1. Current Events for APES Test 2012:

2. Earthquakes 8.6 Aceh, Indonesia 7.8 Haida Gwaii, Canada (Produced Tsunami) 7.6 Samar, Philippines (Produced Tsunami) 7.6 Guanacaste, Costa Rica 7.3 Kamaishi, Japan (Produced Tsunami)

6. Droughts Drought conditions persisted over much of the United states and north American countries. As much as 64% of the US was in severe or greater drought during much of 2012. Only the dust bowl in the 1930’s was worse.

7. Colorado Wildfires At least 316 sq. miles were burned during 2012

8. Hurricane Sandy

9. Sandy hit Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds and gusts to 145 mph. The storm then expanded as it weakened into a tropical storm. The wind field continued to expand up to 900 miles in diameter. The storm then reintensified into a Category 2 hurricane as it began to interact with a frontal system. The hurricane then began to transition into a post-tropical storm as it made landfall near Atlantic City, NJ as a Category 1 hurricane.

10. Hurricane Sandy Sandy hit Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds and gusts to 145 mph. The storm then expanded as it weakened into a tropical storm. The wind field continued to expand up to 900 miles in diameter. The storm then reintensified into a Category 2 hurricane as it began to interact with a frontal system. The hurricane then began to transition into a post-tropical storm as it made landfall near Atlantic City, NJ as a Category 1 hurricane.

11. Hurricane Sandy Sandy hit Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds and gusts to 145 mph. The storm then expanded as it weakened into a tropical storm. The wind field continued to expand up to 900 miles in diameter. The storm then reintensified into a Category 2 hurricane as it began to interact with a frontal system. The hurricane then began to transition into a post-tropical storm as it made landfall near Atlantic City, NJ as a Category 1 hurricane.

12. Hurricane Sandy : Aftermath Sandy’s deadly storm surge and flooding rains killed 233 in the Caribbean and the United States. It caused $65 Billion in damage becoming the second costliest hurricane in US history. http://www.theatlantic.com/ photo/2012/11/hurricane- sandy-the- aftermath/100397/