China increases weather manipulation spending by 19 percent - According to various international and local news reports, the Chinese government has increased spending on weather manipulation research and studies. It’s part of a directive to combat extreme weather events. Last week, Agence-France Presse reported that China increased spending by 19 percent, or $114 million, this year on a special weather manipulation programme budget that has caused controversy and created debated among both the political and scientific international community. Citing extreme conditions, including numerous water shortages throughout the country, the programme will study and research airborne water resources and improve the ecological environment. “By the mid 21st century, China will be a country short of water, with a per capita water source of 1,700 cubic meters. Thus we need to control the weather." The weather modification initiative will also assist in “pushing forward” China’s agriculture and rural development." This is not the first time that China has used this technology, though. In order to ensure the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony would go ahead as planned, China modified the weather by shooting dry ice, salt and silver iodides into clouds.
Native American saying
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.9 PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.0 VANUATU
Yesterday -
12/23/10 -
5.4 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.5 FLORES REGION, INDONESIA
5.4 MAUG ISLANDS REG, N. MARIANA IS
5.6 VANUATU
5.3 VANUATU
6.4 NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.1 TONGA
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.2 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
Icy rain and German earthquake add to Christmas transport misery. A slight let-up in Europe's bitter cold triggered fresh pre-Christmas transport chaos Thursday, with icy roads quickly glazing over in many parts of Germany as rain fell on frozen ground. Adding to the sense of disaster was a minor earthquake in the region just west of Frankfurt. High buildings swayed in two big jolts under the city of Mainz, but nobody was injured. The bigger quake, at 3 am (0200 GMT), measured 3.4 on the Richter scale.
In the far north of Germany, heavy new falls of snow hampered road travel. Elsewhere, the new precipitation came down in the form of rain, causing even worse dangers. The rain froze into a slippery sheet on already-frozen roadways. Parts of the main highways from Berlin to Hamburg and to Germany's industrial heartland in the west were closed when trucks jack-knifed on the ice. Authorities appealed to motorists to only use their cars in dire necessity. Travellers complained of huge overcrowding on German trains. Many were running late because of snow on tracks.
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.
AUSTRALIA - Soggy state on cyclone watch. The weather bureau has warned a second monsoonal low brewing off the Queensland coast may develop into a low grade cyclone in the next three days. A Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster said Cyclone Tasha, if formed, would wreak more havoc in the state’s far north following torrential rain predicted for Christmas morning. ‘‘It could develop into a cyclone in the next three days and cross the coast the day after Boxing Day. Anywhere from Mackay to Cooktown we could expect to see exceptionally high rainfall events ... [with] 300 and millimetres falling in a very short period of time. ‘In a worst case scenario we could see major flooding events in more than one centre with a large population.’’
The state’s tropical cyclone warning centre had been activated, with extra police and emergency services workers and four police aircraft on standby ready to be deployed. "‘There is a possibility that by this evening [the low pressure system] will be a low-grade tropical cyclone and on the coast some time overnight.’’ Should a tropical cyclone develop it would ‘‘enhance’’ the rainfall across northern Queensland and generate winds of speeds between 80 to 100km/h. Forecasters were not yet sure whether the second low would develop as a separate system or join the current tropical low tracking towards the state’s north. ‘‘It’s possible that the monsoon low crossing the coast tonight might end up in central Queensland and another system develop in the Gulf of Carpentaria." The very active monsoon trough could linger over Queensland well into the first week of January.
‘‘Over the next seven to 10 days - a time when many people will not be at home, when many people will be travelling, when many of the government agencies would normally be shut down with people on leave, we will expect to see resources called upon. ‘Going further into the week, particularly around the New Year’s weekend, we expect to see some of that high rainfall making its way into southeast Queensland.’’ Motorists were advised to take food, water and essential medications with them on their travels in case they were unexpectedly stranded by floodwaters.
The State Emergency Service hotline received 417 calls for help with localised flooding since 5am yesterday with the majority of these recorded for the Townsville (50), Mackay (35), Brisbane (25) and Bundaberg (22) areas.
Authorities have encouraged residents to prepare emergency flood kits ahead of the downpour. Emergency kits should contain emergency phone numbers, a portable radio, torch, spare batteries, a first aid kit, several sets of clothing and strong plastic bags to store them as well as medication and valuables.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
Rushing waters wash away homes in Arizona - Extreme weather is causing a flood of troubles out west. In California, the rain has flooded streets and caused minor mudslides. The threat of larger mudslides could last for weeks in the suburban Los Angeles canyon hillsides charred by wildfires. Heavy rain is also falling in Utah, Nevada and Arizona. A state of emergency was ordered after rain-swollen creeks closed some roads in the Las Vegas area. Most of the Las Vegas area is under a flash flood warning.
HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -
EUROPE - Most of Denmark was affected by falls of up to 15cm (6 inches) of snow. In southern areas, the army sent out armoured personnel carriers to help the emergency services and police advised drivers to delay their journeys if at all possible.
People on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea were urged to stay indoors and reports described roads as impassable. There were concerns for motorists who had become stranded as the emergency services had no means of helping them. In northern France, the authorities placed a number of areas on the second-highest state of alert. Heavy snow fell around the city of Amiens and flights at the two main Paris airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, were cancelled. Heavy snow near Amiens in northern France left vehicles stranded.
Police in areas of Lower Saxony in the north said there had been an "endless" string of accidents, with roads described as similar to glass because of the fall of freezing rain on icy surfaces. In Germany, the motorway between Berlin and Hamburg was said to be at a standstill and heavy overnight snow in the Magdeburg area left a number of motorists stranded. Driving conditions in parts of Britain were said to be "treacherous". Delays and cancellations affected rail services in parts of Scotland, England and Wales.
