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A universe of beauty, mystery and wonder
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Showing posts with label Extreme Weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Extreme Weather. Show all posts

Saturday, January 23, 2016

THE BIG BLIZZARD IN PICTURES - JONAS WREAKS HAVOC with victims on icy roads, thousands of cancelled flights, and store shelves emptied by panic buyers - See images of this extreme weather event

©http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/. Unauthorized duplication of this blog's material is prohibited.   Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full credit and link is given to Otters and Science News Blogspot.  Link to this post:  http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2016/01/the-big-blizzard-in-pictures-jonas.html - Thank you for visiting my blog.
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BEING UPDATED
Jonas claims its first victims: At least 10 are killed by 'life and death' blizzard. Washington could be buried under record 30 inches of snow. New York braces itself for two feet. 7,700 flights are cancelled. 85million are threatened 
Clean-up is beginning in states across the county after 'life-threatening' storm Jonas battered the East Coast on Saturday
  • The storm has moved out over the Atlantic Ocean with only a few scattered flurries expected in some areas on Sunday, but rising temperatures coupled with sunlight could lead to icy conditions come Monday
  • New York City is opening up subways, mass transit and roadways after closing and shutting down the systems to deal with the massive snowfall, which accounted for the second biggest blizzard the city has seen since 1869
  • The storm dumped up to 40 inches of snow in some areas with one in seven Americans seeing half-a-foot of snow by Sunday 
  • Twenty-one people have been killed nationwide in weather-related accidents, according to police departments
  • Devastating coastal flooding in New Jersey caused by the storm is expected to continue as a result of the tides brought about by the full moon

  • Sn-awww! Smithsonian zoo's giant panda rolls adorably around in winter storm Jonas
    At least someone is enjoying the blizzard.  Tian Tian, the giant panda at the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington plays in the snow.

     Ice and water floods overtook several homes and businesses across North Wildwood, New Jersey, on Saturday
    North Wildwood, New Jersey.  High tides worse than those during Hurricane Sandy.

    A resident shovels snow away from the entrance to his home in Union City, New Jersey on Sunday
    Cars buried in Union City, New Jersey

    See updated images of the storm aftermath

    Thursday, October 3, 2013

    BOOK BITS - HOW DRAGONFLIES HELPED KATRINA SURVIVORS


    Book - "The Great Deluge" by Douglas Brinkley

     
    The history of Hurricane Katrina and the flood of New Orleans and the Louisiana  and Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005. 


    And one book bit in this 700 page book:
     
     
    How Dragonflies came to the aid of mosquito-tormented hurricane survivors.
     
     
    By Tracy W.

    In the aftermath of the hurricane rats were everywhere - big, aggressive rats.  There was nothing people could do about them.  Rats had managed to survive in enough numbers to make life even more miserable for human survivors. 
     
    But mosquitoes were worse.
     
    Louisiana mosquitoes were more than a nuisance.  They were the carriers of disease, particularly West Nile Virus.  This virus causes inflammation of the brain and can be lethal. 
     
    Symptoms include swollen lymph glands, high fever, and local paralysis - all that within weeks of being infected. 
     
    The big storm and flood caused by Hurricane Katrina had peaked on Monday morning.  Survivors could be found precariously hanging on to roofs or anything that could keep them from drowning. 
     
    They were wet, hot, tired, hungry, thirsty, scared, traumatized, and in many cases sick as well.  Those who needed regular medication had to do without.  Being tormented by mosquitoes was the last straw. 
     
    But then dragonflies made their appearance. 
     
    "They blanketed New Orleans, hovering just inches above the floodwater, eating every mosquito in sight."
     
    Dragonflies are regarded as  "insatiable predators, usually found in ponds and bayous. 
     
    "Contrary to the popular misperception, they don't bite or sting humans. 
     
    "Female dragonflies lay their eggs (nymphs) in water or on floating plants. 
     
    "After Katrina their eggs were deposited in the floodwater.  Then aquatic larvae hatched. 
     
    "From then on, they started devouring mosquitoes, dive bombing them with aerial acrobatics. 
     
    "With a nearly 360-degree field of vision, dragonflies can both stay stationary and soar to speeds of 60 mph (they are the fastest insects in the world)."
     
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    Author Douglas Brinkley also tells the story of the so-called "Mormon Air Force". 
     
    "Salt Lake City has a monument to the seagulls, which in 1848 swooped down from the sky to devour a swarm of locusts, thereby saving Utah crops."
     
    Someday, he muses, New Orleans should likewise honor the dragonfly. 

    SourceThe Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley, Page 299. 

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    More on dragonflies:

    General information -

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly

    http://www.dragonfly-site.com/

    Photo Gallery of Dragonflies - http://dragonflywebsite.com/gallery/index.htm

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    More on West Nile Virus - http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/index.html


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