Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.4 earthquake hits the Adriatic Sea.
5.6 earthquake hits the Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea.
5.4 earthquake hits the Adriatic Sea.
5.3 earthquake hits Myanmar.
5.3 earthquake hits Albania.
5.2 earthquake hits Bosnia and Herzegovina.
5.1 earthquake hits Albania.
5.1 earthquake hits offshore Atacama, Chile.
5.0 earthquake hits the Adriatic Sea.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Tropical storm 29w (Kammuri), located approximately 215 nm southeast of Andersen AFB, is tracking west-northwestward at 20 knots.
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 01p (Rita), located approximately 229 nm north-northeast of Port Vila, Vanuatu, is tracking south-southwestward at 04 knots.
NewsBytes:
Greece – Two people have been killed and hundreds of homes have been flooded following an overnight storm in Greece. Bodies of two tourists have been recovered near the port of Antirio, 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Athens. The highway linking the Greek capital to the western port city of Patras has been closed following mudslides caused by heavy rainfall.
Djubouti – Since 21 November, Djibouti has experienced heavy rains which triggered flash floods across the country. In Djibouti city alone, initial estimates indicate that over 30,000-40,000 families (150,000-250,000 people) have been somewhat affected by the floods, and 9 people (7 children) have reportedly been killed. Reports indicate that between 21 and 24 November, almost 300mm of rain were recorded in Djibouti city alone, or over three times the annual average.
Global Coal Power Generation Falls
Electricity generated from coal-fired plants is set to fall by a record 3% this year, raising chances for slowing global carbon dioxide emissions growth, according to a report released by Carbon Brief.
The global usage rate for coal-fired generation this year is about 54% and suggests that electricity from the plants, which are built to run at or near capacity for extended periods, is more expensive, according to the report, which was written by researchers from several climate research groups, including the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The decline comes even as new coal-fired generation capacity in places including China and Southeast Asia is rising.
Reindeer Herders at Risk From Vanishing Ice Due to Global Warming
Deep in the Sayan Mountains of northern Mongolia, patches of ice rest year-round in the crooks between hills.
Locals in this high tundra call the perennial snowbanks munkh mus, or eternal ice. They’re central to lives of the region’s traditional reindeer herders, who depend on the snowy patches for clean drinking water and to cool down their hoofed charges in summer months.
Now, a new study led by archaeologist William Taylor suggests that this eternal ice, and the people and animals it supports, may be at risk because of soaring global temperatures. The research team discovered, the once-reliable munkh mus is melting faster than at any time in recent history.
Reindeer are cold-loving animals and can overheat when the weather gets too warm. To compensate, the Tsaatan bring their herds to the ice to give them a break from the heat and the tundra’s abundant insects.
Largest global assessment of ocean warming impacts
Climate change is reorganizing the life in our oceans in a big way: as waters warm, cold-loving species, from plankton to fish, leave the area and warm water species become more successful. So say an international group of scientists in the most comprehensive assessment of the effects of ocean warming on the distribution fish communities.
The results showed how subtle changes in the movement of species that prefer cold water or warm water, in response to rising temperatures, made a big impact on the global picture.
While the global warming trend was widely seen, the North Atlantic showed the largest rise in average temperature during the time period. However, for fish communities in the Labrador Sea, where the temperature at 100 meters deep can be as much as five degrees Celsius cooler than the surface, moving deeper in the water column allowed the cold-water species to remain successful.
Most of the data collected were targeted surveys of commercial fish stocks, so the changes seen reflect those likely to be seen in fish markets as cold-water fish like cod and haddock decline, while warm-water species like red mullet increase with warming.
There has been a temperature rise of almost one degree Celsius in some parts of the ocean since 1985.
Malaysia Says Goodbye to its last Sumatran Rhino
The last Sumatran rhino in Malaysia, a female dubbed “Iman,” died on Saturday (Nov. 23) at the Borneo Rhino Sanctuary in Sabah, Malaysia. Her death at age 25 marks the extinction of her species in that country and is a grim reminder of the animals’ vulnerability; fewer than 80 wild Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) remain in the wild, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Plague – DR Congo
In a follow-up on the plague cluster reported in Ituri Province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health officials have reported seven additional cases. Through November 3, 38 cases of bubonic plague including eight deaths have been reported.
Lassa Fever – Sierra Leone
This week, the Ministry of Health in Sierra Leone formally notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of the Lassa fever outbreak in the country. To date, the Lassa fever cluster has accounted for eight cases, including three deaths.
Measles – DR Congo
In a follow-up on the measles epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), health officials have now reported 250,270 total cases through November 3. In addition, the measles death toll has risen to 5,110 in 2019. During the most recent week, officials saw an additional 7,559 measles cases including 172 deaths.
Measles – Tonga
In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Tonga, health authorities are reporting 310 confirmed or suspected measles cases through November 19.
Dengue Fever – Vietnam
Through October 11, the General Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, Vietnam has reported 241,863 cases, including 43 deaths since the beginning of the year.