"Environmental Hazards Newsletter" 1st Jan 2019
Hurricanes and Cyclones
Cyclone could form off Qld coast by New Years
As Cairns recorded its wettest December in four decades, RACQ has urged Queenslanders in the far north to remain vigilant and to prepare their homes for a cyclone, which was predicted to form by New Years Day.
https://live.racq.com.au/2018/12/cyclone-could-form-off-qld-coast-by-new-years/
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Tropical cyclone warning for the Fiji Group
A gale warning is now in force for Rotuma, Yasawa Group, Northern Viti Levu from Ba, Rakiraki to Tailevu North, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, and nearby smaller Islands.
Philippine cyclone leaves at least 22 dead
A three-year-old boy was among those confirmed dead in landslides and flooding triggered by the tropical cyclone
Changing pattern: on Andhra Pradesh cyclones
With global warming, the tropical storms or cyclones are getting more intensified, say, scientists
Cyclone Cilida Passing Perilously Close To The Island Of Mauritius
The southern Indian Ocean and southwestern Pacific have seen an uptick in tropical activity over the past couple of weeks, and the latest storm is in the process of passing dangerously close to Mauritius.
Hurricane force winds recorded near Tofino during December windstorm
Gale force winds, heavy surf pounding the shoreline and fallen trees, just some of the elements that caused major damage during a severe windstorm across Vancouver Island on Thursday.
Earthquakes
Etna volcano (Italy): volcano remains restless as small earthquakes and steam emissions continue
The volcano remains highly restless. Although no more lava is being erupted right now, strong gas and dense ash emissions continue from the Bocca Nuova crater as a sign that magma is close to the surface.
Magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocks Davao Oriental
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off east of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental on Saturday, December 29, with possible tsunami threat for parts of the Philippines and Indonesia.
Plenty of earthquakes in New Zealand in 2018 but few of significance
GNS Science seismologist Sam Taylor-Offord said this week the King Country shake was the most "felt" quake of the year, with 15,666 felt reports sent into GeoNet. Of those, 11,084 people reported either light or moderate shaking, and 979 strong movements.
Earthquake in Bárðarbunga of a magnitude of 4.8
A powerful earthquake measuring 4.8 occurred in Bárðarbunga last night. The earthquake took place in the north rim of the caldera at 01.16 and three powerful quakes followed, the largest measuring 3.7. at 01.38. This is the third largest quake in Bárðarbunga since the last eruption ended.
Zimbabwe shaken by 5.5 magnitude earthquake
An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale has struck Zimbabwe, the country’s media reported on Saturday. The US Geological Service agency (USGS) said the quake had occurred 53km south-east of the town of Chipinge, affecting parts of Zimbabwe and neighboring Mozambique.
7.4 magnitude earthquake shakes eastern coast of Russia, prompts tsunami warning
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 shook Nikol'skoye, Russia, which is off the far east coast of Russia, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake had a depth of about 9.6 kilometers, or almost 6 miles, and struck before 5 a.m. local time on Friday about 50 miles west of Nikol’skoye.
Measuring Earthquakes from a Balloon
At the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, researchers described progress on balloon-borne infrasound detectors that observe seismic events on Earth and could eventually go on Venus.
Can Rivers Cause Earthquakes?
According to Sean Gallen, a Colorado State University geologist who has long been interested in Appalachian landscapes, the Tennessee River removed about 500 vertical feet of rock (a good third of the height of the Empire State Building) from a large patch of eastern Tennessee over the past 9 million years. A new study by Gallen and geologist Ryan Thigpen at the University of Kentucky suggests that rapidly removing so much weight from the crust causes earthquake
Volcanic Activity
Indonesian volcano that triggered tsunami loses two-thirds of its height
Anak Krakatoa, the Indonesia volcano that triggered a deadly tsunami a week ago, has lost two-thirds of its height, a government agency said. The volcano's height went from 338 meters (1,108 feet) above sea level to 110 meters (360 feet), Indonesia's Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation said in a report.
Bali volcano shoots new burst of ash; flights unaffected
Mount Agung erupted for about three minutes, spewing white clouds of smoke and ash more than 700 meters into the air, the Volcanology and Geological Mitigation Agency said in a statement.
Mount Etna volcano triggers 4.8-magnitude quake in Sicily
An earthquake triggered by Mount Etna has jolted eastern Sicily, injuring several people and prompting villagers to flee their homes
Tourists flock to erupting volcanoes, putting pressure on emergency services
Every year more and more tourists flock to erupting volcanoes in a hope to witness a powerful experience - some even pay local helicopters to take them in secret after dark, a paper says.
'Megatsunami’ could devastate Britain if active Canary Island volcano erupts, expert claims
In a worst-case scenario, Britain's southernmost coastal cities and town could be wiped out within hours - but experts say this wouldn't happen for thousands of years.
'There is a huge range in activity': Indonesia's erupting volcanoes
Anak Krakatau is one of 127 active volcanoes across Indonesia and seven, including Krakatau, are currently in an "eruption phase", volcanologist Dr Janine Krippner at Concord University said.
Anak Krakatoa: The dark history of volcano emerging from the sea
Anak Krakatoa formed over years after explosive eruption of Krakatoa volcano in 1883, one of worst in recorded history
Why Indonesia's 'volcano tsunami' gave little to no warning
Unlike past disasters triggered by earthquakes, this week's deadly tsunami was likely sparked by unrest of the Anak Krakatau volcano.
Extreme Temperatures
Extreme weather in 2018 was a raging, howling signal of climate change
Record rainfall and flooding in Japan, followed by a heat wave that sent tens of thousands of people to the hospital. Astonishing temperature records set across the planet, including sweltering weather above the Arctic Circle. Historic, lethal wildfires in Greece, Sweden and California, terrible flooding in India, a super typhoon with 165-mph winds in the Philippines, and two record-setting hurricanes that slammed the Southeast United States.
Extreme heatwave in Australia: catastrophic fire conditions as temperature records broken
Marble Bar in WA reaches 49.3C as parts of SA and Victoria issued bushfire warning, and extreme weather forecast to continue into next week
Could Wales face a repeat of 2018's extreme weather?
Met Office experts who study long-term weather trends produced a State of the UK Climate report which found a repeat of the 2018 heatwave is 30 times more likely because of climate change.
Extreme cold warning set for northern Alberta
Extreme wind chills for the northern part of the province at -40 degrees C
Brace yourself for a brutal winter: Experts say disruptions in the polar vortex could cause temperatures to plummet in parts of the US
Activity in an Arctic climate pattern could send the polar vortex barreling towards more southern latitudes to envelop parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.
How extreme weather in 2018 cost the world billions
Floods, drought, hurricanes and fires cost the world nearly $100billion in 2018, as well as causing untold human damage, according to an analysis of the world’s most extreme weather of the year.
'Silent emergency' as heat risks rise in Hong Kong, and globally
Average summer temperatures in this city of 7.4 million people have risen swiftly over the past century, according to a study by researchers including Emily Chan, who directs the Centre for Global Health at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Wildfires
Wildfires: Attorney General says PG&E could face murder charges
In a brief submitted to a federal court, the California Attorney General wrote that Pacific Gas & Electric could be prosecuted for murder, manslaughter or lesser criminal charges if investigators determine that “reckless operation” of its power equipment caused any of the wildfires in which people were killed during the last 15 months.
Top videos for 2018: Wildfires rage
Counting down the top videos stories for 2018 in the Okanagan and Shuswap
'The scale was devastating': How the Athens wildfires became one of the deadliest in the world
Wildfires broke out in Greece in the coastal town of Attica, north of Athens, in mid-July, and as the mercury climbed, so too did the blaze.
After year of deadly wildfires, who will pick up the tab for natural disasters?
The rising cost of climate-driven disasters including hurricanes and fires is prompting Fema to shift more responsibility to states
New satellites can aid in management of wildfires
GOES-16, operating as NOAA’s GOES East satellite, is proving to be an invaluable asset in detecting wildfires and helping forecasters provide proactive tactical decision-support services.
How Houses Themselves Become Fuel For Wildfires
It's long been a misperception that most homes burn when that initial big, dramatic wall of flames from the fire blows through. But the science shows most homes actually tend to burn long after this, sometimes even a day later.
How Do Wildfires Start?
An insight in the causes that trigger wildfires
Landslides
Images Show Landslide Likely Caused Indonesian Tsunami
Radar images appear to show the southwestern flank of the Anak Krakaktau volcano sheared off into the sea
At least 12 bodies retrieved from Camarines Sur landslides
At least 12 bodies have been retrieved from two separate landslides in this province, local disaster officials said Sunday in the aftermath of tropical depression Usman.
Climate change, receding glaciers increase landslide risk on B.C.’s Mount Meager
Climate change is causing glaciers atop Mount Meager, in British Columbia, to shrink increasing the chances of landslides and even a new eruption, says one expert.
3 dead as floods trigger landslide in Legazpi City
The combined effect of Tropical Depression Usman and the Amihan has triggered thunderstorms and caused flooding in Legazpi City.
Floods
Tropical cyclone to exacerbate flooding in northern Queensland
Relentless rain has fallen in northeast Australia recently, with Daintree Village reporting 827mm over the last week and Cairns Racecourse receiving 452mm. The average rainfall in the whole of December in Cairns is only 181mm
Heavy rains, floods displace thousands of refugees in Syria
Two days of torrential rain in northern Syria caused major flooding in Idlib and Aleppo.
More than 50 million under flood and flash flood watches as severe US storm system brings towns 'to a standstill'
Two people have died as a result of a severe storm system that caused blizzard conditions in the US Midwest and torrential rain and flood threats in the south.
