Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
Carl Jung
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.
4.6 BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
4.4 BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
4.3 BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
Yesterday -
4/5/10 -
5.5 TARAPACA, CHILE
5.2 MOLUCCA SEA
5.0 MOLUCCA SEA
5.9 MOLUCCA SEA
5.1 SOUTH OF AUSTRALIA
5.1 CAYMAN ISLANDS REGION
The day after one of the strongest earthquakes to strike the region in nearly two decades, residents on both sides of the border marveled that damage was relatively light even as waves of mild aftershocks troubled nerves. The United States Geological Survey reported that the 7.2 quake, the strongest in Southern California in two decades, was caused by two rock masses grinding and scraping together along a roughly 45-mile zone. It was felt as far away as southern Utah and Portland, Oregon. A geophysicist with the survey’s National Earthquake Information Center said that the quake was very similar to the one that ravaged Haiti on Jan. 12, and that he was shocked it did not cause more death and destruction. “The thing that saved people’s lives was that the epicenter was in a remote part of Mexico. In Haiti, it was right in Port-au-Prince.”
The quake caused only two deaths and scores of mostly minor injuries in Mexicali. Its forces were fickle, leaving blocks of untouched buildings, then a crumpled facade, broken glass and cracks climbing a wall. “With the way things shook I wonder why the whole city didn’t come down." There were reports of several dozen homes and businesses severely damaged or destroyed on the outskirts of the city and in rural areas to the south. Mexican seismologists said the city was spared heavy damage probably because a large number of buildings were built recently - it is an important agricultural and manufacturing hub with a relatively large middle class - and the energy of the quake moved away from it, to the northwest. On the other side of the border, damage was mainly confined to cracked walls and floors and burst water lines in various sections of San Diego.
The 7.2 Mexicali earthquake produced more than 100 aftershocks in 15 hours on Monday [total for the day was around 350]. Many of the aftershocks have occurred on the California side of the border just above the epicenter near Mexicali. Residents in Calexico and other parts of Imperial County and San Diego County reported feeling them. There have been other aftershocks farther north in Riverside County, around the Salton Sea. A 4.1 temblor struck off the coast of Malibu on Sunday afternoon.
Dozens of the aftershocks measured stronger than magnitude 4.0. Two in Ocotillo, California, which is near the border, measured 5.0 - including one that hit Monday at 6:33 a.m. "This is very typical for a 7.2 earthquake." Officials said it was probable that the Mexicali temblor could produce an aftershock of 6.0. (quake map)
VOLCANOES -
ALASKA - A swarm of small earthquakes began Monday at a volcano near Anchorage in what scientists said was a warning that Mount Redoubt could be waking from its slumber. The swarm of small quakes started early in the day near the summit of Mount Redoubt, about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, with a regular pattern often seen when magma is moving inside a volcano. Researchers plan to fly through the steam plume of the volcano later this week and take measurements of three chemical compounds linked to volcanic activity - sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Scientists do not know if the earthquakes will lead to the volcano again becoming explosive, but they said that was a heightened possibility.
Last year, the volcano rumbled and grumbled for months before exploding on Jan. 26, at times producing huge ash plumes and sending mud flows down its flanks. It finally quieted in late September, but there was a similar episode of increased seismic activity in December. Mount Redoubt also erupted in 1989 and 1990.
The current earthquakes were not connected to Sunday's magnitude-7.2 quake in Mexico just south of the U.S. border. "We wouldn't expect there to be any connection given the distances." Alaska is the most seismically active state in the country. In 1964, it experienced a magnitude-9.2 earthquake near Anchorage, the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Cyclone ROBYN was 1278 nmi ESE of Diego Garcia and 1601 nmi WNW of Perth, Australia.
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE -
HAWAII - Rain gauges across the state recorded the LOWEST FEBRUARY RAINFALL TOTALS IN A DECADE. At Līhu'e International Airport, rainfall totals were 25 percent of normal in the first two months of the year. It's the same story at Honolulu International Airport and Kahului Airport. Hilo International Airport was at 12 percent of normal. Meanwhile, gauges sprinkled across the state recorded their lowest totals since 2000. The Ha'ikū gauge on Maui posted its lowest February total since 1992.
O'ahu is the only major island without any areas under a drought classification. Ka'ū and Kona on the Big Island and parts Maui are the only places where the drought is in the "exceptional" category, the worst on the drought intensity scale. The lower-than-average rainfall is part of the El Niño weather pattern, which typically brings drier conditions and big surf. An update on the drought conditions in Hawai'i will be issued Thursday by the National Weather Service. But it doesn't look like there will be much reprieve anytime soon. Trade wind showers haven't been significant enough to improve pasture and soil moisture conditions. "We're not done yet with winter. But we're moving into the drier time of the year once we go into late spring."
SPACE WEATHER -
GEOMAGNETIC STORM - A sharp gust of solar wind hit Earth's magnetosphere Monday, April 5th, at approximately 0800 UT and sparked the strongest geomagnetic storm of the year. The event registered 7 on the 0-to-9 Kindex scale of magnetic disturbances. Although the storm is subsiding now, it is not over; high-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras. Latest images.
HEALTH THREATS -
Researchers who studied H1N1 in 47 Quebec City households determined that between 8% and 13% of patients were still shedding viable virus 8 days into their illness, but none were still shedding on day 11. The authors write that self-isolation only until fever abates seems inadequate to limit spread and that self-isolation for 1 week may be more effective.
