8 dead in tourist boat capsize in US
New York, July 20 : At least eight persons have died and over 10 injured in a tourist boat accident in the US state of Missouri, said an official.
According to Southern Stone County Fire Protection spokesman Eric Nielsen, the incident occurred on Thursday on the Table Rock Lake near Branson, CNN reported. There were more than 20 people onboard when it capsized, Nielsen said.
"We did have a severe thunderstorm, not sure if that is the contributing factor," he added. "There is a lot of storm debris."
A spokeswoman for Ripley Entertainment, the parent company of Ride the Ducks Branson, said the company is in contact with their employees at the scene.
Suzanne Smagala-Potts said the company had acquired the vessel not long ago that was involved in the incident, the CNN report added. There were other boats on the lake that returned to the dock safely.
Divers representing various agencies were on scene to assist with the investigation and recovery.
At least six patients were treated at CoxHealth Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Kaitlyn McConnell said. She, however, did not comment on the nature of the victims' injuries.
The rescue operation is still on.
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Groundwater depletion causes Earth's axis to shift by 31.5 inches: Study
A recent study has uncovered a significant impact of human activity on the planet: Earth's axis has shifted by 31.5 inches (nearly 80 centimeters) due to extensive groundwater extraction. Published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the research highlights how large-scale pumping of groundwater has changed the distribution of Earth's mass, affecting its rotation and contributing to sea-level rise. The shift in Earth's tilt is linked to a sea-level increase of 0.24 inches, according to Popular Mechanics.
Lead researcher Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University, explained that among climate-related factors, the redistribution of groundwater has had the most significant effect on the movement of Earth's rotational pole. The planet's tilt, or axial precession, is influenced by changes in mass distribution. As glaciers and polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica melt, water migrates towards the equator, shifting the planet's balance—a phenomenon comparable to how a figure skater’s spin changes when they alter their body position.
The study examined data from 1993 to 2010, revealing that approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were pumped out during this time, largely for agricultural and human consumption. This large-scale extraction has contributed to a shift in Earth's axis of about 31.5 inches.
Groundwater, which is water stored underground in soil and rock, plays a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. It originates from precipitation that seeps into the earth, replenishing natural aquifers. These aquifers are vital freshwater resources, supporting drinking water supplies, agriculture, and industry. The availability and quality of groundwater depend on natural factors like recharge rates and human activity.
While the 31.5-inch shift in Earth's axis might seem minor, the consequences could be far-reaching over geological timescales. Changes in water distribution can lead to varying sea-level changes across regions, affecting coastal areas differently. Additionally, shifts in Earth's tilt can influence its internal systems, such as the magnetic field, which acts as a shield against harmful solar radiation.
