EARTH CHANGING EXTREMITIES

[Yamkin]

This blog will cover many earth changing extremities ranging from Earthquakes, Quake Swarms, Volcanic Activity/Eruptions, CME's - Coronal Mass Ejections, Solar Flares, Geomagnetic Storms, Magnetosphere Pressure plus other solar related radiation pulses, Asteroid/Meteorite Threats, Solar System Threats, Landslides, Flooding, Sink Holes, Hurricanes, Typhoons, Storms, Tsunami's, prolonged Snowfall/Ice, Heatwaves, Drought, Nuclear Fallout/Leak, Viruses, Diseases, Epidemics, Dead Mammals/Birds/Animals, Pollution Threat Levels and many more events.

[Yamkin]

32 Dead Porpoises Worry Wildlife Experts

More than 32 Yangtze finless porpoises have been found dead in the Dongting and Poyang lakes in China in the last two months, leading wildlife experts to worry whether the rare animals are being pushed closer to extinction, the World Wildlife Fund has reported.

Yangtze finless porpoises live mainly in the freshwater Yangtze River and the two lakes, where the bodies of more than 32 of them have been found since March 3. One of the porpoises was pregnant, according to the blog Save Yangtze Finless Porpoise. [World's Cutest Baby Wild Animals]

"This tragedy shows that Yangtze finless porpoise is facing enormous challenges," said Lei Gang, head of WWF China's Central Yangtze program, in a statement. "The porpoise deaths illustrate that without effective measures to fundamentally reverse the trend of ecological deterioration, [the] future of the incredible creature is far from certain."

After examining the dead porpoises, scientists were left with a long list of possible culprits, including electro-fishing, strikes by boat-engine propellers, food shortages and pollution.

http://www.livescience.com/20021-dead-yangtze-finless-porpoises.html

[Yamkin]

*****VERY URGENT*****

QUAKE SWARM INCREASING IN ALASKA

[Kim B]

Is it me, or has there been an increase in bird and fish deaths in the past several weeks?

[Yamkin]

2,300 Birds Found Dead Along Chilean Beaches

Chilean officials are asking fishermen to help save birds caught in nets after thousands of dead fowl appeared along coastal Chile this week.

At least 2,300 dead birds were found along beaches between Cartagena and Playa de Santo Domingo, Chile, said Jose Luis Britos, and environment professor and director of the Museum of Natural History of San Antonio, Chile.

Many of the birds, which come from several species, had broken wings and bruising on the outside of their bodies -- injuries consistent with getting trapped in fishing nets, Britos said.

He said bird deaths from fishing nets occur every year, but never at this level. In a typical year, about 15 to 20 dead birds are found, Britos said.

One hypothesis for the increase this year involves climate. As Chilean weather gets colder this time of year, migrating birds that would normally travel north for warmth are instead lingering to feast on an influx of anchovies and sardines that had fled the coast of Peru in search of cooler waters.

Earlier this week, Peruvian authorities say warm waters off that country's coast are to blame for the deaths of more than 5,000 marine birds.

The Peruvian National Center for the Study of El Nino said that since February, the Peruvian coast has had an abundance of warm water as a result of marine currents throughout the world's oceans. The warm water has altered the marine ecosystem, it said.

The warm water has led fish such as anchovies and other species that live in surface waters to migrate to deeper water toward the south. As a result, pelicans and other birds that feed from the surface of the water died of starvation.

"If these oceanographic conditions persist, it is likely that its impact will spread to other areas of the (Peruvian) coast even during the fall, which could make the numbers increase and affect other marine species," the report stated.

The Peruvian ministry of environment said seafood is still safe to eat, and encouraged everyone to continue to support local fishermen, according to state-run Andina news agency.

Officials in Peru continue to search for the cause of death of almost 900 dolphins since the beginning of the year. The health ministry is awaiting final results from molecular analysis looking for the morbillivirus, which previously has been linked to dolphin deaths.

The Chilean agriculture and livestock ministry and staff from Britos' center have called for a meeting with fishermen for Monday. They are asking fishermen to try to save trapped birds before closing their nets.

Britos said he worries that until Monday, the number of dead birds could rise significantly.

Wildlife engineer Guillermo Boigorria, left, and regional prosecutor Lev Castro inspect sea bird in Peru, which along with Chile has seen a rash of water bird deaths.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/12/world/americas/chile-peru-dead-bi...

[Yamkin]

Britain's Coldest May In 300 Years

Central England temperatures so far this month average 8.6C, 1.6C below normal.

The last time May was colder was in 1698, at 8.5C over the whole month.

And the Met Office has warned that weeks of wet weather ahead could wash out the Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations.

The Environment Agency issued two flood warnings and 14 alerts, warning of high tides swamping coastlines across South Wales.

Up to 2cm of rain will fall across the south and Midlands today. Severe weather warnings have been issued in the south-west. Wednesday and Thursday will see many parts hit by another 3cm of rain - totalling 5cm, or a month's worth, in 24 hours - with localised flooding and transport problems expected. Warnings have been issued.

Gales hitting 50mph will buffet vehicles, rip branches from trees and threaten property damage.

Deluges are being caused by 20C south-westerly winds colliding with near-freezing polar air. Significant temperature differences will spark downpours across the collision zone. Met Office forecaster Dan Williams said: 'With ground already saturated, localised flooding is possible. After a drier weekend, next week is unsettled.

'The May 22 to June 5 outlook, including the diamond jubilee, has no strong signal for a period of warm, dry weather.

'We expect sunshine and showers during this period. Even though there's a hint of warmer, drier weather, it is just a hint - and not much better than a 50-50 chance.'

The Queen's diamond jubilee pageant faces a washout on tomorrow's opening day at Windsor Castle.

Bookmakers William Hill offer 4/1 odds on a jubilee Monday washout. Travel association Abta has reported a rush of overseas jubilee weekend inquiries from Britons fearing another bank holiday washout.



http://www.sott.net/articles/show/245280-Britain-s-Coldest-May-in-3...

Contribution: JJ

[Kim B]

Mariana, that sounds stronger than a 5.3!

[Mariana Stilman Golan]

There was a 5.5 quake in the sea south of Cyprus last night that was felt all over the eastern coast of the Mediterranean and as far inland as Jerusalem but this morning they say it was a 5.3 quake.

[Tammy Fielder]

Here is the magnetosphere from the March incident that prompted the end of NICT

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120328090939.htm

[Yamkin]

                          ****PROTON ALERT*****

[Yamkin]

OFFSHORE GUATEMALA Magnitude 4.3 Depth 59 km