Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 Earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan.
5.4 Earthquake hits central Alaska.
5.4 Earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.0 Earthquake hits south of Africa.
5.0 Earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Pagan Region in the North Mariana Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the South Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone (ts) 17s (Frances), located approximately 270 nm north of Broome, Australia, is tracking west-southwestward at 05 knots.
NewsBytes:
Krygyzstan - A landslide engulfed part of a village in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, killing 24 people, including nine children, the emergencies ministry said. The earth slip entombed the inhabitants of six houses when it hit the village of Ayu in the Osh region of the mountainous Central Asian country at around 6:40 am (0040 GMT). Hours later, a second landslide hit a neighbouring village on Saturday afternoon, burying three houses. There were, however, no casualties, the ministry said.
Dengue fever: Sri Lanka
In a follow-up on the dengue fever epidemic in Sri Lanka, officials with the Epidemiology Unit with the Ministry of Health report 39,313 cases through Apr. 28. This compares with 16,660 cases reported during the same period in 2016. Of this total, local media have reported 65 dengue-related fatalities through Apr. 26.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.2 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
Following a tsunami warning, the occurrence of sea level disturbance was confirmed by records of the Sarangani sea level monitoring station showing a drop of approximately 30cm and a maximum rise of approximately 10cm wave height relative to normal sea level. Several buildings were damaged and two people injured as panicked residents fled the coast following the tsunami warning.
5.8 Earthquake hits Valparaiso, Chile.
5.5 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.4 Earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
5.4 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
Two 5.2 Earthquakes hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits Lake Tanganyika.
5.0 Earthquake hits Colombia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile
Interesting Images
Mystery of Antarctica's Blood Falls
It’s a mystery that has baffled scientists for more than a century; how salty, blood-red water is able to ooze out from a million-year-old glacier in a region known for its freezing temperatures.
When explorer and geoscientist Griffith Taylor discovered a 54-kilometre long glacier in Antarctica that released a deep red liquid in 1911, he attributed the strange phenomenon to red algae colouring the moving water.
The outflow was quickly dubbed “Blood Falls” for the water’s creepy, red hue contrasting against its icy, white surroundings.
It was later discovered, however, that the mysterious water was not related to blood or algae at all. In fact, the colour is the result of iron-rich salt water that turns into a reddish-brown shade or oxidizes (like rust) when it comes into contact with the air. Scientists call the water “brine” because of the incredible amount of salt in it.
And now, that saltiness has offered an important clue into one of Blood Fall’s final mysteries – how the brine travels from within the frozen glacier to the waterfall in sub-zero temperatures. Researchers have found that the glacier has its own unique network of pressurized channels that move the iron-rich water to the top of Blood Falls through the frozen glacier.
Wildfires - Siberia
Rescuers have managed to save all the residents of a Russian village before the settlement located on an island in Irkutsk Region burned to the ground. The spread of wildfires across Siberia has prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Hundreds of people were trapped in the village of Bubnovka surrounded by water as a massive fire was ripping through their homes. Luckily for some 435 residents, local Emergencies Ministry staff were conducting anti-flood drills in the area and rapidly reacted to the incident. Responding the distress call, they rushed to the scene to evacuate the villagers. Using an air cushion rescue boat, the responders brought people to safety. No one was harmed.
At least 59 buildings in the village ultimately burned down. It is believed that the fire was started by a local resident burning trash.
Malaria on Rise in US As Travelers Return with Disease
More than 2,000 people in the U.S. return from visits abroad with malaria every year, a new report says.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week of 19 April - 25 April 2017
Bagana | Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery and model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-17 April ash plumes from Bagana rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, SE, and S. Plumes drifted 55-85 km during 19 and 23-24 April.
Bezymianny | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 14-21 April lava continued to advance down the NW flank of Bezymianny's lava dome. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 14-17 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Bogoslof | Fox Islands (USA) : On 19 April AVO noted that no new volcanic activity at Bogoslof had been detected in satellite, seismic, or infrasound data since a short-lived increase in seismicity on 15 April; AVO lowered the Aviation colour Code to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory.
Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : AVO reported that recent satellite images of Cleveland revealed that a lava dome has been extruded in the summit crater, with growth likely beginning after the last explosion on 31 March. The Aviation colour Code was raised to Orange and the Volcano Alert Level was raised to Watch.
Slightly elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images over the past couple of weeks. The new dome was first visible in images on 15 April, with the presence of a small (less than 10 m diameter) mound deep in the crater. By 23 April this mound had grown to 45 m in diameter. Dome growth had occurred with no detectable seismicity.
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 19-25 April ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.4 km (6,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, and SE.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that on 14, 16, and 19 April several explosions at Ebeko were observed by residents of Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island) about 7 km E. Ash plumes rose as high as 3.2 km (10,500 ft) a.s.l. Minor amounts of ash fell in Severo-Kurilsk on 18 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 19-25 April HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater, from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone, and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna. A growing lava delta is building where the lava enters the water. Surface lava flows were active above the pali.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly was detected over Klyuchevskoy during 14-17 and 23 April. A steam-and-gas plume that rose to 5 km (16,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 125 km SW on 23 April contained some ash, prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation colour Code to Orange. On 24 April satellite images showed an ash plume drifting 72 km SW at an altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. On 25 April KVERT noted that activity had significantly decreased and only steam-and-gas emissions were observed. The Aviation colour Code was lowered to Yellow. On 25 April ash was again present in a plume; KVERT raised the Aviation colour Code to Orange. The plume rose 3-4 km (9,800-13,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 60 km SW.
Sabancaya | Peru : Based on webcam images, satellite views, and seismic data the Buenos Aires VAAC reported sporadic gas-and-ash puffs from Sabancaya during 18-25 April, sometimes rising as high as 8.2 km (25,000 ft) a.s.l.; clouds sometimes hindered observations of the volcano.
San Miguel | El Salvador : In a special report from 17 April, SNET reported an increase in seismicity and gas emissions from San Miguel in recent days. Earlier that day during 0620-0630 RSAM values spiked to 356, an increase over normal values around 50. During 18-21 and 23-24 April RSAM values fluctuated between 80 and over 300.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 15-21 April lava-dome extrusion onto Sheveluch’s N flank was accompanied by strong fumarolic activity, dome incandescence, ash explosions, and hot avalanches. Satellite images showed a thermal anomaly over the dome during 13-17 April, and an ash plume that drifted 95 km E on 15 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Sinabung | Indonesia : Based on PVMBG observations, satellite images, and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-22 and 24 April ash plumes from Sinabung rose to altitudes of 3.3-4.3 km (11,000-14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and E.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits Kyrgyzstan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific: Tropical Depression 03w (Muifa), located approximately 554 nm southwest of Iwo To, Japan is tracking northward at 09 knots.
In the South Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone (ts) 17s (Frances), located approximately 275 nm west of Darwin, Australia, is tracking west-southwestward at 15 knots.
NewsBytes:
Singapore - Heavy rain caused flash floods in eastern parts of Singapore on Thursday, with vehicles splashing through water-clogged roads and some cars left stranded, unable to pass through.
India - Incessant rainfall for the past one week has flooded large areas of Arunachal Pradesh’s capital town Itanagar and caused landslides and road blocks at many points. Landslides occurred at Senki View and Donyi Polo Road, while people in Pachin Colony have undertaken temporary flood preventive measures by constructing bunds with bamboo and filling empty cement bags with sand.
Climate Shift Affects Livestock Husbandry in Kenya
A growing number of Kenyans are switching from traditional livestock to drought-resistant camels because of the changing climate.
Longer and less-predictable droughts have resulted in three times as many camels being owned today than a decade ago.
“My husband and I had over a hundred cattle until 2005. But as the climate became drier in this region, the cows stopped producing milk, and 20 to 30 of our cows even died every year,” Mariam Maalim told Germany’s Deutsche Welle broadcaster. She says her new camels produce milk even during drought.
Urban Foxes
There are now four times as many foxes living in urban areas of England than 20 years ago, or about one for every 300 city-dwelling humans.
Researchers found that London has about 18 foxes per square kilometer, while the whole of England is home to about 150,000 of the urban omnivores.
But Trevor Williams, of the rescue group The Fox Project, says he thinks that many foxes have become urban dwellers because cities have expanded into their historic habitats. Foxes also seem to thrive in places like London because of the abundance of rats and mice.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 114.0 degrees Fahrenheit (45.6 degrees Celsius) in Tillabery, Niger.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 97.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 71.7 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
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.
Anthrax outbreak: Burkina Faso
An anthrax outbreak was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Wednesday by the Ministère des Ressources Animales et Halieutiques, Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso. The outbreak registered in Banakeledaga, Bama, Houet killed 70 cattle, registered in four (4) herds that belong to four (4) farmers: three (3) of them from the Fulani camp of Banankeledaga and one (1) from the village of Bama.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Between 18 March and 20 April 2017 the national IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 13 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) including two fatal cases.| On 18 April 2017 the national IHR Focal Point of Qatar reported one additional case of MERS.
Crop-eating armyworm marches on
The fall armyworm - which decimates fields as it marches ever forward - has spread to Angola as the caterpillar eats its way through southern Africa, a U.N. agency said.
With Angola the latest country affected, only Lesotho and island nations in the region have escaped the pest, which devours crops in its path, U.N. officials said. Its spread has undermined hopes for a better harvest this year, they added, with swathes of southern, eastern and western Africa infested.
Native to North and South America, the caterpillar was first detected in Western Africa in 2016 and has since spread across sub-Saharan Africa, ravaging maize and other cereal crops.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - New Activity for the week of 19 April - 25 April 2017
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on PVMBG observations the Darwin VAAC reported that during 19-21 April ash plumes from Ibu rose 1.5-1.8 km (5,000-6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and N.
Kambalny | Southern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Kambalny continued during 15-21 April. Observers in the South Kamchatka Sanctuary noted minor ashfall in the Kurilskoe Lake area on 19 April. The Aviation Colour Code remained at Orange.
Langila | New Britain (Papua New Guinea) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 23-25 April ash plumes from Langila rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l., and drifted S and 55 km SE.
Manam | Papua New Guinea : RVO reported that activity at Manam decreased on 18 April and continued at low levels through 21 April. Roaring noises came from both Main and Southern craters. Both craters were incandescent, but only Southern Crater ejected incandescent tephra, which became intense during 0900-1100 on 20 April. Pale gray-to-brown plumes with a minor amounts of ash rose from both craters and drifted SE. RSAM values were about 75-150 units, but between about midnight and 0100 on 22 April they began to rise. RSAM values were 600 at 0500, and then they fluctuated between 400 and 1,400 units at least through 1400, the time of the report posting. According to a news article from 25 April the Alert Level was raised to Stage 3, and an official on the island noted that women and children have begun to be evacuated to Bogia on the mainland.
Nishinoshima | Japan : Satellite images of Nishinoshima acquired on 19 April and processed by NASA's Earth Observatory showed an area of hot lava in the crater. According to a news article, observers aboard a plane passing the volcano on 21 April noted intense activity in the crater. Bombs were ejected as high as 100 m above the crater and incandescent rocks rolled down the flanks, reaching the sea. The report noted brown plumes rising from the crater and lava effusing from an area near the top of the vent.
Poas | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that on 20 April a dense water vapor plume rose from a vent in the newly-forming pyroclastic cone at the site of the old dome in the hot lake at Poás. Gas flux increased from 1,000 tons/day (t/d) on 13 April to 2,500 t/d on 20 April. During 20-22 April Strombolian activity ejected tephra that fell around the vent within a 300-m radius. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 200 m above the vent. The Red Cross of Grecia reported ashfall in Alajuela, Fraijanes, San Miguel, Carbonal, Cajón, San Francisco, San Roque, and San Juan Norte de Poás. Events at 1316 and 1603 on 22 April produced plumes of unknown height. Several more eruptive events were recorded that day; an event at 2212 was very intense, ejecting bombs large distances. An event at 1215 on 23 April generated a plume of unknown height.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits Atacama, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific: Tropical Storm 03w (Muifa), located approximately 432 nm borth-northwest of Yap, is tracking north-northeastward at 08 knots.
In the South Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone (ts) 17s (Seventeen), located approximately 179 nm north-northwest of Darwin, Australia, is tracking southwestward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Dominican Republic - Due to the heavy rainfall throughout the country that started on 18 April, some communities in the northern and central areas of the Cibao region are currently displaced and without communications. Weather forecasts anticipate the rains to intensify over the coming weekend. Some 3,512 homes have been flooded while 9 have been destroyed. A total of 17,560 displaced families are currently housed in the homes of friends or family (approximately 88,000 people). Reported damages to infrastructure include 10 bridges and 13 roadways that connect the affected provinces and towns in the north to the south of the country.
Global Warming - Heatwave Hits Chile’s Glaciers
High, high up in the Andes mountains above Chile’s capital, at the foot of the glaciers that date from the last ice age, the temperatures were almost balmy this summer. That threatens long-term water supplies to the city of seven million spread out on the plain below.
At the Olivares Alfa glacier, 4,420 meters above sea level, temperatures rose above 10 Celsius on several days in January and rarely fell below zero, said Andres Rivera, a glaciologist at the Center of Scientific Studies in Valdivia.
"It is not rare to have above-zero temperatures during summer, but high temperatures day and night, for several days in a row, that was unprecedented," Rivera said.
The glaciers that supply much of Santiago’s water over the hot, dry summer months shrunk by a quarter to 380 square kilometers in the 30 years to 2013/14, according to a study by the Universidad de Chile. The melt will accelerate if the South American nation sees more record breaking heatwaves as global warming increases. Eventually, the shrinking glaciers may force the citizens of Santiago to follow their counterparts in southern California and give up their green lawns and swimming pools.
The Echaurren Norte glacier above the Laguna Negra reservoir has shrunk in height by the equivalent of 20 meters of water over the past 40 years, according to the government’s Water Directorate. That standard measure for glaciers means that the height of the ice has been reduced by about 25 meters since 1976.
That was before this year’s heat wave, with the glacier probably shrinking further in the past 12 months.
The worst wildfires the country has seen in generations burned 614,000 hectares of woodland and crops, dumping ash on the glaciers thousands of meters up in the Andes mountains. That meant the ice absorbed more heat, instead of reflecting it back.
Chile’s giant copper industry probably isn’t helping the glaciers either.
State-owned Codelco’s Andina copper mine and Anglo American Plc.’s Los Bronces both sit right next to the Olivares glacier system. Their operations are impacting the glaciers and the planned expansion of Andina could have an even larger effect, Ferrando said.
"The mine pit has often been drilled on both ice glaciers and rock glaciers," Ferrando said. "Trucks also lift dust that strong winds move to the glaciers and this changes the way solar radiation lands on the ice and increases the effect of heat."
The situation may be even more critical in neighboring Bolivia where glaciers have shrunk by 43 percent in 20 years, according to research by Manchester Metropolitan University. The study said new lakes have appeared as a consequence of the melting and at least 25 of them are at risk of causing floods or mudslides.
At some point soon, Latin America needs to prepare for life without glaciers.
US Marines Airlift 1,100 Tortoises to New Home
The U.S. Marine Corps had an unusual mission this month: to airlift more than 1,000 desert tortoises across the Mojave Desert.
Desert tortoises are native to the southwestern desert, and a population of the reptiles had made their home near the U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. However, plans to expand the Marines' training grounds for large-scale exercises with live fire would have put the tortoises at risk, so the military took on the massive task of relocating approximately 1,100 desert tortoises.
Vinegar offers hope in Barrier Reef starfish battle
Coral-munching crown-of-thorns starfish can be safely killed by common household vinegar, scientists revealed Thursday in a discovery that offers hope for Australia's struggling Great Barrier Reef.
The predatory starfish is naturally-occurring but has proliferated due to pollution and run-off at the World Heritage-listed ecosystem, which is also reeling from two consecutive years of mass coral bleaching.
Until now other expensive chemicals such as bile salts have been used to try and eradicate the pest -- which consumes coral faster than it can be regenerated -- but they can harm other marine organisms.
Tests by James Cook University, in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), showed vinegar was safe, effective and cheap.
Study head Lisa Bostrom-Einarsson said crown-of-thorns were injected with vinegar at four sites on the reef over six weeks, causing them to die within 48 hours with no impact on other life.
Wildfires - Arizona, USA
The Green Valley fire had now burned 28.1 square miles (72.8 sq. kilometers), the fire management team said Tuesday afternoon.
There are no reports of injuries or structure damage, but the wind-driven fire has resulted in the evacuation of 40 residences as well as notices to nearly 90 additional dwellings whose residents should prepare for possible evacuation.
Measles Outbreak in Italy
In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Italy, the number of cases has increased by 136 since the last report, bringing the total to 1739 cases since the beginning of the year, according to Italian health officials.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Balleny Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka.
5.0 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific: Tropical Storm 03w (Muifa), located approximately 328 nm northwest of Yap, is tracking northwestward at 06 knots.
NewsBytes:
Melbourne, Australia - Parts of Victoria have already received almost double the average rainfall this month, and some areas have recorded the wettest April in 16 years. As Melbourne dealt with another wintry blast and rainfall that caused the closure of two train stations, the weather bureau revealed Melbourne had received 107 millimetres of rain this month
North & South Carolina, USA - Days of rain are causing floods in several southeastern states including South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. The heavy rain has swamped homes and businesses in North Carolina. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning until 11:30 p.m. for Raleigh, the state capital, and surrounding counties.
Climate Change Continues Unabated in the Arctic
Evidence continues to mount that climate change has pushed the Arctic into a new state. Skyrocketing temperatures are altering the essence of the region, melting ice on land and sea, driving more intense wildfires, altering ocean circulation and dissolving permafrost.
A new report chronicles all these changes and warns that even if the world manages to keep global warming below the targeted 2°C threshold, some of the shifts could be permanent. Among the most harrowing are the disappearance of sea ice by the 2030s and more land ice melt than previously thought, pushing seas to more extreme heights.
The findings, released Monday in the Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) assessment, come after a winter of extreme discontent for the region. Sea ice receded a bit in November, a rare occurrence, and hit a record-low maximum for the third year in a row. Temperatures averaged 11°F above normal, driven by sustained mild weather that was punctured by periods of almost unheard of heat when temperatures reached up to 50°F above normal.
The decline of sea ice is well documented. It’s disappearing in all seasons with the fastest shrinkage in the summer months. Old ice, which has formed the bedrock of sea ice for decades, is also declining precipitously. That leaves new ice in its place and susceptible to melt.
The new analysis shows that the average number of days with sea ice cover has dropped by 10-20 days per decade since 1979. Some areas, such as the Barents and Karas seas, have seen even steeper declines. Disappearing sea ice means the darker ocean left in its wake absorbs more energy from the sun, speeding the warming in the region.
Arctic soil holds up to 50 percent of the world’s soil carbon. Rising temperatures are melting permafrost, causing it to release some of the carbon into the atmosphere.
While the carbon release so far has been relatively small, rising temperatures have the potential to rapidly reshape the landscape and speed the melt.
The biggest impact for the globe is the melt of land ice from Greenland’s massive ice sheet. It’s the biggest land ice driver of sea level rise, and it’s been melting at a quickening rate since 2011.
The SWIPA report uses new data and findings to update the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sea level rise estimates made just four years ago.
If carbon emissions continue on their current trends, the report indicates 29 inches would be the low end of sea level rise estimates by 2100, roughly 9 inches higher than the minimum IPCC estimate. And that’s just the low end, with more sea level rise possible as scientists untangle the web of melting in Greenland as well as the Antarctic.
The massive rush of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean is also reshaping ocean circulation and the ecology of the region. Researchers have seen a marked slowdown in North Atlantic circulation as cold, fresh water off Greenland’s southern tip has acted as a roadblock to the currents that steer water through the region. That has the potential to mess with ocean circulation as well as weather patterns, particularly in Europe.
Research shows global warming making oceans more toxic
Climate change is predicted to cause a series of maladies for world oceans including heating up, acidification, and the loss of oxygen. A newly published study published online in the April 24 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences titled "Ocean warming since 1982 has expanded the niche of toxic algal blooms in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans," demonstrates that one ocean consequence of climate change that has already occurred is the spread and intensification of toxic algae.
Toxic or harmful algal blooms are not a new phenomenon, although many people may know them by other names such as red tides. These events can sicken or kill people who consume toxin-contaminated shellfish and can damage marine ecosystems by killing fish and other marine life.
The problem is worsening.
The distribution, frequency and intensity of these events have increased across the globe and this study links this expansion to ocean warming in some regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans.
Marine algae are so tiny—50 of them side by side span only the width of a single hair—that they may seem harmless. But when billions of toxic cells come together, they can poison humans, kill marine life, and economically harm coastal communities.
Baby whales 'whisper' to mothers to avoid predators
Newborn humpback whales and their mothers whisper to each other to escape potential predators, scientists reported on Wednesday, revealing the existence of a previously unknown survival technique.
Whales are known for their loud calls, congregating fellow members of the pod. Male humpback whales also emit reverberating sounds to attract females during the mating season.
But this is the first time scientists have observed a unique, intimate form of communication between humpback mothers and calves.
Potential predators such as killer whales could listen to their conversations and use that as a cue to locate the calf and predate on it, if the conversations were louder.
While a male's cry can resound over an area covering several kilometres, the pairs in the study could only hear each others' calls within a distance of less than 100 metres.
The faint sounds are also a way to keep mate-seeking males from interfering in the humpback's nurturing, a crucial time in the newborn's life as it braces for an arduous 8 000km journey back home to the Antarctic, the researchers speculated.
Ancient underground water sources not immune to today’s pollution
New research suggests ancient underground water sources long believed to be shielded from modern-day contaminants may not be as safe as previously thought.
The study, led by University of Calgary hydrogeologist Scott Jasechko, involved delving into data collected from 6,000 groundwater wells around the world.
The research yielded two interesting findings – up to 85 per cent of the fresh, unfrozen water in the upper kilometre of the earth’s crust is more than 12,000 years old and it’s possible for ancient and recent water sources to mingle deep underground.
The implication of that finding is that, unfortunately, even deep wells are vulnerable to modern land uses.
The tests released a specific radioactive hydrogen isotope into the environment called tritium, which has been useful in dating water samples. Trace levels of tritium – too low to pose any danger – were found in deep groundwater wells, demonstrating there is a way for old and new water to mix.
“Its presence alone indicates that some of the water in the well is recent rain and snow,” said Jasechko. “And the fact that we find that at deep depths implies that even deep wells are vulnerable to modern-era contaminants.”
Mystery Disease in Liberia
Health officials in Sinoe County, Liberia announced the investigation into the “mysterious deaths” of at least six people, including students, in the port city of Greenville.
The Ministry of Health reported: “Since 5 a.m. Tuesday, six persons have died from suspected fever of unknown cause”. A rapid response team has taken specimens from the deceased for testing.
Another website titled their post: “Ebola Scare Hits Liberia”. However, there is no evidence as yet that this is Ebola.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.7 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
A powerful earthquake with an initial magnitude 7.1 has struck off the west coast of Chile, rocking the capital Santiago and generating at least two significant aftershocks. No major damage was immediately apparent, according to an assessment by Chile’s emergency services. The Chilean Navy and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake was not expected to cause a tsunami.
5.5 Earthquake hits off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile.
5.4 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.4 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
Two 5.1 Earthquakes hit offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Guam.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific: Tropical depression 03w (Three), located approximately 244 nm north-northwest of Yap, is tracking northwestward at 04 knots.
NewsBytes:
Australia - Homes were damaged and drivers trapped in their cars as flash flooding wreaked havoc in the Geelong area last night. Videos uploaded to social media showed roads looking more like rivers, and water spouting out of gutters like fountains. There were reports of flash floods, building damage and flooded homes.
Tennessee, USA - Officials say heavy rain that fell over the weekend has caused road flooding and school closures in Middle and East Tennessee. In the Nashville suburb of Franklin, portions of the Harpeth River overflowed into a section of a sewer system under repair — sweeping raw sewage into streets. Schools in about a dozen counties were closed Monday. Parts of the Tennessee River overflowed its banks on Monday after TVA engineers opened spillways on the Chickamauga dam.
Plastic-eating caterpillar
A caterpillar that munches on plastic bags could hold the key to tackling plastic pollution, scientists say.
Researchers at Cambridge University have discovered that the larvae of the moth, which eats wax in bee hives, can also degrade plastic. Experiments show the insect can break down the chemical bonds of plastic in a similar way to digesting beeswax.
Each year, about 80 million tonnes of the plastic polyethylene are produced around the world. The plastic is used to make shopping bags and food packaging, among other things, but it can take hundreds of years to decompose completely.
However, caterpillars of the moth (Galleria mellonella) can make holes in a plastic bag in under an hour.
Interesting Images
New Aurora Feature in Northern Lights
Photographers captured a stunning view of a proton arc (white/grey line seen on the left) and the northern lights above Porteau Cove Provincial Park, near Vancouver, Canada on May 8, 2016
Read more.
Wildfires - Georgia, USA
Georgia’s wildfire season is underway, and true to form, a major blaze is burning land in the southern part of the state. The West Mims fire has scorched more than 36,000 acres around the Okefenokee Swamp. It's just over 4 percent contained.
Wildfires - Arizona, USA
A wildfire that broke out Sunday near Madera Canyon, southeast of Green Valley, had burned 4,500 acres and continued to grow on both state lands and the Coronado National Forest Monday. As of Monday morning, containment was estimated at 5 percent.
Wildfires - Florida, USA
Evacuations due to wildfires have been lifted in Lee and Collier Counties. 7000 acres burned in Collier at 30th Avenue in Golden Gate Estates that was 50% contained as of Sunday afternoon. Three homes were destroyed. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates
Between 9 and 11 April 2017, the National IHR Focal Point of United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported two additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Malaria in Burundi
The Burundi Ministry of Health declared a malaria epidemic on Mar. 13 due to increased numbers of malaria in the country. Just during the first three months of 2017, Burundi has reported 1,960,620 with 869 deaths. This prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice for Burundi today.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Bangladesh - The embankment around the waterbody in the district's Tahirpur Upazila was breached on early Sunday in three locations inundating the Boro crops as the harvesting season nears. "Locals have been making efforts to keep the dam intact for the last 20 days as heavy rains and flash floods continued," said Upazila Chairman Md Kamruzzaman. The agriculture department's local office said crops on about 8,300 hectares of land at the Shanir Haor were inundated on Sunday. Flash floods and heavy rains in early April already inundated crops in several haors in Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Brahmanbaria districts. The crisis has been blamed on corrupt officials for neglect of duty in building or restoring embankments to protect backswamps.
Bangladesh - About 50,000 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation in Rajbari this year. Most of the jute fields in Sadar and Baliakandi upazilas of Rajbari district have been flooded following last few days’ heavy rainfall. Jute growers fear huge losses as the stagnated water has been showing no sign of receding.
Jamaica - The Clarendon Municipal Corporation (CMC) says an estimated 5,000 people were affected by the floods and it has begun to provide relief. The CMC says at least 1,000 homes were flooded by the heavy rains that pelted the parish over the last two days.
Interesting Images
Tree stump on Mars?
NASA reports that the image was taken by the Mastcam onboard NASA's Mars rover Curiosity. Although it may be just one of the many rocks found on the Red Planet, it has been suggested that it could be the petrified remnants of a Martian tree.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.3 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.1 Earthquake hits Sakhalin, Russia.
5.1 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
India - Heavy incessant rains since yesterday night that continued till today morning led to the flash flood in Meghalaya's South West Garo Hills district, an official said today.
Quebec, Canada - With floodwaters continuing to threaten homes across Quebec, Premier Philippe Couillard said the provincial government is monitoring the situation closely. Rigaud has been in a state of emergency since Thursday with 524 homes affected by the flood. It’s the worst flooding Rigaud has seen in decades so town officials are encouraging those living in the flood zone to evacuate their houses. However, they aren’t being forced to leave and many people are choosing to stay put. So far 234 affected homes continue to be occupied. While many are hopeful the flooding will end soon, some choose to stay in the meantime in order to prevent their homes from being too badly damaged. Homes in the Laurentians have also been damaged by floods while roads have been left inaccessible in Deux-Montagnes, Harrington, Kanesatake, Pointe-Calumet, Prevost, St-Andre-d’Argenteuil, Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac and Val Morin. In Montreal, 18 homes on Mercier Island were affected, as have homes in Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Pierrefonds-Roxboro but no evacuations have been reported thus far. A dozen homes in Laval have also been threatened by the overflowing rivers.
Wildfires - Florida, USA
Scattered showers are giving an assist to firefighters battling wildfires in southwest Florida, but officials caution the threat isn't over.
More than 115 wildfires were burning in the state as of Saturday morning, the Florida Forest Service said. Nearly 30,000 acres of the Sunshine State have been scorched. Some mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted, but many residents still can't return home.
Thirteen homes in Lee County have been damaged or destroyed by a 400-acre wildfire, Scott said.
More than 2,000 homes had been under a mandatory evacuation order in the county, which includes Fort Myers on the southern part of Florida's Gulf Coast, but the order was lifted with the fire 95% contained by Saturday afternoon.
Further south in neighboring Collier County, firefighters were making progress on a 5,500-acre fire near the Golden Gate Estates section of Naples. It was about 20% contained, Scott said. The mandatory evacuation zone includes more than 6,000 structures. Flames have damaged or destroyed several vehicles and nine homes, the governor said.
A 700-acre wildfire burning in Polk County was about 60% contained as of Saturday afternoon, Scott said. The mandatory evacuation of about 800 homes in Indian Lake Estates, a golf and fishing community near Lakeland, had been lifted, state officials said.
Measles cases in Italy surge
The outbreak of measles continues to spread across Italy, with more than 1,600 cases of the disease reported in 2017, across 19 of the country's 21 regions.
The outbreak adds to concern among European health officials who have been monitoring an ongoing outbreak in Romania, where almost 4,800 cases have been reported since the start of 2016. The country has also seen 21 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits off the coast of Ecuador.
Two 5.0 Earthquakes hit western Turkey.
5.0 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Ghana - Many parts of Ghana’s capital, Accra, was devastated by floods following heavy rain on Thursday evening which disrupted traffic and flooded many houses. The floods were the result of a garbage=blocked drainage system.
Kenya - Heavy rains in Nyando have displaced thousands of people and caused massive damage to property. Local schools were also flooded.
Global Warming Chart 1880 - 2017
Scientists have created a global temperature chart that maps the average monthly temperature from 1880 to 2015. The result shows that every single month has been warmer than the early industrial baseline for more than half a century.
The map was created by Climate Central, based on Nasa and NOAA global temperature data, relative to a baseline of average global temperatures between 1881 and 1910.
On the chart, each month is represented by a box.
Light blue colours depict months that were cooler than average, while red boxes represent months that were much hotter than average.
The Unfolding Tragedy of Climate Change in Bangladesh
Bangladesh sits at the head of the Bay of Bengal, astride the largest river delta on Earth, formed by the junction of the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Meghna rivers. Nearly one-quarter of Bangladesh is less than seven feet about sea level; two-thirds of the country is less than 15 feet above sea level. Most Bangladeshis live along coastal areas where alluvial delta soils provide some of the best farmland in the country.
Sea surface temperatures in the shallow Bay of Bengal have significantly increased, which, scientists believe, has caused Bangladesh to suffer some of the fastest recorded sea level rises in the world. Storm surges from more frequent and stronger cyclones push walls of water 50 to 60 miles up the Delta’s rivers.
At the same time, melting of glaciers and snowpack in the Himalayas, which hold the third largest body of snow on Earth, has swollen the rivers that flow into Bangladesh from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. So too have India’s water policies. India diverts large quantities of water for irrigation during the dry season and releases most water during the monsoon season.
According to the Bangladesh government’s 2009 Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, “in an ‘average’ year, approximately one quarter of the country is inundated.” Every four to five years, “there is a severe flood that may cover over 60% of the country.” Rapid erosion of coastal areas has inundated dozens of islands in the Bay. For example, Sandwip Island, near Chittagong, has lost 90 percent of its original 23-square-miles—mostly in the last two decades.
Climate change in Bangladesh has started what may become the largest mass migration in human history. In recent years, riverbank erosion has annually displaced between 50,000 and 200,000 people. The population of what the Bangladesh government calls “immediately threatened” islands, called “chars,” exceeds four million.
The Bangladesh riverine environment is so dynamic that, as chars wash away, the process of accretion creates new chars downstream. Land is so scarce and the population so dense that the displaced people try to eke out an existence on these new, highly unstable sand bars.
Already, the intruding sea has contaminated groundwater, which supplies drinking water for coastal regions, and degraded farmland, rendering it less fertile and eventually barren.
It is not just people who are affected. The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and a World Heritage Site, lies in the delta of the Ganges River in Bangladesh and India. Home to the iconic Bengal tiger, the Sundarbans also play a critical role in protecting Bangladesh’s coastal areas from storm surges caused by cyclones.
Nevertheless, across coastal Bangladesh, sea-level rise, exacerbated by the conversion of mangrove forest for agricultural production and shrimp farming, has resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of acres of mangroves. In the Sundarbans, the number of tigers has plummeted. The World Wildlife Fund predicts that the tiger may become extinct. Further loss of mangrove habitat, especially in the Sundarbans, also means that Bangladesh will lose one of its last natural defenses against climate change-induced super-cyclones.
Interesting Images
Icebergs Ahoy!
Huge icebergs, some so massive they dwarf nearby buildings, are drifting along the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, creating an awe-inspiring sight for locals and tourists alike.
Wildfires - Florida, USA
A wildfire in southwest Florida triggered evacuation orders for about 2,000 homes on Friday, prompting the governor to deploy National Guard troops to help residents fleeing the flames.
The wildfire has charred about 4,800 acres (1,942 hectares) in Collier County and forced residents to evacuate their houses in the Golden Gate Estates area of Naples, Clark Ryals, a senior forester for the Florida Forest Service, said by telephone. The blaze was only 10 percent contained.
Nine homes were destroyed by the fire, Ryals said at a news conference later on Friday evening. One person suffered minor injuries in the fire.
Large wildfires and major flooding as Siberia faces a spring that's both dry and wet
Rising temperatures and strong winds are fuelling an increase in wildfires. Worst-hit regions are TransBaikal, Kemerovo region and Omsk along with the Republic of Buryatia. Space monitoring spotted 23 'hot spots' across 6,800 hectares.
Many of the fires were sparked by the illegal burning of hay, an annual problem. But peat fires in Buryatia are posing a serious threat, says Greenpeace, which claims the authorities are turning a blind eye. Alexey Yaroshenko, head of the forestry department at the campaigning group, said: 'Large wildfires in drained peat bogs are active again in the Kabansky district of Buryatia. The largest wildfire covers, according to preliminary information, about 500 hectares in a peat bog close to Bolshaya Rechka village.
Further west the problem was excess water.
A village in Novosibirsk region was reported to be submerged. Private houses close to the Ob have been hit by rising water levels. Some residents were building makeshift dams to protect their homes.
Mumps Cases in Kansas, USA
Kansas health officials are now reporting 120 mumps cases in the state, affecting 21 counties to date. Of the counties reporting the most cases, Marshall has reported 21 cases. This is followed by Riley and Johnson Counties with 17 each and Douglas and Crawford counties reporting 16 and 15 cases, respectively.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.3 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Mentawai, Indonesia.
5.2 Earthquake hits Catamarca, Argentina.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits southeast of Easter Island.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Arlene is centered more than 930 miles west of the Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 50 mph. Arlene is the first tropical storm in April to exist in the Atlantic Basin since Ana in 2003, which also formed on April 20, just a few hours earlier. It's also the farthest north a tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic so early in the season.
NewsBytes:
Kazakhstan - Heavy floods have hit regions across northern Kazakhstan, destroying hundreds of buildings, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people, and leading to accusations of a botched state response. Residents have linked about six deaths to the recent flooding, while authorities in the Central Asian nation say it has caused no casualties. On April 20, officials in the North Kazakhstan region said the water level in a main reservoir was almost three meters above the allowed maximum, adding to the concerns of residents hit by the flooding that follows snowmelt. Thousands of local residents have been evacuated and tens of thousands of head of livestock were moved to safer districts.
Colombia - The death toll in the floods and landslides in Colombia this week have risen to 16, with a number of people still missing.
The Arctic Ocean May Soon Have Its Very Own 'Garbage Patch'
In findings published this week, a 2013 Arctic Ocean expedition found plastic “was abundant and widespread” in the waters east of Greenland in the Barents Sea, off the coasts of northern Russia and Scandinavia.
A multinational expedition that skimmed the Arctic Ocean in 2013 found plastic “was abundant and widespread” in waters east of Greenland in the Barents Sea, off northern Russia and Scandinavia. In some parts of those waters, they found hundreds of thousands of pieces of plastic per square kilometer of surface, the researchers reported this week.
“The growing level of human activity in an increasingly warm and ice-free Arctic, with wider open areas available for the spread of microplastics, suggests that high loads of marine plastic pollution may become prevalent in the Arctic in the future,” the researchers warned.
Nearly all the plastic was concentrated in the stretch between Greenland and the Russian islands of Novaya Zemla. Those waters “constitute a dead end” for the currents that flow northward from the Atlantic, bringing with them trash from the coasts of Europe and North America, the study found.
“The total load of floating plastic for the ice-free waters of the Arctic Ocean was estimated to range from around 100 to 1,200 tons, with 400 tons composed of an estimated 300 billion plastic items as a midrange estimate,” the scientists wrote.
Out of Thin Air
A new device that can harvest water out of air with humidity as low as 20 percent, using only sunlight for energy, could revolutionize life in remote, arid regions.
The new invention uses an extremely porous material called a metal-organic framework that absorbs 20 percent of its weight in water from even low-humidity air.
Sunlight heats the substance, releasing water vapor that condenses into ample water per day for household use. Developers say the invention could be upscaled to also irrigate fields or greenhouses in areas otherwise too arid to grow crops.
Living Fossil
A reclusive mud-dwelling worm has been found alive for the first time, even though the fossils it leaves behind have hinted at its existence for more than 200 years.
About a dozen live specimens of the baseball bat-sized giant shipworm were finally discovered in the mud of a shallow Philippine lagoon after an extensive search.
Experts soon found that bacteria living in the gills of the creature produce enough food for the worm, which is encased inside a long tube made of the calcium carbonate it secretes. The gunmetal black bivalve also uses hydrogen sulphide in the water as an energy source.
The shells, in all likelihood, contributed to the myth of the Unicorn.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 118.0 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8 degrees Celsius) in Sibi, Pakistan.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 99.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 72.8 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
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(H7N9) virus – China
On 14 April 2017, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China (NHFPC) notified WHO of 15 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in mainland China.
Anthrax in Zimbabwe
In a follow-up to a report last week of a suspected anthrax outbreak among hippos in the Binga District of Zimbabwe, health officials the Ministry of Health and Child Care has recorded nine cases of suspected human cutaneous anthrax from the individuals who ate meat from dead hippos at Mlibizi in Binga.
Uganda - Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak
The government has imposed a quarantine on Kalwanga parish, Katikamu North constituency in Luweero District following an outbreak of the food-and-mouth disease. As a result of the quarantine, no meat or animal products including milk and ghee are allowed out of the area.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing Activity for the week of 12 April - 18 April 2017
Bagana | Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery and model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-17 April ash plumes from Bagana rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, SE, and S.
Bezymianny | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 7-14 April lava continued to advance down the NW flank of Bezymianny's lava dome. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images daily. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Bogoslof | Fox Islands (USA) : Increased seismicity at Bogoslof was recorded by stations on nearby islands starting around 1501 on 15 April, prompting AVO to raise the Aviation colour Code to Orange and the Volcano Alert Level to Watch. The seismic activity subsided a few hours later; there was no evidence of renewed eruptive activity from infrasound, lightning, or satellite data during 15-18 April.
Colima | Mexico : On 14 April the Centro Universitario de Estudios e Investigaciones de Vulcanologia - Universidad de Colima reported that during the previous week seismic data revealed 48 high-frequency events, 30 long-period events, 3.3 hours of tremor, 10 landslides, and two explosions.
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 12-18 April ash plumes from Dukono rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S, SW, W, and N.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 7-14 April several explosions at Ebeko were observed by residents of Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island) about 7 km E. Ash plumes rose as high as 2.6 km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. Minor amounts of ash fell in Severo-Kurilsk on 12 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Etna | Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that the effusive eruption from a vent in the saddle between Etna's Southeast Crater (SEC) - New Southeast Crater (NSEC) cone complex ended during 8-9 April. During 10-11 April lava effused from a vent located at the S base of the SEC. The lava flow traveled SE and flowed several hundred meters down the W wall of the Valle del Bove. In the evening of 13 April short-lived explosive activity occurred at a vent at the S flank of the SEC cone at about 3,200 m elevation. That vent and another at 3,150 m elevation produced lava flows for a few hours. Lava also effused from the vent at the S base of SEC, 3,010 m elevation, during 13-14 April, traveling SE and down the W wall of the Valle del Bove on top of the flows from 10-11 April.
Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 12-18 April HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu'u 'O'o Crater, from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone, and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu'u 'O'o Crater's E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna. A growing lava delta is building where the lava enters the water. Surface lava flows were active above the pali.
Nevado del Ruiz | Colombia : Servicio Geológico Colombiano’s (SGC) Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Manizales reported that at 1822 on 14 April a seismic event at Nevado del Ruiz was recorded, associated with a gas-and-ash emission recorded by the webcam that rose almost 1.2 km above the crater. The Alert Level remained at III (Yellow; the second lowest level on a four-colour scale).
Nevados de Chillan | Chile : The Buenos Aires VAAC reported that on 17 April a webcam recorded the ejection of incandescent material from Nevados de Chillán, and a possible ash plume that rose to 3.7 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l.
Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that during 10-16 April seismicity at Sabancaya increased compared to the previous week, with an average of 37 explosions recorded per day. Ash plumes rose as high as 3 km above the crater rim (13 April) and drifted more than 40 km NW and SE. The Buenos Aires VAAC reported that on 17 April ash plumes rose to an altitude of 7.9 km (26,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE. The next day ash emissions were recorded by the webcam. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 7-14 April lava-dome extrusion onto Sheveluch’s N flank was accompanied by strong fumarolic activity, dome incandescence, ash explosions, and hot avalanches. Satellite images showed a daily thermal anomaly over the dome, and an ash plume that drifted 82 km SW on 10 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Sinabung | Indonesia : Based on PVMBG observations, satellite images, and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 12-15 and 17 April ash plumes from Sinabung rose to altitudes of 3-4.6 km (10,000-15,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W, SW, and E.
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported a passive ash emission from Turrialba on 16 April. An event at 0751 on 17 April generated a plume with minor ash content that rose 500 m above the crater and drifted SW. A diffuse plume consisting of gas and sometimes ash rose 1 km above the crater and drifted W on 18 April.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the North Atlantic Ocean: Subtropical Depression One is located about 730 mi...1170 km WSW of the Azores with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...N or 350 degrees at 14 mph...22 km/h.
NewsBytes:
Uganda - Heavy rains that have pounded some parts of the eastern region since mid-March on Monday washed away three bridges on the Mbale-Tirinyi road, leaving one person dead. Hundreds of stranded motorists had to find alternative routes after unseasonable rainfall hit the villages for nearly three hours.
Colombia - Flooding and mudslides in central Colombia have killed at least 11 people, the Red Cross said Wednesday, causing alarm in a country still recovering from recent mudslides that killed hundreds. At least 20 people are missing after torrential rains lashed the city of Manizales, officials said, raising fears the death toll could soar as it did earlier this month in the southern city of Mocoa.
Antarctic meltwater lakes threaten sea levels - study
Antarctic meltwater lakes are far more common than once thought and could destabilise glaciers, potentially lifting sea levels by metres as global warming sets in, scientists said on Wednesday.
Most vulnerable are the massive, floating ice shelves that ring the Antarctic continent and help prevent inland glaciers from sliding toward the sea, they reported in the journal Nature.
Antarctica holds enough frozen water to push up global oceans by tens of metres.
Meltwater pooling on the surface of ice shelves can suddenly drain below the surface, fracturing the ice with heat and pressure, studies have shown.
Rising temperatures are eroding ice shelves - which can be hundreds of metres thick and extend hundreds of kilometres over ocean water - on two fronts, scientists say.
From above, warmer air and shifting winds remove snow cover, exposing the bedrock ice underneath. Because ice has a darker, blueish tint, it absorbs more of the Sun's radiation rather than reflecting it back into space.
But the main damage to ice shelves comes from ocean water eroding their underbellies.
Normally, that erosion is compensated by the accumulation of fresh snow and ice from above.
But oceans in recent decades have absorbed much of the excess heat generated by global warming, which has lifted average global air temperatures by 1°C since the mid-19th century.
Temperatures in Earth's polar regions have risen twice as fast during the same period. On the Antarctic Peninsula - which juts north toward South America - they have shot up by 3.5°C in just the last 50 years.
Italy - Measles Outbreak Update
In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Italy, health officials have reported 1603 measles cases since the beginning of the year through Apr. 16, according to the Ministero della Salute today.
Nigeria - Meningitis Outbreak Update
The meningococcal meningitis numbers keep piling up in parts of Nigeria as officials now put the case count at 8,057 suspected cases and 745 deaths as of Monday, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - New Activity for the week of 12 April - 18 April 2017
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that a very small eruption at Minamidake summit crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) occurred on 16 April. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on ground and satellite observations, PVMBG and the Darwin VAAC reported that during 12-13 and 17 April ash plumes from Ibu rose 1.5-1.8 km (4,900-5,900 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S and SW.
Kambalny | Southern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that observers in the South Kamchatka Sanctuary noted an ash plume from Kambalny rising to an altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. on 9 April. Ash plumes identified in satellite images drifted 50 km NE on 9 April and about 170 km SE the next day. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Manam | Papua New Guinea : RVO reported that incandescence from both Manam's Southern Crater and Main Crater fluctuated in intensity during 1-15 April, and incandescent material was occasionally ejected from the craters. RSAM values averaged around 100. On 15 April RSAM values fluctuated, with a peak of 450 at 0600 and other peaks throughout the day, though with RSAM values not as high. RVO interpreted the high RSAM values as changes in seismicity from discrete low-frequency earthquakes, to sub-continuous volcanic tremor, and then to continuous volcanic tremor.
During 0300-0800 on 16 April RSAM values were high (peaking at 400); there were no reports of associated anomalous eruptive activity, though RVO noted communication problems. Based on RSAM data, a small-to-medium eruption began between 1400 and 1600 on 16 April. Seismicity was initially erratic, and peaked at about 0030 and 0100 on 17 April. A Dugulava village resident (S side of island) briefly viewed the eruption and reported that incandescent material was ejected from the crater and fell into the N and SW valleys. Rumbling and roaring was also heard. Activity decreased around 0600 and remained low until the next day. Strong Strombolian activity at Southern Crater was observed at about 1300 on 18 April, and roaring and rumbling was heard. Dense and dark ash clouds rose a few hundred meters above the crater rim and drifted NW. Two small pyroclastic flows descended the SE and SW valleys, terminating at about 1 km a.s.l. At about 1500 Strombolian activity subsided, coinciding with a very loud explosion. Activity fluctuated though was low until 2100, and then afterwards light-gray ash plumes rose above the crater. White-to-gray ash plumes rose above Main Crater during 17-18 April, and small ejections of material occurred about every five minutes.
Poas | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that a strong 40-minute phreatic eruption from an area in between the lava dome and the hot lake at Poás was recorded on 12 April starting at 1830. An eruption column consisting of water, altered rocks, sediments, and gases was produced; the height of the column could not be determined due to poor visibility. Ash fell around the crater and to the NW in Bajos del Toro. A water-level increase of 2 m in the Desague River, with headwaters at the S part of the crater, was noted. According to news articles the National Emergency Committee (CNE) evacuated residents living near the Desague River. The Poás Volcano National Park closed the next day.
At 1546 on 13 April an eight-minute-long eruption produced a plume that rose 500 m above the crater rim. The event rendered a webcam on the N rim inoperable. Events at 0758 (strong) and 1055 on 14 April generated plumes of an unknown height. A 10-minute-long event which began at 0810 on 15 April again produced a plume of unknown height. Frequent (2-3 events per hour) small short-lived phreatic eruptions were recorded by seismographs during 15-16 April. A plume that rose 500 m followed an eruption at 0946 on 16 April. Later that day, at 1350, an event generated a plume that rose 1 km. A news article reported that boulders as large as 2 m in diameter fell in an area 30 m away from a tourist trail, breaking a water pipe. Rocks also damaged fences and concrete floors in viewing areas. Small, frequent, and short-lived phreatic eruptions continued to be recorded through 18 April. A video posted by a news outlet showed an explosion ejecting incandescent material.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 Earthquake hits northern Peru.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, though the quake could be felt strongly as far away as Colombia and Ecuador.
6.0 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.1 Earthquake hits North Island, New Zealand.
5.0 Earthquake hits northern Peru.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Singapore - Flash floods blanketed several parts of Singapore on Tuesday afternoon, with water submerging vehicles up to mid-tyre level.
Peru - The death toll from flooding and mudslides plaguing Peru since the start of the year has risen to 113 people, including five killed last weekend, officials have said. The natural disasters, which scientists blame on a climate phenomenon called “coastal El Nino,” have also left more than 178,000 people homeless, the National Centre for Emergency Operations said in its latest update yesterday. Another one million people’s homes have been partly damaged, and more than 2,500 kilometres of roads have been destroyed.
Interesting Images
Thousands of spiders spun a web "blanket" that covered a field in New Zealand.
Qatar reports 2nd MERS case in a month
Health officials in Qatar have reported an additional Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS) case in 2017 in a 25-year-old patient, according to a news release. This is the second case reported in Qatar in less than a month and the 20th case since the coronavirus was first detected in 2012.
Pakistan Chikungunya Tally
The number of suspected cases of chikungunya in the Karachi area has eclipsed 1,000 since Dec. 2016, according to the Pakistan Ministry of National Health Services. Between 19 December 2016 and 30 March 2017, a total of 1018 suspected cases of chikungunya have been reported in various districts in Karachi. No deaths have been reported so far.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kashmir-India border.
5.0 Earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Kamchatka, Russia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.
Climate change causes huge Canadian river to vanish in four days
Slims River in Canada is no more as the water that once fed it now flows south, not north.
A river disappeared in just four days after a melting glacier retreated so much that it opened up an alternative route to the sea.
Such dramatic changes are known in the geological record but this is believed to be the first time in 350 years that an entire river has vanished.
The Kaskawulsh glacier in Canada has retreated about a mile up its valley over the past 100 years, researchers reported in the journal Nature Geoscience. Until last spring, it sent meltwater into the Slims River, which eventually flowed north to the Bering Sea.
However the glacier shrank back so much that the water was able to join the Kaskawulsh River, which flows south into the Gulf of Alaska. And that saw the Slims River turn into a long thin lake and gradually start to dry up.
Lyrid meteor shower 2017
From now until 25 April, stargazers who observe the night sky may be able to get a good view of the Lyrid meteor shower. The best time to spot the dusty comet trail however will be on April 22, just before dawn.
The Lyrid meteor shower is among the oldest to have been recorded. Lyrids have been observed for more than 2,600 years. They are pieces of debris from the periodic Comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher which can be seen from Earth each year from mid-April, as the planet runs into the stream of debris from the comet.
Comet Thatcher orbits the sun about once every 415 years. Its most recent closest approach to the sun was in 1861 and it won't be back until 2276.
A typical Lyrid meteor shower produces 15 to 20 meteors per hour but in some years, the shower intensifies. Up to 100 meteors an hour can then be seen. This is called an "outburst" and astronomers usually struggle to predict when they occur.
Niger - hepatitis E outbreak
Officials with the Niger Ministry of Health notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a hepatitis E outbreak in the eastern part of the country.
Dengue deaths top 1000 in the Philippines in 2016
For the second year in a row, the Philippines reported more than 200,000 dengue fever cases, according to the Department of Health, National Epidemiology Centre, Philippines.|
After reporting 200,415 suspected cases of dengue, including 598 deaths in 2015, health officials on the archipelago report 211,108 suspected cases of dengue reported in 2016, including 1019 deaths.
Measles prompts travel advisory for Belgium, Italy and Germany
Measles has been reported in increased numbers in several European counties, most notably Romania. In addition to Romania, Belgium, Italy and Germany has been affected by measles into 2017. This has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue new travel notices for the above countries.
In Belgium, through Mar. 31, Wallonia reported 266 measles cases. The outbreak affects all provinces of Wallonia, with the exception of the province of Luxembourg. All age groups are affected and 53% of cases are over 15 years. Most of the cases were not vaccinated or did not know their vaccination status. Nearly 40% were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
In Italy, since the beginning of 2017 and as of 4 April 2017, Italy reported 1,333 cases of measles, with 131 cases among healthcare workers. The cases are reported from 19 of the 21 regions in Italy. A majority of the cases (93%) are from Piedmont, Lazio, Lombardy, Tuscany, Abruzzi and Sicily. Most of the cases are above 15 years and 88% of the cases were not vaccinated.
According to the German National Public Health Institute, since the beginning of 2017 and as of 12 March 2017, Germany reported 272 cases. In the same period in 2016, Germany reported 18 cases.
Nigeria - Meningitis - Update
In a follow-up on the meningococcal meningitis outbreak in several Nigerian states, the number of suspected cases has increased by another 1000 and the death tally has topped 600, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Health officials put the officials numbers at a total of 5,695 suspected cases.
Leprosy in Florida, USA - Update
In a follow-up to the number of leprosy, or Hansen’s disease cases in Florida in 2017, Florida state health officials have reported five additional confirmed cases since late February, bringing the total to seven.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.6 Earthquake hits Antigua and Barbuda.
5.1 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits south off Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits Antigua and Barbuda.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the north Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Maarutha) has dissipated.
NewsBytes:
Quebec, Canada - Hydro-Meteo teams are on high alert throughout Quebec as flood risks remain alongside multiple waterways. Very high levels of water were observed in the St. Lawrence River, as well as on the Outaouais, Mille Iles and Prairies rivers and the Deux Montagnes Lake. There were other areas of concern in the Eastern Townships, Lanaudiere, Beauce and Quebec City regions due to rain and milder temperatures than usual, which has melted more snow than expected.
Mysterious crack appears in one of Greenland’s largest glaciers
The first photographs of a new and ominous crack in Greenland’s enormous Petermann Glacier were captured by a NASA airborne mission Friday.
The NASA pictures make clear that a significant new rift has opened near the center of the glacier’s floating ice shelf — an unusual location that raises questions about how it formed. Moreover, this crack is not so distant from another much wider and longer crack that has been slowly extending toward the shelf’s center from its eastern side wall. The two cracks are clearly visible in this image taken from the aircraft: Oblique photo of a portion of the new rift, near bottom center, on Petermann Glacier’s floating ice shelf and an older curved rift from the flank of the shelf, near top center.
If the two cracks were to intersect, then a single break would run across more than half of the ice shelf. That might, in turn, cause the piece to begin to break away.
Large Asteroid to Pass Close By Earth April 19
An asteroid as big as the Rock of Gibraltar will streak past Earth on April 19 at a safe but uncomfortably close distance, according to astronomers. “Although there is no possibility for the asteroid to collide with our planet, this will be a very close approach for an asteroid this size,” NASA said in a statement.
Dubbed 2014-JO25 and roughly 650 metres (2,000 feet) across, the asteroid will come within 1.8 million kilometres (1.1 million miles) of Earth, less than five times the distance to the Moon. It will pass closest to our planet after having looped around the Sun. 2014-J25’s will then continue on past Jupiter before heading back toward the centre of our Solar System.
Syphilis in Brazil
Government officials in the Federal District in Brazil say the syphilis situation has reached epidemic status and the exact reason for the rise is still unknown. In 2016 alone, 1,288 cases were reported in the federal capital.
Foot and Mouth Disease in Algeria
Following the outbreak of the disease in Algeria, Morocco immediately took preventive measures to protect the national herd, the office pointed out in a statement, adding that these measures include the strengthening of health surveillance of the national livestock population, in particular in border areas. A monitoring unit was set up to ensure the daily monitoring of the disease and its evolution in neighboring countries, the source said, adding that no case of FMD has been detected in Morocco.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 Earthquake hits the South Indian Ocean
5.1 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the north Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Maarutha), located approximately 333 nm south of Chittagong, Bangladesh, is tracking northeastward at 09 knots over the past six hours.
NewsBytes:
Iran - At least 35 people have died and eight are reported missing after heavy rains triggered flash floods in north-west Iran. Four provinces have been battered by torrential downpours. Ajab Shir and Azar Shahr in East Azerbaijan are said to be the worst hit. The death toll could rise, with more rain forecast for the region.
Philippines - Seven are confirmed dead while 2 others are missing due to nonstop rains and heavy flooding in parts of Cebu. Six of the casualties were from Carmen, Cebu where 73 houses were washed out due to nonstop rains.
Brazil’s response to a huge yellow fever outbreak: Kill the monkeys
A yellow fever outbreak is tearing through Brazil leaving thousands dead in its wake — thousands of monkeys, that is. Not only are monkeys susceptible to yellow fever, but local residents have begun pre-emptively killing monkeys, incorrectly assuming that they help spread the disease.
As the epidemic advances, rural towns are littered with monkey corpses falling from trees, terrifying villagers. One town in the southern state of Minas had to close down a park after 38 dead monkeys were found in its premises.
But, contrary to local lore, these primates don’t transmit the disease. In fact, they play a crucial role in preventing its spread. A dead monkey is often the first sign yellow fever has reached a new town, which can serve as an alarm bell for authorities directing vaccination campaigns. It’s a warning sign that allows health officials to monitor the disease before it hits humans.
Scientists are calling the monkey killings an environmental disaster. Howler monkeys have been hit the hardest, with more than 1,000 killed since January. As the disease spreads north, scientists are particularly worried about the endangered brown howler monkeys, which have already started to become infected and face the threat of extinction.
H7N9 avian influenza in China
The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission reported on 14 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including two deaths.
TB Outbreak on Batam Island
About 1,969 people are suspected of contracting tuberculosis or TB, and 860 people have been tested positive for TB in Batam Island. Based on provisional data, 726 of the 860 patients tested positive for TB are undergoing treatment that lasts for six months. Difficulties arise when patients feel better after two weeks and stop taking the medication, often resulting in a relapse.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.3 Earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
5.4 Earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the western Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 02w (Two), located approximately 373 nm east-southeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-northwestward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Indonesia - Hundreds of residents of flood prone areas in Cipinang Melayu in East Jakarta took shelter in higher places on Tuesday evening, hours after the nearby Sunter Reservoir overflowed because of heavy rain. The inundation was 1.5 meters deep on Tuesday night.
Indonesia - Flash floods in Indonesia's western province of Aceh have left two dead and one missing while damaging hundreds of houses. Heavy downpours on Thursday led to flooding in two districts, said the National Board of Disaster Management. Scores of people were evacuated, and rescuers have started emergency relief efforts.
Uruguay - Almost 1,700 people have been evacuated in Uruguay’s Artigas Department amid heavy flooding. The total number of people displaced in that department currently stands at 1,675. Of this total, 645 have been evacuated and 1,030 have self-evacuated. The level of the Cuareim (Quarai) River continues to fall, currently the water is at 8.8 meters (about 29 feet), almost 3 meters (10 feet) less than the Wednesday level. All the people who have been evacuated amid flooding, which started as heavy rains caused the river to burst its banks, are currently housed at 15 temporary shelters.
Two billion people drinking contaminated water: WHO
Dramatic improvements are needed in ensuring access to clean water and sanitation worldwide, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday, warning that nearly two billion people currently use faecal-contaminated water. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year because they are forced to drink contaminated water.
"Today, almost two billion people use a source of drinking-water contaminated with faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio," Maria Neira, who head's WHO's public health department, said in a statement.
"Contaminated drinking-water is estimated to cause more than 500 000 diarrhoeal deaths each year and is a major factor in several neglected tropical diseases, including intestinal worms, schistosomiasis and trachoma," she added.
Duck Plague in Mesquite, Texas, USA
The City of Mesquite has confirmed that more than 50 duck deaths at various Mesquite parks during the past few weeks is being caused by a duck virus also known as Duck Enteritis Virus, aka duck plague. The public is not at risk, as the disease is shared only between ducks and other waterfowl. This disease will run its course among the ducks, as there are no effective treatments available.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.5 Earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Philippines.
5.2 Earthquake hits Djibouti.
5.0 Earthquake hits western Turkey.
5.0 Earthquake hits Ascension Island.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the western Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 02w (Two), located approximately 568 nm east-southeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-northwestward at 09 knots.
NewsBytes:
Israel - Heavy rains in the Negev and the Arabah area led to several blocked roads, including the exit from the city of Eilat. On Thursday, heavy storm clouds coming from the south are expected to bring more rains. In the region of kibbutz Neot Smadar next to the Arabah rode, 23 millimeters of rain have fallen so far. In the North, strong showers fell accompanied by hail, especially in the southern region of the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee.
Georgia, USA - The National Weather Service (NWS) found a total of 33 tornado tracks in North and Central Georgia for between April 3 - 5. 26 of these tracks occurred on April 3, 2017. The NWS has confirmed 13 tornadoes in Central Georgia on April 3, 2017. The tornado outbreak produced two EF-2 tornadoes, seven EF-1 tornadoes, and four EF-0 tornadoes in Central Georgia. Four tornadoes occurred in Wilkinson County. One tornado was rated an EF-2 that struck Gordon, GA. The other EF-2 tornado pushed through Twiggs, Wilkinson, and Laurens county with maximum winds of 122 mph.
Illinois, USA - Two tornadoes touched down during severe storms Wednesday evening in Clark County: one in Enon and the other six miles west of Springfield. Neither resulted in injuries.
Atlantic Ocean invades the Arctic
The waters of the Arctic Ocean are becoming increasingly similar to those of the Atlantic as warm currents from the south flow in, according to a new report.
It says the intrusion of the warmer Atlantic currents is also contributing to the accelerated melting of sea ice. The increased Atlantic currents have removed a thick layer of cold surface waters that had previously insulated the polar ice cap, allowing it to thin.
“Rapid changes in the eastern Arctic Ocean, which allow more heat from the ocean interior to reach the bottom of sea ice, are making it more sensitive to climate changes,” said oceanographer Igor Polyakov.
Tree Massacre in Poland
Environmentalists say that changes to a Polish law have led to a “massacre” of trees across the country.
New legislation that went into effect on Jan. 1 removed previous requirements that private landowners who want to cut down trees must apply for permission, pay compensation, plant new trees or even notify authorities about the removal of trees.
“We used to receive around one telephone call a day from people concerned about trees being cut down in their area. But suddenly, we had two telephones ringing all day long,” said Pawel Szypulski of Greenpeace.
Freshly cleared spaces are now being reported around Polish cities and across the countryside.
