Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.9 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.5 earthquake hits south of Java, Indonesia.
5.3 earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Inodnesia.
5.0 earthquake hits the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are currently no active tropical storm systems.
Newsbytes:
Indonesia – At least 4 people have died and 7 are missing after floods and landslides in the provinces of West Java, South Sulawesi, Lampung and South Sumatra in Indonesia over the last few days. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations at the site of the massive landslide in Serasan, Natuna Regency, have found the bodies of 46 victims. As of 12 March, 9 people were still missing.
Turkey – Disasters authorities in Turkey report that at least 14 people have now died in the flood that swept through areas of Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman in the southeast of the country on 15 March 2023.
USA – An atmospheric river dumped more torrential rain on California on Wednesday, forcing evacuations, power outages and road closures, while the remnants of a powerful Nor’easter blizzard buried much of upstate New York and New England under snow.
Cyclone Freddy
Cyclone Freddy, which finally dissipated after battering Southeast Africa, has likely broken a number of mindblowing records since it formed in early February. The monstrous storm has crossed the Indian Ocean and made landfall three separate times, and may be the most energetic and long-lasting storm ever recorded. Freddy was first named on Feb. 6 after forming off the north Australian coast. Since then, it has traveled more than 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) across the southern Indian Ocean to southeast Africa. The death toll from Tropical Cyclone Freddy has passed 300 people.
Plastiglomerates
The geology of Brazil’s volcanic Trindade Island has fascinated scientists for years, but the discovery of rocks made from plastic debris in this remote turtle refuge is sparking alarm.
The pollution mainly comes from fishing nets, which is very common debris on Trinidade Island’s beaches. The nets are dragged by the marine currents and accumulate on the beach. When the temperature rises, this plastic melts and becomes embedded with the beach’s natural material. The garbage in the sea and the plastic dumped incorrectly in the oceans is becoming geological material preserved in the earth’s geological records.
Measles – Nepal
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports there is a measles outbreak in Nepal. Between 24 November 2022 and 10 March 2023, a total of 690 measles cases, including one associated death (CFR 0.14%) have been reported from seven districts in western Nepal.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New activity for the week 8 March – 14 March 2023
Karangetang – Sangihe Islands : Webcam images of Karangetang posted in PVMBG daily reports showed very minor incandescence at the summit Main Crater (S crater) during 8-14 March. Short, dimly incandescent trails on images from 8 and 10 March were possibly from avalanches. According to the Darwin VAAC at 1710 on 9 March an ash plume rose to 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S. A large thermal anomaly was visible in images from 0550 and 0930 on 10 March.
Merapi – Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi (on Java) continued during 3-9 March and seismicity remained at high levels. The SW lava dome produced 19 lava avalanches that traveled as far as 1.7 km down the SW flank (upstream in the Bebeng, Boyong, and Sat/Putih drainages). No significant morphological changes to the central and SW lava domes were evident in webcam images. Activity increased on 11 March with collapses of the SW lava dome. During 1212-1500 a series of 21 lava avalanches from the SW lava dome produced pyroclastic flows that traveled less than 4 km down the Bebeng and Krasak drainages. Ash plumes rose from the dome and in dense “curtains” from along the pyroclastic-flow deposits on the SW flank. The ash plumes rose as high as 3 km above the summit during 1212-1306 and drifted W and NW, causing ashfall in several areas downwind, especially in Magelang. Avalanches and pyroclastic flows from additional collapses continued to be recorded on 12 March. A total of 15 avalanches descended the SW flank as far as 2.5 km and 21 pyroclastic flows traveled a maximum distance of 2 km SW. White-and-gray ash plumes of variable densities rose as high as 2.5 km above the summit and drifted N, NW, W, and E based on Darwin VAAC notices and PVGHM VONAs. A drone was deployed to inspect the SW dome and flank, the deposits, and the summit dome; the end of the pyroclastic-flow deposits in the Bebeng drainage was 3.7 km from the center of the summit crater. By early on 13 March a total of 60 pyroclastic flows had been mainly channeled down the Bebeng. On 13 March there was a total of 36 lava avalanches; two pyroclastic flows went as far as 1.5 km down the SW flank. The Darwin VAAC reported that at 0100, 0630, and 0900 ash plumes rose as high as 4.3 km (14,000 ft) a.s.l., or 1.4 km above the summit, and drifted NW. A VONA issued on 14 March described a gray-and-brown ash plume that rose 2.5 km above the summit and drifted E and SE.
Nyamulagira – DR Congo : The Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma (OVG) reported increased activity at Nyamulagira on 13 March. Seismicity indicated magma movement at shallow depths towards the central part of the crater and incandescence above the crater rim was visible beginning at around 1800. The Toulouse VAAC reported at 1130 on 14 March that lava fountains were observed, and an eruption plume rose 1.5 km above the crater rim, based on information from OVG. The VAAC noted that the plume was not identified in satellite images due to weather cloud cover.
Takawangha – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that the earthquake swarm at Takawangha that began in November 2022 started to decline on 1 March. Seismicity abruptly increased again on 8 March and was sustained, with M4 or lower earthquakes occurring at depths of less than about 6 km below sea level. Earthquake activity beneath Takawangha volcano and nearby Tanaga Volcano (8 km W), both on Tanaga Island, continued at a high rate during 8-9 March, with more than 100 events per hour at times. Sustained seismicity indicated an increased potential for an eruption. Earthquakes beneath Tanaga and Takawangha occurred at a rate of up to several events per minute during 10-11 March and at a slightly reduced rate during 12-14 March. The earthquakes had magnitudes up to about 4 and were mostly occurring at depths less than about 6 km.
Tanaga- Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that earthquake activity near Tanaga began to increase on 4 March with events up to the M2 range and located 9-18 km deep. Seismicity again increased around 1330 on 7 March and by 2045 earthquakes were occurring at a rate of 2-3 per minute. AVO raised the Aviation Color Code to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale) and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory the second lowest level on a four-level scale). The seismicity was sustained during 8-9 March and had shallowed to depths less than about 6 km, indicating increased potential for an eruption. Seismicity was also elevated at Takawangha, 8 km E; both volcanoes are located on Tanaga Island. Earthquakes beneath Tanaga Island occurred at a rate of up to several per minute, with the largest event during 8-9 March, a M3.9, located under Tanaga Volcano. Earthquakes beneath Tanaga and Takawangha occurred at a rate of up to several events per minute during 10-11 March and at a slightly reduced rate during 12-14 March. The earthquakes had magnitudes up to around 4.