Undersea eruptions near Tonga

Scientists sailed out to have a closer look at the eruptions of an undersea volcano off the coast of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean today. Tonga’s head geologist, Kelepi Mafi, said there was no apparent danger to residents of Nuku’alofa and others living on the main island of Tongatapu. Officials also said it may be related to a quake with a magnitude of 4.4 which struck last March 13 around 35 kilometers from the capital at a depth of nearly 150 kilometres

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/undersea_eruptions_near_tonga.html

Guardian video is at……

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2009/mar/19/tonga-underwater-volcano

The G20 summit

World leaders are meeting in London on 2 April to discuss plans to tackle the current economic crisis. We explain why the meeting has been called and what it hopes to accomplish.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7921385.stm

Brazil pushes for bigger G20 role

As the largest country in South America, and one of the world’s leading developing nations, Brazil will come to the G20 summit in London in the expectation of making its weight felt.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7963704.stm

The Breathing Earth simulation

Welcome to Breathing Earth. This real-time simulation displays the CO2 emissions of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates.

http://www.breathingearth.net/

Storm due to bring snow and rain

A winter storm is set to bring snow and heavy rain to parts of the UK.

It is due to arrive in southern England and Wales on Monday afternoon, spread to the Midlands and continue overnight into Tuesday, forecasters say. It could bring up to eight inches of snow (20cm) in some areas, and 30 to 40 millimetres of rain in others.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7877544.stm

Australian fires toll passes 100

The death toll from bush fires in south Australia has reached at least 108, the worst in the country’s history.

Thousands of firefighters, aided by the army, are battling several major fires, and the number of dead is expected to rise as fires are put out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7877178.stm

Huge London park plans unveiled

East London will be home to the largest urban park to be built in Europe for 150 years, organisers of the 2012 Olympic Games have announced. More than £200m has been earmarked for the Olympic Park in Stratford, being built on a former industrial site.

Earth on course for eco ‘crunch’

The planet is headed for an ecological “credit crunch”, according to a report issued by conservation groups.

The document contends that our demands on natural resources overreach what the Earth can sustain by almost a third. The Living Planet Report is the work of WWF, the Zoological Society of London and the Global Footprint Network.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7696197.stm

Scores dead after Pakistan quake

At least 100 people have been killed after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude hit Balochistan province in south-western Pakistan, officials say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7696639.stm

Ten ways to Google-up your GCSE project!

Consider improving your GCSE coursework with Google Earth and Maps

http://www.juicygeography.co.uk/googlecoursework.html