if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.**
Mark Twain
I didn't manage to get the webpage updated yesterday - my apologies.
LARGEST QUAKES -
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (update every 30 minutes)
This morning -
5.9 SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA
5.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.4 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.6 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.6 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
6.1 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Yesterday -
1/30/13 -
6.0 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
6.8 ATACAMA, CHILE
5.1 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.3 XIZANG-QINGHAI BORDER REGION
5.3 OFF COAST OF OREGON
5.4 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
1/29/13 -
5.3 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.0 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
Spurred by Japan, California mulls quake alert system - A proposed quake early-warning system would use technology already in place in Japan to issue warnings from underground sensors. The system that could give California residents up to 60 seconds advance notice when a temblor strikes. With such a system in place, people living closer to the epicenter of the quake in the state's large metropolitan areas might receive a few seconds warning, those 160 miles away nearly 70 seconds. The initial cost estimate is $80 million. Seismologists estimate there's a 90 percent chance of a major earthquake sometime in the next 25 years.
Possibly active fault under Mount Fuji to trigger big quake, landslide? - Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak, may be sitting on a large, active fault that could trigger quakes and landslides that would change the mountain's shape and devastate nearby communities, the education ministry said on Thursday. A survey commissioned by the ministry found an 18-mile fault beneath Japan's highest mountain, believed by many to be sacred, and research results indicate it is likely to be active.
"We're not certain if it's an active fault. But there is a possibility... A structural investigation near [the volcano] found a fault. Because there's a fault there, there's a chance that it's moving." If the fault sets off an earthquake, it could lead to a major landslide and hit communities at the foot of the 2,400-foot-high mountain. Further research is required."
Little is known about the seismic structure under Mount Fuji because faults were buried by mudflows triggered by a huge landslide that occurred about 2,600 to 2,900 years ago, as well as by layers of volcanic ash. However, scientists say there is evidence the mountain has collapsed in the past. "In this region, there is a stratum right above the fault that indicates that Mount Fuji has collapsed before." An earthquake in 1707 caused Fuji to erupt and an estimated 20,000 people were killed.
VOLCANOES -
Volcano Webcams
Volcano activity of January 29
Volcano activity of January 28
Japan - Mt Fuji eruption could force 567,000 people to be evacuated. The Shizuoka prefectural government is estimating that at least 567,000 people might need to be evacuated from their homes in the eventuality of a Mt. Fuji eruption. An additional 130,000 might also have to relocate if lava were to reach residential districts in the city of Fuji.
New Zealand - Tourists on White Island got a rare chance to see the volcano in action Tuesday, as rocks and mud were thrown into the air. GNS scientists say the current level of tremor activity means there is a greater than usual hazard to visitors.
The hot crater lake on White Island has now completely dried up as explosive rocks, mud and gas continue to be thrown into the air from the active volcano. White Island has been spewing a steady stream of gas since activity heated up in December. It’s the most active the volcano has been since 2000.
A “small tuff cone” was forming on the bottom of the crater lake, and the active vent was producing “vigorous bursts” of mud, rock, steam and gas up to 100 meters into the air. “GNS Science’s past monitoring of the island shows that new eruptive episodes often develop out of this type of activity. Small muddy lakes sometimes form in craters. As the unrest develops, geysering and explosions occur through these lakes, becoming more vigorous with time.”
The activity does not necessarily mean an explosion or full-scale eruption will happen, although one could at any time. Even though there was an elevated risk to tourists on the island, conditions weren’t so dangerous that people could not travel there. Tourism has, in fact, been booming at White Island as the volcano heats up, with visitors eager to see some explosive action. At this stage, it is still possible to get reasonably close to the crater. One of the pilots was able to get about 180 meters away to film some spectacular footage of the explosions on Monday.
Russian volcano erupting - Footage filmed on Friday shows rivers of molten lava flowing in the area of the Plosky Tolbachik volcano, in Kamchatka peninsula. "The hot materials have erupted to the height of up to one hundred metres." The Plosky Tolbachik volcano started erupting in November after lying dormant for almost 40 years.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical Cyclone Felleng was located approximately 310 nm northwest of La Reunion.
Australia - Queensland damage bill to top that of the 2011 floods. Early estimates put the damage bill from the latest flood and storm disasters at nearly $2.5 billion.
Cyclone devastation set to continue for days - The devastation caused by Cyclone Oswald on Queensland and northern NSW will continue for days with thousands of homes inundated, entire communities isolated and the real possibility that Brisbane could run out of drinking water.
Four people have died the disaster, all in Queensland, with a three-year-old boy who was hit by a falling gum tree while watching floodwaters in Brisbane the latest victim. His 34-year-old pregnant mother remained in a critical condition in hospital on Tuesday night with several broken bones and severe head injuries. Meanwhile, 130 patients at Bundaberg Hospital, in Queensland's north, had to be airlifted to Brisbane by the Australian Defence Force, as the city is suffered its WORST EVER FLOOD.
Four helicopters and several civilian choppers also performed over 1000 air rescues, lifting stranded residents off roofs in North Bundaberg. And while the rain has eased, the immediate danger has not subsided. Residents of Maclean were on Tuesday night ordered to evacuate before floodwaters of the Clarence River peak in the northern NSW town. "Remaining in flooded areas is dangerous and may place your life at risk," the State Emergency Service warning said.
The latest threat came only hours after the neighbouring town of Grafton narrowly escaped widespread disaster when flood waters peaked just two centimetres below the town's levee wall. More than 2,000 residents had already been evacuated and another 7,000 were put on notice before the raging Clarence River peaked at 8.08 metres - its HIGHEST MARK IN RECORDED HISTORY.
"This is a sight that has never been seen by white man. The Clarence has never been recorded above 7.9 metres. It's an awesome spectacle. On Thursday and Friday we were nearly in drought conditions. Here we are on Tuesday morning talking about the biggest flood on the history books." It was a combination of "good planning" and a "fair bit of luck" that ensures most of Grafton was spared. "Now the rain will start to evaporate and we will get stuck with all the lovely smelling flood mud that Grafton gets. It will smell like a sewer for the next couple of days."
Ten local government areas hit by flooding in northern NSW have been declared natural disaster areas. Floodwaters had isolated more than 41,000 people across the state, including 18,000 in the Tweed Valley. In Queensland, Ipswich and Brisbane escaped widespread destruction when flood waters peaked at lower than forecast levels. It saved Brisbane up to $100 million on its cleaning bill but in a cruel twist of fate, the city was last night at risk of running out of drinking water. Residents were being urged to adopt drought-style water saving measures after a treatment plant was forced to close because of turbidity caused by the flood.
Tropical Cyclone Felleng, the strongest Indian Ocean cyclone since early December, is gathering strength east of northern Madagascar. The powerful storm was forecast to be of significant indirect impact to both Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands this week.
Cyclone Felleng - Heavy rains and gale force winds pelted northeastern Madagascar on Wednesday as strengthening tropical cyclone Felleng barrelled toward the island's east coast. Winds were around 175 kilometres an hour (109 miles an hour).
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
Storms leave two dead in Georgia and Tennessee - A sprawling storm system has brought havoc to a swathe of the US, leaving two people dead and thousands of households without electricity. One person died when an apparent twister hit the state of Georgia, overturning cars on a motorway. At least 10 cars had been flipped over on Interstate 75.
A man died in Nashville, Tennessee, when high winds toppled a tree on to a shed he had been taking shelter in. The storm system also brought mayhem to parts of Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky and Indiana. More than 60,000 customers have lost electricity from the Gulf Coast to Ohio as a result, it is estimated.
Footage showed a funnel cloud tearing through the Georgian town of Adairsville, 60 miles (97km) north-west of Atlanta. Interstate 75 was closed in both directions after vehicles were flipped and tossed on to the grassy shoulder. There have been numerous emergency calls of trauma and injuries. The National Weather Service warned of "major structure damage" in Adairsville. Reports said people were trapped in homes and businesses and aerial news footage showed widespread damage at a factory.
In Kentucky, two people were injured when their mobile home was blown off its foundations. In Mississippi, power cuts and damaged homes were reported in at least 10 counties. In Indiana, piles of debris and downed power lines blocked roadways. The NWS is reporting golf-ball sized hail stones in some areas. Meteorologists say warm weather from the Gulf of Mexico collided with a cold front from the west, creating volatile conditions.
Photos
Africa - In January, severe flooding struck Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.
HEALTH THREATS -
A second Michigan company has recalled ground beef in connection with a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, which has expanded to 16 illnesses in five states.
RECALLS & ALERTS
- Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is recalling 1953 pounds of alfalfa, clover, brocco sandwich sprouts, and spicy sprouts due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
- Whole Foods Market Expands Its Recall Of Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Because Of Possible Health Risk From Listeria.
- The Hartz Mountain Corporation is withdrawing its Hartz ® Chicken Chews ™ and Hartz ® Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken for dogs in the United States because they contain trace amounts of unapproved antibiotic residue.
