In the first, it is ridiculed.
In the second, it is opposed.
In the third, it is regarded as self evident.**
Arthur Schopenhauer
LARGEST QUAKES -
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (update every 30 minutes)
This morning -
5.5 NEAR COAST OF NORTHERN PERU
5.0 FIJI REGION
DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE cluster continues
Yesterday -
11/28/12 -
5.0 NORTHERN ALGERIA
5.1 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.9 BANDA SEA
5.6 NORTHERN PERU
DODECANESE ISLANDS, GREECE cluster continues
VOLCANOES -
Volcano Webcams
Russia's Tolbachik Erupts for First Time in 36 Years - The explosive volcanic eruption began in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula on Tuesday. KVERT, the volcano monitoring body for Kamchatka, released a bulletin describing a significant explosive eruption with the potential for ash explosions up to 10 km / 32,800 ft. With the many air routes across the northern Pacific, this eruption will need to be closely monitored for its impact on air travel over the eastern Siberian peninsula. Towns up to 35 km from the volcano have received 4 cm of ash fall from the eruption.
The ash advisory from the Tokyo VAAC also mentions a report of ash at FL 330 (33,000 feet) that was spreading to the NNW. Seismicity had been creeping upwards around Tolbachik since at least early November. One report described the eruption as the “volcano’s top caldera is being filled with fresh and gushing lava” based on incandescence seen at the summit.
The last eruption of Tolbachik started in 1975 and was quite impressive, with both explosive and effusive activity. However, that was a larger eruption than most over the last century at the Russian volcano and most are smaller. Interestingly, the 1975-76 was a mainly basaltic eruption, the largest recorded in the northern Kamchatka peninsula - that activity did produce 13 km / 42,000 foot ash plumes as well during the creation of a series of cinder cones and a 15 square kilometer lava flow field.
Unfortunately, today’s passes by the Terra and Aqua satellite didn’t capture any plume – likely because the pass was too early, but some of the peninsula is obscured by clouds as well. Tolbachik is in relative proximity to its more famous brethren, Bezymianny and Kliuchevskoi.
Indonesia's Mount Lokon volcano in North Sulawesi erupted on Wednesday, spewing ash up to 3.5 kilometers to the sky, without report of fatality and evacuation.
New Zealand - Tongariro remains quiet, but is continuing to sit in a state of unrest a week after it erupted for the second time this year. Last Wednesday, the mountain briefly sprang into life spewing ash more than four kilometres in the sky. The provisional reports from Wednesday's eruption have detected some molten material in the ash around the mountain.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Western Pacific -
- Tropical storm Bopha was located approximately 920 nm east of Palau, Republic of Palau.
Tropical Storm Bopha continues to intensify in the western North Pacific Ocean as it heads toward Yap State, triggering more warnings and watches.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE -
Australia - Victoria has sweltered on its HOTTEST NOVEMBER DAY IN MORE THAN A CENTURY, with the heatwave triggering grass fires in the state. Mildura recorded a high of 45.4C at 3.18pm (AEDT) on Thursday, taking it over the record of 45C set in the city in November 1905. Temperatures in Hopetoun were almost as high, with the mercury reaching 45C by the middle of the afternoon. In Melbourne, it reached 38.9C at 3.32pm.
Firefighters were out in force dealing with several grass fires, including one in Edenhope in the state's far west that broke out in the morning and covered 12 hectares. The blaze was contained. In Locksley, north of Seymour in central Victoria, smoke spread across the Hume Freeway, leading to its southbound carriageway being closed. There were also a blaze in Talbot, north of Ballarat, on Thursday afternoon which nine fire trucks and two aircraft were sent to deal with. Small fires also broke out in Picola and Minyip.
A hot and sticky night was expected, with temperatures remaining in the 30s until the early hours of Friday. Victorians have been warned to take care in the heat and stay well hydrated. "In these extreme temperatures, the interior of a stationary vehicle, even when parked in the shade, can become a death trap, with temperatures skyrocketing to a lethal 60C within minutes, regardless of whether windows are left open."
