Category Archives: Earth Stuff

News of Earth Changes, climate shifts, weather anomalies, volcanoes, etc

Nishinoshima Eruption-New Island Formed

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Continuing Eruption at Nishinoshima Joins Two Islands

The eruption of Nishinoshima with the new island joining with the original Nishinoshima island, seen on December 26, 2013. Image: Japan Coast Guard

Quick volcano news update from Japan! The eruption at Nishinoshima continues and now the new island is no more … because it has joined up with the actual island of Nishinoshima (see above). This is a great example of how volcanic island like this in the Bonin Islands grow over hundreds to thousands of eruptions. Compare these two NASA Earth Observatory images to see how the island has grown between December 8 to December 24. The Japan Coast Guard has also posted a map (see below) that shows how the shape of the coastline for the new island has changed across the course of the eruption — and it is dramatic how quickly the island has grown, especially between December 13 and 24. Some video taken from a helicopter flight above the volcano shows the new island and its continued eruption (with discolored water surrounding it) and a very active spatter cone producing the lava flows.

 

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/12/continuing-eruption-at-nishinoshima-joins-two-islands/

Mediterranean Sea Earthquake

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Very Strong earthquake in the Mediterranean Sea in between Cyprus and Turkey

Last update: December 28, 2013 at 7:11 pm by By

IMPORTANT UPDATE 18:59 UTC :
RUMORS are currently circulating that a massive earthquake might strike soon along the Turkish coast. We want to stress that NOBODY in the world can currently predict the time and the strength of an earthquake. Aftershocks are a normal process and may go on for days and even weeks. Most of them will not be felt as they are occurring below the sea floor. So, PLEASE NEVER BELIEVE RUMORS AND BE ALWAYS PREPARED FOR A STRONG EARTHQUAKE.

Update 18:14 UTC  : Somebody reported that the power failures in some places were due to a thunderstorm and NOT the earthquake

Update 17:14 UTC  : Some shore locations in Turkey (like Sorgun) have a power failure and are hotels are currently working on emergency diesel generators.

Update 16:55 UTC  : Numerous aftershocks are occurring in the epicenter area in the sea. Only a few of them will have been felt by people.

Update 16:41 UTC  : Power failures are reported in parts of Cyprus. Until now we have not received (as expected) any report of injuries or serious damage.

Update 16:32 UTC  : Instead of panicking during the shaking of an earthquake, people (also tourists) should read on “what to do if shaking starts”. Internationally accepted measures are definitely NOT running outside. In case of a very strong earthquake you can’t even walk anymore!  Click here to read the instructions (in case it happens again)

Update 16:23 UTC  : Reports of panic are being received. Other reports are confirming cracks in walls of hotels (and probably also of residential houses).

Update 16:22 UTC  : Contrary to what could be expected based on the theoretical intensity values of the map below, our readers are reporting in average a light to moderate shaking (MMI IV and V) ! We know from our experience that earthquakes with a rupture point at an intermediate depth of 50 km are perceived as stronger than theoretically calculated.

Update 15:57 UTC  : We have received an experience report from a reader in Side who has seen some small fissures in the wall. Anyone else seeing this kind of small damage, please send in your Experience report with the form below.

Update : This is how this earthquake looks like on a seismogram of the region.
The light blue shaded area on the map shows the theoretical shaking (max. weak shaking) of this earthquake.

Screen Shot 2013-12-28 at 16.46.29
Screen Shot 2013-12-28 at 16.46.59

Update 15:31 UTC : USGS has just published even better numbers than initially reported. The Magnitude has been decreased to 5.8 at a depth of 51 km. This makes that it was felt in a wide radius, BUT that it will normally NOT generate serious damage.

Update 15:28 UTC : There is NO danger for a tsunami at this magnitude.

Update 15:26 UTC : Based on the preliminary data we see at this moment, we expect NO serious damage in Cyprus or Turkey as the epicenter is below the Mediterranean Sea at a depth of 40 to 50 km.

80km (50mi) SSW of Avsallar, Turkey
86km (53mi) SW of Alanya, Turkey
89km (55mi) S of Manavgat, Turkey
93km (58mi) SE of Tekirova, Turkey
204km (127mi) WNW of Nicosia, Cyprus

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 6

Local Time (conversion only below land) : Unknown

GMT/UTC Time : 2013-12-28 15:21:03

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2013/12/28/very-strong-earthquake-cyprus-region-on-december-28-2013/

Michael Shainblum’s Time Lapse Photography

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Into The Atmosphere

A special thanks to Vice and The Creators Project for filming an awesome behind the scenes video and finally letting me tell my story about my learning disability and how art has helped me find my path in life.
You can check out the video here: youtube.com/watch?v=lxxV5mIcI9E&;

*The “3 Suns Rising” In 2 of the Milky Way clips are off shore oil rigs.*

“Into The Atmosphere,” is my tribute to the state of California and the beautiful deserts, mountains and coastlines that exist there. This video showcases a variety of national/state parks as well as less recognized natural areas. The video also focuses on clouds, fog and interesting atmospheric conditions. Although California is known for blue sunshine skies, seeing a colorful storm cloud over Half Dome or an incredible sunset at the La Jolla Coves is really a sight to see. The goal of this video is to show these environments in their best possible light.

Living in California all my life, I had as much time as I needed to really capture the essence and beauty it provides. This video was an ongoing project for about a year with an estimated 75,000 images taken, and about 12,400 made it into the 3.5 minute piece.

My Grandmother Alice Harpin passed away during the last two weeks of shooting this video. The film is dedicated to her memory. Without her and the love of my family this video would not have been possible.

To create this video there were many nights sleeping outside, and many days spent in the wild to embrace the environment and get to know the surroundings. There is a common misconception about Timelapse shooters that we quickly set up cameras and go sleep in the car for hours at a time, which is far from the truth. We are constantly hiking heavy equipment through dangerous areas and spending time camping in uncomfortable situations, I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

Some of the locations are Mono Lake, Anza Borrego Desert, Alabama Hills, Trona Pinnacles, Big Sur, Mount Laguna, Santa Maria, Yosemite, Gaviota, The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, La Jolla Coves, Santa Ynez, the San Francisco Coast, and the Santa Barbara Mountains.

Directed and Filmed by Michael Shainblum.
To follow and see more of my work please visit:
shainblumphoto.com/
facebook.com/shainblum
facebook.com/shainblumphoto
plus.google.com/+MichaelShainblum
500px.com/Shainblum
twitter.com/shainblum
Motion controlled equipment made possible by:
Dynamic Perception:dynamicperception.com/
Emotimo: emotimo.com/

Song: Thomas Bergersen – Remember Me
Licensed by Extreme Music
extrememusic.com/

12/26 El Hierro Update

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El Hierro Volcano activity report – Continued (mixed) upward deformation – New deformation data (Dec. 26)

Last update: December 26, 2013 at 12:10 pm by By

2013-12-26 12:07 UTC
To make the deformation graphs a bit easier to read for our readers, we have created a map showing the axis where the most lifting has been noticed until the latest incoming data. Most earthquakes did occur and continue to occur to the East and South-East of the HI08 GPS station

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 13.06.07

2013-12-26 11:00 UTC
IGN has just released new Ultra Rapid deformation data showing a continuous lifting in some parts and a stagnation in other parts.
The island inflates further with 1.5 cm in both HI08 (El Pinar) and HI09 (La Restinga) which brings the strongest inflation area 7 cm higher than prior to the crisis.
HI02 and HI03 (Sabinosa – El Golfo area) are stagnating or even deflating a little.
HI01 and FRON are lifting also another 1.5 cm.
Will be followed …

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 11.54.35

Click on this image to see the details in full size

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 11.55.27

Click on this image to see the details in full size

2013-12-26 09:16 UTC
Still only a few earthquakes since midnight, but this may change based on the latest data not yet included in the list.
Volcanic tremor (indicating magma movement, still deep below the island) has been recorded by many instruments on the island.
The Upwards deformation was also confirmed by the latest Involcan/Uni of Nagoya PINA GPS station. In order to reference the current deformation vs the deformations from earlier crisis, we have included the PINA Involcan/Uni of Nagoya GPS data sheet (unfortunately the Pre-2012 data is not included). The increase we witness now can indeed be called “spectacular”.

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 10.11.16

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 10.30.58

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 10.32.23

2013-12-25 22:58 UTC
– A very interesting new episode in the current crisis. A calm seismic period but a continued deformation, both vertical and horizontal. In earlier crisis, once the seismic unrest stopped, also the deformation leveled or stagnated. No the lifting continues in most points as the latest IGN GPS stations are showing. All this means that this crisis is not over yet and that new seismicity is evident when the island is pushed upwards. The Upwards deformation data are really spectacular (U side of the graphs) – In only 3 days HI09 (La Restinga) lifted 6 cm! and HI08 (El Pinar) 5 cm. But not only the South-Eastern side of the island was lifted, but also most of the El Golfo area with an average of 4 cm.

Screen Shot 2013-12-26 at 00.10.33

for more information, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/25/el-hierro-canary-islands-spain-volcanic-risk-alert-increased-to-yellow/

El Hierro Update

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El Hierro Volcano activity report – New seismic crisis – more deformation and shallower earthquakes

Last update: December 24, 2013 at 4:56 pm by By

2013-12-24 16:36 UTC
– It took a while before the last interesting (low frequency) earthquakes were listed, but now we see another of these earthquakes at 9 km depth (not dangerous but certainly one that IGN will zoom into).
To give our readers an idea of the epicenter of both 9 km depth earthquakes, we generated a map of the epicenter of both quakes. We are unsure about the depth (no good seafloor maps on the internet. Google earth mentions 500 to 600 meter.

Screen Shot 2013-12-24 at 17.39.36

The epicenter of the 9 km 06:17 earthquake

Screen Shot 2013-12-24 at 17.36.09

The epicenter of the 9 km 14:58 earthquake

 

2013-12-24 15:20 UTC
A typical phenomenon happened only a couple of minutes ago. A seemingly calm and weaker seismic period ends with another strong(er) earthquake (no details yet but we expect in the M3 proximity). How can this be explained : quiet simple – pressure buildup with almost no release of energy which (within an active period) ens with a stronger than usual earthquake. Also this is a low frequency earthquake! (lucky to have explained it in the 14:13 update :) )

Screen Shot 2013-12-24 at 16.23.43 Screen Shot 2013-12-24 at 16.19.38

2013-12-24 14:13 UTC
We think it should be a good idea to explain to our readers the difference in between the different types of earthquakes, as soo many earthquakes are currently occurring below the island. The (scientific) text was initially written by Tilling, et.al., 1987, Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes, but is also to be used everywhere else in the world.

During inflation (lifting of the island as discussed in previous updates) the rocks become stressed, and this stress is partly relieved by increasing numbers of earthquakes, too small to be felt, but easily recorded by seismometers at Kilauea summit. These earthquakes (called short-period or tectonic) are recorded as high-frequency features on a seismograph. During deflation the stress is completely relieved. The short-period earthquakes stop, but their place is taken by low-frequency earthquakes (called long-period or volcanic), which reflect adjustments related to the movement of magma from the reservoir to finds its way to the surface. The long-period earthquakes are related to harmonic tremor, the continuous seismic record of underground magma movement. (small adjustments to the text to reflect the El Hierro event).

A low frequency earthquake which occurred this morning at 06:17

A low frequency earthquake which occurred this morning at 06:17

2013-12-24 12:49 UTC
– New stronger earthquakes and a thicker tremor line (magma intrusion)

Screen Shot 2013-12-24 at 13.50.21

2013-12-24 12:29 UTC
– The strength and frequency of the earthquakes has weakened the last couple of hours. Microseismicity is still present abundantly.

Purple square : the most recent - red squares: less than 12 hours

Purple square : the most recent – red squares: less than 12 hours

Screen Shot 2013-12-24 at 13.44.49

2013-12-24 09:50 UTC
– Relatively few earthquakes today (less than yesterday)
– some information for both ends of readers. Those on the island who merely want to live their safe live and want to enjoy tourist spending : less earthquakes. Those (almost all from other places in the world : it is not over yet.
– The seismograph image below shows a strong earthquake at 06:17. If you are looking in the list for this earthquake, you will be surprised that it is only a 2.4 Magnitude. Why such a big line on the graph then? Because of the depth of 9 km. The seismograph is the confirmation that the depth must have been true (in seismology error margins are normal – in preliminary readings).
– Some activity is taking place offshore at the east of the island.
– Magma wint gradually into a more shallow layer. It went up approx. 2 km (from 15 to 17 km towards 12 to 15 km (last 5 earthquakes).
– The seismograph image shows at the end some more tremor indicating a further intrusion of magma. These quakes are not yet showed on the list.
– De El Pinar GPS deformation data is showing a Northern deformation of nearly 2 cm. More lifting of a bout 1 cm.
– The IGN deformation data are showing a further lifting of 2 cm! on the HI09 (La Restinga) GPS and a 1 cm lifting of the El Pinar HI08 GPS. this means lesser lifting in El Pinar and more lifting in La Restinga than the prior 24 hours. These readings are confirming what we see on the seismicity map.
– In terms of safety on the short term, we are convinced that a PEVOLCA will meet soon and will publish a report afterwards. (PEVOLCA safety board of the island consisting of IGN, INVOLCAN and the local and national authorities)

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/25/el-hierro-canary-islands-spain-volcanic-risk-alert-increased-to-yellow/

Hawaii Signs GMO Ban

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Hawaii’s GMO Ban Is Now Official! Mayor Kenoi Signs Bill 113

Hawaii's GMO Ban Is Now Official! Mayor Kenoi Signs Bill 113

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Mayor Billy Kenoi signed Bill 113 on December 5, 2013. Below is the message he sent to the Hawai’i County Council:

Aloha, Chair Yoshimoto and Members:

On Nov. 19, 2013 the Hawai’i County Council adopted Bill 113 Draft 3 adding a new article relating to Genetically Engineered Crops and Plants, and on Nov. 21, 2013 delivered the bill to me for my consideration. After careful deliberation and discussions with members of my administration and the public, I am signing Bill 113.

Our community has a deep connection and respect for our land, and we all understand we must protect our island and preserve our precious natural resources. We are determined to do what is right for the land because this place is unlike any other in the world. With this new ordinance we are conveying that instead of global agribusiness corporations, we want to encourage and support community-based farming and ranching.

The debate over this bill has at times been divisive and hurtful, and some of our hard-working farmers who produce food for our community have been treated disrespectfully. We are determined to protect every farmer and rancher. Agriculture on Hawai’i Island will continue to grow with county assistance, investment and support. That commitment includes initiatives such as the public-private partnership to improve and expand the Pa’auilo Slaughterhouse to support our grass-fed beef industry, and the launch of the Kapulena Agricultural Park, the largest agricultural park in the state on 1,739 acres of county-owned land. It also includes support for innovative training programs to grow the farmers of the future, and to train veterans to engage in agriculture on Hawaiian Home Lands, and the introduction and advancement of Korean Natural Farming as a sustainable method of producing healthier crops and livestock. It includes completion of the first-in-the-state Food Self-Sufficiency Baseline Study of Hawai’i Island to measure the island’s progress toward food self-sufficiency.

We are determined to reunite our farming community to create a stronger and more vibrant agricultural sector. It is time to end the angry rhetoric and reach out to our neighbors. Our farmers are essential to creating a wholesome and sustainable food supply on this island, and they deserve to be treated with respect and aloha. We must turn now to a meaningful, factual dialogue with one another.

With my approval of this bill, our administration will launch a year of research and data collection to investigate factual claims and to seek out new directions that farming in our community should take. This work will include an expanded database detailing the locations of both organic and conventional farms, the crops that are grown, more accurate estimates of the revenue earned from these enterprises, and the challenges our farmers face in meeting food safety and organic certification requirements. We will work with our farmers and our ranchers to carefully monitor the impacts of this bill over the next year to separate speculation and guesswork from the facts.

Today our communities expect that government will be as cautious as possible in protecting our food and water supplies. We all want to minimize impacts to the environment while also producing abundant, affordable food for local consumption. This ordinance expresses the desires and demands of our community for a safe, sustainable agricultural sector that can help feed our people while keeping our precious island productive and healthy.

Aloha,

William P. Kenoi
MAYOR

Download a PDF of Mayor Kenoi’s message to the Hawai’i County Council

Source: The Office of Mayor Billy Kenoi

 

from:    http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/hawaiis-gmo-ban-now-official-mayor-kenoi-signs-bill-113

Volcanic Activity: Etna & Sinabung

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Eruption Update for November 24, 2013: Sinabung and Etna

Webcam capture of the November 23, 2013 eruption of Etna in Italy. Image: @Culturevolcan / Twitter

Quick post as I get ready for our Thanksgiving Week trip to the great white north (also known as Chicago):

Indonesia

The PVMBG has moved Sinabung up to its highest alert after a series of powerful explosions overnight reaching 2-8 km (6,500-25,000 feet). In the region around the volcano, over 12,000 people in over 17 villages have been evacuated due to the increasingly hazardous activity at the volcano. Right now, it seems like no one is quite sure what is going to come next — all that we know is that activity has been on the increase over the last month. Although the ash from these explosions have cause some flight disruptions, it is not yet a threat to people living in the regional capitol, roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) away.

Italy

Meanwhile in Italy, Etna had yet another paroxysm, this time less than a week since its last one. This one produced a significant ash plume with lava fountaining, but little-to-no lava flow activity. One of the more impressive videos I’ve seen for the eruption was one taken by hikers on Etna who had basaltic scoria rain down on them. VolcanoDiscovery also posted a time-lapse of yesterday’s eruption.

from:    http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/eruptions/

Iran/Iraq Border Earthquake

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Strong dangerous earthquake in the Iran / Iraq border area

Last update: November 22, 2013 at 7:24 pm by By Ashish Khanal

Update 19:21 UTC : We do not expect any conclusive assessments before tomorrow morning local time (late night now). Assessment in the dark and probably with difficulty to communicate gives even during daylight many hours of delay.

Update 19:21 UTC : Earthquake-Report.com considers and area of max. 10 km around the epicenter at risk for serious to moderate damage.

Update 19:00 UTC : The image below gives a MMI VII shaking in the epicenter area. MMI VII is considered as dangerous for damage. The reason why these data are giving a higher shaking intensity is the depth of 14 km. Shallower earthquakes (breaking point closer to the surface) are always more dangerous than deeper earthquakes.

Screen Shot 2013-11-22 at 20.19.45

Update 18:58 UTC : The theoretical damage engine of Max Wyss expects NO fatalities but 0 to 20 injured people. We agree with him but the number may higher if the depth of 46 km (which we do not trust) is more shallow (like the one from this morning).

Screen Shot 2013-11-22 at 19.58.52

Update 18:53 UTC : “The citizens in Sulaimaniyah, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Badra district of Wasit province in addition to Diyala noticed the Earthquake

Update 18:48 UTC : The area had a number of earthquakes earlier today, but the current one will be the most dangerous one. We expect a lot of minor damage in the epicenter area.

Screen Shot 2013-11-22 at 19.46.27

149 km NE of Baghdad, Iraq / pop: 5,672,513 / local time: 21:31:02.0 2013-11-22
103 km NW of Īlām, Iran / pop: 140,940 / local time: 22:01:02.0 2013-11-22
34 km SW of Sarpol-e Z̄ahāb, Iran / pop: 51,611 / local time: 22:01:02.0 2013-11-22

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 5.7

Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-11-22 22:00:59

GMT/UTC Time : 2013-11-22 18:30:59

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2013/11/22/very-strong-earthquake-iran-iraq-border-region-on-november-22-2013/

(if you can, please visit the site above and donate to keep up this great earthquake reporting)

Northeastern China Double Earthquake

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Strong and very dangerous double earthquake in Changlin, Jilin / Nei-Mongol, China – Lots of damage

Last update: November 23, 2013 at 11:17 am by By

Update 11:19 UTC : Jilin Military immediately launched an emergency mechanism and organized more than 300 active duty, reserve militia and police officers into the emergency disaster relief. Fog, snow and temperatures down to -10 C are adding the to damage.

Update 09:44 UTC : 310 rooms collapsed, 16000 were severely damaged and  20000 with minor damage. No injuries or fatalities has been reported so far which is great as the strongest one happened during the nightly hours.

Update 09:24 UTC : The earthquake sequences are that damaging that a national disaster emergency response grade Ⅳ has been called !

Screen Shot 2013-11-23 at 10.33.41

Update 01:31 UTC : The first reports from Songyuan City are mentioning some severely damaged houses in the epicenter area. The assessments from specialized teams (Chinese authorities are very experienced and quick rescue operations) are expected the coming hours.

Update 01:27 UTC : In China this earthquake is described as Songyuan City, Changchun, Jilin earthquake

Update 01:23 UTC : On the pictures below which are from the earthquake area (if the sources are right), one can see a) an aerial view of the landscape showing a lot of agriculture fields and suggesting a flat soft surface which is very vulnerable for earthquake waves. On other images (not shown) we have noticed oil pumps suggesting oil is being extracted in the area. We do NOT suggest however that the oil extraction has something to do with this earthquake.

Screen Shot 2013-11-23 at 02.18.10
Screen Shot 2013-11-23 at 02.19.01

Update 01:16 UTC : The whole area is unstable since also a double earthquake did strike on October 31. the magnitudes at that time were reported as 5.5 and 5.0, versus 5.3, 5.8 and 5.0 today.

Update 01:11 UTC : Adding to the misery will be snow coming soon

Update 01:09 UTC : Xinhua China early reports mention :  The epicenter was located at the juncture of Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County and Qian’an county, where two quakes of similar magnitude occurred on Oct. 31 and left 12 people injured. “The earthquake lasted for about 3 seconds. I felt it was more severe than the last time, and my house was partly damaged,” Li Wei, a resident in Yingtu Village of Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County, told Xinhua over the phone.
Li said his fellow villagers ran out of their homes for fear that their houses would collapse.

Update 00:56 UTC : The Chinese seismological Agency reports a Magnitude of 5.8 at a depth of only 9 km = very dangerous and collapsed rooms /houses can be expected

Very dangerous double earthquake in the greater Changlin area, China. These twin earthquakes happened after a similar 5+ earthquake yesterday (local time – today UTC). Based on the USGS data, an intensity of MMI VII is expected. This MMI will lead to further damage at houses and infrastructure.
The earthquake was very shallow based on the same USGS data.

Screen Shot 2013-11-23 at 01.13.28

  1. 34km (21mi) N of Changling, China
  2. 72km (45mi) ESE of Kaitong, China
  3. 90km (56mi) SW of Qianguo, China
  4. 93km (58mi) SW of Fuyu, China
  5. 632km (393mi) NNW of Pyongyang, North Korea

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 5.2

Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-11-23 06:04:26

GMT/UTC Time : 2013-11-22 22:04:26

Depth (Hypocenter)  : 10 km

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2013/11/22/strong-earthquake-northeastern-china-on-november-22-2013/

Huge Jump in Amazon Deforestation

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Amazon deforestation jumps 28% in a year

Deforestation has risen exponentially after years of decline, with environmentalists attributing this change to the easing of laws in Brazil.
By Ananth Baliga   |   Nov. 15, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Deforestation in the Amazon has reached a new high after years of declining numbers, owing to the easing of environmental laws in Brazil.(CC/Alex Rio Brazil)
Nov. 15 (UPI) — Brazil has acknowledged a 28 percent rise in deforestation of the ecologically sensitive Amazon forest, between August 2012 and July 2013.The rise has been blamed on changes made to Brazil’s forest protection law. The country uses to sattelite imagery to track the decline of the country’s forest cover and is particularly shocking considering it recorded its lowest deforestation levels last year.

Initial statistics point to 2,255 sq miles of forest lost as compared to 1,765 sq miles lost in the previous 12 months. This rise ends a streak of declining deforestation which began in 2009 but does not come close to the loss in 2004 — nearly 10,500 sq. miles of forest were lost.

Environmentalists say the controversial reform of the forest protection law in 2012 is to blame for the trend in Brazil. The changes reduced protected areas in farms and declared an amnesty for areas destroyed before 2008.

Environment Minister Izabella Teixeir called the destruction of the Amazon “unacceptable” and a “crime,” but denied allegations that President Dilma Rousseff‘s administration was to blame.

“This swing is not related to any federal government fund cuts for law enforcement,” she said.

A majority of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions has been linked to the rapid deforestation of the Amazon. These figures undermine the pledge made by Brazil in 2009 to reduce deforestation in the Amazon by 80% by the year 2020.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Blog/2013/11/15/Amazon-deforestation-jumps-28-in-a-year/9911384535388/#ixzz2kx1HIZBk