Category Archives: Earth Stuff

News of Earth Changes, climate shifts, weather anomalies, volcanoes, etc

Volcanic Activity on Canary Islands prompts Evacuations

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Rising Volcanic Activity Prompts Evacuations On El Hierro, The Canary Islands

By MARK DUNPHY – Wed Sep 28, 4:45 pm

 

MODIS satellite image of The Canary Islands on Tuesday 27 September 2011

MODIS satellite image of The Canary Islands on Tuesday 27 September 2011

Fears are growing that the El Hierro volcano in The Canary Islands could soon erupt after seismic activity beneath the island increased dramatically during Tuesday and Wednesday.

Over 150 earthquakes were recorded on the smallest of the Canary Islands during Tuesday prompting officials to evacuate some local residents, shut El Hierro’s main tunnel, and close local schools.

At least 20 earthquakes, exceeding magnitude 3.0 on the Richter Scale, have been felt by local residents during the last 24 hours. The most recent earthquake, which measured 3.4 magnitude, was recorded just off the southern tip of the island at 07:04 am Wednesday.

The rise in seismic activity last night prompted the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) to advise almost 50 residents of the municipality of La Frontera to leave their homes because of landslide fears.

Plans are also underway to evacuate more of the island’s 10,000 residents, according to Canarias7.es. The newspaper reported that two units of the Spanish military’s emergency intervention unit (EMU) will depart nearby island Tenerife this afternoon to assist in the possible evacuation of hundreds of El Hierro residents.

Meanwhile, the island’s main tunnel (Tunel del Golfo), which links Frontera to Valverde, has been shut forcing motorists to travel across the 280-sq-km island via a mountain road. The Cabildo de El Hierro also has ordered the closure of schools on Wednesday.

Hierro, a shield volcano, has had a single historic eruption from the Volcan de Lomo Negro vent in 1793. The eruption lasted approximately one month and produced lava flows.

The Canary Islands Government commenced an in-depth geological survey of El Hierro earlier this month in an effort to determine the source of an earthquake swarm. The Government raised the volcanic risk level to ‘Yellow’ on Sunday, the highest alert status since an unprecedented earthquake swarm commenced in mid-July.

The unprecedented seismic activity commenced on 19 July (the activity was first reported by iWeather Online on 26 July). In excess of 8,200 earthquakes have been recorded up to Wednesday, 28 September 2011.

Up to last weekend, the majority of earth tremors ranged between 1 and 3 magnitude. However, the majority of quakes are now registering between 2 and 4 magnitude and are occuring at depth of 14-17 kilometres, according to the National Geographic Institute (IGN).

Speaking to the El Pais newspaper, volcanologist Juan Carlos Carracedo suggested that an eruption on El Hierro would “not be a major surprise”. He explained: “It is the youngest of the Canary Islands. There is a ball of magma which is rising to the surface and it is stationed at the limit of the earth’s crust. At the moment we do not know if that ball of magna will break the crust and cause an eruption.”

IGN Director, María José Blanco said that any eruption on El Hierro would most likely have a “low explosion value”. He added that an imminent eruption is unlikely.

In the meantime, the frequent and increasingly intense earthquakes being felt throughout El Hierro are unlikely to appease the residents of and visitors to the tiny island.

for more, go to:    http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/earth-science/geology/rising-volcanic-activity-prompts-evacuations-on-el-hierro-the-canary-islands/39807.html/comment-page-1

Super Moon 9/27

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“Dark” Supermoon Tomorrow: New Moon Gets Closest to Earth

Lunar encounter to have only minor gravity effects, expert says.

A waxing crescent moon seen from Logan Pass in Montana.

A crescent moon is barely visible as the sun sets over Montana in a 2008 picture.

Photograph by Michael Melford, National Geographic

Andrew Fazekas

for National Geographic News

Published September 26, 2011

Tomorrow night the new moon will make a close approach to Earth, giving rise to the second supermoon of the year—but this one will have the power of invisibility.

Because the moon’s orbit is egg shaped, there are times in the roughly monthlong lunar cycle when the moon is at perigee—its closest distance to Earth—or at apogee, its farthest distance from Earth.

“A supermoon occurs when the moon is at perigee and it’s in either a full or new phase,” said Raminder Singh Samra, an astronomer at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, Canada.

In March sky-watchers were treated to a full moon at perigee, which made for the biggest full moon seen in 18 years.

A new moon happens when the lunar orb positions itself between Earth and the sun, so that the side of the moon that faces Earth is unlighted.

“The upcoming moon on September 27, 2011, is set to be at perigee and at the new phase,” Samra said, “so we won’t be able to witness the event, as the moon and sun will be in the same region of the sky” and the lunar disk will be entirely dark.

Supermoon to Affect Earth’s Tides?

Because the size of the moon’s orbit also varies slightly, each perigee is not always the same distance from Earth.

When at perigee, the moon is about 18,640 miles (30,000 kilometers) closer to Earth than its average distance of roughly 240,000 miles (385,000 kilometers). When perigee occurs during a full moon, the lunar disk can appear about 14 percent bigger in the sky, Samra said.

Tuesday’s dark supermoon will be just 222,175 miles (357,557 kilometers) away from Earth.

Some people have speculated that this lunar proximity can have unusual gravitational effects on Earth, triggering dramatic events such as earthquakes.

But the truth is that there’s only a very small correlation between full or new moons and seismic stresses, said Jim Todd, planetarium manager at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

“Stronger tidal forces caused by the alignment of the sun and moon may put added stress on tectonic plates,” Todd said.

“However, seismologists have found no evidence connecting lunar perigees to heightened seismic activity. Instead the Earth constantly stores up energy and releases it any time the built-up energy becomes too great.”

Lunar close encounters are well known to cause slightly higher ocean tides, so any localized flooding during a supermoon would be most noticeable around beaches and other low-lying areas.

But linking the supermoon to effects beyond that is far-fetched, the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’s Samra said.

“While the supermoon is thought to provoke various natural disasters on the Earth,” he said, “such claims are exaggerations, as there is simply no scientific evidence for them.”

from:    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/110926-new-moon-closest-earth-dark-supermoon-dark-space-science/

Sikkim Earthquake Update 9/27

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Nepal / Sikkim Himalaya earthquake – extended September 27 overview – slow rescue due to bad weather

Last update: September 27, 2011 at 11:08 am by By 

With thanks to Ashish Khanal (Nepal)

The overview below is compiled from many different sources in all the 5 countries (Tibet, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan)

 

Image courtesy and copyright chinadaily.com.cn

Nepal September 27 update
The inhabitants of Olangchungkhola and Ghunsa ( epicenter area, Nepal)  haven’t received any relief yet.
Actual destruction report from that area is not yet received ( till Tuesday morning). The Nepal government has managed the relief distribution from Lelep for that very two areas. Lelep is in one day walking distance from Olangchungkhola and Ghunsa one and half day. Both places are remote areas of Nepal. The main reason that people aren’t coming to grant relief amount may be due to the erosion. Due to which the roads are blocked and even bridges are collapsed. Nepal Police and rescue teams are unable to go to these areas.

 

Continuous rain since Sunday is turning the living conditions of the homeless into a hell in the hilly districts of Panchthar, Taplejung, Ilam, Terhathum and Sankhuwasabha.
Additionally a lot of buildings are unstable (badly damaged) and can eventually collapse with a serious aftershock.
People are now mainly living in sheds.
There are also fears that continuous rains may trigger landslides, forcing them all to leave their birthplace for good.

India – Sikkim  September 27 update
Authorities are saying that part of the slow response is due to the very bad weather making aerial relief operations very difficult.
On Monday helicopters could not fly to the badly damaged and sometimes still inaccessible North Sikkim villages.
Authorities are claiming that any connection in between the earthquake and the Teesta hydro-electric project is untrue.

for more, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/27/nepal-sikkim-himalaya-earthquake-extended-september-27-overview-slow-rescue-due-to-weather/

 

 

 

 

Geomagnetic Storm

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GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm is in progress following the impact of a coronal mass ejection (CME) at approximately 12:15 UT on Sept. 26th. The Goddard Space Weather Lab reports a “strong compression of Earth’s magnetosphere. Simulations indicate that solar wind plasma [has penetrated] close to geosynchronous orbit starting at 13:00UT.” Geosynchronous satellites could therefore be directly exposed to solar wind plasma and magnetic fields. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for Northern and Southern Lights after nightfall.

fr/spaceweather.com

Winter Forecast fr/Storm Central

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2011-2012 Winter Weather Forecast (NEW)

Posted: September 25, 2011 by Storm Central in Uncategorized

:…

Storm Central is predicting a big year once again. This years winter will include both the Moderate and Weak Blocking Pattern with timing being forecast later. The La Nina pattern will be in full force this year.

Here are the Monthly Forecasts:
Important Key You Need To Know!
Precipitation Graphical Forecast: 
-Dark Green= Way Above Average Precipation
-Light Green= Above Average Precipation
-Gray= Average Precipitation
-Light Brown/Orange=Just Below Average Precipation
-Dark Brown=Way Below Precipitation

Temperatures Graphical Forecast:
-Dark Blue=Below Average Temperatures
-Light Blue=Just Below Average Temperatures
-Gray=Average Temperatures
-Light Brown/Orange=Just Above Average Temperatures
-Dark Brown= Way Above Average Temperatures 

 November^ (Precipitation)- November was a fairly east month to do with this years winter forecasts. The La Nina pattern will begin to get it’s act together greater starting in November. With the Greenland Blocking situation in November, Models consitanly to show weak blocking which would keep the cold air and moisture to the north where the Jet Stream is. That means most of the United States would be dry. Drier than a usual November in Texas and the South as November will not be providing relief to you guys down south. The Jet Stream would stretch into the upper North East so some areas would see rain but just above average rainfall. November is not looking like a major month for big winter storms but Alberta Clippers would produce precipitation to the North.

November (Below) Temperatures- Since the Blocking will be up north, Only those areas will see slightly below tempertures. Other areas to the south will see normal to way above average temperatures for the Month of November. The Southeast will contie to stay warm and areas that are not normally warm or average in November will be this year.

December ^ (Precipitation)- Oddly enough I am forecasting December to be allot like November. Cool pool only coming a bit farther south with the blocking to IL and some moisture to those areas. Texas and other areas will still be way below average with Tempatrues and so will California. As for Seattle the main machine begins to kick in for the rest of the Winter. Alberta Clippers will be the main threat for December with their little moisture.

December (Below) Temperatures- As you can see the cool pool is to the north and spreading just into the northern portions of the North East. Nebraska and Kansas will be above average and California and New Mexico will be Way Above Average for the Temperatures.

Way Above Average for the Temperatures.
January ^ (Precipitation)- This is where things begin to take a turn for the worse as the greenland block shifts to Moderate and the storms begin to move more southerly that could pick up moisture come the middle to end of January. That could spread snow into KY, IL, IN, OH and up the east coast come January. Clippers won’t be as big come January as mild to big storms will be more of an inportance. We could see 1 or 2 blizzards or big storms out of this pattern that could dump snow on areas that are not used to it. As for the West it will stay dry and so will the south as this pattern will not bring a huge amount of moisture to the south or the west.

January (Below) Temperatures- With this pattern comes the cold weather which could very well be strong in Wisconsin and Minnesota along with New York State and Portions of the North East. As for the middle of the Country, Normal to just below depending on your location. All depends on this moderate blocking I am expecting in January. West will stay warm and at times very warm.


February ^ (Precipitation)- This is when I am expecting to get hit with a rock so to speak with system after system. Still a moderate blocking pattern so the precipation train will as followed through the center of the country. A big point to notice in Feburay as Wisconsin and Minnesota will be just below average for Febuary. I am forecasting the major storms to stay south of their and the clippers will be sporadic.  West will contuie to be warm but a little more precipation with the more active moderate blocking pattern. Note how Texas could get some precipation from the southerly storm tracks that choose to make a run and grab mositure and pull northward. This would be the month where many big storms could be an affect to the country from Iowa to as far south as Tennesse with Wintery Precipitation.

February (Below) Temperatures- February will also be the most extreme month for cold tempartures as the cool pool with be a bit farther south. Chicago will be cold from Late January to Feburary. Cool air could even get into MS and AL as a brief spell of a Strong Blocking Pattern could take effect and send some coolrer than average temperatures or just around average to those areas. West will stay warm as the block will have virtully no affect on them.

PLEASE NOTE SOME AREAS OF LARGE STATES WILL HAVE DIFFERENT CLIMATES IN DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE STATE
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Overall Storm Central Winter Forecast (For the Ones that Don’t Like to Read) :) 
The above is official to Storm Central along with all the other outlook graphics. Note the key on the side, it’s very basic. Let me do some more explaining.
-Dark Blue: South and North Dakota as well as the U.P. Of Michigan along with other areas will be very cold this winter. Snow will be a big deal come December and January but should lay off a bit over February when storm tracks should stay south or a stray one could go northward. 
-Light Blue: Looks like the worst of winter could actually be in this area at one point in time as that will be the average area per month for the Storm Tracks. A few Blizzards and big storms could affect these areas in light blue that could produce massive storm fall precipitation all the way to the East Coast. Temperatures will be from average to just below average for most of these areas through the months of November through February (Check Monthly Forecast Above).
-Red: Ice Storms could make an impact to these areas as the block will shift south. Snowfall could also occur if location is cold enough.
-Light Brown/Orange: Above average winter for most of these areas as well as below average precipitation (Depends on month). 
-Dark Brown: A really dry and warm winter for you. 

Overall: This winter will be a harsh one. One that will be a cold one for some areas or could be a warm one in others.

to read more and see more maps, go  to:    http://centralstorm.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/2011-2012-winter-weather-forecast-new/

Sikkim Earthquake

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Deadly earthquake Himalaya : 20 minutes news compilation video

Last update: September 26, 2011 at 12:47 am by By 

September 26, 2011 By 

The 20 minute video shows the many faces of the earthquake, the damage inflicted to buildings, the landslides, interviews with local people and specialists.  The CNN-IBN video is the best we have seen so far.
Watch how the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Sikkim on September 18 changed lives there

here is the link to the video on youtube:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcBriFR3KEQ&feature=player_embedded

to read more, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/26/deadly-earthquake-himalaya-30-minutes-news-compilation-video/

 

 

 

 

El Hierro Volcanic Risk

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El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain) : volcanic risk alert increased to “yellow”

Last update: September 25, 2011 at 12:59 am by By 

The Canary Islands government has set the ‘yellow alert’ for the population of El Hierro as a lot of volcanic tremors are continuing to occur below the island since last July.
The ‘yellow alert’ decision bas been after consulting the PEVOLCA, and is based on the conclusions of the meeting of the Scientific Committee. The committee met on Saturday morning in El Hierro. Main reason for the alert increase where the increasing number of volcanic earthquakes as well as deformations (up to 30 mm change from the beginning).
The current ‘yellow alert’  phase does not mean that an eruption is eminent, but that the population will be informed on the risks and will be informed how to take certain protective action.
At this stage the ‘Cabildo de El Hierro’ will be responsible for informing the public of the practical aspects of the action plan including meeting points, shelters and evacuation plans.
The website is www.emergenciaselhierro.org.
The Canary Islands government will report weekly on the evolution.

 

Image courtesy ign.es

 

Interesting links
Map of El Hierro with the seismic activity projected on it
Graphic of the number of earthquakes and their depth since July 18
Deformation graphics (look at the stations HI01 to HI04)

 

Weekend Forecast 9/23-26

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from:    -Matt Baranowski
-9/22/11 (Thursday)
-8:00pm CDT

http://centralstorm.wordpress.com/

 

The end of the week is almost here. Time for everyone to kick back and relax. This may be, depending on where you live, the last warm weekend of the year as October is knocking on the doorstep. We have quite a difference in areas of warm temperatures, rainy temperatures, chilly temperatures and normal temperatures all over the Nation. This forecast, which I am going to explain below, will go through Monday Spetember 26, 2011. 

Everyone in the west and in the Rockies region is probably going to jump up and down seeing this graphic. Yet others will want to rip it up in pieces. Here’s the situation:
As you can see by the black/white striped going from South Dakota through Missouri up to Ohio and up in the North East fashion. This is the jet stream forecast for the next few days. Now this will fluxuate back and forth a bit but that would be the ‘centered’ point on where that Jet Stream will lay out. Now with that Jet stream forecast brings Major differences in temperatures . With that stream like that, you have a build or a rise in the Stream to the North over Montana and South Dakota. This Jet stream comes from the Pacific Ocean so this would be called the Pacific Jet in MET Terms. Now whats going to occur is that high pressure that is currently their isn’t going to move much. This is going to keep this jet stream at its current place or move slowly throughout days. With that also we have the High Pressure that is forecast to build into the Midwest locations by Friday. With that will bring Cool Air from Canada southward. That means some locations won’t get out of the 50′s in the Northern Great Lakes. Now remember that Low Pressure that I forecast to impact the North East by Thursday days ago… Well it had slowed a bit and timing was just a bit off. So it now looks as North Eastern States will see the rainy conditions all the way through Monday and May be won’t stop till Tuesday. Flooding is a potential but widespread 6 inches like a first Isolated event is not a huge bet. Most areas will see 2-4 inches in that green area. As for the south, pop up storms will likely be in company Friday and Saturday and limit to a very Isolated Event come Saturday Night. Normal temperatures in the 80′s are in the forecast. Quick jump back to the Midwest and Great lakes… Not only will you see rainy off and on conditions but it will be chilly too. So please, you can catch a cold from this weather as conditions are expected to go back to the 80′s by Wednesday.

Forecast by Color:
-Orange Area: Warm Temperature. Humid farther south you get but not un controllable humid. Due to the high, Severe weather and rain in general is not likely. Temperatures in the 80′s in the north and middle areas and 90′s are a potential down south.

-Blue: A chilly, overcast and miserable weekend as that low pressure spins and you get the backside shower activity. Won’t be a wash out but it definitively will be cool with temps in the 50′s and 60′s.

-White: Normal Temperatures for this time of year. Not crazily hot with temperatures in the 80′s. Shower or a storm is a potential on Friday and Saturday but could also occur on Monday.

-Green: Like the Great Lakes Region, A miserable weekend. Some rains that fall could “train” and cause flooding so stay tuned and turn around don’t drown. Temperatures also chilly in the mid to upper 60′s. Most areas will see 1-4 inch rains depending on location.

Hope Everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy the warm weather while it lasts! (Excuse my mistake in the word “Overcast” in the graphic. Stay tuned to Storm Central for the latest on Ophelia. We will have the latest breaking news if anything changes.

-Rate by Stars!

Earthquake Near Tonga Volcano

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Very strong shallow earthquake near Niuafo’ou volcano (Tonga) – NO special volcanic activity reported

Last update: September 23, 2011 at 1:04 am by By 

Article also compiled by Carlos Robles
Earthquake overview :  Very strong earthquake near a rim volcano island in Tonga. As this earthquake is extremely shallow and as the location of the epicenter has a substantial error margin, we feared for volcanic activity.

NOAA tsunami message for the Pacific :
NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA

IMPORTANT UPDATE 00:57 UTC :
Matangi reports : The earthquake was felt by Niuafo’ou residents. Meola Vaka at the Western Union office at ‘Esia said she felt an earthquake this morning that lasted for less than a minute. She said there was no unusual volcanic activity evident on the island.

Update 23/09 – 00:11 UTC : Both EMSC and USGS have epicenters approx. 30 to 40 km from the volcanic island.  If the epicenter locations are accurate which we do not know at the moment, it may be well a normal earthquake close to a volcano.

Update 23/09 – 00:11 UTC : The latest known eruption from the volcano was in 1985.

Update 23/09 – 00:04 UTC : Between 1946 and 1947, the island was completely evacuated by the Tongan government following a volcanic eruption. In 1957 about half of the population returned to Niuafo’ou, and the rest remained in ‘Eua (source Wikipedia)

Update 23:59 UTC : As this earthquake is extremely shallow and as the location of the epicenter has a substantial error margin, we do not exclude volcanic activity.

for more and to get updates, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/23/very-strong-shallow-earthquake-near-niuafoou-tonga-volcanic-origin/

Equinox Sunrise

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QUINOX SUNRISE: The seasons changed this morning at 5:05 a.m. EDT when the Sun crossed the celestial equator heading south. Fall began in the Northern Hemisphere, spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Geoffrey Wyatt of Sydney, Australia, woke up early to watch the equinox sun rise over Watson’s Bay:

“This is how the first day of spring began in Australia,” says Wyatt. “Recent fires in the Sydney area have contributed to redder than usual sunrises and sunsets.Temperature gradiants over the water produced the added bonus of a miraged sun.”

Happy Equinox!