Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits the Sunda Strait, Indonesia.
Two 5.2 earthquakes hit Taiwan.
5.2 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.1 earthquake hits the Banda Sea.
5.1 earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands off India.
5.1 earthquake hits near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits the Nicobar Islands off India.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 09e (Jimena), located approximately 985 nm east of Hilo, Hawaii, is tracking northwestward at 07 knots.
Tropical depression 08e (Hilda), located approximately 1037 nm west-southwest of San Diego, is tracking west-northwestward at 10 knots.
In the northwestern Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 12w (Twelve), located approximately 241 nm southeast of Iwakuni, Japan, is tracking westward at 11 knots.
Tropical storm 13w (Lupit), located approximately 144 nm west of Taipei, Taiwan, is tracking east-northeastward at 08 knots.
Tropical depression 14w (Miranae), located approximately 298 nm east of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking east-northeastward at 16 knots.
Tropical storm 15w (Nida), located approximately 538 nm east-southeast of Misawa, Japan, is tracking west-northwestward at 15 knots.
Newsbytes:
Italy – Heavy rain has once again caused flooding and landslides in areas around Lake Como in northern Italy. Streams and small rivers overflowed in Como Province, Lombardy Region. Italian authorities reported landslides, flooded underpasses and damaged homes between 04 to 05 August. Landslides in the area closed several roads. Heavy rain has also affected parts of South Tyrol. Residents were warned to take precautions in Chiusa where the Isarco river reached 4.20 metres early on 04 August.
India – The Parwati (also Parbati) river is at record levels in the state of Rajasthan, India. India’s National Disaster Management Authority reports that at least 3 people have died in floods in the state over the last 48 hours. In total rivers are above danger levels in 5 locations. The situation in the district of Kota is particularly severe after the Parwati river jumped to 207.85 metres on 04 August, beating the previous record high if 207.55 metres set in 1996 and well above the danger mark of 202.0 metres. The Chambal river was also above the danger mark in Kota, Dholpur, Sawai Madhopur and Karauli districts.
Trinidad and Tobago – Wild flash floods swept through areas of northern Trinidad after a short period of torrential rain on 03 August 2021. Adverse weather activity began at 3:00pm today (Tuesday 3rd August, 2021) and lasted for approximately forty five (45) minutes during which time roadways were rendered impassable due to street flooding and high amounts of rubble. Damage to roads and some homes was reported in Port of Spain, Maraval and St Ann’s. Streets were left covered in mud and debris.
Snow in Brazil
A wide swath of southern Brazil received a blanket of extremely rare snowfall and freezing rain that shocked many residents accustomed to a more temperate climate.
“I am 62 years old and had never seen the snow,” truck driver Iodor Goncalves Marques told Globo TV. The Antarctic chill also reached Rio de Janeiro, causing the city’s homeless to struggle to keep warm.
It also brought freezing temperatures to São Paulo and Minas Gerais states, which are major producers of commodities such as sugar, citrus and coffee. The last time southern Brazil received significant snowfall was in 1957, when more than 4 feet accumulated on the ground in the state of Santa Catarina.
Ocean Currents Falter
The water in the Atlantic is constantly circulating in a complex pattern that influences weather on several continents. And climate scientists have been asking a crucial question: Whether this vast system, which includes the Gulf Stream, is slowing down because of climate change.
If it were to change significantly, the consequences could be dire, potentially including faster sea level rise along parts of the United States East Coast and Europe, stronger hurricanes barreling into the Southeastern United States, reduced rainfall across parts of Africa and changes in tropical monsoon systems.
Now, scientists have detected the early warning signs that this critical ocean system is at risk. Recent findings suggest the circulation system is gradually slowing down and may be approaching a tipping point at which it would abruptly transition to a much slower state.
Climate Perils
New studies find that Earth will suffer a growing number of devastating floods and deadly heat waves.
Chinese and U.K. scientists say that unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly curbed, wet regions such as the tropics and areas with monsoons will not only get wetter, but they will also swing widely between wet and dry. More frequently stalled weather patterns will bring prolonged periods of heavy rain and their resulting flood disasters, such as those this summer in China and Western Europe. The stalled patterns will create more frequent “heat domes,” such as those triggering firestorms in western North America and southeastern Europe this summer.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 126 degrees Fahrenheit (52.2 degrees Celsius) in Death Valley, California.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 96.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 71.1 degrees Celsius) at Vostok, Antarctica.
Temperatures were tabulated from the more than 10,000 worldwide synoptic weather stations. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization sets the standards for weather observations, and provides a global telecommunications circuit for data distribution.
Wildfires – Greece
A resurgent wildfire burned homes north of Athens and blazes across southern Greece forced more evacuations Thursday as weather conditions worsened and firefighters in a round-the-clock battle strove to save a former royal palace and the birthplace of the ancient Olympics.
Wildfires – Turkey
Wildfires burned for an eighth day in Turkey’s Mediterranean region Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of at least one more neighborhood and mounting criticism of the government’s inability to subdue the blazes.
Scorching heat, low humidity and strong winds have fed the fires, which so far have killed eight people and countless animals and destroyed forests. Villagers have had to evacuate their homes and livestock, while tourists have fled in boats and cars.
Potential New Medications
Philippine scientists say they have discovered that the slopes of the country’s Mayon volcano contain bacterial species that show potential antibiotic and anti-colorectal cancer properties.
Kristel Mae Oliveros and colleagues from the University of the Philippines Los Baños say the most promising of 30 bacteria found in the volcanic soil really caught their attention. “Streptomyces sp. A1-08 stood out because it has shown antagonistic effects on all test microorganisms and the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or simply MRSA,” they said in a statement. Should the researchers confirm it to be a new bacterial species, they will rename it Streptomyces mayonensis A1-08, after the volcano.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Monkeypox – Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported four confirmed cases of monkeypox in July, a 33 percent decrease compared to June. A total of 17 suspected cases were reported and no fatalities.
Anthrax – North Dakota, USA
North Dakota officials are reporting the state’s first reported case of anthrax this year in cattle in a Kidder County beef herd.
African Swine Fever – Philippines
The Department of Agriculture Eastern Visayas reports African swine fever (ASF) has now affected 42 towns and cities in Eastern Visayas this week, raising concern that the animal disease could spread to other areas in the region if farmers and local authorities will be complacent.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 28 July – 3 August 2021
Aira – Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible at night during 26 July-2 August. An eruptive event at 2009 on 28 July produced a plume that rose 1.3 km above the crater rim. A very small eruptive event was recorded on 2 August.
Aniakchak – United States : AVO reported that strong winds in a region N of Aniakchak and E of Port Heiden resuspended ash and blew it N on 2 August. A dense cloud of possible resuspended ash near ground levels was identified in Port Heiden webcam views. The cloud was also visible in satellite data drifting about 200 km N.
Bagana – Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) : The Darwin VAAC reported that on 31 July an ash plume from Bagana rose to 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. based on a pilot observation. A few hours later steam emissions were identified in satellite images.
Dukono – Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 27-30 July and 1-3 August ash plumes from Dukono rose to 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, and SE.
Ebeko – Paramushir Island (Russia) : A thermal anomaly over Ebeko was identified in satellite images on 25 July. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, explosions during 26-28 July produced ash plumes that rose as high as 2 km (6,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted E.
Gareloi – United States : AVO reported that the elevated seismicity first detected at Gareloi in May had continued through June and then declined to background levels.
Kadovar – Papua New Guinea : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 1 August an ash plume from Kadovar rose to an altitude of 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W.
Karymsky – Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images during 23-30 July. Multiple explosions during the week produced ash plumes that rose to 2 km (6,600 ft) a.s.l. and drifted about 350 km E.
Krysuvik-Trolladyngja – Iceland : The fissure eruption in the W part of the Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system, close to Fagradalsfjall on the Reykjanes Peninsula, continued during 28 July-3 August. Lava fountaining and overflows from the fifth vent occurred at intervals of 10-15 hours, with similarly long periods of no activity in between; this pattern emerged around 17 July. According to the Institute of Earth Sciences an overflight was conducted on 27 July; based on new measurements, the lava effusion rate averaged 11 cubic meters per second during 2-27 July, though the average since 17 July was likely lower. The area of the flow field had grown to 4.3 square kilometers, and the total volume erupted was 109 million cubic meters. Lava flowed into the Meradalir Valley and areas to the W and did not advance in the Geldingadalur, Nátthaga, and Sydri Meradalir (SE of the fifth vent) valleys. The flows in Meradalir thickened about 1 m per day.
Lewotolok – Lembata Island (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that the Strombolian eruption at Lewotolok continued during 27 July-2 August. Daily white, gray, and black plumes rose as high as 1 km above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. At 0023 on 28 July an eruptive event accompanied by a loud bang ejected incandescent lava 700-800 m from the crater. At 0722 another event ejected incandescent lava 1 km SE. Vegetated areas on the S and SW flanks caught fire, which quickly spread to the SE and W flanks due to dry conditions, burning forest as far as 2 km from the crater. At 0840 on 30 July lava was again ejected 1 km SE and loud rumbling was reported. By the morning of 30 July, the fire on the flanks was less intense and declining, but remained active at least through 1 August. Banging noises were reported on 31 July and 2 August.
Mayon – Luzon (Philippines) : On 30 July PHIVOLCS lowered the Alert Level for Mayon to 0 (on a 0-5 scale) noting that activity had declined to baseline levels over the previous several months. Ground deformation data indicated tectonic origins rather than magmatic or hydrothermal causes. The frequency of volcanic earthquakes had declined to baseline levels (0-5 events/day) during the previous six months and sulfur dioxide flux had dropped to 156 tonnes/day on 14 July, below the baseline of 500 tonnes/day. Dim crater incandescence from hot gas emissions at the summit continued to be visible in camera images; the last time it was visually observed was in May 2021.
Merapi – Central Java (Indonesia) : BPPTKG reported that the lava dome just below Merapi’s SW rim and the lava dome in the summit crater both remained active during 23-29 July. The SW rim lava-dome volume was an estimated 1.878 million cubic meters and material continued to collapse down the flank. The volume of the summit lava dome was 2.817 million cubic meters. A total of four pyroclastic flows descended the SW flank as far as 2.5 km. Lava avalanches traveled a maximum of 1.2 km SE (29 times), 2 km SW (145 times), 800 m W (four times), and 500 m NW (one time). Avalanches of material that descended the W flank originated from lava emplaced in 1992 and 1998, and material that descended the NW flank is from 1948 lava.
Rincon de la Vieja – Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that an eruptive event at Rincón de la Vieja was recorded at 1133 on 1 August, though weather conditions prevented visual confirmation of emissions.
Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 23-30 July. Activity was notable on 26 July with collapses of lava-dome blocks and small explosions. A gas-and-steam plume with some ash was visible in satellite data drifting 45 km E that same day.
Sinabung – Indonesia : PVMBG reported that at 1320 on 28 July an eruption at Sinabung produced dense ash plumes that rose as high as 4.5 km above the summit that drifted E and S; pyroclastic flows traveled as far as 1 km down the E and SE flanks. The event lasted over 12 minutes, and caused ashfall in areas to the E including the subdistricts of Namanteran, Merdeka, Berastagi, and Simpang Empat. White plumes rose up to 500 m above the summit during 29 July-2 August; weather conditions sometimes prevented visual observations.
Suwanosejima – Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that during 26-30 July bombs ejected from Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater landed as far as 500 m away from the crater and plumes rose as high as 3.3 km above the rim. Explosive activity had been elevated during June and most of July, with ejected bombs landing as far as 1 km from the crater. Activity peaked on 22 July but then declined afterwards.