Latest news with #ice
Otago Daily Times
14 hours ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Snow-hit highways in Otago open, but care needed
All state highways in Otago have reopened after heavy snow, but motorists are advised to take care amid more snow and rain warnings. Check state highways here A low off the South Island east coast was expected to bring heavy rain to the lower South Island and more snow to inland parts of Otago and Southland on Saturday, MetService says. A heavy snow watch remains in place for Central Otago, Southland north of Lumsden, also inland Dunedin and Clutha from 9am until 7pm today. Periods of heavy snow were expected above 400 metres, where snowfall amounts may approach warning criteria. A heavy rain watch was also in place for Southland about and east of Mossburn from 9am until 3pm today. Periods of heavy rain were expected and amounts may approach warning criteria. There were ice warnings at Middlemarch and Outram, near Dunedin. The NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi said crews had working hard to reopen state highways following heavy snow. State Highway 85 from Omakau to Kyeburn had reopened by 10.15am The Lindis Pass (State Highway 8) from Tarras to Omarama was the next to open by 11am, followed by SH87 from Middlemarch to Kyeburn and SH85 from Kyeburn to Palmerston by 11.20am. A spokeswoman for Southern police said motorists should drive to conditions and allow for extra time on their journey. "Reducing speed, using headlights and windscreen wipers, and wearing seatbelts will also ensure a safe trip. Our roads are unforgiving and less predictable in our icy winter conditions, please drive with caution." In Central Otago, thick snow and ice was affecting roads in the Manuherekia and Maniototo areas, and caution was advised if using them, a spokeswoman for the district council said. By 10am the Ida Valley Omakua Road had reopened. However, rain and snow flurries were continuing and isolated areas of flooding were to be expected throughout Central Otago, she said. The Danseys Pass Road was closed from the gates past the Danseys Pass hotel. Heavy snow was affecting the Crown Range, linking Queenstown and Wānaka this morning, and chains are needed if using the alpine pass. A snow warning was also in place for Southland's Milford Rad (SH94). Ski fields near Wānaka have been blanketed, with Cardona Alpine Resort reporting 29cm of fresh snow overnight and more expected throughout the day. "The forecast has snow continuing throughout the morning and snow flurries over the day. Lifts will be delayed opening. Our teams are out assessing conditions, and we will open terrain as soon as its safe." At Treble Cone, 25cm had fallen in time for the ski field's opening day today. "Triple Treat groomed flat with fresh snow on top and we aim to open Upper Main Street and Big Skite pending patrol setup. Take care if venturing off-trail as this snow is thin. Cafe will be cranking with live DJs this afternoon." Drivers were advised chains were needed at both ski fields. Meanwhile, flood repair works are scheduled for SH1 near Hampden in North Otago and SH8 near Lawrence and Beaumont. Stop and go traffic controls may be in place, RNZ reported. Snow warnings for alpine roads LINDIS PASS (SH8)From midnight on Friday until 9pm on Saturday Snow is forecast to lower to 600 metres, and 3cm to 6cm of snow may settle on the road near the summit with lesser amounts to 600 metres.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Science
- New York Times
Here's Another Use for Ice: Creating Secret Codes
A new study by Chinese, Korean and Czech scientists points to a novel way of writing and storing messages: creating patterns of air bubbles in sheets of ice. While the researchers aren't expecting you to ditch your smartphone, their study speaks to the remarkable properties of frozen water. 'I could see it showing up in a James Bond movie,' said Robin E. Bell, an expert in ice sheet dynamics at Columbia and a former president of the American Geophysical Union. Dr. Bell, who was not involved in the new study, pictured a scene in which secret plans involving a submarine are encoded in an ice cube and are in danger of being discovered. 'So you turn it into a smoothie or something,' she said. But the idea is more than an exercise in frivolity, said Mengjie Song, an expert in thermodynamics at the Beijing Institute of Technology and one of the lead authors of the new study, published on June 18 in the scientific journal Cell Reports Physical Science. 'It is a totally new method for humans to record information,' Dr. Song said. In his view, there could be 'many, many applications around this work.' For instance, it could be used to help devise more accurate models for de-icing power lines, airplanes and high-speed trains. A clearer grasp of how ice bubbles form could also help scientists better understand the thermal and mechanical properties of bricks made from lunar soil, which could be used to build moon bases. (Scientists have been researching the possibility of fashioning bricks from Martian soil for almost a decade.) Trained to recognize patterns in ice bubbles, artificial intelligence could help study glaciers for clues about past climate patterns, or to identify potential deposits of natural gas. Researchers acknowledged, however, that much more work would have to be done to make such applications feasible. 'Ice is an ancient substance that permeates every aspect of our lives,' Dr. Song said. 'There are many unsolved mysteries waiting for us to explore.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl Rotary Club celebrates 99th with 99 ice creams
The Rotary Club of Rhyl marked its 99th anniversary with 99 ice creams, one for each year of service. John Dicks, club president, said: "I am very proud to be president on this very special occasion as we enter our 100th year and head for our centennial birthday in 2026. "We have achieved so much this year and raised thousands of pounds for local and national causes, particularly for Marie Curie and our wonderful local branch of the Samaritans. READ MORE: HMRC scam warning - how to spot fake phone calls, texts, voicemails and emails "I know that our next president, Gordon Marshall, has many additional innovative plans which we all look forward to." Rufus Adams, veteran Rotarian who has served with the club for 50 years, reflected on its long history. He said: "The first Rotary Charter was granted to the club in the year 1926 when George V was king. "We have survived World War Two, mad cow disease, the pandemic and witnessed 24 prime ministers take up office. "I think we have been around even longer than Gardeners' Question Time. "Quite a few of us have been Rotarians at the club for more than 25 years and it is wonderful that we have reached 99 not out." Tracey Philips, social secretary for the club, said the group is about more than just fundraising. She said: "We meet twice a month for a very sociable dinner and organise fun exercises such as bowls, skittles and bingo and meals at local restaurants. "I urge anyone who wishes to make a difference to the local and wider community to get in touch and you will receive a warm welcome."
Axios
4 days ago
- Health
- Axios
When hot drinks help keep you cool
Drinking something hot might actually cool you down. Why it matters: As millions of Americans experience record-breaking heat this summer, finding ways to cool down and stay hydrated is more important than ever. What they're saying:"When we have a hot drink, we sweat more, and when we sweat more, it cools us down more than, say, a cold drink," William Kornrich, internal medicine specialist at NYU Langone Medical Associates – Riverhead, told Axios in 2023. Yes, but: That's true as long as you're not wearing a lot of clothing and not in an extremely humid place — because sweat needs to evaporate to draw heat from the body. "The real important thing is that you're getting fluid into your system on a regular basis," Kornrich said. Be smart: Listen to your body, Kornrich said. "Water is wonderful," but if you're exerting yourself, consider supplementing with electrolyte drinks. If you need more help cooling down, you could use ice or a cold compress on your skin "where veins are a little bit more prominent, such as our groin and underarms." Hydrate and get out of the sun if you've got cold and pale skin, a rapid or weak pulse, muscle spasms, dizziness or nausea. Those are signs of heat exhaustion.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
NASA Satellite Captures Alaska's Iliamna Volcano From Space Amid Seismic Spike
A NASA-operated satellite recently captured an image of Iliamna Volcano, a glacier-covered volcano located in southwest Alaska, from space. The volcano, standing at an impressive 10,016 feet above sea level, grabbed attention after a recent burst of seismic activity that was recorded on June 15, 2025. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on the Landsat 8 satellite, operated by NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), took the image on June 10. Iliamna is a stratovolcano, characterised by its steep, conical shape and periodic explosive eruptions. The volcano is currently considered dormant as the most recent reported eruption occurred in 1876, but NASA said that the mountain still rumbles once every couple of years. "Its murmurs tend not to be signs of volcanic unrest but rather the signature of avalanches large enough to register on nearby seismic and infrasound instruments," NASA said in a post whose title was "Iliamna Volcano Ready to Rumble". The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) said that seismic activity picked up at about 4:30 am (local time) on June 15. It ramped up to a "nearly continuous" rate. As per the observatory, the seismic activity "slowed to a cadence of about one seismic event per minute and then returned to background levels around 2:30 pm (local time). The observatory lacked sufficient data to pinpoint the size and location of a potential slide that day. However, the signals detected were comparable to those preceding large avalanches on the volcano in the past, which typically involve slipping between rock and ice. These signals suggest possible instability, but further information is needed to confirm the nature of the event. The "outcome of the current activity remains uncertain," the AVO said.
