Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.0 Earthquake hits the Flores Sea.
There was no tsunami threat due to the depth of the earthquake (355.4 miles deep).
5.7 Earthquake hits the Anatahan region in the North Mariana Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Flores Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Alamagan region in the North Mariana Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Alamagan region in the North Mariana Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Guatemala.
5.0 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 14s (Glenda), located approximately 723 nm southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, and is tracking south-southwestward at 14 knots.
NewsBytes:
UAE - A sandstorm in the Fujairah region of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today claimed the lives of two people.
Madagascar - More flooding in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo and the surrounding areas has claimed the lives of at least 14 people and displaced more than 21,000.
Chinese Pollution Chokes Korean Peninsula
South Korea was hit by the highest concentration of toxic yellow dust in five years as winds from China’s industrial centres, located to the north and west, blew in the acute air pollution.
The chemical-laden dust typically arrives each winter from southern Mongolia and northern China, where deserts have experienced meagre precipitation and swirling low-pressure areas.
Residents across most of South Korea were advised to stay indoors or to wear protective masks and goggles when venturing outdoors.
The pollution is known to cause cardiac and respiratory problems, especially among the very young and the aged.
Seoul skyline dulled by thick pall of yellow dust as a pedestrian tries to protect herself from the pollution.
Cholera in Malawi
U.N. aid agencies are increasing operations in flood-stricken Malawi in a desperate attempt to stave off a potentially large-scale cholera epidemic. The United Nations Children’s Fund says Malawi is on high alert following a cholera outbreak in southern border areas, near Mozambique.
U.N. aid workers are alarmed at the prospect of a large, nationwide outbreak of cholera in Malawi. This is because the disease is located in the southern border areas where flood victims are living in overcrowded camps, an environment in which cholera flourishes.
The last time the country experienced a large-scale outbreak was in 2009, when well over 1,000 people were infected.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Strombolian activity from the summit vents continues slowly to increase but always below normal levels. In the morning of Feb the 15th a brief but energetic series of 7-8 strong explosions occurred less than 2 minutes:it was characterized by the most powerful explosion observed since the end of the effusive activity. ...27 Feb: Strombolian activity from the summit vents continues slowly to increase but always below normal levels.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits Pakistan.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the west Chile rise.
5.1 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 14s (Glenda), located approximately 573 nm east=southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, and is tracking southward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Bolivia - Flooding in Bolivia’s Pando Province has displaced more than 4,000 people in the town of Cobija after the river Acre burst its banks. Heavy rains have also caused the nearby river Tahuamanu to burst its banks. The river waters rose to 14m [46ft] above their normal level, so between community and the authorities have decided to rebuild a new town to avoid more damage,
Pakistan - Heavy rains and hailstorms have claimed lives of at least six people in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the adjoining Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Nepal - Heavy rainfall together with hailstorm have destroyed crops in various parts of Kailali and Doti districts. Heavy snowfalls have been reported in Mugu and Rasuwa districts. 2 people died after being struck by lightning.
Cool Pacific Ocean Slowed Global Warming
The Pacific Ocean has been a planetary air conditioner for the past two decades, but the relief may soon end, a new study finds.
The Pacific and Atlantic oceans undergo decades-long natural oscillations that alter their sea surface temperatures. These natural cycles flip-flop between cooler and warmer phases. Over the past 130 years, the tempo of global warming has revved up or slowed down in tune with changing ocean temperatures, researchers reported today (Feb. 26) in the journal Science.
"The Pacific Ocean appears to be driving the slowdown in warming over the past 15 years," said lead study author Byron Steinman, a climate scientist at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
The period since 1998 is often called a global warming pause or global warming hiatus, because the planet's thermometer slowed its steady climb. However, it's more accurate to call the intervening years a global warming slowdown. Temperatures never stopped rising, and the 10 hottest years ever recorded have all happened since 1998. And though global surface temperatures have plateaued, the oceans are still warming — studies have found the "missing" heat is going into deeper layers of the sea.
"We are in a turning point right now, and the slowdown will presumably reverse in the decades ahead," Mann said. "When we do, we may see warming even faster than what the models are predicting."
Surge in Radiation From Leaks at Fukushima Nuclear Plant
Fresh leaks of highly radioactive water have been detected at Japan’s crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant four years after a massive tsunami disaster resulted in explosions and meltdowns at the facility.
Sensors detected contamination levels up to 70 times greater than the already high levels of radioactive cesium and strontium-90.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says the leaks came from gutters that sent accumulated rainwater on top of the highly contaminated facility into a drainage ditch that carries runoff to the Pacific.
The company concedes it has known about the leak since last April, but failed to disclose the finding.
A spokesman said workers have blocked the gutters from sending any more roof runoff into the ocean.
The company is also plagued by a flow of groundwater from mountains to the west, which becomes contaminated as it passes beneath the plant and into the Pacific.
Efforts to freeze the ground with refrigeration equipment and halt that flow are underway, but are being met with great public skepticism.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 116.6 degrees Fahrenheit (47.0 degrees Celsius) at Wad Madani, Sudan.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 66.5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 54.7 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.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Between 20 and 22 February 2015, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 4 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death. Cases are listed by date of reporting, with the most recent case listed first.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China
On 23 February 2015, the Department of Health, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China notified WHO of 1 additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.
Anthrax - Australia
A dairy cow has died of Anthrax on a farm in northern Victoria. The farm has been placed under quarantine.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.3 Earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits the Nias region, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 14s (Glenda), located approximately 586 nm east of Port Louis, Mauritius, and is tracking south-southwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Afghanistan - A series of avalanches have struck north of the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 124 people. The snowfall has been concentrated in Panjshir province, where two schools and a mosque and around 100 homes had been destroyed.
Lebanon - A deluge of rainwater flooded the streets of Zahrani Wednesday, forcing Syrian refugees to abandon their swamped tents in the southern village.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 Earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.5 Earthquake hits the Sulu Sea.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
5.0 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 14s (Glenda), located approximately 661 nm south-southwest of Diego Garcia, and is tracking west-southwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Italy - A huge sinkhole suddenly opened up on a street in Pianura in Naples on Sunday. The junction of two residential streets collapsed at around 5 am. At least 380 people have been evacuated. No damage was done to surrounding buildings.
Interesting Images:
At least seven large craters have been discovered in Siberia in a region known as the “end of the world”. Authorities are unsure what caused the craters, but suggest gas emissions due to climate change.
If conditions hold, a series of breathtaking ice caves off the coastline of Lake Superior could open for visitors this weekend.
New Zealand - Avian Disease Outbreak on Kapiti Coast
More than 40 birds have died on the Kapiti Coast after a suspected outbreak of a paralysing disease. A number of duck species and one shag have been found dead, many near lagoons at Awatea Avenue and Waterstone Estate in Paraparaumu, says the Kapiti Coast District Council.
The SPCA believes the birds may have died of avian botulism, which causes paralysis in birds. The birds are being tested to establish how they died, but the council says there have been outbreaks of the disease in other parts of the country.
Although the disease is unlikely to pose a threat to humans, the council's urging dog and cat owners not to allow their pets to eat the carcasses as other animals could catch the disease.
Wildfires - Perth, Australia
An unpredictable bushfire burning out of control in Perth's southern suburbs has been downgraded. The fire warning has changed from an emergency to a watch and act for the western parts of Casuarina and Anketell in the City of Kwinana. The bushfire has crossed the Kwinana Freeway, and is now moving slowly in a northeasterly direction towards Wandi Nature Reserve. There is still a possible threat to lives and homes.
Another watch and act alert is in place for the Wilgarrup area in the Shire of Bridgetown, where the bushfire is moving fast, at 200 metres an hour, in a east-southeasterly direction. Firefights expect the wind may shift and potentially threaten the town of Wilgarrup.
In Perth's north, a bushfire alert in place for the eastern part of Bullsbrook in the City of Swan has been downgraded from a watch and act to advice.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.4 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.
5.1 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 Earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand.
5.1 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Gulf of Aden.
5.0 Earthquake hits Spain.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 14s (Fourteen), located approximately 546 nm south of Diego Garcia, and is trackeing westward at 05 knots.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Between 8 and 19 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 43 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 14 deaths.
The IHR National Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also notified WHO of the death of 2 previously reported MERS-CoV cases. The cases were reported in a previous DON on 16 February.
First Measles Fatality in Germany
The current outbreak of measles in Germany has claimed its first life in the capital, Berlin.
Measles has been spreading throughout the capital since October, with an outbreak having also been reported in nearby Leipzig. In the capital alone, some 574 cases of measles have been recorded since last October, equating to the largest outbreak seen in Berlin since the introduction of a series of medical reforms with the Infection Protection Act in 2001.
Experts said earlier this month that the spike in the number of measles infections in Berlin had been traced to unvaccinated refugees. At least two cases, however, appear to have originated from the United States.
On Monday, following the death of a toddler, a secondary school in Berlin-Lichtenrade was closed as a precautionary measure against the highly contagious disease, which, in severe cases, can be fatal.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 Earthquake hits off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico.
5.6 Earthquake hits Colombia.
5.1 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.1 Earthquake hits the south Atlantic Ocean.
5.0 Earthquake hits Salta, Argentina.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Tennessee, USA - Extreme winter weather has claimed the lives of at least 22 people over the past six days.
Queensland, Australia - Yeppoon, Rockhampton and Gympie inundated by floodwaters following Tropical Cyclone Marcia’s passage. Thousands of homes remain without power.
Switzerland - An avalanche in Valais Alps in Switzerland claimed the lives of four Italian skiers on Saturday.
Bosnia & Herzegovina - A landslide in a Bosnia and Herzegovina coal mine has claimed the lives of at least four people. The landslide occurred at an opencast lignite mine at Dubrave in northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina The people were buried while illegally collecting coal. However, the area could not be approached with big machines because of mud and huge piles of earth.
Afghanistan - An avalanche in Afghanistan's Badakhshan Province has claimed the lives of at least twelve people. Heavy snowfall has also destroyed ten houses in Raghistan district.
UK - Flood alerts have been issued across the south east as wintry weather and blizzards look set to hit large swathes of the UK. There are currently more than 50 flood alerts out across England and Wales, with the majority in the south of the country. The River Thames burst its banks at several points yesterday, as high tides and heavy rain hit west and south London.
Israel - At least 80 Palestinian homes have been flooded after water levels in the Gaza Valley (Wadi Gaza) rose to almost three meters, forcing families to evacuate after Israeli authorities opened several dams.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.5 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Kai, Indonesia.
5.4 Earthquake hits Colombia.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits northern Xinjiang, China.
5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
Growing Use of Chemical Harming Ozone Layer
Emissions of a neglected class of ozone-destroying chemicals not controlled by a U.N. treaty to protect the ozone layer are on the rise, according to new warnings from researchers.
While the “very short-lived substances” (VSLS) have only a brief influence on stratospheric ozone, their soaring emissions are causing concern.
In particular, emissions of dichloromethane, a manmade VSLS used in industry, can cause ozone depletion that is almost four times more efficient at influencing climate than longer-lived gases such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).
Computer models suggest, compared with the better-known CFCs, dichloromethane emissions reduce the ozone layer by less than 1 percent.
But Leeds University researcher Ryan Hossaini says: “At some locations, its atmospheric concentration has doubled since the late 1990s.”
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.3 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.3 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 13p (Marcia), located approximately 262 nm north-northwest of Brisbane, Australia, and is tracking southward at 10 knots.
While conditions have eased as two powerful cyclones in Queensland and the Northern Territory are downgraded, a trail of destruction has left thousands facing a gruelling clean-up effort to repair shattered properties. While there have been no reports of deaths, 60,000 homes are currently without power, and State Emergency Services have been flooded with more than 3000 calls for aid. There remained potential for flooding in areas of the state, as the Bureau of Meteorology tracked the storm moving north and reported downpours of up to 70 millimetres on the Sunshine Coast.
NewsBytes:
India - A landslide in Assam's Hailakandi district in India has claimed the life of two labourers and injured one other.
Zimbabwe to Slaughter Elephants to Celebrate President’s Birthday
President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe for 35 years, celebrated his 91st birthday on Saturday as supporters prepared a party at Victoria Falls at which two elephants are to be slaughtered.
The ritual in his honour involving the slaughter of elephants at the party have drawn fire being described as unethical and disgusting by legitimate local wildlife agencies.
Meanwhile, Tendai Musasa, who heads the Woodlands Conservancy in Victoria Falls, said he donated the elephants for slaughter because “it speaks volumes about how I hold the president in high esteem.”
Interesting Images:
The shark, believed to be a dusky whaler, was reportedly dumped on Lennox Head Beach in Queensland yesterday after ferocious winds and tides lashed down on the tourist town from tropical Cyclone Marcia.
'Fog Catchers' to Provide Peruvians with Fresh Water
Residents of Peru’s arid landscape to the south of Lima might soon receive as much as 100,000 gallons of fresh water per day, thanks to a new network of “fog catchers.”
The devices will pick up condensation droplets from the prevailing fog that covers the Peruvian capital, especially during the winter months, and pipe it into reservoirs for people to use at home and to irrigate crops.
The privately funded project is focusing on the needs of the Villa Maria del Triunfo district in southern Lima.
“One hundred to 200 fog catchers will be placed in this community,” the president of Peruvians Without Water, Abel Cruz, told the news agency EFE.
“The final goal is to have 1,000 functioning with their reservoirs and tanks, which will allow us to be able to capture between 53,000 and 106,000 gallons of water per day.”
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): An eruption today produced an ash plume that rose to estimated 25,000 ft (7.5 km) altitude, detected on infrared satellite imagery (VAAC Tokyo). This could have been an explosion at the dome or an ash plume from a pyroclastic flow due to a partial collapse event, but visible webcam images are not clear to distinguish this.
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): A high-level eruption at 15:22 UTC (22:22 local time) with an ash plume rising to 45,000 ft (15 km) altitude was reported by Darwin VAAC short time ago. If this report turns out to be true (so far, no other evidence available), it would mean that a major vulcanian to sub-plinian explosion is occurring or has occurred as a surprise. Pyroclastic flows continue to occur, as a new lobe of viscous lava is growing in the summit crater. The collapses during the past 2 weeks and their associated flows have strongly changed the morphology of the crater, removing most of the existing dome, while this is now being replaced by fresh material. A larger flow on Wednesday night reached 4 km distance, further than all of the previous ones in recent months. It reached the evacuated villages of Suka Meriah where it burnt houses. Fortunately, no victims were reported as people from the place had been relocated permanently. Ash fall occurred in Berastagi town 30 km away.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.5 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
6.2 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.6 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
5.4 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.3 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Two 5.1 Earthquakes hit Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 12p (Lam), is located approximately 234 nm east of Darwin, Australia, and is tracking southwestward at 08 knots.
Tropical cyclone (tc) 13p (Marcia), located approximately 262 nm north-northwest of Brisbane, Australia, and is tracking southward at 10 knots.
Marcia intensified Friday to come ashore as a category 5 storm and then weakened after the impact and influence of the landfall, bringing heavy rains to southeastern Queensland.
NewsBytes:
Peru, Update - The death toll in the Peruvian floods has risen to at least 20 people. The floods are said to have impacted 22 of the country's 25 regions. More than 800 houses have reportedly been destroyed, with 14,500 buildings being partially damaged. At least five schools are among the destroyed buildings. The communications between several regions have been obstructed, as 12 bridges and 23 kilometres (14 miles) of roads have been destroyed.
High Seas Fishing Ban Proposed to Protect Stocks
Commercial fishing would be banned on the high seas under a proposed agreement designed to create a “fish bank” to ensure the survival of the most overexploited species.
Approximately half of the world’s fish stocks are being caught to their maximum sustainable limits, as well as to levels causing commercial extinction for some species.
Researchers and policymakers from Canada, Australia and elsewhere say commercial trawlers should be limited to operating within 200 nautical miles of the maritime countries that hold rights to fishing in those waters.
They claim the move would have only a tiny impact on the global fishing economy while providing a vast safe place for species to survive.
According to their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, less than 1 percent of the global catch comes from the high seas.
The bulk of the world's fisheries actually come from fish stocks that straddle both territorial waters and the high seas.
This unexpectedly high level of exchange means that most fish stocks would still be available to be fished even if the high seas were closed to trawlers.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 113.0 degrees Fahrenheit (45.0 degrees Celsius) at Nyang, Western Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 65.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53.9 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.
Uganda confirms Typhoid outbreak
Uganda's Health Ministry on Thursday confirmed an outbreak of Typhoid in the East African country.
"We would like to inform the general public that there is an outbreak of Typhoid in Kampala and in some parts of the neighbouring Wakiso and Mukono districts," Jane Ruth Aceng, director-general of health services, told reporters.
She said the first Typhoid infection had been reported on Feb. 6.
"So far, two people are confirmed to have died of the disease, while 11 more deaths are still being investigated," Aceng said.
She added that a total of 142 people had so far been found with symptoms of Typhoid.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): The strombolian-type activity from the summit crater of the volcano continues at moderate levels, with little changes over the past week.
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): 36 explosions occurred from Showa Crater during 9-13 February and ejected tephra as far as 1,300 m. Incandescence from the crater was visible at night during 9-11 February, and inflation continued to be detected. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5). The Tokyo VAAC reported that during 11-17 February plumes rose to altitudes of 1.8-3.7 km (6,000-12,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and SE. On 17 February pilots observed ash plumes that rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE.
Colima (Western Mexico): The volcano remains active with explosions from the summit crater, but its activity has been decreasing a bit. In a report by the Civil Protection, the lava dome is said to have been partially destroyed by the recent explosions, leaving a crater of about 140 m diameter.
Fuego (Guatemala): The volcano experienced another surge in activity on 16 Feb, but has now returned to moderate levels again, with moderate to strong strombolian explosions ejecting incandescent material to 150 m and ash plumes rising up to 1km. In a special report on 16 February INSIVUMEH noted 4-6 explosions per hour, and ash plumes that rose, based on pilot reports, to altitudes of 7-9.1 km (23,000-30,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted more than 15 km SW and W. Another special report issued on 17 February stated that 4-6 explosions per hour continued to be detected. Large amounts of ash formed mushroom-shaped clouds that rose 0.6-1.1 km above the crater and drifted over 15 km NW, W, SE, and S. Incandescent material was ejected 150 m above the crater, causing avalanches in the Trinidad, Ceniza, Las Lajas, and Santa Teresa drainages.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Macquarie Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 12p (Lam), is located approximately 286 nm east of Darwin, Australia, and is tracking southwestward at 04 knots.
Lam’s eye was passing near Elcho Island with wind gusts at 205kph. Numerous trees felled by Cyclone Lam at Galiwinku community on Elcho Island. Several hundred people in the community of Galiwinku on Elcho Island are experiencing the brunt of Cyclone Lam with winds of up to 205 kilometres per hour hitting the area as the system moves towards the Northern Territory mainland. Earlier on Thursday, hundreds of people from the Aboriginal community of Warruwi were evacuated to Darwin on helicopters and planes.
Tropical cyclone (tc) 13p (Marcia), located approximately 437 nm north-northwest of Brisbane, Australia, and is tracking west-southwestward at 13 knots.
Cyclone Marcia which formed off the Queensland coast is expected to intensify to make landfall as a category two cyclone early on Friday. Brisbane residents warned to expect 90kph winds, up to 500mm of rain, as wild weather hits coast. More than 6,500 sandbags have been filled.
Brisbane could experience wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour and receive up to 500 millimetres of rain over the next few days as Cyclone Marcia in the Coral Sea makes its way closer to the Queensland coast from Thursday until Saturday.
Interesting Images:
Mysterious, Wavelike Cloud Hugs Grand Teton Mountains
A bizarre sheet of clouds embraced the highest peak in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming last week, enchanting even the park's most seasoned visitors.
Fireball over Pittsburgh, USA
A fireball pierced the predawn sky over Pittsburgh on Tuesday with a brilliant flash of light. NASA cameras caught footage of the fiery streak—which turned out to be a two-foot-wide, 500-pound meteor traveling at some 45,000 miles per hour. Watch here.
Swine Flu Outbreak In India
At least 630 Indians have died and over 9,300 have so far been infected by the swine flu virus (H1N1), which has spread across several Indian states and the national capital of New Delhi, the country’s health minister said Tuesday.
This is not the first time India has seen a swine flu outbreak. In 2009-10, the disease had reportedly killed over 2,700 people between May 2009 and December 2010, after a global pandemic, which spread out from Mexico. Another outbreak in 2013 left nearly 700 people dead.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.4 Earthquake hits Ascension Island.
5.2 Earthquake hits the northern east Pacific rise.
5.0 Earthquake hits Maule, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Valparaiso, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits the northern east Pacific rise.
5.0 Earthquake hits the northern east Pacific rise.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 12p (Lam), is located approximately 345 nm east-northeast of Darwin, Australia, and is tracking westward at 06 knots.
Tropical cyclone (tc) 13p (Thirteen), is located approximately 335 nm east of Willis Island, Australia, and is tracking south-southwestward at 10 knots
NewsBytes:
USA - Record-breaking cold gripped the eastern United States on Monday while an icy winter storm crippled the nation's central states and then ploughed into the mid-Atlantic, dumping snow ahead of Tuesday's morning commute. Heavy snowfall and ice moving from the Southern Plains eastward pounded Missouri, Arkansas,southern Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. With the storm headed east and sleet and freezing rain expected to also take a swipe at the South, states of emergency were declared in North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, as well as in Washington, D.C.
Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidification can now be seen from space, highlighting an ongoing danger of climate change and revealing the regions most at risk.
Seawater absorbs about a quarter of the carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, that humans release into the atmosphere each year, mostly from the burning of fossil fuels, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This process has slowed the warming of the globe, as all of that carbon is locked up in the ocean's "carbon sink" rather than floating freely in the atmosphere. But when seawater takes up carbon dioxide, it becomes more acidic. According to NOAA, the surface pH of the ocean has become 30 percent more acidic since the end of the Industrial Revolution.
A map created from the results of satellite gathered information shows the variation apparent across the globe. The redder the colour, the more alkaline, or basic — the opposite of acidic — the region is. The more basic the seawater, the more room it has to absorb carbon dioxide without becoming overly acidic. Open regions of the ocean show this resilience, while many coastal regions appear less alkaline. The northeastern United States looks particularly vulnerable — a finding that echoes 2013 research using on-the-ground measurements.
Ocean acidification eats away at the shells of mussels, oysters and crabs, and baby oysters are already dying in some regions from it. These detrimental effects can carry up the food chain. Meanwhile, researchers worry about direct impacts on non-shelled ocean life as well. A 2013 study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that fish kept in acidic water acted more skittish than fish in normal seawater, which could affect their survival in the wild.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Chikurachki (Paramushir Island): Ash emissions and explosions of smaller size than the initial one on Sunday evening continue to occur. Ash plumes reported rose to 12-15,000 ft (3.6-4.5 km) altitude.
Colima (Western Mexico): Explosive activity remains elevated. At intervals of tens of minutes to few hours, small to moderate vulcanian explosions occur, often producing ash plumes rising 1-2 km above the crater.
Villarrica (Central Chile): Activity from the summit vent has increased, with an average of 5 strombolian-type explosions per minute observed recently. Bright incandescence is visible above the crater. Yellow preventive alert for the communes Villarrica, Pucón and Curarrehue remains in place by Civil Protection (ONEMI). Access to the crater is closed at the moment.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.9 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
A tsunami has been observed as earthquakes with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and 5.8 struck the Pacific off northeastern Japan on Tuesday. "A 20-centimetre wave was observed at Kuji port in Iwate roughly an hour later and a 10-cm wave in Miyako," the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. Evacuation orders were issued for residents in coastal districts of Kuji and the town of Otsuchi, and evacuation advisories for the cities of Ofunato and Rikuzentakata as well as Kamaishi. "The quake was believed to be an aftershock of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011," the meteorological agency said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Tohoku Electric Power Co and Tokyo Electric Power Co, both of which operate nearby nuclear plants, reported no irregularities at their facilities after the quake. Unlisted Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd also said there were no irregularities recorded at its nuclear fuel reprocessing facility or other plants in Aomori. All 48 of Japan’s nuclear reactors remain offline after a March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster in north-east Japan.
6.7 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.8 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.4 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 12p (Lam), forms in the Gulf of Carpentaria and is located approximately 463 nm east of Darwin, Australia, and is tracking westward at 04 knots.
Environmentalists and coral researchers concerned with coral bleaching in the area are watching the prospects for the tropical cyclone in the hope that it may stir up cooler water as well as making it more turbid.
NewsBytes:
Peru - The Amazon River overflowed Monday where it runs through the Peruvian city of Iquitos, capital of the rainforest region of Loreto, and began to flood four of its urban districts, a communique from Peru's Senamhi weather service said. Senamhi issued a "red flooding alert" for the city of Iquitos, with its population of 430,000 inhabitants, upon discovering that the Amazon River had crested there to 2.24 meters (7 1/3 feet) above its normal level.
Argentina Update - Seven people are dead and four others are missing in central Argentina after heavy rain led to street floods that swept up several people, including a 5-year-old girl. Civil Defense director Diego Concha told the television station TN that more than 1 foot (32 centimeters) of rain fell during a 12-hour span in the province of Cordoba, about 700 kilometers (435 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires. Images from several local stations showed powerful currents moving vehicles and flooding storefronts and houses.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Between 5 and 7 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAU) notified WHO of 5 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Cases are listed by date of reporting, with the most recent case listed first.
Contact tracing of household contacts and healthcare contacts is ongoing for these cases.
Measles – The Americas
Between 1 January and 8 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Points of Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States notified PAHO/WHO of a total of 147 cases of measles, most of which are related to a large multi-state outbreak in the United States.
Typhoid - India
Some 65 people in Jammu and Kashmir State have been stricken with typhoid fever in the Rajouri district with local officials blaming the outbreak on contaminated drinking water.
Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Rajouri, Dr, Mehmood Bajar said as of Saturday around 260 patients with Typhoid symptoms were registered in the hospital, with 65 being laboratory confirmed.
Worn out water pipes have likely led to the contamination of the drinking water supply and a boil water advisory has been issued.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.3 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.2 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Bali Sea.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Australia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
USA - A Valentine’s Day storm bought snow and dangerously high winds to New England for the fourth time in less than a month, the latest blow to a region that has already seen more than 6 feet of snow in some areas.
Argentina - Three people were found dead and two went missing after several rivers flooded in Córdoba province, following the heavy rain that has hit the region. The floods were caused by the more than 300 millimetres of rain that poured down the province during 12 hours of storms. Floods caused evacuations in Punilla and Sierras Chicas, and also in the surrounding neighbourhoods of Córdoba City, where power outages have been organized as preventive measures.
Malawi Update - Nearly a quarter of a million people, more than originally thought, have been affected by the devastating floods that ripped through Malawi a month ago, and with rains still falling, many of the 230,000 who were forced to flee their homes have been unable to return and rebuild their lives, the UN said. The UN children’s agency, Unicef, said new figures from the UN and the government of Malawi showed the number of people displaced stood at 230,000, compared with an original estimate of 174,000. About 64,000 hectares (158,147 acres) of land were damaged, it added. The scale of the disaster has wreaked havoc on the densely populated country, where most people survive from subsistence farming. Crops of maize have been destroyed, villages obliterated, homes swept away and livestock killed.
Mad Cow Disease Found in Canada
South Korea has suspended quarantine inspections of Canadian beef after the major exporter confirmed its first case of mad cow disease since 2011 Friday after Canada confirmed some beef from the Alberta province was infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease. The Canadian government said the infected parts had not reached human food or animal feeding systems.
It is anticipated that other countries importing beef from Canada may follow suit.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Bardarbunga (Central Iceland): The eruption at Holuhraun continues at similar levels as lately, the Icelandic Met Office reports in its updates. The decreasing trend, however, is becoming visible in a significant drop of the lava lake level inside the Baugur crater above the main vents, seen in the photo above.
"From the field 12 Feb 2015; view from the rim of the southern crater into the lava lake of Baugur. In the foreground, 400m away from the rim, is the southern magma vent. Beyond that there is the northern magma vent, boiling. The lava lake in the foreground is not only glowing; the blackish cover next to the rim indicates some cold crust on its surface, whereas the orange colour reveals liquid magma. Photo: Ármann Höskuldsson.
Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): A stronger phase in the ongoing eruption produced an ash plume that rose to 23,000 ft (7 km) last night (Tokyo VAAC).
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Kamchatka's most active volcano continues to produce ash plumes as well, generated by explosions at the dome as well as avalanches from it - Tokyo VAAC reported ash to 19,000 ft (5.4 km) altitude yesterday.
Zhupanovsky (Kamchatka, Russia): Intermittent explosions and ash emissions continue. Last night Tokyo VAAC reported a plume to 20,000 ft (6 km) altitude drifting west.
Chikurachki (Paramushir Island): A strong explosive eruption occurred from the volcano on Paramushir island last evening, producing an ash plume that rose to 25,000 ft (7.5 km) altitude and drifted quickly west, already more than 200 km distance. The Aviation Color Code was raised to red.
Smaller ash emissions have been following, visible in a hole of clouds over the northern and central Kuriles on NASA's Terra satellite images. KVERT warns that a larger explosion, with ash plumes of 10 km or more, could occur.
After Klyuchevskoy, Shiveluch, Zhupanovsky and Karymski volcanoes on Kamchatka, it is the fith Russian volcano currently erupting in the region, posing danger to aviation.
Aso (Kyushu): No significant changes in the ongoing mild eruption have occurred over the past weeks. Small ash emissions from strombolian activity inside Nakadake crater are near continuous.
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): Strombolian activity from On-take's crater continues to be on the higher end of the average scale and produces small ash plumes.
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Following the large pyroclastic flow on 9 Feb, several smaller to medium ones have occurred over the past days.
It is difficult to be sure, but it suggests that lava effusion to the steep viscous lobe on the upper steep flank is currently at a higher rate than during most of the past months.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The volcano's activity remains more or less unchanged with fluctuating levels as to the number of emissions and explosions and seismic activity.
After a peak in early February with up to 60 events, the recorded number of daily explosions has stabilized to about 10 during the past few days. Ash plumes rose 1-2 km above the crater. Bright glow is visible from the crater at night, indicating arriving fresh magma in the inner crater where a new lava dome is forming.
Seismic activity is low, although a peak in volcanic tremor occurred on 13 Feb with 600 minutes of weak volcanic tremor recorded.
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): After 10 days of relatively stable, mild effusive lava flow activity, the eruption seems to have ended last night.
OVPF reported that tremor disappeared Sunday evening 22:30 local time. No visible activity could be seen any more afterwards.
Alert level was lowered to vigilance, but access to the Enclos remains still limited for now, in case of a sudden re-activation, which is always a possibility.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.1 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 Earthquake hits north of Ascension island.
5.1 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
Local Protests against Ebola Health Workers
Crowds destroyed an Ebola facility and attacked health workers in central Guinea on rumours that the Red Cross was planning to disinfect a school, a government spokesman said on Saturday.
Red Cross teams in Guinea have been attacked on average 10 times a month over the past year, the organisation said this week, warning that the violence was hampering efforts to contain the disease.
During the incident on Friday in the town of Faranah, around 400km east of the capital Conakry, angry residents attacked an Ebola transit centre and set ablaze a vehicle belonging to medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.
A Red Cross burial team was also targeted and forced to flee, said Fodé Tass Sylla, spokesman for the government campaign against the disease.
The number of new cases in Guinea nearly doubled last week to 64, according to World Health Organisation data, jeopardising a government plan to get to zero new cases by early March.
Scarlet Fever in Britain
Bristol could be facing an outbreak of scarlet fever - with reports today saying that the disease is spreading faster in Britain than at any time in half a century.
More than 300 new cases of the bacterial infection were reported in England last week, with 1,265 cases registered since the beginning of the year, the Independent reports.
Scarlet fever was often deadly in the Victorian era, but during the 20th century it became milder and more rare.
But now the disease – which causes a sore throat and fever accompanied by a distinctive rash on the chest or stomach – is on the rise again.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.8 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.9 Earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.4 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.2 Earthquake hits Reykjanes ridge.
5.1 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Bismarck sea.
Stable Sun Not Responsible for Global Warming
New analysis of solar observations dating back to 1610 indicate that the sun is no more active now than in most other times, debunking claims that it is responsible for global warming.
While sunspots virtually disappeared during a period from 1645 to 1715 known as the Maunder minimum, there have also been times in the past 400 years when the sun has been as fired up as in recent decades, scientists point out.
"A proper estimate of the past and present activity of the sun, our main source of light and heat, is crucial in understanding numerous phenomena that occur on Earth, especially to rule out the role of the sun in global warming,” said José M. Vaquero, a researcher at Spain’s University of Extremadura.
"It has been a huge surprise to observe that in the 18th century, the levels of the sun's activity were practically the same as they are now,” said Vaquero.
Writing in the journal Space Science Reviews, Vaquero and colleagues from the United States and Europe outline how discrepancies in the earliest solar records from North America and Europe were resolved to allow the comparison.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
El Niño?
Has there been an El Niño over the past few months or not? While some global weather patterns have been similar to what would be expected during an El Niño, the main characters of the phenomenon have not really set in.
This has baffled scientists since computer models had consistently predicted a major El Niño warming event would develop in 2014.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says that temperatures across the Pacific have recently returned to a “neutral” level between what would be considered an El Niño and a La Niña.
But the Japan Meteorological Agency says the atmospheric jury is still out. It predicts there is a 50 percent chance that El Niño will re-emerge during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
Wildfires - Chile
The government of Chile on Friday requested international help to douse 63 wildfires that have already razed 4,981 hectares (12,310 acres).
Guillermo Maza, acting director of the National Emergencies Bureau, or Onemi, told reporters the government has requested assistance from neighboring Argentina to battle the fires.
Chile has also contacted Brazil to obtain additional help should it become necessary, the official said.
Sixteen of the 63 wildfires raging in four of Chile's regions are expanding, according to Onemi.
The situation is most serious in the southern region of Bio Bio, where three active wildfires have burned more than 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres), though those blazes no longer threaten populated areas, Maza said.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Philippines
On 12 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Point of the Philippines notified WHO of 1 laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): Strombolian activity continues. Occasional larger explosions produce moderate ash plumes such as this morning, when Tokyo VAAC reported a plume to 20,000 ft (6 km) altitude extending N.
Chirinkotan (Northern Kuriles): Weak steam-and-gas emissions were detected in satellite images on 6 and 8 February.
Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): The volcano has been comparably active during the past days. Yesterday, 8 vulcanian explosions were reported. Today, an explosion occurred producing a plume rising to 10,000 ft (3.6 km) altitude.
Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): The currently weak, sporadic strombolian activity from the summit vents increased during the past night when explosions became more frequent. A small peak in otherwise low tremor occurred a day earlier.
Reventador (Ecuador): A new lava flow seems to be active on the southwestern flank. Occasional explosions continue from the summit vent where a lava dome is growing. From the thermal webcam images, it seems that the lava flow began yesterday.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits offshore Jalisco, Mexico.
5.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Epic Sandstorm Suffocates Middle East - For the third day in a row, the Middle East awoke to the wind whipping and sand flying. A massive dust belt is moving from the Sahara Desert all the way up to Turkey.
Peru - Heavy rains cause flooding in more than 100 homes in Lima’s eastern districts. Mudslides destroyed buildings in Lima on Monday after rivers burst their banks. Six houses collapsed and 96 were seriously damaged after strong rains caused flooding in the capital’s eastern Chaclacayo and Luriganco-Chosica districts. Earth covered a 2.5-mile (4-kilometre) tract of a main highway to the Andean country’s central regions for three hours, while areas lost power.
Northwest Seabirds Pitted Against Endangered Fish Species
Two sets of conservationists in the western United States are at odds over plans to kill 11,000 double-crested cormorants on Oregon’s East Sand Island to protect endangered juvenile salmon and steelhead trout from the Columbia River.
The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to cull the live birds with shotguns and pour oil on the nests of about 26,000 birds to prevent their eggs from hatching.
The move has drawn criticism from the Audubon Society of Portland and Care2.
The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission counters that it's hard enough for the fish to make it through a network of dams on the river without being eaten up by a large number of cormorants at the river's mouth.
“This is a difficult situation,” said Corps spokeswoman Diana Fredlund. “We are trying to balance the salmon and steelhead versus the birds.”
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 116.1 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degrees Celsius) at Mandora, Western Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 69.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.1 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian community of Kyusyur.
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.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus – China
On 9 February 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 1 laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): The volcano has been more active during the past days, with frequent, sometimes intense strombolian activity visible from neighboring islands. Small ash plumes rose to 6,000 ft (1.8 km) altitude.
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): The eruption continues with an active viscous lava flow on the upper western flank. Occasional explosions such as this morning produce ash plume that rise to 3-4 km altitude, i.e. 1.5-2 km above the volcano.
Dukono (Halmahera): An ash plume to 12,000 ft (3.6 km) altitude was emitted this morning and observed on satellite data extending 35 km to the south (VAAC Darwin).
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Nepal - At least two persons have gone missing following an avalanche in Humla in west Nepal.
Namibia - Several families in three villages in the Omusati Region have been left in despair following heavy flooding in the area. Villagers have been forced to relocate and saw their crops ruined after floodwaters ravaged their homesteads. The villages are Omuthitu, Okanya and Okaloko in Okahao Constituency. The flooding began last week.
Almost the end for Kenya's northern white rhino
This is what extinction looks like.
No meteor from outer space, no unstoppable pandemic, no heroic, ultimately futile last stand. Instead poor sperm, weak knees and ovarian cysts mark the end of a lifeline cut short by human greed, ignorance and indifference.
With just five northern white rhinos left on earth, the animal’s end is inevitable.
Scientists and conservationists hope that advancements in genetics and in vitro fertilisation might allow for its test tube resurrection in the future, but before that the northern whites will die, one by one, over the next few years.
“We are down to five, so they are very close to extinction, perhaps in a few years,” said Jan Stejskal of the Dvur Kralove Zoo in Czech Republic which, thanks to acquisitions in the 1970s, owns all the remaining northern whites.
“I still believe there is a hope we will be able to save them. The best we can do now is harvest sperm and egg samples for future in vitro fertilisation, and wait until the time the techniques are developed enough to give us a good chance of reproduction,” said Stejskal.
The last living male, named Sudan, is found on a 36 400-hectare reserve of savannah and woodlands in central Kenya, along with two of the remaining females. The other two females live alone in zoos in the Czech Republic and the United States. Two other males – Angalifu and Suni – died last year.
At 43, Sudan is elderly by rhino standards and vets say his sperm is low quality. Nola at San Diego Zoo is also beyond reproductive age while Nabire at Dvur Kralove Zoo is 31, but suffers from ovarian cysts. In Kenya, Najin (25), cannot mate because of her weak hind legs, while her daughter Fatu (14) is infertile.
Modern rhinos have plodded the earth for 26-million years. As recently as the mid-19th century there were over a million in Africa. The last northern whites disappeared from the wild a decade ago and will soon follow the western black rhino, declared extinct in 2011.
To deter poachers the northern whites are escorted by armed wardens at night and their horns are trimmed back to uneven stumps.
The horns are worth more than $65 000 a kilo on the Asian black market, and sought after by Asian consumers who are falsely convinced that the ground-up keratin – the same substance as human fingernails and toenails – contains powerful medicinal properties.
USA Measles outbreak spreads to Canada
Ten individuals in Quebec are confirmed to have been infected with measles in an event health officials are linking to a large outbreak in California.
And another case has been reported in the Toronto region, bringing to eight the number of cases discovered in the past few weeks in southern Ontario.
In a statement, the Lanaudière health authority said the first Quebec case contracted the virus during a visit to a park in California that has been the source of other recent infections. Though they do not name it, it would appear that it is Disneyland.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.6 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.
5.5 Earthquake hits the Carlsberg Ridge.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Philippine Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Andaman Islands off India.
5.1 Earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Storm (TS) 02w (Higos), located approximately 456 nm east-northeast of Andersen AFB, Guam and is tracking northwestward at 06 knots.
Ebola - West Africa
The number of new Ebola cases rose for the second week in a row in West Africa, nearly doubling in Guinea, suggesting declines in the disease seen earlier this year had stalled, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
Efforts to wipe out the deadly virus were being hampered by people's mistrust of health workers, and the number of people continuing to hide sick friends and relatives from authorities, particularly in Guinea's capital Conakry, officials said.
West Africa recorded 144 new confirmed cases of Ebola in the week to Feb. 8 compared with 124 the previous week, the WHO said in a report.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
Between 27 January and 4 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAU) notified WHO of 10 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.
On 2 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Point of Qatar notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
On 3 February 2015, the IHR National Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates notified WHO of 1 additional fatal case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Storm (TS) 02w (Higos), located approximately 424 nm north-northeast of Chuuk and is tracking northwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Jakarta, Indonesia - Flooding in Jakarta after heavy rains has displaced close to 6,000 people in the nation’s capital city. Around 15,517 people were affected directly by the floods as their houses were inundated. Many parts of Jakarta were still submerged Tuesday, making traffic worse in a city already notorious for such problems. Rain started up Tuesday morning again after stopping Monday evening. Many shops were closed as workers were unable to get to work. More rain was forecast.
Boston, USA - Boston is in the cross hairs again as the third major winter storm approaches, but winter storm warnings are in place across large portions of the Northeast, including Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The National Weather Service forecasts 12 to 16 inches of snow by the time the storm ends Tuesday. For Upstate New York, the numbers are 8 to 14 inches. Schools in parts of the Northeast, including Boston, will be closed Monday and Tuesday. "These storms that we're getting are unprecedented. We've never seen this type of snow in the city of Boston at any other time in the history of our city." The storm was snarling air traffic again, but not as bad as in past weeks. FlightAware.com showed more than 1,500 flights into and out of the United States canceled for Monday, on top of the more than 700 flights scrubbed Sunday. Two other storms have hit the Northeast in the past two weeks, closing airports, cancelling classes and creating mountains of snow along cleared roadways. Boston has set a record for the snowiest seven-day period in history, with over 40 inches, the National Weather Service said last week. The city is way past its average annual snowfall of 47 inches.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): Another large pyroclastic flow occurred yesterday morning. The flow traveled 2-3 km to the base of the mountain and produced an impressive coignimbrite ash plume that rose to approx. 4 km altitude. The volcano's eruption continues mostly quietly to effuse viscous lava, feeding a flow emplaced on the upper southeastern flank. At times, such as yesterday, it becomes too unstable and smaller or larger parts of it can collapse, generating dangerous pyroclastic flows.
Fuego (Guatemala): The recent, strong paroxysm ended Sunday. It had lasted 22 hours. CONRED reported that the volcano now returned to its typical intermittent strombolian activity with weak to moderate explosions. The lava flow towards the Trinidad and Ceniza canyon on its upper flank remains weakly active, although seems to be decreasing. Guatemala's international airport has resumed operations.
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): The eruption continues without major changes. The volcano observatory OVPF reports low, but stable tremor levels. Webcam imagery from last night (before clouds obscure views) show that the eruption is mainly effusive with only weak explosive activity (weak spattering) at the vents. Currently, a small lava flow is active that extends approx 500 m from the base of the Dolomieu cone, enlarging the new lava field of partially overlapping flows at its base. The middle section of the lava flow is through a lava tube, making it invisible to the webcams.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits north of Ascension Island.
5.2 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Fundi), located approximately 840 nm south of Antananarivo, Madagascar, and is tracking southward at 25 knots.
Tropical Storm (TS) 02w (Higos), located approximately 658 nm east of Andersen AFB, Guam and is tracking northwestward at 04 knots.
NewsBytes:
Queensland, Australia - Flash floods hit North Queensland. Residents in Far North Queensland are being urged to keep clear of flooded rivers after a weekend of torrential rain. Up to 450mm has fallen between Cairns and Tully. Residents say it's the worst flooding they've seen in nearly 50 years.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China
On 4 February 2015, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 83 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. Onset dates ranged from 20 December 2014 to 27 January 2015.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): A possibly strong eruption seems to have occurred this morning. An ash plume to 30,000 ft (10 km) altitude was reported by Tokyo VAAC. Webcam images are cloudy.
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): Activity remains elevated. An explosion produced an ash plume to 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude this morning.
Fuego (Guatemala): A new paroxysm, a drastically stronger phase of activity, began at the volcano yesterday, characterized by increased strombolian-type explosions, effusion of lava flows and moderate to large pyroclastic flows that traveled to the southeastern side threatening the road between Antigua and Escuintla. According to the observatory of INSIVUMEH, the surge in lava effusion produced two lava flows of 2000 m length from the summit towards the Trinidad and El Jute drainages, causing forest fires. Several pyroclastic flows were generated by partial collapses of the lava masses from the upper slopes and traveled several kilometres.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Fundi), located approximately 570 nm south-southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar, and is tracking southward at 13 knots.
Tropical Storm (TS) 02w (Higos), located approximately 724 nm east of Andersen AFB, Guam and is tracking northwestward at 03 knots.
Measles Outbreak in Germany
The United States has been shocked by a surge in measles cases with more than 100 incidents in January alone.
This, however, is much less worrisome than a current outbreak in Germany.
While authorities there had hoped to completely eliminate the disease this year, 254 new cases emerged in January, primarily in Berlin. If we consider that the German population is only one fourth of the United States', the German measles surge was about 10 times worse than the one in the United States in January, relative to the total population.
Wildfires - California, USA
A wildfire at the foot of the Sierra Nevada has damaged homes after growing to more than 10 square miles and prompting the mandatory evacuation of two small Northern California towns near the Nevada state line.
The unusual winter blaze on the border of Inyo and Mono counties near the Mammoth Lakes resort is 30 percent contained, Cal Fire Capt. Liz Brown said Saturday. Dying winds and rain have helped crews stop the fire's growth.
Twenty structures, including homes and outbuildings, have been damaged or destroyed, Brown said. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): An eruption from the volcano was reported this morning by Tokyo VAAC.
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): The eruption continues at the volcano. It feeds a viscous lava flow about 500 m long on the volcano's upper western flank. Intermittent explosions and incandescent rockfalls accompany this activity.
Pacaya (Guatemala): Small ash emissions continue, probably from mild, deep-seated strombolian activity in the new pit inside Mackenney crater described a week ago.
Fuego (Guatemala): Explosions remain frequent and often strong, producing ash plumes that rise 1-1.3 km above the crater and are accompanied by shock waves that rattle roof and windows in nearby villages.
Villarrica (Central Chile): Magma has reached the surface of the inner summit crater. Strombolian activity has formed a new small cone containing a small lava lake in its open vent. This followed a strong increase in volcanic tremor to about 20 times background level starting since Thursday. Glow from the volcano's top has become visible at night. An overflight confirmed the presence of lava inside the deep pit at the summit crater. SERNAGEOMIN raised the alert level of the volcano to yellow. So far, this activity represents a very typical state of the volcano. If it remains like this, it does not pose significant threats to the surroundings unless activity strongly increases, which could result in the generation of lahars (mud flows due to meltwater from the summit) in particular. These could threaten the areas of the towns of Villarrica, Pucón, Curarrehue and Panguipulli. Chile's civil protection ONEMI has issued a pre-alert, still coded as green, as a precaution.
Barren Island (Indian Ocean): As the Culture Volcan blog pointed out, a weak thermal anomaly was detected on satellite data above the volcano yesterday. The hot spot is weak, but could indicate some sort of activity occurring at the volcano. What could be a plume is visible on other satellite imagery, but for now, there is no confirmation of volcanic activity.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
Injection Well Shuttered Because of Quakes
State regulators shut down an injection well in north-central Oklahoma following a series of quakes suspected to be related to its operation.
Injection wells are used to dispose of wastewater, laden with salt and toxic chemicals, that is produced by oil and gas wells.
The use of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has allowed a huge expansion of gas wells across Texas, Oklahoma and southern Kansas in recent years.
All three regions have experienced a sudden emergence of tremors that coincided with the new wells and their accompanying disposal operations.
Dozens of studies have shown a link between the injection wells and earthquakes.
Under a system established by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, wells within a six-mile radius of a magnitude-4.0 earthquake are placed under operating restrictions.
If additional earthquakes occur within six miles of an active well in that area, the commission can order the operator to halt injection while tests are conducted.
The well, operated by SandRidge Energy in Alfalfa County near the Kansas border, is the second active wastewater injection well directed to halt operations by the commission since it began a new monitoring system was established in 2013.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Fundi), forms near the southern tip of Madagascar, is located approximately 330 nm southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar, and is tracking southeastward at 05 knots.
NewsBytes:
Balkans, Europe - Snowfall and heavy rain are hammering Europe and bringing deadly floods to the Balkans. Hundreds of families have been evacuated from their homes in Albania and one woman drowned after being swept away by floodwaters. Snow continues to blanket parts of Italy and Spain, where hundreds of motorists were trapped on roadways.
Malawi Update - Unicef says that more than 300,000 people have been displaced by the flooding in Malawi, almost twice as many as previously estimated.
Python Capture Patrols Set Up in Infested South Florida, USA
Florida wildlife officials are asking for volunteers to help control the population of invasive Burmese pythons, which have now spread across the state to the point that it’s impossible to eradicate them.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold monthly sessions to train the general public on how to identify and even capture the troublesome snakes.
But not everyone thinks the civilian python patrols are a good idea.
“This is ridiculous,” University of Florida senior herpetologist Kenneth Krysko told Reuters. “You can’t have Joe Schmo grabbing these snakes.”
He told the news agency that civilian patrols are likely to be ineffective in reducing the python population.
The snakes became the leading predator in Florida’s ecologically sensitive Everglades after some were released as unwanted pets or managed to escape into the wild on their own.
It’s believed that there are now about 150,000 Burmese pythons living in the southern half of the state.
Wildfires - Australia
Hundreds of firefighters battling two bushfires in the state are working to strengthen existing containment lines ahead of expected hot and dry windy conditions over the next two days.
Both the Northcliffe and Boddington fires have now been downgraded to watch-and-act alerts after conditions eased on Friday. Firefighters around Northcliffe, in the state's south-west, worked through the night to build new control lines on the eastern side of the blaze, which still presents a possible threat to lives and homes. The Boddington fire, about 120 kilometres south-east of Perth, was downgraded early this morning, although it was still not contained or controlled.
An earlier emergency warning for another fire burning in parts of Wattleup, Hammond Park and Success Creek in the City of Cockburn, about 30 kilometres south of Perth, was downgraded to a watch and act about 6:00pm.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.0 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Malawi - A fresh wave of flooding has hit Malawi, which has still not recovered from an earlier spate of devastating floods. Heavy rainfall has caused fresh flooding in Chikwawa and Nsanje, another southern district.
Albania - The floods in Albania are the second worst on record – only a disaster in 1971 was worse. Deforestation and soil erosion has exacerbated flooding in Albania that has forced the evacuation of hundreds of families, the country’s prime minister has said when declaring a state of emergency. Over the last two decades, many Albanian trees close to powerful rivers such as the Vjosa, Osum and Shkumbin have been chopped down by poor villagers desperate for wood, and by entrepreneurs clearing the way for buildings and dams in a construction boom that has largely benefitted foreign firms. The trees had held soil in place for centuries – acting as a sponge during rainfalls – but without them, soil erosion has accelerated flood damage.
Warming Oceans Bring Big Challenges for Fish
Marine researchers have found that many species of fish around Australia are moving southward or otherwise shifting their ranges and egg-laying patterns in response to warming ocean waters.
Using a network of 62 GPS stations across the volcanic island, lead researcher Kathleen Compton of the University of Arizona found that some sites are rising as much as 1.4 inches per year.
“We found a mixed bag—some positive and some negative,” lead researcher Gretta Pecl told The Guardian. “Some species are shifting south and increasing their range while others are already at their tolerance for temperature, and as it warms, their range will shrink.”
The University of Tasmania scientist said that ocean temperatures off southeastern Australia are warming four times faster than the global average.
Other warming hotspots include the Atlantic off Brazil, parts of the Indian Ocean and the North Sea.
Pecl says species that are highly sensitive to temperature, will see their rate of growth and amount of energy needed for oxygen consumption will be altered by the warming.
Research published in 2013 found that fish species were being pushed towards the poles by warming oceans at a rate of about 4.3 miles every year, chasing climates in which they can survive.
Smoke From Australian Bushfires Blown Almost to Antarctica
The image above was created using data from the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite instrument, or OMPS, on the Suomi NPP satellite. The big magenta-colored spot to the south of Western Australia shows the highest concentration of aerosols from the wildfire smoke. When you follow the lighter blue plume from there to the south and east, you can see some aerosols just off the coast of Antarctica.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 106.0 degrees Fahrenheit (41.1 degrees Celsius) at Julia Creek, Queensland, Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 67.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 55.0 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian community of Oimyakon.
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.
Plague Spreads in Madagascar Following Cyclones
One of the most deadly infectious diseases on the planet has spread across parts of Madagascar in the wake of last month’s cyclones Chedza and Bansi.
Plague has killed at least 57 people out of the 213 known cases after rats that carry the disease emerged from the storm’s flooding and took refuge in populated areas.
The bacterial disease is passed on to humans by fleas that earlier bit an infected rodent.
Once infected, people can die from the bubonic and other forms of plague within 24 hours if not treated.
The Madagascar government says it is organizing a response to the epidemic, including free treatment with antibiotics.
Officials warn that the species of flea that carries the plague across the island nation has developed an immunity to the insecticide used to control it.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Colima (Western Mexico): After being a bit lower during the past week, activity has picked up again today. The volcano had a series of small to moderate explosions ejecting ash plumes reaching up to 2-3 km above the crater.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 Earthquake hits south of Panama.
5.3 Earthquake hits Tachira, Venezuela.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits western Xizang, China.
5.1 Earthquake hits Sucre, Venezuela.
5.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tachira, Venezuela.
5.0 Earthquake hits Guatemala.
5.0 Earthquake hits the south Indian Ocean.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
USA -Sky River to Bust Northern California Drought This Week
California forecasters are prepping the state's northern cities for a switch from extreme drought to drenching rain and damaging winds starting today.
An incoming atmospheric river could deliver at least 10 inches (25 centimetres) of rain in coastal and inland mountains, and 5 inches (13 cm) in valley areas, according to the National Weather Service. Atmospheric rivers are narrow currents of warm, moist air that transport huge amounts of water vapour from the tropics toward cooler latitudes. The water is nearly invisible, just concentrated vapour that later condenses into rain and snow. That happens when the current hits land and the air is lifted and cooled over mountains like California's Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada.
Zimbabwe - A single bolt of lightning has claimed lives of six children and a woman in Zimbabwe. The seven were sheltering in two thatched huts when the lightning struck in Mugwinyi village in Bikita districton Monday.
Greece Update - Experts on Wednesday continued assessing the damage done by flash floods in Epirus, northwestern Greece, over the last few days. By Wednesday afternoon they had recorded damage to 329 buildings, 229 of which are homes, in Arta. Another 43 buildings, of which 16 are homes, were damaged in Ioannina. The floods, as well as rockfalls, caused widespread damage to the road network in the area.
Turkey - Turkish authorities blame Bulgaria for failing to take measures in its reservoirs after the country's floodgates opened following torrential rains that inundated the neighbouring Turkish province of Edirne. Turkey is at odds with Bulgaria after floodwaters from neighbouring Bulgaria engulfed the country's northwestern border province of Edirne. Authorities told reporters that three rivers in the province broke their banks as water levels suddenly increased in the wake of the opening of reservoir floodgates in Bulgaria after last week's heavy rainfall. Floodgates in Bulgarian dams have frequently caused problems for Edirne, situated right next to the Balkan country, but this time, Turkey has adopted harsh rhetoric against the neighbouring country.
Wildfires - Australia
A fire that started in Lower Hotham about 180km south of Perth, in the Shire of Boddington, is now threatening nearby Quindanning.
The out of control blaze has become intense and is quickly moving east, authorities say. It is burning in forest on both sides of the Murray and Hotham rivers.
It was confirmed on Thursday one home had been lost in the area.
Residents in the tiny Western Australian town of Windy Harbour were evacuated to the beach as a bushfire that has been burning in the state’s south-west for six days threatened the town.
They may have to be rescued by boat, emergency authorities said.
Bushfires burning south of Perth have destroyed two houses and three sheds, and firefighters near Northcliffe have been putting in 30-hour shifts.
The Northcliffe fire was finally quelled by favourable weather, water bombing and the mammoth efforts of hundreds of firefighters.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): A new eruption has started at the volcano, following a brief seismic crisis that started early this morning.
According to OVPF, the new (fissure) vent should be located between Bory, Dolomieu and Rivals craters on the upper flank of the Dolomieu main cone. A lava flow is descending SSW and has already reached the base of the Dolomieu crater, i.e. the floor of the enclos. Its length is more than 1 km.
Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): Since 10 Jan 2015, the volcano has been active again. A lava dome is growing at the summit, producing incandescent avalanches.
Our correspondent Andi who visited the volcano during the pst days wrote: "Mt Karangetang spews lava flows and the status has been raised again into level 3. According to the seismic recordings from the observatory post, there are harmonic tremor and volcanic quakes, indicating the ongoing dome building. A warning was issued to the local population to prepare for possible evacuations."
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits south of Tonga.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Russia-Xinjiang border region.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
USA - A second winter storm has blasted Chicago with heavy snow and strong winds that created near-whiteout blizzard conditions, bringing the city its fifth heaviest snow on record - 19.3". More than 18" of snow plastered Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan, with a storm-maximum snowfall amount of 20" observed in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In Southeast Michigan, the 16.7" the storm dumped on Detroit was the city's third heaviest snowfall on record. The storm then moved on to Ohio, hitting Cleveland with 4.7". The biggest totals during the remainder of the storm's trek are expected in snow-weary Massachusetts, with snow amounts near 12" expected in Boston. That city received 24.4" of snow from last week's blizzard; several locations in Central Massachusetts near Worcester received 36" of snow, and are expecting another 12" from this storm.
Turkey - At least eight people have been killed by a storm caused by a strong southwesterly wind known in Turkey as lodos. The storm hit the Marmara, Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions of the country. The huge storm also caused flooding in province of Edirne close to the border with Greece. The storm destroyed the roofs of more than 300 buildings and around 100 vehicles were damaged in Bursa province. Turkish Airlines said it had canceled more than 100 flights due to the adverse weather.
Philippines - A landslide in Zambo Norte, Philippines has claimed the lives of two persons, including a nine year old child. The landslide occurred in Roxas town in Zamboanga del Norte Monday morning.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Between 14 and 22 January 2015, the IHR National Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAU) notified WHO of 9 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 4 deaths. Cases are listed by date of reporting, with the most recent case listed first.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits the Fox Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.4 Earthquake hits Cataduanes in the Philippines.
5.3 Earthquake hits offshore Antofagasta, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Fox Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 10p (Ola), is located approximately 415 nm southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, and is tracking south-southwestward at 10 knots.
NewsBytes:
Indonesia - The villages of Simbatan and Gondang in Gondang district, Bojonegoro regency in East Java, have suffered flash floods, inundating dozens of homes and rice fields.
Mozambique Update - The floods that have ravaged northern and central parts of Mozambique have now killed 159 people and affected nearly 160,000.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Bardarbunga (Central Iceland): The eruption, now going on for more than 150 days, continues with little changes. Although it has started to decrease, very slowly, in intensity, it remains impressive and magma discharge is still an impressive approx. 100 cubic meters per second. Caldera subsidence and seismicity continue as well, but a slow decreasing trend of subsidence rate - from initially 50 cm a day to now about half of that now - is visible as well and seems to correlated with the decrease in magma effusion. Icelandic scientists think therefore that subsidence (and hence, the eruption,) might go on for another 5 to 16 months.
Shishaldin (United States, Aleutian Islands): A small eruption was seen last night from a ship, VAAC Anchorage reports. Aviation color code remains orange. According to the Alaska Volcano Observatory, elevated surface temperatures at the summit continue and small steam emissions are visible on clear webcam images, as well as "a wispy, low-level ash emission from the summit drifting west-southwest" on one image.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.3 Earthquake hits San Luis, Argentina.
There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties.
5.9 Earthquake hits the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea.
5.6 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.6 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.4 Earthquake hits the Pribilof Islands, Alaska.
5.3 Earthquake hits south of Panama.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.2 Earthquake hits northern Peru.
5.1 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits off the west coast of northern Sumatra.
5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 10p (Ola), is located approximately 245 nm west-southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, and is tracking south-southwestward at 10 knots.
Tropical cyclone (tc) 09s (Eunice), is located approximately 945 nm southwest of Cocos Island and is tracking east-southeastward at 29 knots.
NewsBytes:
Greece - Flash floods caused by heavy rains have hit northwestern Greece and southern Albania, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villagers Sunday and destroying a famous 18th-century stone bridge. No casualties were reported in either country.
