Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.0 Earthquake hits Tonga.
5.8 Earthquake hits southeast of the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.6 Earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.6 Earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia.
5.2 Earthquake hits south of Africa.
5.0 Earthquake hits near the coast of Ecuador.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
Typhoon 25w (Lan), located approximately 625 nm south-southeast of Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking north-northwestward at 10 knots.
Tropical Depression 26w (Twenty-six), located approximately 283 nm southwest of Manila, Philippines, is tracking northeastward at 10 knots.
Newsbytes:
Vietnam – The roads to Nam Hài Village in Hà Nội’s suburban district of Chương Mỹ are so flooded that the village has been receiving safe water via canoes sent daily by the district’s High Command. At the edge of the village in Nam Phương Tiến Commune, the water line reaches towards some roofs and treetops. Many outlying districts of Hà Nội have been seriously flooded as a result of prolonged heavy rains in the north over the past few days. Canoes and other boats are the only functional means of transport. Nearly 1,000 households in the district are affected, with nearly 400 households in lowland areas considered deeply flooded, according to local authorities. Many local roads in the suburbs of the city are submerged, paralysing traffic in some areas. In some locations, the water has risen waist-deep.
Philippines – At least seven people died while more than 10,000 others were displaced since continuous heavy rain and strong wind in Zamboanga. The assistant city social welfare officer, said the number of displaced families in 17 villages has reached 3,999 families or 18,330 people. Most affected are the coastal barangays and those living near the riverbanks. The city government has also recorded a total of 455 houses destroyed by the strong wind and flood.
Alarm over decline in flying insects
Scientists have long suspected that insects are in dramatic decline, but new evidence confirms this. Research at more than 60 protected areas in Germany suggests flying insects have declined by more than 75% over almost 30 years. And the causes are unknown.
The study is based on measurements of the biomass of all insects trapped at 63 nature protection areas in Germany over 27 years since 1989. The data includes thousands of different insects, such as bees, butterflies and moths. Scientists say the dramatic decline was seen regardless of habitat, land use and the weather, leaving them at a loss to explain what was behind it. They stressed the importance of adopting measures known to be beneficial for insects, including strips of flowers around farmland and minimising the effects of intensive agriculture. And they said there was an urgent need to uncover the causes and extent of the decline in all airborne insects.
The loss of insects has far-reaching consequences for entire ecosystems. Insects provide a food source for many birds, amphibians, bats and reptiles, while plants rely on insects for pollination.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 11 October – 17 October 2017
Agung | Bali (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that although foggy conditions at Agung sometimes prevented visual observations, during 11-17 October dense white plumes were seen rising 200 m above the crater rim. On 14 October BNPB stated that seismicity remained high; PVMBG noted that seismicity was dominated by shallow volcanic events, and the number of volcanic earthquakes remained steady. The governor of Bali extended the state of emergency to 26 October, noting that the Alert Level remained at 4 (the highest level on a scale of 1-4). The number of evacuees was 139,199 (spread out in 389 shelters).
Ambrym | Vanuatu : The Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory (VGO) reported that aerial observations of Ambrym on 24 and 30 September, and 1 and 6 October, and the analysis of seismic data, confirmed that minor eruptive activity within the caldera was characterized by hot volcanic gas and steam emissions. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 0-5). Areas deemed hazardous were within a 2-km radius from Benbow Crater and a 3-km radius from Marum Crater.
Aoba | Vanuatu : Based on analyses of satellite, video, and model data, the Wellington VAAC reported that during 13-14 October ash plumes from Aoba rose 2.1-4.6 km (7,000-15,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW, N, and NE, though a short-lived event generated ash plumes that rose as high as 9.1 (30,000 ft) a.s.l.
Kirishimayama | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that an eruption at Shinmoedake (Shinmoe peak), a stratovolcano of the Kirishimayama volcano group, began at 0534 on 11 October, prompting the agency to raise the Alert Level to 3 (on a scale of 1-5). Ash plumes rose 300 m above the crater rim (2 km a.s.l.) and drifted NE, though some news sources stated that plumes rose 2 km above the crater rim. Volcanic-tremor amplitude increased and inflation was detected. Ashfall was noted in at least four towns in the Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures. On 12 October ash plumes rose as high as 2 km. Based on JMA notices, pilot observations, and satellite data, the Tokyo VAAC reported that ash plumes rose 1.8-2.1 (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. on 11 October and 3.4 km (11,000 ft) a.s.l. on 12 October. Gas measurements taken during field surveys on 12 and 13 October showed that the sulfur dioxide flux was 1,400 tons/day, an increase from 800 tons/day measured on 11 October. Volcanic tremor fluctuated but the amplitude was slightly lower. During 0823-1420 on 14 October an event produced a tall plume which rose 2.3 km above the crater rim. Another event, at 1505, generated a grayish-white plume that rose 1 km and then blended into the weather clouds. Ashfall was reported in Kirishima and Sono in the Kagoshima prefecture, and from Kobayashi in the Miyazaki prefecture to Hyuga city. An event was detected at 1300 on 15 October, and an increase in low-frequency earthquakes was recorded on 16 October.
Lewotolo | Lomblen Island (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that white plumes rose as high as 50 m above Lewotolo’s summit crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Sarychev Peak | Matua Island (Russia) : A NOAA/NESDIS scientist noted that a thermal anomaly at Sarychev Peak was identified in satellite images on 12 October. Robust thermal anomalies were identified on 14 October, and were accompanied by a plume of unknown composition. Thermal anomalies were also recorded by the MODVOLC and MIROVA thermal detection systems.