Africa's Green Revolution

From the begging bowl to the bread basket: in just two years, Malawi has gone from famine to food surplus - according to national statistics.

Smallholder farmers are being given access to new crop breeds; fertilisers; irrigation systems; and new techniques in crop rotation and soil management.

Agro-science is helping families to cope with climate change and helping Malawi to buck the trend in neighbouring African countries.

Hurricane hits the Caribbean

Hurricane Paloma has strengthened to a Category Three storm and is lashing the Cayman Islands with winds of up to 185km/h (115mph.

For more information click this link to the BBC news page. To track Hurricane Paloma click this link to the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.

Geography Department Calendar

The summer geography photographic competition has prompted the creation of a calendar for 2009. Each month has a photograph taken by a pupil, the pictures here are just a sample, from Claire Vassallo (left), Heather Lacey (lower left) and Jonathan Lobley(lower right). Other contributors include, Eleanor Bridge, Fraser Bradley, Georgina Bennett, Jack Glynn, James Wright, Julia Ward, Matthew Stocker, Natasha McLean, Sam O'Hare and Will Lacey.

Samples shown do not reflect the resolution on the actual calendar; copies are available to buy direct from the Geography Department. Please see Dr Sutherland for details.

Man made eruption

The eruption of the Lusi mud volcano in Indonesia was caused by drilling for oil and gas, a meeting of 74 leading geologists has concluded.

Lusi erupted in May 2006 and continues to spew out boiling mud, displacing around 30,000 people in East Java.

Drilling firm Lapindo Brantas denies a nearby well was the trigger, blaming an earthquake 280km (174 miles) away.

Around 10,000 families who have lost their homes are awaiting compensation, which could run as high as $70m (£43m).

After debating new evidence at a conference in South Africa, most geologists voted drilling as the cause.

For more details follow this link to the BBC page.

Life Expectancy Rises

Life expectancy at birth in the UK has reached its highest level on record for both males and females. A newborn baby boy could expect to live 77.2 years and a newborn baby girl 81.5 years if mortality rates remain the same as they were in 2005–07.

Females continue to live longer than males, but the gap has been closing. Although both sexes have shown annual improvements in life expectancy at birth, over the past 25 years the gap has narrowed from 6.0 years to 4.3 years.

Reasons for the changes include a reduction in smoking and better coronary health advice and care.

This data came from the Office of National Statistics.

Are you a Flat-Earther?

Aristotle first described the possibility that the Earth was spherical in 330BC.

Despite all modern technology there are still a group of people who believe the Earth is not round; they are called Flat-Earthers.

Click on the link below and see if you are convinced?

Flat-Earth Society

The eve of all Hallows

It may have its origins in Irish pagan festivals but Halloween, like many things has been taken over by the US.

One of the symbols of Halloween is the pumpkin lantern and so to put a Geographical edge to Halloween, below is the list of the US's largest producers of pumpkins.

Ohio 6,600 $33,617,000

Illinois 14,800 $23,430,000

New York 6,400 $22,694,000

Pennsylvania 6,100 $17,495,000

California 5,300 $13,356,000

U.S. Total 43,200 $117,492,000

Hailstorm Havoc

Severe flooding, which left a Devon town virtually cut off, was caused by a "freak" overnight hailstorm, the Met Office has said.

Devon and Somerset Fire Service described the situation after 1ft (0.3m) of hail fell in the Ottery St Mary area as "absolute chaos".

Cars in the town were left tightly packed in ice after about 1ft (0.3m) of hail fell in just two hours between 0100 and 0300 GMT.

World Data

Take a look at the bottom of the blog to see World Data changing in the here and now!

Unseasonal Weather - for a change?

Weather forecasters predict the cold snap will ease slightly after heavy snow in some parts of the UK but the winter conditions are set to continue.
The cold snap - with its widespread frost and crisp air - is caused by cold air that has come down from the Arctic.
It has been described as 'Unusual weather' by the Met Office. Cardiff will enjoy the highest temperatures, with a maximum of 10C (50F). Meanwhile, central Scotland is not expected to rise above 3C (37.4F).
BBC Weather forecaster Kirsty McCabe said: "It is unusual weather and the air is much colder for this time of the year. It will be cold during the rest of the week and the temperature now is more like what you find at the end of December."
On Tuesday night temperatures plunged to -4C and football matches were either postponed or abandoned at Luton, Northampton, Walsall and Wycombe.
Kent also suffered from torrential rain.