England shook by Earthquake! 27th Feb 08

So did you feel the earthquake last night? Just before 1.00 am last night an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale struck, with the earth tremors felt by people across the UK, including Yorkshire, E Anglia, South East, the Midlands and part so of Wales! The epicentre of the earthquake was near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. So how do earthquakes happen? Well if you are in Year 9 or above you should know about earthquakes already – but it is worth reminding yourself using these two excellent guides, one from the BBC and another excellent one from the Guardian which explain the cause of earthquakes.

For many people this is the biggest earthquake they have experienced (and for many their first!), in fact this is the biggest earthquake to have struck the UK since 1984.

News Articles on the Earthquake:
Earthquake hits much of England (BBC News)
Earth Tremors felt across England and Wales
“The Room just started shaking”- interviews with people who felt the earthquake (BBC News)
BGS – Press Release – 27th February – Earthquake hits the UK (British Geological Survey)
Massive earthquake hits Rasen (Market Rasen)
Initial USGS report on the earthquake

Video Clips:
The Moment the Quake hit (BBC News)
Residents reactions to quake  (BBC News)
Seismologist on Tremor  (BBC News)

Free Rice

Try this fantastic new site – see how many words you know and earn rice for developing countries!! Getting going…..

 FREE RICE

Year 9 Options – GCSE Geography

The new subject options for Year 9 going into Year 10 have now been launched and the parents/carers curriculum evening is on Thursday 24th January. Year 9 will be watching the new Geography GCSE launch video in lessons this week to get a better understanding of what the GCSE Geography course entails. We will also be talking through the powerpoint below with both students and parents / carers.

If you have any questions please see a member of the geography department, pick up our GCSE leafet, see the Geography and careers display in N21 or of course visit our online home at www.geobytes.org.uk

Remembering the 2004 Asian Tsunamis

At the end of last term Year 9 were studying the causes and effects of the Asian Tsunamis disaster in which over 100,000 people died on boxing day 2004. Last week marked the 3rd anniversary of the disaster and still, 3 years on, 40,000 people who lost their homes to the tsunamis are still living in temporary shelters. Indeed to mark the anniversary, the Independent have published an article called “The Big Question: 3 years on from the boxing day tsunamis, have the countries recovered?” It is easy to forget that reconstruction is still going on and indeed there is still lots more to do, despite being over 3 years since the disaster itself.

Credit: Digital Globe found on http://flickr.com/photos/thevoyagers/328464665/

Year 9 students have been working on poetry based on the Tsunamis disaster and examples of students work will be published on the Year 9 pages when the work has been handed in during the first couple of weeks back.

The following poem was written 2 years ago by a year 9 student, with the disaster still very much fresh in our memories.

THE TSUNAMI, BOXING DAY 2004

“Who could have forseen the devatastion that came with the sight of the horizon painted with white?
The unsuspecting holidaymakers relaxing carelessly on the beach as the roaring waves crashed closer and closer
Fear filled their hearts as the waves slammed into the coastline destroying all trace of the living
The screams of the dying drowned by the thundering of the waves
Their desperate cry for help forever playing in the minds of those who survived
Who is it that decides whether you should live or die?
Yet still the wave descends upon the innocent, wiping their homes and lives away with one sweep of its watery arms, flattening anything which stands in its path
The capable run from it, animal instinct replacing all other thoughts
Whole cities and towns are obliterated, wreckage and ruins are all that greets the rescuers
A little girl lies asleep cuddling her teddy, her angelic face smiling up at the sky, oblivious to the destruction that surrounds her, she lies so peacefully as she is laid to rest
But who is there to mourn her as her coffin is lowered into the muddy ground?”

Isabelle (Year 9 – 2005)

Bangladesh Devastated by Cyclone Sidr

Bangladesh has been devastated by Cyclone Sidr which struck the country on the 15th November. The SW of the country was hit by winds of up to 240kph in what has been described as the worst cyclone to hit Bangladesh in years. Estimates of the death toll currently stand at over 2000 people. So what were the causes and effects of the cyclone? See the links below for more information and video and photographic footage of the cyclones effects.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncultured/2062220712/

So how do cyclones form? See this excellent article on the Newsround site.

News Articles:

• Bangladesh Toll more than 2,000 (BBC)
  
• Cyclone Sidr destroys homes in Bangladesh (Times Online)
• Aid battle for Bangladesh Victims (BBC)
• ‘The most devastating storm of our lives’ – personal accounts of Cyclone Sidr (BBC)
• Bangladesh hits poor hardest (BBC)
• Bangladesh Cyclone Kills 100s (BBC)

Video Clips:

• Video – aerial views of the devasted area (BBC)
• Video – victims of the cyclone speak of their suffering (BBC)

Pictures:

• In Pictures – Bangladesh Cyclone – Newsround (BBC)
• In Pictures: Bangladesh Cyclone Homeless (BBC)
• Bangladesh assess cyclone damage (Guardian)
• Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr (Guardian)

California devastated by the spread of Wildfires

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/caesarsebastian/1734142858/

California has been declared a major disaster zone by George Bush with the biggest US evacuation since Hurricane Katrina taking place as people flee the devastating wildfires in seven California counties. The situation has been made worse by the annual Santa Ana winds which are helping to spread the fires by dispersing burning embers, turning the tinder dry vegetation into burning infernoes. For a full updates on the fires and photographs / video footage, explore some of the links below.

• Bush declares major fire disaster (BBC)
• Wildfires force Californian Exodus (BBC)
• Californian fires affect TV shows (BBC)
  
• Paradise lost in fiery California (BBC)
• Many Wildfires are brought under control in California New York Times
• Californian’s share their thoughts on fires New York Times
• Californian fires bill tops $1 billion Guardian

Photographs:

• California Wildfires – New York Times
• Wildfires Char Southern California (Washington Post) – an amazing set of photographs!
• Guardian Gallery – Californian Wildfires

Videos:

• The trail of destruction caused by the wildfires (BBC)
  
• Battling the Flames (BBC)
  
• Aerial footage of fires (BBC)
  
• Animals evacuated from fires (BBC)
  
• Blaze creates ‘fire-nado’ CNN

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonybaby/1722366077/

Study Geography…

The Royal Geographical Society have launched an excellent new site “Study Geography” to support those that are keen to go on to study Geography at University. As well as providing information on geography related careers it provides links to geography departments and help and advice on choosing courses and also provides advice on making a successful application. Many thanks to the RGS for this invaluable new resource!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

A key issue if we are going to protect our environment for future generations. A short YouTube video with a very important message! You will be quite amazed by some of the facts in here!

(Thanks to S Sumner for pointing out this link)

Typhoon Krosa strikes China and Taiwan

China and Taiwan have been hit by Typhoon Krosa, a powerful storm with initial winds of 126km/hr and reaching up to 185km/hr in parts of Taiwan. Airline flights have been cancelled, schools closed and on China’s SE coast up to a million people have been evacuated from their homes. For more details of how typhoons form see this animated guide from the BBC.

For further information see the following links:

• Roads became rivers and motorways were hit by landslides (BBC video)
• China reels from Typhoon Krosa
• Powerful typhoon pummels Taiwan
• Powerful storm hits Chinese Coast
• Destruction caused by Typhoon Krosa (BBC Video)
• Typhoon Krosa slams Taiwan, China braces
• After pounding Taiwan, Typhoon Krosa approaches coast of China
• Typhoon batters Taiwan, 4 dead

Tornadoes hit the UK!

Parts of the UK have been struck by tornadoes today – with winds reaching up to 60mph. In some areas tiles were ripped off roofs, whilst in other areas the gusts were strong enough to upturn caravans and destroy bus shelters. There are pictures of the damage here, and you can watch the aftermath of the tornadoes here.

Each year the UK experiences an average of 33 tornadoes – but how do they form? See this excellent animated tornado guide from the BBC website for more information.

(picture by Sherry Over, Farnborough – from the BBC website)