Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.8 Earthquake hits the Bali Sea.

5.5 Earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Vance forms about 450 mi...720 km S of Acapulco Mexico with maximum sustained winds...45 mph...75 km/h. Present movement...WSW or 245 degrees at 3 mph...6 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - none.

Tropical cyclone (tc) 04a (Nilofar), located approximately 281 nm south-southwest of Karachi, Pakistan, and is tracking east-northeastward at 05 knots.

Environment

Newly Discovered Microbe in Melting Tundra

A microbe recently discovered in the melting Arctic permafrost appears to be releasing vast amounts of the greenhouse gas methane, possibly speeding up climate change.

Methanoflorens stordalenmirensis “breathes out methane like we breathe out carbon dioxide,” said lead author Carmody McCalley, a scientist at the Earth Systems Research Center at the University of New Hampshire.

Methane makes up only about 9 percent of all the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but it can store up to 21 times more heat than carbon dioxide.

Researchers say they hope the microbic discovery will help scientists improve their simulations of future climate by providing a more accurate picture of how thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases.

An instrument measuring methane emissions from Methanoflorens stordalenmirensis in northern Sweden

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 112.1 degrees Fahrenheit (44.5 degrees Celsius) at Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 69.7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.5 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.

Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Turrialba (Costa Rica): A relatively large explosion occurred at the volcano last night at 23:40 local time. According to local news, the eruption lasted about 45 minutes and was accompanied by strong seismic activity, which was felt by the local population. As the eruption occurred at night, there are no visual reports.

Copahue (Chile/Argentina): Signs of unrest at the volcano have decreased and SERNAGEOMIN lowered the alert level back to yellow: Seismicity declined during the past days, the volcanic edifice showed deflation and a crater lake has reformed at the bottom of El Agrio crater. Glow from the summit, probably caused by very hot gasses, was last seen on 27 Oct (but bad weather prevented observations since).

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

Two 5.2 Earthquakes hit New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Panama.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical cyclone (tc) 04a (Nilofar), located approximately 294 nm east of Masirah Island, and is tracking northeastward at 05 knots.

Tropical Cyclone Nilofar will be far from the dangerous cyclone it strengthened into earlier this week when it impacts India and Pakistan, but localized downpours are still a threat, however.

Nilofar reached its peak intensity on Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of nearly 215 kph (135 mph), making Nilofar a very severe cyclonic storm and the equivalent of a minimal Category 4 hurricane in the eastern Pacific or Atlantic basins.

Nilofar is now losing its battle with disruptive wind shear (strong winds above the surface) which as caused the cyclone to weaken to the equivalent of a tropical storm. Nilofar will continue to weaken through Friday.

NewsBytes:

Norway - Heavy rainfall in western Norway has caused severe damage to infrastructure and constructions. Many are left homeless. Houses, sheds washed away by Opoelva in Odda, Hordaland County. Hundreds evacuated from their homes in the region. Floods and landslides close over 20 roads. Worst flooding since 1892.

Disease

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China

On 19 October 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China notified WHO of 2 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus, including 1 death.

WHO continues to closely monitor the H7N9 situation and conduct risk assessment. So far, the overall risk associated with the H7N9 virus has not changed.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): The effusive eruption that had started on 7 August seems to be ending: the lava flow emitted from the 650 m vent at the eastern base of the summit crater complex has decreased a lot two days ago and seems to have almost (or completely) stopped by today. INGV Catania reports strong degassing from the summit vents.

Bardarbunga (Iceland): Huge lava effusion rates continue to characterize the ongoing eruption at the Holuhraun fissure. There are no signs of the eruption ending soon. Earthquakes continue to be frequent under the central volcano's caldera.

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): An ash plume was reported last evening rising to approx. 30,000 ft (9 km) altitude and extending east (Tokyo VAAC). Most likely, a collapse of a part of the growing lava dome (or an explosion) occurred. In the first case, the ash plume is likely associated with a pyroclastic flow.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): This afternoon, the lava flow continued to move through private property and gets ever closer to the Pahoa village road. The leading edge of the flow was advancing about 10 m (11 yd) per hour this afternoon. It flow moved downslope about 125 m (136 yd) over the past 24 hours. The flow width was less than about 50 meters (55 yards) at the leading edge. As of 4:15 pm (29 Oct local time), the flow was about 185 m (202 yd) in a straight line distance from Pāhoa Village Road and about 775 meters (850 yd) in a straight-line distance from Highway 130. The lava lobe south of the main flow and upslope of Apa`a Street was not active today, but there were a couple of small breakouts on the north side of the flow that have advanced 70 to 110 m (75 to 120 yd) in the past day. (HVO's latest update)

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Overall, the volcano's activity has remained unchanged. Occasional explosions produce ash plumes that rise 1-2 km above the volcano. Yesterday, the volcano was a bit more active and had 5 such eruptions. Overnight incandescence is observed comming from the central and east sector of the crater.

Santiaguito (Guatemala): The viscous lava flow on the eastern side continues to advance slowly. No significant explosive activity from the lava dome has been reported recently.

Fuego (Guatemala): The volcano's activity has been stable over the past weeks. Mild to moderate strombolian explosions continue. Yesterday, the observatory reported 11 weak explosions (ash plumes rising up to 500 m) and 13 moderate ones (ash plumes up to 800 m). The plumes drifted SE and W for approx. 10 km before dissipating. Light ash fall occurred in downwind areas. The explosions at the summit produce incandescent avalanches on the upper slopes of the volcano.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 Earthquake hits the south Indian Ocean.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Komandorskiye Ostrova region, Russia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical cyclone (tc) 04a (Nilofar), located approximately 203 nm south-southeast of Masirah island, and is tracking northward at 06 knots.

NewsBytes:

China - Rain-triggered landslide in Yunnan Province of China has claimed the lives of at least nine people.

Sri Lanka - At least six people were killed and about 300 were missing in central Sri Lanka on Wednesday after an early morning landslide set off by heavy monsoon rains. About 150 homes at the Meeriyabedda tea plantation in the district of Badulla, most of them small rooms constructed in a line and attached to one another, were crushed under mud around 7:30 a.m. It had been raining for days in the area, disaster management officials said. Beyond the recovered bodies, many more are believed to be beneath 10 to 15 feet of mud.

Disease

Ebola: Who is patient zero?

Before the virus ravaged West Africa, before the deaths soared into the thousands, before the outbreak triggered global fears, Ebola struck a toddler named Emile Ouamouno.

Virtually no one knew the 2-year-old by name. Now the world knows him as patient zero.

Researchers from The New England Journal of Medicine believe Emile was the first person to contract the disease in the current outbreak almost a year ago.

It's not clear exactly how the boy, who lived in a rainforest village in southern Guinea, got infected.

Ebola can be spread from animals to humans through infected fluids or tissue.

"In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines," according to the World Health Organization.

In December, Emile had a fever, black stool and started vomiting. Four days later, on December 6, he was dead.

Within a month, so were his 4-year-old sister, his mother and his grandmother.

The mother suffered bleeding symptoms and died on December 13. Then, the toddler's 3-year-old sister died December 29, with symptoms including fever, vomiting and black diarrhea. The grandmother passed away January 1.

Taiwan - Dengue Fever Outbreak

Taiwan’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday raised the alarm level over an epidemic of dengue fever, which has caused seven deaths this year.

As of Tuesday, Taiwan has reported 7,439 cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Among them, there were 59 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, a potentially fatal complication, including seven deaths in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

CDC Director-General Steve Kuo said the number of cases of this year’s outbreak had broken Taiwan’s 2002 record, when over 6,000 cases, including 19 deaths, were reported.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Kilauea (Hawai'i): Today's preliminary reports from Pahoa indicate the lava flow is only advancing around 10m/hr after having consumed a small shack on private property, and is still threatening other structures nearby. The slowing comes as lava fills a small depression in the topography, with steeper ground and faster movement rates expected ahead. Based on current projections, the lava will most likely cross Pahoa Village Road sometime tomorrow, though with lots of uncertainty as there has been no increase yet in the flow's speed.

Residents and visitors have been cycling through the main village road, which has been partially closed as the utility company installs new, taller power poles to move wires farther from the heat of the lava, while continuing to insulate the base of the poles against burning. A similar approach has been effective so far on Apa`a Rd, though the lava is likely to expand and test these defences further in coming weeks.

Dukono (Halmahera): Explosive activity at the volcano continues. An ash plume at estimated 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude was seen drifting 45 nautical miles to the east on satellite data today (VAAC Darwin).

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.6 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.1 Earthquake hits San Juan, Argentina.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical cyclone (tc) 04a (Nilofar), located approximately 317 nm south-southeast of Masirah island, and is tracking northward at 02 knots.

Tropical Storm Hanna forms from Tropical Depression 9 and then dissipates in the eastern Caribbean. The remnants located about 95 mi...150 km WSW of Cabo Gracias a Dios on nic/Hon border with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...W or 270 degrees at 5 mph...7 km/h.

Heavy rains still expected to continue over Honduras and northern Nicaragua.

Wildlife

Great Barrier Reef's Biggest Threat is Coal

A recent report found that the Great Barrier Reef had lost 50% of its living coral. This was mainly from cyclones and the damages of Crown of Thorns starfish. Then there are the new threats of coral bleaching and acidification.

This issue of coal lies at the heart of current threats to the Great Barrier Reef, and symbolizes an economic mindset that reef lovers everywhere are up against. Our government has decided that Australia’s economic future lies in selling cheap coal to China and India. To do this the Federal and Queensland state governments need to expand existing coal ports on the Reef because these provide the cheapest and quickest shipping routes to Asia.

Quite apart from discouraging investment in renewable energy by backing fossil fuels, this decision has fraught implications for the health of the Reef and its waters.

Because the reef is too shallow for massive container ships, the new coal ports all entail extensive dredging of the seafloor. Thankfully public agitation has temporarily deflected the government’s original plan to dump three million cubic meters of dredged silt from Abbot Point into the reef channel, where it would choke corals and swamp sea grasses. Even so, dredging will stir up immense amounts of sediment as well as coral-threatening bacteria.

The vastly increased tonnage of container ships churning up and down the tricky reef channel represents a further threat from reef accidents and oil spillages, both of which have occurred a number of times in the recent past. There are plans, too, for several new mega-sized coal mines to be opened nearby, requiring similar access to the Great Barrier coastline and lagoon.

To call this policy short-sighted is an understatement. It sacrifices one of the wonders of the world and a substantial economic asset for Australian tourism; and this at a time when even China is trying to wean itself from using polluting coal.

Coal may prove to be an even bigger threat than the crown of thorns starfish which wasted coral reefs all along Australia - because it is something the reef has never seen and it is on an industrial scale that could threaten even this biggest biological structure on Earth. And all to help China pollute their own air! What happens after you build all these ports, you export the coal and China turns to their vast supplies of natural gas? Dead reef and a dead exporting business!

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Kilauea (Hawai'i): Lava flow only hours away from Pahoa houses The flow continues to remain active and has advanced approximately 275 yards since yesterday morning. The flow front is currently moving in a northeast direction and is approximately 100 yards from the nearest residential property. The flow advancement has been inconsistent however averaging approximately 10-15 yards per hour.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Java, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.0 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical cyclone (tc) 04a (Nilofar), located approximately 384 nm south-southeast of Masirah Island, and is tracking west-northwestward at 04 knots. The system is expected to continue to intensify through the next 36 hours as the favourable upper-level environment continues to support.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): No major changes have occurred at the volcano: Lava effusion continues from the 650 m vent and feeds active lava flows on the upper Sciara del Fuoco. From the lava flow fronts, incandescent blocks detach and roll down the slope. Tremor has decreased to the lowest values measured during the past months and strombolian activity at the summit craters has almost disappeared.

Bardarbunga (Iceland): The eruption continues with no significant changes. Earthquakes continue to be intense under the Bárðarbunga caldera. The largest today was a magnitude 5.3 event at 01:05 local time under the southwestern rim. Two quakes over 4 occurred at the caldera, an M4.6 at 17:34 yesterday and an M4.3 at 05:48 this morning, as well as a few over 3 in size. A dozen earthquakes were detected in the dike, all small.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): After crossing Apaʻa Street and the cemetery, lava flows continue to advance towards the inhabited main part of Pahoa.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.6 Earthquake hits central Peru.

5.4 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.1 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Java, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Ana transitioning to an extratropical low over the North Pacific - located about 1330 mi...2140 km N of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...NE or 55 degrees at 43 mph...69 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - none.

NewsBytes:

India - Flash flood in Tamilnadu, India has claimed the lives of at least two people.

Bulgaria - A state of emergency has been declared in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas due to dangerous weather. Some 50 people have been evacuated from their houses due to heavy rainfall in the suburbs Chernitsa near Burgas.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Kilauea volcano update: Lava flows continue to advance, evacuations possible within days Lava has crossed the Apaʻa Street / Cemetery Road near the driveway to the Pāhoa cemetery and is now spreading mainly over open grassland. Between 40 and 50 households could be evacuated within the next few days, as soon as Tuesday, if the lava continues to advance at current rates (approx. 250 m per day) and follows the most likely paths. The lava flow front, approx. 70 m wide, is headed northeast and only 1 km straight line distance from Pahoa Village Road,” he said. The best guess of HVO is that the lava might cross Pahoa Village Road a little bit west of the Pahoa Post Office.

Bardarbunga (Iceland): The eruption seems to continue with no changes, but there were no visual observations today. IMO writes: "Seismic activity on the Bárðarbunga caldera rim continues at comparably high rates as in recent days. Activity in the dyke intrusion was rather low during the last 26 hours since the last report, seismicity around Herðubreið has slightly decreased.

Kirishima (Kyushu): The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a "near crater warning" for the Shinmoedake vent of Kirishima volcano last Friday. Increased earthquake activity were detected and mean an increased risk of a possible (probably phreatic) explosions. Following last months deadly eruption of Ontake-san, news articles about this (routine) event have exploded, focusing on the potential hazards of a volcanic eruption towards the Sendai nuclear power plant, located in the city of Satsumasendai in the Kagoshima Prefecture, approx. 40 km away from the volcano. While a small to moderate eruption could threaten anybody in the immediate vicinity of the volcano, only an exceptionally large (on a global scale) eruption would likely be a threat to this. At the moment, nothing seems to be pointing towards such a scenario.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): More pyroclastic flows have occurred today. A larger one this morning at 09:47 local time probably reached 3-4 km length and produced an ash plume that rose to 15,000 ft (4.5 km) altitude.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 Earthquake hits southern Iran.

5.1 Earthquake hits Greece.

5.1 Earthquake hits the west Chile rise.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Ana moving rapidly northeast over the Pacific Ocean - located about 905 mi...1460 km NNW of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...NE or 45 degrees at 24 mph...39 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - none.

NewsBytes:

England - Several major roads in the West Midlands have been badly flooded as heavy rain swept across the region.

Greece - Flash Floods were caused throughout the day in Athens, Greece, and the entire Attica region due to heavy rainfall that flooded streets, houses and shops. Many of the city’s central streets were closed for hours.

Global Warming

Alaskan Outpost Heats Up Under Global Warming

The United States’ northernmost settlement of Barrow, Alaska, has warmed a remarkable 12.96 degrees Fahrenheit during October over the past 33 years because of shrinking summertime sea ice.

Researcher Gerd Wendler of the University of Alaska’s International Arctic Research Center says he is “astonished” by his finding, published in the Open Atmospheric Science Journal.

“I think I have never, anywhere, seen such a large increase in temperature over such a short period,” he told the Alaska Dispatch News.

Climate records show Barrow’s average annual temperature has risen by almost 5 degrees since 1979.

But the warming was far more pronounced during October, when the loss of sea ice in the adjacent Beaufort and Chukchi seas was at the highest.

Wendler and colleagues say that some of the warming can be attributed to north winds picking up stored heat from water that is no longer ice-covered during autumn, then releasing it into the atmosphere.

While the Arctic has seen the greatest amount of warming under recent climate change, the scientists caution that Barrow’s long-term temperature rise has not been uniform.

Environment

Magnetic Flip Can Happen in Human LIfetime

Earth’s magnetic field has the potential to reverse within less than a century, and scientists say there is evidence the poles are now moving toward such a flip.

Scientists from Italy, France, Columbia University and the University of California, Berkley, say they made the conclusions by looking at paleomagnetic data in sediment around the volcanoes of southern Italy.

Ash layers from prehistoric eruptions captured and stored magnetic field information in sediment as it accumulated at the bottom of an ancient lake.

Those layers reveal the last magnetic reversal occurred approximately 786,000 years ago, long before humans walked the planet.

The flip happened after more than 6,000 years of instability, including two intervals of low magnetic field strength that lasted about 2,000 years each.

Such a quiet period in modern times could expose Earth’s surface to harmful levels of solar radiation, possibly increasing the rates of cancer and disrupting electrical power grids, scientists caution.

The Magnetic North Pole has drifted around Arctic Canada since measurements of its location began.

Disease

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

On 17 October 2014, WHO EURO was notified by the National IHR Focal Point for Turkey of a laboratory-confirmed case of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). On 11 October 2014, the patient died. This is the first MERS-CoV case in Turkey.

Ebola - Update

The number of cases in the Ebola outbreak has exceeded 10,000, with 4,922 deaths, the World Health Organization says in its latest report.

Only 27 of the cases have occurred outside the three worst-hit countries, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

Those three countries account for all but 10 of the fatalities.

Mali became the latest nation to record a death, a two-year-old girl. More than 40 people known to have come into contact with her have been quarantined.

The latest WHO situation report says that Liberia remains the worst affected country, with 2,705 deaths. Sierra Leone has had 1,281 fatalities and there have been 926 in Guinea.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): There are no signs the effusive eruption is slowing down. A lava flow is being erupted from the vent at 650 m elevation and currently feeds two active branches on the upper Sciara del Fuoco. Intense degassing and sporadic small explosions occur from the summit vents.

Etna (Sicily, Italy): Occasional explosions from the New SE crater seem to continue. Small ash emissions could be observed on the morning of 22 Oct when clear weather allowed clear views of the crater. Tremor remains low at the moment.

Bardarbunga (Iceland): The volcanic eruption in Holuhraun continues at similar rate, and has now been going on for more than 50 days. The erupted lava flow volume approaches 1 cubic kilometers and the lava flows now cover over 63 square km.

Ontake-san (Honshu): The volcano continues to produce white steam plumes rising a few 100 m above the crater. According to press articles, 7 people are still missing from the 27 Sep eruption, but search and rescue operations are being suspended until springtime because of the winterly conditions. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): Following a week of relatively low activity, the volcano has become more active again during the past days. A particularly strong vulcanian explosion occurred this morning and produced an ash plume that rose to 15,000 ft (4.5 km) altitude.

Mayon (Luzon Island): PHIVOLCS reported that during 14-21 October white plumes rose from Mayon's crater and drifted NW, W, WSW, SW, and SE. On 14 October a seismic signal indicating a rockfall was recorded and a brief period of incandescence from the crater was observed. A few volcanic earthquakes were recorded during 18-21 October. On 19 October weak incandescence from the crater was noted. A new lava flow first observed that same day was 300-400 m long on 20 October based on an aerial survey. Weak crater incandescence from the lava dome was again seen on 21 October. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 0-5 scale). (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 15-21 October 2014)

Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): A volcanic ash plume at 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude and extending 40 nautical miles to the NW was repoerted by Darwin VAAC Monday morning based on satellite data. This could suggest a small eruption occurred at the volcano.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Pyroclastic flows have decreased in size and frequency, but continued to occur at least until yesterday. Cloudy weather prevents detailed observations most of the time.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): The lava flow continues to advance towards Pahoa and might cut the first road very soon. During an overflight on 22 Oct, the most advanced front of the 27 June flow, a narrow lobe, was only approx. 480 m away from the Apa'a road. The rate of advance of the flow, now at 21 km distance from its vent, has been highly variable, from an average rate of about 80 m/day during the previous week to rates as high as 300 m/day (330 yd/day) at times from Monday to Wednesday.

Copahue (Chile/Argentina): Although activity has decreased a bit, intense degassing and sporadic small ash emissions as well as crater glow continue at the volcano. SERNAGEOMIN warns of the possibility of sudden explosions and recommends an exclusion zone of 3 km radius around the volcano's crater.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.5 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.

5.2 Earthquake hits offshore O’Higgins, Chile.

5,1 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

5.1 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.

5.0 Earthquake hits offshore O’Higgins, Chile.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Ana is moving slowly toward the north northwest over the Pacific Ocean - located about 365 mi...585 km NW of French Frigate Shoals and about 890 mi...1435 km WNW of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 330 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - none.

NewsBytes:

Netherlands - The first autumn storm of the year has caused flooding along the Wadden Sea in the Netherlands. Some ferryboats services from and to the Wadden Sea islands have been cancelled due to the high water. Street flooding have been recorded at various locations in and around Rotterdam. Due to the high water, the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier and the Dutch IJssel barrier were closed on Tuesday night.

Slovenia - Slovenia was hit by the third major flood this year with the worst disruption reported from Ljubljana. In eight hours, 137 millimetres of rainfall was registered in Ljubljana and over 200 mm in Gorenja Vas. At least 900 buildings in the Ljubljana basin were flooded. Power outages have affected 17,000 households in the Štajersko region. About 20,000 lightning strikes were recorded by the Marko Vidmar Electric Power Research Institute during the past night.

Washington, USA - A rare tornado hit the city of Longview in Washington state Thursday ripping down power lines and damaging properties. The tornado touched down briefly near an elementary school in Longview.

Disease

Chikungunya Disease – France

On 21 October 2014, WHO was notified by the National IHR Focal Point for France of 4 cases of chikungunya locally-acquired infection in Montpellier, France. The cases were confirmed by tests conducted by the French National Reference Laboratory for arboviruses on 20 October 2014. This is the first time that locally-acquired transmission of chikungunya has been detected in France since 2010.

Ebola - Update

Dozens of people are being monitored in Mali after the country confirmed its first case of Ebola. The patient is a two-year-old girl who recently arrived from Guinea, which along with Liberia and Sierra Leone has seen most of the 4,800 deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was sending more experts to Mali to help contain the outbreak.

It has also announced that hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses should be available in the first half of 2015.

A New York doctor who recently returned from Ebola-hit Guinea in West Africa has tested positive for the disease.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 112.0 degrees Fahrenheit (44.0 degrees Celsius) at Las Lomitas, Argentina.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 85.9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 65.5 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.

Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits southern Peru.

5.3 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.2 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.0 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Ana is strengthening and moving northwest while crossing the northwest Hawaiian islands east of Maro Reef - located about 130 mi...210 km ENE of Maro Reef and about 220 mi...350 km NW of French Frigate Shoals with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...80 km/h. Present movement...NW or 325 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are expected over Gardner Pinnacles and nearby waters through tonight and will affect the Maro Reef area into Thursday morning. Surf...large swells produced by Ana will continue across the northwest Hawaiian islands tonight and early Thursday.

NewsBytes:

Germany - The remnants of hurricane Gonzalo have drifted across the Atlantic and are now threatening North German cities with flooding, forecasters warned on Wednesday. The news followed a night of accidents caused by heavy winds in southern Germany.

Disease

Kenyan Corn-Disease Outbreak

An outbreak of Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease in Kenya may reduce corn production by almost a third this year as yields fall and growers abandon the grain for other crops.

As many as 70 percent of farmers of the staple food in the main growing regions may have been affected by the virus. All of the corn varieties grown in Kenya are susceptible to the disease.

Kenya expects a 30 percent reduction in production. Control methods like burning, cutting achieve little. The only solution is to develop resistant varieties.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.8 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Balleny Islands.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Ascension Island region.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Ana is located about 115 mi...185 km SSW of French Frigate Shoals and about 495 mi...795 km W of Lihue Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 5 mph...8 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are expected over French Frigate

Shoals...Necker Island and Gardner Pinnacles...and nearby waters...today and tonight. Surf...large swells produced by Ana will build across the northwest Hawaiian islands today and tonight.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano (Colombia): magnitude 5.8 earthquake, alert level raised Orange alert has been declared for the volcanic complex at the Colombia-Ecuador border, after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurred under the volcano last Monday. This earthquake, located at shallow 10 km depth southwest of the Chiles cone, seems to be directly linked to the ongoing crisis at the volcano. The volcano has recently been showing increased signs of volcanic unrest and inflation. This could be the sign of magma rising with the volcano and result in an eruption, although it is not possible to quantify how likely this might be.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.7 Earthquake hits the Colombia-Ecuador border.

5.4 Earthquake hits northern Alaska.

5.3 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.1 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Ana is located about 215 mi...345 km SSE of French Frigate Shoals and about 400 mi...640 km W of Lihue Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...W or 270 degrees at 9 mph...14 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are expected over Necker island...French Frigate Shoals...and nearby waters Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. Surf...large swells produced by Ana will build across the northwest Hawaiian islands through Wednesday.

NewsBytes:

Britain - Three dead as winds from hurricane Gonzalo batter Britain. Gusts of up to 70mph batter the British Isles as remnants of hurricane move in from Atlantic.

Mexico - Heavy rains brought by the remnants of Tropical Storm Trudy have caused mudslides and flooding in southern Mexico that left at least six people dead.

Environment

World's Oceans Set All-Time Heat Record

For the third month this year, the world's oceans set a record for the warmest they have ever been since at least 1880, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Monday.

September had the highest global average sea surface temperatures of any month on record since instrument record-keeping began, with a global average temperature of 61.1 degrees Fahrenheit. This was warm enough to set another milestone that had already been set two previous times this year; the average global sea surface temperature was so warm in September that it broke the all-time record for the highest departure from average for any month since 1880, at 1.19 degrees Fahrenheit above average.

This broke the previous record of 1.17 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average set just one month ago, in August, and the previous record before that: 1.15 degrees Fahrenheit above average, set in June.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Pyroclastic flows of small to moderate size continued to occur frequently during the past days. Canadian filmmaker Michael Dalton who was on location estimated 10-20 per day, most of them reaching lengths of 1-2 km and producing ash plumes rising approx. 2 km.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Balleny Islands.

5.3 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.3 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.3 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.

5.2 Earthquake hits Maule, Chile.

5.0 Earthquake hits Kepualauan Obi, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Catanduanes in the Philippines.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Ana is located about 200 mi...325 km WSW of Lihue Hawaii and about 345 mi...550 km se of French Frigate Shoals with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...W or 270 degrees at 9 mph...15 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are expected over Necker Island... French Frigate Shoals...and Tern Island Monday night. Hurricane conditions are possible over French Frigate Shoals and Tern Island Monday night and Tuesday. Surf...large swells produced by Ana will build across the northwest Hawaiian islands through Tuesday. Rainfall...locally heavy rainfall will linger over Kauai and Niihau tonight. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches...with local amounts of 12 inches...are possible over the northwest Hawaiian islands along and near the track of the centre of Ana.

NewsBytes:

Tenerife - Thousands of Britons holidaying in Tenerife have been caught in flash-flooding on the island. Seven inches of rain fell in just 12 hours, with tourists warned to stay in their hotels as landslides and fast-flowing waters led to road closures. One 56-year-old woman died after suffering a heart attacks as she was swept along by flood water then became trapped under a parked car in Santa Cruz.

Disease

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia

The National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia (SAU) has reported additional laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to WHO.

Between 11 August and 28 September 2014, 15 cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) including 4 deaths were reported to WHO.

Nigeria declared Ebola-free after containing virus

The World Health Organisation declared Nigeria Ebola free on Monday after a 42 day period with no new cases, in a success story with lessons for countries still struggling to contain the deadly virus.

The first case in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, was imported from Liberia, when a Liberian-American diplomat called Patrick Sawyer collapsed at the main international airport in Lagos on July 20.

Because the country was ill prepared and had no screening procedures in place, Sawyer was able to infect several people, including several health workers in the hospital where he was taken, which did not have proper protection equipment.

Nigeria had 20 cases in total, of which eight died.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.0 Earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands off India.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Prince Edward Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 120 mi...190 km E of St. Johns Newfoundland with maximum sustained winds...85 mph...140 km/h. Present movement...NE or 40 degrees at 52 mph...83 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - Surf...coastal flooding is possible in portions of southern Newfoundland this morning.

Hurricane Ana is located about 105 mi...170 km S of Lihue Hawaii and about 125 mi...200 km WSW of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...80 mph...130 km/h. Present movement...NW or 320 degrees at 7 mph...9 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - Surf...large swells produced by Ana will continue to impact most of the main Hawaiian islands through Sunday..

NewsBytes:

Nicaragua - A red alert has been issued after a heavy downpour left 22 people dead and made more than 32,000 homeless in Nicaragua. Around 4,544 homes home are damaged or destroyed by floods or have been evacuated due to flood risk. Heavy downpours in Nicaragua began early Thursday night.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.1 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits northwest of the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 270 mi...435 km NNE of Bermuda and about 900 mi...1450 km SSW of Cape Race Newfoundland with maximum sustained winds...100 mph...160 km/h. Present movement...NNE or 30 degrees at 22 mph...35 km/h.

Hurricane Gonzalo uprooted trees, flattened power lines and smashed into Bermuda’s main hospital late on Friday—the second storm to pummel the tiny British territory in less than a week. The hurricane’s centre crossed over the island during the night and its winds and heavy surf were still whipping at the island early on Saturday as Gonzalo moved northward over the Atlantic. Forecasters warned of a 10-feet (3 meter) storm surge that could cause widespread flooding. A full assessment of damage is unlikely until daylight. A hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm warning.

Hazards affecting land - Surf...large swells generated by gonzalo are still affecting portions of the Virgin Islands...the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic...portions of the Bahamas...portions of the United States East Coast...and Bermuda. Swells will spread northward into portions of Atlantic Canada today through Sunday.

Hurricane Ana is located about 170 mi...275 km SW of Kailua-Kona Hawaii and about 225 mi...360 km S of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...80 mph...130 km/h. Present movement...NW or 310 degrees at 13 mph...20 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are possible over the main Hawaiian islands from Maui to Niihau today and Sunday.

Tropical Storm Trudy is located about 75 mi...115 km ESE of Acapulco Mexico with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...E or 80 degrees at 2 mph...4 km/h.

Global Warming

Peru's Glacial Melt-Off Reaches 40 Percent

Glaciers near the southern South American country of Peru have shrunk by 40 percent in the past four decades, which has created a number of high-altitude lakes.

Climate change is the cause for the melt-off, which has spawned nearly 1,000 new high-altitude lakes since 1980, the Peruvian government said Wednesday.

The glaciers in Peru are small compared to those found in the north and south poles, and are at a greater risk of disappearing. In addition, 70 percent of the world's tropical glaciers are found in Peru, and they are extremely sensitive to the warming temperatures associated with climate change.

In the coming years, 90 percent of the 2,679 glaciers could disappear, the country's water authority said, updating its report of glacier inventory that was last issued in the 1970s.

Those at greater risk of melting away are smaller than 1-square-kilometre, and spread over 19 snow-capped mountain ranges of the Andes.

Officials said 996 lakes have emerged in the Andes since the last count in 1980, which increases the total to 8,355.

They are the majority source of the country's drinking water.

Environment

Typhoons May Have Caused Fukushima Radiation Surge

Heavy rainfall from passing typhoons this month may be behind a record spike in groundwater radioactivity found in test wells drilled next to Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Samples taken next to three reactors that suffered meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake-tsunami disaster showed an almost fourfold increase in particles such as strontium-90 within a four-day period.

The volume of isotopes such as cobalt-60 and manganese-54 also reached a record high, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).

This coincided with heavy rainfall from remnants of Typhoon Vongfong, which drenched much of Japan during the same period.

More powerful Typhoon Phanfone had passed over the Fukushima disaster zone during the previous week.

TEPCO said the increase in groundwater from the storms could have mixed with radioactive elements left in the soil after the meltdowns.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Kilauea (Hawai'i): The June 27th lava flow advancement has slowed, with the leading edge of the flow moving only a few tens of meters (yards) over the past two days. Nevertheless, active breakouts persist around the flow front, as shown in this photo by the continued burning of vegetation along the flow margins. On 15 Oct morning, the flow front was 1.1 km (0.7 miles) from Apaʻa St., as measured along a straight line. (HVO / USGS)

Fuego (Guatemala): Mild to moderate strombolian activity continues with no major changes over the past weeks. Much of the time, cloud cover prevents visual observations, but the observatory reports the usual occasional weak to moderate explosion sounds.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 Earthquake hits Java.

5.0 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 240 mi...385 km SSW of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...130 mph...215 km/h. Present movement...NNE or 25 degrees at 15 mph...24 km/h.

Hurricane Gonzalo roared toward Bermuda as a powerful Category 4 storm early Friday amid warnings by forecasters that the British island territory would likely be hit with damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge in coming hours.

Hazards affecting land - wind...hurricane conditions are expected to reach Bermuda on Friday. It should be noted that wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hilly terrain are often up to 30 percent stronger than at the surface...and in some elevated locations can be even greater. Storm surge...a dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in Bermuda. Near the coast...the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Rainfall...Gonzalo is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches over Bermuda. Surf...large swells generated by Gonzalo are affecting portions of tVirgin Islands...the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic...portions of the Bahamas...portions of the southeast coast of the United States...and Bermuda.

Tropical storm Ana is located about 340 mi...545 km SSE of Hilo Hawaii and about 530 mi...850 km se of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 295 degrees at 14 mph...22 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are possible on The Big Island of Hawaii starting Friday night. Surf...large swells produced by Ana are expected to build over the eastern end of the main Hawaiian Island chain through Friday morning. Rainfall...heavy rainfall associated with Ana may reach The Big Island of Hawaii Friday afternoon...with total rain accumulations between 6 and 12 inches expected.

NewsBytes:

Canada - Heavy rain and thunderstorms wreaked havoc on Toronto streets Thursday night, leaving cars stuck in water at several flooded intersections and lengthening the commute for many TTC riders trying to get home. Subway service was suspended both ways between York Mills and Eglinton stations due to flooding at Lawrence Station, which was to remain closed until the morning.

Disease

Ebola Outbreak Maps

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 111.6 degrees Fahrenheit (44.2 degrees Celsius) at Chhor, Pakistan.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 92.9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 69.4 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.

Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico): Activity at the volcano has remained low, with small occasional steam, gas and sometimes ash emissions. Incandescence was observed over the crater during the night. During an overflight on 14 Oct "it was observed that the inner crater, formed in July 2013, has increased its diameter, probably due to the destruction of the dome and walls collapsing, reaching an estimated 350 m diameter. The bottom of the inner crater is about 100 m below the floor of the main crater. No residues were observed of the 52nd dome, which was emplaced in the bottom of the inner crater early last August. Instead, the bottom of the inner crater is cup-shaped and is covered with tephra (fragmented material) Most emissions of steam are coming from a crack in the north wall of the inner crater, while ash emissions, originate in the bottom of the crater, in the area covered by tephra.

Bardarbunga volcano update: The eruption continues from the Holuhraun fissure with an amazing lava output at approx. 350 cubic meters per second. A large lava pond has formed over the merged main craters on the central part of the fissure, from where a river of lava flows into the plain. Earthquakes have increased under the Bardarbunga caldera, which could be a sign that something is about to change.

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): There are signs that the lava flow eruption could be approaching an end soon. Lava effusion rate has dropped although a weak lava flow continues to be active on the upper part of the Sciara del Fuoco. INGV Catania reports strong degassing and that ash emissions from the summit vents have decreased.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.8 Earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.

5.8 Earthquake hits the Iran-Iraq border region.

5.2 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Nias region, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits off the west coast of northern Sumatra.

5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 Earthquake hits Crete.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Ceram Sea, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 525 mi...845 km SSW of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...140 mph...220 km/h. Present movement...N or 360 degrees at 9 mph...15 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...hurricane conditions are expected to reach Bermuda on Friday...with tropical storm conditions beginning late tonight or early Friday morning. It should be noted that wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hilly terrain are often up to 30 percent stronger than at the surface...and in some elevated locations can be even greater. Storm surge...a dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in Bermuda. Near the coast...the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Rainfall...Gonzalo is expected to produce total rain accumulations

of 3 to 6 inches over Bermuda. Surf...large swells generated by Gonzalo are affecting portions of the Virgin Islands...the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic...and portions of the Bahamas. Swells will reach much of the East Coast of the United States and Bermuda today.

Tropical storm Ana is located about 530 mi...850 km se of Hilo Hawaii and about 740 mi...1190 km se of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...W or 265 degrees at 10 mph...17 km/h.

NewsBytes:

Italy - Flooding in Maremma in southern Tuscany has claimed the lives of two women. The Elsa river burst its banks due to torrential rain between Albinia and Manciano. Due to the flood threat, people in Orbetello were warned to move to the upper floors of their houses. Numerous people from Polverosa, Aunti, Alberone and Priorato have been evacuated.

Nepal - The death toll in the snowstorm that hit Nepal has risen to at least 21 including 12 foreigners. The snowstorms and avalanches were caused by cyclone Hudhud that hit neighbouring India a few days ago.

 

Ethiopia - Some 8,000 families have been displaced by the recent overflowing of Ethiopia's Awash River across the country. Households affected have been moved to higher ground and given temporary shelter. Cotton and sugarcane fields, covering more than 5,200 hectares of land, had also been flooded.

Thailand - Heavy rainfall yesterday caused water levels in the Pran Buri River to rise, while strong currents destroyed bridges and weirs, cutting routes to 12 villages in tambon Bueng Nakhon and tambon Huai Sat Yai. Run-off from the Tenasserim and Pak Thawan mountain ranges is now preventing locals from going in or out of their villages.

Environment

Jakarta to build sea wall to combat floods

Jakarta has launched a multi-billion-dollar scheme to build a huge sea wall to combat flooding as the Indonesian capital sinks.

The 35-kilometre wall, across the Bay of Jakarta off the city’s northern coast, is the centrepiece of a project that will cost up to US$40 billion (Dh147bn) over 30 years. It also includes reclaiming land for 17 new islands.

The whole project will form the shape of a Garuda – the mythical bird that is Indonesia’s national symbol.

While the key aim is to prevent floods, it is hoped up to one million people will live and work on the islands, and help take pressure off a crowded city notorious as one of the world’s most uninviting urban sprawls.

Disease

Ebola - Update

A second health care worker in Dallas has tested positive for Ebola after caring for a patient who had the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said yesterday.

The health care worker, from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, was isolated after developing a fever, the CDC said, and a preliminary test was positive for Ebola.

This infected person was one of 76 health care workers who were being monitored for symptoms of Ebola after they treated Thomas Eric Duncan, a man from Liberia who was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. Another health care worker in Dallas, Nina Pham, tested positive for the disease on Sunday.

"An additional health care worker testing positive for Ebola is a serious concern, and the CDC has already taken active steps to minimize the risk to health care workers and the patient," the CDC said in a statement.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Augustine volcano (Alaska): Strong ash emissions from the volcano were reported by a pilot shortly after midnight (UTC). The reported height of the plume was to up to 70,000 ft (21 km) altitude, which would indicate an unexpected, and sudden major explosion took place (if the observed plume was volcanic ash and not something else). Anchorage VAAC raised the Aviation Colour Code to RED. No ash could be identified on satellite imagery, and the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) has not issued any comment. In a subsequent VAAC, "ash emissions have ended", Anchorage wrote. It seems likely an unusual weather cloud had been mistaken for a volcanic plume.

Shishaldin volcano (United States, Aleutian Islands) Low-level eruptive activity likely continues at the volcano, AVO writes: "Elevated surface temperatures were detected in satellite data from this morning. Sound waves coupling into the ground (ground-coupled air waves) from small explosions as well as small pulses of tremor are occasionally detected in seismic data." (AVO)

Dukono volcano (Halmahera, Indonesia) activity update Ash emissions continue. Darwin VAAC reported several ash plumes rising to estimated 8,000 ft (2.4 km) altitude and extending up to approx. 100 km NE.

Ibu volcano (Halmahera, Indonesia) A viscous lava flow continues to be active on the northern flank of the volcano. The flow, similar to the one currently active at Santiaguito volcano in Guatemala, starts as an overflow from the lava dome in the crater, and forms a lobe traveling through a breach of the crater rim into a ravine extending north of the volcano. Based on satellite data, it was about 1600-1700 m long in early September, and had been progressing at approx. 6 m per day. According to eyewitness reports, weak to moderate explosive activity accompanies the extrusion of the flow. The volcano's current activity phase of dome-building had begun in 1998.

Stromboli volcano (Eolian Islands, Italy): decreasing lava flow activity. There are signs that the lava flow eruption could be approaching an end soon. Lava effusion rate has dropped although a weak lava flow continues to be active on the upper part of the Sciara del Fuoco. INGV Catania reports strong degassing and that ash emissions from the summit vents have decreased.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands off India.

5.0 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 660 mi...1060 km SSW of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...125 mph...205 km/h. Present movement...NW or 320 degrees at 13 mph...20 km/h. Gonzalo kills 1 in St. Maarten and injures 12 in Antigua

Hazards affecting land - wind...hurricane conditions are possible over Bermuda on Friday...with tropical storm conditions possible by early Friday morning. Surf...large swells generated by Gonzalo are affecting portions of the Virgin Islands...the northern coasts of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic...and portions of the Bahamas. Swells will reach much of the East Coast of the United States and Bermuda on Thursday.

Tropical storm Ana is located about 710 mi...1140 km ESE of Hilo Hawaii and about 920 mi...1480 km ESE of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...W or 275 degrees at 9 mph...15 km/h.

NewsBytes:

Nepal - Three persons have gone missing in an avalanche in the Manang district in Nepal. The incident took place when three herdsmen went to graze yaks in the high hill areas. The rescue team was unable to reach the disaster area due to heavy rainfall and avalanches. In a separate incident, eight foreigners and a local man have been killed in a snowstorm and avalanche in Nepal's Himalayas.

Australia - New South Wales has been hit by a raging storm, with snowfall covering the Blue Mountains and Sydney Airport flooded - causing massive delays to flights. 30,000 homes are still without power as a storm packing torrential rain and high winds continues to rip through the east coast. Flash flooding across the state has prompted at least 57 rescues, with many people being trapped in cars after driving into floodwaters. On Wednesday morning, some people woke to find their cars covered with snow and even crushed by trees. Across the country, flights that were diverted from Sydney Airport and continuing bad weather has caused knock-on delays at Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne airports.

Global Warming

Global warming: plants may absorb more carbon dioxide than previously thought

Global warming may not be damaging the Earth as quickly as feared after scientists found that plants can soak up more carbon dioxide than previously thought. According to researchers, climate models have failed to take into account that when carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, plants thrive, become larger, and are able to absorb more CO2.

As part of the carbon cycle, plants use light to photosynthesise carbon dioxide, turning it into carbohydrate to grow and releasing oxygen as a waste product. Now a team at Wyoming University has found that carbon dioxide stays in leaves longer than previously thought, acting as a fertiliser and accelerating plant growth.

The team estimates that climate scientists have underestimated the ability of plants to grow and absorb carbon dioxide by as much as 16 per cent.

The finding may mean that it will be easier to fulfil the target of keeping global warming below two degrees since pre-industrial times. The Earth has currently warmed 0.85°C from 1880.

It was originally thought that vegetation on Earth currently removes one quarter of all human emissions. But the new study suggests it is far higher.

Disease

Ebola - Update

The Ebola virus is killing 70% of the people who contract the disease, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, and as many as 10,000 new cases a week could be reported by early December.

Bruce Aylward, the WHO assistant director-general in charge of the organization’s response to the epidemic, said the Ebola virus is “still moving geographically, still escalating” in some bigger cities.

He expressed concern the disease could spread to West African countries that share borders with Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, the epicenters of the current outbreak, singling out Ivory Coast as particularly vulnerable.

The WHO’s latest numbers indicated 8,914 suspected or confirmed Ebola cases and 4,447 deaths from the disease. Based on those numbers, the mortality rate is under 50%.

But Dr. Aylward said that when patients can be monitored throughout the course of their disease, the mortality rate is actually 70% in the affected countries.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Poas (Costa Rica): (14 Oct) A strong phreatic explosion occurred this morning at the crater lake, ejecting mud and water to more than 200 m height and reaching the observation platform. According to first news articles, nobody was hurt, but the visiting areas have been evacuated. Today's explosion follows a similar one 6 days ago.

Sinabung volcano (Sumatra, Indonesia) The eruption at the volcano continues. An expedition team is on location and observed near-continuous rockfalls and frequent pyroclastic flows caused by collapses on the lava flow reaching up to 4-5 km distance. The flows travel through two channels, on the south and to the north. The increased phase of lava effusion and associated pyroclastic flows caused began about 2 weeks ago. VSI maintains alert level 3 (out of 4). Seismic activity has been dominantly volcanic earthquakes and low-frequency quakes, representing magma pushing its way up to the surface, according to the volcano observatory.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

7.3 Earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.

A Tsunami threat was issued along the coasts of El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. Evacuations were ordered in coastal communities in Nicaragua. One man died in El Salvador after a utility pole fell on him. Minor damage to homes was also reported.

6.1 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits southern Peru.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Banda Sea.

5.2 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Mid-Indian ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Andaman Islands off India.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Panama.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Gonzalo is located about 20 mi...30 km se of St. Martin. Additional strengthening likely. Tropical Storm Gonzalo gained strength as it took aim at a swath of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, threatening to dump heavy rains that could unleash mudslides and flash floods.

Gonzalo passed over Antigua Island between 10 am - 11 am AST on Monday, and sustained winds at Antigua hit 45 mph at 7 am AST before the station stopped reporting. NHC is still able to get wind information from the island, and the island reported a sustained wind of 67 mph gusting to 88 mph late Monday morning. Winds at nearby Barbuda were sustained at 43 mph gusting to 61 mph. Gonzalo should steadily intensify through the week, and has the potential to be a major Category 3 hurricane by Friday.

Tropical storm Fay strengthened briefly into a hurricane as it tracked away from Bermuda before returning to tropical storm strength late Sunday. It earlier lashed the British chain with heavy rain and gusting winds. There were no immediate reports of injuries as Bermuda authorities assessed damage and discontinued storm watches and warnings. Fay, which had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph), disrupted power for more than 27,000 customers of the Bermuda Electric Light Company. The utility is the sole supplier of electricity for the territory of roughly 65,000 inhabitants. Forecasters said a cold front was likely to absorb Fay on Monday.

Tropical storm Ana is located about 925 mi...1485 km ESE of Hilo Hawaii and about 1135 mi...1825 km ESE of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...45 mph...75 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Tropical storm 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 78 nm north-northwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

The strongest storm to hit Japan this year battered the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku early on Monday, brought heavy rain to Tokyo and caused extensive travel disruption. Typhoon Vongfong has forced the cancellation of more than 500 domestic flights.

Tropical Cyclone Hudhud has dissipated after it powered ashore near Visakhapatnam in the Andhra Pradesh state of India at 05 UTC (3 am EDT) Sunday as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 135 mph. At least 24 deaths are being blamed on the cyclone: 21 in Andhra Pradesh, and 3 in the neighboring Odisha state. Preliminary damage estimates are at least $1.64 billion (Rs 10,000 crore), with the heaviest damage in Visakhapatnam, a port city of 2 million, which received a direct hit.

NewsBytes:

USA - A powerful storm system that swept across Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma has claimed the life of one person and injured four others. The storms destroyed a home near Ashdown, about 150 miles southwest of Little Rock. The storms have downed trees in western Arkansas and left about 5,800 homes and businesses without power. The Storm Prediction Centre has estimated that more than 36 million people are in the path of damaging winds, with the greatest risk for severe weather along the Mississippi River from extreme southern Illinois to northern Louisiana.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): During the past days, the eruption has continued at similar intensity and with similar lava effusion rates as before. The flow field continues to expand mainly to the north and east and cover now more than 55 square kilometers, with an estimated volume of approx. 0.77 cubic km. At the main vent along the Holuhraun fissure, a violently degassing lava lake has formed, while fountains have decreased or almost disappeared.

Mayon (Luzon Island): A viscous lava flow started to descend from the summit crater of the volcano on the southeast slope. On Sunday, it was approx. 350 m long and advancing slowly, with incandescence visible at night. According to an interview with Philvolcs scientists, the present situation is similar to the days before a large explosion occurred in 1986. The currently slow extrusion could be the foreplay of a potentially dangerous and large explosive eruption. This scenario could occur if the lava flow is caused by new, gas-rich magma, which is now rising and currently pushing out an overlying column of older, degassed and viscous lava above it in the conduit. According to press articles, more than 12,000 people have been evacuated from areas close to the volcano and a 6 km exclusion zone is in place. Other hazards include landslides and pyroclastic flows if parts of the lava flow collapse.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 Earthquake hits off the west coast of North Island, New Zealand.

5.3 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.2 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

Three 5.1 Earthquakes hit New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.1 Earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico.

5.0 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.0 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Fay is located about about 565 mi...910 km ENE of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...E or 80 degrees at 26 mph...43 km/h. Hazards affecting land - none.

Tropical Storm Gonzalo is located about 65 mi...100 km ESE of Antigua and about 50 mi...75 km NE of Guadeloupe with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...W or 280 degrees at 10 mph...17 km/h.

Tropical Storm 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 84 nm south-southeast of Iwakuni, Japan, and is tracking northeastward at 23 knots.

Disease

Ebola - USA Update

A second person in Dallas has tested positive for Ebola after coming in contact with a man from Liberia who was infected with the deadly virus, officials said today.

This second patient is a health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and helped care for Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The health care worker came down with a fever Friday night, and a preliminary test was positive for Ebola, officials said.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Copahue volcano (Chile/Argentina) activity update: ash explosions and crater incandescence Activity has picked up at the volcano: at least two moderately strong explosions occurred yesterday 11 Oct at 06:25 and 14:53 local time, with ash plumes rising more than 1000 m. In addition, intermittent incandescence from the crater has been visible during the night 10-11 Oct. At the moment, it is unclear whether this activity is driven by fresh magma approaching the crater or simply phreatic in nature, i.e. caused by steam explosions from the hydrothermal system that could have lead to the release of hot, incandescent gasses seen at night. The frequent, sometimes continuous steam and ash emissions that had been observed during the previous days seem to have gradually become stronger, webcam imagery suggests.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): (11 Oct) Activity has picked up considerably at the volcano during the past days. Several pyroclastic flows (dangerous hot avalanches of fragmented lava and hot gasses) traveled down the SE (and some on the NE) flanks of the volcano, threatening again the closest inhabited areas to the S of Sinabung. The flows originated by collapses on the viscous growing lava lobe on the steep southeastern flank of the volcano and traveled distances of 3-4.5 km. Some still inhabited villages on the southern feet of the volcano are now at elevated risk. Ash fall has occurred in more than 12 km distances as a result of the so-called co-ignimbrite ash plumes (rising ash from the avalanches) that rose to several km height. Some ash plumes reached Medan airport where several flights have been cancelled.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 Earthquake hits Oaxaca, Mexico.

5.2 Earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Fay is located about 85 mi...140 km NNE of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...NNE or 15 degrees at 20 mph...31 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions will continue over Bermuda through this morning. Hurricane conditions are possible over Bermuda during the next few hours. Rainfall...Fay is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 3 to 5 inches across Bermuda. Surf...large swells generated by Fay will continue to affect portions of the south-facing shores of Bermuda through Sunday morning.

Super typhoon 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 285 nm south-southwest of Sasebo, Japan, and is tracking northward at 12 knots.

Tropical cyclone 03b (Hudhud) is located approximately 20 nm south-east of Visakhapatnam, India and is tracking west-northwestward at 07 knots

At least three people were killed as powerful cyclone Hudhud slammed into India’s eastern coast Sunday. More than 350,000 people living along the coast have been evacuated. The impact of the severe cyclone was first felt in Visakhapatnam, a major naval base in Andhra Pradesh state and in surrounding villages, as winds packing speeds of nearly 195 kilometres per hour uprooted trees and billboards, snapped power cables, and led to the suspension of air, bus and train services.

Those in the path of the storm huddled indoors throughout the day as it battered the region, with heavy rain and storm surges in many areas. Several deaths were blamed on a wall collapse and falling trees.

NewsBytes:

Sudan - Thousands of people have been displaced and some 3,260 homes destroyed by heavy flood waters in Jonglei state's Twic East county. Seven schools and four primary health care units were also reportedly destroyed following three consecutive days of heavy rain from 3 to 7 October.

Global Warming

Fish migrating to North-South poles due to global warming

A new study from University of British Columbia has claimed that a large number of fish are moving away from the oceans towards the poles at 26 kilometres per decade because of massive climate changes. The temperature of earth’s water is experiencing a incremental surge every year. As a result, fish are moving towards the poles and by 2050, there will be a huge vacuum of fish that are presently found in the oceans.

The study however concludes that there will be new species of fish and other sea animals to fill up this vacuum in the arctic ocean. Fisheries near the topical areas will suffer, according to the experts. The main reason behind this is the fact that many areas near the sea shores rely heavily on the sea food. The local inhabitants have developed a taste and liking to sea food that is present in deep waters for years. The fleeing of fishes will create the absence of sea food for these populations living near the coast.

The study depicts that, under best-case scenarios, fish will move towards North and South Poles at a speed of 15 kilometres a decade. William Cheung of the University of British Columbia says that many Scandinavian countries are already taking steps to prepare for this massive fish migration.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Etna (Sicily, Italy): There are no significant changes or signs of a new paroxysm very soon. Sporadic weak explosions with ash emissions continue at the New SE crater. Tremor has remained low. The summit vents when observed today showed (normal) strong degassing, with audible deep-seated explosion sounds coming from the NE crater.

Nishino-shima (Volcano Islands, Japan): The volcanic eruption on the remote island continues. A recent satellite image that the lava flows from the active vent(s) have now covered the older part of the island, the original tiny Nishino-Shima island. The ongoing eruption had started as a submarine eruption almost one year ago, when it built a second island to the SE of the existing one. In early January this year, the growing new island had merged with the old one, and has been growing in size ever since.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.9 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

5.4 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

Two 5.2 Earthquakes hit the southern east Pacific rise.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Banda Sea.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Subtropical Storm Fay forms in the Atlantic and is located about 385 mi...620 km S of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...N or 355 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.

Super typhoon 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 220 nm south-southeast of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

Japan's Okinawa Island is receiving an epic battering from Typhoon Vongfong as the powerful storm steams slowly northward at 9 mph. Cooler waters, higher wind shear, and an eyewall replacement cycle had weakened Vongfong to Category 4 strength with 135 mph winds.

Tropical cyclone 03b (Hudhud) is located approximately 250 nm south-east of Visakhapatnam, India.

Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Hudhud in the Bay of Bengal is steadily intensifying as it heads west-northwest towards India, with sustained winds estimated at 85 mph.

NewsBytes:

Italy - At least one person died when flood waters swept through the northwestern Italian city of Genoa following unexpectedly heavy overnight rain, which caught officials unprepared despite similar deadly floods less than three years ago. One of Genoa's biggest rivers, the Bisagno, burst its banks shortly before midnight after days of heavy rain, sending torrents of muddy water through the streets of the medieval port city, smashing shop windows and sweeping aside cars.

Disease

Marburg virus disease - Uganda

On 5 October 2014, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Uganda notified WHO of a confirmed case of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Kampala, Uganda.

The confirmed case was a healthcare worker who had onset of disease on 11 September 2014 while working at Mengo Hospital, Kampala. The case presented to Mpigi District Health Centre on 17 September 2014, and transferred to Mengo Hospital, Kampala, on 23 September 2014. On admission the case presented with symptoms including fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea and died on 28 September 2014.

Ebola - Update

The death toll from Ebola has passed 4,000, the World Health Organization warned, as authorities worldwide tried to prevent panic over the deadly disease and a Spanish nurse fought for her life in hospital.

The WHO said 4,033 people have died from Ebola as of October 8 out of a total of 8,399 registered cases in seven countries.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.5 Earthquake hits Scotland.

5.5 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.

5.4 Earthquake hits Easter Island.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Philippine Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Super typhoon 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 384 nm south-southeast of Kadena Air Base.

Vongfong began a turn to the north on Wednesday morning, and is likely to pass over or just to the north of Japan's Okinawa Island near 18 UTC (2 pm EDT) Saturday. With the typhoon moving over waters that will gradually cool, and with wind shear expected to rise to the moderate range, weakening to Category 3 status is likely before Vongfong makes its closest pass by Okinawa.

Tropical cyclone 03b (Hudhud) is located approximately 516 nm south of kolkata, India. Hudhud will intensify into at least a Category 2 cyclone before hitting the coast of northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur on Sunday,

Environment

Chernobyl Disaster Still Irradiates Norway's Reindeer

Reindeer and other grazing animals in Norway have shown a sudden spike this fall in the amount of the radioactive isotope cesium-137 found in their bodies.

Scientists at the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority say there has been a fivefold increase in the amount of contamination from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster than was measured just two years ago.

Lesser amounts of the isotope were found in some of the country’s sheep.

Scientists point to a bumper crop of mushrooms this year as the reason for the increase.

The mushrooms readily absorb the contamination in the ground as they grow, and are later eaten by reindeer and other grazers.

Scientists say they are a little surprised by the magnitude of the increase, given that cesium-137 has a half-life of 30 years.

The Chernobyl disaster happened nearly 30 years ago, meaning about half of the radioactivity should have decayed by this time.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 122.0 degrees Fahrenheit (50.0 degrees Celsius) at Podor, Senegal.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 92.7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 69.3 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.

Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.

Disease

Ebola - Spain

On 6 October 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of the first confirmed autochthonous case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Spain. This case represents the first human-to-human transmission of EVD outside Africa.

The case is a female healthcare worker with no travel history to West Africa but who participated in the medical care of an EVD case in a Spanish citizen, who had been infected in Sierra Leone and evacuated to Madrid, Spain on 22 September 2014 and who died on 25 September 2014. She was in contact with the repatriated EVD case twice; on 24 and 25 September 2014. On both occasions she is reported to have worn appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE).

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

7.0 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.

6.5 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.

5.3 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.

5.2 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Super typhoon 19w (Vongfong) is located approximately 510 nm south-southeast of Kadena Air Base.

Tropical cyclone 03b (Hudhud) is located approximately 562 nm south of Chittagong, India. Forecast to make landfall along the East Coast of India.

Quiet in the Atlantic - The top three models for predicting tropical cyclone genesis show nothing developing over the next five days in the Atlantic, though we should watch an area of disturbed weather between the Bahamas and Bermuda that could develop early next week. If development does occur, Bermuda would likely be the only land area affected by the storm.

NewsBytes:

Scotland - Bad weather has continued to cause disruption in the north of Scotland with several travel routes affected. No trains are running between Keith and Elgin because of flooding, affecting the Inverness-Aberdeen service. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said the stretch of coastline from Findhorn to Lossiemouth and the Kingston and Spey Bay areas were likely to be affected by high tides. Parts of Portmahomack, Dingwall, Nairn and Golspie had been affected by flooding, while residents in Orkney and Shetland were also being warned of potential coastal flooding.

Wildlife

Weasel-Like Mammal Proposed for Listing under US Endangered Species Act

A shy, stubby-legged creature known as a Pacific fisher is now threatened by cannabis cultivators. It lived along the Pacific coast for thousands of years but was nearly wiped out because of hunting and loss of habitat.

The weasel-like mammal this week proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act, providing conservationists with hope that the uncommon and elusive predator can be returned to the forests of California, Oregon and Washington.

Drug cartels and others have increasingly been setting up giant, illegal marijuana farms in public forests. They spread deadly rodenticides to kill pests that might damage their plants, and the furtive fishers have been hit badly.

Next year, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take public comment and collect information on the Pacific fisher, which consume porcupine and survives in old-growth forests.

Disease

Ebola - USA

The first person to be diagnosed with Ebola within the US, a man who contracted it in Liberia, has died in hospital in Dallas.

Travellers from West Africa arriving at five large airports in the U.S. will have their temperature taken and face questions about their health in an effort to prevent the spread of Ebola, federal officials said Wednesday.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.1 Earthquake hits the Gulf of California.

5.8 Earthquake hits Yunnan, China.

5.5 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.2 Earthquake hits Taiwan.

5.2 Earthquake hits off the coast of Tarapaca, Chile.

5.1 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Mariana Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Post Tropical Storm Simon is located about 45 mi...75 km WSW of Punta Eugenia Mexico with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...NE or 40 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - rainfall...Simon is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches across the northern parts of the Baja California Peninsula and Sonora in Mexico through Wednesday. Surf...swells generated by Simon are affecting portions of the Baja California peninsula. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Typhoon 19w (Vongfong), located approximately 510 nm south-southeast of Kadena AB, and is tracking northwestward at 07 knots.

Super Typhoon Vongfong became the strongest tropical cyclone of 2014 and fifth super typhoon (150 mph max sustained winds or higher) of the year after intensifying rapidly overnight Monday into Tuesday, U.S. time.

Tropical cyclone (tc) 03b (Hudhud), located approximately 562 nm south of chittagong, and is tracking west-northwestward at 09 knots.

NewsBytes:

France - Torrential rains Monday night left a trail of destruction in southern France. Overnight flash floods overturned cars, damaged roads and flooded homes as well as Mosson Stadium in the southern city of Montpellier. In just a matter of hours, the area just north of the city was hit with more than 10 inches of rain, more than double its monthly average.

Disease

Ebola Spread in Europe “Unavoidable”

The spread of Ebola across Europe is "quite unavoidable", the World Health Organisation has warned as four people were in hospital after a Spanish nurse became the first person known to have contracted the virus outside Africa.

WHO European director Zsuzsanna Jakab has said while more cases will spread in Europe, the continent should be well prepared to control the disease.

Health officials in Spain today said four people - the nurse, her husband and two others - were being monitored in hospital in a bid to stem the spread of the virus. The nurse’s dog has been ordered to be put down.

Dengue Fever in China

An outbreak of dengue fever in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong has killed six people and infected thousands more, state media report.

Provincial health authorities said that as of early Tuesday, more than 23,000 had been infected.

State news agency Xinhua said the outbreak is believed to be the worst in China for 20 years.

The tropical disease, which is spread by mosquitoes, causes high fever and severe joint pain.

Chinese authorities have attributed the outbreak to high temperatures and wet weather, and increasing travel to dengue-prevalent places.

The number of mosquitoes is also said to have increased five-fold.