**Only drink when you're by yourself. Or with somebody else.**
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
LARGEST QUAKES so far today -
5.0 TONGA
5.2 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.0 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
5.7 IZU ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.3 MOLUCCA SEA
5.6 SULU SEA
Yesterday, 2/24/15 -
5.0 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
5.4 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.3 JUJUY, ARGENTINA
5.1 VANUATU
5.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2/23/15 -
5.1 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
2/22/15 -
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.2 OFF COAST OF JALISCO, MEXICO
5.1 FIJI REGION
5.5 COLOMBIA
5.1 SOUTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
5.1 NORTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA
5.5 NEAR S COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2/21/15 -
5.1 COLOMBIA
5.1 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.3 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.
5.2 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
6.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2/20/15 -
5.3 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.5 KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
5.2 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
6.3 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2/19/15 -
5.0 VANUATU
5.4 NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA
5.5 VANUATU
5.0 FIJI REGION
5.1 VANUATU
6.5 VANUATU
5.3 MACQUARIE ISLAND REGION
TROPICAL STORMS -
* In the South Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone Glenda is located approximately 908 nm east-northeast of St Denis, La Reunion.
HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -
Afghanistan - A series of avalanches have struck north of the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing around 100 people. The snowfall has been concentrated in Panjshir province, where two schools and a mosque and around 100 homes had been destroyed. (Video)
The sudden snowfall after a mild winter surprised many residents, who were reportedly trying to dig out survivors using their bare hands in some areas. Avalanches are relatively common in northern Afghanistan, with dozens dying in major incidents in 2010 and 2012.
But the governor said Panjshir province HAD NOT SEEN AVALANCHES ON THIS LEVEL FOR THREE DECADES. "We need to clear 40km [25 miles] of snow in order to get [to the affected areas]. We have tried to clear the central road of the province to pave the way for assistance to get through. The assistance, however, has not yet arrived." Civilians were also battling through blocked roads to try to reach remote areas.
Disaster officials suggested there were at least 10 other deaths outside Panjshir province, putting the current death toll above 100. If the deaths are confirmed, it would be the worst avalanche in years. In 2012, a series of avalanches in Badakhshan province killed dozens. In 2010, more than 20 avalanches hit the Salang area, killing at least 165.
U. S. - Snow fell on the Deep South on Wednesday as another storm brought nasty weather to the region, walloping places that were hit hard just last week. Schools, daycares and offices closed ahead of the storm and governors once again declared states of emergency.
The most intense part of the storm stretched from north Texas eastward to North Carolina and Virginia. Snow accumulations could be 6 to 8 inches or higher in some places. Relief — in the form of higher temperatures — is expected Thursday.
'GLOBAL WEIRDNESS' / CLIMATE CHANGE -
U.S. sea level rise called 'very unusual' - Sea levels along the northeast coast of the U.S. rose by record levels during 2009-2010, a study has found. Sea levels north of New York City rose by 128mm in two years. Coastal areas will need to prepare for short term and extreme sea level events, say U.S. scientists.
Climate models suggest extreme sea level rises will become more common this century. "The extreme sea level rise event during 2009-10 along the northeast coast of North America is UNPRECEDENTED during the past century. Statistical analysis indicates that it is a 1-in-850 year event."
Scientists at the University of Arizona and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in New Jersey studied records of tidal levels along the east coast of the US and Canada. They divided the coastline into three areas: north of New York City, New York City to Cape Hatteras on the coast of North Carolina, and south of Cape Hatteras.
They identified what they call an extreme sea-level rise during 2009-10, when the coastal sea level north of New York City jumped by 128mm. "When coastal storms occur, extreme sea levels can lead to elevated storm surg. In addition to long-term and gradual sea level rise, coastal communities will need to prepare for short and extreme sea level rise events."
Mysterious Northeast Floods Caused by Weird Winds - Mysterious flooding and high tides along the East Coast in 2009 and 2010 now have an explanation: a major change in the Atlantic Ocean’s wind patterns and warm-water currents.
At the time, the UNUSUALLY HIGH TIDES caught people by surprise. Now, researchers know why the ocean was flooding beaches and barrier islands: Sea levels temporarily jumped by up to 2 feet (61 centimeters) above the high tide mark, as measured by tide gauges along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. Over the two-year period, coastal sea levels rose an average of 4 inches (10 cm) from New York to Newfoundland, Canada.
“This extreme sea level rise is UNPRECEDENTED in tide gauge records. This is a one-in-850-year event, based on the past records.” The unexpected surge was caused by a major slowdown in the Gulf Stream, one of the Atlantic Ocean’s great currents. About two months before sea levels spiked along the East Coast, the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) declined by 30 percent. The Gulf Stream, which is part of the AMOC, flows from the tip of Florida up the coast to Newfoundland, Canada.
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS
World Health Organization 'taken aback' by measles outbreaks - Officials say they have been "taken aback" by more than 22,000 cases in 2014 and the first months of this year. The WHO demands that counties control the outbreaks with "no exception".
It say the surges threaten the goal of eliminating measles in the region by the end of 2015. "When we consider that over the past two decades we have seen a reduction of 96% in the number of measles cases in the European region, and that we are just a step away from eliminating the disease, we are taken aback by these numbers. We must collectively respond, without further delay, to close immunization gaps. It is unacceptable that, after the last 50 years' efforts to make safe and effective vaccines available, measles continues to cost lives, money and time."
Duodeonocope superbug - How long did the FDA know about problem? Duodeonoscopes were the cause of recent infections and deaths at UCLA. But patients in Minnesota were infected in 1987 - and now doctors and members of Congress say they're concerned the Food and Drug Administration might have missed the problem for decades.
"This problem has been known since at least 1987. It certainly is disturbing that a fundamental design issue with these scopes would cause problems for this long."
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