Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the South Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone (ts) 17s (Frances), located approximately 795 nm northeast of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking west-southwestward at 06 knots.
Earthquakes
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
7.2 Earthquake hits Mindanao in the Philippines.
Following a tsunami warning, the occurrence of sea level disturbance was confirmed by records of the Sarangani sea level monitoring station showing a drop of approximately 30cm and a maximum rise of approximately 10cm wave height relative to normal sea level. Several buildings were damaged and two people injured as panicked residents fled the coast following the tsunami warning.
5.8 Earthquake hits Valparaiso, Chile.
5.5 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.4 Earthquake hits Java, Indonesia.
5.4 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
Two 5.2 Earthquakes hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile.
5.1 Earthquake hits Lake Tanganyika.
5.0 Earthquake hits Colombia.
5.0 Earthquake hits the Ryukyu Islands off Japan.
5.0 Earthquake hits offshore Valparaiso, Chile
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the South Indian Ocean: Tropical cyclone (ts) 17s (Frances), located approximately 795 nm northeast of Learmonth, Australia, is tracking west-southwestward at 06 knots.
Nature – Images
Interesting Images
Mystery of Antarctica’s Blood Falls
It’s a mystery that has baffled scientists for more than a century; how salty, blood-red water is able to ooze out from a million-year-old glacier in a region known for its freezing temperatures.
When explorer and geoscientist Griffith Taylor discovered a 54-kilometre long glacier in Antarctica that released a deep red liquid in 1911, he attributed the strange phenomenon to red algae colouring the moving water.
The outflow was quickly dubbed “Blood Falls” for the water’s creepy, red hue contrasting against its icy, white surroundings.
It was later discovered, however, that the mysterious water was not related to blood or algae at all. In fact, the colour is the result of iron-rich salt water that turns into a reddish-brown shade or oxidizes (like rust) when it comes into contact with the air. Scientists call the water “brine” because of the incredible amount of salt in it.
And now, that saltiness has offered an important clue into one of Blood Fall’s final mysteries – how the brine travels from within the frozen glacier to the waterfall in sub-zero temperatures. Researchers have found that the glacier has its own unique network of pressurized channels that move the iron-rich water to the top of Blood Falls through the frozen glacier.
Wildfires
Wildfires – Siberia
Rescuers have managed to save all the residents of a Russian village before the settlement located on an island in Irkutsk Region burned to the ground. The spread of wildfires across Siberia has prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Hundreds of people were trapped in the village of Bubnovka surrounded by water as a massive fire was ripping through their homes. Luckily for some 435 residents, local Emergencies Ministry staff were conducting anti-flood drills in the area and rapidly reacted to the incident. Responding the distress call, they rushed to the scene to evacuate the villagers. Using an air cushion rescue boat, the responders brought people to safety. No one was harmed.
At least 59 buildings in the village ultimately burned down. It is believed that the fire was started by a local resident burning trash.
Disease
Malaria on Rise in US As Travelers Return with Disease
More than 2,000 people in the U.S. return from visits abroad with malaria every year, a new report says.
Volcanos
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 19 April – 25 April 2017
Bagana | Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery and model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 16-17 April ash plumes from Bagana rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, SE, and S. Plumes drifted 55-85 km during 19 and 23-24 April.
Bezymianny | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 14-21 April lava continued to advance down the NW flank of Bezymianny’s lava dome. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 14-17 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Bogoslof | Fox Islands (USA) : On 19 April AVO noted that no new volcanic activity at Bogoslof had been detected in satellite, seismic, or infrasound data since a short-lived increase in seismicity on 15 April; AVO lowered the Aviation colour Code to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory.
Cleveland | Chuginadak Island (USA) : AVO reported that recent satellite images of Cleveland revealed that a lava dome has been extruded in the summit crater, with growth likely beginning after the last explosion on 31 March. The Aviation colour Code was raised to Orange and the Volcano Alert Level was raised to Watch.
Slightly elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images over the past couple of weeks. The new dome was first visible in images on 15 April, with the presence of a small (less than 10 m diameter) mound deep in the crater. By 23 April this mound had grown to 45 m in diameter. Dome growth had occurred with no detectable seismicity.
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery, wind model data, and notices from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 19-25 April ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.4 km (6,000-8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NE, E, and SE.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : KVERT reported that on 14, 16, and 19 April several explosions at Ebeko were observed by residents of Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island) about 7 km E. Ash plumes rose as high as 3.2 km (10,500 ft) a.s.l. Minor amounts of ash fell in Severo-Kurilsk on 18 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Kilauea | Hawaiian Islands (USA) : During 19-25 April HVO reported that the lava lake continued to rise, fall, and spatter in Kilauea’s Overlook crater. Webcams recorded incandescence from long-active sources within Pu’u ‘O’o Crater, from a vent high on the NE flank of the cone, and from a small lava pond in a pit on the W side of the crater. The 61G lava flow, originating from a vent on Pu’u ‘O’o Crater’s E flank, continued to enter the ocean at Kamokuna. A growing lava delta is building where the lava enters the water. Surface lava flows were active above the pali.
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a weak thermal anomaly was detected over Klyuchevskoy during 14-17 and 23 April. A steam-and-gas plume that rose to 5 km (16,400 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 125 km SW on 23 April contained some ash, prompting KVERT to raise the Aviation colour Code to Orange. On 24 April satellite images showed an ash plume drifting 72 km SW at an altitude of 7 km (23,000 ft) a.s.l. On 25 April KVERT noted that activity had significantly decreased and only steam-and-gas emissions were observed. The Aviation colour Code was lowered to Yellow. On 25 April ash was again present in a plume; KVERT raised the Aviation colour Code to Orange. The plume rose 3-4 km (9,800-13,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 60 km SW.
Sabancaya | Peru : Based on webcam images, satellite views, and seismic data the Buenos Aires VAAC reported sporadic gas-and-ash puffs from Sabancaya during 18-25 April, sometimes rising as high as 8.2 km (25,000 ft) a.s.l.; clouds sometimes hindered observations of the volcano.
San Miguel | El Salvador : In a special report from 17 April, SNET reported an increase in seismicity and gas emissions from San Miguel in recent days. Earlier that day during 0620-0630 RSAM values spiked to 356, an increase over normal values around 50. During 18-21 and 23-24 April RSAM values fluctuated between 80 and over 300.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that during 15-21 April lava-dome extrusion onto Sheveluch’s N flank was accompanied by strong fumarolic activity, dome incandescence, ash explosions, and hot avalanches. Satellite images showed a thermal anomaly over the dome during 13-17 April, and an ash plume that drifted 95 km E on 15 April. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Sinabung | Indonesia : Based on PVMBG observations, satellite images, and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-22 and 24 April ash plumes from Sinabung rose to altitudes of 3.3-4.3 km (11,000-14,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and E.