natural-disasters

Gulf Stream Update, March 2011

We have received a number of emails inquiring about the current state of the Gulf Stream conveyor. There had been (and still is) a great deal of concern regarding the health of the Gulf Stream following the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico where more than 5 million barrels of oil and an enormous amount of the chemical dispersant, Corexit, was ejected into the sea.

We put together the image above, which illustrates the ‘normal’ flow of the Gulf Stream and ocean conveyor as indicated by the RED arrows (surface current) and the PURPLE arrows (deep current), on top of an image obtained from the NOAA Ocean Prediction Center NCOM model for this date.

It appears that the Gulf Stream ocean currents are fairly on track up until half-way across the Atlantic Ocean. At that point, it appears that the NOAA image does not reveal much of any surface current flow up to the expected region north of the United Kingdom. Not saying it doesn’t exist, but as you can see for yourself, it’s not apparent like it is off of the east coast U.S.

There does appear to be surface current swirling at the location where the Gulf Stream typically dives down deep on its return trip, just north of the UK, but that’s about it.

Also, the Gulf Stream typically sends a branch to the northwest, just  midway across the Atlantic Ocean towards Greenland, which then dives down deep and returns with the deep flow originating north of the UK. There appears to be some swirling currents at the ‘branch’, but that’s all that is visible.

The image above shows the sea surface temperature of the Atlantic Ocean as of this date. The warm water of the Gulf Stream is obvious immediately off the east coast U.S. as it turns eastward on it’s attempted journey northeast across the Atlantic.

Temperatures diminish as it travels further (as would be expected as it flows north), and the boundary between the dark blue (cold) and light blue (not as cold) is clearly visible.

The conclusion from this simple observation is that the Gulf Stream is still flowing. Some may say it has lost some of it’s gusto, or intensity, about halfway across the Atlantic Ocean. On the contrary, it may be a somewhat normal observation for this time of year.

This is not an attempt at an expert conclusion, instead we are simply pointing out publicly available data for your own viewing pleasure.

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Millions of Dead Fish near Los Angeles

Images from news links listed below

Redondo Beach California, Kings Harbor, millions of dead Anchovies (and Sardines which are nearly identical) were discovered during the morning of March 8 clogging parts of the harbor. It is literally a ‘Sea of Sardines’ many feet thick, not just on the surface, but also 1 to 2 feet thick on the bottom.

Some residents are saying that in all their life they’ve never seen such a dramatic fish kill as this. Others are wondering if the Anchovies / Sardines are like the canary in the coal mine and perhaps an undersea seafloor release of sulfur dioxide or methane may have killed them and could be a sign of an impending earthquake. All speculation of course.

One ‘official’ explanation so far is that “they were trying to flee the red tide and they all suffocated”. Another is that the Anchovies were all blown into the harbor last night during excessive winds, and all suffocated from low oxygen levels.

So far there have been no reports at all of a red tide in the area, and are usually quite visible when they occur. Additionally, a red tide event would logically effect more than just a single variety of fish, in this case Anchovies (Sardines), and no other significant observations have been reported yet. The LA Times did mention Mackerel as well as the Anchovies and Sardines, but as far as the eye can see in the images, it’s all Anchovies and Sardines.

Some wonder why we don’t see tremendous flocks of seabirds or gulls in the photo images, taking natural advantage of an enormous free meal(s).

In any event, it is quite a spectacle, and time will tell if this is a case of ‘bad weather’, ‘red tide’, or something else…

Got your earthquake kit ready?

Links to Anchovy Fish Kill articles
(LA Times) Millions of dead fish at King Harbor in Redondo Beach
(KTLA) Millions of Dead Fish Wash Up in Redondo Beach
(DailyBreeze) Billions of dead fish invade Redondo’s King Harbor

Images from news links listed in this post

Images from news links listed in this post

Images from news links listed in this post

The HoneyBee, Varroa, Vibration, and CCD

Note that this is not a paid promotion for John Harding, but since we have posted several times in the past regarding the apparent HoneyBee die-off , Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), John had emailed directly regarding the subject. Being a career beekeeper, we thought it would be an interesting point of view to present John’s opinion into the mix with his permission. It’s a long read, but may be of interest to some of you, especially knowing that we can’t live life as we know it, without Bee pollination.

My name is John Harding and I have found the answer and solution to stop honeybees dying. It is nothing to do with any man-made product. Honeybees were dying before any pesticides, mobile phones, G M crops or whatever you care to mention was manufactured.

Below, in two parts are the reasons why.

The First part is an extract from my book.

The second  part is from a proof copy leaflet that was presented by myself to all delegates of the International Bee Research Association (IBRA) Conference held in the UK on the 29th January 2011.

Please enjoy reading and realise honeybees have been dying for centuries.

Part I

I am sure you are aware of the plight of the Honeybee worldwide. Beekeepers need an answer. Initially Apiarist worldwide was putting the blame for the Honeybee demise on the doorstep of the Chemical and Mobile Phone Industries.

Honeybees are dying out at an alarming rate with no one knowing why. Pesticides, CCD, GM crops, Climate change, Mobiles, Global warming or perhaps someone or something to blame would be acceptable to everyone.

There are many possibilities being put forward but as yet, no answers. The parasitic mite called Varroa is not helping matters with its contribution.

However there are two common denominators why Honeybees are dying worldwide.

A short explanation first.

Chemical companies are investing millions worldwide in Universities, Scientists, Professors, Doctors, Institutes, Beekeeping Organisations and whoever, so they just might find a chemical or bacterial answer for the parasitic mite called Varroa that is sweeping the continents devastating Honeybees. Mobile Phone Companies are in denial not wanting the blame.

Chemical companies need an answer whether it is one or the other so they may recoup their investment and profit from beekeepers worldwide in selling their product.

Was Albert Einstein right in his alleged statement? “If Honeybees die out then mankind will follow 4 years later” the chances are that it won’t be 4 years due to other foods such as rice being available but it will happen eventually as honeybees do pollinate 35% of what we eat.

Once Honeybees are gone, Honeybees are gone for good!

I am a beekeeper of 30 years` experience, keeping up to 300 beehives, until 6 years ago. I have invented beekeeping equipment in that time that I am proud to say, does bare my name, “The Harding Queen Rearing System using Two Queens” and “The Harding Mini Nucleus Complete System” (as seen on the internet website for BIBBA). These are an inclusion of this book, Chapter Three & Five.

During my life’s work things happen and you wonder at nature, how perfect is the Honeybee micro-world, why would you want to change it and yet mankind unknowingly has changed the Honeybees perfect 200 million year existence to what mankind wants.

My beekeeping puzzle is based on observation and logic over the past 30 years with each piece complimenting the next, eventually creating a picture and discovering;

“The answer and solution to the Holy Grail of beekeeping”.

I have always thought there was a natural way to treat the parasitic mite Varroa. After 18 years without treatment of any chemicals or sugar in my hives I have found the answer and it is a “World Exclusive!“

It didn’t start with the Varroa mite 20 years ago, what the Varroa mite did was escalate the problem to what beekeepers had done worldwide, but it did bring it to the attention of the media and mainstream public in the last few years causing an over re-action due to Albert Einstein’s alleged quote.

Honeybees started dying out when man found honey, tens of thousands of years ago when man wanted to domesticate Honeybees to harvest honey, putting them into logs, boxes, skeps eventually beehives but taking them away from their natural source of survival and requirements, which keeps their delicate micro-environment alive.

The first common denominator for the demise of Honeybees is……… Mankind! Well, Beekeepers now and in the past!

So what is the second common denominator?

“I have found a natural phenomenon, the bees need it to survive to complete their micro-existent world, and is free. I am the first person in the world to combine Honeybees with this phenomenon, so you can imagine how the chemical companies are going to react after spending millions around the globe. I have approached Universities and Beekeeping Organisations here, in the UK, and abroad with my hypothesis but due to the infiltration of funding from chemical companies or others, University Scientist, Professors or Scholars are unable to take my hypothesis due to inevitably losing their precious funding or being biased to a chemical or bacterial answer”.

Yes! It is topical, political and controversial! One single person taking on the might of a billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry and the Hierarchy of the Beekeeping World with every beekeeper past and present being the reason for their demise and the answer being a natural phenomenon which is free.

CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) in the USA is also down to Mankind for the demise of their Honeybees having the same problems as us but with one extra reason that is only in the USA.

Whatever you think after you have read my book, I will not be popular with any beekeeper, scientist, professor or anyone looking for a chemical or bacterial answer, but may, just may, stop Honeybees dying out worldwide.

That will be pleasing in itself. I am just a passionate beekeeper that has found an answer and solution. This book is a small part of the invisible world of the mysterious Honeybee that is disappearing too quickly.

“Albert Einstein did not say that famous quote about mankind dying out. It was a misquote from Albert “N” Stein an American beekeeper of the same era as Albert Einstein. However with accent, dialect and poor communication at that time it was misunderstood”.

Part II

“An HOLISTIC Way in Saving The Honeybee”
Available from
Books Illustrated (Lower High St Stourbridge)
Northern Bee Books UK
“http://www.groovycart/beebooks”

For discussion at the International Bee Research Association (IBRA) Conference
held at the University Of Worcester on the 29th January 2011.
Varroa-still a problem in the 21st century?
Introduction

My name is John Harding, I have kept, researched, experimented, observed and used logic and common sense in trying to keep as much to nature as possible while keeping Honeybees. During the last 30 years I have invented bee equipment that does bare my name. I have not used sugar or chemicals for the past 18 years, due to the first approved licensed treatments killing a percentage of my queens.

I hoped that one day I would find a natural remedy for the parasitic mite Varroa.

This, I have now done.

Explanation
We know that Honeybees have been on this planet for 100 to 200 million years depending which book you read, so bees have evolved with planet earth. This has brought with it changing climates, polarity change, a change in continents with moving earth plates and a change in flora. In all that time dealing with disease, mites, intruders and any other alien insect or animal, even man.

Habitat
During this time, their home has been in hollow trees, caves or covered protected position so they may get away from draughts, rain or severe weather to build their amazing honeycomb nest that is kept to an accurate temperature +_ 1 degree to raise the numbers required for survival both in summer and winter.

Mankind
Thousands of years ago man found honey. Due to the Honeybees perilous home positions being high in a cave or high up in a tree, man decided to re-home the Honeybee into logs, boxes, skeps and then beehives so as to make it easier to harvest honey. A form of domestication.

Has Man made a difference?
No, except for realising a unique space (Langstroth) that Honeybees respect meaning we as beekeepers can inspect our colonies with frames rather than killing off the bees that were in a skep over a sulphur pit. This observation only happened 150 years ago. Queen excluders were also invented.

Are there any other major discoveries?
Yes, Eddie Woods (a BBC sound engineer) discovered 60 years ago inside the Honeybee nest that vibration levels was measured between 190hertz and 250hertz during normal conditions however when swarming this vibration went up to 300hertz.

Was any scientific work carried out at the time or later?
No! If it had we could be further along the path of understanding the Honeybee better. Beekeeping today is much the same as it was in the beginning except of course the Langstroth frame space and Queen excluder.

Have Beekeeping books changed?
No, not really except for the amount of knowledge that we have now gained about the mysterious Honeybee, it always seems to be repetition but more in depth, more of a scientific language.

Can we still learn from the Honeybee?
Yes!

How?
Using observation and logic and asking “What do Honeybees really want?”.

They did not ask to be put into a box or beehive.

However, while in our care, we, as beekeepers, should give them and treat them as if they were in a wild state of nature.

We know they want and use vibration.(Woods)

We know they will respect a unique space.(Langstroth)

We know they use electromagnetic north/south in honeycomb building and in flight.

We know with a strong colony, disease and varroa can be kept to a minimum.

We also know with a colony of strength our rewards of honey is greater.

So! What do Honeybees really want?
Vibration

How is it generated?
At the moment by the Honeybees themselves to ward off predators, for communication and to keep their micro existent climate to a perfect temperature for brood rearing, but is that sufficient? Unfortunately NO!

Can it be found elsewhere?
YES! Planet Earth (NASA)

Planet earth has evolved, so trees, animals, plants, fish, birds and insects has evolved with it and so too, Honeybees, evolving with the planet. Which is why Honeybees not only need a high vibration of 250hertz to sustain their microenvironment but actively look for it by swarming.

How could man know this?
You cannot see, feel, touch or sense it.

Planet earth vibrates constantly at 7.83hertz (NASA) unless disturbed.

Honeybees vibrate at between 190htz and 250htz (Woods)

Honeybees are placed by man in a beehive where man wants it, if this is on 7.83htz the bees have to work 31.9 times greater just to stand still. I have reason to believe this weakens their immune system and defence mechanism becoming an easy target for any alien predators like Varroa. Now, not being able to cope, over-stressed, disorder with eventual collapse, dying or disappearance is inevitable.

Does planet earth vibrate at this higher level of 250htz?
Yes, transmitted upwards through underground rivers.

These rivers are everywhere around the planet, like i.e.; blood vessels in our own body. Remember it has taken 4 billion years to get to where we are today. Everything has evolved together to be where it is and why it is there for a reason. The climate, planet earth and logic has dictated that.

Where does the higher earth vibration come from and how?
Planet earths normal vibration of 7.83htz gets interrupted by hollow chambers of running water/fluid creating friction allowing oscillation to resonate to become an Electromagnetic Wave Vibration which will increase it up to and above 250htz.

Sound familiar?
The rivers/lines of fluid are normally very close to each other varying in depth and only being up to 4 feet wide, like a cobweb, zig zagging their way across the planet at depths of 200 feet or 300 feet creating vibration and rising upwards to the surface and skywards, creating an electromagnetic curtain that reaches to approximately 30,000 feet. (Birds use this curtain to migrate thousands of miles).

I.e. There are 8 rivers/lines in my 3 bed detached house and 80 foot garden, so they are not miles apart.

What is the connection of Honeybee vibration 250hertz and Earth vibration 250hertz?
We know that Honeybees maintain this vibration within their nests (Woods) It is just too much of a coincidence, using logic, that bees are drawn to it when they swarm. They have evolved together over millions of years. Honeybees, Wasps, Bumble bees, Ants, Cats and much more are all being attracted to and found above earths higher vibration.

The honeybees need this higher vibration so they work 31.9 times less. Then are able to deal with any unwelcome intruders, like the Varroa mite.
All organism are attracted to or repelled from these lines.

Are Honeybees drawn to Planet Earth higher vibration?
YES! In various ways.

Swarms
Yes, every time they swarm. Honeybees always settle above a 250htz line. This has been checked on every swarm collected, about 30, in the past 3 years.

Bait hives
All bait hives placed above a line attracted a swarm.

Abandoned hives
Whenever I was called out to inspect abandoned hives there was always one beehive above a line. This was the only hive with bees in and thriving. The others had died.

Self selection
Apiaries were left for 4 years to ascertain for self selection. After this time the only hives that survived were above a line, all the others had died out.

Varroa resistant strain
In my early days of queen rearing I too thought I had a resistant strain only to find out every one that showed these qualities was above a line. I could not understand why they were so poor when moved to a new site, having shown perfect qualities when in the original site.(This was before I knew about the lines). Any beekeeper that thinks he/she has a Varroa resistant strain. I can guarantee will always be above a line.

Feral Colonies
They have not been killed off by Varroa, it was an assumption, not scientific. Beekeepers are to blame due to putting hives in the wrong place where they die out with Varroa, so no swarms or feral colonies. Feral colonies are still out there surviving. Reduced in numbers, yes, but they are always found above a line.

Sheffield University
I was invited by Ricarda Kather to explain my hypothesis, while there I checked their apiary without any prior knowledge not knowing which was the best or worst beehive as all looked identical. These I believe were used for Varroa hygiene. I found the two best beehives that gave the best hygienic results. These were above a line.

Observations
Hygienic behaviour
My apiaries have not changed during my beekeeping so observations have been made pre-lines. During all these years Cleanliness, Hygiene and Grooming have always been noticed to be far better than others within the same apiary not realising at that time they were on a line. Honeybees can deal with Varroa when above a line.

Honey yield
When above a line the honey yield is always 2 or 3 times greater.

Queens
The colonies has tended to supersede rather than swarm. Clearly they are in the right place so why swarm?
This does beg the question “Is swarming induced by man?” being put in the wrong place by man. How long have they been trying to tell us?

Case studies
Case study 1 (within the same apiary)

Take 2 hives of similar size and queen (“A/B“), both infested with Varroa, place “A” above a line, place “B” away from the line.

Hive A; within 6 to 8 weeks this hive will have very little Varroa or none at all and thriving requiring supers.

Hive B; after 6 to 8 weeks will still be heavily ridden with Varroa and much weaker.

Next season reverse these same two hives (if B is still alive) You will observe B becomes Varroa free and A is infested with Varroa.
If you wish using 2 apiaries in the same year the above exchange can be done after 3 months.

“I have used this on countless occasions, with many hives, and the results always being the same”

Case study 2 (within the same apiary)

Take 2 hives of similar size and queen (“C/D”), both infested with Varroa, place “C” above a line, place “D” away from the line.

Hive C; within 6 to 8 weeks this hive will have very little or no Varroa (above as A).

Hive D will be as B, heavily ridden with Varroa.

After 3 months change over the queens from C and D, becoming CD and DC.
CD; You would imagine CD would improve D to be Varroa free, not so, it carries on being ridden with Varroa.

DC; Is still Varroa free.

Conclusion for both case studies……….It is not strain or queen quality but position to where and what the beehive is placed above, i.e.; an Electromagnetic Geopathic Stress Line that vibrates at 250hertz.

Is it the honeybees dealing with Varroa or Varroa not liking the higher vibration?
There will always be questions, especially to a way forward. (I have the answer for that to).
This is just one question answered to stop honeybees dying.
Thank you for reading my hypothesis which is in my book and available.
“An HOLISTIC Way in Saving The Honeybee”"

VARROA-STILL A PROBLEM IN THE 21ST CENTURY? NOT ANY MORE!

Landslide

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On average, landslides kill about 8,000 people every year. They can occur without warning.

Landslides are becoming more frequent as the sprawl of population takes us further into other terrain where hills and slopes are altered to accommodate us.

For example, during the winter months in California, if there are excessive rains, landslides become a common report on the nightly news due to the hilly and often steep terrain in many parts of the state where large amounts of the population live.


Landslides will happen anywhere, so long as the ingredients are in place.

First, the slope itself needs to be predisposed to slide. That is, the soil make-up and composition (type of soil, rock, layers) and the slope angle.

Next, the slope needs a trigger to start the landslide. The most common trigger (90 percent of instances) is excessive rainfall, be it short lived but very heavy, or a longer period with lots of rain.

An example, and an event currently in the news, the recent record breaking amount of rain in Brazil has caused devastating landslides that have tragically killed 700 people so far.

The next likely trigger is from an earthquake. The obvious shaking during an earthquake will send waves through the earth (which quite often can literally be observed) and can upset the forces holding a slope together. Depending on the soil, a phenomenon called ‘liquefaction’ can occur, changing the ground from solid to something closer to quicksand.


The most scary thing about landslides is after having seen a few (videos below), one realizes the grave danger of being caught in one. You would literally probably get swallowed up almost immediately, with hardly a chance to survive.

Knowing that they often occur with no warning (some can be predicted), living on a steep hill with the nice view suddenly doesn’t seem like such a good idea.

What kind of preparations could someone do if they know they live in an area that could be prone to slide? Well, if the house goes, so does everything in it, including you. All one could do really, is to just be aware of the danger. Awareness is always the most important step in many situations. While ignorance may be bliss, awareness may save your life.


Here are a few hand-picked videos that may open your eyes to the power of sliding earth.

Landslide – National Geographic, Portland-Oregon and others



Landslide – Japan



Landslide – Southern Italy



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Indonesia Earthquake-Tsunami-Volcano

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The Mentawai island chain, an underdeveloped region of Indonesia, was closest to the magnitude 7.7 undersea earthquake that struck at the Sunda megathrust fault and caused a large tsunami during the evening hour of 9:42PM on October 25.

Local reports described the disaster. The sea water receded far away, and when it returned, a ten foot wall of water rushed in and ripped out trees, houses and all things in its way. The tsunami receded and sucked everything out to sea, leaving almost nothing behind.

The death toll from the tsunami is now up to 370 while 300 are still missing, probably swept out to sea.

Following the devastating December 26, 2004 magnitude 9.3 earthquake just off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia  which produced one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history (a tsunami that killed 226,000 people), an early warning system was built in the region to warn of future tsunamis.

However, after the recent Mentawai tsunami, there have been reports of partial failure of the new early warning system due to maintenance issues with offshore buoys, while at the same time some populated areas did apparently receive warning messaging by text, radio, and sirens. The scope of providing early warning to such a vast coastline including large numbers of remote villages without cell phone, wireless, or radio, is tremendous at best.

Update, 31-Oct-2010, the tsunami death toll has climbed to 449 with more still missing.








Just 20 hours later during October 26 at 6PM, about 750 miles away the Mt Merapi volcano erupted into an explosion of gas and ash, killing 33 people. The volcanic eruption occurred on the worlds most heavily populated island of Java, Indonesia (136 million) which contains 60 percent of the entire population of Indonesia.

The Mt Merapi volcano’s deadliest eruption occurred during 1930 when more than 1,300 people were killed. Another eruption during 1994 killed more than 60 people.

Update, 31-Oct-2010, Mt Merapi has erupted several times since it began last week and has claimed 38 lives. Farms have been destroyed and covered with ash. The volcanic activity seems to be increasing, according to one local official who is monitoring the volcano.

Update, 14-Nov-2010, the death toll from the Merapi volcano has increased to 250 as the volcano continues periods of eruption while 350,000 people have evacuated the immediate area.


Indonesia is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries due to its location straddling major tectonic plate boundaries part of the “pacific ring of fire”, where the Indian – Australian plate is diving underneath the Sunda plate. The entire region is very active with many numerous earthquakes and more than 150 volcanoes.

Geologists are currently forecasting a major 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the same region as the 25-Oct earthquake (which reportedly did nothing to relieve stress). They do not know if it will occur during the next 30 minutes or the next 30 years.

One thing for sure, there will be more tsunamis.








There are many thrust fault (up-down slip rather than side-to-side slip) regions in the world located offshore from major population centers that present hidden tsunami risk.

One in particular that comes to mind is the Cascadia subduction zone in the Pacific Northwest of the USA stretching from Vancouver to northern California. The zone is capable of producing very large megathrust earthquakes of magnitude 9 or greater, if the entire zone ruptures. Not only could a large earthquake decimate much of the northwest USA, but the threat is there for a great tsunami from the effects of rapid uplift or sudden drop at the sea floor.

Some reports suggest that geologists have determined in recent studies that there is as much as a 37 percent chance that the Cascadia subduction zone will produce a colossal magnitude 9 or higher earthquake within the next 50 years and produce a tsunami as high as 100 feet.

One wonders how many are aware of this, or are even prepared for survival of such an event in regions where it is rather uncommon to experience these things, while the danger exists right under their feet.





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