legacy of decades of oil drilling in the Western Amazon. People living in the rainforest say they are suffering health effects from the nearby polluted drilling and waste sites, and from eating plants and wildlife laced with heavy metals and petroleum compounds.
But lax government regulations during the early years of oil exploration, combined with a lack of environmental monitoring, mean there's little data on the true extent of contamination in the richly diverse rainforest.
The results confirm the complaints from indigenous and green groups: Pollutant levels exceed government and international standards, the researchers said. “When we extract oil, it has a very high price for the environment, and sometimes, it's not paid by those who use the oil.”
The data comes from Peruvian public agencies, oil companies and non-governmental organizations, but has never been collected in one place. The database contains 4,480 samples from 10 major rivers, taken between 1983 and 2013.
Nearly 70 percent of the river water samples exceed Peru's limits for lead, and 20 percent exceed cadmium limits. "There's clearly been impacts from discharge into the rivers.”
During the early decades of oil mining, companies dumped their drilling waste into open pits or directly into rivers and streams. Leaky pipelines and wells, as well as accidental oil spills could also produce the contamination detected in the water samples. The heavy metals and other compounds tested were at higher levels downstream of the discharge sites, as compared with levels upstream, which suggests the oil discharges had caused the contamination, the researchers said.
High levels of lead and cadmium have been found in blood taken from indigenous people living in the rainforest, and from the wildlife these groups hunt for food, according to earlier studies.
Activists believe the contamination results from such pollutants moving up the food chain, from wildlife to indigenous peoples who rely on the rainforest ecosystem for a subsistence lifestyle.
To confirm that rainforest animals eat in oil-contaminated areas, the researchers set up camera traps in the forest. The traps caught animals such as tapirs feeding directly on the chemicals from the spills, and researchers documented oil in the animals' faeces.
Rosell-Melé thinks the animals are attracted to the taste of salty wastewater and chemicals. Soils in the rainforest are low in salt, and animals may mistake the spills for natural salt licks.
Camera trap images show tapirs feeding in an area of the Peru rainforest contaminated by an oil spill. Oil was found in animal feces in the same area.
According to the database, pollution levels in Peru's rainforest rivers started to drop after 2007, when the government ordered drilling companies to stop dumping toxic waste into rivers.
"The situation has improved over what it used to be, but it's not acceptable by Western standards.”
The new environmental regulations haven't completely prevented new toxic waste spills, however. Peru's Environment Ministry declared an environmental emergency in the Corrientes and Pastaza River basins in March 2013 due to drilling contamination.
About 30 percent of the world's rainforests overlie fossil fuel reservoirs. Huge oil and gas reserves have been discovered under the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and western Brazil. Oil drilling in the Western Amazon peaked in the 1970s, with exploration funded by both private companies and national governments. The rise in oil prices during the 2000s sparked a new drilling boom in the area. More than 180 areas zoned for new exploration and development now cover a section of Amazon rainforest the size of Germany.
