"Sea level readings indicate that a significant tsunami was not generated." No damage was reported in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, although a total blackout sparked panic in the capital, Port Blair. More than 350,000 people live on nearly 600 islands in the remote archipelago. In 2004, a powerful earthquake off Sumatra's coast triggered the tsunami that killed more than 220,000 people around the rim of the Indian Ocean.
**Smoke 'em if you've got 'em.**
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.1 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
5.1 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
5.0 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
5.2 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.
5.3 ALASKA PENINSULA
6.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 ORURO, BOLIVIA
Yesterday -
6/12/10 -
5.3 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
7.5 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
5.0 MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.4 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.0 ALASKA PENINSULA
5.2 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
5.1 ATACAMA, CHILE
5.1 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
6/11/10 -
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS
5.4 FIJI REGION
5.6 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.5 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.5 SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN
5.0 LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE
5.2 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
California earthquake prediction a hoax - You might have seen a YouTube video in the past couple of days of a man yelling, in military cadence, that California is about to be hit by a catastrophic earthquake measuring at least 9.0 in magnitude. At the very least, the claim is unfounded, say scientists. And the whole thing could be a hoax that has caused some confusion and fear. "We know that major earthquakes are inevitable on major faults like the San Andreas, San Jacinto, and Hayward faults. But we can't predict when the next Big One will strike. Even the concept of an 'overdue' earthquake is not as clear cut as it seems. Scientists sometimes start itching to use the o-word, but the reality is usually that the earthquake could be tomorrow, but it could also still be 50 or even 100 years away." It also should be noted that California has never experienced a 9.0 in modern history. (quake map)
VOLCANOES -
ICELAND - The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland may have subsided, together with the associated travel chaos, but scientists continue to warn that more eruptions are likely in the future. The current volcanic activity in Iceland is not unusual, with similar eruptions occurring on average every 20 to 40 years. Over the last 1,100 years, there have been 205 volcanic eruptions in Iceland; about 150 of them were significantly explosive. The last eruption to produce significant ash fall across northern Europe was in 1947. Four of the most active volcanoes – Askja, Katla, Grimsvötn, and Hekla – and Öraefajökull, have produced 20 eruptions larger than Eyjafjallajökull in historic times. Looking at the pattern of eruptions, scientists say they follow a cycle, and we could now be in a more active time period following a 50 to 80-year lull. “The most likely explanation for the observed pattern is long-term stress conditions in the Icelandic crust and changes therein. Seems like the region goes through periods where the stress distribution is relatively relaxed; hence it is easier for magma to rise towards the surface and erupt.”
Volcanoes in Italy, the Aegean, the Azores, and the Canary Islands, which also produce large ash plumes, have the potential to disrupt air travel in the future, though it is very difficult to predict if and when future eruptions may occur.
PHILIPPINES - Taal Volcano island residents refuse to leave their homes unless forced by government authorities, believing that good spirits are taking care of and protecting them. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has raised the alert level in Taal to 2. In 1976, the volcano acted worse than now. “There were huge cracks of land wherein a carabao would fit in but we did not leave." In 1965, when Taal erupted, they only left their home when they saw fire coming out of the volcano. “It’s strange how we fitted in one motorboat. We were 150 persons that time when we fled." The people’s patron saint, San Guillermo, appeared before them, guided them and brought them safely to the mainland, about 4.8 km away from the island. “The good spirits would warn us if we have to leave our homes." Residents cited the following signs that the volcano would erupt: Animals coming down, presence of more thunder and strong quakes, and presence of schools of fish on the shore.
The crater lake was calm and peaceful on Thursday but this was unusual. The sulfur content in the air increased, the color of water was turning into green from bluish and steam was seen coming out of the sides of the cliff. For the last 24 hours, Phivolcs recorded 18 small volcanic earthquakes.
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical cyclones.
HEAVY RAINS, SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
ARKANSAS - Rescuers continue to search for about two dozen people missing in a flash flood that tore through campsites, killing at least 18 people. 200 rescuers searched through the rough river and rugged terrain in the Albert Pike Camp Grounds for missing campers in the flood ravaged area on Saturday but came home bearing only more bodies. There have been reports that up to 300 people were in the vicinity at the time of the flood. Survivors described a torrent of water that arrived without warning, sweeping through the Ouachita National Forest and catching campers and families vacationing in hillside cabins completely unaware in the dead of night. The forest's remote location complicated rescue efforts. Some 177-228mm of rainwater funnelled down hillsides into the valleys early on Friday. The Caddo and Little Missouri rivers rose from 0.9m to 7m in about three hours, wiping out trailers, campsites and people. "I've seen flooding before, but I've never seen water do this kind of damage."
Police have now drastically cut their search to just three missing campers.
EXTREME HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE -
RUSSIA - On Saturday, Moscow was gripped by A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE of 31 degrees Celsius (about 88 degrees Fahrenheit). The previous temperature record for June 12 was set in 1998 with 30.8 degrees Celsius.
SPACE WEATHER -
Sunspot 1081 is crackling with C- and M-class solar flares. A strong M2-class flare on June 12th (0055 UT) sparked a bright flash of extreme ultraviolet radiation, propelled a shock wave through the sun's atmosphere, and hurled a billion-ton coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. The CME is expected to miss Earth -- so no auroras. The M-flare also produced a Type II radio burst. Sunspot 1081 appears to be in a state of slight decay, but that has not stopped the flares. Indeed, the decay may be contributing to magnetic instabilities underlying these explosions. (video)
A solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole is expected to hit Earth on June 16th or 17th.
