EARTHWEEK
Cooling reflection
University of Washington researchers are studying the possibility of spraying tiny water aerosols into the that atmospherecould help controlto create global clouds warming by reflecting more sunlight back into space. Water droplets condense into clouds by attaching to particles, such as smoke, salt or air pollution. The researchers hope the aerosolswith reflectivitymore will clouds,to “brighten”limit increasingthe sun’sthe skies warmingWhile waitingeffect. on funding for the project, a group of engineers is developing a nozzle that turns seawater into particles that could be sprayed high into the air at a rate of billions per second.
Tropical cyclones
Tropical storm-force Typhoon Roke brought gales and locally heavy rain to Hong Kong and China’s Perl River Delta.
•Typhoon Sonca drenched central Vietnam as Noru and Kulap churned the Pacific.
•Hurricanes Hilary and Irwin, and Tropical Storm Greg, formed off Mexico.
Atomic paradise
Even though it’s still unsafe for people to live on Bikini Atoll, marine life is thriving 60 years after a series of 23 atomic blasts left it saturated with radiation.
Scientists from Stanford University say coconut crabs, coral and other species that have managed to re-emerge on Bikini show barely any genetic differences from those living in uncomtaminated parts of the Pacific. Lead researcher Stephen Palumbi believes that at least the coral have mechanisms to protect their genetic information from radiation.
Earthquakes
The Greek holiday island of Kos and the nearby Turkish resort of Bodrum were rocked by a powerful quake that killed two people, injured hundreds more and caused extensive damage. A small tsunami sent fishing boats crashing into Kos harbor.
•A series of earthquakes rattled southern Iceland, including the capital of Reykjavik. The strongest tremor occurred at Katla, known locally as the mother of all volcanoes.
•Earth movements were also felt in south-central Iran and the Scottish Highlands.
Mystère de la Mer
The beaches of northern France’s Opal Coast became littered during July with mysterious yellow sponge-like puffs that have local residents and tourists scratching their heads.
Officials have so far been unable to identify what is littering the shoreline along that stretch of the English Channel, but have determined that it doesn’t appear to be a danger to public health, animals or plants.
“It seems to come from an oil product,” said Jonathan Hénicart, president of the nonprofit Sea-Mer Association. He told the French TV news channel BFMTV: “It could come from a polyurethane product commonly used for building. And it smells very, very lightly of paraffin.”
Sizzling Shanghai
Shanghai registered on July 21 its hottest day since records began in 1872 as a stubborn heat wave baked much of China. The new record of 40.9 degrees Celsius (106 F) broke the previous record of 40.8 set in 2013.
Chinese meteorologists say Shanghai is getting hotter, with eight of the 12 highest temperatures over the past century occurring during the past five years.
Shanghai’s weather bureau blamed the heat on a stubborn subtropical high and southwesterly winds that are predicted to last until early August. That’s when the typhoon season typically arrives in eastern China.
Sumatran blast
Indonesia’s restive Mount Sinabung volcano produced a series of eruptions that sent ash soaring as high as 2 miles above northern Sumatra and lava flowing down its flanks.
Ongoing eruptions during the past seven years have displaced about 2,000 families, many of whom are still living in temporary shelters set up by the government.