Archive | September 10, 2015
Masses of dead fish, 18 different types, are washing ashore in Qatar
At least 18 types of fish have died in Qatar waters this summer, with rising water temperatures thought to be the cause.
Vast quantities of dead fish have washed up on beaches, raising concerns for the fishing trade, local media have reported.
Among the affected species are Sahri, Jesh, Safi and Rabib, according to Gulf Times.
It said researchers from Qatar University, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, monitored the seas off Qatar and concluded that sea surface temperature was “relatively high”, ranging between 35C and 36C.
This was cited as the primary cause of fish deaths in the area.
Other factors responsible for the destruction of fish stocks were lower levels of oxygen in the water, strong sea currents and high wind.
In particular, dissolved oxygen levels were low, researchers said, ranging between 2.99 and 3.86 milligram per litre.
This is not the first year that raised sea temperatures have caused large-scale destruction of fish stocks in the Gulf, The Peninsula added. The phenomenon was first spotted by researchers in 1996 and recurs either every year or every two years.
Most deaths take place in the last week of August or first week of September. And fish that have limited movement and swim closer to the sea bed are more vulnerable to changes in water temperature, Qatar University’s biology professor Dr Ibrahim Al Maslamani reportedly told Gulf Times.
Mohamed Saeed Al Mohannadi, director of the Fisheries Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Environment, was part of the research team and has presented the findings to the government.
Courtesy of arabianbusiness.com
Volcanic Rotorua Geyser erupts after 35 years of inactivity in New Zealand
A geyser which has been dormant for more than 35 years has caught locals off guard after suddenly erupting.
The Papakura Geyser is located at the Te Puia Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley in Rotorua, where there are more than 500 geothermal wonders.
This particular geyser had not shown any signs of strong life since 1979 – until last week, when intermittent “bubbling” reached boiling point.
Staff at Te Puia reported that the geyser erupted continuously for about 36 hours and shot water up to 4m high.
Te Puia’s chief executive, Tim Cossar, said: “We keep a close eye on our various geothermal features to monitor any changes, and to see her suddenly start erupting was extremely exciting.
“We don’t know when she will start again or how long she will continue to perform for us, but it was certainly fantastic to see it.”
GNS Volcano Information Specialist, Brad Scott, said the Papakura geyser was entering a new phase of recovery and experts would be monitoring its progress over the next few months.
“Over the past 18 months she has obviously pumped out the cold water and started hitting temperatures that allow for an eruption. We will be collecting water samples to confirm any changes in the water to support these observations,” he said.
“It is early days in our scientific investigation of these developments, but the geyser has clearly entered phase two of its recovery. In the first phase, which started 18 months ago, she attained a level of overflow and started regaining some heat, but it was not hot enough to prompt an eruption.
Courtesy of nzherald.co.nz
Major fire breaks at a chemical factory in Ujjain, India
A major fire broke out at a chemical factory here on Thursday evening causing loss of assets worth lakhs of rupees. Fire fighters of CISF from Indore and Dewas have to pressed with foam extinguishers to control the flames.
According to sources, the incident occurred at saurabh Industries and Chemicals situated at Maxi Road Industrial area. The unit is engaged in chemicals manufacturing and the fire occurred in Isoamil Alcohol.
ADM Avdesh Sharma who rushed to the spot said fire has been controlled from spreading to nearby units and there was no loss of life or injury to anyone. Over 30 water lorries were pressed but the operation was on till midnight.
Courtesy of timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Record breaking heatwave, then fierce storms coupled with lightning and flooding in California, USA
California had record-breaking heat on Wednesday as triple-digit heat struck inland areas even as lightning closed beaches and mountains and deserts were drenched by fierce, fast-moving storms.
The sweltering but erratic weather was caused by a high-pressure area coupled with a plume of moisture from Hurricane Linda heading off Mexico.
Downtown Los Angeles had a high of 101 degrees while the airport in suburban Long Beach hit 103, breaking the old record for the day of 98 set in 1990, according to the National Weather Service. In San Diego County, Chula Vista’s high of 99 was eight degrees above the 1990 record.
In San Francisco, temperatures soared into the 90s and reached triple digits inland Wednesday. But a breeze picked up and the area cooled off a bit by late afternoon.
Monsoonal thunderstorms began lashing portions of Southern California in the afternoon, as they did a day earlier.
The deserts and foothills had brief but fierce downpours, and lightning strikes set several small fires in northern Los Angeles County.
Concerns about close lightning strikes prompted the closure of beaches in Long Beach. In Orange County, swimmers were ordered out of the water at Sunset Beach.
The downpour also caused a mudslide that forced the closure of Agua Dulce Canyon Road near the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.
Throughout California, hundreds of cooling centers opened in senior centers and libraries around California as people looked for ways to cool off.
Rikhardur Fridriksson, a tourist from Iceland, crouched under a row of trees near San Francisco’s City Hall with a big map of the city unfurled before him. He had planned to spend the day walking around outside. But after just 45 minutes in the heat, he was looking for ways to spend the day indoors, possibly at museums.
“I thought it would be autumn here,” he said. “I was definitely expecting cooler weather.”
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power recorded the highest demand for electricity so far this year — 5,926 megawatts at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, with an even higher reading expected Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sarah Wallin sat in the shade by a shallow fountain in a downtown park where her toddler rolled around and collected water in a bucket. She dipped her feet in the water.
“Our (air conditioning), frankly, can’t keep up with the heat,” she said.
Some schools dismissed students early amid a heat wave and air-quality alerts.
South of San Francisco, the Campbell Union High School District for the first time ended the day early and banned outdoor activities.
But National Weather Service Forecaster Diana Henderson said there is relief in sight. “It won’t be quite as bad toward the weekend. In (San Francisco) itself we are looking 86 degrees on Thursday, and then it plummets down to 80 degrees by Friday,” she said.
Courtesy of gazette.com
YELLOWSTONE REGION MAGNITUDE 2.5 SOUTHERN IDAHO
http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=458680
Subject To Change
Depth: 8 km
Distances: 743 km S of Calgary, Canada / pop: 1,019,942 / local time: 15:22:48.6 2015-09-10
150 km NE of Boise, United States / pop: 145,987 / local time: 15:22:48.6 2015-09-10
37 km W of Challis, United States / pop: 1,081 / local time: 15:22:48.6 2015-09-10
YELLOWSTONE REGION MAGNITUDE 2.9 UTAH
http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=458678
Subject To Change
Depth: 2 km
Distances: 692 km N of Phoenix, United States / pop: 1,445,632 / local time: 13:43:23.3 2015-09-10
120 km S of Salt Lake City, United States / pop: 186,440 / local time: 14:43:23.3 2015-09-10
12 km W of Nephi, United States / pop: 5,389 / local time: 14:43:23.3 2015-09-10
YELLOWSTONE REGION MAGNITUDE 2.6 UTAH
http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=458675
Subject To Change
Depth: 1 km
Distances: 693 km N of Phoenix, United States / pop: 1,445,632 / local time: 12:31:46.8 2015-09-10
119 km S of Salt Lake City, United States / pop: 186,440 / local time: 13:31:46.8 2015-09-10
12 km W of Nephi, United States / pop: 5,389 / local time: 13:31:46.8 2015-09-10
MAGNITUDE 4.9 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
http://www.emsc-csem.org/Earthquake/earthquake.php?id=458657
258 km SW of Unalaska, United States / pop: 4,376 / local time: 07:59:36.5 2015-09-10
Subject To Change
Depth: 10 km
Distances:
3226 km NW of Vancouver, Canada / pop: 1,837,969 / local time: 09:59:36.5 2015-09-10258 km SW of Unalaska, United States / pop: 4,376 / local time: 07:59:36.5 2015-09-10
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