Earthweek: a diary of the planet

For the week ending Friday, March 2.

Arctic warmth

February’s freak warm spell across the Arctic shocked seasoned observers and climate experts alike, some of whom say they may be forced to reconsider their worst-case predictions of climate change. Even though the polar region has been in the midst of a sunless Arctic winter for months, temperatures at the world’s northernmost land-based weather station, Cape Morris Jesup at the northern tip of Greenland, have been higher at times than London and Zurich, thousands of miles to the south.

Hawaiian lava

The partial collapse of a lava pit rim at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano was followed by fresh flows of lava on the Big Island. The lava channels posed no threat to populated areas and did not reach the ocean. But they did provide a colorful and dramatic landscape for Hawaiian residents and visitors to witness.

Flamingos return

The population of Florida’s pink flamingos is rebounding after the birds were virtually eliminated across the state by hunting in the late 1800s. Since 1950, American flamingos have been seen in greater numbers and more often. Research finds that there were probably large flocks of the birds across the state before their colorful feathers and prized eggs led them to be hunted.

World of fishing

Industrial fishing vessels are now pulling in seafood across more than half of the world’s oceans, harvesting an area four times larger than all agriculture on land. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says in the journal Science that many commercial fish stocks are now being caught at unsustainable levels.

Bird slaughter

A million migratory birds, many endangered or threatened, are believed to be illegally killed or captured each year while wintering at a single wetlands site along Iran’s Caspian Sea coast. Among birds being hunted for sale in local markets is the Siberian crane, which is designated as critically endangered. Other endangered or threatened species being killed or caught are white-headed ducks, red-breasted geese and falcons. A leading Iranian conservationist says wildlife rangers meet with strong resistance from the hunters.

Earthquake

Papua New Guinea’s most powerful quake on record killed at least 31 people as it flattened villages in the heart of the impoverished nation. The 7.5-magnitude temblor destroyed roads and caused landslides.

Cat-6?

Hurricanes, typhoons and other tropical cyclones around the world have become so intense in recent years that some scientists suggest that an even higher category of storm strength is needed. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale currently ranges from Category 1 to Category 5, but scientists at a New Zealand conference propose Category 6.