NEOGURI Becomes Super Typhoon

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
SUPER TYPHOON
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 070, 033
.

Super Typhoon NEOGURI racing toward Okinawa with winds of 260 km/h

NEOGURI (TY 08W) has intensified to Super Typhoon force with sustained winds of about 260 km/h and maximum gusts of over 315 km/h. The giant storm was located about 500km S of Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, racing NW at about 30 kph, and generating maximum significant wave height of about 20m at 14:00UTC, July 7, 2014, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

• Max Sustained Winds: 260 km/h
• Gusts: 315 km/h

NEOGURI is forecast to further intensify packing sustained winds in excess of 290 km/h and maximum gusts of at least 340 km/h as it approaches Okinawa.

Super Typhoon NEOGURI. IR MTSAT-2 satellite image at 12:00UTC, July 7, 2014. Source: Digital Typhoon

Super Typhoon NEOGURI (“The Roadrunner Typhoon.”) VIS-SWIR Satellite Image at 11:32UTC, July 7,2014. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC

Related Links

• Massive Typhoon Targets Japan July 6, 2014

 

Massive Typhoon Targets Japan

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
INTENSIFYING MAJOR TYPHOON
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 070, 033
.

Typhoon NEOGURI Racing Toward Okinawa

Typhoon NEOGURI (08W) was located about 970km SSE of Naha, the capital city of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, tracking WNW at about 30 kph, and generating maximum significant wave height of about 15m at 05:00UTC, July 6, 2014, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

• Max Sustained Winds: 235 km/h
• Gusts: 280 km/h

NEOGURI is forecast to become a super typhoon before reaching Okinawa.

Major Typhoon NEOGURI. IR-WV Diff Satellite Image at 13:32UTC, July 6,2014. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC

Major Typhoon NEOGURI (and its “ghosts”). IR MTSAT-2 satellite image at 06:00UTC. Source: Digital Typhoon

Okinawa Battered by 2nd Typhoon in 24 Hrs

Okinawa and Miyako Islands battered by Typhoon FITOW Followed by Typhoon DANAS

FITOW uprooted trees and knocked down utility posts, tearing rooftops and causing blackouts of thousands of homes in Miyakojima city; however, the full extent of damaged caused by Typhoon DANAS was not known, as of posting.

Okinawa Island almost bore the full brunt of Cat 4 Typhoon DANAS, several hours ago.

DANAS is a “heat-seeking,” “custom-made” typhoon in FIRE-EARTH parlance, “designed” to impact the full length of Japan islands, and at this stage of its life it looks fully capable of causing damage comparable only to Hurricane SANDY. We’ll see!

DANAS Details @ 13:00UTC on October 7, 2013

Position: 28.3°N, 127.7°E
Movement: NNW – 330 degrees at 30km/hr
Max Sustained Winds: 230km/hr
Max Wind Gusts: 280km/hr
Max Significant Wave Height: 20m (60 feet)
Category: DANAS is a Cat. 4B on FEWW New Hurricane Scale
Source: FIRE-EARTH, JTWC, JMA and others

DANAS Projected Path. IR Satellite Image recorded at 12:32UTC on October 7, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Typhoon DANAS. VIS/IR Satellite Image recorded at 12:32UTC on October 7, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Location and Impact Forecast

DANAS was near 630 km SSW of Fukuoka, Kyushu, at 13:00UTC on October 7, 2013.

The typhoon is expected to dump as much as 200 mm of rain on Japan’s Amami region and southern Kyushu and 150 mm on Okinawa and northern Kyushu by Tuesday morning, according to local reports.

Related Links

• FITOW Turns Deadly October 7, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Forces Hundreds of Thousands of Evacuations October 6, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Chased by Cyclone DANAS October 5, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Makes Minor Detour October 4, 2013
• Two Cyclones Moving Toward Japan October 1, 2013
• WUTIP Hammers Central Vietnam October 1, 2013
• Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand September 29, 2013
• USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed September 23, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

FITOW Turns Deadly

Typhoon FITOW: two dead; 574,000 evacuated, 177,000 displaced; homes destroyed; power cut off to millions

Typhoon FITOW made landfall in east China’s Fujian Province early Monday, with winds of up to 201 km per hour, China’s National Meteorological Center said.

As of Monday, FITOW had claimed at least two lives, forcing 574,000 people to evacuate and 35,795 vessels to return to harbor for shelter, said a report.

FITOW, the 23rd typhoon to hit China this year, continued to move northwest weakening rapidly, said the center. Authorities issued a “Red Alert,” China’s highest weather warning, on Sunday.

“Rainstorm and winds up to 201 km per hour slashed Cangnan County and the Nanji Island Township, and some houses collapsed in the county, said the Wenzhou flood control headquarters,” the report said.

Some 177,000 people have been displaced In Fujian province, and about 30,000 fishing boats called to shore for shelter.

“The typhoon has caused suspension of bullet trains in several cities in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi and halted services on at least 35 lines that pass cities on the typhoon route, including services between Beijing and Nanjing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou and Xiamen,” said the report.

The typhoon also forced he “suspension of bullet trains in several cities in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi and halted services on at least 35 lines that pass cities on the typhoon route, including services between Beijing and Nanjing, Shanghai, Ningbo, Fuzhou and Xiamen.”

Dozens of flights from Zhejiang Province including flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Kunming weer cancelled, and  coach services between Shanghai and Wenzhou were also suspended on Sunday.

Typhoon USAGI, the 19th typhoon of the year, killed dozens of people in southern Guangdong province, destroying at least 7,100 homes and causing direct economic losses of 3.24 billion yuan ($529.5 million) late September.

Related Links

• Typhoon FITOW Forces Hundreds of Thousands of Evacuations October 6, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Chased by Cyclone DANAS October 5, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Makes Minor Detour October 4, 2013
• Two Cyclones Moving Toward Japan October 1, 2013
• WUTIP Hammers Central Vietnam October 1, 2013
• Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand September 29, 2013
• USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed September 23, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

Typhoon FITOW Forces Hundreds of Thousands of Evacuations

FITOW Slamming China

China’s meteorological agency issued a red alert for storm surges earlier on Sunday as Typhoon FITOW neared the country’s southeast coastal areas.

On Saturday the agency issued a “Red Alert,” the country’s highest in its weather warning system, for the typhoon.

Typhoon FITOW. SW/IR Satellite Image recorded at 15:32UTC on October 6, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

FITOW FURY

Original caption: Frontier defense soldiers encounter high waves caused by Typhoon Fitow in Wenling City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Oct. 6, 2013. China’s meteorological authority issued a red alert on Sunday as Typhoon Fitow approaches the country’s southeast coastal areas. (Xinhua/Jia Ce). More images…

FITOW FURY. Waves intensified by TY FITOW slam the nortehrn coastline of of Keelung, Taiwan, Sunday October 6, 2013. (Photo: Xinhua/Wu Ching-teng)

Related Links

• Typhoon FITOW Chased by Cyclone DANAS October 5, 2013
• Typhoon FITOW Makes Minor Detour October 4, 2013
• Two Cyclones Moving Toward Japan October 1, 2013
• WUTIP Hammers Central Vietnam October 1, 2013
• Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand September 29, 2013
• USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed September 23, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

Typhoon FITOW Makes Minor Detour

Vicious-looking FITOW headed toward northern Taiwan, southeastern China

Typhoon FITOW has intensified to a Cat 2 typhoon, looking set to make a big impression in northern Taiwan and southeastern China, via Ryukyu Islands.

Typhoon FITOW  (TS 1323; TY 22W) as of 12:00UTC on October 4 
Location: Near 23.3N, 129.4E
Movement and speed: NW (330 degrees), 10km/hr
Central pressure: 960hPa
Max wind speed: 165km/hr (90kt)
Max sustained wind: 205km/hr (110kt)
Source: FIRE-EARTH and others

Typhoon FITOW. IR Satellite Image recorded at 11:32UTC on October 4, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC. FIRE-EARTH Enhancement.

Typhoon FITOW. IR/WV Diff.  Satellite Image with the track and projected path superimposed. Recorded at 11:32UTC on October 4, 2013. Source: CIMSS/SSEC/WISC.

List of Tropical Cyclones in the Western North Pacific [October 4, 2013]

1. SONAMU
2. SHANSHAN
3. YAGI
4. LEEPI
5. BEBINCA
6. RUMBIA
7. SOULIK
8. CIMARON
9. JEBI
10. MANGKHUT
11. UTOR
12. TRAMI
13. PEWA
14. UNALA
15. KONG-REY
16. YUTU
17. TORAJI
18. MAN-YI
19. USAGI
20. PABUK
21. WUTIP
22. SEPAT
23. FITOW
24. DANAS (TS1324)

Related Links

• Two Cyclones Moving Toward Japan October 1, 2013
• WUTIP Hammers Central Vietnam October 1, 2013
• Typhoon WUTIP Headed for Vietnam, Laos, Thailand September 29, 2013
• USAGI Disaster Update: 25 Dead; 7,100 Homes Destroyed September 23, 2013
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale September 3, 2008
• Satellite Imagery

Floods Threaten Niger’s Rice Crop

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,279 Days Left

[September 14, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. 

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,279 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

  Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011...

  .

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Republic of Niger. Flooding in Niger could destroy its main rice harvest, reports said.
  • Floods have already claimed dozens of lives since the annual rainy season began.
  • Niger produces about 130,000 tons of rice a year.
  • “Most of the rainy season rice crop, estimated at over 80,000 metric tons, risks being destroyed this year,” a Malian official said.

• United States. The Department of Commerce has declared Fisheries Disasters in Northeast, Alaska, and Mississippi.
  • Northeast – Several key fish stocks in the Northeast groundfish fishery are not rebuilding and further cuts are expected in 2013.  More information here.
  • Alaska – Low returns of Chinook salmon to the Yukon River, Kuskokwim River, and Cook Inlet have resulted in a fishery resource disaster have caused a continuation of the Yukon River commercial fishery failure in 2010 – 2012, a Kuskokwim River commercial fishery failure in 2011 – 2012, and a Cook Inlet commercial fishery failure in 2012.  More information here.
  • Mississippi – Impacted by the massive freshwater impacts from the historic flooding in the lower Mississippi River in the spring of 2011, a commercial fishery failure has been declared for the Mississippi oyster fishery and the state’s blue crab fishery. More information here.

• North Korea. Death toll from recent floods in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has risen to 300, with 600 others reported as missing and many injured, reports said.
  • “The floods between mid-June and late August destroyed 87,280 houses and affected roughly 298,050 residents, damaging farmland and social infrastructure such as electric cables, coal mines and railways, according to the KCNA, said a report.
    

• Pakistan.  Flooding in Pakistan has left hundreds of people dead, injured or missing.  Thousands of others are left homeless.

• Ryukyu Islands. Super Typhoon SANBA (TY 17W), near 23.5ºN, 129.1ºE,  continues to intensifies moving north (345 degrees) toward Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands.

Super Typhoon SANBA (TY 17W) and its project path – enhanced IR satellite image.  Image source:  CIMSS

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Typhoon SONGDA Targets Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa

SONGDA Downgraded to Cat 3B on FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Typhoon SONGDA could make a direct hit on the tiny volcanic island [and popular holiday resort] of Miyakojima (Pop: 56,000; area: ~ 160 km²; position: 24°46′N 125°19′E.)

Current Details

• Date and Time   May 28, 2011 at 05:50UTC
• Position:  Near 24.1N 124.4E
• Location: About 530 km SW of Kadena, Okinawa
• Movement over the past 6 hours:  NNE
• Forward Speed: 28km/hr (15 KTS)

Current Wind Distribution:

• Max sustained winds: ~ 193 km/hr (104 KTS) – [Cat 3B storm on FEWW New Hurricane Scale]
• Max wind gusts: 235 km/hr (127 KT)
• Max significant wave height: 11.3m (37feet)
• Source: FIRE-EARTH estimates based on data provided by JTWC and others.

Typhoon SONGDA – VIS/IR satellite image – 4km res. Source: CIMSS. [NOTE: locations show on the map are approximate, and used for reference only.]

Typhoon SONGDA – IR satellite image  (BD  Enhancement) – 2km res. Source: CIMSS. Click images to enlarge.

Map of Miyakojima Island with the position of Typhoon SONGDA shown at 04:00UTC on May 28, 2011. Source: Digital Typhoon. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.

Related Links

• Super Typhoon SONGDA Saunters NW
• Super Typhoon SONGDA
• Satellite Imagery
• 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season: AAA
• FEWW New Hurricane Scale

Loops/Animations (MTSAT/NOAA/SSD)

• Northwest Pacific – Water Vapor
• Northwest Pacific – Visible
• Northwest Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• Northwest Pacific – Infrared
• Northwest Pacific IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

Digital Typhoon Animations

• Last 24 Hours : MPEG / WMV
• Last 120 Hours : MPEG / WMV
• Last 240 Hours : MPEG / WMV

The 9th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region

The 9th powerful Earthquake (of a possible series of 14) Measuring 6.9 Mw Strikes Ryukyu Isles, Japan

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.9 Mw struck near Naha, Okinawa, Japan at a depth of 10km on February 26, 2010 at 20:31UTC. The mainshock was followed by a magnitude 5.1 aftershock which occurred on February 27, 2010 at 00:49 UTC, USGS reported.

Background:

• 8th Strong Quake Strikes Ryukyu Islands, Japan
• Seventh Powerful Quake Hits Japan Region
• 6th Strong Quake Strikes Near Ryukyu Isles, Japan
• 5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region
• 6 to 8 more strong EQs may yet strike region
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan

Referring to an earlier forecast, FEWW Moderators believe an additional series of 5 or so quakes measuring ≥ 6.0 Mw could strike Japan region in the coming weeks.

10-degree Map Centered at 25°N,130°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Map enhanced by FEWW.

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP.

Political Map of Japan.

Earthquake Information Issued by JMA at 05:31 JST 27 Feb 2010

Occurred at (JST)	Latitude	Longitude	Depth	Mag.	Region Name
5:31 JST 27 Feb 2010	26.3ºN	128.2ºE	10km	6.9Mw	Okinawa-honto Kinkai

Approximate Distances (USGS):

• 80 km (50 miles) ESE of Naha, Okinawa, Japan
• 455 km (285 miles) ENE of Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
• 665 km (415 miles) SSW of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan
• 1530 km (950 miles) SW of TOKYO, Japan

Tsunami Details

At 05:33 JST 27 Feb 2010   JMA Issued a Tsunami Warning for

• OKINAWA ISLANDS

Residents were advised to:  “Evacuate from the seashore immediately to the safe places near the above coasts.”

A Tsunami Advisory was issued  for

• AMAMI ISLANDS AND TOKARA ISLANDS
• DAITOJIMA AREA
• MIYAKOJIMA AND YAEYAMA AREA

At 07:01 JST 27 Feb 2010 JMA canceled all tsunami warnings and advisories: “No tsunami damage at the above coasts though there may be slight sea level changes from now on.”

JMA Tsunami code:
Tsunami Warning: “Tsunami height is expected to be up to 2 meters, keep watch on tsunamis.”
Tsunami Advisory: “Tsunami height is expected to be about 0.5 meters, pay attention to tsunamis.”

Fire-Earth anticipates intense (above average) seismic activity and volcanic unrest/activity in the Japan Region throughout 2010 and beyond.

Related Links:

• 8th Strong Quake Strikes Ryukyu Islands, Japan [February 7, 2010]
• Seventh Powerful Quake Hits Japan Region [October 30, 2009]
• 6th Strong Quake Strikes Near Ryukyu Isles, Japan [September 29, 2009]
• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan [August 11, 2009]
• 5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region [August 17, 2009]

• 4th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region [August 17, 2009]
• 3rd Powerful Quake in 3 Days Strikes Japan Region [August 13, 2009]
• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan [August 10, 2009]
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Near Izu Islands, Japan [August 9, 2009]
• M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan [August 5, 2009]

• Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes Taiwan region
• Earthquakes [Links Page]
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan

8th Strong Quake Strikes Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Eighth Strong Earthquake Measuring 6.6Mw Strikes Japan Region

Background:

• Seventh Powerful Quake Hits Japan Region
• 6th Strong Quake Strikes Near Ryukyu Isles, Japan
• 5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region
• 6 to 8 more strong EQs may yet strike region
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan

Referring to an earlier forecast, FEWW Moderators believe an additional series of 5 – 6 quakes measuring ≥ 6.0 Mw could strike Japan region in the coming weeks.

FEWW Moderators had previously anticipated more powerful earthquakes in the region, including as many as 10 additional magnitude 6+ quakes to strike the region in the coming weeks.

Earthquake Information Issued by JMA at 15:15 JST 07 Feb 2010

Occurred at (JST)	Latitude	Longitude	Depth	Mag.	Region Name
15:10 JST 07 Feb 2010	23.4ºN	124.0ºE	10km	6.6Mw	Ishigakijima Kinkai

Approximate distances (USGS)

• 115 km (70 miles) SSW of Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
• 225 km (140 miles) ESE of Hua-lien, Taiwan
• 225 km (140 miles) ESE of Su-ao, Taiwan
• 2055 km (1280 miles) SW of TOKYO, Japan

Note: USGS/EHP has again downgraded the quake by 0.2 order of magnitude to 6.4Mw

Tsunami Forecast/Watch

JMA Issued a Tsunami Forecast at 15:13 JST 07 Feb 2010 for MIYAKOJIMA and YAEYAMA areas saying that tsunami height was expected to be about 0.5 meters.
However, the tsunami watch was later canceled. JMA said: “No tsunami damage at some of the other coasts though there may be slight sea level changes.:

Fire-Earth anticipates intense seismic activity and volcanic unrest/activity in the Japan Region throughout 2010 and beyond.

10-degree Map Centered at 25°N,125°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Map enhanced by FEWW.

Political Map of Japan.

Related Links:

• Seventh Powerful Quake Hits Japan Region [October 30, 2009]
• 6th Strong Quake Strikes Near Ryukyu Isles, Japan [September 29, 2009]
• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan [August 11, 2009]
• 5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region [August 17, 2009]
• 4th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region [August 17, 2009]
• 3rd Powerful Quake in 3 Days Strikes Japan Region [August 13, 2009]
• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan [August 10, 2009]
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Near Izu Islands, Japan [August 9, 2009]
• M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan [August 5, 2009]
• Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes Taiwan region
• Earthquakes [Links Page]
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan

6th Strong Quake Strikes Near Ryukyu Isles, Japan

6 to 8 more EQs may yet strike region

Magnitude 5.9 quake strikes near Ryukyu Islands, close to Iwo-Tori-Shima Volcano

Strong earthquake measuring 5.9 Mw struck near Ryukyu Islands, Japan region, at a depth of 10 km on September 28, 2009 at about 19:23 UTC, USGS EHP reported.

The quake struck about 200 km (125 miles) north of Naha, Okinawa, Japan. Japan Meteorological Agency reported an aftershock measuring 4.3 Mw at 07:48 local time (22:48 UTC). JMA issued NO tsunami warning after the mainshock.

This quake was in line with FEWW forecast made on August 17, 2009.

10-degree Map Centered at 30°N,130°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source of the original map: USGS. Map enhanced by FEWW.

Earthquake Details:

• Magnitude: 5.9
• Date-Time: Monday, September 28, 2009 at 19:22:57 UTC  [Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 04:22:57 AM at epicenter]
• Location: 27.943°N, 127.867°E
• Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
• Region: RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
• Distances:
  • 200 km (125 miles) N of Naha, Okinawa, Japan
  • 480 km (300 miles) SSW of Kagoshima, Kyushu, Japan
  • 535 km (335 miles) NE of Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
  • 1410 km (880 miles) SW of TOKYO, Japan
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 7.1 km (4.4 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID:  us2009mcbr

Related Links:

• 4th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region
• 3rd Powerful Quake in 3 Days Strikes Japan Region

• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan
• 5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region
• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan [August 10, 2009]
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Near Izu Islands, Japan [August 9, 2009]
• M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan [August 5, 2009]
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan

• Earthquakes [Links Page]

• Volcanoes
• FEWW Volcano Links

5th Strong Quake Strikes Japan Region

Magnitude 6.5 Quake Strikes SW Ryukyu Islands, Japan

FEWW anticipates more earthquakes measuring 6+ to strike Japan Region in 2009

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported an earthquake measuring 6.5 striking Ishigakijima Kinkai area, SW Ryukyu Islands, Japan region at a depth of 10km on  17 Aug 2009 at 19:11 JST ( 10:11UTC).

Details of the earthquake were as follows:

Earthquake Information
Occurred at: 19:11 JST 17 Aug 2009
Region name ISHIGAKIJIMA KINKAI
Latitude: 23.1N
Longitude: 123.7E
Depth: about 10km
Magnitude: 6.5

Tsunami Warning

JMA issued a tsunami advisory/warning for MIYAKOJIMA and YAEYAMA areas cautioning of sea-level rises of about 0.5 meters. However, there were NO reports of damage, it said

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Image may be subject to copyright.

USGS reported the event as measuring 6.4Mw [Event ID: us2009kkay] followed by an aftershock of magnitude 5.5 [Event ID: us2009kkaz.]

10-degree Map Centered at 25°N,125°E

EQ Location Map. Source: USGS

Related Links:

• 4th Powerful Quake Strikes Japan Region
• 3rd Powerful Quake in 3 Days Strikes Japan Region

• Strong Quake Strikes Near Shizuoka, Japan
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Near Izu Islands, Japan
• Earthquakes [Links Page]
• Earthquake Forecast: Tokyo, Japan
• M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan
• Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes Taiwan region

M 6.4 Quake Strikes SW Ryukkyu Isls, Japan

A Magnitude 6.4  Earthquake Struck Southwestern RyuKyu Islands, Japan

A strong earthquake measuring 6.4 Mw struck southwestern RyuKyu Islands, Japan, Wednesday, August 05, 2009, at 00:18 UTC, USGS reported.

So far, there have been no reports of aftershocks, which might follow later. There has continual seismic activity in the area in the past weeks.

Japan Meterological Agency (JMA) posted no No tsunami warning, however, it advised that slight sea level changes may occur.

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude: 6.4

• Date-Time:
  • Wednesday, August 05, 2009 at 00:18:00 UTC
  • Wednesday, August 05, 2009 at 09:18:00 AM at epicenter

• Location: 24.232°N, 125.007°E

10-degree Map Centered at 25°N,125°E

Earthquake Location Map. USGS

• Depth: 35 km (21.7 miles) set by location program
• Region: Southwestern RyuKyu Islands, Japan
• Distances:
  • 84 km (52 miles) ESE (103°) from Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan
  • 322 km (200 miles) E (97°) from Su-ao, Taiwan
  • 343 km (213 miles) SW (232°) from Naha, Okinawa, Japan
  • 1150 km (714 miles) NNE (21°) from MANILA, Philippines

• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 5.1 km (3.2 miles); depth fixed by location program
  Parameters NST=159, Nph=159, Dmin=366 km, Rmss=0.9 sec, Gp= 40°,  M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=6
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2009jyab

Historic Seismicity Magnitude 7 and Greater Earthquakes Since 1900
[Source: USGS]

Seismic Hazard Map [Source: USGS]

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Related Links:

• California Earthquake Forecast 2009
• Earthquakes

Amazing Images: Mandarinfish

As colorful as a butterfly!

Mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) in aquarium-Muséum Liège (Belgium). Credit: Luc Viatour. GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or later.

Native to the Pacific [an area extending from the Ryukyu Islands to northern Australia,] the tiny [6cm long] mandarinfish are reef dwellers, and feed on small crustaceans.

Related Links:

• Rising CO2 accelerates coral bleaching: study