Destructive Eruption at Washington’s Mount Saint Helens
Mount Saint Helens volcano erupted in 1980 and was a natural catastrophe said to be one of the most destructive catastrophes to ever occur in United States History. This eruption was known for its incomprehensible damage, leaving Washington state demolished to ashes for thousands of miles and costing the U.S. 3.4 billion dollars in property damage.
This is what it looked like before and after the eruption, which is considered one of the most destructive volcanic events in U.S. history, both environmentally and economically. Following the eruption, the mountain was left 1,300 feet lower.
Lake Lonar of India Turned Rose Red in Just 3 Days
A meteorite penetrated our Earth’s atmosphere about 50,000 years ago, blowing a gaping hole and lighting the sky up in the area we know today as India. Lake Lonar was created as a result of this natural disaster. Still, this doesn’t explain why the lake unexpectedly turned rose red, all in just a 2-3 day span this past June.
This otherworldly incident has been attributed by scientists as a proliferation of algae and microscopic life in the body of water. This phenomenon isn’t unique to Lake Lonar. Around the world, and even in the U.S., you can find pink lakes – where the water has turned a shade of pink due to the algae and microscopic finds in the water.
Lake Urmia Turns Back to Green from Crimson Red
The mystifying transformation of Lake Urmia, Iran, is so unique that it doesn’t actually seem natural. On the contrary, this change in color is actually completely normal. It is caused by a specific combination of bacteria and algae which turns the water from green to red and back again. This whacky occurrence typically happens once the heat of summer and dryness cause evaporation, which increases the lake’s saltiness.
This is similar to the phenomenon we’ve seen with Lake Lonar of India, but it’s always amazing to see these changes from a different angle. This year, it has been reported the lake looks particularly red, probably due to the increasing levels of salinity in the water.
Victoria Falls Changes According to the Seasons
Zimbabwe and Zambia are home to a cascading border full of rapids from some of the largest waterfalls on the planet – we call it Victoria Falls. Climate change is only partly who’s to blame because nowadays the famous Victoria Falls is completely dry during the summer. Water levels are changing daily based on weather conditions.
During the dry season, the levels of water are significantly lower. However, it’s expected that the falls will be replenished during the rainy season. If this happens, it will be symbolic of drastic changes taking a hold of our planet. Although scientists don’t blame climate change for the constant changes of the Victoria Falls water levels, climate changes can be seen around the world, with wildfires raging, to glaciers melting and waterfalls drying.
Colorado’s Animas River translates as “river of lost souls.” The river endured a mine waste spill in 2015.
As a result of the mishandling of the Gold King Mine which was inactive. This caused the Animas River to turn a muddy, cloudy yellow and any aquatic life in it had completely vanished.
Since the mine waste was accidentally spilled into the river, it has been closed to the public.
The Colorado River System is thankfully made up of many waterways. As a result, it has been showing signs of recovery.
Paris: Notre Dame Cathedral Suffers Severe Fire Damage in 2019
Notre Dame de Paris nearly translates to “Our Lady of Paris”; the cathedral is one of the most well-known symbols of the great city of Paris. There are many reasons behind the cathedral’s cultural significance. It is considered one of the best examples in the world of French Gothic architecture; it’s an old corner-stone of Paris, and last but not least, it is culturally important thanks to Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831).
Witnesses, locals and tourists alike, were heartbroken to see it engulfed by flames in 2019. You might even remember the tragic fire from the news. The damage from the fire was severe, but that didn’t stop the government of France. Paris anticipates a complete repair of the Notre Dame Cathedral in time for the 2024 Olympics which will be held in the city.
Greenland’s Ice Sheet glaciers melting earlier and faster
Spring and summer heat pokes holes in the Greenland Ice Sheet every year with rivers and lakes. However, in 2016, the ice started melting extremely early. This contributed to further melting and incited a vicious melting cycle. These photos indicate the changes in our Earth’s weather conditions and help us to explain what could be next.
Temperature is rising, causing the ice to melt and creating more and more lakes on the Greenland ice sheet. If you happen to watch Planet Earth (or any other nature show production, for that matter), you probably know these changes don’t only affect us, but first and foremost polar bears and other animals living in those areas.
Florida Everglades Torn up in 2017 by Hurricane Irma
The famous Florida Everglades is the home for hundreds of animal species, including endangered turtles, manatees, panthers, and of course, alligators. The national park comprises an ecosystem unlike any other in the world. The Everglades range over 1.5 million acres, and it constitutes the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River. Hurricane Irma: Impacts on Florida Wildlife & Habitat • (nwf.org)
Pictured is the blatant contrast between Florida’s breathtaking Everglades national park before they were hit as well as the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in September of 2017. Looking at these photos goes to show just how strong Mother Nature can truly be. Four years later, after experiencing extreme heat waves and cold waves, we all know what nature is capable of.
Comparison of the Pedersen Glacier in Alaska in 1940 and 2005
The Pedersen Glacier’s icy landscape has broken down quite a bit over the last 75 years, leaving a bunch of vibrant green fields. Even though the result of this melt is still beautiful, the pace at which these glaciers in Alaska are melting is actually quite alarming. The receding glacier exposed the Pedersen Spit and Pedersen Lagoon.
The Pedersen Lagoon operates a wildlife sanctuary, meant to protect the wildlife of the area. We tend to think about how climate changes might affect our lives on the planet, and sometimes overlook the helpless animals that are drastically affected by these changes. Luckily, there are many people who care about them and do everything in their power to protect them.
Nasa Satellite Photo Comparison from 1970 to 2016
The satellite photo comparison shows Arctic Sea ice shrinking to record lows. Though the ice in the Arctic Ocean, the coldest of all the five oceans of the world, routinely shrinks during the summer only to increase during the winter, these satellite photographs showcase just how much things have changed in Earth’s climate.
The top photo shows the Arctic in the summer of 1984, a year in which the ice decline was roughly considered to be standard. The bottom photo displays the Arctic ice shrinkage in 2016. The contrast between the photos is unmistakable, yet also unbelievable.
Aral Sea in Central Asia Was Once the Fourth-Largest Lake on the Planet
The Aral Sea, formerly a great lake, has shrunken as a result of more organic, long term processes coupled with the Soviet Union tweaking the landscape in the 1960s. The dry conditions caused the southernmost area of this Asian sea to completely dehydrate.
The lack of such a large body of water had actually caused the region’s weather to become more extreme. This meant that winters had gotten colder while summers had become much more hot and very dry.
Wildfires near Ashland, Kansas Completely Singed the Earth in 2017
Taking a look at the two photos below, you’ll notice birds-eye views of a small area on the outskirts of Ashland, Kansas. These photos were taken before and after a devastating wildfire. This particular fire was part of a cluster of four huge fires in Kansas and Oklahoma that had spread for approximately 780 thousand acres.
It goes without saying the amount of destruction endured by this city was devastating. Parts of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas were affected by these wildfires, which, in hindsight, were no big surprise. Apparently, the area at the time had the perfect weather conditions for a wildfire to spread.
Alaska’s Muir Glacier Melted into a Colorful, Vibrant River
The famous Muir Glacier was named after the naturalist John Muir, who explored the area, wrote about it, and raised awareness of it. It has previously been known as the most famous of the tidewater glaciers. These comparison photos from 1941 to now demonstrate the change in Alaska’s Muir Glacier over the past five decades and just how much it has retreated.
Sometimes, change can be beautiful at first sight, but when looked at a little closer, it can actually be pretty alarming. The photos you see here are conveying drastic changes that have completely taken hold of Alaska’s Muir Glacier. The glacier has been consistently thinning over the last 70 years and although it’s a beautiful sight to see, the detriment is pretty substantial.
The Statue of Liberty Turns Green
The statue of liberty doesn’t require any introduction, right? It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the U.S., and in the world. Tourists visiting the Statue of Liberty might think its color has always been green. However, the photo on the left presents the original color of the statue, which was a shade of reddish-brown.
Why did the Statue of Liberty turn green?
Originally, the statue’s copper covering provided it with the reddish-brown color you see on the left image. With time, it has gradually turned to the iconic shade of green-blue we’re all familiar with today. The reasons why the statue has changed its color throughout the years have to do mostly with the weather and environmental conditions. The statue was unveiled in 1886, and experts say that by 1920, its color had already changed.
Walker Lake, Nevada Springs Down from 1988 to 2017
Nearly 10,000 years ago, Western Nevada was covered by an inland sea. Walker Lake is one of the last remnants that remain from this ancient sea. Since the area became populated and due to agricultural processes, the level of the lake steadily drops. Like many of the changes on the list, this is something that’s mostly visible through a satellite photo.
Walker Lake is missing about ninety percent of its original volume since settlements became established along the basin of the lake, approximately a century ago. As a result, you can see in these photos just how much it has actually shrunken since then. It’s truly astonishing.
Glacier in Northwestern Alaska Melts into a Large Lake
Pictured first is the Northwestern Glacier and its beautiful rock-filled shoreline, coated in a fresh blanket of snow. The spiky, tall icebergs hide the ocean floor that flows underneath them. The second photo shows that any remnant of a glacier is pretty much gone, turned into a large lake.
This Alaskan Glacier has shrunken about 6 miles down, completely out of the field of view now. We keep hearing about climate change and glaciers melting, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words, and hearing about it is significantly different than seeing the massive change that took place over time.
The French Mont-Saint-Michel high – low tide Continues to Span Generations
A commune in France, Le-Mont-Saint-Michel is made up of an astonishing population of only 30 people, resting peacefully on a small, tidal island approximately 0.6 miles off of the north-western coast of the country. In case the number of actual residents gives it away, this island isn’t a residential area as much as a tourist attraction.
An ongoing architecture project, a stunning castle was built on the island; it took over 1,000 years and with the hands of a number of different cultures and nations participating in its build.
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” ― Mark Twain
If you don’t want a sarcastic answer, don’t ask stupid questions.
Good Things Takes Time ~ SO Let Love Flow
China’s Master Plan for World Domination (Mini Documentary).