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Caution
Technical information and scientific data from the US Government agencies (NASA, EPA…) are subject to variation due to political expediency.
This caution also extends to the UN organizations (e.g., FAO, WHO…).
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Heavy snow blankets a vast area spanning from New Mexico to Minnesota
A winter storm has buffeted the western U-S with violent wind gusts, heavy rain and about 2 feet of snow
More than a million calls forced Arizona highway hotline to shut down after up to two feet of snow blanketed parts of the state.
“We’re expecting almost a one-two punch across the middle part of the country over the next two days.” A National Weather Service forecaster told reporters.
“Once the large-scale pattern sets up you can be very stormy and have one after another.”
The cost of flood damage will probably exceed Australia’s income from selling coal
Climate Change Midterm Dividends
Australia is the world’s top coal exporter with an annual production of 333.5 million metric tons.
Source: Image from Japan Meteorological Agency satellite MTSAT-1R via Bureau of Meteorology. Captured: Thursday 30 December 2010 08:30 UTC. Click HEREfor the latest image. Click images to enlarge.
The road into Dalby (Queensland) has been cut by a sea of water. couriermail.com.au Reader picture: Anthony Skerman
Queensland Flooding News Highlights
The worst of floods is yet to come, forecasters say, as the cities of Emerald and Rockhampton are evacuated.
“Dozens of communities remain isolated with flooding at unprecedented levels in Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Emerald and a string of smaller towns as thousands of people were forced out of their homes, the Courier-Mail reported.
Shortages of safe food and water the biggest problem.
No end in sight for flood-ravaged Queensland’s residents
Disease outbreak now feared after flooding
Thousands are forced form their homes
A compulsory evacuation in the town of Condamine has just been completed, after the Condamine River reached a record 14.25m
State Premier Anna Bligh has said that flood damage to roads alone will cost at least $1.5 billion[so far]
“Hundreds of families across Queensland have been hard hit by the worst flooding in decades – in some cases, the worst on record,” she said.
The total cost of damage could reach 5 billion [blog estimates]
“[Flooding from the Fitzroy River in] Rockhampton is expected to reach about 9.4 metres by Tuesday with possible further rises.” The Bureau of Meteorology said.
“This is similar to the 1991 (9.3m) and 1954 (9.4m) flood levels. Rockhampton river levels are expected to remain above 9 metres for up to 10 days.”
“Central Highlands Mayor Peter Maguire estimates 90 per cent of properties will be under water tomorrow. But already 50 per cent of the town, west of Rockhampton and home to 13,000 people, is under water.” The Courier-Mail reported.
Quote of the Day:
“I’ve certainly seen flooded towns before in Queensland. We have big storms and we have big river systems. But I’ve never seen Queensland … with so many places in so many diverse parts of the state each affected so critically all at once.” —Queensland Premier Anna Bligh
TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST TRACK MAP
Meanwhile, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned of a cyclone developing over the natural gas producing regions of NW Australia. “The system is expected to move to the west and it’s got a reasonable chance of being a tropical cyclone on New Year’s Day off the Pilbara or West Kimberley coast,” a BOM forecaster said.
Issued by BOM at 2:57 pm WST Thursday 30 December 2010.
Remarks by BOM:
The low may develop into a tropical cyclone after it moves off the west Kimberley coast late Friday or early Saturday. It is not expected to cause gales on Thursday or Friday. Gales may develop along the Pilbara coast on Saturday as the system moves steadily towards the west southwest parallel to the Pilbara coast. By Sunday evening the system is likely to be north of Exmouth and continuing to move towards the west.
Heavy rainfall of 100mm to 150mm is expected in the North and West Kimberley over the next two days as the system moves westwards. Significant stream rises with local flooding is possible in the North and West Kimberley, refer to the latest Flood Watch [IDW39610] for further details. The system is unlikely to cause flooding in the Pilbara due to its steady movement.
Massive Flooding Destroys Bridges, Roads in South Island
Disaster-stricken New Zealand was struck by yet another catastrophe, as torrential rain and strong winds pummeled top of the South Island causing extensive damage to infrastructure.
“Raging waters in the Aorere River have destroyed the Salisbury Swing Bridge and the James Road Bridge. Livestock has been swept away and houses flooded.” Newstalk ZB
An aerial photograph of the Aorere River and Aorere Valley flooded after heavy rains swept through the region. Photo: Tasman District Council/ via Nelson Mail
Major South Island roads remain closed after yesterday’s flooding caused by “a fast-moving storm” swept through the region buffeting much of New Zealand with strong winds and torrential rain, reports say.
“In Golden Bay at the top of the South Island, the Aorere River reached very high levels. The river can normally be forded on foot during summer, but was flowing at 3500cu m per second at the peak.” NZPA said.
The Marlborough district was also badly hit, with extensive damage reported in the Rai Valley, Canvastown, Northbank and the Marlborough Sounds.
“Drenched campers were forced to flee the Pelorus Bridge campground, 59km north west of Blenheim, as the river surged through the site, lifting a caravan and tents before receding yesterday. They were being looked after by local residents.” The report said.
New Zealand floods would most probably trigger a major outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease FMD (Aphtae epizooticae) throughout the country. —FIRE-EARTH
Second Round of Flooding This Month Submerges Entire Towns and Villages in NE Australia
Queensland’s state government declares several of its regions as disaster zones, as rivers swell by the unabated rain causing extensive flooding.
Tropical Storm Tasha pummeled NE Australia with torrential rain, having made landfall along the Queensland coast on December 25, 2010. Tasha’s rainfall amounts, as observed by TRMM, on December 24, 2010 is shown in the image above, with red representing the highest amount and blue the lowest. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge. Download large image (1 MB, JPEG)
Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image
Source: Image from Japan Meteorological Agency satellite MTSAT-1R via Bureau of Meteorology. Click HERE for the latest image.
The floods have destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of cotton and sunflower crops in many areas throughout the state, and forced thousands to flee their homes.
The damage to the crops is expected to exceed $400million, Brent Finlay, president of the farmers’ lobby group AgForce, said.
“It’s just devastating. This was going to be the crop that got a lot of farmers back on their feet after the [10-year] drought,” Finlay said.
Brisbane, the state capital, has experienced its wettest December in 153 years, as Cyclone Tasha, brought more torrential rain to Queensland on Christmas Day.
The town of Theodore is all but almost completely inundated, with the Dawson River flowing above the 14-meter level—its highest in 55 years. The towns of Chinchilla, Dalby, Warra, Alpha and Jericho, have also been declared disaster zones.
Thousands of Flights canceled at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty Airports
Blizzard dumped 20 inches of snow in Central Park as of 7 a.m. and 22 inches in Bedford Park in the Bronx, NWS said.
“Passengers have been stuck for several hours on two New York City subway trains stalled in snow drifts near Kennedy Airport.” AP reported.
A significant Winter Storm Causes Whiteout from the Mid-Atlantic through New England
Click image to enter NWS portal.
GOES-13 satellite captured this visible image of the powerful low pressure system that brought snows from Georgia to Maine along the US east coast. Some of the snowfall can be seen over South and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and southeastern New York. The clouds of the low obscure New England in the image. Monday, Dec. 27 at 17:31 UTC
GOES-13 satellite image taken on Monday, Dec. 27 at 23:45 UTC
State of Emergency in N.J.; snowfall is record at airport
A record-breaking winter storm barreling its way up the East Coast dumped more than a foot of of snow on parts of southern New Jersey on Sunday – paralyzing local roads, grounding flights and forcing the Philadelphia Eagles to postpone their National Football Leauge game for possibly the first time in their history.
The storm, which most forecasters had predicted was going to turn out to sea and mostly spare New Jersey, brought 18 inches of snow to Cape May and15.7 inches of snow to the Atlantic City Airport in Egg Harbor Township as of 8 p.m. – breaking the December record of 11.4 inches set just last year – and was expected to bring up to two feet of snow by this morning.
STORM SUMMARY NUMBER 9 FOR EASTERN U.S. WINTER STORM NWS HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER CAMP SPRINGS MD 400 AM EST MON DEC 27 2010
…INTENSE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO RAPIDLY INTENSIFY NEAR CAPE COD MASSACHUSETTS AS A FULL-BLOWN BLIZZARD AFFECTS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND THE NEW YORK CITY AREA…
BLIZZARD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL SECTIONS OF THE NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC STATES… MUCH OF COASTAL NEW ENGLAND…INCLUDING THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA…NORTHWARD THROUGH MOST OF MAINE. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES AND WINTER STORM WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT NEAR THE WESTERN SLOPESOF THE APPALACHIANS…MUCH OF NORTH CAROLINA…AS WELL AS BLOCKISLAND AND THE CAPE COD AREA.
HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKETISLAND IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND.
FOR A DETAILED GRAPHICAL DEPICTION OF THE LATESTWATCHES…WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES…PLEASE SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV
AT 300 AM EST…AN INTENSE 970 MB…28.64 INCH…SURFACE LOW WAS ESTIMATED TO BE NEAR NANTUCKET MASSACHUSETTS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADARS AND SURFACE OBSERVATIONS INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AFFECTING THE COASTAL MID-ATLANTIC STATES INTO NEW ENGLAND. LIGHTER SNOW WAS FALLING ACROSS THE INTERIOR PORTIONS OF NEW ENGLAND AND THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE APPALACHIANS. PRECIPITATION HAD CHANGED OVER TO RAIN AROUND THE CAPE COD AREA.
SELECTED STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL (INCHES) FROM 6:00 AM EST THU DEC 23 THROUGH 3:00 AM EST MON DEC 27
Both the West and East Coasts of the U-S Hit by Winter Storms as Drought Persists in the South
States of Emergency have now been declared in California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware and Massachusetts in the Past 72 hours in response to major rainstorms, severe snowstorms and persistent drought.
The D.C. area could see about 10 inches of snow, beginning Sunday, The National Weather Services said.
As the major snowstorm buffets the region, forecasters believe the worst may be yet to come.
Latest Seasonal Assessment – During the past several weeks, drought coverage increased or intensified across much of the Southwest, southern Plains, and the Florida peninsula. In contrast, continued precipitation improved drought conditions across the central Appalachians and Ohio Valley, with impacts easing across West Virginia, northern Virginia, and western Maryland. Further west, precipitation ameliorated drought conditions in southern Oregon and northeastern California. With moderate to strong La Niña conditions expected to continue through the northern hemisphere winter season, strong consideration was given in this outlook to climate anomalies associated with the cold ENSO phase. Therefore, drought expansion or intensification is expected across the Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic states, particularly in Florida. To the north, storm systems frequently translate across the Ohio Valley region into New England during La Niña winters, increasing the odds for drought improvement from eastern Arkansas and western Tennessee northward into the eastern Corn Belt. A similar precipitation anomaly dipole exists across the western U.S., with increased odds for above median precipitation in the Northwest contrasting with greater chances of below median precipitation for the Southwest and southern Rockies. Due to this consideration, continued improvement is expected for remaining drought areas in northern California and western Wyoming, while drought expansion or intensification is forecasted for the desert Southwest and portions of the central and southern High Plains. Increased odds for above median precipitation during the rainy season in Hawaii favor improvement across the western islands, but significant improvement of long term drought conditions on the eastern islands is more uncertain. [Source: NWS/ CPC]
Powerful 7.6Mw Quake Strikes Near Isangel, Vanuatu
The earthquake struck at a depth of 20 km, possibly creating a local tsunami
This earthquake was preceded by at least 3 significant foreshocks in the past 48 hours, the largest of which measured 5.7Mw.
FIRE-EARTH Forecast: A megaquake could strike Vanuatu Region/ Kermadec Islands Region/New Zealand with a probability of 68%.
10-degree Map Centered at 20°S,170°E
EQ Location Map. Source: USGS. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH
Tsunami Warning/Advisory
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has just issued the following Bulletin
WEPA40 PHEB 251326
TSUPAC
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 1326Z 25 DEC 2010
THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC
OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS…EXCEPT ALASKA…BRITISH COLUMBIA…
WASHINGTON…OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.
… A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT …
A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR
VANUATU / NEW CALEDONIA / FIJI
FOR ALL OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS BULLETIN… IT IS FOR
INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME.
THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND
ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE.
AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS
ORIGIN TIME – 1317Z 25 DEC 2010
COORDINATES – 19.7 SOUTH 168.0 EAST
DEPTH – 33 KM
LOCATION – VANUATU ISLANDS REGION
MAGNITUDE – 7.6
EVALUATION
IT IS NOT KNOWN THAT A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. THIS WARNING IS
BASED ONLY ON THE EARTHQUAKE EVALUATION. AN EARTHQUAKE OF THIS
SIZE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI THAT CAN
STRIKE COASTLINES IN THE REGION NEAR THE EPICENTER WITHIN MINUTES
TO HOURS. AUTHORITIES IN THE REGION SHOULD TAKE APPROPRIATE
ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS CENTER WILL MONITOR
SEA LEVEL GAUGES NEAREST THE REGION AND REPORT IF ANY TSUNAMI
WAVE ACTIVITY IS OBSERVED. THE WARNING WILL NOT EXPAND TO OTHER
AREAS OF THE PACIFIC UNLESS ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED TO
WARRANT SUCH AN EXPANSION.
ESTIMATED INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE ARRIVAL TIMES AT FORECAST POINTS
WITHIN THE WARNING AND WATCH AREAS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL
ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE
LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN
SUCCESSIVE WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.
LOCATION FORECAST POINT COORDINATES ARRIVAL TIME
——————————– ———— ————
VANUATU ANATOM IS. 20.2S 169.9E 1338Z 25 DEC
ESPERITU SANTO 15.1S 167.3E 1404Z 25 DEC
NEW CALEDONIA NOUMEA 22.3S 166.5E 1359Z 25 DEC
FIJI SUVA 18.5S 178.5E 1512Z 25 DEC
BULLETINS WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS WARRANT.
THE TSUNAMI WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
THE WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WILL ISSUE PRODUCTS
FOR ALASKA…BRITISH COLUMBIA…WASHINGTON…OREGON…CALIFORNIA.
Earthquake Details
GFZ Potsdam – Earthquake Bulletin
Region: Vanuatu Islands Region
Time: 2010-12-25 13:16:38.7 UTC Magnitude: 7.7
Epicenter: 167.96°E, 19.76°S
Depth: 20 km
Status: manually revised
USGS/EHP
Magnitude: 7.6
Date-Time: Saturday, December 25, 2010 at 13:16:38 UTC
Location: 19.759°S, 167.974°E
Depth: 24.4 km (15.2 miles)
Region: VANUATU REGION
Distances
138 km (86 miles) W (259°) from Isangel, Vanuatu
196 km (122 miles) N (3°) from Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
226 km (140 miles) S (189°) from PORT-VILA, Vanuatu
1,749 km (1087 miles) ENE (64°) from Brisbane, Australia
Location Uncertainty:
horizontal +/- 16.3 km (10.1 miles);
depth +/- 1.4 km (0.9 miles)
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: World Data Center for Seismology, Denver
Event ID usc0000usf
Aftershocks
Hundreds of aftershocks should be expected to strike the area in the coming days and weeks.
Kamchatka Volcanoes May Be Instrumental to the ‘Epilogue’
Activity at Kamchatka Volcanoes Could Increase Dramatically in the Period Leading to Collapse
There are about 165 volcanoes on Kamchatka Peninsula, 29 of which are still active. About 120 of the volcanoes are believed to have erupted during the Holocene Epoch (approximately 12,000 years ago to present time).
Klyuchevskaya, the highest and most active volcano on Kamchatka peninsula, ejects a thin plume of steam and ash on December 23, 2010, when this false-color image was taken by the ASTER instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite. Source: NASA-EO
ISS astronaut photograph of volcanoes on Kamchatka Peninsula (ISS025-E-17440) was acquired on November 19, 2010. Source: NASA-EO
Up to 533mm (21 inches) of rain falls in seven days
Evacuation order has been issued for residents in Silverado Canyon, parts of Modjeska Canyon, Santiago Canyon and San Juan Capistrano, a report said.
GOES 11 Satellite image.
SNOW
The storms have also deposited about 5.2m (17 feet) of snow near the Kern River in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, the U.S. Hydrometeorological Prediction Center said.
RAIN
Los Angeles receives 70 percent of its annual rainfall in just seven days
Widespread flooding and mudslides reported across region.
A bridge collapsed in San Bernardino County.
Corona Municipal Airport is flooded.
SeaWorld in San Diego County shutdown due to flooding.
Qualcomm Stadium football field closed until further notice.
Homes damaged by floodwater and mudslides in
Orange County canyons
Highland in San Bernardino County
Laguna Beach
Laguna Canyon
“Some homes were filled with mud that stood 4 feet deep indoors,” the report said.
As Advertised! Flood waters rise to about 4 feet on Sorrento Valley Road north of San Diego. Photo Credit: LA Times. Image may be subject to copyright.
Evacuations were ordered in
Dove Canyon
Parts of San Juan Capistrano
Silverado Canyon
Parts of Orange County canyons
At least one person was reportedly killed when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle near Laguna Beach.
Multiple Storms Hit SoCal: More than 150mm of Rain Soaks L.A.
Up to 6 inches of rain has soaked Los Angeles since the storms began on December 16
Nearby mountains have reportedly received up to 13 inches of rain. The record for December rainfall in LA is 222.7mm (8.77) inches, NASA said.
Rainfall amounts over the state of California from December 18 to 20, 2010. “This image is based on data from the Multisatellite Precipitation Analysis (MPA), produced at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The MPA estimates rainfall by combining measurements from many satellites and calibrating them using rainfall measurements from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite.” Southern California has experienced unusual weather this year, “where the spring and summer were cooler than usual, Santa Ana winds were calmer (making for a light fire season), and a one-day temperature record was set in September (117 degrees Fahrenheit). Extensive research suggests weather patterns become more volatile and extremes become more common as global temperatures warm,” according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Source: NASA-EO. Click image to enlarge.
Click image to enter NWSLA Portal
State of Emergency Declared
“Residences in La Canada Flintridge and 85 residences in La Crescenta [would be evacuated] due to the possibility of debris flows resulting from forecasted rain storms in the area.” L.A. County official reported.
California. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in several California counties [Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo and Tulare] in the wake of the powerful storms that have caused flooding, mudslides and evacuations.
Utah, USA. “The Mayor of St. George, Utah, has declared a state of emergency in the area due to heavy rain and runoff causing the Virgin River and Santa Clara Rivers to flood,” a report said.
Nevada, USA. “Southern Nevada is in a state of emergency after rain-swollen creeks closed some roads in the Las Vegas area and a thick blanket of snow disrupted electricity to about 300 customers on nearby Mount Charleston,” a report said.
The ensuing floods and mudslides will wreak havoc across much of Southern California.
Earthquake Location Map. Cross shows epicenter of the 7.4Mw quake, while the colored bubbles indicate the seismic intensity at various monitoring centers in Japan. Source: Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA). Image may be subject to copyright.
Tsunami Warning/Advisory
The 7.4Mw quake struck at a depth of 10km and created a tsunami which reached a height of about 3m (10 feet) in at least a dozen locations around Japan’s coastal areas
Tsunami Observations
As of 05:40 JST (UTC+ 9 hours)
At some parts of the coasts, tsunamis may be higher than those observed at the observation sites.
The tsunamis can become higher from now on.
However, JMA later downgraded the warning to a tsunami advisory for the area.
Tsunami Map for the 7.4Mw Bonin Islands Earthquake. Source: Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA). Image may be subject to copyright. The tsunami reached a height of about 3m in at least 12 locations around Japan’s coastal areas.
Earthquake Details [JMA]
Magnitude: 7.4Mw [Reported as 7.5Mw by GFZ Potsdam – Earthquake Bulletin]
Date- Time 02:20 JST on 22 Dec 2010 a
Location: 27.5N 143.4E Depth: 10km
Region: Chichijima Kinkai [Bonin Islands, Japan Region]
Distances [USGS]
150 km (95 miles) E of Chichi-shima, Bonin Islands, Japan
335 km (210 miles) NE of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan
1050 km (650 miles) SSE of TOKYO, Japan
Aftershocks
About 3 dozen strong aftershocks were reported, as of posting, the most significant of which measured 5.0Mw. Many more aftershocks may follow in the coming days and weeks.
FEWW Forecast
More powerful earthquakes, some related to this event, could strike Japan Region, much closer to the coastal areas.
Fire Earth Model shows that Japan region could be struck by up to 4 additional strong to large earthquakes possibly this year/early next year, one of which could be a catastrophic event.
At least a dozen people are reported dead, with dozens more injured or trapped under the rubble
The strong earthquake struck about 100 km (60 miles) SE of the city of Bam, at a depth of 11.8km, and was felt throughout the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, reports say.
“Hundreds of people are still trapped under the rubbles,” according to the governor of Iran’s Kerman province, where the quake occurred.
“Many people left their houses in the city of Zahedan .. It was also felt in the towns of Bam, Khash and Iranshahr,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
“In some rural parts of the region … the quake has caused heavy damage to buildings, especially in Hosseinabad village, where the houses were made of earthen bricks.” Reuters reported the State television, quoting an unnamed local Red Crescent official.
However, the area is not densely populated and the number of injured are reported at less than 30, as of posting.
Up to 31,000 people were killed when an earthquake destroyed much of the city of Bam in 2003.
FIRE-EARTH Moderators forecast intense seismic activity in and around the Arabian Plate, near Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt, Oman Ophiolite, Persian Gulf Basin, Owen Fracture Zone, the Arabian Shield and the Red Sea Uplift.
10-degree Map Centered at 30°N,60°E
EQ Location Map. Source: USGS. Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH
Arabian Plate. Image Credit: Saudi Arabian Geological Survey
Earthquake Details
Magnitude: 6.5
Date-Time:
December 20, 2010 at 18:41:59 UTC
December 20, 2010 at 10:11:59 PM at epicenter
Location: 28.491°N, 59.117°E
Depth: 11.8 km (7.3 miles) set by location program
Region: Kerman Province, SE Iran
Distances:
100 km (60 miles) SE of Bam, Iran
205 km (125 miles) WSW of Zahedan, Iran
210 km (130 miles) NW of Iranshahr, Iran
1080 km (670 miles) SE of TEHRAN, Iran
Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 13.9 km (8.6 miles)
Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
At least one significant aftershock measuring about 5.0Mw has been reported, as of posting.
Airline passengers lay on the floor in Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport, in west London December 19, 2010. Reuters/Luke MacGregor. Image may be subject to copyright.
“Whitemare” at London’s Heathrow Airport
Heathrow Airport remained closed for a third day as the overnight temperature in Buckinghamshire, England dipped to as low as -20ºC.
“Ice, snow and sub-zero temperatures in northern Europe have disrupted travel, leaving Europe’s busiest airport Heathrow, near London, all but closed,” said a report.
Thousands of stranded passengers are expected to spend a second night on terminal floors at London’s Heathrow, described as “like a Third World refugee camp.”
Air and rail services were severely disrupted in other parts of the UK, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, northern France and northern Italy.
Up to half a million passengers have been stranded/affected, as more heavy snow is forecast for England, Wales and Scotland.
As the North Atlantic Current of the Gulf Stream Slows Down, the Big Freeze Could Become ‘Permanent’
Third Wave of Arctic Blast Continues to Bring Snow and Cold to Much of Europe
London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest hub for air passengers, has canceled all arrivals, with only a handful of departures, as temperatures plunged to -5.2C overnight. This winter could turn out to be the coldest on record (since 1910).
Fresh snow has brought much of Britain to a standstill. Traffic queues in the snow on the A3 near Guildford, in southern England December 18, 2010. Reuters/Luke MacGregor. Image may be subject to copyright.
“For the first 15 days of this month, the average has been -0.7C. So far this month there have been five nights in Edinburgh when the mercury dropped below -10C, once hitting -16C. On December 7, the maximum temperature reached in the daytime there was -8C,” a report said.
“In Manchester and London, 11 out of 16 nights were below freezing, the coldest in Manchester -12C and in London -5C.”
Rest of Europe
In Paris, Charles de Gaulle’s air traffic was cut by about 50 percent as heavy snow blanketed the French capital. At Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport there were many cancellations and long delays.
At Frankfurt airport, Germany’s busiest, nearly half of the planned total of 1,350 flights, departures and arrivals, were canceled Sunday.
Heavy snowfall covered much of Scandinavia, where temperatures dipped to -22ºC (-8ºF).
Heavy snow and ice storms affected as far south as Italy. Tuscany was blanketed in several inches of snow, forcing the closure of Florence’s airport on Sunday.
Heating Oil Shortage
Up to 3 million homes, schools and hospitals face fuel rationing this winter, as the UK government warns of ‘very serious’ shortage of heating oil during the cold snaps.
The price of heating oil in the UK has skyrocketed by 63% since June, to 71 pence [USD1.10] per liter today.
The great ocean conveyor belt delivers warm water into the north Atlantic, making Europe warmer than it would otherwise be. The slowing down or stopping of these currents could result in catastrophic changes in the world’s climate.
FIRE-EARTH believes that the North Atlantic current of the Gulf Stream is slowing down and could stop entirely in the very near future.
Foodborne Illnesses Kill 5,000 3,000 Americans and Sicken 76 48 Million Each Year: CDC
About 1 in 4 6 Americans¹ (or 76 48 million people) gets sick, 325,000 128,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses, CDC reported.
[NOTE ¹: The new CDC figures have been politically revised.]
Amazingly, most of the viruses are never identified, the agency report adds.
Image of the Day: Salmonella ‘Sausages’
Under a high magnification of 10431X, half that of PHIL 10566, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed a colony of Gram-negative bacilli, or rod-shaped Salmonella sp. [Salmonella typhimurium] bacteria. The genus Salmonella is a member of the taxonomic family, Enterobacteriaceae, and approximately 2000 serotypes of this genis are known to cause disease in human beings.
How do people catch Salmonella?
Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but any food, including vegetables, may become contaminated. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the hands of an infected food handler who did not wash hands with soap after using the bathroom.
Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with diarrhea, and people can become infected if they do not wash their hands after contact with pets or pet feces. Reptiles, such as turtles, lizards, and snakes, are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella. Many chicks and young birds carry Salmonella in their feces. People should always wash their hands immediately after handling a reptile or bird, even if the animal is healthy. Adults should also assure that children wash their hands after handling a reptile or bird, or after touching its environment. Photo Credit: Janice Haney Carr, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heavy snow and ice strike many parts of the UK as arctic conditions return
Heavy snow has blanketed Northern Ireland, northern Scotland, Wales and most parts of southwest England, reports say.
More snow is expected in northern Scotland, Northern Ireland, southwest England and Wales. Forecasters say up to 25cm (10 inches) could fall Saturday.
The overnight temperature forecast for parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland is -10ºC (14ºF).
Thousands of schools are closed across Britain, and snow has blocked a dozen major roads.
Hundreds of flights have been canceled and many more are delayed as at least a dozen airports are shut down. Disruptions are expected at all major airports throughout in England, N-Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
“Heavy snowfall during the past few weeks has caused huge disruption, especially in Scotland and north-east England.” BBC said.
“November saw the UK’s most widespread snowfall since 1965, and December has continued to be exceptionally cold and snowy.”
Many train services are suspended across the country until further notice.
“An estimated two million homes, schools and hospitals face fuel rationing over Christmas after MPs warned that supplies of heating oil would hit “crisis” point during the cold snap,” a report said.
Arctic Oscillation Chills US and Europe
Image depicts the land surface temperatures for December 3-10, 2010, compared to the average temperature for the same period between 2002 and 2009, measured by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite. While northern Europe and the eastern United States were cooler than average this year. Greenland and parts of northern Canada, were much warmer due to a temperature pattern caused by the Arctic Oscillation. “The Arctic Oscillation is a climate pattern that influences winter weather in the northern hemisphere. It describes the relationship between high pressure in the mid-latitudes and low pressure over the Arctic. When the pressure systems are weak, the difference between them is small, and air from the Arctic flows south, while warmer air seeps north. This is referred to as a negative Arctic Oscillation. Like December 2009, the Arctic Oscillation was negative in early December 2010. Cold air from the Arctic channeled south around a blocking system over Greenland, while Greenland and northern Canada heated up.” Source: NASA/E-O. Click image to enlarge. Download large image(5 MB, PNG)
Elevated zinc concentrations in Colorado waterway likely a result of climate change
Rising concentrations of zinc in a waterway on Colorado’s Western Slope may be the result of climate change that is affecting the timing of annual snowmelt, says a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The Snake River watershed is located in Colorado’s White River National Forest west of Denver. This watershed drains dramatic alpine terrain en route to the Blue River and ultimately to the Colorado River. More at source
The study focused on the Snake River watershed just west of the Continental Divide near Keystone, Colo., where CU-Boulder researchers have observed a four-fold increase in dissolved zinc over the last 30 years during the lowest water flow months, said Caitlin Crouch. Crouch, a master’s degree student who led the study, said the high levels of zinc affect stream ecology, including deleterious effects on microbes, algae, invertebrates and fish.
The team speculated the increased zinc concentrations may be tied to changes in groundwater conditions and stream flow patterns caused by climate change and the associated snowmelt that has been peaking two to three weeks earlier than normal in recent years, largely because of warming air temperatures. The result is lowered stream flows and drier soils along the stream in September and October, which increases metal concentrations, said Crouch.
“While most of the talk about climate change in western waterways is about decreasing water quantities, we are evaluating potential climate influences on water quality, which is a whole different ball game,” she said.
Crouch gave a presentation on the subject at the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union held in San Francisco Dec. 13-17. The study was co-authored by Professor Diane McKnight of CU-Boulder’s civil and environmental engineering department.
The zinc in the Snake River watershed is primarily a result of acid rock drainage, or ARD, which can come from abandoned mine sites along rivers or through the natural weathering of pyrite in the local rock, said Crouch. Sometimes enhanced by mining activity, weathering pyrite forms sulfuric acid through a series of chemical reactions, which dissolves metals like zinc and carries them into the groundwater.
McKnight, also a fellow of CU-Boulder’s Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, said there are nearly 2,000 miles of waterways in Colorado affected by ARD.
One of the most noticeable impacts of ARD in the Upper Snake River drainage is on the fishery downstream, said Crouch, a graduate student in CU-Boulder’s Environmental Studies Program. Rainbow trout populations in much of the river are not self-sustaining because of ecologically harsh stream conditions, and the waterway requires stocking several times a year.
The elevated zinc in the Snake River comes from several ARD sources, said Crouch. Crouch’s study site — where an increasing trend in zinc concentrations is sustained by groundwater discharge — is above the Peru Creek tributary to the Snake River, where natural pyrite weathering is thought to be the main source of ARD. Peru Creek is largely devoid of life due to ARD from the abandoned Pennsylvania Mine and other smaller mines upstream and has been a target for potential remediation efforts.
McKnight said another factor involved in rising zinc levels in the Snake River watershed — which runs from the top of the Continental Divide to Dillon Reservoir — could be the result of the severe 2002 drought in Colorado. The drought significantly lowered waterways, allowing more pyrite to be weathered in dry soils of the watershed and in wetlands adjacent to the stream.
As part of her study, Crouch measured zinc concentrations in an alpine tributary of the Upper Snake River. She found that zinc concentrations there were 10 times higher than in the main stem of the waterway and correlated with increased sulfate, so-called “hard water” containing calcium and magnesium, and a variety of metals.
“This supports our contention that the increasing zinc concentrations we are seeing in the watershed are driven by the acceleration of ARD,” Crouch said. “One of the things I still am trying to parse out is whether metals like zinc are coming from one discrete source or are being diffused into the watershed from the groundwater beneath.”
Cleaning up abandoned, polluted mines like the Pennsylvania Mine remains a problem largely because of liability issues since the mine owners who normally would be responsible for the mine cleanup are long gone. The Environmental Protection Agency has begun an agency-wide effort to reduce barriers to the cleanup of abandoned mine sites by local environmental groups and volunteers.
In the case of the Pennsylvania Mine, the Snake River Task Force is working with partners like the Keystone Ski Resort, the Keystone Center, Trout Unlimited, the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Summit County, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the EPA and the Blue River Watershed Group.
By this time next year, extreme climate could devastate parts of the U-S, leading to famines, epidemics and civil strife
USDA declares parts of 16 states as natural disaster areas due to drought
Drought continues to increase in intensity and coverage across the southern and central Plains,and parts of the southeast, NWS/CPC forecast.
Drought will persist and expand from central and southern Texas eastward along and near the Gulf Coast through the southern Atlantic Seaboard.
Drought is forecast to also persist in the central and southern Plains, and expand into south-central Nebraska and northwestern Kansas, and from the southern Rockies, central Great Basin into central Nevada… Read full forecast here.
Meanwhile…
NEW Snowstorm pushes more snow toward the upper Midwest
“Snow will develop today ahead of a storm system dropping down into the Plains. The heaviest snow is expected to fall from central Minnesota down through northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois. 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected to fall over this area by Thursday morning with lesser amounts to the northeast across western Wisconsin.” NWS – Weather Forecast Office.
Death toll from sandstorms and extreme weather events in Egypt rises to 31, dozens injured
Dust storms, snowstorms, thunderstorms, heavy rain, strong winds and high waves struck the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East on December 11 and 12, 2010, killing at least 31 people in Egypt and several others elsewhere in the region.
Dust and Violent Weather in the Eastern Mediterranean
A natural-color image of the eastern Mediterranean taken by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite on December 12, 2010. “Clouds almost cover the Mediterranean Sea, as well as parts of Israel and Lebanon. Along the margin of the cloudbank, dust blows toward the northeast. Source points of dust plumes appear in Egypt and Jordan, and a thick plume of dust blows over Syria. In Egypt, dust nearly hides the Nile River, and completely covers the Nile Delta.” Source: NASA/E-O. Click image to enlarge.Download larger image (7 MB, JPEG).
A major sandstorm blanketed Cairo on December 11, 2010. Photo: Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh. Image may be subject to copyright.
Another powerful sandstorm hit Riyadh the capital of Saudi Arabia on December 13, 2010. It’s now just a matter of time… A freeze frame from CNN viewer video.
Wisconsin declares a state of emergency in 72 counties
Wind chill temperatures expected to drop to as low as minus 27 degrees F (- 33ºC).
Gov Jim Doyle of Wisconsin declared a state of emergency in 72 counties as a powerful snowstorm barreled through the upper Midwest depositing about 20 inches of snow, causing extensive power outages, closing many roads in several states and grounding thousands of flights across the region.
The deadly snowstorm which has claimed at least 4 lives so far, hit Wisconsin and Minnesota first and moved eastward toward Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio. In Minnesota the roof of the Metrodome in Minneapolis collapsed under about 2 feet of snow.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Chicago, northern, and north-western Illinois, as well as Michigan, North and South Dakota.
“In Wisconsin, wind gusts were as high as 70 miles per hour, the National Weather Service said, and an advisory was issued with wind chill temperatures expected to drop to minus 20 degrees F to minus 27 degrees F (minus 29ºC to minus 33ºC).” A report said.
Pacific Northwest
Extreme rain events in parts of the Pacific Northwest have triggered major mudslides, closing roads and blocking at least one railroad track in the state of Washington. Forecasters say storms could dump an additional 15cm (6 inches) or more of rain in the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains, a report said.
Middle East
Torrential rains, snow, fierce winds and a major sandstorm hit countries across the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean for a second day. The storms sunk a cargo ship off the Israeli port of Ashdod and disrupted shipping in the Suez canal and most Egyptian ports on the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
A factory collapsed in the port of Alexandria killing at least three people and pushing the reported death toll from climate-related incidents to at least 6 in the region so far.
Weather Severely Affected Michigan Fruit Production This Year
Michigan, USA. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared 47 counties, including the entire West Michigan, as “primary natural disaster areas” this week. The designation follows freezing temperatures and frost, as well as severe storms, extreme rain events, hail, flooding, strong winds, tornadoes, and lightening throughout the year, which destroyed/damaged fruits and crops including apples, blueberries, cherries and vegetables.
Tim Tubbs, who farms with his father in Oceana County, holds an apple with a frost ring on it earlier this year. Source: Muskegon Chronicle. Image may be subject to copyright.
Based on the October harvest projections report issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture, fruit production will fall across the board— from apples by nearly a half to peaches down by more than a fifth.
Apples (49%)
Tart Cherries (47%)
Grapes (44%)
Sweet Cherries (41%)
Plums (33%)
Peaches (21%)
Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture: October Fruit Report
Weather Now
Meanwhile, severe weather including 2 major snowstorms hit large parts of the US:
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
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.
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 our findings, we estimate that between one-third and one-half of the world population could be affected in some way by various disasters that are forecast to occur in 2011.
Global Map of Temperature Anomalies
Mapped between January 1, 2000 – December 31, 2009. Source: GISTEMPvia NASA E-O. Click images to enlarge.
Mapped between January 1, 1970 – December 31, 1979. GISTEMPvia NASA E-O.
The average global temperature of our planet has increased by about 0.8°Celsius (1.4°Fahrenheit) in the past 131 years. About 67% of the warming has occurred steadily since 1975 at a rate of 0.15-0.20°C per decade, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). The above maps depict temperature anomalies for 2000-2009 (top) and 1970-1979 compared to the regional norm measured in 1951-1980.
“According to news reports, the drop in the water level stranded villages that rely on the rivers for transportation and caused food and water shortages. The record low at the Negro River comes just 16 months after the river set a record high of 29.77 meters, flooding Manaus.” Read full caption here.
Fire Earth 
