Global Eco Watch: ‘Eco disaster’ unfolding on Kamchatka beach

An ‘ecological disaster’ of sorts is unfolding on a black volcanic beach of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, according to a report in the media outlet Siberian Times.

Three weeks ago, surfers on the Khalaktyrsky beach outside Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the largest town in Kamchatka, had reported of burning eyes, throat ache, headache, fever and a fear of losing eyesight on emerging from the water, according to the outlet.

Another environmental disaster occurred on the Pacific coast near Kamchatka. The cause is unknown, but the water samples recorded an increased content of petroleum products. Surfers have vision problems after contact with water, and animals die. pic.twitter.com/OIKGukGUYg

— Arshak Makichyan (@MakichyanA) October 3, 2020

Then, sea animals begin to die in large numbers, their bodies littering the beach. These included octopuses, seals, sea urchins, stars, crabs and fish. Examination of the sea water by the administration has shown that levels of phenols and oil compounds have spiked.

The special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the region has ordered an immediate inquiry into the developments.

On October 3, 2020, users on Twitter also shared satellite photos showing a river in the area flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The river displayed a yellow colour. There is a training camp of the Russian military upstream. Another theory being speculated is that ships carrying oil in the vicinity had leaked it into the sea water. Kamchatka is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Black sand of Khalaktyrsky beach covered with dead sea animals from Giant Pacific octopi to seals & sea urchins. Satellite pic shared by https://t.co/PQUzlEhoH8 shows yellow-coloured river flowing into the ocean; local say there is military base upstream https://t.co/6Ku8n4iJOz pic.twitter.com/UOPdGudMGz

— The Siberian Times (@siberian_times) October 3, 2020

Temperatures in Antarctic Peninsula highest in 30 years

Temperatures in 2020 on the Antarctic Peninsula, the northernmost tip of the Antarctic continent, have been the highest in nearly three decades, a study by researchers from the University of Santiago de Chile has found.

Temperatures reached between two and three degrees Celsius on the peninsula between January and August, according to a report on science and environment website Phys.org. That is “more than two degrees Celsius over typical values”, according to researchers.

This was an alarming development since it could indicate that the ocean in the area was once again warming, according to scientists.

NASA satellite photographs Andean sediment deposited by the Amazon into the Atlantic

 

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra satellite has photographed the enormous amount of Andes mountain sediment deposited by the Amazon river into the Atlantic Ocean, a report on NASA’s website said.

The photo, shot July 29, 2020, shows a dense plume or fan near the delta and estuary of the Amazon. The picture also shows cumulus clouds hovering over the region. Warm, humid air rose from the forest and cooled, resulting in the development of the clouds, the report said.

However, since the waters of the Amazon and its tributaries as well as the air above them were cool, less moisture rose into the air, it added.

Most of the sediment that the Amazon carried to the Atlantic came from three rivers flowing in the western part of the basin, namely the Marañón, the Ucayali and Mamoré, the report said.

Some 1.3 million tonnes of rock, soil and clay are deposited by the Amazon into the Atlantic every year.

Alien spaces to increase by 36 per cent by 2050, compared to 2005 numbers

Alien species, which have been taken by humans to areas where they are not native, will increase globally by 36 per cent by 2050, compared to the numbers recorded in 2005, a new study has estimated.

The number of alien species in the world in 2005 were 35,000, according to a statement on University College London’s website. The college was part of an international team conducting the research.

Insects, arthropods and birds will especially increase their numbers in areas where they are not native. Around 2,500 alien species will arrive in Europe alone by 2050, an increase of 64 per cent, according to the study.

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