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Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

6.5 earthquake hits the Dodecanese Islands, Greece.

Nineteen people were killed in Turkey and Greece after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea on Friday, bringing buildings crashing down and setting off tidal waves which slammed into coastal areas and islands. Neighbourhoods were deluged with surging seawater which swept debris inland and left fish stranded as it receded. At least 709 people were injured.

5.7 earthquake hits central Peru.

5.5 earthquake hits the Solomon Islands.

5.3 earthquake hits the Pacific-Antarctic ridge.

5.3 earthquake hits Jan Mayan Island.

5.2 earthquake hits south of Alaska.

5.2 earthquake hits the Dodecanese Islands, Greece.

5.1 earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.1 earthquake hits Jan Mayan Island.

5.0 earthquake hits New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.

5.0 earthquake hits the Dodecanese Islands, Greece.

5.0 earthquake hits the South Shetland Islands.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

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In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon 22w (Goni), located approximately 383 nm east of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-southwestward at 13 knots.

Tropical depression 23w (Atsani), located approximately 1029 nm east of Manila, Philippines, is tracking northwestward at 13 knots.

NewsBytes:

El Salvador – Heavy rainfall in El Salvador triggered a massive landslide in the municipality of Nejapa in San Salvador department late on 29 October 2020. At least 7 people have died and 35 more are suspected missing. The landslide buried homes in the village of Los Angelitos, situated on the slopes of the San Salvador Volcano. Civil Protection said that the landslide and debris flows pushed mud, rocks and logs down the hillside, carving a route approximately 4 km in length.

Indonesia – Disaster authorities in Indonesia have reported further flooding in parts of Java Island, displacing almost 600 people and affecting over 7,000. One person died after flash floods struck Cimahi City in West Java Province on 25 October 2020. Around 70 homes were damaged, affecting 290 people. The following day flooding in Kroya district in Cilacap, Central Java Province affected 1065 people and displaced 25. Heavy rain caused the Ciputrahaji and Cikaso rivers to break their banks on 27 October, flooding areas of Ciamis Region, West Java Province 27 October.

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Wildlife

New Coral Reef Discovered in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

A coral reef taller than the Empire State Building has been discovered in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Standing at 500 metres, it is located at the North end of the Great Barrier Reef around 80km east of Cape Grenville, which is roughly 150km south of the tip of Cape York on the east coast of Queensland. Its base is 1.5km long and at its highest point, the reef is around 127ft below the ocean surface.

Importantly, the new reef shows minimal signs of having been affected by global warming and appears largely healthy.

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Wildfires

Wildfires – Colorado, USA

Two wildfires that have burned more than 600 square miles in northern Colorado have together damaged or destroyed nearly 700 structures.

Grand County’s sheriff said Thursday that crews are still assessing the damage caused by the East Troublesome Fire in the mountains northwest of Denver. He said at least 250 structures were burned but didn’t indicate how many of those were homes.

The nearby Cameron Peak Fire has destroyed at least 442 structures, including 222 cabins or homes. The fires are the two largest in state history and have forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

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Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.4 earthquake hits south of Alaska.

5.4 earthquake hits the northern mid-Atlantic ridge.

5.1 earthquake hits Fiji.

5.1 earthquake hits south of Fiji.

5.0 earthquake hits south of Guatemala.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

In the Western Pacific Ocean: Super Typhoon 22w (Goni), located approximately 621 nm east of Manila, Philippines, is tracking westward at 11 knots.

Tropical depression 23w (Atsani), located approximately 147 nm south-southwest of Navsta Guam, is tracking west-northwestward at 26 knots.

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Global Warming

Soot Particles and Global Warming

A team of researchers from ETH Zurich has for the first time used simulations on the CSCS supercomputer Piz Daint to investigate how certain aging mechanisms of soot particles in the atmosphere affect cloud formation. The results show that the influence of ozone and sulfuric acid on soot aging alters cloud formation and, ultimately, the climate.

Burning wood, petroleum products or other organic materials releases soot particles into the atmosphere that consist mainly of carbon. This soot is considered the second most important anthropogenic climate forcing agent after carbon dioxide. In the atmosphere or as deposits on snow and ice surfaces, soot particles absorb the short-wave radiation of the sun and thus contribute to global warming. In the atmosphere, soot particles also have an indirect effect on the climate by altering the formation, development and properties of clouds.

When soot particles combine with ozone or sulfuric acid, their physical and chemical properties change. Simulations of ozone-aged soot show that when the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere doubles compared to the pre-industrial era, fewer low clouds form and more short-wave radiation reaches the earth and warms it.

The soot particles aged by sulfuric acid, on the other hand, cause more ice crystals to form and make cirrus clouds optically thicker, i.e. they are less permeable to radiation. As a result, cirrus clouds absorb more of the long-wave thermal radiation emitted by the Earth and allow less of it to escape into space also warming the earth.

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Environment

Fukushima Warming

Plans to dump more than a million tons of contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster into the ocean are being highly criticized. Greenpeace warns in a report that the water stored after the 2011 meltdowns at the facility has such high levels of the isotope carbon-14 that it could damage human DNA if released into the Pacific. The move has also been strongly opposed by local fishermen. The Greenpeace report says that carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,370 years and would become “incorporated into all living matter” over time if released into the wild. But Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says the dumping can’t be postponed forever.

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Wildlife

Kamchatka Kill

The massive deaths of sea creatures along the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula are being blamed by officials on a natural bloom of toxic algae and not on man-made pollution.

Images of dead seals, octopuses and other marine life started appearing on social media in early October, accompanied by reports of local residents complaining of being sickened as well. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the deaths were entirely due to natural causes. But initial tests found levels of oil products and phenol, used to make plastics, in the water.

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Environment

Global Temperature Extremes

The week’s hottest temperature was 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) in Rivadavia, Salta, Argentina.

The week’s coldest temperature was minus 78.0 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 61.1 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.

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Disease

COVID-19

The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:

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The recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases across Spain, France and the UK has been caused by a new variant of the disease that has mutated in Spain and has been carried across borders by tourists returning home. The new variant appears to be more virulent than the older variant.

Night Bites

Artificial light is causing some disease-carrying mosquitoes to track down and bite humans more frequently outside their usually active periods, researchers say. Writing in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, scientists say that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which normally fly and bite in the early morning and during the afternoon, will now bite at night in illuminated areas. They warn that increasing levels of light pollution could increase the chance of infection in humans with diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. Unlike other species that may emerge from the forest to feed on humans and animals, Aedes aegypti evolved with humans and prefers to feed on them.

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Volcanos

Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Ongoing Activity for the Week 21 October 2020 – 27 October 2020

Bulusan | Luzon (Philippines) : On 26 October PHIVOLCS lowered the Alert Level for Bulusan to 0, indicating normal conditions, though warnings remained to not enter the 4-km-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ). The decision was based on monitoring data that showed sulfur dioxide flux remaining below detection levels since 2018, deformation continuing a deflationary trend since May 2019, and the frequency of volcanic earthquakes declining to baseline levels (0-2 earthquakes/day) beginning in late September 2020. Very diffuse white plumes rose from the summit vents.

Dukono | Halmahera (Indonesia) : Based on satellite and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that during 21-27 October ash plumes from Dukono rose to 2.1 km (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 16-23 October that sent ash plumes up to 3.5 km (11,500 ft) a.s.l. and drifted N, NE, and SE. Ash fell in Severo-Kurilsk during 20-22 October. A thermal anomaly over the volcano was visible in satellite data on 22 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Etna | Sicily (Italy) : INGV reported that during 19-25 October activity at Etna was characterized by intra-crater Strombolian activity at Northeast Crater (NEC), Strombolian activity at the New Southeast Crater (NSEC) cone, and gas emissions at the Voragine (VOR) and Bocca Nuova (BN) craters. During a helicopter overflight along the W side on 23 October scientists observed Strombolian explosions at NSEC that produced ash emissions and ejected shreds of lava out of the crater. Both the frequency and intensity of explosions was variable. There were several thermal anomalies on the NEC crater floor, and some on the floor of the BN crater. An ash plume from NSEC rose to 4.5 km a.s.l. and drifted SSE. The report noted that, based on drone footage from the beginning of the month, the NSEC vent was 190 m long in the NW direction and 140 m wide in the NE direction.

Great Sitkin | Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that seismicity at Great Sitkin had decreased during the previous several months and had returned to background levels by 21 October. Additionally, eruptive activity or unusual surface temperatures had not been observed in clear satellite images. The Aviation colour Code was lowered to Green and the Volcano Alert Level was lowered to Normal.

Ibu | Halmahera (Indonesia) : PVMBG reported that during 21-26 October ash plumes rose 200-800 m above Ibu’s summit and drifted N, NE, and E. 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.

Langila | New Britain (Papua New Guinea) : Based on analyses of satellite imagery and wind model data, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 22 and 24 October ash plumes from Langila rose 2.1 km (7,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S and N, respectively. Ash plumes rose to 1.8 km (6,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted NW on 25 October.

Reykjanes | Iceland : IMO reported that a M 5.6 earthquake was recorded at 1343 on 20 October beneath Nupshlidarhals, a hill about 5 km W of the geothermal area in Seltun. This was the largest earthquake since 2003 recorded in the Reykjanes peninsula. There were about 1,700 aftershocks recorded in the following 24-hour period. IMO received reports of rockfalls in steep areas and increased gas odors in the vicinity of Graenavatn at Nupshlidarhals. Four landslides were noted near the epicenter; some existing ground cracks were displaced and new cracks had formed in Krysuvikurbjarg. On 26 October IMO stated that seismic activity had significantly decreased in recent days; about 180 earthquakes below M 2.2 had been detected during the previous two days.

Semeru | Eastern Java (Indonesia) : PVMBG that gray-and-white ash plumes rose 500 m above Semeru’s summit and drifted S and SW during 22-24 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 16-23 October. The Aviation colour Code remained at Orange (the second highest level on a four-colour scale).

Sinabung | Indonesia : PVMBG reported that white plumes rose as high as 500 m above Sinabung’s summit on most days during 20-27 October; foggy conditions sometimes prevented visual observations. On 23 October white-and-gray ash plumes rose as high as 1 km and drifted in multiple directions. Pyroclastic flows traveled 1.5-2.5 km down the E and SE flanks on 25 October. According to a news article ash plumes drifted SE of the volcano twice that same day, causing some local residents to evacuate. The report noted that a lava dome in the summit crater continued to grow. The Alert Level remained at 3 (on a scale of 1-4), with a general exclusion zone of 3 km and extensions to 5 km in the SE sector and 4 km in the NE sector.

Stromboli | Aeolian Islands (Italy) : INGV reported that during 19-25 October activity at Stromboli was characterized by ongoing explosive activity from Area N (north crater area) and in Area C-S (south-central crater area). Explosions from two vents at the N1 vent (Area N) ejected lapilli and bombs 80-150 m high, and produced ash emissions. Explosions at two N2 vents ejected a mix of coarse and fine material at a frequency of 5-10 events per hour. Explosions from vents in Area C-S also ejected both coarse and fine material 250 m high at a frequency of 1-3 events per hour.

Suwanosejima | Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported nighttime incandescence and intermittent eruptive activity at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater during 16-23 October. Three explosions were recorded; an explosion at 0439 on 17 October produced a grayish-white ash plume that rose 1.4 km above the crater rim. The Alert Level remained at 2 (on a 5-level scale).

Villarrica | Chile : SERNAGEOMIN reported that a long-period (LP) event and associated explosion were recorded by Villarrica’s seismic network at 1041 on 23 October. An ash plume rose 180 m. The Alert Level remained at Yellow, the second lowest level on a four-colour scale. ONEMI maintained an Alert Level Yellow (the middle level on a three-colour scale) for the municipalities of Villarrica, Pucón (16 km N), Curarrehue, and the commune of Panguipulli, and the exclusion zone for the public of 500 m around the crater.

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Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global

5.8 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.7 earthquake hits Coquimbo, Chile.

5.5 earthquake hits the South Shetland Islands.

5.4 earthquake hits Vanuatu.

5.4 earthquake hits the South Shetland Islands.

5.3 earthquake hits Easter Island.

5.2 earthquake hits Tajikistan.

5.0 earthquake hits the South Shetland Islands.

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Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:

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In the Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Zeta is located about 265 mi…430 km sw of the mouth of the Mississippi river and about 295 mi…470 km ssw of New Orleans Louisiana with maximum sustained winds…90 mph…150 km/h. Present movement…n or 360 degrees at 17 mph…28 km/h.

In the Western Pacific Ocean: Typhoon 22w (Goni), located approximately 865 nm east of Manila, Philippines, is tracking west-northwestward at 09 knots.

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NewsBytes:

Vietnam – Typhoon Molave made landfall south of Da Nang in Vietnam on 28 October 2020 with winds of up to 145km/h, making it one of the strongest typhoons in the region in decades. 374,600 people had evacuated their homes and moved to safer locations. The rain caused flash flooding and several landslides in central provinces, in particular in Quang Nam Province where 55 people were missing after landslides in Nam Tra My and Phuoc Son districts. The army has mobilized troops and vehicles for search and rescue operations.

Indonesia – Floods and landslides claimed two lives in Pangandaran Regency, West Java on 27 October 2020. Initial assessments suggest at least 111 houses were flooded, affecting 311 people in in six villages in the sub-districts of Padaheran, Langkaplancar, Sidamulih and Parigi. Two people died when a landslide buried at least 1 house. The floods and landslides occurred due to a high rainfall intensity and an unstable soil structure.