Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits off the coast of Aisen, Chile.
5.3 earthquake hits the island of Hawaii, Hawaii.
5.2 earthquake hits Mindanao, in the Philippines.
5.0 earthquake hits Panama.
5.0 earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm Bud is located about 115 mi…185 km sse of Cabo San Lucas Mexico with maximum sustained winds…45 mph…75 km/h. Present movement…nnw or 345 degrees at 7 mph…11 km/h.
Bud is expected to produce 50 to 75mm of rainfall across much of southwest Mexico through Thursday. Totals could be twice that in one or two places. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Bud is also expected to produce as much as 125mm of rain across southern parts of Baja California Sur and Sonora in northwest Mexico between now and Saturday.
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical Depression (td) 08w (Eight), located approximately 222 nm south-southwest of Taipei, Taiwan, is tracking northeastward at 08 knots.
Tropical Storm (ts) 07w (Seven), located approximately 91 nm west of Kadena AFB, is tracking northeastward at 20 knots.
NewsBytes:
Israel – Record-breaking precipitation has been recorded in western Negev, overwhelming storm drains in some towns. Residents of Sderot and Ashkelon on Wednesday morning found their vehicles submerged in over a meter of water, after storm drains in the southern cities apparently overflowed during a rare June downpour. Israel was hit with heavy rains this week, causing power outages and severe flooding throughout the country, a highly unusual occurrence for mid-June. Kibbutz Dorot in the south of the country recorded an all-time high rainfall for the month of June. The meteorological service measured 64 millimeters of rainfall in the Western Negev on Tuesday morning, topping the previous record in Israel of 50 millimeters of rainfall in a day during the month of June.
France – The western Pyrénées were hit with heavy rain the caused flash floods which destroyed roads in the areas. The heavy rain on Tuesday caused flash floods and rivers to rise across the region, with people told to remain vigilant and not to travel unless necessary. Aside from the immediate effects on residents, the floods and damage could cause headaches to Tour de France organisers ASO, with the race set to visit the region in July.
Antarctica Is Losing An Insane Amount of Ice. Nothing About This Is Good.
Antarctica has lost 3 trillion tons of ice in the past 25 years, and that ice loss has accelerated rapidly over the last five years.
In a new study, the most comprehensive to date of the continent’s icy status, an international group of 84 researchers analyzed data from multiple satellite surveys, from 1992 to 2017.
They discovered that Antarctica is currently losing ice about three times faster than it did until 2012, climbing to a rate of more than 241 billion tons (219 billion metric tons) per year. Total ice loss during the 25-year period contributed to sea level rise of about 0.3 inches (around 8 millimeters), approximately 40 percent of which — about 0.1 inches (3 mm) — happened in the past five years.
Millimeters of sea level rise may not sound like much, but previous surveys suggested that Antarctica’s massive ice sheets likely wouldn’t be affected by climate change at all. The new findings hint that the continent’s ice cover may not be as resistant to warming as once thought, and present a very different picture of Antarctica’s potential contributions to a rising ocean: Consider that if all of Antarctica’s ice melted, the resulting water could elevate sea levels by about 190 feet (58 meters), the researchers reported.
Coral Reefs Face More Challenges
Coral reefs, already under existential threat from rising water temperatures, face further risks as projected sea level rises will outpace the speed they are able to grow, new research suggests.
Current growth rates in the tropical western Atlantic and Indian Ocean have so far kept up with modern global sea level rises – 6cm during the 19th Century and 19cm during the 20th century. But projections for sea level rises by the end of the 21st Century will outpace coral growth, the study says.
Reef growth is already severely hampered by combinations of coral disease, deteriorating water quality and fishing pressure, along with severe impacts from “coral bleaching” caused by climate change.
Even under modest climate change prediction scenarios, only about 3 per cent of Indian Ocean reefs will be able to track local sea-level rise projections without sustained ecological recovery, whilst under continued high emission scenarios, most reefs will experience water depth increases in excess of half a metre.
Reefs serve as natural breakwaters that reduce flooding by dampening waves and breaking them early.
Wildfires – Colorado, Utah, USA – Update
Wildfires in Colorado spread Tuesday, triggering new evacuation orders and threatening a popular ski resort area. The state’s largest fire, the 416 Fire, forced the evacuation of more than 1,300 homes Tuesday after spreading dangerously close to the resort town of Silverthorne and two densely populated housing developments, just 60 miles west of Denver. The fire came within 200 yards of a subdivision that includes condos, apartments and pricey homes.
A fast-moving brush fire destroyed eight homes in the Utah tourist town of Moab, Utah. The blaze in Moab, known for its dramatic red rocks, started in a wooded area Tuesday night and quickly spread to homes over less than a square mile.
Foot and Mouth Disease – Botswana
The Botswana Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Ngamiland District, about 1,500 km north-west of the capital Gaborone. In a statement issued on June 13, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said five cattle have since been quarantined after exhibiting suspicious symptoms consistent with FMD.
Kenya – Multiple Outbreaks
The Kenya Ministry of Health reported this week on the outbreak situation in several counties throughout the country in 2018 to date to include cholera, measles, chikungunya and Rift Valley fever (RVF).
Cholera – A total of 4,954 cholera cases had been reported since the beginning of the year, including 75 deaths. Nineteen counties have been affected–Mombasa, Garissa, Siaya, Tharaka-Nithi, Meru, Kirinyaga, Busia, Tana River, Turkana, Murang’a, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Nairobi, Nakuru, Isiolo, Machakos, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Kiambu and Kilifi.
Measles – Outbreaks were reported in Wajir and Mandera counties in February with 39 and 103 cases recorded, respectively. The outbreaks have since been contained.
Chikungunya – Outbreaks of this mosquito borne viral disease have been reported from three counties: Mombasa (1302), Lamu (199) and Kilifi (7). These outbreaks have also since been contained.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) – The RVF fever outbreak in Kenya was confirmed on June 7 in humans. A total of 15 cases, including five deaths have been reported from Wajir, Eldas and Wajir sub-counties.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 6 June – 12 June 2018
Fuego | Guatemala : During 6-12 June INSIVUMEH and CONRED reported that strong lahars at Fuego were often hot, steaming, and had a sulfur odor, and were generated from heavy rains and the recent accumulation of pyroclastic-flow deposits from the 3 June events. On 6 June lahars descended the Santa Teresa, Mineral, and Taniluyá drainages (tributaries of the Pantaleón river) and possibly the Honda drainage, halting search-and-rescue efforts. The lahars were 30-40 m wide, 2-5 m deep, and carried blocks (2-3 m in diameter) and tree parts. CONRED noted on 9 June that deposits on roads were being cleaned at a rate of 150 m per day, and that exposed deposits were as hot as 150 degrees Celsius. Significant hot lahars, 40 m wide and 5 m deep, traveled down the Seca, Mineral, Niágara, and Taniluyá drainages, carrying rocks and tree branches. On 10 June a strong lahar traveled down the Seca, Mineral, Niagara, Taniluyá, and Ceniza drainages. It was 35 m wide, 3 m deep, and carried blocks up to 1 m in diameter, tree trunks, and branches. Lahars that traveled down the Seca and Mineral drainages on 11 June were 40 m wide and 3 m deep. Lahars on 12 June were 20-45 m wide and 2-5 m deep, and flowed down the Ceniza and Mineral rivers. During 6-11 June as many as nine weak explosions per hour produced ash plumes that rose as high as 1.1 km above the crater and drifted 8-15 km W, SW, and S. Avalanches of material descended the Las Lajas and Santa Teresa ravines. Some explosions vibrated local structures. At 0820 on 8 June a pyroclastic flow descended the Las Lajas and El Jute drainages, producing an ash plume that rose as high as 6 km and drifted W and SW. Explosive activity increased during 11-12 June, with dense ash plumes rising 1.3 km and drifting as far as 25 km N and NE. Pyroclastic flows traveled down the Seca drainage. According to CONRED, as of 12 June, the number of people that had died due to the 3 June pyroclastic flows was 110, and 197 more were missing. In addition, 12,578 people had been evacuated.
Great Sitkin | Andreanof Islands (USA) : Seismicity at Great Sitkin was elevated during the previous five days, though at 1139 on 10 June a seismic signal indicating a possible short-lived steam explosion prompted AVO to raise the Aviation colour Code to Yellow and the Volcano Alert Level to Advisory. No infrasound signal associated with the event was detected, and no volcanic clouds rose about the meteorological cloud deck at 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l.
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that at 1206 on 6 June an eruption at Ibu generated an ash plume that rose at least 500 m above the crater rim and drifted N. An event at 1750 on 12 June produced an ash plume that rose 600 m and drifted N. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to stay at least 2 km away from the active crater, and 3.5 km away on the N side.
Kerinci | Indonesia : Based on satellite data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 10 June an ash plume from Kerinci rose to an altitude of 4 km (13,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W.
Manam | Papua New Guinea : Based on a pilot observation, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 10 June an ash plume from Manam rose to an altitude of 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. The ash plume was not identifiable in satellite images.
Ruapehu | North Island (New Zealand) : On 5 June GeoNet reported that a new heating cycle at Ruapehu’s summit Crater Lake began, as indicated by a recent rise in the water temperature. The increasing lake temperature began 29 May, at a rate of about 1°C per day. Volcanic tremor also increased, representing a greater flow of hydrothermal fluids into the lake. Many heating and cooling cycles have occurred in the past; the current cycle does not indicate an unusual sign of unrest. The Volcanic Alert Level remained at 1 (minor volcanic unrest) and the Aviation colour Code remained at Green.
Sierra Negra | Isla Isabela (Ecuador) : On 8 June IG reported a continuing high level of seismicity at Sierra Negra, characterized by a larger number and magnitude of earthquakes, indicating magma movement. The number of events per day had been significantly increasing since mid-2016. In the previous 10 days there was an average of 42 local events/day; on 25 May there were 104 events, the largest number of earthquakes per day recorded since 2015. In addition, in a 24-hour period during 7-8 June there were a total of 48 volcano-tectonic events, two long-period events, and three hybrid earthquakes; a M 4.8 long-period earthquake was recorded at 0715 on 8 June. The earthquake epicenters were mainly located on the edges of the crater, in two NE-SW trending lineaments; the first covered the N and W edges of the crater and the second went from the NE part around to the S edge. Data showed very large deformation at the caldera’s center, compared with lower levels of deformation outside of the caldera.
Ulawun | New Britain (Papua New Guinea) : According to the Darwin VACC, a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) stated that on 8 June an ash plume from Ulawun rose to an altitude of 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted W.