Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.5 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.2 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.1 earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
Three 5.1 earthquakes hit southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
5.1 earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia.
5.1 earthquake hits the Kuril Islands.
Two 5.0 earthquakes hit the South Sandwich Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
Two 5.0 earthquakes hit Mindanao in the Philippines.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 22s (Halima), located approximately 997 nm southeast of Diego Garcia, is tracking west-northwestward at 04 knots.
Plastic Pollution Enters Human Bloodstream
Dutch researchers say that for the first time, microplastics have been found in human blood samples.
Writing in the journal Environment International, they document how a small study detected traces of the plastic pollutants in the blood samples of 17 out of 22 volunteers. The study suggests the PET plastic and polystyrene particles were likely inhaled or ingested before winding up in the bloodstream. The substances are found in plastic bottles, polyester fibers and other products.
The researchers also emphasize that more studies are needed to determine if the man-made substances pose a public health risk.
Crypto-Mining Energy Waste
Bitcoin mining by massive arrays of servers around the world consumes an oversized amount of electricity as its network verifies secure transactions with extremely complex puzzles.
It is estimated that the process already consumes as much energy as Sweden, and its drain on global power grids is growing.
But Greenpeace and other environmental groups say that a coding switch could greatly reduce Bitcoin’s energy consumption. The campaign, Change the Code Not the Climate, points to the coding soon to be adopted by rival cryptocurrency Etherium that will slash its power consumption by 99%.
Campaign spokesman Michael Brune says energy demand from bitcoin mining has been responsible for dirty coal plants and gas power plants being revived at a time when the world is struggling to reduce its carbon footprint.
Early Birds
A new study reveals that some birds in the American Midwest are now laying their eggs about a month earlier than they did a century ago, with a steadily warming climate pointed to as the cause.
Led by Chicago’s Field Museum, a team compared century-old eggs preserved in the museum’s unique collection with recent avian observations. Each egg is accompanied by a label, noting the kind of bird and precisely where and when it was collected. A third of the 72 species studied around Chicago now lay their eggs about 25 days earlier than they did a century ago.
The gradual shift to an earlier spring has resulted in large impacts on animal and plant life cycles. Scientists believe this is responsible for the steep decline in bird populations since the 1970s.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 46.0 degrees Celsius (115 degrees F) at Nawabshah, Pakistan.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 63.0 degrees Celsius (-81.4 degrees F) 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 – Tennessee, USA
Despite rain moving across East Tennessee overnight, officials reported the fire that broke out in the Wears Valley community of Sevier County has now burned 3,739 acres and was 45% contained. At least 100 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the blaze but Waters said no fatalities or missing persons have been reported.
A second fire, identified as the Millstone Gap fire, is about 650 acres in size.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Monkeypox – DR Congo
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a total of 75 cases and 2 deaths due to monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the last week of February. During the first two months of 2022, 704 cases have been reported with 37 deaths (CFR 5.3%) in the DRC.
Yellow Fever – Uganda
The Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) declared a yellow fever outbreak. On 6 March 2022, the MOH reported four cases of yellow fever (YF) confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with specimens collected between 3 January 2022 and 18 February 2022.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week 23 March – 29 March 2022
Aira – Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that very small eruptive events were recorded at Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 21-28 March.
Dukono – Halmahera : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 26-28 March ash plumes from Dukono rose to 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SE, E, and ENE.
Great Sitkin – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion at Great Sitkin continued during 22-29 March and very low seismicity persisted. Cloud cover prevented views of the volcano most of the week; one satellite image acquired on 24 March showed slow expansion of the flow field.
Karymsky – Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was visible in satellite images during 22-23 March. The volcano was either quiet or obscured by clouds on the other days during 18-25 March.
Kilauea – Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported that lava effusion from vents in the lower W wall of Kilauea’s Halema`uma`u Crater continued at variable rates during 22-29 March. Lava from a vent flowed into the active W part of the lava lake and onto the crater floor. Numerous and sustained ooze outs of lava along the lake’s margins and interior seams persisted during the week. HVO noted that by 17 March about 58 million cubic meters of lava had been erupted since the current eruption began.
Kirishimayama – Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported an increase in volcanic earthquakes just below Shinmoedake (Shinmoe peak, a stratovolcano of the Kirishimayama volcano group). A total of 21 events were recorded during 26-27 March, prompting JMA to raise the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-5) on 27 March. Volcanic earthquakes continued to be recorded during 27-28 March. A two-minute-period of volcanic tremor began to be recorded at 1624 on 28 March. Minor deflation first recorded in December 2021 was ongoing. Fumarolic plumes continued to rise no higher than 100 m from a fissure on the W flank.
Merapi – Central Java : BPPTKG reported no significant morphological changes at Merapi’s summit lava dome during 18-24 March, but the height of the dome below the SW rim had increased by 4 m. Seismicity remained at high levels; the intensity of the signals had increased compared to the previous week. As many as 51 lava avalanches originating from the SW dome traveled a maximum of 2 km down the Bebeng drainage on the SW flank. Six pyroclastic flows traveled as far as 2.5 km. Minor ashfall was reported in the Selo District.
Pavlof – Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that the eruption at a vent on Pavlof’s upper E flank was ongoing during 22-29 March, and seismic tremor persisted. Elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images on most of the days and were consistent with minor lava effusion. Cloud cover sometimes prevented webcam and satellite views of the summit area; sulfur dioxide emissions were visible in satellite images during 24-26 March. Two small explosions were detected in local and regional infrasound data during 23-24 March and one was recorded during 26-27 March.
Rincon de la Vieja – Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that several eruptive events at Rincón de la Vieja were recorded during 22-26 March, though none were visible due to weather conditions. A one-minute-long event was recorded at 0350 on 22 March. A series of pulses occurred over a 20-minute period, at 0140, 0146, and 0159 on 23 March, with additional small events at 1045, 1339, 1939, and 2244. According to the Washington VAAC a possible ash emission was visible in satellite images at 1420 drifting W at an altitude of 2.7 km (9,000 ft) a.s.l. OVSICORI-UNA noted that a series of small eruptive events were recorded during 0129-0140 on 25 March. A small eruption with possible two separate pulses was recorded on 26 March.
Semeru – Eastern Java : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 22-29 March. Daily eruptive events produced ash plumes recorded by observers that rose 0.2-1.8 km above the summit and drifted mainly N, NW, and W. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4). The public was warned to stay at least 500 m away from Kobokan drainages within 17 km of the summit, along with other drainages originating on Semeru, including the Bang, Kembar, and Sat, due to lahar, avalanche, and pyroclastic flow hazards.
Semisopochnoi – Aleutian Islands (USA) : AVO reported that low-level eruptive activity at Semisopochnoi’s North Cerberus cone continued during 22-29 March. Periods of seismic tremor and occasional small explosions were detected daily in seismic and regional infrasound data. Daily minor ash emissions and occasional steam emissions were visible in webcam and satellite images; clouds sometimes prevented satellite views.
Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 18-25 March.
Suwanosejima – Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that eruptive activity continued to be recorded at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater during 21-28 March. As many as 42 explosions were recorded, and crater incandescence was visible nightly. Eruption plumes rose as high as 2.3 km above the crater rim and ejected blocks as far as 800 m from the crater. Ashfall was reported in Toshima village (3.5 km SSW).
Telica – Sierra de los Marrabios : Based on webcam images, the Washington VAAC reported that on 25 March ash emissions at Telica rose as high as 1.5 km (5,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW.
Wolf – Isla Isabela (Galapagos) : IG reported that the eruption at Wolf continued during 22-29 March. Daily thermal alert counts, as many as around 200, indicated active and advancing lava flows on the SSE flank.