Earth News Archive

Digital Files: Earth News Archive
1. Condor Birth
Excitement was high at the San Diego Zoo this week with the first
successful hatching of a California condor chick. For the past 20
years, researchers have known that fewer and fewer condors have
been hatching successfully in the wild. With so few birds left,
wildlife biologists realized that the trend could not continue without
disastrousresults. They began scaling the steep cliffs of the
southern California mountains to bring eggs back for controlled
incubation. This week’s hatching marked the first success for the
daring program.
Although the chick is officially named "Esperanza," the Spanish
word for "hope," workers have affectionately nicknamed him
"Placido" for his peaceful nature and physical resemblance to the
SesameStreet character Placido Flamingo. They plan to return
Placido to his parents’ nest within within a few weeks, after he is
strong enough to cope with the change.

4

Digital Files: Earth News Archive
2. Earthquake Activity
Two large earthquakes occurred within hours of one another
in the U.S. this week. In Alaska, an earthquake measuring 6.5
on the Richter scale occurred; it was thelargest tremor in that
region since the devastating earthquake of 1964. It struck at
5:45 p.m. pacific daylight time and was centered five miles
offshore in the town of Yakutat, about 644 km southeast of
Anchorage. Fishermen reported capsized boats and
damaged moorings, apparently caused by a small tsunami, or
seismic sea wave, generated by the earthquake.
The second large earthquake was even moresurprising, as it
occurred in Missouri, a region not known for its earthquake
activity. The tremor was centered near the town of Clinton,
about 80.5 km south of Kansas City. The 7.3 magnitude
quake rocked evening rush hour traffic. Surprisingly, the
quake caused only minor damage. Only one injury was
reported, a bruised hip to 83 year-old Clinton resident Mervin
Sprague, who was struck by aclosing door. "Strangest thing
you ever saw!" was Sprague’s only comment.
Small tremblers also rattled parts of California, Japan,
Indonesia, and Chile during the week, but no serious damage
was reported. "Just part of the normal day-to-day activity,"
according to seismologist Bill Shakelee at the U.S. Geological
Survey.
5

The Great Alaska Earthquake ocurred on March 27, 1964, with areported
magnitude of 9.2 on the Richter scale.

Digital Files: Earth News Archive
3. Floods
A week of monsoon flooding
affected nearly 2 million people who
make their living in the rice fields of
the Ganges delta region of
Bangladesh. Seasonal flooding is
no stranger to these residents, who
rely on the rich mud and silt carried
by the river to replenish their
depleted soils. But thistime it was
too much of a good thing, as
unusually high tides coincided with
normal flooding. Vast tracts of land
are submerged. The Red Cross and
World Health Organization have
flown in relief missions to combat
the high risk of water-borne
diseases. They report numerous
casualties and countless stranded
families. The monsoon season still
has three weeks left, but tides
should decreaseover the next few
days.

6

Digital Files: Earth News Archive
In New Orleans, the Mississippi River jumped
its banks, flooding a large portion of the city,
including the renowned French Quarter. The
flooding resulted from the rapid melting of an
unusually deep winter snow-pack in the
eastern Rocky Mountains and Midwestern
states, followed by a scorching spring of
record temperatures. Thelast time such
flooding occurred in New Orleans was over
100 years ago, before adequate levees had
been built to protect the city.
A layer of mud up to two-foot thick covered
streets and walkways in some areas of the
city as flood waters began to recede. No
deaths have been reported, but property
damage will certainly run into the millions of
dollars. The president has declared the region...