"Environmental Hazards Newsletter" 16th Dec 2018
Welcome to the last edition of KUEHN 2018
This edition includes a report in the Extreme Temperatures section, on the latest Climate Risk Index, which shows the countries worst-affected by climate change. Our stories also discuss the worsening of patterns of extreme weather in Australia, pointing in particular at the recent heatwave which caused disruption in Queensland as well as intense flooding in the state of Victoria.
The Hurricane and Cyclones section highlights the launch of a new NASA satellite which monitors hurricane formation. There was also news of Cyclone Owen, which is fast approaching Australia. Then there was also a Weather.com report which said hurricanes in 2017 had caused more damage in financial terms (an estimated $369.6bn) than at any time since 1960.
The Earthquakes section reported on Japan`s preparation for the next big earthquake likely to hit the nation, which many believe will be within the next 30 years. There was also news of significant seismic activity in New Caledonia and Antarctica.
Volcanic eruptions have been recorded at Mount Soputan in Indonesia, Turrialba in Costa Rica, Mount Etna in Italy and in Guatemala at the Fuego volcano.
Floods hit the Australian state of Victoria. In the UK Cornwall was badly affected. In Malaysia the eastern parts of Terengganu state were also hit by flooding.
The Mapping and Analytic section focussed on the future of mapping technology (Lidar, Lasar and GIS) and it provides readers with a link to a roundup of interesting books on the topic of cartography.
Finally, we`d like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2019!
The KUEHN Team
Hurricanes and Cyclones
Hurricanes of 2017 Were Most Devastating in 48 Years
With an estimated damage of around $369.6 billion worldwide, hurricanes have been the costliest in 2017 since 1960, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2019 released at the 24th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, underway in Katowice, Poland.
The 2018 hurricane season was full of extremes. Here's what we expect in 2019.
Both the Atlantic and Pacific areas saw a record number and intensity of storms.
The Startling Thing Hurricanes Are Doing To Puerto Rico Watersheds
While challenges associated with loss of life and infrastructure were vigorously reported, new research presented this week at the 2018 American Geophysical Union reveals something surprising and of concern. Hurricanes are having long-term impacts on watersheds and coastal ecosystems.
Queensland Cyclone Owen: Powerful system may 'wreak havoc'
Cyclone Owen is moving slowly over waters off the Northern Territory with winds of up to 200km/h (124mph), meteorologists said. It is expected to intensify into a category four system before making landfall sometime early on Saturday local time (late on Friday GMT).
SPACE: NASA Launches Hurricane Satellites December 15
NASA launched its new hurricane-monitoring satellites on Thursday, December 15. The launch of the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, or CYGNSS, went smoothly after its original launch was postponed due to weather and necessary repairs on Monday.
Cyclone Phethai to hit Andhra Pradesh: Story behind naming cyclones
Cyclone Phethai is all set to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast by Monday. There is deep depression in the Bay of Bengal around 900 km off Chennai. Thus, not only Andhra Pradesh, but also Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Odisha are expected to experience heavy rainfall and some amount of damage.
Extreme Temperatures
Climate Risk Index: 2017 broke records for extreme weather
Puerto Rico, Honduras and Myanmar have topped a 173-nation ranking of countries most affected by climate disasters. Extreme weather caused record damage in 2017, and developing nations bear the brunt, authors say.
Impacts of climate change being felt in region, but uncertainty lingers on the causes
According to the U.S. Fourth National Climate Change Assessment report, climate projections suggest that the number of heavy precipitation events is projected to increase
Extreme climate change suffocated nearly all ocean life 250 million years ago
Some 250 million years ago, around 95 percent of ocean species vanished during the planet's largest-known extinction event, also called the Great Permian Extinction. The culprit is suspected to be extreme climate change, as epic volcanism filled the atmosphere with carbon dioxide, which gradually heated both the air and the seas.
In 2017, India second worst in extreme weather deaths
India was globally the 14th most vulnerable country to climate risk in terms of extreme weather-related losses in 2017, improving its tally from sixth in 2016 and fourth in 2015.
Climate change increases India's vulnerability to extreme weather events: Report
India is all set to submit the second biennial update report (BUR) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which takes stock of India’s action to tackle climate change and notes that India is on track to achieve the major milestones promised.
2018 farm income down 15% due to extreme weather
Average farm income for 2018 has been down 15% due to the extreme weather conditions we’ve had this year, according to economists for Teagasc. Teagasc has also revealed that feed costs for an average dairy farm jumped up by 50% – these farms also saw ...
Queensland fire conditions to worsen as temperatures continue to soar
Amid extreme weather conditions, Queensland Health activated a heatwave response plan to warn the public for the first time in Queensland to educate people on how to stay safe during extreme temperatures.
Extreme weather events made a big impact in 2018
Extreme weather events made a big impact in 2018. Snow and heat affected people’s lives, Met Éireann says expect more in the years ahead
Earthquakes
Huge quake may ‘wreck’ St. Louis and liquefy the ground in next 50 years, experts say
A huge earthquake could strike metropolitan areas in the central U.S.and if it does, it will be bad, experts say.
Tsunami warning for Vanuatu and New Caledonia after 7.6 magnitude earthquake
A tsunami warning has been issued for the Pacific island of New Caledonia, after a shallow 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s coast, prompting warnings that hazardous tsunami waves up to three metres high could reach New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Magnitude, epicenter, liquefaction: Researchers explain some of the top-used earthquake terms
Much has happened in the few weeks since the big Anchorage-area earthquake on Nov. 30th. Much has been discussed, too, including what all the earthquake ...
Japan preparing for monster earthquake and 30-METRE tsunami that could kill and hurt One million in next 30
The Japanese government is readying plans to evacuate millions of people from its southern coastline in a bid to avoid the almost inevitable disaster. A report has estimated that there is a 70 to 80 per cent chance that the quake will strike within the next three decades. It estimates the potential death toll at around 323,000 with the wounded numbering almost double at 623,000.
Please keep your promise, it's been months now: Lombok locals plead
It's now been more than four months since a magnitude 7 earthquake hit Lombok, and reconstruction of shattered homes and lives has been painfully slow.
2 earthquakes shake Southeastern US
Two earthquakes struck Wednesday morning in eastern Tennessee, rattling people awake across several Southeastern states.
7.1-Magnitude Earthquake Near Antarctica, No Tsunami Warning
A magnitude 7.1 quake struck on Monday in the southern Pacific Ocean, close to the South Sandwich Islands north of Antarctica, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Volcanic Activity
Central Indonesia’s Mount Soputan erupts sending thick ash high into sky
Indonesia’s Mount Soputan has erupted, sending thick ash as high as 7,500m into the air.
What’s next for Kilauea? Volcano might enter into lull, research article says
The recent Kilauea eruption produced some staggering numbers, even for a volcano considered one of the world’s most active.
Etna volcano (Italy): lava flows and strombolian explosions from SE crater
Mild effusive/explosive activity continues at the eastern vent of the New SE crater, feeding two small lava flows traveling a few hundred meters down the eastern slope of the crater towards the upper Valle del Bove.
Astonishing video shows Guatemala volcano eruption up close
A group of hikers who ascended Guatemala's Fuego volcano captured the moment they witnessed an unexpectedly large eruption at close range.
Volcano Ash Caused Delays in Flights at the Juan Santamaria Airport in Costa Rica
The eruptions of the Turrialba Volcano the morning of this Wednesday caused the delay of almost two hours of five flights that were departing from the Juan Santamaria Airport.
America’s Most Hazardous Volcano Erupted This Year. Then It Erupted and Erupted.
A landmark study unspools a timeline of the most destructive eruption in the recorded history of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano.
Yellowstone volcano was hit by earthquake swarm of 2,5000 tremors and scientists now know why
Yellowstone volcano was hit by swarm of 2,500 tremors and scientists now know why.
Scientists Blew Up Lava in a Backyard Volcano to Unlock the Secrets of the Most Violent Eruptions
Ingo Sonder, Ph.D., a research scientist at the University at Buffalo and his team of six researchers have been trying to understand what conditions cause the most violent eruptions in hopes of someday being able to conduct risk assessments for people living in volcanically active regions of the world.
Climate change, receding glaciers increase eruption risk for this ‘grumpy’ B.C. volcano
Climate change is causing glaciers atop Mount Meager in British Columbia to shrink, increasing the chances of landslides and even a new eruption, says an expert studying the volcano.
Mexican volcano erupts twice in one hour
Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico erupted twice in the space of an hour, sending columns of ash and smoke 2km (1.2miles) in the air.
Wildfires
Fire services count costs of Wales' summer wildfires
North Wales Fire Service spent almost £300,000 battling one fire, while the south Wales service's expenditure at least trebled compared to previous years in the space of just two months.
Wildfire scientists brace for hotter, more flammable future as Paradise lies in ashes
The Camp Fire may be studied for lessons in disaster management and community resilience, those who study fire, water, wind and climate see it as a warning to brace for a hotter, more flammable future.
Wildfires Will Only Get Worse in the Southeast Because of Climate Change, Report Says
More than 300 experts took part in the 1,600-plus-page report, ranging from 13 government agencies, universities, climate scientists and other experts. It is the first such report under the Trump administration and fourth overall. The report is mandated by law.
California’s 2018 Wildfires Have Emitted A Year’s Worth of Power Pollution
California’s record-breaking 2018 wildfire season has released emissions equivalent to about 68 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – equal to the emissions produced from generating one year’s worth of electricity in the state, or about 15 percent of California’s total annual emissions.
Landslides
Heavy Rain Causes Landslides in Lesvos
Heavy rain that fell in Lesvos overnight has caused further landslides in the municipality of Plomari, local authorities reported on Sunday.
Eight in Bali and East Java die in landslides
Eight people died in two separate landslides in Gianyar regency in Bali and Pacitan regency in East Java on Friday and Saturday, the disaster mitigation agency reported.
Malaysia among countries especially prone to landslides
Malaysia sits among the top 10 countries that had a high number of landslides over the past decade.
Floods
Parts of Malaysia's Terengganu state hit by floods due to monsoon rains
Parts of eastern Malaysia's Terengganu state have been hit by floods due to heavy rains from the annual monsoon season. There were 163 evacuees at flood relief centres on Sunday (Dec 16) morning.
163 evacuated as Terengganu floods worsen
Fourteen more people were evacuated overnight, raising to 163 the number of flood evacuees in Terengganu as at 8 am today, according to the Civil Defence Force.
680mm in 24 hours: Record rain floods fire-ravaged Queensland
EX-Tropical Cyclone Owen has dumped more than half a metre of rain in parts of Far North Queensland, just two weeks after the region was scorched by fire.
Flooding problems hit Devon and Cornwall
Widespread flooding reported in Cornwall with disruption to major road links
Graignamanagh floods again with no relief in sight
Despite numerous assurances from successive governments, Graignamanagh is once again flooded. The Duiske River has burst its banks and the Main Street has been closed.
Victoria hit by destructive thunderstorms as bureau warns NSW is next
Flash floods have caused havoc for some in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, with flash flooding turning backyards, suburban streets and ponds into gushing rivers.
India: a turbulent tale of rivers, floods and monsoons
The Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh focus on the Indian subcontinent, dominated by the monsoon, climate extremes and the great Himalayan rivers, such as the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra. It’s a tale of drought, flooding, famine, water management and mismanagement — and, looming over all these today, the uncertain consequences of climate change.
World weatherwatch: torrential rain brings flash floods to Sydney
Torrential rains have brought flash flooding to Sydney
Mapping and Analytics
This interactive map shows how wrong we picture the world
Interactive mapmaker Neil Kaye has animated a world map that is true to scale. In this version, Greenland is shown a full 16 times smaller than its likeness in the classic Mercator projection
Service lines to be mapped using GIS
GIS to be adapted to map utility networks
ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial System Proves Valuable for Firefighting Crews at Northern California’s Camp Fire
Insitu provided vital information to firefighters with its ScanEagle UAS, and its TacitView™ and Catalina™ software payload. The ScanEagle’s camera data and software generated daily operational maps and full motion video detailing the fire’s movement.
Drones, lasers, and the future of mapping: Verda Kocabas, geomatics guru, and SAIT Geographic Information Systems program academic chair Q&A
Interview with Verda Kocabas, the Academic Chair for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program at SAIT, on the future of mapping technologies.
Perfect mapping books for geographers
Here's a rundown of some of the best map books that could make perfect stocking fillers for the cartography fanatics in your life.
