Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits southern Peru
5.7 earthquake hits Kepulauan Taluad, Indonesia.
5.6 earthquake hits the northern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.6 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits the central mid-Atlantic ridge.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 02e (Amanda), located approximately 1864 nm east-southeast of San Diego, is tracking north-northeastward at 08 knots.
NewsBytes:
Thailand – Phuket- Heavy rain triggered flooding in several areas in downtown Muang district of this southern island province on Saturday morning. Several roads in the municipal area were impassable to small vehicles after heavy downpours pounded the island from 9.30am to 11.40am.
India – A person drowned in the Kampur area of central Assam’s Nagaon district, taking the flood-related death toll to six in less than a week even as more than 4,000 people went back home from relief camps on Saturday. While the floods have destroyed crops on 26,977 hectares, surface communication has been disrupted with 68 roads and half-a-dozen bridges damaged.
South America – The Central American gyre, a broad area of low pressure, which formed this weekend, is drifting aimlessly between North and South America and could unleash life-threatening flooding and mudslides this week across Central America. It may also spin off two tropical storms that could menace the Gulf Coast and the region’s Pacific coasts.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
Firefighters stopped forward progress of a wildfire that quickly burned through hundreds of acres and destroyed 10 homes in Cave Creek Saturday. According to the Arizona State Forestry and Fire Management, the Ocotillo Fire reached an estimated 1,216 acres Saturday night with 5% containment.
The fast-moving blaze forced the evacuation of numerous homes in the area north of Cave Creek Road, east of New River Road, west of Scopa Trail, and south of the Tonto National Forest boundary.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever – Russia
Health officials in Russia have reported (computer translated) two laboratory-confirmed cases of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever were confirmed among residents of Krasnosulinsky and Tselinsky districts. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10-40%.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.4 earthquake hits the northern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.3 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.2 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits the northern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
Magnetic Mystery
Scientists are struggling to understand new weakening of Earth’s magnetic field in a region that stretches from South America to Africa and is causing technical disturbances in some of the satellites orbiting the planet.
“The new eastern minimum of the South Atlantic Anomaly has appeared over the last decade and in recent years is developing vigorously,” said Jürgen Matzka, from the German Research Center for Geosciences.
The anomaly is allowing the inner Van Allen radiation belt to dip down to an altitude of about 120 miles, sometimes exposing satellites to several minutes of higher-than-usual radiation.
Astronauts have reported disturbances in their eyesight, known as cosmic ray visual phenomena, when passing through the anomaly.
Wildfires – Arctic
Active wildfires are being detected in the Arctic Circle as an unusually warm and dry spring threatens to bring back infernos that ravaged the region last year, scientists have warned.
Satellites belonging to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) are tracking multiple hotspots, leading to the suspicion that “zombie fires” – smouldering remnants of record blazes in 2019 are reactivating after a period of lull.
The risk of wildfires is significantly enhanced by abnormal arid conditions as seen in Europe during March and April.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Measles, Dengue Fever – Brazil
While most of the attention on infectious diseases in Brazil is focused on the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, other outbreaks are making their mark in the largest South America country. This include some one million dengue fever cases and by far the most measles cases reported in the western hemisphere. Between 1 January and 20 May 2020, Brazil has reported 3,155 confirmed cases, including four deaths.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 earthquake hits eastern Honshu, Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
USA – As the wet and stormy weather moves east across the US, heavy rains this week, especially Thursday morning and afternoon, led to widespread flooding in parts of the Kansas City area, including Westport. In Illinois the rain hit hard and fast in DePue and within about an hour, a substantial part of the village was flooded.
India – Incessant rain and floods have forced hundreds of thousands of people to move to safer places in eastern India’s Assam state, adding to the misery brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and a mid-May cyclone.
Finland – Spring flood in Rovaniemi is expected to exceed the damage limit or even reach the level of the 1993 flood, Finland’s Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) reports. Rivers have been on the rise since the last few days’ heatwave has caused snow to melt quickly. Like northern Norway, also Finnish Lapland has seen a record amount of snow this winter.
Elephants Starving
Thousands of tame elephants in parts of Thailand are facing starvation because the COVID-19 pandemic has kept away the tourists they once toiled to entertain, leaving their owners unable to feed them.
More than 100 of the lumbering animals have traveled on foot up to 100 miles to areas where they can now feed themselves in their home habitats.
The Save Elephant Foundation in the northern province of Chiang Mai helped bring the unemployed elephants to where they can live alongside villagers in a sustainable manner. One owner said the elephants made happy noises upon their first return home in 20 years.
More Locusts
Fresh swarms of desert locusts are ravaging crops from East Africa to India, threatening food shortages at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic.
Heavy rains from last year’s unprecedented tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea created excellent conditions for the pests to breed and spread.
The ravenous insects have arrived in Pakistan and parts of India just before the monsoon season will allow farmers to plant rice, cane, corn and cotton. Experts say these summer crops will quickly be devoured if the worst infestations in decades are not eradicated soon.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 123 degrees Fahrenheit (50.6 degrees Celsius) in Nawabshah, Pakistan.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 93.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 69.4 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Ebola – DR Congo
From 20 to 26 May 2020, no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 20 May 2020 – 26 May 2020
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that during 18-25 May incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible nightly. There were 17 explosive events and five eruptive events with plumes rising as high as 2.8 km above the crater rim. Material was ejected 800-1,300 m away from the crater. The daily sulfur dioxide emission rate was high; it was just over 1,200 tons per day on 22 May. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, and information from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-26 May ash plumes from Dukono rose to 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 14-15 and 19-21 May that sent ash plumes up to 3.6 km (11,800 ft) a.s.l. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite data on those same days, and ash plumes drifted 80 km SW, S, and SE during 14 and 20-21 May. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 20 May an ash plume from Ibu rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l., or 500 m above the crater rim, based on information from PVMBG. Weather clouds prevented satellite views of the event. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side.
Fuego | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that in the evening on 20 May a new lava flow at Fuego traveled 300 m down the Ceniza (SSW) drainage. The crater was incandescent and gas emissions were constant; avalanches descended the flanks 1 km and reached vegetated areas. Explosions produced shock waves and ash plumes that rose just over 1 km above the summit. Lahars descended the Las Lajas ravine on the E flank 1650 on 21 May and the Ceniza drainage on the SW flank. There were 5-12 explosions per hour recorded during 22-26 May, generating ash plumes as high as 1.1 km above the crater rim that generally drifted 10-15 km in multiple directions. Shock waves rattled buildings within a 20-km radius, particularly in areas on the S flank. Incandescent material was ejected 100-300 m high and caused avalanches of blocks in the Ceniza, Seca (W), Trinidad (S), Las Lajas, and Honda drainages. Ashfall was reported in several areas downwind including Santa SofÃa (12 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), Panimaché I and II (8 km SW), Ciudad Vieja (13.5 km NE), San Miguel Dueñas (10 km NE), and Antigua Guatemala (18 km NE). Lava flows in the Ceniza drainage varied in length between 150 and 400 m long.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) :KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during 15-22 May along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite images. A lava flow continued to advance down the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank. Gas-and-steam plumes with some ash drifted 100 km NW, E, and SE during 15-17 and 21 May. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 19-26 May Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 100 m above the crater rim. Active lava flows were 200 m long on the NW flank during 21-22 May and 300 m long on the NE flank during 25-26 May.
Popocatepetl | Mexico : CENAPRED reported that each day during 20-26 May there were 90-251 steam-and-gas emissions from Popocatépetl, some of which contained minor amounts of ash. The plumes drifted mainly E and SE. An explosion at 0302 on 21 May ejected incandescent material onto the flanks. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two (middle level on a three-colour scale).
Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that periodic phreatic explosions at Rincón de la Vieja continued to be recorded by the seismic network and webcams during 20-26 May; most plumes rose no higher than 500 m above the crater rim. Some of the events were not visually confirmed by webcams because of weather conditions or darkness. A small ash eruption at 0537 on 21 May produced a plume that rose 1 km above the crater rim and contained less water vapor than plumes from eruptive events in the past weeks. Plumes from eruptive events at 1624 on 22 May and 0608 on 24 May rose 1 km above the rim. An event at 0325 on 25 May was heard by residents to the N but was no visually confirmed due to darkness. Later that day, in the early evening, an hour-long sequence of eruptions produced gas-and-steam plumes and ejected tephra no higher than the crater rim (except for an event at 1738).
Santa Maria | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 19-26 May explosions at Santa MarÃa’s Santiaguito lava-dome complex generated ash plumes that rose 700-1,000 m above the crater and drifted as far as 1 km NW, W, and SW. Avalanches of blocks descended the S, SE, and SW flanks of Caliente cone. Local ashfall around the volcano was sometimes reported.
Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 20-26 May, though sometimes foggy conditions prevented visual confirmation. Incandescent material from the ends of lava flows descended 400-700 m in the Kembar drainage (on the S flank) during 20-21 and 25-26 May, reaching a maximum distance of 1.2 km from the crater. Ash plumes rose 200-500 m above the crater and drifted S during 19-20 May and N during 24-25 May. White plumes rose 400 m and drifted NE, E, S, and W on 26 May. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 15-22 May. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that nighttime incandescence at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater was visible during 15-22 May. Two explosions were recorded on 21 May, producing plumes that rose as high as 900 m above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.8 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
5.1 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.0 earthquake hits the D’Entrecasteaux Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Kenya – The death toll from floods that have been pounding the East African nation of Kenya has risen to 285, the government announced on Wednesday. Heavy downpours annually witnessed around this time of the year in Kenya have wreaked havoc across the nation marked with flash floods, landslides and sinkholes, leaving thousands displaced, livestock dead and crops destroyed.
Global warming is changing where birds breed
Global warming is shifting the behavior of migratory birds in the eastern regions of North America. Researchers have discovered that the breeding range of some birds is shrinking, while for others this range is expanding.
According to the study, birds that both breed and winter in North America are extending their ranges north where warming temperatures have created new, suitable places to breed.
The findings indicate that bird species such as Carolina wrens and red-bellied woodpeckers will be able to adapt to future climate change.
On the other hand, some birds have breeding ranges that are dwindling. Neotropical migratory birds breed in North America during the summer and migrate to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America for the winter.
Neotropical migrants include warblers, orioles, flycatchers, and other species that birdwatchers look forward to spotting in the spring. The researchers found that Neotropical birds are not expanding north, yet their suitable southern range is shrinking.
Over the past five decades, Neotropical bird populations have decreased by about 2.5 billion individuals.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the Week 20 May 2020 – 26 May 2020
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : On 25 May an ash plume from Karymsky was visible in satellite images drifting 30 km ESE, prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation Color Code to Orange (the second highest level on a four-color scale). Explosive activity on 27 May generated ash plumes that rose to 5 km (16,400 ft) a.s.l. Satellite data showed an ash plume 19×24 km in dimension continuing to drift SE.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.4 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
Two 5.3 earthquakes hit Gabon.
5.2 earthquake hits the southwestern Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.2 earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.
5.1 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 earthquake hits Gabon.
5.1 earthquake hits the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Florida, USA – Widespread flooding was reported Monday afternoon in Miami, Miami Beach and elsewhere in South Florida. The National Weather Service extended a flood watch for the region through 8 a.m. Tuesday. Up to 3 inches of rain fell over the area within one hour.
Wildfires – Siberia
Since the beginning of the year, 5,626 wildfire outbreaks were recorded in Russia ravaging more than 852,00 hectares of territories. However, compared to the same period last year, the number of fires remained the same but the territory decreased by 30%. At the same time, the wildfires destroyed 251 buildings including 48 residential buildings. Compared to the same period in 2019, 30% fewer buildings burned down.
At the moment there are 64 forest fires burning, the total area is 13,000 hectares.
Wildfires – Nova Scotia, Canada
Firefighters in Nova Scotia continued to battle three significant wildfires in three counties, including two fires that were brought under control on Tuesday.
The Department of Lands and Forestry said dry conditions across the province fuelled the wildfires in Yarmouth, Kings and Antigonish counties, which all broke out on Monday.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
H9N2 Avian Flu – China
Two additional H9N2 influenza cases have been reported in China, according to a Taiwan CDC release Monday.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
5.4 earthquake hits Guam.
5.2 earthquake hits the Cook Strait, New Zealand.
5.2 earthquake hits the Rota region, North Mariana Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits Manipur, India.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
India – As the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic, Assam is grappling with flash floods which have affected more than 10,000 people in four districts since Saturday. Flash floods were reported from Meghalaya as well in the Garo Hills region. “10,801 people from 46 villages in four districts of Assam have been affected by the flash flood. The districts are Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Darrang and Goalpara,” a government official said.
Ten percent of the world is facing faster global warming trends than the rest
Around the world, the average global warming trends show an increase of just over 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) when compared to the preindustrial area. However, about 10 percent of the surface are of the globe has already experienced an average warming of over 2 degrees Celsius. UN scientists refer to that level of change as enough to trigger dangerous climate impacts. Over 70 counties in the United States have already climbed past that milestone.
The higher average temperatures are bringing in more severe storms. That said, it was also pointed out that lakes in New Jersey that used to freeze solid can no longer be used by skaters. Rhode Island waterfront homeowners are watching the sea consume hundreds of their beachfront. Scientists in Minnesota are working industriously to plant new trees in forests dying off from warmer temperatures than native tree varieties are capable of withstanding.
This is far from isolated to the United States. Siberia, Angola, Uruguay, Qtar and many other locations are all watching drastic changes happen as a result of their faster-than-average rising temperatures.
These global warming trends aren’t occurring as a result of specific events or activities. Instead, chain reactions are taking place and are affecting certain areas before others. For instance, melting Arctic permafrost is redefining landscapes in Siberia and Alaska, making lands uninhabitable when they have been occupied for centuries.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) – Ethiopia
Between 2 and 8 April 2020, six suspected human cases of dracunculiasis in Duli village, Gog district, Gambella region, Ethiopia, were reported to WHO.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits the Cook Strait, New Zealand.
5.2 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits Taiwan.
5.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Michigan, USA – Rainstorms are a typical part of spring in Michigan. The rainstorm that hit mid-Michigan beginning on Sunday, May 17, though, proved one for the history books. The flooding that resulted from up to 7 inches of rain in Midland, Saginaw and surrounding counties damaged homes and property, forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate and most spectacularly destroyed one power dam and severely damaged another. It’s being called a 500-year flood event, meaning it is only likely to occur once every 500 years. Ongoing flooding has been reported from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Virginia, North and South Carolina and Ohio.
Wildfires – Colorado, USA
Firefighters with air support were suppressing a lightning-sparked wildfire Sunday in southeastern Colorado that had burned more than 11,818 acres over the past four days.
Las Animas County and state authorities decided to suppress this Cherry Canyon fire, burning in canyon country near the Purgatoire River about 10 miles west of Kim, even though people and buildings weren’t threatened.
A separate fire of unknown origin was burning nearby about 120 acres northeast of the Cherry Canyon fire. Neither fire was controlled as of Sunday night.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits the southern mid-Atlantic ridge.
5.6 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.3 earthquake hits Crete.
5.2 earthquake hits Mendoza, Argentina.
5.1 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge,
5.1 earthquake hits southern Iran.
5.0 earthquake hits offshore Chiapas, Mexico.
5.0 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.0 earthquake hits Kodiak Island, Alaska.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Massachusetts, USA – Heavy downpours caused flooding on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Saturday. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning and reported 3.35 inches in Edgartown in a relatively short time.
Flood prevention
Asia faces surging threats from coastal and river flooding as climate change brings more intense rainfall and rising seas – but investing now in dikes and other measures to stem risks could have big financial payoffs, researchers said on Thursday.
Since 1980, flooding has cost the world more than $1 trillion in losses, according to insurer Munich RE, and threats are increasing as population growth, migration and new construction put more people and assets at risk.
Aqueduct Floods data shows that by 2030, 132 million people and urban property valued at $535 billion are likely to be hit annually by river flooding.
India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are likely to see the biggest number of people affected, while India, China and Democratic Republic of Congo could see the largest losses to urban infrastructure.
On coastlines, 15 million people and $177 billion in urban infrastructure could be affected by floods each year by 2030.
A relatively small investment in flood prevention by building dikes to reduce flooding could yield a huge saving of more than 250 times the money spent as flood damages.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits Kepulauan Babar, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
5.1 earthquake hits Kepulauan Mantawai, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits Vancouver Island, Canada.
5.0 earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 27s (Mangga), located approximately 900 nm west-northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking southeastward at 24 knots.
NewsBytes:
Indonesia – A rare tornado ripped through several villages on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing at least two people and damaging around 245 homes. The tornado touched down in Lampung province’s Tulang Bawang district.
El Niño – The U.S. weather agency predicts a 65% chance that neither an El Niño nor a La Niña will form this Northern Hemisphere summer. The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center says that such neutral conditions typically bring more average wind, rainfall and temperature patterns than the weather disruptions brought on by unusually warmer or cooler waters across the tropical Pacific. The last El Niño warming developed in 2018 and was linked to disastrous firestorms, flash floods and crop damage in various areas of the planet.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Ebola – DR Congo
From 13 to 19 May 2020, no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported from North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.9 earthquake hits off the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico.
5.2 earthquake hits Nevada, USA.
5.2 earthquake hits the DR Congo.
5.1 earthquake hits near the coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 27s (Mangga), located approximately 1324 nm west-northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking southeastward at 09 knots.
NewsBytes:
India, Bangladesh – Tropical Cyclone Amphan, the most powerful cyclone to strike eastern India and Bangladesh in over a decade killed at least 82 people, officials said, as rescue teams scoured devastated coastal villages on Thursday, hampered by torn down power lines and widespread flooding. Mass evacuations before Cyclone Amphan made landfall undoubtedly saved countless lives, but the full extent of the casualties and damage will only be known once communications are restored, officials said. In the Indian state of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at least 72 people had perished – most of them either electrocuted or killed by trees uprooted by winds gusting up to 185km/h (115 mph). She said the storm had carved a 400-km long swathe through the state. In neighbouring Bangladesh, the initial death toll was put at 10. When the cyclone barrelled in from the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, a storm surge of around five metres caused flooding across low-lying coastal areas. Villagers could be seen trying to lift fallen electricity poles, fishermen hauling their boats out of a choppy sea, and uprooted trees lying strewn across the countryside. Designated a super cyclone, Amphan weakened after making landfall. Moving inland through Bangladesh, it was downgraded to a cyclonic storm by the Indian weather office, and it has since subsided into a depression.
Carbon Comeback
While overall global CO2 emissions have been expected to fall by about 7% this year due to the pandemic, scientists fear that the man-made pollution will rebound as the world’s population returns to work and industrial production surges.
Daily global emissions of the greenhouse gas fell by 17% at the height of the COVID-19 shutdown. But levels of transportation and economic activity are able to return to pre-pandemic levels by mid-June, researchers estimate the annual fall in CO2 emissions this year will be only 4%.
Cicadas Return – After 17 Years
The drone of untold millions of singing insects will soon echo across parts of the eastern United States from a group of cicadas that emerges from the ground only once every 17 years.
The mating songs of brood IX are among the noisiest of their kind. Their habitat stretches from North Carolina to West Virginia, where as many as 1.5 million can surface per acre.
Cicadas are large, clear-winged insects with bulbous eyes that emerge every year or in cycles of 13 or 17 years. They then shed and leave their brown husks behind on trees and other objects. After breeding, their nymphs crawl into the ground for a 17-year slumber.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius) in Nawabshah, Pakistan.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 96.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 71.1 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever & Covid-19 – Brazil
The number of dengue fever cases reported in Brazil through May 8 has come close to the one million mark (946,852 total cases, about half laboratory confirmed), including 298 deaths.
Brazil’s Ministry of Health reported some 18,000 coronavirus disease 2019 cases in the past 24 hours, putting the rapidly rising epidemic total to 310,087, third in the world.
Covid-19 – China
In Shulan, a city in China’s northeast, the streets are eerily quiet, devoid of taxis and buses. Apartment complexes have been sealed off, confining residents inside. Teams of government workers go door to door rounding up sick people as part of what they call a “wartime” campaign. As the Chinese authorities confront scattered outbreaks of the coronavirus in the country’s northeast, they are turning to many of the same strict lockdown measures that were a hallmark of the effort four months ago to stamp out the epidemic in the central city of Wuhan.
Foot and Mouth Disease – Kenya
Alarm has been raised in Murang’a County following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in parts of Maragua division. In Ichagaki and Nginda locations, ten cows have died with several others displaying symptoms related to the disease. The disease spread through movement of animals from one village to the other, as well as people visiting cow sheds, the local county government says.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 13 May 2020 – 19 May 2020
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that during 11-18 May incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible nightly. There were 10 explosive events with plumes rising as high as 2 km above the crater rim. Material was ejected 600-900 m away from the crater. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Asosan | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that eruptive activity at Asosan was recorded during 11-18 May. Volcanic plumes rose 600-1,000 m above the crater rim and caused ashfall in areas downwind. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was high; the rate was 1,300 tons per day on 17 May. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 13-19 May ash plumes from Dukono rose to 1.5-2.1 km (5,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 8-15 May that sent ash plumes up to 4 km (13,100 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted E, causing ashfall in Severo-Kurilsk during 8-12 May. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite data during 12-14 May. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 16 May an ash plume from Ibu rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW based on satellite images and weather models. Later that day an ash plume rose to 13.7 km (45,000 ft) a.s.l., detached from the volcano and drifted S, and quickly dissipated. Ash plumes rose to 4.3 (14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W during 17-18 May. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side.
Karymsky | Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images on 7, 10, and 13 May. Steam-and-gas plumes containing some ash drifted 77 km SE on 10 May. The Aviation colour Code remained at Yellow.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that Strombolian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during 8-15 May along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite images. A lava flow continued to advance down the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank. Vulcanian activity on 8, 10, and 13 May produced ash plume that drifted 145 km SE and E. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that periodic phreatic explosions at Rincón de la Vieja continued to be recorded by the seismic network and webcams during 13-19 May. Some of the events were not visually confirmed by webcams because of weather conditions or darkness. Two events, at 0524 and 0704 on 14 May produced steam plumes that rose 500 m above the crater rim. A few events were recorded the next morning. At 1127 on 15 May an event was characterized by local residents as a gas-and-steam plume rising 1 km above the crater rim and a gray, sediment-laden plume rising 400 m. Events at 0604, 0644, 0819, and 0825 on 17 May produced steam plumes that rose 500 m above the rim.
Sabancaya | Peru : Instituto GeofÃsico del Perú (IGP) reported that a daily average of 12 explosions occurred at Sabancaya during 11-17 May. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 2.5 km above the summit and drifted NE, E, and SE. There were seven thermal anomalies identified in satellite data, originating from the lava dome in the summit crater. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale) and the public were warned to stay outside of a 12-km radius.
Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 13-19 May, though sometimes foggy conditions prevented visual confirmation. Incandescent material from the ends of lava flows descended 200-300 m in the Kembar drainage (on the S flank), reaching a maximum distance of 1.2 km from the crater. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 8-15 May. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Ubinas | Peru : During 11-18 May the number of seismic events at Ubinas totaled 54 with volcano-tectonic (VT) signals being the most numerous. Sporadic emissions of gas and steam were recorded by the webcam rising to heights less than 300 m above the summit. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale) and the public were warned to stay outside of a 10-km radius.
Yasur | Vanuatu : Based on webcam images and satellite data the Wellington VAAC reported that on 19 May a brief low-level ash emission from Yasur rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits the central Mediterranean Sea.
5.1 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.1 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Alaska.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Amphan), located approximately 25 nm south-southwest of Calcutta, India, is tracking northward at 17 knots.
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone (tc) 27s (Twenty-seven), located approximately 1489 nm west-northwest of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking south-southeastward at 09 knots.
NewsBytes:
Michigan, USA – About 10,000 people were told to evacuate from parts of Michigan after floodwaters caused two dams to fail following heavy rain across the state. The Governor declared a state of emergency Tuesday for Midland County after the Edenville and Sanford dams breached and warned that downtown Midland could be under 9 feet of water by Wednesday afternoon.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
With an increase of 106,000 COVID-19 cases worldwide in the last day, the globe is experiencing its highest one-day increase since the outbreak began, WHO said Wednesday. Two-thirds of those cases were reported in only four countries.
Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever – Mauritania
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported this week on a confirmed case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Mauritania in a 60 year old man with a history of handling meat carcasses.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the Week 13 May 2020 – 19 May 2020
No new volcanic activity was reported for this time period.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 earthquake hits Catamarca, Argentina.
5.1 earthquake hits near the coast of Nicaragua.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Amphan), located approximately 129 nm south-southwest of Calcutta, India, is tracking north-northeastward at 14 knots.
In the Atlantic Ocean: Post-Tropical Cyclone Arthur is located about 400 mi…645 km ene of Cape Hatteras North Carolina and about 380 mi…610 km nw of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds…60 mph…95 km/h. Present movement…e or 100 degrees at 15 mph…24 km/h.
NewsBytes:
Midwest, USA – Major to historic flooding is ongoing in parts of the Midwest from Illinois to Michigan where more than a half a foot of rain fell in the last several days. Spring rains have turned pavilions into shallow pools at Scidmore Park in Three Rivers. The water submerged the sidewalks and covered a foot bridge in the downtown park. The St. Joseph River was about a foot above flood stage in Three Rivers on Tuesday. In Chicago alone, 8.30 inches inches of rain has fallen so far this May, making it the wettest May on record in the city. Heavy rains over the last few days doused Michigan, prompting flood warnings along rivers across the state and forcing some residents to evacuate their homes and navigate waterlogged roads. At least two rivers in mid-Michigan — the Tittabawassee River in Midland and the Rifle River near Sterling — had reached their major flood stage Tuesday afternoon. Moderate flooding has been observed at a handful of other rivers in mid-Michigan as well as the west and southwest portions of the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Parts of Antarctica are turning green
Parts of the Antarctic Peninsula are changing colour as “green snow” caused by blooming algae is spreading with increases in global temperatures, researchers reported Wednesday.
Although often considered devoid of plant life, Antarctica is home to several types of algae, which grow on slushy snow and suck carbon dioxide from the air. They also found that the majority of algae blooms were within five kilometres of a penguin colony, as the birds’ excrement is an excellent fertiliser.
The polar regions are warming far faster than other parts of the planet and the team predicted that low-lying coastal areas of Antarctica would soon be free from algae as they experience snow-free summers. But that loss will probably be offset by a preponderance of large algae blooms as temperatures rise and snow at higher altitudes softens.
A new deadly virus spreading among US rabbit population
Humans aren’t the only ones facing a pandemic — rabbits across the U.S. are currently battling a deadly disease outbreak of their own. The virus has spread to at least six states, threatening to completely wipe out the country’s wild rabbit population.
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease virus type 2 (RHDV-2) spreads quickly and is highly lethal, with the latest outbreak originating in New Mexico. According to the wildlife officials, the virus is not a coronavirus, but rather a calicivirus, and does not affect humans or animals other than rabbits, hares and possibly pikas.
Rabbits may experience fever, swelling, internal bleeding, lack of appetite and liver failure, or they may suddenly die without exhibiting any symptoms, officials say.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits Crete.
5.3 earthquake hits eastern Honshu, Japan.
5.2 earthquake hits near the west coast of Colombia.
5.2 earthquake hits the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizou region, China.
5.1 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
5,0 earthquake hits off the coast of Northern California.
5.0 earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Amphan), located approximately 377 nm south-southwest of Calcutta, India, is tracking northward at 09 knots.
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Arthur is located about 300 mi…485 km ene of Cape Hatteras North Carolina with maximum sustained winds…60 mph…95 km/h. Present movement…ene or 75 degrees at 15 mph…24 km/h.
Wildfires – Arizona, USA
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the desert hills north of Phoenix on Monday after a human-caused wildfire quickly grew as more hot and windy weather threaten to fan the flames further. The Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said the blaze is known as the “East Desert Fire” has grown up to 1,500 acres as of Monday morning, and continues to move northeast near the town of Cave Creek.
Wildfires – Manitoba, Canada
Multiple high-risk fires burning in south-central Manitoba have prompted the province to immediately suspend burning permits, after at least 120 people living in some communities north of Dauphin, Man., were forced to evacuate their homes to escape wildfires. High winds had pushed a couple of fires together to create a blaze of approximately 2,500 hectares.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever – Brazil
Health officials in the São Paulo state, Brazil city of Ribeirão Preto has reported 14,253 confirmed dengue fever cases through May 15 this year, roughly equaling the total for the period in 2019.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.3 earthquake hits Crete.
5.1 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.0 earthquake hits offshore Northern California.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Amphan), located approximately 301 nm southeast of Visakhapatnam, India, is tracking northward at 06 knots.
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Arthur is located about 85 mi…135 km s of Morehead city North Carolina and about 135 mi…215 km ssw of Cape Hatteras North Carolina with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…nne or 20 degrees at 14 mph…22 km/h.
Wildfires – Turkey
A forest fire broke out in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) coastal city of Girne on Sunday, as heat waves continued to grip the island. The fire occurred in forestland in the Tepebaşı district. The wildfire has scorched hundreds of acres of forest near the tip of Morphou Bay in the north and has forced the evacuation of dozens of people while some needed medical care.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Lassa fever – Nigeria
On April 28, Nigerian health officials declared the emergency phase of the 2020 Lassa fever outbreak over after reporting the largest Lassa fever outbreak ever reported in any country, ‘anywhere in the world’.
The Lassa fever cases do continue and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported nine additional cases during the most recent reported week, bringing the total confirmed case count to 1,000 through May 10.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits Tonga.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (Amphan), located approximately 365 nm east-southeast of Chennai, India, is tracking northward at 04 knots.
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Arthur is located about 380 mi…610 km ssw of Cape Hatteras North Carolina with maximum sustained winds…40 mph…65 km/h. Present movement…nne or 15 degrees at 9 mph…15 km/h.
NewsBytes:
Ohio, USA – Northeast Ohio was hit hard by heavy rain on Friday afternoon, and now, multiple areas are experiencing storm damage and flooding.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever – Singapore
The National Environment Agency (NEA) in Singapore has reported 7,502 dengue fever cases through May 15 this year, doubling the case count for the same period in 2019. NEA also reports at least seven dengue-related deaths to date.
Covid-19 – Slovenia
On Friday, the Government of Slovenia officially declared to end to the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.
The SARS-CoV-2 Infectious Disease Epidemic (COVID-19) was declared in Slovenia on March 12. Since the first case was recorded on March 4, 1,465 cases have been confirmed, including 103 deaths.
The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) has estimated that all indicators point to a slowdown in the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the population.
However, as there is still a risk of the spread of COVID-19, general and specific measures adopted on the basis of the Decision on the application of the measures provided for in the Infectious Diseases Act to the COVID-19 epidemic, and otherwise by 31 May 2020. After that date, the Ministry of Health will decide on possible measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus on the basis of the epidemiological situation at home and abroad.
The NIJZ estimates that the cumulative 14-day incidence is 35 cases and the effective reproductive number is currently <1. The current epidemiological situation therefore makes it possible to release the measures that were necessary to contain and control the infectious disease COVID-19, but not to eliminate them completely.
New Covid-19 Outbreak in China
Hundreds of villages in China’s northeastern Jilin province have been placed under lockdown after a cluster of new coronavirus cases were reported in the region, local government officials said Saturday.
Over 1,000 residential buildings have also been quarantined in Shulan, a small city in the center of the province, after cases were also reported there, the officials said.
Most transport has also been halted to 1,205 villages and their surrounding areas in a bid to control a fresh outbreak of the deadly disease, they added.
As of Friday, Shulan city reported a total of 16 locally confirmed cases, the mayor said. The wider Jilin province, of which Shulan city is part, reported total 121 local cases and 19 imported cases.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 earthquake hits Nevada, USA.
5.8 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.6 earthquake hits Vanuatu.
5.3 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.2 earthquake hits Samoa.
5.1 earthquake hits Nevada, USA.
5.1 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical Depression (td) 01w (Vongfong), located approximately 101 nm north of Vigan, Philippines, is tracking northeastward at 16 knots.
In the Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone 01b (One), located approximately 392 nm east-southeast of Chennai, India, is tracking north-northwestward at 03 knots.
NewsBytes:
Chicago, USA – Heavy rain overnight and in into Friday morning led flooding on Chicago area expressways, with cars being stuck in high standing water, and in residents’ homes.
Russia’s global warming rate 2.5 times higher than world average
Russia’s global warming rate is 2.5 times higher than the world average, according to Russian scientists. The rate of global warming on the territory of the country is 2.5 times higher than the average increase in temperatures in the world. This is explained by a variety of factors: the global warming rate in Russia is faster than in the rest of the world due to its location: the country is located in temperate and high latitudes and it is a continental territory.
Wildfires – Florida, USA
Two wildfires broke out on Wednesday May 13th in the Golden Gate community in central Collier County, Florida, west of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. These fires were aided by high winds and extremely low humidity and have grown to more than 8,500 acres. Due to their close proximity, the wildfires are now being reported as one fire, the ‘36th Ave SE Fire’. Crews have also responded to spot fires south of I-75 on the Picayune Strand State Forest, which have grown to 5 000 acres.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.0 earthquake hits eastern Uzbekistan.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon (td) 01w (Vongfong), located approximately 60 nm east-southeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking northwestward at 11 knots.
NewsBytes:
Philippines – Typhoon Vongfong roared into the central Philippines, forcing officials to launch a complicated coastal evacuation effort made more challenging by the coronavirus pandemic. Vongfong packed winds of 100 mph when it made landfall.
Indonesia – Heavy rainfall throughout the week has caused floods and landslides in several provinces, as the rainy season is expected to be last longer than initially forecasted. A downpour lasting from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning led to floods in Lebak regency, Banten, submerging dozens of houses in Cipanas district and destroying a bridge in Lebak Gedong district.
Pollen Clouds
Vast sheets of pollen have blown across parts of the European landscape this spring, triggering allergy problems for those already suffering from the COVID-19 health crisis.
Images on social media and television have shown layers of yellow pollen reducing visibility in Spain, and Switzerland’s Lake Geneva ringed with yellow from the pollen that had fallen on the water and collected along the shoreline.
Strong winds blowing over vast tracts of olive orchards and other crops that stretch across southern Spain carried the pollen for long distances.
Amazonian Deforestation
Satellite observations by Brazil’s space agency, INPE, confirm that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest rose sharply as the coronavirus crisis deepened in the country during April.
The health emergency has prevented many officials in charge of preventing the practice from being in the field to thwart illegal logging and land clearing. INPE says that losses in Brazil’s portion of the Amazon soared by 64% during the month, with 465 square miles lost.
Despite supporting policies that have encouraged farmers, ranchers and loggers to clear Amazon land to help the economy, President Jair Bolsonaro has authorized the deployment of the armed forces to deter the practices.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3 degrees Celsius) in Matam, Senegal.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 73.3 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Wildfires – Siberia
Wildfires in Siberia and the Russian Far East have become as much as ten times worse compared to this time last year, according to Ecowatch. Experts say this is due to the current climate crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, which have contributed to the destruction of these fires.
As of April 27, ten times the amount of land was on fire in the Krasnoyarsk region in Russia. This is being compared to the same time last year. In Transbaikal, a southern region of Russia, there is three times as much land burning. It has also been reported that in the Amur region, there were 1.5 times as many fires burning compared to last year.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Ebola – DR Congo
From 6 to 12 May 2020, no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported from North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the resurgence of the outbreak on 10 April 2020, seven confirmed cases have been reported from Kasanga, Malepe and Kanzulinzuli Health Areas in Beni Health Zone.
Cholera – Kenya
Over 23 Kenyans have lost their lives since the outbreak of cholera in Marsabit County in mid-March 2020. Members of the local fishing communities residing on Abalakwa Island in Lake Turkana and Illeret village have called upon the national government to come to their rescue. Humanitarian organisations in the area report that over 300 Kenyans have been infected with the deadly disease as residents claim no meaningful help has been forthcoming from the national government despite numerous appeals.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 6 May 2020 – 12 May 2020
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that during 4-11 May incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible nightly. There were four eruptive events with plumes rising as high as 2.3 km above the crater rim. Three explosions were recorded; an explosion at 0531 on 9 May produced an ash plume that rose 4.2 km and ejected material 600-900 m away from the crater. JMA noted that ash plumes had not risen higher than 4 km since 8 November 2019. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Asosan | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that eruptive activity at Asosan was recorded during 4-11 May. Volcanic plumes rose 700-900 m above the crater rim and caused ashfall in areas downwind. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was high at 3,000-4,800 tons per day during 7-8 May. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-5).
Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : AVO lowered both the Volcano Alert Level and the Aviation colour Code for Cleveland to Unassigned on 7 May, noting that explosive activity on 9 January 2019 (and subsequent lava extrusion in the summit crater) was followed by an overall decrease in detected surface temperature and no further surface changes.
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 6-12 May ash plumes from Dukono rose to 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, and SE. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Etna | Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that on 5 May increasing and pulsating ash emissions at Etna’s New Southeast Crater (NSEC) formed a plume that drifted SSE. The activity may have concurrently occurred with the enlargement of vent number 3. Explosive activity at Voragine Crater (VOR), with minor ash emissions and occasional visible shreds of incandescent material, was relatively mild and discontinuous. During a field inspection on 8 May, volcanologists observed that the main cone was almost unchanged and produced modest ash emissions. Strong explosive activity at a cone located E of the main cone produced a lot of ash, and ejected coarse material that fell on the W edge of VOR as well as on the S terrace of Bocca Nuova Crater. Activity at NSEC again increased; on 10 May Strombolian explosions ejected material out of the crater and onto the flanks. Concurrently, increased activity in VOR was characterized by the ejection of ballistics beyond its crater rim. After a few hours Strombolian activity in NSEC significantly decreased and explosive activity in VOR was both less intense and less frequent.
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 9 May an ash plume from Ibu rose to 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE based on satellite images and weather models. On 12 May an ash plume rose to 2.1 km a.s.l. and drifted N. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side.
Popocatepetl | Mexico : CENAPRED reported that each day during 5-12 May there were 94-157 steam-and-gas emissions from Popocatépetl, some of which contained minor amounts of ash. Minor explosions were recorded at 1534 and 1609 on 7 May, at 1648 on 10 May, at 1723 and 2351 on 11 May, and at 0302 and 0604 on 12 May. Crater incandescence was visible some nights. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, Phase Two (middle level on a three-colour scale).
Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported periodic phreatic explosions at Rincón de la Vieja during 6-12 May. Phreatic explosions were recorded at 1624 on 6 May and 0343 on 8 May, though inclement weather conditions hindered visual confirmation. Two small emissions were noted at 1850 on 8 May and at 0020 on 9 May. An event at 1925 on 9 May generated a gas-and-steam plume that rose almost 2 km above the crater rim.
Sangeang Api | Indonesia : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 10 May a discrete ash emission from Sangeang Api rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 4-10 May. Eruptive events produced dense white-gray ash plumes that rose 200-500 m above the summit. Incandescent material from the ends of lava flows descended 500-1,000 m in the Kembar and Kobokan drainages (on the S flank), reaching a maximum distance of 2 km from the crater. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank.
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that during 1-8 May explosions occurred twice a day at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater and produced plumes that rose as high as 1 km above the crater rim. Material was ejected 400 m from the crater. Crater incandescence was visible nightly. Rumbling sounds were noted in a village 4 km SSW. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits southeast of Easter Island.
5.4 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits Madagascar.
5.0 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon (td) 01w (Vongfong), located approximately 289 nm east-southeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking westward at 09 knots.
NewsBytes:
France РSouthwest France has suffered some of the worst flooding in almost 40 years, with the department of Landes (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) still on M̩t̩o France orange alert for floods yesterday. The flooding happened after the rivers Adour and Midouze Рand their tributaries the Douze and Midou Рburst their banks.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Measles – Russia
Health officials in St. Petersburg, Russia reported since the beginning of the year, 46 measles cases have been registered, including 30 cases in children under 17 years of age.
Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic fever – Russia
The Office of Rospotrebnadzor in the Stavropol Territory reports the first case of infection with Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) this year in the southwestern Russia region.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the Week 6 May 2020 – 12 May 2020
No new volcanic activity was reported this week. (Ongoing activity will be reported as usual tomorrow)
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.6 earthquake hits the Santa Crux Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits Hokkaido, Japan.
5.0 earthquake hits near the coast of central Peru.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon (td) 01w (Vongfong), located approximately 465 nm east-southeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-northwestward at 04 knots.
NewsBytes:
Texas, USA – Areas of central Texas were hit with severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, with tornadoes and flash floods occurring in some regions during the morning and early afternoon. Residents of these areas received tornado and flash flood warnings from local branches of the National Weather Service (NWS) throughout the day. Flash floods were reported about 85 miles east in Starzville, closer to San Antonio. Tornadoes were reported in counties near Austin and San Antonio Tuesday morning.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
There have been no Magnitude 5.0+ earthquakes so far today.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression (td) 01w (One), located approximately 521 nm east-southeast of Manila, Philippines, is tracking northward at 05 knots.
NewsBytes:
Utah, USA – At least one hiker was killed Monday afternoon when flash floods ripped through slot canyons in Utah’s San Rafael Swell, prompting a massive search by ground and air for other possible victims. The Emery County Sheriff’s Office said the person died in Little Wildhorse Canyon, a popular hiking destination near Goblin Valley State Park, while 21 others made it out of the flooded canyon safely.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
African Swine Fever – Togo
Togo reported an outbreak of African swine fever in a farm northwest of the capital Lome, where 44 pigs have died of the disease since April 18. The government took a series of prevention and disinfection measures to curb the spread of the disease, including the slaughter of all pigs in the farm area.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.8 earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.6 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.5 earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Uganda – Residents of Kasese District in western Uganda woke up on Sunday to another wave of flash floods three days after the torrents hit the district when four major rivers burst their banks on Thursday. he rives; Nyamwamba, Mubuku, Nyamughasana and Lhubiriha again burst their banks in the wee hours of Sunday morning spilling water into the communities in the low lands putting the lives of hundreds people at risk.
Malaysia – Some 100 houses in Teluk Kumbar and Sungai Ara, near here, were hit by flash floods after heavy rain lashed several areas in Penang for more than two hours last night. However, the flood victims were not evacuated to relief centres.
Wildfires – Florida, USA
The Hurst Hammock Fire near Beulah is now 1,248 acres and is 75% contained, and the 5 Mile Swamp Fire in Santa Rosa County is 2,215 acres and is also 75% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service Service. The Hurst Hammock fire was caused by humans, not nature, the Forest Service said, but the exact cause has not been determined.
Wildfires – Israel
Five fire crews are working to extinguish bushfires that broke out in a number of locations on Sunday and are currently threatening homes in Elad, in central Israel. Fire and Rescue services on the scene are attempting to block the spread of the fires and prevent property damage.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.3 earthquake hits southern Xinjiang, China.
5.2 earthquake hits Mindoro in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits the Santa Cruz Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Wales -Properties have been flooded after thunderstorms hit parts of south and west Wales on Saturday. Several houses were damaged in Carmarthen while fire crews have also been called to flash flooding in Gorseinon, Swansea.
Ethiopia – Devastating floods from the swollen River Daua along the Kenya-Ethiopia border have left several villages in Mandera County under water, hundreds of locals displaced and farms washed away. The most affected villages are Rhamu Dimtu, Khalicha, Yabicho, Girisa, Sala, Hareri, Darika, Gadudia and Khalalio.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Lassa fever – Nigeria
Nigerian health officials reported five additional confirmed Lassa fever cases the week ending May 3, including two deaths a week after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) declared the emergency phase of the 2020 Lassa fever outbreak over. Lassa fever cases have dropped dramatically from the weekly high of 115 cases in mid-February.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.2 earthquake hits Guam.
5.2 earthquake hits Antofagasta, Chile.
5.1 earthquake hits the mid-Indian ridge.
5.1 earthquake hits New Ireland, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 earthquake hits Kepulauan Babar, Indonesia.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
East Africa – Flooding washed away roads, bridges and a hospital in Uganda and an entire small town in Somalia as torrential rain across East Africa compounded problems for governments struggling to respond to the new coronavirus. Hundreds of people have been killed by floodwaters in Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda and Ethiopia which have also displaced hundreds of thousands across the region. Heavy overnight rains flooded areas around Mountain Rwenzori in Western Uganda after the River Nyamwamba burst its banks, forcing people to seek refuge in nearby schools and destroying roads and bridges, a senior government official said. One of the hospitals in the area, Kilembe, was also overrun by the gushing waters despite being built on a raised bank and reinforced with sandbags. In neighbouring Somalia, an unspecified number of people were killed when floods washed away an entire small town in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, officials said.
Altered Storm Formation
Researchers say that climate change over the past 40 years has altered where hurricanes and the other tropical cyclones around the world are forming.
NOAA scientists say that while the average number of such storms spinning up each year remains relatively stable, more are forming in the North Atlantic and Central Pacific. At the same time, those in the western Pacific and southern Indian oceans are now less frequent.
Seagull Survival
Starving seagulls in Italy have begun hunting rats, pigeons and other small birds since the coronavirus crisis began depriving them of their usual diet of scraps from tourists, according to a zoologist from Tor Vergata University of Rome.
“They are going back to being predators,” Bruno Cignini told the Corriere della Sera daily. “It mainly hunts pigeons, which are slaughtered, and all the other birds that come within range. … Luckily, it even eats rats.” Cignini added that the hungry birds have also been seen going after fish in the Tiber River.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Polio – Afghanistan/Pakistan
There were eight additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases reported during the past week–six in Afghanistan and two in Pakistan. Globally, 54 WPV-1 cases are reported in 2020 to date.
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
5.4 earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands.
5.3 earthquake hits New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
5.1 earthquake hits northern Iran.
5.1 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storms.
NewsBytes:
Kenya – The death toll from the ongoing floods in Kenya has risen to 194.
Somalia – At least 16 people have died while more than 200,000 others have been affected by torrential rains and riverine floods since the Gu (April-June) rains started in Somalia a month ago 10 other people are missing due to floods and at least 2,000 farms have been swamped by water.
Killer Wasps Arrive in USA
A giant and invasive bee-killing wasp, dubbed the world’s most venomous and intimidating insect, has arrived in Washington state, threatening agriculture. The Asian giant hornet is up to 2 inches in length and was first reported last fall along the Canadian border.
Its venom is seven times stronger than that of honeybees, and its stingers can even penetrate protective clothing. A few dozen of them can kill an entire colony of honeybees within a few hours. It’s believed the wasp arrived in a container ship from Japan or South Korea.It killed 50 people last year in Japan alone.
Flamingo Bounty
Some of the more colourful examples of how wildlife is reclaiming habitat during the global coronavirus lockdowns are the nearly 150,000 flamingos that have gathered in the wetlands around Mumbai, India.
Smaller numbers of the birds typically migrate to areas near the city from November until May. The Bombay Natural History Society believes there are around 25% more of the pink-winged visitors this year. It says they are now roosting in areas where they have never been seen.
80% Drop in Freshwater Insect Populations – Global Warming
According to a long-term study in a nature reserve in the State of Hesse, environmental changes attributable to global warming have resulted in an 80% drop in the sizes of freshwater insect populations over the past 40 years.
The Breitenbach, a headwater stream located in the hills of Eastern Hesse, is one of the most intensively investigated watercourses in the world. For more than 40 years, researchers have been following the fortunes of its insect communities. The stream lies within the boundaries of a nature reserve, and its relative remoteness minimizes the direct impact of humans on its flora and fauna.
The analysis, which appears in the journal Conservation Biology, shows that insect communities in the Breitenbach have diminished in abundance by more than 80% over the past four decades. The authors link this alarming decline to climate change.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47.8 degrees Celsius) in Tillabury, Niger.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 91.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 68.3 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Botulism – Ukraine
A shipment of 204 vials of Canadian-produced anti-botulism serum, procured under Ukraine’s state budget, is being delivered to the country’s regions. 44 cases of botulism have been reported in the Ukraine to date this year.
Ebola – DR Congo
From 29 April to 5 May 2020, no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have been reported from North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 29 April 2020 – 5 May 2020
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that during 27 April-4 May incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible nightly. An explosion at 2246 on 27 April generated an ash plume that rose over 3 km above the crater rim and ejected blocks 600-900 m from the crater. An eruptive event at 1510 on 2 May produced a plume that rose 1.4 km above the rim. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 29 April-5 May ash plumes from Dukono rose to 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E and NE. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 24 April-1 May that sent ash plumes up to 3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. The plumes drifted E, causing ashfall in Severo-Kurilsk during 25-30 April. An ash cloud was identified in satellite data on 29 April drifting 180 km SE. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that Strombolian and Vulcanian activity at Klyuchevskoy was visible during 24 April-1 May along with a bright thermal anomaly identified in satellite images. Ash plumes drifted about 425 km W, and a lava flow continued to descend the Apakhonchich drainage on the SE flank. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Reykjanes | Iceland : IMO reported that uplift detected in the Thorbjorn area decreased in the beginning of April and stopped later in the month. Seismicity, which had occurred across three main volcanic systems: Eldey, Reykjanes-Svartsengi, and KrýsuvÃk, had significantly decreased. These data indicated that the injection of magma beneath Thorbjorn had stopped, though there were indications of deformation over a larger area. On 4 May the Aviation colour Code was lowered to Green.
Rincon de la Vieja | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported two phreatic explosions at Rincón de la Vieja during 30 April-5 May and continuing fluctuations in tremor levels. At 1610 on 30 April an event produced a gas-and-steam plume that rose 1.5 km above the crater rim. At 1317 on 5 May a steam plume rose 200 m above the rim.
Ruapehu | North Island (New Zealand) : On 4 May GeoNet reported a cooling trend of the crater lake water at Ruapehu with a current temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. During February-April the water temperature had peaked at 42 degrees Celsius. The intensity of volcanic tremor had been weak during the past month after a peak in strength in early March; tremor had declined slowly almost in conjunction with the lake water cooling trend. During a visit to the lake the previous week volcanologists noted that the lake was a uniform gray colour with a few surface slicks and no obvious upwelling. Since that visit the water level had risen and was flowing into the upper Whangaehu River. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at 1 (minor volcanic unrest) and the Aviation colour Code remained at Green.
Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 27 April-3 May. Eruptive events produced dense white-gray ash plumes that rose 100-400 m above the summit; white plumes rose as high as 200 m. Incandescent material from the ends of lava flows descended 1 km in the Kembar and Kobokan drainages (on the S flank), reaching a maximum distance of 2 km from the crater. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded to stay outside of the general 1-km radius from the summit and 4 km on the SSE flank.
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that at 0432 on 28 April an eruption at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater produced a plume that rose 1.6 km above the crater rim and ejected blocks as far as 800 m from the crater. An explosion at 1214 on 29 April caused glass in an office building to vibrate in a village 4 km SSW. There was a total of 64 and 50 explosions recorded on 28 and 29 April, respectively; two explosions were detected on 30 April and one on 1 May. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).
Yasur | Vanuatu : On 30 April the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) reported that recent visual observations at Yasur confirmed that gas-and-ash emissions were ongoing. The report noted that some of the explosions could be intense and eject bombs outside of the summit crater. Data from the seismic network indicated a decrease in activity as compared to March data. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 0-4). VMGD had increased the radius of the permanent exclusion zone to 600 m in mid-March and that remained in effect; residents and tourists were reminded that volcanic ash and gas could reach areas impacted by trade winds.
