The natural forces of the planet were in full swing this year, with some spectacular and devastating consequences. From the massive Haiti earthquake to a bevy of explosive volcano eruptions, 2010 saw its share of natural disasters across the planet. Here are some of the headline-grabbing natural disasters that OurAmazingPlanet and its sister sites covered in 2010. [ FULL STORY ] 2010 Earthquakes Just 12 days into the new year, a massive earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The quake was responsible for the deaths of more than 200,000 people and left more than 1.5 million homeless. Months after the devastating quake, scientists discovered that a previously unmapped fault was responsible for the magnitude-7.0 earthquake, not the fault originally blamed for the temblor. The earthquake increased stresses on nearby faults, potentially increasing the likelihood of another major temblor in the islands, scientists also found. Just weeks after Haiti was struck, a magnitude-8.8 earthquake hit south-central Chile on Feb. 27. The massive temblor changed the country's landscape by raising the ground by more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) near the coast and sinking land farther inward, scientists found. [See images of Chile's raised coast.] In early September, a magnitude-7.1 earthquake ruptured in Christchurch, New Zealand, a city with a population of about 400,000. The quake caused millions of dollars of damage, and recovery efforts in the downtown business district were set back by a magnitude-4.9 earthquake, an aftershock that struck on Dec. 28. In quake-prone Indonesia, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Oct. 25. The quake triggered a 10-foot (3-meter) tsunami, killing at least 113 people. The earthquake ruptured during a process called thrust faulting, when one of the Earth's rocky plates subducted or took a dive below the other. While not devastating (and not even felt by many), New York City experienced its largest earthquake in 18 years when a magnitude-3.9 earthquake rattled the region on Nov. 30. Volcano eruptions in 2010 Two major volcanic eruptions captivated audiences around the world this year. The eruption of the fiery red sunsets and brought international aviation to a temporary standstill, resulting in travel chaos for tens of thousands. The made its own lightning. That lightning could help scientists accurately . Over in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia's Mount Merapi began erupting on Oct. 26, killing more than 350 people and leaving nearly 400,000 refugees that fled the area. 2010 Hurricane Season Most Americans may not have realized it, but the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, which ran from June 1 to Nov. 30, was among the busiest on record. The season saw a near-record number of storms but few had an impact on the United States. The Atlantic basin, which includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, had 19 named storms (tropical storms and hurricanes) in all, which placed the season in a tie with 1887 and 1995 as the third busiest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The busiest hurricane season on record is still 2005, a year that saw 28 named storms, including Hurricane Katrina. Unlike the busy Atlantic hurricane season, the 2010 Pacific hurricane season was the least active on record in terms of named storms and hurricanes, with 13 total storms. Hurricane Celia, a category 5 storm that hit near Acapulco, Mexico, was the strongest in the Pacific. The Pacific typhoon season is ongoing, but its strongest storm yet, Typhoon Megi - a category 5 storm - struck the Philippines in mid-October. The storm was one of the most intense tropical cyclones on record (tropical cyclone is the generic name for tropical storms, typhoons and hurricanes). Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Jal swirled over the northern Indian Ocean on Nov. 4. Jal was one of five cyclones in the region - the strongest of which was Cyclone Giri, a category 4 storm that hit Myanmar in late October. Rare tornadoes of 2010 Tornadoes touched down in parts of the Untied States that haven't seen twisters in a while. In New York City, the boroughs of See images of damage in Queens.] After a long tornado lull during the so-called The Weather Channel's website. In Wisconsin, the first November tornado in more than 39 years - which boasted an EF1 strength rating - struck Walworth County. Another was reported in Union Grove, Wis., but has not been confirmed. Only three November tornadoes have hit Wisconsin since 1950, two on Nov. 15, 1960, and one on Nov. 1, 1971. Landslides in 2010 The heaviest rains to hit parts of Colombia in four decades caused widespread flooding and triggered deadly landslides in early December. The landslide hit near the suburbs of Medellin and crushed around 50 houses and possibly killed hundreds of people. While the cause of the landslide and the exact number of fatalities is unclear, the Ways the Earth Changes in the Blink of an Eye.   Indiana Earthquake Felt In Chicagolink This map from the U.S. Geological Survey plots the intensity levels of Thursday’s earthquake near Kokomo, Ind. (Credit: USGS) Share this: From Adam Harrington UPDATED 12/30/10 8:02 a.m. GREENTOWN, Ind. (CBS) – Some Chicagoans felt tremors as an earthquake struck central Indiana. The 3.8-magnitude earthquake was centered about 15 miles east-southeast of Kokomo, Ind. and about 50 miles north-northeast of Indianapolis, and was felt around 6:55 a.m. Chicago time. The epicenter was five miles southeast of the rural town of Greentown in Howard County, Ind. WBBM Newsradio 780 reports there was no serious damage or injuries, but a lot of shaking. Some Indiana residents reported the earthquake was a like a large jet flying over their homes at a low altitude. Howard County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Rogers says the department was bombarded by phone calls after the quake from people wondering what had happened. He says some people reported hearing a loud boom. Indiana University geologist Michael Hamburger said the quake was felt across central Indiana and into western Ohio. He said the temblor occurred in an area “that’s seismically very quiet.” CBS 2′s Megan Glaros points out that two fault lines are located near the affected area — the Fortville and Royal Center fault lines. CBS affiliate WISH-TV, Indianapolis, reported receiving dozens of to its newsroom about the earthquake, from Indianapolis all the way to South Bend. Hundreds of WISH-TV Facebook fans have posted how they felt the earthquake, the station reported. A viewer told CBS 2 she felt the earthquake in Naperville. Lake Barrington resident Angela Incandela also felt the earthquake. “I felt my bed shaking, and I kind of remember the last time we had an earthquake, and that’s the first thing that went through my mind,” Incandela told CBS 2. She said she became frightened when her perfume bottles started shaking on her dresser, but the trembling soon stopped. The quake was also felt in Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio and Pittsburgh, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Two earthquakes have rattled the Chicago area in recent years. This past Feb. 11, a 3.8-magnitude earthquake struck an epicenter 1 mile south-southeast of Pingree Grove, which is about 40 miles northwest of Chicago. No serious damage was reported, but many people reported thinking they heard an explosion when the earthquake struck. CBS 2’s Mary Kay Kleist was preparing the morning’s weather forecasts at the CBS 2 Broadcast Center at the time, when lights started moving in the studio, and, “suddenly, I thought a truck was going to hit the building.” On April 18, 2008, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck with an epicenter about 7 miles from downstate Mt. Carmel, about 230 miles south of Chicago. That earthquake was felt around the state, including in Chicago. Downtown skyscrapers shook, but damage was mostly seen downstate. (TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) December cold – unprecedented? Posted on December 29, 2010 by Verity Jones BBC news has reported that 40,000 homes are still without water in Northern Ireland after the recent spell of freezing temperatures. Many have been without water for more than 10 days, and reservoirs are being drained due to an unprecedented number of leaks since the thaw. Calls to a few friends confirmed that, yes, it is bad – friends in Lisburn have been without water since Christmas Eve due to a frozen mains supply (i.e. not in their house); others in Belfast report low water pressure. Water is being rationed in places. Was it really that cold? A search of the BBC site revealed “‘Baltic’ Northern Ireland” tucked away on the BBC NI news page. Castlederg in the West of the province recorded a low of -18°C on 20th December – a new record. Continue reading → Atlanta set for first White Christmas in 129 years New York, Boston could see foot of snowlink

25 Dec 10 - The Weather Channel provided these snow forecasts: Atlanta, GA: 1-3 inches on Saturday, heaviest amounts north of the city. 3-6 inches expected in north Georgia mountains.   Norfolk, VA.: 6-10 inches Saturday night through Sunday night.   Boston, MA: 12-18 inches on Sun night though Mon evening.   New York, N.Y.: 10-15 inches late Sunday through Monday.   Philadelphia, PA: 5-10 inches on Sunday.   Washington, D.C.: 2-5 inches on Sunday.   Raleigh, NC: 5-9 inches Saturday night and Sunday.   Charlotte, NC: 3-6 inches Saturday through Sunday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40802805/ns/weather/?GT1=43001

December set to be coldest for a centurylink

As the icy weather set to continue, the UK could be heading for its coldest December since 1890, forecasters said.

Temperatures were expected to remain below freezing on Boxing Day with spells of rain, sleet and snow in northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of west Wales and far west England, spreading eastwards overnight.

It’s official, coldest winter in 130 years in Irelandlink

Polar bear on O'Connell Street, Dublin - This has officially been the coldest December on record

This has been the coldest start to winter for the last 130 years, when records began. According to Met Eireann, Ireland’s meteorological service, December has officially been the coldest month ever on record.

Last Monday County Mayo recorded low temperatures of -17.2C (1F).

The latest snap is expected to last beyond Christmas Day and a thaw is expected to set in slowly on St.Stephen’s Day December 26th.

Even then there will be heavy rains and high winds, and driving conditions will be even more risky say the experts.

Dublin Airport was closed again yesterday for most of the day when an unexpected snow storm hit.
The weather continued to play havoc with effort to get  home for Christmas by thousands coming from America, Australia and many other destinations.

In New York and Boston and Chicago Aer Lingus were warning passengers to check with the airline before departing for the airport as yesterday’s unexpected storm had again thrown schedules up in the air.

The cold snap all around Europe has once again raised questions about whether global warming is real or a manufactured threat.

However, despite the frozen European continent,  according to NASA the world has never been so warm. NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies has said that 2010 is set to be the third warmest year on record with 2009 in second place.

Although this might sound impossible as Ireland’s airports are closed and roads blocked with snow climatologist, John Sweeney, head of the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units at NUI Maynooth, told the Irish Independent that this is because people confuse weather for climate.

He said "What's happening in Europe is a very small proportion of the globe so we shouldn't imagine that there's a contradiction between a global trend that is very substantial and a short-term weather event, which although very severe, is confined to a small part of the globe.

"Winters tend to go in cold clusters in Ireland, we had one last winter and we have one this winter. We may have one next winter but it doesn't alter the overall trend of the globe as a whole," he said.

He said the freeze was related to changes occurring in the jet stream, which is the weather system that brings mild and moist whether to Ireland.

Mr Sweeney said "2010 has been characterized by a jet stream which is much more loopy and wave-like and when that happens we tend to get a lot of anomalies so we've been having extremely strange conditions…If current conditions were to be replicated in July or June, with the same kind of wind directions and wind strengths we would have a heat wave.”

Florida Crops Suffer at Least $115 million in Freeze Damages, so Far

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As Florida deals with yet another arctic blast right now, a new report shows freezes earlier this month caused at least $115 million in damage.
The Florida Department of Agriculture has compiled crop damage estimates from cold weather through Dec. 20.
The report shows the cucumber crop was wiped out. Florida and Mexico usually supply this crop in the winter, but Florida has not shipped anything for more than a week. Shipments of cucumbers are up from Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Eggplant, snap beans and peppers were nearly wiped out. Cabbage, sweet corn and squash all suffered heavy losses.
Nelson Mongiovi of the state agriculture department called it an ugly December for crops.
"It is very unusual. I think these temperatures hit us probably 30 days earlier than we expected," he said. "We're not there yet this year. We hope we don't get there. But I got to tell you, it's awfully cold, awfully early."
Fortunately, it looks as though citrus has dodged a bullet for now, said Mongiovi.
"Citrus is our signature crop and they got a bad hit last January and we're just hoping they don't see those temperatures below 28 degrees for four more hours."
The verdict is still out on tomatoes. The crop did suffer damage, but it will take several weeks to gauge the impact.
The state agriculture department estimates Florida has suffered a total economic loss of about $275 million when you consider indirect losses.
"When we say $115 million, that's directly to the grower. That's their losses. But when you begin to take into account all the people that are affected by those crops, you're looking at $250 million, $275 million worth of losses. There is a trickle-down effect that goes with all this," said Mongiovi.
The agriculture report shows crops that have fared OK so far, include oranges, grapefruit, tangelos, avocados, radishes and strawberries.