Earth ChangesS


Camera

Skiers in Chile shocked when Nevados de Chillán volcano erupts next to them

Lucy Aspden
The Telegraph
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:55 UTC
Nevados de Chillan eruption
© DMC Photography/FacebookSkiers were shocked when a volcano erupted next to them in Chile
Avalanches, extreme cold, and fast-changing weather conditions are just a few of the natural dangers that skiers and snowboarders must be aware of and prepare themselves for when out exploring the mountains.

However, skiers in the Bío Bío region of Chile in South America on August 2 were struck by an unexpected threat - an erupting volcano. The Nevados de Chillán volcano began to billow smoke, ash and gases while a group from ski and snowboard guide company Powder Quest were on the neighbouring slopes.

Skier Jess McMillan caught the whole thing on film and posted the video on her Instagram feed, with the caption: "So crazy to see a #volcano #eruption @nevadosdechillan Very cool way to end an epic bluebird powder day @powderquest #ladiesfreeridecamp."

Experts from the website Volcano Discovery suggest the eruption started around 5:10pm on August 1 - the dense plume of ash from the crater, which is off-limits to skiers and snowboarders, rose to 3,600m and quickly dispersed. In total the activity only lasted a few minutes, but nonetheless caught those enjoying the sunny South American slopes off guard.

Jess said: "The volcano has been giving off gases all season, there's now a closed area surrounding it to keep skiers and snowboarders a safe distance away. The volcano has emitted gases twice since in the past three days - it makes no sound and there's no earthquake when it happens."

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Attention

Volcanoes along the ring of fire are going off like firecrackers

Michael Snyder
End of the American Dream
Wed, 03 Aug 2016 16:30 UTC
ring of fire activity
So far this week, we have seen the most dangerous volcano in Mexico erupt, and three major volcanoes in Indonesia all erupted within the space of just 72 hours. Mexico and Indonesia are both considered to be part of "the Ring of Fire," and all along the perimeter of the Pacific Ocean volcanoes are starting to go off like firecrackers right now. According to Volcano Discovery, 25 volcanoes in areas that are considered to be within the Ring of Fire have erupted recently. Our planet appears to have entered a time of increased seismic activity, and those the follow my work regularly know that this is a theme that I revisit repeatedly. Sadly, most Americans are not paying too much attention to this increase in seismic activity, but the truth is that it has very serious implications for the west coast of the United States.

It didn't make a big splash in the mainstream media in the United States, but this week Mt. Popocatepetl erupted and coated homes and vehicles in Mexico City with a thick layer of volcanic dust. And now some scientists are becoming concerned that this recent activity may be building up to "a major disastrous eruption"...
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Calendar

Largest quakes since volcano stopped erupting recorded near Bardarbunga

Paul Fontaine
The Reykjavik Grapevine
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 16:25 UTC
Bardarbunga volcano
© Reykjavik Grapevine
One of the largest quakes since the famed volcano stopped erupting has been recorded near Bárðarbunga.

RÚV reports that a quake measuring a 4 on the Richter scale was recorded near the northern end of Bárðarbunga at about 5:00 Wednesday morning.

Einar Hjörleifsson, a natural disaster expert at the Icelandic Met Office, told reporters the quake is amongst the largest that have been recorded since the volcano stopped erupting in early 2015. The past week has been relatively quiet at the site, he said, but over the course of this day many tremours were recorded. He emphasised that the quakes in themselves do not necessarily mean that another volcanic eruption is on the way.

This is not for the first time in recent months that tremours have been recorded near Bárðarbunga. As reported last May, a quake measuring 4.4 was recorded near the volcano, followed by several aftershocks.

While scientists do not yet have reason to believe another eruption is imminent, they are still monitoring the area closely for increased activity. The Grapevine will keep readers updated in the event an eruption occurs.
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Arrow Down

Sinkhole opens up on farmland in Kybybolite, South Australia

Isabella Hood
The Naracoorte Herald
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 14:07 UTC
Local Max Schinckel inspects the sinkhole after driving over it in a tractor towing a spray unit.
Local Max Schinckel inspects the sinkhole after driving over it in a tractor towing a spray unit.
Driving over a three metre wide and two metre deep sinkhole in a large tractor towing a spray unit is not an ideal situation, but that's the scenario local Max Schinckel found himself in yesterday.

The incident occurred on the property of Kybybolite farmer Andrew Shepherd, who said it was the first sinkhole he had come across on his farm.

"It opened up underneath the tractor and spray unit," Mr Shepherd explained.

"We were very lucky that the weight must have broken the ground, but hadn't actually dropped until the sprayer was basically all the way over it.

"The driver (Max) that was driving the tractor was thrown out of his seat and hit his head on the roof. He stopped to get out and have a look and he found the sinkhole.

"It's something I wasn't expecting, that's for sure."
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Fire

Giant wildfire in California imaged from space by NASA satellite

Calla Cofield
Space.com
Tue, 02 Aug 2016 13:54 UTC
Wildfire from space
The Soberanes fire, currently burning near Monterey, California, was imaged by a NASA satellite on Sunday afternoon, as the blaze continued to swallow up tens of thousands of acres of land.

The fire, which has been burning for a little more than three weeks, had destroyed over 33,000 acres on Saturday (July 30), according to the Los Angeles Times. But in just a few days, the engulfed area has expanded to include 43,400 acres (67.8 square miles or 175.6 square kilometers) according to the state wildfire management agency, Cal Fire.

The image of the fire, trailing white smoke out over the Pacific Ocean, was captured with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite at 4:35 p.m. EDT (20:35 GMT). The red lines on the image show actively burning areas detected by MODIS.

The resolution of the image is 820 feet (250 meters) per pixel, and the image shows an area about 3,730 miles (600 km) long and 260 miles (420 km) wide. A black line representing the California border with Nevada is imposed on the image.

Wildfires (marked in red) in the western United States, seen from space by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite on July 31.
Wildfires (marked in red) in the western United States, seen from space by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA's Aqua satellite on July 31.

Comment: See also: Wildfires burn across 7 Western states, prompt evacuations

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Attention

Up to 1000 dead starfish found on beaches near Fremantle, Western Australia

Heather McNeill
WA Today
Wed, 03 Aug 2016 11:06 UTC
Dead star fish have washed up at South Beach.
Dead star fish have washed up at South Beach.
Authorities are investigating reports up to 1000 dead starfish have washed up on beaches near Fremantle since Monday.

Department of Fisheries officers have collected samples of the dead star fish from South Beach and nearby beaches in North Coogee to try and determine what has caused the kill.

The stretch of coast includes a popular dog beach and Port Coogee jetty.

"The samples have been sent to the department's fish health unit for analysis," a Fisheries statement read.

"Results may take some time depending on the tests being undertaken.

"No other dead aquatic animals have been reported or sighted."
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Tornado2

Waterspout filmed off Bağırganlı, Turkey


Yahoo
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 15:36 UTC
A funnel cloud, possibly a waterspout, was spotted off the northwestern Turkish town of Bağırganlı on the morning of August 3, according to a local resident who shot this video.

Bağırganlı is located on the Black Sea.

This video shows the cloud moving over a headland near Bağırganlı beach before beginning to dissipate.

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Tornado2

Tornado hits downtown New Orleans damaging buildings


WWLTV.com
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 20:46 UTC
new orleans tornado damage
© Sophia Germer
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-0 tornado touched down in the New Orleans area Thursday afternoon.

According to the NWS the tornado had winds of 80 miles per hour. Damage was half a mile in length, and officials said the tornado began at Marias and Annette streets and ended at N. Claiborne and St. Philip Street.

About 3:30 p.m., viewers began sending in pictures of a funnel cloud over the French Quarter area. Shortly after, at the corner of St. Philip and N. Claiborne Avenue, a vacant home collapsed. Officials said two people were brought to the hospital with minor injuries.

Authorities said three buildings collapsed during the severe weather event, all in the Seventh Ward and Treme areas.


Comment: A few weeks ago a huge waterspout formed over Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana.

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Tornado2

Waterspout forms over Lake Manawa, Iowa


WOWT
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 17:24 UTC
Lake Manawar waterspout
© Thomas Baber
A rope tornado was spotted near Lake Manawa Thursday. Videos sent to WOWT 6 News shows the funnel as it formed over the lake before touching down on the water.

It's unclear if the tornado ever left the water, which would make the formation a waterspout. The National Weather Service is expected to give their final assessment Friday.

The rope tornado could be seen from Omaha. WOWT 6 News cameras caught the tornado as it dissipated. Tornado warnings were issued for Mills and Pottawattamie counties; they have since expired.


Comment: Some other waterspouts observed from around the world within the past few weeks include:

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Cloud Precipitation

Floods in Sudan kill 76, destroy thousands of houses; the Nile is at its highest levels in more than a century


Reuters (UK)
Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:37 UTC
Sudan flooding
© YouTube/Al Jazeera English (screen capture)
Floods and heavy rain in Sudan have killed 76 people and destroyed thousands of homes in recent days, the interior minister said on Thursday.

Ismat Abdelrahman said 13 of Sudan's 18 provinces had been affected by flooding.

The Nile is at its highest levels in more than a century, swollen by heavy rain in many parts of the East African country, according to the water and irrigation ministry.

Interior ministry statistics showed downpours and flooding had completely destroyed 3,206 houses, and damaged 3,048 others in the eastern province of Kassala, one of the worst hit areas.

Sudan suffers from an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, which makes it harder to cope with heavy rain and natural disasters.

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