Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits eastern Turkey.
5.5 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.3 earthquake its near the coast of Nicaragua.
5.0 earthquake hits Tajikistan.
5.0 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 739 nm southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking northward at 05 knots.
Tropical cyclone 15p (Judy), located approximately 186 nm north of Port Vila, Vanuatu, is tracking south-southwestward at 07 knots.
Wildfires - Texas, USA
Several crews are working a fire in Fort Davis Monday. As of 6 p.m. Monday, the fire is at 2,800 acres and is at 10% containment. There was no immediate threat to lives or property.
Wildfires - Costa Rica
The National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) reported an increase in wildfires in the country during February. 4 Savannah and 13 forest fires were reported. Although the total area burned is not large, the fires remain a concern for conservation authorities who have asked the population not to light any fires.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Cholera - Mozambique
Mozambique today kicked off a cholera vaccination campaign targeting around 720,000 people in eight districts as the country steps up control measures against an outbreak in which 5260 cases and 37 deaths have been recorded to date since September 2022. People aged one year and older will be vaccinated in the five-day campaign.
Zika virus - Hungary
Two imported Zika virus infections were confirmed by the National Center for Public Health in Budapest. The two infected persons had previously been to Thailand, and they survived the infection with mild symptoms.-
Dengue, chikungunya and Zika - Minas Gerais, Brazil
Through February 27, health authorities in Minas Gerais state report 50,101 probable cases (notified cases except discarded cases) of dengue. Of this total, 13,802 cases were confirmed for the disease. There are four confirmed deaths from dengue in Minas Gerais and 21 deaths under investigation.
With regard to Chikungunya fever, 18,371 probable cases of the disease were registered, of which 4,536 were confirmed. So far, there is no confirmed death from Chikungunya in Minas Gerais and one is under investigation.
As for the Zika virus, 72 probable cases have been registered so far. There is one confirmed case of the disease and there are no deaths from Zika in Minas Gerais, so far.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.3 earthquake hits the Pagan region, North Mariana Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits central Turkey.
5.1 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Flores region, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
Two 5.0 earthquakes hit southern Xinjiang, China.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 740 nm southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking south-southwestward at 03 knots.
Tropical cyclone 15p (Judy), located approximately 346 nm north-northeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu, is tracking west-southwestward at 08 knots.
Lassa fever - Ghana
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) reported today of two confirmed Lassa fever cases from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research on Friday. Both cases reside in Accra. One of the cases died while to date, 56 contacts have been identified and are being followed-up.
Chikungunya - Paraguay
The latest report from the General Directorate of Health Surveillance indicates that, in the last three weeks, 12,189 cases of chikungunya have been reported.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
6.1 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.3 earthquake hits central Turkey.
5.1 earthquake hits northwest of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 728 nm southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking south-southwestward at 07 knots.
Newsbytes:
USA - Emergency crews carried out multiple high water rescues, including some by helicopter, after a winter storm dumped heavy rain in parts of Southern California. Storm winds also caused damage, downing trees and power lines. At one point 30,000 customers in the city of Los Angeles were without power. Heavy snow fell in higher elevations, where several roads were closed. Severe flooding was reported on several roads, including parts of Interstate 5 near Sun Valley in Los Angeles.
Towering Wildfire Clouds Impact the Stratosphere
Vast clouds of wildfire smoke towering into the sky have become all too familiar from recent active fire years across the western United States and Australia. Now, a team of atmospheric scientists led by NOAA has demonstrated these big vertical plumes of wildfire smoke have a major long term impact on the stratosphere – and climate.
Fire-triggered thunderstorms, called pyrocumulonimbus or pyroCbs, are generated when the intense heat of a wildfire triggers a huge thunderstorm that carries smoke into the stratosphere, five to seven miles above the surface. Measurements show that pyroCb events dominate contributions of black carbon and organic carbon to the lower stratosphere, the net effect of which cools the planet. Scientists believe the impact of pyroCb events, which are becoming more frequent, is significant.
Dengue Fever - Bolivia
Bolivian health officials reported 642 additional dengue fever cases Friday, bringing the country’s outbreak total to 10,255. La Paz has issued a red alert for dengue.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 earthquake hits the southern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka.
5.0 earthquake hits the Rota region, North Mariana Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 289 nm west of Europa Island, is tracking westward at 14 knots.
Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 691 nm east-southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking south-southwestward at 09 knots.
Engineered Trees
The first batch of trees genetically engineered to grow taller and capture more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere were planted on private land in southern Georgia in an attempt to sideline restrictions on such plantings. More will soon be planted on abandoned Pennsylvania coal mines.
The San Francisco-based Living Carbon startup added three genes to the poplars to make their photosynthesis more efficient, hoping they will turbocharge the rate the trees grow wood and suck carbon dioxide from the air. While yet unproven outside of scientific settings, the trees’ prospect of helping to remove the greenhouse gas has its supporters and critics.
Dengue Fever, Chikungunya - Argentina
The Ministry of Health of the Nation reports that up to epidemiological week 7 of 2023 (from February 12 to 18), 673 positive cases for dengue were reported in the country, of which 587 have no travel history. Regarding the chikungunya virus, 3 cases without travel history have been registered so far in two towns in the province of Buenos Aires, and another 132 imported cases or under investigation in 7 other jurisdictions.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.3 earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.6 earthquake hits Salta, Argentina.
5.5 earthquake hits off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile.
5.3 earthquake hits the central east Pacific rise.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 149 nm west-southwest of Europa Island, is tracking westward at 10 knots.
Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 748 nm east-southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking south-southwestward at 14 knots.
Newsbytes:
Madagascar - Over 8,000 people have been displaced in Madagascar after Tropical Cyclone Freddy made its way across the country from 21 to 22 February 2023. the storm is expected to make landfall in Mozambique in the coming days. A weakened Tropical Cyclone Freddy landed about 30 km north of the town of Mananjary on the evening of 21 February 2023, with average winds estimated at 130 km/h and gusts of 180 km/h near the centre. At least four fatalities were reported. Around 2,276 homes and 79 schools have been flooded. At least 14 homes and 6 schools have been destroyed by the storm.
Ecuador - Disaster authorities in Ecuador report that at least 6 people have died in recent flooding after a spate of severe weather in recent days. Eleven people have now died as a result of flooding and landslides in the country since the start of the year. 35 incidents of flooding and over 20 landslides across the country were reported from 18 to 21 February 2023.
EU to Ban Petrol and Diesel Cars
The European Parliament has approved a new law banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2035. The new rule - part of a larger effort to combat climate change in the EU - will speed up the bloc’s transition to electric vehicles. Cars currently account for around 15 per cent of all CO2 emissions in the EU.
The legislation demands that carmakers cut carbon emissions from new cars by 100 per cent. In practice, this means no new fossil fuel-powered vehicles will be able to be sold from 2035 onwards. The approval on Tuesday is one step before the law gets a formal rubber stamp and comes into effect. But some countries are pushing back against the change.
Light Pollution
A new study reveals that light pollution generated by the nighttime glow of the human presence is increasing, marring the ability to see stars in a sky that was once nearly pitch dark before the invention of electric lights. Observations from tens of thousands of observers around the world documenting the number of stars visible in each location show nocturnal sky brightness increased by 7% to 10% each year from 2011 to 2022.
Greater light pollution is raising concerns over its impacts on people and nature.
“For nearly the entire evolutionary history of life on this planet, the night sky was lit by starlight, moonlight and natural airglow,” said lead researcher Christopher Kyba. “Until about 150 years ago, to step outside at night was to be confronted with the cosmos.”
Humpback Whales Fight to Mate
The amazing recovery in recent years of the humpback whale population is resulting in more aggressive mating behavior among the previously gentler males. Once hunted to near extinction, Australia’s east coast humpback population alone grew from 3,700 in 2007 to 27,000 whales in 2015.
Monitoring by a team from the University of Queensland found that male humpbacks used to sing to woo females but have now increasingly turned to fighting among themselves for the right to breed.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 46.0 degrees Celsius (115 degrees F) at Eucla. Western Australia.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 56.0 degrees Celsius (-69 degrees F) 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.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever - Bolivia
The Bolivia Ministry of Health and Sports reports 419 additional dengue fever cases today, bringing the outbreak total to 9,328.
Bird Flu - Cambodia
The Cambodia Ministry of Health reports that an 11-year-old in Roleang village, Prey Veng province has died after contracting H5N1 avian influenza, the first case in Cambodia in nine years (March 14, 2014). Today, the Ministry of Health’s emergency response team has found 12 more people infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) in Prey Veng province.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing activity for the week 15 February - 21 February 2023
Cotopaxi - Ecuador : IG reported that the eruption at Cotopaxi continued during 14-21 February, characterized by almost daily emissions of gas, steam, and ash; inclement weather conditions occasionally prevented views. Gas emissions with some ash rose as high as 600 m above the crater rim and drifted E, SE, and SW during 14-15 February. Minor ashfall was noted in San Ramón (17 km SW), Ticatilín (15 km WSW), San Agustín del Callo (18 km WSW), Mulaló (19 km SW), and Lasso (20 km WSW). Daily ash-and-gas plumes rose as high as 1.1 km during 16-19 February and drifted mainly E, SE, S, and SW. Minor amounts of ash occasionally fell on the downwind flanks. During 20-21 February steam-and-gas plumes rose as high as 1.3 km and drifted E and SW.
Ebeko - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing during 9-16 February. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions during 9 and 12-13 February generated ash plumes that rose as high as 4 km (13,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images on 9 and 13 February, and an ash cloud drifted 45 km E on 12 February.
Etna - Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that lava effusion had ended on 6 February from the vents at the NE base of Etna’s SE Crater, in the Valle del Leone at about 2,800 m elevation. The total area covered by the lava flows was an estimated 0.96 square kilometers and the estimated volume was 4,800,000-6,100,000 cubic meters.
Great Sitkin - Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that a 15 February satellite image confirmed continuing lava effusion at Great Sitkin and growth of the flow field to the E, though effusion likely continued through 20 February. Weather clouds often obscured satellite and webcam views; steam emissions were observed during 17-18 February and weakly elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images during 19-20 February. Seismicity was very low during 21-22 February with one small local earthquake detected.
Kerinci - Central Sumatra : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Kerinci was ongoing during 15-20 February. Ash plumes of variable densities were visible during 15-16 and 18 February rising as high as 250 m above the summit and drifting mainly NE, E, and W. White steam-and-gas plumes were visible on the other days. At 1207 on 15 February a dense brown ash plume rose 200 m and drifted E. At 0908 on 16 February a dense brown ash plume rose 250 m and drifted E, and at 1937 a gray-to-brown ash plume rose 150 m that drifted E and SE.
Kilauea - Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported that the eruption on the floor of Kilauea’s Halema’uma’u Crater continued during 15-21 February but at a decreased rate during the last half of the week. Lava erupted from three locations during 15-17 February. The lava lake in E half of the crater was active, had a small lava fountain, and remained at about 10 hectares in size; the smaller western lake in the basin of the 2021-2022 lava lake was also active. The smaller lava pond in the central portion of the crater floor had a small lava fountain, produced nearly continuous overflows, and channeled lava to the E lake. Activity in the E and central lakes diminished in the late afternoon on 17 February, and by 18 February both had stopped erupting. The western lake was active but at a greatly reduced level and lava only minimally circulated; the lake was mostly crusted over and about 10 m lower by 19 February. The lake produced small lava flows and intermittent crustal overturns during 19-20 February.
Lewotolok - Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Lewotolok was ongoing during 15-21 February. Minor crater incandescence at the summit was visible in most of the nighttime webcam images posted with the daily PVMBG reports. A webcam image captured at 0210 on 18 February showed Strombolian activity and incandescent material on the flank. White-and-gray plumes rose as high as 400 m above the summit and drifted E and SE during 16-17 February. A white-and-gray plume rose 700 m and drifted E on 19 February.
Marapi - Central Sumatra : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Marapi (on Sumatra) continued during 15-21 February. White steam-and-gas plumes were visible almost daily rising as high as 100 m from the summit; weather clouds prevented visual observations on 16 February. White-and-gray ash plume rose around 500 m from the summit and drifted E, SE, and SW on 20 February.
Merapi - Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi (on Java) continued during 10-16 February and seismicity remained at high levels. The SW lava dome produced two lava avalanches that traveled as far as 1.7 km down the SW flank (upstream in the Kali Sat drainage). No significant morphological changes to the central and SW lava domes were evident in webcam images.
Popocatepetl - Mexico : CENAPRED reported that there were 102-215 steam-and-gas emissions, often containing ash, rising from Popocatépetl each day during 14-21 February; minor explosions also occurred almost daily. Minor explosions were recorded at 1334, 1456, and 1822 on 14 February and at 0253 on 15 February based on data from the seismic network. On 17 February minor explosions occurred at 0210, 1827, 2210, 2252, and 2325. Additional minor explosions were recorded at 0235, 0252, and 0614 on 18 February; a webcam image from 0236 showed ejected incandescent material on the flanks. The lava dome on the crater floor was visible in satellite images and hadn’t significantly changed since the 27 January overflight. On 20 February a minor explosion was recorded at 1805, and a moderate explosion at 2331 ejected incandescent material onto the upper flanks. A series of five minor explosions were recorded at 0027, 0052, 0252, 0401, and 0529 on 21 February. Ash fell in Amecameca (19 km NW), in the State of Mexico, during 20-21 February.
Reventador - Ecuador : IG described the ongoing eruption at Reventador as moderate during 14-21 February. Seismicity was characterized by explosions, long-period earthquakes, periods of harmonic tremor, and signals that indicated emissions. Steam, gas, and ash plumes were observed in IG webcam images and described in Washington VAAC volcanic activity notifications during 14-19 February; weather conditions occasionally prevented views. The plumes rose as high as 1.6 km above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. A lava flow on the NE flank was visibly active during 14-15 February. Crater incandescence was visible almost nightly and incandescent blocks were seen rolling as far as 800 m down the flanks in all directions during the beginning of the week. Weather clouds prevented visual observations of the volcano during 20-21 February.
Sabancaya - Peru : Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) reported moderate levels of activity at Sabancaya during 13-19 February with a daily average of 51 explosions. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 2.6 km above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. Four thermal anomalies originating from the lava dome in the summit crater were identified in satellite data.
Sangay - Ecuador : IG reported a high level of activity at Sangay during 14-21 February, which included daily explosions, long-period earthquakes, periods of tremor, and gas, steam, and ash emissions. The daily count of explosions ranged from 30-56, though the daily seismic data transmission was sometimes interrupted. Almost daily gas, steam, and ash plumes were either observed in IG webcam images or described in Washington VAAC volcanic activity notifications; weather clouds often prevented observations of the summit. The plumes rose as high as 1.8 km above the volcano and drifted mainly E, SE, and W. Multiple thermal anomalies were identified in satellite images on most days. Incandescence from the crater, a 500-m-long lava flow on the SE flank, and rolling blocks were visible during the nights of 14-15 and 18-19 February.
Semisopochnoi - Aleutian Islands (USA) : AVO reported that seismicity at Semisopochnoi’s Mount Young was low during 14-21 February, and steam emissions were visible in webcam images almost daily. AVO noted that no significant tremor, ash emissions, or explosive activity had been recorded since late January.
Sheveluch - Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch during 9-16 February was generally characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, lava-dome extrusion, and strong fumarolic activity. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images.
Suwanosejima - Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that the eruption at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater continued during 13-20 February. Occasional ashfall and rumbling noises were reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW). The number of explosions per day increased on 13 February and then gradually decreased beginning on 16 February; a total of about 24 explosions occurred during the week. At 2131 on 15 February an explosion produced an ash plume that rose 1.3 km above the crater rim and ejected large blocks as far as 900 m SE. An explosion around an hour later, at 2237, ejected large blocks as far as 700 m SE. During 18-20 February explosions produced ash plumes that rose as high as 2 km above the crater rim and ejected large blocks as far as 400 m from the vent. Crater incandescence was visible at night.
Villarrica - Central Chile : The eruption at Villarrica was ongoing during 15-21 February. POVI reported that on 17 February Strombolian explosions ejected material 100 m above the crater rim and onto the upper SW flank. Webcam images on 20 February showed two separate fountains of incandescent material, suggesting that a second vent had opened to the E of the first vent. Spatter was ejected as high as 80 m above the crater rim and onto the upper NE flank. A sequence of Strombolian explosions were visible from 2030 on 20 February to 0630 on 21 February. Material was ejected as high as 80 m above the crater rim and onto the upper E flank.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.8 earthquake hits Tajikistan.
5.2 earthquake hits Tajikistan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 50 nm east of Europa Island, is tracking westward at 12 knots.
Tropical cyclone 14s (Enala), located approximately 613 nm south of Diego Garcia, is tracking south-southwestward at 11 knots.
Wildfires - Chile
According to National Institute of Agricultural Development, out of over 17 000 dead animals, 13,554 are poultry birds, 1,783 cattle, 560 goats, 407 sheep and 244 pigs, among other species.
The report did not include wildlife affected by the forest fires in early February, mainly in Ñuble, Biobío and La Araucanía regions, where over 452,000 hectares were ravaged. The Chilean government is presently coordinating some actions to support farmers and provide subsidies to companies (with up to 50 workers) that have been affected by the disaster.
Malaria - Ghana
Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds, which approximates about 3000 children every day worldwide. Nearly 500,000 African children under the age of five die from this disease annually. In Ghana, there were 5.7 million confirmed malaria cases in 2021, out of which 275 people died, according to the Ghana Ministry of Health.
Syphilis - Brazil
From 1 January 2022 to June 2022, 79,500 cases of acquired syphilis, 31,000 records of syphilis in pregnant women and 12,000 cases of congenital syphilis had already been found in the country, totaling more than 122,000 new cases of the disease.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - New activity for the week 15 February - 21 February 2023
Aira - Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported ongoing eruptive activity at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 13-20 February and crater incandescence was visible nightly. Five explosions and five eruptive events were recorded during the week. One of the explosions, at 1448 on 14 February, produced an ash plume that rose 2.4 km above the crater rim and ejected large blocks 1.1 km from the vent. Blocks 3 cm in diameter fell near the Arimura Lava Observatory in Arimura-cho, Kagoshima City, about 3 km SE. An explosion on 19 February produced an eruption plume that rose 1.2 km and ejected blocks that fell 1.1 km away. A very small eruptive event occurred at Showa Crater on 20 February.
Ambae - Vanuatu : Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) reported that on 20 February a steam-and-ash plume rose from the active vent at Ambae and drifted SSW.
Chikurachki - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate eruptive activity at Chikurachki had ended, with explosions and ash plumes last recorded on 8 February. Steam-and-gas emissions persisted.
Karangetang - Sangihe Islands : According to PVMBG the eruption at Karangetang’s Main Crater (S crater) continued during 14-21 February. Multiple nighttime webcam images posted with daily reports showed three main incandescent lava flows of different lengths descending the S, SW, and W flanks; a webcam image from 2156 on 17 February possibly showed incandescent material descending the SE flank. Incandescent rocks dotted the upper flanks, possibly from ejected or collapsed material from the crater; the incandescence was often most intense at the summit. Based on analyses of satellite imagery and weather models, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-20 February daily ash plume rose to an altitude of 2.1-3 km (7,000-10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NNE, E, and SE. BNPB reported that as of 16 February there were as many as 77 people that had been displaced by the eruption and were in the East Siau Museum which was designated as a temporary evacuation shelter.
Lascar - Northern Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported that during 15-21 February seismicity at Láscar continued to be dominated by volcano-tectonic signals with smaller numbers of both long-period and tornillo-type events. Daily whitish gas emissions were mostly diffuse, rose as high as 500 m above the crater rim, and drifted mainly E, SE, and W. Sulfur dioxide emissions were low, no notable deformation was detected, and no thermal anomalies were identified in satellite images.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits Kepulauan Babar, Indonesia.
5.5 earthquake hits central Turkey.
5.1 earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.1 earthquake hits the Bonin Islands, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 138 nm south-southwest of Antananarivo, Madagascar, is tracking westward at 14 knots.
Tropical cyclone 14s (Fourteen), located approximately 436 nm south-southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking west-southwestward at 10 knots.
Newsbytes:
Brazil - At least 44 people have now lost their lives after torrential rain caused floods and landslides in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 19 February 2023. 18 adults and 5 children have received hospital treatment for injuries. Of this total, six are in a serious condition while 13 were described as stable. Large-scale rescue and relief efforts are ongoing. The accumulation of rain in the cities of the North Coast of São Paulo was the highest recorded in Brazil’s history. In 24 hours to 19 February, 682 mm of rain fell in Bertioga.
Tree Defence, UK - Thousands of trees are to be planted as part of a flood defence project in northern England. England’s Environment Agency said 7 hectares of woodland and over 5km of hedgerow are to be created as part of a large ‘aquagreen’ project that will store floodwater and reduce flood risk.
Wildfires - Australia
A fire burning out of control north of Melbourne has threatened properties, prompting authorities to issue an emergency warning for residents at Flowerdale and Yea. More than 41 fire trucks and six aircraft are fighting the grassfire, which is burning at Spring Valley Road in Flowerdale and travelling in a northern direction. Residents have been urged to take shelter indoors immediately as it is now too late to leave.
Chikungunya - Paraguay
The latest Health Surveillance report indicates that, in the last three weeks, 11,864 chikungunya cases and 203 dengue were registered. In the last week evaluated, 2,389 affected by chikungunya and 37 by dengue were reported, according to partial data. The most affected regions are the Central department, with 7,344 cases, and Asunción, with 3,266.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits the Turkey-Syria border.
5.8 earthquake hits Kodiak Island, Alaska.
5.3 earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.1 earthquake hits Iceland.
5.1 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 136 nm west-northwest of St Denis, is tracking west-southwestward at 19 knots.
Newsbytes:
Philippines - Disaster authorities in the Philippines report over 30,000 people have been displaced and 2 people have died after heavy rain brought by a low-pressure area (LPA) caused flooding and landslides across 8 regions. In a 24-hour period to `14 February, 242 mm of rain fell in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. On 18 February, 241 mm of rain fell in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
South Africa - More flooding has affected parts of South Africa in recent days. At least 2 people have died and 5 are still missing. Authorities warn that dam levels are extremely high and floodgates have been opened in several locations. Severe flooding struck in the town of Coffee Bay and surrounding areas on 18 February 2023. Homes, schools and infrastructure were damaged. Six people were swept away by floodwater. Two bodies have since been recovered and four remain missing. Flooding struck in the town of Komani from 18 to 19 February, one person, who had been trapped in the floods with two others, was swept away on the evening of 18 February. Flooding was reported in the city of Ladysmith in the KwaZulu-Natal province after the Klipriver broke its banks on 17 February. Several roads were closed, and homes and commercial buildings were flooded.
Romania - Extensive flooding in northern Romania on Saturday night left roads damaged and disrupted rail services. The worst affected counties were Bistrita and Maramures. Rivers burst their banks, leaving homes and farmland flooded and triggering landslides. In Bistrita, an avalanche blocked the Rodna-Valea Vinului road, leaving motorists with a 30km detour.
Fukushima: Japan prepares to release 1.3 million tonnes of wastewater into the sea
Japan is preparing to release more than a million tonnes of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. The nuclear reactors have been decommissioned - a process which will take 40 years to complete. But the shutdown has stalled over the build-up of vast quantities of water used to keep the damaged reactors cool.
The site produces 100,000 litres of contaminated water daily. It is a combination of groundwater, rainwater that seeps into the area and water used for cooling. More than 1.32 million tonnes of treated wastewater is currently stored at the site. That accounts for 96 per cent of storage capacity.
TEPCO says several filtering systems remove most of the 62 radioactive elements in the water, including caesium and strontium, but tritium - a radioactive form of hydrogen - remains. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said the release meets international standards and "will not cause any harm to the environment".
But neighbouring countries, including China and South Korea, along with activist groups such as Greenpeace and some local residents are strongly opposed to the release. Local fishermen fear the release would once again make consumers wary of buying their catch.
Wildfires - Cuba
A major wildfire in eastern Cuba was spreading closer to a national park on Monday, threatening hundreds of residents in its path. Firefighters were attempting to control the blaze that started this weekend in the mountainous Pinares de Mayari region in Cuba's Holguin province, some 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of the capital Havana, with strong winds and dry conditions fueling its rapid spread.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Lassa fever - Nigeria
In a follow-up on the Lassa fever situation in Nigeria in 2023, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) report an additional 68 confirmed cases during the week ending February 12. This brings the total confirmed cases to 531 during the first six weeks of 2023.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.3 earthquake hits the south Pacific Ocean.
5.1 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 earthquake hits the Philippine Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 227 nm east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking west-southwestward at 17 knots.
Newsbytes:
Paraguay - Overflowing rivers in the department of Amambay in northeastern Paraguay have damaged roads and bridges and affected 700 indigenous families in the area. The Aquidabán river in Amambay Department broke its banks on 16 February. Several people had to be rescued by helicopter. Photos showed floodwater up to roof height. The flooding caused significant material damage and many residents have lost all their belongings, local media reported.
Brazil - The governor of São Paulo state in Brazil has declared a state of emergency after torrential rain triggered flooding and landslides in areas of the north coast of the state. Authorities said that as much as 683 mm of rain fell in Bertioga in a 24-hour period to 19 February 2023. As of 20 February, 36 deaths were confirmed, including 35 in São Sebastião – 31 in Barra do Sahy, two in Juquehy, one in Camburi, one in Boiçucanga – and one in Ubatuba. Flooding and landslides have damaged homes across the region and 566 people have been displaced or made homeless.
New Zealand - Police in New Zealand report that over 6,000 people are still reported as uncontactable following the devastation left by floods, strong winds and high waves brought by Cyclone Gabrielle. As of 19 February, there have been 6,431 reports of uncontactable people registered and 3,216 reports from people registering that they are okay. Between 12 and 14 February, parts of New Zealand recorded rainfall amounts of 300-400mm, wind gusts of 130-140km/h and waves as high as 11 metres along some coasts.
Drought Continues in the Po Valley, Italy
Northern Italy’s lakes and rivers are abnormally low after an unusually dry winter, farmers have warned. The mighty Po River is Italy’s longest waterway. Flowing from the snowy Alps to the Adriatic Sea, the Po stretches more than 650km, nourishing crops and providing vital irrigation to arable land.
But the river - and the farming communities who depend upon it - are under threat. Last summer, record-breaking droughts reduced parts of the once-gushing waterway to a sluggish trickle. An unusually dry winter has brought little relief.
Dengue Fever - Martinique
13 confirmed cases of dengue fever have been identified since the beginning of February 2023 in the municipalities of Sainte Anne, Vauclin and Fort-de-France. More than 120 cases suggestive of dengue have consulted a general practitioner over the past two weeks according to data reported by the Sentinel network.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits central Turkey.
5.3 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
5.2 earthquake hits offshore Tarapaca, Chile.
5.2 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.2 earthquake hits southern Peru.
5.1 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits off the coast of Tarapaca, Chile.
5.0 earthquake hits Taiwan.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 589 nm east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking west-southwestward at 12 knots.
Newsbytes:
Bolivia - Weeks of severe weather including heavy rainfall and flooding have taken their toll on the Chuquisaca Department of Bolivia, where authorities say 308 communities have been affected in 21 municipalities. On 15 February 2023, heavy rain and hail caused flooding and landslides in San Lucas municipality. 2,294 families were affected 582 households were displaced. One fatality was reported. Flooding affected other parts of the department in early January this year. Three members of a family died in floods in Sopachuy on 01 January. Another person died in flooding in Yamparáez where rivers overflowed on 02 January. Flooding affected Villa Serrano municipality on 08 January 2023. Over 5,500 families were affected by flooding across La Paz, Beni and Santa Cruz Departments in Bolivia in early February. Two fatalities were reported, and dozens of homes and wide areas of crops were damaged or destroyed.
USA - At least 2 people have died after heavy rain caused flooding in several southern states in the USA from 16 February 2023. The governor of West Virginia declared a State of Emergency. Roads and homes were flooded in areas of Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky. In 24 hours to 17 February, Culloden in Putnam County recorded 4.02 inches / 102.108 mm of rain; Hamlin in Lincoln County 4.04 inches / 102.61 mm; and Pinch in Kanawha County 4.08 inches / 103.63 mm. NWS Louisville reported some areas in the north of the state recorded 4.15 inches / 105.41 mm of rain in 24 hours to 17 February. Flooding was also reported in parts of Tennessee, damaging some homes and blocking roads in Friendship, Crockett County, Murfreesboro and Lascassas in Rutherford County and Spring Hill City.
Ancient global warming event sheds light on Earth's future
About 56 million years ago, our planet experienced one of the largest and fastest global warming events in the history. The so-called Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was exceptional both in terms of its amplitude (with global temperatures rising by five to eight degrees Celsius) and its suddenness (about 5,000 years – a very short period on a geological scale).
By analyzing sediments collected from the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, a team of scientists led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has now found that this event – which led to the extinction of a vast number of terrestrial and marine species – was characterized by an increase in rainfall seasonality, which led to the movement of massive quantities of clay into the ocean, making it uninhabitable for many species.
Due to the similarities between PETM and current global warming – including possible causes such as high concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere – the geological remains of this period are closely studied by scientists in order to gain insights to the future of our planet.
Wildfires - Chile
New and reactivated wildfires in south-central Chile are causing great concern in populated areas as some have destroyed buildings and left at least three people severely injured. Fires in the region of Biobio and Araucania have left a school and a church completely burned. As winds spread across the region, fires restarted again on Friday, she added. So far, the country has 256 active fires and 151 controlled fires, and that the main concern is that some of the active fires could move to "highly populated areas."
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.3 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Costa Rica.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 43 nm south of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 13 knots.
Newsbytes:
Fiji - At least one person died after heavy rain caused flooding in the Western Division of Fiji on 17 February. More severe weather is expected across the island group. All schools were closed and flooded road were closed in more than 80 locations across the country.
Zimbabwe - At least 6 people have died and dozens were made homeless after severe weather in Zimbabwe in January and February 2023. 109 mm of rain fell in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South Province, in 24 hours to 07 January. In a 24-hour period to 11 January, Buhera, Manicaland Province, recorded 91 mm of rain. The heavy rain caused flooding in parts of the capital Harare and surrounding areas, displacing dozens of households. The Marimba River broke its banks in Budiriro, a suburb in the southwestern area of Harare, damaging or destroying 43 houses. Floods in nearby Chitungwiza in Mashonaland West damaged 57 houses and destroyed two. Around the same time, flooding was also reported in Gokwe North and Gokwe South in the Midlands province, where rivers broke their banks. Around 60 households were affected and one house was destroyed.
Endangered Bird Hunted for Sport
Should endangered wild birds be hunted for sport? It sounds like an odd question to be asking in 2023, in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. Yet, at a time when many avian species in the UK are under threat of regional extinction, government data reveals falconers are permitted to hunt rare songbirds.
Permission is regularly granted to the 25 000 registered falconers in England to kill several endangered species. These include skylark, fieldfare and mistle thrush, permitting these otherwise heavily protected birds to be legally hunted. Other red-list birds permitted to be killed in falconry include dunnocks, house sparrows, lapwings, rooks, song thrushes and starlings.
Nipah Virus - Bangladesh
In a follow-up on the Nipah virus cases reported in Bangladesh in 2023, since 4 January 2023 and as of 13 February 2023, 11 cases (10 confirmed and one probable) including eight deaths (Case Fatality Rate (CFR) 73%) have been reported across two divisions in Bangladesh.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 earthquake hits Kepulauan Tanimbar, Indonesia.
5.3 earthquake hits Croatia.
5.3 earthquake hits the southern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.2 earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits offshore Guatemala.
5.0 earthquake hits central Turkey.
5.0 earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 553 nm south-southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking west-southwestward at 14 knots.
Deep Sea Mining
Researchers are sounding the alarm over plans to launch industrial-scale seabed mining for the first time in international waters later this year. A new report by scientists from the University of Exeter and Greenpeace Research Laboratories says that such activities pose a "significant risk to ocean ecosystems" and could result in "long-lasting and irreversible" consequences.
Of particular concern are the undersea noises mining would generate up to 24 hours a day and the potential harm they could bring to about 25 cetacean species, such as whales and dolphins. "Like many animals, cetaceans are already facing multiple stressors, including climate change," said Exeter's Kirsten Thompson.
Toxic Ice
An Oxford University-led study warns that Norwegian Arctic ice has become contaminated with “alarming levels” of toxic PFAS, or “forever chemicals” that do not break down naturally and have been linked to cancer, liver disease and other serious health problems.
The study says that when melted, the contaminated ice represents a major threat to the region’s wildlife. It adds the chemical cocktails could harm the entire food web, including plankton, fish, seals and polar bears. PFAS are a group of about 12,000 compounds used to make thousands of products, including those that resist water, stains and heat.
France demolishes beach apartments and relocates residents due to rising sea levels
When it was built at the end of the 1960s on one of France's most glorious Atlantic coastlines, the beach was over 200 metres away. Today, the hulk of the 80-flat Le Signal apartment block perches precariously on a dune just metres from the water and local authorities are tearing it down before it tumbles. With beaches disappearing at a rate of about 2.5 metres per year in past decades, Soulac-sur-Mer has suffered some of the fastest coastal erosion in France. By 2010, the ocean was lapping at the dune on which Le Signal was built. In 2014, the local government decided to relocate the building's inhabitants and began the long process of expropriation and removing asbestos before starting demolition earlier this month.
"It's Me!"
In the latest finding about wildlife cognitive ability, Japanese researchers say they have found that a common fish can recognize itself in photos.
A team from Osaka Metropolitan University writes in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the Labroides dimidiatus, commonly known as a cleaner fish, demonstrated the ability, but only when it could see its face and not just its body. The species had already been proven to recognize itself in mirrors. “This study is the first to demonstrate that fish have an internal sense of self,” concluded study lead author Masanori Kohda.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 44.0 degrees Celsius (111 degrees F) at Learmonth, Victoria, Australia.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 58.0 degrees Celsius (-72 degrees F) 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.
Wildfires - Australia
A bushfire on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula has challenged firefighters, with an unknown number of homes and businesses confirmed lost. Dozens of firefighters were battling on the ground into Thursday night, water bombers were in the air and reinforcements from Adelaide were on the way. The grass fire that sparked in searing heat was seen all across Port Lincoln.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Leishmaniasis - Paraguay
So far in 2023, 13 confirmed cases have been recorded, nine of the visceral type and four integumentary. The people affected come from seven departments across the country.
Avian Flu - Argentina, Uruguay - First Cases
Uruguay officials report the country’s first highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5) virus case in a black-necked swan in Laguna Garzón, between the departments of Maldonado and Rocha.
Argentina reported the first detection in the country of avian influenza (AI) H5 in wild birds in the Pozuelos lagoon, northwest of the province of Jujuy, near the border with Bolivia.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - Ongoing activity for the week 8 February - 14 February 2023
Ahyi - Mariana Islands (USA) : Unrest at Ahyi Seamount continued during 7-14 February. Pressure sensors on Wake Island, 2,270 km E of Ahyi Seamount, occasionally detected possible activity including possible explosions during 13-14 February. No activity was identified in satellite images, though the image resolutions were too low to detect water discoloration.
Cotopaxi - Ecuador : IG reported that the eruption at Cotopaxi continued during 7-14 February, characterized by daily or almost daily emissions of gas, steam, and ash; inclement weather conditions occasionally prevented views. Gas-and-ash emissions rose as high as 2 km above the crater rim and drifted NW, W, and E during 7-10 February. Minor ashfall was reported in the parish of Tambillo (32 km NNW), Mejia region, on 10 February. Steam-and-gas emissions rose to 1 km and drifted W and SW on 11 February. Gas-and-ash plumes rose around 500 m on 12 February and drifted SW. Minor amounts of ash fell in El Chasqui (17 km W), Mulaló (19 km SW), and San Juan de Pastocalle (20 km WSW). During 13-14 February several steam-and-ash emissions rose as high as 1 km and drifted W and SW. Minor ashfall was reported in Mulaló, San Agustín (11 km W), Ticatilín (15 km WSW), San Ramón (17 km SW), Control Caspi (20 km WSW), and in Pastocalle (22 km W).
Dukono - Halmahera : PVMBG reported that white-and-gray plumes of variable densities rose from Dukono as high as 150 m above the summit and drifted S and E on 8 and 10 February. Inclement weather conditions sometimes prevented visual observations.
Ebeko - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing during 2-9 February. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions during 4-5 and 7-8 February generated ash plumes that rose as high as 4.5 km (14,800 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE and E. Ashfall was reported in Severo-Kurilsk on 5 and 8 February. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images on 8 February.
Great Sitkin - Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that a 6 February satellite image confirmed continuing lava effusion at Great Sitkin and growth of the flow field to the E; effusion likely continued during 7-14 February. Weather clouds often obscured satellite and webcam views, though steam emissions were observed during 8 and 11-12 February. Seismicity was low most of the week; a network outage began at 2120 on 12 February and prevented transmission of seismic data.
Huaynaputina - Peru : IGP reported that on 4 February a small-to-medium lahar descended the El Volcán drainage, on the S flank of Huaynaputina, and traveled to within 500 m of Quinistaquillas, in the province of Sánchez Cerro, Moquegua region.
Ibu - Halmahera : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Ibu continued during 7-14 February. White-and-gray plumes of variable densities rose as high as 800 m above the summit and drifted NE and NW during 6-7 February.
Kerinci - Central Sumatra : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Kerinci was ongoing during 8-14 February. Ash plumes were visible on most days, though weather conditions prevented views towards the end of the week. At 0724 on 8 February a gray ash plum rose 150 m above the summit and drifted E. Gray-to-brown ash plumes rose 150 m and drifted NE that same day. White-and-gray ash plumes rose 150 m and drifted NE during 9-10 February. At 1740 on 10 February a dense gray ash plume rose around 100 m and drifted E, and on 14 February white-and-brown ash plumes rose 200 m and drifted NE.
Kilauea - Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported that lava continued to erupt from three locations on Kilauea’s Halema’uma’u Crater floor during 7-14 February. The lava lake in E half of the crater was active and remained at about 10 hectares in size. A small 3-6 m high lava fountain in the S part of the E lake was active during the first few days but had diminished during 10-11 February and remained at lower levels during the rest of the week. The smaller western lake in the basin of the 2021–2022 lava lake as well as the smaller lava pond in the central portion of the crater floor remained active and overflowed frequently each day. Activity in the southern small lava pond had decreased. During 12-14 February a small lava fountain was visible in the smaller central lava pond and was active along with the fountain in the S part of the E lake. Lava continued to overflow the pond and possibly connected to the larger E lava lake.
Lewotolok - Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Lewotolok was ongoing during 7-14 February. Minor crater incandescence at the summit was visible in most of the daily webcam images posted with the daily PVMBG reports. A webcam image captured at 2140 on 11 February showed Strombolian activity. White-and-gray plumes rose as high as 300 m above the crater rim and drifted NE, E, and SE on each day except 9-10 and 14 February due to weather clouds.
Marapi - Central Sumatra : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Marapi continued during 8-14 February. White, gray, and black plumes rose as high as 400 m and drifted SW and S on 10 February. At 1827 a dense black ash plume rose 400 m and drifted NE and E. White-and-gray plumes that were sometimes dense rose as high as 200 m and drifted E and SE on 12 February. Diffuse white-and-gray plumes rose 100 m and drifted N and S on 13 February.
Merapi - Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi continued during 3-9 February and seismicity remained at high levels. The SW lava dome produced five lava avalanches that traveled as far as 1.8 km down the SW flank (upstream in the Kali Bebeng drainage) and one pyroclastic flow traveled 1.5 km SW (on 8 February). No significant morphological changes to the central and SW lava domes were evident in webcam images.
Semeru - Eastern Java : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 6-12 February. Somewhat dense to dense white-and-gray ash plumes rose 300-500 m above the summit and drifted N and NE, though weather conditions often prevented visual observations. At 0623 on 11 February a white-and-brown ash plume rose 600 m above the summit, and at 0754 a dense white-to-gray ash plume rose 600 m and drifted E. At 0527 on 14 February a somewhat-dense, white-to-gray ash plume rose around 800 m. Avalanches of material were detected during the week and sometimes roaring was heard, but they were rarely seen due to weather. Deformation fluctuated and was characterized by overall inflation. The number of earthquakes increased.
Semisopochnoi - Aleutian Islands (USA) : AVO reported that eruptive activity at Semisopochnoi’s Mount Young continued during 7-14 February. Seismicity was low, and a few local earthquakes were recorded during 7-8 February. Steam emissions were visible in webcam images almost daily though views were often cloudy.
Sheveluch - Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch during 2-9 February was generally characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, lava-dome extrusion, and strong fumarolic activity. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images, and minor ash plumes from lava-dome collapses drifted 110 km NE on 6 February.
Suwanosejima - Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that the eruption at Suwanosejima's Ontake Crater continued during 6-13 February with a total of 10 explosions recorded by the seismic network. The explosions produced eruption plumes that rose as high as 1.5 km above the crater rim and ejected large blocks as far as 400 m from the vent. Crater incandescence was observed nightly. Occasional ashfall was reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW).
Tangkuban Parahu - Western Java : PVMBG issued a special report based on recent observations of Tangkuban Parahu. Webcam images captured from 1830 on 9 February to 0300 on 10 February showed incandescence emanating from Ecoma Crater. A team of PVMBG scientists inspected the crater during 1900-2000 on 10 February to identify the source of the incandescence. They observed intense emissions rising from Ecoma Crater, heard roaring and rumbling, and detected a strong sulfur odor, but did not see incandescence. Remote measurements of solfatara temperatures in Ecoma Crater using thermal cameras show varying temperatures, with a maximum of 105 degrees Celsius, and were influenced by airflow conditions at the crater. A multi-gas detector did not record high concentrations of volcanic gases. Seismic data from June 2022 to February 2023 suggested variable rates of fluid movement and increased heating of the subsurface to the surface. Data from monitoring instruments and visual observations indicated that the incandescent was not caused by rising magma and instead by reactions of sulfur deposits around the vents.
Villarrica - Central Chile : The eruption at Villarrica was ongoing during 6-12 February. POVI reported that three explosions were heard during 1940-1942 on 6 February, and then hours later spatter was seen rising 30 m above the crater rim. On 9 February lava fountains were seen rising around 50 m above the crater rim. SERNAGEOMIN noted that in the early part of the week small Strombolian explosions and gas emissions were recorded and observed in webcam images. A period of increased seismicity was recorded on 12 February, after several weeks of stable levels. The seismicity and recent visual observations (especially ash emissions observed on 27 January) indicated that activity was localized at shallow levels, without a clear indication of deep magmatic contribution.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 earthquake hits the Masbate region, Philippines.
5.6 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.5 earthquake hits Haiti.
5.1 earthquake hits Potosi, Bolivia.
5.1 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 earthquake hits off the east coast of North island, New Zealand.
Rescue Hero Honoured
Mexico has paid tribute to a “heroic” rescue dog who died, crushed by rubble while searching for survivors buried beneath the rubble of the earthquakes in Turkey. The dog - a German Shephard named Proteo - was one of more than a dozen deployed by Mexico to assist in the disaster response efforts.
Meanwhile the death toll from the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria has surpassed 41,000.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 748 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 12 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 851 nm southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking southward at 08 knots.
EU Dumps Plastic Clothing in Kenya
EU countries are dumping 37 million items of ‘junk plastic clothing’ in Kenya every year, a new investigation has revealed. This fashion waste is too dirty or damaged to be reused and is creating serious health and environmental problems for vulnerable communities in the country. The low quality of the clothing means it ends up being immediately dumped, or burned to heat water, cook and allegedly fuel a power station.
Ohio - toxic train disaster
Almost two weeks after a freight train carrying hazardous materials was derailed in Ohio, USA, residents are reticent about returning home. The catastrophe, which occurred on 3 February near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, sparked a massive fire.
Those living in the vicinity were evacuated and schools in the area were closed as fears of an explosion grew. A controlled burn was carried out to prevent this, releasing a cloud of toxic fumes. Although residents have now been told they can return home safely, concerns remain over possible drinking water contamination, long term impacts, and reports of dead animals.
Warm water melts weak spots on Antarctica's 'Doomsday Glacier'
Thwaites - nicknamed the Doomsday Glacier - which is roughly the size of Florida, represents more than half a meter of global sea level rise potential, and could destabilise neighbouring glaciers that have the potential to cause a further three-meter rise.
Researchers found that warmer water was making its way into crevasses and other openings known as terraces, causing sideways melt of 30 meters or more per year. Using an underwater robot vehicle known as Icefin, monitoring data and censors, they monitored the glacier's grounding line, where ice slides off the glacier and meets the ocean for the first time.
Wildfires - Australia
Multiple fires are burning across the region, but authorities have been focused on large and destructive blazes near Miles, Tara and Jandowae over the past few days. The three bushfires have ripped through a combined total of more than 150,000 hectares and at least 38 structures have been destroyed.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity - New activity for the week 8 February - 14 February 2023
Aira - Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported ongoing eruptive activity at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano during 6-12 February and nightly crater incandescence. Three eruptive events and two explosions were recorded at Minamidake Crater. The first explosion, at 1815 on 9 November, generated an ash plume that rose 2 km above the crater rim and drifted N and ejected large blocks 600-900 m from the crater rim. The second explosion, at 1007 on 11 February, produced an ash plume that rose 1.7 km and ejected large blocks 600-900 m from the crater rim. An ash plume from an eruptive event at 1323 on 12 February rose 1.7 km and drifted E. A very small eruption at Showa Crater at 1052 on 8 February produced an ash plume that rose 800 m above the crater rim. This was the first eruption at Showa Crater since 3 April 2018. Ash plumes from events recorded at 1110 and 1425 rose as high as 1 km and drifted SE and SW, respectively, and blocks were ejected 200-300 m from the crater. Ashfall was reported in an area from Arimura-cho (4.5 km SE) to Furusato-cho (3 km S).
Chikurachki - Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that a moderate explosive eruption at Chikurachki continued during 2-9 February. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 5-6 February and ash plumes drifted 125 km SE, E, and NE.
Karangetang - Sangihe Islands : According to PVMBG the eruption at Karangetang’s Main Crater (S crater) continued during 8-14 February. Multiple nighttime webcam images posted with daily reports showed three main incandescent lava flows of different lengths descending the S, SW, and W flanks. Incandescent rocks dotted the upper flanks, possibly from ejected or collapsed material from the crater; the incandescence was most intense at the summit.
Lascar - Northern Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported that seismicity at Láscar was dominated by volcano-tectonic signals with smaller numbers of both long-period and tornillo-type events during 7-14 February. Seismicity increased during the week, associated with continuing effusion of the dome-like structure that had emerged on the crater floor on 30 January. Daily whitish gas emissions were mostly diffuse and rose around 400 m above the crater rim, though emissions rose as high as 700 m during 11-12 February. Sulfur dioxide emissions were low, no deformation was detected, and no thermal anomalies were identified in satellite images.
Tengger Caldera - Eastern Java : PVMBG sent a team of scientists to investigate Tengger Caldera’s Bromo cone after an increase in activity was detected on 3 February, characterized by crater incandescence, rumbling sounds, and a strong sulfur dioxide odor. They observed somewhat dense white emissions rising as high as 300 m during 9-12 February and heard moderate-to-strong rumbling noises. A sulfur dioxide odor was strong near the crater and measurements indicated that levels were above the healthy (non-hazardous) threshold of 5 parts per million; differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) measurements indicated an average flux of 190 tons per day on 11 February. During clear periods the largest solfatara on the NNW part of the crater floor was visible and ranged in temperature from 46 to 66 degrees Celsius based on handheld instruments. Crater incandescence, originating from the solfatara, was visible at night.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits the Cook Strait, New Zealand.
5.7 earthquake hits Romania.
5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.2 earthquake hits northern Colombia.
5.2 earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleutian Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits the island of Hawaii.
5.0 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 1000 nm east-southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 14 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 1187 nm south of Diego Garcia, is tracking southwestward at 18 knots.
Newsbytes:
Brazil - Heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in the municipality of São Gonçalo in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 13 to 14 February 2023. Municipal authorities declared a state of emergency after torrential. São Gonçalo City Hall reported 192.4 mm of rain fell in 24 hours in the Gradim neighbourhood of the city. Around 143 incidents of flooding and landslides were reported across the municipality.
Malawi - Severe flooding struck the city of Blantyre and surrounding areas in southern Malawi on 12 February. Authorities report 4 people have lost their lives and 3 are still missing. Government authorities have provided relief assistance to 16,607 affected households, including food, tents, housing units, kitchen utensils and plastic sheets for temporary roofing.
Wildfires - Australia
More than 20 homes and sheds have been destroyed as out-of-control bushfires rage in parts of country Queensland, fuelled by hot conditions. Evacuation orders were in place for residents north of the town of Miles on Tuesday morning as fire crews battled a series of blazes in rural areas west of Brisbane. The Myall Creek fire has doubled in size, burning about 7400 hectares on Tuesday and remains uncontained, with at least two sheds and farming equipment destroyed. The fire at Tara is about 880ha, and firefighters believe more than 20 structures, including homes, have been damaged or destroyed.
Dengue Fever - Bolivia
The Bolivia Ministry of Health and Sports reported 579 new dengue fever cases, bringing the cumulative total to 6,453.
Dengue Fever - Thailand
Thai health authorities are advising the public to guard against dengue fever as the case tally rises to 3,855 total cases were reported from 72 provinces from the beginning of the year through February 7. One fatality was report to date.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - Philippines
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office in Bacolod City reports an increase in hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases early in 2023. According to official data, 320 cases have already been recorded from January 1 to February 4, 2023. This compares with only five cases reported in the first five weeks last year.
Marburg Virus - Equatorial Guinea
In a follow-up on the unknown deaths reported in Equatorial Guinea, the Ministry of Health now reports confirming its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD). The World Health Organization reports preliminary tests carried out following the deaths of at least nine people in the country’s western Kie Ntem Province turned out positive for the disease.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.6 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits Romania.
5.1 earthquake hits northern Qinghai, China.
5.0 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Meanwhile the death toll in the Turkey/Syria earthquake has passed 35 000. As hopes of finding people alive under the debris fade more than a week after the quake struck, the focus has switched to providing food and shelter to the vast numbers of survivors. According to the Turkish government, about 1.2 million people have been housed in student residences, more than 206,000 tents have been erected and 400,000 victims evacuated from the devastated areas.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 1277 nm east-southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 09 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 907 nm south of Diego Garcia, is tracking southwestward at 09 knots.
Newsbytes:
New Zealand - New Zealand declares national state of emergency after Cyclone Gabrielle causes major damage. The North Island takes the brunt of the cyclone and the military is on the ground helping evacuate people from cut-off communities. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says homes are without power and families have been displaced after "extensive damage" across the country. The country's national forecaster said at one weather station in Hawke's Bay three times more rain fell on Monday night than is normal for the whole of February.
South Africa - South Africa has declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive response to widespread flooding that has affected seven of the country's nine provinces.
Whale Deaths Linked to Turkey Earthquake
A number of whales washed up dead on the northern shores of Cyprus last week. It is thought the deaths could be linked to the massive earthquakes in neighbouring Turkey and Syria.
A pod of four beaked whales were found beached in Argaka, Paphos, on Thursday. Locals managed to guide three, which were still alive, back to sea. The fourth died, according to the Cyprus department of fisheries and marine research.
A further six whales were found dead on Friday between Polis and Pachyammos. It is unknown whether some of these were the ones that had been returned to the sea the previous day.
Whales use underwater sound as their primary way to communicate and assess their environment. Ocean noise can affect deep-diving whales' ability to navigate, find food and avoid predators. It is thought that seismic vibrations from the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria may have disoriented the whales.
Wildfires - Hawaii
Hawaii Island firefighters are battling two brush fires sparked by lightning. Both blazes started over the weekend. In an update Monday morning, officials said approximately 5% of the fire is contained and about 1,500 acres have burned.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits eastern Turkey.
6.1 earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 163 nm south of Cocos Island, Australia, is tracking westward at 11 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 913 nm east of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking southwestward at 07 knots.
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Mozambique - Four people have now died in floods following days of incessant rains in southern Mozambique, authorities said on Saturday. The National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) said the deaths happened around the capital Maputo, while 14,000 people were evacuated out of more than 30,000 people estimated to have been affected by the flooding. The worst hit district is Boane, about 30 kilometres (18 miles) southeast of the oceanside capital Maputo. Some 4,000 houses flooded as two bridges collapsed and several roads were completely submerged.
Wildfires - Australia
Fast moving fires are putting homes under threat, with residents in parts of Queensland's south-west being told to leave and at least one property destroyed.There were 50 bushfires burning across the state on Sunday night. The worst area is at Montrose, near Tara — 285km north-west from Brisbane — where it is believed to have started in a fuel drum.
Dengue Fever - Americas
The Pan America Health Organization (PAHO) saw a total of 2,803,096 dengue fever cases in the Americas in 2023 accounting for 90 percent of the total arbovirus cases (3,110,442), which includes Zika (36,340) and chikungunya (271,006).
The total number of cases of arboviral disease reported in 2022 (3,110,442 cases) represents approximately a 118% relative increase compared to the same period in 2021 (1,425,221 cases).
The highest number of dengue cases in 2022 was observed in Brazil with 2,383,001 cases, followed by Nicaragua with 97,541 cases and Peru with 72,844 cases. A total of 1,223 fatalities were reported in 2022 (1,016 in Brazil alone, a record in the country).
Unknown Disease - Equatorial Guinea
Guinea Ecuatorial Salud reported Thursday that in recent weeks, there has been an unusual epidemiological situation in the Nsok Nsomo district, Kie-Ntem Province, related to 9 deaths within a short time of each other in two nearby communities, who presented the following symptoms: fever, vomiting blood and diarrhea. The deaths were linked to people who all took part in a funeral ceremony. In addition, more than 200 people have been quarantined with restricted movement
Lassa fever - Nigeria
In a follow-upon the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria in 2023, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 1378 suspected and 361 confirmed Lassa fever cases in 18 States through January 29. 53 deaths among the confirmed cases were also reported in January with a nearly 15% case fatality rate.
Cholera - DR Congo
A cholera epidemic was officially declared by the Governor of the province of North Kivu in December when the isolation of Vibrio cholerae among 140 of the 247 samples collected from suspected cases of Nyiragongo Health Zone was reported. As of 4 February 2023, a total of 4386 cholera cases (of which 1009 are laboratory-confirmed) with 16 deaths (CFR 0.4%) have been reported. 4011 cases (91.5%) are from Nyiragongo and 375 (8.5%) from Karisimbi.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 300 nm southeast of Cosos Islands, Australia, is tracking westward at 07 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 1055 nm east of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking west-southwestward at 10 knots.
Newsbytes:
Syria - Video from relief workers in Syria showed heavy flooding in the Syrian village of Al'Tloul, Syria, on Thursday (February 9), after heavy rains swelled the river in the outskirts of the Turkish-Syrian border. Shielded from 12 years of civil war, Al-Tloul has been rocked by Monday's (February 6) huge earthquake and ensuing flooding that has pushed out nearly all of its inhabitants, residents said. A small dam near the village collapsed early on Thursday one resident told Reuters, covering fields and filling homes with knee-high murky brown water.
Wildfires - Chile
Wildfires that have been raging across Chile for more than a week have now killed at least 26 people and left more than 2,000 injured. Over 1,500 homes have also been completely destroyed by the fires, leaving thousands more homeless as a heatwave has enveloped the region with temperatures reaching upwards of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chile’s Interior Ministry confirmed to ABC News that, so far, more than 889,000 acres of forests have been destroyed so far in the Andean nation. Over 6,000 firefighters — many of them mainly volunteers — are currently on the ground trying to control more than 323 active fires, including 90 that are raging out of control, according to officials.
Dengue Fever - Malaysia
The Ministry of Health of Malaysia reported that as of February 8, 11,127 dengue fever cases have been recorded in the country. This is a 211.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022 (3,573). Six dengue related fatalities have been reported in Malaysia to date, compared to zero last year at this time.
Dengue Fever - Bolivia
Dengue cases continue to rise in Bolivia. On Friday, the Bolivia Ministry of Health and Sports reported 398 additional dengue fever cases, bringing the country total to 5,347 since the beginning of the year.
Measles - South Africa
The South Africa National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reports since the first week in October 2022, 506 confirmed measles cases have been reported.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits Kepulauan Talud, Indonesia.
5.4 earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.2 earthquake hits Trinidad de Cunha.
5.1 earthquake hits the west Chile rise.
5.0 earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
Turkey and Syria
The death toll from Monday’s earthquake has now risen beyond 25,000 - including 21,848 people who have died in Turkey and a reported 3,553 in Syria. UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said the death toll from the earthquake is likely to “more than double”, adding that he expected tens of thousands more deaths. Griffiths, who visited the Turkish province of Kahramanmaraş on Saturday, described the earthquake as the “worst event in 100 years in this region”. At least 870,000 people urgently need food in the two countries after the quake, which has made up to 5.3 million people homeless in Syria alone, the UN warned. Search operations continue with one boy reportedly stretchered out of the rubble in Turkey after 128 hours.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 775 nm northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking westward at 09 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 643 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking2westward at 13 knots.
Newsbytes:
Venezuela - A landslide occurred in the state of Mérida, Venezuela, following heavy rain on 08 February 2023. Authorities report two people died and a bridge was destroyed. A large part of a hillside collapsed near the banks of the Onia river in the settlement of Onia in Alberto Adriani municipality following heavy rainfall. Landslide debris fell onto a bridge on the river, killing two people who were crossing the bridge on a motorcycle. The landslide also caused damage to homes and businesses in the area.
Mozambique - Storms and heavy rain affected the city of Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, and surrounding areas of Maputo Province on 08 February 2023. Local media reported that heavy rain caused flooding in the city of Maputo, the suburb of Matola, and the nearby Boane District in Maputo Province. Roads have been cut and houses damaged. 2,400 families have been affected. Many are in a critical situation. One person died in a flooded house in the FPLM neighbourhood of Maputo city. It is thought the victim was electrocuted after power cables came into contact with flood water.
South Africa - Flooding has displaced hundreds of people in the town of Komani (also known as Queenstown) in the Eastern Province of South Africa. Further east, two people have died and one is missing after being swept away by overflowing rivers in Mpumalanga Province. Flooding has impacted parts of the Kruger National Park where some camps have been closed.
Launching a huge dust cloud from the moon could ease global warming
Launching a dust cloud from the moon to block sunlight reaching Earth could reduce global warming, but such a strategy may require more than a decade’s worth of research before it can be implemented. The risks involved with such an approach in terms of how it could affect agriculture, ecosystems and water quality in different parts of the world are also unclear.
Placing more than 100 million tonnes of dust between Earth and the sun to partially block light from reaching our planet has previously been explored as a way to combat climate change. Such dust particles would shade Earth by absorbing light energy or scattering light particles, known as photons, away from Earth.
To achieve this, the dust would need to be placed 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, where the gravitational pull of the sun and our planet cancel out. Here, objects stay at a fixed position known as the first Lagrange point, or L1. However, simulations indicate that the dust particles would not remain in place for long, being dispersed by solar wind and gravitational forces.
Polar Vortex on the Sun
A long, looping filament of plasma snapped over the sun's north pole, creating a 'polar vortex' that scientists can't explain. On Feb. 2, a massive tentacle of plasma snapped apart in the sun's atmosphere before tumbling down, circling the star's north pole at thousands of miles a minute, and then disappearing — leaving scientists baffled.
Essentially, a long filament of plasma — the electrically charged gas that all stars are made of — shot out of the sun's surface, creating a huge looping feature called a prominence. These structures are common and can loop into space for hundreds of thousands of miles as solar plasma spirals along tangled magnetic field lines. What is strange, however, is for a prominence to suddenly break apart and then remain airborne for hours, swirling around the sun's poles.
Avian Flu - USA
It appears that the avian flu that is decimating birds across the US is spreading o other mammals. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has identified several cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in free-ranging wildlife. A black bear from Huerfano County was affected by the disease in October, a skunk from Weld County was found to be positive for the disease in November, and a mountain lion that died in Gunnison County.
Chikungunya - Paraguay
In a follow-up in the chikungunya outbreak in Paraguay, the Ministry of Health reports approximately 11,000 cases of the arbovirus in the past three weeks. In addition, chikungunya has so far accounted for 14 deaths, three newborns among them. 103 people were hospitalized for the disease, 25 of them receiving medical care in intensive care.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.1 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits eastern Turkey.
Avian Flu - Peru
Park rangers who have registered the death of nearly 55,000 birds in eight protected natural areas of the coast. The most affected bird species are mainly boobies, pelicans and guanays, followed by tendrils, Dominican gulls, Peruvian gulls and gray gulls. Also in Franklin’s gulls, red-headed vultures, cormorants, Humboldt penguins and others. In recent weeks, avian influenza in birds has been identified as spreading to populations of sea lions in seven marine-coastal natural protected areas, registering 585 dead sea lions.
Avian Fllu - Europe
U.N. health experts say that even though bird flu has recently been detected in minks, otters, seals, foxes and bears, they believe the current prevailing strain of H5N1 avian influenza would have to undergo significant mutation to be able to spread among humans.
Europe is currently in the grip of its worst-ever outbreak of the disease, which has led to tens of millions of poultry being culled worldwide as well as a massive death toll among wild birds in several regions. The H5N1 strain of the virus first emerged in mainland China and Hong Kong in 1996. Experts say that should it somehow manage to mutate and circulate in humans, the current flu vaccines could easily be updated to provide protection.
Giant Toad
A giant toad discovered deep in an Australian rainforest is believed to be the largest in the world. Dubbed by forest rangers “Toadzilla,” the gargantuan amphibian weighed 2.65 kg, which is 0.05 kg heavier than a Swedish pet toad listed in 1991 as the heaviest by Guinness.
But all did not end well for Toadzilla. Because it is an invasive species in Australia, it was euthanized due to what rangers called its “ecological impact.” Most toads typically meet the same fate when found across Australia. “Potentially, cane toads like Toadzilla would lay up to 35,000 eggs. So their capacity to reproduce is quite staggering,” said park ranger Barry Nola.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 11s (Freddy), located approximately 530 nm northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking westward at 08 knots.
Tropical cyclone 12p (Gabrielle), located approximately 367 nm west-southwest of Noumea, New Caledonia, is tracking southeastward at 22 knots.
Tropical cyclone 13s (Dingani), located approximately 854 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking westward at 13 knots.
Newsbytes:
Australia - Stormy weather brought heavy rain and flooding to parts of New South Wales in Australia on 09 February 2023. Over 20 people had to be rescued. Bellambi, a suburb of Wollongong in the Illawarra region recorded 96mm in 1 hour.
Brazil - Storms and flash flooding struck the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region in Brazil on 08 February 2023. Two people died in the storm, while dozens were rescued from flood waters. Flooding has also occurred in the Greater São Paulo Region in recent days. Authorities report one fatality and one person missing. Rio de Janiero reported 30.4 mm of rain in 15 minutes and 67.4 mm in 1 hour at the Jardim Botânico weather station. Over 30 landslides were also reported in the city. Around 20 schools have been closed.
Bolivia - Over 5,500 families have been affected by flooding across La Paz, Beni and Santa Cruz Departments in Bolivia over the last few days. Two fatalities were reported, and dozens of homes and wide areas of crops have been damaged or destroyed. At least 20 homes were damaged or destroyed in Mapiri. Camps were set up to accommodate families who lost their homes.
Inter-Connections
The vast burning of trees in the Amazon has been linked to the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas and even Antarctica due to newly discovered atmospheric pathways that threaten to push some regional climates beyond tipping points that cannot be reversed. Writing in the journal Nature Climate Change, an international team of researchers says the Amazon-Himalayan climate connection stretches 20,000 km from Brazil to Tibet. That means that as the Amazon warms and receives more rainfall, the mountains of South Asia get less precipitation and become warmer.
Road to Extinction
A new report by the group NatureServe says 34% of all plants and 40% of all animals in the US are at risk of extinction. Authors of the report say the warning is based on 50 years of extensive data collected by the nonprofit.
“Two-fifths of our ecosystems are in trouble,” said the Virginia-based group’s vice president for data and methods, Regan Smyth. “Freshwater invertebrates and many pollinators, the foundation of a healthy, functional planet, are in precipitous decline.” Most “imperiled” are all of the country’s tropical forests, tropical savannas and various grasslands.
Rainbow Clouds
The Arctic Circle is best known for its Northern Lights. But this emerald display was recently replaced by spectacular iridescent rainbows. Rare ‘rainbow clouds’ painted the skies over the Arctic Circle in Finland, Iceland and Norway at the end of January.
The phenomenon, caused by extreme freezing temperatures in the stratosphere. While auroras occur when solar wind collides with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere, rainbow-coloured ‘polar stratospheric clouds’ (PSCs) are caused by tiny atmospheric ice crystals. So-called ‘rainbow clouds’ are a result of cloud iridescence caused by small water droplets or ice crystals diffracting the sun’s light.
Beautiful as they are, rainbow clouds are bad news for the climate. The chemical reactions that they encourage break down the ozone layer, which shields Earth from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
