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Posts Tagged ‘weather’

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Harsh weather causes young coffee beans to drop in Central Highlands

In Uncategorized on August 13, 2010 at 11:20 am

The ongoing sweltering weather have led young coffee beans fall down in some portions of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

The scorching weather leads young coffee beans to drop in Gia Lai Province (Photo: Gia Lai Newspaper)

Coffee fields have also seen plants bearing few beans or feeble beans in Chu Se, Chu Pah, Ia Grai and Dak Doa districts.


In addition, insects like bugs and cicadas develop amid the phase when coffee plants begin bearing beans.


Local farmers and authorities have sprayed pesticides and have bolstered efforts to take care of and irrigate their fields, to minimize damage to this year’s coffee crop.

Source: SGGP

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Extreme weather fuels debate over global warming

In Uncategorized on August 10, 2010 at 11:21 am

(AFP file) A policeman wears a masks to protect himself from smog in Moscow due to forest fires close to the Russian capital.

PARIS (AFP) – As Russia battles wildfires triggered by an unprecedented heatwave, flood waters surge across a drenched Pakistan leaving millions of people homeless, and questions are asked about global warming.


Extreme weather has been a feature of the summer of 2010, with floods in Pakistan, China and Eastern Europe seemingly matched by heatwaves in Western Europe and Russia.


However, experts interviewed by AFP Monday were cautious over offering the events as proof of a changing climate, saying that while they fit with climatic projections in a warming planet, one extremely dry — or wet — summer isn’t sufficient evidence in isolation.


“One cannot conclude 100 percent that nothing like this has happened in the past 200 years, but the suspicion is there. Even if it’s only a suspicion,” said Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, vice-president of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has tracked the impact of human activity on climate for the past 20 years.


“These are events which reproduce and intensify in a climate disturbed by greenhouse gas pollution,” he said.


“Extreme events are one of the ways in which climatic changes become dramatically visible.”


The planet has never been as hot as it has been in the first half of this year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a July report.


According to the IPCC, droughts and heatwaves likes those affecting Russia and 18 US states become longer and more intense in a warming planet.


“Whether in frequency or intensity, virtually every year has broken records, and sometimes several times in a week,” said Omar Baddour, who tracks climate change for the World Meteorological Organisation.


“In Russia, the record temperature in Moscow (38.2 degrees Celsius, 100.8 degrees Farenheit in late July) — which had not been seen since records began 130 years ago — was broken again at the start of August. In Pakistan, the magnitude of the floods is unheard of,” he said.


“In both cases, it is an unprecedented situation. The succession of extremes and the acceleration of records conform with IPCC projections. But one must observe the extremes over many years to draw conclusions in terms of climate,” he said.


The floods in Pakistan could be caused by La Nina — the inverse of the El Nino phenomenon, which it generally follows — namely the cooling of surface temperatures in the Pacific ocean, Baddour said.


“In general, El Nino leads to drought in the Indian subcontinent and the Sahel. With La Nina, it is the opposite,” said Baddour.


According to British climatologist Professor Andrew Watson, the high temperatures this summer are linked to last year’s El Nino.


“We know that in a period following El Nino you got a very hot year globally and that is certainly occuring this year,” he said.


Nevertheless, Watson said the extreme events are “fairly consistent with the IPCC reports and what 99 percent of the scientists believe to be happening.”


Watson, who is from the University of East Anglia which was at the centre of last year’s “climategate” scandal over faked data, was reluctant to leap to any conclusions.


“I’m quite sure that the increased frequency of these kind of summers over the last few decades is linked to climate change,” he said


“But you cannot say a single event or a single summer is unequivocally due to climate change — by definition it’s weather, and not climate.”

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Source: SGGP

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Gulf oil clean-up stalled by rough weather

In Uncategorized on July 2, 2010 at 2:20 pm

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, July 2, 2010 (AFP) – Choppy seas and high winds will delay deployment of a third containment vessel over the ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well until next week, a US official warned.


National Incident Coordinator Thad Allen said the Helix Producer ship had been delayed by the effects of Hurricane Alex, which struck northeastern Mexico but was downgraded to a tropical depression on Friday.


“We will need about three days after the weather calms… for that vessel to be able to hook up to the flexible coupling that it would be required to do,” Allen said Thursday.


“So we’re looking at somewhere around midweek next week to bring the third production vessel on-line.” The vessel had originally been due on station by the end of June.


Once operational, the Helix Producer should be able to double the amount of oil being captured to around 53,000 barrels per day.

This May 2, 2010 file photo shows a sign telling people of a turtle nesting area on Dauphin Island, Alabama, off the coast of Mobile, as the oil spill from the BP Deepwater Horizon platform disaster approaches the Gulf Coast. AFP

An estimated 35,000 to 60,000 barrels per day has been gushing out of the ruptured well since the BP-leased Deepwater Horizon drilling rig sank on April 22 some 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the coast of Louisiana.


Two other containment ships were still operational despite seven-foot (two-meter) swells, capturing a portion of the escaping oil at a rate of about 25,000 barrels per day.


US Coast Guard Commander Charles Diorio said that the thousands of ships hired to skim oil, lay boom, carry out controlled burns and move equipment will not resume work until waves were less than four feet (one meter) high — unlikely to happen until Saturday.


Cleanup crews are also waiting for the deployment of a super tanker from Taiwan retrofitted as a giant skimmer dubbed the “whale.”


“That vessel is currently in New Orleans,” Diorio said, “and it’s being inspected by a team of personnel, both Coast Guard and BP and other agencies trying to figure out the best way to employ it, (or) if we can employ it at all.”


The giant ship is some 300 yards (275 meters) long and can suck up 21 million gallons of oily water a day, he said.


Allen also said that progress was slightly ahead of schedule on the operation to drill two relief wells which will eventually be used to seal the ruptured Deepwater Horizon gusher.


But the target date is still in August, said Allen, who appeared at the White House in a civilian suit, one day after officially retiring from the US Coast Guard as an admiral.


Around 428 miles (689 kilometers) of US shorelines have now been oiled as crude spews into the sea at an alarming rate, 10 weeks into the worst environmental disaster in US history.


The news comes as the White House said it would announce a decision on a revised six-month moratorium on offshore drilling within days.


The White House vowed last week to issue a fresh moratorium on deepwater oil drilling after district judge Martin Feldman said it would cause irreparable economic harm.


Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said new moratorium terms from the Interior Department would likely come out “in the next few days,” most likely after the long July 4 Independence Day weekend.


Obama first imposed the six-month moratorium in late May, after the true extent of the disaster became clear.


He and Vice President Joe Biden, who visited the southern Gulf Coast disaster zone earlier this week, meanwhile met senior officials involved in the clean-up operation in the secure White House Situation Room.


The briefing, Gibbs later said, also covered hurricane projections for the expected stormy summer season and their potential impacts on the response.


Late Wednesday, Obama directed Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, whom he has put in charge of the restoration of the Gulf Coast, to come up with a long-term recovery plan “as soon as possible.”


On Capitol Hill, the focus turned again to the bill for clean-up and restoration.


“It will take billions of dollars — even trillions,” Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee told reporters, citing “a presentation by the president’s team on the BP oil spill” early in the day.

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Source: SGGP

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Central provinces fight scorching weather

In Uncategorized on June 28, 2010 at 4:49 pm




Central provinces fight scorching weather


QĐND – Monday, June 28, 2010, 22:7 (GMT+7)

Vast rice fields in the central region are suffering from serious drought and the losses are estimated to reach 2.5 trillion VND.


In Nghe An province, farmers cannot grow rice on more than 26,000 ha due to the shortage of water.


The scorching heat has dried out many major reservoirs in Nghe An, some losing as much as 60-70 percent of their water.


Local people in mountainous areas of the province have also grappled with a severe shortage of water for daily use.


Similar to Nghe An province, Ha Tinh province has also reported that 14,000 ha of paddy fields are affected.


Ha Tinh predicts that its rice paddies will be devastated if rain does not come in July.


The province plans to grow rice on 41,000 ha and subsidiary crops on another 17,000 ha, however, it fears that the lack of water will restrict this.


At least 120,000 people in Huong Khe and Huong Son districts are struggling with insufficient water supplies and tankers have been deployed to transport water from Ke Go reservoir to them.


The Central Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre predicts that the drought could be worse in July as it has seen no sign of upcoming torrential rain.


If rain does not come very soon, the amount of agricultural land affected by the drought in the central region has risen to 71,000 ha of summer-autumn rice crop out of 240,000 ha, according to the Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.


One June 25, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development met with these central provinces to look at ways of addressing the situation, saying that the Government will provide assistance to help these localities deal with the drought.


Source: VNA/ Photo: Vnexpress


Source: QDND

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Hot weather sees hospitals at fall stretch

In Uncategorized on June 18, 2010 at 8:33 am




Hot weather sees hospitals at fall stretch


QĐND – Thursday, June 17, 2010, 20:57 (GMT+7)

The number of people, especially children and the elderly, who have gone to health centres in Hanoi have increased sharply due to the prolonged heat wave over the last few days.


Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the National Hospital of Pediatrics (NHP) says that the hospital has received between 1,800 to 2,000 patients a day, almost double the normal day figure. However, last year the hospital received up to 2,500 child patients per day, he added.


Nguyen Van Lam, deputy head of the Infections Department at the NHP, says that the department is currently treating around 100 children, including 33 with encephalitis and the remainder with respiratory diseases and rubella.


Mr Lam warns that parents should take their children to hospital immediately if they have a high fever and are vomiting.


Sharing this view, Dr Nguyen Tien Dung, head of the Pediatrics Department at Bach Mai hospital emphasises that encephalitis is often mistaken for other diseases, so children should be hospitalised immediately if they show any symptoms such as a high fever, vomiting, and headache.


Mr Dung adds that the number of children going to hospital for check-ups or treatment at Bach Mai has increased by 20-30 percent, due to diseases such as viral fever, pneumonia, encephalitis and digestive disorders. This is attributed to the high temperatures which cause viruses to emerge and spread far and wide. Children can be easily infected as they can inhale any viruses that are present in the environment.


Dr Nguyen Trung Anh from the central geriatric hospital says that the hospital has seen a sharp increase in older people , up to 500, who have heart disease and other serious conditions. Some have been hospitalised because of low blood pressure, sunstroke and vasodilation. The number of old people admitted with strokes has also increased and some had died.


Dr Nguyen Trung Anh adds that to avoid diseases in hot weather, old people, especially those with heart disease or blood pressure should not go out into the sun and avoid big and sudden changes in room temperatures. He advises that room temperatures should be kept at between 25-28 degree Celsius.


Source: VOV


 


 


 


 


 


Source: QDND

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Hot weather returning to south

In Uncategorized on June 18, 2010 at 4:46 am

Hot weather will come back to the southern and Central Highlands regions, while rainfall will decrease over the next two days, due to a declining southwest monsoon, said Le Thi Xuan Lan, deputy director of the Southern Hydro-meteorology Forecasting Bureau on June 13.

Hot, dry weather is forecasted to return to the south in next two days. (Filed photo)

Highs for the southeastern region and Ho Chi Minh City should hover around 35-37 Celsius, and 33-35 Celsius in the southwestern region. However, some places in Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta coastal areas will experience partial downpours.


Central Vietnam will experience hot and dry weather with highs of 37-39 Celsius degrees, due to hot low-pressure systems and the foehn (dry wind) effect.


The southwest monsoon likely will come back between mid-week and the weekend, the bureau said.


Southern areas such as Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta coast areas will see sunshine in the morning and heavy rains in the afternoon and evening, with the possibility of rainstorms and whirlwinds by the weekend.


With El-Nino over and La-Nina due to hit in the next few months, the country may face torrential rains from July through the beginning of December, said the bureau.

Source: SGGP

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Rare illnesses attack people in broiling weather

In Uncategorized on May 23, 2010 at 5:17 pm




Rare illnesses attack people in broiling weather


QĐND – Sunday, May 23, 2010, 20:58 (GMT+7)

Several strange dangerous diseases have attacked people, adding the list of diseases like influenza, dengue fever, diarrhea in the scorching hot weather in the country. 


Nguyen Trung Cap,  a doctor of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, said there had three pregnant women suffered from a rare pneumonia.


The pregnant patients from the northern locals of Hanoi, Hai Duong and Hai Phong have been taken to the hospital in serious conditions, breathing failure, damaged lung and low blood pressure. They must use breathing machines. Doctors couldn’t find out the cause despite conducting many tests.


Doctors have quarantined three patients and provided intensive treatment. Their efforts have been rewarded when three patients have been in stable condition.


Moreover, 22 year old Nguyen Thi My Linh who had 34 week pregnant gave birth of a baby weighing 1.7kg. The baby is being raised in a neonatal intensive care unit at the National Children Hospital.


Meantime, hospitals in Hanoi have received a large quantity of patients suffering viral fever. In some cases all family members have the illness.


Around 2,000 toddlers see doctors at the National Children Hospital daily, an increase of 700 from the number on previous days. Hospitals Saint Paul, Bach Mai, Army no.103 have also seen a soar of patients recently.


Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy head of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases said the hospital had seen admission of some patients who had contracted the streptococcus, commonly found in pigs, due to having eaten undercooked pork products made from diseased swine.  So far 22 cases have been rushed to the hospital.


Medical experts warned the increase of rare diseases due to sweltering weather and polluted environment. Parents should take children to medical facilities as flu H5N1, H1N1, dengue fever and meningitis have the same symptoms


Source: VietnamNet/Sai Gon Giai Phong


 


Source: QDND

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Bracing for harsh weather

In Uncategorized on May 22, 2010 at 9:13 pm




Bracing for harsh weather


QĐND – Saturday, May 22, 2010, 21:23 (GMT+7)

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has sent a letter to people throughout the country on the Traditional Day for Natural Disaster Control and Mitigation, May 22 in Vietnam.


The letter runs as follows:


“Over the past few years, natural disasters have hit most continents around the world, causing huge losses of human life and property for many nations. Storms and earthquakes with a terrible destructive power have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands people and destroyed tens thousands of houses.


Vietnam is one of the countries suffering the strongest impacts of natural disasters and climate change. Flash floods, tidal surges and powerful storms have occurred more frequently, causing greater losses and badly affecting the country’s socio-economic life.


In the first quarter of this year, our country has faced abnormal weather with widespread hot spells which have reduced water levels in rivers and streams to very low levels, negatively affecting people’s lives and production, particularly agriculture.


Natural disasters will continue to become more complex with unforeseeable developments. All sectors and all people across the country should be vigilant and active and brace themselves for every possible bad weather situation in order to successfully implement targets for socio-economic development in 2010 and the following years.”


To mark the 64th anniversary of the Traditional Day for Natural Disaster Control and Mitigation, President Nguyen Minh Triet urges all people and local committees tasked with flood and storm prevention and control to work hand in hand to tackle the issue in 2010.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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Rare illnesses attack people in broiling weather

In Uncategorized on May 22, 2010 at 5:20 pm


Several strange dangerous diseases have attacked people, adding the list of diseases like influenza, dengue fever, diarrhea in the scorching hot weather in the country

A doctor is  taking care of a pregnant at the national Tropical Diseases Hospital in Hanoi

Nguyen Trung Cap,  a doctor of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, said there had three pregnant women suffered from a rare pneumonia.


The pregnant patients from the northern locals of Hanoi, Hai Duong and Hai Phong have been taken to the hospital in serious conditions, breathing failure, damaged lung and low blood pressure. They must use breathing machines. Doctors couldn’t find out the cause despite conducting many tests.


Doctors have quarantined three patients and provided intensive treatment. Their efforts have been rewarded when three patients have been in stable condition.


Moreover, 22 year old Nguyen Thi My Linh who had 34 week pregnant gave birth of a baby weighing 1.7kg. The baby is being raised in a neonatal intensive care unit at the National Children Hospital.


Meantime, hospitals in Hanoi have received a large quantity of patients suffering viral fever. In some cases all family members have the illness.
 
Around 2,000 toddlers see doctors at the National Children Hospital daily, an increase of 700 from the number on previous days. Hospitals Saint Paul, Bach Mai, Army no.103 have also seen a soar of patients recently.


Nguyen Hong Ha, deputy head of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases said the hospital had seen admission of some patients who had contracted the streptococcus, commonly found in pigs, due to having eaten undercooked pork products made from diseased swine.  So far 22 cases have been rushed to the hospital.


Medical experts warned the increase of rare diseases due to sweltering weather and polluted environment. Parents should take children to medical facilities as flu H5N1, H1N1, dengue fever and meningitis have the same symptoms.

Source: SGGP

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Scorching weather sets to cover country

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 8:52 am

The cold front that overflowed Vietnam’s northern and central regions has ended and the hot low-pressure system coming in from the west should begin moving into those areas by Thursday. Meanwhile, the southern region continues to suffer through an extreme heat wave.

The northern and central regions’ weather would be boiling against as the cold front from the north has gone away

The National Hydro Meteorological Forecast Center said that the country would continue experiencing hot and muggy weather across vast areas over the next few days.


The northwestern region and mountainous areas in the northern central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An should see severely hot and arid conditions, with temperatures soaring above 37 Celsius degrees, possibly to 40 degrees at some places.


Meanwhile, southern and Central Highlands regions continue to endure the severe heat wave that has plagued these areas for several days already.


Young people are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses caused by the sweltering weather experienced in the southern regions recently.


This past week in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho, Children Hospital’s health check department has been receiving from 1,200 to 1,500 children per day with respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, diarrhea, and petechial fever a day.


The resident-treatment ward normally accommodates 400-600 children and has only 250 sickbeds, forcing two to four children to share the same bed.


The hospital director Dr. Le Hoang Son said that many parents do not understand the difference between less serious respiratory illnesses and pneumonia, thus, they wait too long before taking their children to the hospital, which can lead to unfortunate consequences including fatality.

Source: SGGP

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