Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
5.2 earthquake hits the northern Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 earthquake hits eastern Sichuan, China.
5.1 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits Unimak Island, Alaska.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Oscar is located about 660 mi...1060 km ene of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...ne or 35 degrees at 22 mph...35 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 291 nm northwest of Manila, Philippines, is tracking northwestward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Italy - Violent thunderstorms, small tornadoes that blew roofs off homes, and hurricane-force winds lashed Italy from Piedmont to Sicily early this week, leaving at least 11 people dead, many more injured and firefighters and other rescue workers scrambling to respond to emergency calls. In Venice, ferocious winds drove the high tide to more than 61 inches, or 156 centimeters, above average sea level on Monday, one of the highest levels ever recorded, plunging much of the city under water. It was the highest flood in a decade in Venice, though far short of the record, more than 76 inches above level, set in November 1966.
Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier Just Lost Enough Ice to Cover Manhattan 5 Times Over
An enormous iceberg about five times the size of Manhattan broke off Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier yesterday (Oct. 29), a mere month after a crack first appeared, satellite imagery shows.
At 115 square miles (300 square kilometers), the enormous amount of ice that calved off the glacier's ice shelf is even larger than the mass that broke off last year. However, the newborn iceberg didn't stay in one piece for long. Within a day, it had splintered into smaller pieces, with the largest piece measuring a substantial 87 square miles (226 square km) before it later broke apart even more.
October Wildfires - New Guinea
The imagefrom NASA Earth Observatory shows the smoke from a large number of wildfires across southern New Guinea on October 8, 2018.
By October 25, there were more than 5,000 fires counts in this coastal portion of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, according to the Global Fire Emissions Database.
Most of the fires were set intentionally to clear the land for agriculture across both small farms and large palm oil plantations. The land clearing often occurs in drained peatlands, and burning peat makes a substantial contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 earthquake hits North Island, New Zealand.
5.7 earthquake hits the Drake passage.
5.5 earthquake hits the Drake passage.
5.4 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
5.4 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.2 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.1 earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits the central East Pacific rise.
5.0 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits the Panama – Columbia border.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Oscar is located about 470 mi...755 km ese of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...105 mph...165 km/h. Present movement...n or 10 degrees at 13 mph...20 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 144 nm north-northwest of Manila, Philippines, is tracking westward at 15 knots.
NewsBytes:
Venice, Italy - Venice was inundated by an exceptional high tide Monday, putting three-quarters of the famed Italian lagoon city under water as large swathes of the rest of Italy experienced flooding and heavy winds that toppled trees and other objects, killing six people.
Vietnam - The annual flooding in the Mekong Delta has damaged more than 2,000ha of rice this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Water Resources. More than 1,270ha of the crop in An Giang Province, 316ha in Kiên Giang and 182ha in Đồng Tháp were totally destroyed while 265ha in Đồng Tháp and 24ha in Long An were damaged. Most of the destroyed and damaged fields are in areas without embankments while the rest were damaged because their embankments were broken or too low. High tides too have been affecting agricultural production in the region, especially in Bến Tre and Sóc Trăng provinces and Cần Thơ City.
Glaciers in Canada’s Yukon territory are retreating faster than expected
Scientists in Canada have warned that massive glaciers in the Yukon territory are shrinking even faster than would be expected from a warming climate – and bringing dramatic changes to the region.
The rate of warming in the north is double that of the average global temperature increase, concluded the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in its annual Arctic Report Card, which called the warming “unprecedented”.
In their recent State of the Mountains report published earlier in the summer, the Canadian Alpine Club found that the Saint Elias mountains – which span British Columbia, the Yukon and Alaska – are losing ice faster than the rest of the country. Previous research found that between 1957 and 2007, the range lost 22% of its ice cover, enough to raise global seal levels by 1.1 millimetres.
The accelerating melt of the glacier has resulted in major shifts to water sources at lower elevations. In 2016, the meltwaters of the glacier shifted dramatically away from the Slims river, cutting off critical water supplies to Kluane Lake – a Unesco world heritage site. Since the diversion, water levels at the lake have dropped more than 6.6ft – stranding thousands of fish from their natural spawning rivers.
Dust storms have begun to flare up along sections of the well-travelled Alaska Highway – at times halting traffic, the result of a dry river bed covered in glacial silt. The events at Kluane Lake are a precursor of what can be expected elsewhere.
'Unprecedented' Number of Dead Whales Have Washed Up in Scotland and Ireland
A total of 80 deep-water whales have been found dead on the Atlantic coasts of Scotland and Ireland since early August — more than 10 times the usual number over that time in previous years.
Marine mammal scientists say the presence of the washed-up whales suggests an "unusual mortality event," or UME, that could have killed up to 1,000 Cuvier'sbeaked whales in the North Atlantic Ocean in recent months.
The cause of the whale deaths is unknown, but scientists fear they may be the result of warships using active sonar to hunt for enemy submarines, or naval anti-submarine exercises.
Around 26 of the carcasses were Cuvier's beaked whales, a species that lives mainly in the deep ocean, while the rest were either Sowerby's beaked or northern bottlenose whales.
Typically, just two or three dead beaked whales would wash up on the Irish coast each year.
A similar increase in beaked-whale deaths has been reported along the west coast of Scotland.
The sharp increase in the evidence of whale deaths washing up on the coast implied that a much greater number of whales may have been killed in the open ocean.
Scientific research has shown that Cuvier's beaked whales are sensitive to the very loud sounds caused by anti-submarine sonar, which is used by warships hunting for enemy submarines and during naval anti-submarine exercises.
Scientists suspect the loud sonar sounds cause intense pain to beaked whales diving at extreme depths, so that they surface too quickly and die from decompression sickness.
Wildfires - South Africa
A spate of wildfires across the Garden Route, which have spread from George to the Karatara area, claimed the lives of at least eight people – including a newborn baby and its mother, two children and a toddler – on Monday, and led to the evacuation of hundreds of people.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits the Drake Passage.
5.5 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.4 earthquake hits offshore El Salvador.
5.4 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.3 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.3 earthquake hits the Kashmir-Xinjiang border region.
5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Oscar is located about 620 mi...1000 km se of Bermuda and about 620 mi...995 km nne of the northern Leeward islands with maximum sustained winds...80 mph...130 km/h. Present movement...w or 270 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 281 nm east-northeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking westward at 09 knots.
NewsBytes:
Malaysia - Ninety minutes of heavy rainfall this morning caused flash floods at the Penang International Airport affecting departures and flooding the parking area.
Uganda - Following torrential rains that hit the Rwenzori Mountains, Kasese was inundated by flooding which claimed the life of one person and affected more than 8 000 people.
Swine Flu - Nepal
Two children in Kanchanrup Municipality of Saptari district died of an unidentified disease on October 23 and 24 respectively. The victims suffered from a fever, nausea, headache and blood vomiting before they died.
The case comes just two months after four persons, including two children, died and more than 2,000 fell ill due to an outbreak of an influenza that was later confirmed as Swine flu (H1N1) and Hong Kong flu (H3N2).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits Romania.
5.2 earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.
5.2 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits northern Alaska.
5.0 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Oscar is located about 895 mi...1440 km ese of Bermuda and about 820 mi...1320 km ne of the northern Leeward islands with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...sw or 235 degrees at 15 mph...24 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 501 nm east-northeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking westward at 10 knots.
NewsBytes:
Sudan - One man died and five others were wounded in major floods that have ravaged parts of Port Sudan, capital of Red Sea state. The torrential rains and ensuing floods that started on Wednesday evening are still continuing and affecting life in a number of places in Red Sea state. A young man drowned in the eastern part of Port Sudan. Five others sustained injuries when they attempted to cross streets in the city and were swept away by floods.
UAE - Dubai: The road to Jebel Jais was closed on Sunday due to heavy rain and unstable weather, while the Ras Al Khaimah Police announces drivers urged to be cautious when driving in rainy weather and avoid valleys. This morning, water was seen gushing through the wadis in Jebel Jais and also causing some flooding on the roads.
Leprosy - Russia
The director of the Research Institute for the Study of Leprosy reports seven Astrakhan patients being treated for leprosy. “Seven new cases have been identified in our region. Six are the sick for the first time, and the seventh is a relapse in a patient who is under observation”. All patients are elderly.
Dengue Fever - Bangladesh
In a follow-up on the record dengue fever season in Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, & Research reported an additional 600+ cases in the past ten days. This brings the total to 8,079, as of Oct. 24.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
5.1 earthquake hits southern Peru.
5.0 earthquake hits offshore Guerrero, Mexico.
5.0 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Subtropical Storm Oscar is located about 1120 mi...1800 km ese of Bermuda and about 1200 mi...1930 km ne of the northern Leeward islands with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...wnw or 300 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 571 nm north-northwest ofYap, is tracking westward at 13 knots.
NewsBytes:
Russia - Update - Six people died in floods in southern Russia that also damaged regional infrastructure, including an oil pipeline, the authorities said on Friday (Sept 26), as emergency workers were struggling to provide food and water to the victims. Over 2,300 houses were flooded in the region. Flash floods frequently cause devastating damage in the area wedged between the Black Sea and the Caucasus mountain range as mountain rivers swell and destroy settlements below.
Wildfires - Greece
A wildfire has broken out and burned an area covered with pine trees on the Sithonia peninsula in northern Greece on Thursday, with strong winds hindering the efforts of the firefighters. The region of central Macedonia has now called a state of emergency for the village of Sarti. Police blocked off roads in the area as firefighters continued to battle with the blaze with the support of helicopters.
Wildfires - Australia
A bushfire that started October 11 in Western Australia 120km southeast of Broome burned 880,000 hectares, or 2,174,527 acres. Dry winds from variable directions and high temperatures made it very difficult to suppress. The remote location and a lack of water restricted the tactics to fighting fire with fire, constructing firelines with heavy equipment, and using aircraft.
When the wind direction changed last week, firefighters had to shut down the Great Northern Highway, National Route 1. In spite of the enormous size of the blaze in Western Australia there were no fatalities or damage to major structures.
Monkeypox - Nigeria - Update
Nigeria health officials reported an additional 10 suspected monkeypox cases during the past month, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The ten new suspected cases of monkeypox were reported from Ebonyi (4), Rivers (2), Bayelsa (4) states. A total of 86 cases have been reported in 2018.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.6 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
5.9 earthquake hits the Mariana Islands.
5.8 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.6 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
5.5 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.3 earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 earthquake hits the Ionian Sea.
Two 5.0 earthquakes hit the Ionian Sea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 391 nm west-northwest of Navsta, Guam, is tracking westward at 13 knots.
NewsBytes:
Jordan - At least 18 people have been killed in flash floods near the Dead Sea in Jordan, most of them in a bus that was swept away. The bus was carrying 37 pupils and seven members of staff to the Zara Maeen hot springs area when it was washed away, officials said.
Turkey - Turkey's state-run news agency says six migrants have drowned after being swept away by floodwaters as they tried to illegally cross into Turkey from Syria. Anadolu Agency said paramilitary police and rescuers recovered the bodies of six people Thursday near the border town of Yayladagi, in Hatay province, following severe flooding.
Russia - Floods have left two people dead and two others injured along with one missing in the Tuapse district of the Krasnodar Region, parts of which were hammered by severe storms.
Kenya - A nightlong downpour has flooded parts of Mombasa city, causing huge traffic snarl-ups. The heavy rains, which started on Wednesday night, have caused flooding and poor visibility. Motorists struggled to steer vehicles through flooded roads on Thursday morning. Some residents had to wade through flooded sections of the roads.
Island Vanishes
One of the most powerful Pacific hurricanes on record obliterated a remote Hawaiian island, causing an important turtle nesting site to disappear in early October.
Former Category-5 Hurricane Walaka was still packing Category-3 force just before it struck the remote French Frigate Shoals, about 400 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Island of Kauai.
Storm surge wiped out East Island, which is a critical habitat for green sea turtles, monk seals and various types of sea birds.
University of Hawaii researchers who were studying the wildlife were forced to evacuate the island before Walaka struck.
False Spring
Cherry trees burst into bloom several months ahead of schedule from Japan’s southern island of Kyushu northward to Hokkaido.
The iconic trees apparently were “tricked” into early bloom by severe weather from two strong typhoons followed by the recent unusually warm weather.
Some experts blamed high winds that blew leaves off the trees, while others say thick, salty sea air blown in by the typhoons confused the trees into a fall bloom.
Changing Plant Chemistry
Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels are lessening the ability of plants to absorb and store that greenhouse gas.
A study by the University of Maryland of leaf chemistry in plants around the world between 1980 and 2017 also found that nitrogen is becoming less available to the plants.
Nitrogen is essential for the growth and development of plant life, and it is usually released into the soil by microbes when leaves and other organic matter decay on the ground. While trees normally absorb it back from the soil, the process is being hampered by the increased carbon pollution.
Interesting Images
Tiny Baby Octopus Riding Ocean Trash
A baby octopus the size of a pea was hitchhiking on a piece of plastic floating in the Pacific Ocean when Hawaiian researchers spotted it and scooped up the small cephalopod.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.9 degrees Celsius) in Matam, Senegal.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 79.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 61.7 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 - Kenya
Officials in Tharaka-Nithi County, in central Kenya are reporting an outbreak of suspected anthrax that sickened eight and killed one. It is reported that all nine people contracted the dangerous bacterial infection from contacted with a tainted cow.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 17 October - 23 October 2018
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that occasional, very small events occurred at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 12-19 October. Sulfur dioxide emissions were slightly less than 400 tons per day on 17 October. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite data, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 18-23 October ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and NE.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 12-19 October that sent ash plumes to 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted in multiple directions, and caused ashfall in Severo-Kurilsk during 14-16 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Etna | Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that during 15-21 October activity at Etna was characterized by gas emissions at the summit craters, with periodic Strombolian activity from vents in Bocca Nuova, Northeast Crater (NEC), Southeast Crater (SEC), and New Southeast Crater (NSEC). Strombolian activity at the N vent in the W part of Bocca Nuova’s (BN-1) crater floor ejected incandescent material higher that the crater rim. Spattering from the southernmost vent was also visible. Gas emissions increased at Voragine Crater from a vent that formed on 7 August 2016 on the E rim of the crater, and the crater continued to gradually widen and deepen. NEC activity was characterized by gas emissions and explosive activity of variable frequency and intensity. Fumarolic plumes rose from the rim and crater walls of NSEC and SEC. The E vent in NSEC produced Strombolian explosions and ash emissions which rapidly dispersed.
Fuego | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH and CONRED reported that on 20 October hot lahars descended Fuego’s Las Lajas (SE) and Mineral drainages, carrying blocks up to 2 m in diameter along with branches and tree trunks. The lahars were 20-30 m wide and 2 m deep. During 20-23 October there were 8-15 weak explosions recorded per hour, producing gray ash plumes that rose 750-850 m above the crater rim and drifted 12 km W and SW. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind, including Morelia (9 km SW), Santa Sofia (12 km SW), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), Finca Palo Verde, Panimaché (8 km SW), and San Pedro Yepocapa (8 km NW). Lava fountains rose 100-200 m high. Avalanches of blocks descended the El Jute (SE), Ceniza (SSW), and Las Lajas (SE) drainages, with material reaching vegetated areas.
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that at 1223 on 19 October an event at Ibu generated an ash plume that rose 400 m above the crater rim and drifted E. Another event at 1809 on 22 October generated an ash plume that rose 400 m above the crater rim and drifted N. On both days seismic signals indicated explosions and rock avalanches. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side.
Kadovar | Papua New Guinea : According to the Darwin VAAC, ash plumes from Kadovar were visible in satellite images on 21 October drifting NE at an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l.
Krakatau | Indonesia : Based on satellite data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 17-19 October ash plumes from Anak Krakatau rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.4 km (5,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4); residents and visitors were warned not to approach the volcano within 2 km of the crater.
Merapi | Central Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 12-18 October the lava dome in Merapi’s summit crater grew at a rate of 6,200 cubic meters per day, faster than the previous week. By 18 October the volume of the dome, based on photos from the SE sector, was an estimated 201,000 cubic meters. White emissions of variable density rose a maximum of 100 m above the summit. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and residents were warned to remain outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.
Piton de la Fournaise | Reunion Island (France) : OVPF reported that the eruption at Piton de la Fournaise continued during 17-23 October. Strong gas emissions rose from the main vent as well as from areas along the lava tube. Periodic field surveys indicated active lava flows, several tens of meters long, at the base of the cone, and possibly active lava in the main vent.
Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosions at Sabancaya averaged 23 per day during 15-21 October. Hybrid earthquakes were infrequent and of low magnitude. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 3 km above the crater rim and drifted 40 km W, NE, and SE. The MIROVA system detected five thermal anomalies, and on 19 October the sulfur dioxide gas flux was high at 2,200 tons per day. The report noted that the public should not approach the crater within a 12-km radius.
Santa Maria | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 20-23 October explosions at Santa María's Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated ash plumes that rose 500-700 m and drifted SW and W. Avalanches of material descended the W and E flanks of the lava dome.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite data during 14-15 October; weather clouds prevented views on the other days during 12-19 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported frequent Strombolian events at Turrialba since 5 October. Periodic gas-and-ash emissions rose 200-500 m above the crater rim and drifted E, NW, and SW during 17-23 October.
Veniaminof | United States : AVO reported that the eruption at Veniaminof continued during 10-16 October, as evidenced by elevated surface temperatures from lava fountains and flows visible in satellite and webcam data, and low-level continuous tremor. Satellite data indicated that the W part of the S-flank flow field was active. A persistent steam plume, visible in webcam views, also contained sulfur dioxide and possible ash. The plume was particularly robust on 18 October, drifting 30 km NE; plumes drifted NE on 19 October and S the next morning. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 151 nm west-northwest of Tinian, is tracking westward at 10 knots.
NewsBytes:
Ghana - Hundreds of homes at Weija have been flooded following the spillage of the Weija Dam by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Ga South Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region. Victims of the spillage have been asked to relocate to safety, as the water level in the dam has reached 14.63 metres of which the GWCL intends to spill more water till the level reaches the safe operational level of 13.7metres.
Mexico - Hurricane Willa slammed into Mexico’s Pacific coast late yesterday, raking it with winds of 195kph that brought power outages, buffeted buildings, and dumped torrential rain on tourist resorts where thousands of people had moved to safety. Whipping palm trees, bending power lines and causing floods, the center of Willa struck the coast near the town of Isla del Bosque in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, where many coastal areas had been evacuated before the storm hit. Willa has since dissipated.
Climate Change is Pushing Tropical Cyclones Poleward
Typhoons are becoming more destructive at northern latitudes, according to the first long-term study to document how the storms in East Asia are drifting toward the poles. As climate change expands the tropics and warms sea surface temperatures, those conditions are triggering cyclones to form further north, scientists say. That means devastating typhoons will increasingly threaten cities and towns once at the edge of the storms’ influence.
Sucking carbon dioxide out of the air could save us.
The Earth is warming so rapidly that most experts agree we'll need to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine lays out a range of options for how to do that. But the authors say developing these negative-emissions technologies requires large-scale investment from the government — and the funding has to come immediately.
That carbon would then get concentrated and stored, perhaps by injecting it into pores in deep underground rock, which is essentially where it came from in the first place. There's not much limit to how much CO2 these potential technologies could capture and store.
Interesting Images
World's Deepest Volcanic Eruption Creates Nightmare Garden of Glass
Deep-sea researchers discovered a garden of glass on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Like a nightmarish Dale Chihuly exhibit, black tendrils of rapidly cooled lava poured out of an undersea volcano and hung frozen in the dark gallery of the Pacific, unable to fully crystallize in the cold water. The pillowy lava formations stretched out for 4.5 miles (7.3 kilometers), carpeting the floor of a trench nearly 3 miles (4.5 km) below the water's surface.
Wildfires - South Africa
Two raging wildfires in opposite sections of the Garden Route in the Western Cape are still burning out of control, with efforts beefed up in an attempt to stop them from spreading.
By Wednesday morning, two separate fires -- both described as massive ‑‑ were reported along the Garden Route, one in the Tsitsikamma area, bordering the Garden Route National Park (GRNP), and the other in the Vermaaklikheid area in the Western Cape. The GRNP was forced to temporarily close the Otter Trail and evacuate hikers when the fire appeared to have jumped into the park.
Anthrax - British Columbia, Canada
A diagnosis of naturally acquired anthrax has been confirmed in the death of 13 livestock on a farm near Fort St. John. The animals are thought to have contracted the disease from exposure to dormant anthrax spores in the soil of a feeding site, which is no longer being used.
Syphilis - Alaska
Alaska health officials report as of Oct. 22, 75 cases of infectious syphilis have been reported to the Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE) during 2018. This is the largest syphilis outbreak to have occurred in Alaska in at least four decades. Eighty-five percent of cases were in Anchorage and nearly nine out 10 were reported in men.
Hepatitis A - Kentucky, USA - Update
In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Kentucky, state health officials report over 2,000 confirmed, probable and suspect cases of acute hepatitis A. As of mid-October, 2,159 cases have been reported, including 14 fatalities.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 17 October - 23 October 2018
Kerinci | Indonesia : Based on satellite images, ground observers, and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 18-22 October ash plumes from Kerinci rose to an altitude of 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, W, WSW, and SW.
Kuchinoerabujima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that a very small eruption at Kuchinoerabujima’s Shindake Crater was recorded at 1831 on 21 October, with additional activity between 2110 on 21 October and 1350 on 22 October. Plumes rose 200 m above the crater rim. During an overflight on 22 October observers noted ash in the emissions, though no morphological changes to the crater nor ash deposits were seen. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).
Sarychev Peak | Matua Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sarychev Peak was visible in satellite images on 15 October. Weather clouds obscured views on the other days during 12-19 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.1 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Depression Willa is located about 75 mi...120 km ene of Durango Mexico with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...ne or 55 degrees at 25 mph...41 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 109 nm southeast of Saipan, is tracking northwestward at 10 knots.
NewsBytes:
Thailand - Flooding hit several provinces in Thailand on Tuesday morning in the wake of heavy downpours. In Chiang Mai province, floodwater was more than 50 centimetres deep in front of Pratukom Market and the province’s college of dramatic arts, even though local officials were urgently pumping out water. In Krabi’s Khao Phanom province, several roads were also flooded.
Climate change swelling Central American migration to US
Deepening climate change is swelling Central American migration to the United States, the region's environment ministers and experts warned on Tuesday (Oct 23) as a caravan of mostly Honduran migrants trekked towards the US border in defiance of President Donald Trump.
Climate change had caused prolonged periods of drought and rain in the region, damaging or destroying the crops of poorer subsistence farmers who are often forced to leave with their families to search for new opportunities. Central America has had recurrent losses in agriculture, with populations increasingly faced with fewer opportunities for work and development.
Five Central American countries - Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic - are among the world's 15 most vulnerable states in the face of extreme climate change events.
The impacts of climate change are part of the triggers of migration creating climate migrants.
Dengue Fever - France
Six autochthonous dengue fever transmission cases have been reported in France since early September, according to Public Health France. An indigenous transmission center of the dengue virus has been identified in Saint Laurent du Var (Alpes-Maritimes) since 4 October 2018. As of 19/10/2018, 5 cases have been identified.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.3 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.3 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.3 earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.
5.2 earthquake hits Vancouver Island, Canada.
5.2 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits northern Xinjiang, China.
5.0 earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak at Johns Hopkins
The Maryland Department of Health has declared an outbreak of the viral infection, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) on the Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus after scores of cases have been reported since September. The Wall Street Journal reports that 125 cases have been reported to date.
Hepatitis A - Florida, USA
Florida is the latest in a series of States to report an increase in Hepatitis A cases. As of Oct. 22, 58 cases have been reported in Pinellas County and more than 180 in Florida.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Depression Vicente is located about 55 mi...90 km sse of Lazaro Cardenas Mexico with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...nnw or 330 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.
Hurricane Willa is located about 55 mi...85 km wsw of las Islas Marias Mexico and about 150 mi...245 km ssw of Mazatlan Mexico with maximum sustained winds...130 mph...215 km/h. Present movement...n or 5 degrees at 5 mph...7 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 269 nm north-northwest of Chuuk, is tracking west-northwestward at 10 knots.
NewsBytes:
Italy - A severe hailstorm hit Rome on Sunday evening, bringing a dramatic end to a long spell of hot weather and covering the streets of the Italian capital in hail and floodwaters. Drivers found themselves stranded in high waters, while the runoff poured into underground stations. The temperature around the city dropped by 10C during the storm. An area of low pressure moving south from northern Europe to Italy over the weekend brought disruption to most of the country, with other Italian cities – such as Milan and Palermo – experiencing floods as well.
Could ‘rewilding’ help to tackle climate change?
As little as 14,000 years ago, lions roamed across most of Earth’s continents, including Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Though it is not possible to tell what caused the lions to go extinct, evidence taken from fossils and ancient cave paintings suggests that human hunting could have played a role in their downfall.
Now, some researchers say that large animals, ranging from lions and elephants to giant tortoises and donkeys, should be reintroduced to areas where they once thrived.
It is argued that this type of conservation, which is known as “rewilding”, could help to restore ecosystems to what they could have looked like before major human interference.
A special issue published today by the Royal Society explores how rewilding could help to tackle climate change and its impacts, as well as how future warming could affect the success of rewilding schemes.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.8 earthquake hits Vancouver Island, Canada.
6.6 earthquake hits Vancouver Island, Canada.
6.5 earthquake hits Vancouver Island, Canada.
5.1 earthquake hits Ecuador.
5.1 earthquake hits Tobago, Trinidad-Tobago.
5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Vicente is located about 195 mi...310 km s of Acapulco Mexico with maximum sustained winds...45 mph...75 km/h. Present movement...w or 275 degrees at 10 mph...17 km/h.
Hurricane Willa is located about 230 mi...375 km s of Las Islas Marias Mexico and about 175 mi...285 km ssw of Cabo Corrientes Mexico with maximum sustained winds...155 mph...250 km/h. Present movement...n or 360 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm (ts) 31w (Yutu), located approximately 638 nm east-southeast of Andersen AFB, Guam, is tracking northwestward at 12 knots.
NewsBytes:
Spain - A firefighter was found dead in the southern Spanish province of Malaga on Sunday, the fire service said, after heavy overnight rain swept through streets and forced hundreds of people from their homes. In the town of Campillos, cars were borne along the streets by the water and left in wrecked piles after the flood subsided. Almost 400 millimeters of rain fell in 24 hours in the town of Ardales - around 62 km (40 miles) from the main city of Malaga.
India - A sudden cloudburst in Virudhunagar flooded various parts of the town, including Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation depot, on Saturday night. Within two hours, the town experienced 119 mm of rainfall. Some 20 employees, who were trapped as the depot was marooned with water for more than four feet, were rescued by Fire and Rescue Services personnel.
Two rhinos die in Chad after being relocated from SA
Two of six critically endangered black rhinos have died of unknown causes five months after being flown from South Africa to Chad in a pioneering project to re-introduce the animals, officials said Sunday.
Rhinos in Chad were wiped out by poaching nearly 50 years ago, and the six rhinos were intended to establish a new population in the country after intensive anti-poaching measures were put in place to protect them.
The rhinos in Chad had been roaming free in Zakouma National Park since late August after a gradual acclimatisation process that saw them first released into small enclosures.
The carcasses of the cow and bull were discovered on October 15. It is uncertain whether they were poached. The surviving four rhinos are being closely monitored, the statement said.
Leptospirosis - Philippines
The Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) is reporting a surge in leptospirosis cases. Through Sept. 24, the PHO has reported 372 cases and 47 fatalities. Males accounted for the bulk of the cases in the province.
African Swine Fever - China - Update
China, the world’s largest pork producer, has culled 200,000 pigs from its herds due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever. A Reuters report says Chinese health officials made the announcement last week. That number represents a small part of the 700 million pigs that China slaughters every year for food consumption. However, due to restrictions on transporting animals that are designed to help curb the spread of the disease have created tight pork supplies in parts of the country. Forty-one disease outbreaks have affected 27 different cities across the country.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits the south-west Indian Ridge.
5.5 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.3 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits the Volcano Islands off Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits northern Xinjiang, China.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Vicente is located about 90 mi...145 km sse of Puerto Angel Mexico and about 115 mi...185 km se of Puerto Escondido Mexico with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...wsw or 255 degrees at 9 mph...15 km/h.
Hurricane Willa is located about 240 mi...390 km sw of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...85 mph...140 km/h. Present movement...nw or 315 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.
NewsBytes:
Qatar - Qatar was hit by widespread flash flooding on Saturday as the desert state received almost a year's worth of rainfall in one day. oads became impassable, air traffic was disrupted and homes were flooded, while shops and universities closed.
Israel - Heavy rain in the south of the country caused floods Saturday evening in Eilat and the Arava region. As a result, Eilat airport closed, and road 90 was blocked.
Trinidad - The rainfall that caused a historic level of flooding in parts of north and central Trinidad largely spared the south part of the island. Flash flooding inundated roads and homes.
Venezuela malaria situation grows worse
More than 650,000 cases of malaria have been reported in Venezuela nationwide so far this year - through October 15. Venezuela’s health crisis continues to abound and infectious diseases have been rising year after year to include measles, diphtheria and malaria.
Flesh-eating Bacteria Epidemic - Australia
A flesh-eating bacteria epidemic has worsened, and experts fear there could be up to 400 infections by January.
The record number of 277 cases of Buruli ulcer recorded last year in the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, has already been surpassed in 2018, with 49 new cases diagnosed in the past four weeks alone.
Meanwhile in Queensland, a separate outbreak has seen five cases reported near Cairns, and mosquitoes found carrying the bacteria.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.2 earthquake hits Tajikistan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Vicente is located about 80 mi...130 km sw of Tapachula Mexico and about 205 mi...330 km se of Salina Cruz Mexico with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...wnw or 290 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.
Tropical Depression Twenty Four-E is located about 270 mi...440 km s of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...w or 280 degrees at 9 mph...15 km/h.
Interesting Images
An unusual tabular iceberg floating just off the Larson C ice shelf in Antarctica.
Mad Cow disease case reported in Scotland
A case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been confirmed on a farm in Aberdeenshire. In line with the disease prevention response plan, precautionary movement restrictions have been put in place at the farm, while further investigations to identify the origin of the disease occur.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits Timor, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits southern Peru.
5.0 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Tunisia - Tunisian authorities say at least five people have been killed in flash floods in the country caused by heavy rains Wednesday and Thursday. Two other people are missing.
The regions of Bizerte in the north, and of Nabeul, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) east of the capital, received up to 200 millimeters (almost 8 inches) of rainfall. Some schools have been closed and homes, roads and hydro-electric power facilities along rivers have been severely damaged.
Texas, USA - Two people have died in flooding in Central Texas that caused a bridge to collapse. Heavy rains led to flooding where the Llano River and the Colorado River meet in Kingsland, Texas. Flood waters rushed over the 2900 bridge for hours before it collapsed.
El Niño Emerging?
The U.S. environment agency NOAA predicts there is now a 70 to 75 percent chance that the weather-altering ocean warming in the Pacific known as El Niño will develop during the next several weeks.
Observations seem to show an ocean-surface warming emerging in the eastern tropical Pacific during the past few weeks off the coast of Ecuador.
The last El Niño triggered crop damage, fires and flash floods in various parts of the world when it occurred from 2015 to 2016.
Alpine Glacier Loss
Some of the hottest summer temperatures on record in Switzerland this year caused the country’s glaciers to lose 2.5 percent of their volume, according to the Swiss Academy of Science.
This year’s record heat came after an especially snowy winter that helped replenish some of the Alpine snowcap diminished by three previous consecutive years of little snow.
Climate change has caused Swiss glaciers to lose a fifth of their ice during the past decade.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8 degrees Celsius) in Matam, Senegal.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 85.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 65.0 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.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 10 October - 16 October 2018
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported occasional, very small events at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 9-15 October. Sulfur dioxide emissions decreased from 3,400 tons/day on 4 October to 600 tons/day on 10 October. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite data, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 10-12 October ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W and SW.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 5-12 October that sent ash plumes to 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. Satellite images showed ash plumes drifting about 125 km SE on 5 and 8 October, and a thermal anomaly over the volcano on 8 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Fuego | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH and CONRED reported that on 12 October a new phase of activity began at Fuego, characterized by lava fountains rising as high as 400 m above the crater rim, avalanches of incandescent material down the W and SSW flanks, increased rumbling, and a lava flow traveling 1 km down the Santa Teresa (W) drainage. Very frequent explosions generated ash plumes that rose 850 m and drifted 12 km S and SE. On 13 October a steaming lahar descended the Ceniza (SSW) drainage, carrying blocks up to 2 m in diameter, and branches and tree trunks. During 13-16 October explosions (8-18 per hour) produced ash plumes that rose almost 1 km and drifted 8-12 km S, SW, and W. Ashfall was reported in areas downwind including Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), Finca Palo Verde, and Panimaché I and II (8 km SW). Incandescent material was ejected 150-200 m high, causing avalanches of material within the crater, though some of the avalanches traveled long distances, reaching vegetated areas. The lava flow on the W flank was still visible but by 14 October no longer active.
Kadovar | Papua New Guinea : Based on satellite data and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 10-12 October ash plumes from Kadovar rose to an altitude of 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and W.
Manam | Papua New Guinea : RVO reported that during 2-12 October brown, gray-brown, and dark gray ash emissions rose as high as 1 km above Manam’s Southern Crater rim and drifted NW. Main Crater produced occasional white emissions, though on 2 October plumes were gray-brown and contained ash. Bluish vapor was noted during 3-4 October.
Merapi | Central Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 5-11 October the lava dome in Merapi’s summit crater grew slowly at a rate of 3,100 cubic meters per day, though faster than the previous week. By 11 October the volume of the dome was an estimated 160,000 cubic meters. White emissions of variable density rose a maximum of 75 m above the summit. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and residents were warned to remain outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 11-15 October Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 25 m above the crater rim, and gas plumes rose 200-700 m. A lava flow that first emerged on 11 October traveled NW towards Cerro Chino, and by 15 October was 250 m long.
Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosions at Sabancaya averaged 17 per day during 8-14 October. Hybrid earthquakes were infrequent and of low magnitude. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 2.5 km above the crater rim and drifted 30 km NE, E, SE, and SW. The MIROVA system detected six thermal anomalies, and on 14 October the sulfur dioxide gas flux was high at 3,132 tons per day. The report noted that the public should not approach the crater within a 12-km radius.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite data during 8-10 October; weather clouds prevented views on the other days during 5-12 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that most days during 10-16 October intermittent, passive gas-and-ash emissions at Turrialba rose as high as 1 km above the crater rim. The emissions drifted W, SW, S, and NE. There were also some explosive events; an energetic explosion was recorded at 1712 on 14 October, though cloudy weather prevented estimates of a plume height.
Veniaminof | United States : AVO reported that the eruption at Veniaminof continued during 10-16 October, as evidenced by elevated surface temperatures in satellite data, and low-level continuous tremor. Satellite data indicated that the E part of the S-flank flow field remained active. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits Samar in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Tunisia - Flash flooding in central Tunisia killed at least two people including a six-year-old child on Wednesday, the interior ministry said. The drownings came less than a month after torrential rains killed at least five people in the northwestern region of Cap Bon. Schools across central Tunisia were closed throughout the day and the ministry said the flooding had closed many roads, particularly in Kasserine. The area surrounding the region's main hospital was also under water.
Niger - Forty-five people have died in the arid west African country of Niger in flooding since June, and nearly 209 000 have been affected, the UN said on Tuesday. The rains destroyed nearly 17 400 homes, killed more than 33 000 livestock and damaged crops.
France - Authorities in the southwest region of France hit this week by destructive flash floods say the death toll has increased to 14, with one person still listed as missing.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 10 October - 16 October 2018
Cuicocha | Ecuador : IG reported that, after an earthquake swarm consisting of 62 volcano-tectonic events during 2-3 October, seismicity at Cuicocha returned to background levels on 4 October. Carbon dioxide levels were normal, and deformation data did not show any anomalies.
Gamalama | Halmahera (Indonesia) : On 10 October PVMBG reported only gas emissions (mostly water vapor) from Gamalama; the Aviation colour Code was lowered to Yellow. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4); visitors and residents were warned not to approach the crater within a 1.5-km radius.
Piton de la Fournaise | Reunion Island (France) : OVPF reported that the eruption at Piton de la Fournaise continued during 10-16 October, though webcam images indicated that the lava-flow front had not significantly progressed since 8 October. The lava lake in the cone was at a low level. Strong gas emissions rose from the main vent as well as from the lava tube, just downstream from the vent.
Sangeang Api | Indonesia : Based on a VONA from PVMBG an ash emission from Sangeang Api was generated at 1338 on 15 October; it rose 250 m above the summit and drifted SW, W, and NW. The VONA noted that the ash emission possibly rose higher than what a ground observer had estimated. Seismic data was dominated by signals indicating emissions as well as local tectonic earthquakes. The Aviation colour Code was changed from Yellow to Orange.
Sarychev Peak | Matua Island (Russia) : Based on Tokyo VAAC data and satellite images, KVERT reported that at 1330 on 10 October an ash plume from Sarychev Peak rose to 1.7-2 km (5,600-6,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 95 km E. SVERT reported that on 15 October an ash plume rose 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 65-70 km E. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Semisopochnoi | United States : On 11 October AVO reported that satellite data of Semisopochnoi indicated partial erosion of a tephra cone in the crater of Cerberus’s N cone. A crater lake about 90 m in diameter filled the vent. The data also suggested that the vent had not erupted since 1 October. Seismicity remained elevated and above background levels. The next day AVO lowered the Aviation colour Code to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory, noting the recent satellite data results and lack of tremor recorded during the previous week.
Soputan | Sulawesi (Indonesia) : On 16 October PVMBG issued a VONA noting only white emissions at Soputan; the Aviation colour Code was lowered to Yellow.
Ulawun | New Britain (Papua New Guinea) : RVO reported that during 1-12 October white and sometimes light gray emissions rose from Ulawun’s summit crater. Seismicity was low.
Wildfires - California
Three small wildfires have been discovered burning slowly over the past couple weeks in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Forest. The US Forest Service has taken steps to contain the fires.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits southeast of Easter Island.
5.4 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits the southern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.2 earthquake hits the southern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: The remnants of Tara are located about 105 mi...170 km nw of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...nw or 325 degrees at 6 mph...9 km/h.
NewsBytes:
North Korea - Large-scale flooding and landslides hit southwestern parts of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with more than 70 people killed whilst close to 600 000 people were affected. 3 200 houses were destroyed leaving more than 10 000 people displaced. The European Union has assisted with humanitarian aid.
Drought - Utah, USA - The Governor of Utah has declared a drought emergency throughout the State.
Disease Outbreak Threatening California Sea Lions
A major outbreak of a deadly disease has sickened more than 200 seas lions along the Northern California coast, the Marine Mammal Center announced Tuesday.
Officials at the center said it was the second largest outbreak of leptospirosis in California sea lions in its recorded history. This year, 220 sea lions at the Marin Headlands-based center have tested positive for the bacterial infection, which affects their kidneys.
Though sea lions diagnosed with leptospirosis are treated with antibiotics and other supportive care, roughly two-thirds of the animals with the infection do not survive.
Other animal species, including humans and dogs, can become infected with the bacteria through contact with contaminated urine, water and soil.
Wildfires - Western Australia
Residents have been told to be prepared to flee their homes after an out-of-control bushfire has swept through areas of Broome.
Early this morning the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services put out a watch and act alert for Thangoo Homestead, Barn Hill Station and Eco Beach, and surrounding areas in the Broome Shire. The blaze, which started on October 11, has so far burnt about 200,000 hectares.
Measles - Israel
Israel has confirmed a measles outbreak in Jerusalem which has reported the highest number of newly diagnosed measles cases of the highly infectious disease in Israel. So far this year, 341 cases of measles have been reported in Jerusalem, which is more than half of all reported cases in Isreal. Moreover, during September alone, 213 new measles cases were reported by the World Health Organization.
Rare Polio-like Illness - USA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 62 cases of the rare polio-like neurological condition acute flaccid myelitis, also known as AFM, so far this year in the U.S. More than 90 percent of the cases involved children 18 or younger, with an average age of just 4 years old. Cases have been confirmed in 22 states. Officials said they are looking at an additional 65 possible cases of AFM. Health experts say the disease can lead to paralysis and even death, but no deaths have been reported so far this year.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.6 earthquake hits south-east of the Loyalty Islands.
6.3 earthquake hits south-east of the Loyalty Islands.
5.5 earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
5.5 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic Ridge.
5.4 earthquake hits northern Xinjiang, China.
Two 5.4 earthquakes hit south-east of the Loyalty Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.2 earthquake hits new Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Two 5.2 earthquakes hit south-east of the Loyalty Islands.
Five 5.1 earthquakes hit south-east of the Loyalty Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits central Peru.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Panama.
5.0 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
Five 5.0 earthquakes hit south-east of the Loyalty Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Tara is located about 25 mi...40 km ssw of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...nnw or 335 degrees at 1 mph...2 km/h.
NewsBytes:
France - Flash floods tore through towns in southwest France, turning waterways into raging torrents that killed at least 13 people, nine of them in just one town, authorities said Monday. People had to be helicoptered to safety from the roofs of their homes as overnight storms dumped the equivalent of several months of rain in just a few hours. Worst hit was the town of Trebes, east of the medieval walled city of Carcassonne. The rains that swept in from the Mediterranean killed nine people there.
Spain - Hurricane Leslie is keeping Spain on alert for floods. Despite somewhat weakening, Leslie landed in Spain yesterday, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The storm is currently passing over northern Spain. Up to four inches of rain is forecast to fall, with nine provinces in Spain on alert as the storm heads toward Navarra, north of Aragon and Catalonia.
Global insect populations declining at alarming rate
An article in PNAS (National Academy of Sciences) has highlighted research from around the world that has found that insect populations are declining significantly.
A number of studies indicate that tropical arthropods should be particularly vulnerable to climate warming. If these predictions are realized, climate warming may have a more profound impact on the functioning and diversity of tropical forests than currently anticipated. Although arthropods comprise over two-thirds of terrestrial species, information on their abundance and extinction rates in tropical habitats is severely limited. Here we analyze data on arthropod and insectivore abundances taken between 1976 and 2012 at two midelevation habitats in Puerto Rico’s Luquillo rainforest. During this time, mean maximum temperatures have risen by 2.0 °C. Using the same study area and methods employed by Lister in the 1970s, we discovered that the dry weight biomass of arthropods captured in sweep samples had declined 4 to 8 times, and 30 to 60 times in sticky traps. Analysis of long-term data on canopy arthropods and walking sticks taken as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research program revealed sustained declines in abundance over two decades, as well as negative regressions of abundance on mean maximum temperatures. We also document parallel decreases in Luquillo’s insectivorous lizards, frogs, and birds. While El Niño/Southern Oscillation influences the abundance of forest arthropods, climate warming is the major driver of reductions in arthropod abundance, indirectly precipitating a bottom-up trophic cascade and consequent collapse of the forest food web.
Research from 2014 estimated that in the last 35 years, populations of insects such as beetles and bees have decreased by 45%, and that the number of insects in Europe is in rapid decline. In a separate study published in 2017, flying insect numbers in German nature reserves were found to have decreased by 76% over 27 years.
Wildfires - California, USA
Power was shut off to about 118,500 customers in parts of more than a dozen Northern California counties late Sunday in an unprecedented move to pre-empt wildfires with strong winds and extreme weather conditions.
Utility company Pacific Gas and Electric, or PG&E, said it was shutting off power to help reduce the risk of wildfires. Some of the deadly infernos that engulfed the state this time last year were caused by downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment.
The National Weather Service warned Sunday of critical fire-related weather conditions in the North Bay Mountains and East Bay Hills continuing through Monday morning due to a combination of strong, gusty offshore winds and low relative humidity.
Wildfires - Oregon, USA
Oregon's largest wildfire has flared up, prompting new evacuations. Gov. Brown on Monday declared the Klondike fire, which started three months ago in southern Oregon, a conflagration. That clears the way for the state fire marshal's office to send firefighters and equipment to help with the blaze, which covers over 167,000 acres. About 40 homes are under level three ("go") evacuations as of Monday morning.
Dengue Fever - Bangladesh
Since the beginning of the year through Oct. 15, Bangladesh has reported 7,450 dengue fever cases and at least 17 fatalities, according to the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control And Research (IEDCR). This is a record for the number of dengue cases in a year.
Cholera - Zimbabwe - Update
The Zimbabwe cholera outbreak that began over a month ago continues to grow with 9,116 cases , including 54 deaths as of Friday. Fortunately, the weekly case incidence has been on a downward trend in recent weeks.
African Swine Fever - China
China reported a new African swine fever case on a farm with nearly 20,000 pigs on Monday, the largest farm yet to report the highly contagious disease in the world's top pork producer.
The new case, one of numerous to be reported in northeast Liaoning province in recent days, underlines the escalating threat to the country's $1 trillion pig industry from the disease despite a slew of initial measures imposed to curb its spread.
Pig prices have plunged in China's northeast after farmers were unable to transport their herds out of infected provinces, while prices in the south have surged.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Tara is located about 105 mi...165 km s of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...stationary
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits the southeast Indian ridge.
5.6 earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka.
5.4 earthquake hits west of Macquarie Island.
5.2 earthquake hits northern Alaska.
5.1 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits the southeast Indian ridge.
Chikungunya - Sudan - More cases
In a follow-up on the chikungunya outbreak in Kassala state, Sudan, the Kassala state Ministry of Health reported that the total number of people infected with chikungunya fever has risen to 15,944 cases as of Oct. 11. Four additional fatalities were also reported.
Hantavirus - Bolivia
The Bolivia Ministry of Health reported this week that 13 military personnel were infected with hantavirus in the military camps of the Joint Task Force of the Yungas, including one death and two cases requiring intensive care.
Measles - Thailand
The Yala Provincial Public Health Office in southern Thailand are reporting a measles outbreak that has affected hundreds. According to the National News Bureau of Thailand, 341 people have been infected and five have died since the outbreak began in September.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits south of Java.
5.2 earthquake hits the southeast Indian ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 05a (Luban), located approximately 136 nm west-southwest of Salalah, Oman, is tracking west-northwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
South Africa - Saturday's heavy downpours resulted in cars being swept away and roads being damaged in parts of Tshwane (Pretoria). Low lying areas in Hammanskraal, Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve have been severely affected. A heavy hailstorm has also been reported in Vereeniging and Laudium with hail lying more than 30cm thick in places.
Sumatra, Indonesia - Torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 27 people, including a dozen children at a school, officials said Saturday. A flash flood with mud and debris from landslides struck Mandailing Natal district in North Sumatra province and smashed an Islamic school in Muara Saladi village, where 29 children were swept away on Friday afternoon. Rescuers retrieved the bodies of 11 children from mud and rubble hours later.
Wales - Two people have been killed after storm Callum battered Wales, the western parts of Britain and coastal areas. A Met Office alert warned of danger to life from fast-flowing, deep floodwater and power cuts, and said some communities were threatened with being cut off completely.
Thousands March for Climate Change
Tens of thousands of people marched in Paris and other major cities across France on Saturday to call for greater action on climate change. Around 80 demonstrations were scheduled to be held nationwide on Saturday, from the northern city of Lille to Marseille, in the south of France. The protests came a week after after an alarming United Nations report calling for urgent global action to avoid a climate catastrophe.
Measles - Ukraine - Update
Ukraine health officials reported (computer translated) an additional 554 measles cases (157 adults and 397 children) during the week ending October 6. This brings the total cases to date to 32,489 (13,013 adults and 19,476 children). In addition, 14 people died of complications of the measles: four adults and ten children.
Zika Virus - India
The Rajasthan Health Department is reporting 55 cases of Zika virus infection in Jaipur as of Saturday. The first case was confirmed on September 23 in the city’s Shastri Nagar area. All cases are from the western Indian state of Rajasthan’s capital and some of these victims are migrant workers from eastern states like Bihar
Dengue Fever - Spain
Spanish Health authorities confirmed recently the first known documented autochthonous dengue transmission in Spain. Two people living in the Region of Murcia had confirmed cases and third case, who resides in the Community of Madrid is pending confirmation.
Ebola - DR Congo
A second wave of the Ebola virus has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an initial outbreak has already killed 125 people, a minister said Saturday.
The latest wave is centred in Beni, a town in North Kivu near the border with Uganda. This second wave occurred as a result of community resistance to measures taken to tackle the disease.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.3 earthquake hits northwest of the Kuril Islands.
5.6 earthquake hits Guatemala.
5.2 earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.2 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits near the coast of central Peru.
5.1 earthquake hits northwest of the Kuril Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Leslie is located about 310 mi...500 km wsw of Lisbon Portugal with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...ene or 70 degrees at 38 mph...61 km/h.
Remnants of Nadine are located about 1010 mi...1625 km w of the southernmost Cabo Verde islands with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...w or 270 degrees at 17 mph...28 km/h.
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 05a (Luban), located approximately 144 nm south-southeast of Salalah, Oman, is tracking westward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Florida, USA - Searchers on Friday found the first body in the rubble of the Florida coastal town of Mexico Beach, which was nearly obliterated by Hurricane Michael, as the toll from the historic storm rose to at least 17 and was expected to rise. Rescue teams, hampered by power and phone outages, used cadaver dogs, drones and heavy equipment to search for hundreds of people unaccounted for in devastated communities across the Florida Panhandle.
North Carolina, USA - Tropical Storm Michael continued it path of destruction as it brought heavy rains and devastating flash floods to North Carolina. Roads were turned into rivers as torrents of water gushed through them. Motorists found themselves taking alternate routes as whole streets became impassable, and low-lying bridges were submerged. Strong winds brought down trees and electricity lines leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without power. According to authorities more than 900,000 homes and businesses across Florida, Alabama and the Carolinas were left without power.
Uganda - At least 34 people were killed after mudslides and floods engulfed homes in eastern Uganda, the Uganda Red Cross Society said on Friday. Dozens of people are feared missing and remain unaccounted for after heavy rains triggered mudslides, which washed mountain slopes into houses on Thursday in at least six villages in Bududa district, located on the border with Kenya. Local news outlets are reporting at least 40 deaths.
Ebola - DR Congo
In an Ebola update in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the outbreak total climbed to 205 confirmed and probable cases (170 confirmed and 35 probable). According to the WHO, the worrisome security situation in Beni, the epicenter of the epidemic, has contributed to the rise in Ebola cases since September.
Israel - Monkeypox
The Israeli Health Ministry reported today on a imported monkeypox case in an Israeli who lives and works in the Port Harcourt area of southern Nigeria. The man got sick about a week after his return and was diagnosed today according to a report from Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Hospital.
This follows two imported monkeypox cases in England, also from travelers from Nigeria.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.3 earthquake hits off the east coast of Kamchatka.
5.2 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Leslie is located about 480 mi...770 km ssw of the Azores and about 480 mi...770 km ssw of the Azores with maximum sustained winds...90 mph...150 km/h. Present movement...ene or 65 degrees at 28 mph...44 km/h.
Post Tropical Cyclone Michael is located about 185 mi...300 km ene of Norfolk Virginia and about 275 mi...445 km sw of Nantucket Massachusetts with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...ene or 65 degrees at 29 mph...46 km/h.
Tropical Storm Nadine is located about 740 mi...1190 km w of the southernmost Cabo Verde islands with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...wnw or 295 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Sergio is located about 130 mi...210 km nw of Cabo San Lazaro Mexico and about 125 mi...200 km sw of Santa Rosalie Mexico with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...ne or 45 degrees at 24 mph...39 km/h.
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 05a (Luban), located approximately 239 nm southeast of Salalah, Oman, is tracking westward at 03 knots.
NewsBytes:
Honduras - Heavy rains that started on 4 October in Honduras have caused flooding and landslides across the country. Most damage has been reported in Francisco Morazán, Valle, and Choluteca departments, where a red alert was issued by the government. 12,076 people have been affected by the floods. 963 homes were damaged, including 169 flooded, and nine completely destroyed. Among them, 7,234 people have been evacuated, and 6,789 moved to 78 temporary shelters.
Florida, USA - Hurricane Michael left a trail of devastation along a huge swathe of the Florida Panhandle. At least two deaths have been reported from Michael, which made landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm as it moves into the Carolinas. The resort town of Mexico Beach, where the hurricane made landfall, suffered massive destruction from the 155 miles per hour (250 kph) winds. Home after home was razed from its foundations in the town of around 1,000 people. Others were missing roofs or walls. Roads were impassable and canals were choked with debris.
France, Spain and Italy - A flash flood on France's south coast killed two people in Sainte-Maxime while a woman was found dead after a storm in Sardinia, Italy. Meanwhile the death toll in the floods in Majorca has risen to twelve.
Monarch Gains
The Mexican forest reserve where millions of monarch butterflies spend the winter saw deforestation drop by 57 percent this year compared to 2017, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported.
“The forest’s degradation has dropped due to a decrease in large-scale illegal logging operations, the end of the damages caused by the 2016 storms and the absence of weather events,” said Jorge Rickards, head of WWF Mexico.
But small-scale illegal logging in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve saw a slight rise, with about 3.5 acres of forest lost.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 83.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 63.9 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.
Zika Virus - India
India has recorded its biggest outbreak of Zika virus to date, with 32 cases confirmed in Jaipur, capital of the western state of Rajasthan. The first case was confirmed on September 23 in the city's Shastri Nagar area, located close to some of the city's main tourist attractions.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 3 October - 9 October 2018
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that very small events at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) occurred during 1-5 October; no explosions had been detected since 23 September. Sulfur dioxide emissions were 400 tons per day on 1 October, and then increased to 3,400 tons per day on 4 October. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite data, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 3-9 October ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 28 September-5 October that sent ash plumes to 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. Satellite images showed a thermal anomaly over the volcano on 27 and 28 September, and ash plumes drifting about 80 km SW, SE, and E during 27-30 September and 1 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite images and model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 6 October an ash plume from Ibu rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted WSW.
Kadovar | Papua New Guinea : RVO reported quiet conditions at Kadovar during 1-20 September with only diffuse white plumes rising from the volcano. Activity increased on 21 September and remained elevated at least through 26 September, the date the last visual observation was received by RVO. During the period if increased activity dense dark gray and brown ash plumes rose several hundred meters above the summit crater (700-800 m) and drifted NW. Intense incandescence from Main Crater, the SE coastal vent, and other areas was visible. Minor amounts of ash fell on Blup Blup island. On 1 October an ash plume rose to 900 m (9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W. An ash plume was visible in satellite images on 3 October drifting W at an altitude of 2.1 km (3,000 ft) a.s.l.
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images on 28 September, and a narrow ash plume was visible drifting 135 km E on 30 September. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Krakatau | Indonesia : PVMBG reported that during 1 September-3 October the Strombolian eruption at Anak Krakatau continued, though foggy conditions often prevented visual observations. Ash plumes mainly rose 200-500 m above the crater rim and drifted NW to SW. On 22 September ash plumes rose as high as 2.5 km; ejected incandescent material mostly landed on the flanks (less than 1 km from the crater), and a small amount fell into the sea. Lava flows on the SSE flank also reached the sea. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4); residents and visitors were warned not to approach the volcano within 2 km of the crater.
Manam | Papua New Guinea : RVO reported that on 1 October field observations after an eruption at Manam confirmed lava flows in the NE valley. There were two lava flow lobes, both stopping before inhabited areas; the smaller lobe flowed on the N side of the valley towards Koland Village and the larger flowed on the S side towards Boakure Village. Effects from ash and scoria fallout on the NW and NW sides of the island were minor. Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 3 October an ash plume rose 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW. A thermal anomaly was also visible.
Merapi | Central Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 28 September-4 October the lava dome in Merapi’s summit crater continued to slowly grow. By 4 October the volume of the lava dome was an estimated 135,000 cubic meters, and the growth rate was 1,000 cubic meters per day (similar to the previous week). White emissions of variable density rose a maximum of 75 m above the summit. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and resident were warned to remain outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.
Reventador | Ecuador : During 3-9 October IG reported a high level of seismic activity at Reventador, including explosions, long-period earthquakes, harmonic tremor, and signals indicating emissions. Steam, gas, and ash plumes sometimes rose higher than 1 km above the crater rim and drifted W, NW, N, and NE. Crater incandescence was visible at night, and incandescent blocks sometimes rolled down the flanks.
Sabancaya | Peru : Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur del IGP (OVS-IGP) and Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) reported that explosions at Sabancaya averaged 24 per day during 1-7 October. Hybrid earthquakes were infrequent and of low magnitude. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 3 km above the crater rim and drifted 50 km SE, S, and SW. Ashfall was reported in Huanca (75 km SSE). The MIROVA system detected five thermal anomalies, and on 1 October the sulfur dioxide gas flux was high at 5,027 tons/day. The report noted that the public should not approach the crater within a 12-km radius.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite data during 27-28 and 30 September; weather clouds prevented views on the other days during 29 September-5 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that intense crater incandescence was visible at Turrialba the night of 3 October. At 0800 on 8 October an event produced an ash plume that rose 500 m above the crater and drifted N.
Veniaminof | United States : AVO reported that the eruption at Veniaminof continued during 3-9 October based on periodic incandescence recorded by the FAA web camera in Perryville (35 km S), elevated surface temperatures in thermal satellite data, and elevated tremor levels. Minor steam-and-ash plumes were sometimes visible during clear daytime conditions. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.3 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
6.8 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
6.3 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
6.2 earthquake hits the Bali Sea.
5.9 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.6 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.5 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Two 5.2 earthquakes hit the Kuril Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits off the coast of Costa Rica.
5.1 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Leslie is located about 1005 mi...1615 km sw of the Azores with maximum sustained winds...80 mph...130 km/h. Present movement...ene or 65 degrees at 10 mph...17 km/h.
Tropical Storm Michael is located about 40 mi...65 km wnw of Columbia South Carolina with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...ne or 45 degrees at 21 mph...33 km/h.
Tropical Storm Nadine is located about 595 mi...960 km w of the southernmost Cabo Verde islands with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...nw or 325 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Sergio is located about 600 mi...970 km w of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...ne or 50 degrees at 17 mph...28 km/h.
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 05a (Luban), located approximately 275 nm east- southeast of Salalah, Oman, is tracking westward at 02 knots.
Tropical Cyclone Titli is located approximately 312 nm southwest of Calcutta, India, is tracking west-northwestward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Nigeria - The death toll from floods across much of central and southern Nigeria has reached 199, the national disaster agency said on Wednesday, almost doubling the number of people killed from three weeks earlier. The almost annual floods, exacerbated by poor infrastructure and lack of planning to protect against inundation, are the worst since 2012, when at least 363 people died.
Majorca - At least 10 people were killed and a child remains missing after heavy rain and flash floods hit the Spanish island of Majorca on Tuesday night, regional authorities said Wednesday. Seven roads in the area were cut off, regional authorities said. Some schools were closed Wednesday because of the floods. Five of the deaths occurred in the Sant Llorenç area, about 35 miles east of the Balearic island's capital, Palma.
