Publilius Syrus
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.0 OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
5.9 EASTERN TURKEY
Yesterday -
3/7/10 -
5.4 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
5.8 BIO-BIO, CHILE
5.5 LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE
5.2 LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE
5.1 OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
5.0 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION
5.0 STATE OF YAP, MICRONESIA
6.3 SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
TURKEY - A strong 5.9 earthquakeshook eastern Turkey, with the death toll rising to 11 people. The quake struck at 4:32am (1:32pm AEDT) with an epicenter near the Karakocan town in Elazig province. Several aftershocks were felt in the region. Deadly earthquakes are frequent in Turkey, which is crossed by several active fault-lines. Two powerful tremors in the heavily populated northwest claimed about 20,000 lives in August and November 1999.
JAPAN is bracing itself after dozens of RARE giant oarfish - traditionally the harbinger of a powerful earthquake - have been washed ashore or caught in fishermen's nets. The appearance of the fish follows Saturday's destructive 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile, the January 12 tremors in Haiti and the 6.4 quake in southern Taiwan.
This rash of tectonic movements around the Pacific "Rim of Fire" is heightening concern that Japan - the most earthquake-prone country in the world - is next in line for a major earthquake. Those concerns have been stoked by the unexplained appearance of the fish that is known traditionally as the Messenger from the Sea God's Palace.
The giant oarfish are very rarely above 200 metres from the surface. In recent weeks, 10 specimens have been found either washed ashore or in fishing nets off Ishikawa Prefecture, half-a-dozen have been caught in nets off Toyama Prefecture and others have been reported in Kyoto, Shimane and Nagasaki prefectures, all on the northern coast.
According to traditional Japanese lore, the fish rise to the surface and beach themselves to warn of an impending earthquake - and there are scientific theories that bottom-dwelling fish may very well be susceptible to movements in seismic fault lines and act in uncharacteristic ways in advance of an earthquake - but experts here are placing more faith in their constant high-tech monitoring of the tectonic plates beneath the surface. "In ancient times Japanese people believed that fish warned of coming earthquakes, particularly catfish. But these are just old superstitions and there is no scientific relationship between these sightings and an earthquake."
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.
HEAVY RAINS, SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
AUSTRALIA - Victoria was warned to brace for more extreme weather Monday after ONE OF THE MOST INSTENSE STORMS SEEN IN YEARS smashed into Melbourne Sunday. Heavy rain was falling as a storm 'super cell' moved south after hitting north-east and central Victoria. Deniliquin has already recorded its MONTHLY MEAN RAINFALL (30mm) in ONE HOUR, and 18mmm in ten minutes, and Murchison recorded 36mm in 30 minutes. Hailstones as big as four centimetres have been reported in Numurkah. Many Melbourne landmarks are still trying to deal with the damage from Sunday's downpour. Many areas of the roof of Southern Cross station have not yet been secured, leading to the possibility of disruptions to the train system if heavy rains again fall in central Melbourne. A humid and very unstable atmosphere meant Victoria faced the same ingredients that delivered Sunday’s incredible weather. (satellite photo & many photos)
SPACE WEATHER -
The sun is blank for the second day in a row - no sunspots. But astronomers are monitoring a pair of dark magnetic filaments on the sun. The largest filament, which is curling over the sun's northeastern limb, stretches at least 50,000 km from end to end. SOHO has been monitoring the plasma-filled behemoth for more than three days. How long can this filament hold itself up? If it collapses and hits the stellar surface, the impact could produce a powerful Hyder flare. [Generally Hyder flares are not associated with energetic particle emission or geomagnetic storms. However, this is not always the case. At this stage in solar physics we do not really know what produces a flare.] (photo & movie)
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-Creative Contract Packaging Corporation is recalling HERB-OX® Bouillon Products Because of Possible Health Risk. This action is being taken after Basic Food Flavors, Inc. issued a recall for all Hydrolyzed Vegetable protein ("HVP") dry powder manufactured by Basic Food Flavors on or after September 17, 2009, due to a positive test result for Salmonella in a production lot.
-National Pretzel Company of Lancaster, Pa. is recalling all Honey Mustard Onion flavored pretzels produced since December, 2009 because an ingredient used in the seasoning has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
-McCormick & Company, Incorporated is initiating a recall of products manufactured with HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein) because the ingredient has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
-Fresh Food Concepts, Inc. announced, it is voluntarily recalling certain production codes of Delicioso, De la Casa, Rojo’s and Fresh Food Concepts brand Spinach Dips and Fresh Food Concepts Spinach Dip with Yogurt because an ingredient used in those products has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
-Brockton, MA-Concord Foods Inc is recalling certain production codes of Concord Foods Vegetable Dip Seasoning mix that is generally sold in the produce department of supermarkets because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
-The Estrella Family Creamery of Montesano, Washington, is recalling a production of Old Apple Tree Tomme cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
