Earth Changes

Volcanic Activity Strengthening Around The World

The Costa Rica News
Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:11 UTC

Alaska’s Pavlof volcano erupted unexpectedly on March 27, 2016.

Volcanoes Campi Flegrei in Italy, Sakurajima in Japan, Pavlof in Alaska, Popocatépetl in Mexico and Iturrialba in Costa Rica among others showed signs of reawakening in the last semester of 2016, sounding the alarm among the scientist community that warns about a chain of imminent eruptions.

Throughout history, volcanoes have inspired fear and admiration as well. Vesubio (Italy), Mount Tambora (Indonesia), Laki (Iceland), Mount St. Hellen (USA) and Nevado del Ruiz (Colombia) are just some of the volcanoes that have ravaged entire populations in different periods of time, killing thousands of people and turning vast areas into a desert of fire, ashes and sulfuric gases. But, strange as it may sound, volcano activity has become an item of the so-called eco/adventure tourism, thanks to the unmatched, unique spectacle of lights and sound that offers a moderated eruption.

According to experts, it takes 500 years for a supervolcano to reawaken, even less. And this seems to be the case of Campli Flegrei in the west of Naples, Italy, an extensive volcanic that boasts 24 craters and its cauldron-like depression was formed 39,000 years before as part of the biggest eruption that Europe has experienced in the last 200,000 years.

A team of researchers led by volcanologist Giovanni Chiodini from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics in Rome assures that Campi Flegrei seems to be approaching a critical pressure point, a sign that could be read as announcing of an imminent eruption. The research team says that Campi Flegrai has registered an "uplift" since the last decade, what it means that the volatile gasses inside are rising to the surface at an unexpected rate, turning the alert level from green (or quiet) to yellow (or monitoring mode).

Comment: Set to blow? Supervolcano Campi Flegrei reawakening near Naples, could hit 500,000 people

Comment: All around the world earthquake and volcanic activity seems to be increasing.

To understand why this may be happening, read Earth Changes and the Human-Cosmic Connection. Here's a relevant excerpt:

From 1973 to 1996, earthquake and eruption frequencies were almost stable, increasing only slightly year after year, but from 1996 onwards, an acceleration is noticeable. Volcanic eruptions show an increase from about 59 eruptions per year at the end of the 1990s to roughly 75 eruptions per year in the period 2007 - 2010 (+30%).

Today, the increase in volcanic activity has reached such a level that, by late November 2013, 35 volcanoes were actively erupting , including volcanoes that had been dormant for decades.

It could be argued that the increase in both the frequency and intensity of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is, at least partly, a result of the slowdown and 'opening up' processes:

1) The Earth's minute slowdown exerts mechanical stress on the crust (compression at low latitudes and extension at high latitude). This stress deforms the crust. This deformation is more pronounced and can even lead to partial ruptures around the weakest spots of the crust, i.e. the fault lines (boundaries between tectonic plates) which are the typical location of seismic and volcanic activity.

2) The mantle has a higher density than the crust and therefore has a higher momentum and won't slow down as fast as the crust. The difference in rotation between the crust and the mantle is equal to the crustal slippage. The fluidity of the mantle enables slippage induced by the different momentum carried by the crust, the upper mantle and the core.

This speed difference can cause friction at the interface between the crust and the mantle. This friction can locally deform the crust and cause earthquakes and eruptions.

3) The decrease in the surface - core E-field reduces the binding force and loosens the tectonic plates relative to each other. The plates are then free to move relative to each other. It is this very relative movement (divergence, convergence or sliding) which is one of the main causes for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions:
[Change] in Earth's speed of rotation would induce changes in the magma tide as it adjusted to the new equator or altered rotational speed. Such changes, however, might not be uniform throughout, owing to a 'drag' factor deep in the magma itself, although, overall, they would certainly impose terrible strains on the lithosphere generally.
4) A final factor involved in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions is electromagnetism:
Some scientists have become aware of a correlation between sunspots and earthquakes and want to use sunspot data to help predict earthquakes. The theory is that an intensification of the magnetic field can cause changes in the geosphere [i.e. crust]. NASA and the European Geosciences Union have already put their stamp of approval on the sunspot hypothesis, which suggests that certain changes in the Sun-Earth environment affect the magnetic field of the Earth, which can then trigger earthquakes in areas prone to them. It is not clear how such a trigger might work.

Increased seismic activity at Alaska's Bogoslof volcano

Zoë Sobel
Alaska Public Media
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 06:10 UTC

© T. Keith, U.S. Geological Survey
Although Bogoslof Island is uninhabited, it is an important breeding ground for sea birds, seals and sea lions.

Seismic unrest continues at Bogoslof volcano. Scientists are watching the eruption around the clock — even though monitoring stations are far from the site.

Chris Waythomas, of the U.S. Geological Survey, is observing a particular indication of increased seismic activity: volcanic tremors.

"You can think of it as the sort of signal you might get if you were to seismically monitor an organ pipe," Waythomas said. "As air moves through the pipe, it resonates. When it impinges on the pipe, it produces motion and that's what we're kind of measuring."

Waythomas said the problem is there's a lot of wind and that can obscure the signal.

"It looked to us like there was increase in this tremor signal," Waythomas said. "We wanted to alert everyone it was possible this could be accompanied by a large steam or ash emission."

The Alaska Volcano Observatory also has access to satellites which they use to look for steam or ash plumes and thermal signals, but cloud cover is making it difficult to confirm.

Bogslof volcano began erupting last week.

Bulusan Volcano in Philippines spews 2km ash plume

JESSICA BARTOLOME
GMA News
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 17:52 UTC

Phreatic eruption at Bulusan volcano at 2:40PM today. Grayish to dirty white eruption plume reached 2,000 meters above the summit.

A two-kilometer-high ash plume formed over Bulusan Volcano in Irosin, on Thursday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the latest display of the mountain's continuing restiveness.

The plume was caused by a phreatic eruption that occurred at 2:40 pm and lasted some 16 minutes, according to the agency.

In its Twitter account, PHIVOLCS said that Alert Level 1 (abnormal) remains in effect over Bulusan.

It advised local government units, civil authorities, and the public to avoid entry into the vicinity of the volcano.

Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits region in eastern Indonesia

Channel News Asia
Fri, 30 Dec 2016 00:05 UTC

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake was felt in the Indonesian resort island of Bali early Friday (Dec 30), an AFP correspondent said, but there was no tsunami alert and no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The quake hit around 300 kilometres east of Bali at a depth of around 72 kilometres just off the island of Sumbawa at 6.30am (2230 GMT Thursday), the US Geological Survey said.

"The earthquake was quite long. Most people had just woken up and they started running out from their homes. My family and I also ran away because we were afraid," Djunaedi Garib who lives in Hambala, southeast of the epicentre, on the island of Sumba told AFP.

In an initial assessment, the USGS said there was a low likelihood of casualties or damage. Indonesia's disaster agency said officials were checking to see if the quake had had any impact.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Man killed by lightning bolt under bizarre circumstances in Zimbabwe

Zim Eye
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 21:17 UTC

ZimEye.com sources in Gwanda reveal that a yet to be identified middle aged man, was struck by a blow of lightning and died on the spot in Jaunda township this afternoon.

The sources sources further explain that the weather in the town was good with a clear sky since morning before a few clouds gathered followed by a light shower. It is at that moment that it started to thunder and the man was hit by lighting.

According to the sources the showers and clouds immediately cleared after the lightning strike leaving fearful residents superstitious about the circumstances of the little showers and thunder.

There is a general superstitious belief in Zimbabwe that a person can send lightning to strike an enemy when they have failed to come to terms. The "magic" wave is said to be commonly manufactured in the area around Chipinge and most parts of Manicaland.

Rare snowfall in Athens sends vibes of excitement through social media

RT
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 19:20 UTC

Greeks are in awe following a rare snowfall in their country that blanketed the streets, trees, and houses of the capital. Pictures of Athens completely covered in white are filling social media.

"Look !!! We hadn't seen snow in Athens in years !!!" a Twitter post from the capital reads, while another adds: "A patch of snow on my tiny herb garden: Hello snowy Athens!"

"If you are in Athens dress well and go play with the snow!" wrote one more excited user.

Christmas storm blamed for hundreds of starfish washed up on Dutch beaches

Janene Pieters
NLTimes
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:30 UTC

Hundreds of starfish washed up on Dutch beaches on Tuesday. Conservationists from Ecomare believe a storm was behind the animals being washed ashore, NU.nl reports.

Starfish were found on beaches in Callantsoog, Groote Keten, Egmond aan Zee and Wijk aan Zee.

According to Ecomare, a combination of strong winds and low temperatures at sea resulted in the starfish not having enough strength to cling to the ground. They were therefore taken by the tide and washed ashore.

Comment: In 2016, dead starfish have also been found on beaches in the UK, US, Turkey, and Western Australia:

7 Jan 2016: Tens of thousands of dead jellyfish and starfish found on beaches of West Sussex and Hampshire, UK
25 Jan 2016: Thousands of starfish wash ashore at Port St. Joe, Florida
28 Jun 2016: Hundreds of starfish wash up on the shores of the Marmara Sea, Turkey
3 Aug 2016: Up to 1000 dead starfish found on beaches near Fremantle, Western Australia
22 Nov 2016: Thousands of starfish wash up on beach in Southsea, UK

Wildfires in southern Switzerland: what exactly happened here?

Sacha Dobler
Abrupt Earth Changes
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 18:02 UTC

Wildfire Mesocco, Switzerland patches of burnt forest floor.

Several extensive and fast spreading forest fires rage in southern Switzerland, the first of them started on Tuesday night, Dec. 27th, 2016 in the mountains above the towns of Mesocco and Soazza, in the canton of Grison, Switzerland. One more forest fire started in the nearby Calanca valley. A further wildfire in the Leventina valley several dozen kilometers distance was immediately declared to be caused be a campfire of four careless teenagers.

No particular causes other then dry conditions and winds have been proposed for the other two locations. (winds were indeed moderate on site, no high wind speeds were recorded in the models of the Meterological Institute)

Rare winter wildfire ignites despite snow on the ground in Delta, Alaska

Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 17:41 UTC

Delta, Alaska

A winter wildfire broke out near the Delta Junction High School last week despite the presence of more than a foot of snow on the ground.

The fire was spotted Dec. 20 by a woman walking her dog on the trails, according to a news release from the Alaska Division of Forestry.

Fire management officer Mike Goyette went to the fire Dec. 21 and found it burning and smoldering in the duff — the layer of dead plant material in the soil. Goyette estimated the fire covered a 50-by-20-foot area and caused between 20 and 30 trees to tip over from having their roots burned.

Goyette and a technician cut down the trees and put the burning moss and duff in a pile to burn itself out and keep the fire from spreading.

Comment: See also this other similar recent report: Forest fires break out in eastern Switzerland (in the dead of winter!)

100% of U.S. 'Warming' is due to NOAA data tampering

Tony Heller
Real Climate Science
Thu, 29 Dec 2016 17:05 UTC

Climate Central just ran this piece, which the Washington Post picked up on. They claimed the US was "overwhelmingly hot" in 2016, and temperatures have risen 1,5°F since the 19th century.

The U.S. Has Been Overwhelmingly Hot This Year | Climate Central

The first problem with their analysis is that the US had very little hot weather in 2016. The percentage of hot days was below average, and ranked 80th since 1895. Only 4.4% of days were over 95°F, compared with the long term average of 4.9%. Climate Central is conflating mild temperatures with hot ones.