Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.4 earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.
5.3 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits Pakistan.
5.1 earthquake hits the Flores Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits the Flores Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands, in the Aleutian Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 07s (Cebile), located approximately 602 nm south=southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 07 knots.
Tropical cyclone 08p (Fehi), located approximately 238 nm west-northwest of Kingston Island, is tracking southward at 17 knots.
Newsbytes:
Australia - The northwest of the Territory as far as the Kimberley region was battered by monsoonal rains which brought flooding and damaging winds over the past three days. Twenty-three helicopters were used to evacuate 343 people from Daly River as the community reached major flood levels on Tuesday, with 500mm of rain recorded over three days. A number of schools were closed across the Top End as residents in Darwin and some rural areas were warned to prepare for localised flooding, with authorities providing sandbags. A search will continue for a 62-year-old man who went missing in the remote Northern Territory.
Singapore - A thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon not only flooded roads, but rained hail and toppled several trees in the northeastern part of the island.
Thailand - Several hours of heavy rain caused flooding and mass traffic congestion in eastern Bangkok and next-door Samut Prakan province Wednesday morning. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's drainage and sewerage department reported the heaviest rain in Bang Na district with rain measuring 120 millimetres and still coming down.
Portugal: Legionnaires disease outbreak
Just months after the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at São Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon ended, another Lisbon area hospital is reporting an outbreak of the bacterial infection. Health authorities of Portugal confirmed today that there are seven cases of Legionella reported at the CUF Descobertas Hospital in east Lisbon.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever - Update
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says 21 deaths have been recorded from the 77 confirmed cases in the current outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Of the 77 confirmed cases, 10 affected health workers.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits off the coast of Oregon.
5.5 earthquake hits the Bismarck Sea.
5.2 earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hit eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 07s (Cebile), located approximately 685 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 06 knots.
Tropical cyclone 08p (Fehi), located approximately 285 nm south-southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, is tracking southward at 14 knots.
Newsbytes:
France - Floods in Paris and surrounding areas continue as floodwaters peaked in Paris on Monday and were threatening towns downstream as the rain-engorged Seine River winds through Normandy toward the English Channel. Rivers swollen by France's heaviest rains in 50 years have engulfed romantic quays in Paris, swallowed up gardens and roads, halted riverboat cruises — and raised concerns about climate change. The Meteo France weather service said January has seen nearly double normal rainfall nationwide, and the rains in the past two months are the highest measured for the period in 50 years.
Typhoid outbreak in Harare, Zimbabwe - Update
An outbreak of typhoid fever was confirmed last October in the Zimbabwe capital of Harare and since that time some 2,444 suspect and confirmed cases have been reported. The outbreak is mainly in the western and southern districts of Harare, with Mbare and Kuwadzana being the areas most affected. No deaths have been reported.
North Korea reports H1N1 influenza outbreak
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Vice Minister of Public Health (MoPH) in North Korea officially informed the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Pyongyang of an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) stating that between 1 December 2017 and 16 January 2018 there was a total of 126,574 suspected influenza cases – individuals presenting with influenza-like illness.
81,640 cases were confirmed as influenza A (H1N1)and as per the Ministry communication there had been four deaths – three children and one adult. More than one quarter of the cases are reported in Pyongyang.
South Sudan: Rift Valley fever
With the addition of seven suspected Rift Valley fever (RVF) cases reported from Yirol East County, South Sudan, 20 suspect cases have been reported in the past month. Three of the cases are confirmed and three probable cases who died and had epidemiological links to the confirmed cases.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits south-west of Africa.
5.4 earthquake hits south-west of Africa.
5.4 earthquake hits San Juan, Argentina.
5.3 earthquake hits south of Panama.
5.0 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.0 earthquake hits south-west of Africa.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 07s (Cebile), located approximately 731 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking southwestward at 06 knots.
Tropical cyclone 08p (Fehi), located approximately 201 nm west-northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, is tracking south-southeastward at 11 knots.
Newsbytes:
South Africa - Three people, including a nine-year-old boy, have died as a result of severe thunderstorms that have battered parts of northern KwaZulu-Natal since Thursday.
France - More than 200 French towns are struggling against floodwaters that have halted boat traffic in Paris, closed roads and schools and prompted the evacuation of hospitals. Swollen by weeks of heavy rains, the Seine River is expected to reach its peak in the French capital late on Sunday or early Monday. Paris regional authorities say the floods have already caused damage in 240 towns while nearly 1,500 people have been evacuated from homes in the Paris region. In Villennes-sur-Seine west of Paris, the ground floor of some buildings has disappeared underwater and residents are using boats instead of cars.
Wildfires - South Africa
A female firefighter died while battling a blaze on the slopes of Table Mountain on Sunday. She is suspected to have suffered a heart attack and was rushed to Christian Barnard Hospital but could not be saved. Firefighters remain on the scene to deal with persistent hotspots.
Wildfires - Oklahoma, USA
Firefighters say wildfires have scorched hundreds of acres in western Oklahoma, damaging fences and equipment but causing no injuries.
Firefighters battled two large wildfires Saturday afternoon, including one north of Clinton that scorched about 975 acres in Custer County. About 20 structures were threatened by flames but that none were damaged. Some agricultural equipment and supplies were damaged in the wildfire.
A second wildfire located two miles east of Clinton and south of Interstate 40 scorched about 600 acres. Officials managed to move livestock grazing in the area to safety.
Measles - Papua, Indonesia
Indonesian health teams are scrambling to attend to the deadly measles outbreak in Asmat district of Papua province. In the past few months, around 60 children have died from the disease in the remote district where malnutrition cases are also soaring.
Since reports of the extent of outbreak filtered out of Papua earlier this month, Indonesia's government has moved quickly to attend to the situation, but is copping criticism for neglecting the health of Papuans over many years. The number affected by malnutrition had surpassed 10,000, which was exacerbating the measles problem.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 07s (Cebile), located approximately 774 nm east-southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking southwestward at 09 knots.
Tropical cyclone 08p (Eight), located approximately 366 nm northwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, is tracking southeastward at 22 knots.
Newsbytes:
Israel - Incessant rainfall in the northern and central regions during the weekend resulted in multiple flash floods, requiring over 30 search and rescue operations by police, firefighters, IDF helicopters. No serious injuries were reported. Several vehicles were also swept away by flooding while attempting to cross the Jordan River.
Measles - Italy
According to the Ministero della Salute, there were 4,991 cases of measles from 21 regions, including four deaths in Italy in 2017. 87.5% of cases for which the vaccination status is known were non-vaccinated and 7.2% had only one dose of vaccine.
From 1 December 2016 to 30 November 2017, 14,393 cases of measles were reported in 30 EU / EEA countries, of which 60% confirmed in the laboratory. All countries except Latvia and Malta reported cases during this period.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 earthquake hits near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua and New Guinea.
5.3 earthquake hits Kepulauan Sula, Indonesia.
5.2 earthquake hits the Gulf of Paria, Venezuela.
5.2 earthquake hits the Delta Amacuro, Venezuela.
5.1 earthquake hits the Bismarck Sea.
5.1 earthquake hits the Gulf of Paria, Venezuela.
5.0 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 07s (Seven), located approximately 754 nm east-southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking south-southwestward at 03 knots.
Newsbytes:
France - The floods in the French capital Paris are getting all the headlines, but the rising waters in France's second city, Lyon, are also causing concern, threatening floods. The Saone and Rhone rivers meet in the city. The level of the Saone remains high, with the peak expected for this weekend. The Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region remains on alert even if the weather forecasts announce drier weather on Saturday and Sunday.
Pennsylvania, USA - Ice jams caused the Susquehanna River to spill over its banks and flood roads in parts of Lancaster and York counties on Friday. As much as a foot-and-a-half of water covered parts of Route 441 in Washington Boro, south of Columbia, in the morning. On the York County side, the rising river was about five or six feet above normal levels.
Drought: South Africa
Residents around Cape Town have been warned that the city could run out of water as soon as April because of a protracted drought across parts of South Africa.
Each of the residents will be rationed only 13 gallons of water per day effective Feb. 1. Reservoirs dwindled to less than 10 percent of capacity as the worst drought on record persisted during the past three years.
A huge #DayZero awareness campaign is being combined with increased leak detection and repairs to help conserve what water is left for the 3.7 million residents.
China to develop 'Polar Silk Road'
China on Friday outlined its ambitions to develop a "Polar Silk Road" of new Arctic shipping lanes opened up by global warming.
Releasing its first official Arctic policy white paper, China said it would encourage enterprises to build infrastructure and conduct commercial trial voyages, paving the way for Arctic shipping routes. China, despite being a non-Arctic state, is increasingly active in the polar region and became an observer member of the Arctic Council in 2013.
The white paper said China is also eyeing development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies - such as fishing and tourism - in the region.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Between 9 December 2017 and 17 January 2018, the National IHR Focal Point of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reported 20 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including eight deaths. In addition, one death from a previously reported case was reported to WHO.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.4 earthquake hits off the coast of Northern California.
5.1 earthquake hit the northern mid-Atlantic Ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Africa.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits off the coast of Northern California.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Newsbytes:
Paraguay - The authorities in Paraguay's capital Asuncion on Wednesday (Jan 24) declared a state of emergency for a month after the Paraguay River burst its banks, leaving at least 20,000 people homeless. The unseasonal high waters have washed over many poor neighbourhoods built along the banks. Many of the displaced have been moved to higher areas of the low-lying capital. Hundreds more of the displaced were setting up makeshift camps in plazas of the capital and on any small unoccupied spot they could find. Forecasters said heavy rains in recent weeks were behind the river's rise.
Paris, France - The French capital looks more like a city of water than a city of lights. On Tuesday, during Paris's annual spring fashion show, the river Seine started overspilling its banks and gushing into neighboring streets as a result of weeks of rain. Paris isn't the only place in the flood zone: at least 15 French departments across the north and east of the country are on alert for more flooding, even as a break from heavy rain is in the forecast. The flood levels in Paris are expected to continue to rise until Saturday. Rats are being flooded out of the River Seine and wreaking havoc on the streets as Paris suffers its worst flooding in a century. The Louvre museum has been closed and artworks have been emptied from its cellars for the first time since WW2 as rain continues to pelt the French capital. More than 250,000 pieces of art were removed from the world famous museum over fears torrential rain would cause the city’s waterway, the River Seine, to burst its banks. The Arc de Triomphe was also closed yesterday over fears the rainfall could make the 50 metre high monument in the iconic Champs Elysees unsafe. But a terrifying consequence of the extreme weather has been the plague of rats that has run riot across the city after escaping the river’s banks. Videos posted online by people in Paris show the scale of the problem, with the giant rodents seen scampering through streets and climbing into rubbish bins.
Ice-Free Yukon
Unusually warm conditions in northwestern Canada have for a second winter in a row prevented a seasonal “ice bridge” from forming over the Yukon River to connect Dawson City with West Dawson.
During summer, the two sides are connected by a ferry, but in winter, residents have to wait for the water to freeze over to make the crossing. The ice bridge has historically been open to traffic by mid-December.
Crews worked for a week to create an “ice Band-Aid” by spraying a cold mist to cap a 300-foot-wide stretch of the river with ice. But the project proved impractical when daytime temperatures didn’t stay below freezing.
The typical Dawson high temperature for January is about minus 8 Fahrenheit.
'Doomsday Clock' Stands at 2 Minutes to Midnight
The "Doomsday Clock," a hypothetical timepiece that measures humanity's proximity to destruction by our own actions, hovers perilously close to midnight, the time that denotes global Armageddon.
Today (Jan. 25), the clock has crept even closer to the zero hour. This morning, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) — an organization of science and policy experts who assess human scientific advancement and risk — revealed the clock's new "time," with the hands now standing at 2 minutes to midnight.
The time has only ever been this close to midnight in 1953, following hydrogen bomb tests by both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., ushering in the era of the first nuclear arms race. In 2018, it reflects the breakdown of global efforts to reduce reliance on and risk of nuclear weapons; increased posturing and threats regarding the use of nuclear weapons; and an insufficient response worldwide to curb the impacts of climate change.
Elephant Raiders
A northern Namibian village was raided by a herd of 28 elephants that wrecked 18 homes, uprooted trees and destroyed the village borehole well.
Residents of Otjorute say the animals frequently arrive from a nearby conservation area during harvest time, but this month’s raids are unprecedented.
The villagers say the pachyderms arrived early one morning in mid-January amid much noise and chaos, leaving a trail of uprooted or damaged trees.
The New Era daily reports at least one elephant followed people’s footprints until it got into their houses.
Avian PTSD
The cacophony of manmade sounds in the modern world may be causing symptoms in birds similar to what humans experience when suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Researchers from the Florida Museum of Natural History studied birds exposed to the constant noise of natural-gas compressors and found skewed stress hormone levels, possibly due to increased anxiety, distraction and hypervigilance.
Report co-author Rob Guralnick believes the noise could act as an “acoustic blanket,” muffling the sound clues birds rely on to detect predators, competitors for food and their own species.
“They’re perpetually stressed because they can’t figure out what’s going on,” said Guralnick.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius) in Moomba, South Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 72.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 57.8 degrees Celsius) at Majsk, Russia.
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.
Hepatitis E - Namibia
Hepatitis E cases in Windhoek's informal sector have risen to 490, Namibia's health ministry said Thursday, while blaming poor sanitation for fueling the spread of diseases. The outbreak has caused two maternal deaths, with the majority of the cases coming from Havana and Goreangab settlements.
The community in affected areas has been encouraged to continue with preventative measures including purifying drinking water and practicing healthy sanitary exercises.Poor sanitation has been blamed for fueling disease outbreaks in Namibia, with the health ministry saying 68 percent households in the country's informal settlements still practice open defecation.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 17 January - 23 January 2018
Agung | Bali (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Agung continued during 17-23 January, with gas-and-steam plumes rising from the crater punctuated by occasional ash emissions. An event at 2126 on 17 January generated a plume that rose 1.5 km above the crater rim and drifted E. An event was recorded at 1944 on 18 January, though fog prevented confirmation of a plume. At 1920 on 19 January a Strombolian event produced an ash plume that rose as high as 2.5 km and drifted E, and ejected incandescent material as far as 1 km from the crater. Incandescence emanated from the crater for about two hours after the event. White-to-gray plumes rose 500 m during 22-23 January. The Alert Level remained at 4 (on a scale of 1-4) and the exclusion zone continued at a 6-km radius.
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that two of the nine events at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) were explosive during 15-22 January. Plumes rose as high as 2.5 km above the crater rim, and material was ejected as far as 500 m from the crater. During field observations on 16 January scientists measured a high amount of sulfur dioxide emissions at 2,600 tons/day; the last measurement was 1,800 tons/day on 25 December 2017. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : Based on recent satellite data AVO reported on 19 January that a new lava flow had been emplaced within Cleveland’s summit crater sometime since the last observations of elevated surface temperatures on 5 January. Elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images during 19-22 January. No activity was detected by seismic or infrasound sensors during 20-23 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Based on observations by volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, explosions during 11-12, 14-16, and 18 January generated ash plumes that rose as high as 3.1 km (10,200 ft) a.s.l. Minor ashfall was reported in Severo-Kurilsk during 15-16 and 18 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Great Sitkin | Andreanof Islands (USA) : On 18 January AVO reported that seismicity at Great Sitkin had declined over the past two months to near background levels. In addition, no significant activity was observed in satellite data during this time period and no steam plumes were noted. AVO lowered the Aviation colour Code and Volcano Alert Level to Green/Normal.
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a small ash cloud was identified in satellite data drifting near Karymsky on 18 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-colour scale).
Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 17-23 January HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain. Early in the morning on 19 January rocks from the inside of Halema’uma’u crater fell into the lava lake producing a short-lived explosion of spatter and wallrock that blanketed an area around the former visitor overlook. Debris fell as far as the Halema?uma?u parking lot.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : Based on satellite observations KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly over Klyuchevskoy was visible during 11-12, 15, and 17 January. Gas-and-steam plumes containing some ash drifted about 120 km W and E during 12 and 17-18 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 18-19 January Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney Crater ejected material 25 m above the main cone. In a special report from 20 January INSIVUMEH noted that the Strombolian activity had been cyclically building and destroying a cone within the crater. Scientists at the Observatorio del Volcan de Pacaya (OVPAC) observed a 400-m-long lava flow descending the W flank, spalling off material from the front. Strombolian explosions continued during 20-21 January, and a 200-m-long lava flow was advancing down the SW flank.
Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosive activity at Sabancaya was similar to the previous week; there was an average of 57 explosions recorded per day during 15-21 January. Seismicity was dominated by long-period events, with signals indicating emissions. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 3.3 km above the crater rim and drifted 50 km NW. The MIROVA system detected six thermal anomalies. The sulfur dioxide flux was high, at 3,410 tons per day on 19 January. The report noted that the public should not to approach the crater within a 12-km radius.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 12-19 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Sinabung | Indonesia : PVMBG and BNPB reported that ash plumes at Sinabung were seen rising as high as 3.5 km above the crater during 18-23 January and drifting E, SE, and W, although sometimes foggy conditions prevented visual observations. Avalanches of incandescent material traveled as far as 1.5 km down the ESE flank during 21-23 January. The Alert Level remained at 4 (on a scale of 1-4), with a general exclusion zone 3 km and extensions of 7 km on the SSE sector, and 6 km in the ESE sector, and 4 km in the NNE sector.
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that an event at Turrialba at 0000 on 22 January generated a plume that rose 500 m above the crater rim and drifted NW.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits the Komandorskiye Ostrova region, Russia.
5.9 earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands, off India.
5.7 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.2 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits the Indian Ocean triple junction.
5.1 earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands, off India.
5.0 earthquake hits Ascension Island.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Newsbytes:
Singapore - Flash floods were reported in the Western and Central parts of Singapore, after an afternoon of heavy rain on Wednesday. The flooded locations, Jalan Boon Lay/International Road and Craig Road are known hotspots for flash flooding.
Bears burned in Southern California wildfires now back home in the wild
Two bears that were badly burned in last month's Southern California wildfires are back in the wild after doctors used alternative treatments, including acupuncture, to save them.
Rescuers brought the bears and a 5-month-old mountain lion to vets with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and UC Davis.
Dr. Jamie Peyton says she and colleagues stitched tilapia fish skins on the animals' feet to soothe the burns. Doctors commonly use pig and human grafts on burned people. Peyton says the bears soon were up and walking around in their bandages.
Wildfires - Australia
Volunteers from Rural Fire Service brigades across the Northern Rivers, New South Wales, have been helping to battle a large blaze south of Narrabri in the state's west. The fire at Dipper Rd, Dandry, has burnt out about 60,000 hectares. It has now been contained.
Q fever - Chile
In a follow-up to the Q fever outbreak in Osorno Province, Los Lagos Region in southern Chile, officials now put the confirmed cases at 32–29 in Osorno and 3 in Llanquihue, according to a BioBio Chile report. According to the latest epidemiological report, there are 167 cases classified as “suspicious and compatible with Q fever”. The disease emerged last year in Osorno among dairy workers at the Manuka company of Puerto Octay.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 17 January - 23 January 2018
Kadovar | Papua New Guinea : RVO reported that the eruption at Kadovar continued during 18-19 and 21-22 January. Main Crater produced ash plumes that rose as high as 800 m above the summit and drifted tens of kilometers E, SE, S, and SW. Vulcanian activity was continuous, though no discrete explosions were detected. Steam plumes from the SE Coastal Vent rose 800 m above the island, and a lava dome which strongly and continuously glowed at night slowly extruded from the vent. Strong sulfur dioxide emissions were detected.
Kusatsu-Shiranesan | Honshu (Japan) : JMA reported that at 0959 on 23 January an eruption began at Kusatsu-Shiranesan coincident with the onset of volcanic tremor; there were no indications of an impending eruption. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-5). Skiers at the popular ski resort Kusatsu Kokusai took video showing a plume of tephra and ejected bombs rising from a vent on the Motoshiranesan edifice, about 2 km SSE of Yagama Crater on Shiranesan (where all previous historical activity has been). The eruption also caused what appeared to be an avalanche. Photos and video posted in news articles showed tephra drifting E and blanketing the nearby hillside; JMA noted ashfall in Nakanojo-machi, in the Gunma Prefecture. Tephra hit a gondola, shattering glass and injuring four skiers. Material crashed through the roof of a lodge, where about 100 people had already been evacuated. Ground Self-Defense Force troops were engaging in ski training at the time of the event; one member died and seven others were injured. Emergency responders gathered at the Sanroku Station to assist. On 24 January JMA noted that volcanic earthquakes were numerous but decreasing in number, and two 2-3-minute-long periods of volcanic tremor were detected at 1015 and 1049.
Mayon | Luzon (Philippines) : PHIVOLCS reported that during 16-17 January Mayon’s seismic network recorded 143 lava collapse events associated with rockfalls along the front and margins of advancing lava and pyroclastic flows in the Miisi (S), Matanag (SE), and Buyuan (SE) drainages. These events generated ash plumes that drifted SW. During 17-20 January effusion of lava at the summit and collapse events continued. Two pyroclastic flows traveled around 3 km down the Miisi drainage. Rockfall events were generated by the collapsing lava front and margins of the advancing 3-km-long lava flow in the Miisi drainage, and from the summit into the Matanag, Buyuan, and Bonga (SE) drainages. Ash plumes continued to drift SW. Sulfur dioxide gas emissions were 1,478 tonnes/day on 18 January and 1,131 tonnes/day on 19 January. During 20-21 January there were 14 rockfall events and 10 pyroclastic flows recorded by the seismic network.
During 21-22 January there were 64 rockfall events and one pyroclastic flow recorded. Strombolian activity generated lava fountains 500 and 200 m high at 1045 on 21 January and at 0225 on 22 January, respectively. Ash plumes rose 1.3 km high and drifted SW, causing ashfall in Oas and Guinobatan (12 km SW). Lava flowed more voluminously, adding to the advancing Miisi lava flow (over 3 km long) and feeding two new lava flows on the Bonga and upper Buyuan drainages.
At 1243 on 22 January an eight-minute-long phreatomagmatic event generated a dense, 5-km-high ash plume that drifted W. Ashfall was reported in the municipalities of Guinobatan, Camalig (11 km SSW), Oas, Polangui (20 km WNW), and Iriga City (34 km NW). The event also generated pyroclastic flows that traveled as far as 4 km down multiple drainages including Miisi, Bonga, Buyuan, Basud, San Andres, Buang, Anoling. PHIVOLCS raised the Alert Level to 4 (on a 0-5 scale) and extend the Danger Zone to an 8-km radius. A minor event at 1725 produced a 500-m-high ash plume. Between 2137 on 22 January and 0525 on 23 January there were five episodes of intense and sporadic lava fountaining, each lasting 3-30 minutes. The lava fountains rose 500-700 m high, and generated ash plumes that rose 2.5-3 km above the crater. The events fed lava flows on the Miisi and Bonga drainages, sprayed near-vent lava spatter, and fed incandescent rockfalls around the summit area. The Buyuan lava flow was 200 m long. According to news articles posted on 23 January about 40,000 people have been evacuated, and airports in the cities of Legazpi City (13 km SSE) and Naga (66 km NW), and on the nearby island of Masbate (100 km S) were closed.
Nevados de Chillan | Chile : Servicio Nacional de Geología and Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) Observatorio Volcanológico de Los Andes del Sur (OVDAS) reported continuing explosive activity during 1-15 January associated with a low rate of lava-dome growth in the active crater. Gas plumes from the explosions rose less than 1 km above the crater rim, and sporadic incandescence associated with some explosions was recorded at night. The lava-dome growth rate was low at 1,360 m3/day, determined by photos taken during overflights on 9 and 12 January. The total volume of the lava dome was an estimated 37,000 m3. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the middle level on a three-colour scale, and the public was reminded not to approach the craters within a 4-km radius.
San Miguel | El Salvador : SNET reported that during 14-17 January there were four gas-and-ash emissions from San Miguel that rose no higher than 300 m above the crater rim. The report noted that prior to each emission seismicity decreased and then suddenly increased.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.3 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.6 earthquake hits Ascension Island.
5.5 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.4 earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.
5.2 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.1 earthquake hits the Balleny Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Newsbytes:
Ecuador - A British kayaker is missing and two Irish men are dead after a group of five adventurers lost control in flash floods in the Ecuadorian jungle. A local guide later told a press conference that the river was so powerful that 'getting out of the kayak was practically facing death'.
France - Swathes of France including Paris and Normandy are on alert for floods after exceptionally high rainfall across the country in recent days. The east of the country was braced for floods with the Rhine threatening to overflow.
Indonesia - Roads have turned to rivers and some tourists have been forced to evacuate parts of Bali as flash flooding causes chaos on the holiday island. Local media on Tuesday reported heavy downpours across the island including in popular tourist locations such as Legian, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu. Persisting rain overnight has led to muddy landslides down some cliffs and has forced evacuations across the island with drains unable to cope with the flooding.
Switzerland - In St-Ursanne in canton Jura, days of heavy rain have caused the River Doubs to burst its banks and flood parts of the mediaeval town. Rivers across Switzerland, both in lowlands and in the Alps, are extremely high after a week of precipitation and melting snow. As well as St-Ursanne, similar flooding has been reported in the communes of Goumois and Soubey along the Doubs, and at Bassecourt on the Sorne River.
Why 200,000 Saiga Antelope Dropped Dead in 3 Weeks
One day in May of 2015, a handful of critically endangered saiga antelope dropped over, dead. This wasn't necessarily alarming to the scientists in the area who were busy monitoring the herd; the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica) of the Central Asian steppe are stressed in springtime, which is calving season, and deaths happen every day. But the next day, more antelope died. On day three, they were dropping by the hundreds.
Within three weeks, — 62 percent of the world's population — were dead. And now, scientists have learned that the killer was lurking inside the animals all along.
A new study reveals that the ruminants were killed by a bacterium that normally lives in the antelopes' tonsils without causing any problems. But unusually warm, moist weather apparently triggered the overgrowth of the bacteria, Pasteurella multocida, which subsequently found its way into the antelopes' bloodstream and killed them. []
Unfortunately for the antelope (and the steppe ecosystem), climate change seems to be promoting warmer, moister weather in the region, said study leader Richard Kock, a wildlife veterinarian at the Royal Veterinary College of the University of London.
2017 Continues Global Warming Trend - NASA
The numbers are in, and NASA has found that 2017 did not set a record for the warmest year on record, but that is far from good news. Instead, it was the second warmest, right after current record holder 2016, an indication that global temperatures are showing no signs of getting better and in fact are almost certainly going to continue to get worse.
The average temperature of the Earth in 2017 was 1.62 degrees warmer than the mean temperature between 1951 and 1990, based on research by scientists at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, which is located in New York. The past year was the second warmest since 1880, when we began taking global estimates, despite the fact that there were colder than average temperatures reported in some parts of the globe that climate change skeptics used to discredit the issue of global warming.
Warming was the worst in the Arctic regions, where humans do not live, and that has resulted in a tremendous loss of sea ice in 2017. NASA used measurements from more than 6,000 weather stations and ship observations across the globe. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration found that 2017 was the third warmest on record in their own independent estimation.
Wildfires - Australia
Extra crews have been flown in to help exhausted firefighters across the New England North West. Bushfires, like the Pilliga National Park blaze have been burning since last week. The region’s exhausted fire crews have been relieved from the rugged fireground as several bushfires continue to burn. It means after three days of firefighting, tired crews were able to stand down on Tuesday morning from the Bonnay fire, near Barraba and Bundarra, as it reached 11,500 hectares in size.
Firefighters are gaining the upper hand on a bushfire burning in remote land in the NSW Hunter region. The blaze has burnt through more than 3500 hectares in difficult terrain near Braidleys Gully, southwest of Singleton.
Yellow Fever - Brazil
Sao Paulo closed its zoo and botanical gardens Tuesday as a yellow fever outbreak that has led to 70 deaths is picking up steam.
The big Inhotim art park, which attracts visitors from all over the world, also announced that all visitors would have to show proof of vaccination to be allowed in. The park said the measure was preventative and no case of yellow fever had been found there.
Cases of yellow fever have been rising in Brazil during the Southern Hemisphere summer rainy season, and health officials are planning to vaccinate millions of people in the coming weeks in the hopes of containing the outbreak.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
8.0 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
A tsunami warning was in effect along a large stretch of coastline, from Canada's British Columbia province to Alaska's Aleutian Islands, but was later cancelled.
6.1 earthquake hits the Bougainville region in Papua New Guinea.
6.0 earthquake hits a Java, Indonesia.
5.6 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.1 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.0 earthquake hits the Gulf of Alaska.
5.0 earthquake hits the southern East Pacific rise.
5.0 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Newsbytes:
France - As rain keeps pouring around Paris and the level of the River Seine continues to rise - already over its banks at various points - the Paris government has issued warnings to the public and closed its quays until further notice. The swollen river has almost reached the famous Paris bridges, rendering normal navigation impossible. The companies running the Bateaux-Mouches, the large, open excursion boats that offer visitors unparalleled views of the city from the river, have suspended service. A number of rail lines are flooded as well, as are some major streets.
New Zealand - Motorists were stranded in swamped vehicles and more than a dozen homes were awash after a storm cell unleashed a torrent of rain on an Auckland suburb this morning. The storm cell, which hit Rosedale on the North Shore just after 8am, caused an hour of chaos as roads turned to rivers and spilled into business and homes.
Britain - Homes were evacuated and roads were damaged as heavy rainfall caused landslides and flooding. Flood warnings were issued in Northampton, Wiltshire, Cornwall, Herefordshire and Somerset. In some areas, the floodwater was 5ft deep. The water level also neared 5ft in Charvil, Berkshire, as a ford became dangerously flooded. An early morning train was derailed at Loch Eilt, in the West Highlands, after a landslide smashed into the tracks. No one was hurt in the incident. Trains are unable to operate between Porth and Treherbert in south Wales due to a landslip, National Rail said.
Hawksbill turtle eggs hatched successfully in Singapore
More than 100 infant turtles got successfully hatched on a Singapore beach before entering the sea, according to reports. The baby turtles are known as Hawksbill turtles, and at present, the Hawksbill turtle is a critically endangered species. Hence, the latest hatching of more than 100 Hawksbill turtles has given some good news for the scientists and environmental enthusiasts who were worried about the dwindling Hawksbill turtle population.
The latest hatch marked for the third time that the Hawksbill turtle eggs hatched on the beaches of Singapore since August. But the important thing is that after a gap of eight years, the Hawksbill turtles hatched on Sentosa again.
Due to the increasing human-made activities like pollution, coastal developments poaching and fishing, the natural habitat of the Hawksbill turtles have been damaged, and the population has decreased significantly. These turtles are an easy target for hunters and poachers. They use their body parts to make turtle soup, and also their shells are used in powered form In Jelly dessert.
Wildfires - Texas, USA
A wildfire burning in Parker County on Monday forced the evacuation of dozens of families and shutdown two interstates for hours. Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire that burned 1,000 acres before being contained.
Lassa Fever - Benin
The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting a Lassa fever outbreak in Benin in four individuals who developed symptoms while residing in Nigeria and subsequently travelled to Benin. Three of the cases were fatal.
Botulism - Nigeria
Three family members contracted foodborne botulism, resulting in the deaths of the father and mother, according to the the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Fish appears to be the common food source.
Philippines
Intense lava fountains shot like fireworks up to 700 metres into the air above Mayon, the Philippines' most active volcano, on Tuesday as showering debris turned morning skies dark and spread fear among anxious residents.
More than 40,000 people have already fled since smoke and ash started spewing from the mountain, with scientists warning of the danger of an explosive eruption and authorities urging people not to be complacent.
Mayon shot out a five-kilometre-high (three-mile) ash column early Tuesday as a rain of fine debris brought daytime darkness in some areas, volcanologists and local authorities said. One person is believed to have been killed while 11 were injured.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.0 earthquake hit central Peru.
5.0 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Newsbytes:
England - Devon and Cornwall Police said heavy rainfall had caused landslides, flooding and road damage. A number of properties have been evacuated and people are being urged "not to travel" as bad weather hits the south-west of England. Numerous rivers burst their banks across Devon and Somerset, with trains across the South West facing severe delays and cancellations.
Ganga River Dolphins
Gangetic river dolphins, primarily found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries in Bangladesh, India and Nepal, are categorised under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act and have been placed on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which signifies that the species is on the verge of extinction. These dolphins are one of the three surviving freshwater dolphin species in the world. The other two are found in the Indus in Pakistan and the Amazon in South America. A fourth species, the Yangtze river dolphin in China, has gone extinct.
The Gangetic river species are blind and find their way and prey in the river waters through sonar echoes. They live by echolocation and sound is everything to them. They navigate, feed, flee from danger, find mates, breed, nurse babies and play by echolocation alone.
The Gangetic river dolphins are being pushed to extinction due to increased pollution, decreased water flow and shrinking fish populations in the Ganga.
The already endangered Gangetic river dolphins are facing a clear and present danger from climate change, which has adversely affected their habitat. With their population registering a steady decline, the Gangetic dolphins in different parts of the eastern state of Bihar are now fighting for survival. Climate change has impacted the population of fish in the river, thus reducing the food supply of the dolphins.
Measles – Ukraine
In the first two weeks of 2018, The Ukraine Health Ministry (computer translated) has already put the case tally at 1285 adults and children (856).
The highest number of cases was recorded in Ivano-Frankivsk (275), Chernivtsi (274), Transcarpathian (194) and Odesa (157) oblasts. In the city of Kiev (Kyiv) during this period 84 patients were registered.
Yellow fever – Brazil
The government of Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil decreed Saturday a public health emergency situation in three regional state for six months because of yellow fever. The measure covers the regional health units of the municipalities of Belo Horizonte, Itabira and Ponte Nova – 94 cities in total. From July last year to the beginning of this year, 22 cases of the disease were confirmed in the state. According to the State Department of Health, of these, 15 resulted in death. During this period, 40 suspected cases were ruled out, and 46 cases were investigated in 24 municipalities.
Lassa Fever - Nigeria
A fresh case of Lassa fever in Lokoja claimed the life of a seven-month-old baby. The medical doctor, who was said to have had contact with the patient has apparently contracted the disease and has been placed on the danger list.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.
5.3 earthquake hits offshore Atacama, Chile.
5.2 earthquake hit south of Fiji.
5.1 earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.
5.1 earthquake hit northern Xinjiang, China.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
Newsbytes:
France - Winds of up to 160 kilometres per hour hit the Mediterranean island of Corsica on Saturday night, with winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour in the Alps, the Pyrenees and parts of Provence. Flood warnings were issued for the Meuse, Haute-Marne and Vosges départements in the east of France. Snow and ice, in some areas heavy enough to disrupt traffic and business, have been forecast in the Alps.
Monarch Migration
A large number of Monarch butterflies have been seen in their migratory funnel in Cape May. N.J. instead of across the Texas-Mexico border. This delayed migration is not normal, and it alarmed monarch researchers across the country. The Cape May stragglers were only a sliver of the record number of monarchs reported in the Northeast in November and December — news that sounded good initially to conservationists. But seeing butterflies so far north so late in the year suggested that few of these latecomers would reach their Mexican wintering grounds. Scientists fear that climate change is behind what they’re calling the latest monarch migration ev er recorded in the eastern United States, and they worry that rising temperatures pose a new threat to a species that saw its population hit record lows in recent years.
Known for their complex, improbable migrations, most monarchs embark on 2,000-mile journeys each fall, from breeding grounds as far north as Canada’s maritime provinces to the Sierra Madre mountains in central Mexico. (A separate western population heads mostly to Southern California.) They mate in Mexico, then fly back north to lay their eggs (and die) in the spring.
Because they’re so delicate — each weighs less than a gram — monarchs are particular about the conditions they’ll fly in, and especially vulnerable to extreme weather systems. Major storms, high winds, early freezes — all pose large-scale dangers, and the butterflies faced all of those this year. But more pernicious than that, scientists believe, are the warmer temperatures, probably a sign of climate change, which manipulated the monarchs’ instincts and pushed their migration back.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the number of monarchs has dropped from a billion in their heyday to about 33 million in 2014 — or more than 80 percent since the mid-1990s.
For decades, scientists have focused on two main causes to explain what was happening to the monarchs: loss of their habitat to development in the United States and in the Mexican winter grounds and widespread agricultural use of pesticides, which destroy milkweed, their favorite plant. But now they are looking at climate change as a new threat to this icon of conservation.
Wildfires - Australia
New South Wales - Rural properties near Bowral in the Alders and Crees Road areas in Bannaby may come under threat from a grassfire, the NSW Rural Fire Service says.
The 634-hectare blaze is at watch-and-act alert level with firefighters and an aircraft on scene to try to slow its spread.
A watch and act alert has also been issued north of Tamworth, where there's an out of control 3500-hectare fire. The RFS is concerned isolated rural properties may be threatened 10km southwest of Bundarra.
Victoria - MORE than 30 fire trucks and seven water bombers have brought a bushfire in central Victoria under control. An emergency warning issued for the towns of Campbelltown, Cotswold, Glengower, Moolort, Smeaton, Strathlea, and Ullina has been downgraded to an alert message as a result.
Influenza - San Diego, USA
San Diego County health officials have recorded a record number of influenza deaths this season and a California deer mouse caught in routine trapping in the Santa Ysabel area has tested positive for hantavirus. Flu deaths A total of 142 flu deaths have been reported through Jan. 13, 2018, the highest ever since the County began keeping records.
Guinea Worm Disease
The provisional reports for 2017 totaled 15 cases in Chad and 15 cases in Ethiopia, the only remaining countries reporting ongoing cases of the disease. All of the cases in Ethiopia occurred in migrant workers from Oromia region on an industrial farm in Abobo district of adjacent Gambella region, where in 2016 individuals drank unfiltered water from a contaminated pond, resulting in an outbreak from September through December 2017. (It takes 12-14 months for the worm to emerge after contaminated water has been consumed.)
This image depicts a method used to extract a Guinea worm from the leg vein of a human patient.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits the Gulf of California.
5.2 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.
5.0 earthquake hits the Iran-Iraq border region.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 622 nm south-southwest of St Denis, Reunion, is tracking south-southwestward at 17 knots. The final warning has been issued for this system.
Newsbytes:
Lebanon - High winds and torrential downpours overnight led to small-scale damage across Lebanon Friday, toppling billboards, littering streets with debris and closing many sea ports. For the first time this year, wind speeds surpassed 70 kilometers per hour. Streets in the northern district of Akkar and around the southern city of Sidon were transformed into swamps, while trash, fallen trees and other debris blocked roads temporarily. The southern sea ports of Sidon and Tyre remained closed, after fishermen had Thursday lifted their boats from the water or fastened them securely to piers in anticipation of storm surges.
Washington State, USA - The National Weather Service in Seattle issued a flood watch for the Washington coast through Thursday night, and by afternoon, surging waves were flooding roads, rolling over seawalls and pouring over jetties all along the coastline.
Wildfires - Australia
Firefighters are battling several big bushfires in New South Wales – one is threatening homes in the Southern Tablelands, and the other has forced the closure of the Royal national park in Sydney’s south. An emergency warning has been issued for an out-of-control bushfire south of Bundeena in the park.
Further south, near Bowral, rural properties in the area of Alders and Crees Road in Bannaby face the threat of a blaze burning through grass in the area, the NSW Rural Fire Service says.
And east of Canberra, firefighters from the ACT have been sent into NSW to protect houses threatened by another bushfire in the Southern Tablelands.
Cholera - Zimbabwe
Four people have died, while three others have been admitted to Chegutu District Hospital following a cholera outbreak in the town. 18 cases involving 11 men and seven women had been recorded and attended to in the town. The disease has so far claimed more than 67 lives in Zambia.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits north-west of the Kuril Islands.
5.6 earthquake hits Kepulauan Tanimbar, Indonesia.
5.3 earthquake hits central Peru.
5.1 earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 224 nm west-southwest of St Denis, Reunion, is tracking southwestward at 12 knots.
Newsbytes:
Turkey - Bad weather disrupted daily life in the western city of Izmir on Thursday, with rising sea levels flooding the city's famous Kordon coastline, while in Istanbul, ferry services were temporarily suspended. Northeaster winds up to 100 kilometers in speed (62 mph) battered Turkey's western coasts Thursday, gradually dropping temperatures and adding to heavy rainfall that started late Wednesday. Izmir, the country's third-largest city located on the tip of a gulf, was the scene of surreal images of streets inundated by floodwater seeming to merge with the sea.
Climate Survival
The continued existence of the human species is now threatened more by extreme weather in a changing climate than by weapons of mass destruction, according to a global survey by the World Economic Forum.
It was released just prior to the foundation’s annual meeting of global leaders in Davos, Switzerland.
The survey of nearly 1,000 international experts and decision makers reveals that in terms of likelihood and impact, extreme weather around the world is listed as the top concern.
The survey points to how catastrophic hurricane damage and wildfires last year demonstrate that environmental events can result in devastation of crucial infrastructure and food supplies.
Animals are Collateral Damage in Africa
Wildlife in more than 70 percent of Africa’s nature preserves was decimated by the ravages of war between 1946 and 2010, causing populations to enter what a new report describes as a “downward spiral.”
Writing in the journal Nature, Joshua Daskin and Robert Pringle of Princeton University point to the deaths of 90 percent of the large herbivores in Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park during that country’s decades-long struggle for liberation from Portugal and subsequent civil war.
The decline in wildlife across Africa has also been compounded by poaching for ivory, hides and other animal parts, often sold on the black market to purchase weapons.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) in Twee Riviere, South Africa.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 75.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 59.4 degrees Celsius) at Oimyakon, Siberia.
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.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 10 January - 16 January 2018
Agung | Bali (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 10-16 January gray-and-white plumes generally rose as high as 500 m above Agung’s crater rim and drifted S, SE, and E. An event at 1754 on 11 January produced an ash plume that rose 2.5 km above the crater rim and drifted NE (likely causing ashfall in areas downwind), and another event at 0723 on 15 January generated an ash plume that rose 2 km. As of 11 January BNPB estimated that 53,207 evacuees were spread out in 233 shelters. The Alert Level remained at 4 (on a scale of 1-4) and the exclusion zone continued at a 6-km radius.
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that an explosive event occurred at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) at 1020 on 10 January, ejecting material 500-700 m from the crater. Weather clouds obscured views of the emissions. There were three events, two of which were explosive, detected during 12-15 January. The explosions ejected material as far as 500 m from the crater and produced plumes that rose as high as 1.5 km above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 10-16 January HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Surface lava flows were active above and on the pali, and on the coastal plain.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : Based on satellite observations KVERT reported that gas-and-steam plumes from Klyuchevskoy contained some ash and drifted about 160 km NW and E during 5-6 and 8-10 January. A weak thermal anomaly was visible on 6 and 8 January. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosive activity at Sabancaya was similar to the previous week; there was an average of 57 explosions recorded per day during 8-14 January. Seismicity was dominated by long-period events, with signals indicating emissions. Gas-and-ash plumes rose 2.5 km above the crater rim and drifted 50 km NW and SW. The MIROVA system detected three thermal anomalies. The sulfur dioxide flux was high, at 2,071 tons per day on 12 January. The report noted that the public should not to approach the crater within a 12-km radius.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 5-12 January. Ash plumes from explosions which began at 1035 on 10 January rose to altitudes of 10-11 km (32,800-36,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted about 900 km E during 10-11 January. KVERT briefly raised the Aviation colour Code to Red on 10 January, and then lowered it back to Orange later that day.
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : Based on JMA notices and satellite data, the Tokyo VAAC reported that on 15 January an eruption at Suwanosejima produced a plume that rose 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW.
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that an event at Turrialba at 0400 on 15 January generated a plume of unknown height due to weather conditions. Ashfall was reported in areas N of Pacayas (Pinos, Buenos Aires, and Santa Rosa de Oreamuno) and a sulfur odor was noted in Santa Rosa de Oreamuno.
Wildfires - Oklahoma, USA
Several grass fires in Murray County Thursday afternoon burned through 2,000 acres, threatening homes and livestock. More than a dozen fire departments were dispatched Thursday to fight three grass fires northeast of Sulphur. Those fires -- which eventually merged into one large blaze -- are now under control.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 earthquake hits the Bonin Islands off Japan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 40 nm south-southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking southwestward at 13 knots.
Hydro-Dams in Brazil may be Put On Hold
Brazil has flooded large swaths of the Amazon for hydro dams, despite opposition from Indigenous Peoples, environmentalists and others. The country gets 70 percent of its electricity from hydropower. Brazil's government had plans to expand development, opening half the Amazon basin to hydro. But a surprising announcement could halt that.
In an interview with O Globo, Mines and Energy Executive Secretary Paulo Pedrosa said the government is reconsidering hydro construction in the face of societal pressure, environmental damage and increasingly competitive renewable energy options.
We can see parallels in Canada, where large hydro projects have been pushed through despite similar opposition and concerns.
Large-scale hydro also causes enormous environmental and social damage, including farmland and habitat destruction, changes to waterways and water tables, and displacement of Indigenous Peoples. Where large areas of land are flooded, mercury in fish increases several-fold, making this traditional source of protein risky to eat.
Animals Are Shrinking and Freezing to Death in a Changing Arctic
Unusual weather brought by climate change is making it tough for muskoxen to get food—and sometimes even entombs them in ice.
Muskoxen, the plant-chomping, long-haired mammals that huddle on the Arctic tundra, are being born smaller in parts of the far north, as pregnant mothers struggle to find food.
One reason, according to new research published Thursday in Scientific Reports: Muskoxen eat most of the year by pawing through snow with their hooves. But rising temperatures mean precipitation increasingly falls as rain, only to then freeze on the surface, encasing plant life in inaccessible ice.
Meanwhile, in a type of freak weather event likely to become more common, more than 50 muskoxen died swamped in ice, as gusts of howling winds drove ice and freezing waters from a tidal surge so far inland that fish were found a half-mile from shore. Rising seas are making such surges bigger and more common.
During one February flight in 2011, one of Berger's co-authors was in a plane, photographing 55 muskoxen standing in a lagoon. A couple of weeks later, 52 of them were dead, most almost completely buried in ice. One animal had chunks of ice in its throat. The only animal not completely encased was standing and appeared to have been trying to walk.
By piecing together weather anomalies, Berger and crew figured out the most likely scenario: the animals had fallen victim to an odd type of localized tsunami. High winds pushed average tides near the site 16 times higher than normal, propelling thick ice and waves inland. Five-meter-long plates of ice up to 50 centimeters thick were found piled near the muskoxen.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 10 January - 16 January 2018
Kadovar | Papua New Guinea : According to Brandon Buser, just after eruption plumes started rising from a vent on the SE side of Kadovar on 5 January boats from a village on the mainland (22 km SW) and from Bam (25 km E) were sent to the island to evacuate residents. The entire population of the island (about 500 people according to a news article citing the Red Cross) was evacuated by the boats and numerous canoes to Blup Blup (15 km N). Activity escalated around midnight. The next day, at a distance of 65 km, Buser and others saw ash emissions rising from Kadovar, and at about 24 km away from the island they experienced ashfall. As they were circling the island a large event sent a large plume hundreds of feet into the air and ejected large boulders into the ocean. During another visit on 8 January Buser noted two new eruptive vents, ashfall covering everything on the village side, and wet falling ash. RVO reported that activity significantly escalated on 12 January characterized by a large blast of a substantial amount of material and “big” glowing red rocks directed to the S; the report noted that the blast was the only one reported to date. Observers on Blup Blup saw incandescence emanating from either the summit or an area out of view on the S flank. Large amounts of sulfur dioxide had been detected since 8 January, and continued to be emitted. A fracture had previously been reported on 6 January extending from the summit to the coast. When seen on 12 January, the fracture was wider and vigorous steaming was occurring at sea level. Ash plumes drifted tens of kilometers W and NW. RVO noted that the displaced villagers were getting transferred to the mainland, along with islanders from Bam, due to the relatively close proximity to the eruption plus the logistics of supplying them. Five newly-named vents were observed during an overflight conducted on 13 January: Main Crater, Western vent, and Southern vent (all three are at the summit), the SE Coastal vent, and the Southern Coastal vent. Sometimes voluminous steam and dense gray plumes rose 1 km above the Main Crater. The emissions obscured views of Southern and Western vents. The SE Coastal Vent was very active, emitting dense white steam plumes 600 m a.s.l. A possible lava dome was at the base of the plumes but showed no evidence of incandescence. The Southern Coastal Vent, located where the original fractures entered the sea, was inactive.
Mayon | Luzon (Philippines) : PHIVOLCS reported that a phreatic eruption at Mayon was detected at 1621 on 13 January, generating an ash plume that rose 2.5 km and drifted SW. The seismic network recorded the event for 1 hour and 47 minutes. Trace amounts of ash fell in Barangays Anoling (4 km S), Sua (6 km SSW), Quirangay (6 km SSW), Tumpa (7 km SW), Ilawod (10 km SSW), and Salugan (9 km SSW) of Camalig, and in Barangays Tandarora (10 km SW), Maninila (18 km S), and Travesia (10 km SW) in Guinobatan. A sulfur odor was noted by residents of Camalig. Rumbling sounds were heard by residents in Anoling. The Alert Level was raised to 2 (on a 0-5 scale). Faint crater incandescence was first observed at 2216. A phreatic eruption began at 0849 on 14 January and lasted about five minutes, and another was detected at 1143 and lasted 15 minutes. Steam-and-ash plumes from both events rose from the crater but were mostly obscured by weather clouds. Anoling residents noted rumbling sounds and a sulfur odor, and minor amounts of ash fell in Camalig. On 14 January PHIVOLCS raised the Alert Level to 3, noting a marked increase in activity characterized by three phreatic eruptions and 158 rockfall events between 1621 on 13 January and 1925 on 14 January. Bright crater incandescence was evident, signifying growth of a new lava dome and lava beginning to flow on the S flank. The report reminded residents to stay away from the 6-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the S flank. Three collapses of material occurred on 15 January, producing rockfall or small-volume pyroclastic density currents. They were detected by the seismic network at 0941, 1005, and 1107 and lasted five, seven, and eight minutes, respectively. The first two events appeared to have been from collapses of the lava-flow front and generated ash plumes that drifted SW and ashfall in multiple Barangays including Travesia, Muladbucad Grande (8 km W), Maninila, and Masarawag (5 km W) of the Guinobatan municipality, and several Barangays in the Camalig municipality. An ash plume from the third event rose about 1 km above the crater and drifted WSW. During 15-16 January the new lava dome in the summit crater continued to effuse. Lava flows advanced 2 km down the Miisi drainage (S), and a small-volume flow was emplaced on the upper slopes of the Bonga drainage (SSE). The seismic network recorded multiple events including short-duration lava fountaining, 75 lava-collapse events corresponding to rockfalls along the front and margins of advancing lava, and short pyroclastic flows in the Miisi drainage. Ash plumes from collapse events in the summit crater produced ash plumes that rose 2 km and caused ashfall in Camalig, Guinobatan, and Polangui.
Nevados de Chillan | Chile : Servicio Nacional de Geología and Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) Observatorio Volcanológico de Los Andes del Sur (OVDAS) reported that during an overflight of Nevados de Chillán's Volcán Arrau dome complex on 9 January scientists observed a new lava dome in the active central crater, corresponding to a new fissure first identified on 21 December 2017. Gas and water vapor rose from the fissure going across the dome surface, and the temperature of the surface was about 480 degrees Celsius. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the middle level on a three-colour scale, and the public was reminded not to approach the craters within a 4-km radius.
San Miguel | El Salvador : SNET reported that at 1653 on 14 January and 1615 on 15 January gas-and-ash plumes from San Miguel rose no more than 300 m above the crater rim and dispersed SW. The report noted that prior to both emissions seismicity decreased and then suddenly increased.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
5.7 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.5 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.1 earthquake hits Western Xizang, China.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 204 nm northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking westward at 04 knots.
Newsbytes:
Ireland - Snow and freezing temperatures have bit Britain after severe 80mph winds were predicted to sweep in from the Atlantic last night as the Met Office's Irish counterpart named the sixth storm of the winter Storm Fionn. More than a foot of snow was recorded in Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway last night, Glenanne in Co Armagh had 9inches, while Tulloch Bridge in Inverness saw 8inches of snow overnight with temperatures as low as -4C, forecasters said. Elsewhere across England and Wales, the mercury did not reach above 2C. Drivers reported being trapped in their cars for up to 13 hours on the M74 after heavy snow battered roads, with temperatures dipping below freezing overnight and snow piling up to 15inches in Dumfries and Galloway.
No-fishing zones help endangered penguins
Small no-fishing zones around colonies of African penguins can help this struggling species, new research shows.
Working with the South African government, researchers from the universities of Exeter and Cape Town tested bans on catching "forage fish" such as sardines and anchovies - key prey for the endangered penguins - from 20km around their breeding islands.
The body condition and survival of chicks improved when the no-fishing zones were in place.
More research is needed, but the scientists say the fishing closures should continue in South Africa and should be considered elsewhere.
Deadly ocean heatwaves
A heatwave that struck a quarter of the world’s oceans in 2016 was made far more likely by climate change, according to a new study.
Nicknamed “the blob” when it appeared in the eastern Pacific, the mass of warm water was linked with the deaths of marine animals and the devastation of ecosystems.
Ocean water naturally goes through phases of higher temperatures – notably the event known as El Niño, which leads to periods of warmer water in the Pacific Ocean.
Climate change is also thought to contribute to some of this temperature fluctuation, but it can be difficult establishing the exact contribution it makes.
However, a team of Australian scientists has concluded the heatwave of 2016 was influenced by anthropogenic – that is, human-induced – climate change.
The research focuses on warming around northern Australia, which resulted in mass coral bleaching, and the northern Pacific Ocean between Alaska and Russia.
Extreme temperatures in the Gulf of Alaska have been linked with the deaths of thousands of seabirds and whales during this period.
Measles - Indonesia
Some 59 children have died from a combination of measles and malnutrition in the remote Asmat region, Papua province, Indonesia. The Associated Press reports that Indonesian health authorities are struggling to battle the measles outbreak due to a lack of access to remote areas, insufficient personnel and the high mobility of villagers hampered treatment and vaccination efforts. The measles outbreak, which began in Sep 2017, has affected 568 people and hospitalized 175.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 244 nm east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking west-southwestward at 05 knots.
Newsbytes:
Fiji - Flooding caused by a heavy downpour in the Western Division on Sunday night has affected the Lautoka, Ba and Rakiraki areas. A number of roads and bridges were damaged.
Australia - Torrential rain drowns Perth and floods highways less than a day after the city baked in 38C weather. The people of Perth have gone from basking in 38C sunshine to running for cover as heavy rain brought on by ex-Tropical Cyclone Joyce belts down in the city. Unseasonal clouds stained the sky on Monday morning before 20mm of rain fell on the city at about midday - flooding the Mitchel Freeway which was closed for a time. More rain is forecast.
USA, New Jersey - Not far from New Jersey’s Capitol Building, icy-slushy water from the Delaware River has claimed the road. Massive chunks of ice and snow have spilled into each other, filling the river, forcing water over its banks and flooding roads. No homes were threatened as yet.
Hepatitis E – Namibia
During the week ending on 13 October 2017, the first identified case was admitted to a public hospital in Windhoek district, with signs and symptoms of hepatitis E. During the week ending on 8 January 2018, a total of 237 probable and confirmed cases have been seen at various health facilities in Windhoek district with the same signs and symptoms.
Cholera – United Republic of Tanzania
From 1 January 2017 through 31 December, 4985 cases including 99 deaths have been reported in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Cholera - Zambia
In a follow-up on the cholera outbreak in Zambia, the cholera outbreak in Zambia continues to escalate. During the past week, an additional 613 cases were reported. As of 8 January 2018, a cumulative total of 2,672 cases with 63 deaths (case fatality rate 2.4%) have been registered.
Lassa Fever - Nigeria
Three medical personnel at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki in Ebonyi State have been killed by Lassa fever. Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner for Health, said two of the dead patients were medical doctors while the third person was a nurse. He revealed that the index patient who was treated by one of the doctors and nurse survived and had been discharged.
Kenya - Chikungunya outbreak
The Kenyan Ministry of Health has reported an outbreak of chikungunya in the coastal city of Mombasa. As of 8 January 2018, a total of 45 suspected cases of chikungunya and no deaths have been documented.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.3 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.2 earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits Mindoro in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 362 nm east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking northward at 01 knot.
Newsbytes:
Maine, USA - Volatile ice caused by unseasonably warm days followed by brutal cold caused turmoil for people throughout the state Sunday. Along Water Street in Hallowell, where the Kennebec River frequently floods each spring, the water rose within minutes early Sunday morning, leaving close to a dozen cars partly or completely submerged. A large ice jam formed just downriver in Farmingdale, and the water just backed up.
New York, USA - Early reports show flood waters entering the Stockade district in Schenectady from the Mohawk River. The warm weather of the last few days has now led to ice jams on the Mohawk River as the water has turned into frozen dams with the recent cold snap.
Wildfires - Australia
Skies in Perth, Australia, turned dramatic colours after a bushfire blanketed the city with smoke. More than 150 firefighters fought the blaze as it burned through 3,000 acres (1,200ha) of bushland near the city on Sunday, authorities said. Officials said the fire was being treated as suspicious, but nobody was hurt.
Listeriosis - South Africa - Update
The Listeriosis outbreak continues to spread and is causing widespread panic and leaving death in its wake. And yet The National Institute for Communicable Diseases is yet to determine the source of the food-borne Listeriosis outbreak that has reached 748 laboratory-confirmed cases.
On Friday the institute said 67 people had been confirmed dead from the outbreak gripping the country which surfaced early last month and affects all nine provinces.
The World Health Organisation has said South Africa's Listeria outbreak, with nearly 750 confirmed cases, is believed to be the largest-ever outbreak of the bacterial disease listeriosis. The second largest outbreak of listeriosis was in 2011, when the United States had a total of 147 reported cases.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.3 earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.
5.3 earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 06s (Berguitta), located approximately 364 nm east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking westward at 04 knots.
Newsbytes:
Brunei - A heavy downpour yesterday afternoon caused flash floods as well as traffic chaos on a number of main roads in the Brunei-Muara District.
Wildfires - Australia
Newcastle Airport has been shut down and sealed off with all flights cancelled as firefighters battle a bush fire in Tomago, Australia. Estimates suggest the blaze has now covered 1 100 acres as winds continue to force the blaze northwards. Four ‘waterbombing’ aircraft have been called in.
Measles - Ukraine - Update
In a follow-up to a recent report about measles in Ukraine, the Health Ministry said Friday that some 3,382 cases of measles were detected in Ukraine during 11 months of 2017, including five deaths. The five measles fatalities were reported from Odesa region.
Uganda - Haemorrhagic Fever
Four people have now died in Uganda this week from an 'eye-bleeding fever' similar to Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever, but Health Department officials remain vague about a possible outbreak of the disease in efforts to avoid panic among the population.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Savu Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 05s (Joyce), located approximately 68 nm east of Port Hedland, Australia, is tracking southwestward at 09 knots.
Tropical cyclone 06s (Six), located approximately 455 nm east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, iss tracking west-southwestward at 09 knots.
Newsbytes:
USA - Low temperatures, fierce snow and ice storms buffet large areas of the Tennessee Valley, the Ohio Valley and the Northeast as Winter Storm Hunter moves east through Friday and Saturday. The heaviest snowfall is predicted from the eastern Great Lakes to northern New England, but snow is also expected to gather further to the south.
Sahara Desert - A snowstorm in the Sahara desert has turned the normally sandy landscape into what looks like arctic tundra after up to 16 inches fell on areas of Algeria Sunday. The freak occurrence—it is only the third time in almost 40 years—surprised locals as their homes and surrounding iconic red sand dunes were covered in snow.
Philippines - A heavy downpour early Friday, triggered floods and a landslide in some localities. Local authorities said more than 3,000 families were affected in Victorias City where tech-deep floods were reported, and about 80 in Talisay City, while a landslide was reported in Silay City. Several houses were also destroyed.
Buffalo, New York - More than a hundred homeowners in South Buffalo are cleaning up from flooded basements after a huge ice jam by the South Park lift bridge backed up the Buffalo River Friday morning.
Big Sheets of Water Ice on Mars
Sizable deposits of water ice lurk just beneath the surface in some regions of Mars, a new study reports.
The newfound sheets appear to contain distinct layers, suggesting that studying them could shed considerable light on the Red Planet's climate history, researchers said. And the ice is buried by just a few feet of Martian dirt in places, meaning it might be accessible to future crewed missions.
Wildfires - California
The Thomas Fire ripped through more than 440 square miles of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, killing two people, destroying more than 1,000 structures and damaging 280 more. It is now 100 percent contained but has yet to be declared fully extinguished after burning for nearly 40 days.
The fire, sparked Dec. 4, was fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds and extremely dry conditions, defying the efforts of crews in the air and on the ground, jumping the 101 Freeway and pushing relentlessly day by day until it looped back on itself in a massive rough-edged ring, with the resort town of Ojai in the middle.
It devastated several foothill and seaside communities and stripped vegetation vital to the integrity of the hillsides, leaving wide swaths below vulnerable to the mudslides that would ultimately hit earlier this week in the season's first heavy rainstorm.
Wildfires – New Caledonia
Dozens of firefighters in the south of New Caledonia are trying to contain bushfires which have destroyed more than 1,000 hectares of vegetation. The area around Mont-Dore has reportedly had no rain for five months, with winds fanning the blazes. A farm with all its equipment has been burned down while dozens of residential houses have been threatened by the flames, prompting evacuations and road closures. Earlier this season, about 13,000 hectares were destroyed in bushfires.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits Myanmar.
Three 5.3 earthquakes hit Myanmar in quick succession.
5.3 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits Costa Rica.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 05s (Joyce), located approximately 117 nm east-northeast of Port Hedland, Australia, is tracking southwestward at 05 knots.
Owls Dying Near Marijuana Farms - California
New research reveals that several species, including the northern spotted owl, are succumbing to rat poison from thousands of "unpermitted private marijuana grow sites" in the northwestern California counties of Humboldt, Mendocino and Del Norte.
Sea Turtles Under Threat as Warmer Climate Turns Most Babies Female
Climate change is causing some troubling new phenomena in the animal kingdom, and is most likely the culprit behind a new study discovering that as much as 99 percent of baby green sea turtles in warm equatorial regions are being born female. The study took a look at turtle populations at nesting sites at Raine Island and Moulter Cay in the northern Great Barrier Reef, an area plagued with unprecedented levels of coral bleaching from high temperatures. The researchers compared these populations with sea turtles living at sites in the cooler south. The study found that while 65 -69 percent of the turtles from the southern region were female, between 86.8 and 99.8 of turtles tested in the northern region were female, depending on age.
The sex of green sea turtles, along with some other species of turtles, crocodiles, and alligators, is not regulated by the introduction of sex chromosomes at key points during early development, as seen in humans and other mammals. Their sex is actually influenced by the temperature at which the eggs are incubated, with warmer temperatures more likely to lead to females. The difference between predominately male and predominately female hatchlings is only a few degrees, such as that formerly found between the cool, damp bottom of a sandy sea turtle nest and the sun-warmed top.
Flea Infestation
Fleas from domestic pets now infest wildlife and feral animals on all continents except Antarctica.
A University of Queensland-led global study showed that so-called cat fleas — the main flea species found on domestic dogs and cats — are carried by more than 130 wildlife species around the world, representing nearly 20 percent of all the mammal species sampled. Dog fleas are less widespread and were reported on only 31 mammal species.
The study warns that the fleas have the potential to transmit harmful bacteria back to pets and humans, including those that cause bubonic plague and typhus.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius) in Penrith, Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 66.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 54.4 degrees Celsius) at Ostrov Kotel’nyy, Siberia.
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) – Malaysia
On 2 January 2018, the National IHR Focal Point of Malaysia reported one case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Bird Flu - Japan
Japanese authorities on Friday announced the culling of about 91,000 chickens on a farm in southwest Japan where several animals were found to be infected with a highly pathogenic form of the bird flu virus. The new outbreak has been detected on a farm in Kagawa prefecture of Shikoku Island after it was found that more than 50 dead chickens this week were infected with the highly contagious H5 strain of the virus. The culling began shortly before midnight on Thursday and will conclude in about 24 hours and the movement of eggs and animals within a radius of 10 km of the farm has been suspended while the area has been cleaned with disinfectants.
