This morning -
5.3 - TAIWAN REGION
Yesterday, 5/27/2014 -
5.0 MOLUCCA SEA
5.0 FLORES REGION, INDONESIA
5.1 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.1 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE
5.1 SOUTHERN IRAN
5.1 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5/26/2014 -
5.0 AZORES ISLANDS REGION
5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5/25/2014 -
5.1 OFFSHORE GUATEMALA
5.6 NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN
5.1 TONGA
5.0 MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
5.0 TAIWAN
5/24/2014 -
5.2 SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
5.8 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.0 WESTERN TURKEY
6.9 AEGEAN SEA
5.6 OAXACA, MEXICO
5/23/2014 -
5.4 NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.7 PAGAN REG., N. MARIANA ISLANDS
5.8 MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION
5/22/2014 -
5.4 BURYATIYA, RUSSIA
5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.0 SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA
TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES -
Three years after the Japan tsunami, suspected bits of debris arrive on Washington shores. The disaster's aftermath is still being felt in ways large and small, far and wide.
On a beach in southern Washington, approximately 4,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean, debris that may be from the tsunami is washing ashore. Experts have yet to confirm the debris, which includes small fishing boats, foam blocks, and water bottles are all a direct result of the tsunami. However, many of the water bottles and assorted items of trash appear to have originated in Japan.
There are portions of the beach that look like a dump truck just emptied a huge pile of trash. Washington state has been keeping track of the debris that is confirmed to be from the tsunami. Items include boats, portions of docks, and volleyballs have all washed ashore over the past three years. Alaska, California, and Oregon have also been monitoring their coasts.
The most recent series of debris began to arrive on beaches on Friday. Authorities are investigating to see if the boats and other items can be identified. They will also be checked for invasive species. In addition to the mass destruction and thousands of deaths, the earthquake that caused the tsunami altered the spin of the planet, according to reports.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the East Pacific -
Tropical storm Amanda is located several hundred miles south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico.
Hurricane Amanda unexpectedly regained strength briefly Tuesday, before resuming a predicted weakening far off Mexico's Pacific coast where it posed no threat to land. The hurricane's maximum sustained winds were about 105 mph (165 kph) Tuesday afternoon, after rising to 120 mph (195 kph) Tuesday morning. Weakening should continue and Amanda is likely to become a tropical storm by Thursday. The hurricane was centered about 575 miles (920 kilometers) south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula and was moving north-northwest near 5 mph (7 kph). Amanda was THE STRONGEST MAY HURRICANE ON RECORD.
Global Tropical Cyclones Shifting Poleward as the Climate Warms - Over the past 30 years, the location where tropical cyclones reach their maximum intensity has been shifting toward the poles in both the northern and southern hemispheres at a rate of about 35 miles (1/2° of latitude) per decade, according to a new study.< /br> The poleward shift in tropical cyclones was likely due to observed changes in vertical wind shear and tropical cyclone potential intensity over the past 30 years, which changed the regions most favorable for tropical cyclone development, the researchers said. < /br> Wind shear has been decreasing closer to the poles, and the potential intensity has been increasing (the potential intensity of a tropical cyclone depends upon the sea surface temperature underneath the storm and the amount of atmospheric instability, with warm air near the surface and cold air aloft giving higher instability and potential intensity.) Interestingly, these shifts were primarily observed in the Western North Pacific Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere's ocean areas. The North Atlantic Ocean and Eastern North Pacific exhibited only small poleward trends; the North Indian Ocean did not show any poleward trends. (more at link)
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
RECORD FLOODING In Bosnia has uncovered human remains experts believe belong to people who went missing during the country's 1992-95 war. Teams fixing power lines damaged by last week's floods discovered the remains near the northern town of Doboj after water receded. Nearly 30,000 people went missing during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. One third of them have been found in mass graves, mostly in Bosnia. Authorities continue to search for thousands still believed hidden.
EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -
Alaska - Driven by strong winds, the Funny River Fire burned more than 182,000 acres in south-central Alaska by the morning of May 27. The fire is burning in a hardwood and spruce forest and grass that is dry from an early, warm spring. It is producing significant amounts of smoke that is affecting air quality across the Kenai Peninsula.
Australia - Warm weather hits retailers. A RECORD-BREAKING BOUT OF WARM WEATHER in May in New South Wales and Victoria has retailers holding crisis talks to discuss tactics for the lack of winter clothing interest. "It's being felt across the industry, from those selling winter coats and boots, to the kitchenwares business, such as soup makers and crockpots, to electric blankets and heaters. Even if we get a sharp cold spell, most people will now wait for the sales to buy new items that they may only use for a couple of months.”
Dust storm - Dust blew over the Caspian Sea in May.
Texas - Drought adds danger to boating on North Texas lakes. Due to drought, water levels are at least 10 feet lower than usual and it is a major problem for boaters.
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