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Eruption Alert: More Indonesian Volcanoes Getting Restless


Our Amazing Planet
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:31 UTC
Indonesian Volcanoes
© NASA Earth Observatory
As if things weren't already bad enough in Indonesia, another volcano may be about to blow.

Indonesia straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire - and lately, this nation of islands has been living up to the region's fiery reputation. A number of so-called minor ash explosions from Mount Bromo on Sunday (Nov. 28) caused a nearby airport to close as scientists upgraded the volcano to its highest alert level, according to the Indian newspaper The Hindu. On the same island, Java, Mount Merapi's recent eruptions killed hundreds and prompted mass evacuations.

The eruption watch also continues in the straight just west of Java where Anak Krakatau has also been increasingly active lately.

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The heightened eruption alerts come just a couple weeks after Mount Merapi's relentless erupting killed more than 300 people.

Mount Merapi's devastation has been estimated at $611 million and pyroclastic flows have destroyed huge swaths of forest (and one unfortunately placed golf course), according to the People's Daily Online.
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Bizarro Earth

Japan - Earthquake Magnitude 6.6 - Bonin Islands


United States Geological Survey
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:34 UTC
Image
© USGS
Date-Time:
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 03:24:41 UTC

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 at 01:24:41 PM at epicenter

Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones

Location:
28.415°N, 139.139°E

Depth:
478.3 km (297.2 miles)

Region:
BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

Distances:
335 km (210 miles) WNW of Chichi-shima, Bonin Islands, Japan

455 km (285 miles) NNW of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan

525 km (325 miles) S of Hachijo-jima, Izu Islands, Japan

810 km (500 miles) S of TOKYO, Japan
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Bizarro Earth

US: 21 earthquakes strike Reno over 3 days


KTVN
Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:16 UTC
An area southwest of downtown Reno has been shaking with earthquakes.

Image
© Unknown
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, 21 temblors were reported in the area since midday Friday.

The latest measured 2.1 in magnitude and was reported at 10:22 a.m. Monday.

The largest measuring 3.0 came at 1:47 a.m. Sunday and was felt throughout the Reno area.

Ken Smith is a seismologist with the University of Nevada, Reno.

He tells the Reno Gazette-Journal that the area of quake activity is about 5 miles west of the intersection of U.S. 395 and the Mount Rose Highway.

In 2008, a cluster of more than 1,000 small earthquakes shook the region for three months before subsiding.
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Bizarro Earth

Philippines: 'Explosion-type' earthquake reported at Bulusan Volcano

Rey M. Nasol
Inquirer.net
Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:56 UTC
Bulusan Volcano
© angiedagnes
Bulusan Volcano
Legazpi City -- An "explosion-type" earthquake was recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in in Sorsogon Friday night.

In its latest bulletin, Phivolcs said that the quake occurred at around 7:27 p.m. and lasted for about 11 minutes. Clouds, however, prevented state volcanologists to visually observe it.

The statement did not say what distinguished an "explosion-type" earthquake from any other volcanic tremor.

Sulfur dioxide emission rate was measured at 13 tons per day.

About 11 volcanic quakes were also recorded by the seismic network around the volcano during the past 24-hour observation period.

Phivolcs said Bulusan's status remained at alert level 1 and the public was reminded not to venture into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone as sudden steam and ash explosions may occur.
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Info

Eyewitnesses Watched as China Earthquake Ripped Ground

Brett Israel
LiveScience/OurAmazingPlanet
Sun, 28 Nov 2010 08:38 UTC
The devastating earthquake that hit the heart of China in 2008 caught the region unguarded, and left tens of thousands of people dead.

Because the destruction was so widespread, many people witnessed the ground rip apart, which along with other observations and studies, is helping geologists piece together exactly what happened - and how to prevent future catastrophes.

The area of Wenchuan, China, was crippled by the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on May 12, 2008. The temblor killed more than 70,000 people, injured about 374,000, and left approximately 18,000 missing and presumed dead, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). More than 45.5 million people across 10 provinces were affected by the quake. Four million people lost their homes. Several cities were almost completely destroyed.

Before the 2008 quake, the region was downgraded to a low seismic risk, so the massive temblor caught many scientists by surprise, which isn't uncommon even in areas known to have frequent earthquakes.
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Attention

Five Rare Sumatran Elephants Found Dead in Indonesia


The Associated Press
Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:00 UTC
Image
© Agence France-Presse
Five endangered Sumatran elephants have been found dead in Indonesia, and conservationists said Sunday that they suspect farmers poisoned the animals to stop them from damaging crops.

The elephants - four females and one male all under the age of 5 - were found dead late Friday in Riau province on Sumatra island, said Edi Susanto, a government conservationist.

Susanto suspects that owners of nearby palm oil plantations used cyanide to poison the animals, which are known for damaging crops. He said an investigation is under way and samples from the dead elephants have been sent for analysis.

"We have told the district heads in Riau province to ban farmers from tending crops in the woods where the elephants search for food," Susanto said.

Only 3,000 Sumatran elephants are believed to remain in the wild, a number that dwindles each year with poaching and killing by farmers angry over crop losses.
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Igloo

The Ice-Age Cometh! Coldest November Night on Record in Parts of UK

Rona Dougall
BBC News
Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:23 UTC
Image
© North News & Pictures Ltd.
A shepherd looking for his flock wades through deep snow on Commondale Moor in North Yorkshire as freezing temperatures grip Britain
Temperatures plummeted to the coldest on record for November in parts of the UK overnight.

Northern Ireland reached a new low of -8.6C (17F) at Aldergrove, in Belfast, and in Wales, a record minimum of -18C was recorded at Llysdinam.

Heavy snow is still falling in much of Scotland and north-east England, bringing travel disruption, and is set to last until Tuesday.

Forecasters says Siberian winds from Monday will make it feel even colder.

Met Office severe weather warnings for heavy snow and widespread ice remain in place for eastern Scotland, and north east England, down to Yorkshire and Humber.

Although there will be some sunshine in many parts of the UK, including East Anglia and North Wales later on Sunday, Northumberland, Durham, Nottingham and the Chilterns are set to get further snow showers.
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Sun

Israel's warm and dry winter: Lack of winter rains even worse than predicted

Ehud Zion Waldoks
The Jerusalem Post
Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:56 UTC
Image
© Mekorot
November set to be worst ever for Kinneret, forecasters predict dry spell to continue into December; cabinet to discuss emergency water plan.

With no significant rainfall thus far, the dire predictions about this winter have become a reality, the Water Authority said on Thursday.

With November nearing its end, Lake Kinneret will likely receive the least water since records started being kept in 1927.

No rain, the lack of humidity, and warm temperatures have increased the evaporation of the lake such that it is losing about half a centimeter a day. It is already a meter below the bottom red line. The lake is expected to break the record set in 2001 for least amount of drinking water available in the month of November.
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Cloud Lightning

South Africa: Seven killed in lightning strike in KwaZulu-Natal

Genevieve Quintal
Mail and Guardian
Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:42 UTC
lightning
© Unknown
The KwaZulu-Natal disaster management unit was on Saturday providing support to the families of seven people who died -- including a two-year-old girl -- when a marquee was struck by lightning.

"We are visiting the seven families and offering them support. Tomorrow [Sunday] we will go visit the hospitals," said Mthokozisi Duza, the head of the province's disaster management unit.

Sixty-seven people were also injured. Fourteen of were receiving treatment in local hospitals.

He said details about the incident were sketchy and an inquest docket had been opened.

Parents and children had gathered for a Christmas party on Friday afternoon at the Inkosiyethu crèche when the lightning struck.
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Umbrella

Rains in Venezuela Cause 3 Deaths in Caracas, 2 in Miranda State


Latin American Herald Tribune
Sat, 27 Nov 2010 12:06 UTC
Image
© Unknown
Caracas - The ceaseless rains that have fallen for several weeks in Venezuela caused three deaths in Caracas on Friday and two earlier in Miranda state, while authorities in the northwestern state of Falcon were forced to declare a state of emergency.

Before dawn Friday a mudslide in a poor neighborhood near the capital's downtown area buried three children ages 11, 8 and 2, while leaving four people injured.

The bodies of the three young victims were recovered by firefighters, while the injured - two adults and two minors - were hospitalized.

On Thursday the downpours in Miranda state in the northern part of the country left two people dead and more than 1,000 families affected, the regional director of Civil Protection, Victor Lira, said.

The official said that the swollen Cupira River in the eastern part of the state swept away and drowned one person, while another was buried in a mudslide.

Streets were flooded in the Barlovento region of Miranda state, where "631 homes are flooded more than a meter (3 feet) deep in water," Lira said.
      Read More...
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