Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes – Global
5.6 earthquake hits Luzon in the Philippines.
5.2 earthquake hits the southern east Pacific rise.
5.0 earthquake hits south of the Kermedec Islands.
5.0 earthquake hits the Sichuan-Guizhou border, China.
Storms and Floods
Tropical Storms – Roundup of Tropical Storms:
There are no current tropical storm systems.
NewsBytes:
Italy – At least 2 fatalities have been reported as a result of the continuing severe flooding and landslides in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Levels of the Lamone River jumped by over 10 metres in less than 24 hours. Areas of Bologna Province recorded more than 190 mm of rain in 24 hours.
Rwanda – The death toll continues to rise after catastrophic flooding and landslides that occurred in Rwanda from 02 to 03 May 2023. Hundreds of families have been displaced from their homes. Search and rescue operations are continuing in affected areas. The president confirmed that landslides and floods caused by heavy rains affected different parts of the Western, Northern, and Southern Provinces of the country. He also confirmed that, as of 03 May, 127 people had lost their lives.
Global Warming
Heat Equivalent
Global warming has added the energy equivalent to 25 billion nuclear bombs to the Earth system in 50 years, scientists have found. Almost all of this heat – 89% – is stored in the ocean, compared to around 6% on land and 1% in the atmosphere, their research shows.
Much of the ‘excess heat’ stored in the North Atlantic is in the deep ocean, at depths of below 2,300 feet, research showed last year. The study found that in the sub-tropical North Atlantic, 62% of the warming from 1850 to 2018 is held in the deep ocean.
But reversing ocean warming may be difficult and time-consuming, the study warns. Reversing global warming entirely may not be feasible. Just to stop temperatures going any higher means correcting the imbalance and bringing CO2 levels down towards the pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million.
The energy dense fuels which made industrial civilisation possible come with an enormous sting in the tail. Burn now, pay later. Now the bill has become apparent.
Disease
Fentanyl Overdoses – USA
The rate of drug overdose deaths involving the synthetic opioid fentanyl increased by 279% in the U.S. between 2016 and 2021, according to newly released data.
Overall, the rate increased from 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 to 21.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to the report, which was released Wednesday (May 3) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. In 2021, the fentanyl overdose death rates were highest among those 35 to 44 years old (43.5 per 100,000), followed by those 25 to 34 years old (40.8 per 100,000).
Fentanyl is commonly mixed with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, the CDC notes(opens in new tab), so the opioid is also often implicated in overdoses attributed to other substances.
Volcanos
Roundup of Global Volcanic Activity – New Activity for the week of 26 April – 2 May 2023
Ambae – Vanuatu : On 27 April the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) reported that the cone in Ambae’s Lake Voui continued to produce emissions consisting of steam, volcanic gases, and ash. Volcanic earthquakes were recorded by the seismic network. Activity intensified during 5-7 April and was characterized by higher steam, gas, and ash plumes and nighttime incandescence from the growing cone. Lava flows from the vent traveled N into a small water lake, filling it in.
Barren Island – Andaman Islands (India) : The Darwin VAAC reported that continuous ash plumes from Barren Island were identified in satellite images during 0620-1250 on 1 May rising to 4.6 km (15,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifting NW.
Bezymianny – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Bezymianny was characterized by gas-and-steam emissions, occasional collapses at the lava dome, and hot avalanches during 20-27 April. A daily thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images.
Kanlaon – Philippines : PHIVOLCS issued a special notice for Kanlaon at 0700 on 1 May, noting increased sulfur dioxide emissions. Real-time, continuous volcanic gas monitoring of thermal springs on the N flank detected sulfur dioxide for the first time beginning in April. On 30 April a Flyspec instrument measured an average of 1,099 tonnes per day of sulfur dioxide emissions at the summit crater, a value which was significantly higher than the average of 124 tonnes per day measured since March. During the month of April, the seismic network recorded 141 volcanic earthquakes, an average of five per day, at shallow depths less than 10 km in the N and W parts of the volcano. Ground deformation data from continuous GPS and electronic tilt data indicated short-term inflation of the lower and mid-flanks of the volcano since March.
Rincon de la Vieja – Costa Rica : OVSICORI-UNA reported that phreatic eruptions continued to periodically occur at Rincón de la Vieja during 26 April-1 May. Near-continuous and intense tremor continued along with a few low-frequency, tornillo-type earthquakes and volcanic-tectonic earthquakes. Phreatic events at 0453, 0523, and 0545 on 26 April generated gas-and-steam plumes, and an event at 0528 on 27 April produced a gas-and-steam plume that rose 800 m above the crater rim. Several phreatic events occurred during 27-28 April and generated gas-and-steam emissions that generally rose no higher than 200 m above the crater rim. A small event at 1030 on 30 April produced a gas-and-steam plume that rose 500 m. A gas-and-steam plume from a moderate phreatic eruption at 1306 on 1 May rose 1 km above the crater rim and was seen by residents N of the volcano and in images from webcams located in Sensoria and Gavilan. A small event was recorded later that day at 2032. Field observations found that the larger eruption on 21 April ejected tephra up to 3 km around the crater, mainly to the N and S. An analysis of ash deposits under a microscope revealed gray and dark metallic, sulfur-rich spheres characteristic of the hydrothermal system as well as juvenile volcanic glass. Ballistics up to 15 cm in diameter were found around the crater.
Sheveluch – Central Kamchatka (Russia) : KVERT reported that the ongoing eruption at Sheveluch was generally characterized by occasional explosions, continuing lava-dome growth, incandescence, and strong fumarolic activity during 20-27 April. Gas-and-steam emissions obscured the volcano during 20-23 April. A thermal anomaly was identified in satellite images during 24-27 April. A photograph taken on 29 April by the Kamchatka Volcanological Station showed a lava dome which was higher than the crater rim.