Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.3 earthquake hits south of Panama.

5.1 earthquake hits Taiwan.

5.0 earthquake hits El Salvador.

5.0 earthquake hits the central east Pacific rise.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Cuba - A tornado on 27 January 2019 was registered as an EF4 with a speed of winds that reached 300 km/h, higher than a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Four people are reported dead and a total of 195 injured.1,238 homes affected, of which 123 are total landslides and 224 completely lost the roof. Eleven health institutions, 46 schools with different levels of damage and 21 day care centers have been affected. 220,000 people remain affected in the electric service.

Midwest USA - A life-threatening deep freeze gripped the American Midwest on Wednesday as weather colder than Antarctica grounded flights, disrupted travel and brought life to a standstill for tens of millions. Mail deliveries were suspended, schools and business closed, and residents encouraged to stay home in nearly a dozen states where temperatures overnight sank into the negative double digits, the worst cold to grip the region in a generation with all-time records still under threat. America's third city Chicago, where the morning temperature was -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 Celsius), which felt like -50 degrees (-46 Celsius) with wind chill, was colder than Alaska's state capital and even colder than parts of Antarctica.

Saudi Arabia - At least 12 people have been killed as heavy rain wreaked havoc in Saudi Arabia this week, according to the kingdom’s civil defense authority. The heavy downpours hit mainly the western and northwestern parts of the country close to the border with Jordan. Ten people died in the northwestern city of Tabuk and one each in the holy city of Medina and the northern border areas.

Indonesia - A series of floods struck four areas in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Tuesday evening. "The floods were caused by an overflow of the Bukit Gading Raya Boulevard River Some areas were inundated with floodwater as high as 40 centimeters.

Australia - A Queensland driver has caught the wild moment a 3.5m crocodile walked in front of his car after unprecedented flooding in the north of the state near Cairns.

Global Warming

Scientists Have Detected an Enormous Cavity Growing Beneath Antarctica

Antarctica is not in a good place. In the space of only decades, the continent has lost trillions of tonnes of ice at alarming rates we can't keep up with, even in places we once thought were safe.

Now, a stunning new void has been revealed amidst this massive vanishing act, and it's a big one: a gigantic cavity growing under West Antarctica that scientists say covers two-thirds the footprint of Manhattan and stands almost 300 metres (984 ft) tall.

This huge opening at the bottom of the Thwaites Glacier – a mass infamously dubbed the "most dangerous glacier in the world" – is so big it represents an overt chunk of the estimated 252 billion tonnes of ice Antarctica loses every year.

Researchers say the cavity would once have been large enough to hold some 14 billion tonnes of ice. Even more disturbing, the researchers say it lost most of this ice volume over the last three years alone.

The Thwaites Glacier actually holds in neighbouring glaciers and ice masses further inland. If its buttressing force disappeared, the consequences could be unthinkable, which is why it's considered such a pivotal natural structure in the Antarctic landscape.

Wildlife

Sonar Can Literally Scare Whales to Death, Study Finds

Naval sonar has been linked to mass strandings of otherwise-healthy whales for nearly two decades, but the precise mechanisms of how it affects whales has eluded scientists. Now, researchers have explained key details of how this disruptive signal triggers behavior in some whales that ends in death.

Previously, necropsies of beaked whales from multiple stranding incidents found nitrogen bubbles in their body tissues, a hallmark of decompression sickness, or "the bends." This dangerous condition also affects scuba divers when they rise too rapidly from deep water; it can cause pain, paralysis and even death.

Whales are adapted for deep-sea diving, and beaked whales are the record-holders for the longest and deepest dives. But the new research explains how sonar in certain frequencies disorients and terrifies some beaked whales so much that the experience overrides an important adaptation for deep diving: a slower heartbeat. Extreme fear accelerates a whale's heart rate, which can lead to decompression sickness; the intense pain of this condition incapacitates the whales, so they strand on beaches and eventually die.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.6 earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.

5.5 earthquake hits southern Peru.

5.4 earthquake hits Veracruz, Mexico.

5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.

5.3 earthquake hits Taiwan.

5.0 earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.

5.0 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

Global Warming

Climate change is reshaping how heat moves around globe

The Earth’s atmosphere and oceans play important roles in moving heat from one part of the world to another, and new research is illuminating how those patterns are changing in the face of climate change.

The greenhouse effect and carbon dioxide aren’t the only issues to consider as the planet grows warmer – they are just one part of the equation. The way that the atmosphere and oceans move heat around is changing, too, and this could have significant effects on temperatures around the world.

Without heat transfer, the world’s hottest spots would be sizzling and the coolest spots would be even more frigid. Conditions in both hot and cold climates are affected by the movement of heat from the equator toward the poles in the atmosphere and oceans.

The study concludes that warming temperatures are driving increased heat transfer in the atmosphere, which is compensated by a reduced heat transfer in the ocean. Additionally, the excess oceanic heat is trapped in the Southern Ocean around the Antarctic.

For now, that heat is not re-entering the atmosphere, but at some point it may. If that were to happen, changes in heat transfer could contribute to significant shifts in normal temperatures worldwide. For instance, if we didn’t have heat transfer, Ohio would be 20 or 30 degrees colder than we are right now.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Queensland - Update - Hundreds of people remain cut off after a deluge pushed far north Queensland's Daintree River to a record level. Ferry infrastructure was severely damaged and authorities say the crossing could be out for two days. Almost 500mm of rain fell on the river in 24 hours - 300mm of that in just six hours. Residents have been forced to flee to higher ground in far north Queensland after flood waters submerged homes and swept away sheds. Houses were inundated by more than a metre of water after 300mm of rain fell in four hours at Bluewater, near Townsville. A major flood warning remains in force for the Haughton, Ross, Bohle and Black Rivers. The weather bureau has re-issued a flood watch for numerous catchments north of Townsville.

Philippines - Update - A total of 500 families or 2,074 individuals are still staying in 13 evacuation centers in the municipalities Sta. Josefa, Veruela and Trento after having been forced from their homes by flash floods. Social welfare personnel was mobilized to assist the victims of the flash floods that struck the three towns over the weekend.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Tasmania

More than 520 firefighters are working across Tasmania as more than 40 bushfires continue to burn. At least 3 houses have been lost, communities are under threat and rare plants in the World Heritage Area have been burnt and others are under threat. Some firefighters have been battling the blazes since before Christmas.

Disease

Classical Swine Fever - Japan

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries (MAFF) reported the seventh Classical swine fever outbreak since September 2018. The outbreak was confirmed on a pig farm in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture. The farm has 127 breeding pigs and 1,535 fattening pigs.

Dengue Fever - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka health officials are reporting 4,825 dengue fever cases through the first four weeks of 2019, according to the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health. At least two dengue-related fatalities have been reported.

Chikungunya - Thailand

The chikungunya outbreak that began last year in southern Thailand continues into the first month of 2019 as country health officials report more than 1,000 cases through Jan. 28. According to the Bureau of Epidemiology, a total of 1075 cases were reported from 14 provinces during the first four weeks. No deaths have been reported.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.5 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.4 earthquake hits Colombia.

5.0 earthquake hits Oaxaca, Mexico.

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

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Riley), located approximately 475 nm west-northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking west-southwestward at 11 knots.

NewsBytes:

Argentina; Summary - In early 2019, heavy rain caused flooding in the provinces of Chaco, Corrientes, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos. At the national level, 4 people have died, more than a third of the impacted provinces’ population had to be evacuated and 30,041 people are reported to have been affected by the rainfall that began in the early morning hours of 8 January 2019 and lasted through 18 January 2019. On 23 January 2019, the Argentine government declared a hydro-meteorological emergency for the province of Chaco.

Environment

Iran's Capital City Is Being Devoured by Sinkholes

Sinkholes and fissures are opening up the earth around Tehran, Iran's capital city. And they threaten people's homes and the local infrastructure.

The ground is cracking open, thanks to a water crisis that has deepened as Tehran's population has ballooned. The region is in the midst of a three-decade-long drought and ongoing desertification. The problem has been compounded as the city's population has grown to close to 8.5 million.

Water pumped from underground aquifers has gotten saltier every year as the city has increasingly relied on these underground water sources as opposed to rainwater. At the same time, a great deal of the dwindling water supply gets diverted to thirsty and inefficient agriculture.

As a result, land in the area is physically slumping in on itself. The ground around Tehran, sitting 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) above sea level, has subsided an average of 8.6 inches (22 centimeters) per year based on satellite measurements.

All that subsidence has cracked buildings and water pipes, opened holes in the drying earth, and caused miles-long fissures. Residents fear their buildings collapsing, Nature reported. The airport, oil refinery, highways and railroads in the area are all threatened.

Disease

Measles - Madagascar

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Madagascar, the outbreak case count has risen to 28,747 since early October. The vast majority of the outbreak cases have been reported in children. Of this total, 80 fatalities have been reported.

Yellow Fever - Brazil

Twelve confirmed human yellow fever cases have been reported in São Paulo State, including six fatalities, according to the PAHO. Cases have been reported in the municipalities of Eldorado (9 cases) and one each in Jacupiranga, Iporanga, and Cananeia in the southern part of the state.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.8 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.3 earthquake hits offshore Maule, Chile.

5.1 earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Riley), located approximately 345 nm northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking west-southwestward at 11 knots.

NewsBytes:

Brazil - Update - Aerial view of destroyed facilities after the collapse of a dam, near the town of Brumadinho in southeastern Brazil, on January 25 2019. A dam collapse unleashed a torrent of mud on a riverside town and surrounding farmland, killing 37 people, destroying houses and leaving 250 people missing. Firefighters on Sunday called for the evacuation of about 24,000 people from the Brazilian town as continuing rains added to concerns a second dam could collapse.

Philippines - Nearly 20,000 individuals fled their homes in the Davao Region as the trough or extension of a low pressure area triggered floods and landslides. At least one person reportedly died in the floods. A total of 58 barangays across the Davao Region implemented forced evacuation for around 4,116 families.

Australia - Update - Communities were cut off, farmers stranded and cows washed offshore as heavy rain pelted north-east Australia on Sunday (Jan 27), with one major river breaking 118-year-old floodwater records. The Bureau of Meteorology said Queensland's Daintree River rose to 12.6m - a level not seen in over a century - and local authorities warned that some residents in remote areas could be cut off for days. The heritage listed Daintree Rainforest received more than 300mm of rain in just 24 hours and Northern Queensland is bracing for monsoonal conditions for the rest of the week.

Global Warming

Retreating Ice Exposes Arctic Landscape Unseen for 120,000 Years

The retreat of Arctic glaciers on Baffin Island is exposing landscapes that haven't seen the sun for nearly 120,000 years.

These rocky vistas have very likely been covered in ice since the Eemian, a period in which average temperatures were up to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) warmer than present, and sea levels up to 30 feet (9 meters) higher.

The island is ringed with dramatic fjords, but its interior is dominated by high-elevation, relatively flat, tundra plains. These tundra plains are covered with thin ice caps. Because the landscape is so flat, the ice caps don't flow and slide like typical glaciers. Instead, they simply sit on the underlying rock and soil, preserving everything beneath them like the glass of a museum case.

What's preserved includes tiny Arctic plants and mosses that were last alive when the ice enveloped the land. As the ice melts, it exposes this ancient, delicate vegetation. Wind and water destroy the long-lost plants within months, but if researchers can get to them first, they can use radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the vegetation. The samples were at least as old as the oldest age that radiocarbon dating can detect: 40,000 years. That's a direct indication that the plants had been under ice for at least that long.

Over 70,000 march for the climate in Brussels

At least 70,000 people marched on January 27 in Brussels, braving the cold and rain to urge politicians to uphold their promises on countering climate change.

Chanting and holding placards with slogans such as, "Stop denying the Earth's dying" and "What I stand for is what I stand on," demonstrators walked through the streets of the Belgian capital towards the European Parliament building to send a message about climate change to European lawmakers.

Protests Across France Call for Action on Climate Change

Thousands gathered in Paris and across France on Sunday to denounce political inaction on battling climate change.

More than 100 demonstrations were planned across France for a weekend of action on the environment. Organisers called on people to come together to discuss practical ideas on how to advance an agenda that would halt or at least slow global warming.

Hundreds of people battled heavy rain and winds in Paris to attend a protest at Place de la République that included representatives from NGOs, scientists and activists as well as the general public.

Throughout the afternoon moderators will run workshops exploring how to make the planet greener and how lawsuits can be an effective tool against climate change. More than 2 million people signed a petition in December to sue the French government for not doing enough to combat climate change, France’s most successful petition ever.

Germany Sets Goal to End Coal Use by 2038

In a pioneering move, a German government-appointed panel has recommended that Germany stop burning coal to generate electricity by 2038 at the latest, as part of efforts to curb climate change.

Germany gets more than a third of its electricity from burning coal, generating large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Tasmania

Emergency services in Tasmania are battling 72 separate bushfires. Smoke from Tasmania's numerous bushfires is being spotted as far away as New Zealand as parts of the state remain at threat from blazes up to 20,000 hectares in size. The greatest threat on Monday was posed by an "erratic" fire burning near Geeveston, southwest of Hobart, where about 400 people have evacuated their homes.

Disease

Lassa Fever - Nigeria

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, last week Tuesday January 22, 2019 confirmed 16 deaths from 60 cases of Lassa fever even as 590 out of 593 contacts are currently under watch in eight states of the federation. The affected states are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, and FCT. Case fatality rate in confirmed cases is 26.7 percent.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.2 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.5 earthquake hits Colombia.

5.2 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.1 earthquake hits Samar in the Philippines.

5.1 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.

5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.0 earthquake hits the Sumba region, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Riley), located approximately 283 nm north of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking westward at 10 knots.

NewsBytes:

Queensland, Australia - In the Sunshine State, water levels at the Daintree River have exceeded nine metres and residents along its tributaries, the Mossman River and other waterways in the shire have been warned to prepare as waters continue to rise. In far north Queensland, ferry services have been shut down. Heavy rain and strong winds have been forecast for the state’s far north in coming days, although communities were spared a cyclone that fizzled out after crossing land.

Malaysia - The number of evacuees due to floods in Sabah continue to rise following heavy rainfall on Sunday (Jan 27). A total of 2,555 people from five districts have been displaced and are taking shelter at 17 different evacuation centres. The flood victims from some 549 families are from Kota Marudu, Matunggong, Pitas, Kota Belud and Sipitang districts.

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - Volcanoes Today, 27 January 2019

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Anchorage warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 20000 ft (6100 m) altitude or flight level 200 and is moving at 20 kts in N direction.

Dukono (Halmahera): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: CONTINUOUS VA EMISSIONS TO FL060 EST VA DTG:27/0000Z

Reventador (Ecuador): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000 ft (4600 m) altitude or flight level 150.

Sabancaya (Peru): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 25000 ft (7600 m) altitude or flight level 250.

Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000 ft (4600 m) altitude or flight level 150.

Barren Island (Indian Ocean): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: CONTINUOUS VA EMISSIONS TO FL030 HAVE CEASED

Disease

Ebola - DR Congo

WHO has advised countries sharing a border with DR Congo to urgently strengthen their surveillance and alert systems for early detection, and timely and effective response to potential cases.

Nine neighbouring countries were put on high alert: Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, and Burundi are ranked Priority-1. Angola, Congo, Central African Republic, Tanzania, and Zambia are ranked Priority-2.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.2 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.8 earthquake hits Kepulauan Kai, Indonesia.

5.7 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.

5.5 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.0 earthquake hits Kyushu, Japan.

5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Riley), located approximately 334 nm north-northeast of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking southwestward at 04 knots.

NewsBytes:

Turkey - Heavy rains have caused floods in Turkey's southern province of Antalya.

Brazil - A mining dam collapsed in southeastern Brazil on Friday, Jan. 25. The dam flooded a nearby community, raising concerns of widespread contamination. Brazilian mining company Vale SA said in a statement that it didn't yet have information on deaths or injuries at the dam in Minas Gerais state but said that tailings have reached the community of Vila Ferteco and an administrative office. Parts of the city were evacuated and local firefighters were rescuing people by helicopter and ground vehicles.

Connecticut, USA - Rain, some of it heavy, arrived in the state on Thursday leading to flooding for some areas. A flash flood watch and flood warning were in effect for the entire state.

Indonesia - The number of people killed after days of torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has climbed to 59 with 25 others missing, a disaster official said Friday.

Global Warming

Climate Change - Migrant Crisis in Bangladesh

The country, already grappling with the Rohingya crisis, now faces a devastating migration problem as hundreds of thousands face an impossible choice between battered coastlines and urban slums.

Bangladesh, a densely populated, riverine South Asian nation, has always survived its share of tropical storms, flooding, and other natural disasters. But today, climate change is accelerating old forces of destruction, creating new patterns of displacement, and fueling an explosion of rapid, chaotic urbanization

Bangladesh holds 165 million people in an area smaller than Illinois. One-third of them live along the southern coast, a lush honeycomb of island villages, farms, and fish ponds linked by protective embankments. Most of the country’s land area is no higher above sea level than New York City, and during the rainy season more than one-fifth of the country can be flooded at once.

For tens of thousands of years, people living in the vast Ganges Delta accepted a volatile, dangerous landscape of floods and tropical storms as the cost of access to rich agricultural soil and lucrative maritime trade routes.

Climate change is disrupting traditional rain patterns—droughts in some areas, unexpected deluges in others—and boosting silt-heavy runoff from glaciers in the Himalaya Mountains upstream, leading to an increase in flooding and riverbank erosion. Every year, an area larger than Manhattan washes away. Meanwhile, sea-level rise is pushing saltwater into coastal agricultural areas and promising to permanently submerge large swaths.

Over the last decade, nearly 700,000 Bangladeshis were displaced on average each year by natural disasters, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. That number spikes in years with catastrophic cyclones,

As people flee vulnerable coastal areas, most are arriving in urban slums—particularly in Dhaka, one of the world’s fastest-growing and most densely populated megacities. The city is perceived as the country’s bastion of economic opportunity, but it is also fraught with extreme poverty, public health hazards, human trafficking, and other risks, including its own vulnerability to floods. Already, up to 400,000 low-income migrants arrive in Dhaka every year.

Disease

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 – Mozambique

On 17 January 2019, two genetically-linked circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) isolates were reported from Molumbo district, Zambezia province, Mozambique.

Ebola - DR Congo

The number of people killed in an Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has risen to 443, health authorities have announced, as new President Felix Tshisekedi began his first full day in office on Friday. The rising death toll - up by more than 40 in the past 10 days - emphasises the challenge of controlling the epidemic in the strife-torn east and is just one of a host of complex issues facing Tshisekedi.

African Swine Flu - France

France will deploy the army to fight the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) found in wild boars, the Agriculture Minister has confirmed. These rapid measures will provide “logistical support” and are tasked with culling wild boar in a border zone next to Belgium. The virulent swine disease was first confirmed in Belgium near the borders with Luxembourg and France in September 2018. However since then the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has reported 245 cases of the disease in the Luxembourg region this month.

The drastic move by French authorities was enforced after the disease had spread to just one kilometre from mainland France in recent days.

Environment

Doomsday Clock Hovers at 2 Minutes to 'Midnight'

Humanity might be running out of time to turn away from a path toward our utter annihilation — at least, according to the hypothetical Doomsday Clock.

Experts with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) updated the imaginary timepiece, which measures the proximity of humanity's destruction based on the position of the clock's hands relative to midnight — the hour of the impending apocalypse.

Last year the Doomsday Clock's hands were set at 2 minutes to midnight, the closest it had ever been to "doomsday." And, citing similar risks of humanity's destruction, BAS representatives announced today that the clock will remain at 2 minutes to midnight.

But even though the clock's hands haven't moved, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the relentless progress of climate change — aided by widespread misinformation and fake news — are still a cause for grave concern, BAS representatives declared at a press event.

South Australia heatwave

Temperatures in southern Australian neared 48 degrees on Thursday, shattering previous records as sizzling citizens received free beer to help weather heatwave of historic proportions.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported temperatures of 47.9 Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) north of Adelaide, while inside the city temperatures reached 46.2 Celsius, a fraction above a record that had stood since 1939.

More than 13 towns across South Australia have smashed their own heat records, with some of the state forecast to see temperatures of 50 degrees by the end of the day.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.6 earthquake hits near the coast of central Peru.

5.3 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.1 earthquake hits central Peru.

5.1 earthquake hits the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Riley), located approximately 398 nm northeast of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking westward at 06 knots.

NewsBytes:

Indonesia - Floods and landslides in a central Indonesian province hit by torrential rains this week have killed 30 people and left more than two dozen missing, the national disaster agency said Thursday. Ten districts and cities in South Sulawesi province including the capital, Makassar, have been affected by flooding that began late Tuesday, forcing more than 3,000 people to flee their homes.S of the victims had been electrocuted while others were buried by landslides.

Wildlife

Spider ‘Rain’

Residents in a rural area of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state reported being alarmed after seeing spiders “raining” from the sky, which experts say was due to the region’s hot and humid weather.

While it did appear as if the arachnids were falling from above, experts said they were actually hanging in a giant web to catch prey.

Parawixia bistriata is a rare “social” spider that nests in a giant ball during the day in vegetation. It emerges at night to catch small insects and even birds in its nearly invisible but massive webs.

Nature - Images

Interesting Images

A trio of spinetail devil rays in a rarely-seen courtship display.

A quartet of stand-up paddleboarders is silhouetted against the sunset at a shallow pristine reef in Ha'apai, Tonga.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49.4 degrees Celsius) in Port Augusta, South Australia.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 63.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 52.8 degrees Celsius) at Toko, 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.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Australia

Homes and lives are under threat from an out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s East Gippsland region, with residents in some areas told it is too late to leave.

The blaze, 10km north of Timbarra, is burning southeast in the direction of Timbarra Settlement and Gillinga, and an east to W Tree and Butchers Ridge.

It grew from 400 hectares this morning to more than 5500 hectares by about 5.30pm, and is just 3-4km from W Tree and Butchers Ridge.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.7 earthquake hits south of Sumbawa, Indonesia.

5.5 earthquake hits the Babuyan Islands in the Philippines.

5.5 earthquake hits Tonga.

5.4 earthquake hits northern Colombia.

5.3 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.

5.2 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

5.2 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.2 earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 earthquake hits Coquimbo, Chile.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 11s (Riley), located approximately 461 nm northeast of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking westward at 07 knots.

NewsBytes:

Indonesia - Torrential rains overwhelmed a dam and caused landslides that killed at least eight people and displaced more than 2,000 in central Indonesia, officials said Wednesday. Rescuers were evacuating residents to shelters at a government office and mosques. The national disaster agency said four people are missing and more than 2,000 were in temporary shelters.

Ohio, USA - Communities across Northeast Ohio are dealing with flooding. In Eastlake, police did a reverse 911 call for residents living near the Chagrin River to alert them about a possible flood. Police said they are monitoring the river and closing roads as necessary.

Global Warming

Climate Change and Groundwater

Climate change may be creating a groundwater "time bomb" as the world's underground water systems catch up to the impacts of global warming.

Researchers for a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change say more than half of the world’s groundwater systems — the largest source of usable freshwater in the world — could take more than 100 years to completely respond to current environmental changes from global warming.

Groundwater is replenished primarily by rainfall through a process known as recharge. Concurrently, water exits or discharges from groundwater sources into lakes, streams and oceans to maintain an overall balance.

When there is a change in recharge due to a lack of rainfall, for example, levels of groundwater drop until balance is restored.

Groundwater systems take a lot longer to respond to climate change than surface water, with only half of the world’s groundwater flows responding fully within ‘human’ timescales of 100 years. This could be described as an environmental time bomb because any climate change impacts on recharge occurring now, will only fully impact the base flow to rivers and wetlands a long time later.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Tasmania

Bushfires in the Australian state of Tasmania endangered houses and property on Wednesday, with visitors urged to be cautious before setting off.

Around 50 blazes have erupted across the state with emergency alerts set off for six areas in the central region and authorities declaring that one house has already been burnt.

Teams have been in efforts to put out the fires for much of the summer, including a huge burn near the Gell River which has so far burned more than 20,000 hectares of wilderness.

Disease

Ebola - DR Congo

In an update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Ministry of Health reports 14 additional cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 713 cumulative cases.

The 14 new confirmed cases include 9 in Katwa, 2 in Mangurujipa, 1 in Biena, 1 in Butembo and 1 in Kayina. In addition, there were 439 total deaths.

Measles - Ukraine

In a follow-up on the measles epidemic in Ukraine, health officials report an additional 3,450 cases (1,502 adults and 1,948 children) during the third week of 2019, bringing the total to 8,498 cases to date. In addition, three additional measles fatalities were reported last week, bring the death count to five.

Legionnaires Disease - Sydney, Australia

Sydney building owners have been warned to guard against legionnaires disease outbreaks by checking their water cooling towers, after four people contracted the condition.

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - Volcanoes Today, 24 January 2019

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000 ft (4600 m) altitude or flight level 150 and is moving at 25 kts in SW direction.

Manam (Papua New Guinea): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 14000 ft (4300 m) altitude or flight level 140.

Dukono (Halmahera): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: CONTINUOUS VA TO FL070 LAST OBS AT 23/0700 EXT E

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The volcano has been particularly active recently. A series of very strong explosions occurred on Tuesday (22 Jan 2019) which destroyed the most recent lava dome that had accumulated in the summit crater. The strongest was a powerful vulcanian-type eruption at 21:07 local time, which ejected incandescent material to more than 2 km height and distance from the crater and produced an ash plume that rose approx. 4 km above the summit. The ejecta showered the entire upper cone of the volcano with glowing bombs, in up to 2 km distance.

Fuego (Guatemala): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: NEW VA CLD

Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: SPORADIC PUFFS OF VA.

Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: continuous ash emissions.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.7 earthquake hits the Prince Edward Islands.

5.1 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Philippines - Landslides and flash floods hit at least three towns in Davao Oriental early Tuesday following a heavy downpour overnight, authorities said. Tarragona and Caraga towns were affected by landslides while most of Manay town was swamped by floodwaters after river channels burst their banks.

Florida, USA - An exceptionally high tide accompanying the Blood Moon flooded numerous beaches along Florida’s coast.

New Jersey, USA - Another storm brought more flooding to Ocean City, as snow, heavy rain and chaotic winds pushed through New Jersey last weekend.

Global Warming

Antarctic krill is moving southwards

Krill are moving further south from the Southern Ocean in vast numbers to an icier habitat as the oceans continue to warm, new research has found.

Scientists say warming conditions in recent decades have led to the krill migrating by about 270 miles (440km) toward the Antartic over the past 90 years.

The pink shrimp-like creatures are the primary food source for almost all sea creatures including other fish, penguins, seabirds and whales.

If this pattern continues, scientists warn that it will have negative ecosystem impacts and continue to see further dramatic declines in marine species.

There is already evidence that macaroni penguins and fur seals are competing for krill to support their populations.

Disease

Lassa Fever - Nigeria

Nigerian health authorities on Tuesday declared a new outbreak of Lassa fever that has killed 16 people since early January, despite successfully containing the disease last year. A total of 172 suspected cases have been identified since January 1, of which 60 were confirmed positive.

Measles - South Korea

Measles has struck the Korean peninsula as South Korean health officials say the outbreak has reached 30 cases since mid-December 2018. The first case was reported in Daegu last month. As of this week, the Disease Control Headquarters has confirmed measles outbreaks in five provinces nationwide.

Hantavirus - Argentina

On 19 December 2018, the Argentinian Ministry of Health and Social Development issued an epidemiological alert regarding an increase in cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in Epuyén, Chubut Province. Between 28 October 2018 – 20 January of 2019, a total of 29 laboratory-confirmed cases of HPS, including 11 deaths have been reported in Epuyén, Chubut Province.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.4 earthquake hits the Sumba region, Indonesia.

6.0 earthquake hits the Sumba region, Indonesia.

5.4 earthquake hits near the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico.

5.2 earthquake hits east of King Salmon, Alaska.

5.0 earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 10s (Desmond), located approximately 287 nm northwest of Europa Island, is tracking west-northwestward at 10 knots.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Tasmania

A number of serious bushfires are burning across Tasmania, with firefighters from NSW and New Zealand flying in to assist with efforts. The Miena community is being evacuated as more than 6500 hectares of bush burns at the Great Pine Tier in the Central Plateau. Tasmania Fire Service said the fire is very difficult to control, warning burning embers will threaten homes before the main fire.

Wildfires - New Zealand

A blaze started by an explosion set off on a Bay of Islands beach has swept through part of a historic reserve known for its large kiwi population.

The fire started just before 9pm on Saturday at Rangihoua Bay, on the Purerua Peninsula, and quickly spread up a steep hillside in Rangihoua Heritage Park.

Some witnesses believed the explosion was caused by a petrol bomb, others that the device was made from a large quantity of fireworks. Firefighters described it as a home-made incendiary device.

The most upsetting thing was hearing the sound of kiwi’s screaming from the burning hillside.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.7 earthquake hits near Coquimbo, Chile.

Residents in northern Chile remain on alert for aftershocks following a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at the weekend. Two people died from heart attacks and as many as 200,000 have been left without power. The quake shook homes and caused land slides. The tremor prompted the authorities to begin a mass evacuation of coastal areas ahead of a potential tsunami. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, however, later ruled out the threat.

5.7 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

5.5 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

Global Warming

10 Year Challenge

People concerned about climate change are posting before and after photos of glaciers retreating, bleached coral reefs, starving polar bears and drought-stricken landscapes to make a point about climate change.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 10s (Desmond), located approximately 172 nm northwest of Europa Island, is tracking north-northwestward at 09 knots.

NewsBytes:

Madagascar - Heavy rains and flooding swept away houses in Madagascar's capital of Antanarivo killing nine people, an official report said Sunday.

Disease

China - African Swine Fever

China’s agriculture ministry on Sunday reported a new African swine fever outbreak in the northwestern region of Ningxia. The outbreak occurred on a farm with 57 live pigs in Yongning county, infecting pigs and killing 13, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement.

Newcastle Disease - Utah, USA

For the first time, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in a small domestic flock of backyard exhibition chickens (250) in Utah County, Utah. This case is believed to be connected to the current outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease in California, as three of the birds at the premises were recently moved to Utah from Los Angeles County, California. In Utah, the disease is currently contained to one domestic flock and has not been detected in any commercial poultry flocks.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

No 5.0+ magnitude earthquakes were reported so far today.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 10s (Ten), located approximately 88 nm west-southwest of Europa Island, is tracking north-northeastward at 09 knots.

NewsBytes:

Philippines: Tropical Depression Amang - Heavy rainfall (greater than 7.5 mm per hour) is currently expected over Caraga Region (Region XIII), Davao Region (Region XI) and Eastern Visayas (VIII). The weather disturbance is expected to make landfall over the southern part of Davao region and traverse north through Caraga, Eastern Visayas up to Bicol region.

Disease

Influenza - USA

A total of 19 flu-associated child deaths have been reported and more than 3,500 have been hospitalized for influenza this winter in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday that in the week ending last Saturday, 3.1 percent of people saw doctors for flu-like illness, above the national baseline of 2.2 percent.

South Africa issues alert for travelers to the southern African region

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa are advising travellers returning from the southern African region should be aware of a number of infectious disease risks related to travel to include malaria, cholera, typhoid, African tick bite fever, East African trypanosomiasis and various mosquito-borne viruses (e.g. dengue, chikungunya, West Nile).

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - Volcanoes Today, 20 January 2019

Dukono (Halmahera): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 7000 ft (2100 m) altitude or flight level 070.

Fuego (Guatemala): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 18000 ft (5500 m) altitude or flight level 180 .

Turrialba (Costa Rica): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Washington warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 12500 ft (3800 m) altitude or flight level 125.

Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: EMISSIONS OF STEAM AND PSBL VA

Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: WEAK EMISSION OF VA

Nevados de Chillán (Central Chile): (19 Jan) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: NO VA EMISSIONS

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

6.0 earthquake hits the northern east Pacific rise.

5.5 earthquake hits northern Peru.

5.2 earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.2 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

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

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Malaysia - Flash floods brought by heavy rain and overflowing rivers have inundated several parts of Santubong and Bako housing areas near Kuching. Several kampung are under about two feet of water as of Saturday (Jan 19) morning.

California, USA - At least six people are now reported dead after torrential rains flooded roadways, downed trees and sent massive boulders tumbling down hillsides in California. A boulder severely injured a hiker in Malibu and emergency workers found their vehicles pummeled by rocks. Neighborhoods scorched by recent wildfires were evacuated and some streets looked more like rivers in Malibu. Further east, debris from one of the burn areas rushed through a community, but caused only minor damage.

Collapsing Polar Vortex

The blast of Arctic weather headed for the United States this weekend could be a first sign of still worse things to come this winter, with signs that a circular low-pressure system of swirling winds that normally keeps frigid air locked up at the North Pole has been disrupted and split into smaller parts.

The disruption in this counterclockwise-spinning beast, called the polar vortex, is thought to be caused in part by a warm summer over the Arctic and a relatively cold fall over Siberia. The result for the United States and northern Europe? A severe winter lasting throughout February and possibly into March.

Global Warming

Climate Change A Threat to US Military Bases

The US defence department has issued a dire report on how climate change could affect the nation’s armed forces and security, warning that rising seas could inundate coastal bases and drought-fueled wildfires could endanger inland ones.

The 22-page assessment delivered to Congress on Thursday says about two-thirds of 79 mission-essential military installations in the US that were reviewed are vulnerable to current or future flooding, with more than half vulnerable to current or future drought. About half also are at risk from wildfires, including the threat of mudslides and erosion from rains following the blazes.

Environment

Bovine Companions

Delhi’s development minister announced a controversial plan to house abandoned cows alongside senior citizens, who will care for the animals — considered holy by many in India.

Gopal Rai points out how the Indian capital’s cow shelters are teeming with bovines abandoned by their owners once they dry up, while old people are put into nursing homes to live out their remaining days virtually alone.

He proposes adding an old-age home to a modernized 18-acre cattle shelter in southwestern Delhi, where “cows and senior citizens will coexist, taking care of each other.”

But a leading animal rights advocate says the scheme is “unethical because the government will be using the senior citizens living there for their labor.”

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.1 earthquake hits the Bismarck Sea.

5.4 earthquake hits the Bismarck Sea.

5.3 earthquake hits the Gulf of California.

Two 5.3 earthquakes hit the Bismarck Sea.

5.1 earthquake hits southwest of Africa.

5.0 earthquake hits east of the Kuril Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Bolivia - At least 10 thousand hectares of banana plantations were flooded in the Cochabamba tropic, causing millions in losses to the community and producers. More than 7 500 families were affected by the floods.

Argentina - Intense rainfall in Northeast Argentina has caused devastating floods, amplifying the economic burdens of the country’s record inflation. About 3,500 people have evacuated the region, and millions of hectares of crops have been sent underwater. The flooded region, which extends into Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil, has received about five times more rain than expected since the beginning of the year. Some areas received a whole year’s worth of rainfall in the first 15 days of the calendar year. 2.4 million hectares of soybeans are flooded. The greatest losses come from the Pampa Húmeda region, one of the main food producers in the world. Other crops like corn and cotton, along with livestock have been wiped out across the Northeast. Just last year, Argentina was plagued with severe drought, the worst that had hit the country in half a century. This drought crushed the country’s agricultural sector and strained the country’s economy. It’s blamed in part for the current run on Argentine currency.

California, USA - Heavy rain, snow and wind pummeled much of California Thursday, causing at least five deaths, leaving thousands without power and forcing wildfire victims threatened by floods to flee their homes. Southern California authorities concerned with rising streams and excessive runoff ordered evacuations in parts of Malibu and other areas scarred by wildfires. Malibu schools canceled classes. In harder hit Northern California, authorities warned of imminent floods and debris flows in the wildfire-ravished city of Paradise and the surrounding region denuded of protective trees and vegetation, telling residents to prepare to flee their homes on a moment's notice.

Environment

Desalination Brine

The nearly 16,000 desalination plants around the world that extract fresh water from the sea are discharging far greater amounts of toxic brine back into the ocean than previously thought, a new U.N. study reveals.

It says the salt-laden liquid is increasing the density of salinity where it is released, and poses a significant risk to marine life and ecosystems.

More than half of the 5 billion cubic feet of brine discharged each day worldwide comes from desalination plants operating in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.

Magnetic North Pole Shift

The erratic and rapid shift of the Magnetic North Pole since 2014 has prompted scientists to update a year earlier than scheduled a model used in crucial navigation systems.

The unprecedented update was requested by the U.S. military due to the mounting level of inaccuracies in guidance across the Arctic for ships, planes and submarines.

Scientists believe the wayward pole is being influenced by changes in the flow of iron in Earth’s outer core.

But some experts believe the planet’s magnetic poles are on the verge of reversing, which is long overdue.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8 degrees Celsius) in Port Augusta, South Australia.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 70.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 56.7 degrees Celsius) at Olenek, 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.

Disease

Measles - Madagascar

From 4 October 2018 to 7 January 2019, 19 539 measles cases and 39 “facility-based” deaths have been reported by the Ministry of Public Health (MoH) of Madagascar. Cases were reported from 66 of 114 total districts in all 22 regions of Madagascar.

Foot and Mouth Disease - Algeria

More than 12,000 livestock have died in Algeria following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The Algerian Interior Ministry has classified the outbreak as a “major danger” after it spread to 28 states and killed thousands of livestock, causing markets to shut down for fear of selling infected meat. The crisis has been aggravated by the fact that livestock owners are still waiting for vaccines, which have been delayed until the end of the month.

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - Volcanoes Today, 18 January 2019

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 13000 ft (4000 m) altitude or flight level 130 and is moving at 20 kts in E direction.

Kuchinoerabu-jima (Ryukyu Islands): (17 Jan) Following renewed unrest and a minor eruption beginning last August, earlier today a more significant explosion occurred, sending ash to 20,000ft (6km) and generating a moderate pyroclastic flow which travelled 1.5km (~1 mile) down the southwest flank, though fortunately did not affect adjacent communities. No injuries have been reported and this event was smaller than the powerful explosion in 2015. JMA has kept the alert level at 3 (on a scale of 1-5).

Kadovar (Northeast of New Guinea): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 10000 ft (3000 m) altitude or flight level 100 and is moving at 10 kts in W direction.

Cleveland (Aleutian Islands, Alaska): (17 Jan) A new lava dome has been observed to be growing in the summit crater following a small explosion on January 9- continuing a pattern of behaviour typical of Cleveland since it began a period of regular activity in 2005. AVO raised Cleveland to ORANGE/WATCH.

Reventador (Ecuador): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA DETECTED IN STLT IMAGERY

Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: continuous ash emissions

Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 15000 ft (4600 m) altitude or flight level 150 .

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.6 earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands off India.

5.3 earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.2 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.1 earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.1 earthquake hits the Chagos Archipelago.

5.0 earthquake hits near the south coast of Papua, Indonesia.

Global Warming

Climate Change to Affect Human Health

Climate change is on its way to "halt and reverse" progress made in human health over the last century.

The grim analysis comes from one of the authors of a new report in the New England Journal of Medicine that suggests rising global temperatures could lead to many more deaths than the 250,000 a year the World Health Organization predicted just five years ago.

In 2014 the WHO said that climate change will bring with it malaria, diarrhea, heat stress and malnutrition, killing that many more people annually around the world from 2030 to 2050.

In reviewing the research on the topic, study co-author Sir Andrew Haines thinks our health is much more vulnerable to climate change -- and he believes 250,000 deaths is a "conservative estimate."

Due to climate change-related food shortages alone, the world could see a net increase of 529,000 adult deaths by 2050, the report said. Climate change could force 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 and poverty makes people more vulnerable to health problems.

The depletion of freshwater resources, the unprecedented biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, overfishing, pollution, deforestation and the spread of invasive species, that are related to climate change, but are environmental problems on their own, all compound these public health threats he said.

Global study - permafrost warming

Large areas of permafrost around the world warmed significantly over the past decade, intensifying concerns about accelerated releases of heat-trapping methane and carbon dioxide as microbes decompose the thawing organic soils.

One quarter of the Northern Hemisphere and 17 percent of the Earth’s exposed land surface is underlain by permafrost. Most of these regions have been permanently frozen since the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago.

The permafrost, especially in the Arctic, can be 1.6 kilometers (1.0 mile) deep, trapping large amounts of carbon in the frozen organic matter. Global warming - particularly in the Arctic regions - has increased the potential for thawing of the permafrost and the release of carbon dioxide and methane gasses.

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications on January 16, 2018. Using detailed data from the GTN-P, researchers found that on average, permafrost regions around the world—in the Arctic, Antarctic and the high mountains—warmed by a half degree Fahrenheit between 2007 and 2016.

The most dramatic warming was seen in the Siberian Arctic, where temperatures in the deep permafrost increased by 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit. "There, in regions with more than 90 percent permafrost content, the soil temperature rose by an average of 0.30 degrees Celsius within ten years.

In Arctic regions with less than 90 percent permafrost, the frozen ground only warmed by 0.2 degrees Celsius on average.

Besides the most obvious impact - the release of vast amounts of carbon dioxide and methane - there are other concerns to take into account, especially for four million people living in Arctic permafrost areas.

We have already seen the damages that thawing permafrost leaves behind. The buckling ground, holes, destabilized roads and bridges and buildings and homes shifting on their foundations.

We can add ecosystems to the economic and infrastructure issues. Massive discharges of silt and sediments have been dumped into our rivers and coastal areas due to the melting permafrost, forcing families to move away in some communities.

Space Events

Tiny Cotton Sprouts China Grew on the Moon

A handful of cotton seedlings poked themselves up from the dirt inside a small biosphere on China's lunar lander, Chang'e-4.

Yes, the plants were stunted compared with the earthbound control plants. But they had just survived a space launch and difficult journey to the moon, and were growing in the low gravity and high radiation of extraterrestrial space. They were the first plants ever to grow on the lunar surface. None of the other species that made the trip with them showed any similar signs of life.

Now they're dead. And it's all the moon's fault. As night fell on the region of the far side of the moon where Chang'e-4 sits, temperatures plunged in the 5.7-lbs. (2.6 kilograms) mini biosphere. Hanlong reportedly said that the temperature inside the chamber had fallen to minus 62 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 52 degrees Celsius), and could continue to plunge to minus 292 degrees F (minus 180 degrees C).

Disease

Measles - Vancouver, Washington, USA

In a follow-up on the measles situation in Clark County, Washington, health officials are now reporting 14 confirmed cases and three suspected cases, all among children. One child required hospitalization for their illness. The bulk of the children are under the age of 10 and 13 of the cases were not vaccinated.

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

From 1 December 2018 through 31 December 2018, the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported five additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

African Swine Fever Spreads to Mongolia

Asian pork producers need to redouble efforts to combat African swine fever after Mongolia reported its first outbreak, just five months after the deadly pig disease was first discovered in China.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.7 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.7 earthquake hits the Philippines.

5.4 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

5.3 earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.2 earthquake hits near the coast of northern Peru.

5.1 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

5.0 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.

5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 earthquake hits the southern Mid-Atlantic ridge.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Malaysia - Various roads leading to shops, housing areas and oil palm estates in Sandakan were flooded following a continuous downpour. The flash floods in Kampung Garinono and the areas surrounding it led to a traffic standstill yesterday after many roads were left impassable.

Argentina - It has been a wet year so far in the low Pampas of South America. Northeast Argentina and the adjacent parts of Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil have been hit with extensive flooding. Since the beginning of the year, the area has received about five times the long-term expected average rainfall. On January 8, the Argentine city of Resistencia recorded 224mm rainfall. This is a new 24-hour rainfall record, much higher than the previous highest of 206mm, recorded in January 1994. Eastern Pampas has good farming land but the first soybean crop was a complete loss in some areas because of the rain. The ground is still water-logged. In the province of Corrientes, water is nearly two metres deep, displacing the herds of cattle. In Paso de Los Libres, a border city in what is known as the Argentine Mesopotamia, January brought 483mm of rain so far. The average rainfall for January is 128mm. There is now a 65 percent chance of a proper El Nino developing, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and it is El Nino conditions that tend to disrupt the normal rainfall pattern in this part of the world. The Atacama Desert in Chile benefits from El Nino rains, but the Peruvian fishing industry suffers.

Global Warming

Antarctica Is Dumping Hundreds of Gigatons of Ice into the Ocean Right Now

The southern, frozen continent lost an average of 252 gigatons of ice a year to the sea between 2009 and 2017. Between 1979 and 1990, it lost an average of just 40 gigatons per year. That means that ice loss on Antarctica has accelerated by 6.3 times in just four decades, according to new research published Jan. 14 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As the sea ice at the North Pole melts away, the melting causes negative consequences and ripple effects for the global climate. However, that melting doesn't directly raise sea levels. North polar ice is already floating on the ocean, so turning it from solid to liquid doesn't add to the total volume of water in the seas, according to NASA.

But Antarctica is a landmass buried beneath ice. And it holds the largest reserve of frozen, landlocked water anywhere on the planet. Any ice loss on Antarctica directly contributes to the total volume of water in the oceans, and raises sea levels.

Hidden Beneath a Half Mile of Ice, Antarctic Lake Teems with Life

The dark waters of a lake deep beneath the West Antarctic ice sheet and a few hundred miles from the South Pole are teeming with bacterial life, say scientists — despite it being one of the most extreme environments on Earth.

The discovery has implications for the search for life on other planets — in particular on the planet Mars, where signs of a buried lake of liquid saltwater were seen in data reported last year by the European Space Agency's orbiting Mars Express spacecraft.

The drill team bored through about 3,504 feet (1,068 meters) of ice, and the water below was a chilly 30.8 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 0.65 degrees Celsius), so that scientific researchers could take water samples and sediment cores from the lake, which was about 49 feet (15 m) deep at that spot and covers an area of about 54 square miles (139 square kilometers) under the ice sheet.

Early studies of water samples taken from Lake Mercer — which is buried beneath a glacier — showed that they contained approximately 10,000 bacterial cells per milliliter. That's only about 1 percent of the 1 million microbial cells per milliliter typically found in the open ocean, but a very high level for a sunless body of water buried deep beneath an Antarctic glacier.

The scientists said that the high levels of bacterial life in the dark and deeply buried lake were signs that it might support higher life-forms, such as microscopic animals like tardigrades.

Upper-ocean warming is making waves stronger

Sea level rise puts coastal areas at the forefront of the impacts of climate change, but new research shows they face other climate-related threats as well. Scientists found that the energy of ocean waves has been growing globally, and they found a direct association between ocean warming and the increase in wave energy.

The new study focused on the energy contained in ocean waves, which is transmitted from the wind and transformed into wave motion. This metric, called wave power, has been increasing in direct association with historical warming of the ocean surface. The upper ocean warming, measured as a rising trend in sea-surface temperatures, has influenced wind patterns globally, and this, in turn, is making ocean waves stronger.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Tasmania

About 5,500 lightning strikes were recorded across the state overnight on Monday, sparking dozens of wildfires across the State. There were 61 active fires reported across the state on the TFS website at 10:00pm, with fires at Wattle Grove, Great Pine Tier Central Plateau and Gell River listed at an advice level.

Disease

Measles - Ukraine - Update

In 2018, Ukraine saw an astounding 54,000 measles cases and 16 fatalities. As 2019 begins, it appears the measles problem continues in Ukraine as health officials has already reported 5,059 measles cases from December 28, 2018 to January 11, 2019 and two deaths.

Ebola - DR Congo

The death toll from the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has passed the 400 mark in the east and northeast, health authorities said Tuesday.

“Since the start of the epidemic, the total number of cases is 658 — 609 confirmed and 49 probable. In total there have been 402 deaths” in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, a health ministry bulletin stated.

Health authorities also confirmed 237 cases of “persons cured”, with a further “200 suspect cases still under investigation”.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.0 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Papua New Guinea - Weeks of heavy rains and flooding have killed at least nine people in Papua New Guinea, with authorities warning more bad weather and devastation could be on the way. Near the capital Port Moresby, there have been unconfirmed reports of children being washed away by floodwaters, while further down the coast, high winds generated by Cyclone Penny – which hit northern Australia – have destroyed homes. Rising rivers have left many bridges unusable, stranding travellers. The storms have lashed the country’s southern coast since late December but have also caused problems in the north.

Israel - Heavy rains caused floods across Israel’s north on Monday, stranding two cars mid-stream and damaging property in several regions. Several roads were also blocked due to floods, including Route 90, a main artery that connects the southernmost city of Eilat and Kiryat Shmona in the very north. The Route 90 flooding also struck close to the northern city of Tiberias when the Arbel River overflowed due to heavy rain.

California, USA - The first of three Pacific storms barreled into the state Monday, closing roads, snarling traffic and drenching the striking teachers in Los Angeles. Flooding rain, yards of snow and mudslides are expected. Interstate 5, the main north-south highway in California, was closed Monday because of heavy snow, stranding cars and trucks. The storms were expected to bring several rounds of heavy rain, mountain snow, gusty winds, rough surf and possible flooding through the week, the National Weather Service said. Even worse, areas burned by last year's devastating wildfires will be especially prone to mudslides.

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - Volcanoes Today, 15 Jan 2019

Karymsky (Kamchatka): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: VA AT 20190114/2255Z FL150 EXTD E MOV 10KT REPORTED

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 16000 ft (4900 m) altitude or flight level 160 .

Bezymianny (Central Kamchatka Depression): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: VA AT 20190115/0606Z FL120 EXTD SE MOV 5KT REPORTED

Dukono (Halmahera): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 7000 ft (2100 m) altitude or flight level 070 and is moving at 15 kts in SW direction.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: POSS VA 15/0927

Sabancaya (Peru): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: INTERMITTENT PUFF EMISSION

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.1 earthquake hits eastern Honshu, Japan.

5.1 earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.0 earthquake hits southern Alaska.

5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.

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

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

Wildlife

Poland plans to kill thousands of boars

Poland’s battle to control highly contagious African swine fever (ASF) is turning into a political problem for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Since Saturday, hunters have been out in force across the country gunning for wild boars — many of which are carriers of the deadly disease that the Polish government wants to stamp out to protect domestic pigs.

It’s the scale of the cull that’s causing the trouble. A total of some 20,000 wild boars will be killed over the next few weekends — bringing this season’s overall cull to about 190,000 — the government estimates the total wild population is about 214,000.

The plan has galvanized a coalition of environmental groups, scientists and the political opposition. Polish Facebook pages are filled with cute pictures of boar piglets while the next few days will see protests in several Polish cities.

Disease

Anthrax - Tanzania

The consumption of anthrax tainted meat has been linked to an outbreak of suspected Bacillus anthracis infections in Nzoka village, Momba district of the Songwe Region of Tanzania. Four people have died and some 77 people were sickened after eating the suspect meat.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.1 earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.0 earthquake hits Kepulauan Babar, Indonesia.

Disease

African Swine Fever - China

A new outbreak of African swine fever has hit two farms in Jiangsu province in eastern China, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday, as the highly contagious disease continues to spread through the world's largest hog herd.

The outbreak in Siyang county hit two farms with a total of 68,969 pigs, the Xinhua report said, citing a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. A total of 2,452 pigs have been infected and 1,369 killed.

The latest case comes shortly after an outbreak in Heilongjiang province in northeastern China affected a large farm with 73,000 pigs.

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - Volcanoes Today, 13 Jan 2019

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 20000 ft (6100 m) altitude or flight level 200. Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 16000 ft (4900 m) altitude or flight level 160 and is moving at 20 kts in W direction.

Kadovar (Northeast of New Guinea): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: INTERMITTENT DISCRETE EMISSIONS TO FL080 EST VA DTG:13/0100Z

Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 7000 ft (2100 m) altitude or flight level 070 .

Dukono (Halmahera): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: CONTINUOUS VA EMISSIONS TO FL070 EST VA DTG:13/0730Z

Fuego (Guatemala): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA DETECTED IN STLT

Sabancaya (Peru): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 27000 ft (8200 m) altitude or flight level 270 and is moving at 15 kts in W direction.

Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Buenos Aires (VAAC) issued the following report: continuous ash emissions.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.3 earthquake hits southern Xinjiang, China.

5.2 earthquake hits south of Tonga.

5.1 earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.

5.1 earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka.

5.1 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Malawi - Heavy downpours last night that hit Lilongwe have caused damage in various areas in the city. Those greatly affected by the floods are areas such as area 23, 22, Kawale and Mtandile respectively. The majority of the individuals affected by the floods are those that built or are renting housing that are close to the rivers. The heavy rains caused damages to bridges at Chipasula, Kawale and Chidzanja.

Global Warming

Global Warming in a Nutshell - The Carbon Cycle

Using sunlight, plants and microorganisms take in carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. Those plants are then eaten by animals, which then convert the plants to energy and exhale carbon dioxide. Or if the plants don’t get eaten, they die and decay, putting some carbon in the soil and returning some carbon to the atmosphere.

It’s almost a closed loop, though over the course of millions of years, enough decaying plant and animal matter gradually built up in the ground to yield vast reserves of fossil fuels while reducing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere bit by bit.

Humans have breached this cycle by digging up fossil fuels and burning them, leading to carbon dioxide building up in the atmosphere faster than natural systems can soak it up. This has led to a net increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, causing the planet to heat up.

The Oceans are Warming Faster than Previously Thought

The planet’s oceans are warming a lot quicker than estimated, highlighting the perils of unchecked climate change, according to a new study.

New data published by the journal Science on Thursday, indicates that ocean temperatures have consistently risen since the 1950s and are rising 40% faster than calculated by scientists in a 2014 U.N. report. According to Lijing Cheng, one of the study’s authors, temperatures down to 2,000 meters rose about 0.1 degree Celsius (0.18F) between 1971-2010, according to Reuters. The fallout could include rising sea levels, destruction of corals, severe weather systems and a decrease in ice sheets and glaciers. According to the study, sea levels could rise by 30cm by the year 2100.

The earth’s oceans have absorbed more than 90% of heat caused by greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere, according to the New York Times, making them a vital regulator for the planet’s thermostat. However, their role was relatively unnoticed because of insufficient and imprecise data. The new study analyzed earlier published information and data compiled by Argo, an international system of nearly 4,000 floats that measures temperature and saline levels in the upper parts of the world’s oceans.

The study is the latest in a number of warnings from the scientific community, urging people to change their ways and address global warming. In October 2018, a report from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that the planet has only until 2030 to avoid devastating climate change effects. Governments are becoming more aware of their responsibilities, with almost 200 nations pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the 2015 Paris climate accord.

Wildfires

Wildfires - South Africa

Thirty-one residential properties have been completely destroyed and 28 properties sustained partial to major damage in the raging fires in the Betty's Bay area, east of Cape Town, the city's fire chief Theo Lane said on Saturday. It is estimated that more than 12 800 hectares of vegetation was destroyed.

Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease - South Africa

The Department of Agriculture has finally revealed the extent of the foot and mouth outbreak. Officials say it has affected more than 15, 000 cattle in Vhembe district in Limpopo and that the situation is worse than expected. The area has been quarantined and further assessments will be made to determine if cattle need to be culled.

The department has also expressed concerned about the money the country is losing over the halting of meat exports. Zimbabwe has joined Botswana, Eswatini and Namibia in banning the import of livestock products from South Africa.

Measles - Brazil

The Brazil Ministry of Health reported this week on the measles situation in the country. From the beginning of 2018, until January 8 of this year, 10,274 cases were confirmed in Brazil. 12 fatalities have been reported.

Currently, the country faces two outbreaks of measles: in Amazonas with 9,778 confirmed cases and in 355 cases in Roraima. The outbreaks that occurred last year are related to importation, since the genotype of the virus (D8), which is circulating in Brazil, is the same that circulates in Venezuela, a country with a disease outbreak since 2017.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.8 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

5.2 earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Zambia - Chama District in Muchinga Province has been hit with serious floods resulting in the loss of four lives. The floods that have hit Chama South Constituency as a result of heavy rains being experienced in the area have also, submerged crops destroying infrastructure such such bridges and feeder roads.

Wildlife

Massive Migrations

About 2 billion birds cross the Gulf of Mexico during the spring migration season, according to a new study that combined data from 11 weather radar stations and observations from citizen scientists.

Researcher Kyle Horton of Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology said that before he and his colleagues looked at the data from 1995 to 2015, “we could only guess at the overall numbers from surveys done along small portions of the shoreline.”

Horton says that while climate change has caused the earliest seasonal migrations to begin 1.5 days earlier per decade, the peak has remained at the same period between April 19 and May 7.

Environment

Garbage Patch Cleanup Setback

A giant U-shaped floating barrier designed to corral debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been broken apart by the constant wind and waves of the North Pacific winter.

The prototype was towed to the patch between Hawaii and California last September, and early reports said it was moving slower than the plastic, allowing the trash to escape.

“This is an entirely new category of machine that is out there in extremely challenging conditions,” said the device’s 24-year-old inventor, Boyan Slat.

He said his Ocean Cleanup project will tow the broken device to Hawaii for examination, and it may need to be brought back to the project’s headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area for full repairs.

Global Warming

CO2 Surge in US Emissions

A three-year decline in the amount of carbon dioxide being spewed into the atmosphere by the United States ended in 2018 with a surge that saw emissions rise by 3.4 percent.

Data collected by an independent economic research firm found it was the largest rise in carbon emissions in the country in eight years.

A report by the Rhodium Group said the spike occurred even though a record number of U.S. coal-fired power plants closed last year.

But prolonged cold spells in many areas and a hot summer increased demand for air conditioning and heating, fueling the surge.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45.6 degrees Celsius) in Learmonth, Western Australia.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 63.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 52.8 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.

Disease

Cholera - Uganda

The Uganda Ministry of Health received a report of four suspected cholera cases on Jan. 5 who had been seen at Kirudu hospital with· diarrhea and vomiting, which had started on 4th January 2019. These suspected cholera cases were from Kabowa parish, Rubaga division.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

5.0 earthquake hits the Sumba region, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

There are no current tropical storms.

NewsBytes:

Lebanon - A winter storm battering Lebanon has displaced hundreds of Syrian refugees and flooded tented settlements while further bad weather threatens thousands more. The UNHCR in Lebanon has launched an extreme weather response as thousands of refugees across the country are in need of supplies, food and temporary accommodation after refugee settlements in low lying areas flooded. Winter storm Norma has submerged streets across Beirut, closed roads and forced thousands of schools to shut their doors.

Zimbabwe - AS flash floods continue to hit parts of the second capital city, Bulawayo, City officials, in an effort to prevent the recurrence of flooding, have warned residents against obstructing the free flow of water.

Global Warming

Lake Baikal threatened by Climate Change

Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest, deepest lake, is feeling the temperature of human-induced climate change. Situated in southern Siberia, Baikal occupies one of the fastest warming regions on the planet and, as a result, the lake itself has got warmer, seasonal ice is present for a shorter period of time and has got thinner, and its waters have become stratified for longer periods. These changes have already had an impact on the lake’s microscopic life, including phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Most of the energy in Lake Baikal’s food web ultimately comes from photosynthesis by tiny diatoms. As with most plants and animals found in Baikal, these diatoms are mainly endemic – that is, they are found nowhere else in the world.

The latest research data showed that a significant change in the diatoms occurred at the very start of the 1970s, at the same time as the lake began to warm and ice thinned. The endemic diatoms are being replaced by non-endemic diatoms that can tolerate the warming conditions in the Lake.

Why is this important? Climate change is already interfering with ecosystems in other large, ancient lakes, such as Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. What happens to plankton has a knock on effect up the food web, causing fish to struggle and also, ultimately, those humans who depend on the ecosystem for their livelihood.

Nature - Images

Interesting Images

Awe-inspiring though it is, this is not a sight you want to see from your kitchen window.

This towering structure is known as a pyrocumulus cloud – a sure sign that a bushfire has morphed into a full firestorm, complete with its own devastating effects.

These firestorms create their own weather with lightning, strong winds, and even tornadoes that spread fire in multiple directions. These ingredients make them impossible for firefighters to put out.

Volcanos

Global Volcanic Activity - January 10 2019

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 23000 ft (7000 m) altitude or flight level 230 and is moving at 20 kts in W direction. Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Tokyo warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 23000 ft (7000 m) altitude or flight level 230 and is moving at 25 kts in W direction.

Ebeko (Paramushir Island): (9 Jan) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Tokyo (VAAC) issued the following report: ERUPTION AT 20190109/2136Z FL070 EXTD NE REPORTED OBS VA DTG:09/2140Z

Krakatau (Sunda Strait, Indonesia): The northern coast of Rakata Island, facing Anak Krakatau, was hit by massive waves (up to approx 30 m high) during the catastrophic landslide and tsunami on the evening of 22 Dec. The entire beach and the slightly higher, up to 50 m wide forested platform behind it, separating it from the cliff, have been washed away and/or collapsed in landslides following the receding wave.

Dukono (Halmahera): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Darwin (VAAC) issued the following report: CONTIUOUS VA EMISSIONS TO FL070 EST VA DTG:10/0130Z

Agung (Bali): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Darwin warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 18000 ft (5500 m) altitude or flight level 180 and is moving at 10 kts in W direction.

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA EMS SEEN IN STLT.

Fuego (Guatemala): (10 Jan) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA DISP.

Reventador (Ecuador): Volcanic Ash Advisory Center Washington (VAAC) issued the following report: VA DETECTED IN STLT.

Sabancaya (Peru): Explosive activity continues. Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC) Buenos Aires warned about a volcanic ash plume that rose up to estimated 24000 ft (7300 m) altitude or flight level 240 .