Category Archives: Earth Stuff

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

Large Earthquake off El Salvador

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Massive earthquake far out of the El Salvador coast

Last update: August 27, 2012 at 9:17 pm by By

Massive earthquake along the coast of El Salvador ??
Preliminary Magnitude and depth : M7.4 @ 52.9 km
Approx. 125 km out of the coast
NOAA reports : BASED ON THE EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE… LOCATION AND HISTORIC TSUNAMI RECORDS A DAMAGING TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED ALONG THE CALIFORNIA/ OREGON/ WASHINGTON/ BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA COASTS.
Max. wave height along the Central America coast : 0.1 meter or NO danger
NO people are living within a radius of 100 km
Important Update : Confusion in seismic land : The 3 main international agencies are reporting very conflicting numbers. Geofon reports a Magnitude of M6.6 and EMSC only a M5.2
Our attention was attracted to the fact that we had very few readers from Central America which is opposite on what we see otherwise. Hard to believe that a massive quake at 50 km at 125 km out of the coasr would not be felt by people on land.
The central american agencies are simply not reporting an earthquake at the time of occurrence. This data looks more and more being a hoax
Update : All the agencies are now showing 7+ magnitudes for the El Salvador earthquake, EMSC and Geofon even at shallower depths
Update 05:40 UTC : We are still confused about this massive earthquake as the local agencies still do not list it including El Salvador’s SNET and as we had no abnormal number of Central American readers in the website
(Almost) Final update 06:47 : The mystery has finally been solved. SNET (El Salvador) has also listed the earthquake as an M6.7 earthquake at a depth of 50 km but more than 200 km out of the coast. Additionally, the hypocenter of the earthquake was located in the oceanic plate and not in the North American plate. This event was in other words an intra-plate event and not a subduction earthquake like most of the earthquakes are in the area.
Update 07:17 : A couple of 5+ aftershocks occurred in the greater epicenter area. USGS has located the epicenter of all events in the subduction zone below the continental plate while snet was putting it more into the ocean.
– To make the confusion complate, also USGS has now updated the hypocenter from a +50 km to a depth of 20.3 km.
– Ineter Nicaragua is reporting the mainshock as a Mc5.9!
Update 09:19 UTC : A new strong aftershock struck closer to the El Salvador coast.
Update 12:14 UTC : Tsunami calculations greatly depend upon the underlying earthquake parameters. In a first tsunami report GDACS based their calculations on a depth of 52.3 km (data according USGS preliminary report). A max. waveheight of 0.1 m was the result. After that USGS changed the depth of the hypocenter to 20.3 km a totally different calculation resulted in a max. wave pattern of 0.5 meter, a huge difference. As it was evening in the epicenter area, we guess that almost nobody would have seen the waves. This event is a reminder that seismology is not an exact science and has still a quiet important error margin.

Image courtesy GDACS

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/27/major-earthquakes-list-august-27-2012/

Continuing Earthquake Activity in Southern California

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Earthquake swarm near Brawley, Southern California – A lot of damage + extensive update

Last update: August 27, 2012 at 9:20 pm by By

Update 15:35 UTC :
– Some pictures are showing “liquefaction” which occurs often when strong shaking takes place in sandy soil. Liquefaction occurs in saturated soils, that is, soils in which the space between individual particles is completely filled with water. This water exerts a pressure on the soil particles that influences how tightly the particles themselves are pressed together. Prior to an earthquake, the water pressure is relatively low. However, earthquake shaking can cause the water pressure to increase to the point where the soil particles can readily move with respect to each other. Liquefaction can also be compared to quicksand. Most major earthquakes have cases of liquefaction
– For American standards, this earthquake was really damaging. No collapsed houses of course, but during the 2 years of our existence, this is only the third major damaging  incident (after Virginia and Oklahoma)
– Besides some structural damage to houses and mobile homes, a lot of damage has also occurred in the interiors of the houses. The many earthquakes (more than 300) have led to many minutes of shaking (sometimes strong the very strong) and make that everything may have been ok after the first set of earthquakes but tumbled because of the many aftershocks.
– 49 patients of the Pioneer’s Memorial Hospital have been transferred throughout the area
– In addition to the Brawley Fire department, 16 other Fire corpses have given a helping hand in Brawley.
– In 1940 a M6.9 earthquake struck the Brawley area, the most important so far and contradicting yesterdays remark of a seismologist than quakes are normally not higher than +5. To the positive side one can say that the area has released his stress and that more severe quakes are unlikely to happen (although nobody is sure about that)
– Seismologists as well as the local authorities are asking people to react the best possible way on eventual new strong shaking. The main advise (which can also be found at the right side on thios page) is : Do not try to run out of buildings while shaking is occurring because you never know what is falling off the roof. Heavy shaking also means that you can be knocked down while running away. Please wait until the shaking stops before running outside.
At earthquake-report.com we continuously see that 50 to 70% is not following this advise (even in Japan). As a sad reminder we can tell you that almost all of the Lorka Spain fatalities (7) were due to falling debris while running outside!

Update 09:25 UTC :
– Aftershocks are still striking the Brawley area but a lot less than yesterday afternoon. A M3.4 is the strongest one since more than 5 hours. Although many may not sleep too well, at least the shaking will not be responsible tonight. It is currently 02:25 AM in Brawley, California.
– The following schools will be closed on Monday due to the events : Del Rio Community School, Mulberry Elementary, Brawley Union High School, Barbara Worth Junior High School, Phil D. Swing Elementary School, Miguel Hidalgo Elementary School and J.W. Oakley Elementary School
– Up to 400 people are able to spend the night in a “emergency shelter” organized by the Red Cross
– A total of 21 mobile homes have been declared uninhabitable. A lot of houses have reported minor damage.  Many trailers have been pushed of their foundations
– NO serious injuries have been reported (source : Brawley city manager)
– Click here for the Local station KSWT NEWS 13 Video page

Update 06:04 UTC :
Our partner EQArchives has just finished an interactive map showing the epicenters of a big part of the swarm. Click on the image to go to the interactive map where you can zoom in and out.

Update 04:53 UTC :
– New M5.1 aftershock a few minutes ago. There has been some minor damage to old houses indicating around a intensity V-VI from the  earthquakes.
– Brawley Seismic Zone is well known for such sequences as stated before in 2005, 1981, 1970s, 1930s etc. so it should be expected that some more aftershocks / swarm earthquakes can occur in the coming hours and days.

Update 00:32 UTC :
– New M4.7 aftershock, one more of an impressive number of aftershocks
– Some trailers are simply being knocked off from their foundations
– The number of earthquakes recorded in the Imperial area must run into the hundreds (including the less than M2.5 earthquakes)

Click on the image for the normal size

Update 22:17 UTC :
– Minor damage is being reported in Brawley. No houses have collapsed and we do not expect to find such damage, however some structural damage has been reported in a number of buildings. Click on the Thumbnail to watch the image in the local Imperial Valley Press

Update 22:06 UTC
– Power has been restored in some Brawley areas but not yet everywhere.
– The earthquakes were also registered on the seismographs in Los Angeles. ABC7 network has a live Quake cam on the Internet. Click here to watch it Live

Update 21:46 UTC
– The last comparable seismic swarm in Brawley dates from 1970. Another one occurred in the 1930′s
– Some buildings in Brawley were evacuated after the first stronger quakes. People will probably stay outside for a while which is good in case other even stronger quakes would strike.
– The Brawley zone is a complex seismic area of smaller faults. The San Andreas main Fault runs from near Palm Springs to enter Mexico just west of Yuma.

The video below shows the strong shaking in Brawley, California. A family is enjoying sitting together in the living room when suddenly the shaking starts (after 25 seconds)

Update 21:38 UTC
– Damage assessments are currently being executed in the Brawley area.
– Imperial County has begun operating a “County Emergency Headquarters”
– Brawley has a population of 24,953 (latest census), not a small village. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round agriculture is an important economic activity in Brawley.
– Brawley has also a Geothermal power plan

for more information and updates, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/26/powerful-earthquake-swarm-in-southern-california-mexico-border/

Southern California Earthquakes Continue

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Powerful earthquake swarm in Southern California / Mexico border – Minor damage + shaking video

Last update: August 27, 2012 at 12:32 am by By

Update 00:32 UTC :
– New M4.7 aftershock, one more of an impressive number of aftershocks
– Some trailers are simply being knocked off from their foundations
– The number of earthquakes recorded in the Imperial area must run into the hundreds (including the less than M2.5 earthquakes)

Click on the image for the normal size

Update 22:17 UTC :
– Minor damage is being reported in Brawley. No houses have collapsed and we do not expect to find such damage, however some structural damage has been reported in a number of buildings. Click on the Thumbnail to watch the image in the local Imperial Valley Press

Update 22:06 UTC
– Power has been restored in some Brawley areas but not yet everywhere.
– The earthquakes were also registered on the seismographs in Los Angeles. ABC7 network has a live Quake cam on the Internet. Click here to watch it Live

Update 21:46 UTC
– The last comparable seismic swarm in Brawley dates from 1970. Another one occurred in the 1930′s
– Some buildings in Brawley were evacuated after the first stronger quakes. People will probably stay outside for a while which is good in case other even stronger quakes would strike.
– The Brawley zone is a complex seismic area of smaller faults. The San Andreas main Fault runs from near Palm Springs to enter Mexico just west of Yuma.

The video below shows the strong shaking in Brawley, California. A family is enjoying sitting together in the living room when suddenly the shaking starts (after 25 seconds)

Update 21:38 UTC
– Damage assessments are currently being executed in the Brawley area.
– Imperial County has begun operating a “County Emergency Headquarters”
– Brawley has a population of 24,953 (latest census), not a small village. The town has a significant cattle and feed industry, and hosts the annual Cattle Call Rodeo. Year-round agriculture is an important economic activity in Brawley.
– Brawley has also a Geothermal power plan

Update 21:26 UTC
– Based on the reports we receive from our readers, the shaking seems to have lasted only a few seconds. Short shaking is seldom damaging. The longer the shaking is lasting the more chance on damages.
– 17 aftershocks in between M2.5 and M4.3 in only 26 minutes

Shaking map of the latest M5.4 earthquake at 21:57 UTC

Update 21:16 UTC
– The last strong earthquake has currently been labeled M5.4 at a shallow depth of 8.9 km. Epicenter 5 km North of Brawley
– Intensities of MMI IV to VI are reported in the epicenter area

Update 21:10 UTC
– There are scattered power outages in the Brawley area and out at Naval Air Facility El Centro, said Marion Champion, spokeswoman for the Imperial Irrigation District. More than 1,000 customers were out of power temporarily. Crews are out checking for damage.
– Pioneers Memorial Hospital has been evacuated, and patient have been moved to the wound care center.  Though there has not been reports of major damage at the hospital, patients had asked to be evacuated because they were scared. Glass had been broken inside the hospital.
(messages courtesy Imperial Valley press)

Important Update 21:03 UTC
A new strong M5.4 earthquake (preliminary value) had happened a few minutes ago
– The National Weather Service reports a preliminary Magnitude of M5.6!
– Epicenter a few km NNW of Brawley

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/26/powerful-earthquake-swarm-in-southern-california-mexico-border/

“Why in the World Are They Spraying” Documentary

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People around the world are noticing that our planet’s weather is dramatically changing. They are also beginning to notice the long lingering trails left behind airplanes that have lead millions to accept the reality of chemtrail/geoengineering programs. Could there be a connection between the trails and our severe weather? While there are many agendas associated with these damaging programs, evidence is now abundant which proves that geoengineering can be used to control weather. In this documentary you will learn how the aerosols being sprayed into our sky are used in conjunction with other technologies to control our weather. While geoengineers maintain that their models are only for the mitigation of global warming, it is now clear that they can be used as a way to consolidate an enormous amount of both monetary and political power into the hands of a few by the leverage that weather control gives certain corporations over the Earth’s natural systems. This of course, is being done at the expense of every living thing on the planet. Directed/Produced by Michael J. Murphy and Produced/Edited by Barry Kolsky.. Written by Michael J. Murphy and Barry Kolsky. www.witwats.co

Here is the link:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEfJO0-cTis

Dr. Jeff Masters on Isaac, Precipitation Forecast, Invest 97L

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Isaac pounding Haiti and the Dominican Republic with torrential rains
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 2:24 PM GMT on August 25, 2012 +40

Tropical Storm Isaac is pounding Haiti and the Dominican Republic with torrential rains that are causing extremely dangerous flooding and landslides. Isaac’s center passed over Haiti’s southwest peninsula early this morning, tracking about 50 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince. As the center pulled away to the northwest, Isaac’s heaviest thunderstorms moved ashore over Hispaniola near sunrise, and are now dumping heavy rains with rainfall rates approaching one inch per hour, according to recent microwave satellite estimates. Barahona on the south coast of the Dominican Republic had received 5.14″ of rain as of 8 am EDT this morning, and it is probable that some mountainous areas in Haiti and the Dominican Republic have already received up to 10″ of rain from Isaac. These rains will continue though much of the day, and have the potential to cause high loss of life in Hispaniola.


Figure 1. A river north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti in flood due to rains from Isaac. Image from Amélie Baron via Twitter.

Latest observations
Isaac built a partial eyewall last night as the storm approached Haiti, but passage over the rough mountains of Haiti has destroyed the inner core, and the surface center of the storm is now fully exposed to view on satellite images. Radar out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba shows no sign of an organized center, but does reveal some very intense thunderstorms affecting Eastern Cuba, Western Haiti, and nearby islands. Latest data from the Air Force Hurricane Hunters confirm that Isaac has weakened; during their penetration to obtain their 7:08 am EDT center fix, the aircraft reported top surface winds of 55 mph with their SFMR instrument, top flight-level winds at 5,000 feet of 68 mph, and a pressure rise of 3 mb, to 998 mb. Infrared and visible satellite loops show that Isaac remains a large and well-organized storm, though it lacks an inner core. An analysis of upper level winds from the University of Wisconsin CIMSS shows that upper-level outflow is still good to the north, but is lacking elsewhere. An impressive large multi-day satellite animation of Isaac is available from the Navy Research Lab.


Figure 2. Rainfall rates estimated by the NOAA F-17 polar orbiting satellite at 6:21 am EDT August 25, 2012. Rainfall rates of 1 inch per hour (orange colors) were occurring in a large area to the south of Hispaniola, and these heavy rains have now moved onshore. Image credit: Navy Research Laboratory.

Latest model runs for Isaac
The latest set of 0Z and 06Z (8 pm and 2 am EDT) model runs are similar in spread to the previous set of runs. Our two best models, the GFS and ECMWF, are virtually on top of each other, with a landfall location in the Florida Panhandle between Fort Walton Beach and Panama City. It is likely that the trough of low pressure pulling Isaac to the north will not be strong enough to pull Isaac all the way to the northeast and out to sea, and Isaac has the potential to drop torrential rains capable of causing serious flooding over the Southeast U.S. The latest 8-day precipitation forecast from the GFS model (Figure 3) calls for 10 – 15 inches of rain over portions of Georgia and South Carolina from Isaac. The ECMWF model, however, predicts that a ridge of high pressure will build in and force Isaac to the west after landfall, resulting in a slow motion across the Tennessee Valley into Arkansas by Friday. Arkansas is experiencing its worst drought in over 50 years, so the rains would be welcome there.


Figure 3. Predicted precipitation for the 8-day period from 2 am Saturday August 25 to 2 am Sunday September 2, from the 2 am EDT August 25 run of the GFS model. This model is predicting a wide swath of 5 – 10 inches of rain (orange colors) will affect portions of Cuba, Florida, the Bahamas, and the Southeast U.S. Image credit: NOAA/NCEP.

Intensity forecast for Isaac
Isaac survived passage over Hispaniola relatively intact. It’s large size aided this, and this will also help it survive passage over Cuba today and Sunday. By the time Isaac pops off the coast of Cuba into the Florida Straits on Sunday, it will likely be a 50 mph tropical storm with a large, intact circulation. Isaac will be over very warm waters of 31°C (88°F) in the Florida Straits, wind shear will be light to moderate, and the upper-level wind pattern will feature an upper-level anticyclone over the storm, aiding its upper-level outflow. As I discussed in my previous post, Crossing Hispaniola and Cuba: a history, there have been five storms since 1900 with an intensity similar to Isaac, which crossed over both Haiti and Cuba, then emerged into the Florida Straits. These five storms strengthened by 5 – 20 mph in their first 24 hours after coming off the coast of Cuba. Given the relatively intact structure of Isaac so far, and the favorable conditions for intensification, I expect Isaac will intensify by 15 – 20 mph in 24 hours once the center moves off of the north coast of Cuba. If Isaac spends a full two days over water after passing the Florida Keys, it is possible that it will have enough time to develop a full eyewall and undergo rapid intensification into a Category 2 or 3 hurricane. The latest 06Z (2 am EDT) run of the GFDL model is calling for Isaac to intensify to Category 2 strength, then weaken to Category 1 at landfall in Mississippi on Tuesday. The 06Z HWRF run is calling for landfall in the Florida Panhandle near Fort Walton Beach as a borderline Category 2 or 3 hurricane. The 5 am EDT NHC wind probability forecast gave Isaac a 19% chance of becoming a Category 2 or stronger hurricane in the Gulf. I expect these odds are too low, and that Isaac has a 40% chance of becoming a Category 2 or stronger hurricane in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. I doubt the storm has much of a chance of hitting Category 4 or 5 status, though. While the surface waters in the Gulf of Mexico are very warm, near 30 – 31°C, the total heat content of these waters is unusually low for this time of year. We got lucky with the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current this summer, as it did not shed a big warm eddy during the height of hurricane season, like happened in 2005 (I discuss this in my Gulf of Mexico Loop Current Tutorial.) Without the type of super-high heat energy we had in 2005 in the Gulf of Mexico, Category 4 and 5 hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2012 will have difficulty forming.

Invest 97L off the coast of Africa
A tropical wave (Invest 97L) is located about 350 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of Africa. The storm has a modest amount of spin and heavy thunderstorms, and is under moderate wind shear. In their 8 am EDT Tropical Weather Outlook, NHC gave 97L a 30% chance of developing by Monday morning. The 8 am EDT SHIPS model forecast predicts moderate shear for the next 5 days over 97L, so some development is possible if 97L can fend off the dry air to its north. None of the reliable models foresee that 97L will be a threat to the Lesser Antilles Islands. However, both the GFS and ECMWF models predict that a tropical wave that has not yet emerged from the coast of Africa may develop next week, and potentially take a more westward track towards the Lesser Antilles.

Hokkaid, Japan Earthquake

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Strong (moderately dangerous) earthquake below Hokkaido (Japan)

Last update: August 25, 2012 at 2:41 pm by By

 

Intensity during Hokkaido earthquake – Orange : strongest – image courtesy JMA Japan

Strong  (moderately dangerous) earthquake along the Hokkaido (Japan) coast
Preliminary Magnitude around M6.0, Depth approx. 60 km
NO tsunami danger
The earthquake’s epicenter is below the Hokkaido Island at a depth of 50 km
JMA Japan reports a 5- intensity, just below the level that Earthquake-Report.com considers as very dangerous.
The epicenter is below the south-western tip of the island, more precisely below Mt. Rakko. No city in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter. The relatively deep epicenter makes that the earthquake will be felt in a much wider area than in case of a shallow quake. The shaking has been felt not only all over Hokkaido, but also in the northern part of Honshu.
JMA 5- intensity has been experienced in the following localities : Urakawa-cho Shiomi, Urakawa-cho Tsukiji*, Samani-cho Sakaemachi*, Makubetsu-cho Churui-nishikimachi*, Urahoro-cho Sakuramachi*, Sarabetsu-mura Sarabetsu*, Tokachi Taiki-cho Seika*, Hiro-o-cho Nishi-yojo*

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/24/major-earthquakes-list-august-25-2012/

Jeff Masters On Hurricanes and Hispaniola

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Throughout hurricane history, numerous tropical storms and hurricanes have battered themselves against Hispaniola and Cuba. Some have been destroyed; others have survived and gone on to wreak additional havoc. Cuba’s most formidable barrier to hurricanes is the one Isaac will be running into–the eastern portion of the island, where mountains up to 6,000 feet high rear up out of the sea. I present here a history of five storms that crossed portions of both Hispaniola and Cuba, similar to Isaac’s track. These five storms strengthened by 5 – 20 mph in their first 24 hours after coming off the coast of Cuba, and one went on to become the deadliest disaster in American history–the Great Galveston Hurricane.

Tropical Storm Fay of 2008. This storm was so unpredictable, I nicknamed it “The Joker.” Fay got disrupted by passage over Haiti and Eastern Cuba, then slowly intensified to a 50 mph tropical storm as it tracked just south of Cuba. After crossing Central Cuba, Fay intensified from 50 mph to 65 mph in 36 hours over the Florida Straits, before making landfall in southwest Florida. Fay actually strengthened another 5 mph to a 70 mph tropical storm while its center was over land near the western end of Lake Okeechobee.


Figure 1. Tropical Storm Fay approaching Florida. Satellite: Aqua at 6:50 PM GMT on August 18, 2008

Hurricane Ernesto of 2006. Ernesto was a hurricane for the briefest of time, just six hours, before it encountered the rugged mountains on the southwest Peninsula of Haiti and Eastern Cuba, which weakened it to a 40 mph tropical storm. After popping off the north coast of Cuba, Ernest had 24 hours over the warm waters of the Florida Straits before making landfall on the southern tip of Florida, but Ernesto was only able to strengthen by 5 mph to 45 mph.


Figure 2. Hurricane Ernesto (05L) over Hispaniola. Satellite: Terra at 3:50 PM GMT on August 27, 2006

Hurricane Georges of 1998. This nasty Cape Verde hurricane cut a swath of destruction across the Caribbean and in the U.S., killing 602 people, mostly in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Passage over Hispaniola weakened Georges from a Category 3 storm to a Category 1, and Georges was able to maintain Category 1 status for over a day while traversing the eastern half of Cuba. After the center popped off the coast, Georges had 18 hours over water before it hit Key West, and the hurricane intensified from 85 mph winds to 105 mph winds during that time.


Figure 3. Inside the eye of Hurricane Georges, as seen from a NOAA WP-3D research aircraft on 19 September 1998.

Hurricane Two of 1928. This storm became a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds before reaching Haiti, the got disrupted by close passage to Haiti’s southwest peninsula, and Eastern Cuba. After the storm crossed Cuba, it strengthened from 60 mph to 70 mph in the Florida Straits, before close passage by the landmass of South Florida weakened it back to a 60 mph tropical storm again. It eventually made landfall in the panhandle of Florida as a 45 mph tropical storm.

Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900. This deadliest hurricane in American history killed an estimated 8,000 – 12,000 people in Galveston, Texas when it hit as a Category 4 storm with 145 mph winds on September 8, 1900. On its way to Galveston, the storm crossed both Hispaniola and the greater part of the length of Cuba as a tropical storm with 40 – 50 mph winds. When the storm popped out into the Florida Straits, it intensified from a minimum strength 40 mph tropical storm to a 145 mph Category 4 monster in two-and-a-half days. There’s a very good chance the hurricane passed over a warm core Gulf eddy on its way to Galveston, allowing explosive deepening to occur. That situation does not exist in the Gulf at present for Isaac.


Figure 4. Aftermath of the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 on Galveston Island.

from:    http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2203

Nepal, Himalaya, Earthquake

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Earthquakes Nepal Himalaya (Rukum and Rolpo districts) – 2 more earthquakes (aftershocks)

Last update: August 24, 2012 at 8:21 am by By

Update : USGS is confirming the Magnitude of M5.0 however at a less dangerous deeper depth of 38.3 km.

Based on the number of visitors in our site, we see a moderate earthquake in Nepal.
Please tell us by the form how the shaking was experienced.
Based on our preliminary findings, we expect a Magnitude in between M4.5 and M5.0
Preliminary epicenter is located in the western part of the Nepali Himalaya (West of Annapurna)
If people residing in Pokhara are reading this page, please let us know how the shaking was experienced.
A M5.1 is a moderate shaking but can create in the high mountains some serious avalanches/landslides of rock, snow, ice or even mud.

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M5.0 (USGS) – M5.1 (EMSC)
UTC Time : Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 16:30:23 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 10:15:23 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 38 km (USGS) – 10 km (EMSC)
Geo-location(s) (USGS data):
101 km (63 miles) SSE (149°) from Jumla, Nepal
117 km (72 miles) ENE (64°) from Nepalganj, Nepal
128 km (80 miles) WNW (284°) from Pokhara, Nepal
272 km (169 miles) WNW (290°) from KATHMANDU, Nepal

Update 24/08 – 08:09 UTC : International seismological agencies are listing a huge number of earthquakes worldwide but unfortunately not enough to have a good picture of what is going on in the world. Developing nations press are often citing USGS as a certainty in the world of earthquakes and are that way diminishing the value of their own specialist agencies. Nepal is a good example. The Nepal National seismological Center has a fine network of seismographs, GPS stations and accelerometers. Data captures close to the epicenter is (mostly) more accurate than data captured at a greater distance. From the 4 earthquakes reported by the NSC, only 2 were reported by EMSC and USGS. The Magnitude differs so much in between local and international agencies (M5.6 vs M5.0 yesterday and M5.2 vs M4.4 earlier today for the 2 strongest shakes). Difference in scales cannot give this big difference in Magnitude Mb vs Ml.

Update 24/08 – 07:14 UTC : The Nepal National Seismological Center has updated the earthquake data and reports now a M4.4 as the new value for the initial M4.7. The M5.6 mainshock stands.
8 hours later an M4.4 occurred (00:17 UTC) and at 03:55 UTC the sequence was followed by another M5.2 earthquake, all in the same area.
The Nepalese press gives little attention to the earthquake and states only that there are no reports of damage or injuries. If the Nepalese data are correct, we do  not trust this general remark. Both the M5.6 and M5.2 are relatively strong earthquakes in mountainous areas and both M4.4 can be seen as moderate. We will follow this up and bring you further news if it reaches us.
We also make a request to our Nepali readers to report any news which they may find in the local or regional press.

Official earthquake data – courtesy Nepal National Seismological Center

Update 20:53 UTC : After a sluggish start, the monsoon’s active phase, observed in the last 24 hours, brought brief heavy downpours in most of the Western and Central regions of the country. This is bad news for earthquake shaking

Update 20:44 UTC : Today’s earthquake is not the first one in the area this year, as 3 earthquakes measuring M5.0, M4.8 and M4.2 occurred on July 31. No news of eventual damage or injuries was found for these earthquakes.

Update 20:42 UTC : The nearthquake was felt in many districts in Nepal like Kathmandu, Gorkha, Chitwan, Kaski, Dailekh, Parbat, Tanahun, and Syangja.

Update 18:35 UTC : Musikot, the village on the picture below is very close to the epicenter. The image is not taking away our fears.

Very Important Update 18:13 UTC : The Nepal National Seismological Center reports that not 1 but 2 earthquakes have rattled the mid-western Nepal area. The first one being a M5.6 earthquake at 10:15 PM local time (16:15 UTC) and a second M4.7 one at 10:27 PM (16:27 UTC) !!

Rukum Musikot courtesy Tubal Sapkota –

Update : EMSC has now changed the location of the epicenter after recalculation. The village of Thawang (Rolpa area) – see image below), should be very close to the epicenter following these data. The Geofon location has not been recalculated (automatic data) and remains at the moment in the high Himalaya.

Update : Based on the landslide risk, earthquake-report.com calls this earthquake as moderately dangerous

Update 17:29 UTC : Earthquake data is very preliminary at the moment. The USGS data are less dangerous than the EMSC or the Geofon data due to the depth of 38 km. EMSC and Geofon are holding to their 10 km (the shallower and earthquake is, the more dangerous it becomes).

Update : Earthquake-Report.com fears for a deadly cocktail of moderate shaking in combination with saturated ground layers of the monsoon rains. Lets hope that eventual landslides are not in or near villages.  People will mostly be in the village or sleeping at the time of the occurrence.

Update 17:24 UTC : Very weak shaking is normal in Kathmandu as the Nepali capital is 270 km away from the epicenter.

Thawang village following some agencies near the epicenter – Image courtesy PranjalDahal

Update : As it is dark right now and as the epicenter area is very remote we do not expect to receive any detailed news for another 24 hours unless mobile telecommunications are active in the Dolpo villages.

Update : The best known area in this part of Nepal, where following some agencies the epicenter would be is the Dolpo area? The most famous 8000+ mountain in the area is the Dhaulagiri. Dhaulagiri is a regular target for expeditions. As it is late monsoon at the moment, mountaineering will be at lowest. Distance from Dhaulagiri to the epicenter is approx. 20 km

Update : This earthquake has not been listed yet in the website of the Nepal National Seismological center, who should have definitely the best data as their instruments are installed the closest to the epicenter

Update : The epicenter location is still unsure as every seismological agency is referring to a different area which is in case of Nepal very tricky. USGS is putting the epicenter in the foothills. Geofon at the base of the high Himalaya and EMSC in the high Himalaya.

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/23/moderate-shallow-earthquake-in-the-western-nepal-himalaya/

 

Latest Volcanic Eruptions

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Eruption Update for August 21, 2012: Cleveland, Tungurahua and More

  • By Erik Klemetti
  • Email Author
  • August 21, 2012 |

  • The plume from Tungurahua in Ecuador as seen on August 19, 2012. Webcam capture by Eruptions reader Kirby.

    It is that time of year again – the summer is ending and classes begin within a week. Now, I am on leave for the fall, but that doesn’t mean the pace of things isn’t picking up. I spent the end of last week blasting zircons with a laser up at Michigan State in order to get some ages on those crystals and in about 2 weeks from now, I’ll be headed back to California for a week of field excursions across the Sierras. So, busy indeed.

    Things have also settled down a smidge volcanically as well. After the New Zealand trifecta, we’ve had some rumblings around the globe … so I thought I’d just use today’s post to catch up with some news I’ve seen (or posted links to on Twitter).

    Alaska

    Cleveland has continued its 2012 pattern of explosive destruction of the summit dome – the volcano experienced yet another small explosion according to AVO. The volcano is remote, so the threat is mainly to air traffic, so Cleveland is watched via satellite for these explosions.

     

    Ecuador

    Another restless volcano was moved into a higher alert status after new explosions produced ash fall from a 1.5 km / 5,000 foot plume and pyroclastic flows from Ecuador’s Tungurahua. Most of the english-speaking media on the activity seems to be a string of images from previous eruptions with no real information, but spanish-speaking reports tell of evacuations near the volcano due to the heightened activity. This renewed activity at Tungurahua has apparently caused significant damage to crops and livestock in the area surrounding the volcano.

  • from:    http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/08/eruption-update-for-august-21-2012/#more-125988

Earthquake near Tokyo

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Moderate earthquake close to Tokyo

Last update: August 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm by By

Moderate earthquake close to Tokyo
A moderete M5.1 earthquake has struck close to Tokyo. Max. shaking was a 3 JMA while Earthquake-Report.com uses 5+ as a minimum to be dangerous for damage.
The earthquake occurred at 20:42 Japanese time.

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/19/major-earthquakes-list-august-20-2012/