Landslide caused by heavy rains in central Indonesia kills at least 18, leaves 90 missing

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Jim Brennan

The Star Tribune reports on the aftermath of a landslide in Indonesia:

A village in Java, central Indonesia, has recently been hit by a landslide, resulting in deaths and displacement of residents. (Photo not of event. Image by: yummiejeu on freeimages.com)

A village in Java, central Indonesia, has recently been hit by a landslide, resulting in deaths and displacement of residents.
(Photo not of event. Image by: yummiejeu on freeimages.com)

A mudslide set off by torrential rains rushed down hills into a village in central Indonesia and swept away scores of homes, killing at least 18 people and leaving 90 others missing, officials said Saturday.

About 105 houses were swept away by the landslide late Friday in Jemblung village in Central Java province’s Banjarnegara district, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency.

Hundreds of rescuers, including soldiers, police and residents, dug through the debris Saturday with their bare hands, shovels and hoes, while others used bamboo to carry black body bags containing corpses. About 420 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Landslide caused by heavy rains in central Indonesia kills at least 18, leaves 90 missing

Pineapple Express to deliver ‘strongest storm since 2009′ to West Coast of the US

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Jim Brennan

The Washington Post reports on a weather front building off the West coast of the US:

A river of atmospheric moisture is setting up between the tropics in the Pacific Ocean and the West Coast of the United States, forecast to deliver up to nine inches of rain to northern coastal California, and as much as three or four feet of snow to the Sierra around Lake Tahoe.

“In fact, if the forecast verifies,” writes Weather Underground’s Christopher C. Burt, “it may be the strongest and wettest storm to hit the region since October 2009 when the last major ‘pineapple express’ soaked the state.”

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pineapple Express to deliver ‘strongest storm since 2009′ to West Coast of the US

Typhoon Hagupit begins slow trek across Philippines, deadly floods likely

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Jim Brennan

Mashable reports as typhoon Hagupit hits the Phillipines:

Typhoon Hagupit, which was once the strongest typhoon of the year, made its first of possibly six landfalls as of 10:15 a.m. ET (9:15 a.m., local time) near the northern edge of the Philippine island of Samar, close to the community of Dolores. The storm is the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of about 125 miles per hour.

(Break)

While Typhoon Hagupit, which is also known as Typhoon Ruby in the Philippines, is nowhere near the intensity of Haiyan, its slow forward speed of about 13 miles per hour poses a different threat: flooding. Tropical storms and typhoons can dump incredible amounts of rainfall and rain totals with Hagupit may exceed 2 feet in some places, particularly where winds blow up the slope of mountains, since this can enhance rainfall in a process known as orographic lifting.

(Break)

Evacuations have been underway since Thursday for parts of Samar, including the city of Tacloban, which Haiyan severely damaged. International aid organizations, from Heifer International to the Red Cross, already have large teams on the ground in Samar that have been assisting with evacuations. They have also been preparing to undertake relief operations once dangerous storm conditions abate. However, It does not appear that Tacloban is taking the brunt of the storm.

Coastal areas of northern Samar are being warned to prepare for a storm surge of 15 feet.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Typhoon Hagupit begins slow trek across Philippines, deadly floods likely

Wrecks, Floods, Mudslides: Rain Pounds California

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Jim Brennan

NBC Bay Area reports on the heavy rain storms that have been affecting the state in recent days:

The San Francisco Bay area has recently been hit by heavy rain lasting for days. (Image credit: MEJones on freeimages.com)

The San Francisco Bay area has recently been hit by heavy rain lasting for days.
(Image credit: MEJones on freeimages.com)

Rain pelted the Bay Area for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, leading to a flurry of car wrecks, flooding and mudslide watches amid an otherwise welcome break from California’s severe drought.

The second blast of rain came late Tuesday, which included lightning reported in the North Bay.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Wrecks, Floods, Mudslides: Rain Pounds California

Several die in south of France flash floods

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Jim Brennan

Euronews reports on the damage caused by recent freak weather events in the south of France:

The south of France has recently been affected by flash flooding due to torrential rain linked to unusually high temperatures in the Atlantic. (Image not of floods in France. Image credit: Sorinetzu at freeimages.com)

The south of France has recently been affected by flash flooding due to torrential rain linked to unusually high temperatures in the Atlantic.
(Image not of floods in France. Image credit: Sorinetzu at freeimages.com)

Flash floods caused by torrential rain in the south of France have left at least four people dead and two missing, including a young girl.

Fields were turned into lakes, streets into rivers as the latest in a series of autumn storms caused havoc. The bad weather is linked to unusually high Mediterranean temperatures.

The bodies of three women and a man were found in different locations along the Mediterranean coast between Toulon and St Tropez.

The town of La Londe des Maures was among the worst hit, with firemen sent to rescue people from their homes.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Clean-up in Brisbane after massive storm

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Jim Brennan

RTÉ.ie reports on the aftermath in Brisbane after a supercell storm hit the city yesterday:

Brisbane is recovering after being hit by a massive storm, which has caused much damage and injured 39 people. (Image credit: photoeverywhere.co.uk)

Brisbane is recovering after being hit by a massive storm, which has caused much damage and injured 39 people.
(Image credit: photoeverywhere.co.uk)

Brisbane in Australia is cleaning up after a massive hail storm ripped through the city yesterday afternoon.

Officials said the storm was one of the worst seen in the country and the strongest to hit the city of Brisbane in three decades.

The storm rained hailstones the size of tennis balls on cars and buildings yesterday, flooding streets and injuring 39 people.

Gusts of up to 140km/h, as strong as a Category Two cyclone, also uprooted trees and brought down power lines.

In one of the more dramatic scenes, at least four light planes were flipped over at Archerfield Airport, 11km from Brisbane’s central business district.

“It looks like the apocalypse,” one resident told reporters.

Storms like this will become more frequent as time goes on. The time to prepare is now: www.newmessage.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Clean-up in Brisbane after massive storm

The question of Geoengineering

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Jim Brennan

This article published by the Guardian explores some of the issues surrounding the use of geoengineering methods to combat climate change:

Fighting global warming by reflecting sunlight back into space risks “terrifying” consequences including droughts and conflicts, according to three major new analyses of the promise and perils of geoengineering. But research into deliberately interfering with the climate system must continue in search of technology to use as a last resort in combating climate change, scientists have concluded.

Billions of people would suffer worse floods and droughts if technology was used to block warming sunlight, the research found. Technology that sucks carbon dioxide from the air was less risky, the analysis concluded, but will take many more decades to develop and take effect.

The carbon emissions that cause climate change are continuing to rise and, without sharp cuts, the world is set for “severe, widespread, and irreversible impacts”. This has led some to propose geoengineering but others have warned that unforeseen impacts of global-scale action to try to counteract warming could make the situation worse.

Matthew Watson, at the University of Bristol, who led one of the studies in the £5m research programme, said: “We are sleepwalking to a disaster with climate change. Cutting emissions is undoubtedly the thing we should be focusing on but it seems to be failing. Although geoengineering is terrifying to many people, and I include myself in this, [its feasibility and safety] are questions that have to be answered.”

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Crisis Over California’s Water

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Jim Brennan

This article from CounterPunch.org further illustrates the situation regarding water availability in California:

It doesn’t take long once you’ve left the greater Los Angeles area, away from all the lush lawns, water features, green parkways and manicured foliage to see that California is in the midsts of a real, and potentially deadly water crisis. Acres and acres of abandoned farms, dry lake beds, empty reservoirs—the water is simply no longer there and likely won’t ever be back.

What’s happening here in California is far more than a ‘severe drought’ as the media has dubbed the situation. The word ‘drought’ gives the impression that this is all short-lived, an inconvenience we have to deal with for a little while. But the lack of water isn’t temporary, it’s the new norm. California’s ecology as some 38 million residents know it is forever changing—and climate change is the culprit. At least that’s the prognosis a few well-respected climatologists have been saying for the last two decades, and their predictions have not only been accurate, they’ve been conservative in their estimates.

UC Santa Cruz Professor Lisa Sloan co-authored a 2004 report in which she and her colleague Jacob Sewall predicted the melting of the Arctic ice shelf would cause a decrease in precipitation in California and hence a severe drought. The Arctic melting, they claimed, would warp the offshore jet stream in the Pacific Ocean. Not only have their models proved correct, Prof. Sloan recently told Joe Fromm of ThinkProgress she believes “the actual situation in the next few decades could be even more dire” than their study suggested.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Climate fund receives $9.3bn pledge

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Jim Brennan

The BBC reports on how thirty nations have pledged $9.3bn to the Green Climate Fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change:

Thirty nations meeting in Berlin have pledged $9.3bn (£6bn) for a fund to help developing countries cut emissions and prepare for climate change.

The Green Climate Fund was to have held at least $10bn by the end of 2014, so the pledge is just shy of the target.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Climate fund receives $9.3bn pledge

Floods in Bulgaria kill one person, trigger evacuations

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Jim Brennan

Worldbulletin.net reports on recent flooding in Bulgaria, which has forced many people to evacuate their homes:

Recent flooding in Bulgaria has killed one and displaced hundreds more. (Image credit: lion_down on freeimageslive.co.uk. Image not taken in Bulgaria)

Recent flooding in Bulgaria has killed one and displaced hundreds more.
(Image credit: lion_down on freeimageslive.co.uk. Image not taken in Bulgaria)

Rescue teams evacuated over 500 people overnight from the small Bulgarian town of Mizia after torrential rains caused flooding that claimed at least one casualty, an interior ministry official said on Sunday.

Rescue teams with boats and helicopters were still evacuating stranded people on Sunday. One man was found dead in his flooded home, said Nikola Nikolov, head of the ministry’s fire safety and civil protection unit.

Over 50 houses have collapsed after the Skut River, which runs through the town, burst its banks. Hundreds of houses remain under water. Another town and several villages in the northwestern area, which is close to the Danube, were also hit by floods.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Floods in Bulgaria kill one person, trigger evacuations