"Underwater volcanism is also sublimating portions of the Antarctica ice mass from underneath. In 2004, a research team led by Eugene Domack, aboard the research vessel Lawrence M. Gould, made a remarkable discovery of a massive underwater volcano off the coast of Antarctica using a deep water submersible vehicle equipped with a cadre of sensors and video cameras. The volcano was 2300 feet (700 meters) tall. The British team findings confirmed the volcano was still active and was contributing to the melting of the ice sheet from beneath the Antarctica land mass." - The Extinction Protocol, page 160 - 2010
Earth Changes
Spent reactor fuel, containing roughly 85 times more long-lived radioactivity than released at Chernobyl, still sits in pools vulnerable to earthquakes.
More than a year after the Fukushima nuclear power disaster began, the news media is just beginning to grasp that the dangers to Japan and the rest of the world are far from over. After repeated warnings by former senior Japanese officials, nuclear experts, and now a U.S. senator, it's sinking in that the irradiated nuclear fuel stored in spent fuel pools amidst the reactor ruins pose far greater dangers than the molten cores. This is why:
More than a year after the Fukushima nuclear power disaster began, the news media is just beginning to grasp that the dangers to Japan and the rest of the world are far from over. After repeated warnings by former senior Japanese officials, nuclear experts, and now a U.S. senator, it's sinking in that the irradiated nuclear fuel stored in spent fuel pools amidst the reactor ruins pose far greater dangers than the molten cores. This is why:
- Nearly all of the 10,893 spent fuel assemblies sit in pools vulnerable to future earthquakes, with roughly 85 times more long-lived radioactivity than released at Chernobyl
- Several pools are 100 feet above the ground and are completely open to the atmosphere because the reactor buildings were demolished by explosions. The pools could possibly topple or collapse from structural damage coupled with another powerful earthquake.
- The loss of water exposing the spent fuel will result in overheating and can cause melting and ignite its zirconium metal cladding resulting in a fire that could deposit large amounts of radioactive materials over hundreds, if not thousands of miles.
Mysterious green clouds have been spotted over the Russian capital, sparking fears of a chemical disaster and even some doomsday theories.
But the Emergencies Ministry is advising the public to calm down. It says the clouds are actually composed of birch pollen, not of chemicals from an allegedly burning factory in the Moscow region, as some reported.
Some people, however, got so scared that even the official comments could not convince them. Russian Twitter users have been posting alarming messages like "Moscow schools are closed because of the blast! Children are sent home," "Sky has turned completely green in Moscow's south!" and "The factory in Kaluga is destroyed!" A flood of 911 calls was also registered.
© Image from ntv.ru
Some people, however, got so scared that even the official comments could not convince them. Russian Twitter users have been posting alarming messages like "Moscow schools are closed because of the blast! Children are sent home," "Sky has turned completely green in Moscow's south!" and "The factory in Kaluga is destroyed!" A flood of 911 calls was also registered.
Mammoth Lakes, California - A series of 6 tremors have erupted at the Long Valley super-volcano caldera over the last 24 hours- two yesterday, and four tremors today. The tremors today were a 1.1 mag (3.2 km), a 2.5 mag (4.5 km), a 1.6 mag (4.5 km) and a 1.2 mag (2.8 km). This could be the beginning of a swarm so we'll keep monitoring events and look for updates.
© ANSS
Head of Data Center for Information and Public Relations of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugrogo said Lokon was shaken by another volcanic tremor in Tomohon, North Sulawesi. In addition, the volcano is stirred by 1 to 3 shallow tremors every 5 minutes. If activity continues to increase at the volcano, officials fear an eruption could be imminent. The volcano remains at alert status 3 for now. The public is admonished to monitor the news for the latest updates about the volcano and a 2.5 kilometer exclusion zone remains in effect around the volcano's parameter.
© Unknown
Mount Lokon volcano
Mount Lokon volcano
The Shiveluch volcano on Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Thursday ejected an ash cloud to as high as nearly 11km above the sea level, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. An ash column from the volcano rose to a height of 10.7km above the sea level.
There was no immediate threat for the population, and no emissions of volcanic dust were monitored in neighboring villages. Two earthquakes were registered at the volcano over the past 24 hours, which was given the highest Red Aviation Code. This was the most powerful eruption of ash registered at Shiveluch this year. Shiveluch has been active for more than four weeks.
There was no immediate threat for the population, and no emissions of volcanic dust were monitored in neighboring villages. Two earthquakes were registered at the volcano over the past 24 hours, which was given the highest Red Aviation Code. This was the most powerful eruption of ash registered at Shiveluch this year. Shiveluch has been active for more than four weeks.
© Google
More than 11,000 fish died in one of three fish kills to occur in the Dayton area since April 17, state wildlife officials said Wednesday.
The large amount of deaths occurred on Little Beaver Creek in Kettering, from Research Boulevard upcreek about three miles, said Joel Buddelmeyer, the acting law enforcement supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife District 5 office in Xenia.
Smaller kills were on an unnamed tributary of the Great Miami River near Leston Avenue in Huber Heights that killed 330 fish. There was another fish kill in Vandalia, but it was not related to the R.D. Holder oil fire, Buddelmeyer said. The fire in Clark County caused fish kills in the vicinity of the blaze.
Spring fish kills have been linked to lawn chemicals sprayed on larger properties just before a rain storm, Buddelmeyer said. The chemicals quickly travel with water run-off into the area streams.
"Until we develop a suspect, our investigators are trying to make contact with businesses in the areas," Buddelmeyer said. "It's hard telling."
The dead included bass, catfish, suckers, darters, salamanders, frogs and crayfish. The kills were reported on April 17 and 21.
Buddelmeyer said lawn companies should use caution when spraying and to postpone spraying when rain is in the forecast.
The large amount of deaths occurred on Little Beaver Creek in Kettering, from Research Boulevard upcreek about three miles, said Joel Buddelmeyer, the acting law enforcement supervisor for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife District 5 office in Xenia.
Smaller kills were on an unnamed tributary of the Great Miami River near Leston Avenue in Huber Heights that killed 330 fish. There was another fish kill in Vandalia, but it was not related to the R.D. Holder oil fire, Buddelmeyer said. The fire in Clark County caused fish kills in the vicinity of the blaze.
Spring fish kills have been linked to lawn chemicals sprayed on larger properties just before a rain storm, Buddelmeyer said. The chemicals quickly travel with water run-off into the area streams.
"Until we develop a suspect, our investigators are trying to make contact with businesses in the areas," Buddelmeyer said. "It's hard telling."
The dead included bass, catfish, suckers, darters, salamanders, frogs and crayfish. The kills were reported on April 17 and 21.
Buddelmeyer said lawn companies should use caution when spraying and to postpone spraying when rain is in the forecast.
© Simm, Wikimedia Commons
Buildings perched on the rim on Santorini volcano.
Buildings perched on the rim on Santorini volcano.
About 3600 years ago, at the height of Minoan civilization, Santorini let loose with one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. The explosion blanketed nearby islands with piles of ash hundreds of feet thick and sent out a gigantic tsunami that devastated Crete, about 68 miles to the south.
Smaller eruptions across the ensuing millennia ended abruptly in 1950. Then, after 60 years of calm, the caldera reawakened early last year with an escalating swarm of earthquakes. When geologists took a closer look, they could see the ground was swelling as well, as though the sleeping giant were yawning.
The earthquakes and ground deformation scientists observed between 2011 and early 2012 are unprecedented since the 1950 eruption. But just because a volcano is sucking in breath doesn't mean it will spew. Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull stratovolcano really let loose in 2010 after its own swarm of deformation-driven tremors, but Long Valley caldera in California has been breathing heavily since 1980 with no eruption at all.
So, what's in store for Santorini?
© USGS
No injury or casualty has been reported.
The epicentre of the tremor measuring 5.7 on the Richter Scale was between Little Andaman and Car Nicobar, said disaster management director Ashok Sharma.
The earthquake occurred at 1.12 PM and originated at a depth of 10 km, he said.
USGS data
A mysterious boom that shook portions of Appling late Monday was confirmed Tuesday as a minor earthquake, according to Columbia County authorities.
The event, which registered a 2.1 magnitude on the Richter scale, occurred at 9:26 p.m. and was located near Columbia and Appling-Harlem roads, Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker said.
The temblor was not listed on national earthquake monitors, but was confirmed by a seismologist at Savannah River Site, she said.
"This would explain the loud boom and shaking that many residents felt," she said.
Earthquakes occur periodically in the area, which lies along the fall line, where the Coastal Plains and Piedmont regions meet.
The event, which registered a 2.1 magnitude on the Richter scale, occurred at 9:26 p.m. and was located near Columbia and Appling-Harlem roads, Emergency Services Director Pam Tucker said.
The temblor was not listed on national earthquake monitors, but was confirmed by a seismologist at Savannah River Site, she said.
"This would explain the loud boom and shaking that many residents felt," she said.
Earthquakes occur periodically in the area, which lies along the fall line, where the Coastal Plains and Piedmont regions meet.
Comment: The article mentions that a 2.1 magnitude earthquake produced a 'loud boom' but it was not recorded on the USGS site. Perhaps the 'loud boom' was from a different source?