New Zealand moves closer to Australia!

A massive earthquake last week has brought New Zealand closer to Australia, scientists say. The 7.8 magnitude quake in the Tasman Sea has expanded New Zealand's South Island westwards by about 30cm (12in). New Zealand frequently suffers earthquakes because it sits on the meeting point of the Australian and Pacific continental plates.



See the full BBC report here.

Edexcel AS Geography: Global Hazards

Finally I've finished the revision guide for the Global Hazards section of the AS course. For year 12, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have revised the Climate Change section of the course, as there will not be a specific guide produced by us. Although you will get a paper copy of the guide, it will not show the key diagrams in colour so please ensure that you have downloaded an electronic copy as well.

Global Hazards Edexcel AS Revision

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Earthquake in Italy

At least 27 people have been killed in a powerful earthquake that struck central Italy.

Five children are said to be among the dead and at least 30 people remain unaccounted for as a massive search for the trapped is under way.

The 6.3-magnitude quake struck in the early hours close to the medieval city of L'Aquila, 95km (60 miles) from Rome.

A civil protection official told the BBC that 3,000 to 10,000 buildings in the city may have been damaged.

To see the rest of the BBC report, click here.

Early report from CNN...

And from the BBC...

Why could Miss Blackmore's dad not get to work today?

You all know I'm a fan of mysteries in Geography!

The town of Ottery St Mary, east Devon, was cut off this morning by torrential overnight storms which caused 6ft high drifts of hailstones! More than 3 inches of rain and hail fell between 6pm on Wednesday and 8am this morning. More than 100 people had to be evacuated from their homes. Cars were buried up to their roofs in hasilstones. It is thought that the situation became so severe because hailstones blocked drains and caused serious flooding as more rain fell.

Click on the map above to see it in more detail!



To find out more, check out these articles...
October's weird weather continues as village is inundated by 6ft drifts of hailstones
'Freak' hail causes flood chaos (includes video)
Freak storm leaves Devon town like 'lunar landscape' under 2ft of hail (includes video)
Arborfield blog (look at the amazing pictures on this blog!)

Not forgetting the mystery question, my dad couldn't get to work today because he works in the town of Ottery St Mary, which was this morning under as much as 6ft of hailstones and floodwater!