Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 Earthquake hits the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Peru-Brazil border.
5,0 Earthquake hits the Bismarck Sea.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 09s (Stan), located approximately 52 nm east-northeast of Port Hedland, Australia, is tracking south-southeastward at 08 knots.
Tropical Cyclone Stan, the first cyclone of the season for Australia, is expected to bring potentially damaging wind gusts and heavy rain in Western Australia. A Red Alert has been issued for people between Port Hedland and Wallal, including Pardoo, Eighty Mile and Wallal. People in these regions should immediately move to shelters.
NewsBytes:
Australia - A severe storm caused havoc in Sydney and other parts of New South Wales and the ACT. Driving rainfall and hail has smashed Sydney's west and northwest, with 36mm of rain falling at Strathfield in just 15 minutes and 42mm received at Goulburn, causing flash flooding and power outages across the region..
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.0 Earthquake hits Kamchatka, Russia.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits Coquimbo, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits Kamchatka, Russia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the State of Yap, Micronesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits off the coast of northern California.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 09s (Stan), located approximately 97 nm north of Port Hedland, Australia, is tracking south-southeastward at 04 knots.
Stan is expected to become a category three cyclone when it makes landfall near Port Hedland late on Saturday morning.
NewsBytes:
British Columbia, Canada - An avalanche near McBride, British Columbia in Canada has claimed the lives of five people on Friday. Two others were injured.
Scotland = Heavy rain, extremely high winds, blizzards and floods are forecast to batter the north-east today and over the rest of the weekend as Storm Gertrude moves over northern Britain.
Zika virus infection – United States of America - United States Virgin Islands
On 25 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the United States of America notified PAHO/WHO of the first laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection in St. Croix, one of the three main islands in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).
Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus – Lao People’s Democratic Republic
On 17 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) notified WHO of 2 additional cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1). Both cases are from Longsane district, Xaisomboun Province.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Thailand
On 24 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Thailand notified WHO of 1 laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. This is the country’s second case of MERS-CoV infection (see DON published on 10 July 2015).
Bird Flu in Nigeria
Avian Influenza, popularly referred to as bird flu, is now in 18 states in Nigeria and has affected over 2.5 million chickens and is spreading fast.
By the last count, as of yesterday (Thursday), not less than 2.5 million chickens have been infected and over 700 farms have been affected nationwide. From one incidence in one state and moving to two states, it has increased and by now it is in not less than 18 states - according to local health authorities.
Newcastle Disease in the Philippines
The confirmation of an outbreak of the contagious and fatal Newcastle disease (ND) virus in Tarlac has spurred the Department of Agriculture (DA) to urge poultry stakeholders and fighting cock aficionados not to transport their animals to other regions.
Meningitis Outbreak in Ghana
Health authorities in central Ghana have denied that there is a meningitis outbreak in the country's Ashanti region.
The Ashanti regional health directorate claimed that they were only nine people who had tested positive after critical tests were done, according to Citi News.
Reports, however, indicate that at least 32 people have died in the west African country since the outbreak of the disease four weeks ago.
According to Ghana web, more than 100 cases of Pneumococcal Meningitis have been reported in the country's southern region of Brong-Ahafo region.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Shiveluch (Kamchatka): Activity at the volcano seems to be increasing again. Constant glow and incandescent rockfalls at the active lava dome are visible on webcam imagery. Based on satellite data, an eruption (explosion or pyroclastic flow) was reported this morning to have produced an ash plume that rose to 24,000 ft (7.3 km) altitude and drifted west.
Colima (Western Mexico): Intermittent explosions of varying size continue, producing ash plumes that rise 1-3 km above the volcano.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): The volcano's lava dome has filled the inner crater, CENAPRED observed during an overflight on 27 January. The high level of the dome explains the relatively strong glow visible at night. According to CENAPRED, it is likely that small to moderate explosions in the coming days will destroy the dome again (as happened numerous times in the past during the current eruptive cycle of Popo). During the past few days, activity has been at average to low levels with 2-5 small explosions that generated ash plumes dispersing into easterly directions.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Babuyan Islands in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 09s (Stan), located approximately 157 nm north-northwest of Port Hedland, Australia, is tracking south-southeastward at 05 knots.
Invest 90C is an area of disturbed weather in the Central Pacific that has the potential for tropical development.
NewsBytes:
Florida, USA - At least two people were injured after a tornado touched down in Coconut Creek, Florida. The tornado picked up cars and uprooted several trees at Broward College.
Locusts Swarming Across Northern Argentina
Argentina’s worst locust swarms since 1954 are threatening to devour crops in three northern provinces.
The insects first appeared last June, when a mild and wet southern winter allowed the swarms to spread to Catamarca, Santiago del Estero and Córdoba provinces.
Farmers complain they had to fight the infestations on their own until the swarms grew so large that the government finally stepped in.
The agricultural inspection agency Senasa says that if they fail to eradicate the pests before the insects develop into flying swarms in early February, the locusts could devour crops like sunflowers and cotton, as well as grasslands for grazing cattle.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 108.7 degrees Fahrenheit (42.6 degrees Celsius) at Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 63.8 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53.2 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian outpost of Verkhoyansk.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Wildfires Are Burning Some of the World’s Oldest Trees
Northwest Tasmania is home to part of the Gondwana forest. It's a stretch of primeval-looking temperate rainforest, much like the one found in the Pacific Northwest's Olympic National Park. Trees more than 1,000 years old tower above ancient ferns, forming a connection to the distant past. It's why the region has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But that connection is being broken by climate change. Fuelled by extremely dry conditions that stretch back two years, major bushfires have raged across the region, sending a millennia of history up in smoke. As the world gets hotter and drier, it's likely that the connection to the past could be even more tenuous.
More than 89,000 acres have burned since lightning ignited around 100 bushfires early last week. They were sparked in the wake of the driest spring on record for the region. El Niño likely played a role in that record as the climate phenomenon usually dries out Tasmania and the eastern part of Australia.
Because fire is so rare in these temperate rainforests, the trees that live there are ill-adapted to deal with large blazes. So when the current fires lit up, they attacked a forest with few natural defences.
When the fires die down to embers, they'll leave behind a landscape vastly different than the one before it. Trees like the King Billy Pine and fagus — a beech tree and the only winter-deciduous tree in Australia — could be burned out of their range on Tasmania. These trees have spent millions of years adapting to slow climate changes. But the current rate of change is unlikely anything the world has seen in millions of years.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Karymsky (Kamchatka): The typically intermittent explosive activity at the volcano has been elevated during the past days. Several ash plumes up to altitudes of up to 22,000 ft (7 km) have been reported by Tokyo VAAC during the past days.
Dukono (Halmahera): The volcano continues to produce near-continuous ash emissions from its crater, that generate plumes drifting up to 100-150 km in various directions.
Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): No significant changes have occurred during the past weeks at the volcano. Magma is slowly rising and growing a flat dome in the inner summit crater. Trapped, pressurized gasses cause small to moderate explosions with more or less intense ash emissions from time to time, typically a few per day.
Unfavourable wind conditions drifted ash plumes over Puebla's airport yesterday, prompting its temporary closure between yesterday afternoon and this morning.
During the past 24 hours, CENAPRED recorded 8 explosions, the strongest of which at 01:50 local time ejected many incandescent bombs to up to 900 m on the NE flank.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits the central Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Scotland - According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), heavy rainfall during early Wednesday has led to significant flooding in parts of the area, particularly from the rivers Teviot and Jed in the south west parts of the area. Around 600 people have been evacuated from low-lying parts of Hawick after severe flood warnings were issued in the area.
Gaza - Scores of Palestinian families in Rafah were evacuated yesterday after their homes were flooded by rainwater.
Australia - A freak thunderstorm has wreaked havoc on Geelong, leaving cars submerged in floodwaters and houses inundated. More than double the month’s average rainfall of 31mm pelted Avalon in just one hour, with the day’s total reaching 72mm, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The bureau said the afternoon’s rainfall was “equivalent to a one-in-100-year event”.
Lassa Fever – Nigeria - Update
The National IHR Focal Point of Nigeria has notified WHO of different outbreaks of Lassa fever occurring in the country.
Between August 2015 and 23 January 2016, 159 suspected cases of Lassa fever, including 82 deaths, were reported across 19 states. Investigations are ongoing and a retrospective review of cases is currently being performed; therefore, these figures are subject to change.
Zika virus infection – Dominican Republic
On 23 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Dominican Republic notified PAHO/WHO of 10 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection.
Typhoid in South Africa - Update
The small outbreak of typhoid fever that was reported in Gauging has now spread to the Western Cape. Three cases of typhoid fever have been reported in the Western Cape, the provincial health department said on Thursday.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.1 Earthquake hits the State of Yap, Micronesia.
5.1 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Sumba region, Indonesia.
Two 5.0 earthquakes hit Tonga.
Two 5.0 Earthquakes hit New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Myanmar - Another tragedy at the Myanmar jade mines when at least a dozen people were swallowed up after two piles of mining waste collapsed on Monday afternoon in Kachin State’s Hpakant jade mining region. Ten people remain missing. Last year, more than a hundred people died in a jade mine landslide in northern Kachin State.
France - One person was killed on Tuesday in a mudslide at a laboratory of France's national nuclear waste management agency in the northeast of the country. At least two people were working at the site which was being prepared to receive highly radioactive nuclear waste, which would be stored at a depth of 500 metres (1,650 feet). The second person suffered minor injuries.
Wildfires - Tasmania
About 150 residents of northwest Tasmania have been relocated by boat after spending much of the day sheltering on a beach from raging bushfires.
A 7,000-hectare blaze that has been burning for days posed a threat to holiday shacks at the small communities of Temma, Arthur River and Nelson Bay, where people were told to evacuate at about 5am on Wednesday.
Many people had nowhere to go but the beach, where they remained until the firefront passed late in the afternoon.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Saudi Arabia
Between 27 December 2015 and 13 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 4 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
Globally, since September 2012, WHO has been notified of 1,630 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 586 related deaths.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – United Arab Emirates
Between 11 and 14 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus – China
On 18 January 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 1 additional laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus.
Typhoid in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare has been rocked by a typhoid outbreak and authorities have deployed medical experts to determine the magnitude of the spread of the disease.
A report in Zimbabwe’s state-owned Herald newspaper on Wednesday said since last Friday health authorities in that country had confirmed three cases in Glen Norah, two in Hopley and one in Hatfield.
Swine Flu Outbreak in Eastern Europe
An outbreak of swine flu has killed 72 more people and is putting thousands more lives in danger as the deadly virus continues to spread across eastern Europe.
Up to 40,000 people are expected to contract the disease in the Ukaine capital Kiev, where residents are covering their faces with masks or scarves.
Schools have been closed for more than a week and some public gatherings have been banned as authorities struggle to head off the outbreak.
The Ukrainian health ministry has confirmed 72 swine flu deaths, of which 47 were in the past week.
The number of fatalities in areas of the Donetsk region held by pro-Russian rebels could be as high as 300, according to the intelligence service.
The virus has spread to many former Soviet countries, reaching epidemic levels in St Petersburg, Russia, where at least 30 people have died.
At least 18 people have also died in Armenia.
The respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1, can be spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing.
El Salvador issues Pregnancy Advisory - Zika Virus
As worries intensify about the Zika virus due to its association with a rare paralysis syndrome and rise of birth defect called microcephaly, health officials are taking drastic measures to stop the disease.
In a stunning development in El Salvador, health officials have advised all women of reproductive age to delay pregnancy until 2018 due to concerns about possible birth defects linked to the virus. Earlier this month, the El Salvador Health Department disclosed they had found 492 Zika cases.
The spokeswoman for El Salvador health department confirmed they are advising women from becoming pregnant but have not issued any official guidelines or policy statements.
The El Salvador advisory comes after thousands of children in Brazil were born with a dangerous birth defect called microcephaly, where head and brain are not fully developed. In Brazil, the government has called in the military to assist with a nationwide push to eradicate the virus. The health minister said that the military and civil defence services would be called in to help health workers combat the virus, which is spread my mosquitoes.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Nishino-shima (Volcano Islands, Japan): An aerial survey on 19 Jan showed that no activity occurred recently. The eruption can now be regarded as over.
Bromo (East Java, Indonesia): According to a local news article referring to information from the volcano observatory, the volcano's eruption started to eject visibly incandescent lava bombs this morning. In more technical words, this suggests that by now the eruption entered a so-called magmatic phase where fresh lava arrives at the surface (as opposed to ash emissions from mostly pulverized older rocks, which might have been the activity so far). The head of the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, Edi Prasojo, said that" Bromo has entered an eruption phase", the article mentions. On a side note, incandescent ejected rocks alone, however, do not necessarily (although often) mean that they are from fresh magma. In some cases, they can also be older, very hot rocks from the conduit ejected by phreatic activity). An analysis of a sample or the ash would tell the difference.
Kilauea (Hawai'i): No significant changes have occurred in the ongoing eruption both at the volcano's summit and on its eastern rift zone. Degassing, seismicity and deformation are at normal levels. Summit lava lake: The lava lake in Halema'uma'u continues to be active, fluctuating in level around 35 m below the crater rim.
Puʻu ʻŌʻō (East Rift zone): A small new circular lava pond, approx. 20 m in diameter, has formed in mid January in the western end of the crater.
Planchón-Peteroa (Central Chile and Argentina): An increase in seismic activity started on 15 Jan 2016 triggered a raise of the volcano's official alert status to "yellow" on 22 Jan. Chile's Sernageomin reported that during January, 289 seismic events mostly of long-period type, related to fluid movements inside the volcano, had been registered.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 Earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.3 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.2 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the coast of Kamchatka, Russia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
No current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Ireland - Storm Jonas, which is responsible for at least 19 deaths in the US, will make its way to Ireland in the coming days prompting a flood warning from the Irish Met Office. Significant downpours are expected tomorrow, with heavy rain in all areas at times. That rainfall is expected to continue into tomorrow night and Wednesday morning.
Israel - Monday rainfall raised the level of the Sea of Galilee and shut desert roads over flash-flood fears as the nation braced for a chill night that blanketed many elevated areas in snow.
Thailand - Storms have hit the Southern islands including two popular tourist destinations – Kho Samui and Koh Phangan – causing floods and suspension of ferry services between Surat Thani and Koh Samui.
Ocean warming worse than previously thought
The amount of sea level rise that comes from the oceans warming and expanding has been underestimated, and is likely about twice as much as previously calculated, German researchers said on Monday.
The findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal, suggest that increasingly severe storm surges could be anticipated as a result.
Sea level can mount due to two factors - melting ice and the thermal expansion of water as it warms.
Until now, researchers have believed the oceans rose between 0.7 to one millimeter per year due to thermal expansion.
But a fresh look at the latest satellite data from 2002 to 2014 shows the seas are expanding about 1.4 millimetres a year, said the study.
"To date, we have underestimated how much the heat-related expansion of the water mass in the oceans contributes to a global rise in sea level," said co-author Jurgen Kusche, a professor at the University of Bonn.
The overall sea level rise rate is about 2.74mm per year, combining both thermal expansion and melting ice.
Sea level rise was also found to vary substantially from place to place, with the rate around the Philippines "five times the global rate."
Meanwhile, sea level on the US West Coast is largely stable because there is hardly any ocean warming in that area, said the findings.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 Earthquake hits the Strait of Gibraltar.
Numerous buildings were damaged with rubble strewn in the streets in southern Spain.
5.7 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.6 Earthquake hits north of Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Strait of Gibraltar.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Strait of Gibraltar.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Strait of Gibraltar.
5.1 Earthquake hits Palau.
5.1 Earthquake hits southern Alaska.
5.1 Earthquake hits north of the Solomon Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Strait of Gibraltar.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 08s (Corentin), located approximately 1247 nm east-southeast of La Reunion, is tracking eastward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
USA - The massive snowstorm that affected most of the East Coast finally ended Sunday morning, leaving in its wake 1-3 feet of snow over major cities, at least 18 storm-associated casualties and severe coastal flooding.
While the snow has stopped, the weather warnings continue. High winds will create blowing and drifting snow in some areas, the National Weather Service warns. And while New York City lifted a police-enforced travel ban on Sunday morning, many authorities are asking citizens to refrain from driving for another day as efforts to clear off the roads continue.
The snowfall totals were striking, setting records in some jurisdictions. At the D.C. National Zoo, 22 inches of snow fell; at JFK airport in New York City, 30 inches; in the western suburbs of D.C., 36 inches were recorded; in Shepherdstown, W.V., more than 40 inches. The 26.8 inches recorded in New York's Central Park is the second-highest total ever recorded — falling short of the record by just 0.1 inches, CBS reports.
Farther south, the storm's greatest impact wasn't in inches of snowfall but quarter-inches of ice. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power as ice and high winds combined to rip down power lines, and many roads were made perilous by the icy conditions.
At least 29 deaths have been attributed to the storm by the Associated Press, including a Kentucky transportation worker who died while plowing highways, a teenager who was hit by a truck while sledding behind an all-terrain vehicle and two people who died of hypothermia in Virginia. Most of the deaths were from car crashes on snowy or icy roads. Four were caused by overexertion while shovelling snow.
Taiwan - Severe weather and snowstorms in Taiwan have claimed the lives of at least 85 people, mostly from hypothermia and the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Taipei recorded the lowest temperature in 44 years at -4°C. At least 41 people died in Taipei and 10 in New Taipei. Others 35 died in Taoyuan in northern Taiwan.
Japan - winter weather and heavy snowfalls have claims at least 5 lives in Japan and injured more than 100 others. Flights were cancelled and the speed of the bullet trains was reduced for safety. Amami Island, located some 380 kilometers southwest of Kagoshima City, received snowfall for the first time in 115 years.
China - China renewed its orange alert, its second most serious weather warning on Sunday, with at least four deaths reported. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the lowest temperatures could reach minus 12 degrees Celsius (10.4 degrees Fahrenheit) from Sunday to Monday. Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong provinces are forecasted to approach or even drop below the lowest levels on record while parts of central and eastern China were 6 to 8 degrees Celsius (11 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit) lower than the average historical level.
South Korea - An estimated 90,300 people were stranded on the southern island of Jeju, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and around 1,400 people are staying in the airport. Since Saturday about 1,200 flights were canceled although the airport resumed operations as of Monday noon local time. Its capital Seoul was hit Sunday by the coldest winter in 15 years, with the lowest temperature recorded at minus 18 degrees Celsius (minus 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Hong Kong - The typically subtropical Hong Kong experienced its coldest weather in nearly three decades, leading to the shut down of all kindergartens and primary schools on Monday. On Sunday, the average minimum temperature dropped to 3.3 degrees Celsius (38 degrees Fahrenheit) over the city, where there is no central heating in most buildings. Firefighters had to help over a hundred trapped people at the peaks, 64 of which were sent to the hospital with many exhibiting signs of hypothermia.
Bolivia's Second Largest Lake Dries Up
In December 2015, Lake Poopó was officially declared as "dried up". Unfortunately, scientists say that recovery may no longer be possible.
Scientists believe drought due to repetitive El Nino is the main cause of the natural disaster. They also think deviations from the lake's tributaries are contributing factors. Aside from some agricultural purposes, Poopó's tributaries or freshwater streams that feed from the lake are mostly used for mining.
El Nino has plagued the nation for a millenia. Bolivia's delicate ecosystem is also said to have undergone extraordinary stress over the past 30 years. The country has experienced a rise in temperatures by about one degree Celsius.
One great effect of the lake's fate is the significant letdown in the livelihood of the local residents who have tucked away their fishing nets and other gear. Over 100 families have sold their llamas, alpaca and sheep. In the past three years, residents have evacuated from the previous lakeside village, leaving only half of its population, mostly the elderly.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.1 Earthquake hits southern Alaska.
The earthquake was widely felt by residents of Anchorage, and there are reports of scattered power outages from the Matanuska Electric Association and Chugach Electric in the Anchorage area. But the Anchorage and Valdez police departments say they have not received any reports of injury or significant damage.
5.1 Earthquake hits Easter Island.
5.1 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.1 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 08s (Corentin), located approximately 976 nm east-southeast of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking southeastward at 13 knots.
NewsBytes:
USA - Winter storm Jonas has prompted multiple states across the Mid-Atlantic United States to declare a state of emergency. The storm has claimed the lives of at least ten people; six in North Carolina, one each in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Emergency has been declared in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The top snowfall from winter storm Jonas has been recorded in Redhouse, Maryland; a total of 28.5 inches as of Saturday morning. The storm also brought coastal flooding which caused major road closings Saturday morning From Atlantic City to Cape May.
Typhoid in Johannesburg, South Africa
The Gauteng Health Department has confirmed four cases of typhoid fever in Johannesburg, which has claimed the life of one person.
Two cases were identified at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, while the other two were picked up at Edenvale Hospital. A 27-year-old Malawian woman died last week Sunday. It’s understood she had travelled to her home country for the holiday period last month - and returned to South Africa through Mozambique.
Meningitis Outbreak in Ghana
Two people have died after being infected with Pneumococcal Meningitis in the Offinso Municipality of the Ashanti region.
A week after the disease killed nine people in the Brong Ahafo region, five others died in Bole in the Northern region.
About 22 people have been confirmed dead out of the 57 reported cases since the beginning of the outbreak of the disease in the Northern and Brong Ahafo Regions.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 Earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.1 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tajikistan.
5.0 Earthquake hits Vanuatu.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 112 nm southwest of Tonga, and is tracking southwestward at 10 knots.
Tropical cyclone 08s (Corentin), located approximately 866 nm south of Diego Garcia, is tracking southward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
USA - Snow started to fall in Washington early Friday afternoon. The city, along with Baltimore, may get more than 61 centimetres, according to the National Weather Service. New York and Long Island may see as much as 46 centimetres. A paralysing winter storm forced the cancellation of thousands of flights, knocked out power to homes and threatened Washington with one of its heaviest snowfalls on record as it moved up the US East Coast. Grocery store shelves were emptied in preparation for the storm, which was dubbed "Snowzilla" by The Washington Post's weather team. Schools and government offices in Washington were all closed, with public transportation scheduled to shut down late Friday until early Monday.
PCB Pollution Still Killing European Marine Mammals
Lingering PCB pollution in the environment continues to kill whales and dolphins in European coastal waters even though the toxins have been banned since the 1970s because of their deadly effects.
A new study led by Paul Jepson from the Zoological Society of London found that levels of PCBs in Europe’s cetaceans are among the highest in the world.
Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, Jepson says the contamination is so high among some killer whale populations that the species is facing local extinction.
He says only eight killer whales are left off western Scotland and Ireland.
But some of the highest concentrations of PCBs are found in the western Mediterranean and southwestern Iberian Peninsula, according to the report.
Scientists have detected toxic levels of PCP pollution in the fat of dead killer whales and dolphins.
Wildfires - Tasmania
A total fire ban has been declared across Tasmania for the next four days in an effort to help firefighters get on top dozens of uncontrolled blazes.
The ban is for the entire state and will run from midnight Friday until midnight on Tuesday, January 26. It is the first time the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) has had to impose such a long ban.
There are still 75 fires burning; 54 of those remain uncontained.
Drought and Famine in Ethiopia
The Save the Children charity says it has raised less than a third of what it needs to help Ethiopia cope with a drought which has left 10.2 million people critically short of food.
Experts say the drought is worse than the one seen in 1984, when years of conflict followed by a lack of rain led to a famine that killed up to one million people.
Almost 5.8 million of those facing critical food shortages were children, with 400,000 severely malnourished or close to it, making them highly susceptible to pneumonia or malaria.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 Earthquake hits off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico.
The U.S. National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said the quake was not forecast to cause a tsunami.
5.2 Earthquake hits the southwest Indian ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Strait of Gibraltar.
5.0 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 473 nm east-southeast of Suva, Fiji, and is tracking westward at 09 knots.
Niue, Tonga and the Cook Islands were pounded by high surf and blustery winds as outer bands of Category-1 Cyclone Victor lashed the islands. High winds had downed some coconut palms and blown off shed roofs. The massive storm churned the South Pacific for several days before losing force over cooler waters northeast of New Zealand.
Tropical cyclone 08s (Corentin), located approximately 911 nm east of Port Louis, Mauritius, is tracking southward at 10 knots.
NewsBytes:
USA - A large winter storm that is expected to bring heavy snowfall to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region on January 22 and 23. Washington, D.C., and New York City were under blizzard watches January 21, 2016 and states of emergency were declared in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina ahead of a blustery weekend storm expected to slam the East Coast with up to 2 feet (60 cm) of snow.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 110.8 degrees Fahrenheit (43.8 degrees Celsius) at Vredendal, South Africa.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 59.8 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 50.0 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian community of Vitim.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Wildfires - Australia
A baby kangaroo is on the slow road to recovery after surviving a ferocious bushfire in Western Australia.
Wildfires - South Africa
A deadly blaze aboard a train sparked a wildfire in Cape Town Thursday, as strong winds and high temperatures also sent flames ripping through vineyards in South Africa's prime winelands.
A body was found in one of two burnt-out carriages on the commuter train after it made an emergency stop near Fish Hoek village on Cape Town's southern peninsula, police said.
Water-bombing helicopters and fire crews were battling to prevent the blaze reaching nearby houses.
Helicopters were also in action in the Cape's scenic winelands, where fires have raged in the Simonsberg area since Tuesday.
Several farms have lost part of their grape crops, just as the harvesting season gets under way.
Zika virus infection – France - Saint Martin and Guadeloupe
On 18 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) for France notified WHO of the first laboratory-confirmed case of locally-acquired Zika virus in Saint Martin, an overseas department of France. On the same day, 1 autochthonous case of Zika virus infection was confirmed in Guadeloupe, another overseas department of France.
The proximity of mosquito vector breeding sites to human habitation is a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing the breeding of mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people. This can be achieved by reducing the number of natural and artificial water-filled habitats that support mosquito larvae, reducing the adult mosquito populations around at-risk communities and by using barriers such as insect screens, closed doors and windows, long clothing and repellents. Since the Aedes mosquitoes (the primary vector for transmission) are day-biting mosquitoes, it is recommended that those who sleep during the daytime, particularly young children, the sick or elderly, should rest under mosquito nets (bed nets), treated with or without insecticide to provide protection.
Zika virus infection – Haiti
On 18 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for Haiti notified PAHO/WHO of 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection. Of the 5 confirmed cases, 4 are from the Delmas commune while the remaining case is from the Pétion-Ville commune. Samples of the patient were sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) laboratory in Trinidad and Tobago for testing. All cases were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR).
In addition, between 4 and 12 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for Germany notified PAHO/WHO of 2 cases of Zika virus infection in German nationals who had returned from Haiti to Germany in late December.
Guillain-Barré syndrome – El Salvador
The National IHR Focal Point of El Salvador has notified PAHO/WHO of an unusual increase of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the country. In El Salvador, the annual average number of GBS is 169; however, from 1 December 2015 to 6 January 2016, 46 GBS were recorded, including 2 deaths.
Monkey Pox - Central African Republic
Health authorities in the Central African Republic are urging the public to avoid contact with dead animals while an outbreak of Monkey Pox is reported in Mbomou, south of the country.
The Ministry of Health recorded 2 deaths and forty people have been placed in quarantine
The Monkey pox is a viral disease with symptoms similar to that of chicken pox.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Zhupanovsky (Russia) - Russian officials issued a “code orange” alert for the Zhupanovsky volcano after the mountain spewed ash five miles into the air above the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the plumes of volcanic debris were drifting eastward into the Pacific Ocean, creating a potential threat to air routes between North America and Asia. TASS reports the volcano is about 45 miles from the nearest community, and no ash from the eruption had drifted into any populated areas.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 Earthquake hits northern Qinghai, China.
5.3 Earthquake hits the Kermedec islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Kuril islands.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Molucca Sea.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 432 nm south of Pago Pago, and is tracking westward at 07 knots.
2015 Shatters Hottest Year Record
It’s official: 2015 was the hottest year on record, beating out 2014 by the widest margin in 136 years of record keeping, U.S. government agencies announced Wednesday. But this new record may not stand for long, as one of the strongest El Niños ever measured combines with the continued warming of the planet to potentially push 2016 to yet another record.
The year’s incredible heat serves as a stark reminder of how much the Earth’s temperature has risen due to the steady buildup of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from human activities like power generation, transportation and forest clearing. That temperature reached the point in 2015 where it was 1°C (1.8°F) above that of the late 19th century at the same time as carbon dioxide levels likely permanently rose above 400 parts per million.
Both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that 2015 easily took over the top spot from 2014. By NASA’s measure, 2015 was 0.23°F (0.13°C) warmer than 2014 — the second largest-ever jump from a previous record. By NOAA’s measure it was 1.62°F (0.9°C) above the 20th century average and the largest jump from a previous record, at 0.29°F (0.16°C) above 2014.
The oceans were one of the clear warm areas of the globe during the year, particularly the Indian Ocean and the tropical Pacific Ocean, which was under the influence of an incredibly strong El Niño. Record warmth was found in parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South Africa and North America. It was the second warmest year on record for the U.S., helped by an incredibly toasty December in the eastern half of the country.
While El Niño contributed to the record, a Climate Central analysis has shown that 2015’s high temperature was overwhelmingly the result of manmade warming.
New planet beyond Pluto postulated
Astronomers investigating the alignment of rocks beyond Pluto have concluded that an undetected icy planet four times the size of Earth must exist.
Some distant objects far beyond Pluto were behaving very oddly. The orbits of a handful of space rocks had aligned for no apparent reason. Though stumped at first, astronomers now have an explanation: a huge ninth planet at the edge of the solar system.
If the researchers have their sums right, the mysterious new world is 10 times more massive than Earth and up to four times the size. Nicknamed Planet Nine, it moves on an extremely elongated orbit, and takes a staggering 10 000 to 20 000 years to swing once around the sun.
The icy world, if it exists, has evaded detection because it is so far away. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) calculate that the closest it comes to the sun is 15 times the distance to Pluto. It then heads into uncharted territory, 75 times further out than Pluto, or about 93 billion miles from the sun. A ray of light would take a week to get there.
Zika virus infection – Bolivia
On 16 January 2016, Ministry of Health of Bolivia, through its National IHR Focal Points (NFP), notified PAHO/WHO of the first laboratory-confirmed cases of locally-acquired Zika virus infection in the country. The case is a 32-year-old pregnant woman from Portachuelo, Santa Cruz Department, with onset of symptoms on 8 January. She has no recent history of travel.
Zika virus infection – Guyana, Barbados and Ecuador
Between 14 and 15 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Points (NFP) for Guyana, Barbados and Ecuador notified PAHO/WHO of further cases of Zika virus infection.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Fuego (Guatemala): Another phase of increased explosive activity and lava effusion is taking place at the volcano. Small pyroclastic flows were observed this morning.
After the violent phase during the first days of 2016, this is the second paroxysm of the volcano this year already. Over the past months, such phases have occurred at astonishing rhythmic intervals of 3-4 weeks (see the peaks on the thermal signal graphic).
Egon (Indonesia) Nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated as Mount Egon volcano in East Nusa Tenggara of Indonesia erupted with hot ash and toxic gas. As many as 927 people living in the dangerous evacuation zone of 3 kilometres have been evacuated to safer grounds.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 360 nm east of Tonga, and is tracking west-southwestward at 04 knots.
NewsBytes:
Odessa, Ukraine - A heavy snowstorm in Ukraine's port city of Odessa has claimed the lives of two people who were sleeping on the streets. Severe weather conditions have caused cancellations of flights and closed the port.
France - An avalanche in Savoie, eastern France has claimed the lives of five soldiers on Monday afternoon. Eleven soldiers were caught up in the avalanche. Six soldiers were saved by rescuers. The soldiers were skiing in the Petit Argentier area at a height of 2,200m when they were caught up in the avalanche shortly before 13:00 GMT.
The Planet's Fisheries Are In Even Worse Shape Than We Thought
The world's oceans have been overfished far more than reported, according to a new study.
The report, published in the journal Nature Communications, reanalyzed worldwide catch data and compared it to information that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations uses. Researchers found that from 1950 to 2010, up to 30 percent more fish -- more than 35 billion tons a year -- were caught than reported to the agency.
Much of this unreported seafood stems from small-scale fisherman, illegal operations and millions of tons of bycatch, or fish accidentally caught and then discarded.
In the same time period, global catch rates have fallen nearly three times faster than estimated as the industry struggles to find healthy populations to fish.
A long history of commercial enterprises jumping from fishery to fishery has decimated global populations. While some countries like the United States, Australia and parts of Europe have quota systems in place when numbers grow dire, many other nations offer no such protection.
Throughout most of the world there is effectively no management. Aside from fisheries in Antarctica, which remains one of the last bastions of ocean, most have been grossly mismanaged. Around 9 percent of all fish caught -- equating to billions of tons -- are thrown out, the unintended victims of bycatch from mass fishing enterprises like shrimp trawlers.
Last year, a World Wildlife Fund study found many of the planet's fish populations were on the "brink of collapse," pointing to stocks of tuna and other fish that have declined by more than half since just 1970.
Warming sea has killed 20% phytoplankton that fish eat
A new study has revealed shocking data that shows the adverse effects of rising temperature on the water bodies and organisms living in them too. According to the study, there has been significant fall in the number of fishes present in the rivers and oceans in last five years due to which fishermen are finding it difficult to fill their boats for the living.
Researchers started testing and found that rising temperature has affected the population of phytoplankton. There has been 20 percent reduction in the amount of phytoplankton over last six decades said Roxy Mathew Koll, a scientist at the Centre for Climate Change Research at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune.
Phytoplankton is a microscopic plant that plays an important role in food chain cycle as fishes eat them as their food. Reduction in the amount of phytoplankton means lesser food available for fishes which further may cascade through the food chain, potentially turning this biologically productive region into an ecological desert.
These changes are due to the rising temperature as Indian ocean has witnessed 1.2 degree Celcius average temperature rise over last century. Study authors explained that ground water is nutrient rich and surface water mixes with groundwater to receive necessary nutrients. Hotter surface temperature leads to improper mixing. Since planktons grow in surface water, there has been nutrient deficit which has led to the population decline.
The impact can be seen near the coast line around India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Countries including America, Europe and Japan will also soon experience the impact. Thus, researchers have warned that strict steps are required to control the catastrophic condition.
Pacific Air Pollution Traced to Africa and Asia
Burning down forests in Africa and South-East Asia causes ozone pollution in the air as far as the western Pacific Ocean, researchers say, calling for revision of global climate models to reflect their findings.
In a paper published in Nature Communications last week (13 January), the scientists say their data contradicts earlier theories on the origins of ozone-rich air parcels above the tropical western Pacific, which were thought to descend naturally from a higher atmospheric layer.
Ozone, a greenhouse gas, occurs naturally in the atmosphere. But it is also created from the reactions of pollutants produced by combustion engines and burning trees to clear land for agriculture.
Flying in two research planes at two different heights, the scientists analysed the air composition over Guam, the largest island of Micronesia, in the western Pacific.
Using data and models on wind, rainfall and forest fires, the researchers found that the Guam skies contained a cocktail of chemicals, alongside ozone, similar to the signature chemicals from fire smoke in Africa and South-East Asia.
Thunderstorms and winds from South-East Asia could carry this polluted air high up to the atmosphere and far from its source in countries where deforestation is common, such as Indonesia - 3,750 kilometres away from Guam - and even those in tropical Africa.
Wildfires - Tasmania
A fire alert for Lake Mackenzie in the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania's north has been downgraded as conditions ease for crews battling dozens of blazes across the state.
The fire is burning in a forested area but the Tasmania Fire Service said residents in surrounding towns should remain vigilant and continue to monitor conditions.
Of the 82 bushfires burning across the state, 45 are not contained. Most of them are not directly threatening townships or properties.
A total fire ban has been declared in the northern regions, and authorities expect the number of fires to grow as blazes sparked by lightning strikes last week flare up.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China
On 11 January 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 10 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including 3 deaths.
The cases were reported in the provinces of Zhejiang (6), Jiangsu (2), Guangdong (1) and Jiangxi (1).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.5 Earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Nias region, Indonesia.
5.1 Earthquake hits Halmahera, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 Earthquake hits Central Peru.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 410 nm west of Rarotonga, and is tracking southwestward at 06 knots.
This is where 90 percent of global warming is going
Scientists have long known that more than 90 percent of the heat energy from man-made global warming goes into the world's oceans instead of the ground. And they've seen ocean heat content rise in recent years. But the new study, using ocean-observing data that goes back to the British research ship Challenger in the 1870s and including high-tech modern underwater monitors and computer models, tracked how much man-made heat has been buried in the oceans in the past 150 years.
The world's oceans absorbed approximately 150 zettajoules of energy from 1865 to 1997, and then absorbed about another 150 in the next 18 years, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change.
To put that in perspective, if you exploded one atomic bomb the size of the one that dropped on Hiroshima every second for a year, the total energy released would be 2 zettajoules. So since 1997, Earth's oceans have absorbed man-made heat energy equivalent to a Hiroshima-style bomb being exploded every second for 75 straight years.
Because the oceans are so vast and cold, the absorbed heat raises temperatures by only a few tenths of a degree, but the importance is the energy balance, Gleckler and his colleagues said. When oceans absorb all that heat it keeps the surface from getting even warmer from the heat-trapping gases spewed by the burning of coal, oil and gas, the scientists said.
The warmer the oceans get, the less heat they can absorb and the more heat stays in the air and on land surface, the study's co-author, Chris Forest at Pennsylvania State University, said.
This image shows Pacific and Atlantic meridional sections showing upper-ocean warming for the past six decades (1955-2011). Red colors indicate a warming (positive) anomaly and blue colors indicate a cooling (negative) anomaly
Drought and Hunger in Southern Africa
The United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) is increasingly concerned about food security in southern Africa where an estimated 14 million people are facing hunger following prolonged dry spells.
These dry conditions, caused by the El Niño weather event, led to a poor harvest. El Niño, which is leading to an even worse drought across the region, is affecting this year’s crop.
With little or no rain falling in many areas, the window for the planting of cereals is closing fast or already closed in some countries.
“South Africa, the major breadbasket of the region, has indicated that this El Niño-induced drought is the worst the country has suffered in more than half a century,” said the WFP.
2.8m in Malawi need food, 1.9m in Madagascar and 1,5m in Zim. A third of Lesotho’s people face problems.
Wildfires - Australia
At least one home was destroyed and another severely damaged in a bushfire burning on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula late yesterday.
Homes in Crib Point, near HMAS Cerberus naval base, were under threat last night and smoke could be seen from nearby Phillip Island and French Island.
More than 100 firefighters, with the support of 26 trucks and three firebombing aircraft, were battling the blaze.
All but one of Victoria’s fire districts face a total fire ban as temperatures to top 40C in some areas with strong northerly winds ahead of a gusty cool change.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Egon (Flores): An eruption warning remains in place. Increased sulfur smells have been noted from the volcano which had been raised to second highest alert on 13 Jan. According to local news, evacuation of 3 villages at the feet of the volcano are taking place and so far, 1200 people have been relocated and 2000 dust masks have been distributed (in case of ash emissions). The exclusion zone around Mt Egon volcano is 3 km radius from its summit only (but in case of a larger eruption, this should be drastically increased, especially around rivers draining from the mountain.)
Erta Ale (Danakil depression, Ethiopia): The lava lake of Erta Ale has overflown, our correspondents from Ethiopia reported. The first lava over-spilled the rim of the containing crater at midnight of 15-16 Jan 2016. It seems that the situation is similar to the spectacular events in November/December 2010 when the lava lake last overflowed. More details and images will be posted as soon as possible. During our expeditions in Nov and Dec, the level of the lake had already been occasionally as close as only 1 meter beneath the rim.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 Earthquake hits north of Honduras.
5.2 Earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Mid-Indian ridge.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 391 nm southeast of Pago Pago, and is tracking southward at 09 knots.
Global warming in December
As the graph from the Japan Meteorological Agency above shows, global warming last month really did blow the previous record for December right out of the water — which was astonishingly warm itself (speaking of the oceans here), as the underlying image suggests.
The graph shows how the global average temperature in December, measured across land and sea surfaces, varied from the long-term average for the month. By the JMA’s calculation, it was 0.67°C above the 1981-2010 average, and 1.05°C above the 20th century average — the warmest by far since 1891.
There is no question that exceedingly warm waters along the equator in the Pacific Ocean contributed to December’s record warmth for the month. These are associated with the ongoing super El Niño.
But the map also shows that other parts of the Pacific were exceedingly warm too, as was the entire Indian Ocean and parts of the Atlantic.
On land, the remarkable warmth experienced across the eastern half of the United States really stands out. And look at that swath of red from Europe all the way across Russia.
I think this graphically illustrates a sobering fact: El Niño’s impact is coming on top of significant global warming from human activities.
Wildfires - South Africa
A fire in the Elgin area in the Western Cape has swept over more than 3,000 hectares of vegetation. Several structures have also been destroyed. The fire broke out on Saturday and has yet to be brought under control.
Wildfires - Australia
A fast-moving bushfire poses a possible risk to lives and homes in Western Australia’s South West.
A watch and act alert has been issued in the Shire of Boddington in Taree Forest Block as more than 50 firefighters work to contain the out of control blaze. People in an area bounded by Siding Road, Hotham River, Pinjarra-Williams Road, George Road and Pindalup Road have been advised to leave or prepare to actively defend their homes.
The fire, sparked by lightning, was reported at 10.30am on Sunday.
Smoke pall from more than 50 Tasmanian fires
Residents in parts of northern and western Tasmania have been warned of the dangers of smoke from dozens of bushfires.
More than 50 fires, sparked by lightning last week, are burning across the region, with most not threatening communities, the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) said on Sunday.
People with respiratory ailments should stay indoors with doors and windows closed, the TFS said.
Legionnaires disease outbreak in Spain
Two new patients suffering from the deadly Legionnaires disease are being treated at a Spanish hospital.
They are being treated at the Hospital de Manzanares near Madrid, and bring to 222 the number of people affected since the outbreak began this month.
Two people have died in the outbreak so far. Five patients remain in intensive care, with two in serious condition.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 Earthquake hits Seram, Indonesia.
Reports of eight people injured and 120 houses damaged.
5.2 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.
Two 5.1 Earthquakes hit Cuba.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 274 nm east-southeast of Pago Pago, and is tracking southward at 07 knots.
Foot and Mouth Disease in India
Less than a week after Bareilly reported an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) which killed more than a dozen head of cattle, 26 cattle in the Pinahat area of Agra are suspected to have died of the disease.
Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria - Update
Three persons have been confirmed dead with over 200 others currently under observation following the outbreak of Lassa fever in Rivers State, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Theophilus Odagme has said.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): A moderately strong explosion occurred earlier today from the volcano, producing an ash plume that rose approx. 2 km.
Ubinas (Peru): A moderately large vulcanian-type explosion occurred at the volcano yesterday 12:53 local time. An ash plume rose 3 km above the crater and drifted SE. Light ash fall occurred in up to 10 km distance, including the villages of Sacohaya, Querapi and Ubinas. No further explosions have occurred since.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 Earthquake hits La Rioja, Argentina.
5.0 Earthquake hits off the coast of Bio-Bio, Chile.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 266 nm east of Pago Pago, and is tracking southward at 05 knots.
Global warming could stave off next ice age for 100,000 years
Global warming is likely to disrupt a natural cycle of ice ages and contribute to delaying the onset of the next big freeze until about 100,000 years from now, scientists have suggested.
In the past million years, the world has had about 10 glacial periods before swinging back to warmer conditions like the present.
In the last glacial period known as the Ice Age, which ended 12,000 years ago, ice sheets blanketed what is now Canada, northern Europe and Siberia.
In a new explanation for the long-lasting plunges in global temperatures that cause ice ages, scientists pointed to a combination of long-term shifts in the Earth's orbit around the sun, together with levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
They said the planet seemed naturally on track to escape an ice age for the next 50,000 years, an unusually long period of warmth, according to the study led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and published in the journal Nature.
But rising man-made greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century could mean the balmy period will last for 100,000 years.
The findings suggest human influences "will make the initiation of the next ice age impossible over a time period comparable to the duration of previous glacial cycles".
Earth's orbit around the sun is oval in shape but this becomes more circular every 100,000 years and more particularly so every 400,000 years.
Ebola - West Africa
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is not over quite yet — just one day after the region was declared "Ebola-free," a new case of the virus was confirmed in Sierra Leone. WHO had said such flare-ups were to be expected.
Zika virus infection – France - Overseas Departments
On 21 December 2015, WHO received notification of the first 2 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection in two overseas departments of France: Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana and Schœlcher, Martinique. Since then, 2 additional cases have been reported in Saint Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana and in Fort de France, Martinique.
Foot and Mouth Disease in Malawi
Malawi Government has suspended all livestock sales in Nsanje district following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the district.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development through its secretary Bright Kumwembe says there is an outbreak of the disease in cattle at Bangula dip tank and Magoli Extension Planning Area (EPA) in the district which is within the Shire Valley ADD.
Preliminary investigation conducted by veterinary field staff from the Shire Valley ADD and Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development indicates a total number of 60 critical cases out of a total of 581 cattle in 4 kraals.
The ministry further said a total of 65,000 cattle are at risk within the affected area and investigations are ongoing to establish the extent of the problem.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
San Miguel (El Salvador): The volcano continues to show strong degassing with light ash content, generating a plume that rises up to 1500 m from the crater and is being blown westwards. Tremor amplitude remains elevated.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
The Remnants of Pali are dissipating near the Equator far southwest of Hawaii.
Hurricane Alex is located about 50 mi...80 km SSE of Terceira island in the central Azores and about 105 mi...170 km ESE of Faial island in the central Azores with maximum sustained winds...75 mph...120 km/h. Present movement...N or 5 degrees at 24 mph...39 km/h. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Sao Miguel and Santa Maria in the eastern Azores.
Tropical Cyclone Victor is located approximately 262 nm east of Pago Pago, and is tracking west-southwestward at 07 knots.
NewsBytes:
India - A landslide in Darjeeling district of West Bengal state of India has claimed the lives of two people and injured five others.
Mass Starvation Occuring in Pacific Seabirds
Thousands of dead and dying seabirds have been washing up on beaches from California to Alaska, apparently dying of starvation.
Wildlife researchers believe a potent El Niño in combination with climate change could be why the common murres’ typical food supply has disappeared.
The species typically spends the winter months offshore. But the birds have recently been gathering along the coast and even showing up as far inland as Fairbanks.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists say the murres have also been foraging in unfrozen sections of rivers and lakes, which is very odd behaviour for the seabirds.
Unusually warm waters along the Pacific coast of North America have in recent months been responsible for shifts in wildlife that have also left California seals starving and brought in exotic species typically seen much farther south.
Dead murres were scattered along the shore of Alaska's Prince William Sound during early January.
Manatees Are Making a Comeback
Manatees — the gentle, roly-poly marine mammals once mistaken by sailors for mythic mermaids — have been classified as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) since 1967. But that classification may soon change, and for the best possible reason: Manatees have been making a comeback.
Citing reduced threats and "significant improvements" in both manatee population numbers and their habitat conditions, the USFWS issued a statement on Jan. 7 announcing its proposal to change the West Indian manatee's status from "endangered" to "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
"Their numbers are climbing, and the threats to the species' survival are being reduced," Michael Bean, principal deputy assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks at the Department of the Interior, said in the statement. Working together, a number of agencies, including the USFWS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, established more than 50 protected areas for manatees — an effort that played an important part in helping the species recover.
The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) includes two subspecies: the Florida manatee (T.m. latirostris) and the Antillean manatee (T.m. manatus). In 1967, when manatees were first assigned an endangered status, their Florida populations numbered in the hundreds. Manatee populations worldwide are currently estimated to be around 13,000, and more than 6,300 of those are found in Florida. That represents a 500-percent increase in their numbers since 1991, when aerial surveys of Florida waters counted 1,267 individuals, according to the USFWS's website.
Although the manatee's future looks brighter than it has for decades, the USFWS noted that the status change shouldn't be taken as a sign that conservation work for the species is over. Manatees will continue to enjoy the protection of government agencies and legislation like the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and efforts will continue to further rebuild "sea cow" populations, manage threats and support their role as a "sentinel species," which serve as early warning indicators of environmental disturbances.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week's hottest temperature was 111.9 degrees Fahrenheit (44.4 degrees Celsius) at Nullarbor, South Australia.
The week's coldest temperature was minus 60.7 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 51.1 degrees Celsius) at Russia's Siberian community of Toko.
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.
Space Weather
3 close asteroids went by earth this week - closer than the moon's distance to earth:
(2016 AQ164), January 10, 0.3 Lunar distance away, Estimated Diameter 2.8 m - 6.3 meters. (2016 AH164), January 12, 0.07 Lunar distance away, Estimated Diameter 3.2 m - 7.1 m. (2016 AN164), January 14, 0.1 Lunar distance away, Estimated Diameter 2.1 m - 4.7 m.
2016 Meteor Showers
Courtesy of NASA, here's the meteor shower lineup for 2016, all times Eastern.
Jan. 4: The first meteor shower of the year was the Quadrantids, most visible at 3:01 a.m.
April 22: The second meteor shower of the year is the Lyrids, most visible at 1:30 a.m.
May 4: Eta Aquarids will be most visible at 2:45 p.m.
July 27: Delta Aquarids will be most visible at 4:32 p.m.
Aug. 12: Perseids, most visible at 8:26 a.m.
Oct. 21: The Orionids, most visible at 12:45 a.m.
Nov. 5: South Taurids, most visible at 12:13 a.m.
Nov. 11: North Taurids, most visible at 11:29 p.m.
Nov. 17: Leonids, most visible at 5:47 a.m.
Dec. 13: The Geminids will be most visible at 6:57 p.m.
Dec. 22: The final meteor shower of 2016 will be the Ursids, which will be most visible at 3 a.m.
Toxic Chemical Discovered in San Francisco's Fog
Fog rolling in off the Pacific brings iconic beauty to San Francisco, but scientists say it also carries with it something much less pleasant: toxic mercury. The fog along the coast of California deposits a neurotoxin called monomethyl mercury — at a concentration about 20 times that of rain — as it sweeps across the city. "On a relative scale, the levels of mercury are quite low and of no health concern. But it does bioaccumulate," or build up in organisms.
Ebola Outbreak Declared Over in West Africa
West Africa is now free of Ebola, marking an end to the devastating epidemic that plagued the region for two years.
The three hardest-hit countries — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone — have not had any new Ebola cases for at least 42 days, according to a statement from the World Health Organization released today (Jan. 14). Health officials typically wait 42 days to declare a country Ebola-free, because this is twice as long as the 21-day incubation period of the virus (the time it takes for a person infected with the virus to show symptoms).
Liberia was the most recent of the three countries to be declared Ebola-free — today marks 42 days since the last person to have Ebola there was cured of the disease, according to WHO. Liberia was previously declared Ebola-free twice during 2015, but each time the country subsequently experienced small "flare-ups" of the disease. Sierra Leone's Ebola outbreak was declared over in early November 2015, and Guinea was declared free of Ebola in late December.
However, officials warn that new cases of Ebola could still appear in the region, and that efforts are needed to prevent and respond to any new outbreaks.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.0 Earthquake hits Algeria.
6.6 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
6.0 Earthquake hits Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
5.5 Earthquake hits the Macquarie Islands.
5.2 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.2 Earthquake hits eastern Xizang, China.
5.1 Earthquake hits northern Xinjiang, China.
5.1 Earthquake hits Fiji.
5.1 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 Earthquake hits the Flores region, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tajikistan.
Frost Quakes in Wisconsin, USA
Cryoseisms, as they're officially known, happen when water in the soil expands as it freezes which can cause a large boom and the ground can shake. They're pretty rare. The National Weather Service says they got several reports of "Frost quakes" from part of Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Hurricane Pali is located about 1640 mi...2635 km SW of Honolulu Hawaii and about 1015 mi...1635 km SSW of Johnston Island with maximum sustained winds...45 mph...75 km/h. Present movement...SSW or 205 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.
Subtropical Storm Alex is located about 560 mi...905 km SSW of the Azores with maximum sustained winds...70 mph...110 km/h. Present movement...NNE or 20 degrees at 18 mph...30 km/h.
Alex is just the fourth Atlantic named storm to form in January since record keeping began in 1851.
NewsBytes:
France - The avalanche on Wednesday claimed the lives of two teenage pupils and a Ukrainian man in the French Alps. 17 other school children were saved after a mammoth rescue effort.
Australia - A severe storm in Sydney has claimed the life of at least one person and injured another on Thursday afternoon. The fierce winds, rain and hail struck Sydney causing delays and diversions at Sydney Airport.
Mozambique - Flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has claimed the lives of at least three people in Pemba in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. In Natite, several buildings are underwater due to flash floods.
Wildfires - Australia
Bushfires continue to burn through Western Australia with lives and homes under threat in Cockburn, south of Fremantle, and towns in the south-west of the state.
Fire authorities have issued a watch and act for the towns Cookernup, in the shire of Harvey, and Waroona as strong winds are threatening containment lines.
WA bushfire damage has grown to 162 properties.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Egon (Flores): Following a further increase in seismic activity, an eruption warning for the volcano was issued this morning. Residents living at the feet of the volcano were asked to evacuate for safety reasons. The Volcanology and Disaster Mitigation Center PVMBG raised the alert status for the volcano to level 3 on a scale of 1-4. An exclusion zone was extended to 3 km radius around the crater which now includes the village of Egon Gahar.
Nishino-shima (Volcano Islands, Japan): The eruption seems to have ended in mid December. During the past two visits of the Japanese Coast Guard on 27 Dec and 3 Jan 2016, no more eruptive activity has been noted. The two years of eruption since late November 2013 increased the size of the island from its tiny 0.26 to approx. to 2.63 square km. Now, it is up to the waves to slowly eat away at the young shores and gradually decrease it again, until a next eruption occurs...
Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): Ash from the volcano has been observed on satellite imagery during 11-12 Jan, Darwin VAAC reported. Likely, this came from a larger rockfall triggering a small pyroclastic flow, but this needs to be confirmed. The latest VSI report from this morning only mentions continuing glow from the active summit lava dome and small to moderate rockfalls. In case of heavy rains, larger rockfalls and lahars could occur, in particular towards the valleys radiating to the SE from the volcano. Seismic activity remains elevated with an increase in shallow volcanic quakes.
Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): The volcano's eruption continues with little changes into its third year. Slow lava extrusion at the summit results in occasional small to moderate pyroclastic flows as well as sporadic explosions. This activity occurs in weeks-to-month long alternating phases of more and less intense frequency, as lobes of the overspilling dome grow too large and then break off to generate a series of collapses within a shorter time. Both the pyroclastic flows and explosions produce ash plumes that regularly rise a few km above the volcano and are often reported by Darwin VAAC.
Bromo (East Java, Indonesia): Ash emissions of varying intensity have been near continuous during the past weeks. The frequent ash falls have been causing significant damage to farmland, vegetation and lightly built structures in surrounding villages.
Dukono (Halmahera): The volcano continues to be very active with near-continuous ash emissions from the crater. Darwin VAAC reported an ash plume extending 70 km to the south of the volcano this morning.
Lokon-Empung (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): The volcano remains at significant unrest and moderate to large explosions could occur any time, the latest evaluation report of the volcano observatory states and alert level is being maintained at 3 ("siaga") on a scale of 1-4. During the past weeks, visual activity consisted in degassing creating a plume of 25-150 m above the Tumpalun crater. Seismic activity has been dominated by frequent shallow volcanic earthquakes (up to 21 per day), sometimes felt nearby. No clear trend has been visible over the past two weeks.
Santiaguito (Guatemala): INSIVUMEH reports strong degassing, a few weaker explosions and small to moderate rockfalls on the eastern side of the active Caliente lava dome.
Pacaya (Guatemala): The active intra-crater cone continues to grow (and slowly fill the crater). During clear nights, incandescence can be seen from the Mackenney crater.
Fuego (Guatemala): Since its last (relatively weak) paroxysm during the first days of 2016, the volcano has now been unusually calm. According to this morning's status report of the observatory, no explosions have been seen (or heard) since 5 days… (This will surely change.)
San Miguel (El Salvador): A new phase of eruptive activity began at the volcano on Monday. Accompanied by a spike in volcanic tremor, weak to moderate ash emissions have been occurring from the main crater. This activity, the 22nd eruptive phase since Dec 2013 according to MARN, has been decreasing since yesterday.
Copahue (Chile/Argentina): Near-continuous, but generally weak ash emissions and intense degassing continue at the volcano. Sernageomin maintains alert level yellow.
Nevados de Chillán (Central Chile): A short pulse of ash emissions occurred in the evening of 8 Jan 2016 around 18:49 local time. No further emissions have occurred since and it is believed that the event was caused by phreatic activity of the shallow hydrothermal system of the volcano (not by fresh magma). Sernageomin raised the alert status of the volcano to yellow.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.8 Earthquake hits the Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
5.2 Earthquake hits off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia.
5.1 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.
5.0 Earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.
5.0 Earthquake hits Samar in the Philippines.
Fracking operation closed indefinitely after earthquake
A hydraulic fracturing operation near Fox Creek, Alberta, Canada, has been shut down after an earthquake hit the area Tuesday.
The magnitude 4.8 quake was reported at 11:27 a.m., says Alberta Energy Regulator, which ordered the shutdown of the Repsol Oil and Gas site 35 kilometres north of Fox Creek.
The energy regulator automatically shuts down a fracking site when an earthquake hits a magnitude of 4.0 or higher in the area in which a company is operating.
The quake was "quite large for the area, larger than normal”, according to the regulator.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 06p (Ula), is located approximately 443 nm north of Auckland, New Zealand, and is tracking east-southeastward at 12 knots.
Hurricane Pali is located about 825 mi...1330 km S of Johnston Island and about 1455 mi...2340 km SW of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...90 mph...150 km/h. Present movement...S or 190 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.
Invest 90L is an area of disturbed weather in the North Atlantic that has the potential for tropical development.
NewsBytes:
Iraq - The Mosul Dam in Iraq faces the danger that it may collapse because of insufficient maintenance, which would overwhelm major communities downstream with floodwaters. In the worst-case scenario, an estimated 500,000 people could be killed while more than a million could be rendered homeless if the dam, Iraq’s largest, were to collapse in the spring, when the Tigris is swollen by rain and melting snow.
Syria - Snow and cold weather grip war-torn Syria - Millions of Syrians are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, aid workers say. Buildings have collapsed under the weight of snow.
El Niño - Australia's weather bureau said the 2015-16 El Nino weather event has peaked in the recent weeks and is likely return to ENSO Neutral by Quarter 2 of 2016.
5 sperm whales die after beaching on Dutch island
Five sperm whales that beached on the Dutch island of Texel, northern Netherlands, have died before anyone could attempt a rescue operation. The whales were first spotted stranded on a beach on Tuesday. Experts confirmed on Wednesday that all five were dead. It was not clear how the whales came to beach themselves on the island in the shallow Wadden Sea off the northern coast of the Netherlands.
Scientists stunned to find what’s really causing Greenland’s ice loss
Scientists have achieved a tremendous breakthrough in understanding the gradual loss of the Greenland ice sheet, and they’ve determined that clouds are what’s accelerating it.
The melting of Greenland’s ice sheet is cause for great concern as climate change worries rise to the forefront. The melting of this ice sheet could cause the global sea level to rise dramatically. But the fact that clouds are likely behind this phenomenon, based on a new study, is sending some ripples through the scientific community, according to a Washington Post report.
It’s an important discovery that could allow scientists to make more accurate predictions about the melting of the Greenland ice sheet. If climate change causes more cloud cover over the ice sheet, it could accelerate the process.
Clouds can accelerate warming by trapping heat on the surface of the Earth, resulting in higher surface temperature and thus increasing the rate of melting.
The highest amount of melting actually occurs at night, when the clouds prevent temperatures from cooling as much as they normally would. The clouds also keep ice that has melted from refreezing.
Still, the subject remains somewhat controversial, as many scientists disagree on how much effect cloud cover has on Greenland’s ice sheet. There haven’t been many studies that have enough scale to truly tackle the problem.
It’s tough to conduct such research as it is hard for scientists to observe clouds by satellite, as clouds and ice look similar from the air. Infrared techniques don’t work that well either, as clouds and ice cover have a similar temperature.
However, this discovery does provide a new lead for scientists who are hoping to understand more about the effects of climate change, and create better models to predict ice loss.
Wildfires - Australia
Two bushfires sparked by lightning in South Australia have been contained amid dangerous fire conditions across the state.
An estimated 414 farms and 30,853 hectares of agricultural land have been affected by the bushfires still burning in south-west Western Australia. A DAFWA spokesman said there was still limited access to the region and much of the extent of fire damage was still unknown, including the number of livestock lost. DAFWA South West regional director Neil Guise said with the bushfire continuing to burn in the region it was vital that farmers work closely with the department. Mr Guise said that farmers and landholders still required permits for vehicle access to affected regions.
Human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus – China
On 8 January 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 2 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus.
Lassa Fever in Nigeria - Update
Echoes of the Ebola Virus Disease that ravaged six West African countries from March 2014 are reverberating in Nigeria as Lassa fever, also a viral disease, begins laying a trail of deaths across the country.
With officially recorded cases now 93 with 41 deaths, the Federal Government has announced plans to set up an inter-ministerial committee from which ideas would come, as in the case of EVD, that would "deliver a final blow on Lassa fever and other related diseases."
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity
Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): A powerful explosive eruption occurred at the volcano during 4-6 January. It began with a series of at least 4 powerful explosions between 20:50 on 4 Jan and up to the next morning, producing tall ash plumes that rose 4-6 km above the volcano and drifted north. At least some of the explosions also triggered pyroclastic flows reaching the southern base of the summit cone. Moderately strong ash fall of 1-2 cm occurred in villages about 10 km to the NE of the volcano. Apart from significant damage to farmland because of the ash cover, no injuries or damage to infrastructure were reported. The airport of Manado had to be closed for 2 days.
Colima (Western Mexico): The activity of the volcano has remained fairly stable over the past days, with small to moderate vulcanian-style explosions every 4-8 hours on average.
Karymsky (Kamchatka): Activity at the volcano, in continuous intermittent explosive activity for many years, seems to be elevated at the moment. Several explosions have been reported during the past days through observations of ash plumes reported reaching up to 18,000 ft (5.5 km) altitude (Tokyo VAAC).
Momotombo (Nicaragua): A strong vulcanian explosion occurred yesterday at 12:10 local time at the volcano. An ash plume rose approx 3 km from the summit and generated a small pyroclastic flow.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 Earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.
6.3 Earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.7 Earthquake hits the southwest Indian ridge.
5.3 Earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.2 Earthquake hits Kapulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms - Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Tropical cyclone 06p (Ula), is located approximately 259 nm east-northeast of Kingston Island, and is tracking southeastward at 13 knots.
Hurricane Pali is located about 650 mi...1045 km SSW of Johnston Island and about 1320 mi...2125 km SW of Honolulu Hawaii with maximum sustained winds...85 mph...140 km/h. Present movement...SSE or 160 degrees at 7 mph...11 km/h.
NewsBytes:
USA - Workers with the U.S. Army Corps of engineers opened the Bonnet Carre Spillway to drain water from the Mississippi River on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, in Norco, Louisiana. The Mississippi River water levels are rising because of heavy December rain in the Midwest. The opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway helps relieve pressure on the New Orleans-area levees by making sure the water doesn’t flow faster than 1.25 million cubic feet per second through the city - which is enough to fill the equivalent of the city's Superdome in less than 2 minutes.
Antarctic icebergs have surprise role in slowing warming
The biggest icebergs breaking off Antarctica unexpectedly help to slow global warming as they melt away into the chill Southern Ocean, scientists said on Monday.
The rare Manhattan-sized icebergs, which may become more frequent in coming decades because of climate change, release a vast trail of iron and other nutrients that act as fertilisers for algae and other tiny plant-like organisms in the ocean.
These extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, a natural ally for human efforts to limit the pace of climate change blamed on man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
Ocean blooms in the wake of giant icebergs off Antarctica absorbed 10 to 40 million tonnes of carbon a year, the study estimated, roughly equivalent to annual man-made greenhouse gas emissions of countries such as Sweden or New Zealand.
The scientists studied satellite images of 17 giant icebergs off Antarctica from 2003-2013 and found that algae could turn the water greener for hundreds of kms (miles) around the icebergs, with nutrients spread by winds and currents.
There are typically 30 giant icebergs floating off Antarctica at any one time - they can linger for years. The study said the giant icebergs had an outsized impact in promoting ocean fertilization when compared with small icebergs.
NASA Opens Armageddon Office
NASA has just launched a new office aimed at protecting the planet from potential doomsday asteroids.
The Planetary Defense Coordination Office will oversee all of the space agency's efforts to detect and track near-earth objects, and coordinate with other federal agencies as well as other nations if and when it becomes necessary.
NASA has been stepping up its efforts to protect the planet from a devastating impact, most recently teaming up with the National Nuclear Security Administration to work on a plan to use nuclear weapons to deflect an asteroid.
If the agency and other international organizations aren't able to deflect the celestial body, NASA said the new department could work to prepare people on Earth by alerting those in the potential impact zone and assisting emergency response agencies such as FEMA.
