“Torrential rain inundated southeastern Brazil in early January 2012, causing severe damage in multiple states. The floods forced thousands from their homes, damaged roads and homes, and broke through a levee in northern Rio de Janeiro State.” Quoted from the Earth Observatory image release.
“This astronaut photograph illustrates slash-and-burn forest clearing along the Rio Xingu (Xingu River) in the state of Matto Grasso, Brazil.” Quoted from the Earth Observatory image release.
“Given the number and size of their teeth, the researchers believe these carnivorous crocs fed on animals of the same 15- to 20-foot size range – that is dinosaurs and fellow crocs from the region.” Quoted from the McGill University press release.
The shale gas boom that started in the United States has spread to countries worldwide. The Energy Information Administration has released a report that summarizes the shale gas resource for 14 regions outside of the United States.
“A new NASA-funded study has revealed widespread reductions in the greenness of the forests in the vast Amazon basin in South America caused by the record-breaking drought of 2010.” Quoted from the NASA press release.
In 2010 Royal Dutch Shell had great success finding oil in the waters offshore of Brazil. This year they plan to continue work there by spending billions of dollars on ten new wells.
The Google Earth blog has an image of an area in Brazil that received about ten inches of rain in a single day. The result was an amazing density of landslides that reportedly killed nearly 1000 people.
“Brazil is the ninth largest energy consumer in the world. Total primary energy consumption in Brazil has increased by close to a third in the last decade, due to sustained economic growth. In addition, Brazil has made great strides in increasing its total energy production, particularly oil and ethanol. Recent discoveries of large offshore, pre-salt oil deposits could transform Brazil into one of the largest oil producers in the world.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration country analysis brief.
Some observers are calling the recent flooding and landslides in Brazil the “biggest weather-related tragedy in Brazil’s history”. Hundreds of people have been killed during the past week.
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