Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.1 Earthquake hits Iceland.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Rachel is located about 485 mi...780 km W of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds…40 mph…64 km/h. Present movement...stationary.

Tropical storm 18w (Phanfone), is located approximately 117 nm northeast of Saipan, and is tracking northwestward at 16 knots.

NewsBytes:

France - The litany of flash floods caused by extraordinarily heavy rainfall in 2014 grew even longer Monday after record-shattering rainfall struck one of southern France's largest cities. Montpellier, a city of 264,000 along France's Mediterranean coast, was hit with 252 millimetres (9.92 inches) of rain in just 3 hours, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time (9 a.m. and noon EDT in the U.S.). The exceptionally heavy rain flooded streets and quickly sent the river Lez out of its banks in the city centre. As of 8 p.m. local time, the city had tallied 295.6 millimetres (11.63 inches) of rain for the day, amounting to 47 percent of the city's average annual rainfall of 24.77 inches.

Global Warming

Climate Change Influenced Extreme Heat in 2013

Man-made climate change stoked some of 2013's most extreme heat on the planet, a new report shows.

Twenty-two separate research teams analyzed 16 of last year's extreme weather events, including the California drought and devastating flooding in Colorado, to determine whether climate change — primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels — made any of the events more likely or severe.

Scientists found clear fingerprints of climate change on all five of the heat waves analyzed in the report, which was published in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. But for other events, isolating the impact of climate change from natural variability proved to be more difficult.

Three separate research teams looked at the 2013 California drought, for example, but they didn't find conclusive evidence for the influence of human-caused climate change. Climate change made it more likely for a "ridge" of high pressure to linger over the western United States, keeping storms and rain away from California in 2013, one paper found. But it's not clear how this atmospheric pattern influenced changes in precipitation and temperature that drove California's drought.

Drought is a complex meteorological phenomenon, and its length and severity are influenced by several natural factors — including a lack of precipitation, snowpack availability, temperature and soil moisture — which are then compounded by land and water use, said Stephanie Herring, the report's lead editor from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Centre.

"A clear picture of how long-term climate change impacted the California drought is yet to emerge," Herring told reporters.

Five of the research papers in the report were devoted to the historic heat in Australia. Last year was Australia's hottest on record. The government spent about $300 million on a drought assistance package for affected farmers, and an intense heat wave occurred during the summer months, sending the average temperature 2 degrees F (1 degree C) above normal.

"It's hard to imagine how you could have had those temperatures in a world without climate change," Peter Stott, the report's co-editor at the U.K. Met Office Hadley Centre, said during a media briefing.

Indeed, all five studies suggested human-caused factors increased the likelihood and severity of the record temperatures in Australia. Climate change also created conditions that were favourable for drought in New Zealand, and it contributed to heat waves in Japan, Korea, China and Western Europe in 2013, other studies found.

Some weather events seemed to be natural anomalies. One group of researchers found that climate change was not directly to blame for the 17 inches (43 centimetres) of rain that fell over the course of one week around Boulder, Colorado, and the probability of another such event should actually decrease as the climate changes. Similarly, an unusually intense October blizzard in South Dakota last year likely wasn't influenced by climate change and another event like it is unlikely to occur in the future, another paper found.

The report speaks to some of the modelling limitations climatologists face when trying to understand man-made influences on complicated events like droughts and storms. Scientists clearly have the right tools to attribute human-caused climate change to heat extremes and temperature extremes. But temperature-driven events have a much stronger signal relative to the noise than events like storms and heavy rains, Stott explained.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits Azerbaijan.

5.2 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.1 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Rachel is located about 485 mi...780 km W of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...N or 360 degrees at 5 mph...7 km/h.

Tropical storm 17w (Kammuri), is located approximately 320 nm east-southeast of Narita Airport, and is tracking northeastward at 13 knots.

Tropical storm 18w (Phanfone), is located approximately 325 nm east-southeast of Saipan, and is tracking west-northwestward at 12 knots.

NewsBytes:

USA - Powerful thunderstorms brought heavy rain and strong wind to parts of Arizona, Utah and Nevada Saturday — flooding roads, delaying flights and leaving thousands without power.

Global Warming

Climate Change Scrambles Arctic Food Chain

The Arctic's shrinking sea ice is reshaping the region's food web from the bottom up, a new study reports.

Historically, tiny plantlike organisms called phytoplankton burst into bloom in the spring in the Arctic Ocean. The enormous one- to two-week bloom sets off a feeding frenzy among zooplankton, fish and bottom-dwelling creatures at the base of the Arctic food chain.

"The entire ocean system is linked to this massive input of carbon," said lead study author Mathieu Ardyna, a marine biologist at Laval University's Takuvik Joint International Laboratory in Quebec, Canada.

But now, because of the declining sea ice, a second bloom also appears in the fall, according to a new analysis of satellite records, published Sept. 2 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. The fall bloom could have widespread ripple effects on marine life and the Arctic climate. Phytoplankton clear carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

Annual spring and fall phytoplankton blooms are a common feature in warmer oceans, from the cool north Atlantic to the hot, tropical Pacific. The double Arctic blooms may herald a shift from a polar to a more temperate ecosystem.

However, the trends are so new, and varied across the Arctic, that the researchers can only speculate what the final impact will be. "For sure, the carbon cycling will change a little bit, but the question now is to understand how the rest of the plankton and fish will respond to this new pulse of phytoplankton," Ardyna says.

Ardyna and his co-authors charted phytoplankton blooms between 1998 and 2012 with satellite data that measures ocean colour (a proxy for phytoplankton levels). The researchers also looked at sea ice extent and wind speeds.

The results showed that fall plankton explosions are becoming more frequent throughout the Arctic Ocean up to 80 degrees north latitude. At these high latitudes, there are no plankton blooms at all because of permanent sea ice.

The largest increases were seen in the Eastern Arctic Ocean, especially north of Russia, where ice once prevented plankton blooms. "The percentage change is really high here because this is where there used to be ice," Ardyna said. The western Arctic includes Alaska and Canada, while the eastern Arctic encompasses northern Europe and Russia.

The researchers said the plankton is likely thriving in fall for two reasons: delayed freezing and strong winds. In the fall, new sea ice starts to form when ocean temperatures fall below about 29 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1.9 degrees Celsius). But as the Arctic sea ice shrinks, the ocean absorbs more of the sun's heat in summer, postponing the freeze until all the warmth dissipates. There were also a greater number of strong fall storms in the last decade, which can stir up nutrients to feed a phytoplankton bloom.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Oregon, USA

Progress continued Sunday in the fight against Oregon's remaining significant wildfires, with the possibility of rain on Monday and Tuesday offering potential further relief.

In Estacada, the 36 Pit Fire was 69 percent contained by Sunday evening, though several roads, including Highway 224 remained closed to the general public, but open to residents and workers escorted by pilot cars. The 5,520-acre blaze began Sept. 13, and investigators have since determined the fire was started by target shooters' hot bullet fragments igniting dry tinder near the out-of-use rock quarry.

In Josephine County, the 4,134-acre Onion Mountain Fire was 95 percent contained Sunday, and the last heavy helicopter that was assigned to the fire was released at the end of the shift. Firefighters expect to have the fire fully contained by Tuesday. The fire began on Sept. 13.

The Deception Complex Fire near Oakridge also was 95 percent contained Sunday, with milder temperatures and a lower sun angle helping in firefighting efforts. The 6,033-acre fire began on Aug. 11 and was caused by lightning strikes.

The weather forecast for Oregon could offer help in efforts against the wildfires. A weak weather system is expected to move into the state Monday, bringing the possibility of rain on Monday and Tuesday. A high pressure system is expected to bring back warmer and drier weather Wednesday through Saturday.

Wildfires - British Columbia, Canada

There are still two massive blazes crews are trying to contain.

The Chelaslie River Fire has been burning since early July and it’s about 133,000 hectares in size and the Mount McCallister fire just west of Chetwynd is roughly 26,000 hectares. No homes are presently in danger.

So far, BC has spent nearly $300 million fighting wildfires, burning through the initial $63 million budget.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): Eruptive activity at the Holuhraun fissure remains stable. The lava flows continue to expand towards the north and particularly to the east, now over a snow-covered landscape as winter conditions set in. Earthquakes under the intrusive dyke decrease slowly, but remain frequent and strong under the caldera of the central volcano, which subsides at a more or less constant rate of 50 cm per day.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 Earthquake hits offshore Maule, Chile.

5.2 Earthquake hits Fiji.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.

5.0 Earthquakehits Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Rachel is located about 475 mi...765 km W of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...80 mph...130 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 340 degrees at 6 mph...9 km/h.

Tropical storm 17w (Kammuri), is located approximately 337 nm southeast of Narita Airport, and is tracking northeastward at 13 knots.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

On-take (Honshu): A large explosive eruption occurred at Japan's second highest volcano today at 11:53 local time. An explosion produced an ash plume that rose approx. 4 km and a large pyroclastic flow that swept down the southwestern flank. At least one woman was killed by the eruption and several others, approx. 50 persons, were severely injured. The volcano is a popular hiking destination and at the time of the eruption, about 150-200 people were on the volcano. The bodies of 31 hikers have been found near the top of Ontake a day after the sudden volcanic eruption. 45 hikers are still missing.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.

5.1 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits central Alaska.

5.0 Earthquake hits Catanduanes in the Philippines.

Mammoth earthquake swarm - California

More than 600 small earthquakes have rattled the Mammoth Lakes region in less than 36 hours as ripple effects continued across one of the most seismically active volcanic regions in California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The swarm of quakes — ranging from magnitude 1.0 to 3.8 — began just before 5 a.m. Thursday. Earthquake swarms are not uncommon to this region in California’s Eastern Sierra. Countless small faults crisscross the area known as the Long Valley Caldera, Shelly said. This roughly 20-mile-wide crater-like depression, adjacent to Mammoth Mountain, was formed from ash and pumice deposits during a volcanic “super eruption” about 760,000 years ago.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Rachel is located about 460 mi...745 km SW of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.

Tropical storm 17w (Kammuri), is located approximately 173 nm east-southeast of Iwo To, and is tracking north-northwestward at 09 knots.

Environment

Aral Sea Is Drying Up

Once a sprawling oasis in the mostly arid Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea is now a fraction of its former self. Images captured by a NASA satellite show that the eastern basin of the South Aral Sea is now completely dry.

The two photos — one taken on Aug. 25, 2000, and the other taken on Aug. 19, 2014 — show the stark difference in the Aral Sea's appearance. The once-extensive waters of the eastern lobe (shown in emerald green in the satellite photos) have disappeared.

The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world, began shrinking after the Soviet Union started diverting water from two large rivers — the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya — in the 1950s and 1960s. Dams, canals and other structures changed the surrounding desert into farmland for cotton and other crops. But, without the rivers, the Aral Sea began to disappear.

Fisheries and communities that depended on the lake also began to collapse. As it shrank, the lake became saltier and absorbed more pollution from agricultural fertilizer and pesticides. Salty dust from the exposed lakebed became a public health hazard, which in turn increased water demand, as farmers required more water to flush the salt out of their crops. The loss of the lake is also affecting the climate, with the region experiencing colder winters and hotter and drier summers.

Wildfires

South Africa

A fire that has raged for most of the week in the mountains between Swellendam and Barrydale in the Western Cape has been extinguished, an official said on Saturday.

The fire originally broke out in the area after a lightning strike on Tuesday night. No structures were damaged.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): Strombolian explosions have returned to the summit vents, although so far, these have been rare and small. At the same time, the effusive eruption with lava flow emission from the vent at 650 m a.s.l. at the northern base of the crater terrace complex continues with little changes. The lava flow follows the path on the central part of the Sciara and its front reaches 50-100 m above the sea shore. The summit area remains closed for excursions due to the increased risk of a larger landslide and/or a strong sudden explosive eruption. Visitors are allowed to climb to 290 meters only.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.2 Earthquake hits southern Alaska.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Andaman Islands off India.

5.3 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.

5.2 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits Pagan in the North Mariana Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Rachel is located about 390 mi...630 km SSW of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 300 degrees at 14 mph...22 km/h.

Tropical storm 17w (Kammuri), is located approximately 302 nm east-southeast of Iwo To, and is tracking north-northwestward at 06 knots.

NewsBytes:

Bangladesh - Flash floods triggered by heavy rain and water from upstream hill areas across the border inundated vast areas in Bogra and Kurigram districts in last couple of days while the Jamalpur town protection embankment developed a breach under the pressure of rainwater. Over 100 villages of 20 unions of Nageswari, Sadar, Ulipur, Roumari and Rajibpur upazilas of Kurigram district in the last four days.

India - The death toll due to the massive floods in Meghalaya has risen to 39. Health authorities in the flood-ravaged Garo Hills region of Meghalaya said if precautions are not taken, diseases like diarrhoea, cholera and gastroenteritis may break out once the flood waters recede.

Environment

Hottest Northern Summer on Record

The Northern Hemisphere summer of 2014 was the hottest since record keeping began in 1880, according to the U.S. agency NOAA.

While most highly populated areas escaped excessive heat, the global average temperature in the hottest month of August was 61.36 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the previous record set in 1998.

August was unusually hot around the Pacific and Indian oceans and in Africa, but cooler in parts of the United States, Europe and Australia.

The world’s oceans in August basically tied June for being the all-time hottest.

August was the 354th consecutive month that temperatures worldwide were above the 20th-century average.

The warming has been so pronounced for nearly 100 years that the last time the world set a monthly record for being the coldest was back in 1916.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 115.9 degrees Fahrenheit (46.6 degrees Celsius) at Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 91.7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 68.7 degrees Celsius) at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

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.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): No significant changes have occurred at the ongoing eruption in Holuhraun and the seismic crisis. The eruption itself continues with steady, very large lava output and is on its way to become the largest event in the past 150 years on Iceland. So far, it has erupted approx. 0.5 cubic kilometres of lava, covered 40 square kilometres at an average depth of 12 meters.

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano continues to slowly extrude lava feeding the large lava lobe on the southeastern flank. Occasional rockfalls and small pyroclastic flows have been observed in the past weeks. PVMBG reported that RSAM values from Sinabung were low and stable during 12-20 September. Earthquake signals indicating lava-dome instability were recorded and had increased from 96 to 110 events/day since the 5-11 September period. Seismicity also continued to signify growth of the main lava flow on the flanks; incandescent lava was visible at the top, middle, and front of the lava flow.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): (25 Sep) In the past few days, the front of the lava flow heading towards Pahoa has stalled its forward progress. There is still lava activity at a decreased level, but this is only widening the lava field instead of advancing further.

There is an interesting, perhaps coincidental correlation between the drop in surface activity and a decrease in summit tilt (presumably tied to pressure). Unusually, there is no corresponding decrease on Pu'u 'O'o's tilt signal, and the public is not in a position to decipher whether this is due to an unusual eruption geometry, or whether there is no real correlation. If surface activity increases within a day or two of the next summit tilt increase, that would suggest some correlation, but for now certainly Pahoa and its infrastructure have been granted a little extra time.

Shishaldin (United States, Aleutian Islands): AVO reported that, although cloud cover sometimes obscured views of Shishaldin during 17-22 September, seismicity indicated that a low-level eruption was possibly continuing. Elevated surface temperatures at the summit were periodically detected in satellite images. Minor steam emissions were recorded by the web cam on 17 September. The Aviation Color Code remained at Orange and the Volcano Alert Level remained at Watch.

Tungurahua (Ecuador): Activity at the volcano remains at moderate to high levels, consisting of strombolian and small vulcanian explosions. During the past week, ash plumes have been rising 2-3 km above the volcano. On 18 September ash plumes rose 2 km and drifted mainly NW. Ashfall was reported in Cusúa (8 km NW), Mocha (25 km W), and Chacauco (NW), and windows vibrated at the Tungurahua Observatory (OVT) in Guadalupe (14 km N). An ash plume rose 2 km and drifted NW on 19 September.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits Pakistan.

5.2 Earthquake hits Taiwan.

5.2 Earthquake hits Pakistan.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Rachel is located about 360 mi...575 km SSW of Cabo Corrientes Mexico and about 485 mi...780 km S of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 295 degrees at 13 mph...20 km/h.

Tropical storm 17w (Kammuri), is located approximately 399 nm southeast of Iwo To, and is tracking north-northwestward at 07 knots.

NewsBytes:

France - Floods tear through Shrine at Lourdes as a storm, which lasted for nearly 36 hours between September 16 and 18, is believed to have broken France’s two-hour record for rainfall, established back in 1979. In one five hour period, rain totals a few hours east of Lourdes in Montdardier matched the average accumulation for a full two months of precipitation this time of year. Flooding at the grotto shrine at Lourdes closed the popular Catholic pilgrimage site for the third time in the last year and a half, following floods in October and June of last year.

Global Warming

Who Will Be Under Water as the Seas Rise

Every global shore touches the ocean, and the ocean is rising.

Climate Central just completed a novel analysis of worldwide exposure to sea level rise and coastal flooding. We found that 147 to 216 million people live on land that will be below sea level or regular flood levels by the end of the century, assuming emissions of heat-trapping gases continue on their current trend. By far the largest group — 41 to 63 million — lives in China. The ranges depend on the ultimate sensitivity of sea level to warming.

But even these figures may be two to three times too low, meaning as many as 650 million people may be threatened.

People living on land that will be below sea level or chronic flood levels by the end of the century, assuming current emissions trends continue, and medium sensitivity of sea level to warming. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, have levees that may provide protection. For the list ranked by percent exposure, we considered only countries with total populations over 1 million.

Our analysis relied on global data on elevation and population, but our experience using similar data in the U.S. strongly suggests that this global data is not as accurate or precise as more modern data sources. Comparing results for U.S. vulnerability using global data and state-of-the-art domestic data, we found that global elevation data led to major underestimates compared to modern U.S. elevation data (by a factor of 3 to 4), whereas global population data led to overestimates by a factor of 1.6 to 1.8. The net effect of global data was underestimation by a factor of 2 to 3.

If the overall error factors we calculated for the U.S. apply globally, then 300 to 650 million people live on land that will be submerged or exposed to chronic flooding, by 2100, under current emission trends.

Higher-quality global data — and in particular, elevation data — is needed to help resolve those figures — and makes a bigger difference than resolving sea level sensitivity. But our unadjusted results still give an indication of how nations compare in the threats they face from rising seas.

The top-20 list of most exposed countries includes representatives from every continent except Australia. The top seven slots, and 12 overall, come from Asia. Five European Union members make the list, as do the U.S., Brazil, and Nigeria.

Wildfires

Wildfires - California

Strong winds threaten Northern California wildfires.

A dozen homes have already been destroyed east of Sacramento. The 140-square-mile wildfire called the King Fire is just 35 percent contained. More than 7,000 firefighters are trying to stop the blaze. The wildfire was deliberately set on September 13.

Fire officials say it's become the highest priority fire in the nation.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): A powerful explosion occurred at the volcano today (24 Sep) at 12:41 local time, producing an ash plume that rose to 38,000 ft (11 km) altitude. It generated several pyroclastic flows, some of which surpassed the 350 m high western caldera wall. The volcano had been relatively quiet during the past months. This morning's explosion could have been a result of gas pressure that slowly build up under the lava dome's plug of viscous lava. KVERT raised the alert level to red, and lowered it back to orange afterwards as no new eruptions followed and the ash had dissipated.

Zhupanovsky (Kamchatka, Russia): Intermittent explosions continue. An eruption occurred last evening on 23 Sep, producing an ash plume rising to 14,000 ft (4.2 km) according to VAAC Tokyo.

Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): The volcano is still in eruption. A volcanic ash plume was observed by VAAC Darwin on 20 Sep extending 50 km to the west.

Dukono (Halmahera): After a phase of probably lower activity during the past weeks, strombolian activity picked up again and sometimes produces ash plumes that rise to 2-3 km.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.1 Earthquake hits Juyjuy, Argentina.

5.5 Earthquake hits Reykjanes Ridge.

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

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

5.1 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Kamchatka.

5.0 Earthquake hits off the coast of Central America.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

No current named tropical storms.

Disease

Ebola Outbreak - West Africa

The world could be dealing with more than a million cases of Ebola by January if efforts to tackle the disease outbreak are not drastically escalated, experts will warn.

There are currently an estimated 5,800 people who have suffered from the deadly illness in West Africa, six months on from the first cases reported to the World Health Organisation.

Despite a huge international response effort, the number of cases is still increasing exponentially, and will hit 21,000 within six weeks according to analysis published today in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

But in a separate report seen in draft by The Associated Press, the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to provide the far direr long-term prediction of cases reaching seven figures by the new year.

UN agencies are also struggling with the issue of huge underreporting of cases. The WHO noted today that in hardest-hit Liberia, precise numbers will never be known because the bodies of those dying in a crowded slum of the capital are simply being thrown into rivers.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.9 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits North Island, New Zealand.

5.3 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.3 Earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits the west Chile rise.

5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical depression 16w (Fung-Wong), located approximately 402 nm west-southwest of Sasebo, Japan, and is tracking northward at 09 knots.

NewsBytes:

India - Landslides and flash floods in Meghalaya, India have claimed the lives of at least seven people. Heavy rainfall caused flash floods in the Garo Hills district of Meghalaya inundating over 100 villages and affecting over one lakh people.

Environment

2014 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum - Animation

Please follow this link to view an animation of the shrinking Arctic sea ice.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland):

The fissure eruption in Holuhraun continues with similar intensity as during the past days and shows no sign of stopping soon. The latest satellite images indicate that the lava now flows into two main branches, one (the older one) to the north and a new one to the east. Astonishing lava volumes: The lava flows erupted since the beginning cover around 37 square km and comprise a total volume of 0.4-0.6 cubic kilometres. If compared to an explosive eruption (for which the VEI scale was designed) using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale, the eruption has already reached the category VEI 5. It has so far erupted about the same volume of magma as the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits the Bonin Islands off Japan.

5.3 Earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand.

5.2 Earthquake hits Easter Island.

5.2 Earthquake hits off the east coast of North Island, New Zealand.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical storm 16w (Fung-Wong), located approximately 135 nm south-southeast of Shanghai, China, and is tracking northwestward at 10 knots.

Tropical Depression Polo is located about 250 mi...400 km W of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...W or 270 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.

Polo is expected to become a remnant low later today.

NewsBytes:

Texas, USA - Heavy rains of more than 14 inches in places were causing flash floods in West Texas.

Environment

Challenges Outpacing Human Evolution

A new study warns that humankind has now reached an evolutionary paradox—not evolving fast enough to adapt to the environmental changes it’s causing while at the same time being unable to control the constantly evolving pests and diseases that threaten its survival.

Writing in the online Science Express, a team of international scientists argues that new evolutionary thinking is necessary to address these challenges.

“Evolutionary biology is often overlooked in the study of global challenges,” said lead author Scott Carroll of the University of California, Davis.

“By looking at humanity’s problems across the domains of nature conservation, food production and human health, it is clear that we need to strengthen evolutionary biology throughout the disciplines and develop a shared language among them,” Carroll added.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Australian-American Fulbright Commission.

Nature - Images

Interesting Images:

The 22nd of September is World Rhino Day, an international initiative creating awareness for the protection of these wonderful ancient creatures.

Global Warming

Global Carbon Emissions Reach New Record High

Concentrations of carbon dioxide will surge to a new high in the atmosphere in 2014, scientists announced today in advance of the U.N. Climate Summit in New York City.

Global carbon dioxide emissions are projected to soar to 44 billion tons (40 billion metric tons) this year, a 2.5 percent increase from 2013 levels, according to joint studies published today (Sept. 21) in the journals Nature Climate Change and Nature Geoscience. The new estimates come from the Global Carbon Project, an international effort to track the global carbon cycle, from sky to sea.

This week, leaders of 125 countries will meet in New York for the U.N. Climate Summit, which is intended to jump-start a global pact to cut greenhouse gases and slow down climate change.

The study authors warn that the world has 30 years to reverse the ominous trend before global warming surpasses the 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) target set at a 2009 climate summit in Copenhagen.

About 75 percent of carbon dioxide emissions come from burning fossil fuels such as oil and gas, and from making cement, the study reports. In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide absorbs heat and raises temperatures on Earth. Because the gas lingers in the atmosphere for decades, even immediate and drastic cuts won't lower its levels for decades.

The biggest carbon dioxide offenders are China, India, the United States and the European Union. Data shows China's per capita emissions now outstrip Europe's for the first time. However, the United States still has the highest per capita consumption. Each person in the United States has a carbon footprint of 18 tons (16.4 metric tons) per year, more than twice that of a person in China and eight times that of someone in India.

Here are the emission counts for 2013:

India's emissions jumped by 5.1 percent, the biggest expansion of any country, thanks to that nation's rapid economic growth. But India's total emissions make up just 6.5 percent of the global total.

China's emissions increased by 4.2 percent, a somewhat smaller increase compared to previous years. China now accounts for 28 percent of global emissions, more than the United States and Europe combined.

The United States' emissions rose by 2.9 percent, due to a rebound in coal consumption. U.S. emissions had declined by 3.7 percent in 2012. The country's contribution last year made up 14 percent of global emissions.

The European Union's emissions fell by 1.8 percent, due to a weak economy in some member countries. Europe emitted 10 percent of global carbon dioxide.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

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

5.4 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.4 Earthquake hits Fiji.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical storm 16w (Fung-Wong) is located approximately 151 nm south of Taipei, Taiwan, and is tracking northwestward at 12 knots.

Tropical Storm Polo is located about 100 mi...155 km SSW of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 285 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - Surf...swells generated by Polo will affect the southern Baja California peninsula and the southern Gulf of California today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Rainfall...Polo could produce additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches over the extreme southern Baja California peninsula through today.

NewsBytes:

TS Fung-Wong - Tropical Storm Fung-Wong (local name Mario) has left at least five people dead and displaced more than 710,000 people in Philippines, while Fung-Wong on Sunday (Sep 21) pounded Taiwan with torrential downpours and powerful winds, killing one person and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights and ferry services.

Disease

UN Takes Stand on Ebola

The Security Council is unanimous on one thing: its commitment to ending the Ebola outbreak. In the first-ever emergency Security Council meeting called on a health crisis, all 15 council members voted to declare the disease a “threat to international peace and security.”

For weeks, officials from the World Health Organization, other UN agencies and Médecins Sans Frontières have been calling on world leaders to ramp up aid to the affected countries. WHO director-general Dr. Margaret Chan and UN Systems Coordinator for Ebola Dr. David Nabarro have spoken to the press at UN headquarters on several occasions, pleading for more resources, rather than a de facto policy of isolation.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): The eruption continues with most activity (lava fountains and lava flow emission) now occurring from the central vent on the Holuhraun fissure. Seismic activity remains elevated, mostly under the northern rim of the caldera of the central Bárdarbunga volcano, but also under Herðubreið and the northern part of the intrusion. A slight increase in earthquake activity under the caldera can be seen over the past days. The 4 strongest events today so far were between magnitude 3.4 and 4.8, all under the Bárdarbunga caldera, which continues to subside.

Semeru volcano (East Java, Indonesia) activity update: Our recent tour group on Java observed mild ongoing strombolian activity in the volcano's summit crater. A flat lava dome is growing there and extruding a viscous lava flow into the open ravine to the south flank.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.2 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.2 Earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Guatemala.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical storm 16w (Fung-Wong) is located approximately 322 nm south-southwest of Taipei, Taiwan, and is tracking north-northwestward at 07 knots.

Tropical Storm Polo is located about 165 mi...270 km SSE of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - Surf...swells generated by Polo will affect the southern Baja California peninsula and the southern Gulf of California today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Rainfall...Polo is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches...with isolated storm total amounts of 5 inches over extreme southern Baja California over the next few days. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

NewsBytes:

England - Passengers had to be rescued from a train after it became trapped in flood water during a night of storms in southern England. Ninety people on the train, which got stuck near Corsham, Wiltshire, were trapped for four hours.

Environment

Antarctic sea ice set to smash record

According to a recent report from the National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC), Antarctic sea ice is set to smash a record this year, as it’s currently at 7.6 million square miles and continuing to increase.

The Arctic, on the other hand, continues to lose ice. In fact, the NSIDC says that the minimum extent will be somewhat lower than last year’s, making it the sixth lowest extent in the satellite record.

According to the NSIDC, Arctic sea ice extent for September 15 was 1.96 million square miles, which is 11,600 square miles below the same date in 2013. However, Arctic sea ice extent remains low when examined in contrast with the long-term 1981 to 2010 average.

Disease

Aid Workers Murdered in Guinea

The bodies of 8 health workers, local officials and journalists were found in a septic tank in a village school near the city of Nzerekore, murdered by villagers suspicious of official attempts to combat Ebola, which has now killed more than 2,600 people in West Africa. Other nations infected with the outbreak have begun controversial programs aimed at stopping the spread of the disease, including a three-day curfew in Sierra Leone.

The aid team was pelted with stones after they arrived in the village of Wome in southern Guinea, where the outbreak was first recorded, and ended up hiding. A journalist who escaped the attack reported that she could hear the villagers looking for the team while she was hiding.

A government delegation was dispatched to the region, but they were unable to reach the village by road because the main bridge had been blocked. Government spokesman Albert Damantang Camara said the victims had been "killed in cold blood by the villagers".

Six people have been arrested in conjunction with the attack, and the village is reportedly now deserted. A motive for the killings has not been confirmed, but officials say many villagers accuse the health workers of spreading the disease and others do not believe the disease exists.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): No significant changes have occurred at the ongoing fissure eruption in Holuhraun. The lava effusion rate seems to remain stable, according to IMO. Subsidence, or slow caldera collapse, of the Bárdarbunga caldera continues at rates of approx. 50 cm per day. Seismic activity remains elevated. The largest earthquake yesterday and today was a magnitude 5.3 event at 14:21 local time and a magnitude 4.7 this morning. Irregular horizontal displacements of the crust revealed by GPS stations probably indicate that magma movements underground are changing, but it is impossible to predict what the consequences will be.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.1 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.1 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Edouard is located about 530 mi...855 km WNW of Fayal island in the western Azores with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...E or 90 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.

Tropical storm 16w (Fung-Wong) is located approximately 247 nm north of Manila, Philippines, and is tracking west-northwestward at 13 knots.

Tropical Storm Polo is located about 140 mi...220 km SW of Cabo Corrientes Mexico and about 330 mi...530 km se of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are expected to begin over portions of the warning area later today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area today. Surf...swells generated by Polo will affect portions of the southern coast of Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Rainfall...Polo is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches with isolated totals of 15 inches near the coast of Colima and Jalisco states in Mexico. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

NewsBytes:

Philippines - Torrential rains from a Tropical Storm Fung-Wong flooded large swathes of the Philippine capital and outlying provinces Friday, leaving three dead and displacing tens of thousands, just days after the region had been drenched by a typhoon.

Schools and government offices were shut in Manila as authorities said thousands were evacuated from severely inundated communities, where rapidly flowing waters swirled neck-high in places. Radio stations reported residents taking shelter in the second floor of homes where the water had reached the ceiling of the ground floor.

Flooded streets caused traffic gridlock across the city of 12 million, with many motorists and other commuters unaware of the extent of the flooding due to a lack of reports from local authorities.

Wildlife

Slaughter of Dolphins in Japan's 'Cove' Resumes

The Japanese village made notorious for its dolphin slaughter in the award-winning film “The Cove” has begun its annual killing season of the marine mammals, according to the conservation group Sea Shepherd.

The environmental activist group webcast live images of the hunt in Taiji Bay, southwest Japan, and provided text updates via social media.

On Twitter, @CoveGuardians said: “First dolphin murder of the drive hunt season is complete as dead bodies are dragged to Taiji butcherhouse.”

While the slaughter has brought international condemnation, Japan argues the dolphins are not endangered and points to the much larger number of cows, pigs and sheep butchered for food around the world.

Sea Shepherd counters that dolphin meat is not in high demand and contains dangerous levels of mercury.

Global Warming

'Flying Rivers' of the Amazon Dry Up

Unprecedented drought parching São Paulo and many other areas of Brazil has been brought on by the drying up of what a leading climatologist calls the "flying rivers” of the Amazon.

A combination of deforestation and climate change has reduced the role of the Amazon rain forest, which used to release billions of gallons of water vapor from trees into the low-level winds.

Those moist breezes typically bring crucial rainfall to other parts of the country. But the flying rivers failed to arrive during January and February for the first time since 2010.

A real-time deforestation detection system revealed that after declining for two years, the felling of the Amazon rain forest for agricultural purposes rose by 10 percent between August 2013 and July 2014.

This, and ongoing global warming, appear to have disrupted the Brazilian climate at the peril of the country’s established farmers.

“Destroying the Amazon to advance the agricultural frontier is like shooting yourself in the foot," Brazilian climate scientist Antonio Nobre told the journal Valor Economica.

“The Amazon is a gigantic hydrological pump that brings the humidity of the Atlantic Ocean into the continent and guarantees the irrigation of the region.”

Moisture released by trees in the Amazon has been cut by deforestation, creating drought elsewhere in Brazil.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 113.7 degrees Fahrenheit (45.4 degrees Celsius) at Adrar, Algeria.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 96.9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 71.6 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.

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.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Kilauea volcano update: Official releases from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory over the past 48 hours indicate the lava flow is now advancing at a rate of 290m (960 ft) per day and has narrowed once again, after spreading out and slowing down for several days.

Accordingly, estimates of first impact have been revised, for Apa`a Rd around September 26 and for Pāhoa Village Road around September 30, but these are educated guesses and likely subject to further revisions. The main highway will likely be affected with one day of the main village road.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.5 Earthquake hits northwest of the Kuril Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits the southwestern Ryukyu Islands off Japan.

5.1 Earthquake hits off the coast of Costa Rica.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Edouard is located about 890 mi...1435 km W of Fayal island in the western Azores with maximum sustained winds...85 mph...140 km/h. Present movement...ENE or 65 degrees at 28 mph...44 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - surf...swells from Edouard are affecting portions of Atlantic Canada and the East Coast of the United States north of Florida. These swells will likely cause life-threatening rip current conditions for the next day or so.

Tropical storm 16w (Fung-Wong) is located approximately 356 nm east of Manila, Philippines, and is tracking northwestward at 15 knots.

Hurricane Polo is located about 165 mi...265 km SSW of Manzanillo Mexico and about 510 mi...820 km se of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 300 degrees at 8 mph...13 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are expected to begin over portions of the warning area later today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area today. Surf...swells generated by Polo will affect portions of the southern coast of Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. Rainfall...Polo is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals of 15 inches near the coast of Guerrero...Michoacan...Colima and Jalisco states in Mexico. These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides.

NewsBytes:

Vietnam - Landslides triggered by Typhoon Kalmaegi have claimed the lives of at least seven people in Lang Son’s Dong Dang Town of Vietnam. About 55,000 people in four northern coastal provinces were evacuated ahead of the storm. The storm collapsed seven houses and 20 electricity poles, blew off 147 roofs and destroyed more than 5,000 hectares of paddy and other crops in the province.

Pakistan - As the flood emergency deepens in Pakistan, now affecting nearly 2.3 million people, humanitarian teams have mobilized to work alongside local government authorities to assess needs in the worst-affected areas.

Late monsoon rains earlier this month hit the mountainous areas of Gilgit-Balitstan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir, unleashing a torrent of water flowing into Punjab’s agricultural heartlands. Swollen rivers breached flood defences, sweeping away thousands of villages as the “super-flood” surged south, wreaking havoc throughout Punjab, the country’s most populous province.

The government’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) says 312 people have died, with 2,275,000 affected and nearly 1.7 million acres (687,965 hectares) of crops lost. Punjab Province declared a state of emergency as the flood spread through central areas, with Jhang District hit hardest.

Wildfires

Wildfires - California

More than 6,500 firefighters battled 11 large wildfires scorching California Wednesday as the state sweated out an extended heat wave.

Around 3,600 homes were threatened by blazes from Orange County to the Oregon border. One fire, 60 miles east of Sacramento in the Eldorado National Forest, burned over 18,000 acres and forced 2,155 people from their homes.

More than 200 miles north of that fire, the small city of Weed—at the base of Mount Shasta in the Cascade Mountains—remained under threat from a fast-moving wildfire even as residents began to grapple with the loss of 150 homes destroyed Monday, officials there said. More than 1,000 residents were still under evacuation orders and around 150 people were in area shelters, said a spokeswoman for Cal Fire, the state fire agency.

Disease

Enterovirus D68 in the United States of America

On 10 September 2014, the United States of America informed the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) about an outbreak of severe respiratory illness associated with Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). As of 16 September 2014, 130 laboratory-confirmed cases of EV-D68 have been reported in 12 US states – Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. Investigations into suspected clusters in many other states are ongoing.

Ebola outbreak: Black market for blood of survivors

Ebola has infected nearly 4,800 people. It has killed more than 2,400. And a black market for the blood of its survivors is emerging in the epicenter of the outbreak in West Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Convalescent serum — serum collected from someone who has survived an infectious disease — has been used to treat Ebola victims. Most recently, it was given to 51-year-old American aid worker Rick Sacra from survivor Kent Brantly. Blood from Ebola survivors is rich with antibodies against the deadly virus, and since there is currently no approved drug to fight it, some have become desperate enough to take fate into their own hands and turn to the black market for the experimental serum.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.9 Earthquake hits Guam.

5.7 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.6 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits south of Panama.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.

5.0 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Odile is located about 65 mi...100 km S of Puerto Penasco Mexico with maxximum sustained winds...45 mph...75 km/h. Present movement...NE or 35 degrees at 6 mph...9 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions will spread northward over portions of the Tropical Storm Warning area through today. Storm surge...a storm surge could still produce significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds. Near the coast...the surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves. Rainfall...Odile is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum totals of around 18 inches across Sonora. These rains are likely to result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Abundant moisture ahead of Odile will increase heavy rains and the threat for flash flooding for the southwestern United States over the next several days. Surf...swells from Odile will affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days...and are affecting portions of the Baja California peninsula and the Gulf of California. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Hurricane Edouard is located about 575 mi...925 km ENE of Bermuda and about 1490 mi...2395 km W of Fayal island in the western Azores with maximum sustained winds...90 mph...150 km/h. Present movement...NE or 35 degrees at 20 mph...31 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - surf...swells from Edouard will affect portions of the East Coast of the United States north of Florida beginning today. These swells will likely cause life-threatening rip current conditions along most of the United States East Coast for the next couple of days.

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi is located approximately 67 nm of Hanoi, Vietnam, and is tracking west-northwestward at 20 knots. The fail warning has been issued for this systemm.

Tropical Storm Polo is located about 185 mi...295 km S of Zihuatanejo Mexico and about 310 mi...495 km SSE of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 12 mph...19 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by late today. Surf...swells generated by Polo will affect portions of the southern coast of Mexico during the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

NewsBytes:

Uganda - Floods sweeping across eastern Uganda have destroyed thousands of hectares of crops, aid officials said Tuesday, warning that tens of thousands of people in the East African nation could face a severe food shortage in the coming months.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): Eruptive activity at the Holuhraun fissure is decreasing and many believe that it might end within some days. This does not necessarily mean that the eruption & crisis is over, however, but could be just a pause.

Mayon volcano (Philippines): The volcano could to be heading towards a new eruption. PHILVOLCS raised the alert level of the volcano was raised from 2 to 3 (on a scale of 1-5) on 15 Sep, following increased seismic activity and observation of small incandescent rockfalls on the southeastern upper flank. The presence of low-frequency earthquakes suggests that magma has started to rise within the volcano, which would explain the recently observed lava dome and the glowing rockfalls during recent days, which in turn likely originated from it. The exclusion zone around Mayon has been extended to 6 km around the whole volcano and 7 km on the most exposed southeastern sector. This area is most at risk, if dangerous pyroclastic flows (hot avalanches of fragmented lava from the dome, mixed with hot air and gasses) develop.

Stromboli volcano (Eolian Islands, Italy): Lava effusion continues with little changes overall. During the past weeks, the main lava flow has been traveling in the central part of the Sciara where it is mostly hidden from the webcam. The main flow front almost reached the sea again last night and this morning, but stopped shortly before the shoreline. Beneath the vent at 650 m elevation, occasional overflows occur to feed small secondary flows on the northern upper part. This was visible on the publicly available INGV webcam located at 400 m elevation.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.6 Earthquake hits eastern Honshu, Japan.

5.6 Earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

5.4 Earthquake hits Martinique in the Windward islands.

5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.

Two 5.0 Earthquakes hit the Gulf of California.

5.0 Earthquake hits east of the South Sandwich Islands.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Odile is located about 25 mi...40 km WNW of Santa Rosalia Mexico with maximum sustained winds...65 mph...100 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 340 degrees at 10 mph...17 km/h

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions will spread northward over portions of the Tropical Storm Warning area through tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area by this afternoon. It should be noted that wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than indicated in this advisory...and in some elevated locations can be even greater. Storm surge...a storm surge could still produce significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds. Near the coast...the surge will be accompanied by large and damaging waves. Rainfall...Odile is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches with isolated maximum totals of around 18 inches across much of the Baja California peninsula...and over coastal portions of the Mexican state of Sonora during the next several days. These rains are likely to result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Abundant moisture ahead of Odile will increase heavy rains and the threat for flash flooding for the southwestern United States over the next several days. Surf...swells from Odile will affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days...and are affecting portions of the Baja California peninsula and the Gulf of California. These swells will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Hurricane Edouard is located about 465 mi...750 km ESE of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds...110 mph...175 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 340 degrees at 13 mph...20 km/h.

Typhoon Kalmaegi is located approximately 243 nm east of Hanoi, Vietnam, and is tracking west-northwestward at 12 knots.

The typhoon is bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall to southern China, prompting flight disruptions and evacuations. Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall early Tuesday on the island of Hainan, China's southernmost province. The official Xinhua news agency says at least 170 flights were canceled and 90,000 people evacuated from the island's east coast.

Earlier, the typhoon passed just south of Hong Kong, packing wind gusts of up to 160 kilometres per hour. The storm delayed at least 500 flights at Hong Kong's airport and forced the Hong Kong stock exchange to cancel morning trading. Trading later resumed when authorities downgraded the typhoon alert.

Kalmaegi swept through the Philippines on Sunday, causing landslides and flooding in some rural areas.

The storm is moving northwest and is expected to make landfall later Tuesday in Vietnam.

Tropical Storm Polo is located about 360 mi...580 km SSE of Acapulco Mexico with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 295 degrees at 9 mph...15 km/h.

Wildfires

Wildfires - Oregon

Two wildfires that started over the weekend were threatening scattered rural homes in western Oregon, where forests are critically dry and the weather has been hot.

A fire on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest about 15 miles west of Grants Pass grew to nearly 2,000 acres Monday. Bulldozer crews started building fire line on the northeastern flank to protect some scattered homes along the Rogue River in the Picket Creek area, where Josephine County has warned residents to be ready to leave, fire spokesman Scott Blower said. The fire had about five miles to go before reaching the first of the homes. More crews and equipment were dispatched to fight the fire, which was mapped overnight at 1,954 acres. The cause was under investigation, but there were no reports of lightning over the weekend, making it likely it was human-caused.

On the Mount Hood National Forest about 10 miles east of Estacada, a human-caused wildfire grew to nearly 2,500 acres, prompting the evacuation of about 20 residents of a recreational vehicle park, said spokeswoman Carol Connolly. The city of Estacada was not threatened, but residents of six homes near the fire were warned to start getting ready to leave.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.3 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Nias region, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Major Hurricane Odile expected to affect southern Baja California tonight and Monday, located about 140 mi (225 km) SSE of the southern tip of Baja California.

Hurricane Odile grew into a powerful Category 4 storm Sunday and took aim at the resort area of Los Cabos, prompting Mexican authorities to evacuate vulnerable coastal areas and prepare shelters for up to 30,000 people. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Odile was on a track to pass close to or directly over the southern end of the Baja California Peninsula late Sunday and into Monday. Hurricane Edouard is located about 860 mi (1385 km) NE of the northern Leeward Islands.

Tropical storm Kalmaegi is located approximately 783 nm east of Hanoi, Vietnam.

A strong typhoon slammed into the rice-producing Philippine northern region on Sunday, cutting power and communications lines and forcing people to flee to higher ground. Packing central winds of 130 kph and gusts of up to 160 kph, Typhoon Kalmaegi made landfall early evening Sunday in Isabela province, dumping heavy rains that soaked farms. Halmaegi, known locally as "Luis", is moving west northwest at 22 kph, but is expected to weaken and lose speed as it will cross a mountainous region before exiting into the South China Sea.

NewsBytes:

Bangladesh - Floods leave a trail of destruction in rural Bangladesh. Since mid-August in 19 low-lying districts in the east, west and central areas of Bangladesh, where downpours coupled with heavy rainfall in the main river basins and upstream catchments of India caused flooding which affected over three million people. More than 340,000 people were forced from their homes and 34,000 houses were completely destroyed. Government reports say 52 people have drowned and more than 400 injured in the 10 districts surveyed.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): The eruption continues with little changes. Fountaining is now limited to the central vent on the main fissure. The southernmost vent, still active on Friday, stopped erupting yesterday. Earthquake activity has been stable compared to recent days. Approx. 140 events were detected since midnight (until 18:50 local time). The quakes concentrate in the northernmost part of the dyke intrusion, from the eruption site to about 6 km into Dyngjujökull glacier. Earthquakes in the intrusion hardly exceed magnitude 2: as the magma has an open way to the surface now, no new fractures need to be broken, and earthquake activity has dropped as a result.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Nias region, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.

Tectonic Plates Moving Faster

Scientists say they have found that Earth’s tectonic plates are now moving faster than at any other point in the last 2 billion years.

Plate tectonics is the prevailing geologic process that shapes the planet.

It triggers most of the world’s strongest earthquakes and many volcanic eruptions, along with building mountains and moving continents.

While earlier research seemed to reveal that the massive tectonic plates are actually slowing down as Earth’s core cools, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology geochemist Kent Condie and colleagues say they have evidence of faster plate movements.

Writing in the journal Precambrian Research, the team says they looked at how often new mountain belts form when plates collide, and compared it to magnetic data from volcanic rocks.

That allowed them to determine where the rocks formed and how quickly the continents had moved.

This aerial view of the San Andreas Fault shows how an untold number of slips have altered the landscape.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Odile is located about 225 mi...360 km W of Manzanillo Mexico and about 285 mi...460 km SSE of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds...135 mph...215 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 330 degrees at 15 mph...24 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...hurricane conditions are expected in the Hurricane Warning area beginning by tonight...and are possible in the Hurricane Watch area late Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward across Baja California sur in advance of the hurricane conditions later today. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area by Monday night. Tropical storm conditions are likely occurring along the coast of Mainland Mexico in the warning area. Storm surge...a dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding in areas of onshore winds in the Hurricane Warning area. Near the coast...the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Surf...swells from Odile will affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days...and will begin to affect southern portions of the Baja California peninsula and the southern Gulf of California later today. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. Rainfall...Odile is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals of around 15 inches in areas of mountainous terrain across the Mexican states of Baja California sur...Colima...Jalisco...and western michoacan. These rains are likely to result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Tropical Storm Eduard is located about 950 mi...1530 km ENE of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...NW or 305 degrees at 14 mph...22 km/h.

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi is located approximately 200 nm northeast of Manila, Philippines, and is tracking west-northwestward at 12 knots.

NewsBytes:

Croatia - Croatian authorities say about 2,000 people need to be evacuated from fresh floods that have hit the Balkans. Heavy rainfall caused rivers to overflow Saturday in Croatia, flooding houses and roads in the same areas of the Balkans that were devastated in May by the worst floods in 120 years.

India - After few clear days, rain returned to the Kashmir valley on Sunday in bad news for flood victims as it could hamper rescue operations in the submerged areas. Rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed Srinagar and other parts of the valley. The weather had been clear for the past five days after incessant rain led to unprecedented floods in the valley. Around 1.5 lakh people are still marooned in many parts of the valley after the worst floods in the state in a century unleashed a trail of death and destruction.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.1 Earthquake hits Seram, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits Tajikistan.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands off India.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Hurricane Odile is located about 195 mi...310 km SSW of Manzanillo Mexico and about 260 mi...420 km S of Cabo Corrientes Mexico with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...NW or 315 degrees at 5 mph...7 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in southwestern Mexico today and tonight. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in southern Baja California by Sunday night. Surf...swells from Odile will affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days...and will begin to affect southern portions of the Baja California peninsula and the southern Gulf of California on Sunday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Tropical Storm Eduard is located about 1115 mi...1790 km ENE of the northern Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds...50 mph...85 km/h. Present movement...NW or 305 degrees at 15 mph...24 km/h.

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi is located approximately 377 nm east of Manila, Philippines, and is tracking west-northwestward at 14 knots.

NewsBytes:

Usa - Floods ravage Memphis after record-breaking rainfall.

Global Warming

No More Pauses as Global Warming Slips Out of Control

The door of opportunity to control global warming is closing, according to United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres.

Her warning coincided with two independent studies that indicate the recent pause in surface warming may be the last for generations.

Figueres made the comments at a conference on the effects of climate change on Pacific nations.

“Unless the world acts on climate change in a timely way, (Pacific islands) are going to be the hardest hit,” she told Agence France-Presse.

Meanwhile, researchers examining 31 climate models concluded that if greenhouse gas emissions keep rising, the chance of another 10-year period with no significant surface temperature warming will drop to virtually zero after 2030.

Scientists believe the current pause is due to excess heat being stored in the deep oceans.

Wildfires

Wildfires - California

Mandatory evacuations were underway Friday evening in Orange County as a rapidly moving brush fire has burned more than 1,300 acres in the hills of the Cleveland National Forest.

About 30 homes are being evacuated. The brush fire is being fueled by tinder-dry vegetation and is in steep, hard-to-reach terrain.

Firefighters were being aided by water-dropping aircraft as they tried to hold back flames atop ridgelines near Corona.

A Northern California wildfire started by a lightning strike a month ago has burned more than 108,000 acres in the drought-stricken state, officials said on Friday.

The fire in the Klamath National Forest started when lightning struck the Happy Camp area on Aug. 11. It was 45 percent contained on Friday.

The blaze formed a large ring and grew by 882 acres on Thursday night, said Klamath National Forest spokeswoman Andrea Capps, and it is expected to continue to grow along the ring's southern perimeter through Friday.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Lokon volcano (North-Sulawesi, Indonesia): Small ash emissions along with white steam plumes have occurred again from the volcano recently. At the moment, there is no indications that they have been caused by new magma near the surface, and could be phreatic in nature, or due to disturbance of the hydrothermal system.

Slamet volcano (Central Java, Indonesia): eruption increases, powerful strombolian explosions. Activity at the volcano has increased and VSI raised the alert level to "siaga", 3 on a scale of 1-4. The mild strombolian activity which had been going on for months at the volcano has become more and more intense since the beginning of September. Some explosions in the past days have been strong enough to eject incandescent material to all over the summit cone of the volcano. In its latest report on 11 Sep, VSI mentions that 165 eruptions occurred on that day with ejection heights between 50-1500 m. BNPB, Indonesian's Civil Protection began preparing for a possible evacuation. According to them, 23,699 people are located within a radius of 5 to 6 km from the summit, and the area up to 4 km radius around the volcano has been declared an exclusion zone.

Kilauea volcano update: Lava slows, misses first homes for now. Between September 10 and 12, the June 27th flow advanced north-northeastward at an average rate of 250 m/day (820 ft/day). By the afternoon of September 12, the flow had advanced approximately 14.9 km (9.3 miles) straight-line distance from the vent, or to within 170 m (560 ft) of the boundary between the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve and the northwest corner of Kaohe Homesteads. At the average rate of advancement of 250 m/day (820 ft/day) since September 10, we project that lava could flow from its current location into the northwest part of Kaohe Homesteads within a day, and to the Pāhoa Village Road (government road) in Pāhoa within 20 days if there are no major changes.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.2 Earthquake hits the Volcano Islands off Japan.

5.1 Earthquake hits the South Shetland Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

Two 5.0 Earthquakes hit Vanuatu.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.0Earthquake hits near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Storm Odile is located about 250 mi...400 km S of Manzanillo Mexico with maximum sustained winds...60 mph...95 km/h. Present movement...W or 280 degrees at 2 mph...4 km/h.

Hazards affecting land - wind...tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area by Saturday. Surf...swells from Odile will affect portions of the southwestern coast of Mexico during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Tropical Storm Eduard is located about 1175 mi...1890 km W of the Cape Verde Islands and about 1325 mi...2130 km E of the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds...40 mph...65 km/h. Present movement...WNW or 295 degrees at 15 mph...24 km/h.

Tropical Storm Kalmaegi is located approximately 572 nm east of Manila, Philippines, and is tracking westward at 14 knots.

Disease

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of Congo

Between 2 and 9 September 2014, there have been 31 more cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), increasing the cumulative number of cases to 62 (14 confirmed, 26 probable, and 22 suspect). In total, 35 deaths have been reported (9 confirmed and 26 probable).

All the cases have been localized in Jeera county. The affected villages are Watsi Kengo, Lokolia, Boende, and Boende Muke. Currently, 9 cases have been hospitalized: 4 in Lokolia; 2 in Watsikengo; 2 in Boende; and 1 in Boende Moke. A total of 386 contacts have been listed and 239 contacts have been followed-up. All cases and contacts are linked to the initial index case reported to the World Health Organization on 26 August 2014.

Space Events

Solar Flares

Two powerful solar storms arriving at Earth today have captured the public's attention for their potential to spark amazing auroras, but scientists say there's another reason to watch. The solar double whammy is actually somewhat rare.

The sun unleashed a medium-sized flare on Monday (Sept. 8) followed by a second, larger flare, called an Earth-directed X-class flare, on Wednesday (Sept. 10). Both are from the same active sunspot region (Active Region 2158) and are directed at Earth, said Thomas Berger, director of the Space Weather Prediction Centre, during a news conference yesterday.

Solar flares are powerful eruptions of radiation. Large flares can produce coronal mass ejections (CMEs), waves of solar plasma and charged particles that can travel millions of miles an hour through space. Last night, as expected, the first of the CMEs made its appearance and is expected to cause geomagnetic storming, reaching moderate levels, this morning, according to the Space Weather Prediction Centre.

"The unique thing about this event is that we've had two in close succession, and the CMEs could possibly be interacting on their way to Earth, at the Earth's orbit or beyond perhaps — we don't know that yet," Berger said.

What's more, the second CME is moving at a faster speed and catching up to the first one.

The two CMEs may lead to geomagnetic storms hitting Earth and could cause problems with radio and GPS signals, Berger said.

"It's fairly rare for two CMEs of this magnitude to come in close succession like this," he said. "Because of this we cannot rule out higher storm levels," particularly in polar regions where interactions with the Earth's magnetic field are strongest.

The International Space Station will measure the CMEs as they pass by, giving scientists on Earth a 30- to 45-minute head start to prepare for the CMEs. But, on the upside, the solar event is expected to produce an array of beautiful northern lights, visible to people living in the northern United States.

'Meteorite' Crater in Nicaragua Stirs Debate

Nicaraguan officials said they believed a large crater gouged out of the ground near Managua at the same time capital residents reported hearing a loud blast was created by a meteor crashing to Earth. They further speculated that the crater, measuring 40 feet in width and 16 feet in depth, was caused by a fragment of an asteroid that passed within 25,000 miles of Earth over New Zealand about the same time.

But NASA said it had serious concerns about both claims.

The agency’s asteroid watch Twitter account said the timing and directions of the alleged meteor and near-Earth asteroid were completely different.

Other experts wondered why no one had seen a meteor streaking across the sky.

The lack of meteorite debris around the crater also called into question the government’s claims.

Managua residents standing around a mysterious crater that the government says was caused by a meteor.

Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week's hottest temperature was 118.6 degrees Fahrenheit (48.1 degrees Celsius) at Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia.

The week's coldest temperature was minus 92.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 68.9 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Vostok Antarctic research station.

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.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Rabaul (Tavurvur) volcano (New Britain, Papua New Guinea) Intermittent strombolian to vulcanian-type explosions continue at the Tavurvur volcano. VAAC Darwin reported an ash plume rising to 10,000 ft / 3 km altitude this morning.

Bardarbunga volcano update: Threat from eruption due to toxic gasses? The short answer is that most likely, the gasses released by this eruption will not present a big threat except in near downwind areas of the eruption.

Kilauea (Hawai'i): HVO's latest warning status update issued yesterday: "Between September 6 and 10, the June 27th flow advanced north then northeastward at an average rate of 400 m/d (0.25 mi/d). In this way, the flow had advanced approximately 14.5 km (9.0 miles straight-line distance) from the vent, or to within 0.6 km (0.4 miles) of the eastern boundary of the Wao Kele o Puna Forest Reserve, by the afternoon of September 10. At the average rate of advancement of 400 m/day (0.25 mi/day) since September 6, we project that lava could flow from its current location to the northwest edge of Kaohe Homesteads in 1.5 days and to the Pāhoa Village road (government road) in Pāhoa within 14-16 days if lava is not further confined within the cracks and down-dropped blocks within the East Rift Zone of Kīlauea volcano. These estimates will be continually refined as we track this lava flow."

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 Earthquake hit the Rat Islands in the Aleutian Islands.

5.4 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.0 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical storm Odile formed on Wednesday off Mexico's Pacific Coast and is due to strengthen overnight as it moves toward the famous beach resort of Acapulco, which was hit hard by storms and record flooding last year.

On Wednesday morning, Odile was about 220 miles (350 km) south-south-west of the port of Lazaro Cardenas. Odile was moving at three miles per hour (5 km per hour) with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour (65 kph). The storm is forecast to strengthen in the next 48 hours, though the centre will remain offshore of Mexico's southwest coast through early Friday.

NewsBytes:

USA Midwest - Powerful late-summer storms sparked warnings of life-threatening flash floods and reports of several tornadoes across the Midwest overnight. The wild weather battered Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, and parts of Missouri got 10 inches of rain dumped on it overnight. The rains hit areas of Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska the hardest, prompting flood warnings by the National Weather Service. Several people had to be rescued from the rising waters. Five tornadoes were reported Tuesday night in Missouri, mainly in the northwest of the state.

Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity

Bardarbunga (Iceland): No significant changes have occurred. The eruptive activity at Holuhraun continues at similar levels as during the previous days. Lava fountains were strong from the central vents on the main fissure this morning.

Karymsky (Kamchatka): Intermittent strombolian to vulcanian explosions continue from the volcano and produce ash plumes that sometimes are spotted on satellite imagery. A plume was reported this morning rising to 7,000 ft (2.1 km) altitude (Tokyo VAAC).

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): The explosive activity at the volcano has been elevated compared to most of the previous months. An average of 4-5 vulcanian explosions have been occurring daily. A strong eruption yesterday produced an ash plume that rose to 15,000 ft (4.5 km) altitude (VAAC Tokyo).

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): A small ash eruption occurred yesterday evening. An ash plume rose to approx 2 km altitude.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.5 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

5.7 Earthquake hits Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

5.7 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

5.4 Earthquake hits the Myanmar-India border region.

5.3 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

5.2 Earthquake hits the southeast Indian ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits the Sulu Sea.

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

5.1 Earthquake hits Iceland.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

5.0 Earthquake hits the western Indian-Antarctic ridge.

5.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.

Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:

Tropical Depression 15E is located about 245 mi...395 km SW of Acapulco Mexico and about 250 mi...400 km S of Lazaro Cardenas Mexico with maximum sustained winds...35 mph...55 km/h. Present movement...NNW or 335 degrees at 1 mph...2 km/h.

NewsBytes:

Pakistan, India - Floods and landslides in Pakistan, and the Indian-administered and Pakistan-administered parts of Kashmir have claimed the lives of at least 441 people. So far, 241 have died in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. At least 200 people have been killed in India, officials said.

Around 2600 villages have been affected in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 390 villages in Kashmir are completely submerged. According to the Home Ministry of India, several thousand villages across the state have been hit and 350 villages are submerged by the floods.

According to the Pakistani and Indian troops, they have evacuated more than 60,000 people. Pakistani and Indian troops have been using boats and helicopters to drop food supplies for stranded families and evacuate victims.

Authorities in Pakistan say the floods, which began September 3, are the worst since massive flooding killed 1,700 people in 2010.

Wildlife

Global warming threatens half of U.S. birds

A seven-year study by scientists at the National Audubon Society found that global warming threatens the survival of nearly half the bird species in the continental United States and Canada, including the iconic bald eagle and Florida favourites such as the roseate spoonbill, sandhill crane and woodstork.

Of 588 bird species examined in the study, 314 species are classified “at risk.” Of those, 126 species are at risk of severe declines by 2050, and an additional 188 species face a similar fate by 2080, with the potential for species extinctions if global warming continues on its current trajectory.

About 50 species whose ranges currently include Florida are included in the two categories — climate-endangered and climate-threatened.

The Audubon report, released Tuesday, says that hundreds of species not previously considered at-risk will be challenged to survive in a climate-changed future.

“Climate change is reshaping the birdlife of the continent,” said Julie Wraithmell, Audubon Florida Director of Wildlife Conservation. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns will force many of the continent’s birds to seek out better places to nest and winter. “Some species will shift their range, but others will not have that flexibility.”