World’s Largest Volcano?

Massive Volcano Discovered in NW Pacific Ocean

Researchers have discovered an immense shield volcano on the seabed, northwest Pacific Ocean.

Tamu Massif is said to be the oldest and largest edifice of the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

A single, immense volcano, Tamu Massif is constructed from massive lava flows that erupted from the center of volcano to form a broad, shield-like dome some 145 million years ago.

Researchers writing in the journal Nature Geoscience suggest the 310,000 km² (119,000 mi²) Tamu Massif could be the largest single volcano on Earth, comparable in size only to the Olympus Mons on Mars, believed to be the largest volcano in the Solar System.

The Tamu Massif Volcano ~ 32.5ºN, 158.4ºE

Rising 3.5km above the seabed, Massif lies about 2km below the sea, and is rooted more than 30 km into the earth’s crust on the Shatsky Rise, some 1,600 km east of Japan.

“We don’t have the data to see inside them and know their structure, but it would not surprise me to find out that there are more like Tamu out there,” said Dr Sager, one of the researchers at the University of Houston.

“Indeed, the biggest oceanic plateau is Ontong Java plateau, near the equator in the Pacific, east of the Solomons Islands. It is much bigger than Tamu—it’s the size of France.” [Tamu is nearly the size of Norway. Editor]

Key point

“One interesting angle is that there were lots of oceanic plateaus (that) erupted during the Cretaceous Period (145-65 million years ago) but we don’t see them since. Scientists would like to know why.” Sager said.

Many Dead or Displaced after Clashes on Kenya-Ethiopia Border

Clan violence leaves dozens dead, tens of thousands displaced on Kenya-Ethiopia border

Up to 40,000 people from about 6,500 households have been forced to abandon their homes, according to aid agencies.

Two days of inter-clan fighting among the Gabra, Burji and Borana communities has left dozens of people killed, houses torched, gunfire exchanged, business come to a standstill and up to 40,000 people flee their homes, in the areas of Somare and Teti.

Most of the displaced have crossed into Ethiopia, and are in urgent need of food assistance, shelter, drugs, water, cooking utensils, clothing and mosquito nets, among other things, said IRIN.

Scores of children, as well as adults, were still separated from their families, while others were missing, said aid agencies.

All primary and secondary schools in the region remained closed since September 2 because both the teachers and students remained displaced, too afraid of renewed violence to return home, the report said.

Major Disaster Declared for Missouri

Disaster President Declares Missouri Major Disaster Area

The White House has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri due to severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that occurred during the period of August 2-14, 2013.

The worst of the losses and damage  occurred in Barry, Camden, Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Laclede, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Osage, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Shannon, Taney, Texas, Webster, and Wright counties.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments, said FEMA.

Other Federal Disaster Declarations for Missouri

The State of Missouri was also declared a Major Disaster Area on July 19, 2013 due to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred during the period of May 29 to June 10, 2013 in Barton, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Chariton, Clark, Howard, Iron, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Maries, Marion, Miller, Montgomery, Osage, Perry, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Sullivan, Texas, and Webster counties.

• Global Disasters/ Significant Events – 24 July 2013 Posted by feww on July 24, 2013