Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.7 earthquake hits the Izu Islands off Japan.
5.7 earthquake hits eastern New Guinea, Papua New Guinea.
5.0 earthquake hits the Chhattisgarh region, India.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
In the Eastern Pacific Ocean: Tropical Storm 07e (Frank), located approximately 1200 nm south-southeast of San Diego, is tracking west-northwestward at 05 knots.
Tropical Storm 07e (Georgette), located approximately 1062 nm south-southwest of San Diego, is tracking west-southwestward at 09 knots.
In the Northwest Pacific Ocean: Tropical depression 06w (Songda), located approximately 260 nm northeast of Kadena afb, is tracking west-northwestward at 20 knots.
In the Southern Hemisphere: Tropical cyclone 01s (One), located approximately 119 nm west-northwest of Cocos Island, is tracking south- southwestward at 08 knots.
Newsbytes:
Kentucky, USA – At least eight people died and others were rescued from rooftops on Thursday after heavy rains across southeastern Kentucky touched off what the governor said was “one of the worst, most devastating flooding events” in state history. More than 20 people are still missing.
Environment
Plastic Eating Bacteria
British researchers have identified naturally occurring lake bacteria that grow faster and more effectively by eating plastic bags, breaking them down to natural carbon compounds.
Writing in the journal Nature Communications, Cambridge scientists suggest that enriching waters with particular species of bacteria could be a natural way to remove plastic pollution from the environment. They add that “plastic pollution is stimulating the whole food web in lakes, because more bacteria means more food for the bigger organisms like ducks and fish.”
Alpine Heat
Swiss scientists say the freezing point in the Alps has risen to a record altitude above the summits this summer as Europe bakes in unprecedented heat. Weather balloons had to rise 5,184 metres above sea level to reach freezing, 70 metres higher than the previous record set in 1995.
Glaciologist Matthias Huss says accelerating global heating, especially in July, has caused freshwater glaciers to melt faster than ever. Wild species accustomed to cold climates are migrating higher and are reaching a point where they have nowhere else to go.
A melting glacier has shifted the border between Switzerland and Italy, putting a mountain lodge that was once entirely in Italy now technically two-thirds in Switzerland.
Wildlife
Violent Marauders
Nearly 50 people have been attacked and injured in the western city of Yamaguchi by a gang of Japanese macaques that initially waged assaults on children and adults before going on to target the elderly. Residents have resorted to carrying umbrellas and sharp garden tools to fend off the simians.
Authorities managed to capture and eventually put down one member of the gang that was identified as an attacker. But eyewitnesses say monkeys involved in the assaults are of different sizes, meaning more of the suspects are still at large. Macaques are commonly seen across Japan, sometimes eating crops and invading homes.
Environment
Global Temperature Extremes
The week’s hottest temperature was 49.0 degrees Celsius (120.2 degrees F) at El Oued, Algeria.
The week’s coldest temperature was minus 72.0 degrees Celsius (-97.6 degrees F) 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
Wildfires – Germany
A large wildfire on the German-Czech border is spreading and threatening to destroy a forested national park popular with tourists. The fire in the region, called Bohemian Switzerland on the Czech side and the Saxon Switzerland national park on the German side, started last weekend. It had seemed to be under control but spread again early Thursday.
Another large forest fire in the Elbe-Elster district of the eastern German state of Brandenburg was under control Thursday after flaring up again on Wednesday evening, local authorities said. The fire was still burning an area of 500 hectares (1,236 acres).
Disease
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Dengue Fever
Philippines – The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 9,000 dengue fever cases in the past two weeks, now reporting 73,909 total dengue cases since the beginning of the year.
Myanmar – Officials in Myanmar have recorded 7,835 cases of dengue fever and 31 deaths in the first half of 2022.
Volcanos
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – Continuing Activity for the week 20 July – 26 July 2022
Chiles-Cerro Negro – Colombia-Ecuador : Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto del Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC OVSP) both monitor the Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes, called the Chiles-Cerro Negro volcanic complex (CCNVC), and both issued reports on the seismic swarm that began on 27 May. This seismicity was mainly characterized by VT earthquakes, typically indicating rock fracturing events. The swarm continued during 12-26 July, though the number and size of events were variable. The earthquakes were located along a fracture zone on and as far as 3.5 km S of Chiles volcano, at depths less than 6 km. The number of long-period (LP) and very-long-period (VLP) earthquakes, low-energy events indicating fluid movement, had increased in the previous two weeks; 60 of such events were recorded on 17 July, the highest daily number of events recorded since the beginning of permanent monitoring in November 2013, and 64 were recorded in 20 July. During 12-23 July a total of 43 earthquakes had local magnitudes greater than 2; four of those events, a M 3.3 recorded at 1038 on 16 July, a M 2.8 at 0816 on 22 July, a M 3.5 at 1746 on 22 July, and a M 3 at 2247 on 23 July were all felt in surrounding areas, including in the municipality of Cumbbal, in the department of Nariño. At 0833 on 25 July a M 5.6 was recorded, with a hypocenter located about 10 km S of Tufiño (Carchi province, Ecuador). Building damage was reported in San Gabriel, Tulcán, and El Ángel (Ecuador) and in the Municipalities of Túquerres and Cumbal (Colombia). Data from continuous GPS geodetic bases located in the vicinity of the Chiles volcano showed a trend of inflation at a rate of approximately 28 mm/year that has been recorded since 2016 (the beginning of deformation monitoring) through the end of 2020, when the deformation stabilized. Neither inflation nor deflation was detected during the beginning of 2020 or in 2021. Inflation was again detected in March, at a rate of 32 mm/year. The rate of inflation notably increased during April-July to an average of 106 mm/year, occurring in at least two deformation zones, one S of Chiles and another in the Potrerillos caldera.
Dukono – Halmahera : PVMBG reported that during 19-25 July almost daily white-and-gray ash plumes from Dukono rose as high as 300 m above the summit and drifted N, E, and W.
Great Sitkin – Andreanof Islands (USA) : AVO reported that slow lava effusion at Great Sitkin continued during 19-26 July. Elevated surface temperatures were identified in satellite images during 19-20 July; weather clouds obscured satellite and webcam views during most of the rest of the week. Seismicity was low, and occasional local earthquakes were recorded. Steam emissions were visible in satellite images during 25-26 July.
Ibu – Halmahera : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Ibu continued during 21-25 July. Gray-and-white ash plumes of variable densities generally rose as high as 2 km above the summit and drifted in multiple directions.
Karymsky – Eastern Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that a thermal anomaly over Karymsky was identified in satellite images during 14-21 July. Ash plumes were identified in satellite images drifting 170 km S and SE on 15 July.
Kilauea – Hawaiian Islands (USA) : HVO stated that by 19 July about 98 million cubic meters of lava had been erupted from a vent in the lower W wall of at Kilauea’s Halema`uma`u Crater since the current eruption began on 29 September 2021, raising the crater floor by 133 m. Lava continued to effuse from the vent during 19-26 July, entering the lava lake and flowing onto the crater floor. The lake level remained at the bounding levees, though lava oozed from the lake margins on most days. The sulfur dioxide emission rate was approximately 1,300 tons/day on 21 July.
Krakatau – Sunda Strait : The Darwin VAAC reported that during 20 and 22-24 July ash plumes from Anak Krakatau rose to 2.6-3 km (9,000-10,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted SW, WSW, and W based on satellite and webcam images as well as weather models.
Lewotolok – Lembata Island : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Lewotolok continued during 20-26 July. Daily white or white-and-gray emissions rose as high as 500 m above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. Photos in some posted reports showed Strombolian activity at the active vent.
Merapi – Central Java : BPPTKG reported that the eruption at Merapi continued during 15-21 July. The heights and morphologies of the SW and central lava domes were unchanged from the previous week, and seismicity remained at high levels. As many as 22 lava avalanches traveled down the Bebeng drainage on the SW flank, reaching a maximum distance of 1.8 km.
Pavlof – Alaska Peninsula, Alaska : AVO reported that a minor eruption at a vent on Pavlof’s upper E flank was ongoing during 19-26 July. Seismic tremor persisted and multiple daily explosions were detected in seismic and infrasound data. Elevated surface temperatures were identified almost daily in satellite images; weather clouds sometimes prevented views. Diffuse ash emissions were visible in webcam images during 19-20 July. A low-level ash cloud that rose to 2.6 km (8,600 ft) a.s.l. was observed by a pilot at around 1150 on 22 July and corresponded to a slightly larger explosion detected in infrasound data. Steam emissions were visible in satellite images during 25-26 July.
Reventador – Ecuador : IG characterized the ongoing eruption at Reventador as moderate during 19-26 July. Gas-and-ash plumes, observed with the webcam or reported by the Washington VAAC, rose as high as 1.4 km above the summit and drifted in multiple directions. An active lava flow descending the NE flanks was visible in thermal webcam images during 21-24 July.
Sangay – Ecuador : IG reported a high level of activity at Sangay during 19-26 July. Daily ash-and-gas plumes were identified in IG webcam images and visible in satellite images according to the Washington VAAC. Plumes rose as high as 2 km above the volcano and drifted WNW, W, and S. Incandescent material was seen descending the SE flank during 21-22 July.
Semeru – Eastern Java : PVMBG reported that the eruption at Semeru continued during 19-26 July. At 1455 on 24 July an ash plume rose 300 m above the summit and drifted SW.
Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch was characterized by explosions, hot avalanches, and lava-dome extrusion during 15-21 July. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images, and ash plumes were visible drifting 125 km E and SE during 16 and 18-19 July.
Suwanosejima – Ryukyu Islands (Japan) : JMA reported that the eruption at Suwanosejima’s Ontake Crater continued during 18-25 July. There were four explosions, producing eruption plumes that rose as high as 1.2 km above the crater rim and ejecting larger material 300 m from the vent. Crater incandescence was observed nightly, and volcanic tremor was occasionally recorded.