I'm taking the same days off this week as last - so no updates Tuesday through Thursday. (No, this won't be a regular thing!)
JAPAN - A small tsunami has reached the Pacific coast of northern Japan after a strong 7.1 quake hit the region already heavily damaged by the March earthquake / tsunami. The port town of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, saw a 10-centimetre tsunami at 11.44am (AEST). The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the main island of Honshu at 10.57am. The Japanese weather agency expected a small tsunami of up to 50cms along the affected region.No damage has been reported from the tsunami and quake. Television footage of the port in Ofunato did not show any visible sign of the tsunami, with the water surface seemingly calm and flat.
The agency issued the tsunami advisory shortly after the offshore quake in the same general area as the 9.0-magnitude quake of March 11. The US Geological Agency, which also estimated the magnitude at 7.1, said the offshore quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres. Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said it had not received reports of any fresh problems at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after the latest earthquake. "We are still checking details, but cooling of reactors is continuing." But the company told work crews near the water to seek higher ground due to the tsunami advisory.
There is a 70 percent chance of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake between now and 2040 in the southern Kanto area around Tokyo, and a 90 percent chance in nearby Ibaraki, according to Japan's Earthquake Research Promotion agency.
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.4 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS
7.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Yesterday -
7/9/11 -
5.1 KEPULAUAN BARAT DAYA, INDONESIA
5.2 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS
5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
5.8 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.0 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.1 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
5.8 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.4 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
5.7 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.2 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.4 TONGA
5.7 TONGA
5.5 BANDA SEA
VOLCANOES -
ICELAND - Possibly Small Eruption in South Iceland Volcano Katla. A glacial flood, probably, from the volcano Katla in Mýrdalsjökull has disrupted the Ring Road (highway no.1), by the river Múlakvísl on Mýrdalssandur in south Iceland, tearing the bridge across Múlakvísl. The flood is thought be the result of a small eruption underneath the icecap of Mýrdalsjökull, probably in the Katla crater. “At least this is not a large eruption, the Katla eruption people have been waiting for. If it is a volcanic eruption, it is a small event and possibly only geothermal water.“
The Civil Protection Department has issued a warning to people in the area, to beware of sulphurate smell near the river, as it might be poisonous sulphurate gas. The Álftaver area is being evacuated and preparation for evacuating the camping area in Thakgil. In the past few days, people had actually been speculating about an eruption in Hekla, a different volcano in south Iceland. The unusual activity that was picked up by sensors in the volcano Hekla in south Iceland during and before last weekend has now mostly subsided.
Cracks in Glacier, No Sign of Katla Eruption. Earth scientists who flew across Mýrdalsjökull glacier in south Iceland, which covers the volcano Katla, Saturday morning noticed cracks in two calderas in the southernmost part of the glacier. However, there were no indications that a volcanic eruption had started underneath the glacier. “There are signs of flooding from two calderas in the southernmost part of the Katla crater and indications of activity elsewhere.” A geophysicist believes the glacial flood which destroyed the bridge across Múlakvísl on the Ring Road overnight has subsided.
The Múlakvísl flood came from underneath the glacial tongue Höfdabrekkujökull and Kjartansson said the glacial ice is considerably cracked where the flood emerged. Glacial ice is stranded in a large area which indicates that the flood is coming to an end. While there are no indications that a volcanic eruption has started in Katla, it could have happened Friday night. The Icelandic Meteorological Office’s automatic sensors show changes which could indicate a small eruption. But that isn’t certain. “We will continue monitoring the situation closely." Earth scientists last studied Mýrdalsjökull on Wednesday, at which point there were no indications of seismic activity. However, sensors showed some disturbances and therefore Mýrdalsjökull has been under observation in the past days. The Civil Protection Department has declared Mýrdalsjökull a danger zone and has prohibited all traffic on the glacier.
ETHIOPIA - Nabro Eruption Leaves Thousands Without Critical Supplies. Thousands of Ethiopians in Afar State are facing critical food, water and health gaps almost a month after a volcano erupted in neighbouring Eritrea's Nabro region.
Volcanic eruptions long overdue in SE Australia - New research has revealed the age of extinct volcanoes in western Victoria and South Australia, confirming that both regions are overdue for a potentially devastating eruption.
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.
Final Warning has been issued on Calvin, which weakened to a post-tropical remnant low on Saturday evening as it stayed far off the Pacific coast of Mexico.
PHILIPPINES - Tropical depression 'Goring' to bring more rain. More rain is expected to pour down in Metro Manila and Luzon this weekend as a new tropical depression has formed near Batanes. PAGASA has called the new tropical depression "Goring." It is not expected to make landfall since it is on its way out of the country.
