Current Events

  • Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm rep...Read more

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    Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm

    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm repeatedly. Daily levels of CO2 can vary due to weather, and there are seasonal trends as well. The level of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase, now over 120 ppm since the Industrial Revolution began. For more on the Keeling Curve, see http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/. Find out more about greenhouse gases and warming.
  • Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Io...Read more

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    Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley

    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. On May 20th, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, devastating communities - destroying over 100 homes and hitting two elementary schools and a hospital - with many casualties and deaths. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues suffering from these storms. For more on the May 20th storms, see the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Storm Report.
  • Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of ...Read more

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    Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education

    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of sustainability. Here is a link to the one-page bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.pdf. See report on Bloomberg News.

CNN (Cable News Network

Severe thunderstorms cause flooding, deaths
News story originally written on March 4, 1997

Several severe thunderstorms hit the U.S. over the weekend, wreaking havoc on the Midwestern and Southern states. Storms on Saturday, March 1, have killed at least 21 in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. Flooding in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia has caused much damage to homes and businesses.

A record 13 inches of rain has fallen over the weekend, causing flooding of many rivers and lakes. The Ohio River Valley is almost completely underwater, with cars and mobile homes floating around the area. The Ohio River is currently seven feet over flood stage and is expected to grow another four feet.

Many towns are completely under water, and needed to be evacuated. 10 deaths in Kentucky and 5 in Ohio occurred due to little warning from the flash flooding. Many areas are without electricity, telephone service, nor fresh water.

The Ohio River is expected to begin receding around mid-week, but it will take several months for a complete cleanup of this devastated area.

Elsewhere, flooding and high winds have caused severe damage. In West Virginia, a man was killed by entrapment from a flash flood. Two people in Texas were killed when high-speed winds overturned a mobile home. In Tennessee, three people drowned during flash floods, and one was killed by a tornado.

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