NOVEMBER 22, 2022
Utqiagvik, Alaska, Just Witnessed Its Last Sunset Of 2022!
The residents of Utqiagvik, (pronounced oot-kee-AAG-vuhk) Alaska, enjoyed the last sunset of the year on November 19th. America's northernmost city will next see a sun emerge above the horizon on January 23, 2023. For those wondering, that means 64 continuous days, or 1,536 hours, of no daylight!
"This happens every year," says CNN meteorologist Judson Jones. "If you live above the Arctic Circle, there will be a day when the Sun sets for the rest of the winter. The good news? It will return and then during the summer when it won't set for days."
Utqiagvik's extended polar night — when the night lasts over 24 hours — is due to its location just 1,300 miles (2,092 km) south of the North Pole. The Earth revolves around the Sun at a 23.5-degree angle. Hence, the polar regions are tilted away from the Sun during the winter months. For the North Pole, that period extends from September to March.
Utqiagvik residents won't experience complete darkness during the day. The Sun's rays will curve around the Earth and be visible above the horizon. This is similar to what we experience during sunrise when the light can be seen long before the Sun emerges.
The "civil twilight" will appear in beautiful blue, orange, and pink hues. This is due to the scattering of the Sun's rays through the Earth's atmosphere. It will initially last six hours but will shrink to just three hours by mid-December, when the North Pole moves further away from the Sun. Utqiagvik residents will be well rewarded for enduring the dark and cold winter. In summer, the "midnight sun" will stay overhead for 82 days — from May 12, 2023 to July 31, 2023!
Utqiagvik polar nights are perfect for observing the northern lights or aurora borealis. The spectacular swirls of green, blue, yellow, or pink result from the ionized particles near Earth's poles colliding with the Sun's charged particles.
Utqiagvik is the first Alaskan town to experience a polar night each year. But it is not the only one. Over the next few weeks, Kaktovik, Point Hope, and Anaktuvuk Pass residents will also bid farewell to the Sun for a few months. Finland, Norway, Sweden, and northern Scotland also experience the phenomenon, albeit for a shorter time.
Resources: CNN.com, Weather.com, Timeanddate.com.
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Pesky Parrot Steals Reporter's Earbud During A Broadcast About Thefts!
On November 5, 2022, Nicolas Krumm was reporting about the rise in thefts in an area of Santiago, Chile. Suddenly, a parrot landed on his shoulder. The stunned newsman continued with the story while alerting the camera crew to the surprise visitor.
But before anyone could react, the cheeky bird took off with one of Krumm's earbuds. Fortunately, Krumm was able to get it back after the parrot lost interest and dropped it. The video of the bird's "theft" has gone viral since.
This is not the first time a reporter has been a victim of animal theft. In 2021, a golden retriever snatched the microphone from a Russian journalist giving a live weather report. The video shows the reporter chasing after the dog. She returns a few minutes later — with both the microphone and the mischievous pooch!
Resources: NDTV.com, Timesnownews.com, CBSnews.com
DECEMBER 1, 2022
Hawaii's Mauna Loa Volcano Erupts After 38 Years
The world's largest active volcano began erupting for the first time in 38 years on November 27, 2022. Mauna Loa, located on Hawaii's Big Island, came alive at about 11:30 pm local time. It has been spewing out spectacular fountains of lava as high as 148 feet since. The river of molten lava is inching close to a major highway. But it currently poses no risk to nearby communities.
However, residents have been asked to limit outdoor activities in areas with high volcanic smog levels. Commonly known as vog, it is a form of air pollution created when sulfur dioxide and other pollutants emitted from volcanic activity interact chemically with atmospheric moisture, oxygen, dust, and sunlight. Vog can be particularly harmful to children, the elderly, and those with breathing conditions.
Also of concern is the spread of thin strands of lava known as "Pele's hair." Named after the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire, they form when the gas bubbles in the lava burst and rapidly cool. The explosion of the bubbles stretches the molten lava into delicate fibers that float away and collect in low-lying areas. The hair-like volcanic glass strands can be dangerous.
"While fragile and brittle, they are also sharp. As tiny pieces of glass, they can become lodged in human skin and, much worse, eyes. Caution around the fibers is necessary to avoid injury from the slivers," Hawaiian Park Service officials said on their website.
Mauna Loa means "long mountain" in Hawaiian. It is the world's largest active volcano. The current eruption is its 34th since record-keeping began in 1843. The massive volcano covers over 51 percent of the Big Island. It is larger than all the rest of the Hawaiian Islands combined! Mauna Loa stands about 30,000 feet tall. This is about 1,000 feet taller than the height of Mount Everest! However, only 13,000 feet of the volcano rises above sea level.
Mauna Loa's glorious eruption is drawing thousands of people to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Lucky visitors can also witness the glow from the nearby Kilauea volcano, which has been active since September 2021.
"This is a rare time where we have two eruptions happening simultaneously," Jessica Ferracane, a spokesperson for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, told CBS News. "To the people of Hawaii, this is a very sacred event that we are watching."
Resources: CNN.com, Hawaiinewsnow.com, cbsnews.com, nps.gov
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