Plan Approved to Find Faults Near Diablo Canyon, California

In a showdown that pit antinuclear activists against marine-mammal supporters, the California State Lands Commission approved PG&E’s plans to begin conducting high-energy 3-d offshore seismic tests to determine the extent to which the faults offshore from the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in Avila Beach connect…

Opposition to Beach Sand Mining Mounts, India

The Akhila Bharata Rythu Coolie Sangham and other organisations are vehemently opposing the sand mining activity in Vajrapukotturu — situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh on India’s southeastern coast — as they believe that it is detrimental to the interests of fishermen and other communities that depend on the sea for their livelihood.

The Fatal Shore, Awash in Plastic

A recent typhoon off Hong Kong washed half a dozen shipping containers overboard, and it wasn’t long before the cargo, 150 tons of tiny plastic beads, began washing up on the beaches. Local fish farmers also started finding the plastic in the stomachs of their fish…

Typhoon Bolaven reaches Korean Peninsula

After striking Japan, powerful typhoon Bolaven reaches Korean Peninsula. Bolaven was, reportedly the strongest typhoon to strike Okinawa in nearly 50 years, with winds of 259 kilometers (161 miles) per hour.

Strong earthquake hits off El Salvador coast

A strong magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of El Salvador followed an hour later by a magnitude-5.4 aftershock; a tsunami alert off the central American coast was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Arctic Sea Ice Drops below 2007 Record

On August 26, 2012, the extent of Arctic water covered by sea ice fell below 4.17 million square kilometers (1.61 million square miles), the record minimum set in 2007. The new record low for sea ice in 2012 fits into a larger pattern of a changing Arctic. Regarding the rapid loss of Arctic sea ice, NSIDC director remarks, “What is perhaps most surprising is that we are no longer surprised…”