Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.1 earthquake hits Sabah, Malaysia.
5.1 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
5.1 earthquake hits the Flores region, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits Ascension Island.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 04e (four), located approximately 766 nm south-southeast of San Diego, is tracking southwestward at 03 knots.
NewsBytes:
Malaysia – Over 1,000 people have evacuated their homes in Sabah State, Malaysia, after flooding over the last few days. Flooding began on 27 June and has since affected 152 villages across 11 districts.
Wisconsin, USA – On June 28 and 29, parts of St. Croix County received over seven inches of rain causing flooding and washed out roads across the county. The areas experiencing significant flooding are the Municipalities of Kinnickinnic, Pleasant Valley, Rush River, Eau Galle, Warren, Hammond, Baldwin, Springfield, Erin Prairie, Emerald, Glenwood, Cylon, and Forest. At one point over 50 roads were closed in the area due to flooding.
Poland – Further severe weather including storms and heavy rain affected parts of Poland on 29 June. IMGW report that several locations recorded more than 50mm of rain in 24 hours, including Bielany is a district in Warsaw, which saw 56.6 mm. The worst of the storm affected the provinces or voivodeships of Podlaskie, Masovia (which includes the capital Warsaw), Holy Cross Province (Świętokrzyskie) and Lesser Poland (Małopolskie). Over 1,300 homes were damaged by flooding, as were 241 roads.
India – Recent flooding in Assam, north eastern India, has worsened, with disaster authorities reporting that over 900,000 people are now affected. This is the second wave of flooding in the state, which began around 20 June.
China – More flooding has affected parts of Sichuan province, southwestern China, leaving over 20 people dead or missing. Flooding struck in Sichuan’s Mianning county in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture after storms brought heavy rain.
Nigeria – Dozens of buildings have been damaged after more flash flooding in Lagos State, Nigeria. Flooding was caused by a heavy downpour but significantly worsened by blocked drainage channels,
South Pole Warming Faster
The South Pole has warmed three times faster than the rest of the planet in the last 30 years due to warmer tropical ocean temperatures, new research showed Monday. Antarctica’s temperature varies widely according to season and region, and for years it had been thought that the South Pole had stayed cool even as the continent heated up.
Researchers in New Zealand, Britain and the United States analysed 60 years of weather station data and used computer modelling to show what was causing the accelerated warming. They found that warmer ocean temperatures in the western Pacific had over the decades lowered atmospheric pressure over the Weddell Sea in the southern Atlantic. This in turn had increased the flow of warm air directly over the South Pole — warming it by more than 1.83°C since 1989.
Authors of the research said the natural warming trend was likely boosted by manmade greenhouse gas emissions and could be masking the heating effect of carbon pollution over the South Pole.
Beavers Gnaw at Permafrost
The beaver may be an unlikely agent of climate change, but the cuddly-looking creatures are transforming the Arctic landscape in a way that could be exacerbating global warming, a new study has suggested.
With their sharp teeth, beavers fell trees and shrubs and build dams, which flood small valleys and form new lakes that can cover several hectares of land. These new water bodies contribute to the thawing of the frozen permafrost soil, which is a huge natural reservoir of methane — a potent greenhouse gas. Scientists are concerned that as the permafrost degrades, the climate-changing methane and carbon leak into the atmosphere.
Wildfires – Nevada, USA
A wildfire raging in Mount Charleston, Nevada, has sent up a large plume of smoke visible from nearby Las Vegas. The fire started as a 10-acre (four hectares; 0.04 sq km) brush fire on Sunday afternoon. By the early evening local parks officials said it had engulfed about 5,000 acres (20 sq km).
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Malaria – Yemen
Yemeni medical officials reported 250,000 malaria cases during the past six months, This is the latest infectious disease outbreak facing the war torn country with a crumbling health infrastructure.
Ebola – DR Congo
Four more cases have been reported from the Equator Province. Total cases in the latest outbreak are 28 cases (25 confirmed & 3 probable), with 13 associated deaths & 2 recoveries.
New swine flu found in China has pandemic potential
Researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a pandemic, according to a study published on Monday in the US science journal PNAS. Named G4, it is genetically descended from the H1N1 strain that caused a pandemic in 2009. It possesses “all the essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans,” say the authors.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.4 earthquake hits the Dodecanese Islands – Turkey border.
5.0 earthquake hits Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Bangladesh – With the monsoon setting in and waters from India rushing downstream, Bangladesh is facing a serious threat of floods that could cause extensive damage to farmlands across the delta nation’s vast northern regions. The country’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Center said Sunday that water levels in many rivers were continuing to rise, posing threats to flood protection embankments that could burst and affecting hundreds of thousands of people in more than 20 districts.
Wildfires – Utah, USA
A wildfire west of Utah Lake forced the evacuation of 13,000 people from 3,100 homes in southern sections of Saratoga Springs Sunday afternoon as strong winds drove flames close to homes and made a battle from the air impossible for firefighters.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
No magnitude 5+ earthquakes have been reported so far today.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Post Tropical Cyclone 03e (Boris), located approximately 894 nm east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, is tracking west-southwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Ukraine, Update – A total of 180 towns and villages in Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Lviv, and Ternopil regions have been flooded, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reports. The natural disaster has killed three people in Ivano-Frankivsk region. In addition, 202.3 km of roads and 94 bridges have been destroyed; 620 km of roads, 259 bridges and 650 m of dams have been damaged in flood-affected regions. Some 1,877 people and 455 pieces of equipment have been involved in eliminating the consequences of bad weather.
Wildfires – Utah, USA
The Rock Path Fire in Millard and Beaver Counties reached 20,117 acres and was 25% contained as of 4:40 p.m. Saturday. No structures were threatened by the Rock Path Fire but state Route 257 has been closed in the area.
Fire officials said the Canal Fire was mapped out at 450 acres and 100% contained as of 4:15 p.m. Saturday.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits the Babuyan Islands in the Philippines.
5.1 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 03e (Boris), located approximately 964 nm east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, is tracking westward at 06 knots.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
The Bush Fire, the largest wildfire burning in Arizona, remains under 187,000 acres and at 86% containment, with no new perimeter growth since Tuesday. Currently 417 personnel are fighting the fire.
Containment of the Central Fire burning east of I-17 at New River rose to 69% containment from 36% on Wednesday. The fire remains at 4,499 acres as of Thursday morning.
The Mangum Fire north of the Grand Canyon, spanning 71,325 acres, increased to 68% containment.
More than 1,000 fire personnel were deployed to fight the Bighorn Fire, which has grown to 81,702 acres in the Catalina Mountains northwest of Tucson.
Fire crews at the Bringham Fire on the Clifton Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests have held the blaze at 22,244 acres and 37% containment.
The Aquila Fire in north Phoenix, which began on Tuesday and spans almost 900 acres, is 76% contained.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Plague – DR Congo
In a follow-up on the plague situation in the Ituri endemic focus of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djugu territory, officials with Ecohealth Alliance said in a post on ProMED-mail that the cases have risen to 29 (17 female, 12 male) with 6 deaths (CFR = 0.2).
Hamburger Disease -South Korea
South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered the inspection of meals served at preschools and daycare centers across the country following an outbreak of a disease that can cause kidney failure in children. Officials expressed concern regarding a possible outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome, sometimes referred to as hamburger disease, among children in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. On Friday, authorities said 102 of the 202 people tested showed symptoms of EHEC infection. Among those tested, 57 people were confirmed for the pathogen.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 earthquake hits the Xinjiang-Xizang border, China.
5.6 earthquake hits western Turkey.
5.3 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.1 earthquake hits southeast of Easter Island.
5.0 earthquake hits the Xinjiang-Xizang border, China.
5.0 earthquake hits the Golf de Venezuela.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 03e (Boris), located approximately 1092 nm east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, is tracking west-northwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
Ivory Coast – At least 5 people have died and one is missing after flash flooding in Abidjan District, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), 25 June 2020 after 240mm of rain fell in a few hours. More heavy rain is forecast over the next 2 days. Civil Protection said several roads have been cut and houses damaged. Images shared on Social Media showed upturned cars that had been dragged through streets and residents taking refuge on roofs or clinging to walls and trees.
China – The flood situation has worsened in Guizhou Province, southwest China, with 74,000 people now affected in 12 counties or cities, including Tongzi and Huishui Counties, Zunyi, Tongren and Qiandongnan. Three fatalities were previously reported in Tongzi. Heavy rain in the area has increased river levels in neighbouring Chongqing municipality, where the Qijiang river reached historic levels. On 22 June, the Qijiang river at Wucha in Jiangjin District, jumped more than 5 metres above flood level, standing at 205.56 metres. The Puhe River in the district was also extremely high, reaching around 0.5 metres above flood level at Shijiaozhen in Qijiang district around the same period. Authorities said a total of 43,725 people were affected and hundreds of houses damaged or destroyed in Qijiang District of Chongqing as of 22 June. Local media reports suggest between 40,000 and 100,000 people have been displaced across Chongqing.
Uruguay – Heavy rain 22 to 24 June caused flash floods, cutting roads and prompting evacuations in Uruguay. Strong winds have downed power lines leaving hundreds without electricity. According to disaster authorities, Montevideo, Lavalleja, Colonia and Canelones were the worst affected departments.
Plastic Reaches Antarctica
Scientists have found for the first time evidence that plastic has entered the food chain in the Antarctic. Researchers write in the journal Biology Letters that bits of polystyrene were discovered in the guts of tiny organisms known as springtails, living in the soil not covered by ice on King George Island, off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Extensive scientific research, along with an airport, military facilities and visiting tourists, make it what the researchers call one of the most contaminated regions of the Antarctic. The authors of the report said they believe the springtails inadvertently consumed the plastic fragments while grazing on their usual food.
Six Month Deadline
The Paris-based International Energy Agency has warned that world leaders have only six months to take measures to control carbon emissions, before a post-lockdown recovery brings a surge in the greenhouse gases that may be impossible to curb. The organization cautions that without immediate action, reaching the targets to address global warming will not be possible.
“This year is the last time we have, if we are not to see a carbon rebound,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency. He told The Guardian governments must design economic recovery packages that promote shifts away from carbon-based fuels.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) in Death Valley, California.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 86.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 65.6 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.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Tuberculosis – India
India has the highest TB burden in the world and India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently released the India TB report 2020 that showed over 24.04 lakh patients (2.4 million) were notified in 2019, an increase of 14 per cent over the previous year. In addition, the report stated that 79,144 deaths were reported.
Ebola – DR Congo
After some 23 months and nearly 2300 deaths, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health announced the 10th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the country is now over. The outbreak was declared on August 1, 2018. The world’s second largest EVD outbreak, after the West Africa 2014-2016 outbreak, resulted in a total of 3,470 reported cases, including 2.287 reported deaths (overall case fatality ratio 66%). 3 provinces were affected: North and South Kivu and Ituri.
Foot and Mouth Disease – Rwanda
Rwandan ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources on Thursday confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle in several parts of Eastern Province, urging owners of livestock to take preventive measures.The most affected districts are Gatsibo, Kayonza and Kirehe where movement of any cattle from the breakdown herd is prohibited with immediate effect, the ministry said. Cattle from herds restricted for disease reasons only may go directly to an abattoir, it said.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 17 June 2020 – 23 June 2020
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that very small eruptive events were recorded at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 19-22 June. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : AVO reported that no additional volcanic activity was detected at Cleveland after the short-lived explosion recorded on 1 June. The Volcano Alert Level was lowered to Advisory and the Aviation colour Code was lowered to Yellow.
Copahue | Central Chile-Argentina border : On 17 June OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN reported increased activity at Copahue during the previous days, characterized by low-altitude gas emissions containing particulate matter. A period of increased seismicity was recorded in the afternoon on 16 June accompanied by crater incandescence and emissions visible in webcam images. The report noted that very-long-period earthquakes had been recorded in previous months, and a series of volcano-related seismic events were detected in an area SSW of the volcano on 20 March. Additionally, satellite images showed a reduction in the size of the crater lake. These recent changes coupled with increased seismicity prompted SERNAGEOMIN to raise the Alert Level to Yellow (second lowest level on a four-colour scale) and restrict access to an area within 1 km of El Agrio Crater. ONEMI raised a Yellow Alert (the middle level on a three-colour scale) for residents of the Alto Biobío municipality.
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, and information from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-23 June ash plumes from Dukono rose to 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and W. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Ebeko was identified in satellite images on 14, 16, and 18 June. Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions on 17 June that sent ash plumes up to 2 km (6,600 ft) a.s.l. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : The Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-21 June ash plumes from Ibu rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and W based on satellite images and weather models. 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.
Kanlaon | Philippines : PHIVOLCS reported that ground deformation data from continuous GPS measurements at Kanlaon indicated slight deflation of the lower and middle flanks since January. Tilt data from instruments on the SE flank recorded continuing deflation on the lower flanks and inflation of the mid-flank since April 2020. White steam plumes rose 100-200 m above the summit and drifted NW and SW. The seismic network recorded as many as 10 volcanic earthquakes per day during 17-21 June. A series of earthquakes beneath the lower W flank began at 1603 on 21 June, and by 0800 the next morning there were a total of 136 events recorded. Five of the earthquakes (recorded at 0101, 0104, 0134, 0206, and 0507 on 22 June) were M 3-4.7, and were felt at Intensities II to IV in La Carlota City and Bago City, Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental. During 22-23 June there were a total of 104 volcano-tectonic earthquakes beneath the W flank. The Alert Level remained at 1 (on a scale of 0-5) and PHIVOLCS reminded the public to remain outside of the 4-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone.
Kick ’em Jenny | North of Grenada : The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre (SRC) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) reported that a period of elevated seismicity at Kick ’em Jenny was recorded over a seven-day period in June. According to a news article, only 29 earthquakes were recorded during April-May all with magnitudes of 1.6-2. During 5-12 June there were 1,384 recorded earthquakes with magnitudes as high as 1.8. The Alert Level remained at Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-colour scale) and the maritime exclusion zone did not change from the radius of 1.5 km.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during 12-19 June along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite images. A lava flow continued to advance down the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank. Avalanches of material on the S side of the lava flow were sometimes visible. Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Nishinoshima | Japan : The Tokyo VAAC reported that ash plumes from Nishinoshima rose to 2.1-2.4 km (7,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E. The marine exclusion zone was defined as a radius of about 2.6 km from the island.
Merapi | Central Java (Indonesia) : BPPTKG reported that two explosions at Merapi were recorded at 0913 and 0927 on 21 June; the first lasted under six minutes and the second lasted under two minutes. A dense ash plume rose around 6 km above the summit and drifted W, causing ashfall in areas downwind including in the districts of Magelang and Kulonprogo, and as far as the Girimulyo District (45 km). The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and residents were warned to stay outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.
Nishinoshima | Japan : The Tokyo VAAC reported that ash plumes from Nishinoshima rose to 2.1-2.4 km (7,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E. The marine exclusion zone was defined as a radius of about 2.6 km from the island.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 17-19 June Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 100 m above the crater rim and continued to build a cone in the crater. Active lava flows were 250 m long on the N flank and 200 m long on the S flank by 19 June. In a special report INSIVUMEH noted that increased on 20 June accompanying active lava flows that traveled 650 m SW and 200 m NW by the next day. During 20-23 June Strombolian explosions ejected incandescent material as high as 200 m above the summit and produced ash plumes that rose 100 m. The explosions were heard in areas up to 5 km away.
Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that periodic phreatic explosions at Rincón de la Vieja continued to be recorded by the seismic network and webcams during 16-23 June. Several small eruptive events were recorded during 16-17 June; the largest event occurred at 1635 on 17 June and produced a plume that rose 1 km above the crater rim. Eruptive events were detected at 1442 on 19 June and 1046 on 23 June, though inclement weather conditions prevented visual confirmation.
Sangay | Ecuador : On 16 June the Servicio Nacional de Gestión de Riesgos y Emergencias (SNGRE) declared a Yellow Alert for the province of Chimborazo due to a recent increase in ashfall from Sangay. IG reported a continuing high level of activity during 16-22 June, though weather clouds often prevented visual observations. According to the IG and Washington VAAC notices ash plumes rose 570-870 m above the summit and drifted W and SW. Incandescent blocks descending the SE flank were seen through breaks in cloud cover overnight during 17-18 June. SNGRE reported that lahars in the Upano River in the morning of 21 June followed heavy rains two days earlier. In Macas (40 km SE) the lahars caused the closure of the E45 Macas-Puyo road, destroying a 27-m section and damaging a 30-m section, and the evacuation of 21 people.
Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG and the Darwin VAAC reported that on most days during 18-23 June ash plumes from Semeru rose 300-500 m above the summit and drifted SE, S, SW, and W. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 12-19 June. A webcam captured an explosion on 13 June that sent ash up to 5 km (16,400 ft) a.s.l. The ash cloud drifted 120 km NE. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater was occasionally visible during 12-19 June. An explosion was recorded on 18 June, though inclement weather conditions prevented visual confirmation. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).
Whakaari/White Island | North Island (New Zealand) : GeoNet reported that during the previous few months activity levels at Whakaari/White Island had gradually declined based on the volcano monitoring team’s collective interpretation of all the monitoring data. The Volcanic Alert Level was lowered to 1 on 16 June; the Aviation colour Code was lowered to Green on 22 June.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
6.0 earthquake hits central California.
5.3 earthquake hits South Island, New Zealand.
5.2 earthquake hits Ecuador.
5.1 earthquake hits the Turkey-Iran border.
5.1 earthquake hits the Indian Ocean Triple Junction.
5.0 earthquake hits the Fox Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Post Tropical Cyclone Dolly is located about 370 mi…595 km sw of Cape Race Newfoundland with maximum sustained winds…35 mph…55 km/h. Present movement…ne or 45 degrees at 16 mph…26 km/h.
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Depression Three-E is located about 1455 mi…2340 km ese of Hilo Hawaii and about 1885 mi…3030 km wsw of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds…35 mph…55 km/h. Present movement…w or 275 degrees at 8 mph…13 km/h.
Antarctic Penguin Boom
Antarctic penguins could experience a ‘population boom’ due to global warming as melting sea ice means they have to spend less time foraging for food. Japanese scientists describe the Adélie species of penguin, which is native to Antarctica, as a ‘rare global warming winner’ thanks to melting ice.
In low-ice conditions, penguins are able travel more by swimming than by walking, which increases their access to foods such as fish and krill. For Adélies, swimming is four times faster than walking, meaning faster access to food and, in turn, healthier offspring and longer lifespans.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the Week 17 June 2020 – 23 June 2020
Erta Ale | Ethiopia : Satellite data showed a minor thermal anomaly in Erta Ale’s S pit crater on 12 June and a larger anomaly on 17 June at the site of the previous lava lake.
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images during 11-19 June, possibly due to ongoing Strombolian activity. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Laguna del Maule | Central Chile-Argentina border : SERNAGEOMIN’s Volcanological Observatory of the Southern Andes (OVDAS) of Chile and SEGEMAR’s Argentine Observatory of Volcanic Surveillance (OAVV) reported anomalous activity at Laguna del Maule Volcanic Complex. Elevated levels of carbon dioxide were detected in an area SW of the caldera lake, along the lower part of the Cabecera de Troncoso River, about 5 km from the lake’s shore. Carbon dioxide emissions were measured in February 2020 and notably elevated relative to March 2019 measurements. An impacted area possibly stretched as far as 500 m from the point representing the highest carbon dioxide emission rate; observers noted areas of discoloured brown and orange soil aonlg with dead or emaciated animals. Three swarms of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes recorded in mid-June were mainly located in the Las Nieblas area, SW of the lake, at depths of 2-8 km. The first began at 0340 on 11 June and totaled at least 400 events. The second swarm began at 2338 on 12 June was characterized by 121 events, located 8.8 km W of the crater. The third swarm began at 2334 on 15 June and was characterized by 190 events located 10.4 km SW of the crater. All of the earthquakes were small magnitudes; the largest event was a local M 2.5. On 18 June the Alert Level was raised to Yellow, the second lowest colour on a four-colour scale; ONEMI recommended restricting access within a radius of 2 km from the emission center. Seismic activity continued to be recorded, though at lesser magnitudes.
Makushin | Fox Islands (USA) : AVO reported that numerous smaller earthquakes in an area about 12 km SE of Makushin’s summit were recorded after two events greater than M 4 occurred on 15 June. The earthquake activity continued during 16-23 June, though at a declining rate and magnitudes. No surficial activity was visible in satellite or webcam images; only typical minor steaming from summit fumaroles was visible. The Aviation colour Code and Volcano Alert Level remained at Yellow and Advisory, respectively.
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that ash emissions at Turrialba rose no higher than100 m above the crater rim from events recorded at 1714, 1723, and 1818 on 18 June and at 1023 and 1039 on 19 June. A small ash emission was visible at 1715 on 22 June.
Veniaminof | United States : On 18 June AVO stated that periods of seismic tremor and occasional earthquakes had been recorded at Veniaminof over the past few days. The increase above background levels prompted AVO to raise the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory and the Aviation colour Code to Yellow. Periods of low-amplitude seismic tremor decreased in frequency during 19-20 June, and were not detected at all by 21 June.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.3 earthquake hits Oaxaca, Mexico.
5.7 earthquake hits Guam.
5.4 earthquake hits Oaxaca, Mexico.
5.0 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits offshore Oaxaca, Mexico.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Subtropical Depression Dolly is located about 450 mi…725 km sw of Cape Race Newfoundland with maximum sustained winds…35 mph…55 km/h. Present movement…ne or 45 degrees at 12 mph…19 km/h.
NewsBytes:
Turkey – At least one person was killed and eight others injured after severe weather in Istanbul, Turkey on 23 June 2020. Torrential rain caused flash flooding in the city, inundating streets and causing traffic problems. Flooding was reported in several districts, in particular Çatalca and Esenyurt.
Ukraine – Flooding has affected the western regions (oblasts) of Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia and Lviv after heavy rainfall 22 to 23 June. Three people have died in flooding in Verkhovyna district, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, where roads have been blocked and areas cut off. Emergency services are carrying out rescue and relief operations in affected areas. Overflowing rivers have destroyed bridges and roads. Power lines have been damaged, as have hundreds of homes.
Mongolia – Mongolia’s Meteorological and Environmental Research Agency reported rain across western and central areas between 21 and 22 June, with 77 mm recorded in Zuunmod city and 61 mm in Mungunmorit, both in Tuv Province. In Tuv province, disaster authorities reported flooding in Zuunmod, Altanbulag, Sergelen and Bayan on June 21, 2020, causing damage to around 400 properties or homes and killing over 4,000 livestock. Two fatalities were reported in Sergelen. Homes were damaged in Sumber, Govisümber Province, where flooding also destroyed livestock and swept several vehicles off roads.
Serbia – Emergency officials in Serbia have declared an emergency after days of heavy rain caused widespread damage as rivers overflowed. According to reports from the Interior Ministry, evacuations have been carried out in the municipalities of Krupanj, Kosjeric, Lucani and Ljubovija, where the overflowing Ljubovida river caused widespread damage. Earlier the Jadar River broke its banks, flooding homes in Osecina.
Bolivia – Hours of heavy rain from 21 June caused flooding in Santa Cruz City, Bolivia where flooding occurred in 62 neighbourhoods across 7 municipal districts.
Nicaragua – Three people died when heavy rain caused a gold mine to collapse in north west Nicaragua. The heavy rain triggered a landslide onto the Rincón de García mine in Villanueva, Chinandega Department during the afternoon of 17 June. Over the following days search and rescue operations worked to rescue the miners.
Romania – Emergency authorities in Romania report that one person is missing after being swept away by flood waters in Dimitrie Cantemir, Vaslui County on 22 June when heavy downpours caused flooding in 90 locations in 19 counties across the country. The worst affected counties are Alba, Bihor, Caraș-Severin, Botoșani and Vaslui. Areas of Harghita, Mureș, Neamț and Suceava counties were also badly hit. Firefighters were called on to pump water from over 550 properties in total.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Leishmaniasis – Kenya
A visceral leishmaniasis, or Kala-Azar outbreak in Kitui County, in eastern Kenya has resulted in 13 hospital admissions and four deaths in recent week. Of the 13 patients admitted at the Garissa Referral Hospital, 11 were children all below the age of 10.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Easter Island.
5.0 earthquake hits near the coast of northern Peru.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Subtropical Depression Four is located about 365 mi…590 km s of Halifax Nova Scotia and about 730 mi…1170 km sw of Cape Race Newfoundland with maximum sustained winds…35 mph…55 km/h. Present movement…ne or 55 degrees at 13 mph…20 km/h.
NewsBytes:
China – Further heavy rain and flooding has struck in Guizhou Province, China. Xinhua news agency reports at least 3 people have died and 10,000 have been displaced after flooding in the mountainous area of Tongzi County on 22 June. Around 10 houses were destroyed and over 1,000 houses damaged, along with 715 hectares of crops. Power supply and telecommunications were interrupted.
Nepal – Local media report that days of rainfall triggered a landslide along a section of road near Tansen in Palpa district, central Nepal, on 22 June, 2020. Four vehicles were swept away. The number of passengers in the vehicles swept by the landslide is unconfirmed. As of 22 June, police reported 3 fatalities.
India – According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 16,549 people had been affected in over 50 villages in the districts of in Barpeta, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Jorhat and Sivasagar since 20 June. Over 50 people have evacuated their homes and moved to relief camps in Dhemaji. Almost 3,000 hectares of crops have been damaged. Several rivers in the state are flowing above danger level, including the Brahmaputra in Jorhat, and the Dikhow and Disang in Sivasagar.
Turkey – Flooding struck the Kestel district of Bursa province on 21 June. After initial assessments, the provincial government reported two people had died and four were believed to be missing in the floods. Raging flood water swept through narrow streets of several neighbourhoods in the district, including Dudakli, Narlidere, Aksu and Kayacik.
Malaysia – Over 1,000 people have evacuated their homes in Malaysia‘s Johor State after flooding struck on 21 June. Flooding affected the districts of Pontian, Batu Pahat, Muar, Kluang, and Tangkak. A total of 1,210 people from 288 families were evacuated to 18 relief centres as a result. The worst hit areas was Pontian, where 349 people from 85 families were evacuated. More than 60mm of rain fell in 24 hours in several locations in the state on 20 June. Heavy rain was also reported in the capital, Kuala Lumpur , which recoprded 119.0mm of rain in 24 hours to 20 June.
Siberia’s record-breaking heat wave
The extreme record-breaking heat that has baked Siberia for several months should serve as an “incredibly loud alarm bell” of the need to adapt to climate change, say researchers.
Thawing permafrost leading to the Norilsk oil spill – one of the worst in Russia’s history – “zombie fires” resurrected from blazes last year and dramatic levels of snowmelt are among the consequences.
The temperatures, while mostly still cold by the standards of someone living in London or New York, have been unprecedented.
Wildfires – Arctic
Wildfires are ravaging parts of the Arctic Circle, with areas of Siberia, Alaska, Greenland and Canada engulfed in flames and smoke.
Satellite images show that the plumes of smoke from the fires, many caused by dry storms in hot weather, can be seen from space.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Ebola – DR Congo
In a follow-up on the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), five additional cases have been reported, bringing the outbreak total to 23 (20 confirmed and three probable) with 13 deaths (case fatality ratio 57%).
Gastrointestinal Disease – Zimbabwe
Nine people in Zimbabwe’s second largest city Bulawayo have died form a gastrointestinal disease outbreak, while about a thousand have been infected with the water-borne disease. The local authority said in a statement on Sunday that one of the possible causes of the outbreak was water contamination due to obsolete infrastructure.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits the India-Myanmar border.
5.3 earthquake hits Iceland.
5.1 earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Java, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Vietnam – A runner was washed away by flash floods when he was crossing a stream in Lam Dong Province during the 2020 Ultra Trail Dalat Marathon on Saturday.
Heat Record North of Arctic Circle
A small town in Siberia reached a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, which, if verified, would mark the hottest temperature ever recorded north of the Arctic Circle.
Temperatures have jumped in recent months to levels rarely seen in the Russian region, and it’s a sign of a broader trend of human-caused climate change that’s transforming weather patterns in the Arctic Circle.
The town of Verkhoyansk is one of the coldest towns on Earth — temperatures dropped to nearly 60 degrees below zero there this past November — and the average June high temperature is 68 degrees.
The 100.4 reading in Verkhoyansk, which sits farther north than Fairbanks, Alaska, would be the northernmost 100-degree reading ever observed.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
The Bush Fire has now burned over 180,000 acres with 42% containment in the Tonto National Forest as of Sunday morning, according to fire officials. It is now the fifth largest wildfire in Arizona history.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits Iceland.
5.4 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
5.3earthquake hits Iceland.
5.2 earthquake hits the State of Yap, Micronesia.
5.1 earthquake hits Iceland.
5.1 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Aalamagan region in the North Mariana Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the India-Myanmar border.
5.0 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
Italians Cover Glacier
The Presena Glacier in northern Italy has been covered by a 100 000 sq metre tarpaulin to protect it from global worming.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
The Bush Fire grew another 35,000 acres to reach 151,075 acres overnight and is only 7% contained.
Officials reported that the Bighorn Fire grew to 37,058 acres overnight. The blaze remains 40% contained.
A new wildfire that started Saturday about 6 kilometers northeast of New River on the northern outskirts of metro Phoenix was being fought by ground crews and aircraft to prevent it from reaching structures.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Ebola – DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Comite Multisectoriel de la Riposte a la Maladie a Virus Ebola (CMRE) reported an additional Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in the outbreak in Equateur province. This brings the outbreak total since June 1 to 18 cases–15 confirmed and 3 probable. In total, there are 12 deaths.
Chikungunya – Brazil
The Brazil Ministry of Health has reported 38,085 chikungunya cases through May 30 this year.
Dirofilariasis – Russia
Health officials are reporting five dirofilariasis cases in residents of Volgograd this year. The parasitic helminth infection penetrates the human body at the time of a mosquito bite.
Kala Azaar Disease – Kenya
At least 4 people from Ngomeni, ward Kitui County have died from an outbreak of Kala Azaar disease and 13 others are admitted at Garissa County Referral Hospital.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 earthquake hits Crete.
5.1 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Nevada, USA.
5.0 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
India – A tornado in the Rajnagar block of Odisha’s Kendrapara district has injured 12 people and damaged 70 houses.
UK – Hundreds of homes and businesses were flooded, some for the third time this year, as heavy rain and thunderstorms continued to sweep across parts of the UK. Some residents in south Wales were forced to flee from homes that had already been inundated twice in 2020 and now face having to once again dry out and rebuild with the added complication of lockdown.
Tortoise Success
A group of aging giant tortoises that helped save their species from the brink of extinction in the Galápagos Islands was released into the wild after four decades of tireless breeding.
The number of giant tortoises plummeted to just 15 individuals in the 1970s as the captive breeding program was launched. There are now more than 2,000 living on Española Island, meaning the species’ survival is assured and the breeding program can end.
One tortoise named Diego, famous for his virility, sired some 800 offspring. He and 14 other breeding veterans have been relocated to an area of the island where their favorite snack of cactus is abundant. Wildlife experts say this setting should make their transition to life in the wild easier.
Mini Forests
A patchwork of small but dense forests is emerging across Europe thanks to a Japanese botanist who has also planted tiny forests in Japan and Malaysia.
Akira Miyawaki’s projects use saplings of native varieties, adapted to local conditions, to cover sites as small as a tennis court and in patches of roadside.
The method typically uses 30 or more species at a time and is said to grow forests 10 times faster, 30 times denser and 100 times more biodiverse than those planted in conventional ways.
Besides the ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere to combat global warming, the mini forests provide better food and shelter for a diversity of creatures, such as insects, snails and amphibians.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.3 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.5 earthquake hits Fiji.
Two 5,5 earthquakes hit south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.3 earthquake hits the southwestern Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.2 earthquake hits the southwestern Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
Two 5.2 earthquakes hit south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits northeast of Taiwan.
5.1 earthquake hits Myanmar.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Crete.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Nigeria – At least three people have been killed or are missing due to flash floods in Kwara, Nigeria. A bridge embankment collapsed in Oko-Erin leaving one person dead and two others missing. Heavy downpours destroyed 100 houses and displaced at least 300 people in Eket Local Government Area.
Ivory Coast – Heavy rains and floods in parts of southern Ivory Coast have damaged buildings, blocked roads, disrupted transport and caused landslides. The districts of Andre Chateau d’Eau, Abobo-Belleville and Riviera Palmeraie were the worst affected.
Indonesia – Flooding has once again hit parts of Aceh Province in Indonesia after heavy rain caused several rivers to overflow on 16 June.
Guatemala & Honduras – Heavy rain has triggered flooding and landslides in parts of Guatemala and Honduras over the last few days. Two people have died after heavy rain triggered a landslide in western Honduras. The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) in Guatemala reports that landslides and flooding have affected over 4,000 people from 16 June. A landslide in San Pedro Necta, Huehuetenango, has blocked parts of the CA-1 road, preventing the passage of hundreds of vehicles. Landslides were also reported in Nentón, about 35km to the north, where Conred has distributed relief supplies to affected families.
Thailand – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in Thailand reports that severe weather including wind storms, high waves and heavy rain has affected several provinces over the last few days.
England – Heavy rain has caused flash floods in the Bournemouth and Poole areas. The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms in Bournemouth, stating there was a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.
Island Building
An international team of scientists says rising sea levels don’t necessarily mean all the world’s coral reef islands will become submerged over the next century.
New modelling suggests that as rising tides bring waves crashing on the islands’ shores, the wave action will send the coral material surrounding the beaches into the interior, building the reef higher.
“It is important to realize that these coral reef islands have developed over hundreds to thousands of years as a result of energetic wave conditions removing material from the reef structure and depositing the material towards the back of reef platforms, thereby creating islands,” said researcher Gerd Masselink.
Locust Feed
Farmers in Pakistan’s Okara district are earning money by trapping some of this year’s hordes of invading locusts so the insects can be turned into high-protein chicken feed in local mills.
The scheme works because locusts cluster on vegetation and on the ground from dusk until dawn. This is when the farmers have been able to haul in about 7 tons of them nightly, earning each farmer up to $125 per night. But the practice is only allowed in areas that have not been sprayed with pesticides to control the swarms.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 124 degrees Fahrenheit (51.1 degrees Celsius) in Jacobabad, Pakistan.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 73.3 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.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
The Bush Fire is now the largest fire burning just north of Phoenix and has grown to over 100,000 acres. The fire is only 5% contained at this time.
The second largest fire in Arizona is the Mangum Fire, burning near the Arizona/Utah border. The fire has grown to over 57,000 acres with 3% containment as of Thursday morning.
Wildfires – Russia
Wildfires are raging on an area of more than 15,100 hectares across Russia, with the worst situation being in the Far East. Fires have engulfed some 2,200 hectares in Chukotka, more than 9,100 hectares in Kamchatka and more than 3,700 hectares in the Magadan Region. Wildfire are also reported from the Republics of Buryatia, Khakassia, and Karelia, from the Pskov region, the Krasnoyarsk and TransBaikal Territories, and a number of other regions.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Plague – DR Congo
Officials with the Ecohealth Alliance are reporting a plague cluster in the Ituri endemic focus of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The notification was published on ProMED-mail. As of 16 Jun 2020, of the 10 cases (of which 4 deaths were reported), 8 were diagnosed with bubonic plague and 2 were diagnosed with septicemic plague.
Ebola – DR Congo
No new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 27 April 2020.
African Swine Fever – Nigeria
Almost a million pigs have been culled by Nigerian farmers in response to an explosion of African swine fever (ASF). The outbreak began around Lagos and parts of neighbouring Ogun state earlier this year, pig farmers say, but has now spread to many other parts of the country.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 10 June 2020 – 16 June 2020
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that there were four explosive events and one eruptive event at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 8-12 June. An explosion at 1119 on 10 June produced a plume that rose 3.2 km above the crater rim and ejected large rocks 1.3-1.7 km away from the crater. Sulfur dioxide emissions remained high. No observable activity was recorded during 13-15 June, though inclement weather obscured views. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, and information from PVMBG the Darwin VAAC reported that during 10-15 June ash plumes from Dukono rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW, W, and SW. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 8-11 June that sent ash plumes up to 2.6 km (8,500 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted E and N, and as far as 85 km N and NW on 11 June. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified in satellite images on 11 June. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Fuego | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that there were 4-13 explosions per hour recorded at Fuego during 10-16 June, generating ash plumes as high as 1.1 km above the crater rim that generally drifted 10-15 km NW, W, SW, and S. Ashfall was reported in several areas downwind including Santa Sofía (12 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), Panimaché I and II (8 km SW), Finca Palo Verde, San Pedro Yepocapa (8 km NW), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), and El Porvenir (8 km ENE). Shock waves from explosions sometimes rattled houses in the vicinity of the volcano. Incandescent material was ejected 100-300 m high and caused avalanches of blocks in the Ceniza, Seca (W), Trinidad (S), Taniluyá (SW), Santa Teresa (W), Las Lajas, and Honda drainages. A new lava flow traveled 250 m down the Seca drainage on the NW flank in the early hours of 12 June. The lava effusion was accompanied by almost constant summit crater incandescence and gas emissions. Incandescent material was ejected 100 m above the summit. Avalanches of material descended the flanks and reached vegetated areas. Ash plumes rose over 1 km and shock waves from explosions were felt. The lava flow had lengthened to 300 m by 13 June, but was an estimated 250 m long on 14 June.
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 15 June ash plumes from Ibu rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW and W based on satellite images and weather models. 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.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during 5-12 June along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite images. A lava flow continued to advance down the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank. Gas-and-steam plumes with some ash drifted 40 km W and E on during 6-7, 9, and 11 June. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Nevados de Chillan | Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported that a body of lava in Nevados de Chillán’s Nicanor Crater was visible in 11 June satellite images. The structure was oriented in the NNW direction and was about 100 m long and 60 m wide. Adjacent to the lava body was a smaller structure, oriented N. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was 300 tons/day on 14 June, which was an average rate. A thermal anomaly was visible on 10 and 14 June, and at night incandescent material was sometimes ejected from the crater. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the second lowest level on a four-colour scale, and residents were reminded not to approach the crater within 3 km. ONEMI stated that the Alert Level Yellow (the middle level on a three-colour scale) remained in place for the communities of Pinto and Coihueco, and that the public should stay at least 2 km away from the crater.
Nishinoshima | Japan : The Tokyo VAAC reported that ash plumes from Nishinoshima rose to 2.1-2.7 km (7,000-9,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E. During an overflight on 15 June the Japan Coast Guard noted continuous activity from the central vent, including a gray-brown to black-brown ash plume rising as high as 2 km. Ejected material landed near the cone’s base. Lava from the NE side of the central vent flowed E. Steam plumes rose along the E coast where lava entered the sea, causing discoloured brownish water offshore. The marine exclusion zone was defined as a radius of about 2.6 km from the island.
Popocatepetl | Mexico : CENAPRED reported that each day during 10-16 June there were 145-302 steam-and-gas emissions from Popocatépetl, some of which contained minor amounts of ash. The plumes did not rise more than 1 km above the crater rim. An overflight was conducted on 13 June by the National Guard, Instituto de Geofísica de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and CENAPRED scientists. They noted that the inner crater was 350-380 m in diameter and 100-150 m deep; the crater floor was covered in tephra and the remains of a lava dome which had possibly been seen in May. At 1612 that same day a minor explosion was recorded, though an ash plume was not observed due to weather clouds. Incandescent material was ejected a short distance onto the flanks. Seven minor explosions were recorded on 15 June and again on 16 June. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two (middle level on a three-colour scale).
Reykjanes | Iceland : IMO reported that a third injection of magma since the beginning of the year was occurring beneath the Reykjanes peninsula. Data suggested that the current inflationary period began in mid-May, though earthquake activity did not increase until around 30 May. During 30 May-15 June the seismic network recorded more than 2,000 events, with the largest, an M 3.4, recorded on 13 June. The intrusion was located about 1 km W of Thorbjorn at a depth of 3-4 km, and had an estimated volume of about 1.2 million cubic meters. This third intrusion was similar to the previous two intrusions, characterized as a sill that was a few hundred meters wide and about 6 km long. In total about 12 cm of uplift has been recorded since January. The Svartsengi geothermal plant noted no chemical changes in the geothermal system, though measurements showed increased fluid flow in the rocks within the system, along with the opening of old cracks and the formation of new ones.
Sangeang Api | Indonesia : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 10 June an ash plume from Sangeang Api rose to an altitude of 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG and the Darwin VAAC reported that on most days during 10-16 June ash plumes from Semeru rose at most 300 m above the summit and drifted N, SE, S, and SW. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 5-12 June. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater was occasionally visible during 5-12 June. An eruptive event on 5 June produced gray-white plume rose as high as 1 km above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).
Whakaari/White Island | North Island (New Zealand) :
On 16 June GeoNet reported that during the previous few months activity levels at Whakaari/White Island had gradually progressed on a downward trend based on the volcano monitoring team’s collective interpretation of all the monitoring data. Temperatures at the gas vents remained high (over 450 degrees Celsius) though a slow decline in heat input from depth has been recorded. Although magma remained at a shallow depth, an estimated 1 km below the surface, gas discharge and ground deformation were not increasing. Additionally, seismic activity, specifically the level of volcanic tremor, had been low since February-March. The Volcanic Alert Level was lowered to 1 and the Aviation colour Code remained at Yellow.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits off the east coast of Kamchatka.
5.1 earthquake hits Tonga.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
England – In the East Midlands, shops, homes and streets were flooded as parts of the area were deluged in a short space of time. It followed storms on Tuesday, which saw lightning strikes damage homes and cause buildings, including Walsall Manor Hospital, to flood. The Met Office warned of potential flooding to homes and businesses as well as possible “lightning strikes, hail or strong winds”. On Wednesday afternoon trains were disrupted between Birmingham New Street and Whitlocks End due to heavy rain flooding the railway line. There were also reports of roads being flooded across the region.
Burning coal in Siberia ignited by volcanic eruptions led to catastrophic global warming that caused the Earth’s most severe extinction event 250 million years ago
Burning coal may have been to blame for a catastrophic global warming event 250 million years ago that wiped out 96 per cent of marine and 70 per cent of terrestrial species on Earth.
For years it has been attributed to extensive volcanic eruptions in Siberia over two million years, which belched tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
But now scientists have uncovered evidence that the boiling lava ignited coal seams buried in the Earth, which released more greenhouse gases and exacerbated the disaster.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Trichinosis – Argentina
At least 20 people, adults and children, in the city of Nelson in Santa Fe Province, Argentina are reportedly experiencing symptoms of trichinosis after eating salami or homemade sausages.
Yellow Fever – Gabon
On 15 April 2020, WHO received information regarding a confirmed case of yellow fever in Magandi village, Tchibanga city in Nyanga Province of southern Gabon, 590 km from the capital, Libreville.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the Week 10 June 2020 – 16 June 2020
Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : AVO reported that unrest at Cleveland likely continued during 10-16 June, though no activity was identified in cloudy satellite images nor detected by regional geophysical networks. AVO noted that local seismic, infrasound, and web camera data are unavailable due to an equipment failure, Cleveland continued to be monitored with regional seismic and infrasound stations on nearby islands, along with lightning and satellite data capabilities. The Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch and the Aviation Color Code remained at Orange.
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images during 10-11 June. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale).
Makushin | Fox Islands (USA) : AVO reported that over a period of several hours on 15 June there were two earthquakes in the vicinity of Makushin that were greater than M 4 and one greater than M 3. The events were located about 11 km SE of the summit at a depth of about 8 km, and felt in Unalaska (14 km E). Numerous smaller earthquakes were recorded, though not felt by Unalaska residents. AVO noted that the earthquakes represented a departure from background levels and were possibly indicative of volcanic unrest; the Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level were respectively raised to Yellow and Advisory. The report noted that aftershocks were continuing.
Sangay | Ecuador : IG reported that for the past year, activity at Sangay is centered at two summit vents: the Central Crater which produced ash-and-gas emissions and the Ñuñurcu dome (located 190 m SSE of Central Crater) which effused lava. Lava, pyroclastic flows, and collapsed material were channeled down the Volcán River drainage on the SE flank. Activity at Sangay intensified during 8-9 June with lava-flow collapses, pyroclastic flows on the SE flank that reached the Upano River, and significant ash emissions that drifted W. No variation in seismic data was noted prior to a period of increased activity. A comparison of webcam images from 2 September 2019 and 10 June 2020 showed that the drainage had widened, deepened, and lengthened. In recent weeks ash plumes had risen as high as 2.9 km above the crater rim and had been carried farther by strong winds. Ashfall was reported in the provinces of Chimborazo, Bolívar, Guayas, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, and Morona Santiago. Activity slightly increased during 11-12 June, characterized by ash-and-gas plumes rising higher (1.5-2.8 km above the crater rim) and drifting farther (over 600 km W and SW), and an increased number of thermal anomalies on the SE flank from intensified lava effusion. A pulse of increased seismic activity was also detected. Ashfall was additionally reported in the provinces of Tungurahua and Cotopaxi.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits the Red Sea.
5.1 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 earthquake hits Bio-Bio, Chile.
5.1 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
5.0 earthquake hits Myanmar.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Hungary – A severe thunderstorm in Budapest, Hungary has claimed the life of one person and caused damaging floods.
Armenia – A rare tornado touched down in the city of Gavar in Armenia on June 11, 2020.
Wildfires – California, USA
A wildfire broke out Monday afternoon near Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, prompting authorities to close the 101 Freeway and evacuate residents, fire and law enforcement agencies said.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
The Bush Fire, around 30 miles northeast of Phoenix, has burned over 64,000 acres since Saturday, according to fire officials. Firefighters will have to battle winds that are expected to reach 20 to 30 miles per hour as well as dry summer heat, with temperatures above 100 in places. About 1,600 people living east of the fire were ordered on Monday morning to evacuate, with those in another community north of the fire ordered on Tuesday to do so, officials said.
The Bringham Fire, also in Arizona, began on June 6 and is now at nearly 6,000 hectares (14,800 acres) and only 5-percent contained.
Wildfires – Utah, USA
The fire season continues with multiple wildfires reported this weekend across the state of Utah. Fire officials say there are three wildfires burning in Tooele County alone. The largest one, the Big Springs Fire, is estimated to have burned almost 3,000 acres.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Tuberculosis
The number of human tuberculosis (TB) cases that are due to transmission from animals, as opposed to human-to-human transmission, may be much higher than previously estimated, according to an international team of researchers. The results could have implications for epidemiological studies and public health interventions.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits Tajikistan.
5.5 earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.2 earthquake hits the southwestern Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits southeast of Easter Island.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Turkey – Flooding in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey has claimed the lives of one person and damaged more than 250 houses.
Nepal – Heavy rainfall triggered a landslide in Kusma, the Parbat district headquarters in western Nepal, which has claimed the lives of at least nine people. The landslide occurred on Saturday night. Three bodies were recovered on the same day while six additional bodies have been dug out subsequently.
Global Warming/Climate Change – Do we need an Ecological Leninism?
On the final day of 2019 — a year marked by record high temperatures, wildfires, and tropical storms — China reported to the World Health Organization that a new virus had broken out in the city of Wuhan. Initially dismissed by many Western observers as an unfortunate event in a far-off land, COVID-19 quickly grew into a full-blown pandemic, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, rapidly intensifying class and racial inequalities, and ushering in the greatest worldwide recession since the Great Depression.
In the space of a few short weeks, received economic wisdom on the bounds of state intervention was turned upside down, as were the day-to-day lives of billions of workers worldwide. Factories and schools have been shuttered, borders closed, and whole populations confined to their homes under threat of hefty fines and imprisonment. Otherwise mundane technocratic leaders have recast themselves as wartime commanders doing battle with an invisible invader.
At the same time, the ongoing climate crisis has been largely erased from the mainstream narrative. Social media has been flooded with images of blue skies over normally smog-eclipsed cities, dolphins skipping through waterways, and wild animals foraging for food in deserted cities. Many environmentally minded observers have expressed hope for a green recovery from the crisis — but also remained largely silent regarding the structural constraints that bar its way.
The most important driving force behind the production of pandemics is clear in the scientific literature and it is deforestation — which is also the second biggest contributor to global climate change. The place in which you find the greatest biodiversity on Earth is in tropical forests, and this biodiversity includes pathogens. These pathogens, which circulate among nonhuman animals in wild habitats, do not generally pose a problem to humanity as long as humans stay away from them. However, the problem arises as the human economy makes deeper and deeper incursions into these habitats.
Global warming itself also accelerates this trend. As temperatures rise, certain animals are forced to migrate in search of climates that match those to which they are adapted.
There was a moment in March 2020 when many of us in the climate justice movement felt a degree of surprise to find that governments in Europe and elsewhere were prepared to basically shut down their entire economies in an effort to contain the pandemic. This is striking, given that the same states had never contemplated undertaking any kind of intervention in the economy for the sake of the climate crisis.
It is incredibly difficult to see how anything other than state power could accomplish the transition required to truly fight the ecological catastrophe that is climate change, given that it will be necessary to exert coercive authority against those who want to maintain the status quo.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Ebola – DR Congo
In an update on the 11th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in Équateur Province, the DRC CMRE reports since the start of the epidemic declared on June 01, 2020, the cumulative number of cases has risen to 17, including 14 confirmed and 3 probable.
Covid-19 – Resurgence in China
China’s capital city raced on Monday to control a fresh coronavirus outbreak, with 75 cases linked to a single wholesale food market in Beijing where authorities have locked down neighbourhoods and launched a massive test and trace programme.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits eastern Turkey.
5.5 earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.5 earthquake hits the southwestern Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.4 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits eastern Turkey.
5.3 earthquake hits Gujarat, India.
5.2 earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.1 earthquake hits east of the Kuril Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits northeast of Taiwan.
5.0 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits Potosi, Bolivia.
5.0 earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia,
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Canada – A severe thunderstorm that brought golf-ball sized hail and flooded Calgary streets inflicted widespread damage to many areas of the city Saturday evening. Social media posts showed shattered windshields, battered home siding and vehicles left abandoned on impassable streets. Damage from the storm was felt across southern Alberta.
Corsica – Flash floods strike Corsica’s capital after heavy rain bringing the city to a standstill. Partially submerged cars were left in a flooded area after heavy rainfall in Ajaccio, on the French island of Corsica, the island is under an orange alert due to severe weather. In just a few hours, nearly two months’ worth of rain deluged portions of Ajaccio, the capital city.
Florida, USA – When it rained Sunday night, it poured and kept on raining enough to create some street flooding. A flood advisory went until 11 p.m. for much of the city of Tampa, where up to 3 inches of rain fell.
Wildfires – Texas, USA
The Texas A&M Forest Service was called to help fight four different wildfires this weekend in the Big Country.
The largest of those in the Coke County estimated to be 3,200 acres and 5% contained.
The McDaniel fire has consumed 3,200 acres and is 5-percent contained as of Sunday evening.
Hot, dry weather combined with high winds have allowed multiple wildfires to burn thousands of acres across the Concho Valley in the past few days.
Active fires in the region include the Arroyo Grande Fire burning near Sonora, the 10 Mile Ranch Fire and the McDaniel Fire burning northwest of San Angelo.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.7 earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
6.2 earthquake hits the Pagan region in the North Mariana Islands.
5.6 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.1 earthquake hits Timor.
5.0 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 02w (nuri), located approximately 126 nm west-southwest of Hong Kong, is tracking northwestward at 16 knots.
NewsBytes:
China – Rainstorms have killed five more people in a southern Chinese region already reeling from heavy flooding over the past week. The government of Zunyi city, south of the metropolis of Chongqing, said Saturday that five had died and eight others were missing after fresh storms that began late Thursday night. A statement on its website said at least 13,000 people had been evacuated, more than 2,000 homes damaged and multiple sections of roads and three bridges destroyed in the city in Guizhou province. Earlier storms left 13 dead in nearby Hunan province and the Guangxi region.
Environmental Performance Index
The 2020 Environmental Performance Index has been released. The ranking of the world’s countries can be found here.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
The Mangum Fire near the Grand Canyon torched nearly 15,000 acres and was 2% contained as of Saturday, while other wildfires continued burning across Arizona.
Though the cause of the fire remains under investigation, it was sparked Monday and as of Saturday involved 234 personnel working to quell it. The fire, which has burned 14,800 acres, was pushed north Friday by strong winds that caused blowing embers to create spot fires up to a half-mile north of the main fire.
Wildfires – Montana, USA
A wildfire near Helena has grown rapidly from several hundred acres to 1 800 acres amid gusty winds. Evacuations along the expected path of the fire are under way.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever – Singapore
Singapore reported a record week of dengue fever cases during the week ending Friday, June 12. According to NEA data, 895 cases were recorded during the five-plus days from June 7 to June 12, eclipsing the former one week record from 2014 (891).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits the Sumbawa region, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 earthquake hits the Philippines.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 02w (nuri), located approximately 166 nm south-southeast of Hong Kong, is tracking west-northwestward at 13 knots.
NewsBytes:
Georgia, USA – There were numerous reports of street flooding in Savannah on Friday following heavy rain from the passage of the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever – Turkey
Local media report that Turkey is seeing an increase in Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) cases. They report 480 cases of viral infection, including 15 fatalities.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever – Spain
Health officials in the Junta de Castilla y León has confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 earthquake hits Ascension Island.
5.1 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Prince Edward Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 02w (Two), located approximately 387 nm southeast of Hong Kong, is tracking west-northwestward at 15 knots.
NewsBytes:
Burundi – Intensive heavy rains have forced hundreds of families to leave their homes in Gatumba, a district of western Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Situated along the shore of Lake Tanganyika, Gatumba is particularly vulnerable to flooding when water levels of the lake rises and the Rusizi River floods during prolonged rains.
Greenhouse Gas Rises
The level of atmospheric carbon dioxide reached a new record high last month even as lockdowns and economic slowdowns during the coronavirus pandemic caused a sharp decline in greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography say they measured a monthly average high of 417 parts per million (ppm) during May at Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory, up from 414.8 ppm a year earlier.
While global emissions dropped by 17% in April, Scripps scientists say much larger drops of 20% to 30% would be needed for an entire year to slow the growth of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celsius) in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 96.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 71.4 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.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever – Brazil
Health officials in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul reported 1,126 additional dengue fever cases in the past week, bringing the total this year so far to 61,604 confirmed cases. Two additional deaths were recorded in the city of Ponta Porã in May, bringing the total dengue related fatalities to 39.
Covid-19 Sniffers
French researchers say Belgian Malinois shepherd dogs can sniff out humans exposed to the COVID-19 coronavirus from the distinct odor in armpits resulting from the infection. Using dogs trained to work in search and rescue missions, detecting explosives or sniffing out colon cancer, scientists from the National Veterinary School of Alfort say that four of the dogs had a 100% success rate in detecting the virus among 360 human subjects. Another four of the canines had an accuracy rate of between 83% and 94%. More dogs are now being trained as COVID sniffers.
Antarctic Buffer
New Zealand announced that it will help keep Antarctica coronavirus-free by temporarily cutting many of its scientific projects there. Only essential operations and planned maintenance will be allowed during the Antarctic summer season. The government says the number of projects on the frozen continent will be slashed from 36 to 13 between October and March.
Ebola – DR Congo
No new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 27 April 2020.
