Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A strong, 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit central and southern Mexico Tuesday, damaging some 800 homes near the epicenter, collapsing 60 others and swaying tall buildings and spreading fear and panic hundreds of miles away in the capital, Mexico City. ONE OF THE STRONGEST QUAKES TO SHAKE MEXICO SINCE 1985 when a deadly temblor killed thousands in Mexico City. Tuesday’s quake hit hardest in the border area of southern Oaxaca and Guerrero states. Hours after the shaking, there were still no reports of death or serious injury, even after a less powerful, 5.1-magnitude aftershock was felt in the capital and there were several other aftershocks near the epicenter in a mountainous rural region.
In Mexico City, frightened workers and residents poured into the streets of the capital. Telephone service was down in the city, and throughout the area where the quake was felt and some neighborhoods were without power. A pedestrian bridge collapsed on an empty transit bus. About 40 passengers were stranded for a short time on the Mexico City airport air train, but were later released, unharmed.

**There are two ways of exerting one's strength:
one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.**
Booker T. Washington


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 GUERRERO, MEXICO

Yesterday -
3/20/12 -
6.1 PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.0 GUERRERO, MEXICO
5.1 OAXACA, MEXICO
5.2 OAXACA, MEXICO
5.0 OAXACA, MEXICO
5.3 OAXACA, MEXICO
7.3 GUERRERO, MEXICO
5.1 TONGA REGION
5.1 VANUATU
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA

VOLCANOES -

Tungurahua Volcano (Ecuador) - A new eruption and ash fall. Another series of explosions has occurred early Tuesday at Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador. The eruption was reported to be very noisy and caused minor ash fall in nearby villages, but no damage. From 23:39 (local time) on March 19, a rapid increase of tremor was detected and observers reported roaring noises from the volcano in up to 14 km distance. About an hour after the onset of tremor reports of ash fall came from El Manzano and Choglontús.
At 00h22, there was an loud explosion whose cannon-shot like shock wave was heard in Choglontús, El Manzano and Puntzán. Incandescent lava bombs could be seen ejected from the summit crater and landing up to approx. 200 m distance on the upper slope. From the 01h08 (local time) tremor decreased and also the noises from the volcano. Cloud cover prevented detailed observations this morning. According to a first analysis, only the south-west sector received ash fall. In the Choglontús area, ash continued to fall until 07:00 (local time) and was measured to have accumulated 383 grams per square meter, corresponding to less than 1 mm of ash.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

India - An avalanche triggered by recent rains has killed at least one man in the Himalayan territory of Kashmir, while strong winds ripped trees from their roots and damaged thousands of homes. Rescuers were searching for two other men missing since the avalanche struck yesterday near the remote mountain town of Gurez. It is on India's side of the militarised ceasefire line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Avalanches and landslides are common in Kashmir thanks to heavy snowfall and frequent rain.
Meanwhile, low atmospheric pressure over the region yesterday caused UNUSUALLY strong winds, gusting up to 44 kilometres per hour through the main city of Srinagar. One man died after a tree branch ripped away by the wind fell onto him, and at least 17 others were injured in weather-related incidents as the wind shattered windows, pulled rooftops off homes and uprooted trees. Nearly 7000 homes and 2000 other buildings were damaged in Srinagar and elsewhere. Schools were closed overnight as debris was being cleared, and downed power lines disrupted electricity supplies.

New Zealand - Thousands are without power as strong winds continue to batter large areas of the North Island. Gale-hit Taupo residents told to 'stay indoors'. The storm, which has flooded parts of Northland with up to TWO MONTHS OF RAIN IN TWO DAYS, has now tracked further south and has brought winds of up to 100km/h in Taupo and 113km/h in Taranaki. In the worst hit region of Taranaki, which is still recovering from a hammering two weeks ago, about 2500 people were without power. Significant damage has been caused to the electricity network in Taranaki. "Powerco is advising people who are currently without power to prepare to be off overnight." Dangerous winds and road closures are hampering Powerco's efforts to restore power. A news reporter said the "sheer violence of the winds" earlier in the day through some parts of Taranaki was "absolutely astonishing". Trees were ripped from the ground, roofs torn from houses and vehicles rolled over.
Strong winds forced New Plymouth Airport to close for the morning, with gusts recorded at twice the safe speed for aircraft. Taupo also took a battering, suffering power cuts, flying debris and falling trees. Continuing high winds mean trees and branches are still falling so it is too dangerous for contractors to begin clearing the debris. Some parts of Northland have recorded up to 300 mm of rain since Sunday afternoon, but the main rain band is now fragmenting. Kaeo was hit the worst by the heavy rain with residents having to flee to higher ground while cattle were left stranded. Civil Defence opened evacuation centres for those who had been displaced. Rivers have now passed their peaks but levels are expected to fluctuate throughout the day. Crews were out on the roads early this morning checking for damage, slips, fallen trees, flooding and washouts.

SPACE WEATHER -

ELECTRON STORM - The number of energetic electrons in Earth's outer radiation belt is significantly elevated. According to analysts, the enhancement is caused by the aftermath of recent geomagnetic storms mixed with a high-speed solar wind stream. "Spacecraft at GEO, MEO and other orbits passing through or in the vicinity of the Earth's outer radiation belt can be impacted."

HEALTH THREATS -

New strain of whooping cough emerging - Australian scientists have attributed a sharp rise in whooping cough cases to a new strain of the respiratory disease which could be becoming resistant to the current vaccine.

RECALLS & ALERTS:
El Ranchero Del Su of South River, New Jersey is recalling El Ranchero Queso Fresco 14 oz. (Fresh Cheese), Los Corrales Queso Fresco en Hoja De Platano 14 oz. (Fresh Cheese In Banana Leaf), El Ranchero Queso Oaxaca 14 oz. and 10 lb. (String Cheese) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

NEW!! Strong earthquake strikes Mexico - A major earthquake measuring 7.4 in magnitude struck near Acapulco, in central southern Mexico on the Pacific coast, with some houses reportedly damaged. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake had a magnitude of 7.4 and put the epicentre at 15 miles (25km) east of Ometepec, in Guerrero state and at 11 miles (18km) underground. Witnesses in the capital, Mexico City, said the tremor sent office workers rushing out onto the streets. Some 500 houses were damaged in Guerrero state. So far there were no casualties in Guerrero state or neaby Oaxaca state. There hav already been some six aftershocks and further ones could be expected in the next 24 hours.
Buildings swayed for at least a minute in the capital. A pedestrian bridge reportedly collapsed and crushed a microbus in Mexico City, but there were still no reports of deaths. Office workers and residents were sent running into the streets in wealthy districts and poor neighbourhoods alike. In the capital, Mexico City, some children were evacuated from their schools Sirens could be heard across the city, and police helicopters are crisscrossing the skies. "I swear I never felt one so strong, I thought the building was going to collapse," said , a businessman from a neighbourhood hit hard in Mexico's devastating 1985 earthquake, which killed thousands. The water system and other "strategic services" were not experiencing problems and no damage was reported in the central or northern areas of the city. Mobile phone networks have been affected though and people have had trouble contacting their loved ones. The US president's 13-year-old daughter was on a school trip in Oaxaca, south-western Mexico. A White House official said she was safe and had never been in danger.

**Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses -
for it is a sign of strength to be weak,
to know it, and out with it -
not in a set way and ostentatiously, though,
but incidentally and without premeditation.**
Herman Melville


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.

Yesterday -
3/19/12 -
5.0 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.6 SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
5.0 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
5.6 NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
5.0 NEW IRELAND REGION, P.N.G

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

Australia - Townsville has been declared a disaster zone following a FREAK storm that left 60 homes and businesses with major structural damage. In the suburb of Vincent, the storm tore roofs from dozens of homes, uprooted trees and downed power lines. Many victims will be out of their homes for months. "These quiet suburban streets of Townsville have suffered a shocking and devastating event. Its force was obviously ferocious." The people of Vincent were now facing a heartbreaking clean-up task on a scale not seen even after Cyclone Yasi last year.

HEAT / CLIMATE CHANGE -

Minnesota - White Bear Lake shook off the last of its winter ice Monday - it was THE EARLIEST ICE-FREE DATE ON RECORD for the lake, not at all surprising after ONE OF THE MILDEST WINTERS ON RECORD and 10 DAYS OF RECORD-SETTING MARCH WARMTH. "You could just watch it disappear. No snow, no insulation, lots of wind, and high temperatures." The March 19 date for White Bear Lake was two days earlier than the previous record, set in 2000.
Ice had left lakes as far north as northern Chisago County by Monday. For many, it was also the earliest such occurrence, although few have records as long as White Bear, where the accounting goes back to 1928.
Lake Minnetonka, which breaks completely free of ice about the same time as White Bear, wasn't quite there Monday. The record earliest date on Lake Minnetonka as March 11. That happened in 1878, the Year Without Winter.
Also ahead of schedule:
• Mosquitoes are out in the metro area - "pretty UNUSUAL for this time of year." Dry conditions ought to keep the population down; rain could change everything.
• Lake Waconia went ice-free on Sunday, 25 days ahead of average, but six days later than the record-earliest date, set in 2000.
• Several species of butterflies have been flitting about, even in the Arrowhead, where they emerged last weekend, about 10 days ahead of normal. Woodchucks also emerged about two weeks early.
• Maple sap has continued to run even during recent warm nights. Sap usually either stops or becomes unsuitable for syrup-making during untimely warm spells, but the sap running now - although only 10 to 15 percent of what might be normal - should make good syrup.
• Shorebirds and other water-loving birds have migrated back to the metro area, slightly ahead of schedule. Many familiar species probably won't be here for a while, because they either need insects to eat or wait for changes in daylight.
• Chorus frogs singing in Maplewood last week, well ahead of normal.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Britain has added volcanoes and solar storms to floods, flu and terrorism on a list of threats to national security. The highest-priority risks to Britain are pandemic influenza, coastal flooding, terrorist attacks and — a new addition — volcanic eruptions in Iceland, according to the recently published 2012 edition of the government’s National Risk Register for Civil Emergencies.
“Severe space weather” poses a threat to communications systems, electronic circuits and power grids, the list said. Solar storms — eruptions of magnetic energy and charged particles — are part of the sun’s normal 11-year cycle, which is expected to reach a peak next year. The storms can’t hurt people, but can disturb electric grids, GPS systems and satellites. In 1989, a strong solar storm knocked out the power grid in Quebec, cutting electricity to 6 million people. Last week, the strongest solar storm since 2004 passed without major disruptions. Last month, Parliament’s defense committee called on the government to prepare for disruptions to electrical supplies and satellites from electromagnetic pulses — whether caused by the sun or by a nuclear weapon exploded in space. Space war is not included on the British government’s risk register. “We are becoming more and more reliant on technology, and that technology is becoming more and more delicate. BE AFRAID, VERY AFRAID.”
Launched in 2008, the risk register assesses threats that are likely to endanger human welfare, the environment or security in Britain. It is the public version of the National Risk Assessment, which is classified. Volcanic eruptions have been added to the list since the last edition in 2010. Ash from the April 2010 eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano grounded European air travel for several days. But the British government says a more serious risk is posed by an effusive, or gas-rich, eruption. The 1783-84 Laki eruption in Iceland sent out noxious gases that spread as smog across Europe, causing crop failures, famine and thousands of deaths. The government said such an eruption “is now one of the highest-priority risks” Britain faces.

**The strength of criticism lies in
the weakness of the thing criticized.**
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.1 NEW IRELAND REGION, P.N.G.

Yesterday -
3/18/12 -
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

VOLCANOES -

Italy's Mount Enta erupts - Europe's most active volcano, Mount Etna erupted on Sunday sending a four mile-long plume of smoke and ash into the sky. The eruption is the fourth of its kind this year sending a lava stream into Sicily's uninhabited valley of Valle del Bove.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

U.S. - While it was unseasonably warm across most of the United States Sunday, a late winter storm dropped upward of 5 feet of snow on Arizona's mountains with more expected Sunday night.
The snow forced the closure of numerous roads and there were reports of many vehicles skidding into ditches and other accidents. A winter storm warning was in effect from the Mexican border to the northern outskirts of Utah Sunday, at the same time the East and Midwest was experiencing temperatures in the 70s -- 76 in Bangor, Maine. Phoenix was experiencing the storm in the form of its first rain since December. An inch of rain fell in the region Sunday. "Phoenix is known for its dry climate, but this is normally a wet time of the year. Phoenix typically receives nearly 3 inches of rain from late December through mid-March."

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

The winter of 2011-12 might well earn the title of "the winter that wasn't" in many parts of the United States. The season has entered the books as the fourth warmest on record for the Lower 48 states. Despite several powerful snowstorms that crossed the continent during the season, the extent of the country blanketed with snow was the third smallest since satellites began keeping track 46 years ago. The amount of rain was also below normal.
What a contrast with the winter before. Who could forget the seemingly endless conga line of storms that traversed the country? That winter also was somewhat colder than normal, which meant the snow didn't melt significantly between storms. "This year was dramatically different." Yet both winters began the same way – with La Niña reigning in the tropical Pacific. La Niña is the cooler half of what's called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. El Niño brings warmer-than-normal waters to the equatorial eastern Pacific, where it piles up against the coasts of Central and South America. La Niña brings colder-than-normal waters to the same region. Both alter atmospheric-circulation patterns in ways that are felt far beyond the tropics.
Typically, La Niña pushes the eastward-flowing jet stream – which serves as a kind of superhighway for storms – farther north than usual. That pattern appeared last year in a relatively stark boundary between a very wet northern half of the country and a parched southern tier, stretching from Arizona to northern Florida and up into the Carolinas. This year, even with a somewhat weaker La Niña, the average path of the jet stream has moved farther north still, leaving the northern US drier than normal. Without extensive snow cover to help keep a lid on winter temperatures, the stage was set for a warmer-than-normal winter.
The back-to-back La Niñas have a marked effect on rivers in the Southwest and Southeast. "We've had 10 cases in the last century of double-dip La Niña events." If the initial event is strong – last year was one of the Top 3 La Niñas in the past 50 years – the second, weaker one tends to bring drier conditions to the Southwest and southern tier. The difference shows up strikingly in river flows. They tend to be even lower coming out of the second event than they were at the end of the first event. "That's what we're looking at now for the Colorado River, and it's also what we're looking at for parts of the Southeast – Florida, Georgia, places like that." One glaring exception this winter was Texas, where several storms helped moderate the state's severe drought.
Elsewhere, the reduced blanket of snow is likely to give areas ravaged by last year's floods along the Mississippi River a much-needed break. A year ago, runoff from heavy snows, combined with intense spring storms, brought record floods in many parts of the Midwest.

Historic March heat wave continues in Chicago; headed towards another record breaking day. Coming off their warmest St. Patricks Day in 141 years of records, the historic March heat wave continues. Sunday was expected to become their 5th straight record breaking day and 5th consecutive 80+ degree day across the Chicagoland area. This RECORD-BREAKING STREAK HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE SO EARLY IN THE SEASON in Chicago. Over the past week, more than 1,200 RECORDS HAVE BEEN SET and for the month of March, more than 2,000 RECORDS HAVE BEEN SET.
This UNPRECEDENTED March heat wave is as a result of a weather pattern known as a "blocking pattern" where a stubborn high pressure has just been stuck over the eastern two-thirds of the nation. This pattern has been responsible for pumping in heat and Gulf moisture into the Great Plains, Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions. This historic March heat wave is expected to continue into the middle of next week before a cooler airmass moves into the region late next week. Until then, there will be the likelihood of more records broken.

HEALTH THREATS -

Resistance to antibiotics could bring "the END OF MODERN MEDICINE AS WE KNOW IT". - The world is entering an antibiotic crisis which could make routine operations impossible and a scratched knee potentially fatal, the head of the World Health Organisation has claimed.
Bacteria are starting to become so resistant to common antibiotics that every antibiotic ever developed is at risk of becoming useless, making once-routine operations impossible. This would include many of the breakthrough drugs developed to treat tuberculosis, malaria, bacterial infections and HIV/AIDS, as well as simple treatments for cuts. We could be entering into a “post-antibiotic era”.
Replacement medicines could become more expensive, with longer periods of treatment required to bring about the same effect. “Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill.
Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise in Europe and elsewhere in the world. We are losing our first-line antimicrobials. Replacement treatments are more costly, more toxic, need much longer durations of treatment, and may require treatment in intensive care units. For patients infected with some drug-resistant pathogens, mortality has been shown to increase by around 50 per cent."
The stark warning comes shortly after the World Health Organisation published a new book warning of the “global crisis”, entitled “The evolving threat of antimicrobial resistance. The current situation was blamed largely on the misuse of antibiotics, which are not prescribed properly and used too frequently and for too long. The WHO has now appealed to governments across the world to support research into the antimicrobial resistance.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Insecticide linked to bee colony collapse - New research shows a link between an increase in the death of bees and insecticides, specifically the chemicals used to coat corn seeds, according to a report released late this week. The study provides insight into colony collapse disorder, and may pressure lawmakers to consider increased regulation of the chemicals. Colony collapse disorder, or the mass die-off of honeybees, has stumped researchers for months. Massive and widespread die-offs of colonies left researchers considering a number of possible causes, among which included the increased use of pesticides.
Researchers noted that springtime die-offs of the honeybee are likely linked to technology used to plant corn coated with insecticides. Pneumatic drilling machines pull corn seeds in and spray them with the insecticide to create a coating before they are planted in the ground. The technology, the effects of which are long documented, is used to to plant seeds with so-called neonicotinoid insecticides. The process has reportedly resulted in widespread deaths of honeybees, which have been reported since the introduction of the technique in the late 1990s.
The report comes nearly a year after U.S. congressional lawmakers rallied behind the beleaguered honeybee by creating a congressional caucus to promote research and focus attention on the troubling collapse of bee colonies. The new caucus is similar to dozens of other congressional caucuses that cover topics from wine and shellfish to minor league baseball and multiple sclerosis. Caucus members stay in touch, show their concern and co-sponsor legislation.

**Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and
give strength to body and soul.**
John Muir


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Yesterday -
3/17/12 -
5.1 SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
5.4 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.2 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.2 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.0 BANDA SEA

3/16/12 -
5.0 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.8 LEYTE, PHILIPPINES
5.1 VANUATU
5.5 KURIL ISLANDS

Philippines - The number of people who were injured in a 5.8-magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines rose to 45. Dozens of mall goers got injured when the strong quake caused a stampede at Gaisano Capital duriing its grand opening at around 4pm Friday afternoon. Some government buildings were damaged.

New Zealand - Quake damage at Canterbury hospitals could see patient services disrupted for several years to come. The region's hospitals have suffered considerable damage as a result of the ongoing quakes and many key facilities need extensive repair work.

TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone 17s (Lua) was located approximately 120 nm southeast of Port Hedland, Australia.

Tropical Cyclone Lua was upgraded to category 4 as communities took shelter along Western Australia's northwest coast following the issue of a red alert. Lua was expected to make landfall some time on Saturday afternoon, bringing with it potentially devastating wind gusts of up to 230km/h along with heavy rain, flooding and a dangerous storm tide. People were warned to take shelter immediately and warned that heavy fines apply if they use their vehicles. Flights into the region have been cancelled and the main highway has been closed between Broome and Port Hedland, where the port has also been shut down and vessels sent to safe waters. The Bureau of Meteorology said gales were expected to develop early on Saturday morning in coastal areas between Whim Creek and Bidyadanga, including Port Hedland, extending during the morning to adjacent inland areas and north to Cape Leveque including Broome, and possibly west to Dampier.
It said destructive winds up to 160km/h were possible between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga and very destructive winds up to 230km/h were forecast near Lua's centre. Residents of Port Hedland and east to Bidyadanga are specifically warned of a very dangerous storm tide expected as the cyclone centre approached the coast.
UPDATE - There have been reports of extensive damage on the Pilbara coast but so far no casualties. Cyclone Lua crossed the coast as a category four storm but has weakened to category one as it moves inland. Australia's meteorology bureau says gusts of up 100km/h (60mph) are still possible near the cyclone centre. It has issued warnings for the eastern Gascoyne, western Interior and northern Goldfields areas for today. Early on Saturday, Lua crossed the coast between Port Hedland and Broome and caused extensive damage to some remote Pilbara towns, uprooting trees and damaging buildings. Recovery teams were on their way to assess the damage.As the cyclone gathered intensity and swept in off the Indian Ocean, Australia's main iron ore mines - which are some of the biggest in the world - shut down. (map)

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

Britain's heritage buildings feel the extreme weather: heat and cold. Experts fear they are fighting a losing battle as increasingly erratic conditions take their toll. The curators responsible for preserving Britain's historic sites already have to cope with falling subsidies and the effect of the economic gloom on visitor numbers. Now they have another problem: our increasingly extreme and erratic weather. Freezing temperatures, drought and torrential rain are all proving increasingly damaging to sites that, in some cases, are almost 1,000 years old.
Earlier this month, parts of the roof of St John the Baptist Church in Woodhurst, Cambridgeshire, collapsed, with masonry falling from the chancel, causing damage that will cost up to £40,000 to repair. Experts said the problems were caused by the drought's effect on soil that is found particularly in the east of England. The trees close to the walls of the building sucked up too much water from the ground after two years of low rainfall, causing the clay to contract. This moved the foundations, and the walls cracked. Finding funding for the necessary repairs is becoming increasingly difficult.
Other churches have been affected in similar fashion. St Mary's, in the village of Mundon, Essex, had to undergo significant repairs as a result of clay shrinkage, which led the building's foundations to start "falling apart". In the Church of St Andrew, at Abbots Ripton, also in Cambridgeshire, the arcades were found to be moving on the foundations, causing cracks. Without repair work, it is likely that the whole building will collapse.
St Andrew's Church at nearby Wood Walton, which was recorded in the Domesday Book, is also facing serious problems. "We think it is due to the climate. It may be just two or three years aberration, but the climate has definitely had an impact."
The most recent Heritage At Risk register was published in August. There were 5,828 entries. Although the effect of increasingly extreme weather is difficult to quantify, many list erosion and weathering as a problem. The cold winters of 2009 and 2010 also caused serious problems at several sites, including Castle Acre Priory in Norfolk, a monastic site dating back to 1090, and the 12th century Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. "The frost is a real issue. In the past two severe winters, hard frost caused huge damage to standing ruins in the east of England. The chalk in the stonework deteriorates. We understand the process and know we can't stop it."
In Norwich, the medieval city walls have suffered damage as a result of the salt used on the roads in cold weather. The National Trust has also pointed to a rise in threats from extreme weather – specifically torrential rainfall. "The weather is much more extreme in the UK than it used to be. Between 1985 and 2007 I have never had to turn out due to emergency flooding. It has been four times since then." Severe flooding in Tewkesbury affected several National Trust properties, including Basildon Park. The 12th century Tewkesbury Abbey also had water come in through the doors. In 2009, the devastating floods in Cockermouth, in the Lake District, hit the birthplace of William Wordsworth. National Trust employees had to wade through waist deep water to salvage the collection of furniture, artworks and documents. "Our emphasis must now be on prevention. We are trying to put aside more [money] than we ever have before to deal with this issue."

America's weather is stuck on extreme. - Nearly 11 feet of snow has fallen on Anchorage, Alaska, this winter. That's almost a record, and it's forcing the city to haul away at least 250,000 tons of snow. Not much snow has dropped on the Lower 48 states this year.
The first three months of 2012 have seen twice the normal number of tornadoes. And 36 states set DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS Thursday. So far this month, the U.S. has set 1,757 DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS. That's similar to the number during last summer's heat wave. Six RARE, but not unprecedented, March tornadoes struck Thursday in Michigan, which also set 26 HEAT RECORDS. Temperatures were in the 80s in some parts of the state. Nationwide, there have been 132 tornadoes confirmed in January and February, with preliminary reports of more than 150 already in March.

Friday, March 16, 2012

U.S. RECORD-BREAKING WARM WEATHER advances beginning of growing season - Recent ABNORMALLY WARM weather has resulted in a very early start to the growing season across the Great Lakes Region and much of the central and eastern USA. The prolonged warm spell is the result of a very persistent jet stream configuration across North America that generally prevented cold, arctic-origin air masses from moving out of their high-latitude source regions southward into the central and eastern USA. This left the area under the influence of relatively mild Pacific-origin air masses. The current jet stream pattern, with deep troughing across the western USA and ridging across the east has accentuated the pattern. The result is record-breaking warmth brought northward from the Gulf States on southerly winds.
Characterizing the current warm spell as HIGHLY UNUSUAL IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, both due to the magnitude of the warmth and due to its length. Recent temperatures have been running in the range of 20 to 30°F or more above normal. The warm weather has caused an earlier peak time for cherry blossoms as Washington, D.C. hit a RECORD-BREAKING 82 degrees on a late winter's day Thursday. (map depicting forecast conditions across North America early next week)

**The strength of a man's virtue should not be measured
by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.**
Blaise Pascal


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.5 KURIL ISLANDS

Yesterday -
3/15/12 -
5.3 FIJI REGION
5.2 NEAR S. COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Two Powerful Aftershocks Highlight Ongoing Reassessment of Japan Quake Risks - On Wednesday, a 6.8 magnitude quake hit Japan's northern Hokkaido Island. It was followed hours later by a 6.1 magnitude tremor in the Chiba Prefecture, which is directly south of Tokyo and some 600 miles from the location of the earlier quake. Both are described as aftershocks from the March 11, 2011 Tohoku quake.

Washington, D.C. - The Washington Monument, which is slated for repairs after it was damaged in an earthquake last year, appears to be sinking more than expected. The Monument may have sunk by two millimeters, possibly as a result of August's 5.8 magnitude earthquake. The findings are extremely preliminary.

VOLCANOES -

Alaska - Cleveland Volcano Explodes For Third Time. Cleveland Volcano has exploded for the third time in just over a week. The latest eruption of the Aleutian volcano Tuesday afternoon was relatively small.

TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone 17s (Lua) was located approximately 375 nm northwest of Port Hedland, Australia.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Lua to Hit Australia Coast tomorrow - Lua has intensified to a powerful Category Three storm and is expected to lash the Pilbara coast with destructive winds in excess of 200km/h when it hits land tomorrow. Communities on the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts are on alert as the cyclone Lua, which currently has 185km/h gales at its centre, intensifies and moves towards land. Heavy rain and destructive winds are expected to hit the region and surrounding areas by late Friday or early Saturday. Lua was upgraded from a category 2 to a category 3 system early today. It is expected to cross the east Pilbara coast late Saturday morning or early afternoon. "Gales are currently being experienced in offshore Pilbara waters and are expected to develop in coastal areas between Whim Creek and Bidyadanga late Friday night. Very destructive winds with wind gusts in excess of 200km/h are likely to develop in coastal areas near the centre of the cyclone during Saturday...Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with damaging waves and very dangerous flooding."
Remote Pardoo and Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park is in the path of the cyclone. There are fears the park will be damaged again, three years after it received a battering from Cyclone Laurence in 2009. "There's all new trees, everything's beautiful and green, and to see that destroyed again would be heartbreaking. We've prepared ourselves and we've got new buildings, which is the top rating you can get, but it's all the work that's gone into it to rebuild." The iron-ore export port of Port Hedland is being evacuated and residents in the cyclone's expected path have been urged to prepare their properties for dangerous weather and organise their emergency kits. Western Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority has warned there may be significant flooding in the north Kimberley region and minor flooding in the east Kimberley area today. (map)

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

U.S. - A tornado touched down in southern Michigan Thursday, and there were reports of significant property damage, with the tornado damaging or demolishing more than 100 homes, downing trees and power lines, sparking fires and flooding neighborhood roads. Local news station footage showed flattened homes but there were no immediate reports of injuries. There was a lot of damage reported just outside the village of Dexter. March and April typically produce the most tornados in the US but this season has already been especially active. Two massive weather systems beginning late last month have spawned a spate of tornados that have ripped through the South and Midwest, flattening towns and killing dozens of people.

Australia - More NSW residents told to evacuate as waters rise. The Murrumbidgee River is expected to flood yet another Riverina town over the weekend with about 1000 people preparing to flee the deluge.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

Colorado - More RECORD-BREAKING WARMTH ahead for Denver. Colorado's warm spell has a solid chance to leave its mark on the record book three times this week. The National Weather Service is predicting a high of 76 degrees today, which would eclipse the record high of 74 degrees for March.

Thursday, March 15 , 2012

Quakes shake Japan, small tsunami - A series of earthquakes rattled Tokyo and northeast Japan late Wednesday evening but caused no apparent damage or injury in the same region hit by last year's devastating tsunami. The strongest tremor, off Hokkaido island, was 6.8 magnitude. The second quake, with a magnitude of 6.1, hit around 9:05 pm local time, and was centered in the bay east of Chiba prefecture. A swelling of 20 centimeters (8 inches) was observed in the port of Hachinohe in Aomori, northern Japan, about one hour after the quake struck the region. Smaller changes were also reported in several locations on Hokkaido island and Aomori prefecture. High-speed bullet trains serving northern Japan were halted and the two runways at Tokyo's Narita International Airport were closed after the quake but quickly resumed operations.

**Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows,
but only empties today of its strength.**
Charles Spurgeon


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.

Yesterday -
3/14/12 -
6.4 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.1 OFF W. COAST OF S. ISLAND, N.Z.
5.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.9 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

3/13/12 -
5.2 VANUATU
5.5 OFFSHORE CHIAPAS, MEXICO
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.0 COMOROS REGION

VOLCANOES -

Eruption of Japan's Sakurajima volcano - On Monday, Japan's Sakurajima spewed ash and rocks during what scientists call the volcano's most violent eruption in two years. Sakurajima continued its second day of violent eruptions on Tuesday, spewing hot rocks and ash, but there was no major damage in the vicinity. Sakurajima has erupted several times in the past 48 hours, sending 18 inch-wide rocks flying over a mile away.

Greece - The Santorini caldera is awake again and rapidly DEFORMING AT LEVELS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. The volcanic island has been relatively calm since its last eruption in 1950. Until now.

Colombia cities on alert as smoke, ash rise from volcano - A rising smoke plume from Nevado del Ruiz volcano put nearby cities and towns on alert as it continued to emit smoke, vapor and ash Monday.
The volcano, located in central Colombia about 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Bogota, has been on yellow alert since October 2010 and began spewing ash and smoke last week. The mayor of Manizales said his city is on green alert for now adding that could change if activity increases. "Everyone needs to be ready for any situation. However, the city alert, which is at green, is still green and is not going to change though we are of course carefully watching for any changes on Nevado [del Ruiz]." Other cities closer to the crater are on an elevated yellow alert, though they say populated centers are not in imminent danger at the moment. Thus far, the smoke plume has not caused any problems for air traffic. The volcano's yellow alert means an eruption is possible though not definite. If it passes to orange it signifies an eruption is likely in weeks.

Ijen volcano (East Java, Indonesia) - eruption warning due to increased seismic and degassing activity. The official alert level for Ijen volcano in East Java, Indonesia, has been raised again to 3 ("alert") due to an increase in activity. A new 10 m wide gas vent, which erupted buring was observed on 10 March at 17 m distance from the shore. Thick steaming, larger than usual, forming a thick white column of sulfur steam 200 m high was already noted since 3 March. Measurements of the lake water temperature at 5 m depth had also shown increased values of 42.70 deg C. On 10 March, the lake surface was 2 meters higher than normal, although this could be attributed to heavy recent rain fall.
Another sign of increased activity is that many leaves of trees and other plants around the crater have died recently, suggesting higher than normal SO2 levels. Seismic activity has been rising as well. Since 22 Feb, a near contiuous tremor signal has been being recorded. In the interval 22-31 Feb, there were 52 harmonic tremor periods lasting up to 20 minutes, as well as 17 2 low-frequency earthquakes, 38 mostly shallow volcanic quakes. This number increased to 306 tremor episodes lasting up to 25 minutes, 27 low frequency, and 125 mostly shallow volcanic earthquakes during the latest observation period between 1-10 March.
Ijen volcano in East Java, famous for its turquoise acid lake Kawah Ijen and the sulfur mine inside its crater, had been on higher alert starting 18 December 2011, but was lowered to alert 2 on 4 Feb this year, but is now again at the second highest level of 3, meaning that volcanologist think an eruption could be imminent.
Indonesia - The East Java Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) head has confirmed that Rp2.5 billion has been allocated to anticipate the eruption of Mt Semeru and Mt Lemongan in Lumajang as well as Mt Ijen at the border of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso regencies. “The fund is ready to be cashed anytime." The agency is also preparing personnel at the areas near the three mountains. At each site, 150 volunteers have been deployed since Monday.
For the past year, local residents near Mt Semeru and Mt Ijen have been attending training to anticipate the eruptions. BPBD Lumajang is also conducting similar training for people near Mt Lemongan. The East Java BPBD has disaster documents in the three areas that outline management patterns before, during and after the eruption. The evacuation track, refuge sites and logistic preparations are also included in the document.

TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone 17s (Lua) was located approximately 385 nm north of Learmonth, Australia.

Resources companies in Western Australia's north are bracing for Tropical Cyclone Lua, which is expected to intensify as it approaches the Pilbara coast. Forecasters believe Lua could cause flooding in the resources-rich Kimberley region. The Bureau of Meteorology's latest update at 0900 (WST) said a cyclone watch alert was current for coastal areas from Cape Leveque to Mardie. The cyclone is currently moving slowly in an easterly direction but is expected to intensify into a severe tropical cyclone late today. .It is then expected to accelerate to the southeast on Friday and early on Saturday towards the east Pilbara coast. BoM anticipates Lua will remain severe as it approaches the coast. On Saturday, destructive winds with gusts of more than 150 kilometres per hour are expected to develop in coastal areas near the centre of the cyclone. In the meantime, heavy rainfall is anticipated in coastal areas of the east Pilbara and west Kimberley.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -


A HIGHLY UNUSUAL week-long heat wave is building over much of the U.S., and promises to bring THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES EVER SEEN SO EARLY IN THE YEAR to a large portion of the Midwest. The exceptional heat will also be EXCEPTIONALLY LONG-LASTING: record-breaking temperatures 20 - 30 degrees F above normal are expected through next Wednesday for much of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. The weather system responsible is a large upper-level ridge of high pressure that is "stuck" in place - a phenomenon known as a "blocking pattern." The jet stream is bending far to the south over the Western U.S., then bending far to the north over the Rockies and into Canada, and lies far to the north of the eastern U.S. Since the jet stream acts as the boundary between cold air to the north and warm air to the south, the current looping pattern is bringing colder than normal temperatures and snow to the mountains of the West, and summer-like warmth to the Eastern U.S. It is common for the jet stream to get stuck in a blocking pattern for a period of a week or more, but not to this extreme. If the current model forecasts prove correct, a high pressure ridge over the U.S. bringing HEAT THIS INTENSE AND LONG-LASTING IN MARCH WILL BE UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORICAL RECORD, going back to 1872. High temperatures for Wednesday, March 14 over much of the Midwest were more typical of June than March.
The expected warm temperatures during the coming week will rival those recorded on March 8, 2000, when most of the Upper Midwest set all-time records for the warmest temperature ever measured so early in the year. That warm surge was caused by a ridge of high pressure that was not as strong as the one expected to build in during the coming week, and the March 8, 2000 ridge did not stick around long enough to generate more than two days of record-breaking high temperatures. A powerful low pressure system moved through Northern Wisconsin on March 8, 2000, dragging a cold front through the state that triggered a thunderstorm that spawned the earliest tornado ever recorded in Milwaukee County. New DAILY HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS WERE SET AT 208 LOCATIONS TUESDAY.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota yesterday, the high temperature reached 67°F, which is the 7th warmest temperature measured so early in the year, and 27°F above the normal high of 40°F for the date. Since weather records in the city go back to 1872, we can expect that Minneapolis will experience a temperature of 67°F or higher this early in the year once every 20 years, on average. What's really remarkable is that the forecast for Minneapolis calls for a high temperature of 70 - 75° every day for the next seven days. Since 1872, there have only been nine days that the temperature has gotten to 70°F prior to March 20, with 73°F on March 7, 2000 being the hottest day. So, over the course of the next week, we are likely to break the all-time high for so early in the year, and add nearly double the number of 70°F-plus days. The situation is similar for much of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and surrounding states. With temperatures already averaging at least 5°F over much of the Midwest this month, it's very likely that this month will be the warmest March on record for at least seven states.

UNUSUAL snows on the Oregon coast - As is often the case, record heat in one part of the country means that another part is experiencing unusual cold, due to a kink in the jet stream. On Monday, 6.0" of snow fell at Newport, OR, and 8.5" at Tillamook. The Newport snowfall was THEIR GREATEST MARCH SNOWFALL ON RECORD (previous was 2.0" in March 1906) and the their 3rd greatest snowfall of any month since records began in 1893. For Tillamook it was the biggest snow since 9.0" in January 1971 (but well short of their all-time snowfall of 19.0" in March 1951).

Tuesday, March 14, 2011

Late Tuesday edition after all!
But no update on Wednesday.

**A year from now you will wish you had started today.**
Karen Lamb

LARGEST QUAKES -
Today -
3/13/12 -
5.2 VANUATU
5.4 OFFSHORE CHIAPAS, MEXICO
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.0 COMOROS REGION

Yesterday -
3/12/12 -
5.6 KURIL ISLANDS
5.6 NORTHWESTERN KASHMIR

3/11/12 -
5.3 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.0 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.0 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.3 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -

Italy - The volcanic caldera on the picturesque tourist island of Santorini is showing signs of unrest. But researchers detecting the caldera's movement say it doesn't necessarily mean an eruption is imminent. The Greek island was the site of one of the most massive volcanic eruptions in history 3,600 years ago. That eruption, which created tsunamis 40 feet (12 meters) tall, may have spawned the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. The volcano last erupted in 1950, on a much smaller scale.
Global positioning system (GPS) sensors placed on the caldera have detected renewed movement after decades of peace. The earth around the caldera (a depression at the top of a volcano) is deforming, or expanding outward. GPS instruments on the northern part of Santorini have moved between 1.9 and 3.5 inches (5 to 9 centimeters) since January 2011. "What we're seeing now is the first significant deformation and the first deformation that has any significant earthquake activity associated with it." In the same time period, the magma chamber under Santorini has swollen by almost 500 million cubic feet (14 million cubic meters).
It's unlikely that the deforming caldera portends an eruption. Excavations of extinct volcanoes suggest that 90 percent of the time, below-ground magma movements don't end in eruption. A similar caldera system, the Long Valley Caldera in California, started deforming in 1980. It then quieted again until 1989, repeating the cycle in 1997 and 2002, with nary an eruption. If a Santorini eruption did occur, it would be nothing like the Minoan eruption of 1650 B.C. That eruption was a once-in-100,000-year event, and the expansion of the magma chamber happening now is only 1 percent of what would have gone on prior to the ancient blast. Geophysicists are keeping an eye on the caldera, however. An eruption could generate local tsunamis within the Santorini archipelago, damaging ports and disrupting ship traffic. Even if the volcano doesn't erupt, the shifting caldera could increase earthquake risk, and the island cliffs are vulnerable. "We don't need an eruption to have earthquake-induced landslides." There's no telling how long the deformation will continue, but it could stretch years or decades, perhaps cycling between activity and peace. "It is one of very few of these really large caldera volcanoes. So any information we gather from ongoing activity adds significantly to our database of how these systems evolve."

TROPICAL STORMS -

In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone 17s (Lua) was located approximately 285 nm north of Learmonth, Australia.

Australia - The cyclone threat to Darwin is easing, with a tropical low heading further south than forecast and failing to gain strength as expected.