Earthquakes

6.3 Earthquake hits northern Xinjiang, China.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Bonin islands off Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits near the Loyalty islands.

 

Wildfires

The Colorado Springs, USA wildfire has consumed 346 homes and is the most destructive in Colorado history.

It is being suggested that the spate of recent wildfires in the US is a preview of the effects of global warming.

 

Earthquakes

5.8 Earthquake hits in the South Atlantic Ocean.

5.2 Earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico.

 

Disease

A new outbreak of American Foulbrood disease in bees has been found in Inverness, Scotland. All affected hives have been destroyed as there exists no treatment for the infections.

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical Storm Doksuri is moving slowly northwards towards Hong Kong and is expected to bring heavy rains to the Philippines as it passes through the area.

 

Floods

One million people have been displaced by severe monsoon floods in Assam, India. 27 people have died.

Torrential rains bring more flash floods to Britain and Ireland causing major disruptions.

 

Wildfires

The Colorado Springs wildfire, USA has burned hundreds of homes and threatens heavily populated areas of the State's second biggest city. 10 acres of the US Air Force Academy grounds have also been charred. Firefighters battling the blaze have contained only about 5% of the inferno. Strong winds continue to fan the flames. 32 000 people have fled their homes.

 

Earthquakes

5.2 and 4.3 Earthquakes hit Tonga.

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

5.3 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

 

Floods

Death toll in the Bangladesh floods rises to over 100, with more than 250 000 people stranded by the rising waters.

 

Disease

A new report concerning the 2009 swine flu epidemic suggests that more than 500 000 people may have died globally from swine flu due to under-reporting, which is more than 15 times the official number of laboratory confirmed deaths.

Volcanos

Shiveluch volcano on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula has sent up a second ash plume. Nearby Karymsky volcano also continues active.

 

Earthquakes

5.6 Earthquake hits El Salvador.

5.3 Earthquake hits Guatemala.

5.2 Earthquake hits Kamchatka, Russia.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Flores region, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Volcano islands near Japan.

5.0 Earthquake hits Vancouver island, Canada.

A big cluster of more than 200 small earthquakes hit the Canary islands, believed to be related to building pressure in the El Hierro volcano.

Texas, USA has been hit by five small earthquakes over the past few days. No reports of damage.

 

Floods

At least 51 people die in landslides in south eastern Bangladesh after three days of heavy rains triggered flash floods.

Floods from Tropical Storm Debby force 20 000 people from their homes in Florida, USA.

 

Drought

Both North and South Korea suffer their worst drought in over a century.

 

Climate Change

A recent study published Sunday, shows that sea levels are rising much faster along a 600 mile stretch of USA coastline from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to just north of Boston, than they are around the globe.

Since 1990, global sea levels have risen by about 2 inches, while along this stretch of coastline, sea levels have risen by up to 4.8 inches.

Computer models have previously suggested that melting ice from Greenland and Antarctica will change ocean currents causing a rise of sea levels along the US east coast. Now this is the first study that shows this has already happened.

 

Tropical Storm

Tropical Storm Debby is parked off the coast of Florida, USA, bringing soaking rains to Florida's Gulf coast.

 

Floods

Floods in British Columbia, Canada. 1 200 homes evacuated.

Landslide on Mount Elgon in Uganda carries away three villages. 18 people confirmed dead. as many as 400 may still be buried in the mud.

 

Wildfires

New wildfire in Colorado, USA quickly burns over 2 000 acres in very dry and windy conditions, prompting evacuation of more than 11 000 residents.

 

Earthquakes

5.4 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical Storm Debby spawns two tornadoes in Florida, USA which kill one person. Debby is forecast to strengthen and move slowly towards Texas.

 

Volcanos

The yellowstone geysers are showing increased activity after a dormant period.

 

Earthquakes

6.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

5.5 Earthquake hits the Sichuan-Yunnan border region, China.

5.3 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.

5.3 Earthquake hits off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Fiji region.

 

Floods

Flash floods in northern Afghanistan kill at least 37 people.

Floods hit northern England after torrential rains.

 

Tornadoes

A spate of tornadoes kill at least four people in the Free State in South Africa.

Tornado in Naples, south-western Florida, USA.

Tornado in Ardmore, South Dakota, USA.

 

Disease

Foot and mouth disease outbreak in western Uganda. Rwanda bans cattle movement across the border between the countries.

Avian botulism outbreak kills dozens of birds in Hawaii.

 

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical Storm Debby forms in the Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana warning issued. Some US Gulf oil output suspended as oil rigs are evacuated.

This is the first time that four tropical storms have been recorded before July 1 since records began in 1851.

 

Earthquakes

5.9 Earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Andreanof Islands in the Aleautian Islands off Alaska.

 

Drought

Drought hits the Argentine corn and soy crops.

Wildfires

Wildfire in Utah, USA forces 8 000 residents out of their homes.

Bushfires in Kuala Baram, Malaysia.

 

Drought

Severe drought in Arkansas and Indiana, USA.

 

Disease

Hepatitis E outbreak in Maharashtra, India. 18 people have died, while more than 4 000 are sickened.

 

Earthquakes

6.0 Earthquake hits the Macquarie islands region.

5.7, 5.2 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit south of the Kermedec Islands off New Zealand.

5.2 and 5.1 Earthquakes hit off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

 

Floods

Numerous houses flooded and evacuation of residents ordered following floods south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

 

Wildfires

Meteor sightings ground aircraft fighting the Colorado wildfire.

19 wildfires have been sparked by guns in Utah so far this year. The culprit seems to be target shooting in very dry conditions.

Bushfires on Borneo. Firefighters battle to put out the smouldering peat fires.

 

Volcanos

Nevado del Ruiz volcano closes two airports in Colombia due to the expanding ash cloud.

Ash from the small eruption of Cleveland volcano in Alaska also prompts flight warnings to pilots.

 

Climate Change

Scientists report that penguin numbers are plummeting. They attribute this phenomenon to global warming.

The flightless birds depend on krill as their principal source of food. As the Antarctic ice melts, so the supply of krill dwindles.

Chinstrap penguins have seen a 36% drop in numbers. Adelie penguins and emperor penguins have seen similar decline in numbers.

 

Volcanos

Cleveland volcano in Alaska explodes an ash plume which rises 35 000 feet into the sky.

 

Earthquakes

5.4 Earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Guam region.

 

Wildfires

22 000 acre wildfire burns in the Croatan National Forest in North Carolina, USA.

The Colorado wilfire has passed 100 square kilometres in size, making it the largest in Colorado history.

 

Floods

Flood rips through Duluth, Minnesota, USA. About 14 zoo animals drown while a bear and the seals escape.

 

Volcanos

Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico continues to rumble, with lava flows still active and posing a danger to residents nearby.

Ongoing activity also at Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador, Karymsky and Shiveluch volcanos on Kamchatka, Bagana volcano on Bougainville and Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala.

 

Earthquakes

5.8 Aftershock hits the Near Islands in the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska.

5.6 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.5 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Papua, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits Gujurat, India.

 

Wildfires

Wildfire south east of Boise, Idaho, USA destroys at least 6 homes.

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical storm Chris forms in the north Atlantic off the coast of Newfoundland. No threat to land.

 

Technology

The  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is going to employ small crew less watercraft 'robots' to sail into tropical storms and hurricanes to gather data that will be used to improve forecasts.

The robot craft will help scientists to gain a better understanding of hurricanes by observing the storms from the surface of the ocean. The unmanned vessels will be able to record how water heat fuels a storm and how a storm meshes with the atmosphere – low-level interactions that high-flying hurricane hunter aircraft are unable to capture. Satellite communication will be used to transfer the data to the National Hurricane Centre west of Miami, Florida.

 

Earthquakes

6.0 Earthquake hits the Near Islands in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska.

5.3 Earthquake hits Victoria, Australia. It is the biggest earthquake to hit the area in over a century.

5.1 Earthquake hits off the coast of Oregon, USA.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Fiji region.

 

Floods

Severe flooding disrupts Metro Manila in the Philippines after heavy downpours.

6 people die in flood in Assam, India. 8 Districts now affected by the monsoon floods.

 

Storms

Tropical Storm Talim is expected to hit Taiwan and batter the southern and eastern coast of China. China has issued a sea warning for the South China Sea.

Japan is hit by typhoon strength storm, killing at least three people and injuring 306. Thousands of travelers have been stranded as airlines cancel more than 600 flights both domestic and Asia bound.

Tornado and storm with hail the size of golf balls hits southern Minnesota, USA on Sunday.

 

Nuclear Power

The Japanese government has given the go-ahead to bring the first nuclear reactor back online after last year's earthquake and tsunami.

High levels of radioactivity continue to be reported in the sea far off the coast from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

 

Earthquakes

6.4 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.4 Earthquake his Mendoza, Argentina.

5.3 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.1 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits south of the Sandwich Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Azores islands region.

 

Volcanos

Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz volcano spews ash and gas. The authorities have distributed more than 30 000 face masks to residents living near the volcano.

New activity also reported from Fuego volcano in Guatemala, Galeras volcano in Colombia and Poas volcano in Costa Rica.

 

Floods & Technology

Taiwan has mobilized military drones to monitor real-time conditions in areas hit by flash flooding after last week's monsoon rains in which at least 6 people died.

Storms

New tropical storm Talim forms near the Philippines, It is expected to hit southern China on Tuesday.

 

Disease

The authorities in Uttar Pradesh in India are battling an outbreak of encephalitis.

Second person dies in Legionnaires disease outbreak in Edinburgh, Scotland. There are 42 confirmed cases and 47 suspected cases in the outbreak which is believed to have peaked. Five people who contracted the disease have instructed attorneys to seek answers to the outbreak.

 

Earthquakes

6.1 Earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.

5.7 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits Taiwan.

 

Tropical Storms

Tropical storm Guchol/Butchoy has strengthened to become a super typhoon with wind speeds over 150 mph. The system is heading for Japan about 500 miles away.

Tropical Storm Carlotta hits Mexico's Pacific coast as hurricane, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. At least 2 people die.

 

Volcanos

Shiveluch volcano on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula erupts an 8 km high ash cloud.

 

Wildfires

The large Colorado, USA wildfire burning west of Fort Collins has now destroyed 181 homes.

Several wildfires burning near Athens, Greece.

 

Asteroid

Astronomers have discovered a new 'unusually large' asteroid just days ago the size of a city block (about 500 metres wide) which will pass by the Earth on Friday. There is no danger of a collision; the asteroid will pass within 14 times the distance of the moon from the Earth.

Earthquakes

5.6 Earthquake hits in the Molucca Sea.

5.5 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.4 Earthquake hits northern Xinjiang in China.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Bismarck Sea.

5.2 Earthquake hits Taiwan.

4.0 Earthquake hits Orange County, California, USA.

 

Volcanos

Mount Gamkonora volcano in north-eastern Indonesia erupts. Hundreds of locals briefly evacuate until the eruption subsides.

 

Storms

Tropical Storm Carlotta forms in the Pacific and heads for the southern coast of Mexico.

Tropical storm Guchol/Butchoy passes through the Philippines and heads for Japan.

Britain is set to be hit by a once-in-50-years storm.

 

Earthquakes

5.5 Earthquake hits southern Turkey. Some reports of damage to a minaret at a mosque and injuries to a handful of people.

5.4 Earthquake hits south of the Fiji islands.

The Afghan village hit by two earthquakes and a resultant landslide of Monday is to be declared a mass grave. Part of a mountain collapsed and rescuers are finding it impossible to recover more than a few of the approximately 71 women and children believed to have been buried in the rubble.

 

Storms

Tropical Storm Guchol enters the Philippines and is named 'Butchoy'. It is not expected to strike land, although it is strengthening and may become a typhoon over the weekend.

Drought

Drought in Tanzania brings pastoralists and farmers into conflict as the herders drive their animals onto traditional farmland in search of water and fodder.

 

Floods

Flash floods across Britain after more torrential rains.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 Earthquake hits the south Sandwich islands region.

5.0 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.

4.9 Earthquake hits northern Taiwan.

 

Storms

Small tropical storm Guchol forms in the Pacific far from land.

Waterspout (tornado over water) sweeps over several islands off Venice, Italy. At least 12 houses had their roofs ripped off, but no reports of casualties.

 

Wildfires

Smoke from the Colorado, USA wildfire reported earlier, blankets Denver 60 miles away. The wildfire has now burned more than 43 000 acres and remains out of control. One person has been reported as having died in the fire.

Bushfires around Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia. Most of the fires are believed to be caused by arsonists. Authorities have made an appeal for people to be on the lookout for 'firies'.

 

Plague

Good rains and the resultant growth of vegetation in the Sahara have led to an increase in locust populations. Farmers in Niger and Mali are at high risk from large locust swarms that are moving southward from Algeria and Libya. The ravenous insects can decimate the food crops of entire communities.

Earthquakes

5.4 Earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands region.

 

Bushfires

Bushfires in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa.

 

Earthquakes

5.7 and 5.4 Earthquakes hit northern Afghanistan. More than 70 people are trapped in rubble when their houses made of mud collapsed after the earthquakes triggered landslides. The earthquakes were also felt in Pakistan.

 

Storms

Alberta, Canada experiences a small tornado, heavy rain and a freak spring snowstorm.

Tornado hit Alabama, USA on Sunday.

 

Wildfires

Growing 14 000 acres wildfire in Colorado, USA is burning out of control. It has destroyed at least 15 structures prompting evacuations.

The huge wildfire in New Mexico reported previously continues to burn unabated.

 

Volcanos

El Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupts.

 

Earthquakes

6.5 Earthquake hits north-eastern Taiwan.

5.8 Earthquake hits the Greek Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands region.

5.0 Earthquake hits the northern Mariana Islands.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands off Alaska.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Ceram Sea in Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands region.

5.0 Earthquake hits off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia.

4.8 Earthquake hits southern Taiwan.

 

Tornadoes

Tornadoes hit Wyoming and Colorado, USA. Damage to homes reported.

Drought

Drought in Argentina severely affects the country's soybean harvest.

 

Floods

Thousands of homes flooded in Cape Town, South Africa after heavy winter rains.

Floods in Wales lead to the evacuation of more than 100 homes.

Climate Change

NASA scientists say they have discovered an astonishing algae bloom in the Arctic Ocean. When a team of NASA scientists pushed a hole through three feet of ice, they found waters richer in the microscopic marine plants known as phytoplankton than in any other ocean region on Earth. They have equated their discovery as one being 'as dramatic and unexpected as finding a rainforest in the middle of a desert'. The discovery bodes well for the planet, as fast-growing phytoplankton consume large amounts of carbon dioxide.

On the other hand, a group of international scientists suggest that the Earth is reaching a "tipping point" in climate change that will lead to increasingly rapid and irreversible destruction of the global environment unless its effects are controlled by concerted international action.

In their report in Nature, the scientists say their research shows that many combined factors are thrusting the world toward the tipping point they foresee. Among the problems are these:

-- The rapid growth in the world's human population - to 9 billion or more by 2050 and possibly as many as 27 billion by the end of the century - is quickly consuming available resources.

Fossil fuels are being burned at a rapidly increasing rate, increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 35 percent since the industrial revolution began. At the same time, ocean acidity has risen by 5 percent in the past 20 years.

-- Ocean productivity is being diminished by vast "dead zones" where no fish swim, while 40 percent of Earth's land mass that was once "biodiverse" now contains far fewer species of crop plants and domestic animals.

-- More animal species than ever are becoming extinct, and many plant and animal species are being forced by global warming to seek new ranges that could place them at risk of extinction, as well.

-- Within the next 60 years, the average global temperature "will be higher than it has been since the human species evolved."

However, as with many climate change models, there remains an element of uncertainty in their predictions . . . .

 

Earthquakes

6.0 Earthquake hits southern Peru.

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

5.0 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Jujuy, Argentina.

Two Earthquakes of 4.2 hit northern New South Wales, Australia.

A swarm of more than 100 small Earthquakes hit around Chile's Tatara-San Pedro volcano, heralding a possible eruption.

 

Tornadoes

Tornadoes tear through suburban Perth, Australia. Damage to homes and power outages.

Wildfires

8 firefighters die while fighting wildfire in southern Siberia.

 

Storms

At least 3 tornadoes have been confirmed in southern Alberta, Canada.

Tornado reported in Hobson area, Montana, USA.

The recent severe storms off the coast of eastern Australia generated huge 14 metre waves off Sydney.

 

Earthquakes

5.9 Earthquake hits the Fiji region.

5.8 Earthquake hits Maule, Chile.

5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga region.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

An unusual shallow 4.0 magnitude Earthquake hits off the west coast of Ireland. Reports of minor damage to buildings, such as cracked chimneys.

Disease

A South African canoeist has died of rabies after being bitten by a stray dog in Kwazulu-Natal.

Tsunami

A huge, 165 tonne dock torn from a Japanese port by last year's tsunami has washed up on the coast of Oregon near Portland 8 058 kilometers away.

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Japan has been found on Graham Island off the coast of Canada.

The main body of debris from the tsunami has congregated into a vast patch of ocean in the northern Pacific and is expected to disperse (or sink) over time.

Wildfires

Bushfires on Fiji - concern for residents prompts government firefighters to take action.

Wildfires spread across Utah, USA. 7 000 acres burned.

Wildfires in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming, USA.

 

Wildfires

Bushfire near Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia threatens homes.

Volcanos

Volcano on Manam Island in Papua New Guinea erupts.

 

Earthquakes

Four Earthquakes hit south-eastern Taiwan, the largest of which measured 5.7.

5.8 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

5.2 Earthquake hits south-western Siberia, Russia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.0 Earthquakee hits the Solomon Islands.

 

Storms

Tornado hits south-eastern Missouri, USA killing 3 people in mobile home.

Severe storms with torrential rains and cyclone wind speeds cause havoc in New South Wales, Australia. The army is called in to assist storm victims.

Cyclone hits Tripura, India causing widespread damage, with one person dying and numerous others injured.

Disease

Legionnaires disease outbreak in Edinburgh, Scotland. 1 person dead with 16 others critical.

Climate Change

Large areas of the European and Asian Arctic tundra encompassing more than 100 000 square kilometers are turning into forest.

Scientists report that this change is happening faster than expected with tundra plants growing more than 2 metres over the past decade to become small trees.

The forestation of the tundra may speed up global warming by reducing the amount of light reflected by the Earth - i.e. by absorbing more heat.

 

Earthquakes

5.3 Earthquake hits the Fiji Region.

5.0 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the northern mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.2 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.6 Earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

 

Storms and Floods

Heavy rains and gale force winds batter Victoria, Australia. Floods in many areas as more than a month's rainfall falls in 24 hours.

Climate Change

Researchers from New Zealand’s University of Auckland suggest that according to satellite data from March 2000 to February 2010, the average height of clouds declined by approximately 100 to 130 feet.

A reduction in cloud height would allow the planet to radiate more heat into space thereby slowing the effects of global warming.

More research needs to be done, as the test period is too short to determine a definite trend.

Earthquakes

Two large earthquakes of 6.6 and 6.4 hit south of Panama.

5.9 Earthquake hits near Jakarta, West Java in Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits northern Italy. Reports of falling masonry and the clock tower in the town of Novi collapsed. No casualties have been reported.

5.3 Earthquake hits the south Sandwich Islands region.

5.0 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty islands.

 

Aircraft Accidents

A passenger plane has crashed in Lagos, Nigeria after experiencing engine troubles. All 153 people on board were killed. A day of national mourning was declared in Nigeria.

An air tanker has crashed while fighting a wildfire in Utah, USA. Both pilots on board were killed.

Disease

7 people have died of encephalitis in Muzaffarpur, India, with 38 more infected.

Tornadoes

9 tornadoes touched down in Maryland, USA on Sunday while 2 tornadoes were reported in Virginia on Friday. There have been reports of damage to property, but no fatalities.

Earthquakes

5.0 Earthquake hits Potosi, Bolivia.

 

Disease

Measels outbreak in Cork, Ireland.

Storms

Typhoon Mawar in the Pacific heads for Okinawa, Japan after passing by the Philippines. The storm has yet to make landfall.

Tornado hits Ligonier in western Pennsylvania. About 75 homes were damaged, two seriously.

Earthquakes

6.0 Earthquake hits Salta, Argentina.

Climate Change

Scientists report that carbon dioxide levels in the Arctic have reached 400 parts per million [ppm]. Years ago, when levels passed 350 ppm, scientists said that was the highest safe level for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Levels were at 275 ppm in the pre-industrial age.

At present only the Arctic is showing levels of 400 ppm, with the global average being 395.

Earthquakes

5.5 and 5.7 Earthquakes hit near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia.

5.6 Earthquake hits Antarctica.

5.4 Earthquake hits southern Xinjiang, China.

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

Wildfires

Two large wildfires burning in Colorado and the Colorado/Utah border, USA.

Volcanos

Shiveluch volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far east Russia spews ash cloud.

An alert has been declared in Costa Rica for the Turrielba, Paos and Rinconde la Vieja volcanos after seismic activity.