MASS WHALE STRANDINGS CAUSED BY METEOROIDS AND METEOR SHOWERS. The completed paper can be found below in the 2024 January 7th post titled Connection between Meteoroids and Mass Whale Strandings. “It is not known why they sometimes run aground on the seashore: for it is asserted that this happens rather frequently when the fancy takes them and without any apparent reason.” -Arisotle
2024, July 4. Scotland. Meteor. Stream: July xi Arietids. Time: 01:08. Velocity: 70.2 km/s. Duration: 3.92 sec. Coordinates: (57.29, -4.50) (56.96, -8.75). Altitude: 119.8 – 101.5 km. Marine Animal Disturbance for Scotland Region and Northern UK.
(56.96,%20-8.75).%20Altitude%20119.8%20%E2%80%93%20101.5%20km..png)
A rare meteor storm heading to Earth, Canada in for display on Thursday.
Astronomers believe we could be in for a rare meteor storm (yahoo.com)
2024, July 4. Canada, Nova Scotia, Shubenacadie River. Dead Humpback. It was seen early on in the week and appeared to be fine.
.png)
Marine Science regarding whale stranding will suffer if governments aren't forthcoming with factual information.
Transcript: “The amount of information readily available regarding incoming space rocks is diminishing. Critical information is being cut off leaving scientists blindsided. What this entails is that a high number of space rocks that are exploding in the earth's atmosphere are now being secretly classified which means that the general public is unaware of their occurrence, so where do we stand when determining the known numbers frequency and impact intensity of global fireball events.”
The video below is from Skywatch Media News.
2024, July 4. Hong Kong, Pui O Beach on Lantau. Two dolphin carcasses were located on beach. Ocean Park Conservation Foundation is investigating. The foundation said one of the dolphins was a newborn, while the other was a severely decomposed adult of 2.4 metres in length.
A fireball was seen over Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Tasman, Waikato and West Coast on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024, around 08:01 UT. See June 30 post for the Marine Animal Disturbance. It was one of several notable meteors that entered the atmosphere in the last 24 hours with others seen in the southern states of Australia. It was part of a swarm of objects seen at 6:30pm, followed by the one above at about 9pm local time and two more just after 4am. Although unlikely it could be precursor material for an airburst. With limited information concerning Tasmanian atmospheric events, it is almost impossible to ascertain what is happening, however, a watch should be noted for the next few weeks just to be safe. Bass Strait, Southern Ocean, Tasman Sea, Victoria, Tasmania, Flinders, and King Islands.
2024, July 1. Bangladesh, a protected forest of Chonbunia area of M Baliatoli Union of Barguna Sadar Upazila. A dead whale, about 25 feet long, has washed up on the banks of the Payra River in Barguna.
.png)
2024, July 2. Ireland, west Kerry peninsula. Boatmen moved a dead humpback whale floating between Brandon and the Maharees.
2024, June 28. Sea of Okhotsk. Airburst. Time: 16:05. Coordinates: (55.1, 141). e = 3.8, -e = 0.13 or 130,000 kg/TNT. Altitude 29.2 km. Velocity: 15.3 km/s.
Humpback whales and orcas are returning to the region but are a feeding/breeding ground for the endangered Bowhead Whales struggling to return to sustainable numbers. There are less than 400 individuals in the Sea of Okhotsk. It is a terrible location for an airburst. The Bol'shoy Shantar Island (Ongachan Bay), is S.W. of this event. A marine animal disturbance should be noted for the region. Belugas are also at risk. The area is home to a marine nature sanctuary so hopefully, observations will ascertain any biological damage quickly.
The Bowheads are struggling in the region because in 2017 an airburst on 23rd of June 2017, in the northern part of the sea had a blast force of 520,000 kg/TNT.
2024, June 28. Tasman Sea, New Zealand's north island west coast. Fireball. Long Beg:173.79, Lat Beg: -37.91, Long End: 170.38, Lat End: -37.82. Velocity: 27.78 km/s. Duration: 10.78 Seconds. Altitude: Beg: 100.38 km, End: 76.83 km. Flight Distance: 299 km. A watch should be taken for Marine Animal Disturbance on New Zealand's north island/west coast coastline and the south islands/northern coast at Farewell Spit and Golden Bay. Until further data on these events can pinpoint the meteors that should be noted as alerts for whale stranding, I will play it safe.
.png)
2024, June 8. USA, Rhode Island, North Atlantic. Fireball. Time: 07:17UT.
2024, June 28. USA, Massachusetts, Cape Cod Bay, “The Gut,” an area near Great Island and Herring River in Wellfleet. 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins stuck, 10 dead in record-breaking stranding off Cape Cod. International Fund for Animal Welfare is calling the biggest “single mass stranding event” in its response history in the past 25 years.
Update 20240701: Another 4 individuals are now dead.
Update: 20240714: 146 individuals stranded making it the largest mass stranding of mammals in US history.
See post: Fireball off Rhode Island in North Atlantic June 9. The trajectory was updated a few days after event.
.png)
2024, May 15. Canada, Newfoundland. North of Fogo Island. North Atlantic. Airburst. Time: 12:48. (Latitude: 49.8, Longitude: -54.1). e= 2.8. -e+ 0.098 or equivalent energy of 98,000 kg/TNT. Altitude 64.2 km.
.png)
2002, March 1. North Atlantic. Airburst. Coordinates: (29.2, -66.8). Time: 03:53. e = 29.2, -e = 0.13 or 13,000 kg/TNT.
2002, June 2. Mediterranean Sea: 230 km N-NE of Benghazi, Libya; Airburst, which was named (2002 Eastern Mediterranean event). Coordinates: 34°N 21°E. E = 450, -e = 8.8 or 8,800,000 kg/TNT.
2002, July. USA, Cape Cod. 55 Black Dolphins were stranded, and 46 returned to sea.
2002, September 24. Canary Islands. 14 beaked whales (Blamed on mid-frequency Military sonar testing). Pushed stranding. Very similar to what happened in Madagascar in 2008. You have an airburst injury then an outside event is blamed.
2019, September 14. South Atlantic. Airburst. (-38.6, -33.5). Time: 12:39. 2052 km from the Argentinian coast of the below event. Altitude 38 km. Velocity: 15.9 km/s. e=10.9, -e=0.33 or equivalent blast force of 330,000 kg/TNT. (See below event).
2019, September 16. Argentina, Mar Chiquita. Seven killer whales stranded, or orcas, beached in La Caleta near Mar del Plata. Six were pulled back to sea, while one died during the operation.
.png)
2024, June 25. Bangladesh, Halda River, Garduara, Chattogram. A Ganges River Dolphin 7 feet long weighing 90-99 kg washed ashore dead. A total of 41 dolphins have died in the region since 2017.
.png)
2024, June 24. India, Arnala Village in Virar west, west coast India. The Baleen whale is very decomposed. It was said to be nearly 100 feet long, so possibly a blue whale or sub species.
.png)
2024, June 24. USA, Maine, Harpswell, between Bailey and Orr's Islands. Will's Gut near the Cribstone Bridge. The Baleen whale is very decomposed.
Dead whale spotted floating offshore near Harpswell (youtube.com)
Dead whale spotted floating offshore near Harpswell | newscentermaine.com
2010, March 18. Airburst.
In 2010, 550 penguins were found on Brazil's coastline. They were believed to have starved to death. Before 2010, only roughly 10 dead penguins would be expected to be found ashore in a typical year.
2012, May 25. Airburst.
In June 2012, higher numbers were recorded, with 742 Magellanic penguins discovered in a decomposed state on the shores of Brazil. The causes of death were investigated. The birds were young and "natural causes" were assumed.
2023, February 14. Airburst.
In July 2023, more than 2000 dead penguins were washed up on the shores of Uruguay. According to Uruguayan authorities, 90% of these were juveniles without fat reserves and with empty stomachs. All carcasses tested negative for avian influenza. Other dead seabirds, sea turtles and sea lions were found on the coast of the Maldonado Department.
2010, January 16. New Zealand, Auckland, Manurewa. Meteor. High altitude fireball over Tasman Sea.
2010, January 21. New Zealand, Farewell Spit, Golden Bay. 58 long-finned Black Dolphins.
2010, January 25. New Zealand, Port Levy, South Island, near Christchurch. 50 Black Dolphins came to shore and 35 were saved.
2010, February 15. New Zealand, Stewart Island. 28 black dolphins stranded. 9 were already dead when located, and the rest were euthanised.
2010, February 26, W.N.W of the west coast of North Island of New Zealand. Time 22:46, (-37.3, -166). Airburst. Blast force 650, 000 kg of TNT.
2010, February, New Zealand, Colville Beach, located on the Coromandel Peninsula, 80 Black Dolphins.
2010, February. New Zealand, Farewell Spit. 80 Black Dolphins.
2010, July 6. N.W. of North Island of New Zealand in the South Pacific. Large Airburst. Time 23:54. (-34.1, -174.5). e = 756, -e = 14, Equivalent blast force of 1,400,000 kg of TNT. Altitude = 26 km. Velocity = 15.7 km/s.
2010, August 13. New Zealand. Karikari Beach (A remote beach on the Karikari Peninsula north of Doubtless Bay). 58 Black Dolphins strand.
2010, September 22. New Zealand, Piwhane/Spirits Bay. 74 Black Dolphins (pilot whales) were stranded across two kilometres on the remote beach north of Kaitaia. 14 were refloated after the huge operation. Described as plucky and in good health. At least 43 died.
2024, June 18. USA, New Jersey, Delaware Bay. A deceased humpback whale was discovered floating in the bay. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is investigating the incident
Other incidents on the New Jersey coastline concerning small cetaceans in the last few weeks include.
2024, June 14. Bottlenose Dolphin, Middle Township, Juvenile. Moderately decomposed when found.
2024, June 14. Common Dolphin, Ocean City, Juvenile. Severely decomposed when found.
2024, June 13. Bottlenose Dolphin Cape May, Juvenile male. Moderately decomposed when found.
Airbursts:
2017, February 2. Philippines, Pacific Ocean. Airburst. Coordinates: (10.4, 131.6). Time: 06:09. e= 6.6, -e = 0.21. Altitude: 33.5 km.
2017, February 18. Indian Ocean, midway between India and Africa. Airburst. Coordinates (6.2, 60.4). Time: 19:48. e = 29.5, -e = 0.79. Altitude: 38 km. Velocity: 24.2 km/s.
2017, May 24. South of Indonesia, Indian Ocean. Airburst. Coordinates: -9.1, 101.8). 430 km W.N.W. of Christmas Island south of Java and Sumatra. Time: 07:03. e = 9, -e = 0.28. Altitude: 46km. Velocity: 18.4.
Strandings:
2017, May 2. Philippines. Mass stranding of Pygmy Killer whales. The number unknown, All died.
2017, June. Sri Lanka. 20 pilot whales were stranded at a beach in the coastal town of Sampur near Trincomalee harbour in the country's northeast. All were saved.
2017, November 13. Indonesia, Aceh. 10 Cachalots were stranded. 4 died; 7 were refloated, one returned to shore and died and the remainder died on the beach. Volunteers from WWF Indonesia, the Indonesian government, and the Indonesian Navy collaborated to float the whales back to sea.
.png)
.png)
It will be interesting to see if anything results from these two meteors. Events like this were not unexpected this week.
2024, June 20. Italy/France, Tyrrhenian Sea - Mediterranean. Sonic Boom produced an earthquake in Corsica and also heard on the island of Elba. It happened at 4:30 in the afternoon. At Elba, the town of Campo nell’Elba, a nearby tracking station, “captured a seismic, acoustic event felt by everyone”. An earthquake has been ruled out. Similar events in 2012, 2016 and 2023 have yet to be explained. Six days before on June 14 a large fireball was observed travelling N.N.E across the Ligurin Sea north of Corsica. See map below.
.png)
This is why meteor airbursts have never been linked to whale strandings. The silent slow killer. It is ironic seeing how fast they come into the atmosphere.
2008, May 30-31. Madagascar. Loza Lagoon system of Northwest Madagascar. A mass stranding of around 100 Melon-Headed whales (Peponocephala Electra). Of the original whales that entered the lagoon system, seventy-five died from causes related to being out of their normal deep-sea habitat.
The International Whaling Agency (IWC) and other federal agencies with the permission of the Madagascar Government launched an investigation into the cause of this mass stranding. The IWC concluded that the most plausible trigger for the event was a high-power 12 kHz multi-beam echosounder system (MBES) that had been firing along a shelf break a day before the event.
The whales were in terrible condition. They were in a state of almost complete starvation. It takes a long time for a whale to end up in this condition. With empty stomachs and skin over skeletons without blubber, they were the swimming dead. Some were found 65 km inland. This event did not happen overnight, it took months for these events to unfold. These deep-sea predators turned into shallow-water scavengers to survive, unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Nature's cruel death.
2007, January 17. Indian Ocean, North of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Large Airburst. Coordinates: (-8.7, 50.8). Time: 09:50. e = 54.8, -e = 1.4, or equivalent blast of 1,400,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 33.3 km. This detonation was twice as low and had 7x the energy of the May 16 Portugal airburst. Any cetacean within a 50km radius of this event would have been handed a death sentence, and that's a conservative estimation.
.png)
.png)
.png)
A couple of hours ago I updated the Africa Airburst stranding alert for the June 1st airburst in the Atlantic. Not exactly where I thought a stranding would occur, and I hope it isn't a bad omen for what comes next. See June 5th post titled: Airburst in Equatorial South Atlantic - Updated 20240621
2024, June 19. Nigeria, Bayelsa, Gulf of Guinea. Okpoma, Brass Local Government Area. Residents from Twon-Brass, Odioma, Fish Town and Sangana villages used machetes, hawk shaws and axes to butcher the dead animal. The whale measured about 15 meters long, five meters wide and three meters high.
.png)
Also: 2024, June 20. USA, Delaware Bay near New Jersey. A dead large humpback whale was found floating. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration are investigating.
Dead whale found floating in Delaware Bay near N.J. - nj.com
2009, April 10. Southern Ocean, South of South Africa. Large Airburst. Time: 1842. Coordinates: (-44.7, 25.7). e = 27, -e = 0.73 or equivalent energy of 730,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 32.4. Velocity: 19.1 km/s.
2009, May 30. South Africa, Kommetjie Beach. 55 Black dolphins (pilot whales) were stranded and died. Of the pod 10 died of stress quickly and the others were euthanized.
.png)
1997, November 7. Southern Ocean. Midway between the South Island of New Zealand and Antarctica. Large Airburst. Time 07:46, (-57.3, 167.2). e = 8=, -e = 1.2 or an equivalent blast force of 1,900,000 kg/TNT.
.png)
1998, February 3 to 28. Tasmania. 115 Cachalots (97 female, 15 male, 3 unknown sex) were involved in three mass stranding events along the west and northwest coastlines. It should be noted that during (Stranding 1) thirty whales were seen offshore but never stranded.
Ocean Beach, Strahan (Stranding 1) On the evening of 3 February 1998, several cachalots were reported ashore on Ocean Beach near Strahan (42"18'S, 145'16'E). By the morning of 4 February, 66 animals had stranded, 12 of which were still alive. A rescue operation towed two animals (one male, one of unknown sex) offshore by midday, at which time two females and two males remained alive. By 0700 on 5 February, only one female and one male were alive. The female was euthanized and the male was refloated and towed offshore at 1630.
Greens Beach, Marrawah (Stranding 2)
At 0700 on 19 February 1998, local residents reported a group of cachalots in a tightly grouped formation off Greens Beach, Marrawah (40°55'S, 144'39'E). Shortly after 1000, they began to strand. By 0700 on 20 February only five of the 35 whales ashore were alive, with rough seas inhibiting any chance of rescue. At 1300 one male and one female were alive. By 0900 on 21 February, the female had died and at 11:00 the male was euthanized.
Black River Beach, Stanley (Stranding 3)
At 1000 on 28 February 1998, 11 Cachalots were reported ashore at Black River Beach, Stanley (40'50’S, 145’17’E). At 1230, 10 females were found deceased and one male alive. At 0400 on 1 March the male sperm whale was towed offshore, but later re-stranded at Edgecumbe Beach (40’52’S, 145’25’E), 10 km east at 1600. This animal was positively identified from Black River Beach by the presence of a lower jaw deformity. At 0230 on 2 March, the whale was towed offshore again and was followed for approximately 14 km, after which it was observed to swim away.
Therefore, 66 of these cachalots were stranded at Ocean Beach, Strahan; 35 at Greens Beach, Marrawah; and 11 at Black River Beach, Stanley. The remaining whales stranded singly along the coastline. Three mass strandings of this species in such close temporal proximity have not been reported in this area before, and this is the first time that data have been comprehensively collected from complete or near‐complete groups of sperm whales from Tasmanian waters. Adult females dominated the three stranding groups. Total lengths ranged from 417 to 1,200 cm and ages ranged from 0.75 to 64 years. Four females were lactating, and four fetuses were found among the groups. Stomach contents were dominated by pelagic cephalopods.
Before reading the following I would like to express that I truly love people who love whales. At no time do I want to portray someone who doesn't respect those who passionately love earth's wildlife and seek answers? My views are to highlight and help those seeking to dissolve the ocean's problems.
The following extract is from the documentary that can be seen on YouTube. See the link below.
(Sonic Sea is a 60 minutes documentary about the devastating impact of industrial and military ocean noise on whales and other marine life. The film begins with a mystery: the unexplained stranding and mass mortality of several species of whales in the Bahamas in March 2000. As the mystery unfolds, the film explores the critical role of sound in the sea, and the sudden, dramatic changes human activity is inflicting on the ocean's delicate acoustic habitat -- changes that threaten the ability of whales and other marine animals to prosper, to function, and ultimately, to survive.)
https://youtu.be/K4jFFg3MnHQ?si=aHH5AeUi78R0SXjz
The Meteor
On January 18. Gulf of Mexico. a meteor/fireball was detected in the Gulf of Mexico. It had the equivalent energy of 120,000 kg/TNT. If this happened anywhere in the world today, I would place a marine animal disturbance alert out on the event. Coordinates: (24.3, -94.9). The March strandings fit in perfectly to a marine event like this. I am almost certain that many animals died because of this event ranging in the many hundreds. Meteoroids also bring in company and the region was probably littered with debris before and after.
.png)
.png)
2024, June 15-16. New Zealand, Hawke Bay, Mahia. Dead juvenile Orca.
2024, June 13. New Zealand, Lake Ferry Beach, Wairarapa. Juvanile Dolphin. Saved by fisherman.
The meteor/fireball and the corresponding whale stranding in New Zealand in March-April. This post could have future updates.
2024, March 29. New Zealand, Manawatū-Whanganui, Marlborough, Taranaki, Waikato and Wellington. Large Meteor/Fireball. Time 05:42 UT. Local time: 6:35. North Island, west coast, travelling west towards the Tasman Sea. It was seen, heard and felt over a distance of 500km. Second significant fireball event since the March 13 meteor impact. Great image of the trail taken. Explosion, shockwave and tremor. Eyewitness account: “It felt like an earthquake, followed by a shockwave”, “I didn’t see the fireball - but felt the explosion and shockwave. It was the loudest explosion we have ever heard, felt the earth move, and there was a sudden weird wind momentarily straight after the event.”
2024, April 3. New Zealand. A 15m dead whale (Possibly humpback or blue whale) has washed up on Parapara Beach in Golden Bay (near Farewell Spit) Cook Strait/Tasman Sea. First seen at sea on the 2 April. Project Jonah is investigating the incident.
2024, April 13+-. New Zealand, Wairarapa, Riversdale Beach. Juvenile female orca. Washed up in bad condition and subsequently euthanized.
2024, April 18. New Zealand, North Island, West End, Ōhope Beach, Bay of Plenty Beach. An infant pilot whale washed up on Ōhope Beach.
.png)
2024, June 18. Egypt, Mediterranean Sea. Cuvier's beaked whale found dead on North Coast beach. The whale was found washed up dead on a beach near Hacienda White Village in North Coast's Sidi Abdel-Rahman, according to a statement by the environment ministry.
.png)
How the Australian fishing industry destroyed the Orange Roughy fish population in six years. Orange Roughy can grow up to 30 inches in size and weigh up to 15 pounds. They are notable for their extraordinary lifespan, attaining over 200 years. If the fishing industry couldn't sell the fish they dumped them into landfill. By the time they had finished the Southern Ocean sea mounts south of Tasmania were left barren of this once precious animal. A beautiful animal that was toxic to eat was decimated. It makes you think about what Russian and Chinese fishing vessels are doing now? Many other countries are involved and complacent about the situation. Illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean is an industrial vacuum that is sadly out of control.
.png)
Dumping Surplus Orange Roughy Fish, St. Helens, Tasmania, Australia, 1999 - YouTube
2024, June 18. North Pacific Ocean. Major Airburst. Time: 13:51. Coordinates: (44.3, 173). Largest Airburst this year so far. e = 49.1, -e = 1.2 or 1,200,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 44.3 km. Velocity: 35.4 km/s. Because of its energy a marine animal disturbance watch should be taken for the next month. This includes birds, especially migratory birds that could show navigational distress (concussion-type symptoms) many thousands of kilometres from the airburst event. Locations include Japan, Aleutian Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula, Rat Islands, Near Islands and Andreanof Islands.
2024, June 18. North Atlantic Ocean. Airburst. Time: 21:01. Coordinates: (32.2, -31.8). 780 km S.W of Azores. e= 2.2, -e = 0.079 or 79,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 28.7 km. Velocity: 16.2 km/s. Even though this is a small airburst a watch for whale strandings in the Azores should be taken.
.png)
.png)
2024, June 17. Northern Ireland, Lough Foyle, near Balls Point, Mcgilligan, County Londonderry. Two Risso's Dolphins, one older individual and a juvenile. Both refloated successfully. Members of the public, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural helped in the rescue.
2024, June 17. Philippines, Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, Barangay Lungsodaan. A injured dolphin was transported to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), a mammal stranding facility in Ormoc in care of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
2026, November 5. Thailand, waters off Phetchaburi Province in Gulf of Thailand, offshore from Ban Boon, Ban Laem District. A Bryde’s whale ...
.png)
.png)
.png)
