Archive for August, 2010
Posted by feww on August 31, 2010
Hurricane Season Could Get Busier Still
L-R: HURRICANE EARL, Tropical Storm FIONA, T.S. DANIELLE, Invest Area 98L, T.S. LIONROCK, T.S. NAMTHEUN, Typhoon KOMPASU. Click image to enlarge.
Hurricane EARL
HURRICANE EARL – IR (NHC Enhancement) Satellite Image. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge.
Hurricane EARL: Summary of status at 11:10UTC on August 31, 2010 [Estimated by Fire-Earth]
- Location: Near 20.8N 67.1W
- Position: About 205 km (110NM) NNW of San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Max Sustained Winds: 225 km/hr
- Wind Gusts: 270 km/hr
- Movement: WNW (290 degrees) at 20 km/hr
- Max Wave Heights: 4.1m (12 feet)
- Sources: JTWC and others
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Posted in hurricane, hurricane warning, storm, typhoon, typhoon KOMPASU | Tagged: 2010 atlantic hurricane season, Atlantic hurricane, Hurricane EARL, Puerto Rico, San Juan, TS LIONROCK, TS NAMTHEUN | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 30, 2010
Mount Sinabung 2nd eruption ‘more powerful’
Sinabung spewed ash to a height of about 2km in its second eruption in two days
Mount Sinabung volcano spews smoke in Suka Nalu village in the district of Tanah Karo, in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province August 30, 2010. The Indonesian volcano that erupted for the first time in centuries on Sunday spewed fresh plumes of smoke early on Monday morning, causing panic in nearby villages and delaying local flights, officials said on Monday. Credit: Reuters/Tarmizy Harva. Image may be subject to copyright. More photos …
According to Indonesia’s head volcanologist, Surono, Today’s eruption was more powerful than the first yesterday.
“Earlier today was another eruption at 6.30 a.m., sending out smoke as high as two km, more or less.” He said.
“I saw some hot pieces of volcanic rock come out and burn trees in the area,” A Reuters photographer said
“People have been evacuated from areas within a six km (four-mile) radius of the volcano,” vulcanologist Surono said. “Beyond six km it is safe, but there has still been a lot of panic among people here who don’t understand that.”
He said it was impossible to know when the eruptions would stop, but it was unlikely volcanic dust would drift to neighboring countries.
“Here, [the volcanic dash] is three millimeters (1/8 of an inch) thick on the leaves of plants,” he said, adding that he did not believe the neighboring countries would be affected as a result of this eruptive episode.
Our colleagues at EDRO believe that the collapse of Singapore may occur as a result of volcanic activity on the island of Sumatra. However, they have not disclosed any further detail.
Earlier Entries:
Related Links:
FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast
Other Recommended Links
Posted in sumatra volcano, volcanic activity, volcanic eruption, volcanic hazard, volcanism, volcano, Volcano News | Tagged: indonesia volcano, Mount Sinabung, Singapore | 4 Comments »
Posted by feww on August 29, 2010
Lava spewing ‘like a ball of fire’
Indonesian officials have issued a red alert after Mount Sinabung on the island of Sumatra began spewing lava early Sunday morning.
Villagers ride a motorcycle while covering their mouths at the district of Tanah Karo outside the city of Medan, North Sumatra, as the Mount Sinabung volcano spews smoke in the background August 28, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Tarmizy Harva. Image may be subject to copyright.
The volcano had been spewing smoke and ash to a height of about 1.5km a.s.l. throughout Saturday, local reports said, quoting eye witnesses who saw lava spewing out of the volcano from 7 km away.
The authorities have evacuated up to 15,000 residents living near the volcano.
Mount Sinabung is one of Indonesia’s 130 active volcanoes, and had last erupted about 400 years ago.
The head of Indonesia’s vulcanology center was quoted by Reuters as saying:
“This is the first time since 1600 that Sinabung erupted [although there are no activities recorded] and we have little knowledge in terms on its eruptive patterns and general forms.”
The conical Sinabung volcano, seen here from the east, rises above farmlands on the Kato Plateau. Gunung Sinabung contains four summit craters, the southernmost of which is the youngest. Many prominent lava flows appear on the flanks of the volcano. No confirmed historical eruptions are known from Gunung Sinabung. Photo by Tom Casadevall, 1987 (U.S. Geological Survey). Caption: GVP
Sinabung Volcano: Summary of Details
Country: Indonesia
Region: Sumatra
Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Holocene
Last Known Eruption: Unknown [1600?]
Summit Elevation: 2,460m
Latitude: 3.17°N Longitude: 98.392°E
Source: GVP
Sinabung is located in Group K Volcanoes
Map of Volcanoes. Background Map: University of Michigan. Designed and enhanced by Fire Earth Blog. Click image to enlarge.
Sinabung volcano, seen from Gurukinayan village on the south, shows prominent lava flows on its flanks and a dramatic summit spine. The summit of Gunung Sinabung is much less frequently visited than neighboring Sabayak volcano to the NE. Photo by S. Wikartadipura, 1982 (Volcanological Survey of Indonesia). Source: GVP.
Approximate location of Sinabung is marked on the map by FEWW.
The volcano is located about 260km east of the epicenter of the 9.1 – 9.3Mw earthquake which struck off the coast of Sumatra on December 26, 2004, triggering the deadly Boxing Day Tsunami.
Related Links:
FEWW Volcanic Activity Forecast
Posted in volcanic activity, volcanic eruption, volcanism, volcano, volcano alert, volcano eruption, Volcano News | Tagged: indonesia volcano, Mount Sinabung, sumatra volcano | 3 Comments »
Posted by feww on August 28, 2010
Image of the Day
Marooned!
¼ of a million more people forced to flee homes
The monsoon floods in the Indus River Basin that are now moving south, have so far inundated about 22 percent of Pakistan, displacing more than 20 million people, killing thousands [official death toll stands at 1,600,] destroying some 1.2m homes, damaging at least 3.2m hectares of farmland (14% of Pakistan’s cultivated land), and putting millions at risk from waterborne diseases, as well as food and clean water shortages, reports say.
“The magnitude of this crisis is reaching levels that are even beyond our initial fears” ~ UN spokesperson
Fresh Flooding in Southern Pakistan. A freeze frame from a BBC UK video report. Image may be subject to copyright.
“The number of those affected and those in need of assistance from us are bound to keep rising.”
“The floods seem determined to outrun our efforts. About one month from the onset of the floods, we don’t know when we will see their end, as the disaster is still unfolding,” he added.
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Posted in flooding, Indus River flooding | Tagged: disasters 2010, flood, pakistan flooding, Sindh Province, waterborne diseases | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 27, 2010
Image of the Day:
Fire: A Major Mechanism of Collapse
An Early Dividend of Rising Global Temperatures
A deadly fire, which killed at least one person, consumed more than 300 homes in Navotas City, Philippines, Aug. 27, 2010. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali). Image may be subject to copyright. More images …
Argentina: Meanwhile, about 1,500 hectares of Calilegua National Park in northwestern were burnt out by a fire.
Italy: At least 3 dozen fires which have broken out in southern Italy since Saturday, are believed to have been caused by rising temperatures, reports say.
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Posted in Calilegua National Park, fire, first wave of collapsing cities, Madeira fires, rising global temps | Tagged: 2010 disasters, Hottest Year to Date, severe Drought | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 26, 2010
Where There’s Fire …
Satellite Images Capture about 150,000 Fires Burning in S. America
Some 148,946 fires, outlined in red, were burning on August 23, 2010 when MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image. “Most of the fires are concentrated in Bolivia, where the governments of two states had declared a state of emergency because of widespread fires three days earlier. Scores of fires also burn in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.” Source: NASA E/O. Click image to enlarge. Download large image (11 MB, JPEG). For ull caption click here.
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Posted in agricultural fires, fire, forest clearance fires, wildfire | Tagged: Argentina fires, Brazil fires, drought fire, land management fires, Paraguay fires | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 25, 2010
BP GOM Oil Plumes Spinning Out of Sight
Fast-eating species of microbes ate a Manhattan-sized oil plume spewed from BP Macondo well: Report
REALLY? DID THEY EAT THE DISPERSANTS, TOO?
“The micro-organisms were apparently stimulated by the massive oil spill that began in April, and they degraded the hydrocarbons so efficiently that the plume is now undetectable, said Terry Hazen of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,” according to a dubious report.
IF YOU DON”T BELIEVE IT SEE PHOTO BELOW!!
Which one of you greedy guys ate all the oil?
Original caption: This undated handout image shows microbes (C) degrading oil (upper right) in the deepwater plume from the BP oil spill in the Gulf, a study by Berkeley Lab researchers has shown. Credit: Reuters/Hoi-Ying Holman Group
Is this serendipstickity or what? How about another “independent” report to back this fantastic news up?
WORRY NOT! The intrepid NOAA scientists, having started a 3-week mission on August 18, are conducting their Operation Dip**** [Dipstick.]
“We’re looking for hydrocarbons to see how things in the deepwater column are changing,” Tom Weber, chief scientist aboard the 35-meter boat Pisces, said. “Ever since the well has been capped, we haven’t seen that much.”
REALLY?
So the other scientists who don’t work directly for the govt must be lying!!!
University of Georgia researchers have reported that more than 75 percent the oil from the Macondo well disaster still lurks below the water in the Gulf of Mexico and threatens the ecosystem.
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Posted in dead zone, environment, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Macondo well, Proteobacteria | Tagged: BP oil disaster, BP oil spill in the Gulf, deepwater plume, gulf of mexico dead zone, Operation Dipstick | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 24, 2010
Diarrhea and cholera wreaking havoc in many of Pakistan’s flooded areas
About 80% of the town of Jacobabad in Sindh province was buried under 1.5m (5ft) of water, as a tsunami of floodwaters were rapidly moving south towards the state of Balochistan, UNHCR reported.
The situation in Sindh continues to deteriorate, as the second wave of floodwaters quickly moves into the south of the province, the report said.
The Great Deluge in Pakistan
Image acquired August 19, 2010 — download large image (5 MB, JPEG)
Image acquired July 31, 2009 – download large image (5 MB, JPEG)
The top false-color image was acquired by the Landsat-5 satellite on August 19, 2010. Lower image dated July 31, 2009 is used for comparison. Tsunamis of floodwater riding on the Indus River target southern Pakistan three weeks after the first floods inundated NW Pakistan. Source: NASA E/O. Click images to enlarge.
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disaster 2010, flood, flooding. Tagged: waterborne diseases, pakistan flooding, Sindh Province.
Posted in flood, flood disaster, flooding, Indus River flooding, The Great Deluge | Tagged: flooding in Pakistan, Jacobabad, pakistan flooding, Pakistan Floods, Sindh Province, waterborne diseases | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 23, 2010
Image of the Day:
The Three ‘Synchronized’ Storms
Source: CIMSS.
Posted in DANIELLE, MINDULLE, storm, Tropical storm FRANK, TS DANIELLE, TS FRANK | Tagged: 010 Atlantic hurricane season, tropical storms | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 22, 2010
2011 Disasters
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Posted by feww on September 13, 2010
2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010
Global Disasters in 2011 Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of the Human Population
The impact of anthropogenic and human-enhanced natural disasters on the population will be 600 percent more severe in 2011 compared with 2010: Fire-Earth Forecast
Earth is critically wounded and diseased as a result of human assault and battery.
Humans’ first wave of serious [near-fatal] assault on the planet began in the early 1980s and has since heightened in severity.
Our feverish planet‘s fight against the “human pathogens” is entering a critical phase. The earth’s defense mechanism is employing geophysical phenomenon, as a result of which the impact of natural disasters on human population is intensifying.
In 2007 EDRO models showed that the intensity of disasters caused as a result of the human assault on the planet, and the planet’s struggle to heal herself, would lead to the first wave of collapse of the population centers globally by about 2012.
It already has!
The collapse has already started and would ultimately lead to the extinction [possibly near-extinction] of human race.
For the EDRO forecast to be true, the final years leading to the start of collapse, namely 2010, 2011 and 2012, must necessarily be progressively more disastrous.
Based on their models, Fire-Earth Moderators forecasted in December 2009 that the year 2010 would prove to be the most disastrous year on record. And with more than 100 days left to the end of this year, their forecast has already proven to be true and accurate.
What about 2011?
Fire-Earth models show that the impact of anthropogenic and human-enhanced natural disasters would be about 600 percent more severe in 2011 compared with this year.
Based on their findings, the Moderators estimate that between one-third and one-half of the world population could be affected in some way by various disasters that are forecasted to occur in 2011.
Posted by feww on December 11, 2010
2011-2012: A TIME FOR MEGADISASTERS
Emerging Calamities You CAN’T Prepare for, or Insure against
Climate Change, Global Broiling, Volatility and Extremes of Weather, Mega Swings of Temperature, Megadeluges and Megadroughts, Giant Dust Storms, Megaquakes, Super Volcanic Eruptions, Extreme Wildfires, Food and Water Scarcity, Deadly Diseases, Megadeaths (Forests, Plants, Animal Species…)
Looming Megadisasters Could Impact 1/3 to 1/2 of Human Population
Related Links:
2010 Disaster Calendar
January 2010 | February 2010 | March 2010 | April 2010 | May 2010 | June 2010 | July 2010 | August 2010 | September 2010 | October 2010 | November 2010 | December 2010
Posted in 2010 disasters, 2011 disaster forecast, 2011 disasters, 6th Great Extinction, Collapse Diary, Collapse Survivors, Collapsing Cities, global disasters | Tagged: 2010 Disaster Calendar, Collapse Diary, DISASTER FORECAST 2011, high-energy strategies | 2 Comments »
Posted by feww on August 21, 2010
Will it be Drought, Deluge, Volcanic Eruptions, Earthquakes, War …
How Drought Slowed Plant Growth [2000-2009]
Click image to enlarge.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, researchers at the University of Montana have discovered that plant growth slowed for the 2000–2009, despite the decade being the warmest on record. “We see this as a bit of a surprise, and potentially significant on a policy level because previous interpretations suggested that global warming might actually help plant growth around the world,” one of the researchers said. “This is a pretty serious warning that warmer temperatures are not going to endlessly improve plant growth.” More information available in a feature article and on videos. Source: NASA E/O.
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Posted in climate change hazards, climate disasters, Climate Research, climate system, Climate-related Disasters, climatic chaos, environment | Tagged: drought and deluge, plant growth | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 21, 2010
Satellite Images of Massive Landslide in Zhouqu, China
Click image to enlarge. “On August 8, 2010, unusually intense monsoon rains triggered devastating landslides and floods that buried a densely populated area in the center of the city. As of August 17, China’s official news agency reported [1,364] deaths with [401] people still missing [as of 4 p.m. Thursday.] This detailed image, from DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite, shows the largest slide in the lower part of the city on August 10.” Source: NASA E/O. Download large image (5 MB, JPEG) acquired August 10, 2010
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Posted in China Collapse, china flooding, China landslide, China Storm | Tagged: Landslide in Zhouqu, Satellite Images of china Landslide, WorldView-2 satellite | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 20, 2010
Thought for the Day:
Can we trust GE Hitachi, Duke Energy, Areva … like we did BP?
ABOUT 100,000 tons of nuclear waste (aka High Level Waste, HLW) sit in radioactive dumps across the U.S.
Additionally, The U.S. nuclear energy industry is producing more than a third of the 12,000 metric tons of HLW piling up globally every year.
[A 1000-MWe nuclear power plant produces about 30 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel.]
There are also “millions of gallons of radioactive waste, thousands of tons of spent nuclear fuel and material [as well as] huge quantities of contaminated soil and water,” the Department of Energy (DOE) has reported.
Nuke energy companies say they can recycle the waste squeezing more energy from the spent nuclear fuel thus reducing the waste behind [sic.]
“When it comes to energy, America is strong on technology but weak on policy,” says the high-rolling GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Chairman John Fuller. “And it’s a critical handicap.” [Remember BP CEO?]
Incidentally, since its inception in 1878, GE hasn’t produced a single environment-friendly product.
As for Hitachi, they can’t even produce a household appliance that stands upright [a colleague who lives in Japan is about to receive a third fridge-freezer unit in just over a week because the first two were defective lemons.
GE Hitachi says they could build a new generation of fast reactors that can extract up to 99 percent of energy contained in the uranium fuel rods. The question is can the nation trust GE Hitachi, like they did BP?
Defective Hitachi fridges don't kill many people, but a GE Hitachi reactor could.
At the end of the day, of course, all of these concerns are academic ...
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Posted in Entergy, Exelon, GE Hitachi, GE Hitachi fast reactor, GE Hitachi PRISM Reactor | Tagged: AREVA, Bill Gates, Duke energy, High Level Waste, U.S. nuclear energy | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 19, 2010
More than 20 million affected by Pakistan Floods
Flooding near Kashmor, Sindh Province, Pakistan
Flood Disaster Summary:
- More than 20 million people have been affected, and the toll is rising.
- Thousands of people have been killed or injured.
- 3.5 million children face waterborne diseases.
- A quarter of Pakistan land area, including its agricultural heartland, has been inundated.
- Up to 3.5 million hectares of crops have been destroyed.
- At least a million homes destroyed or damaged.
Click image to enlarge. Download large image (8 MB, JPEG) – acquired August 12, 2010
Top: Flooding near Kashmor in Sindh province, Pakistan, on August 12, 2010 (Landsat 5 satellite), immediately prior to the second wave of the flooding striking the region. Above: The same region on August 9, 2009. Download large image (9 MB, JPEG).
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Posted in disaster 2010, flood, flooding, Indus River flooding | Tagged: pakistan flooding, Sindh Province, waterborne diseases | Leave a Comment »
Posted by feww on August 18, 2010
Then the Mosquitoes followed …
Dengue fever infects 50,000 Thais, killing at least 63
Dengue fever infection, spread by the bite of infected female mosquitoes, has flu-like symptoms, which can easily cause death through a complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Many of the victims live in the slum areas of Tegucigalpa city, Thailand a report said.
EEE in Florida
Meanwhile, 4 Florida residents have reportedly died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne disease that normally afflicts horses, a report said.
This colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) depicts a salivary gland that had been extracted from a mosquito, which was infected by the Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus, which has been colorized red; magnified 83,900x.
The Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus is a member of the family Togaviridae, and genus Alphavirus. EEE is a mosquito-borne viral disease. As the name suggests, it occurs in the eastern half of the US. Due to the high case fatality rate, it is regarded as one of the more serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States. This virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. The main transmission cycle is between birds and mosquitoes. Several species of mosquitoes can become infected with the EEE virus. The most important mosquito in maintaining the enzootic (animal-based, in this case bird-mosquito-bird) transmission cycle is Culiseta melanura. Horses can become infected with, and die from EEE virus infection. Source: CDC/ Fred Murphy; Sylvia Whitfield (1968).
“EEE and West Nile virus have been detected in 43 of Florida’s 67 counties, while dengue cases have been confirmed in two south Florida counties, Monroe and Broward, according to the state Department of Health.”
Two of the EEE victims, a viral disease that causes brain inflammation, lived in Tampa-area, a third in the state capital of Tallahassee and one in Sopchoppy, NW Florida.
“The dengue virus began showing up in Florida in 2009 after an absence since its last major outbreak in 1934. At least 28 confirmed cases of domestically transmitted dengue fever have been reported in Florida this year, along with 67 foreign-acquired cases. The disease is more prevalent in Central and South America,” the report said.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare illness in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the United States each year. Most cases occur in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast states (see map). Most persons infected with EEEV have no apparent illness. Severe cases of EEE (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting. The illness may then progress into disorientation, seizures, or coma. EEE is one of the most severe mosquito-transmitted diseases in the United States with approximately 33% mortality and significant brain damage in most survivors. There is no specific treatment for EEE; care is based on symptoms. You can reduce your risk of being infected with EEEV by using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, and staying indoors while mosquitoes are most active. If you think you or a family member may have EEE, it is important to consult your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis.
An illustration of a Culiseta melanura mosquito. Common characteristics of Culiseta melanura include a long and curved proboscis, a dark-scaled abdomen, and slightly enlarged dark scales on the outer wing. This mosquito is a vector of the eastern equine encephalitis virus in bird populations. Source: CDC
Technical Information
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Posted in Culiseta melanura mosquito, Florida, thailand, West Nile virus | Tagged: Dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, EEE in Florida, Tegucigalpa | Leave a Comment »
