The Marble Arch Caves

The Marble Arch caves are located in a National Nature Reserve in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. These caves lie not far from the Cuilcagh Mountain and along the Cladagh River. It is such a unique area.
The caves were first explored by Éduoard Martel a French Speleologist(Speleology is the  scientific study of caves) and Lyster Jameson a naturalist in 1895. Soon after in 1935 the Yorkshire Ramblers explored the caves in further detail. But this is only a fragment of the caves history. The caves stretch back to 340 million years ago. In this time the island of Ireland and the world looked far different to what it looks like today.
All the millions of years ago Ireland was located around the Equator! The oceans were filled with tropical fish and on land the landscape was nothing like it is today. Once the plants and animals died and began to decay they were compressed into sediments later known as Sedimentary rocks. These rocks were to form the magnificent attraction that is the Marble Arch caves.

The caves and surrounding area is a Global Geopark Centre. Very few exist in the World. If you have an interest in Speleology or nature or just a peaceful relaxing break. It is highly recommended that this is a reason to visit Ireland and Co. Fermanagh.

For more information have a look at the website: http://www.marblearchcaves.net/

Boat ride through the caves

Japanese radioactivity found in Ireland

Low levels of Radioactivity have been found in Ireland after the devastating explosions at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in northern Japan. This discovery was made by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII).
Some low levels of Iodine have been found in Ireland and throughout Europe. According to the RPII these levels  will have no health implications. Special actions will not have to been taken due to these low levels.

The institute on a regular basis monitors radioactivity using an air sampler. This is located in Dublin.

What is Nuclear power?
Nuclear power is produced by controlled nuclear reactions. It is the reaction of nuclear fission which heat water to produce steam. This steam generates electricity. It provides 6% of  the worlds energy and 12-13% of the worlds electricity.  The US, France and Japan produce 50% of this electricity.

Nuclear power has seen so much controversy and the debate is ongoing. On one side is the World Nuclear Association and IAEA which believe that Nuclear energy is a sustainable energy. On the other side is Greenpeace International  and NIRS which believe nuclear power poses a threat to people and the environment.

Should we use nuclear power in a balance with renewable energy? or Should we ban nuclear power?

Go Green: Bottle vs. Tap

The Story of Bottled Water (2010)

Sustainability explained through animation

7.0 Earthquakes strikes Burma

Two 7.0 Earthquakes have struck North East Burma(Burma is officially the Union of Myanmar). The first quake occurred 10km below the surface. at around 1:55 pm Irish time. The second quake struck shortly after but around 230km underground.
There has been no tsunami. The Pacific tsunami warning centre believe no tsunami will occur because the quakes occurred far inland.
According to the US Geological Survey the quakes occurred in the boarder with Laos and Thailand.  The quakes have been described as been strong to violent. Tremors have been felt as far away as the Yunnan province in China.

There are no signs of fatalities. It may take some time to know of these fatalities because the quakes occurred in rural, mountainous region with small populations.

The Vernal Equinox

The Equinox is when the Earth's axis is neither away nor facing the sun. This occurs only twice a year. There is a Spring(Vernal) Equinox(March) and Autumn(September).
It originates from the Latin 'Aequus' meaning equal. It is at both Equinox's that Day and Night are equal. Almost!
It is also believed that Night in both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere are the same.

The Equinox's and the Past:-
The Vernal  Equinox played an important role in the past. In Celtic and Pagan times the Vernal Equinox was the beginning of spring. The people believed that Earth was asleep during the Winter and awoke at the Vernal Equinox. So our ancestors may have been aware of the Environment and Astronomy far before we have been!
For Christians, the timing of Easter depends in the Vernal Equinox. Easter occurs  on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox.

Our ancestors who built Newgrange in Co. Meath positioned its entranceway for the Equinoxes so sunlight would light up the passage ways.

The Vernal Equinox at Newgrange

The Lunar Perigee

For the first time since 1993 the Moon will be the closest to the Earth. This is the Lunar Perigee. Over Ireland and Europe the next few days we will be able to view the Moon clearer than ever. If the skies are clear! This Perigee is special as it coincides with a full moon. An Apogee is when the Moon is furthest away from Earth.

But what does the Perigee mean for us down here?
As you know the Moon controls the tides. On a full moon the tides are at their highest. But as the Perigee is larger than normal this means our tides will be higher than normal.
But in recent times the Perigee has caused some disasters. It has been known to cause a change to the climate. Earthquakes, Tsunamis and volcanoes are meant to be active during the Lunar Perigee.
In 1938, storms raged across New England. In 1974 there was Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin.

But there is another side to this Perigee. Some Scientists believe that no disasters will occur during this Perigee because Earth will be going through a lower tide than usual.

On the 4th of January 1912, the closest Perigee occurred. The Moon was 356,375 km from Earth!

Lunar Perigee and Apogee

Happy St. Patrick's Day - Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

Earth Hour 26th March 2011

Japanese Earthquake triggers Tsunami

An 8.9 magnitude Earthquake has struck Japan. The quake which struck at  2:46pm local time is the countries largest quake recorded in Japan since records began 140 years ago. The quakes epicenter was located in Sendai on the coastline, 400km(250 miles) north east of Tokyo. So far the death toll is around 350 but this is expected to be in the 1000s.

Along with a horrific earthquake, as a result a Tsunami which reached 10m(33feet) washed across the land. This huge wave destroyed all in its path. Cars, boats and houses were swept away. The Tsunami which traveled at 800km/h(500mph) as fast as a jetliner. Tsunami alerts were cautioned across the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to the United States. Some alerts are still in place.

The aftermath of this disaster is yet to be known. Some fires have broken out in areas. There was also problems with the Fukushima Nuclear power plant which had difficulty cooling down. Residents were evacuated in fears of radiation leeks.

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