Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.4 earthquake hits Kepulauan Talaud, Indonesia.
5.2 earthquake hits Tonga.
5.1 earthquake hits Albania.
5.1 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits south of Fiji.
5.0 earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Post-tropical Storm Rebekah is located about 140 mi…225 km n of faial island in the central Azores with maximum sustained winds…35 mph…55 km/h. Present movement…e or 95 degrees at 20 mph…31 km/h.
Tropical cyclone (tc) 05a (Maha), located approximately 598 nm south-southeast of Karachi, Pakistan, is tracking west-northwestward at 14 knots.
NewsBytes:
Somalia – More than 200,000 people, half of them children, have fled their homes following massive floods that have left most of a town in central Somalia under water. People have been evacuated using tractors and boats from neighborhoods that have been submerged in water in Beledweyne town after days of rainfall and flooding. housands of residents in makeshift camps are in desperate need of food and water.
East Africa – A powerful climate phenomenon in the Indian Ocean stronger than any seen in years is unleashing destructive rains and flooding across East Africa—and scientists say worse could be coming. Violent downpours in October have displaced tens of thousands in Somalia, submerged whole towns in South Sudan and killed dozens in flash floods and landslides in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Rising waters have wiped out livestock and destroyed harvests in swathes of the region still reeling from severe drought.
Mobile Roaming Charges for Eagle Trackers
Russian researchers studying eagle migration with trackers that use mobile phone networks ran up huge SMS roaming charges when the birds unexpectedly flew southward into airspace over Iran and Pakistan.
The data stored in the birds’ trackers while they were outside the domestic coverage areas in Russia and neighboring Kazakhstan were later transmitted en masse through the foreign mobile carriers’ networks.
The volunteers tracking the birds were later able to pay off the roughly $1,600 bill through a crowdfunding appeal dubbed “Top up the eagles’ mobile.”
Sea Urchins Plunder Kelp Forests
The population of ravenous purple urchins in parts of the Pacific off California and Oregon has soared 10,000 percent since 2014, which an Oregon state scientist says has ravaged the kelp forests and other species in the marine environment.
The loss of the kelp to the echinoderms has created vast “urchin barrens,” where the kelp was once so thick that boats could not navigate through it.
While vast numbers of the urchins are starving to death on the now-empty seabed, the species can go dormant without reproducing and live for years without food. Experts warn that this means the kelp forests may never be able to rebound.
Scientists say climate change is likely a factor in the urchin explosion.
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degrees Celsius) in Massangena, Mozambique.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 74.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 58.9 degrees Celsius) 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 – California
A fresh spate of Southern California wildfires roared to life on Thursday, destroying homes and forcing evacuations, as the region faced a second day of explosively fierce Santa Ana winds that have fanned flames, displacing thousands of residents. The most destructive among several new wind-driven blazes in the region erupted hours before dawn on the rugged slopes of the San Bernardino National Forest above the city of San Bernardino, barreling downhill into the north end of town.
Ebola – DR Congo
The ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces saw a stabilization in the number of new cases this past week, with 19 confirmed cases reported in the past week (23–29 October), essentially equivalent to the 20 confirmed cases the week before.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus – UAE
Earlier this month, officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported a confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection the first in 17 months.
Dengue Fever – Brazil
The number of dengue fever cases and deaths are up sharply this year in Araguaína, northern Tocantins, according to a local report. 1,553 cases of dengue were confirmed from January to September this year, an increase of 352% over the same period last year.
Measles – Wipes Out Immune System
A bout of measles may devastate children’s immune system and leave them open to other serious diseases, say scientists.
Most youngsters who die from measles are killed by complications such as pneumonia or swelling of the brain.
While white blood cells needed to fight infections are destroyed by measles, the cells do come back in force once the rash disappears.
This has left scientists struggling to understand why those who have had measles then suffer with other health problems.
However researchers have now discovered measles “resets” the immune system, wiping out the immunity children have developed to other illnesses, effectively leaving them with the same scant protection they had as newborns.
Vaping – USA
The number of cases of a deadly vaping illness continues to rise with 37 confirmed deaths and more than 1,800 sickened throughout the U.S.
Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 23 October – 29 October 2019
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that two eruptive events at Minamidake crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) recorded during 25-28 October generated plumes that rose 1.2 km. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a 5-level scale).
Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, and information from PVMBG, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 23-29 October ash plumes from Dukono rose to altitudes of 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km exclusion zone.
Ebeko | Paramushir Island (Russia) : Volcanologists in Severo-Kurilsk (Paramushir Island), about 7 km E of Ebeko, observed explosions during 18, 20-21, and 23 October that sent ash plumes up to 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted N, E, and SE. A weak thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images on 20 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Kanlaon | Philippines : On 25 October PHIVOLCS lowered the Alert Level for Kanlaon to 0 (on a scale of 0-5) noting that volcanic activity had declined to baseline levels in June and had continued to be low.
Karangetang | Siau Island (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 21-27 October lava continued to effuse from Karangetang’s Main Crater (S), traveling as far as 1.8 km down the Nanitu, Pangi, and Sense drainages on the SW and W flanks. Incandescence from both summit craters was visible at night. Sometimes dense white plumes rose to 500 m above the summit. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Krakatau | Indonesia : PVMBG reported that during 21-27 October diffuse white plumes rose as high as 100 m above Anak Krakatau’s active vent. As many as three eruptive events per day during 25-27 October generated ash plumes that rose as high as 200 m above the vent. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was warned to remain outside of the 2-km-radius hazard zone from the crater.
Nevados de Chillan | Chile : ONEMI and SERNAGEOMIN reported that during 22-24 October white-to-gray plumes from Nevados de Chillán’s Nicanor Crater rose as high as 1.3 km above the rim and drifted SE. Explosions ejecting incandescent material onto the flank were visible at night. A new lava flow from the crater had begun to effuse on 16 October and continued to very slowly advance on the NE flank. Diffuse white plumes rose from the crater on 25 and 29 October; cloudy weather obscured views in between those dates. The volcano Alert Level remained at Orange, the second highest level on a four-colour scale. ONEMI maintained an Alert Level Yellow (the middle level on a three-colour scale) for the communities of Pinto, Coihueco, and San Fabián, and stated that the public should stay at least 3 km away from the crater on the SW flank and 5 km away on the ENE flank.
Piton de la Fournaise | Reunion Island (France) : OVPF reported that inflation began to be detected at Piton de la Fournaise on 11 October and a seismic crisis was recorded on 21 October. A second seismic crisis began at 0415 on 25 October accompanied by rapid deformation. Volcanic tremor began at 1440, signaling the arrival of magma to the surface; the eruption area was not visible in webcam views. Field observers first saw two active fissures at the S part of l’Enclos Fouqué at an elevation of 1,400 m. Several lava flows were identified, with the front of the longest flow reaching an area 2 km upstream from National Road RN2 by 1700. Tremor intensity began to decline around three hours after the start of the eruption and continued to decline through the morning of 26 October. That same morning there was one active vent producing 10-20-m-high lava fountains. Downstream of piton Tremblet the flow forked and by 1700 on 26 October the leading toe was about 250 m from RN2. On 27 October tremor intensity fluctuated concurrently with the variable intensity of cone formation. The cone had grown to 10 m high and lava was ejected 20 m above the cone rim. Only one lava flow was active and was 200 m long; the flow near RN2 had not progressed. The eruption ceased at 1630.
Sabancaya | Peru : Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP) reported that an average of 48 low-to-medium intensity explosions per day occurred at Sabancaya during 21-27 October. Gas-and-ash plumes rose as high as 2.5 km above the summit and drifted W, SW, and S. There were 15 thermal anomalies identified in satellite data. The report noted that the lava dome in the summit crater had been slowing extruding since February and filling in the N part of the crater, though the rate of the extrusion had increased in recent months. On 26 October Observatorio Vulcanológico del INGEMMET (OVI) conducted a drone overflight and captured video of the lava dome. The estimated volume of the lava dome was 4.6 million cubic meters based on the footage. The Alert Level remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale) and the public were warned to stay outside of a 12-km radius.
Sangeang Api | Indonesia : The Darwin VAAC reported that during 26-28 October multiple discrete ash emissions from Sangeang Api rose to 2.1-2.7 km (7,000-9,000 ft) a.s.l. and dissipated rapidly to the NW, WNW, and W. A thermal anomaly was visible in satellite images on 26 October. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 18-25 October. Resuspended ash drifted 110 km SE during 19-20 October. Explosions recorded on 21 October generated ash plume that rose to 10-11 km (32,800-36,100 ft) a.s.l. and drifted 1,300 km SE. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
White Island | North Island (New Zealand) : GeoNet reported that sulfur dioxide emissions and the level of volcanic tremor both increased at White Island over the past several months, and were at the highest levels since 2016. The report noted that the changes could be related to a variety of processes, including an increased level of unrest, though the level of hazards on the island remained unchanged; the Volcanic Alert Level remained at 1 (the second lowest level on a 0-5 scale) and the Aviation colour Code remained at Green. The crater lake level continued to rise and impact surface activity around vents, creating small-scale geysering, on the W side of the crater floor.