Dozens of reports of fast tidal shifts - and bore-like waves surging up estuarine rivers - were reported across the south coast as a 3ft wave hit Britain. Although dramatic for the South coast of England, the scale of the tsunami is minute when compared to the waves of up to 133ft that struck the coast of Japan in March.
Experts confirmed the extraordinary events were probably caused as a result of a landslide on the continental shelf 200miles west of the Cornish coast. The mini-tsunami was recorded on tidal gauges from Cornwall to Hampshire which revealed the 2ft-high column of water moved from west to east. The wave was probably caused by a sand or mud slide at sea. 'They are QUITE RARE and it was probably not a tidal phenomenon but more likely a tsunami of some kind. 'It was probably not due to an earthquake, which is the normal cause of a tsunami. This one was probably more likely to have been caused by a landslide.'
The submarine landslide also caused electrical static which made onlookers' hair stand on end. 'It was really eerie, like nothing I've ever experienced. The weather was really foggy but extremely warm and close and the sea was as calm as a mill pond. One minute I was literally stood at the water's edge, then when I turned around the water had retreated around 50 yards. It was surreal and I couldn't believe what had happened. I had no idea what had caused it, but I didn't really want to hang about and find out."
The water shifted at around 10.30am on Monday morning. Effects of the phenomenon were seen along 250miles of the south coast from Penzance to Portsmouth . 'Everyone's hair suddenly stood on end. It felt as though there was suddenly lots of static in the air.' Although there were no official reports of seismic activity off Britain on Monday residents of Bude in Cornwall reported feeling a small tremor on Saturday. And Dartmoor in Devon was rocked by a 2.7 Richter scale quake earlier in the week which residents described as being like the sound of a jet plane flying close by. Amazing photos taken by witnesses show the tsunami travelling up rivers against its natural flow.
(among other things, this is good gardening advice)
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.1 MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA
Yesterday -
6/30/11 -
5.0 MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 CHAGOS ARCHIPELAGO REGION
5.1 TONGA REGION
5.4 TONGA REGION
5.5 TONGA REGION
5.5 TONGA REGION
VOLCANOES -
After 25 days, Nabro Volcano stops erupting. - Satellite imagery has confirmed that the Nabro volcano in north east Africa is no longer emitting ash, sulphur dioxide or water vapour.
NEW ZEALAND - Jetstar cancels Friday morning flights. Jetstar earlier cancelled all flights to and from Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown in Australia after a wind change pushed ash from Chile's Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano back over the country. The ash cloud could remain over New Zealand until Saturday.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Tropical Storm Arlene deluges Mexico - The Atlantic season's first tropical storm hit Mexico's Central Gulf Coast yesterday, hurling heavy rains over a wide area.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -
NEW MEXICO - Crews 'beating' Los Alamos fire. Firefighters battling the blaze threatening a top US nuclear weapons research lab are optimistic they are gaining control. "It's been a great day. Everything is holding." The firefighters have cleared brush and used flame-retardant foam to hamper the spread of the blaze.
The fire started on Sunday. Officials say nuclear waste at the laboratory is not threatened by the blaze.
The town of 12,000 people near the complex was evacuated Monday, and authorities have not said when they can expect to return. Meanwhile, thousands of sophisticated experiments underway at the lab, where the world's first atomic bomb was developed in 1945, remain at a standstill. The Las Conchas fire has now burned 145 sq miles (375.5 sq km), fuelled by dry timber and powered by strong winds. Smoke from the blaze can be seen as far away as Albuquerque 60 miles (100km) away.
The Los Alamos facility employs about 15,000 people, sprawls more than 36 sq miles (93 sq km) and includes about 2,000 buildings over about four dozen sites. The wildfire has destroyed 30 structures south and west of Los Alamos. The Environmental Protection Agency has deployed air monitors and aircraft that can monitor radiation levels, amid fears the blaze could reach a cache of 30,000 drums, each containing 55 gallons (208 litres) of plutonium-contaminated waste.
The south-western US has been stricken by giant wildfires this year, with millions of acres scorched in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. To the west of New Mexico, the largest wildfire in the history of the state of Arizona has been burning for nearly a month
Australia offers Sydney residents cash to move - Sydney residents have been offered money to leave the city and resettle in rural New South Wales. It is hoped the plan will boost rural areas recovering from a decade-long drought, as well as easing crowding in Australia's most populous city. The A$7,000 (£4,700; $7,500) grants are to help people buy homes in the country.
Renowned for its beach lifestyle and overall liveability, Sydney is the kind of place which many people find hard to leave. That is partly the reason why the New South Wales government is offering financial incentives to encourage families to go and live in the countryside, or the bush as it is known there. With 4.5 million residents, Sydney is predicted to grow by 40% by the middle of the century. Housing stocks are low, property prices are high and the infrastructure is already buckling under the pressure. It is hoped that these relocation grants will persuade people to ditch the beach for the bush.
As well as helping to manage to Sydney's population growth, the scheme is also intended to boost the economy of rural communities, many of which have suffered as a result of a ONCE IN A CENTURY DROUGHT known as the Big Dry. Australia is one of the most urbanised nations in the world and most people prefer to live in its cities.
SPACE WEATHER -
SOUTHERN AURORA WATCH: NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% - 40% chance of geomagnetic activity on July 2nd when a solar wind stream is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers, particularly those in the winter-dark southern hemisphere, should be alert for auroras.
HEALTH THREATS -
Swedish data strengthen case for vaccine-narcolepsy link - New data from Sweden today added more evidence of a link between a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine and narcolepsy in children and adolescents, suggesting that those who were vaccinated had more than a sixfold increase in risk for the condition.
