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SUMMARY OF STATUS as of 4:00 AM CDT (09:00 UTC)
———————————————-
Time: 4:00 AM CDT Sat Oct 7
Location: 24.5°N 87.0°W [~ 345 mi, or 550km SSE of the mouth of MISSISSIPPI RIVER]
Moving: NNW at 22 mph [NNW, or 340 degrees, at 22 mph, or 35 km/h]
Min pressure: 987 mb, or 29.15 in Max sustained winds: 80 mph [~130 km/h, Cat. 1 hurricane force on FEWW Hurricane Scale]
Deadly Storm System
The storm has killed about 30 people in Central America, according to local reports.
Summary of Information at 6:00 AM CDT (11:00 UTC) – [NHC/NOAA]
Max Sustained Winds: 110 mph [177km/hr; currently a Category 2B Hurricane on FEWW Hurricane Scale] and Strengthening
Location: 26.3°N, 95.7°W
About 145 mi (235km) SE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
About 150 mi (245) SSE OF PORT O’CONNOR, TEXAS
Movement: NW (315 degrees) at 10 MPH (17 km/h)
MCP: 952 MB (28.11 inches)
Authorities have warned residents in coastal areas and beyond to evacuate their homes amid potentially “life-threatening winds and floods.”
The strengthening hurricane, forecast to become a Cat 4 hurricane with winds of up to 125 mph (200 km/h), could dump as much as 36 inches (100 cm) of rain on parts of Texas, and cause storm surge as high as 12 feet (3.65 meters).
“Life-threatening and devastating flooding expected near the coast due to heavy rainfall and storm surge,” the NHC said.
State of Disaster
Texas governor has declared a state of disaster for 30 counties and has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety’s State Operations Center to upgrade its readiness status before HARVEY hits.
Mass Evacuations
Multiple mandatory and voluntary evacuations are currently in effect.
Potential for Disaster
“If a hurricane hits the thousands of storage tanks — ones that hold the world’s largest concentrations of oil, gases and chemicals — that line the Houston Ship Channel just right, more than 25 feet of water could shoot up the channel. And if even one tank ruptured because of it, hundreds of thousands of people could be impacted,” said a report.
At 22,720 square kilometers (8,776 square miles), this year’s dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the largest ever measured, according to NOAA.
Image credit: N. Rabalais, LSU/LUMCON)
“Previously the largest Gulf of Mexico dead zone was measured in 2002, encompassing 8,497 square miles. The average size of the dead zone over the past five years has been about 5,806 square miles, three times larger than the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force target of 1,900 square miles.”
This large dead zone size shows that nutrient pollution, primarily from agriculture and developed land runoff in the Mississippi River watershed is continuing to affect the nation’s coastal resources and habitats in the Gulf.
These nutrients stimulate massive algal growth that eventually decomposes, which uses up the oxygen needed to support life in the Gulf. This loss of oxygen can cause the loss of fish habitat or force them to move to other areas to survive, decreased reproductive capabilities in fish species and a reduction in the average size of shrimp caught.
World’s Largest ‘Sewage Pond’ hit by Biggest Red Tide in 10 Years
A massive red tide blooming off the coast of SW Florid, which is killing scores of fish, continues to grow.
The red tide stretches about 150km long and 100km wide in the Gulf of Mexico, researchers said. The bloom was 130km long and 80km wide just last week.
“Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida show a patchy bloom up to 60 miles wide and 90 miles long, at least 20 miles offshore between Dixie and northern Pinellas counties in northwest and southwest Florida.”
The bloom is the largest to plague the region since 2005, according to the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.
“Florida red tide,” which the bloom is also known as, occurs when a microscopic algae called Karenia brevis (K. brevis) begins to multiply out of control.
K. brevis produces a toxin that attacks the central nervous systems of fish, marine mammals and birds. The toxin has recently killed scores of fish, eel, sea snakes and octopus.
“This bloom has caused an ongoing fish kill. FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline has received reports of thousands of dead and moribund benthic reef fish including various snapper and grouper species, hogfish, grunts, crabs, flounder, bull sharks, lionfish, baitfish, eel, sea snakes, tomtates, lizardfish, filefish, octopus, and triggerfish.”
The toxin can trigger respiratory distress in people, especially those with asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory conditions.
“It could have large impacts if it were to move inshore,” said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “It has been killing a lot of marine species, especially fish, as it waits offshore.”
“I have seen analogies that equate red tide with a forest fire,” said manager of the ocean technology program at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. “There is an ecosystem reset.”
Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)
Algal blooms occur in natural waters used for drinking and/or recreation when certain types of microscopic algae grow quickly in water, often in response to changes in levels of chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer, in the water. Algal blooms can deplete the oxygen and block the sunlight that other organisms need to live, and some can produce toxins that are harmful to the health of the environment, plants, animals, and people. [Source: CDC]
Toxic algae bloom in the Gulf of Mexico was the leading killer of the endangered manatees in Florida waters this year, says Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Dinoflagellates, the marine plankton responsible for algal bloom (red tide), which produce deadly neurotoxins, settle on the sea grasses that manatees eat, impairing their nervous system and causing them to drown, or so it’s thought.
At least 92 manatee deaths in the Indian River Lagoon, in central Florida, along the Atlantic coast is also thought to have been caused by algal bloom.
A large percentage of manatees are also killed by boats.
Some 803 manatee deaths occurred in Florida waters between January 1 and December 13, the largest toll for any year since record-keeping began 40 years ago.
Some 392 manatee died in Florida in 2012 and 453 deaths were recorded in 2011.
“The previous record was 766 manatee deaths and that was in 2010,” said the commission spokesman. “That was a year when cold weather was a major factor.”
As of 2011 about 4,834 manatees were living in Florida’s waters, an aerial survey showed.
A group of three West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) was photographed feeding on seagrass. Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus, order Sirenia ) are large, aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals. Also known as sea cows, they measure up to 13 feet (4.0 m) long, and weigh as much as 1,300 pounds (590 kg).Photo: NOAA
Florida, USA. “The cold December weather caused 35 manatee deaths, adding to what was already a record-breaking annual total of manatee deaths. Last year, 767 manatees died, which was more than double the annual average, said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.”
The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, has filed a notice of intent to sue Ken Salazar the U.S. Interior Secretary, and the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) for failing to get the necessary environmental permits, required by two environmental laws, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Endangered Species Act, before approving offshore oil operations.
Note, the key words and phrases here are, “failing to get the necessary environmental permits,” the Endangered Species Act and “the Marine Mammal Protection Act.” and
“The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act prohibit private entities, such as oil companies, as well as federal agencies, such as the Minerals Management Service — the branch of the Interior Department responsible for managing offshore oil activities — from killing, harming, or harassing marine mammals, unless they have received authorizations and take measures to minimize the impacts of their activities. The Endangered Species Act protects species such as the sperm whale, which is listed as endangered, while the Marine Mammal Protection Act applies to all marine mammals, such as the bottlenose dolphin and the Florida manatee.” The group said in their notice.
This act declares Florida a refuge and sanctuary for the manatee, the Florida state marine mammal. The act declares it unlawful for any person at any time, by any means, or in any manner to intentionally or negligently annoy, molest, harass, or disturb or attempt to molest, harass, or disturb any manatee; injure or harm or attempt to injure or harm any manatee; capture or collect or attempt to capture or collect any manatee; pursue, hunt, wound, or kill or attempt to pursue, hunt, wound, or kill any manatee; or possess, literally or constructively, any manatee or any part of any manatee. The Florida statute provides guidelines for counties to establish manatee speed zones on county waters, as well as manatee protection zones. The Florida Administrative Code sets forth rules by county where manatee protection applies. Source: NOAA/CS
Ten beached whales die in Florida Everglades, dozens stranded
At least ten beached whales have died as rescuers tried to save dozens more that were stranded in shallow waters in Florida’s Everglades National Park, said wildlife officials.
The whales, believed to be short-finned pilot whales, were first spotted on Tuesday pm near the Gulf of Mexico, according to the park officials.
Adult short-finned pilot whales weigh 1,000 to 3,000kg with females and males averaging 12 and 18 feet long receptively. They typically travel in pods of about 30 animals.
Wildlife officials said the rescue efforts to save the whales by pushing them into deeper waters would resume Thursday morning.
Video footage showed at least one carcass reduced to a bare skeleton and large chunks of flesh missing from others, possibly bitten by sharks.
NSA collects and anal-yzes 5 billion cellphone records each day
The US National Security Agency collects and analyzes about 5 billion cellphone records each day indicating location data around the world, according to a new report by Washington Post based on the records leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
FOUR Canadian soldiers commit suicide in one week
At least four Canadian soldiers have committed suicide in just one week, probably overcome by pangs of conscience.
At least three of the soldiers had “served” in Afghanistan, according to Canadian Defense officials.
In the latest incident, a married 46-year-old soldier apparently committed suicide on Monday. His body was found near his base in Quebec. Sylvain Lelievre had served in Bosnia and Afghanistan, according to reports.
Last week, the bodies of three other soldiers were discovered. They were Michael McNeil, William Elliott and Travis Halmrast. They were based in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta respectively.
30,000 Eritreans “abducted to Sinai desert for ransom”
Up to 30,000 Eritreans have been abducted since 2007 and taken to Egypt’s Sinai desert to suffer torture and ransom demands, according to a new research.
Victims are kidnapped in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan and taken to Sinai where they are held captive in the mostly lawless desert.
The abductors have extorted at least $600m from families in ransom payments, says the study.
“The study, presented to the European parliament, says Eritrean and Sudanese security officers are colluding with the kidnap gangs,” according to a report.
Ferocious storm cuts power to 25,000 homes in Scotland, shuts rail network
>Winds of up to 116 mph (187 km/h) battered parts of Scottish highlands cutting power to at least 25,000 customers and forcing the authorities to shut down the entire rail network due to debris on the tracks.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency has warned of flooding risks in coastal areas and Traffic Scotland advised drivers to avoid traveling in multiple areas due to “extremely dangerous” conditions, reports said.
Fast-food workers in 100 US cities will walk off the job
The strike is part of a nationwide movement, which began a year ago to increase federal minimum wage, unchanged since 2009, from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour. The workers also want the right to unionize.
“We have people going to work every day and coming home to no utilities or having to make tough decisions on whether to eat or pay rent. But they go to work and work hard every day and they’re good at their jobs and these companies should take care of their employees and do better. We know that they have the profit,” said a worker.
“Dramatic increases in a starting wage such as those called for in these rallies will challenge that job growth history, increase prices for restaurant meals, especially in the value segments and lead to fewer jobs created,” said the National Restaurant Association.
At least 32 people have reportedly been killed and dozens more trapped in the rubble after the roof of a shopping mall collapsed in Riga, the Latvian capital.
More than 500 square meters of the roof collapsed at the ‘Maxima’ building in Riga in two separate stages, with the second collapse killing several rescue workers, according to reports.
“At least 70 people may still be trapped in the rubble, according to the latest data,” Riga’s mayor told reporters.
Large sections of the roof collapsed at Maxima shopping center on Priedaines Street in Riga. Photo credit:@SergioYurtaev)
Pipeline explodes killing 22 in E China
At least 22 people were killed after a leaky pipeline caught fire and exploded Friday morning in the coastal city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province, officials said.
Original caption: Photo taken with a mobile phone shows the site of a pipeline explosion in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, Nov. 22, 2013. A fire broke out and the blast occurred around 10 a.m. in the Huangdao District when workers were repairing a petroleum pipeline which broke and resulted in an oil leakage around 3 a.m. (Xinhua)
Fog stops ships on Houston Channel: U.S. Coast Guard
Sea fog reduced visibility to unsafe levels along the Houston Ship Channel, forcing vessel pilots to stop steering all ships early Friday (UTC), said the U.S. Coast Guard, Reuters reported.
Pilots stopped steering ships along the 53-mile (85-kilometer) channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the busiest U.S. petrochemical port, said the report.
High winds kill two, leave thousands without power in San Francisco area
“The Napa County Sheriff’s Office ordered an unknown number of people evacuated after a fallen power line sparked a wildfire that grew to between 100 and 200 acres, a dispatcher said,” Reuters reported.
There may have been some gusts in the 50- and 55-miles-per-hour range closer to the coast, but the very strongest winds, including one gust of 120 miles per hour, were in the high terrain of the Sierra Nevada,” said a meteorologist at NWS.
Dangerous Sierra Wind Storm Friday Night through Early Saturday
The National Weather Service (NWS)in Sacramento has issued a High Wind Warning: “Strong high pressure building into the Pacific Northwest
combined with a deep low pressure system off the southern California coast will bring strong east winds to the Sierra and Coastal Mountains … The strongest winds are expected Tonight.”
This post would be updated throughout the day, if additional information becomes available.
Trick-or-treat storms batter a vast region in the U.S.
Heavy rain and high winds forced dozens of U.S. cities and towns into cancelling Halloween activities on Thursday, battering a vast region from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes.
“The cities of Indianapolis and Muncie, Indiana, postponed trick-or-treating, local officials said. Toledo and at least 30 cities in Central Ohio put it off until Friday or as late as Sunday, according to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s website,” said a report.
The storm system, aided by the remnants of Hurricane Raymond, which dissipated over the Pacific on Tuesday, dumped as much as 15 inches of rain over Austin area, killing at least two people, and forcing some 1,000 residences to evacuate due to flooding.
“For certain areas, it looks like this will be in their Top 10 [flood events] of all time,” said a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Austin-San Antonio office.
Saudi black ops team carried out Damascus chemical weapons attack – Russian diplomatic source
The chemical attack in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria, on August 21 was carried out by a Saudi Arabian black ops team, according a Russian diplomatic source.
“Based on data from a number of sources a picture can be pieced together. The criminal provocation in Eastern Ghouta was done by a black op team that the Saudi’s sent through Jordan and which acted with support of the Liwa Al-Islam group,” a Russian diplomat reportedly told Interfax news agency.
The attack was meant to complicate an already delicate situation in Syria, another source said.
“Syrians of various political views, including some opposition fighters, are seeking to inform diplomats and members of international organizations working in Syria what they know about the crime and the forces which inspired it,” he told the agency.
“Earlier reports pointed to Saudi Arabia as the mastermind behind the chemical attack, which almost led to US military action against Syrian government. Supporters of this scenario say intelligence services in Riyadh were looking for a false flag operation to provoke an American intervention in Syria, which would tip the balance of power in favor of the armed opposition supported by Saudi Arabia,” said a report.
-oOo-
Lampedusa Migrants Boat Disaster: Death toll could reach 300
Choppy seas prevented divers on Friday from recovering more bodies of migrants who drowned off Sicily on Thursday.
The Italian coastguard has so far recovered 111 bodies and expect to find at least 200 others. The boat sank about 800 meters from the shore of the southern island of Lampedusa.
Some 155 people have been recused, but more than 200 others are not accounted for, authorities said.
The 20-m vessel is sitting upright on the seabed about 47m below the surface, video footage shows.
Since the 1990s, about 20,000 people have lost their lives trying to reach Italy from North Africa, according to data of known incidents; however, thousands more are likely to have perished without a trace.
-oOo-
Mandatory evacuation orders issued for low-lying areas south of New Orleans
State officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders for low-lying areas south of New Orleans as a Tropical Storm KAREN continued to move toward the Louisiana coast.
KAREN has forced oil and gas companies to shut platforms and evacuate most of their workforces, cutting output by more than a half in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for about a fifth of U.S. oil production and more than 6 percent of natural gas.
Since Thursday, the governors of Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Alabama have declared states of emergency to mobilize their resources.
-oOo-
Typhoon FITOW Buffeting SW Japan
Typhoon FITOW is dumping significant amounts of rain over the Okinawa region. Forecaster say the region could receive downpours of 60 mm per hour through Sunday.
Expected rainfall totals through Sunday evening could top 200 mm on the Saki-shima Islands, and 150 mm on Okinawa’s main island, said NHK.
“The local observatory advises caution against strong winds, high waves, a storm surge, landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, swollen rivers, tornadoes, and gusting winds.”
-oOo-
Bodies Unearthed in Bosnian Mass Grave
About 100 bodies have so far been unearthed at a newly discovered mass grave in northern Bosnia-Herzegovina, reports say.
The victims are believed to be Bosnian Muslims and Croats who were ethnically cleansed by Serbian forces occupying the region during the three-year Bosnian War (1992 and 1995).
Serbian forces reportedly killed more than 30,000 civilians during their war of aggression.
In July 1995, Serbians massacred more than 8,000 Bosnians in Srebrenica, in what was the worst act of genocide in Europe since the Second World War.
-oOo-
Self-immolation at the National Mall
A man was in critical condition Friday night after he poured gasoline on his body and set himself on fire on the National Mall, reports said.
Alabama and Mississippi declare States of Emergency in anticipation of KAREN
Gov. Bentley has declared a statewide State of Emergency in Alabama in anticipation of Tropical Storm KAREN.
The governor’s office released a statement saying that heavy rains, high winds and possibly tornadoes could hit the state.
“Residents and businesses along Alabama’s coast should monitor weather conditions and be prepared for whatever this tropical storm may bring,” Bentley said. “By declaring this state of emergency, I am mobilizing the resources our communities need as the storm approaches.”
“The governor’s issuance of the State of Emergency places Alabama National Guard members and all emergency response agencies on alert for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Karen,” said Alabama EMA Director.
Mississippi Declares A State of Emergency
Mississippi Gov. Bryant has also declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm KAREN continues churning through the Gulf of Mexico.
“Now is the time for people to review their emergency plans in case conditions worsen,” Bryant said in a statement.
Fire has broken out on a blown-out Gulf of Mexico gas well, a federal official has just confirmed.
Natural gas spewing from the Hercules 265 drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico about 55 miles off the Louisiana off the coast of Louisiana, Tuesday, July 23, 2013. Photo released by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
The drilling rig operated by Walter Oil & Gas was evacuated early Tuesday after the blowout occurred; the fire broke out late Tuesday.
“All 44 personnel on board have been safely evacuated and are being transported to a secure location. No injuries have been reported. No oil has been released.” Walter Oil & Gas said in a statement.
Earlier The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) posted the following statement on their website:
BSEE Responds to Well Control Event at South Timbalier Block 220, 55 miles offshore Louisiana
July 23, 2013– The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is responding to a report of a loss of well control 55 miles offshore Louisiana in 154 feet of water. Walter Oil & Gas this morning reported the loss of control of Well A-3 on an unmanned platform at South Timbalier Block 220 while doing completion work on the sidetrack well to prepare the well for production. The well is flowing gas and no oil is being released. The operator reports that 44 personnel have been evacuated safely from the Hercules 265 jack-up rig.
BSEE inspectors conducting an overflight reported a light sheen one-half mile by 50 feet in area which is dissipating almost immediately. BSEE inspectors will remain at a near-by platform to keep abreast of the situation. BSEE is closely monitoring Walter Oil & Gas’ mobilization of its response efforts to stop the flow of gas and secure the well.
BSEE is closely coordinating with the Coast Guard and other federal agencies on response efforts.
-oOo-
Other Major Disasters/ Significant Events
Lake County, Ohio, Declared Disaster Area after Extensive Flooding
Officials have declared the Lake County a disaster area, after flooding hit many cities in the County on Saturday affecting thousands of residents, and damaging at least 3,000 homes.
The heaviest flood damage occurred in the western half of Lake County from Wickliffe to Mentor, officials stated.
-oOo-
Warm Springs wildfire spreads, more Oregon homes evacuated
The Sunnyside Turnoff fire started at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20 along Highway 3 near Warm Springs, Oregon. Unseasonably hot weather, coupled with low humidities and strong winds caused the fire to escape initial and extended attack efforts. Inciweb reported.
“Firefighters evacuated about 40 homes in the Warm Springs area Sunday afternoon as a raging wildfire spread across thousands of acres of open country on the Indian reservation,” said a report.
Fire crews had earlier evacuated 200 homes, according to reports.
-oOo-
Wildfire forces Idaho’s Redfish Lake campers and gusts to evacuate
The 210 Road Fire, which ignited Monday, has consumed about a square mile of pine and brush in the Sawtooth National Forest.
Officials have evacuated the campgrounds on the lake’s southern edge and guests staying at the Redfish Lake Lodge located at the base of the Sawtooth Mountains, said a report.
There are currently 11 major wildfires burning tens of thousands of acres across southern and eastern Idaho, fueled by drought, high temperatures and low humidity. The blazes include Papoose Fire, Ridge Fire, Brown Butte, Thunder City, Lodgepole, Rough Creek, Gold Pan, Pine Creek Fire, Bradley and Summit Fire.
-oOo-
The Disaster President Signs Missouri Disaster Declaration
The Disaster President has declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding during the period of May 29 to June 10, 2013.
The areas most severely affected were the counties of 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.
-oOo-
NW China Earthquake Update
Death has climbed to at least 95 after a 6.6-magnitude quake followed by a significant aftershock struck NW China on Monday.
“As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the number of people that have been treated by medical institutions was 1,243, including 185 patients reported to be in a serious or critical status,” said a report.
-oOo-
UPDATED: Wednesday, 24 July 2013, 16:09
Severe Storms and Hail Damage up to 90% of France’s Burgundy Vine
Tuesday’s storms have damaged or destroyed up to 90 percent of the vines, threatening output for both the 2013 and 2014 vintages, said a report quoting producers.
“It is awful to see these vines ripped by hail and several years of wine growers’ work destroyed by the weather in one afternoon,” said the head of France’s independent wine makers.
Four Gulf Coast states declared states of emergency as tropical storm ISSAC reached the mouth of GoM. Evacuation orders have been issued for the residents in the storm’s path. The storm was expected to intensify to hurricane strength over the warmer waters.
Tropical Storm ISSAC. VIS/IR Sat Image.See inset for time.Source UW-CIMSS
ISSAC as of 03:00 UTC Sun Aug 26
Location: 24.2°N 82.9°W
Moving: WNW at 14 mph
Min pressure: 993 mb
Max sustained winds: 65 mph
Tropical Storm Force Wind Probability
TS ISAAC. Tropical Storm Force Wind Probability Chart.Source: NHC/NWS
Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events
El Salvador. Powerful Magnitude 7.3 quake struck offshore El Salvador about 133 km (82 miles) S of Santiago de Maria, at 04:37UTC on Monday, August 27, 2012, USGS/EHP reported.
The quake was epicentered 12.278°N, 88.528°W and struck at a depth 20.3 km (12.6 miles).
A tsunami warning was issued for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico, but no significant wave was reported, as of posting (~ 11:40UTC).
Kuril Islands, Russia. The Ivan Grozny (“Ivan the Terrible”) volcano on Iturup Island (Kuril islands group) erupted again, early Monday.
The volcano first erupted Thursday morning spewing a column of ash onto the surrounding towns of Goryachiye Klyuchi (10 km) and Kurilsk (25 km).
The quake followed a strong foreshock measuring 6.2Mw which occurred 9 minuets earlier.
Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH
Earthquake Details
Magnitude: 6.9
Date-Time: Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 07:15:48 UTC
Location: 28.790°N, 113.142°W
Depth: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Distances
133 km (82 miles) NE of Guerrero Negro, Baja Calif. Sur, Mexico
179 km (111 miles) NNW of Santa Rosalia, Baja Calif. Sur, Mexico
215 km (133 miles) W of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
526 km (326 miles) SSW of PHOENIX, Arizona
Location Uncertaint: horizontal +/- 18.1 km (11.2 miles); depth +/- 4.1 km (2.5 miles)
Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Other Significant Quakes
Magnitude 6.5, MICHOACAN, Mexico; Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 22:55:10 UTC; 18.272°N, 102.732°W; depth of 20 km (12.4 miles); USGS NEIC.
Magnitude 5.9, OFF THE COAST OF OREGON; Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 22:41:47 UTC; 43.593°N, 127.557°W; 271 km (168 miles) W of Coos Bay, Oregon; depth of 10.2 km (6.3 miles); USGS NEIC.
On the First Anniversary of the BP Assault on America
‘State of the art,’ semisubmersible Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig on Fire, April 20, 2010 at approximately 10:00 p.m. central time. Photo: Scott Lloyd/United States Coast Guard.
A year ago today the infamous Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded killing 11 workers, injuring 17 others, 3 of them critically, spilling at least 205.8 million gallons of crude oil into Gulf of Mexico, and destroying its fragile ecosystems.
BP also dumped about 2 million gallons of dispersant in the Gulf.
Today, dead baby dolphins, dead sea turtles, dead birds and other dead marine animals, tarballs and sticky substance are still washed ashore.
Designer Red Snapper
Red Snapper fished in Gulf of Mexico. “The fish have a bacterial infection and a parasite infection that’s consistent with a compromised immune system,” said Jim Cowan, an oceanographer at Louisiana State University, who has been examining them. “There’s no doubt it’s associated with a chronic exposure to a toxin.” Courtesy of Jim Cowan, Louisiana State University/via tampabay-dot-com]
Who’s Dr Robichaux
Dr. Michael Robichaux, who practices medicine in coastal Louisiana, “says the blood of Gulf residents who were tested showed 35 times more ethyl benzene, a highly toxic oil component. The health risk could be compounded by toxic poisoning from the chemical dispersants sprayed on the oil slicks, he adds,” Public News Service reported.
One year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster
“One year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Gulf Coast residents are reporting a litany of debilitating illnesses, including tumors, anemia, brain lesions, tremors and seizures – but it’s not getting much attention from the media, and many doctors don’t seem to know how to deal with it.”More …
TS ALEX the First Named Storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season 2010 Nears the Coast of Belize
Northern Guatemala and the Yucatan Peninsula experiencing heavy rainfall.
Alex – Visible/Infrared satellite image – Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge
Alex poses a potential threat to the Gulf of Mexico cleanup operation, though the risk is seen as minimal at this stage.
GOES East Hurricane Sector Infrared Image. Click image to update.
U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad (FAT) Allen was quoted as saying BP may be forced to suspend oil containment operations, “if a storm with gale-force winds were expected within five days at the leak site.” Reuters reported.
“We understand it’s moving westerly at this time and does not threaten the site,” said Allen, adding however, “we all know that the weather is unpredictable.”
Shell Oil Co has announced that it would also evacuate 300 non-essential employees from its Gulf of Mexico offshore operations as a precaution, the report said.
ALEX Projected Path: Various Dynamical Models Forecasts. Source: CIMSS. Click image to enlarge
Meanwhile, the state of Louisiana filed a motion with the U.S. Appeals Court for the Fifth Circuit on Saturday opposing the DOI’s request to stay a ruling from the federal judge who overturned a six-month ban on new deepwater drilling in the Gulf, Reuters reported.
TS ALEX: Summary of Details at 00:01 UTC, Sunday 27 June 2010
LOCATION: 17.4N 88.1W
Distances
About 25km (15 miles) SE of Belize City
About 125km (75miles) south of Chetumal, Mexico
Max. Sustained Winds 100km/hr (65 MPH)
Currently Moving W (280 degrees) at 19km/hr (12 MPH)
Rig Explosion, Deaths and Oil Leak Caused by Criminal Negligence
TRANSOCEAN, BP and HALIBURTON Sued for Employee Death
Lawsuit filed by Plaintiff, Natalie Roshto (on behalf of herself and her 3-year-old son, Blaine Roshto,) suing TRANSOCEAN, BP and HALIBURTON for criminal negligence in the loss of her husband, and her son’s father, Shane Roshto.
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig caught fire after exploding on April 20, 2010. Fire boat response crews are seen in the US Coast Guard photo trying to extinguish the remnants of the semisubmersible platform off the coast of Louisiana, on April 21, 2010. Shane Roshto and 10 of his colleagues were killed in the explosion, while 17 others were injured, at least 8 of them seriously. The rig sank Thursday morning local time some 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana, and was discovered to be leaking at least 1,000 barrels of crude oil per day, despite earlier assurances that the well would not leak.
The defendants cited in the criminal negligence suit are:
(A) TRANSOCEAN, LTD, (TRANSOCEAN ENTITY), a foreign corporation doing business in the State of Louisiana;
(B) TRANSOCEAN OFFSHORE DEEPWATER DRILLING, INC.,
(TRANSOCEAN ENTITY), a foreign corporation doing business in the State of Louisiana;
(C) TRANSOCEAN DEEPWATER, INC. (TRANSOCEAN ENTITY)
(D) BP, PLC, hereinafter referred to as “BP,” a foreign corporation doing business in the State of Louisiana;
(E) BP PRODUCTS NORTH AMERICA, INC., hereinafter referred to as “BP Products,” a foreign corporation doing business in the State of Louisiana; and (F) HALIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., hereinafter referred to as “Haliburton,” a foreign corporation doing business in the State of Louisiana.
Natalie Roshto claims that HALIBURTON, on of the Defendant cited in the negligence law suit “was engaged in cementing operations of the well and well cap” immediately prior to the explosion that killed her husband. Based on the information since obtained Mrs Roshto believes HALIBURTON acted “improperly and negligently” while performing those duties, which was a cause of the explosion.
Her husband Shane Roshto was employed by TRANSOCEAN ENTITIES as a Jones Act seaman, the lawsuit states, and was assigned by TRANSOCEAN ENTITIES to
work aboard the ill-fated DEEPWATER HORIZON.
Paragraph 11 of the lawsuit states:
At all times material hereto, the vessel on which Shane Roshto was injured and/or died was owned, navigated in navigable waters, manned, possessed, managed, controlled, chartered and/or operated by defendants, TRANSOCEAN ENTITIES, BP and/or BP PRODUCTS.
Paragraph 15 of the filed lawsuit, which has been filed with the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, states:
The above-described incidents were caused solely by the negligence of defendants, TRANSOCEAN ENTITIES, BP, BP PRODUCTS and HALIBURTON, through their agents, servants and employees, which are more particularly described as follows:
NEGLIGENCE OF TRANSOCEAN ENTITIES
a. Failing to provide a competent crew;
b. Failing to properly supervise its employees;
c. Failing to properly train and/or supervise plaintiff and other employees;
d. Failing to provide plaintiff with a safe place to work, and requiring plaintiff to work in unsafe conditions;
e. Failing to provide sufficient personnel to perform operations aboard the vessel;
f. Failing to properly follow drilling protocols and policies, proper well monitoring
and control practices;
g. Failing to exercise due care and caution;
h. Failing to avoid this accident;
i. Failing to provide decedent with a seaworthy vessel;
h. Other acts of negligence which will be shown more fully at trial.
NEGLIGENCE OF BP AND BP PRODUCTS
a. Failing to properly train and/or supervise its crew and other employees;
b. Failing to ensure that its crew worked in a safe and prudent manner;
c. Failing to provide plaintiff with a safe place to work, and requiring plaintiff to
work in unsafe conditions;
d. Failing to exercise due care and caution;
e. Failing to avoid this accident;
f. Failing to provide decedent with a seaworthy vessel;
g. Other acts of negligence which will be shown more fully at trial.
NEGLIGENCE OF HALIBURTON
a. Failing to sufficiently and competently perform cementing operations aboard the
vessel.;
b. Failing to properly supervise its employees;
c. Failing to properly train and/or supervise plaintiff and other employees;
d. Failing to provide plaintiff with a safe place to work, and requiring plaintiff to
work in unsafe conditions;
e. Failing to provide sufficient personnel to perform operations aboard the vessel;
f. Failing to exercise due care and caution;
g. Failing to avoid this accident;
h. Other acts of negligence which will be shown more fully at trial.
Serial No 1,631. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by Google/the authorities in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).
The U.S. Interior Department delivers 37 million acres for offshore drilling
The U.S. Interior Department is leasing about 37 million acres in the central Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas companies for drill-till-you-drop explorations
Perhaps the dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico were meant to happen [sic]; they were as inevitable [sic] as the Climate Change. Whether its was the will of almighty that his chosen few companies be able to drill for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico, or the failure of His children to stop the companies doing so, one thing is for certain: The Gulf of Mexico would be made progressively more polluted.
Offshore drilling: Govt approved rape and plunder in the high seas. Source of Photo: yourdemocracy.net.au
Since YOU and us only benefit from doing more with less energy, and keeping our food sources clean, the only two conclusions we can draw from this must be (i) God has forsaken us in favor of His chosen few, and (ii) we have miserably failed to protect our sources of natural food.
The energy companies are being offered areas that “hold up to 1.3 billion barrels of crude oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas,” the department said, Reuters reported.
Lease Sale 213 involves about 6,958 tracts spread over 36.9 million acres located 3 to 230 miles off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The blocks are in water depths from 10 feet to more than 11,200 feet.”
The lease sale will include about 4.1 million acres in an area known as 181 South, off the Alabama-Florida border. Drilling off Florida in the Gulf is only allowed far from the state’s shoreline.
The lease sale, which will be held on March 17, will cut the time energy companies have to develop oil and gas resources on certain tracts.
The leasing period for blocks in waters 400 to 800 meters (1,312 to 2,625 feet) deep would change from eight to five years, but when an exploratory well is drilled the lease could be extended by three years.
Blocks 800 to 1600 meters (2,625 to 5,249 feet) deep would have lease terms of seven years instead of 10 years. There would also be an extension of three years with an exploratory well.
The current 10-year leasing period would continue for blocks in 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) of water.
Liz Birnbaum, director of the department’s Minerals Management Service, commenting on the shorter leasing periods, said, “they provide a fair return to the public for (offshore) resources and a fair opportunity for lessees to explore, develop and profit from their leases while encouraging diligent development.”
[It’s a “win-win situation,” but the environment and marine life were unintentionally left out of the formula.]
Despite the advantages to both oil and gas companies and the people, the chosen few have reportedly opposed the cut in the leasing periods, and have bitterly complained:
“MMS recognizes that advances in technology have decreased the time necessary for exploration and development in some water depths, while frontier conditions still exist in the deepest waters of the Gulf,” said Birnbaum. “The reduction of some initial lease periods with possible extensions is a way to expedite development.”
Companies pay the government a small royalty fee based on only 18.75 percent of the value of the oil and gas they drill in the offshore tracts, Reuters reported.
We interpreted that to mean 81.25 percent of the oil and gas would be squandered royalty free!
At 06:00 UTC (12:00 AM CST) TS Ida was located about 150 km (95 miles) south-southwest of Mobile Alabama.
Dangerous storm tide created by Ida will raise water levels by up to 1.5 meter ( 5 feet) above ground along the coast near and to the East of where storm center makes landfall, as well as in areas of onshore flow in southeastern Louisiana, NOAA NHC said. The surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves near the coast.
Summary of TS Ida Status:
As of 06:00 UTC Tue Nov 10 (12:00 AM CST)
Location: 29.5°N 88.8°W
Max sustained winds : 96 km/h (60 mph)
Moving: N (360 degrees) at 16 km/h (10 mph)
Min pressure: 29.47 inches (998 mb)
What are the chances of Ida Coming Back?
What’s the probability of Ida doing a U-Turn, restrengthening into a hurricane-force storm for a third time, and slamming into the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, again?
FEWW Moderators believe there’s a 1 in 5 chance [P=0.2] that remnants of Idea could be pinwheeled back into the Gulf of Mexico by a slowly developing system to the east, moving NNW and striking the coast of Louisiana, and further to the west, with renewed intensity.
Layer Wind Mean Analysis. Right click image, then select ‘view image’ to enlarge.
Real-Time U.S. Composite Satellite Image and Animation
Click image to animate.
GOES AVNCOLOR Enhancement – Still image Dated as inset. Click image to enlarge and update.
Storm Ida – Earth Observatory Ida captured by Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite on November 9 at 6:17 a.m. U.S. Central Time. Though Ida was still a hurricane, it was quickly weakening. While spots of heavy rain remain, the storm’s circular organization is no longer apparent. NASA image courtesy Hal Pierce, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Holli Riebeek, NASA’s Earth Observatory. Edited by FEWW.
Cumulative Wind History
Click image to enlarge.
Tropical Storm Force Wind Speed Probabilities – 120 Hours
Click image to enlarge.
Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Forecast Cone for Storm Center
Hurricane Ida Status at 600 AM CST 12:00 UTC
Location: 25.8N, 88.2W
Maximum sustained: 130 km/h(80 mph)
Current direction: NNW (335 degrees) at 26 km/h (16 mph)
Minimum Central pressure: 993 MB (29.32 inches)
NOAA Said:
Rains will be increasing well in advance of Ida across the central and eastern gulf coast, but will become steadier and heavier later today into Tuesday. Total storm accumulations of 3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum storm totals of 8 inches, are possible through Tuesday from the central and eastern gulf coast northward into the eastern portions of the Tennessee valley and the southern Appalachians.
A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above ground level along the coast near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
FEWW Moderators forecast that Ida had a more than 1 in 4 chance [P≥0.25] of redeveloping into a hurricane-force storm.
At 05:15 UTC Sun Nov 8, 2009 [11:15 PM CST Sat Nov 7] NOAA reported that data from its buoy 42056, located in the NW Caribbean Sea, approximately 195 km (120 miles) ESE of Cozumel, Mexico, had reported a 1-minute sustained wind of about 120km/h (75 mph), which indicated Ida has once a again become a hurricane.
FEWW Moderators further believe that Hurricane Ida, could strengthen to a Category 3A hurricane on the FEWW Hurricane Scale [Cat 3 on Saffir-Simpson scale] within the next 24-48 hours.
Hurricane Ida Status at07:15 UTC (1:15 AM CST)
Location: 20.2N, 85.4W
Maximum Sustained Winds: 150 km/h (90 mph) – with higher gusts
Present Movement: Northwest (325 degrees) at about 17 km/h (10 mph)
Minimum central pressure: 983 MB
With 30-km hurricane force winds radii, and tropical storm force winds extending 220 km from the center, hurricane IDA is currently a compact hurricane.
Hurricane IDA. NOAA GOES 12 – Still Image dated Nov 08, 2009 – NASA GSFC GOES Project. Click image to enlarge and update.
GOES Full Disk. Right click image, then select ‘view image’ to enlarge.
Hurricane Ida. GOES-East – Still Sat Image. AVNColor enhancement. Click image to enlarge and update.
Layer Wind Mean Analysis. Right click image, then select ‘view image’ to enlarge.
GOES-East/Meteosat-9/MTSAT/ IR Mosaic Color Background – Atlantic Region.Right click image, then select ‘view image’ to enlarge.
Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Forecast Cone for Storm Center
Click image to enlarge and update.
NOAA Storm Advisory
AT 115 AM CST (0715 UTC) THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO HAS ISSUED A HURRICANE WARNING FROM PLAYA DEL CARMEN TO CABO CATOCHE. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM TULUM TO PLAYA DEL CARMEN. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA, GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR GRAND CAYMAN ISLAND.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA OF MEXICO FROM PUNTA ALLEN NORTHWARD TO SAN FELIPE. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA, GENERALLY WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CUBAN PROVINCE OF PINAR DEL RIO.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLE OF YOUTH.
Ida, Now a Tropical Depression, Could Become a Tropical Storm Soon.
But will it strengthen further to a hurricane-force storm as it enters the warmer waters in the Gulf of Mexico?
FEWW Moderators believe, as of posting, that Ida has a more than 1 in 4 chance [P≥0.25] of redeveloping into a hurricane-force storm after entering the Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Depression IDA
GOES Sat Image- Still frame. Click image to enlarge and update.
10:00 PM EST Fri Nov 6 [03:00 UTC Sat Nov 7, 2009]
Location: 16.2°N 84.0°W
Max sustained: 56 km/h (35 mph)
Moving: N (360 degrees) at 11 km/h (7 mph)
Min pressure: 1006 mb
IDA is expected to reach the Yucatan Channel late Sunday EST.
POES Composite – Daily Sea Surface Temps.
Click image to enlarge and update.
Cumulative Wind History
Click image to enlarge and update.
This graphic shows how the size of the storm has changed, and the areas potentially affected so far by sustained winds of tropical storm force (in orange) and hurricane force (in red). The display is based on the wind radii contained in the set of Forecast/Advisories indicated at the top of the figure. Users are reminded that the Forecast/Advisory wind radii represent the maximum possible extent of a given wind speed within particular quadrants around the tropical cyclone. As a result, not all locations falling within the orange or red swaths will have experienced sustained tropical storm or hurricane force winds, respectively. Source: NHC/NOAA
Coastal Watches/Warnings and 5-Day Forecast Cone for Storm Center
Click image to enlarge and update.
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 (yellow). The orange circle indicates the current position of the center of the tropical cyclone. The black line, when selected, 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. Source: NHC/NOAA
Tropical Storm Force Wind Speed Probabilities – 120 Hours
Click image to enlarge and update.
These graphics show probabilities of sustained (1-minute average) surface wind speeds equal to or exceeding 34 kt…39 mph (tropical storm force). These wind speed probability graphics are based on the official National Hurricane Center (NHC) track, intensity, and wind radii forecasts, and on NHC forecast error statistics for those forecast variables during recent years. Each graphic provides cumulative probabilities that wind speeds of at least 39 mph will occur during cumulative time periods at each specific point on the map. Source: NHC/NOAA
They Both Spell Disaster, Occur Because of Faults and Happen Regularly in San Francisco Bay
Earthquakes occur in SFB because of geological faults: San Gregorio fault, San Andreas fault, Mt Diablo fault… and Hayward fault. Oil spills occur there as a result of oil companies faults: Arco’s fault, BP’s fault, Chevron’s fault, ConocoPhillips’s fault, Exxon’s fault… and Shell’s fault!
You’d forgiven for thinking there must be an oil spill and an earthquake in the SFBA each day! Because you’d almost be right.
The oil slick from the Dubai Star, an oil tanker located at Anchorage 9 south of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Photo: KGO-TV/ABC7 via Mercury News. Image may be subject to copyright.
The latest spill, a blackish filthy brown slick of bunker fuel, covered a 250-meter by 4-km stretch of San Francisco Bay on Friday, caused by a “refueling mishap” between an oil tanker, Dubai Star, and a service barge alongside, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.
The slick has not reached land and is in a narrow band because there is little wind and much of it may burn off amid warm weather, giving clean-up crews the upper hand in containing it, Coast Guard Captain Paul Gugg told reporters at a press conference.
“The weather is very cooperative. We’re all over it.” Gugg said.
Gugg said the scope of the contamination does not compare to the massive spill in 2007 of fuel oil from another tanker in the San Francisco Bay that spread across its shores and killed thousand of birds.
However, Gugg didn’t say how much bunker fuel had spilled into the bay.
The spill comes eight days before the two-year anniversary of the vessel Cosco Busan striking the Bay Bridge in dense fog, ripping open its hull and spilling more than 53,000 gallons of fuel oil that fouled much of the shoreline along the well-known California waterway.
The Busan spill killed more than 2,500 birds and deposited oil on 200 miles of coastline, Pacific Environment was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile,
The unscrupulous oil giant BP has been fined $87 million for failing to remove safety hazards at its massive Texas City refinery, the 3rd largest in the US, where an explosion in 2005 killed 15 workers and injured 180 others. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited 270 violations at the oil refinery, officials said.
In 2005, BP was fined $21.3 million and ordered to repair hazards at their refinery, but it didn’t
“Lawyers acting for victims of the disaster suggested that the renewed action could put BP in breach of a plea agreement two years ago in which it pleaded guilty to a single felony and paid $373m to settle a string of criminal charges.” UK’s Guardian reported.
About 20.000 gallons of the fuel were spilled into the Gulf of Mexico after a crude oil tanker collided with a service vessel in the Gulf of Mexico near Texas, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday.
“The accident occurred in rough seas late Tuesday after the tanker finished receiving crude oil from a supertanker too large to enter port 46 miles southeast of Galveston. Ship-to-ship oil transfers, called lightering , are common and often involve a third vessel servicing the operation.” Reuters reported.
The 820-foot (250-meter) Liberian-flagged, Russian-operated Krymsk, collided with the 166-foot lightering service vessel AET Endeavor, after the Krymsk had finished taking Arabian crude oil from a larger ship, the Vega Star.
A pierced fuel tank caused the oil spill, believed to be No. 6 bunker fuel, officials said.
The tanker was carrying a cargo of more than 70,000 metric tons of crude, which escaped damage [this time,] a spokesman for Krymsk operator Novorossiysk was reported as saying.
Endeavor, owned by American Eagle Tankers, was not seriously damaged, reports said.
Summary!
Krymsk, a Liberian-flagged tanker, operated by Russian Novorossiysk, after lightering Arabian crude oil from a supertanker, Vega Star, too large to enter port near Galveston, Texas, collided with one of its service ships spilling bunker fuel into the giant runoff and tailing pond south of Texas, aka the Gulf of Mexico.
Finally MODIS Rapid Response Team releases an ‘up-to-date’ [only one day old!] image of Hurricane Bill
And so pleased with the work, they moved the image acquisition date forward by 30 days to September 30, 2009!
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this photo-like image of Hurricane Bill northeast of Puerto Rico at 10:55 a.m., local time (14:55 UTC) on August 20, 2009. Bill is large, sprawling across hundreds of kilometers from end to end, and has so has a clear eye. The National Hurricane Center expected Hurricane Bill to track northwest between the United States’s East coast and Bermuda, possibly crossing over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on August 23. The high-resolution image provided is at MODIS’ full spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at additional resolutions. NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center. Caption by Holli Riebeek. [Edited for brevity by FEWW.]
Bill, a day earlier (or 30 days later!). Hurricane Bill captured by MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite at 12:40 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 18, 2009.
Credits: See top image. [Image added to the post on August 22, 2009]
As for the chemical treatment [ ‘re-engineering’] hint, notice the thin, curvy line which emerges at 8 o’clock and rejoins Bill’s ‘mane’ at 10 o’clock [there are also two shorter similar lines starting at about 6 o’clock just south of the eye] appear to be an abnormal aberration. Could it be that Bill is chemically sprayed in an attempt to ‘control’ and ‘re-engineer’ it—to slow it down and make it disintegrate?
Fire Earth 
