Earthweek: A Diary of the Planet (Nov. 22, 2013)

Carbon Dioxide Record
Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels will reach a record amount of 36 billion tons this year, according to a report prepared by an international team of scientists.  The findings by 49 researchers from 10 countries were prepared for the Global Carbon Project, and highlight a 2.1 percent increase over last year's levels and a 61 percent increase since 1990.  CO2 is the most prevalent greenhouse gas and is mainly created by the burning of coal, oil and gas.  The world's industrialized and developing countries have failed to cut global emissions enough to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, which scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst effects of climate change.  While the United Stqtes significantly cut its CO2 emissions by switching to cleaner fuels in recent years, emerging industries elsewhere and the switch from nuclear power to burning coal in Japan and Germany have far offset those reductions.  China, the world's No. 1 carbon emitter, accounted for 70 percent of the global increase in 2012, according to the report.
'Cyclone' Cleopatra
An unprecedented Mediterranean storm struck the Italian island of Sardinia with such force that it was dubbed "Cyclone Cleopatra."  The storm dumped almost 18 inches of rainfall within an hour and a half, causing rivers to burst their banks and flood waters to sweep away cars with explosive force.  Olbia Mayor Gianni Giovannelli said the city had been destroyed by the "apocalyptic" storm, which washed out bridges and submerged homes beneath 10 feet of water bomb."  At least 16 people lost their lives during the flash flooding.
MERS Update
The deadly MERS respiratory virus that has killed at least 65 people, mainly in the Middle East, often goes undetected among those infected, according to a new study.  European researchers estimate that for each of the roughly 155 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease, five to 10 may have been infected and gone unidentified.  World Health Organization MERS expert Anthony Mounts says his agency has been told Saudi health officials are focusing their testing on people with MERS-like symptoms who are gravely ill.  This possibly leads to many other sufferers remaining under the radar.  The scientists say they still aren't able to rule out that person-to-personinfection is spreading the disease in addition to contact with infected animals.  Camels around Saudi Arabia have been found to be infected with the flulike virus.
Tropical Cyclones
The fourth tropical cyclone to form in the northern Indian Ocean this season lashed India's southeastern coast late in the week.  Cyclone Helen was packing wind gusts of about 75 mph when it made landfall in eastern Andhra Pradesh state.
*    Tropical Storm Podul brought locally heavy rain to central Vietnam.  Subtropical Storm Melissa formed over the central Atlantic.
Earthquakes
A 5.5 magnitude quake rocked Toyko skyscrapers and halted rail service briefly when it struck just 30 miles east of the Japanese capital.
*    Earth movements were also felt in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Indonesia's North Maluku province, southern Washington state, central Oklahoma  and southeastern Ohio.
Volcano Refugees
Weeks of powerful blasts from Sumatra's Mount Sinabung volcano prevented thousands of people from returning to their homes after nearly a month in evacuation centers.  The volcano has been erupting on and off since mid-September, eventually forcing more than 5,000 people to flee their homes.  Ash from the blasts has destroyed thousands of acres of farmlands, inflicting millions of dollars of losses to farmers near the mountain's slopes.  Besides sending massive plumes of ash soaring high above northwestern Sumatra, Sinabung also unleashed a fast-moving avalanche of super heated ash, lava chunks and vapor cascading down its flanks.  Lava has been observed flowing from the top of the mountain as well.
Albino Roo
Visitors to a park just outside Australia's capital of Canberra are being dazzled by a pure white kangaroo that experts say has beaten the odds of survival.  Albino roos are extremely rare, and they typically don't survive into adulthood because their brilliant white coat attracks predators.  "The whole thing about natural selection is that you want to blend in.  Gray kangaroos are gray for a reason ---- they blend in with the rest of the environment."  Namadgi National Park ranger Brett McNamara told The Canberra Times.  He suspects the white marsupial is a female and about 2 years old.  Dubbed "Rene," the roo is surrounded by its extended family of eastern grays, which bands together against potential dangers.  The park is not divulging the location of Rene's mob out of fear that illegal hunters might track it down.