The USA Disaster Situation Report
The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For January 25, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
=> Special Notes
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or Significant
Icing Forecast
=> USA Flood Report
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
=> USA Earthquake Report
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
=> Guest Column-
=> Sponsored by The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
**** ARTICLES ****
=> Article Emergency Declaration Issued For Indiana Snowstorms
=> Article National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats
=> Article National Drought Summary -- January 23, 2001
=> Article Emergency Declaration Issued For Wisconsin Snowstorms
=> Article New Group of Microorganisms Discovered in the Open Sea
=> Classified Ads
=> Links Area
=> How to Be Featured as our Guest Columnist
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Sponsored by the The Rothstein Catalog On Disaster Recovery
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The Daily USA Disaster Situation Report
For January 25, 2001
Christopher Effgen, Editor, host{at}disastercenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------
IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------
=> USA Daily Temperature Extremes
National Temperature Extremes
High Wed...78 At Organ Pipe Cactus AZ
Low Thu...13 Below At Hibbing And Wadena MM
=> Special Notes
There have been a number of recent reports about the dangers of
bio-terrorism, including a report in
January, 2001 / February, 2001 edition of the Council on Foreign Relations:
" The Nightmare of
Bioterrorism" According to the this article the following nations possess
biological weapons: Iraq,
Iran, Syria, Libya, China, North Korea, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, and possibly
Sudan, India, Pakistan,
and Kazakhstan. We don't have a link to the CFR's article, but we do have a
link below to the
Stanford Report: "Biological warfare emerges as 21st-century threat"
Regarding todays article: "New Group of Microorganisms Discovered in the
Open Sea", scientists
recently discover a dominant component of the ocean. The article "points
out the basic ignorance
we have of the planet we live on,"
=> Current Active National Weather Service Warnings:
Active Warnings:
Updated Thu Jan 25 11:34:42 2001
Non Precipitation
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
...A HARD FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR SOUTHEAST
ALABAMA...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...AND MUCH OF THE
FLORIDA BIG BEND AND PANHANDLE...
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA TODAY BRINGING COLDER AIR
ONCE AGAIN TO SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA.
California
...LOCALLY STRONG WINDS FOR THE SHASTA VALLEY BEGINNING THIS
MORNING...
Oregon
...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THE COASTAL HEADLANDS THIS MORNING...
Winter Storm
California
LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY
AND THE MT. SHASTA REGION OF SISKIYOU COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...
...WINTER STORM HEADED TO THE SIERRA LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...
MONO COUNTY-
SNOW HEAVY AT TIMES TONIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES BELOW 7000 FEET. SNOW
SHOWERS ARE LIKELY THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY.
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
...SNOW ADVISORY LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE WESTERN
MOUNTAINS...
Colorado
A STRONG WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL PRODUCE PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOW
AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS OVER THE SAN LUIS VALLEY TODAY.
A WINTER STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING HEAVY SNOW TO THE SOUTHWEST AND
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS...
Idaho
.PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE SNAKE RIVER PLAIN
SNOW ADVISORY FOR THE WASATCH FRONT FOR TODAY...AND HAS EXPANDED
IT TO INCLUDE THE CACHE VALLEY.
North Carolina
AVERY NC-MADISON NC-MITCHELL NC-YANCEY NC-
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES TODAY...
New Mexico
WINTER STORM POISED TO SPREAD SNOW ACROSS NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
NEW MEXICO TODAY...
Nevada
...WINTER STORM HEADED TO THE SIERRA LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OVER THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND
BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES BY EVENING. ACCUMULATIONS OF 10 TO 20 INCHES
ARE EXPECTED ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH 5-10 INCHES BELOW BY FRIDAY
MORNING.
New York
LEWIS NY-OSWEGO NY-
...LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY OVERNIGHT...
Oregon
LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN SISKIYOU COUNTY
AND THE MT. SHASTA REGION OF SISKIYOU COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT...
Utah
UTAH PORTION-
NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT-SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS-
SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
.SNOW ADVISORY TODAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL CONTINUE THE SNOW ADVISORY FOR
THE WASATCH FRONT FOR TODAY...AND HAS EXPANDED IT TO INCLUDE THE
CACHE VALLEY. SNOW WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD IN THESE AREAS THIS
MORNING AND PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS OF 2-4
INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ON THE BENCHES...ARE EXPECTED
BEFORE THE SNOW TAPERS OFF LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
WEST CENTRAL UTAH-
...SNOW ADVISORY THIS MORNING...
Wyoming
SOUTHWEST WYOMING-
...SNOW ADVISORY TODAY...FOR
UINTA COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST WYOMING. SNOW WILL DEVELOP IN THIS AREA
THIS MORNING AND PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON. ACCUMULATIONS OF 2-4
INCHES...
=> Severe Weather Probability Forecast
The forecast probability of an event is by the stated percentage or greater
for the event, within 25 miles of any point for the area described.
Tornado Risk - Slight
There is less than a 2% probability of a tornado.
Hail Risk - Slight
There is a 5% probability of hail 3/4 inch or larger over northwest
California and far west southwest
Oregon.
Wind Risk - Slight
There is less than a 5% probability of winds in excess of 50 knots.
Tomorrow's Risk -
There is less than a 5% probability of any severe weather tomorrow.
=> Precipitation Forecast, Excessive Rainfall, Heavy Snow And/Or
Significant
Icing Forecast
Precipitation Forecast
The 24 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over northwest, north
central to central west California.
The 24 - 48 hour precipitation forecast is calling for over 1 inch of
precipitation over a small portion
of coastal north central California.
Excessive Rainfall Forecast
Rainfall may exceed flash flood values localy over coastal and inland
portions of northern California .
USA heavy snow and/or significant icing
>From noon to midnight today EST the probability of 12 inches or greater of
snow is low over north
central and portions on west central California.
The moderate probability area is over west central California
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
>From midnight to noon tomorrow EST the probability of 4 inches or greater of
snow is low over
central south Minnesota, extreme central north Iowa, extreme central south
Iowa, and central north
Missouri.
The probability of 1/4 inch or greater of ice accumulation is less than 20%
Current USA Snow and Ice Cover
http://www.rap.ucar.edu/weather/surface/us_NESDISsnow.gif
=> USA Flood Report
NATIONAL HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY ... CORRECTION TO DATE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS
0930 AM EST THU JAN 25 2001
FLOOD SUMMARY
RESIDUAL FLOODING IN SOUTH
LOCATIONS ALONG ALMOST 20 RIVERS IN TEXAS, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA,
MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA REMAIN ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. EXTENSIVE
LOWLAND FLOODING CONTINUES ALONG THE BIG BLACK RIVER IN THE
VICINITY OF BENTONIA AND BOVINA, MISSISSIPPI.
HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE COASTAL RANGE AND THE SIERRA NEVADA IN
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE WELCOME
PRECIPITATION.
FLASH FLOODING:
THERE WERE NO FLOOD/FLASH FLOOD AND/OR URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOOD ADVISORIES ISSUED DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS.
RIVER FLOODING:
RIVERS AND STREAMS WITH LOCATIONS EITHER ABOVE FLOOD STAGE OR
EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INCLUDE (ALPHABETICALLY BY
STATE):
ALABAMA: TOMBIGBEE RIVER
ARKANSAS: CACHE AND OUACHITA RIVERS
LOUISIANA: THE CALCASIEU, LITTLE, PEARL AND SABINE RIVERS,
BAYOU DORCHEAT, RED CHUTE BAYOU, WALLACE LAKE AND
LAKE BISTANEAU
MISSISSIPPI: BOEUF, BIG BLACK, PEARL AND YOKANOOKANY RIVERS
TEXAS: ANGELINA, SABINE AND SULPHUR RIVERS; BLACK CYPRESS
AND PINE ISLAND BAYOUS
=> USA Fire Report and Forecast
The USA Fire Report and Forecast has not been updated.
=> USA Earthquake Report
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION CENTER
GOLDEN, COLORADO
LISTS OF U.S. EARTHQUAKES IN THE LAST 30 HOURS
Prepared by USGS/NEIC 2001 JAN 25 at 00:15 UTC
EARTHQUAKES IN NORTHWESTERN UNITED STATES
(40.3 TO 50.0 N, 102.0 TO 125.0 W)
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 JAN 24 02:15:50.29 41.2 N 116.7 W 5 km 3.5
35 miles NNE of Battle Mountain, Nevada
EARTHQUAKES IN STATE OF ALASKA
Date Time (UTC) Lat Long Depth Magnitude
2001 JAN 24 17:47:20.62 55.8 N 156.7 W 33 km 4.8
75 miles ESE of Chignik, Alaska
MAGNITUDE 5.4, OCCURRED AT
2030 AST ON JAN 24, OR 2130 PST ON JAN 24, OR 0530 UTC ON JAN 25.
THE EARTHQUAKE WAS LOCATED 50 MILES NW OF HOMER, AK.
=> Yesterday's USA Severe Weather Reports
Note: All data is considered preliminary
Tornado Reports
No reports received
Hail Reports
No reports received
Wind Reports
No reports received
Fields marked UNK are unknown
All Times UTC
Wind Gusts in MPH
Hail Sizes in 1/100 of an Inch (75 = 0.75")
=> Guest Column
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**** ARTICLES ****
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=> Emergency Declaration Issued For Indiana Snowstorms
Washington, January 24, 2001 -- Federal disaster funds were made available
for Indiana today to
supplement emergency response efforts to last month's winter storms that
produced record snowfalls
in the northern part of the state, according to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency
(FEMA).
FEMA Acting Director John W. Magaw said President Bush authorized the
assistance under an
emergency declaration issued this afternoon following a review of the
agency's analysis of the state's
request for federal assistance. The declaration covers jurisdictions that
were blanketed with record
and near-record snowfall over the period of December 11-31.
Immediately after the declaration, Magaw designated 18 counties eligible for
federal funding to pay
part of the cost for emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of
the storms. This
includes state and local government operations needed to protect public
health and safety and to
prevent damage to public or private property.
The eligible counties include Allen, Carroll, Cass, Eklhart, Fulton, Howard,
Huntington, Jasper,
Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, Miami, Noble, Pulaski, Saint Joseph, Steuben,
White and Whitley.
Under the emergency declaration, FEMA will provide reimbursement to local
and state agencies for
75 percent of the total eligible costs of equipment, contracts, and
personnel overtime related to
emergency services in dealing with the snow for a 48-hour period. These are
the crucial hours when
work crews clear snow from emergency routes and roads to critical facilities
to permit the passage
of emergency vehicles. Related emergency protective measures such as sanding
and salting, search
and rescue, shelter operations, and police and fire department response will
also be eligible for
reimbursement.
Magaw named Robert Colangelo of FEMA to coordinate the federal assistance in
the affected
areas.
=> National Weather Service Day 3-10 U.S. Threats
Valid Friday, January 26, 2001 - Tuesday, February 6, 2001.
Summary of Forecasts & Threats
SYNOPSIS: Two upper air troughs are predicted to enter the western U.S. in
rapid succession
during the period and linger the Southwest before progressing eastward.
Storminess with
above-median precipitation is therefore likely from the West coast, through
the Southwest and into
the Great Plains. Cool temperatures seem likely to gradually weaken in the
West while a mix of
warm and cold conditions should frequent the East, during the next two
weeks. The southern and
western coasts of Alaska should experience a series of storms of normal,
mid-winter intensity during
this period.
THREATS
Heavy rain is likely for central and southern Arizona Saturday Jan 26-
Monday Jan 29.
Heavy precipitation with possible severe thunderstorms and localized
flooding from the Texas to
Missouri and vicinity Sunday-Tuesday Jan 28-30.
Severe thunderstorms are possible for Texas through Arkansas to Missouri
Sunday- Tuesday Jan
28-30.
Drought continues across much of the Florida peninsula during this
assessment period.
DETAILED SUMMARY
For Friday January 26 through Sunday January 28: A pair of intense upper air
disturbances moving
southeastward from the Gulf of Alaska are likely to act in concert to
produce heavy rain in mainly
western sections of California before moving into the Southwest.
For Monday January 29 through Tuesday February 6: A deep upper air trough is
likely to move into
the Southwest. The trough is predicted to tap moisture from Gulfs of
California and Mexico. Heavy
rain is likely on the west side of the system from southern Arizona and
eastern New Mexico across
northern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. Beneath the jet on
the southeast side of
the system severe thunderstorms may develop from southern Texas across
Louisiana and Arkansas
to Mississippi. A follow-on trough is likely to bring cold air and below
normal temperatures to the
West by Tuesday-Wednesday Jan 30-31. Much below normala temperatures
(temperatures in the
lowest 12% of the observed distribution) are possible for the interior. The
East should be relatively
warm until late in the period, when cooler temperatures are possible.
=> National Drought Summary -- January 23, 2001
The South: Unseasonably heavy precipitation fell on much of the region,
resulting in little dryness
elimination but substantial areas of decreased drought severity. The
heaviest precipitation (over 5
inches) soaked central and northeastern Mississippi and part of
south-central Louisiana while 2 to 5
inches were widespread from eastern Texas eastward through most of Alabama
and northeastward
into southern West Virginia. This led to the elimination of dryness and
drought in all but the
southeastern and northeastern fringes of the lower Mississippi Valley, and a
reduction to D0(W) in
adjacent former D1(W) areas to the east.
Farther north, generally 1 to 3 inches of precipitation eliminated D3(W)
conditions that had affected
western North Carolina and nearby areas. However, most of the D0(W) to D2(W)
areas did not
demonstrate enough improvement to warrant classification decreases.
In addition, 1 to 3 inches of precipitation induced a 1 step reduction to
D0(W) or D1(W) for central
and southern Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle.
In Florida, a week of light to locally moderate rains kept most dryness and
drought regions
unchanged. Only a slight expansion of D1 into southwestern Florida and a
small northward
expansion of D2 into the southeastern Florida Panhandle were identified.
The only other area of deterioration noted was in the Tennessee Valley and
adjacent sections of the
Mississippi Valley, where most locations recorded less than 1 inch of
precipitation. For the last 90
days, precipitation anomalies of -4 to -7 inches are common, prompting a
northward expansion of
D1 and D2 toward the Ohio/Mississippi confluence.
The Western Mid-Atlantic: Between 0.6 and 2.0 inches of precipitation fell
on West Virginia. This
was sufficient to eliminate D1(W) conditions in the southern part of the
state, but not enough to
change the D0(W) areas.
Farther north, 0.2 to 0.6 inch of precipitation fell on central and western
Pennsylvania and
southwestern New York. These areas recorded totals among the lowest 5% of
the historical
distribution for the last 30 days, and 90-day anomalies of -4 to -7 inches
have developed in parts of
the region. Furthermore, streamflows were in the lowest 25th percentile at
most gauges on January
22, and a few were below the 10th percentile threshold, while modeled soil
moisture dropped below
the 20th percentile threshold in most areas. All these factors led to the
introduction of D0 into
western and central Pennsylvania, and southwestern New York.
The Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes Region: A large area from the northern
half of the Ohio
Valley westward through the central and northern High Plains received little
or no precipitation for
the past 7 days. As a result, most of last week's D0 and D0(W) areas
remained unchanged, and
some slight expansion of D1 and D2 occurred near the Kansas/Nebraska border.
Last week's dryness, combined with substandard precipitation for at least
the last 30 days, led to the
introduction of D0 into a broad area from southern Iowa southward through
most of Missouri and
southeastern Kansas, and southeastward across the middle Mississippi and
lower Ohio Valleys.
Most of these areas are at least 1 inch below normal for the last 3 months,
with 4- to 7-inch deficits
reported in parts of central and southeastern Missouri. 30-day precipitation
totaled 2 to 4 inches
below normal throughout the central and lower Ohio Valley, prompting the
introduction of D0 in
central and northern Kentucky despite 0.2 to 1.0 inch of precipitation last
week.
The West: Parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Intermountain West
recorded up to an inch
of precipitation in the last 7 days, but most areas received less.
On January 23, snowpack water content was below 80% of normal from the
central Rockies and
the Sierra Nevada northward, and less than half of normal in northwestern
Montana, the Idaho
Panhandle, northwestern and northeastern Washington, southern Oregon, and
the Sierra Nevada. In
much of the Pacific Northwest, water-year precipitation (since October 1),
expressed as a percent
of normal, is below corresponding snowpack water content percentages. Many
areas have had only
about half their normal to date. This is climatologically the wettest time
of the year for the West
Coast and the higher elevations of the western United States, so by late
January precipitation and
snowpack water content deficits cause increasingly significant concern with
each passing day about
the region's water supplies for the ensuing spring-autumn period. The
unprecedented California
power crisis, and concerns about the Pacific Northwest's power supplies,
have rapidly risen to
prominence as a consequence of the extended period of dry weather.
Given these considerations, D0(W) has been expanded to cover much of Oregon,
all of Washington,
most of Idaho, southwestern Montana, parts of Nevada, northern California,
the Sierra Nevada, and
a large part of Wyoming.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico: Little or no precipitation fell on Hawaii last week,
with even the
climatologically-wettest areas on the Big Island reporting a few tenths of
an inch at most. Recent
dryness, in addition to the multi-year drought from with much of the state
has yet to fully recover, led
to the introduction of D1(A,F) for southern Kauai and western sections of
Maui. Other areas
remained unchanged.
Scattered light to moderate rains left the D0 areas of Puerto Rico
unchanged, though totals of 1 or 2
inches were noted at a few sites on the northern and eastern fringes of the
eastern D0 region.
Looking Ahead: Anticipated occurrences which may impact current areas of
dryness and drought
over the next 10 days include: (1) Fairly extensive light to moderate
precipitation across central and
northern California and the Intermountain West January 23 - 24; (2)
Additional light to moderate
precipitation in northwestern California and the southern Sierra Nevada
January 24 - 29; (3)
Moderate to locally heavy precipitation in parts of the southern half of the
Rockies January 24 - 29;
(4) Moderate to locally heavy precipitation in the southern half of the
Plains (except southern Texas)
January 24 - 29; (5) Enhanced likelihood of a return to subnormal
precipitation in most of the
southern Rockies, Nevada, and California January 30 - February 3; (6) A dry
January 24 - 29
followed by an increased probability of surplus precipitation in much of the
South, the Ohio Valley,
the Great Lakes, the Appalachians, and the middle and northern Atlantic
states January 30 -
February 3, especially in the interior central Gulf Coast region and the
northern half of the Atlantic
Seaboard; and (7) Suppressed precipitation throughout the next 10 days in
much of drought-stricken
Florida.
Author: Richard Tinker
=> Emergency Declaration Issued For Wisconsin Snowstorms
Washington, January 24, 2001 -- Federal disaster funds were made available
for Wisconsin today
to supplement emergency response efforts to last month's winter storms that
produced record
snowfalls in the eastern and southern parts of the state, according to the
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA Acting Director John W. Magaw said President Bush authorized the
assistance under an
emergency declaration issued this afternoon following a review of the
agency's analysis of the state's
request for federal assistance. The declaration covers jurisdictions that
were blanketed with record
and near-record snowfall over the period of December 11-31.
Immediately after the declaration, Magaw designated 11 counties eligible for
federal funding to pay
part of the cost for emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of
the storms. This
includes state and local government operations needed to protect public
health and safety and to
prevent damage to public or private property.
The eligible counties include Dane, Door, Green, Kenosha, Kewaunee,
Manitowoc, Milwaukee,
Racine, Rock, Sheboygan and Walworth.
Under the emergency declaration, FEMA will provide reimbursement to local
and state agencies for
75 percent of the total eligible costs of equipment, contracts, and
personnel overtime related to
emergency services in dealing with the snow for a 48-hour period. These are
the crucial hours when
work crews clear snow from emergency routes and roads to critical facilities
to permit the passage
of emergency vehicles. Related emergency protective measures such as sanding
and salting, search
and rescue, shelter operations, and police and fire department response will
also be eligible for
reimbursement.
Magaw named James Roche of FEMA to coordinate the federal assistance in the
affected areas.
=> New Group of Microorganisms Discovered in the Open Sea
Archaea, one of three separate domains of life on our planet, were
undiscovered until 1970. Since then, they had been found mostly in extreme
environments such as high-temperature volcanic vents on the ocean floor,
continental hot springs and fumeroles, and highly salty or acidic waters.
Now, scientists funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) have found
unexpected, astounding numbers of archaea living in Earth's largest biome,
the open sea.
The researchers--David Karl and Markus Karner of the University of Hawaii,
and Edward DeLong of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute--have
published a paper in this week's issue of the journal Nature on their
discovery: "Archaeal dominance in the mesopelagic zone of the Pacific
Ocean." The concentration of archaea in their study leads the scientists to
conclude that archaea are "a large percentage of the biomass of the open
ocean," says Karl. "These organisms could make up 50 percent of life in the
open sea." The research is the first to note their numerical abundance.
"This remarkable new insight will have a major impact on our view of how the
oceans function ecologically, "says Phil Taylor, director of NSF's
biological oceanography program, which, along with NSF's chemical
oceanography program, funded the research. "We are compelled by this
discovery to increase our efforts to understand the diversity of life in the
oceans, and the specific roles that important species and groups play in the
sea."
The research is part of the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) project, an
NSF-sponsored study of the north Pacific Ocean. Monthly sampling was
conducted throughout the water column, from the surface to 4,750 meters
deep. Two specific archaeal groups--pelagic euryarchaeota and pelagic
crenarchaeota--were found in high numbers in the samples.
In the past, archaea were known as archaebacteria, but it has since been
found that they are fundamentally distinct from true bacteria. Very little
is known about these life forms. According to Karl, they were only
discovered because of "their unusual genetic and molecular structures."
Marine scientists have yet to understand how archaea take in nutrients,
multiply, or what ecological role they play.
The habitat range for these archaea, the Nature paper authors note, is
unusually broad. "As a dominant component of the ocean, archaea are thus far
from confined to extreme niche habitats," they write. "Rather, the
distribution of these archaea suggests that a common adaptive strategy has
allowed them to radiate throughout nearly the entire water column."
The discovery of these numbers of a group of microorganisms living in a
previously unsampled area "points out the basic ignorance we have of the
planet we live on," maintains Karl. This research, he says, further reveals
the need for a reclassification of the characteristics of the archaea
kingdom.
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=> Links Area
Stanford Report, January 11, 2001
Biological warfare emerges as 21st-century threat
BY MARK SHWARTZ
http://netmail.att.net/cgi-bin/wm/Biological_warfare_emerges_as_21st_century
SNOW COVER OVER THE MIDWEST, AND NORTHEAST STATES
Midwest/Northeast US
In this GOES-8 image, snow cover (indicated by the yellow arrows) is visible
over the Midwest and
Northeast states.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Snow/US_Overview/SNWusOVW024_G8.jpg
FIRES IN AFRICA
Sudan, Central African Republic, Uganda, and Congo
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue are visible from fires burning
in Sudan, Central African
Republic, Uganda, and Congo.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/Africa_E/FSMHSsudan024_N4.jpg
FIRES IN FLORIDA
Florida
Heat signatures (red) and smoke (light blue) are visible from fires burning
in Florida.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/US_Florida/FSMHSusFL024_N2.jpg
TROPICAL CYCLONE 06S (CHARLY)
South Indian Ocean
Tropical Cyclone 06S (Charly) was located east of the Mascarene Islands in
the Indian Ocean near
22.6S and 64.6E at
06:00 UTC. Charly has been moving westward at 16 knots with maximum
sustained winds
estimated at 55 knots, gusts
to 70 knots.
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/IndOcean/TRCcharly024_MT.jpg
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER CALIFORNIA
California
This GOES-10 image shows a storm that plowed into California early Wednesday
spreading a chilly
rain in the coastal
areas and dumping several inches of snow in the higher elevations of the
Sierra Nevada resulting in
poor traveling conditions
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Storms/US_West/STMusW024_G10.jpg
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