Signs of the Season

Warning for Nepal: April Earthquake Didn't Unleash All Its Energy

The devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in April released only a fraction of the energy still trapped in the underlying fault, meaning the area has the potential to host another large earthquake in the future, researchers say.

In April, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Nepal's capital of Kathmandu, killing more than 9,000 people and flattening entire villages. Geologists thought this quake originated on the Main Himalayan Thrust.

[link to news.yahoo.com]

Red tide: Massive, ‘incredibly thick’ toxic algae bloom in Pacific now stretches from California to Alaska

SEATTLE — A vast bloom of toxic algae off the West Coast is denser, more widespread and deeper than scientists feared even weeks ago, according to surveyors aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel.

This coastal ribbon of microscopic algae, up to 64 kilometres wide and 200 metres deep in places, is flourishing amid unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures. It now stretches from at least California to Alaska and has shut down lucrative fisheries. Shellfish managers on Tuesday doubled the area off Washington’s coast that is closed to Dungeness crab fishing, after finding elevated levels of marine toxins in tested crab meat.

[link to www.vancouversun.com]

Severe flooding in western India

Soldiers and rescue workers rushed to provide relief to hundreds of thousands of people stranded in eastern India by monsoon floods that have killed at least 38 people in the past week, officials said on Thursday. The floods destroyed bridges, washed out major highways and sent villagers fleeing for higher ground in the state of West Bengal, where the death toll rose to nine, according to state Finance Minister. Five others have been missing for over three days, the minister said. AP Television footage showed villagers in Bankura district, West Bengal trying to move stranded vehicles from a flooded road.

[link to wn.com]



Last Edited by ~Jazzy~ on 08/07/2015 04:14 PM

This is no crabbing season this year. Almost all the coast is shut down. I don't think you can dig for geoducks or razor clams either.

Waiting for water in Mali

In the north east of Mali, irregular rainfall and political instability has meant basics like water are becoming scarce.

In the town of Kidal, the closest water supply is a 10km walk away – queues start at 5am and last for hours. A single barrel costs almost 7 euros. Some residents blame the UN’s peacekeeping force MINUSMA for the water shortage.

[link to www.euronews.com]

Tokyo Heat Wave Enters Eighth Day, Doubling All-Time Record; 55 Confirmed Dead in Japan

A heat wave that has already killed dozens and sickened thousands in Japan reached another torrid milestone Thursday as the nation's capital, Tokyo, suffered an unprecedented eighth consecutive day of extreme heat.

Tokyo reached 36.7 degrees Celsius (98.1 degrees Fahrenheit) shortly before noon local time Friday, marking its eighth straight day of highs at or above Japan's "extreme heat" threshold of 35 C (95 F). An analysis of Japan Meteorological Agency data, conducted by The Weather Channel, confirmed that the previous record was just four consecutive days sent on five different occasions between 1978 and 2013. Records began in central Tokyo in June 1875.

[link to www.weather.com]

At least three killed in DRC quake

Goma, Congo - A 5.6 magnitude earthquake that struck eastern Democratic Republic of Congo early on Friday killed at least three people, the government spokesman said.

The quake hit 40km north of Bukavu, not far from the border with Rwanda, at 3.25am on Friday, said the US Geological Survey, which initially reported the quake at magnitude 5.8.

“There were three deaths - two children in a house in Bukavu. There was also a police officer near the airport,” government spokesman Lambert Mende told Rooters.

[link to www.iol.co.za]

Macedonia: Deadly flash floods and mudslides after 'worst storm in 35 years' (Photos)

Four people including a seven-year-old child were killed and one person is still missing after heavy rain caused flash floods and mudslides in several villages in western Macedonia. Deputy prime minister Vladimir Pesevski said that one village, Shipkovica: "looks as if a huge tsunami has gone through it."

[link to www.ibtimes.co.uk]

Keep us posted if it gets any worse Deano. Thanks!

Awesome Thread Jazzy!

School Bus With Special Needs Students Gets Trapped In Sinkhole In The Bronx

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A school bus transporting special needs children got stuck in a sinkhole in the Bronx late Thursday afternoon.

As CBS2’s Jessica Schneider reported, the bus was traveling down the street down Creston Avenue toward East Burnside Avenue, in the Tremont section of the Bronx around 3 p.m.

The bus was taking special needs students to camp, officials said.

[link to newyork.cbslocal.com]

Thank ya Darlin!

The world is getting more dangerous by the minute.

Volcanic activity worldwide 31 Jul 2015: Currently Erupting

Ambrym (Vanuatu): active lava lakes in several craters (updated 24 May 2015)

Aso (Kyushu): intense strombolian activity from main vent in Nakadake crater (updated 22 May 2015)

Bagana (Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea): ash emissions, lava dome growth (updated 5 Jun 2015)

Batu Tara (Sunda Islands, Indonesia): strombolian explosions, ash plumes up to 500 m, extrusion of a small lava dome with rockfalls (updated 5 Jul 2015)

Calbuco (Southern Chile and Argentina): steaming (updated 30 Apr 2015)

Colima (Western Mexico): weak lava effusion from summit vent (updated 22 Jul 2015)

Copahue (Chile/Argentina): ash venting (updated 4 Dec 2014)

Dukono (Halmahera): thermal anomaly, probably small explosive activity in summit crater (updated 28 Jul 2015)

Erebus (Antarctica): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 8 Dec 2014)

Erta Ale (Ethiopia): active lava lake in northern pit crater, active hornito with intermittend flow in southern crater (updated 11 Jan 2013)

Fuego (Guatemala): intermittent strombolian explosions (updated 5 Jul 2015)

Ibu (Halmahera, Indonesia): stromolian and phreatomagmatic explosions (updated 14 Nov 2014)

Karangetang (Siau Island, Sangihe Islands, Indonesia): lava flows, weak explosive activity at summit crater (updated 11 Jun 2015)

Karymsky (Kamchatka): occasional small explosions, thermal anomaly (updated 28 Jul 2015)

Kilauea (Hawai'i): new lava flow from vents on NE flank of Pu'u 'O'o (updated 28 Apr 2015)

Kliuchevskoi (Kamchatka): ash emissions, weak strombolian activity (updated 11 May 2015)

Manam (Papua New Guinea): large explosion on 31 July 2015 (updated 31 Jul 2015)

Mount Olympus (Mars)
Nishino-shima (Volcano Islands, Japan): growing island (updated 23 Jun 2015)

Nyiragongo (DRCongo): active lava lake in summit crater (updated 26 Feb 2014)

Ol Doinyo Lengai (Tanzania): effusion of natrocarbonatite lava inside the crater (updated 8 Jul 2013)

Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion): eruption since 31 July 2015 (updated 31 Jul 2015)

Poas (Costa Rica): phreatic explosions (updated 14 Oct 2014)

Popocatépetl (Central Mexico): degassing, sporadic explosions, slowly growing lava dome (updated 28 Jul 2015)

Rabaul (Tavurvur) (New Britain, Papua New Guinea): lava fountains, ash emissions from Tavurvur cone (updated 12 Sep 2014)

Raung (East Java): intra-caldera eruption with lava flow and strombolian activity (updated 28 Jul 2015)

Reventador (Ecuador): lava flow on SW flank (updated 28 Jun 2015)

Sakurajima (Kyushu, Japan): ash venting, intermittent explosions (updated 22 Jun 2015)

Sangay (Ecuador): likely strombolian eruptions at summit crater (updated 13 Mar 2015)

Sangeang Api (Indonesia): lava flow on SE flank (updated 10 Jul 2015)

Santiaguito (Guatemala): small explosions from the Caliente dome and active lava flow (updated 3 Feb 2015)

Semeru (East Java, Indonesia): growing lava dome, lava flow, strombolian activity (updated 16 Jun 2015)

Shiveluch (Kamchatka): growing lava dome (updated 24 May 2015)

Sinabung (Sumatra, Indonesia): continuing pyroclastic flows (updated 31 Jul 2015)

Soputan (North Sulawesi, Indonesia): active viscous lava flow, explosions, rockfalls, pyroclastic flows (updated 9 Mar 2015)

Stromboli (Eolian Islands, Italy): weak strombolian activity at summit vents (updated 16 Apr 2015)

Suwanose-jima (Ryukyu Islands): strombolian activity (updated 25 Apr 2015)

Telica (Nicaragua): sporadic ash emissions and explosions (updated 28 May 2015)

Tungurahua (Ecuador): volcanic unrest, ash emissions, degassing (updated 5 Jul 2015)

Turrialba (Costa Rica): ash emissions, weak strombolian activity (updated 20 May 2015)

Ubinas (Peru): intermittent ash emissions (updated 28 Jun 2015)

Villarrica (Central Chile): small lava lake in summit crater (updated 12 May 2015)

Wolf (Galápagos Islands, Ecuador): large explosive-effusive eruption since 25 May 2015 (updated 25 May 2015)

Yasur (Tanna Island, Vanuatu): ash emissions, weak strombolian explosions (updated 14 Aug 2013)

[link to www.volcanodiscovery.com]

Severe Storms and Flash Flooding Threaten the South, Plains and Midwest (FORECAST)

Strong to severe thunderstorms will affect parts of the Plains, Midwest and South into the weekend. Damaging wind gusts and large hail are the main threats from any storms that do turn severe. Local flash flooding will also be a concern.

[link to www.weather.com]

1 Million Gallons of Wastewater Contaminate Colorado's Animas River, Turning It Orange

One million gallons of highly acidic mine wastewater was accidentally released from an abandoned mine into a creek that flowed into and contaminated the Animas River in La Plata County, Colorado, on Wednesday, turning it a burnt orange.

"There's nothing that can be done to stop the flow of the river,"....

[link to www.weather.com]

Hilda Becomes Sixth Hurricane of the Eastern Pacific Season

Hilda has strengthened into a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph as of Friday afternoon. Hilda originally formed as Tropical Depression Ten-E late Wednesday night, and then became a tropical storm on Thursday.

The center of Hilda was more than 1,200 miles east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii, as of Friday afternoon.

[link to www.weather.com]

California Drought Dries Up More Than the Crops

Ted Sheely in California’s drought-stricken San Joaquin Valley seems to be one of the more responsible farmers by conserving water and implementing smart irrigation techniques (“California Farmers Aren’t the Water Hogs,” op-ed, July 30). Unfortunately, too many continue to plant water-sucking almonds and pistachios.

Rice farmers last year idled 140,000 acres when they realized they could make more money selling off their water rights than they could working their crops. So much for their employees. In Farmer Ted’s valley, over 22,000 acres of wine grapes were destroyed last year due to a glut in the market. They’re being replaced by almonds.

[link to www.wsj.com]

U.S. Drought Monitor

[link to droughtmonitor.unl.edu]

Global Drought Information System

[link to www.drought.gov]

Nice Informative thread :)

Sandstorm Engulfs Amman, Jordan, As Heat Wave Sears Middle East

As Jordan deals with unprecedented high temperatures under the intense heat dome sitting over the Middle East, it is now being inundated with swirling thick sandstorms that are burying small towns and villages, and halting air traffic.

[link to www.weather.com]

Excellent video well worth watching.

Adult dies of plague in Colorado

The Pueblo City-County Health Department announced Wednesday that an adult had died from the plague, a disease that has a long and sordid history, albeit not one typically associated with modern times or developed countries like the United States.

The health department didn't detail who died, beyond that it was an adult.

[link to www.cnn.com]