“Elk Bath” – A wildfire in the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana, United States. Photo [dated: 2000-08-06] taken by John McColgan, Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Wikipedia/USDA

This graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (purple). The orange circle indicates the current position of the center of the tropical cyclone. The black line and dots show the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast track of the center at the times indicated. The dot indicating the forecast center location will be black if the cyclone is forecast to be tropical and will be white with a black outline if the cyclone is forecast to be extratropical. If only an L is displayed, then the system is forecast to be a remnant low. The letter inside the dot indicates the NHC’s forecast intensity for that time. (NOAA)

BULLETIN: HURRICANE DOLLY ADVISORY NUMBER 10
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042008
400 PM CDT TUE JUL 22 2008

DOLLY BECOMES A HURRICANE: THE SECOND OF THE 2008 HURRICANE SEASON

A HURRICANE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE COAST OF TEXAS FROM
BROWNSVILLE TO CORPUS CHRISTI…AND FOR THE NORTHEAST COAST OF
MEXICO FROM RIO SAN FERNANDO NORTHWARD TO THE BORDER BETWEEN MEXICO
AND THE UNITED STATES. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY
SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

Hurricane Dolly - RGB Enhanced Satellite Image - NOAA

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NORTH OF CORPUS
CHRISTI TO SAN LUIS PASS.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LA
PESCA TO SOUTH OF RIO SAN FERNANDO.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA…INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS…PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 400 PM CDT…2100Z…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE DOLLY WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 24.6 NORTH…LONGITUDE 95.3 WEST OR ABOUT 165 MILES…
265 KM…EAST-SOUTHEAST OF BROWNSVILLE TEXAS.

DOLLY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH…17 KM/HR.
THIS MOTION SHOULD BRING THE CORE OF DOLLY NEAR NORTHEASTERN MEXICO
OR EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS ON WEDNESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 75 MPH…120
KM/HR…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. DOLLY IS A CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE ON
THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST BEFORE
LANDFALL.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES…30 KM…FROM
THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160
MILES…260 KM. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS SHOULD BEGIN TO REACH
THE COASTS OF NORTHEAST MEXICO AND SOUTHERN TEXAS LATER TONIGHT.

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WAS
986 MB…29.12 INCHES.

DOLLY IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAIN ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 10
INCHES…WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES…OVER MUCH OF SOUTH
TEXAS AND NORTHEASTERN MEXICO OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 4 TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE
LEVELS…ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES…CAN BE
EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE NORTH OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL.

A FEW TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE LOWER AND MIDDLE
TEXAS COASTS.

NOAA satellite image taken on July 22, 2008. (UPI Photo/NOAA Handout)

REPEATING THE 400 PM CDT POSITION…24.6 N…95.3 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD…NORTHWEST NEAR 10 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…986 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 700 PM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 1000
PM CDT. - FORECASTER AVILA

Related Links:

• Hurricane DOLLY Public Advisory Number 10
• UPDATE: TS DOLLY, CRISTOBAL & Hurricane Fausto
  
• Thought for the Day

.

Kawah Ijen (green crater) Volcano in Eastern Java, Indonesia

Sulfur deposits at Kawah Ijen (green crater) Volcano in Eastern Java, Indonesia. Volcanic gases from the fumaroles in this crater not only deposit the sulfur but make the lake extremely acid — both sulfuric and hydrochloric. Photo copyright R.W. Decker. (Caption: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo). See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

Miners risk health [and life] to collect sulfur from the volcanic Kawah Ijen at Indonesia’s East Java province earning about $7 a day in a rural area where farm laborers make less than $2 a day. Photo taken June 25, 2008. REUTERS/Sigit Pamungk. Image may be subject to copyright. See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

More photos:

• WITNESS: Mining sulfur in a volcano

For July 23 UPDATE Click Here >> Dolly, Now A Hurricane, Heads Towards S. Texas

Look Out, Dolly Is Coming!

Dolly May Be Heading Towards Southern Texas

NOAA Advisories:
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM DOLLY INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042008
800 AM EDT MON JUL 21 2008

DOLLY ABOUT TO EMERGE OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF YUCATAN

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF
MEXICO FROM THE BORDER WITH BELIZE TO CAMPECHE MEXICO.

AT 8 AM EDT (1200 UTC) THE GOVERNMENT OF YUCATAN PENINSULA HAS DISCONTINUED
THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR THE COAST OF BELIZE.

INTERESTS IN THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS
OF DOLLY.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA - INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS. PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DOLLY WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 21.6 NORTH/LONGITUDE 88.7 WEST
OR ABOUT 65 MILES (105 KM) EAST-NORTHEAST OF PROGRESO MEXICO.

DOLLY IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH (26 KM/HR). A
CONTINUED WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT
COUPLE OF DAYS WITH A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ON TUESDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH (85 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN TODAY AS THE CENTER OF
THE STORM MOVES OUT INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO AND DOLLY COULD
BECOME A HURRICANE BY TUESDAY.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175 MILES (280 KM)
FROM THE CENTER.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE BASED ON PRELIMINARY REPORTS
FROM NOAA RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT IS 1005 MB (29.68 INCHES).

DOLLY IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL OF 4 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS THE
NORTHERN YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO AND IN WESTERN CUBA WITH
ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS UP TO 10 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 800 AM EDT POSITION 21.6 N. 88.7 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 16 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 50
MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 1005 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT

1100 AM EDT. - FORECASTER KNABB

TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL ADVISORY NUMBER 10
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL032008
500 AM EDT MON JUL 21 2008

CRISTOBAL CONTINUES NORTHEASTWARD AWAY FROM THE OUTER BANKS

AT 500 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 36.1 NORTH LONGITUDE 73.9 WEST OR ABOUT 110
MILES (175 KM) NORTHEAST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.

CRISTOBAL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 13 MPH (20
KM/HR) AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME
INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS
TRACK CRISTOBAL WILL BE WELL OFFSHORE OF THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST
LATER TODAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH (85 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR
TWO.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 125 MILES (205 KM)
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB…29.65 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 500 AM EDT POSITION 36.1 N 73.9 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD NORTHEAST NEAR 13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 50 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE1004 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT

1100 AM EDT. - FORECASTER ROBERTS/PASCH

BULLETIN
HURRICANE FAUSTO ADVISORY NUMBER 21
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP072008
200 AM PDT MON JUL 21 2008

FAUSTO STRENGTHENS TO CATEGORY TWO STATUS

AT 200 AM PDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FAUSTO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 20.1 NORTH LONGITUDE 115.4 WEST OR ABOUT 405 MILES
(650 KM) WEST-SOUTHWEST OF CABO SAN LUCAS MEXICO.

FAUSTO IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH (20 KM/HR) AND
A GRADUAL TURN TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48
HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH (160 KM/HR) WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. THE HURRICANE HAS PROBABLY REACHED ITS PEAK INTENSITY AND
SOME WEAKENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 40 MILES (65 KM) FROM
THE CENTER AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115
MILES (185 KM).

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 975 MB (28.79 INCHES).

REPEATING THE 200 AM PDT POSITION 20.1 N. 115.4 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD…NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS 100 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE 975 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
800 AM PDT. - FORECASTER ROBERTS/PASCH

Related Links:

• HURRICANE FAUSTO
• Tropical Storm Cristobal Treks Northeast
• National Weather Warnings

.

Los Glaciares National Park, located in the Austral Andes in Argentina, south west of Santa Cruz, on the border with Chile, was declared “World Heritage” by UNESCO in 1981. [They forgot to tell that to Global Warming!]

The Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park, south west of Santa Cruz province, Argentine Patagonia. GNU Free Documentation license, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundatio (Credit: Calyponte; via Wikimedia commons)

Related Link:

• “White Giant” glacier collapses (Video)

.

Global Temps 2008: Eighth Warmest June and Ninth Warmest January – June Period on Record

NOAA - The combined average global land and ocean surface temperatures for June 2008 ranked eighth warmest for June since worldwide records began in 1880, according to an analysis by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. Also, globally it was the ninth warmest January – June period on record.

Global Highlights

• The combined global land and ocean surface temperature for June 2008 was 60.8 degrees F, which is 0.9 degrees F above the 20th century mean of 59.9 degrees F.

• Separately, the global land surface temperature was 57.2 degrees F, which is 1.3 degrees F above the 20th century mean of 55.9 degrees F.

• The global ocean surface temperature was 62.2 degrees F, which is 0.7 degrees F above the 20th century mean of 61.5 degrees F.

• For the January – June period, the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 57.1 degrees F, which is 0.8 degrees F about the 20th century mean of 56.3 degrees F.

Sea Surface Temperatures NCEP - UWSSEC

The global annual temperature for combined land and ocean surfaces in 2007 was +0.55°C (+0.99°F) above the 20th century average, ranking 5th warmest in the period of record.

Annual Land Surface Temperature - Anomalies in degrees Celsius

Annual Blended Land and Sea - Surface Temperature Anomalies in degrees Celsius

Related Links:

• Thought for the Day

The “White Giant” Collapses

• Antienvironmental, Antisocial, Anti American!

• Arnie Knows the Score!
• CO2 Emissions Must Be Criminalized!

• The White House of Horror!!
• EPA Plays Piggy In the Middle
• The right to disturb wildlife!!

• Bering Sea Drilling Revisited!
• GHG

• World Oceans in Extreme Danger

.

HURRICANE FAUSTO as it apperaed on July 20 01:00 UTC about 460 MILES (735 km)WEST-SOUTHWEST OF MANZANILLO MEXIC - NOAA

HURRICANE FAUSTO ADVISORY NUMBER 15
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL EP072008
200 PM PDT SAT JUL 19 2008

…CATEGORY ONE HURRICANE FAUSTO HEADING NORTHWESTWARD AND WELL
OFFSHORE FROM MEXICO…

AT 200 PM PDT…2100Z…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FAUSTO WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 15.5 NORTH…LONGITUDE 110.2 WEST OR ABOUT 460 MILES
…735 KM…WEST-SOUTHWEST OF MANZANILLO MEXICO.

FAUSTO IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH…13 KM/HR…AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 85 MPH…140 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND
SUNDAY…BUT GRADUAL WEAKENING IS FORECAST ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 30 MILES…45 KM…FROM
THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 115
MILES…185 KM.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 980 MB…28.94 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 200 PM PDT POSITION…15.5 N…110.2 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD…NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…85 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…980 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
800 PM PDT.

$$
FORECASTER ROBERTS/KNABB

Related Links:

• Hurricane FAUSTO Advisory Archive (Text)

More images are available at Oceanview and Weather.

Cristobal, the first of the season’s tropical storms to menace the southeastern U.S.

Cristobal - GOES - Water Vapor Image - July 20, 08:45 UTC

TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 4A
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL032008
800 PM EDT SAT JUL 19 2008

…CRISTOBAL MOVING SLOWLY NORTHEASTWARD…

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SOUTH SANTEE RIVER
SOUTH CAROLINA TO THE NORTH CAROLINA/VIRGINIA BORDER…INCLUDING
PAMLICO SOUND.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA…INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS…PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 800 PM EDT…0000Z…THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM CRISTOBAL WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 33.2 NORTH…LONGITUDE 77.8 WEST OR ABOUT 130
MILES…210 KM…EAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA AND ABOUT 185
MILES…300 KM…SOUTHWEST OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA.

CRISTOBAL IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 6 MPH…10 KM/HR. A
CONTINUED NORTHEASTWARD MOTION WITH SOME INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED
IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THIS TRACK…THE
CENTER OF THE TROPICAL STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE PARALLEL AND VERY
CLOSE TO THE COASTS OF SOUTH AND NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE NEXT DAY OR
SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH…75 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES…140 KM
MAINLY TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1005 MB…29.68 INCHES.

RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE NORTH
CAROLINA COAST…WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER AMOUNTS.

REPEATING THE 800 PM EDT POSITION…33.2 N…77.8 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD…NORTHEAST NEAR 6 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1005 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL
HURRICANE CENTER AT 1100 PM EDT.

$$
FORECASTER FRANKLIN

Related Links:

• National Weather Warnings

More images are available at Oceanview and Weather.

.

Magnitude 7.0 Quake - OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center:

Earthquake Location: Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green. Map: USGS

An earthquake occurred about 125 km (75 miles) ENE of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan or about 130 km (80 miles) ESE of Sendai, Honshu, Japan or about 305 km (190 miles) NE of TOKYO, Japan at 8:39 PM MDT, Jul 18, 2008 (Jul 19 at 11:39 AM local time in Japan). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size.

The mainshock was followed by a 5.3 aftershock. A tsunami warning was issued for sections of Japan’s eastern coast. However, only a small wave of about 20 cm was reported.

Japan sits atop the Eurasian, Pacific, Philippine and North American tectonic plates whose movements cause numerous earthquakes. The country experiences about 20 percent of the world’s major earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

Will she hold her strength this time despite the official forecast?

Hurricane Bertha: Satellite image July 19, 2008 00:15UTC - NOAA

Related Links:

• Bertha Revving UP!

• Weather
• Watch out! Big Bertha might be heading your way!
• Bertha public advisory

• Previous UPDATE: HURRICANE BERTHA
• Bertha slows down, but her large eye looks menacing

HURRICANE BERTHA ADVISORY NUMBER 63
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL022008
500 PM AST FRI JUL 18 2008

…BERTHA BECOMES A HURRICANE AGAIN…

AT 500 PM AST…2100Z…THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BERTHA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 37.6 NORTH…LONGITUDE 50.6 WEST OR ABOUT 640 MILES…
1035 KM…SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CAPE RACE NEWFOUNDLAND.

BERTHA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 22 MPH…35 KM/HR…AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF
DAYS WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 75 MPH…120 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. BERTHA SHOULD SLOWLY WEAKEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND
BEGIN TO LOSE TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS LATE ON SATURDAY.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES…75 KM…FROM
THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 175
MILES…280 KM.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 989 MB…29.21 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 500 PM AST POSITION…37.6 N…50.6 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD…NORTHEAST NEAR 22 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…989 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1100 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER BLAKE