Significant Earthquake Strikes Offshore California

Heba-453T

M4.3 quake occurs 32km SW of Lompoc, CA –USGS

EQ Details:
Magnitude: 4.3 mw
Location (uncertainty): 34.421°N 120.678°W (±0.5 km)
Depth (uncertainty): 4.3 km (±1.1)
Origin Time: 2017-10-26 20:38:51.340 UTC
Number of Phases: 83
Minimum Distance: 21.8 km (0.20°)
Travel Time Residual: 0.25 s
Azimuthal Gap: 218°
FE Region: OFFSHORE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA (43)

Iceland’s Latest Seismicity

M 4.6 – 119km S of Akureyri, Iceland
Location: 64.609°N 18.002°W
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2017-10-27 00:16:43 (UTC)

M 4.6 – 118km SSE of Akureyri, Iceland
Location: 64.643°N 17.559°W
Depth: 10.0 km
Time: 2017-10-26 23:26:35 (UTC)

Intense Seismicity Continues in Iceland

HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SEISMIC HAZARDS
SCENARIOS 704, 703, 702, 701, 700, [500,] 047, 09, 08, 07, 02
.

Intense geophysical events could render Iceland uninhabitable: FIRE-EARTH Forecast

The 173rd significant quake to strike Iceland since late August occurred about 4.3km NNE of Bárðarbunga volcano on Monday.

The M5.4 quake, centered at 64.676N, 17.498S, struck at a depth of about 4.1km, said the Icelandic Met office.

EQ Map

Some 173 quakes measuring ≥M4.5 have struck Iceland since August 22, 2014. Source of Map: USGS/EHP.

Related Links

• Significant Quakes Strike Kansas, Oklahoma, Iceland Sept. 30, 2014
• Significant Quakes Strike Iceland September 28, 2014
• ‘Red Warning’ Issued for Iceland Volcano August 31, 2014
• FIRE-EARTH Forecast: Iceland Volcanic Activity June 17, 2011
• The Next Icelandic Volcano Likely to Erupt April 22, 2010

 

Significant Quakes Strike Kansas, Oklahoma, Iceland

 

Kansas Shaken by Magnitude 4.1 Quake

Centered at 37.239°N, 97.967°W the event occurred at a signature depth of 5.6km (3.5mi).

Earthquake Details [USGS/EHP]

Magnitude: 4.1Mw
Event Time: 2014-09-30 @ 14:55:04 UTC
Location: 37.239°N 97.967°W depth=5.6km (3.5mi)
Nearby Cities

• 7km (4mi) SE of Harper, Kansas
• 65km (40mi) WSW of Haysville, Kansas
• 70km (43mi) WSW of Derby, Kansas
• 75km (47mi) SW of Wichita, Kansas
• 200km (124mi) NNW of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

M4.1 quake strikes near Perry, Oklahoma

The largest of 4 earthquakes to strike Oklahoma so far today measured 4.1Mw, occurring at depth of 5.0km (3.1mi) about 24km (15mi) WSW of Perry, Oklahoma, reported USGS/EHP.

At least 419 quakes measuring 3.0 or greater have struck Oklahoma over the last 365 days.

Earthquake Details [USGS/EHP]

Magnitude: 4.1Mw
Event Time: 2014-09-30 @ 03:01:26 UTC
Location: 36.232°N 97.556°W depth=5.0km (3.1mi)
Nearby Cities

• 24km (15mi) WSW of Perry, Oklahoma
• 34km (21mi) ESE of Enid, Oklahoma
• 40km (25mi) NNW of Guthrie, Oklahoma
• 46km (29mi) WNW of Stillwater, Oklahoma
• 84km (52mi) N of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 M5.5 shock rattles Bardarbunga volcano, Iceland

Centered at 64.612°N, 17.361°W the quake struck at a depth of 5.6 km about 8.5km  ESE of Bárðarbunga volcano, said Iceland Meteorological Office (IMO).

The quake was the largest to strike Iceland in recent days.

 

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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Related Links

•  U.S.
  The 837th Quake Strikes Oklahoma in 2014 August 9, 2014
• Intense Seismicity Resumes in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oklahoma Posted on July 13, 2014
• Earthquakes Strike California, New York, Oklahoma… Posted on July 6, 2014

Iceland

• Significant Quakes Strike Iceland September 28, 2014
• Significant Earthquake Strikes Bardarbunga System August 31, 2014
• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

Significant Quakes Strike Iceland

VOLCANIC HAZARDS
SEISMIC HAZARDS
MAIN SCENARIOS 707, 017, 08, 07, 02
.

Significant earthquakes strike near Bardarbunga volcano

At least 8 more earthquake measuring 4.0Mw or greater have occurred near Bardarbunga volcano in Iceland since Friday.

4 of the quakes measured 5.0Mw or greater, including three  shocks that registered 5.2Mw, according to the data provided by the Icelandic Met Office (IMO).

Meantime, IMO has issued the following warnings

• Warning: Fissure eruption continues in Holuhraun lava field, north of Vatnajökull (Vatna Glacier).
• Warning: Today (Sunday) volcanic gas emissions are expected to drift east and later to the northeast of the eruption site. Tomorrow (Monday) the pollution will affect areas to the north and northwest.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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Related Links

• Significant Earthquake Strikes Bardarbunga System August 31, 2014
• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

 

Mt Mayon Threatens to Erupt: Thousands Evacuated

VOLCANIC HAZARD
MAYON VOLCANO
HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SCENARIOS 070, 09, 08, 07
.

Mayon in high state of unrest, explosive eruption possible

Thousands of people have been evacuated from around the foot Mt Mayon, Philippines’ most active volcano, as the crater glow became observable indicating presence of molten lava and superheated volcanic gases.

PHIVOLCS released the following bulletins earlier:

MAYON VOLCANO BULLETIN 16 September 2014 8:00 A.M.

Mayon Volcano’s (13.2500°N, 123.6833°E) seismic network recorded thirty-two (32) volcanic earthquakes and seventy-two (72) rock fall events during the past 24-hour observation period. Intensity III (bright) crater glow was visible last night, although rain clouds prevented visual observation of the crater during the day. Rolling incandescent rockfall within the uppermost reaches of the Bonga Gully last night indicates that the summit lava dome is breaching the crater in its southeastern side. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 611 tonnes/day on 02 September 2014. Ground deformation data showed inflationary changes in the edifice from February 2014 based on precise leveling surveys on the 3rd week of August 2014, and edifice inflation from January 2012 baselines based on continuous tilt measurement. All the above data indicate that the volcano is exhibiting relatively high unrest due to the movement of potentially eruptible magma.

Mayon Volcano’s alert status has been raised to Alert Level 3.   This means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks. It is recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeastern flank be enforced due to the danger of rock falls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows.  PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.

NOTICE OF INCREASE TO ALERT LEVEL 3:

In the past several hours, a noticeable escalation of unrest was recorded by the Mayon Volcano monitoring network. Since 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM today, 39 rockfall events that are ascribed to incipient breaching of the growing summit lava dome across the southeastern crater rim, and 32 low frequency volcanic earthquakes that indicate magma intrusion and/or volcanic gas activity, have been detected. Crater glow has become observable, indicating incandescence of the crater from molten lava and hot volcanic gas.

In view thereof, PHIVOLCS-DOST is now raising the alert status of Mayon Volcano from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 3. This means that Mayon is exhibiting relatively high unrest and that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks.  It is therefore recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeastern flank be enforced due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows. PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.

Significant Earthquakes

Iceland has been rattled by 7 significant quakes measuring between magnitudes 4.6 and 5.3Mw since September 10.

• The largest quake measured 5.3Mw, which occurred 108km WNW of Hofn at depth of 10.0 km on 2014-09-15 at 08:05:02 UTC.

Sweden registered a rare earthquake measuring 4.7Mw, which struck about 59km (37mi) N of Mora, said USGS/EHP.

• The quake occurred at a depth of about 14.3km (8.9mi), at 13:08UTC on September 15, 2014.

Oklahomans were rattled by at least 4 earthquakes over the last 24 hours. The quakes measured between magnitudes 2.7 and 4.0Mw.

• The largest quake measuring 4.0Mw occurred about 6km S of Guthrie, Oklahoma at a depth of 4.4 km on September 15 at 20:08UTC.

Japan recorded a magnitude 5.6 shock striking Ibaraki Prefecture about 44km (27mi) NNE of Tokyo, which scared the living daylight out of millions of local kamikazes.

• The quake registered 5- (Five Minus) on the local 7-point seismic scale.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts for California and Japan

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has suspended its research on California seismicity to protest Internet censorship, Google’s manipulation of  information, theft of FIRE-EARTH intellectual property and other reasons, as previously stated.

The Team has suspended its research also on Japan seismicity due to resurgence of militarism in Japan and other reasons, as previously stated.

 

Deadly Storms Cut Power to 600,000+ Homes, Businesses in Midwest

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC HAZARDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
HIGH WINDS
DEADLY STORMS
SCENARIOS 900,  888, 444, 178, 111, 070, 066, 064, 08, 07 
.

Killer storms wreak havoc in U.S. Midwest

A line of killer storms brought heavy winds, torrential rains and lightning to Illinois and Michigan, uprooting trees, downing power lines and leaving at least two people dead, said officials on Saturday, Reuters reported.

Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents were left without power, with the the Detroit area being  the hardest hit, AP reported.

Wind gusts of more than 120 km/h (75 mph) downed more than 2,000 power lines Friday, said DTE Energy Co, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power.

“An Illinois woman died Saturday of injuries she sustained when she was struck by a falling tree and a Michigan man was electrocuted after touching a power line,” Reuters reported local media as saying.

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

“Mystery virus” infecting hundreds of children across the US

A severe respiratory illness is sickening hundreds of children across the U.S., according to reports describing disease as a “mystery virus.”

“The disease hasn’t been officially identified but officials suspect a rare respiratory virus called human enterovirus 68. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is related to the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold,” ABC reported.

The disease is said to be similar to a common cold, but is more severe. Symptoms include high fever,  breathing difficulty, and a wheezing couch.

“Officials at Children’s Hospital Colorado said they have treated more than 900 children since Aug. 18 for severe respiratory illness and admitted 86 to the hospital,” said a report.

Hundreds of additional cases have also been reported in Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.

Significant Seismic Activity Continues at Bardarbunga Volcano

Researchers monitoring Iceland’s massive volcano reported a total of 70 earthquakes between midnight and 08:00GMT on September 7,  2014, said IMO. The largest quake measuring magnitude M5.7  occurred at 07:08 in the Bárðarbunga caldera. “The lava has reached Jökulsá á Fjöllum. Steaming occurs.”  [The quake was later downgraded to magnitude 5.4  — Editor]

Another significant quake measuring M5.0 occurred Saturday morning some 7.2km NE of Bárðarbunga, said IMO.

Large changes on the ice surface: up to 15 m subsidence has occurred in the centre of Bárðarbunga caldera [which corresponds to a volume change of 0.25 km³]. There are no signs of eruption or increased geothermal activity in the caldera.The main eruptive activity is on the fissure that has been active since the eruption began. In addition, the fissure that opened yesterday morning is still active. Depressions in the ice have grown deeper.

The shape of the subsidence area is in accordance with the elevation of the caldera floor having lowered by that amount. [IMO]

 Deadly Floods Force Evacuations in S. Italy

Several people are dead or reported missing as severe floods inundated large parts of southern Italy forcing more than 1,000 families to evacuate.

Rainfall in the region has been the heaviest in at least 80 years, officials said.

Thousands evacuated as Hurricane NORBERT lashes Mexico’s Pacific coast

More than 2,500 people were evacuated as Hurricane NORBERT inundated large areas along Mexico’s Pacific coast, damaging at least 1,500 homes, officials said.

The hurricane also severely flooded the coastal town of San Carlos [population: ~7,000,] after levees protecting the area were breached by storm surges.

Significant Earthquakes Strike Bárðarbunga

VOLCANIC SEISMICITY
FISSURE ERUPTION
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
SCENARIOS 023, 017, 09, 08, 07
.

3 Earthquakes measuring magnitude 5.0 or greater strike near Bardarbunga volcano

At least 22 earthquakes measuring magnitude 3.0 or greater, including 3 measuring magnitudes 5.0, 5.1 and 5.3 have occurred near Bardarbunga volcano since Saturday, reported IMO.

Volcanic activity in Holuhraun Lava Field

Meantime, the fissure eruption continues “at a stable level,” said IMO. “No explosive activity is observed, the eruption remains an effusive lava eruption. Visual observation by webcam and low level volcanic tremor on seismometers do not show any obvious changes since [Sunday] evening.”

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP

Related Links

• Significant Earthquake Strikes Bardarbunga System August 31, 2014
• ‘Red Warning’ Issued for Iceland Volcano August 31, 2014
• MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 29, 2014 August 29, 2014
• Two More Significant Quakes Hit Bardarbunga Volcano August 27, 2014
• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

Significant Earthquake Strikes Bardarbunga System

VOLCANIC SEISMICITY
FISSURE ERUPTION
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
SCENARIOS 023, 017, 09, 08, 07
.

M5.1 quake occurs at northern rim of  Bardarbunga caldera: IMO

Centered at 64.675°N, 17.415°W, about 6.6km NE of Bardarbunga, the quake occurred at a depth of 5.2 km [USGS/EHP: 64.723°N 17.390°W depth=7.5km] on Sunday at 12:01:45GMT, said Iceland Met Office (IMO).

The quake was the largest to strike Bardarbunga volcanic system since a magnitude 5.4 shock on Saturday.

Meantime, a large fissure eruption continues in Holuhraun lava field, north of Vatnajokull [Glacier of Lakes.]

“A lava eruption started in Holuhraun shortly after 04 AM, on the same volcanic fissure, which erupted earlier this week. The fissure is estimated to be 1.5 km long.”

The lava extruding from the fissure was estimated at 1 km wide, 3 km long and several meters deep, oozing down in a northeasterly direction. The flow rate was about 1,000 m³ per second, said IMO.

The Aviation Color Code for Bárðarbunga has been downgraded from “red” to “orange” [because no ash has been detected] and the alert level for Askja to “yellow,” said IMO.

Related Links

• ‘Red Warning’ Issued for Iceland Volcano August 31, 2014
• MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 29, 2014 August 29, 2014
• Two More Significant Quakes Hit Bardarbunga Volcano August 27, 2014
• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

‘Red Warning’ Issued for Iceland Volcano

FISSURE ERUPTION
VOLCANIC SEISMICITY
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
SCENARIOS 023, 017, 09, 08, 07
.

New fissure eruption near Bardarbunga prompts ‘Red Alert’

Iceland has once again raised its aviation warning to the highest level after a new fissure eruption in Holuhraun lava field near Bardarbunga volcano.

Volcanologists monitoring restive Bardarbunga observed a fissure eruption at 05:15GMT on Sunday, said IMO.

“It appears that the eruptive fissure is longer than in the last eruption. It is extending north and south on the same . The eruption is a very calm lava eruption and can hardly be seen on seismometers. Visual observation confirm it is calm, but continuous.”

Currently, only lava is erupting, but no ash has been observed, added IMO.

Sunday eruption from a new fissure in Holuhraun lava field

Image via Xinhua.

Photo: Benedikt Gunnar Ófeigsson/IMO. Image may be subject to copyright

The eruption prompted IMO to raise the aviation warning code to ‘red’ for the large area that houses the Bardarbunga volcanic system.

The new fissure is located very close to the Friday’s, with the fracture extending further to the north, said a researcher.

The latest eruption is said to be far more more intense than Friday’s, with the lava flow estimated to be more than 10 times greater.

Meantime, seismicity continues on a 15-km-long region of the dyke intrusion, said IMO, “extending both into the Dyngjujökull glacier and the region north of the ice margin. Earthquakes have not migrated northwards during the last two days.”

An estimated 500 million cubic meters of lava has flowed from beneath the volcano in a long dyke since last week.

Related Links

• MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 29, 2014 August 29, 2014
• Two More Significant Quakes Hit Bardarbunga Volcano August 27, 2014
• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

GLOBAL DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 30, 2014

VOLCANIC ERUPTION
SIGNIFICANT SEISMIC EVENTS
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
TAVURVUR VOLCANO
DROUGHT MEGA DISASTER
SCENARIOS 808, 800, 444, 023, 017, 09, 08, 07, 03, 02
.

Another Significant Quake Strikes Iceland’s Bardarbunga Volcano

Centered at 64.844°N, 16.858°W [about 18.0km ENE of Kistufell] the quake struck at a depth of 5.4km on Saturday, said IMO.

The shock occurred beneath Bardarbunga’s main volcano at 07:03 GMT, said IMO, adding that they had not observed any new eruptions.

Iceland’s Earthquake Count [48 hrs to13:40 GMT on Aug 30]:

Magnitude less than 1Mw: 494
Magnitude 1 to 2Mw: 1627
Magnitude 2 to 3Mw: 228
Magnitude 3 or greater: 16
Total: 2,365
Source: IMO Earthquake Count

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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Drought Destroys Crops in N China

Recent drought in northern China has destroyed crops in much of northern China, leaving scores of people without food or drinking water, according to authorities, said Xinhua, China’s official news agency.

The regions include the provinces of Liaoning, Henan, Jilin, Hebei and Hubei as well as Inner Mongolia and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions, said the report, citing the country’s Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Liaoning province has experienced its worst drought since 1951, with about half million hectares of crops destroyed. The grain production in the province is expected to decline by 5 billion kg this year, said the report.

Severe Drought in Hebei

“Lingering droughts have spread to most parts of Hebei, a major grain-producing region in China, affecting 1.25 million hectares of crops, said the provincial water resources department.”

Large numbers of livestock are also short of water. Average precipitation in the province through mid-August was 21 mm, about 50 percent less than the average for the period, said the report.

Record Drought Kills Scores of Livestock in Xinjiang

“A prolonged drought in northwest China’s Xinjiang has left about 200,000 people in need of emergency aid, including drinking water, said the region’s civil affairs department.” Xinhua reported.

“In seven counties of the Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of Ili in northern Xinjiang, more than half a million people and 3.46 million head of livestock have been affected. Some 7,700 cattle have died.”

“Herders are concerned how their livestock will survive the winter due to the destruction of fodder by the drought. Over 4.3 million mu (287,000 hectares) of crops and 22.8 million mu of pastures have suffered, with direct economic losses of 4.3 billion yuan (700 million U.S. dollars).”

Nationally, the drought has affected about 3 million hectares of crops.

“Artificial rain has failed to relieve the situation.”

MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS, Aug. 29, 2014

VOLCANIC ERUPTION
SIGNIFICANT SEISMIC EVENTS
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO
TAVURVUR VOLCANO
SCENARIOS 023, 017, 09, 08, 07
.

Fissure eruption reported in Holuhraun lava field, Dyngjujokull glacier, Iceland

The eruption breached surface in Holuhraun lava field about 5km north of Dyngjujokull about 00:02 GMT on Friday, said IMO.

Seismic activity has decreased as a result of the pressure release, however a significant amount of earthquakes is still detected in the magma dike, between the eruption site and south to about 5 km into Dyngjujökull.

The aviation color-code was raised to “red” and back to “orange,” as there was no ash emission.

A significant shock measuring 5.2Mw centered at 64.770°N, 17.335°W occurred at a depth of 7.5km at 12:21UTC, said USGS/EHP.

Tavurvur Volcano Erupts in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

Mount Tavurvur on PNG’s East New Britain Island erupted violently at 3.00 a.m. local time,  said Rabaul Volcanological Observatory.

It ejected plumes of smoke and ash to a height of about 17,000m over the South Pacific island country, forcing the authorities to warn local residents to stay indoors, and causing airlines to alter some flight paths.

“Flight paths between Sydney and Narita (Tokyo) and Sydney and Shanghai have been altered as a result of the volcanic ash cloud over Rabaul in eastern Papua New Guinea,” Qantas spokeswoman told Reuters.

The eruption reached the top of the atmosphere at 50,000 feet, which is the same height as which planes travel, could disrupt air flights from Australia, said the Volcanic Ash Advisory Center in Darwin, Australia.

M5.6 Quake Strikes South of Athens, Greece

Centered at 36.738°N, 23.757°E, about 137km south of Athens, the quake struck at a depth of 91.8km, said USGS/EHP.

The quake was felt in Athens; however, there were no reports of casualties or severe damage, as of posting.

Two More Significant Quakes Hit Bardarbunga Volcano

MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
VOLCANIC ERUPTION
SIGNIFICANT SEISMIC EVENTS
BARDARBUNGA VOLCANO ERUPTING
SCENARIOS 023, 09, 08, 07
.

Bardarbunga volcano hit by two more significant earthquakes

Two more earthquakes measuring magnitudes 5.4 and 5.2 struck near Iceland’s Bardarbunga volcano on Wednesday. The quakes struck at depths of 6.4 and 6.2km respectively.
A magnitude 4.5 quake also struck the nearby Askja volcano at a depth of 4km, said IMO.

Earthquake count in the past 48 hours, as of posting  [Source: IMO]

• Magnitude less than 1 = 270
• Magnitude 1 to 2 = 1,674
• Magnitude 2 to 3 = 378
• Magnitude more than 3 = 28
• Total = 2,350

The largest quake to strike  Bardarbunga so far was a magnitude 5.7, which occurred at a depth of 6.2km on Tuesday about 4.8 km NNE of of the volcano.

Earthquake location map as of 27 Aug 13:10 GMT. Source and copyright: IMO. See Fair Use Notice

Other Significant Events

M5.4 Strikes 150km SSE of Shizunai, Kamikazeland

Centered at 41.115°N, 143.158°E the quake occurred at a depth of 28.3km (17.6mi), said USGS/EHP.

Distances:

• 158km (98mi) ENE of Misawa, Japan
• 673km (418mi) NNE of Tokyo, Japan

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts for Japan

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has suspended its research on Japan seismicity due to resurgence of militarism in Japan and other reasons, as previously stated.

The Team has suspended its research also on California seismicity to protest Internet censorship, Google’s manipulation of  information, theft of FIRE-EARTH intellectual property and other reasons, as previously stated.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

---

Related Links

• Red Alert as Bardarbunga Volcano Erupts August 23, 2014
• Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano August 20, 2014
• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

 

Strong Quake Hits San Francisco Bay Area

HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SEISMIC HAZARD
VOLCANIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 023, 09, 08, 07
.

M6.0 Quake Occurs  NW of American Canyon, California

Centered at 38.214°N, 122.319°W the quake struck at a significant depth of 10.8km.

There were no reports of casualties, as of posting. However, according to the USGS ‘Pager‘ and ‘Shakemap,‘ some fatalities may have occurred, with the damage estimated at hundreds of million of dollars.

The quake has severely damaged “historic buildings in Downtown Napa, rupturing gas lines and water mains across Napa, Sonoma, and Solano Counties leading to multiple fires, plunging entire communities into darkness and buckling and cracking roadways on Highway 37 and State Route 121,” said a local report.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 6.0Mw
Event Time: 2014-08-24 10:20:44 UTC
Location: 38.214°N 122.319°W depth=10.8km (6.7mi)
Nearby Cities

• 6km (4mi) NW of American Canyon, California
• 9km (6mi) SSW of Napa, California
• 13km (8mi) NNW of Vallejo, California
• 14km (9mi) SE of Sonoma, California
• 82km (51mi) WSW of Sacramento, California

The quake is reportedly the strongest shock to hit the Bay Area since the magnitude 6.9 quake that struck Loma Prieta in 1989.

Dozens of aftershocks have struck the area, as of posting.

Other Significant Seismicity

M6.4 strikes near Hacienda La Calera, Chile

Magnitude: 6.4Mw
Event Time: 2014-08-23 22:32:23 UTC
Location: 32.705°S 71.397°W depth=35.0km (21.7mi)
Nearby Cities

• 18km (11mi) WNW of Hacienda La Calera, Chile
• 23km (14mi) NNW of Quillota, Chile
• 32km (20mi) SSW of La Ligua, Chile
• 36km (22mi) NNW of Limache, Chile
• 108km (67mi) NW of Santiago, Chile

Iceland: Bardarbunga Volcanic Earthquakes

M5.3  strikes  WNW of Hofn, Iceland
Event Time: 2014-08-24 00:09:53 UTC
Location: 64.686°N, 17.351°W depth=5.4km (3.4mi)
Nearby Cities

• 116km (72mi) SSE of Akureyri, Iceland
• 227km (141mi) ENE of Reykjavik, Iceland
• 229km (142mi) ENE of Kopavogur, Iceland

About 2,000 earthquakes of all magnitudes have struck Iceland in the last 48 hours, according to IMO.

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts for California

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has suspended its research on California seismicity to protest Internet censorship, Google’s manipulation of  information, theft of FIRE-EARTH intellectual property and other reasons, as previously stated.

The Team has suspended its research also on Japan seismicity due to resurgence of militarism in Japan and other reasons, as previously stated.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts

For detailed earthquake forecasts tune into FIRE-EARTH Reports daily @ 06:32UTC.

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events – August 20, 2014

MAJOR DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
SCENARIOS 888, 817, 699, 505, 444, 111, 101, 100, 070, 023, 09, 08, 07, 05
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Thousands of tremors recorded near Bárðarbunga volcano

Seismic activity continues around the Bárðarbunga volcano in the northwestern part of Vatnajökull glacier, with about 5,000 tremors recorded since Saturday. The largest quake so far measured 3.0Mw, officials said.

The seismicity is said to be the most intense ever recorded in the area. Most of the quakes are occurring at depths of 5 – 10km, said the Iceland Met Office.

Fearing a major eruption, authorities have evacuated an area north of the volcano, where severe flooding could occur as a result of the ice cap of the Vatnajökull glacier melting.

Related Links

• Seismic activity – last 48 hours + 3D Map of the Tremors
• Bárðarbunga Webcam

Dozens killed in Hiroshima landslides

An extreme rain event, said to be the equivalent of a month’s worth of rain, unleashed severe flooding and landslides killing at least 40 people in the outskirts of the Hiroshima in western Japan. About a dozen others are reported missing, and the death toll is expected to rise, police said.

A record 217mm of rain fell in just 3 hours in the northern part of the city, more than the average for the entire month of August, the local media reported.

The city’s fire department have reportedly admitted to their own incompetence for the large number of casualties: “Something went wrong in our analysis (of the emergency) … We failed to issue an evacuation advisory ahead of the disaster. Looking back, … this is something we need to amend.”

“In 1999, Hiroshima City and nearby Kure City were hit by similar landslides which killed more than 30 people,” said a report.

Meantime, flooding and mudslides have destroyed or damaged more than 2,100 homes and other buildings in Fukuchiyama City in Kyoto Prefecture, and Tanba City in neighboring Hyogo Prefecture in the Kansai region west of Honshu island.

Major Wildfires Burning across Western U.S.

About two dozen wildfires burning across California, Oregon and Washington state amid rising temperatures and worsening drought. Authorities say this is one of the worst wildfire seasons on record.

Thousands of gallons of oil spills from Duke Energy coal plant into Ohio River

At least 5,000 gallons of fuel oil spilled into Ohio River from a 60-year-old power plant owned by Duke Energy near Cincinnati, said the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Ohio River stretches more than 1,500km from Pennsylvania to Illinois and provides drinking water for at least 3 million people, said the Ohio River Foundation (ORF).

It is also a major artery for shipping agricultural produce by barge from the eastern United States to export terminals on the Gulf Coast.

The Ohio River is now the worst toxic water dump in the U.S., said ORF.

• Polluters dumped 31 million pounds of toxic chemicals into Ohio River in 2007, making it the most toxic river in the U.S.
• Violations of the Clean Water Act are going unprosecuted.
• About half of lakes and reservoirs are contaminated above EPA “safe levels,” said ORF.

“Amazingly, in some cases this is permitted pollution; however, the number of permit violations appears to be growing.”

Whale Meat ‘n Blubber Tastier With PFCs

Bon Appétit!

Danish researchers have discovered that people in Faroe Islands [situated between Norway and Iceland] in the North Atlantic who eat whale meat have high levels of polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in their blood. They are particularly worried that the pollutant has spread globally.

“This pollution is a new health concern for the Faroese and many populations worldwide,” said an environmental health researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Southern Denmark.

Traditional Faroese food 1: Dried mutton and whale meat and blubber (Source: Wikipedia)

Traditional Faroese food 2: pilot whale meat (black) and blubber (middle) and dried fish (left) and potatoes, a typical meal on the Faroe Islands. (Source: Wikipedia). For licensing details click here.

“We know very little on the toxicity in humans so far, even less in regard to whales,” he told reporters, referring to PFCs, which are used as water or grease repellents for textiles, papers and fire-extinguishing foams.

In case of PFOs, a variant PFCs, “a single dinner with whale meat every two weeks is associated with an increase of 25 percent in the blood concentration,” he said.

Whaling in the Faeroe Islands. Atlantic White-sided Dolphins, on a concrete-floored dock at a small port of Hvalba, Faeroe Islands. Licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation license, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. Photo: Erik Christensen; via Wikimedia Commons.

Larger marine animals including pilot whales, caught around Faroe Islands, are at the top of the marine food chain because they consume smaller fish and other marine creatures that dewll on the ocean floor and are rich in PFCs and other chemical pollutants that end up in the oceans. A diet of marine creatures leads to the build up of PFCs [and other toxics,] especially in the whales blubber and liver and pose a serious threat to people who eat them.

In accordance with the [ tradition,] men gather on the shore to kill the whales [as women and children look on,] here in the town Vágur [on the Faroe Island of Suðuroy, Denmark] June 28, 2004. Photo: Erik Christensen, Porkeri; via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation license, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.

Previously, PFC contamination was associated with long term exposure to textiles or furniture containing PFCs. “Now we are seeing evidence that they are widespread in the environment and building up,” Grandjean said.

“The sea turns blood red.” Licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation license, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. Photo: Erik Christensen; via Wikimedia Commons.

“The study, issued online, would be in August edition of the journal Environmental Science & Technology. A separate study had also shown high levels of PFOS in polar bear livers.” Reuters reported.

“A report by the European Food Safety Authority this week said that some PFCs have produced tumors in rats but do not seem to cause cancers in humans. It said more data was needed. One study has linked PFCs to lower human birth weights.”

Related Links:

• WhaleWatch
• People who eat whales (Video)
• Stop killing whales! (Video)