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Moscow (RIA Novosti) Dec 29, 2006 This year Russia has registered the highest number of unfavorable and dangerous natural phenomena in the history of meteorological observation, a director of Russia's Hydrometeorology Center said Thursday. Roman Vilfand said that between January and November, 371 dangerous natural phenomena - including extreme cold, heat waves, strong winds and driving rains - were registered throughout Russia. "The year also ends unusually with the abnormally warm weather in late November and early December, when plants even began to bloom in some areas," Vilfand said. Earlier, the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring said extreme deviations in weather patterns were observed before, but over the past decade they have become more and more frequent. Following near-record low temperatures during last winter's cold spell, which saw the mercury plummet to -31C (-23.8F) January 19 - one degree above the all-time low for Moscow - European Russia experienced record warm temperatures this month. On December 15 Moscow saw an all time record high winter temperature for the Russian capital, as thermometers climbed to a maximum of 8.6C (47.48F) in comparison with the previous record-high temperature of 8.1 C (46.5F), set on February 17, 1989. But Vilfand said this year's unusually warm start of winter in Russia should not be associated with global warming. Rather, he said, the reason for this year's unusual weather was a strong anticyclone over Greenland, which 'orchestrated' the weather over European Russia. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said dangerous natural phenomena will keep increasing in 2007, consequently resulting in a 5% year-on-year growth of emergency situations caused by natural calamities. This year Russia registered 276 natural emergency situations, while the ministry predicts a figure of 285 for next year. Last week, Minister of Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu highlighted the issue of natural calamities, saying their number more than doubled in Russia over the last 10 years as a result of global warming. The minister said the situation in Russia's northern regions was the most alarming because permafrost was melting. "Over the last 30 years, the average depth of melting in the permafrost zone increased by 20 centimeters and keeps progressing. If the melting continues, the foundations of homes, communication lines and gas pipelines could begin sinking," the minister said. Shoigu also said that a very serious situation with glaciers remains in the North Caucasus, saying that the tragic 2002 situation in the Karmadon Gorge in North Ossetia could be repeated. The Kolka glacier collapsed September 20, 2002 in the Republic of North Ossetia, burying 116 people under tons of rock, mud and ice, including a film crew led by one of the country's most popular actors and directors, Sergei Bodrov Jr.
Source: RIA Novosti Related Links Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Weather News at TerraDaily.com
Chinese Weather Forecasts Are Top Secret
Beijing (AFP) Dec 25, 2006China's government, which suppresses a range of information deemed threatening to national security, now wants to keep weather forecasts from falling into the wrong hands, state press said Monday. New regulations to take effect next year will clamp down on the illegal acquisition of Chinese meteorological information by foreigners, the China Daily newspaper reported. |
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