Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
6.2 earthquake hits western Xizang, China.
5.4 earthquake hits Alaska.
5.4 earthquake hits Vancouver Island, Canada.
5.2 earthquake hits Alaska.
5.2 earthquake hits near the coast of southern Peru.
5.1 earthquake hits Alaska.
5.1 earthquake hits western Xizang.
5.0 earthquake hits southern Xinjiang, China.
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Storm Gonzalo is located about 910 mi…1470 km e of the outhern Windward islands with maximum sustained winds…65 mph…100 km/h. Present movement…w or 270 degrees at 12 mph…19 km/h.
Tropical Depression Eight is located about 405 mi…650 km ese of Port O’connor Texas with maximum sustained winds…30 mph…45 km/h. Present movement…wnw or 290 degrees at 9 mph…15 km/h.
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Hurricane Douglas is located about 1470 mi…2365 km ese of Hilo Hawaii with maximum sustained winds…120 mph…195 km/h. Present movement…wnw or 295 degrees at 17 mph…28 km/h.
NewsBytes:
China – China has evacuated tens of thousands of people in Anhui and Hubei provinces amid severe flooding and landslides triggered by some of the heaviest rainfall in decades. In eastern Anhui, rescue workers evacuated 16,000 people from the town of Guzen after weeks of torrential rains caused a nearby river to overflow. The flooding inundated 13 villages and cut off electricity to the whole region, it said. In central Hubei province, more than 8,000 people were evacuated after a landslide blocked a river and created a barrier lake that threatened to submerge the city of Enshi and neighbouring villages.
Spectacular Hives of Stingless Bees
Some species of stingless bees make stunning honeycomb which resembles the molecular structure of crystals, scientists have discovered. The same mathematical blueprint is followed by a colony of bees and also by the laws of physics, resulting in strikingly similar layouts.
Asteroid Close Shave
Asteroid 2020ND will fly by Earth on Friday, 24 July 2020. Sadly, it won’t be visible to the naked eye, although those using powerful telescopes could catch a glimpse as it flies by Earth. The asteroid, which is said to make London look like a speck on the map, measures 170 metres in diameter and will come within 0.034 astronomical units (AU) of Earth. Even an Asteroid 1 metre in diameter could cause significant damage on impact.
COVID-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Diphtheria – Vietnam
In a follow-up on the diphtheria outbreak in Vietnam, as of July 22, 2020, four provinces have recorded 114 cases of diphtheria in 34 communes, belonging to 14 districts. Three deaths have been reported.
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the Week 15 July 2020 – 21 July 2020
Makushin | Fox Islands (USA) : AVO reported that small earthquakes in an area about 10 km E of the Makushin’s summit and at a depth of about 8 km continued to be detected during 15-21 July. Since the onset of seismicity on 15 June, the earthquakes had generally decreased in both size and rate. No surficial activity was visible in satellite or webcam images; only typical minor steaming from the summit crater lake. Weakly elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite data during 20-21 July. The Aviation Color Code and Volcano Alert Level remained at Yellow and Advisory, respectively.
Nishinoshima | Japan : JMA scientists observed Nishinoshima from a ship on 11 July. They reported that a large amount of ash was emitted from the summit crater; plumes rose about 1.7 km and drifted W, dropping ash into the sea. Deposits of large blocks at the foot of the cone were visible. Lava fountains that rose 200 m above the crater were observable at night, along with lightning in the ash plumes. The cone had grown to about 200 m, about 40 m higher than an estimate on 1 December 2019. The report stated that ships should stay at least 2.5 km away from the cone. Based on satellite data and pilot observations, the Tokyo VAAC reported that during 16-21 July ash plumes rose to 3.7-6.4 km (12,000-21,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, NE, and E. Satellite data showed a sulfur dioxide plume reaching the western USA on 18 July, after traveling over 9,000 km from Nishinoshima.
Pacaya | Guatemala : INSIVUMEH reported that during 15-21 July Strombolian explosions at Pacaya’s Mackenney Crater ejected material as high as 100 m above the crater rim. Lava-flow effusion ceased during 14-19 July, though flows may have continued to advance or be active on the SW, NW, N, and NE flanks. On 20 July lava emerged from a fissure or vents at the NW base of the cone, near Cerro Chino, and traveled SE.
Raung | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 1 January-15 July white plumes at Raung rose as high as 50 m above the summit. Seismicity increased on 13 July and then again on 16 July. At 1052 on 16 July observers noted that the color of the emissions had become brownish white and rose higher. A VONA stated that at 1353 an ash plume rose 100 m above the summit and drifted N. At 1356 the color of the emissions changed to white and gray, and plumes rose to 100 m above the summit. During the rest of the day gray and reddish-colored plumes rose 50-200 m. There were 60 emissions recorded in total. During 0000-0600 on 17 July there were a total of 26 emissions characterized by brownish ash plumes rising 50-200 m. PVMBG raised the Alert Level to 2 (on a scale of 1-4), and the public was reminded not to approach the crater within a 2-km radius.
Telica | Nicaragua : SINAPRED stated that at 1659 on 20 July small explosions at Telica produced a gas-and-ash plume that rose 200 m above the crater rim as reported by INETER. RSAM values increased from 57 to 153 units at the time of the explosions, and remained elevated at 144 units afterwards. SINAPRED recommended that the public stay at least 1.5 km away from the crater.
Turrialba | Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that ash emissions of variable densities were visible at Turrialba almost daily during 16-20 July. Ash plumes rose as high as 200 m above the crater rim each day during 16-18 July.