Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.1 earthquake hits the Andaman Islands off India.
5.0 earthquake hits Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits Kepulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Danielle is located about 890 mi…1435 km w of the Azores with maximum sustained winds…70 mph…110 km/h. Present movement…e or 100 degrees at 3 mph…6 km/h.
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 12w (Hinnamnor), located approximately 308 nm south-southwest of Kadena AFB, Okinawa, Japan, is tracking north-northwestward at 04 knots.
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 11e (Javier), located approximately 849 nm south-southeast of San Diego, is tracking northwestward at 06 knots.
La Niña to Persist
The La Niña ocean-cooling in the Pacific is likely to last at least until the end of the year, causing further weather disruptions around the world, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). This marks the first time this century that the tropical Pacific Ocean cooling has spanned three consecutive Northern Hemisphere winters. “It is exceptional to have three consecutive years with a La Niña event. Its cooling influence is (only) temporarily slowing the rise in global temperatures,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
Biblical Rains
Pakistan says it is overwhelmed by the unprecedented flooding catastrophe that has killed at least 1,100 people and affected more than 33 million others. Sindh province just received 784% of its average August rainfall from incessant and powerful monsoon rains. Cloudbursts with an intensity never before seen have destroyed even sturdy homes. One man who lost his family and some neighbours when his roof collapsed told Aljazeera that the building techniques used for generations are no longer a match for the new kind of supercharged downpours brought on by climate change.
Global Warming
Arctic Lakes Draining
A new study finds that lakes around the Arctic have disappeared at an alarming rate over the past 20 years as the area around the North Pole warmed four times faster than the rest of the world.
Writing in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers from the University of Florida document how lakes in northern parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, Scandinavia and Alaska have either gotten smaller or entirely dried up. “The vanishing lakes act as cornerstones of the Arctic ecosystem,” the team said in a news release. “They provide a critical source of fresh water for local Indigenous communities and industries. Threatened and endangered species, including migratory birds and aquatic creatures, also rely on the lake habitats for survival,” it added.
Bug Meat
Mealworm larvae are being touted as a flavourful new supplement by researchers, who say it could be mixed with fast food to add a cheap, meatlike flavor. Since meats of large animals contribute to climate change, the South Korean scientists told the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society in Chicago that mealworms can help feed a growing global population while lowering the greenhouse gas stress on climate.
Hee Cho and colleagues cooked up mealworms with sugar, which they say created a tasty protein-rich product. Steamed mealworms were said to have even stronger, sweet cornlike aromas while roasted and deep-fried versions had shrimplike and fried oil-like qualities.
Environment
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 51.0 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees F) at Death Valley. California.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 78.0 degrees Celsius (-108.4 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.
Disease
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Measles – Tanzania
A measles outbreak is ongoing in Tanzania since June 2022, according to the World Health Organization. As of 23 August 2022, a cumulative total of 223 suspected measles cases, with two IgM positive cases are reported since the onset of the outbreak in June 2022. A total of 88 cases were admitted to the local hospitals. About 48% (108 cases) of the suspected cases were children under five years of age.
Volcanos
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week 24 August – 30 August 2022
Aira – Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported low but continuing activity from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) during 22-29 August. Small eruptive events were recorded throughout the week, and nighttime incandescence was visible from the crater was visible during 26-29 August.
Dukono – Halmahera : PVMBG reported that almost daily white plumes from Dukono rose as high as 200 m above the summit and drifted SW, W, and NW. During 27-18 August dense white, gray, and brown ash plumes rose as high as 1 km above the summit and drifted SW and W.
Ebeko – Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that moderate activity at Ebeko was ongoing. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified in satellite images during 18-19, 22, and 25 August. According to volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island, about 7 km E) explosions generated ash plumes that rose up to 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. during 19 and 22-25 August and drifted N and E.
Erta Ale – Ethiopia : Thermal anomalies of variable intensities at Erta Ale’s N and S pit craters were periodically identified in satellite images during August. On 1 August there were two anomalies in the S pit crater and none in the N pit crater. Images were cloudy on 6 and 11 August. On 16 August two anomalies were again visible in the S pit crater while one large anomaly occupied the N crater. Translucent weather clouds obscured views on 21 August, though two anomalies were visible in the S pit crater. Dense weather clouds covered the N pit crater on 26 August and obscured the S pit crater, though one anomaly was visible.
Great Sitkin – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion at Great Sitkin probably continued during 24-30 August with lava around the vent likely thickening. Weather clouds often obscured satellite and webcam views during most of the week; elevated surface temperatures were occasionally visible. Seismicity was very low.
Karymsky – Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the eruption at Karymsky continued during 18-25 August. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was identified in satellite images during 18-19, 22, and 24-25 August.
Kilauea – Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO reported that lava continued to effuse from a vent in the lower W wall of Kilauea’s Halema`uma`u Crater during 24-30 August, entering the lava lake and flowing onto the crater floor. Part of the lake was continuously active. The lake level mostly remained within the bounding levees, though daily breakouts were visible along the margins.
Klyuchevskoy – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : Strong winds re-suspended ash from the E flank of Klyuchevskoy and created plumes that were visible in satellite images drifting more than 205 km E during 25-26 August.
Lewotolok – Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the Strombolian eruption at Lewotolok continued during 23-30 August. Daily white emissions rose as high as 700 m above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. Photos posted with daily reports showed crater incandescence and occasional Strombolian activity.
Merapi – Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi continued during 19-25 August. Seismicity intensified compared to the previous week; in particular the number of deep volcanic earthquakes increased and indicated magmatic activity at depths less than 1.5 km. As many as 19 lava avalanches traveled down the Bebeng drainage on the SW flank, reaching a maximum distance of 1.8 km. Photo analyses showed no height changes at the SW and central lava domes, though some changes at the SW dome were observed due to avalanche activity.
Pavlof – Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that a minor eruption at a vent on Pavlof’s upper E flank was ongoing during 23-30 August, though there was no evidence of lava effusion. Seismic tremor persisted. A small ash emission rose to about 4 km (12,000 ft) a.s.l. on 24 August and was seen by passing aircraft. Sulfur dioxide emissions were also detected that same day.
Popocatepetl – Mexico : CENAPRED reported that there were 15-75 steam-and-gas emissions, sometimes containing minor amounts of ash, rising from Popocatépetl each day during 23-30 August. A moderate explosion was detected at 0117 on 30 August. .
Reventador – Ecuador : IG characterized the ongoing eruption at Reventador as moderate during 23-30 August. Gas-and-ash plumes, observed with webcams or reported by the Washington VAAC, rose as high as 1.6 km above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. Crater incandescence was visible on most nights and often during early morning hours. Incandescent blocks were visible rolling 500 m down the NE flank during 24-25 August and 600 m down all flanks during 28-29 August.
Semeru – Eastern Java : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 23-30 August. Eruptive events at 0735 on 26 August, 0606 and 0628 on 27 August, 0623 on 28 August, and 0618 on 29 August produced ash plumes that rose 500-600 m above the summit and drifted N, W, and SW.
Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch was characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, and lava-dome extrusion during 18-25 August. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 18-19, 21, and 23-25 August. Ash plumes drifted 190 km SE and 150 km E on 19 and 25 August, respectively.
Suwanosejima – Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : At 2151 on 28 August a large eruptive event at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater ejected large bombs 800 m above the vent and produced an eruption plume that rose into overhead weather clouds. Crater incandescence was visible in webcam images overnight. By 0900 on 29 August three more explosions were recorded and produced ash plumes that rose as high as 1.3 km above the vent.