Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.5 earthquake hits off the east coast of Honshu, Japan.
5.2 earthquake hits Myanmar.
5.1 earthquake hits the Adriatic Sea.
5.0 earthquake hits Guam.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 29w (Kammuri), located approximately 964 nm east of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-northwestward at 06 knots.
NewsBytes:
Kenya – Heavy rains in Kenya unleashed a deluge that killed five people overnight in the Rift Valley, raising the death toll from weekend flooding to 65. The torrential rain is uncommon for this time of year. Parts of the country could continue to face destructive flooding this week.
California, USA – A winter-like storm led to at least one death on Thanksgiving Day, closed numerous roadways and left officials warning of waterspouts, floods, hail, lightning and rip currents. Two important highways — the 5 Freeway through the Grapevine and the 15 Freeway between the Inland Empire and Las Vegas — were closed, reopened and closed again Thursday as snow would fall, be plowed aside and then accumulate again. Heavy snowfall was reported late Thursday.
Wildlife
Chimp Attacks
Chimpanzees have begun attacking children in western Uganda during recent years in a shocking trend that has resulted in serious injuries and deaths.
A highly publicized and gruesome attack in 2014 saw a chimp savage a 2-year-old child after snatching it from its mother. At least three more fatal attacks on infants have occurred since then, accompanied by a half-dozen other attacks that resulted in injuries or narrow escapes.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority points to the destruction of the chimps’ forest habit outside of protected areas to grow crops. It says this is sending the primates into villages in search of food, leading to the attacks.
Light Pollution
A new scientific review points to light pollution as a major contributor to the “insect apocalypse” decimating many species.
An earlier study this year blamed pesticide use, habitat destruction and climate change for the loss of nearly half of the planet’s insects since 1970.
But writing in the journal Biological Conservation, an international team of experts says artificial light is disrupting insect reproduction and navigation, as well as drawing insects to untimely deaths.
“Artificial light at night is human-caused lighting – ranging from streetlights to gas flares from oil extraction. It can affect insects in pretty much every imaginable part of their lives,” said senior author Brett Seymoure.
Environment
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius) in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 65.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 48.3 degrees Celsius) at Verkhoyansk, Siberia.
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
Wildfires – Australia
More than 160 bushfires are now burning across New South Wales after a host of fresh blazes were started in the last 24 hours. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service released a statement on Thursday morning warning of 163 bush and grass fires burning right across the state. 64 of the blazes ‘were not contained’.
Wildfires – West Virginia, USA
For the second time in six years, a large group of wildfires has broken out near Smoke Hole in the eastern part of West Virginia. Authorities say the wildfires have burned about 2,000 acres of forestland in Grant and Pendleton counties.
Disease
Plague – China
The Inner Mongolia Health Authority of Mainland China announced a confirmed case of bubonic plague Wednesday. This is the fifth case of plague to be reported by China and the fourth this month.
Lassa Fever – Netherlands
On 20 November 2019, WHO was informed by The Netherlands’ International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of one imported case of Lassa fever from Sierra Leone. The patient was a male doctor, a Dutch national who worked in a rural Masanga hospital in Tonkolili district, Northern province in Sierra Leone.
Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 – Pakistan
Through national disease surveillance, an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type-2 (cVDPV2) has been confirmed in Pakistan in 2019. Between 7 July and 3 November 2019, 11 children have been paralysed from cVDPV2 in Pakistan.
Volcanos
Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the week of 20 November – 26 November 2019
Aira | Kyushu (Japan) : JMA reported that incandescence from Minamidake Crater (at Aira Caldera’s Sakurajima volcano) was visible at night during 18-25 November. There were 17 explosions and four non-explosive eruptive events detected by the seismic network. Ash plumes rose as high as 2.7 km above the crater rim and blocks were ejected as far as 1.7 km away. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was 2,800 tons/day on 21 November. 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 20-26 November ash plumes from Dukono rose to an altitude of 1.8-2.3 km (6,000-8,000 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 15-17 and 20 November that sent ash plumes up to 3 km (10,000 ft) a.s.l. Ash plumes drifted SE and NE. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Fuego | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that there were 6-15 explosions per hour recorded at Fuego during 20-26 November, generating ash plumes that rose as high as 1.1 km above the crater rim and drifted 10-20 km S, SW, and W. Ashfall was reported in several areas downwind including Santa Sofía (12 km SW), Morelia (9 km SW), Panimaché I and II (8 km SW), Finca Palo Verde, San Pedro Yepocapa (8 km NW), Sangre de Cristo (8 km WSW), and El Porvenir (8 km ENE). Explosions sometimes produced shock waves that rattled houses in nearby communities. Incandescent material was ejected 100-450 m high and caused avalanches of material that occasionally traveled long distances (reaching vegetated areas) down the Seca (W), Taniluyá (SW), Ceniza (SSW), Trinidad (S), Las Lajas (SE), and Honda ravines. Lava flows advanced in the Seca and Santa Teresa (W) drainages during November, and were 300 and 800 m long on 21 and 24 November, respectively.
Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on PVMBG observations, satellite images, and wind data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-21 and 23-25 November ash plumes from Ibu rose 1.8-2.1 km (6,000-7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted in multiple directions. A thermal anomaly was visible in satellite images on 21 November.
Karangetang | Siau Island (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 18-24 November 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. Sometimes dense white plumes rose to 300 m above the summit. Incandescence from both summit craters was visible at night. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Klyuchevskoy | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Klyuchevskoy was identified in satellite images on 14 November. Strombolian activity and a series of ash explosions were visible on 20 November. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange.
Merapi | Central Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that no eruptive events at Merapi were recorded during 18-24 November, though a significant increase in the number of low-frequency earthquakes and increased carbon dioxide emissions were detected on 19 November. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and residents were warned to stay outside of the 3-km exclusion zone.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 20-26 November Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 75 m above the crater rim. Lava flows traveled as far as 400 m down NW flank and produced block avalanches from the flow fronts.
Sangeang Api | Indonesia : The Darwin VAAC reported that during 20-26 November discrete and short-lived ash emissions from Sangeang Api rose to 2.4 km (8,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW and W. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a scale of 1-4).
Santa Maria | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that on most days during 20-26 November there were 1-3 explosions per hour detected at Santa María’s Santiaguito lava-dome complex. Ash plumes rose 600-900 m above the complex and drifted SW and W. Avalanches of material descended the E, S, and SW flanks. Ash sometimes fell locally, and likely in finca El Faro, Santa Maria, and Viejo Palmar during 20-21 and 24-25 November.
Sheveluch | Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Sheveluch was identified in satellite images during 15-22 November. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).
Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that incandescence at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater was visible during 15-22 November. Eruptive events generated grayish white plumes that rose as high as 900 m above the crater rim. Ashfall was reported in Toshima Village (4 km SSW) during 19-20 November. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).