Friday, June 29, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Then quit. There's no use being a darn fool about it.
W.C. Fields

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/28/07 -
5.2 SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.0 SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.1 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.0 KURIL ISLANDS
5.8 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.7 COQUIMBO, CHILE
5.1 CENTRAL PERU
5.2 NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL PERU
5.6 NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL PERU
6.7 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, P.N.G.

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES -
AUSTRALIA - Efforts were underway to evacuate hundreds of residents as a king tide threatens to further swamp a flooded town on Victoria's southeast coast. "With the expected high tide and the volume of flood waters running down into the Gippsland Lakes area, we believe it's prudent for them to leave now while they are able to in safety, rather than in the middle of the night when it will be much more dangerous and difficult." While most rivers swollen in recent rains had peaked and begun to recede, the waters now draining into the Gippsland Lakes region would be met by the expected high tide tonight. "In effect, the high tide is going to hold these waters in. They will have no chance to be released into the ocean and this could seriously affect a number of properties over a substantial area and potentially exacerbate the flooding situation."

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone 04B was 214 nmi SW of Calcutta, India.

INDIA - tens of thousands of people are fleeing an approaching storm. The monsoon season has brought storms and floods to much of South Asia, killing more than 500 people in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan over the past week. Hardest-hit has been Pakistan. Rescue workers in the country are struggling to reach communities cut off by floods affecting 900,000 people.
PAKISTAN - Victims of monsoon floods in southwest Pakistan rioted today, protesting the slow arrival of meagre aid to their villages. The protests come after Cyclone Yemyin dumped torrential rains in the area on Tuesday, causing widespread flooding. Police attempted to contain the crowd of several thousand in Turbat with tear gas and shots fired into the air, but with little effect. "We have been saved from the flood, but we may die of starvation." Protesters said they had waded through chest-deep water from outlying areas to voice their anger about the shortage of relief aid. The government said the official death toll in Baluchistan province was 14, with more than 24 missing. Local media reported much higher numbers. "Every family is looking for one or two members. They are all missing." Twenty people died in flash floods Thursday in the northwestern Khyber Agency tribal region. (photo)
AFGHANISTAN - this week's storm over the Gulf of Oman was an "absolute monster." "This storm is an anomaly in that it hit us. Much like how (hurricane) Juan hit Halifax, how the tornadoes in Edmonton hit in '87. On a climatological scale, these things don't happen - these areas aren't prone to getting hit." The storm swirled up on Tuesday, unleashing wind and rain throughout Afghanistan over three days, including a three-hour crackling thunderstorm that at times was hard to discern from the roar of military aircraft. The usual rainfall this time of year for southern Afghanistan is zero. By late Thursday night, 40 millimetres had fallen. In parts of Afghanistan, the impact of the storm was severe; Afghan National Police and coalition soldiers rescued 42 people Wednesday who were trapped on rocks in the province of Kapisa, in the eastern part of the country. Further east, in Pakistan, the provincial relief commissioner estimated that some 200,000 houses were destroyed or damaged. More than 800,000 people have been affected by floods from heavy rains and overflowing rivers and dams. In Kandahar City on Thursday morning, the storm cut off power and phone access for thousands of people, bogging down side streets and main arteries throughout the city. Farmers especially were worried about the UNUSUAL weather. One grape farmer mocked a westerner who was enjoying the respite from the heat, saying the rain would certainly ruin what had looked to be a bumper crop this season. The region is entering the season known as the Wind of 120 Days, an arid blast of air that sweeps over from Iran, and unstopped by the vast desert of southern Afghanistan, rips across the country with gale-force strength.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
BRITAIN - More than 3500 people have been rescued from this week's deadly floods by emergency services in Britain's biggest-ever peacetime rescue effort. Thousands more have been evacuated to safe areas after flooding in Sheffield and large areas of northern England and the Midlands. But forecasters are predicting more heavy rain in some of the worst-affected areas over the weekend. The death toll rose to five after Lincolnshire police divers searching for a missing 60-year-old man recovered a body from a canal. The Government had underestimated the scale of the flooding. “We have witnessed the biggest rescue effort in peacetime Britain by our emergency services and it's not over yet. We had a whole month's worth in a few hours in many places. It's the sort of event we would only expect to see perhaps one in 150 years. No amount of flood preparation can withstand these very extreme weather events.”

AUSTRALIA - Gippsland in south-east Victoria is on major flood alert after some of the HEAVIEST RAIN IN YEARS. Mount Wellington in the Snowy Mountains has recorded 312 millimetres in the past 24 hours and it is still raining. Further south in the Licola Valley, the Macalister river has flooded and cut off the town. The worst fires in decades, closely followed by less severe floods, swept through the valley just six months ago.

MALAYSIA - Traditionally, it is now the time for the start of the drought and haze season in Sarawak. But instead, it rains almost everyday here and in some other parts of the state. This is abnormal and the weather now has become very unpredictable. "Because of the El Nino, the weather pattern has changed. We [normally] expect the rains to be heavier towards the end of the year." Unpredicted heavy rains and thunderstorms have caused flash floods in Miri and other towns.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
GREECE - Greek firefighters are battling a major forest fire which has threatened the suburbs of the capital, Athens. The strong winds fuelling the fire have dropped and firefighters have so far prevented the blaze from reaching the suburbs. The blaze, on the slopes of Mount Parnitha, is being contained, officials say, but a huge plume of black smoke is towering over the city. Electricity pylons, exploding after a RECORD HEATWAVE, have sparked some of the fires, but arson is also suspected. The fire near Athens is one of more than 100 blazes which have broken out across Greece in the last few days. On Thursday, two volunteer firefighters were trapped by flames and died of smoke inhalation in the centre of the country. Temperatures have now dropped below 40C, after peaking at 46C earlier in the week, but forecasters say another heatwave is expected next week.

INDONESIA - Scientists agree climate change has already begun unsettling the arrival of seasons and causing unseasonal fluctuations in temperatures, which are key to rice field cycles, agriculture and biodiversity. Climate change is causing the arrival of seasons to be more erratic and tends to produce shorter wet seasons with more rainfall and longer dry seasons with prolonged water shortages. As a result, Indonesia has much to lose given that rice is its staple food and most Indonesians work in the agricultural sector. Adaptation measures would include drawing up a dynamic plantation calendar for each plant and natural condition, creating new varieties of plants resilient to barren weather and implementing efficient irrigation methods and water conservation. New varieties of rice, corn and potato should have shorter harvesting lives to match shorter wet seasons. Global warming has already damaged Indonesia's rice-harvest cycle, leading to decreased production capabilities. "In Java, the cycle is 1.6 (harvests) per year compared to 2 some years before, meaning we no longer harvest rice twice a year. Outside Java, the cycle is even lower at 1.1 times." It is expected fish populations in Indonesia will move southward to Australia due to sea current changes. Global warming is destroying biodiversity in the world's seas, killing animals and plants and triggering the outbreak of viruses and bacteria that pose global threats to human health.

CANADA - Starving mountain pine beetles in central British Columbia have moved into spruce trees as the supply of lodgepole pines disappears. Although spruce are generally not nutritionally or chemically suitable for the beetles to reproduce, they still do enough damage to kill the trees. Last year, more than 9.2 million hectares of B.C. and Alberta forest were in an advanced stage of attack from the tiny, but voracious beetles. As they seek new food sources they are moving east. The worry is that the beetles will soon hit the mother lode of pine trees in the boreal forest. If the beetles jump from the lodgepole pine to the boreal forest's jack pine, an infestation could wipe out billions of trees all the way to the East Coast.

ANTARCTICA - An ice sheet that is the world's largest, with enough water to raise global sea levels by 61 metres, is relatively stable and poses no immediate threat, according to new research. "The East Antarctic ice sheet is the largest and the coldest, and is going to be the last to respond in any great way to global warming. Our research suggests changes in sea levels due to global warming will not be caused by changes in the East Antarctic Ice Sheet yet."

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS

A popular snack food sold nationwide is being recalled because of concerns about contamination. All lots and sizes of Veggie Booty Snack Food are being recalled, the company said, following a report of 51 cases of salmonella poisoning.

The US has added farm-raised fish and shrimp to a growing list of Chinese products deemed unsafe for US consumers. The US Food and Drug Administration said it would block the import of farmed Chinese seafood until importers could prove the shipments were free of unsafe contaminants. Broad import control was imposed after regulators repeatedly found seafood shipments contaminated with antimicrobial agents that are not approved for use in the US. It affected all farm-raised catfish, basa, shrimp, dace (related to carp), and eel from China. China is the third largest exporter of seafood to the US, which imports about 80 percent of its seafood. The move comes just days after politicians urged a recall of up to 450,000 Chinese tires because of safety defects and weeks after thousands of cats and dogs died because of tainted Chinese pet food. Dangerous toys, fake drugs, toxin-coated cosmetics, illicit pesticide-laden mushrooms, errant fireworks, tainted toothpaste and other Chinese products have led to recalls and bans and potentially more stringent import and food safety laws. "I think we have reached a point unfortunately where 'made in China' is now a warning label in the United States."

Thursday, June 28, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
Mahatma Gandhi

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/27/07 -
None 5.0 or larger.

CHINA - On the morning of June 3, a violent earthquake struck the Pu'er region of southwestern China. The quake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and over 90 percent of all homes and buildings in the region were badly damaged or destroyed in an instant. To date, 44,000 families have lost their homes and a further 58,000 will need to carry out major repairs before returning home. Amazingly with an earthquake of this magnitude, only three people were killed and a further 28 seriously injured. Since that first quake there have been over 30,000 recorded aftershocks, 30 of those scoring above 3 on the Richter scale. With so much seismic activity no one is taking any chances and most of the 190,000 local residents are choosing to sleep in tents despite heavy rainfall. The region is bracing for difficult times ahead. For a population whose annual average income is $80 dollars the economic loss will be devastating. Most of the buildings that "survived" the first quake look ominously unstable with huge cracks running through walls and windows smashed. The streets are strewn with rubble like a scene from a war zone and everyone is nervously waiting for the next strike. This is a place where insurance doesn't exist and many people are still coming to terms with the fact that years of hard work and investment were wiped out in a matter of seconds. Once the earth finally stops shaking, people will start rebuilding their homes. But where the bulk of the revenue for rebuilding will come from still isn't known and there is a long road ahead for the victims. (photos)

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - On the Big Island, all is quiet at Kilauea volcano as officials try to determine if its safe for the park to re-open Chain of Craters road. After the recent activity, firefighters were examining the area near the lava breakout on the Napau trail. Most of the vegetation in the forest was scorched and fire crews found lava spatter plastered to vegetation more than 100 feet from the breakout.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
No storms.

INDIA, PAKISTAN - A new cyclone is building up in the Bay of Bengal south of Calcutta in India that could cause more flooding in coastal areas of Pakistan. It will enter the Arabian Sea while crossing the western coast of Bombay. It might cause destruction and flooding in coastal areas of Pakistan depending upon how intense it is once it enters the Arabian Sea. Low air pressure is likely to cause heavy rainfall in India.

PAKISTAN - Rescuers in southern Pakistan are battling to reach tens of thousands of people stranded after cyclone Yemyin struck the country's Arabian Sea coastline. Many people are clinging to trees and rooftops to escape floods. Bad weather and damaged roads, bridges and phone links, are slowing relief efforts. Thousands of people evacuated in the coastal areas of Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar and Jewani have lost their homes after the cyclone struck the coast of Balochistan province, west of Karachi. At least 20 people are reported killed. Out to sea, Pakistan's navy has rescued more than 100 fishermen from the storm. Residents of the port of Gwadar and of more than 100 villages in the districts of Kech inland have been evacuated. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the coastal highway which links southern Balochistan with the rest of Pakistan. Parts of the road were washed away by the cyclone. The town of Turbat is amongst the worst hit. A number of people are clinging to the roof of a mosque - the navy's attempts to rescue them have so far failed. At least one small dam near the town of Pasni has broken, inundating dozens of villages. The floods are also threatening the Mirani dam in Kech district. One unconfirmed report said water from the dam had overflown into the area and drowned 12 people. "The situation is out of our hands, it's out of control. The entire town has been inundated and people have taken refuge in tall buildings and trees."

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
BRITAIN - Hundreds of families are still unable to return to their homes as floods continue to affect parts of England. Flood water is continuing to rise in some areas, although forecasters do not expect a repeat of Monday's deluge and the risk of a breach in a dam wall that could flood villages in Yorkshire has been "significantly reduced". The floods have been most severe in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands. The Environment Agency still has several severe flood warnings in place, and forecasters are warning that flood-hit areas could be hit by more rain at the weekend. The polar jet which steers their weather system is stuck further south than is usual for this time of year, so they are more open to low pressures. Last week saw intense thunderstorms, and on Monday a low-pressure weather front sat above the same parts of the country. As a result, a month's worth of rain fell in 24 hours in some parts of the country. Saturday and Sunday some two inches of rain could fall over some places which have already seen heavy rainfall.
Flood-battered Britain is on alert for further chaos and loss of life this weekend as fears grow that more heavy downpours are on the way. Forecasters say an “organised band of persistent showers” is set to sweep the country on Friday and Saturday. The worst of the deluge, expected on Saturday morning, could cause flooding on a national scale, with heavy rainfall likely to hit “almost anywhere”. Experts warned that many waterlogged areas were seriously at risk, as the water now has nowhere to go. There are already 245 areas across the country considered to be at risk of flooding after weeks of rain culminated in Monday’s unseasonal downpour. At 27 of the sites the threat is so severe that experts say there is an imminent danger to life and property. Forecasters called the FREAK conditions an “UNPRECEDENTED WEATHER EVENT” that would continue to get worse. “People around here can’t remember anything like this. The sheer amount of rain is unprecedented and it has never been on such a widespread scale. No one knows where the next rain will hit. We are monitoring river levels on a 24-hour basis." Eight regions across England and Wales – the North-east, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, Flintshire and the Isle of Man – have already had their WETTEST JUNE ON RECORD. “In each of the last 14 days there has been somewhere in the UK that has recorded more than one inch of rain.”
The WORST DELUGE SINCE RECORDS BEGAN burst the banks of the rivers Don and Sheaf, sending millions of gallons of water into homes in Sheffield.
"While it's not unusual to get isolated flash floods in the summer, it's UNPRECEDENTED to experience so many serious flooding incidents at the same time."

IRELAND - Kilkenny is experiencing the WETTEST JUNE EVER RECORDED ANYWHERE IN IRELAND. Kilkenny has seen 14.4 cms of rain so far this month compared with just 2.7cm for the same month last year and easily beating the previous high of 11.8cm in June of 1998. And unfortunately it looks as if the rain is set to continue. "It is certainly much wetter than normal. Already our weather station in Kilkenny has had its wettest June ever, and it looks like a number of others will be breaking their own records before the month is over."

CHINA - Lightning strikes have killed another six people in east China and pushed the death toll from a five-day flurry of electrical storms to 43, with more thunderstorms expected.

SOLOMON ISLANDS - Heavy flooding has forced more than 3000 people to flee to higher ground in the northeast of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Some 80 villages have been affected after torrential rains caused two rivers to break their banks, with waters rising up to 10m in some places. No casualties have been reported but local elders have called for authorities to arrange for relief supplies to be sent after flood waters destroyed food gardens.

AUSTRALIA - flood victims have had to be plucked to safety by helicopter and boats and an entire town is being evacuated as the levels of swollen rivers continue to rise in Gippsland. At least 30 people are being rescued at Newry, north-west of Maffra, with raging flood waters swirling into homes. The whole town is now being evacuated. (links to flood video)

TEXAS - the lastest series of UNUSUAL summertime storms dumped up to 18 inches of rain on Central Texas, sending floodwaters through several Hill Country towns Wednesday and leaving dozens of people on rooftops, cars and in trees. No fatalities were immediately reported in the latest series of summertime Texas storms, which have killed at least 11 people in the past week and a half. The downpour and winds were so treacherous early Wednesday that helicopters were forced to abruptly halt efforts to rescue people from rooftops. The flooding washed out three bridges and also tore the back wall off the funeral home in Marble Falls, about 40 miles northwest of Austin. There were 32 high-water rescues there. About two-thirds of the city was without water because of damage to the water treatment plant. Whitman Branch creek in Marble Falls, typically 2-3 feet wide, stretched at least 100 feet across. Down the creek, at least four Frito Lay trucks that had been loaded to make daily deliveries had washed away, spilling chips along the creek. Storm runoff is making its way to Central Texas lakes, causing major flooding in some areas. Rains drenched North Texas as well, creating flooding along some creeks and rivers and forcing the evacuation of at least 50 homes in a subdivision near Lake Granbury about 60 miles southwest of Dallas. There, about 30 homes were destroyed. About 25 people were rescued from the water, trees and rooftops. Eight people were injured when nearly 100 mph winds hit the Permian Basin in West Texas late Tuesday. A 320-foot radio tower collapsed onto the Agape Community Church in Seminole and crushed a bus. It's the WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD in Austin, where more than 30 inches of rain has fallen since January, and Dallas-Fort Worth, Waco and Wichita Falls have also received near record amounts. This much rain is VERY UNUSUAL for the end of June, going into July.

OKLAHOMA - Wednesday was the 15th consecutive day of rain in Oklahoma City, BREAKING A RECORD SET IN JUNE 1937. Heavy rain flooded homes and roadways.

CANADA - While it is tornado season in Canada, weather experts say the sudden rash of twisters touching down in the West is HIGHLY UNUSUAL. A funnel cloud was spotted Monday over Richmond, British Columbia, while another tornado east of Calgary destroyed a barn and downed a power line that electrocuted a horse in a barbed-wire pen on the property. On the weekend, residents in Manitoba were terrorized by a series of twisters that ripped through the province in less than 24 hours. "The fact that you've got almost a year's worth of tornadoes in less than 24 hours is UNUSUAL in that extent." The province typically experiences about nine tornadoes a year. Conditions need to be exact for a storm to become tornadic, much "like baking a soufflé." "A lot of things have to come together in the right amounts with the right timing." The Director of the NOAA Storm Prediction Centre in Okalahoma said abnormalities in the tornado season have also occured south of the border. "Where we're at is a VERY STRANGE year. What's happened is the cool season was well above normal. In March, we really had an extensive number of tornadoes. We had almost three times as many as normal." Canadian weather experts noticed there is a correlation between Prairie crops and the amount of tornadoes in the area. "When the wheat is growing in Alberta and Manitoba, the actual vegetation brings moisture into the air and then when you come out and chop the wheat, the tornado season is over. They (weather experts) have noticed a very pronounced relationship between when the harvest is finished out in the western provinces is when the tornado season ends." (photos)

SNOW / COLD -
SOUTH AFRICA - UNUSUAL heavy snowfall fell in Johannesburg for the FIRST TIME IN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY and was blamed for the death of a homeless man, and for delayed airline flights. While it snows frequently during the winter in more southerly mountainous regions of the country, the white wonderland that Johannesburg residents woke up to was a once-in-several-years occurrence. Semi-tropical gardens were topped with a powdery dusting of white crystals as residents reminisced about the last 'big snow,' dating back to the 1980s. The cold weather snap is expected to continue through today.
The last time it snowed in Johannesburg was on September 10, 1981. On top of the snow this week, a highly unseasonal and thunderous hailstorm had lashed the area on Tuesday night.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
EUROPE - Dozens of people across southern Europe have perished in a blistering heatwave. Greece authorities said that the LONGEST HEATWAVE IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY had killed five people, but media said the death toll was at least ten people. “The weather conditions have been UNPRECEDENTED, we have never had a heatwave lasting for eight straight days.” Athens on Tuesday registered heat up to 46.2C (115.16) in the western district of Nea Filadelfia, the HIGHEST SINCE RECORDINGS THERE BEGAN in 1955. Dozens of wildfires have broken out in rural areas of northern, southern and central Greece and threatened homes before being brought under control. In Romania, the weather-related death toll climbed to 30 after a violent storm lashed the south of the country.
The heatwave has killed at least 35 people in parts of southeast Europe and hit wildlife and crops, from the humble toad in Greek lagoons to grain across the region, while fruit is ripening weeks early in Italy. Greece is experiencing its WORST HEATWAVE IN 110 YEARS that has already killed eight people, with temperatures reaching 46 Celsius (114.8 Fahrenheit) during five days of sweltering weather that showed no signs on Wednesday of letting up. In southern Italy, after the HOTTEST SPRING IN NEARLY TWO CENTURIES, this year's harvest of grapes and other fruit and vegetables is expected to be as much as a month earlier than usual, at the beginning of August. The heat is "literally cooking" Sicilian lemons on the trees, while watermelons, peppers, courgettes, peaches and tomatoes are also at risk. Greece's flora and fauna are suffering and environmentalists warned the scorching temperatures could have a long-term effect on animal populations and plants. "Birds, now in their nesting period, laying eggs in exposed nests are at a very high risk. The eggs are overheating if left uncovered so birds have to remain on the eggs for much longer." Swallows are having problems finding mud for their nests, forcing them to travel further in search for their building material while frogs, toads and salamanders are seeing their habitats dry up, shortening their life span and affecting in turn those animals who feed on them. "These are all linked to each other. With the frog and toad populations dropping, birds who feed on them have problems finding food as they stay in Greece until the autumn." Greece's unusually mild winter, coupled with a warmer than normal May and the current June heatwave, has already triggered changes that could be here to stay. Fish stocks in rivers and lakes are dropping as water is pumped out for agricultural use due to a lack of rain, threatening a rare Greek otter which feeds on them. "Flowers above the treeline on Mount Olympus that start blossoming in May have already competed their cycle, far too early. Among those are several rare, indigenous flowers." "This weather creates a web of problems that will have long-term effects if it persists or if it reoccurs in the coming years." A drought in southeast Europe has already threatened grain crops in countries including Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, where the Anatolian news agency quoted the head of a big cooperative as predicting a 50 percent drop in this year's cotton crop.

CALIFORNIA - Firefighters tackling a massive blaze in northern California are nervously bracing for a backlash from the weather, with forecasted gusty winds threatening to spread the inferno. The fire has scorched 1254 hectares, destroyed more than 225 structures - including 176 homes - and forced the evacuation of around 3500 local residents. A further 950 residences and 350 commercial businesses were threatened by the fire, which is only 44 per cent contained. Firefighters suffered a setback yesterday when wind-driven flames leaped across containment lines before eventually being extinguished. Forecasted strong winds failed to materialise Wednesday but are expected later.

Tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia. If action is not taken, some 50 million people could be displaced within the next 10 years. The study by the United Nations University suggests climate change is making desertification "the greatest environmental challenge of our times". Desertification is an environmental crisis of global proportions, it says, and one third of the Earth's population are potential victims of its creeping effect. The over-exploitation of land and unsustainable irrigation practices are making matters worse.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
That men do not learn much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.
Unknown

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/26/07 -
5.1 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
5.9 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
5.0 MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
5.1 KURIL ISLANDS

BRITAIN - an awesome David and Goliath battle was waged two thousand years ago that shook the Roman Empire. And now, the riddle of Queen Boudicca's victory over her mighty foe on East Anglian soil has taken a new tumble and twist that could rewrite the history books. A study by a leading archaeologist has revealed that a previously unknown earthquake shook the southeast of England at the time the Iceni tribe led their rebellion - bringing a sign of divine approval for Boudicca and a bad omen for her opponents. Up until now, a series of bizarre events that allegedly took place at the time have been played down as exaggeration and allegory rather than taken at face value. But a British classicist has re-examined the ancient texts and concluded that they are not simply classical literary devices, but descriptions of a serious earthquake that hit the heart of the religious and political capital of Roman Britain - Colchester. The texts recall how the “statue of the goddess Victory in Colchester partly rotated and toppled over, how strange sounds were heard and how the sea turned blood red”. These three events are likely to occur during a strong earthquake. “The noise, a deep, dull sound could conceivably have been described as a strange moan or prolonged groan - often accompanies earthquakes. The seawater change could result from seismic waves causing cliff collapses or destabilising sloping mud deposits which can muddy the water and transform the colouring of the sea."

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone 03B.

PAKISTAN - Cyclone Yemyin made landfall in Balochistan province at about 1100 local time (0600 GMT) on Tuesday, bringing rain, flooding and winds of up to 80mph (130 kph). The cyclone is losing strength and has now hit Balochistan province, sparing much of Karachi. Heavy rain in Karachi in recent days has left at least 200 dead. Reports of damage to coastal areas near Karachi are still coming in. The navy is searching for a number of boats missing or sunk in the storms. Heavy flooding has been reported in and around the town of Pasni, about 400km (250 miles) west of Karachi, and water has also washed away part of the coastal highway linking southern Balochistan with the rest of the country. Fishermen say more than 200 fishing boats anchored along the coast have been destroyed in the storms. The cyclone killed at least 14 people, leaving dozens more missing and forcing tens of thousands to flee from their homes. Forecasters said a 7.6m storm surge was feared. Cyclone Yemyin is the second major storm of the north Indian Ocean cyclone season after Cyclone Gonu hit Oman, Iran and parts of southwest Pakistan early this month, killing more than 60 people.

Cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea are RARE, but not unheard of. Two tropical cyclones in the space of a month, on the other hand, is QUITE RARE INDEED. Unlike its predecessor, Tropical Cyclone Gonu, Cyclone 03B originated on the opposite side of the Indian Peninsula in the Bay of Bengal. Tropical Cyclone 03B reformed in the Arabian Sea south of the Pakistan coast after having crossed over India. Storm surge from Cyclone 03B was predicted to be moderately high, even though the storm is not strong, since the offshore waters are shallow, similar to the northern Gulf of Mexico. Because these kinds of storms are rare, coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to storm surge damage.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
AUSTRALIA - Torrential rain pelting Gippsland has flooded roads and is flowing towards houses. The WILDEST WEATHER IN A DECADE has shut the Princes Highway. Rising waters are reportedly lapping at several houses in Bairnsdale. Heavy rain is also bolstering Victoria's biggest water catchment, the Thomson Dam. Gabo Island got 90mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am.
Residents of East Gippsland in Victoria are facing ONE OF THE BIGGEST FLOODS IN YEARS, as a big low pressure system dumps rain from Mallacoota through to the Latrobe Valley. The weather bureau is predicting rain tallies up to 200 millimetres of rain and driving snow in the high country. The bureau is warning wind gusts of more than 50 knots (close to 100 kilometres an hour) are expected.

BRITAIN - eyewitness accounts of the flooding. (photos)
Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes amid severe flooding across England and Wales that is now believed to have claimed four lives. The Environment Agency labelled current weather conditions "PHENOMENAL". "We've had a sixth of the annual rainfall in 12 hours. Climate change experts tell us that this is the sort of thing we need to expect for the future." The Met Office had issued an early warning last Friday. It had correctly predicted that 50-100mm of rain would fall in the 24 hours from 2200 BST on Sunday, with the worst-affected areas being Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Finance chiefs are warning that the floods will cost small businesses millions, and insurers are expecting tens of millions in claims from homeowners. (flood map)
Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes as heavy flooding threatens to burst a dam at a reservoir near Rotherham. Hundreds of people have left their homes in the villages of Whiston, Canklow, and Catcliffe and Treeton, amid fears the Ulley dam could collapse. There is a significant risk that the dam walls could collapse after UNUSUALLY HEAVY, torrential rains in recent days. By Tuesday morning, water gushing down the side of the reservoir had caused part of the earth bank on the dam to collapse. The nearby M1 motorway has been closed in both directions because of concerns about cracks in the dam wall. The dam is close to Sheffield, which was overwhelmed by rising flood waters Monday, and a power station that serves most of the city lies directly in the path of the reservoir.
Over the last few days Britain has been subjected to the “WORST RAIN FOR 50 YEARS” according to some national newspapers. The southeast is usually the driest region in the UK and has a lower rainfall average than Jerusalem and Beirut at between 450mm and 600mm per year. The wet weather has reportedly wiped out the nesting season for some of Britain's rarest wading birds, up to 1,000 pairs of waders and ground-nesting birds have lost their eggs or chicks after rain hit the Ouse Washes in East Anglia. This month Ipswich has seen nearly double the average amount of rainfall as a rare “European monsoon” descends on the Suffolk skyline. And this month has followed the wettest May on record over much of Suffolk. Only April was better than expected - there was virtually no rain for the entire month, prompting fears of a drought. “Two Junes in every ten years will see moist air travelling in from the Atlantic, resulting in torrential rain of a tropical intensity like the sort we have seen for the past few weeks. This May was one of the wettest for 100 years, with five inches of rainfall, which is three times more than what we should have had.” The four-weekly forecast predicts that while this week should improve, next week will see the return of unsettled weather and then more rain will fall during the middle of July.

CHINA - Lightning killed 37 people in eastern China in a span of three days, including a dozen farmers who were struck as they worked in a field.

SOUTH AFRICA - violent storms which lashed the province Monday night have left more than 500 people homeless in the city of Cape Town and carpeted the mountain ranges with snow. Gugulethu and Lwandle near Strand were hit hardest, with heavy flooding. Wind and flood damage displaced 500 people in the Lotus informal settlement in Gugulethu and 20 in Lwandle. Flooding also drove out 14 residents of Du Noon. The severe weather conditions stem from a cold front which swept in off the Atlantic. The cold front wreaked havoc across greater Cape Town with heavy rainfall and blustery conditions causing flooding, power cuts and extensive damage.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
GREECE, ROMANIA, ITALY, TURKEY, BULGARIA, UKRAINE - Temperatures soared to 46C (114.8 F) in some parts of Greece on Monday, and authorities expected the heatwave to continue for at least another three days, making this Greece's HOTTEST JUNE EVER. In Romania temperatures on Tuesday hit 41C. In southern Italy, where temperatures were also above 40C, brush fires broke out. About 150 people have been admitted to hospital over three days in Turkey's Mugla province. Southeastern Europe was already suffering a drought, even before the latest heatwave. Bulgarian farm ministry sources said a week ago that the wheat crop might be down 30 per cent from last year. Grain producers say Romania might have to import a million tonnes of wheat this year to cover a domestic shortfall. And in Ukraine, the Government has imposed stringent limits on grain exports for three months in an attempt to keep down bread prices.

MALTA - The night between Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th was the WARMEST NIGHT RECORDED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. The lowest temperature registered by the Meteorological Office at Malta International Airport was 28.3 deg C. This was slightly more than a degree higher than the previous record of 27.2 deg C, which was measured at dawn on June 30th, 2003. The temperature recorded on Monday reached 39.5 deg C, almost as high as the record for the month, which however remained the 40.1 deg C recorded on June 13th, 1997. The high temperatures witnessed over the past days were produced by a ridge of high pressure over the central Mediterranean, which caused the air to descend from the higher levels of the atmosphere, compressing it and warming it in the process. This 'pumping' activity of the atmosphere persisted during the night giving them a very warm and dry night.

CALIFORNIA & ALASKA - Firefighters trying to contain a raging wildfire in California have suffered a setback, after the blaze jumped a defence line forcing hundreds to flee. The authorities have warned that strong winds forecast for the Lake Tahoe area today could fan the flames. The wildfire has so far destroyed 200 homes and forced 1,000 people to leave. Meanwhile, damp, cooler weather has also helped contain a wildfire on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. The blaze south of Anchorage has spread across 90 square miles (233sq km) and destroyed more than 80 homes.

UTAH - Fire restrictions in effect after early season rash of wildfires - Dry vegetation, soaring temperatures and the approach of the traditional fireworks season have promoted fire officials to issue extreme fire restrictions.

COLORADO - Wildfires near oil and gas drilling operations are raising concerns. The Cottonwood Creek fire near Parachute last week burned within 200 yards of gas wells. It was a stark reminder that the proliferation of mountain hideaway homes isn't the only booming development that's added to the challenge of wild land firefighting in recent years. Western Colorado's energy industry has set up natural gas wells and pipelines in many remote areas where wildfires are a threat. Fire manager for the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit says there are not a lot of rules yet on how to deal with this threat.
Sunday, Denver set a NEW RECORD when the temperature reached 100 degrees at the airport, beating the record from 1988 by one degree.

TENNESSEE - Monday the thermometer topped out at 94 degrees, BREAKING THE RECORD of 93-degrees set in 1940.

ALABAMA - Wildlife experts and pest control professionals say insect infestations are up as increased numbers of ants and cockroaches enter homes seeking water. Rodents and snakes - which typically prefer to avoid humans - are also venturing into more densely populated areas as their water sources dry up and food grows scarce. Pest control firms have also noticed a spike in rodent calls, UNUSUAL for this time of year. Rodents generally enter homes in October as temperatures fall, and homeowners usually report infestations in January and February when the first litters of baby rats and mice start running around. Usually, exterminators report very few, if any, rodent calls between May and October. "Rodents would prefer not to be around humans, but if they're hungry or thirsty enough, they'll put up with it."

Humans can significantly help stop global warming by adopting a vegetarian diet. Raising animals for food is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all vehicles in the world combined. Study after study has shown that animal agriculture contributes to global warming and environmental destruction, yet instead of urging people to go vegetarian, most U.S. politicians and environmental spokespeople just continue to hype hybrid cars, recycling, and fluorescent light bulbs as solutions to our spiraling environmental problems. According to Greenpeace, chickens raised for KFC, and other companies that "produce" chicken flesh, are fed crops that are grown in the Amazon rain forest. Carbon dioxide emissions aren't our only environmental concern, of course. There's deforestation, water and air pollution, world hunger, and more. But according to the U.N., raising animals for food is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." More than 260 million acres of U.S. forest have been cleared to create cropland to grow grain to feed farmed animals; farmed animals are fed more than 70 percent of the corn, wheat, and other grains grown in the U.S.; and almost half of the water and 80 percent of the agricultural land in the U.S. are used to raise animals for food.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/25/07 -
5.0 ASSAM - NAGALAND REGION, INDIA
5.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.4 FLORES SEA
5.1 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.3 MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
5.1 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone 03B (Yemyin) was 99 nmi W of Karachi, Pakistan.

PAKISTAN evacuated thousands of people from southern coastal areas yesterday ahead of a possible cyclone, two days after a storm killed at least 235 people in the port city of Karachi. The meteorological department issued an alert saying that a tropical storm forming in the Arabian Sea 150 km south of Karachi was likely to intensify into a cyclone in the next six to 12 hours. The new storm was expected to bring strong winds with "heavy to very heavy rainfall" in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital, and neighbouring Baluchistan province. Fishermen were advised to stay ashore until Thursday in some areas because of the likelihood of "extremely" rough seas. At least 10 fishermen have been missing since the weekend.

U.S. - "Early-season storms have little or nothing to do with peak-of-season activity." Early-season Atlantic storms are often oddities, cyclonic anomalies with little connection to the real storm season. Subtropical Storm Andrea, which materialized May 9, was the first May storm in 26 years, a hybrid born as an extra-tropical storm off the south Georgia-North Florida coast that briefly adopted warm-water storm characteristics. During Barry's two-day life, June 1 and 2, it earned a tropical storm tag by generating thunderstorms near its center before sliding over land north of Tampa. "It's usual for June and July to be pretty quiet." Strong westerlies are typical of June and the upper-level westerly winds shear off the tops of the thunderstorms. That pattern is likely to continue for weeks. A large majority of the storms come in August, September and October. Seventy-seven percent, to be exact. Only 69 of 455 named storms since 1966 have swirled to life in June or July, an average of fewer than two a year. Since 1995, the Atlantic storm basin has averaged 14.7 tropical storms, 8.1 hurricanes and 3.9 major hurricanes a year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's forecast for this year is for 12 to 17 tropical storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five of Category 3 or stronger. "We're still expecting an active season."

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
INDIA & PAKISTAN & AFGHANISTAN are struggling to cope with the effects of three days of rain that left 350 dead. There are warnings that more bad weather - a cyclone and heavy winds - is imminent. More than 140 have been killed in the rains in India. There have also been a number of deaths in Afghanistan. A landslide in northern Afghanistan struck a wedding party, killing six children. Much of Pakistan's biggest city, Karachi - where 200 died - is still without power and water. Officials have been evacuating residents from shanty towns in Karachi, where badly built homes collapsed or were washed away by the torrential rain. In just one area of the city, Gadap in the north-west, more than 1,000 homes have been destroyed. For weeks before the weekend floods, Karachi had been hit hot weather and power cuts, leading to protests and rioting. The army has been asked to help evacuate people from coastal areas. Winds of up to 40 nautical miles an hour are predicted for the coastline of Pakistan. Fishermen have been told to stay on land because of the dangers of three-metre high waves. In India, the flood situation remains grim in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra. Tamil Nadu and Orissa have been put on alert.

BRITAIN - Hundreds of people were told to flee their homes amid fears a reservoir dam was set to crumble after torrential rain brought chaos to South Yorkshire. Two people were killed in Sheffield as floods raged through the city. A man was swept away as he got out of his car and police hunting a missing teenager recovered a body from a swollen river. But hours later more disaster loomed as a dam holding back the Ulley reservoir threatened to break. "We have not seen anything like this before." Three RAF rescue helicopters were brought in to help pluck people to safety from their roofs. "These are UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF FLOODING."
The torrential rain which swept across Britain Monday, bringing flooding, tornados and death, created the WETTEST JUNE DAY ON RECORD. Four tornados were reported: in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire; Treeton, South Yorkshire; Cranwell, Bedfordshire; and Telford, Shropshire. A further deluge is forecast to sweep across the country from the South West at the end of the week.
Some parts of Britain had an entire month's worth of rain just in a few hours. The floods could cost the economy millions of pounds, as workers would likely turn up late at work in the coming days, if they manage to make it at all, due to disruptions on transport networks. The number of people in bad trouble was continuing to rise through the evening as reports came in of thousands of people being without power. Elsewhere in Britain rivers broke their banks, flooding roads and homes from Devon in southwest England, to Yorkshire in the north.

AUSTRALIA - Melon growers in Western Australia's Ord region are facing massive losses after unseasonable, unexpected rain. More than 100 millimetres has fallen across parts of the Kimberley in the past week at the height of the melon picking season. "Some of them [melons] are really heavy, so they seem to be waterlogged. There's no water inside but you just don't know what to expect, because we haven't had this before. We're actually scared of the sun coming out in full force and we don't know how the plants will react to that, we've just got no idea because we've never had this before."

TEXAS - Rainstorms accompanied by high winds swept across Texas on Monday, flooding streets, swelling creeks to near flood stage and damaging buildings. Three women died when their car slid on a wet highway and slammed into a truck in the hills west of Austin. Storms in North Texas were dropping five centimetres of rain an hour Monday afternoon. In Rhome, about 40 kilometres northwest of Fort Worth, straight-line winds blew over fences, damaged roofs and sent a metal pole crashing through the roof of one building. Sustained rainfall over the last month has left the ground saturated and parts of North, Central and East Texas are at high risks of flash flooding. The severe weather shows no sign of letting up, with chances of rain and thunderstorms as high as 90 per cent in some parts of Texas today.
More rain is bringing another week of mild weather. "This is a RARE event. We are more in a mode representative of May or September. This year is pretty special." The rains are causing much more green plant growth than is usual for this time of year, helping to lower temperatures.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
Southern and eastern Europe & the Mediterranean - Temperatures were expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in some areas on Monday and will remain around that level during the week. Helicopters and specially adapted aircraft joined firefighters on the ground in southern Italy to fight a series of fires in Calabria and on the island of Sicily, as a heatwave there continued. The situation was particularly serious in Sicily, where according to media reports guests at a number of hotels near the northwest coast had to be evacuated. The fires were being fanned by the strong southerly winds known as the sirocco. A heatwave in Greece killed two pensioners at the weekend and pushed DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY TO NEW ALL-TIME HIGHS. Hospitals around the country have been placed on alert and municipalities are keeping cooled public facilities open for those without air-conditioning at home, but heatstroke already claimed the lives of an 84-year-old woman in the western town of Egio and a 76-year-old man in Farsala, central Greece. On the island of Cyprus a 72-year-old woman died of heatstroke on Monday as the island sizzled in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The Mediterranean island is famed for its year-long sunshine but temperatures of 42 degrees now being recorded in the capital are EXTREME. In Romania the capital Bucharest and eight southern districts were placed on orange alerts as the temperature headed above 40 degrees Celsius. The heatwave that has already lasted several days has taken at least 25 lives. First aid tents have been erected in many cities while ambulance services have received thousands of calls.

HEALTH THREATS -
DENMARK - An outbreak of distemper has killed at least 41 seal pups, whose carcasses have washed up on a Danish island. There are fears that thousands of seals could die if the virus spreads. A distemper outbreak in 2002 killed about 30% of seals off Denmark, but the virus killed nearly 60% of seals in the area in 1988. The virus causes laboured breathing, fever and neurological problems. It does not affect humans.

Monday, June 25, 2007 -

Sorry, there was no update on Sunday.

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.
Charles Darwin

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

This morning there was a 5.1 quake off the coast of northern California.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/24/07 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.0 FIJI REGION
5.2 FIJI REGION
5.0 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.9 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
6/23/07 -
5.0 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
5.2 FIJI REGION
5.1 FIJI REGION
5.0 FIJI REGION
5.0 FIJI REGION
5.3 FIJI REGION
5.1 FIJI REGION
5.2 NORTHWEST OF MADAGASCAR
5.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.4 MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION
5.4 MYANMAR
5.1 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.1 SOUTHEAST OF LOYALTY ISLANDS
6/22/07 -
5.2 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.5 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
5.3 TAJIKISTAN


CHINA - Thousands of villagers in southwest China were evacuated after a moderate earthquake struck neighboring Myanmar. No injuries were reported in China. The magnitude-5.8 temblor occurred Saturday afternoon and was felt in several villages bordering Myanmar in the Xishuangbanna region of China's Yunnan province. Some 16,000 residents were moved to safer grounds to prevent injuries from potential landslides.

FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES -
MALAYSIA - On Tuesday, UNUSUALLY strong winds wreaked havoc in Penang and parts of Kedah, toppling trees, blowing off roofs, capsizing boats and forcing four flights to be diverted from the international airport in Bayan Lepas. The winds peaked at Bayan Lepas at 43 knots per hour while it reached 32 knots per hour in Alor Star. The normal wind speed at these places is between five and 20 knots per hour. Giant waves of up to 2m high hit the sea wall at the Esplanade in George Town before pounding onto cars parked along the road. Some tiles and a metal railing along the sea wall were dislodged by the might of the waves. A 10m stretch of the concrete path near the Astaka Medan Renong food court there was broken by the pounding waves. At Pantai Bersih in Butterworth, fishermen said 3m-high waves caused more destruction than the 2004 tsunami, with 14 boats damaged compared to one during the tsunami. At least four of the five restaurants along the beach were damaged by the waves. In Kedah, five fishermen from a boat that capsized 2km off Tanjung Dawai were rescued, while two more fishermen had to be rescued from a capsized fishing boat off Batu Ferringhi on Penang island. (photos)

MALDIVES - Last week was the second time in six weeks the Maldives has experienced extensive flooding. Sea wall defences, constructed for millions of dollars, have been destroyed on islands in both cases. And on Wednesday, the 20th, the entire population of seventy three islanders on Hathifushi in Haa Daal had to be evacuated. High seas and rains flooded over thirty islands in the north of the Maldives in three days, the affected atolls have reported no further flooding since Thursday. Every inhabited island in Haa Aliff was flooded at some point last week. Raa is the most recently effected atoll with eight islands flooded on Thursday by rainwater alone, without waves breaking onto the islands.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
No storms.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
PAKISTAN - Torrential rains and gale-force winds have led to the deaths of more than 200 people in the coastal city of Karachi in southern Pakistan. Some 43 people were killed by the storms on Saturday afternoon, while the other bodies were recovered on Sunday. Dozens more were injured as heavy winds uprooted trees and brought down power lines, electrocuting people. The FEROCITY OF THE STORM WAS UNPRECEDENTED IN RECENT MEMORY. Karachi residents were already suffering from power cuts which have led to riots in the city. The storms came after temperatures reached 40C (104F) in Karachi. Another storm is brewing off the coast. In India, heavy rain and floods have killed at least 45 people in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. (photos) (Additional photos )

INDIA - The season’s first monsoon showers over the weekend left Mumbai struggling to stay afloat. Five persons were killed — two in a Saturday night building collapse in South Mumbai, two in a landslide in Chembur, and a six-month-old girl in a wall collapse in Govandi’s Rafiq Nagar on Sunday. Chronic spots like Milan subway got flooded, trains ran late, trees were uprooted and at least 6 flights could not land due to poor visibility. During 24 hours — from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon— the city received 10 per cent of its annual average rainfall of 2,300 to 2,800 mm. Colaba Ward recorded 237.1 mm, Dadar (East) 239.2 mm, Kurla Kamani 262.2 mm (10.3 inches), Vikroli 233.2 mm, Tulsi Talav 291.3 mm, Vile Parle 215.2 mm. And the monsoon season has only just set in.
The temple town of Srisailam, which is also the site of a massive hydro-electric project, created a record of sorts by receiving 40 cm (16 inches) of rainfall on Friday and Saturday. This is the highest rainfall recorded by any place during the current monsoon. Following floods in its tributaries and heavy rains in Maharashtra region, the Krishna River is rising and similarly, the Godavari, Penna, Nagavali and Vamsadhara.

BRITAIN - Severe floods have affected many parts of the UK over the past week, with more storms in store. Around the country, over 750 properties have suffered extreme damage from flooding from both water crosses and surface waters. With some areas receiving more than a month's rainfall in just 24 hours, fatalities include a young soldier who died during a 'routine exercise' on the north Yorkshire moors when he fell into a stream swollen by heavy rainfalls. The storms have also resulted in a large number of people who have been evacuated from their homes. "This isn't freak weather, but we do have a consistent area of low pressure." With more storms in store over the coming days, the low pressure is moving from northern England to the south. "[Over time] what we'll expect to see is more of the short, sharp storms that are extreme with lightning and thunder. Under climate change predictions, the heavy summer rain is something we're going to continue seeing."

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
CALIFORNIA - At least 165 homes and other structures were destroyed and as many as 500 more were threatened after a wind-whipped wildfire broke out Sunday afternoon just outside of South Lake Tahoe. “This thing is raging out of control, and there’s no estimate as to when that may change." The 450 firefighters battling the blaze are having a tough time getting close to the fire because the terrain is rugged. The fire has scorched 750 acres and is only 5% contained. Winds as high as 50 mph have fanned the flames throughout the day. The fire has also forced the closure of Highways 50 and 89 leading into the area. Both routes are now being used to evacuate residents. State and federal fire officials had warned of a potentially active wildfire season in the Sierra Nevada following an unusually dry winter. The annual May 1 snow survey found the Tahoe-area snowpack at just 29 percent of normal levels, the lowest since 1988. The U.S. Forest Service recently launched a 10-year program to thin and burn 38,000 acres of forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The fire’s intensity and quick pace is an indication that a 10-year plan was not enough. “The Forest Service calls for a 10-year plan to remove forest fuels, but this fire didn’t wait 10 years. We need to be in a position to remove fuels faster, sooner."

AUSTRALIA - The drinking water crisis in the South-West has been further highlighted with some of the Western area’s main dams at RECORD LOWS. Millstream Dam just outside Bridgetown has dropped to an alltime Statewide low of 9 per cent capacity. The dam’s current condition was the worst seen in more than 20 years in the region. “It looks like we’ve drained it for maintenance — I’ve never seen it this low. It’s terrible." The Water Corporation would usually start transferring water from Millstream Dam to other dams at this time of the year. No relief is in sight because three fronts arriving within a week are expected to bring only light rains to agricultural areas. Some farmers in the north-west who need 350mm of rain before the end of the year had received only 10mm to date. Farmers around the Geraldton area were losing topsoil to high winds because of the lack of rain.

EUROPE was experiencing mixed weather this past week. Southern areas are baking in a heatwave while the west has been hit by heavy rainstorms that have killed two Austrians. Temperatures in Istanbul, the capital of Turkey in southern Europe are above seasonal norms. The scorching heat has started to affect daily life in the city. The heatwave has already killed 19 people in southern Europe and emergency service phone lines are running hot. Over in western Europe, Germany has been drenched by a heavy rain storm leading to widespread floods. People have been forced to wade through deep floodwaters and push their vehicles out of the water. And in Austria, a sudden storm mixed with heavy rain killed two people in the capital of Vienna. Hail fell in some areas across Austria, stalling regional train services and leading to power outages and many traffic accidents. (video)

HEALTH THREATS -
BIRD FLU -
TONGO confirmed its first H5N1 outbreak.

INDONESIA reported its 100th human H5N1 case.

CZECH REPUBLIC has reported its first poultry H5N1 outbreak.

GERMANY - The highly pathogenic bird flu virus H5N1 has been found in two dead swans in Germany.

EGYPT - A four-year-old Egyptian boy has tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, becoming the 37th human case in the country.

Friday, June 22 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful, than a life spent doing nothing.
George Bernard Shaw

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/21/07 -
5.1 NEAR WEST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 COQUIMBO, CHILE
5.3 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 TAIWAN REGION

CHILE - Photo of the mysteriously vanished lake, due to a quake??

VOLCANOES -
PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Mount Tavurvur volcano has been experiencing a high level of activity for the past few days. However, the acting director of Rabaul Volcanic Observatory says there is no indication of any build-up that might lead to a big bang like last October. The October 7th blast caused windows some 12 kilometers away to shatter. The latest activity between Tuesday and Thursday saw four main explosions which produced shockwaves that rattled windows of houses in Rabaul town and surrounding areas. They also caused five high-frequency earthquakes and dozens of low-frequency tremors. The explosions showered the flanks of the volcano with lava fragments. The ash clouds from the explosions rose about two kilometres before being blown out to the northwest, resulting in moderate ash fall in Rabaul areas like Ratavul, Volavolo and Nonga villages.

HAWAII - A third large crack has formed on Kilauea, park officials said Wednesday. The fissure, spotted in an area a few miles southeast of Kilauea’s summit, is near two others found since hundreds of small earthquakes were recorded in the area Sunday. The fissure was spewing steam, but was not oozing lava as the others did. Heat from the fissures could spark a fire.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone 03B was 528 nmi ESE of Bombay, India.

OMAN - A damaged trail of coral left behind in the wake of Cyclone Gonu has changed the underwater landscape of some of the UAE’s favourite diving spots. In some areas, large areas of coral – which provide food and shelter to marine life – were damaged or wiped out. Dibba Rock has lost more than half its coral. A large, shallow area which was earlier covered by coral was damaged, but there is still a lot of marine life left. The damage at Dibba was “like someone had ground the coral”. In other areas, like Snoopy Island, the damage was less severe as rocks protect much of the coral. Still, casualties of the storm exist even at Snoopy Island, where some coral was ripped from the seabed. Soft corals suffered the most, particularly at sites like Martini Rock. However, being a fast-growing species, it will recover if the conditions are right. “Divers who are familiar with the area will notice changes caused to the marine life. We know for a fact that marine life recovers, but it depends on many factors. If there are additional industrial pressures, this will further delay the recovery period.”

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
FLORIDA - Lightning killed a man beneath a cloudless sky. A Dade landscaper died after being struck by an UNUSUAL TYPE OF LIGHTNING that's stronger, hotter, lasts longer and strikes from clear skies. With no rain or even clouds to warn him of the danger, death came literally out of the blue Thursday. When he was hit, a typical afternoon storm was forming, but nowhere near the area. The fair-weather bolts pack a bigger, deadlier punch and form differently. Most lightning bolts carry a negative charge, but 'bolts from the blue' have a positive charge, carry as much as 10 times the current, are hotter and last longer. The bolts normally travel horizontally away from the storm and reach farther than typical lightning, then curve to the ground. Protecting yourself from such unexpected lightning is difficult. "They are very unpredictable and very dangerous. We urge people to stay indoors even if you hear thunder only faintly in the distance. If you're close enough to hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck by lightning." In August 1988, a Norwegian couple vacationing in South Florida were struck while standing on a Fort Lauderdale beach. Witnesses said the sky was cloudless. Florida is the U.S.'s lightning capital. Five of the 47 people killed by lightning across the country last year were in Florida.

NEW YORK - Police were searching Wednesday for four people missing after a flash flood in the southern edge of the Catskill Mountains. Up to 8 inches of rain fell in two hours late Tuesday night, washing out roads and homes and slamming trees into bridges in this rural area. Details about the search were sketchy, in part because phone lines were down and cell service is spotty in the mountains 100 miles northwest of New York City. The downpour came as a series of storms tore through the state Tuesday, killing at least one person, an ATV driver along the Genesee River who died when a tree top fell on him. (photo)

NEPAL - A landslide at Mantewa, a remote VDC in Sankhuwasabha district, continuing since yesterday, has swept away dozens of heads of livestock. Over 20 houses are also at risk. The landslide has swept away arable land in wards 1, 4, 6 and 9 of the VDC. The risk of landslide has increased in Mantewa-3 after the edges of the pond at Salpa Pokhari crumbled yesterday. The movement of people has also been disrupted after the landslide swept away a suspension bride over the Chongduwa River. Red Cross workers have not been able to reach there yet. Police have been deployed at the site since yesterday. The landslide swept away land belonging to farmers. A report from Solukhumbu said 24 families are at risk due to a landslide that has been occurring for three days. Land and a three-storey house was swept away, causing a loss of Rs 5 lakh. A report from Phidim said some 20 houses in wards 4 and 6 of Chyangthapu VDC are at risk due to landslide following incessant rain. Some 200 ropani of cultivatable land at Samrjung was swept away by the landslide. People living in some 20 households at Chyangthapu-3 and 9 are thinking of shifting to their relatives' houses due to fear of landslide. Six houses were displaced and some 100 ropani of cardamom fields in the area were swept by landslides last year. "A primary school located in the area is also facing the risk of being swept away. "There will be dangerous consequences if the landslide continues."

CHINA - Damage photos from the landslide in Zhenxiong, South China's Yunnan Province. Hundreds of families were evacuated to safe places after the landslide destroyed their houses on Monday, June 18.

METEOR STRIKES -
MASSACHUSETTS - June 20 - At Gerrity Stone in Woburn, a rock punched a hole through a warehouse roof the other day. Experts are examining the object, trying to determine exactly what it is. "No one around here has ever seen anything like this. A real mystery." Workers were surprised to find the unusually heavy object on the floor. "Then we looked up at the ceiling and, 'Oh my God. It fell through the ceiling." "I'm suspicious that it's rusty and it shouldn't be rusty." The object weighs about 1.24 pounds. "This is interesting. It's clearly got some metal in it. The magnet does attract." There is a chance the object could be a meteorite. "The only one known meteorite to have fallen in Massachusetts and that was in Northampton in 1963. That was iron, as this appears to be." Meteorite or not, it's a mystery how the object fell from a warehouse ceiling. (photo)

TEXAS - June 13 - Wednesday night many people saw the beginning of a minor meteor shower, named after the constellation Bootes. What's causing this meteor shower? The Earth is passing through the tail of a comet. "It's like going through an oil streak left by the comet." Wednesday's show was just the beginning. It will last until June 27, peaking about next Wednesday. Look due south after midnight. The shower moves from west to east. In 2004, the same shower yielded 20 to 50 of the streaks an hour.

SRI LANKA - June 10 - The strange objects that lit the night skies on June 10 have now been confirmed as meteors. “This is the FIRST TIME THAT METEORS OF SUCH MAGNITUDE HAVE FALLEN IN SRI LANKA.” The shockwaves and vibrations have been heard throughout the country, from Galle to Puttalam. A Senior Consultant believes that two large meteoroids entered the atmosphere, the larger one splitting into two and the smaller one into about 25 fragments. The loud explosions were some of the particles exploding, probably about 50 to 100 km above the ground. The PECULIARITY of this incident is that there was very little trace of the meteoroids even where extensive damage occurred, such as in Dehiwala. The meteoroid was travelling at such high momentum that all the particles must have dissolved or vaporised by the heat on impact. Residents of Andiambalama say that they had noticed UNUSUAL movement of the stars for about two weeks continually prior to the falling of the meteor. “We saw many shooting stars, the children started gathering at about 8 p.m. every night just to watch this." In Kovinna, Andiambalama, at 9.05 p.m. on the 10th, a woman had noticed something unusual in the western sky. A bright light, almost as large as the full moon, appeared to be moving towards her in a wide arc. Alarmed by thoughts of terrorist air attacks, she called out to her neighbour. Together they watched fearfully as the glowing object drew closer, landed on the roof and vanished completely. A few minutes later the air vibrated with a loud explosion. The next day they discovered that parts of the asbestos sheets on the roof were charred and cracked. A few pieces of rock and sand were scattered around the damaged area. Similar incidents were reported around the country that night. Several people in areas such as Puttalam, Maho and Bingiriya also noted the appearance of the bright light in the sky as well as the loud explosion. In Kimbulapitiya a woman watched a flaming object land on a house and heard the booming sounds soon afterwards. In Campbell Place, Dehiwala, the roofs of two buildings were damaged, and a loud noise was heard. “24 asbestos sheets were broken.”

The same meteor impact that wreaked havoc with dinosaurs may have been the making of 162 species of Caribbean frogs, which descended from a single South American species, according to a new study. All of the frogs are an odd sort — having no tadpole phase, instead hatching complete out of eggs. The 800 or so species of these Eleutherodactlus frogs make up a fifth of all living frog species. The very large number of frogs on Caribbean islands evolved there in the last 50 million years, after an initial invasion of a single species from South America. It's interesting that there were no later invasions of frogs from the mainland. That could be because the frogs found the islands freshly wiped clean of predators by a mile-high, meteor-made tsunami. "That may be why we're not finding old Caribbean groups." The gigantic wave, triggered by the same meteor impact which created the Chicxulub crater off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is believed to have scrubbed the Caribbean islands clean of life 65 million years ago. That ancestral good luck of the Caribbean frogs is now apparently running out in the face of a force almost powerful as a tsunami — deforestation. Just as biologists are beginning to understand how the Caribbean came to be, many of the species included in the study have already been driven to extinction.

Were ancient Americans wiped out by a meteor strike? - New scientific findings suggest that a large, extraterrestrial rock may have exploded over North America 13,000 years ago, explaining riddles that scientists have wrestled with for decades, including an abrupt cooling of the atmosphere and the extinction of large mammals. The extraterrestrial rock must have been about five kilometers across, and either exploded in the atmosphere or directly hit the Laurentide ice sheet located in the Northeastern section of North America. Wildfires across the continent would have resulted from the fiery impact, killing off the vegetation that was the food supply of many of the larger mammals like the woolly mammoths, causing them to go extinct. Since the Clovis people of North America hunted the mammoths as a major source of their food, they too were affected by the impact and their culture died out. The scientific team visited over a dozen archaeological sites in North America where they found high concentrations of iridium, an element that is rare on Earth, and is almost exclusively associated with meteors. The team concluded that the impact of the space rock melted a large portion of the Laurentide ice sheet, causing enormous amounts of cool, fresh water to flow into the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. This would have caused a major disruption of the circulation of warm and cold water in these oceans, leading to a cooler atmosphere and the glaciation of the Younger Dryas period. The scientists found evidence for the impact as far west as the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.

Thursday, June 21, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
First get your facts; then you can distort them at your leisure.
Mark Twain

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/20/07 -
5.2 NORTHERN COLOMBIA
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS

CHILE - A lake in southern Chile has mysteriously disappeared, prompting speculation the ground has simply opened up and swallowed it whole. The lake was situated in the Magallanes region in Patagonia and was fed by water mostly from melting glaciers. It had a surface area of between 4 and 5 hectares, about the size of 10 soccer pitches. "In March we patrolled the area and everything was normal. We went again in May and to our surprise we found the lake had completely disappeared. The only things left were chunks of ice on the dry lake-bed and an enormous fissure." One theory is that the area was hit by an earth tremor that opened a crack in the ground which acted like a drain. Southern Chile has been shaken by thousands of minor earth tremors this year.

FREAK WAVES / ABNORMAL TIDES -
MALAYSIA - As the people of Penang cleaned up after a freak storm on Tuesday, residents at this fishing village felt the wrath of tidal waves across a one-kilometre stretch of coastline yesterday. The strong winds began at 10pm and broke into a storm at midnight. The villagers, who earn their living as traditional fishermen, had barely recovered their losses after the last floods and now had to put up with another disaster. One of the victims had depleted her savings rebuilding her kitchen after it was washed away in floods in December last year. Since wood is expensive, she made do with recycled wooden planks, taking three months to reconstruct the cubicle-sized kitchen and replace the gas stove, crockery and utensils. In the blink of an eye, her kitchen was gone once again. She was one of 30 families of Kampung Orang Asli Pontian Besar, who escaped by the skin of their teeth when the waves pummelled their homes. Her house was on stilts facing the Straits of Malacca. A decade ago their houses were not built on stilts and the village was bordered by mangrove swamps. In the past eight years, erosion has caused the entire swamp to disappear and only late last year the Drainage and Irrigation Department built a barrier to curb the erosion. "Without the swamp, our houses are directly facing the sea and there is nothing to protect us." The tidal wave struck during low-tide, which was a STRANGE PHENOMENON. "It was unexpected."

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - Lava has oozed from a new location on Kilauea. Researchers on the island of Hawaii — the Big Island — had been looking for a new lava breakout point after hundreds of small earthquakes were recorded Sunday, suggesting that underground lava was shifting beneath the surface. The small outbreak oozed about 150 feet, from a 600-foot-long fissure, in a forest about eight miles southeast of Kilauea’s summit.
This latest phase of Kilauea's eruption could possibly endanger some plant and animal species native to Hawaii. The area where the lava flow surfaced contains the park's 2,500 acre East Rift Rainforest. The area is home to the endangered I'o, or Hawaiian Hawk, found only on the island of Hawai'i. The lava flow also threatens a number of rare plant species including Hawaiian lobeliads, mints, ferns, and a rare jewel orchid.
Map of the new lava area (Episode 56) and the areas where cracking has occurred.
Earthquakes within Hawaii's Mount Kilauea have slowed but underground lava movement is making the Big Island slightly bigger. A brief eruption of lava on Tuesday along the island's southeast coastline moved land an inch or so farther seaward as a result. A series of earthquakes last weekend alerted scientists of underground lava movement and an 825-foot fissure opened about 8 miles from the summit. Observations made from helicopters showed "the whole crater floor itself is sort of collapsing inward. It must be due to the lack of support from the magma." The floor of the crater dropped about 65 feet. Portions of Hawaii Volcano National Park were closed and park crews repaired cracks caused by the hundreds of small earthquakes - one 3 inches wide - on the Chain of Craters Road.

INDONESIA - experts are dealing with a massive water spray from the ground near a mud volcano on Java. The five-metre high spray began before dawn on Saturday at a restaurant in Jatirejo village, near the mudflow area. A team is trying to channel the water to a river to prevent it from flooding the area because it may submerge the village, highway and railway. There have been about 60 incidents of water or gas spurting from the ground near the so-called mud volcano, which erupted in May last year, inundating an area of some 600 hectares, but this spray is the biggest so far.

RUSSIA - Kamchatka Peninsula's Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano, that has been erupting since February 15, has shown signs of growing activity. About 00:00 hours local time Wednesday /11:00 hours GMT Tuesday, the Klyuchevskaya Sopka ejected a spout of ash to the altitude of 9,000 or so meters. The spouting could not be observed visually, as the crater of Eurasia's largest active volcano is coated in dense clouds, but data from satellites confirmed that a trail of the spout spread 80 kilometers westwards at the altitude of about 7,000 meters. Also, the fallout of ash precipitation was registered in the town of Kozyrevsk located 45 kilometers away from Klyuchevskaya Sopka. Surveyors have registered 124 seismic events near the volcano since Tuesday morning, including volcanic tremor of up to 83.9 mkm per second. Klyuchevskaya Sopka's activity has made it difficult to do correct seismic monitoring of two neighboring volcanos - Shiveluch and Bezymyanny.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
No storms.

The British predict a mild storm season, citing a cooling Atlantic. They say we can expect a mere 10 more named storms this year, in addition to the two that already have gone pffft. But the British aren't predicting how many will become hurricanes. The reason for fewer storms is a cooling trend in the Atlantic's surface sea temperature. NOAA, William Gray, Accuweather and Tropical Storm Risk all have predicted 13 to 17 named storms this summer, including Andrea and Barry. UK Met is using a "dynamical" global climate computer model for its prognostications, rather than statistical models used by American forecasters. "Our method ... uses models of the climate that include all the laws of physics and supercomputers together to predict what's going to be happening over the coming season." The British say their forecasts for the 2005 season and the sudden drop-off in 2006 were more accurate than others.

AUSTRALIA - Wind gusted to 100km/h as 10m waves, pushed ashore by a cyclonic depression, pounded the NSW coast yesterday. But a forecast cyclone failed to eventuate, the worst of the depression centering about 50km out to sea and losing its cyclonic strength 10-20km off shore. June 8 storms killed nine people, including five members of one family, and drove the bulk coal carrier Pasha Bulker ashore at Newcastle's main beach. Fears of cyclonic wind and torrential rain sparked widespread alerts on Tuesday from the South Coast to the Hunter Valley, with residents warned to "batten down the hatches" for a category two cyclone. (photo)

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
INDIA - Army and paramilitary troops have been put on standby in Assam as flash floods triggered by monsoon rains have displaced thousands of people. 'The overall flood situation is grim with all the rivers and their tributaries in full spate. We have asked the army and other security and civil agencies to be on standby to rescue marooned villagers as and when required." More than 20,000 people were displaced overnight in parts of eastern and southern Assam. 'About 170,000 people from 200 villages have been hit by the floods so far in five districts with a total land area of 7,000 hectares affected in the first wave of floods that began last week.' The Brahmaputra river is flowing above the danger level in at least 12 places in Assam, and still rising. The 2,906 km long Brahmaputra is one of Asia's largest rivers that traverses its first stretch of 1,625 km in China's Tibet region, the next 918 km in India and the remaining 363 km through neighbouring Bangladesh before converging with the Bay of Bengal. Every year, floods leave a trail of destruction, washing away villages, submerging paddy fields and drowning livestock, besides causing loss of human life and property. The monsoon was scattered in Assam last year thereby sparing millions of people from the ravaging floods.

AUSTRALIA - Camden has already experienced its WETTEST JUNE IN 16 YEARS with 185.6 millimetres of rain recorded up to Monday, with more rain expected in the next week. 186.2mm of rain fell on Camden in June 1975. "This is a huge turnaround from June last year when only 50.6mm of rain was recorded in Camden for the entire month of June. In fact Camden could well be on target to record its highest annual rainfall in more than seven years with the total for the year to date already at 593mm and we are not even halfway through the year. The highest annual rainfall recorded in Camden over the past seven years was 669mm in 2005." Camden also experienced its COLDEST DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE in seven years last Thursday when the thermometer hit a daily high of 12.4 degrees. It dropped to minus 0.6 degrees at the day's coldest point.
Another 19 millimetres of rain has fallen across Mount Isa, in north-west Queensland, in the past 24 hours, bringing the RECORD TOTAL FOR THE MONTH to more than 100mm. The temperature has also plummeted to its LOWEST LEVEL IN 42 YEARS.

MALDIVES - Flooding has struck every inhabited island in the country’s northern-most atoll of Haa Alif, and several other islands in the north of the country. No loss of life or serious injury has been report but homes on several islands have been flooded out. Didhoo, the capital of Haa Aliff, is worst effected with at least seven homes flooded and two still submerged. Several people have been made homeless and the island’s water supply has been salinated. In Kulhudhuffushi, the capital of Haa Daal a large section of the harbour has been washed away. Flooding was first reported on Monday and intensified on Tuesday. The Maldives has been battered by wind and rain for over a week and there was no sign of improvement in the weather. Flood waters were reported in every inhabited island in Haa Alif on Monday. On Tuesday flooding was also confirmed in several Haa Daal islands. Miadhu reports over thirty islands have been effected, with flooding also reported in Raa and Shaviyani. Last month up to a hundred islands were flooded, mainly in the south, and the country is still assessing damage from those floods. Unlike in the May floods, this time resorts have been effected too. The flooding is not yet on the scale of early May, which was the worst flooding in the country’s history apart from the 2004 tsunami. But the situation could yet get worse. The MET Office is unable to provide medium or long range forecasts, but they say conditions will not improve for the next twenty four hours.

MEXICO - There is a "high possibility" a huge underground drainage tunnel in Mexico City could soon fail, flooding parts of this metropolis 15 feet deep in sewage. Officials have been puzzled for years by the gradual decrease in capacity of the approximately 20-foot-wide tunnel built in the 1970s to drain waste water from the valley, which is home to 20 million people and has no natural outlet. They have speculated that the tunnel may be partially clogged or that its walls could be decaying. But because it is constantly filled with water, officials have not been able to travel through the structure to inspect it or perform much-needed maintenance. "A failure ... could cause severe floods reaching five meters in the city's historic center, the international airport" and other boroughs on the city's east side. Poor drainage and flooding has been a historical problem for the city, especially during the rainy season that runs typically from late May through October. The Mexico Valley, where the city is located, was largely covered by lakes when the Aztecs founded the city on an island in 1325. The Aztecs built dikes to try to keep out flood waters. The Spaniards who conquered Mexico in 1521 tried to drain the lakes, which have disappeared under the urban sprawl.

SNOW / COLD -
AUSTRALIA - Northern Territory residents are stocking up on jumpers and blankets as they shiver through the COLDEST JUNE ON RECORD. The wild weather further south has brought UNPRECEDENTED COLD and steady rain to much of the Top End in what is meant to be the sunny, dry season. With temperatures under 23 degrees Celsius, locals used to wearing shorts all year round have been wearing fleece-lined jackets. Tennant Creek and Katherine have had their COLDEST JUNE DAYS ON RECORD. The chilly conditions also playing havoc with the digestive system of salt water crocodiles. They cannot even eat. "It's tough for crocodiles when it gets cold, because they can't digest food."

HEAT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
EUROPE - Last autumn-winter season was Europe's WARMEST FOR MORE THAN 700 YEARS. The last time Europeans saw temperatures similar to those of the autumn and winter of 2006-07, they were eating strawberries at Christmas in 1289. European climate measurements and temperature records stretch back several hundred years to 1659. Estimating historical temperatures beyond then involves scrutinising contemporary documents and diaries. Separately the temperatures experienced during autumn 2006 and winter 2007 are likely to have been the warmest in 500 years. But the sequential combination of two such warm seasons is a still RARER event – probably the first since 1289. In that year, people in western and central Europe wrote accounts of what they viewed as EXTREMELY UNUSUAL events. "Documents report for instance that strawberries were eaten at Christmas, and the [vineyards] produced leaves, stock and even blossoms in the middle of January, and in Vienna fruit trees were flowering like in May. This was really extreme, so maybe it can be compared to today in western and central Europe." Similar UNUSUAL events have also been noticed in this recent warm period. For instance, hazel trees and snowdrops in Germany blossomed a full 30 days earlier than at any time in the last 50 years in spring 2007. And in 2006, horse chestnut trees in Switzerland blossomed twice instead of their usual once. "This is really an EXCEPTIONALLY RARE event." The 1289 temperatures may have been caused by a large volcanic eruption in the tropics. The warm autumn and winter in 2006-07 were due to warm air moving up from the Atlantic off the coast of North Africa.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Herm Albrig

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/19/07 -
5.2 SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
5.0 ROTA REGION, N. MARIANA ISLANDS

PHILIPPINES - since June 15, the Department of Health Eastern Visayas Regional Office has been sending teams to Hinunangan, Southern Leyte to look into the needs of the stress/anxiety-stricken residents who were affected by the frequent aftershocks which followed the intensity 6.5 earthquake which shook Southern Leyte and the nearby provinces on the evening of June 14. Many people are suffering from mental shock and many can't sleep.

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - The Geophysics and Meteorology warned Tuesday that a high tidal wave would hit Arafuru waters, eastern Indonesia, on Thursday and Friday. "The tidal wave could reach three to four meters high." Different pressure between northern Australia and eastern Indonesia was likely to cause the high tidal wave in Arafuru waters.

SOUTH AFRICA - The Red Bull Big Wave Africa 2007 surfing contest was postponed on Monday, the 18th. Some waves were solid 20 to 25-foot sets, but they were far from ideal for running the event. "It was really difficult out there. It was definitely the right decision not to go with the event. The waves were big, but WEIRD and coming from all directions." Tuesday morning (19 June) dawned with a marked drop in swell, to almost half the size of Monday, and the competition was called off again, in order to wait for the next storm.

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - Kilauea Volcano's vents at Pu'u 'O'o continued their dramatic collapse Monday while the earth nearby expanded, both clues that an underground flow of magma has probably been diverted and might burst to the surface in a new area. The pace of earthquakes, likely caused by the shifting magma, slowed overnight. "For that much magma to be intruding or forced into the rift zone, something's got to give as the magma makes room for itself." Parts of the Pu'u 'O'o crater rim to the southwest that have been collapsing during the past several years suddenly dropped an estimated 30 to 50 feet, and the level of lava within the East Pond in the crater has also dropped to "a much lower elevation." That collapse at Pu'u 'O'o and the apparent stall in the lava flows from the crater area to the ocean strongly suggest the magma flowing into Pu'u 'O'o has been blocked or diverted elsewhere in the East Rift Zone, much as it was during similar events in 1997 and 1999. The deflation of the Kilauea summit continued, which combined with the ongoing earthquakes suggests magma is still leaking out of the summit magma reservoir into the upper East Rift Zone.
Scientists on the Big Island observed a new lava eruption at Kilauea volcano's upper east rift zone Tuesday morning following another swarm of small earthquakes. The small outbreak of lava oozed from a fissure in the forest nearly four miles west of Puu Oo and eight miles southeast of the Kilauea summit. "The outbreak appeared to be a short one that had been over for at least a few hours by the time it was seen this morning. This may be related to the abrupt eastward migration of earthquake epicenters into this area noted between 3:45 and 5 p.m. yesterday. Small earthquakes continue to occur in the area at low levels."

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
No storms.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
JAPAN - The rainy season may set a record as the latest ever. Ever since weather officials announced the start of the Kanto region's rainy season last Thursday, people have been scratching their heads as they look up at blue skies. Central Tokyo had not seen any rainfall from Friday morning to Tuesday evening. Elsewhere in the region, the sun has stubbornly stayed out, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to consider revising the starting date. Officials said the unexpected spell of fine weather was due to a seasonal rain front that has remained inactive. But the front is expected to be active later this week, bringing some rain to the region. The latest start of the season so far was June 22, recorded in 1967.

BRITAIN - A weather expert is predicting more freak flooding, torrential downpours and hailstorms next week as this month turns from flaming June to mid-summer mayhem.The wet weather is due to persist throughout this week but another wave of rainstorms will batter Britain from the weekend and leave tennis’s showpiece event, Wimbledon, a washout. He predicts the storms would peak between June 24 and 26. “Another wave of rainstorms will hit Britain - especially the south - from around June 20, but especially June 24 to 26 when dramatic thunderstorms will surpass expectations of TV forecasters and probably whack Wimbledon.” Intensities will be significantly greater than that suggested by TV forecasts even 12 hours ahead, the weather expert said. But he dismissed the idea the FREAK mid-summer weather conditions are a result of global warming. “Of course we can all expect the usual drivel from the global warming lobby who will doubtless suggest these floods are caused by mankind’s CO2. They have no evidence for such alarmist nonsense. The fact is that extreme weather events and rapid changes in weather types tend to come in waves roughly every 20 to 24 years due to magnetic changes on the sun. There will be more serious extreme events in the coming 12 months.” He added that many businesses and operations were caught out by last week’s flooding due to a lack of warning because they relied on the traditional meteorology approach which he says uses science that has reached its limits of accuracy.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
"Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.”
-Voltaire-

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/18/07 -
5.1 COMOROS REGION
5.5 CENTRAL IRAN
5.6 VANUATU
6.3 NEW IRELAND REGION, P.N.G.

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - (last year) 7.8 quake and tsunami on July 17, 2006 - Though categorized as magnitude 7.8, the earthquake could scarcely be felt by beachgoers that afternoon. A low tide and wind-driven waves disguised the signs of receding water, so when the tsunami struck, it caught even lifeguards by surprise. That contributed to the death toll of more than 600 persons in Java, Indonesia. "The general assumption was that if you were near the coast where the earthquake took place, you would feel it and be able to run to higher ground. This event caught people by surprise and showed that it's not always that simple." The earthquake was slow rupturing, so it didn't produce strong ground shaking on Java that might have alerted people on the beach. No local warning was issued for the tsunami waves, which arrived only tens of minutes after the earthquake. Fortunately, the event took place on a Monday. Had the massive waves hit the day before, which was a major national holiday, the popular beach would have been much more crowded - and the toll higher. "Warning systems typically don't work very well for locations near earthquakes, where there are only tens of minutes between the earthquake and the tsunami's arrival." In the July 2006 Java tsunami, lifeguards did not notice the withdrawal of ocean water from the beaches because the water was receding anyway because of a normal low tide - and because of large wind-produced waves. Beyond the quiet nature of the catastrophe, scientists have discovered evidence of a 21-meter (65-foot) wave that hit a portion of the coastline near the island of Nusa Kambangan, indicating a second event that may have added to the severity of the disaster. Elsewhere along the 300 kilometers of coastline studied, the waves ranged from 5 to 7 meters (16 to 24 feet). "The runup was unusually high along one portion of the coast, too much for a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The only explanation we could think of is that a submarine mass movement triggered by the earthquake could have added to the effect of the earthquake, given the essentially straight coastline with little room for large-scale tsunami focusing."

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - Hundreds of small earthquakes that suggest that magma is on the move under the surface of the Kilauea volcano sent scientists and national park officials scrambling over the weekend and prompted the RARE closure of most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The earthquake swarm began at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, with more than 260 recorded in 17 hours. Another nine were reported on the island of Hawaii between midnight and 4 a.m. Monday, as well as one 26 miles offshore. The largest of those registered a 3.2 magnitude. Eleven campers and some livestock were evacuated from portions of the park as rangers monitored the UNUSUAL earthquake activity for signs of a shift in the ongoing Kilauea eruption. Fresh cracks were reported in nearby roads. A Park Ranger said it was the first time she could recall since about 1999 that seismic activity caused by underground magma movement prompted the park to take such extensive precautions. The center of the earthquakes was about a mile southwest of Mauna Ulu, but during the day, the hub of the seismic activity migrated about 3 miles down the east rift zone toward Pu’u ’O’o, the source of an ongoing eruption. At the same time, the summit area of Kilauea volcano began to deflate or contract, another clue that magma is shifting from beneath the summit to some other part of the volcano. All the activity raised concerns for the National Park Service, which closed the 18-mile Chain of Craters Road that visitors normally use to reach lowland areas where lava flows into the sea. With the apparent new movement of magma, the concern was that if lava suddenly burst to the surface in an unexpected area, it could cut roads and trails, spew poisonous fumes or start brush fires that could pose a threat to visitors. “Assuming that our inference is correct” — that the earthquakes signal magma movement — “the magma could head to the surface at any time.”
The earthquake swarm near Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has slowed to fewer than 10 small tremors an hour from 100 per hour Sunday morning. National Park Service rangers opened the 11-mile Crater Rim Road and summit trails in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Monday. The 18-mile Chain of Craters Road remains closed after cracks opened across it on Sunday. The earthquakes, which data indicate are being caused by magma moving underground, are occurring mostly between Pauahi and Makaopuhi craters near the volcano's East Rift Zone. At least 10 of the quakes Sunday morning were magnitude 3.0 or stronger. "She seems to be calming down. It's a very young volcano. We've had ongoing eruptions for 25 years." "The summit is continuing to deflate, but that is slowing as well. We think it may mean magma is sort of readjusting itself." Measurements show steady deflation of Kilauea's summit and a wider rift zone to the east near the Makaopuhi crater.
Tiltmeters in the summit area recorded steady deflation for a second day on Monday, more than 40 microradians since early Sunday, and the observatory said the rate of deflation increased "slightly" following a Monday afternoon quake swarm. Monday afternoon's increase in earthquake activity between Makaopuhi and Napau craters, farther east than previous quakes, lasted about an hour. All data indicate that an intrusion of magma started in the Mauna Ulu area early Sunday morning and moved slowly 5 km (3 miles) east along the rift zone throughout June 17. Monday afternoon, the intrusion moved a bit farther east in a burst of earthquake activity starting at about 3:45 p.m. USGS personnel inspected the Puu Oo vent, source of lava for years, and reported that the crater floor had dropped about 20 meters. One route for the lava, called the Petunia tube, was found no longer to be active. It should be noted that Puu Oo lava flow stopped after similar seismic activity in 1997 and again in 1999, only to resume days or weeks later. GPS receivers near the most intense seismic activity recorded further widening across the rift zone near Makaopuhi crater. Total widening was 28 inches since all of this began early Sunday. An observatory field crew spotted new cracking between Mauna Ulu and Makaopuhi. On Sunday afternoon, observers noted many rockfalls from the south wall of Pu`u `O`o cone and collapse of the crater floor around the vents. January vent collapsed at 4:30 p.m. Monday morning after the sun rose, Pu`u `O`o crater was steaming; the floor was still there but the January vent and Drainhole pits had enlarged.
Live panorama webcam of Pu`u `O`o vents, Kilauea Volcano.



TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
TEXAS - Torrential rains flooded several towns and cities in northern Texas on Monday, killing at least four people and destroying homes and buildings.

CANADA - RECORD-BREAKING RAINFALL - Saskatoon residents were busy clearing out their basements on Monday, a day after more than 80 millimetres of rain fell in ONE OF THE HEAVIEST ONE-DAY DOWNPOURS THE CITY HAS EVER EXPERIENCED. One of the worst areas to be hit was the city's northwest - a part of Saskatoon that was still feeling the effects of a major flood two years ago. Flooding problems last year meant that about 2 million acres of farmland never got seeded. Even more land could be left unseeded this year. The crops are slightly behind where they normally would be this time of year, due to cloudy, overcast days.
Residents living near Calgary have been placed on notice after tributaries of the Bow River surged with as much as 70 millimetres of rain over the weekend. The deluge of rain across southern Alberta is BREAKING DECADES-OLD PRECIPITATION RECORDS. Springbank, northwest of Calgary, recorded a whopping 38 millimetres of rainfall over an 18-hour period by 6 p.m. Sunday night. The total BEAT THE PREVIOUS 110-YEAR-OLD RECORD of 29.5 millimetres set back in 1897. Calgary has already seen 149.2 millimetres of rain so far this June, which is normally the city's wettest month. "The normal for the entire month is 79.8 millimetres."

AUSTRALIA - Emergency crews stand ready as residents of New South Wales coastal areas brace for what threatened to be the most dangerous of three major storms to hit the state this month. Cyclonic winds up to 125km/h and huge waves are forecast to batter the coastline from tonight and into tomorrow, starting at Moruya in the state's south and moving north. Forecasters warned of cyclone-strength winds whipped up by an intense low pressure system. The state already faces huge damage costs. "Estimates are that the damage bill will ultimately top $1 billion, larger than either the (1999) Sydney hailstorm or the (1989) Newcastle earthquake." The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service also announced the 24-hour closure of popular areas within national parks in the Blue Mountains area, west of Sydney. Following the rescue of backpacking campers during the earlier storms, bushwalkers have been advised to postpone all back-country travel until conditions improve. NSW Maritime was urging boat owners to secure their boats and stay off the water from later today. The dumping rain and violent storms were further evidence of a developing and hopefully drought-busting La Nina, a weather expert said.

NETHERLANDS - Exceptionally heavy rain on Thursday night caused damage around the country, with the Drenthe town of Hoogeveen particularly badly hit. ‘Extremely heavy rain’ is generally defined as 160 mm per hour; Hoogeveen experienced 280 mm per hour. Two people were hurt. South Holland province was also badly affected. Air traffic was also hit, with incoming flights delayed for up to an hour by dangerous cloud formations.

CHINA - Small and mid-sized rivers in South China are seeing water levels exceed warning markers as heavy rain continues to lash the region, but larger rivers are calm. From 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, some areas in Chongqing were hit by more than 260 millimeters of rainfall. Meteorologists have warned people to watch out for possible natural disasters such as flash floods, land slides and lightning strikes.

INDIA - In Agartala, two persons were killed and three others, including two children, were injured in the cyclone and flash floods that lashed the State on Sunday cutting it off from the rest of the country. Close to 25,000 people have been rendered homeless in the natural furies. Several houses were destroyed and power lines collapsed in the cyclone. Meanwhile, official reports said the cyclone, entering the State from the Bangladesh side, destroyed several bordering villages in the southwestern and northwestern parts of the State. In the last week, more than a lakh people were shifted to temporary shelters as the situation deteriorated in the State with the increase in the water level of all major rivers and tributaries. Large areas of paddy fields have been ruined by the floodwaters. Many roads were blocked due to mudslide and the authorities are using bulldozers to clear the debris.

HONDURAS - In Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras, on Thursday, in a few minutes, the sky turned cloudy all of a sudden and it started to rain. Initially it did not seem like a big deal, but after a few minutes it turned into a very intense thunderstorm. The lightning blasts struck at the city and caused power outages in many places. In one hour of intense rain, many neighborhoods around the city began to flood as the streams overflowed. Tegucigalpa, being a city of many hills, was subject to water currents that quickly grew out of control as they went downhill. Several cars were almost totally covered by water and people had to be rescued. There were reports of a fallen wall of a school, and reports of houses being flooded and evacuated in several neighborhoods. The most damaged neighborhoods were the poor ones. By the end of the weekend, five people were reported dead as a result of these floods. Flash storms such as the ones on Thursday are QUITE UNUSUAL, even though floods which include deaths happen every once in a while. The lightning strikes on Thursday were AMONG THE LOUDEST HEARD. Honduras's weather has taken an UNUSUAL turn throughout the last couple of years. Before,Tegucigalpa was never too hot. However, there has definitely been an increase in the temperature in this city in the last four years. Today, in 2007, the temperature is in the 80's and the hot weather sometimes rises to uncomfortable levels.

NEW ZEALAND - The rain that pelted Taranaki on May 23 could have been the HEAVIEST EVER RECORDED IN THE REGION. "The intensity of that rainfall was ABSOLUTELY FREAKISH. The rainfall recordings up in the Wawhakaiho River were the HIGHEST EVER - and it all literally happened in half an hour. Not only that, but we think that the rainfall intensities up in the Kaitake and Pouakai ranges were even greater. It must have been a REALLY FREAK EVENT." The big, but short - four hour - rain storm caused severe localised flooding between Inglewood and Okato. "There were localised areas of very intense rainfall which produced extremely high, and in some cases UNPRECEDENTED, discharges. There was one report of 50mm of rainfall being recorded in 30 minutes." Major erosion damage was also caused.

SNOW / COLD -
NEW ZEALAND - Farmers in the Gisborne region see the latest rain as a mixed blessing, because of the cold conditions that came with it. Coastal areas had up to 200mms of rain in the past week. That's broken the drought, but the cold temperatures of the past few days have made the immediate outlook even worse for keeping stock fed, and more cattle will have to be sold or sent away for grazing. More than 100mm of rain in Hawke's Bay during the past week has broken the drought there too. It was the worst drought in the region in 125 years. It was followed by low temperatures and snow in the ranges at the weekend. Now farmers say this has added to worries about their stock. The rain was of some benefit, but the cold snap prevented any grass growth. The combination of rain, low temperatures and little feed will increase the chance of metabolic problems in stock.

VIRGINIA - Thursday's high was a RECORD LOW - the mercury stalled at 66 just before noon at the National Weather Service data station at Norfolk International Airport. That made for the LOWEST HIGH TEMPERATURE ON A JUNE 14 IN 133 YEARS of record-keeping. The coldest high temperature for the date had been 67, set in 1933. The normal high temperature in Norfolk at this time of year is 83. The day's high equaled what is typically the low temperature at this time of year.

HEAT / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
Spring in the Arctic is arriving "weeks earlier" than a decade ago. Ice in north-east Greenland is melting an average of 14.6 days earlier than in the mid-1990s, bringing forward the date plants flower and birds lay eggs. The observed changes could disrupt the region's ecosystems and food chain, affecting the long-term survival of some species. "We were particularly surprised to see the trends were so strong when considering that the entire summer is very short in the High Arctic - just three or four months from snowmelt to freeze-up." The warming in the region, which is occurring at twice the rate of the global average, could affect the future stability of the region's ecosystem. "There could be positive consequences in the short term, and potentially negative consequences in the long term."

More than a third of the United States is in the grip of a menacing drought that threatens to spread before the summer ends. North and South Carolina are fighting over a river. In Tennessee, springs are drying up, jeopardizing production of Jack Daniels whiskey. The mayor of Los Angeles is asking residents to take shorter showers. And in Georgia, the governor is praying for rain. Parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee are experiencing a level D4 drought, the most extreme level charted and the worst in the nation. Severe drought conditions are moving north, into Kentucky and closer to the Midwest. "It's ONE OF THE WORST DROUGHTS IN LIVING MEMORY in the Southeast at this point. This happens only about every 50 years or so." Officials said farmers throughout the South are being hit hard, with losses to cotton, peanuts and corn. Farmers in California, Kentucky and Alabama are selling their herds because of a shortage of hay to feed them. Experts blame the Southeast's drought on a persistent high-pressure system that has kept rain away from the area. In California, an abnormally dry winter is the culprit.

DARFUR - the UN Secretary General said that the slaughter in Darfur was triggered by global climate change and that more such conflicts may be on the horizon. Four years of fighting has killed at least 200,000 people. "The Darfur conflict began as an ecological crisis, arising at least in part from climate change." UN statistics show that rainfall declined some 40 percent over the past two decades, as a rise in Indian Ocean temperatures disrupted monsoons. When Darfur's land was rich, black farmers welcomed Arab herders and shared their water. With the drought, however, farmers fenced in their land to prevent overgrazing. "For the first time in memory, there was no longer enough food and water for all. Fighting broke out." Sudan is not the only country with such problems - Somalia, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso are other African countries with "food and water insecurity."

COLORADO - Denver BROKE A 67-YEAR RECORD with the temperature reaching 97-degrees on Sunday afternoon. The previous record high temperature for June 17 in Denver was 94 degrees, set in 1940. Temperatures across the rest of the state also were high Sunday, with Greeley the hottest reported at 100 degrees. Average highs for June are about 84 degrees and lows are about 54 degrees.

TEXAS - Fort Wayne has seen an UNUSUAL number of days reach 90-degree temperatures - 11 since May 1, which is significant. “This is a high number. We saw five days into the 90s in May, where the average is usually just one day.”

Monday, June 18, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
“The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles.”
Mahatma Gandhi

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/17/07 -
5.1 FIJI REGION
5.1 SOLOMON ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - A swarm of more than 250 shallow, relatively small earthquakes jolted the upper East Rift Zone of Kilauea Volcano Sunday, prompting the National Park Service to evacuate tourists and campers on the chance that the quakes might signal a dramatic, unexpected change in the ongoing eruption. Chain of Craters Road, Hilina Pali Road and much of Crater Rim Drive will remain closed through the night. Park officials will reassess the situation at 8 a.m. today. The earthquake swarm began at 2:15 a.m., and there have been small earthquakes about every minute or so, starting at about 6 a.m. "It looks like the rift has expanded a bit, possibly to accommodate magma, and the earthquakes are accompanying that process." An intrusion of lava into new underground cavities in the volcano could cause the magma to escape to the surface at a new, unexpected area of Kilauea. The earthquakes are coming so close together that USGS instruments were combining the magnitudes of the some of the temblors and overstating the size of some of the quakes. In one case the instruments incorrectly reported a quake of a magnitude of greater than 5.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

Tropical storm forecasters reported late Sunday that there are no storm precursors lurking, and none is expected to to pop up at least through today. "Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 48 hours."

OMAN - With global warming showing no signs of abating, this month's Cyclone Gonu in Oman has reinforced the need for waterfront and offshore construction projects to account for severe weather conditions and the possibility of drastic environmental changes in the near future. One such example is The Wave, in Muscat, a mixed-use development occupying an area of 2.5 million m2 along 6km of natural beach, which was in the path of the storm. According to the management behind the project, the waterfront development has been almost unaffected due to a masterplan that provides for extreme weather events. It was designed to withstand a one-in-250-year storm. Cyclone Gonu was a one-in-50-year event. "The Wave, Muscat has been unaffected overall, as an advanced flood absorption system had been designed and implemented, which minimised the damage caused by the cyclone." Even though designs for all offshore and waterfront developments include provisions for storm and sea level variations, environment experts have said that situations beyond the expected have to be considered. "What has happened in Oman is unfortunate but it has been an example to the rest of the Middle East of what can come about due to global warming. Global warming is a fact, whether you want to accept it or not, and it is having a drastic change on weather patterns all over the world."

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
PAKISTAN - A flash flood triggered by torrential rain has killed 16 people and injured more than 60 in a mountainous village in northwestern Pakistan. The flood destroyed the homes of at least 500 people when it swept through the village of Bedara in the Swat valley, 200 kilometres northwest of Islamabad. The rain has come after a spell of sweltering heat that killed more than 50 people in the last two weeks.

CHINA - Eight farmers are missing while 10 others were rescued after heavy rains triggered a massive landslide in central China's Hubei province. About five million cubic meters of mud and rock carried 15 houses into the Qingjiang River near Dayantang village. The Qingjiang is a major tributary of the Yangtze river, China's longest river. The local government had earlier evacuated 287 residents from the area because of fears of a potential landslide, but 18 farmers about a kilometre from the village were hit by the landslide while working on their farmland. Search and rescue operation is continuing. Heavy rain since May is to blame for the landslide. In early May, another major landslide hit Muzhuping village, 15 kilometres away from Dayantang village, forcing an evacuation of 658 residents.

BANGLADESH - Over 50,000 people living in foothill slums in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong city are under serious risks of falling victim to landslides. Over 50,000 people live in slums situated at the risky slopes or bottom of hills where they rent rooms at cheaper rates but life safety is hardly taken into consideration there. A series of landslides buried over 100 people in Chittagong June 11.
Flood-prone Bangladesh is bracing for an UNUSUAL and unpredictable monsoon this year, with environment experts and officials blaming global warming, melting Himalayan glaciers, silted rivers and unplanned roads. Floods caused by days of torrential rain, described by weather officials as UNUSUALLY HEAVY and devastating, inundated at least a dozen out of Bangladesh’s 64 administrative districts. All major rivers including those flowing from the Himalayas through India have passed danger levels, flooding many villages and eroding vast tracts of land, leaving thousands homeless. In the northern district of Bogra, hundreds of mud-walled houses collapsed. Although the monsoon officially began only on June 7, already at least 30 people have been killed across the country in flooding which has damaged crops awaiting harvest and washed away dozens of fish farms. More floods, which experts predict could hit again around mid-July, would damage the country’s prime agriculture sector. Weathermen said they felt the weather was behaving strangely, especially during the monsoon which lasts until mid-September. “Now people often suffer more from months of waterlogging because the floods cannot recede quickly.” “The impact of unusual weather often hits our agricultural output.” Environment experts have warned that rising sea waters could mean that up to 11 percent of low-lying Bangladesh, home to more than 140mn people, could be permanently under water within 50 years, making millions homeless.

BRITAIN - By 8am in York, Friday was already the WETTEST DAY THEY HAVE HAD IN JUNE SINCE DAILY RECORDS BEGAN, and they had more rain in six hours than the whole of an average June. Some 50mm fell on top of the heavy rain they had endured earlier in the week.

SNOW / COLD -
TASMANIA shivered this morning with Hobart recording its COLDEST TEMPERATURE IN 12 YEARS. The temperature dropped to just below freezing in Hobart this morning, the lowest since June 6, 1995, when the minimum recorded was -1C. Bushy Park in the Derwent Valley, in the state's south east, also recorded its LOWEST TEMPERATURE FOR 35 YEARS since June 1972 with -6C.

Sunday, June 17, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
If you have had trouble emailing me through att.net, please try globalDisasterWatch@yahoo.com instead. If you have been emailing me through att.net and have not had problems, you can keep using that email address. I will be checking both emails regularly.

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/16/07 -
5.9 PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.8 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.7 MOLUCCA SEA
5.2 SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
6/15/07 -
5.9 LAKE ALBERT REGION, CONGO
5.2 SOUTHEAST INDIAN RIDGE
5.4 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

OMAN says that the damage caused by Cyclone Gonu, which tore through the country earlier this month, could rise to 3.9 billion dollars. The damage to infrastructure alone could reach one billion riyals (2.6 billion dollars). At least 49 people were killed when Gonu hit the coast of Oman along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman on June 6, before veering towards Iran. The fiercest storm to hit the region for 30 years forced thousands of people from their homes and left a trail of destruction along the east coast of a country unaccustomed to such violent weather.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
AUSTRALIA - Wind and rain are lashing the central NSW coast for a second consecutive weekend, increasing damage in an already-declared disaster area. The Hunter Valley and Central Coast are still cleaning up after last weekend's ferocious storms and widespread flooding, which killed nine people. Winds are backing off somewhat in the Sydney area after reaching 80 kilometres an hour overnight with gusts up to 90 kilometres. But damaging winds may extend to northern parts of the Hunter coast. Waves are averaging five metres, with extremes of eight metres causing significant beach erosion between Wollongong and Newcastle. And extreme tides are possible.
The extreme weather battering NSW is set to make history this weekend, resulting in THE WETTEST JUNE ON RECORD SINCE 1964. Forecasters were anticipating another 3mm of rain to set a new Sydney record, with a total of 352mm recorded by the Weather Bureau as of 9am. Sydneysiders bore the brunt of downpours this weekend, with the city drenched in 90mm of rain in the space of 24 hours. Emergency workers fielded hundreds of calls about fallen trees and flash flooding. It is already THE WETTEST JUNE SINCE 1975, dwarfing the 9.8mm recorded in the capital last month. The equivalent of two months worth of water supplies are expected over the coming week. Huge swells of between 3m and 6m in Newcastle prevented experts from carrying out a planned inspection of the Pasha Bulker coal ship grounded on Nobbys Beach.

CANADA - Landowners and county officials in an area 175 kilometres southwest of Edmonton fear an ecological disaster if a local river carves a new channel and permanently alters its drainage pattern the next time it floods. Ten days ago, as heavy rains pelted down and river levels rose, the Clearwater River burst out of its channel. The Clearwater River normally drains west and north into the North Saskatchewan River. If it were to carve a new channel east into the North Raven River, its waters would eventually drain into the Red Deer River, part of the South Saskatchewan River system. The Clearwater has already shifted its course and left its old stream bed almost high and dry. The next time the Clearwater River floods it could top the roadway and create a new and permanent channel that allows it to flow east. That would be disastrous for people downstream. The North Raven River wouldn't be capable of handling the increased flows and people who live along its river banks could be flooded out. That's what happened further downstream in 2005 during a period of heavy rain. "It's a natural event, all part of the flood plain phenomenon where rivers move back and forth over the years. We have photos from the 1940s that show how the Clearwater River has moved."

BRITAIN - Heavy flooding in Britain killed a soldier and trapped more than 40 workers inside a factory. The workers were trapped Friday night inside a tool factory in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, after the river Tame overflowed its bank. The workers reported they were dry and safe inside as the water rose to six feet around the building. "We have still got power and nobody is going to starve." The solider drowned after falling into a swollen stream. Flooding throughout Britain disrupted train services, ruined homes and stranded motorists. Flood warnings continued Saturday.
The Environment Agency issued flood warnings across many parts of Britain on Friday as torrential rain swamped northern and central areas and weather forecasters warned there could be more downpours overnight. Homes in Northamptonshire and South and West Yorkshire were hit by flooding on Friday, while train services were suspended between Birmingham and the east Midlands. 88 millimetres (3.5 inches) of rain had fallen on Birmingham in 24 hours, more than it normally gets in a month at this time of year. Two severe flood warnings - the most serious category, indicating "extreme danger to life and property" - are in operation in Yorkshire, with another 48 warnings for rivers across the country.

GERMANY - Snowploughs were needed to clear hail in Munich and a Berlin museum was flooded when lightning and torrential rain lashed Germany during the night on Friday. In Bavaria state, high winds ripped roofs off 10 houses and toppled trees, while the hail was so heavy that Autobahn 8, one of the main freeways near Munich, was closed because it was too slippery. Emergency services called out ploughs that are on stand-by in winter-time to clear snow. A tornado hit the northern state of Lower Saxony, damaging tiled roofs and ripping up trees.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-RECALLED - MainStar America is initiating a nationwide recall of toothpaste made in China involving: Dr. Cool, Superdent, and Everfresh Smile2 Toothpaste. This recall has been initiated because the products may contain the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent, and is a Central Nervous System depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin.

VIETNAM confirmed its first human death from bird flu since 2005, as the latest flare-up of the virus ravaged poultry stocks. The death brought the country's toll to 43. Four other people were recently infected. Two have fully recovered. Bird flu outbreaks in poultry have been reported in 18 provinces since early May. The outbreak has killed or forced the slaughter of nearly 200,000 birds, nearly all ducks.

Friday, June 15, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
Mahatma Gandhi

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/14/07 -
5.3 SOUTHEAST INDIAN RIDGE
5.8 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.5 LEYTE, PHILIPPINES
5.9 SOUTHEAST OF EASTER ISLAND
5.4 ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
5.4 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION

GUATEMALA - The powerful 6.8 earthquake that shook Guatemala and parts of El Salvador on Wednesday, caused traffic chaos in Guatemala City, damaged some houses and generated landslides outside the capital. The quake lasted 49 seconds.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
INDIA - Lightning during monsoon rains has claimed 21 lives in Central India's Jharkhand region since Wednesday, with six school students among the victims. Nearly a dozen other students were injured when lightning struck Greenfield School in Rampura village. The rains also disrupted power supply in Jharkhand, plunging many areas into darkness.

VIETNAM - A strong twenty-minute cyclone [tornado?] coupled with heavy rain killed two senior citizens and injured two others in the northern Thanh Hoa Province Wednesday. The winds devastated 469 houses, uprooted 2,000 trees and damaged 350 hectares of rice and tea crops. This is at least the seventh cyclone to hit Vietnam this year. The storms have injured dozens of people and destroyed hundreds of houses, leaving thousands homeless.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-RECALLED - The Colgate-Palmolive Company today warned that counterfeit toothpaste falsely packaged as "Colgate" has been found in several dollar-type discount stores in four states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. There are indications that this product does not contain fluoride and may contain Diethylene Glycol. The product comes in a 5 ounce (100ml) package, made in South Africa is printed on the box. Colgate does not import toothpaste into the United States from South Africa. In addition, the counterfeit packages examined so far have several misspellings including: "isclinically" "SOUTH AFRLCA" "South African Dental Assoxiation".

One hundred leaders from the business, healthcare, faith, and civic communities met with US Department of Health and Human Services officials to discuss how to motivate individuals and families to prepare for an influenza pandemic. Personal preparedness "is a message that needs to surround everyone. They need to hear it from their pastors, from their employers, from their physicians, and from everyone in a position of responsibility. And they need to keep hearing it. In fact, they need to hear it even more after the news media loses interest." "Everything we do before a pandemic will seem alarmist. Everything we do after a pandemic will seem inadequate." It is critical for everyone to prepare for possible pandemic flu. People are encouraged to (1) store extra food and other daily supplies to make it easier to stay home for a prolonged period of time, (2) learn and practice proper hand-washing, (3) use safe cough and sneeze techniques to limit the spread of illnesses, and (4) stay home and avoid others during illness.

Thursday, June 14, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
“The tendency of democracies is, in all things, to mediocrity.”
James Fenimore Cooper  

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/13/07 -
6.8 OFFSHORE GUATEMALA
5.3 KEPULAUAN TALAUD, INDONESIA

GUATEMALA - A powerful 6.8 earthquake rattled Guatemala and El Salvador on Wednesday, forcing terrified residents to flee shaking buildings, but there were no reports of casualties. The earthquake was centred in the Pacific Ocean some 46 miles (75 km) south of the Guatemalan town of Escuintla. The quake occurred at a depth of about 40 miles (65 km). Buildings in Guatemala City swayed for about 30 seconds and people ran into the streets. Parents formed long lines outside schools to look for their children, and authorities asked residents to stay out of high buildings.

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
Global warming is speeding up ocean waves, a new study by Canadian researchers has found. Geophysicists predict that as the ocean surface warms, these so-called planetary waves should speed up. To test this theory, they modelled the changes to ocean wave patterns over the 20th and 21st centuries. They found that gigantic ocean waves, spanning hundreds of kilometres from crest to crest, had speeded as a result of global warming. 'We were really surprised at how quickly the ocean responded to temperature change.' The model further showed that by the end of the 21st century, the waves would be a further 20 to 40 per cent faster compared with pre-industrial speeds. 'We knew we'd see an effect, but we didn't think it would be significant for at least another two centuries.' The faster planetary waves will have an effect on global weather.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

ATLANTIC - The coasts remain clear of weather that might develop into tropical storms. Twelve days into the 2007 hurricane season, the North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico are quiet. Forecasters say they foresee no tropical cyclone formation at least through midday Friday. So far the hurricane season has been tame, although forecasters predict an active season of storms affecting the U.S.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
BANGLADESH - Hills that once protected the port city of Chittagong from the fury of devastating cyclones have come down, burying about 120 people alive following a heavy downpour which measured a little more than nine inches in 24 hours on last Monday. Rescuers fear that at least another 50 bodies might still be remaining trapped under the soil that has come down the hills. Many people have correctly pointed at years of mindless cutting down of the hills for creating plain lands for housing or taking soil for earth filling of low-lying areas as the main cause of the disaster that has paralysed life in the second largest city of Bangladesh. Landslides are nothing new in hilly areas. But THE SCALE OF THE PRESENT LANDSLIDE HAS BEEN THE WORST RECORDED IN BANGLADESH SO FAR.

WASHINGTON D.C. - On Tuesday, the puffy cumulus clouds were moving from the northeast, a VERY UNUSUAL DIRECTION for this time of year. The circulation around a persistent low pressure area off the Atlantic coast, along with its cold air aloft, promoted the development of a widespread area of thunderstorms, some severe, over southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. These storms were moving "backwards" (southwesterly) into northeastern Maryland and the northwestern Baltimore suburbs and the DC metro area.

PENNSYLVANIA - Weather forecasters say the storm moving through the area on Tuesday, June 12, was UNUSUAL in at least one way - direction. The storm came courtesy of weather moving in from the northeast. Typically severe summer weather comes from the south or west. “That was the odd thing." Usually when a low pressure moves in from the northeast, as happened Tuesday, the temperature isn't warm enough to cause thunderstorms. But Tuesday was hot in eastern and central Pennsylvania and the storms stretched from Scranton to Philadelphia and as far west as Johnstown. “It's just UNUSUAL for storms to travel east to west.”

SNOW / COLD -
COLORADO - Denver is running over 3 degrees below normal for the month and just recently had its LATEST SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURE ON RECORD. Last Friday, June 8th, Denver recorded not only a RECORD LOW FOR THE DATE (31 degrees) , but also the 2nd lowest temperature ever recorded in June. Then afternoon highs reached 90 on Sunday, June 10th.

OREGON - Cold temperatures prompted a freeze warning Tuesday morning. Cold and dry air was set to move over Deschutes County and officials expected it to cause low temperatures to fall to near or below 32 degrees over much of the county, especially during the hours just before and after sunrise. The warning meant sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or highly likely. Those with agricultural interests in the warned areas were advised to harvest or protect tender vegetation.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
GEORGIA - The wildfires that have swept through the Okefenokee this year are the LARGEST IN THE LOWER 48 STATES OF THE U.S. IN NEARLY A CENTURY, since 1918. The state sees an average of 8,000 forest and brush fires a year, but the vast majority are doused before they can burn an acre. The typical wildfire can be contained by a single ranger armed with a fire plow. But not the fire that started April 16. High winds toppled a tree into a power line, fanning the resulting sparks to ignite nearby brush left dry by the lack of rain. The same winds then urged the flames deep into the surrounding longleaf and loblolly pine forests. The air itself was arid, with no hint of the humidity that usually accompanies the beginning of the oppressive South Georgia summer. The fire raged through 18,000 acres in its first day – roughly 26 square miles. Two months later, the fire has consumed more than 600,000 acres on both sides of the Georgia/Florida border, including most of the Okefenokee and tens of thousands of acres of commercial pine forests. Commonly referred to as a swamp, the Okefenokee is technically a bog, because its moisture comes from rainwater rather than a spring or river. When there's meager rainfall, as in recent months, the water table drops, drying out the peaty, compostlike soil. After the bog catches fire, it usually continues to burn for a year, spreading underground until all available fuel has been depleted. As global warming continues, the semipermanent high-pressure weather cells covering the planet are expected to expand, with much of the rainfall occurring at the edges of those cells, leaving their cores drier. Since, during summer months, the Southeast is at the center of such a cell – called the Bermuda high – Georgia will gradually, and perhaps irreversibly, lose rainfall to the Northeast and Canada. As the state becomes hotter and drier, wildfires will become more frequent and more intense.

Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake, has DROPPED TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN 81 YEARS. The water is 20 inches below average and a foot lower than just a year ago. The dropping levels have had serious environmental and economic consequences. Wetlands have dried up. Power plants run at half capacity. Cargo ships carry partial loads. Boaters struggle to find a place to dock. The changes can be seen all along the 2,800-mile shore of Lake Superior, the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes. The water has receded, sometimes 50 feet or more, from its normal shoreline. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are at low levels, as well, although not quite as extreme. The average water temperature of Lake Superior has risen 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1979. The Edison Sault Electric power plant in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, will operate at less than 50% capacity this year because its water flows have been slashed as a result of the low lake levels. That pushed the company to buy high-cost power elsewhere and increase rates. Large beds of wild rice that grow in the wetlands have gone dry. Everyone is waiting for the water to rise. "It seemed normal last October. Then it dropped and never came back."

HAWAII - The Maui Department of Water Supply has declared a drought in Upcountry Maui, imposing mandatory water restrictions, while dry conditions are getting worse on the Big Island. Maui officials Tuesday imposed 10 percent water restrictions on nonagricultural users in many areas, but gave farmers 30 days grace. "Low inflows to the surface water treatment facilities are earlier than normal and could signal a long, dry summer." On the Big Island, where similar conditions have gone on for a lot longer, farmers aren't so lucky. "Nonirrigated crops, those dependent on natural rainfall, were in fair to poor condition. And livestock operations were being stressed by the low moisture levels." The Hawaii County Mayor declared a state of emergency a week ago due to the continuing dry weather.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
"Prejudices are what fools use for reason.”
-Voltaire-

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/12/07 -
5.0 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
5.1 TONGA
5.1 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 KURIL ISLANDS

VOLCANOES -
ETHIOPIA - In the Danakil depression, also known as Afar, in Ethiopia, sits the Dallol volcano. It's situated below sea level and its upwelling springs create sulfur and mineral salt formations of epic beauty. It's one of the hottest places in the world with temperatures sometimes over 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The Danakil depression is a plate tectonic triple junction where three pieces of the Earth's crust meet. The three crusts pulling apart from one another creates stress on the rocks, producing cracks, faults, volcanoes and hot springs in the region. It's one of two places on the Earth where a midocean ridge can be studied on land. (click on the "SCROLL" arrows for 8 photos.)

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression 03E was 372 nmi SW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. (This sytem is deteriorating and is not likely to develop any further.)

NEW YORK - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff met with city officials in Brooklyn Monday to make sure the Big Apple is prepared for hurricane season. He warned that the nation's largest city needs to be prepared for a hurricane powerful enough to cause serious flooding in lower Manhattan and elsewhere. Experts have said that New York is about due for a major hurricane with 130-mph winds and a 30-foot storm surge that could cause the Hudson and East Rivers to overflow. The city has been hit by a hurricane about once every 90 years. The last major one was in 1938.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
BANGLADESH - The death toll in Bangladesh landslides reached 107, as rescuers dug more bodies out of the mud in a frantic search for more survivors and as heavy downpour hampers search and rescue missions. The Bangladesh government dispatched over 1,000 troops, police, fire brigade and civilian workers to join the search and rescue mission, although officials believe the death toll will increase as the hours progress. The landslides struck early Monday as people slept following several days of continuous monsoon downpours. Some 89 people were rushed to hospital after sustaining various injuries caused by the landslides.
BANGLADESH - Mudslides caused by monsoon rains buried bamboo and straw shacks in shantytowns and collapsed brick houses in southeastern Bangladesh Monday. 11 people died when they were struck by lightning. The hilly port city of Chittagong was hardest-hit by the heavy rains. Nearly 8½ inches of rain fell in just three hours early Monday, submerging the downtown in about 4 feet of water. Several factories in an industrial belt around the city were also flooded, stopping production and causing extensive damage to machinery. The city's telephone, television and radio networks were also interrupted as transmission stations were flooded. In neighboring Feni district, rain-swollen rivers flooded 15 farming villages, leaving at least 55,000 people stranded. Heavy monsoon rains – the HIGHEST LEVELS RECORDED IN SEVEN YEARS – also inundated parts of the capital Dhaka and other regions of the country over the weekend.

AUSTRALIA - Many people returning home after four days of heavy storms and flooding in eastern Australia have found their properties and businesses were looted. Thieves took retail goods and household items at the height of the storm on Saturday in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast areas. Nine people died in the WORST STORMS TO HIT THE REGION IN 30 YEARS. Health officials have also warned of the threat of disease from receding floodwaters contaminated with sewage. Up to 60 sewage pumping stations in the Hunter region and 40 on the Central Coast were without power over the weekend, causing overflows into the floods. Maritime officials at the port of Newcastle are attempting to stabilise and remove a 40,000 tonne coal-carrying vessel which ran aground in gale-force winds on Friday.
Police have closed a second section of the Old Pacific Highway, fearing it is in imminent risk of collapsing and claiming more lives. The closure has deepened concern – and anger – about the condition of the road, following the deaths of a family of five at Somersby on Friday. On Friday afternoon during violent storms which lashed the region, a vast chasm opened up in the Old Pacific Highway at Somersby, swallowing a car carrying a couple and three children when the road gave way, plunging their car into raging floodwaters. Police found the second stretch of damaged road, about 2km from the fatal accident scene, while checking for other damaged sections of road on Sunday afternoon. The site, south of Friday's accident site, was dipped and cracked. Chunks of bitumen had crumbled away at the side. (photo)

AFGHANISTAN - A landslide triggered by melting snow in Afghanistan has killed eight members of a family. The landslide in the northeastern province of Takhar on Monday killed a woman, a child and six men. People living in the area close to the border with Tajikistan had been told to evacuate in case of more landslides.

HEAT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
PAKISTAN - At least 63 more people died on Sunday from the effects of Pakistan's RECORD-BREAKING HEAT WAVE, bringing the weekend death toll to 110. The mercury rose as high as 52 degrees in south-west parts of the country as the hot spell entered its fourth day, also setting a 78-year record in the city of Lahore in the central Punjab province. Hundreds of people were also hospitalised with sunstroke, and meteorologists predicted the heat wave will last at least three more days.

ALABAMA - the National Weather Service says that, "since Katrina came and left, for some reason we've had like a blocking pattern over us which has kept the weather systems away. It's kept us dryer than normal. It's also made us a little warmer than normal and that hasn't changed, so it's, it's VERY UNUSUAL." They are half a year behind in rainfall. Normal rainfall would be about 66 inches a year, since January 2006, they are 32 to 33 inches below that.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-Urgent Nationwide RECALL of Toothpaste - Gold City Enterprise LLC is initiating a nationwide recall of SHIR FRESH MINT FLUORIDE toothpaste made in China. This recall has been initiated because the products may contain the poisonous chemical diethylene glycol (DEG). DEG is used in antifreeze and as a solvent, and is a Central Nervous System depressant and potent kidney and liver toxin.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 -

Today there has been a small cluster of quakes in California near Mammoth Lakes -
3.6, 4.6, 3.2, 3.0, 3.0, 2.5, 2.7, 2.7, 3.0, 3.5

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/11/07 -
5.1 FIJI REGION
5.0 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.1 NEAR COAST OF ECUADOR

Pretty quiet elsewhere, no other update today.

Monday, June 11, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
 "The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.”[just ask Paris Hilton]
James Fenimore Cooper

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/10/07 -
None 5.0 and higher.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

The waters around Florida were quiet Sunday, but hurricane forecasters are watching a large tropical wave for development well out in the Atlantic Ocean. This tropical wave is located about 375 miles south of the Cape Verde Islands, and is moving west-northwestward at 20 to 25 mph. But, "shower and thunderstorm activity associated with the wave has decreased." Because of this, development of the wave into a tropical storm "is becoming less likely." Other than the wave, the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico appear to be clear of tropical storm precursors over the next two days.

OMAN - The water supply in Oman’s capital, Muscat, and the city of ‘Sour has been severely damaged as a result of cyclone Gonu, which hit the region last week. Oman’s Ministry of Electricity and Water is asking residents to be patient, clarifying that it could be 10 days before the water supplies are restored to normal. Eight stations have been set up where tankers can fill up with water for free and distribute to households. The shortage of water and electricity is causing friction among residents, as they fight over water and food supplies. Fuel is being rationed while electricity is gradually being restored to ‘Sour.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
CHINA - Floods and landslides triggered by four days of rain in southern China have left 66 people dead and forced 600,000 to flee their homes. At least 48,000 homes were completely destroyed in the rains, which pounded China's southern provinces. The floods have caused an estimated $380m (£284m) worth of damage. The provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Fujian and Jiangxi were among the worst-affected regions. Floods also damaged agricultural land and crops. "Floods caused by heavy rains have affected about 294,800 hectares of crops, completely destroying 53,000 hectares of them." 12 people remain missing. In the province of Guangxi, the rains destroyed 29 reservoirs and 162 roads and forced 59 factories to suspend production.

BANGLADESH - At least 14 people were killed and several missing in a landslide triggered by heavy rains buried hillside homes in Bangladesh's Chittagong port city today. Some bodies were still trapped under tonnes of rubble and police and volunteers were struggling to retrieve them. Several people were injured and taken to hospitals. The rains flooded most of the city's roads, leaving residents stranded in up to waist-high water in some areas. Heavy rains at the onset of the annual monsoon season have paralysed much of Bangladesh since yesterday morning, and raised fears of flash floods in low-lying areas. They expect showers to continue for several days more.

SWITZERLAND - troops are on standby to help clear up a trail of destruction in northern Switzerland after flash floods inundated villages and drowned three people. An elderly woman died in the village of Eriswil, when her home was engulfed and a couple were also swept to their deaths in the nearby hamlet of Huttwill after a river burst its banks. “About fifty homes were destroyed in a small area. It was a very intense storm which was completely unforeseen by the meteorological services.” Violent storms are frequent in Switzerland in the summer and can wreak havoc by sending flood-water coursing down narrow valleys. Troops were waiting for earth-moving equipment to clear debris and to erect pontoon bridges to replace river crossings destroyed by the flooding.

AUSTRALIA - Rescue workers urged thousands of people to evacuate their homes Sunday after deadly storms lashed Australia's east coast, leaving parts of one city looking like an earthquake had struck. After days of torrential rains, flood waters surged into areas north of Sydney, isolating towns, swamping farms, homes and businesses and causing millions of dollars in damage. The death toll rose to nine when police found the body of a man who died after he was swept into a storm water drain on a flooded road. Authorities earlier found the body of a man who died when his car was swept off a highway into a swollen creek. His wife and three young children, aged two, three and nine, who were traveling with him, also died when the road collapsed underneath them, but their bodies had been found earlier. Although bringing much-needed rain to Sydney and towns to its north, the storms have wreaked havoc since slamming into the city and the Central Coast and Newcastle to the north on Friday.

CHILE - Mother Nature made her presence known in southern Chile this past weekend, when wacky weather ruined homes in Region VIII and a cluster of quakes rattled already uneasy residents in Region XI. Early Saturday morning, five homes in the Region VIII town of Lota suffered serious damage after being struck by what residents there described as a “tornado.” Though meteorologists have been unable to confirm whether the area was in fact struck by a tornado – a VERY RARE thing in this part of the world – authorities did clock wind gusts of between 50-70 kilometers-per-hour. The intense storm, which also produced hail, left 20 people homeless. Several hours later, residents in the Region XI towns of Puerto Aysén and Puerto Chacabuco experienced a startling six tremblers in the span of just 30 minutes. Though all noticeable – registering between three and four on the Mercalli Scale – the quakes did not cause any significant damage. The Saturday morning barrage was certainly nothing new for area residents, who have endured numerous quakes in recent months. The most devastating took place on April 21, when 10 people died after a 6.2-magnitude quake struck the area, causing landslides and a subsequent mini-tsunami in the Aysén Fjord. Scientists believe the prolonged period of seismic activity is likely being caused by a subterranean magma flow – originated at a point directly below the Fjord. The magma, which is pressuring a subterranean tectonic plate, could eventually push its way to the surface and form a relatively small volcanic cone on the floor of the Fjord.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
PAKISTAN - At least eight persons died in different localities of Faisalabad due to the intense heat and the 16-year-old HEAT RECORD WAS BROKEN in Mianwali when the mercury shot up to 51 degree centigrade on Sunday. Life in the Mianwali was paralyzed on Sunday owing to the hot and humid weather.

INDIA - With day temperatures hovering around the 45 degrees celsius mark in most of North India, this has been a summer like few others. And the unabated heat wave is throwing life out of gear across the region. The scorching heat wave is keeping people indoors. With the maximum temperature going beyond the 44 degrees celsius twice so far, Delhi seems set to breach the 45 degree celsius mark that it last recorded on 21st June 2005. In Rajasthan, after the heat and dust of the Gurjar agitation, the state has to contend with searing temperatures with 45 degrees celsius now almost the norm and the three deaths so far have BROKEN THE 5-YEAR RECORD OF HEAT WAVE CASUALTIES in Rajasthan. Chandigarh was as uncomfortable as Delhi with a maximun temperature of 45 degree celsisus. As there is no respite in sight, the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that the maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 44-46 °C over much of North India. So for now, North India is hoping for the monsoon to arrive on time.
INDIA - On Sunday, June 10, Shimla recorded 31.5 Celsius, the HIGHEST-EVER TEMPERATURE. Even the night temperature touched 22.3 Celsius, which is the HIGHEST MINIMUM TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED HERE.

WATER SHORTAGES -
CHINA - A severe drought has left four million people short of drinking water in southwest China, state media reported June 5, as the vast country battles a crippling water shortage. Some 4.46 million head of livestock were also affected by the drought in Sichuan, where parts of the province have not seen any rain for up to 40 days. Around 110,000 people are depending on deliveries of water by truck. The drought has also prevented large areas of farmland from being seeded because of a lack of moisture and many of the crops that have been planted have shrivelled. Last month, more than 4.8 million people in northern Gansu province faced similar shortages following the worst drought there since the 1940s.
Fast-spreading, foul-smelling blue-green algae smothered a lake in eastern China, contaminating the drinking water for millions of people and sparking panic-buying of bottled water. Prices skyrocketed from $1 to $6.50 for a two-gallon bottle. The algae bloom in Lake Tai, a famous but long-polluted tourist attraction in Jiangsu province, formed because WATER LEVELS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST IN 50 YEARS, leading to excess nutrients in the water. Officials in Wuxi, a city along the banks of the lake, called an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss measures to deal with the situation and allay public fears. "The smell of our tap water is just so awful. If you use the water to shower, the smell will stay on your body." "People form long queues in the supermarkets for bottled water. Nobody expected something like this to happen. We aren't prepared."

ASIA is heading for a fresh water crisis due to the melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas. The Himalayas are sources of fresh water supplies to the major rivers of Asia. A report submitted to Congress said that reduced fresh water availability in Asia could affect more than one billion people by the mid-century. Globally by 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are expected to be under "water stress" due to long-term climate shifts and population growth. Apart from the shrinking of yields in rain fed agriculture, climate shifts in the short term can also impact the frequency and severity of droughts, floods and heat waves, the report has warned.

MIDDLE EAST - Shortage of water is going to be the biggest economic, social and environmental challenge facing the Arab nations as Arab states face a water deficit of 100 to 133 billion cubic meters per year by 2030.

NIGERIA - Acute water shortage has hit most parts of Kano state in the last four days with youths and the aged seen on the streets of Kano searching for water. Water vendors have raised the cost of a jerry can by over 400% from N20 per can to about N80 in places where the water could be found. The situation is coming at the worst time, when many wells have dried up due to the biting dry season. The scarcity arose from burst pipes due to excessive pressure they experienced during pumping. New pumping machines acquired and currently in use were too powerful for the pipes, thereby causing damage to the two major pipelines used for water distribution.

ZIMBABWE - Water shortages are so serious in one Zimbabwean city that authorities are now considering running a water train. The train would bring water from the Zambezi River in the north of Zimbabwe, around 400 kilometres away. Current supplies will be exhausted by October. The water was to be purified in Bulawayo before it is distributed to the city's 1. 5 million residents. Like most of Zimbabwe's cities, Bulawayo is facing critical water shortages. The city is situated in the arid Matabeleland region. Shortages are being blamed mainly on poor rainfall.

INDIA - Andaman and Nicobar Administration took everyone by surprise in late May when it announced serious curtailment in the water supply in various parts of South Andaman. According to the new curtailment schedule, water will be supplied once in every six days in South Andaman areas. Although Andaman and Nicobar Islands receive rainfall nearly eight months a year and the monsoon has already set in before schedule, parts of the archipelago is still reeling under severe water scarcity. "This means people in Andaman will be receiving water supply for just six days a month and that too for a very limited time. This is height of mismanagement." Earlier, there were rumours in the city that Dhanikhari Dam, the lone water reservoir of South Andaman, has stored water which will last for only five days. In spite of best efforts taken by the Administration to tide over the present water crisis, sufficient storage has not been generated in the Dhanikhari Dam even after the setting in South West monsoon. These lush green islands are facing acute water shortage, since over the last decade, nothing concrete has been done to increase the water storage capacity in these islands while the population has increased many-fold.

BARBADOS - Water shortage woes afflicting residents of St. Thomas are also tapping into businesses in that parish and surrounding areas. "The very dry spell and heavy demand have resulted in severe shortages being experienced at the three sources which feed this reservoir – Warleigh, Lodge Hill and Applewaites. There is definitely evidence of dropping water levels at some well sources." It also listed water outages to Welches, Redman's Village, Bagatelle, Arthur Seat, Sharon, Cane Garden, Melrose, Edgehill Heights and surrounding areas because of an empty Shop Hill Reservoir. Water levels were also low at the Lodge Hill, Golden Ridge and Castle Grant reservoirs. The affected reservoirs will require some time for water levels to rise and resume normal service to the affected areas.

Sunday, June 10, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."
John Muir

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/9/07 -
5.1 SIMEULUE, INDONESIA

6/8/07 -
5.0 KEPULAUAN BABAR, INDONESIA
5.1 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.0 VANUATU
5.1 OFFSHORE GUATEMALA
5.8 OFFSHORE GUATEMALA
5.1 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
5.0 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.1 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
BAHRAIN - Tidal waves caused by the Gonu cyclone that wrecked havoc in Oman earlier this week hit several fishing villages in southern and eastern Bahrain late Friday night. Rising sea water forced fishing vessels onto the streets of Jaw and Asker in southern Bahrain and covered a large portion of the sea-front area of Maamer village in eastern Bahrain, threatening homes. Police and firefighters set-up check-points on roads leading into and out of Jaw and Asker to divert motorists after seawater reached the main road. There were no reports of injuries and damages could not be assessed immediately. The country's meteorology office had earlier predicted calm weather and tidal waves of one to two feet and said that the rise in sea levels should not be a concern and was likely to continue until Sunday. The statement did not link the tidal waves to Gonu cyclone and said that none of the neighbouring countries' meteorological offices reported unusual changes in weather over the Gulf. Many roads were reopened four hours later as the water began to recede and clean-up crews began work to remove debris.

NORTH KOREA - On March 7th a tidal wave hit Soehan Bay on the West Sea, which is bounded by Cholsan, Yongcheon and Sunchon in North Pyongan, leaving two thousand flood casualties and around one hundred dead. Many were gathering sea shells, according to several sources in North Korea who said the news was released late to cover up the damage. North Korean authorities have not informed the outside world of the tidal wave. However, the South Korean government reportedly has been apprised. Flooded regions include Dosan-ri and Bosan-ri in Yongchoen, Okok-ri in Cholsan, Shinmee Island in Sunchon, with the worst suffering in Dosan-ri in Yongchoen. The damage done by the giant wave came in a flash and was worsened by the lack of weather forecasting and early warning systems.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

IRAN - Floods spawned by the remnants of Cyclone Gonu stranded dozens of tiny villages in the deserts of southern Iran on Friday, cutting off roads, power and communications and sending some residents into trees for safety. Water encircled more than 100 villages deep in Kerman Province, where many residents subsist on livestock and small farm plots in villages consisting of a handful of families. "Power and telephone lines were affected by the flood there, so we do not have any access to them for the time being." Flooding also swamped dozens of villages in neighboring Sistan and Baluchistan province. The floodwaters drove out the residents of Shahrestan village, near the port city of Chabahar. "Some of them are living in trees. Since the beginning of the storm on Wednesday we have not received any relief assistance." The cyclone has become a high-pressure system creating rainshowers and wind in southeastern Iran. The flooding had damaged roads, farms and buildings in part of the country and relief supplies were being shipped to some remote villages by helicopters. More than 1,000 villages were damaged but the full extent of damage caused by the hurricane has yet to be assessed due to difficulties communicating with the worst-hit areas.
IRAN - Flash floods caused by cyclone Gonu have killed 12 people, injured nine and trapped 40,000 others in southeastern Iran. More than 3000 livestock died in the southern port town of Jask in Hormozgan province. “40,000 villagers are trapped by water in Hormozgan province”. Cyclone Gonu bore down on Oman early on Wednesday, creating havoc and leaving at least 49 people dead and another 27 missing before veering towards Iran.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
AUSTRALIA - At least eight people have been killed by heavy storms that are continuing to lash eastern Australia. Gale-force winds and rising flood waters have forced the evacuation of hundreds of people in New South Wales. More than 130,000 homes remain without electricity near Newcastle, on the Central Coast, and in Sydney. Some 12 ships have run aground in huge seas, and there are fears that one of the vessels - a coal freighter - may break up and spill its fuel. A severe weather warning remains in place, with winds gusting up to 90km/h. The storms have been raging for three days. "This is the WORST STORM AND THE WORST DAMAGE OUR ELECTRICITY NETWORK HAS SEEN FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS." In the Newcastle suburb of Wallsend, where 200mm (almost 8 inches) of rain fell in a few hours, the state premier warned that the risk was not yet over.
AUSTRALIA - A wharf collapsed in wild weather lashing Sydney Harbour. More than a dozen vessels broke free of their moorings in high winds and torrential rain and had run aground on beaches and in bays. "More than 30 vessels have required towing since the gale-force conditions began Thursday. The Cremorne Point Wharf has also collapsed and partially sunk." The majority of problems with moorings had been at east-facing locations at Abbotsford, Mosman, Balmoral, Manly, North Harbour, Little Sirius Cove, Shell Cove and Neutral Bay. Meanwhile, Sydney ferry services remain severely disrupted.

CANADA - The North Thompson River joined other swollen streams on the B.C. government's flood watch list this week, with more rain forecast. Flood warning conditions were earlier declared on the Nass and Bulkley Rivers in northwestern B.C. and a flood watch on the Skeena. The Bulkley River at Quick has already exceeded the flow of 1948, and was also expected TO EXCEED ALL PREVIOUS LEVELS IN 77 YEARS OF RECORD-KEEPING. The Skeena river was expected to match the flow of the 1972 runoff year and it could break the 77-year record set in 1948.

TAIWAN - Three people have been killed in a landslide in Taiwan, as torrential rain pounded the island for a third straight day on Friday. Local cable TV stations showed the victims' car near the northern city of Keelung, crushed beyond recognition after rocks and mud cascaded down a hill abutting the road on which they had been travelling. Elsewhere on the island, rivers overflowed their banks, bridges collapsed and roads were flooded. Upwards of 200mm ( almost 8 inches) of rain fell on most Taiwanese reporting stations. The heavy rains were expected to continue for at least several more days.

CHINA - Rainstorms and floods have killed at least 23 people across southern China in recent days and made thousands homeless. “Millions of people are suffering.” Nearly 20,000ha of cropland were flooded and 3000 houses destroyed in the southern province of Guizhou. In Guangdong province, bordering Hong Kong, heavy rain triggered landslides killing three people and destroying 788 houses and about 1120ha of cropland. In neighbouring Guangxi, two people were killed in torrential rain that destroyed 610 homes. Storms also broke 29 reservoirs, 362 embankments, 165 roads and forced 59 factories to suspend production. China's central Hunan province was on high alert after four successive days of rain swelled the Xiangjiang river to 4.6m above the “warning level” and to its HIGHEST MARK IN 20 YEARS. Two more heavy rainstorms are forecast over the next four days. Storms in Hunan killed three people, left 158,000 homeless and cut off water supplies to 75,000. China's typhoon season is just getting under way in the south. Experts last month warned that China's Yangtze river could flood badly this year, for the first time since 1998, when floodwaters from the country's longest river killed more than 3000 people.
Violent rainstorms are plaguing nearly half of the Chinese provinces. Relentless rainfall is now in its fourth successive day in Central Hunan province, affecting more than one million people in 11 cities and counties.

MALAYSIA - Eighty-five people from 18 families at Kampung Air Panas, Setapak, here have been evacuated after a landslide Saturday night. No one was injured in the landslide which happened about 4:45pm following a heavy downpour. Two squatter houses were completely buried while two others were partially buried. Occupants of seven other houses were asked to evacuate as a precaution. (photo)

PHILIPPINES - Two teenagers were killed and 13 others injured when a landslide struck near a waterfall in the central Philippines. The victims were on an excursion at the Mangitngit falls in Carmen town in Cebu province, 585 kilometres south of Manila, when the accident occurred on Thursday. Two cousins were cooking lunch beside the falls when a portion of the mountain caved in and fell on them. Their 13 companions, most of whom were also teenagers, were hurt in the accident. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment of various injuries.

WISCONSIN - A cold front spawned more than 30 reports of tornadoes statewide on Thursday with gusty winds, hail and heavy rains. The passage of the front concluded two days of preparation for tornadoes and storms with winds approaching hurricane force by local emergency government officials. "Over the past two days the National Weather Service and Wisconsin Emergency Management sent us advisories on the potential for severe storms.This weather system was UNUSUAL in the fact that these are the types of storms you see hitting Oklahoma and Texas. They are not the type of severe storms we see up here." Tornado touchdowns were reported in Oconto, Langlade, Marathon, La Crosse, Wood and Marinette counties, while straight-line winds topped 60 miles per hour near La Crosse.

COLORADO - Wind speeds of up to 90 miles per hour were recorded across the Boulder area Wednesday night. Wednesday's high winds were the result of two pressure systems - one high pressure system in the Utah-Nevada area that met with a low pressure system from the lower Dakotas. Although high winds can occur at any time, this type of wind storm is RARE for the month of June. "This whole weather pattern is between all different weather patterns, and it's a really difficult time to explain why these things are going on.” High winds are UNUSUAL for this time of year. Early spring is the prime time for high winds.

KANSAS - The wind the past couple of days wasn't just run-of-the-mill wind. It was monster wind. It had gusts up to 55 and 60 mph, tore limbs off trees and blew Kansas dirt as far as Illinois and Wisconsin. "We could see it on our radar and satellite imagery. There was quite a bit of dust from the Texas Panhandle all the way north of here." The wind storm, which was expected to leave the state Thursday night, was RARE - even for Kansas. By comparison, the average wind storm during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s averaged only 20 to 35 mph gusts. Those storms were more destructive because of a long drought. This year, some parts of Kansas have been inundated with moisture. "Considering how wet it has been, it was [still] able to pick up dust and transport it everywhere." The winds were strong enough Wednesday to blow a semi-trailer off I-70. The winds were caused by a strong low pressure system that developed over the southwestern United States and moved east. The storm was a quirk of nature. Normally, strong wind storms occur in early spring and late fall.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - In Hampton Falls, high winds, a tornado and lightning seem to target a certain area in town officials have come to call "the weather corridor." "We have this corridor that runs right through. Everyone in there has been whacked by something. It's not just a one-time occurrence. Over the years, it's started to add up." The WEIRD WEATHER has gotten particularly noticeable in the past five years or so. "We call it scary." "When you get these weather events, they're very odd. Usually we don't get these weather events in New England. It seems like in the last five years the events have gotten stronger, more pronounced."

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT/ CLIMATE CHANGE-
U.S. - Drought, a fixture in much of the West for nearly a decade, now covers more than one-third of the continental USA. And it's spreading. As summer starts, half the nation is either abnormally dry or in outright drought from prolonged lack of rain that could lead to water shortages. Welcome rainfall last weekend from Tropical Storm Barry brought short-term relief to parts of the fire-scorched Southeast. But up to 50 inches of rain is needed to end the drought there, and this is the DRIEST SPRING IN THE SOUTHEAST SINCE RECORD-KEEPING BEGAIN IN 1895. California and Nevada just recorded their DRIEST JUNE-TO-MAY PERIOD SINCE 1924, and a lack of rain in the West could make this an especially risky summer for wildfires. Dry episodes have become so persistent in the West that some scientists and water managers say drought is the "new normal" there. In Minnesota, which is in its WORST DROUGHT SINCE 1976, the situation is improving slowly, although a wildfire last month burned dozens of houses and 115 square miles in the northeastern part of the state. The Southeast, unaccustomed to prolonged dry spells, may be suffering the most. In eight states from Mississippi to the Carolinas and down through Florida, lakes are shrinking, crops are withering, well levels are falling and there are new limits on water use. "We need 40-50 inches of rainfall to get out of the drought."

ALABAMA - Weather forecasters are calling the drought most of north Alabama is experiencing right now a “ONCE-IN-50-YEARS” EVENT. This is a history-making drought with the potential to continue through the summer. “With this type of deficit coming into May and June, it is usually tough to get much change unless we get a tropical depression coming up from the Gulf of Mexico.” Most of North Alabama is now in the “exceptional drought” category, D4, which is the worst of the five-level classification system used by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Some rivers have reached HISTORICALLY LOW STREAMFLOWS. Farm ponds are experiencing lowered levels as well, with some smaller creeks, typically having water in them after a wet spring, going dry. Some people using wells have experienced difficulty. Agriculture has been impacted, and extension agents report cotton and soybeans, fruits and vegetables and pasture lands are all being affected.

INDIA - The entire North India was left baking on Saturday with the mercury shooting up to RECORD LEVELS at many places and the sledgehammer heat wave claiming 18 more lives, pushing the death count so far this summer to 53. Sriganganagar in Rajasthan blazed at 48.9 degrees Celsius as the mercury topped 47 degrees at Hisar in Haryana and Amritsar in Punjab. Hisar sizzled at 47.9 degrees, seven notches above normal, and Amritsar at 47.8, up by eight degrees, as the heat wave seared through the region crippling normal life, with frequent power breakdowns adding to the woes of residents.

PAKISTAN - The Punjab provincial capital city witnessed the hottest day of the season, as the temperature soared to 48 degree Celsius BREAKING A 78 YEAR HEAT RECORD, while the mercury hit 50 degrees Celsius at Mianwali. The previous high temperature in the city was recorded on June 8, 1929. Other cities of Punjab also witnessed RECORD SUMMER HEAT. This spell of heat wave is expected to continue for the next two/three days.

Monitoring the saltiness of the ocean water could provide an early indicator of climate change. Significant increases or decreases in salt in key areas could forewarn of climate change in 10 to 20 years time. Scientists predicted that the waters of the southern hemisphere oceans around South Africa and New Zealand are the places to watch. Palaeoclimate data shows that the ocean's currents (like the Gulf Stream and its North Atlantic deep water partner) are capable of shifting gears very suddenly, but until now it wasn't clear how this occurred. Using a combination of modern observations, numerical models and palaeoclimate data scientists are increasingly realising that salt is the key. A build up of salty water can stimulate deep water circulation, while a diluting of the waters is linked to sluggish flow. Salt increases the density of water. Once a pocket of water becomes salty enough it sinks, drawing in additional water from surrounding areas, and initiates an ocean circulation loop called thermohaline overturning. The scientists discovered that a build up of salt in the waters off the coast of South Africa could help to speed up ocean circulation in the North Atlantic, despite the two areas being thousands of kilometres apart. Meanwhile, a decrease in saltiness in South African waters could be linked to a slowing down of the North Atlantic circulation. These changes in ocean circulation occur over very short time-scales, usually in less than a decade or two. Ocean water can't possibly travel this fast (it takes nearly a century for a parcel of water to move from the South Atlantic to the North Atlantic). Instead the scientists think that energy is transferred through the ocean along a deep pressure wave. "The surge of salt generates a pressure gradient in the ocean that sends energy to the north without water actually being transported." Regardless of whether ocean circulation speeds up or slows down it causes significant climate change, altering the hydrological cycle and affecting atmospheric circulation patterns too. Currently there is no large-scale salt monitoring system in place in the southern hemisphere oceans.

BEE DIE-OFF-
The latest information on colony collapse disorder, including a list of frequently asked questions, is available at the Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consortium Web site.

PENNSYLVANIA - Unusual weather, more than the still-mysterious condition called colony collapse disorder, appears to be the main culprit behind honeybee deaths this winter, according to several apiarists in Western Pennsylvania. A warm January tricked many queens into laying larger numbers of eggs. When February arrived, bringing with it weeks of below-freezing temperatures, the adult bees faced the challenge of keeping a bigger-than-normal "brood nest" at a toasty 95 degrees. The bees do that by flexing their wing muscles to generate body heat that keeps the center of the hive warm. One bee-keeper took apart one of his dead colonies, taking out the wooden frames on which the bees build their honeycombs. Once the adult bees had eaten the honey from the combs nearest the "brood nest," they couldn't move to the next frame because they would have left the eggs, larva and pupa exposed to the cold. "They starved to death even though there was more food just an inch away." The presence of so many dead bees in his hives was one pretty definitive sign that he was not seeing colony collapse, he said. "These are nothing like the conditions migratory beekeepers are facing." Migratory beekeepers are those who transport their hives from location to location so their bees can pollinate farm crops and orchards. It is those traveling colonies that appear to have been most heavily affected by colony collapse. In late February, however, some nonmigratory beekeepers in the Mid-Atlantic states and in the Pacific Northeast began reporting colony losses. "The bees seemed to be under a lot of stress last fall. That made them nasty. When you took the top off a colony, they would go for you."

NEW YORK - the state, the second-largest producer of apples in the country, has about 700 commercial orchards, including seven in the Lower Hudson Valley, with more than 7 million trees. The president of the New York Apple Association, issued a statement three weeks ago recognizing the "anxiety that there will not be enough bees to pollinate the crop" this year. Prices for bees have doubled in the past 10 years, and he has noticed that the trucked-in migratory bees seem weaker, creating a "lower hum than usual" among the blossoms. One keeper suspected something was wrong in January, when he noticed his bees weren't leaving their hives on the unseasonably warm days. He found four of the colonies dead inside their boxes - probably from mites, he said - but four others apparently succumbed to Colony Collapse Disorder. "The hives are full of honey and there was a queen and a few bees in there, but the rest disappeared," he said, noting that no other bees have gone near the fully stocked hive, either. Some keepers think entomologists should focus on migratory beekeepers in the efforts to curb the crisis. They say the booming business of trucking bees up and down the country every few weeks to pollinate crops has confused and weakened the insects, making them susceptible to problems they spread to nonmigratory colonies. Even without Colony Collapse Disorder, which has not yet had a significant impact on the Lower Hudson Valley, beekeepers still battle resistant mites and bacteria, as well as cheap honey flowing from China and other countries. After years of warning that commercial beekeeping practices would decimate the world's honeybee population, one man has decided to leave Rockland County in July to open a 330-acre honeybee sanctuary in southern Illinois. He said his natural methods have kept winter colony losses to a 15 percent average over 10 years, compared with the 40 percent reported by commercial beekeepers. He opposes the use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, along with taking too much honey from the hives. "The bees have been terribly exploited, trucked around, all their honey taken. It's not surprising that their immune system is breaking down rapidly," he said. "We are in serious trouble. The bee is not a being that should be commercialized."

OHIO - statewide, the honeybee die-off rate was 72 percent — and touched every county. Ohio's honeybee losses had more to do with harsh winter weather than colony collapse disorder, which has been in the news nationally and occurs when adult bees abandon the hive for unknown reasons. The CCD disorder primarily has plagued honeybee colonies trucked from Florida to California for large-scale pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. Hobby beekeepers weren't hit as hard. But the large winter die-off and increasing environmental stress still has beekeepers, fruit farmers and people who study bees worried. There's a 96- to 100-hour window when fruit blossoms are open and capable of being pollinated. "When you're growing acres and acres of fruit, you can't depend on wild pollinators. We need honeybees to pollinate the fruit on time." Colony Collapse Disorder first came to the attention of beekeepers last year, but a state beekeeping specialist said similar disorders have been described as far back as 1915. State apiarists estimate that only 5 to 6 percent of Ohio's 72 percent die-off this winter was due to colony collapse.

KENTUCKY - Last year was one of the worst years for bees ever. Bees died by the thousands during the winter, and production is down. But a longtime bee-keeper doesn’t attribute the loss to the mysterious malady that’s afflicting beekeepers across the nation. He attributes them to weather, a one-two punch of too much rain and too much heat. His theory is that last year, heavy rain washed nectar from the blooms, depriving the bees of their food supply. And the enervating heat of summer left the bees in a torpid state. Bees are like people in at least one respect. “When it’s hot, they stay in the hive and don’t work.” So the bees didn’t make enough honey for the winter. As a result they starved to death. His losses differ from those reported nationally in that the bees died in the hive. Colony collapse disorder, where the bees mostly abandon the hives, doesn’t seem to have hit Kentucky.

MINNESOTA - whatever it was that was causing bees to die has seemingly come and gone. Honey production last year in Minnesota from producers with five or more colonies was up 13 percent from the year before. However, nationwide honey production declined from 2005 by 11 percent to 155 million pounds. "We just don't have as many beekeepers anymore because of the bee health problems and just because it's harder to make a profit from it." The Agriculture Department estimates there are 139,600 to 212,000 beekeepers nationwide. Most are hobbyists with fewer than 25 hives, and about 4 percent are part-timers who keep more than 25 but less than 300 hives. Those who have reported the heaviest losses associated with CCD are large commercial migratory beekeepers, some of whom have lost 50 percent to 90 percent of their colonies. Surviving colonies are often so weak that they cannot pollinate or produce honey. "There's definitely a big difference in the concern level of a hobby beekeeper and a commercial beekeeper." There are about 1,600 commercial beekeeping operations in the United States that produce about 60 percent of the nation's honey.

BBC video about the American bee die-off.

CANADA - Stung by a winter that wiped out much of their beehive stock, Niagara beekeepers say they are slowly returning to normal levels. Many beekeepers last month reported significant losses in their bee populations. The mysterious deaths were initially blamed on colony collapse disorder, an unexplained phenomenon that killed off thousands of bees in the United States. Experts now say the cause appears to be unsettled winter weather that likely confused the dormant insects. "December was mild and it tricked a lot of bees into thinking it was spring, so they began brood rearing. When the cold spell hit in mid-January and February, it did a lot of the bee colonies in." Meanwhile, research in the U.S. suggests a virus or fungus may be responsible for the deaths south of the border. Some American beekeepers lost more than 90 per cent of their bee stocks. Decreases in bee populations have also been recorded across Europe and parts of Asia.

DISEASE THREATS -

Western U.S. - For the third time in a week, a meat supplier has expanded a ground beef recall to include about 5.7 million pounds of fresh and frozen meat because they may be contaminated with E.coli. The recall was expanded to include products with sell-by dates from April 6-April 20. The beef was distributed by California-based United Food Group LLC. None of the latest batch of suspect beef is in stores now because the product would be well past its expiration date, but consumers may still have some of the meat at home. The meat has been blamed for an E. coli outbreak in the Western states that resulted in 14 illnesses, spanning April 25 through May 18. All the patients have recovered. The recalled products were shipped to stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. They were sold under the brand names Moran's All Natural, Miller Meat Company, Stater Bros., Trader Joes Butcher Shop, Inter-American Products, Inc., and Basha's.

Friday, June 8, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
“Better to be without logic than without feeling.”
Charlotte Bronte

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/7/07 -
5.0 KYUSHU, JAPAN
5.1 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
6.1 BISMARCK SEA

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
AUSTRALIA - Huge seas beached a 40,000 tonne coal ship off the New South Wales coast today, sparking a major rescue operation in which 22 crew members airlifted off the stricken vessel in gale force winds. Two other bulk carriers issued distress calls as 10m waves dragged them towards the coast. Officials said their anchors were holding, although one was only 1km from shore. The Pasha Bulker had been anchored off the coal port of Newcastle awaiting entry when waves and gales swept it onto a reef and Nobbys Beach. "It's getting absolutely belted at the moment, it's an amazing sight, the spray coming right over the top of this huge tanker." Plans for tugs to pull the ship out to sea were abandoned because of the rough seas. Environmentalists said they feared that if the ship broke up it would spill its fuel, causing a marine disaster. The bulk carrier Sea Confidence was dragged to within about 1km of Stockton Beach, north of Newcastle. "Now they've put their engines in full thrust and are trying to go away from the coastline and the effect of that is that it's pretty much staying in the same place." The bulk carrier Bitis also issued a call for help as it was dragged towards another beach near Newcastle. Both ships had managed to secure their anchors. Officials were concerned about another ship, the Coral Emerald, being forced toward shore. “The Coral Emerald is about three nautical miles from the shore.” Ships along the coastline were trying to sail further east to avoid beachings. The bad weather, whipped up by an intense low pressure system off the coast, is expected to worsen. "The forecast is for the weather to deteriorate with seas now at 8-10m and winds of around 40 knots." Newcastle is one of Australia's largest coal export terminals but delays in loading have resulted in ships queueing some 2-3km offshore. Newcastle Port authorities said there were 58 ships anchored offshore.
SYDNEY HARBOR - Ferry and JetCat services have been suspended due to swells up to five metres high in Sydney Harbour. Severe weather is battering the NSW coast and has produced extreme sea conditions across the mouth of the harbour where the vessels travel between Manly wharf and Circular Quay. A Sydney Ferries spokesman said the high swell would make it unsafe to negotiate the route and dangerous to berth at Manly wharf. Buses have replaced ferry services between the two destinations until harbour conditions improve.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

OMAN began clearing up after it was lashed by Cyclone Gonu, which killed up to 28 people and seriously damaged the Gulf state's infrastructure. Twenty-six people were also reported missing. The fiercest storm to hit the region for 30 years forced thousands of people from their homes and left a trail of destruction along the east coast of a country unaccustomed to such violent weather. Half of those killed had drowned in flooding caused by torrential rain. In the capital Muscat, heavy-duty ploughs, dumper trucks and diggers began the mammoth task of clearing roads of the thick mud and debris deposited at the height of the storm yesterday. Gonu also killed three people in Iran, where tens of thousands of people hunkered down in shelters and officials said more than 40,000 people were evacuated from coastal areas in southern provinces to higher ground. The cyclone initially packed winds of 260km/h an hour and was the strongest to lash the Arabian peninsula since 1977.
Cyclone Gonu roared through the Omani capital of Muscat before heading north across the Gulf of Oman and hitting Iran. The postcard-perfect mountains that are the city's pride became its pain. Torrential rains poured onto the bone-dry peaks and then flowed into canyons and dry riverbeds that channeled the raging water directly into the city. Bridges collapsed. Buses were piled in the wadis, the normally dry riverbeds that course through the city. Muscat's lush palm and eucalyptus groves were blown over along with telephone and power lines. Even the normally sparkling blue sea looked like foamy chocolate milk. Residents spoke of a night of horror as turgid floodwaters ripped into their homes, carried off refrigerators and cars, and left their streets gouged by sinkholes and caked in shoals of mud.
DUBAI - Health experts have asked people to take precautions to protect themselves from the sandstorms brewing due to the unpredictable weather conditions around the Gulf region. “The weather is quite windy in the country due to the cyclone Gonu which is causing sandstorms."
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - High tides pushed sea waters over costal defenses flooding parts of Kalba - for the third day in succession on Thursday - although damage was limited to areas already evacuated. It was a calm start early in the day in Kalba, which was followed by a light drizzle at just after one in the afternoon. At the same time, rising tides once again spilt huge quantities of water on the Kalba Corniche Park, Suhaila and Khor Kalba. The damage caused the closure of the main rout linking Kalba to Fujairah meaning a long round trip for motorists through narrow unpaved back-roads. Evacuated residents, some of whom spent Wednesday in temporary shelters in local schools, were all relocated on Thursday afternoon to the Institute of Applied Technology in Fujairah. Most will be relocated again to hotel rooms and apartments in Sharjah, after all hotel spaces in Fujairah and Khor Fakkan was fully taken up by earlier evacuees.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
RUSSIA - Some of the geysers in Russia's remote Kamchatka peninsula have reappeared four days after a mudslide put them out. “Nature will heal its own wounds and come to life once again.” Kamchatka, a 1250km long peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk, is one of five places in the world where geysers - springs ejecting hot water and steam into the air - can be found. There were about 90 active geysers in the valley. The level of water in the valley has gone down by 12m and the site remains closed to tourists. The mud slide destroyed deposits of siliceous sinter, or geyserite, a rare stone that takes many years to form. The geyserite cements the rock around the geyser and prevents erosion.

VIETNAM - a tornado has devastated several villages in northern Vietnam, killing one person, injuring five others and levelling more than 70 buildings. The 40m tall whirlwind completely destroyed 57 houses and 19 workshops yesterday when it ripped through Hung Ha district of Thai Binh province, causing damage in five communes. "This is THE FIERCEST TORNADO HITTING THE DISTRICT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS." The tornado lasted about 30 minutes. Climate experts predict that global warming will bring more severe weather events to Vietnam, which has a 3200km South China Sea coastline and suffers scores of typhoons and tornados every year.

SOUTH AFRICA - From midnight to the afternoon of Wednesday 6 June, Joburg experienced its WETTEST WINTER DAY IN 44 YEARS – 25mm. The last time the city saw that much rain in June was in 1963 – on 12 June. While winter rainfall was not unusual, the amount certainly was.

ILLINOIS - An UNUSUAL storm was developing in central Iowa around noon Thursday and expected to arrive in Lincoln late last night. "We've got a storm system coming out of the northern plains with a pretty impressive wind field out in front of it. It's sort of an UNSUAL SYSTEM for early June. It's more characteristic of an April storm." Another peculiarity of the April-like storm in June is that the cold front passing through the region and stirring up the winds isn't very cold. High temperatures are forecast in the low 90s.

CANADA - Flood waters in northwestern British Columbia that shut down key roads could leave many people cut off from the rest of the province for up to five more days. While flood threats have eased in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver, main rail lines and major highways through the north have been washed out, cutting off Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitimat and a number of smaller communities such as Telegraph Creek and two Nisga'a communities. Until the river levels drop — expected Sunday at the earliest — the main roads will not be passable. Supplies of food and gas may soon run short, and it is already the case in Prince Rupert. The flooding is due in part to the rapid melting of the winter's record snowfall, combined with soaring temperatures last weekend and heavy rains that followed.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
CANADA - It has been ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE WEATHER YEARS ON RECORD in Toronto, with unheard of mild conditions in January, one of the most bitterly cold Februarys in recent memory and a strange back and forth spring that's seen conditions blow hot and cold. At this rate, summer should prove interesting when it officially begins June 21st. Consider what they've been through this last week alone. On Friday, they were mired in a heat alert and a smog advisory. By Tuesday, some residents had their jackets and even gloves out, as an Arctic front passed through, leaving the city windy and cold with a RARE risk of June frost. And on Thursday the coaster was back on the upswing - but only for a day. By today, temperatures are expected to hit 31C, with another hot and sticky air mass that will completely melt those memories of that one cold Tuesday. And even that won't last. A cold front that moves in late at night is expected to trigger some potentially violent thunderstorms and deflate temperatures again, but this time to a more normal level of around 21C on Saturday.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-RECALLED - Action Labs, Inc. of Anaheim, CA, is recalling its Sentinel brand Shark Cartilage Capsules manufactured in 2005 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The Shark Cartilage Capsules were distributed to retail establishments in Southern California and internationally to Hong Kong.
-RECALLED - Doane Pet is recalling a specific single lot of 55 pound bonus bags of Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition dry dog food. This product was produced at one facility in Manassas, VA and was distributed exclusively by some Wal-Mart Stores. This recall is not related to the Menu Foods recall (and other recent recalls) of pet food due to tainted Chinese vegetable proteins. This product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Thursday, June 7, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
“It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.”
-Voltaire-

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/6/07 -
5.1 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION
5.9 BANDA SEA
5.1 KYRGYZSTAN

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - Thousands of people fled their homes in panic on the Indonesian coast after hoax SMS messages warned them a tsunami will hit the region. "The possibility is that a tsunami may take place on June 7," said part of a short telephone text message (SMS) that is widely circulating in various coastal areas of Nusa Tenggara province. A check of several coastal districts in the province showed that thousands had left their homes on the coast in at least three districts to flee to higher grounds since yesterday. "Rumours are running strong in the district that a tsunami will strike the region on June 7." The regional meteorology and geophysics office said that the SMS warning did not come from their office. "Earthquakes and tsunami cannot be predicted and we have not issued such warning." However, most residents refused to return to their coastal home fearing the rumour could come true. A false tsunami alarm on Monday sparked a general panic in the capital of Indonesia's Aceh province, causing thousands of people to frantically scamper to higher ground.
INDONESIA - Angry residents in Indonesia's Aceh have disabled a tsunami warning system after the false alarm spread panic in a province still traumatised by the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Residents cut power to a siren on a tsunami warning tower in the Lhoknga area near the provincial capital Banda Aceh by smashing an electricity box. A technical glitch prompted the siren to ring for about 30 minutes in Aceh Besar district on Monday, sending residents rushing out of their homes in panic. In the wake of the 2004 tsunami, Indonesian officials have come under pressure to bring in a network of warning systems, but many vulnerable areas in the huge developing country remain excluded. There have also been frequent technical glitches with the systems in place.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone GONU was 467 nmi W of Karachi, Pakistan.

OMAN - Twelve people were killed when Cyclone Gonu struck the Gulf country of Oman. The storm was the strongest to hit the Gulf for decades, damaging buildings and trees in Oman's capital, Muscat, and leaving many roads flooded. High winds and heavy rain were also reported, and electricity and water supplies were interrupted. The cyclone has carried on north-west, gradually weakening as it approaches the Iranian coast. Residents along the coast of southern Iran have moved to higher ground and sought shelter in schools and mosques. The Iranian town of Jask has reported high winds, heavy rain and overflowing rivers.
IRAN - Cyclone Gonu has left 3 people dead in Iran. The three people were killed in Iran's southern port of Bandar-e Jask when a river overflowing as a result of Cyclone Gonu caused their vehicle to overturn. News of the deaths came as tens of thousands of Iranians gathered in shelters to await a second onslaught of ferocious winds and driving rains. State media said that the severity of the storm in Chahbahar and Konark, around 100 kilometres from the border with Pakistan, was UNPRECEDENTED IN THE LAST 30 YEARS and water levels were still rising.
PAKISTAN told fishermen in the country’s southwest to stay ashore during the next 24 hours as one of the strongest cyclones in years damaged boats and buildings. In Pakistan, rough seas have already damaged dozens of fishing boats in southwestern Baluchistan province, especially near a multi-million-dollar Chinese-funded deep sea port at Gwadar. "The sea conditions are likely to become very rough.” Strong winds had damaged more than 100 fishing boats anchored at the Arabian Sea port at Gwadar and partially damaged a school building and a private house further inland.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Hundreds of people were forced to evacuate Fujairah's popular seaside resorts yesterday as Cyclone Gonu edged closer to the UAE's east coast. As the storm battered Muscat, in Oman, high winds, huge tides and torrential rain led to authorities evacuating residents in areas of Fujairah and Kalba - bussing them to temporary refuge centres at a number of local schools. And along the seafront, holidaymakers from hotels were evacuated and relocated further west as police closed key roads along the coast, while authorities urged residents to stay calm but avoid unnecessary trips to coastal areas. A member of staff at Sandy Beach Hotel and Resort, Fujairah, said: “It's very frightening now. Our beach has disappeared and the tide has reached the swimming pool. Our customers have all left. We have no idea what will happen or when.” One resident of Kalba who was trapped by flooded roads and prevented from reaching his home spoke of his fear as the cyclone approached. Hundreds living in the path of the storm were advised to evacuate immediately after violent waves destroyed sheds and huts located at the edge of the beach area. The worst of the weather for the east coast of the UAE is yet to come and likely to arrive later today: “The forecast suggests the eye of the storm will pass the east coast of the UAE tonight but these things are a law unto themselves - they can suddenly veer off course or move round in circles. It has slowed down, and while the predicted track has moved slightly more to the west, so far things are pretty much as predicted. It's a case of watching and waiting.” Dubai is likely to see an increase in high cloud and winds today with a risk of some thunderstorms as the cyclone moves closer to the UAE. Fishermen in Kalba saw several of their boats destroyed due to the impact of the waves. Dozens of fishermen were seen risking their lives by entering the water to pull out their boats. “We knew this was coming and we had tied up all our boats. But the impact was so strong that the anchors broke off. Many of us have losses worth thousands due to this cyclone."

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
IOWA is tracking a potent storm system that could bring severe weather to the region today. Damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes are all possible this afternoon into the evening. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities took an UNUSUAL step Wednesday, holding a press conference in anticipation of a severe weather outbreak. The strom system could be similar to one in June 1998, which caused widespread damage. Winds of 100 miles an hour were reported with that storm.

TAJIKISTAN - A landslide killed three people in southern Tajikistan. Two women and one man were "buried alive" in the landslide on Tuesday, caused by heavy rains in the southern Kabodiyon region. The landslide damaged houses and water pipes in several villages some 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from the capital.

SPACE WEATHER -
A METEOR has left a bullet-sized hole in a module of the International Space Station, but the three-person US-Russian team of astronauts inside are not in danger. The puncture, in an outer pumping component on the module, was detected in the Russia "Zaria" module of the station during a spacewalk by the two Russian cosmonauts on board. It was the first time a meteor hole had been found on a module of the ISS. Several holes have been observed on the big solar panels that spread out from the orbiter. The module itself was not punctured. Photos of the hole have been sent back to Earth for study. Space debris, either natural or from parts of rockets and satellites, represent a serious danger to the ISS and its occupants.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-RECALLED - Toby's Family Foods is recalling Toby's Lite Sour Crème and Toby's Toasted Sesame Dressing because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products were distributed primarily in Oregon, as well as Washington and California, through natural food and specialty retailers.

BIRD FLU - Officials from Indonesia's avian flu commission said Wednesday that the H5N1 avian influenza virus may have mutated in a way that makes it more transmissible from birds to humans, but a World Health Organization official said the WHO had seen no evidence of such a change. Indonesia's National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Influenza Preparedness told reporters that in the past, human infections required high-intensity and high-density exposure to the H5N1 virus. "There are now suspicions that this [infection] has become easier," although a mutation has not been confirmed yet. The suspicions are based on preliminary results of genetic tests at laboratories in Indonesia. The amino acid structure of poultry H5N1 samples is becoming increasingly similar to that seen in human H5N1 samples. WHO has received just three Indonesian H5N1 samples, gathered from two patients, this year. Indonesia withheld H5N1 samples from the WHO for about 5 months, starting last December, as a protest against the country's lack of access to pandemic vaccines and other pandemic medications. In mid-May, during the WHO's annual meeting in Geneva, the country's health minister announced that Indonesia had resumed sending samples to the agency. The suspected changes in the virus show how important it is for Indonesia to share its samples with the global community. "These must be confirmed and the world must be forewarned if there has been such an important change. If there is such a change, it would not only mean that the virus can jump more easily from bird to man, but from human to human, too."

Wednesday, June 6, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
“An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation,
nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.”
Mahatma Gandhi

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/5/07 -
5.1 KEPULAUAN BARAT DAYA, INDONESIA
5.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.6 VANUATU
5.1 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
PAKISTAN - coastal areas in Thatta went into a rain spell, and the fishermen have anchored their boats on the shores due to high tides in the sea. According to the details, Jati, Keti Bandar, Kharo Chan, Shah Bandar, Karo Ghungro, Zero Point and other areas were witnessing a rain spell that has let loose a torrential situation in the high seas, leaving the fishermen localities near the seaside shivering in fear and panic.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone GONU was 406 nmi WSW of Karachi, Pakistan.

OMAN - Thousands of people fled as the STRONGEST CYCLONE TO THREATEN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA IN 60 YEARS, SINCE RECORD-KEEPING STARTED IN 1945, blasted Oman's eastern coast with strong winds. Cyclone Gonu, which had been churning northwest through the Indian Ocean, reached the Omani coastal towns of Sur and Ra's al-Hadd early Wednesday and was dropping heavy rains on the capital, Muscat, and other nearby towns. The cyclone was packing winds of up to 260 kph and churning up ocean waves of more than a meter, but it was not known if the storm was causing any immediate damage. The cyclone is expected to move north across the Persian Gulf to Iran's southeastern coast. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected. (photo)
Super cyclone Gonu approached the Arabian Peninsula with winds reaching an estimated 250 kilometers per hour and torrential rain. The Gulf states in its path weathered the storm with alerts and preparedness on a war footing. The intensity of the storm was likely to recede considerably in the event that Gonu reaches the Eastern Province. Oman was predicted to receive up to 150mm of rain within 24 hours and the storm surge associated with the cyclone might raise the sea level by as much as 10 meters. The coast of the emirate of Fujairah was battered yesterday as Gonu passed the area by late evening. No casualties were reported. Hundreds of onlookers, eager to see the huge waves, were present on the beaches of Fujairah, Kalba, Khorfakkan, Bidya, Giraya and Mirbah. Authorities have taken all measures to meet any emergency situations and a fleet of ambulances and emergency vehicles is ready in the coastal areas. The storm has weakened very slightly over the past 24 hours but maintained wind speeds of well over 200 km. “Over the last 12 to 24 hours, (June 4 - 5) the storm has indicated a slight move northward. If this is the case, we expect it to reach Iran about midnight UK time Thursday (3 a.m. Friday local).” Cyclonic storms are common during a short season and generally form in the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining central Arabian Sea in the months of May, October, November and December. Few reach land. If the cyclone reaches the deserts of the southwestern Arabian Peninsula, its energy source — derived from the combination of latent heat, condensation and warm water — will be deprived of water. The evaporation of moisture, which is accelerated by the high winds and reduced atmospheric pressure in the storm, results in a positive feedback loop. As a result, when a tropical cyclone passes over land — and especially in this case, desert — its strength diminishes rapidly and it fizzles out.
IRAN - Authorities evacuated hundreds of residents of the Iranian port of Chabahr on the Coast of Oman Sea. Iran's meteorological department warned people in other coastal areas and islands in the Oman Sea and Strait of Hormuz to keep their distance from the waters and avoid any sea transport. It also said that height of the waves would reach to 5.5 meters (18 feet), a RARE RECORD in the area. No deaths had been reported by midmorning Wednesday across Oman or its capital, Muscat, where visibility was near-zero at midmorning. Rains had subsided slightly earlier Wednesday but had intensified again by midmorning and were expected to remain strong through midafternoon. Electricity was out in some parts of the city and many roads were closed, but Omani officials said most of the country's oilfields, to the northwest of the capital, were still operating. The storm had weakened considerably since Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds of about 90 miles per hour (145 kph) were reported with gusts to nearly 104 miles per hour (167 kph). Oman's eastern provinces were cut off, with heavy rains making the roads unusable and communication lines severed. On Tuesday, as the cyclone approached, authorities evacuated nearly 7,000 people from Masirah, a lowland island off the east coast of Oman. Masirah Island includes one of four air bases that the Omani government allows the US military to use for refueling, logistics and storage. The Masirah base hosted US B-1B bombers, C-130 transports and US Special Forces AC-130 gunships during the war in Afghanistan.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
OREGON - Central Oregon's wacky weather thermostat took an about-turn Tuesday as daytime temperatures nose-dived to the 40s and 50s - off 40 or so degrees in just a few days. RECORD-BREAKING RAIN fell across the High Desert Monday evening. Bend recorded .80 of an inch of moisture in the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, smashing the old June 5 record of .60 of an inch, set back in 1988. Madras had three-quarters of an inch, breaking a 10-year-old record for the day, but that paled to Prineville's 1.31 inches, more than double the .62 of an inch record also set in 1997.

LOUISIANA - RECORD RAIN fell in Iberia Parish Monday, pushing precipitation totals above normal for this time of year. The Acadiana Regional Airport received 2.58 inches of rain on Monday. The amount was the most that has fallen at the airport on June 4 SINCE THE WEATHER SERVICE BEGAN KEEPING RECORDS IN 1948. The rainfall also continued a trend of rainy days in New Iberia. More than 7.5 inches have fallen since May 22, and there have been only two days in that span in which no rain was recorded. The record rainfall was mild compared to weather in other parts of South Louisiana on Monday. Hurricane-strength wind gusts and golf-ball sized hail hammered Lake Charles, and more than a foot of rain was recorded in parts of Vermilion Parish.

ALASKA - This May, Kodiakans experienced only eight days without rain. May 22 was a record day for THE MOST RAINFALL ON A SINGLE DAY FOR MAY with 2.7 inches, also the WINDIEST DAY OF THE MONTH as 35 mph winds pummeled the city. Two days later, May 24, another heavy rainfall dropped 1.65 inches. April too, was rainy, THE RAINIEST APRIL IN KODIAK ON RECORD, with 12.57 inches. Normal rainfall for that month is 5.48 inches. There is not likely to be a change in the weather since the jet stream looks to be fairly set in a stable pattern. The jet stream guides storm tracks and the seasonal pattern appears to have normalized. In May, there is usually a transition between the winter and summer months, bringing different weather conditions in and out. “If June rains continue at this rate, we will blow 2006 records out of the water.” Already, more than an inch of rain has fallen in June. Normal rainfall for the entire month is 5.38 inches.

CANADA - Flood waters in northern B.C. have triggered evacuation alerts and closed major highways and rail lines. Heavy flooding triggered evacuation orders on Tuesday for dozens of homes in northern British Columbia. Residents of 26 homes in Smithers in northwest B.C. and 10 residences in Prince George in north-central B.C. were told to leave because of rising waters from the swollen Bulkley, Fraser and Nechako rivers. At least 30 homes have been flooded in low-lying areas around Terrace. People living in 260 homes in the area have been issued evacuation alerts, and alerts have also been issued for more than 1,000 people in Langley and Maple Ridge near Vancouver. Highway 16 was closed between Terrace and Port Edward, near Prince Rupert, virtually cutting off Terrace. The road is also closed 37 kilometres east of Terrace, the site of last week's rockslide. Further north, Telegraph Creek Road was washed out by flooding, leaving 300 residents of that area cut off. Many roads and back roads have already been washed out in the area, including 25 kilometres of the Nisga'a Highway between Canyon City and Greenville. Officials say that by the weekend, the upper Fraser COULD REACH ITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE THEY BEGAN MEASURING BACK IN THE 1950s. The flooding in northwestern B.C. has made the Prince George-Prince Rupert rail line impassable.
Officials have found a pickup truck buried by the massive rock and mudslide that closed Highway 16 near Terrace in northwestern B.C. last week. The Legate Creek slide, which was up to 10 metres deep, rumbled down over the two-lane road on May 28. At the time, officials said they believed no one had been trapped by the wall of muck. But that changed when a couple were reported overdue by relatives. (photo)

SNOW / COLD -
PERU - At least 52 children had been killed by the cold wave that has hit central and south Peru in the past few days. Severe respiratory disease and pneumonia were the main cause of the deaths. The children killed were mainly from the families of poor herdsmen living in mountainous areas. The worst-hit was the Puno province, where 42,000 people got respiratory disease, 391 people caught pneumonia and 18 children died. Although it is now autumn in Peru, the temperature in some mountainous regions fell to below minus 16 degree celsius. The cold also killed livestock in the stricken areas.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
Rapid urban growth combined with the effects of climate change will cause more and bigger disasters unless the world better prepares itself for them, senior UN officials said on Tuesday. People living in the slums of large cities where millions exist very close together and rescue services are poorly prepared, face particular risks. Mega-cities such as Mexico City, Mexico, and New Delhi and Calcutta in India, are prone to severe earthquakes, while New York is at risk of dangerous flooding and tsunamis. Jakarta, Indonesia; Tokyo; Shanghai, China; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Mumbai, India, are threatened by both quakes and floods. With the number of people living in cities predicted to overtake those in rural areas this year, the potential for huge disasters was growing. “You could have catastrophes of a scale you have not seen so far." Climate change, in particular sea-level rise, will inevitably increase the number and intensity of dangerous weather conditions threatening large cities. “Climate change is already a reality and we’re only going to - in the best of circumstances - be reducing its impact. Whatever carbon emissions reduction measures are taken now, we will still face virtually the same problems for the next 30,40, 50 years."

HEALTH THREATS -
Pine needles may have lead to a rare infection - The Wisconsin health department says a large pile of pine needles at a yard waste site is the likely source of a rare fungal infection that led to the death of a 16-year-old girl and sickened 20 others last year. It was likely the largest urban outbreak in the country. The teenaged girl died February 14th of last year from the fungal infection. She lived next door to the waste site. Thirteen of the people who got sick lived within a half-mile of the yard waste site and three others had almost daily exposure to it. 9 months of drought in early 2005 followed by rain in the fall might have created an environment for the fungus to grow in the pile of pine needles and release spores.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic.
Josef Stalin

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/4/07 -
5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.1 GUAM REGION
5.0 FIJI REGION
5.2 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - A tsunami siren went off accidentally in Indonesia's Aceh yesterday, sending residents rushing out of their homes in panic.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone GONU was 341 nmi SW of Karachi, Pakistan.

Tropical cyclone Gonu is now category 5 with 40 ft. waves. Winds were sustained near 160 mph and movement was to the northwest at around 12 mph. Gonu is expected to be near the northeastern tip of Oman late Wednesday. It should be somewhat weaker by then with maximum sustained winds down to 115 mph, but still equivalent to a category three hurricane. After that, the cyclone is forecast to swirl northeastward along the northern coast of Oman and move into the Gulf of Oman as a tropical storm. While tropical storms have hit Oman in the past, they are RARE, and there is no record of a hurricane-strength cyclone striking the country. The last tropical storm to smack the nation was in June 1996.
OMAN has evacuated 7000 people from coastal areas. Residents of the island of Masirah in the Arabian Sea as well as of Oman's eastern coastline have sought refuge on higher ground after meteorologists warned that the storm was expected to make landfall in the next 30 hours. The cyclone originated in the Arabian Sea and is moving at a rate of seven to 10km/h. The storm was expected to be accompanied by high waves as well as heavy rains.
Gonu is UNUSUALLY POWERFUL and UNUSUALLY FAR TO THE NORTHWEST. The first land in the path of Gonu, as it was moving on Monday, would be easternmost Oman. Extreme, UNUSUAL weather in UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to at least Al Ahsa and the southern/middle Najd (Riyadh) cannot be ruled out. (satellite photo) Gonu is THE FIRST EVER CATEGORY-5 STORM OVER THE ARABIAN SEA. Gonu dominates the flow of weather throughout South Asia at this time. The potential for RARE June rains over a wide area of eastern and northeast Arabia is at hand, and Gonu moisture could breed torrential thunderstorms triggering flash flooding at a time when blistering sunshine is more typically the norm.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
NEW YORK - New York City received 4.65 inches of rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, as measured at Central Park - 1.62 inches Sunday and 3.03 inches Monday. The amount measured Monday set A NEW DAILY RECORD, topping the old mark of 2.75 inches set in 2003.

NORTH DAKOTA - the Red River is expected to crest about 34 feet on Friday. That's a RECORD SEVENTH CREST IN A SINGLE SEASON. Flood level is 17 feet. The Govenor has declared a flood emergency for the Red River Valley. In Fargo the Mayor has declared a state of emergency as the city prepares for flooding.

MINNESOTA - RECORD RAIN over the weekend has put northwestern area communities into alert mode. In Fergus Falls, Saturday brought 5.47 inches of rain in the area, MORE THAN ON ANY DAY IDURING AT LEAST THE LAST 10 YEARS. Farmers are hopeful that planting can be completed, but it will be late. Wet fields are also hindering other work, such as spraying weeds and cutting the first crop of hay.

WISCONSIN - 124-YEAR-OLD WEATHER RECORD WAS SHATTERED Sunday in Madison, when an early evening cloudburst on Dane County's east side dumped three inches of rain at the airport. The total rainfall Sunday in Madison was 3.06 inches, eclipsing the old record of 2.4 inches for June 3, set in 1883. Coupled with rains earlier in the weekend plus a heavy downpour this morning, Madison has already received the average rainfall, 4.05 inches, for the entire month of June. Severe weather rolled through Wisconsin Sunday, causing multiple tornadoes in Grant County in far southwestern Wisconsin, but there were few reports of damage, only a couple of farm shed roofs blown off and some trees down.

KANSAS - RECORD PRECIPITATION pushed Hutchinson's annual total rainfall far past the norm, dumping a deluge that was almost double the normal amount received during the first five months of the year. Normal rainfall year to date is 10.74 inches, however, the heavy rains the past month pushed Hutchinson's rainfall total to 20.69 inches of rain since January. Hutchinson's average rainfall for May is 4.50 inches. But this May, 13.70 inches of rain was recorded at the Hutchinson Airport. This BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD of 12.5 inches in 1995. Two miles east of Hutchinson, rainfall for May averages 3.99 inches, based on a 50-year average. This May, that same location recorded 15.74 inches of rainfall, a nearly 400 percent increase. In Great Bend, where May precipitation is normally 3.92 inches, the 1995 record of 9.69 inches in May was broken when the town received 12.57 inches of rain. Kanopolis Reservoir also broke a 1995 record of 10.43 inches of rain, receiving 11.58 inches last month. This was a 273 percent increase from the norm for May of 4.24 inches.

BAHAMAS - a FREAK wind storm believed to be a tornado hit the area on Saturday. Several eyewitnesses reported being amazed and others horrified at the giant funnel of cloud and wind gathering low in the sky. The storm touched down shortly after 9:00 a.m., leaving three Lewis Yard families homeless in its wake. One person explained that she felt as though she was sitting through a "mini hurricane" because of the heavy rain, strong winds, "and because we live near the water, the waves, when it crashed up on land, made a very loud noise." The tornado was also the cause of a massive power outage on Saturday. The overcast sky and adverse weather condition that covered much of the island over the weekend is said to be the result of feeder band activity trailing tropical storm Barry as it moved northwest across northern Florida.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
NEW ZEALAND has just bathed in the WARMEST MAY IN MORE THAN 140 YEARS of temperature measurements. Most of the nation also experienced the DRIEST MAY ON RECORD and enjoyed more sun than the average autumn. And scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research say there is little sign of a cold snap in the next couple of months. The mercury was prevented from dropping by warmer than normal seas to the west of New Zealand and anticyclones to the east producing warm north westerlies over the country. The unusual spell has been mirrored across the Tasman, with Australia RECORDING ITS EQUAL WARMEST MAY ON RECORD, at 2C above normal.

JAPAN - The Meteorological Agency plans to establish by the end of June an organization to analyze the causes of abnormal weather in the wake of climactic phenomena such as heat waves and heavy snow in recent years, that have impacted on society and the economy. The new organization plans to invite the country's top experts to make mid- and long-term predictions relating to abnormal weather and announce their forecasts swiftly, similar in style to the Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction. The organization will comprise 10 experts, including university professors of oceanic circulation, tropical meteorology and other relevant sciences. When unusual weather occurs or is predicted, the organization's members will analyze the climate in relation to global atmospheric activity, global warming and other phenomena. The agency will exchange information through e-mail and other channels so it can have members examine abnormalities as quickly as possible. The agency will then issue predictions on the likely impact and time frame of the abnormal weather. As abnormal weather is caused by many complex factors, even the agency has difficulty determining the cause of certain conditions. "We'd like to offer reliable information to help municipal officials in charge of disaster prevention take rapid measures."

Monday, June 4, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/3/07 -
5.0 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.1 LUZON, PHILIPPINES

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Emergency Management reports a 1.4 intensity earthquake hit at 10:30 p.m., and was centered about a mile and a half north of Exeter, in the state's Seacoast area. At the same time, and also a couple of hours earlier, police in Portsmouth received numerous calls from residents reporting they had heard explosions. "Some of the residents reported that the concussions almost knocked off pictures from their walls." No source for the explosions was found after either series of calls. Then, around 12:45 a.m., Portsmouth police reported finding UNUSUAL levels of methane gas escaping from the ground. Crews were digging holes to vent the underground gases. Police say they don't know for sure if the explosive sounds were from an earthquake or underground gas explosions or both. They also are looking into whether the possible explosions actually triggered the earthquake monitoring devices. Authorities were trying to figure out just what happened. There were no reports of injuries.
Officials said the local gas company and Portsmouth's Department of Public Works have insured that there are no underground fires. Authorities said methane gas can form underground over time from decaying peat bogs or from other natural phenomena. The gasses can build up over time and if something ignites them, such as lightning, explosions or fires can occur. Officials said they continue to investigate.
According to the New England Seismic Network of Boston College, there were two quakes in that area Saturday night, one that registered a 1.9 on the Richter Scale and another that registered 1.4. Three to four earthquakes a year are recorded in the state. A 1.8 quake occurred in the Concord area on May 19.

CHINA - Three people have now died and at least 300 injured, after a strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck southwest China's Yunnan Province on Sunday at 5:34 a.m.local time. Twenty seriously injured people were transferred to the city's hospitals. Around 186,000 people in 35,000 households have been affected by the quake and over 120,000 residents were evacuated.

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
MALDIVES - high tidal swells and flooding that affected nearly 50% of all the populated islands two weeks ago, also affected the islands on Saturday and Sunday, June 2 & 3. They are yet another harrowing reminder that the Maldives remain highly vulnerable to the elements and to the effects of climate change. Without timely international action, the dangers for the Maldives could very well be doubled. The country is still recovering from the devastating effects of the 2004 tsunami, and the current high swells and flooding have placed additional burdens on the enormous task of post-tsunami recovery and reconstruction.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone GONU was 387 nmi SSW of Karachi, Pakistan.

Cyclone Gonu continues to track toward the southeast coast of Oman.Several forecast models depict a slightly more northward track that would take the system into the Gulf of Oman.

Tropical Storm Barry and its remnants gave a much-needed soaking to thousands of acres of burning swamp and timberland in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia. Though Saturday's rainfall — as much as six inches (15.2 centimeters) in some spots — was a tremendous help, it's still a live fire. "Contained does not mean controlled, and it does not mean extinguished." The fire, which crews have battled for more than a month, is now about 85 percent contained. Barry weakened to a depression Saturday morning.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
UGANDA - One landslide killed two children and another destroyed crops in Bukhone village in Buluchekhe sub-county. The residents had expected the worst landslides to occur at the climax of the second rainy season in August and September. They appealed to the Government to facilitate the evacuation of more than 400 families in Buluchekhe sub-county and avail them with relief items. Bufuma parish in Bumayoka sub-county, Makusi and Buraba hills, both close to Mt. Elgon National Park, also need urgent attention. “These parishes experience landslides daily.” Cracks in the ground in various areas are signs of incoming landslides.

RUSSIA - A powerful mudslide destroyed a world famous geyser valley in the remote Kamchatka peninsula in Russia's Far East. The first television footage from the hard-to-reach area showed the valley flooded with grey melting snow, mud, fallen trees and stones. No plumes of white steam from geysers - a sight widely known from pictures - could be seen. 25 tourists were evacuated. "The valley has changed beyond recognition. It is a great shock for all of us." Kamchatka, a 1250km-long peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk, is one of five places in the world where geysers - springs ejecting hot water and steam into the air - can be found. There were about 90 geysers in the valley. "The biggest springs may still come through the debris but most of the others are probably lost forever." The slide also destroyed deposits of siliceous sinter, or geyserite, a rare stone that takes many years to form. The geyserite cements the rock around the geyser and prevents erosion. "Even a smallest dent in geyserite deposits in the geyser's crater can change the eruption's character." About 3000 tourists come to the geyser valley every year. Scientists said UNUSUALLY warm weather in Kamchatka could have caused the slide. The torrent has also blocked the Geisernaya river and the water breaking through the dam could cause more damage in the valley. There is no road leading to the valley.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
INDIA - As the mercury soared to unbearable levels across the North India Sunday, people mostly remained indoors to escape from the scorching sun. Ten persons died due to torrid heat in Uttar Pradesh, as Lucknow experienced the summer's hottest day with mercury soaring to 44.6 degree Celsius, raising the death toll since the onset of summer to 22. Three heat-related deaths had been reported from Kanpur since Saturday, two each from Varanasi and Kaushambi and one each from Banda, Chitrakoot and Orai districts. Varanasi also witnessed the hottest day this summer, BREAKING A 10-YEAR RECORD with 46.2 degrees. It was also the hottest place in the entire North India.

NEW JERSEY - Their lingering winter ended abruptly toward the end of an UNUSUALLY wet and cold April, catapulting them directly into a wave of summery warmth. Arriving late, spring 2007 arrived in a rush. Practically overnight, the trees sprung into leaf, the tulips popped open and the lilacs of midseason arrived without waiting for daffodils delayed by bad weather to have their moment on nature's stage. "Everthing's been completely out of whack. I still have early irises blooming, the peonies are just starting and already the summer phlox are ready to flower. The erratic weather threw off a lot of plants - some are far ahead and some are lagging behind." The spastic two-step in the landscape mirrors the erratic temperature swings that made May unpredictable. Although the month was mild overall, with temperatures running 2 degrees above the expected, there were notable highs and lows. The erratic weather patterns and earlier heat are the shape of things to come, say experts who study climate change. "The climate is gradually getting warmer here as in the rest of the world. In the future it will get warmer sooner, the plants will bloom sooner and the pests will arrive sooner." According to a study released in 2005, spring has leapt forward by nearly 10 days in the last 30 years. The research looked at 130 species of birds, animals, trees and other plants seeking evidence of changes in early spring behavior. This year, April showers did bring abundant May flowers. But the moisture of the wettest April in 113 years didn't linger long in the sandy, fast-draining soils of the state's southern half.

Sunday, June 3, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.
Chinese Proverb

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
6/2/07 -
5.7 YUNNAN, CHINA
5.0 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.

6/1/07 -
5.5 BISMARCK SEA
5.0 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 SOUTH OF KERMADEC ISLANDS
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA

CHINA - Two people are reported dead and 70 injured after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 hit the south-western Chinese province on Yunnan. The epicentre was in the city of Pu'er, and thousands are now being evacuated from the region, which is near the border with Laos and Burma. Some buildings collapsed, and communications are difficult. The earthquake occurred at 0534 (2134 GMT Saturday), and was followed by three or four aftershocks. "We estimate 120,000 people will have to be evacuated." About 30,000 people live in the old city of Pu'er, and tremors were felt up to 200km (120 miles) away.

VOLCANOES -
INDIA - A lava-like substance was found after a minor fire broke out in barren land at Chhegaon Makhan village, officials said Saturday. "The fire was about three feet high and emerged near Indra Colony last night. About one-and-a-half kg of the lava-like substance was found accumulated at one spot. The substance created holes in a radius of roughly 5 m. The incident terrified people. The area is in Pandhana tehsil where plate tectonic incidents have taken place earlier." The Madhya Pradesh Council of Science and Technology former Director-General said that the substance ought to be analysed as Pandhana is in the Narmada Fault zone. "Scientists' opinions are being sought."

RUSSIA - Klyuchevskoy Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula has been blasting ash into the sky and burbling lava down its flanks, producing a well-monitored hazard to air traffic along the North Pacific Rim. Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory say the "explosive-effusive eruption" has slightly eased this week, but another blast could send ash more than five miles high at any time. Klyuchevskoy is one of 29 very active Kamchatka Penisula cones. (photos)

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression BARBARA was 109 nmi WNW of Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Tropical depression BARRY was 101 nmi W of Melbourne, Florida.
Tropical cyclone GONU was 412 nmi WSW of Bombay, India.

Tropical Storm Barry was headed to north Florida on Saturday and a tropical storm warning remained in effect for a stretch of the state's northwestern coast. The storm was centered about 240 miles southwest of Tampa and about 160 miles west of Key West at about 2 a.m. It had sustained winds near 50 mph and was moving north northeast near 10 mph. Forecasters expected Barry to continue the same path and increase speed over the next day, but a slight decrease in strength was anticipated before the storm's possible landfall. "We're not looking for a hurricane." Barry threatens to bring dangerous battering waves, coastal flooding of up to 5 feet and rainfall of three to six inches in the Florida Keys up through southeast Georgia. Tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 90 miles.

Tropical Storm Barbara made landfall today near the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Guatemala, lashing coffee and sugar-growing regions with wind and rain but not causing any injuries or major damage. Barbara was located just southwest of the Mexican city of Tapachula, a few kilometres from the Guatemalan border and the heart of an important agricultural region. While it packed sustained winds of 85km/h, and higher gusts, it will likely weaken as it moved inland. Earlier predictions had Barbara developing into a hurricane over the weekend and barreling toward Mexican coastal resorts like Puerto Escondido.
Pacific tropical storm Barbara on Friday caused heavy rain in Central America and the Caribbean which led to the deaths of at least 14 people. Authorities in the Dominican Republic said that floods had caused the deaths of eight people, while at least 8,000 more had to be evacuated from their homes Friday. In El Salvador, four people died as a result of landslides. Another two people were killed in flooding Friday night as the storm reached Cuba. Hurricanes are particularly dangerous in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, because the heavy rains they bring often trigger landslides and floods. Many homes, particularly in poorer areas, stand on hillsides that are particularly vulnerable.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
TEXAS - FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, San Antonio got through May without the official temperature breaking 90 degrees. And the heat is way overdue, according to 121 years of data. San Antonio on average records its first 90-degree day on April 9. By the end of May last year, San Antonio International Airport already had recorded 36 days of 90 degrees or more. San Antonio reached 89 degrees four times in May. But it has not reached 90 since Oct. 6 — a stretch of almost eight months. That stretch is expected to end by Monday, June 4, well before the latest date on which the city first hit 90 — June 8 in both 1885 and 1957. The last time the first 90-degree day came so late, in 1977, it arrived on June 6.

NEW YORK - it was the SUNNIEST MAY ON RECORD in Buffalo. And the monthly rain total was more than two inches below normal. “It’s been an amazing month.” Buffalo received 84 percent of the available sunshine for May, the highest for the month since sunshine statistics began being kept in 1891. The previous best May was 83 percent, in 1934. The average May is about 58 percent. It’s among the highest percentages for any month. "We’ve had some in the 85-86 percent range, but they’ve all been in June or July.” At 0.87 inches, it was the fourth-driest May ever. Normally in May, Buffalo gets 3.23 inches of rain.
A mere quarter-inch of rain fell in Rochester last month, making it THE DRIEST MAY ON RECORD here in an UNUSUALLY rain-free, sunny month in much of upstate New York. Rochester, which averages 2.92 inches of rain in May, got a 0.24-inch sprinkle. The previous low was 0.36 inches in May 1977.

ALABAMA - 2007 already is the DRIEST SPRING ON RECORD in much of north and central Alabama, and significant rainfall is still days away. The arid conditions are a particularly ominous sign since the area normally gets about one-third of its annual rainfall from March through May. Many crops already are on the verge of ruin because of the lack of precipitation. A shady cypress swamp in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge dries up every summer, but not in May, as happened this year. "It is pretty UNUSUAL." Freezing weather that killed crops in mid-April gave way to weeks of unseasonably hot and record-setting dry weather that shows no sign of letting up. Millions of acres of crops and lawns that should be soft and green are instead reedy and yellowing. The temperature is in the upper 80s, and smoke from fires in Georgia and Florida has reduced visibility to less than two miles at times. The haze blots out the sun. The drought gripping the northern two-thirds of the state is as bad as any in the nation, with rainfall deficits of a foot and even more. Rainfall in Huntsville is about 10 1/2 inches below normal for the year, but that's good compared to other places. Anniston is more than 16 1/2 inches low, and Tuscaloosa is nearly 18 1/2 inches below normal. Statewide, about 600 wildfires burned 8,800 acres during May. Only 100 or so fires occur during a typical May. Without significant rain the drought in north Alabama could soon be classified as "extreme," a once-in-50-years event.

GEORGIA - May was THE DRIEST ON RECORD IN THE LAST 107 YEARS in the city of Macon. During the month of May, only a trace of rain was reported at the airport. The previous record low rainfall for May occured in 1918 when just .11 of an inch of rain fell.

RUSSIA - THE FIVE HOTTEST DAYS IN MOSCOW'S RECORDED HISTORY could be summed up by a single image: an ice-cream truck stuck in melted asphalt on a Moscow street. Russians were caught by surprise by the UNPRECEDENTED stretch of hot weather as the mercury climbed to the high 80s and 90s, triggering minor power failures, causing sunstrokes and leading to a spate of drownings.
The last day of spring in Moscow has seen ANOTHER TEMPERATURE RECORD BROKEN, the sixth this month. The mercury in the capital topped 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit) by midday, beating the previous record for May 31 of 30.6 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit) set in 1889.

SPACE WEATHER -
New sunspot 960 emerging Saturday over the sun's eastern limb is big and crackling with solar flares. This sunspot poses a threat for significant solar activity. Already it has unleashed three M-class solar flares. One of the eruptions, an M3-flare at 1445 UT on June 1st, caused a shortwave radio fadeout over Europe.

Friday, June 1, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.
Unknown

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/31/07 -
5.4 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
5.0 KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA

SOLOMON ISLANDS - One month has passed since the earthquake and tsunami hit the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific on April 2 and aftershocks are still being felt several times a day. Affected people continue to live in tents set up on mountains for fear of returning to their homes near the seaside and being hit by further tsunami. Though some hospitals and clinics have resumed service, schools remain closed and a return to their normal life seems unlikely any time soon.

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
Huge waves that struck Reunion Island and coastlines across Indonesia earlier this month all originated from the same storm that occurred south of Cape Town, South Africa, and were tracked across the entire Indian Ocean for some 10,000 kilometres over a nine-day period by satellite. Waves reaching up to 11 metres devastated France's Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean when it slammed into the southern port of Saint Pierre on 12 May. Six days later waves created from the same storm measuring as high as seven metres began crashing into Indonesia coastlines from Sumatra to Bali, killing at least one person and causing some 1200 people to flee their homes. "The extreme swell systems originated from the same storm, which moved rapidly and had two main strong wind periods...the resulting waves were organised into two main swell systems that followed each other across the entire Indian Ocean, hitting Reunion Island, Mauritius, Australia and Indonesia." No official warning about the huge waves that hit Indonesia were issued. Although the waves that hit Reunion Island were forecasted, their intensity was predicted to be 20 to 30% below measurements. A global swell-tracking project is in the works. Once in place, this system will be the equivalent of deploying a global network of virtual buoys that are able to detect and track large swell systems carrying large energy from all available remote sensing measurements of waves. Each virtual buoy will have the capacity to detect and measure the wavelength and the direction of propagation as well as the height of the swell systems crossing the oceans, complementing the sea forecast models used by weather centres and allowing alarms to be raised a few hours before these devastating swells hit coasts.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression ALVIN was 708 nmi SSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical depression BARBARA was 192 nmi S of Salina Cruz, Mexico.

Tropical Storm Barbara weakened off Mexico's southwestern Pacific coast Thursday. Forecasters predicted the storm may hit land, but said it was unlikely to become a hurricane. Barbara's winds were clocked at around 40 mph, down from 54 mph late Wednesday, and it was inching along about 155 miles south-southwest of the coastal town of Puerto Angel. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm could still strengthen to windspeeds of around 55 mph, and may hit Mexico's coast in an area about 60 miles to the east of Puerto Angel sometime Monday. The storm may dump heavy rain and cause dangerous flooding along the Mexican and Guatemalan coasts by Saturday, but Barbara could also change direction, head out to sea and die. The first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific's 2007 season, Alvin faded at sea Thursday.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Flooding has killed 6 people with heavy showers that have affected a large part the Dominican Republic. Four Cibao region (north) provinces are under a red alert as the rains caused severe damages to infrastructure and to homes. The threat of flash floods and mudslides continues and 5,519 people were evacuated, with 1,561 houses severely damaged.

YEMEN - An ammunition dump near the Yemeni capital Sanaa was rocked by several explosions on Thursday after being struck by a landslide caused by heavy rains. The explosions occurred at an old ammunition dump at the foot of Noqom mountain, a few kilometres (miles) southeast of the capital. "The explosions were caused by a landslide, set off by heavy rains, that caused friction with the old ammunition."

NEPAL - Owing to the threat of landslides during the monsoon, 80 families at Garagaun in Jharkada VDC deserted their village recently. The village is now desolate after 400 locals left their homes to stay temporarily in neighboring Dadagaun VDC, which is considered relatively safer. By last year, landslides in the steep village had swept away some houses and caused the whole village to sink some 10 meters. "We are compelled to leave our homes as we failed in our attempts to control the frequent landslides." Two landslides - one measuring 870 meters long and 384 meters wide, and the other 300 by 125 meters - have been troubling the village for the last 15 years. Over 30 hectares of fertile land was swept away by the biggest landslide so far that occurred in 1990. Similarly, another landslide in 1999 left several houses cracked, displacing 25 families. The locals complain of survival hardships as the whole village depends on agriculture. "I am having trouble looking after my family after the recurring landslides gradually swept away 10 kathha of my fertile land."

NORTH DAKOTA - The RAIN HAS SET RECORDS in Bismarck and Dickinson. Bismarck got a record 1.95 inches yesterday. It tops the mark of 1.53 inches that has stood since 1884. Bismarck has had more than five inches of rain this month, with more rain in the forecast over the next couple of days.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
AUSTRALIA - Most of Queensland, NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania all had their WARMEST MAY ON RECORD. "This is yet another sign of the widespread climate change that we are seeing unfold across the globe." Sydney had its WARMEST MAY SINCE 1958, but could have hit an all-time high if it wasn't for a spell of cool nights in the past week. In Canberra, it was THE WARMEST MAY IN 68 YEARS worth of records. Brisbane had its WARMEST MAY IN SEVEN YEARS. The longest-standing record broken was that of Melbourne itself which had its WARMEST MAY IN 152 YEARS OF RECORDS. In Tasmania, Hobart had its WARMEST MAY IN 124 YEARS of records. "Normally by this time of year, Tasmania would be well and truly in the grips of Southern Ocean cold fronts. While the fronts have been moving through fairly regularly over the last few weeks, they have not had the very cold air associated with them that would be typical at this time of year."

FLORIDA - Already dangerously dry, Lake Okeechobee dropped to a RECORD LOW, and while some rain is almost certain over the weekend, a long, wet summer will be needed to reverse the drought. The water level, which reached 8.97 feet above sea level Wednesday, matching the record set on May 24, 2001, fell to 8.94 feet overnight. "As these extreme weather conditions continue, we are focused on the challenges ahead to best protect drinking water supplies, meet agricultural needs and safeguard our natural resources." Months of low rainfall, measuring only 40 inches in the past 18 months, have been extreme enough to qualify the drought as a ONCE-IN-A-CENTURY EVENT for the 730-square-mile lake, which is the primary backup water supply to 5 million South Floridians. More than 200 days have passed since any water flowed into the lake from the Kissimmee River to the north, which feeds it.

NEW YORK - The city of Rochester was just hours away from closing the books on its DRIEST MAY ON RECORD. Barring any torrential rains before midnight, Rochester will have received just a quarter-inch of rain for the month, making it the driest since the mid-19th century when the government began keeping weather records. The good news for western New York is that there was so much precipitation in April, the soil is able to handle the dry conditions - for now.

KENTUCKY - So far this month, some areas have had less than an inch of rain; the norm is about 4½ inches. "Along with that dry spell, there's been warming temperatures as well." The result is weather that feels more like July than May: hot and dry, with temperatures almost 10 degrees above normal. All of Kentucky is in either mild or moderate drought. Some areas are being asked to conserve drinking water, and rainfall in southern Kentucky is 6 to 9 inches below normal. The eastern third of the state has been in a state of moderate drought for two weeks. The culprit is a high-pressure system in the west, hovering over the Missouri River Valley, keeping rain at bay. As that system breaks up, they'll see cooler temperatures and more rainfall. The high-pressure system is "shunting all the weather north of the Ohio River. Everybody that's getting (rain) is north of the Ohio River." While such a dry spell is not unusual, it came earlier than normal this year - right in the middle of the growing season. Crops are taking the biggest hit, especially young trees, pasture crops, and those with shallow roots. "It's going to make the crops later in being ready, and it will hurt the yield."

Thursday, May 31, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Voltaire

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/30/07 -
6.4 KAMCHATKA PENINSULA, RUSSIA
5.4 TONGA

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression ALVIN was 649 nmi SSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Tropical storm BARBARA was 209 nmi SSW of Salina Cruz, Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Barbara off the southwestern coast of Mexico could build to hurricane strength within days. Barbara follows Alvin, the first tropical storm of the eastern Pacific's 2007 season. It's UNPRECEDENTED FOR THERE TO BE TWO NAMED EASTERN PACIFIC STORMS IN MAY. The hurricane center has named only two May storms in the past, in 1984 and 1956. Barbara is about 118 miles south-southwest of the Mexican fishing village of Puerto Angel, and is nearly stationary, with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles-per-hour. It was unclear whether Barbara would turn toward land or head out to open sea after strengthening, but people living along the western coasts of Mexico and Guatemala should monitor the storm in any case, the hurricane center said. Meanwhile, Alvin, the first tropical storm of the 2007 season in the eastern Pacific, has been downgraded to a tropical depression. That storm, which formed far off Mexico's western coast on Monday, was heading west, away from land.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
U.S. - parts of central Kansas have received more than 20 inches of rain this month, and additional rain today could push the monthly total above the normal rainfall amount for an entire year. As severe thunderstorms continue to pound the Plains states over the upcoming days, tropical moisture moving northward is forecast to deliver significant rain this weekend to the drought-ravaged Southeast. The clash of moist air flowing north from the Gulf of Mexico and the cold air associated with a storm system that has been stalled over the Plains for the past week will continue to spark severe weather and heavy rain at least until Friday on the Plains and in the Mississippi Valley. The storms will continue to create dangerous flooding problems, especially in areas where the soil is already saturated from recent rain. Numerous storm and flood-related watches and warnings are currently in effect. The severe storms Wednesday morning slammed Oklahoma and Texas. An area of tropical moisture currently in the Caribbean Sea between Mexico and Cuba is forecast to begin to move toward Florida. The system, which may or may not develop into a named storm, will cross Florida Saturday before moving up the East coast on Sunday and Monday.

OKLAHOMA - WETTEST MAY IN A DECADE - The south central region of Oklahoma has been deluged with rain since last Thursday, which has caused some flash flooding. Since last Thursday to Tuesday, Pauls Valley has received 4.18 inches of rainfall, with over two inches falling on Thursday. The heavy rains have made this May the wettest May since 1997 when Pauls Valley received a total of 4.75 inches of rain for the whole month. Pauls Valley’s total rainfall so far this month is 8.38 inches of rain.

NEBRASKA - Reports of washed out roads and standing water were streaming into the National Weather Service Wednesday as officials try to assess the damage from the heavy rains. DAILY RAINFALL RECORDS FELL in Broken Bow and North Platte on Tuesday. Broken Bow received 5.65 inches of rain, crushing the old one-day record of 1.79 inches set in 1903. North Platte received 2.95 inches of rain Tuesday; the old record of 1.84 inches was set in 1979.

CHINA warned on Wednesday of possible floods, landslides and other weather disasters over the next three days with heavy rain, strong winds and hail expected, according to the national meteorological bureau. "Our country has entered the phase in which weather disasters may happen frequently. Local governments and departments should intensify inspections of key mountainous regions and prevent disasters such as floods, lightning strikes, mud and mountain slides." North China was expected to have wind and rain and the far western area of Xinjiang, the western province of Gansu and Inner Mongolia in the north were to have sand storms. Farmers in the north and central parts were told to harvest wheat soon to protect it from possible heavy rain, hail and strong winds. The agency did not mention the typhoon season which is getting under way in the south. The bureau also warned schools and parents to ensure the safety of school children.

VIETNAM - Two cyclones that hit Tien Giang Mekong Delta province Monday and Tuesday damaged about 500 houses and 14 classrooms, but no fatalities were reported. The cyclone on Monday struck My Tho city and Cho Gao district, destroying and blowing roofs off over 200 houses. The severe cyclone also blew down scores of big trees and cut electricity and telephone systems for hours in the city. The other cyclone which ravaged Go Cong Tay district Tuesday ruined reportedly dozens of houses and 14 classrooms. Estimation of total losses is still underway.

EUROPE - Just one day short of June, snow, floods and high winds have spread misery across huge swathes of Europe. Indeed, if you are looking for somewhere to sunbathe in these strange meteorological times, you would be wise to turn common perception on its head. Russia is in the grip of a heatwave. In Germany, where May normally brings temperatures of 16-19c (61-66f), snow and flash flooding have brought chaos. Bavaria has seen unseasonal snowfalls in alpine villages and flooding in the valleys below along with warnings of possible riverbank breaches on the Danube and Inn rivers. A low front called "Marian" dumped a week's worth of precipitation on the region in 24 hours. In Berlin, 1,000 trees have been destroyed by gales and lightning strikes, while golf-ball size hailstones hit the city and countless cellars and basement flats have suffered severe flooding. In France, five people have died this week as storms and high winds battered the country. Three people drowned while sailing in Brittany, while a man and a woman were swept away by giant waves on the island of Corsica. Temperatures dropped to 6c (43f) in the mountainous central Cantal region, where it snowed in some areas, and 50mph winds were reported along the Atlantic. Torrential rain caused floods across wide areas of central, northern and eastern France. In Switzerland, the Gotthard Pass had to be closed after heavy snowfalls. A spokesman for the German Weather Service said: "It has gone mad across Europe. There is no other way to describe it. Global warming is expressing itself with freezing weather."

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
RUSSIA - HEAT RECORD BROKEN FOR THE FOURTH DAY IN A ROW - Moscow has BROKEN THE ALL-TIME TEMPERATURE RECORD FOR MAY 30, after BREAKING THE RECORDS FOR EACH OF THE PREVIOUS THREE DAYS. The mercury reached 31.9 degrees Celsius (89.4 degrees Fahrenheit) by mid-day, beating a 116-year record of 31.4 degrees Celsius (88.5 degrees Fahrenheit) for Wednesday's date. Forecasters predict that today will also see temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit), and that yet another record could be set.

CALIFORNIA - With drought conditions continuing into another year, residents are likely to have more encounters with wild animals coming down from the hills around the town of Twentynine Palms to find food and water. They also are more likely to not find wild animals in their usual haunts at Joshua Tree National Park. A breeding bird survey along a 25-mile route, stopping every half- mile and counting everything they could see and hear for three minutes, came up with few sightings. “Usually every year there would be mourning doves at every stop.” This year there were a lot of stops where they did not see anything at all. “Even the common things were pretty scarce.” With wild animals, particularly predators, coming into town in search of food and water, “you don’t want to let your pets wander around outside unsupervised.” Predators, most likely coyotes, “may look at your dog or cat as an easy meal." Large animals have been seen outside their usual haunts. There have been a number of badger sightings, including reports of a badger moving into the White Tank Campground. “It was being semi-aggressive toward campers." In addition to bobcats, animal control has been getting calls about rattlesnakes, coach whips, scorpions, tarantulas and even owls. “The whole desert is coming alive.”

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right.
Henry Ford

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/29/07 -
5.3 SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.3 KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA
5.6 KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA
6.1 KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA
5.0 SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA
5.1 UNIMAK ISLAND REGION, ALASKA
5.1 TONGA
5.2 VANUATU
6.1 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.

INDONESIA - A powerful undersea earthquake and a series of aftershocks rattled eastern Indonesia yesterday, damaging buildings in one town and causing panicked residents to flee their homes. The tremor with a preliminary magnitude of 6.1 struck in the Maluku Sea, 2,355km from the capital, Jakarta. The quake lasted around six seconds. It was followed by an aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The local meteorological and geological agency said a tsunami was not expected. Power supplies were cut for two hours in Labuha, the coastal town closest to the epicentre. Witnesses said several houses sustained cracks but there were no report of injuries. Labuha residents fled to the hills fearing a tsunami would hit, but returned a couple of hours later.

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
CORSICA - a tourist was killed by a GIANT WAVE as FREAK WEATHER hit the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. Rescuers found the body of a 19-year-old Swiss tourist who was carried away by a powerful wave while walking on a storm-lashed beach in the north of the island on Monday. Two of the young man's companions were also swept away but managed to fight their way back to shore, despite 120-kilometre (70-mile) winds and three-metre (10-foot) waves. Violent winds, freezing fog and rain were expected to continue lashing the normally-sunny island until at least today. Two hikers froze to death - one victim, a Frenchman in his 30s found dead early Tuesday, had set off alone to find help after his hiking group was caught in freezing fog, wind and rain. His wife and two other woman companions, who managed to reach a shelter for the night, were escorted down the mountainside towards the northern town of Vivario unharmed but in a state of shock. In the same region, a Frenchwoman froze to death after being caught in the storm on a hiking trail. Injured and suffering from hypothermia, her husband managed to reach a nearby village for help but his wife was dead by the time rescuers arrived.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression 02E was 220 nmi SE of Acapulco, Mexico.
Tropical depression ALVIN was 650 nmi SSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Tropical depression 02E's path is unclear at this time - several models forecast a northeastward motion to landfall in eastern Mexico or Guatemala. Another forcasts a northward motion and a landfall in eastern Mexico. Others forecast a westward motion with no landfall. It may reach hurricane strength in two to three days.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
AUSTRALIA - Wild winds buffeted Geelong and caused widespread damage across Victoria yesterday. The huge wind gusts reached speeds up to 62.7km/h and sent waves crashing into the waterfront promenade and whipped up blinding dust storms on the Princes Highway. It also smashed a yacht at Indented Head. Just over 2.4mm of rain fell in the city later in the afternoon. Elsewhere, gale-force winds and rain wreaked havoc across Melbourne and other parts of the state. Fallen trees damaged homes, cars and brought down power lines.

BRITAIN - Torrential downpours in Luton over the Bank Holiday weekend were the WORST RAINFALL FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. From 9pm on Saturday until 9pm on Monday, there was a record 99mm of rain - the HIGHEST TWO-DAY RAINFALL TOTAL in the town since local records began in 1891. "It's historic. It's a new record for the region. That is two months worth of rain in just two days."

SNOW / COLD -
BRITAIN - Arctic winds swept across the country at speeds of up to 50mph in ONE OF THE COLDEST Whitsun Bank Holidays SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1772. Beaches were deserted as rain continued to pour down across the country. The average temperature in the Midlands and central England was 46f (8c), and 50f-55f (10c-13c) elsewhere - well under the May average of 63f (17c). In High Wycombe, the temperatures fell to as low as 41f (5c) - less than the January average of 43f (6c).

EUROPE - Freak snow, freezing temperatures and tropical storms hit across Europe - In Spitzing in Germany, locals have been forced to wrap up after ten centimetres of snow brought out the snowploughs for the first time this year. It was the same story in towns close to the Alps in Austria, Switzerland and even northern Italy where temperatures in May normally climb into the 80s. In one Swiss valley, 3,000 were trapped in hotels and guest houses because trains could not reach them in the snow. Ironically, the weather follows one of the worst winters ever for [lack of] snow at Alpine ski resorts. On the Mediterranean island of Corsica, two hikers died in freezing fog. Further north in cities like Berlin, tropical storms have brought four days of chaos, dumping hailstones as big as golf balls, uprooting trees and causing widespread flooding. There have been many fatalities across Germany from the weather, the most poignant being three workmen who sheltered beneath their bulldozer during a rainstorm only to die altogether from a single lightning strike. Britain was drenched over the weekend in some of the worst rain of the year. Thousands of people had to cut their long weekends short, to battle appalling conditions on motorways. Arctic winds hit the country on Monday at speeds of up to 50mph. (photos)

NEPAL - Dozens of people were feared killed in remote parts of north-western Nepal after the areas were hit by a FREAK snow storm. The casualties were reported in the remote north-western mountainous district of Dolpa, about 450 kilometres north-west of the Nepalese capital, on Monday. "We have reports that at least 16 people died and about a hundred others were blinded by a freak snow storm and blizzard." The snow storm is said to have hit a mountainous area where hundreds of people had gathered to collect an herb. Other reports in the Nepalese capital said up to 1,500 people were stranded in heavy snows. The rescue mission is expected to proceed slowly due to continuing bad weather in the area and lack of road access in the district.

HEAT / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
RUSSIA - Another HEAT RECORD has fallen as Russia's capital city continues to bake in unseasonable May weather, with a temperature of 32.1 degrees Celsius (89.7 degrees Fahrenheit) beating a 116-year-old maximum on Tuesday.

AUSTRALIA - Windy, wet and UNUSUALLY warm — a combination that summed up Melbourne's past 24 hours and caused widespread damage across the state. Central Melbourne was buffeted by gusts of up to 100 km/h yesterday. In the city, the wind was strong enough to shatter windows, send roof panels flying and leave some suburban residents without power for hours. Warm temperatures, combined with cloudy conditions, were responsible for the gusty winds. "These conditions are actually more typical of spring than they are of autumn." Melbourne's HOTTEST MAY NIGHT ON RECORD — 17.9 degrees — was recorded early yesterday, beating the previous record of 17.8 degrees in 1947.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.
Albert Einstein

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/28/07 -
5.1 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - rescue officials are searching for 11 people missing after a fishing boat was engulfed by 6m (19.59 foot) waves off the north coast of Java islands late last week. Two survivors had been found after the boat was swamped by waves on Thursday, 40km from the town. The boat had been heading to Indonesia's Kalimantan province on Borneo island.

VOLCANOES -
RUSSIA - The Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula is spewing a major ash column to a height of up to seven kilometres (more than four miles) above sea level. There is no danger to nearby settlements. Major incandescence is observed at nighttime above the volcano summit. Hot volcanic bombs are spewed from the crater every five-ten seconds. The spews height reaches 500 metres. Several lava flows heated to 1,000 degrees Celsius are descending on the slopes. “At least three such flows are clearly visible.” Lava is melting the glacier and water and mudflows are coming down the volcano slopes, but they pose no direct danger for the Klyuchi settlement. The volcano roar and explosions could be heard in this settlement. House windows have repeatedly been shaken by massive explosions from the volcano.

INDONESIA - A massive concrete dam 15 storeys high would be built around Indonesia's disastrous "mud volcano" under the latest proposal to stop toxic sludge spewing from its core. Under the plan, the mud building up in the dam would eventually be so heavy that it could act as a counterweight to the sludge trying to emerge from the crater, blocking off the flow. "If this technique is successful, the area will be ready to be rebuilt into a new city. This is the future for the area, according to the civil engineers." The wall encircling the volcano would be 10 metres thick and 120 metres in diameter. The wall itself would consist of two separate fences of thick steel pipes encased in concrete up to 48 metres high. The dam would also have a machine to extract water from the mud, with the liquid moving down a massive chute for piping to a nearby river. Expected to take eight months to build, the dam would also feature a geology museum and a park, estimated to cost US$5.6 million. The plan comes after engineers spent two months trying to plug the volcano by dropping concrete balls on chains into its yawning crater. That initiative has been suspended and the mud building up behind dirt and rock embankments is being channelled to the river nearby.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression ALVIN was 629 nmi SSW of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the first of the 2007 Eastern North Pacific Season.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
EUROPE - Nine people died in eastern Turkey, including six killed in severe flooding in mountainous Agri province near the Iranian border, where river waters were swollen by melting snows. Two more people were missing. In nearby Van province, a two-year-old child died when landslides triggered by heavy rain demolished a house. Two other girls also died and another person was injured after being struck by lightning. Six hikers died in Greece while trying to cross a river in the south. In France, two divers and a yachtsman drowned yesterday off the western coast of Brittany in extreme weather. The yachtsman fell into the sea from his 21-metre boat in heavy seas. The two divers were part of a group of six who were caught up in strong waves. The others made it safely to shore. In northern Bosnia, two 11-year-old children, a boy and a girl, died after being struck by lightning on Saturday. In Germany, three construction workers building a windmill in the eastern state of Brandenburg were killed yesterday when lightning hit a tractor they were sheltering under. In Russia, by contrast, meteorologists said today was the HOTTEST MAY DAY IN MOSCOW SINCE RECORDS BEGAN with temperatures hitting 32.7 degrees Celsius. Extreme weather - including drought, heavy storms, flooding and flash frost - have wreaked havoc across Europe this spring. Aside from the human toll, it has also destroyed crops and damaged infrastructure in France, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey and other countries.

CUBA - Heavy rain in Cuba and the resulting floods over the weekend have left two people dead, forced the evacuation of some 3,000 others and caused damage to some 370 buildings. The rain affecting areas in the eastern part of the country also damaged sugar cane fields, forcing an early end to the harvest. Reports indicate that the areas affected by the rain have started to go back to normality, although the authorities do not rule out that the rain might persist. Eastern Cuba has suffered an intense drought in the past decade, but has had heavy rain since last year. The weekend's rain found the soil saturated with water, following frequent downpours in recent weeks. This situation is particularly worrying for Cuban authorities given that the cyclone season in the country starts Friday. Meteorologists have estimated that the season, which ends November 30, will be 'very active.'

BANGLADESH - At least five people were killed as lightning hit rice terraces in northern Bangladesh with heavy showers pounding villages across the country. Three rice farmers were killed while they were working in soggy fields during thunderstorms in the worst hit Kurigram district near the India-Bangladesh border Sunday. Further up north in Thakurgaon district, another farmer was struck down by lightning during an overnight storm. A 12-year-old girl was also fatally hit by lightning when she was returning home from school.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
RUSSIA - Yesterday was the HOTTEST MAY DAY IN MOSCOW FOR OVER A CENTURY: thermometers on May 28 read +32.9 degrees Celsius (91.2 degrees Fahrenheit), and meteorologists say that the Russian capital HAS NOT SEEN SUCH A SUSTAINED STREAK OF +30-DEGREE DAYS IN MAY FOR 128 YEARS. "It's really an extreme event." Due to the heat, some Moscow businesses are being obliged to cut down on energy consumption, something that usually only happens during winter's most severe frosts. Meteorologists warn that the heat will last at least until the end of the week, when Moscow will get a brief reprieve before the abnormally hot weather returns. "For the last week – May 23, 27, and 28 – several temperature records have been broken." The UNUSUAL heat is due to a massive high-pressure system sitting over Kazakhstan. "As it revolves, it is sending hot air from Central Asia to Russia. As a result of the high-pressure system, all of European Russia is experiencing hot weather – since last week, every other city in this region has seen new temperature records set. Moscow is experiencing almost the same temperature as in Cairo or the Arabian Desert."

NEPAL - Only 27 years ago Imjha Tse Valley was filled with glaciers but due to a rise in temperature, they have melted at an average rate of 10 metres a year and formed a huge lake containing 28 million cubic metres of water. The lake is 100m deep, 500m wide and 2km long. "The lake is absolute proof of the dangerous impact of global warming in this world, and the worst consequence is in the Himalayan region." In the past few decades, there have been several incidents of glacial lakes bursting, flooding villages, causing landslides, killing people and destroying farms and houses. Over 20 glacial lakes are at risk of bursting out of moraine dams. Of Nepal's 3,000 glacial lakes, over 2,000 have gradually melted and contain lakes, but up to now there has been little study of this phenomenon. Climate change experts are concerned that glaciers formed by over two million years of snowfall are now receding faster in the Himalayas than anywhere else in the world.

Monday, May 28, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
"What is the city but the people?"
William Shakespeare

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/27/07 -
5.8 TONGA

INDIA - Two persons were killed in a quake-triggered landslip in South Sikkim yesterday. As many as seven tremors, most of them between 3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale, were reported from several parts of the state. Two young men were buried alive when a pile of debris fell on them at a construction site on Ralong Road in Rabongla. They disappeared under almost 12 feet of loose soil after the 10 am quake. “Many of us did not feel most of the tremors during the day, but the last jolt around 5 pm was scary. It caused panic with people running helter-skelter.” In Ralong, four houses were destroyed and another house and an ICDS centre developed cracks at Kewzing. Sikkim has been witnessing a series of tremors since last Monday. There were three mild quakes that day followed by one that measured 5 on the Richter scale on the night of May 22. Monday’s earthquake caused damage to the Tashiding monastery, one of the oldest in Sikkim. Deep cracks have appeared on the walls while a roof with an iron cast has tilted. Many houses in areas surrounding Gyalshing, the West district headquarters, have also been affected.

VOLCANOES -
INDIA - About six-kilometre area of Talakundha forest in Tamil Nadu has been gutted in a fire, which is suspected to have broken out from a small volcano. The fire and smoke from a crater in the forest continue to spread. Hot black coal-like material, possibly magma, can be seen inside it. "We received information that a large amount of smoke was emerging from the forest. Initially, I thought it might be a forest fire. But when fire services went there, they saw a huge fire and smoke coming from the forest, and due to the heat, trees were falling down. We still cannot make out what has caused this. If the same situation continues, a major fire accident may take place," said a fireman. "This seems to be very dangerous and also the gas coming out from the earth is causing nausea to people in the vicinity". The forestland seems to have collapsed by about five-six feet because of the volcano-type situation. Geologists said methane gas could be coming out of the craters, which causes dizziness and nausea. Locals said they have been seeing the fire in the forest for the past one month. Some village elders even said that their ancestors had talked about similar fire some 100 years ago in the vicinity. The only active volcano in India is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. There has been no official confirmation so far as to whether there is a volcano or not. [see yesterday's ODD category for another smoking crater, also in India.]

HAWAII - Buy oceanview 'property' in Hawaii, move in 10,000 years from now - Lo'ihi Development Co. will soon start offering oceanview lots that speculators won't even be able to stand on for many millennia. That's because they're currently submerged more than 900 metres below sea level - on an underwater volcano called Lo'ihi, located about 32 kilometres southeast of the Big Island. For an introductory price of $39.95, buyers will receive a brochure and a "deed," but much like Internet groups that claim to sell stars, they probably can't call themselves owners. A photo of the sales office is a raft in the middle of the ocean. Scientists don't really know when, or if, Lo'ihi volcano will break the surface of the Pacific Ocean. Many guess about 10,000 years, but it could be much longer than that.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression 01E was 590 nmi SW of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
INDIA - The monsoon is yet to strike the Kerala coast, but already northwest India has been lashed repeatedly by rains this May. It's been an UNUSUAL summer so far for the capital and neighbouring areas, with the sun, clouds, wind and rain making one appearance after another in the sky. Already, the city's seen lightning and thunder 14 days this month. This Delhi summer has seen a lot of fluctuations – while the searing May sun has gotten the temperature up to 42 degrees, cloud accumulation and rains have resulted in fluctuations up to ten degrees. So are we talking climate change here? An apocalyptic sort of thing in the long run that should worry us all? "Something is wrong with the Delhi weather. I don't know what but something is wrong," said the Centre for Science and Environment Director. The weatherman, for the record, is sounding no alarm. "This is normal for an Indian summer and we have recorded more thundershower activity in the past in the month of May," said the Met Director. So, the official word is that it is ‘normal’.

GREECE - A flash flood swept away a group of hikers alongside a mountain river in southern Greece, killing at least six people. The dead were identified as four women and two men, all Greek nationals aged 23-36. The incident occurred late Saturday as a group of 18 Greek hikers, including two guides, were walking beside the river near the village of Dimitsana, about 110 miles southwest of Athens. A flash flood, caused by heavy rains upstream, caught the group as they were trying to cross the river and carried eight people away.

COLUMBIA - Heavy rains in southern and western Colombia have caused a mudslide that has seriously affected 30 neighborhoods and left dozens homeless. The flooding took place in Cali, the country's third biggest city where rescue workers had to evacuate people from their residences and vehicles. In southern Colombia, authorities declared a state of emergency on Saturday after a mudslide caused by heavy rains destroyed 12 houses and left dozens homeless.

WILDFIRES -
CANADA - Forest fires have reached a critical level in Quebec, especially in the northwest and north-central regions, while forcing more than 1,000 people to flee an eastern reserve. This year has been worse than usual for forest fires in the province. "To date, we've had 280 forest fires since the beginning of the season. Our five-year average is 189 fires and only 2,600 hectares, so we're quite above that."

Sunday, May 27, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
"What luck for rulers that men do not think...By the skilful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise. "
Adolf Hitler

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/26/07 -
5.0 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.2 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.
5.0 FLORES SEA
5.1 SOUTHEAST OF EASTER ISLAND
5.4 TONGA REGION
5/25/07 -
5.6 SALTA, ARGENTINA
5.2 FIJI REGION
5.0 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION
5.2 BANDA SEA

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - On ocean surface waves - "It seems that at least once a year, Indonesian newspapers carry reports of mysterious waves striking coastal towns and beaches... There really is no mystery to these waves. We surfers in Indonesia knew days ahead of time that on May 18, huge ocean swells, with face heights of 20 feet or even higher, would be hitting the coasts exposed to the Indian Ocean. How did we know this? First of all, the concept that ocean surface waves are caused by lunar influences is really a myth. Tides do have an effect by pushing swells around to a minor extent, and high spring tides can carry swell surges onto beaches and further inland, but ocean surface swells are generally caused by the winds of cyclonic low pressure systems. The deeper the low, the stronger the wind, and the bigger the swell it generates. Furthermore, the longer the low lasts and the longer the wind blows, and the longer the distance of ocean surface it blows across, will also have an effect on swell size. The swell that hit on May 18 was created by a sustained, massive low pressure system in the lower Indian Ocean. An interested person, such as a surfer, could see and track this system on various Internet sites such...as http://www.lajollasurf.org/images/gblind00.gif that show in color code the actual wave heights in the Indian Ocean. From this, one can easily extrapolate the size and timing of swells that will propagate across the Indian Ocean, hitting the southern coasts of exposed islands... Even as long as week before May 18, surfers across Indonesia were in a state of excitement, while fishermen and tourists remained ignorant until the swell actually hit, coinciding with a high spring tide, creating panic and fears of a deadly tsunami. The Indonesian bureau of meteorology had ample time to issue high surf alerts to coastal areas."

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression 01E was 580 nmi SW of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The forecasting model for O1E was calling for a slow westward motion. A potential complicating factor is the possibllity that another tropical cyclone will form east of the depression as forecast models show - should this occur, this could cause tropical depression O1E to have erratic motion.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
TEXAS - Forecasters predicted more heavy thunderstorms in the Plains over the holiday weekend after two days of storms and flooding that left five people dead and one missing in central Texas. Dozens of people were plucked from rising waters on Friday. Storms have dumped about 8 inches of rain in the area since Thursday. On Friday, RAIN RECORDS WERE SMASHED THROUGHOUT CAMERON COUNTY. “In Brownsville, we didn’t get that much rain. It was just under 1.75 inches ... and that was a record.” Friday’s record beat Brownsville's previous 1890 record of 1.73 inches. Northern Cameron County was most affected by the torrential rains. The weather service’s Doppler Radar estimated between 4 and 8 inches of rain fell in northern parts of the county. Harlingen reported 6.73 inches, nearly double its previous record of 3.65 inches set in 1959.
A tornado swept through Killeen Friday afternoon, destroying homes and businesses in its path. Rescuers say it could have been worse. There was a lot of damage but only a few minor injuries. The storm struck after emergency workers had been dealing with two days of deadly flooding. "This weather is crazy. IT'S UNHEARD OF ALL AT ONCE. I'm hoping we're getting this all at once and we won't have to deal with anything else for the rest of the year."

CHINA - Torrential rain in southwest China triggered flash floods and mudslides that have left 21 dead, while a neighboring region is suffering its WORST DROUGHT IN 60 YEARS. A further 11 people are missing following the rains in Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality in the latest extreme weather to ravage the country. Twelve people died and another 18 were injured late on Friday when a mudslide swept through a village in Sichuan province's Garze region. More than 3,000 houses were washed away and 1,300 hectares of farmland destroyed. A 4km (2.5 mile) stretch of the highway was also washed away In nearby Shimian county, nine people were killed when falling rocks hit a bus, knocking the vehicle off the road. The bad weather has already affected more than two million people. More than 360 people have been hurt and 112,000 evacuated in the disasters, in a region that only last year endured its worst drought in half a century. Meanwhile, more than 1.6 million people in Gansu province to the north face drinking water shortages due to the worst drought there since the 1940s. The dry spell, which has had no significant rainfall in some areas for more than two months, is endangering crops or delaying planting on 1.46 million hectares (3.6 million acres) of cropland.

GREECE - Hours of heavy rainfall Thursday flooded hundreds of homes and stores across Attica and caused widespread problems on roads. A hailstorm in the northern prefecture of Imathia damaged tens of hectares of cotton, wheat and beets as well as peach and citrus trees.

SNOW / COLD -
CANADA - Mother Nature made a RARE wicked May appearance Thursday, punishing many parts of southern Alberta. Snow amounting to 10 cm and blustery winds took down trees and electrical and telephone lines, causing power outages for more than 7,000 homes and damaging cars and buildings around Calgary. More than 12 power lines fell and yards around town were wrecked, including some where trees punched holes in car windshields. The weather wreaked havoc across southern Alberta. Damage in Carstairs, about 50 km north of Calgary, was worse than what was being reported in the city. “It looks like a hurricane went through. Big trees that have been here forever are down, and they came down on cars, houses and buildings.”

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
BRITAIN - A warm spring has brought about the early arrival of some UK wildlife. Over the past few months, amateur naturalists have logged more than 24,000 first sightings of six key species of plants and animals. Members of the public were asked to record the dates they have first seen red-tailed bumblebees, frogspawn, flowering hawthorns, seven-spot ladybirds, peacock butterflies and swifts. The Woodland Trust said it was worried "because the changes are so rapid"...This has been our earliest Springwatch year, well ahead of the normal time we would have expected to see these events 30 years ago."

CANADA - Ottawa's experience on the Rideau Canal during the winter of 2007 may be considered Canada's tipping point for the idea of climate change. When the canal freezes over in winter, it becomes the world's longest skating rink. Except last winter there was no winter. The canal didn't freeze until a brief period much later in the season. Ottawa is the second coldest national capital in the world, behind only Ulaanbaatar, in Mongolia. But on Jan. 5 it was a balmy 50 degrees Fahrenheit, by far the WARMEST SUCH DATE THERE IN RECORDED HISTORY. People were out golfing, the FIRST TIME IN RECORDED MEMORY people could golf in eastern Ontario in January. The sustained summer threw Central Canada for a loop. Meanwhile, British Columbia was also left aghast, as a prolonged series of ferocious storms battered the coast and buried the interior of the province in yards of snow. The subtropical weather pattern known as the Pineapple Express drenched the coast four times in two weeks during November, accompanied by hurricane-force winds. Then a series of snowstorms hit the length of the coast in December, leaving hundreds of thousands without power for days on end. Followed by more pounding rain in early January. Victoria got three times its normal rainfall for the month. The west coast rain-forest town of Tofino recorded 10 inches in 30 hours. Vancouver's Stanley Park was the prime topic in the west, as the winds blew down huge swaths of old-growth timber and wreaked $3 million in damage. The federal environment minister pronounced the storms a direct example of climate change in action. In the blink of an eye, climate change rocketed up the Canadian public agenda to become the dominant problem in people's minds. "Little has been done to seriously address this problem which is literally threatening life on Earth as we know it." "The more timid our response is, the harsher the consequences will be." There is regional frustration on both sides of the U.S./Canada border about both national governments' stances on climate change. One thing Westerners have in common no matter where they live is a certain dubious skepticism about how they're running things back East. Schwarzenegger last week told President Bush to "get out of the way" and stop hampering California's efforts to curtail emissions or he'll go to court. A "Hydrogen Highway" network of filling stations from Whistler to San Diego is envisioned for alternate-fuel vehicles and a green ports strategy is in the works. "Out of the blue British Columbia has taken everyone by surprise. Nationally we've got made-in-Canada and made-in-America non-solutions. B.C. has stepped aside and done it on it's own, similar to California."

LITHUANIA - NEW HEAT RECORDS were registered throughout Lithuania this week as more hot weather and thunder showers are forecast for the weekend. On Tuesday, May 22, the nation’s highs were 27 - 30 degrees Celsius, exceeding the temperature records for that day at as many as 15 meteorology stations. More heat records were expected to be broken Saturday.

MASSACHUSETTS - Boston hit 92 degrees, recorded at Logan Airport. That BROKE A DAILY RECORD GOING BACK TO 1932, when it was 91. Worcester's 88 degrees tied the record, also set in 1932.

NEW ZEALAND - The balmy May weather is threatening to delay the start of the ski season. Most fields are due to open in early June, but say they have only a thin or non-existent snow base. "Traditionally we have opened in the first or second week of June but this may be a different year for us." Snowmakers are on standby for the temperature to fall low enough to start the snow-making machines. Most parts of New Zealand are over a degree warmer than average this month, with parts of Canterbury and Otago two degrees warmer than usual. If the warm weather continues, May will be on track to be the warmest in 20 years or even the warmest on record. By mid-May last year, a biting southerly had brought hail and snow. This year the southerlies have yet to really arrive and warmer northwesterly winds are dominating. Sea temperatures are also above average and the difference between actual and normal May temperatures is growing daily. It is UNUSUAL that no region is experiencing below average temperatures. Bug exterminators are in demand for fly removal, which is not usually needed by this time of year. More UNUSUALLY, in the last fortnight there has been demand for killing cockroaches, not normally a problem in the far south. Electricity demand is also significantly below last May, with demanding actually falling week by week so far this month, whereas electricity demand normally increases from Easter through to the middle of winter.

ODD -
INDIA - Smoke and flame were found emanating from a 40-feet long and two feet wide crater, caused by lightning which struck on Friday afternoon at Talaikuda village on the outskirts of Udhagamandalam. Nearly 300 eucalyptus trees were burnt, following the lightning which hit the area, and the big crater was formed. The smoke, which was found last evening, continued emanating heavily on Saturday and a flame was visible deep below eight feet. People who went near it felt a burning sensation in their eyes, plus headache and nausea. Experts from Geological Survey of India, who visited the area, have informed their higher-ups in Chennai about the development. Some of them opined that the gas could be methane. However, they ruled out the possibility of an earthquake or a volcanic eruption from inside the crater. But the people in the area are living in fear.

INDIA - About six-kilometre area of Talakundha forest in Tamil Nadu has been gutted in a fire, which is suspected to have broken out from a small volcano. The fire and smoke from a crater in the forest continue to spread. Hot black coal-like material, possibly magma, can be seen inside it. "We received information that a large amount of smoke was emerging from the forest. Initially, I thought it might be a forest fire. But when fire services went there, they saw a huge fire and smoke coming from the forest, and due to the heat, trees were falling down. We still cannot make out what has caused this. If the same situation continues, a major fire accident may take place," said a fireman. "This seems to be very dangerous and also the gas coming out from the earth is causing nausea to people in the vicinity". The forestland seems to have collapsed by about five-six feet because of the volcano-type situation. Geologists said methane gas could be coming out of the craters, which causes dizziness and nausea. Locals said they have been seeing the fire in the forest for the past one month. Some village elders even said that their ancestors had talked about similar fire some 100 years ago in the vicinity. The only active volcano in India is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. There has been no official confirmation so far as to whether there is a volcano or not.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
- RECALLED - all Maranatha Sesame Tahini because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
-RECALLED - Whole Foods Market is recalling '365 Organic Everyday Value Sesame Tahini' 16-oz, with a Best By Date of 10/02/07 or earlier because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
-RECALLED - Manischewitz Sparkling Concord Grape Juice & Manischewitz Sparkling Niagara Grape Juice. Several bottles have been found to be fermenting which will cause additional pressure in the bottle. This may lead to the popping of the cap or rupturing of the bottle.
-RECALLED - Complete MoisturePlus Multi Purpose Solution for contact lenses, manufactured by Advanced Medical Optics of Santa Ana, Ca. The company is taking this action as a precaution because of reports of a rare, but serious, eye infection, Acanthamoeba keratitis, caused by a parasite.

A Hong Kong butcher has become the third victim of the pig-borne disease Streptococcus suis in the territory in less than a month. All three cases in the territory were diagnosed within the past eight days and are believed to have been contracted locally. There have been no reported cases on the Chinese mainland since a deadly outbreak in 2005. The bacterial infection is rarely fatal in humans, but an unusually virulent strain killed more than 30 people in Sichuan province in 2005. Eight cases were reported last year in Hong Kong, with 13 - two of them fatal - in 2005. Pork prices have soared in mainland China after an outbreak of blue ear disease, or Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome which surfaced a year ago. Experts and industry sources have said it wiped out as many as a million pigs.

Friday, May 25, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time.
Unknown

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/23/07 -
5.5 SUMBAWA REGION, INDONESIA
5.3 CHUKOTKA, RUSSIA
5.3 BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION

HAWAII - A magnitude-4.7 earthquake centered beneath Kilauea volcano's east rift zone jolted the Big Island Thursday morning, and was followed by a smaller aftershock. The temblor was THE LARGEST IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA IN AT LEAST THE LAST 50 YEARS. Since 1998, only a few earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 4.0 have occurred at shallow depths beneath the upper-east rift zone. The first earthquake at 9:13 a.m. was located beneath the upper-east rift zone of Kilauea volcano near Puhimau crater, and was about a mile deep. A magnitude-4.1 aftershock followed at 9:33 a.m. That quake was about a mile farther downrift beneath Koko'olau crater. The earthquakes are the largest so far in a flurry of earthquakes in the upper-east and southwest rift zones that started on May 12. Earthquakes sometimes signal the beginning of an eruption or a change in the ongoing eruption, but the recent earthquake flurry has not been accompanied by any unusual swelling of the summit or other signs of unusual summit activity.

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii is putting on a show again, spewing lava into the ocean. The newest eruption from the Pu'u O'o vent began flowing into the ocean on May 16th. New land is being created as the lava solidifies off the coast. Kilauea has been erupting continuously since January 1983. (Video)

PHILIPPINES - Residents of Irosin town in Sorsogon province in Bicol are starting to feel the "wrath" of Bulusan volcano as some of them reported smelling sulfur from it. This developed as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology noted bulges in the grounds at the volcano's south sector, indicating magma flow underneath. There were 62 volcanic quakes and an increase in sulfur dioxide levels in Bulusan in the last 24 hours. Officials appealed to residents near the volcano not to steal the instruments Phivolcs had installed near the volcano.

COLUMBIA - On April 26th, facing the risk of possible new eruptions from the Nevado del Huila volcano, the Nasa indigenous authorities in Tierradentro resolved that 2,307 families in the Tierradentro reservations should leave their sacred territories to safe identified locations. On May 3, the indigenous authorities reported that to date, 1,792 families had been relocated. There is information that indicates that to date, 100 people from the Caloto and Tóez reservations have not left from their shelters. In addition, there are reports that another 30 inhabitants of the reservations are returning daily to care for their belongings. The instability of the system continues, and it's possible that new eruptions will occur.

INDONESIA - Magicians and others performing spiritual rites have been banned from throwing amulets and sacrificial animals into Indonesia's massive "mud volcano" for fear of making the disaster worse. Hundreds of people have visited the ocean of mud devastating Sidoarjo, in heavily populated East Java, in a bid to end the seemingly unstoppable flow of thick sludge since it first broke through the earth a year ago. People who came to pray and conduct rituals to try and halt the mud - sometimes from as far away as Australia, France and China - usually ended up making things worse. "Really, whenever they throw the head of a bull, or goat, or cow, the embankments surrounding the place will leak. Rituals of magic-filled things, or amulets, or things like that are prohibited now. Not long after they throw things in, the embankments would leak." People also need to seek permission before they cast spells over the mud. "Even the Indonesia Paranormal Association came here. But none of the rituals had any effect, it just made it worse." Experts have raised fears mud sediment could eventually choke the river mouth and trigger flooding in Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya, during future rain seasons. Surabaya, which lies north of the disaster zone, could face flooding within in the next two years if nothing is done to reduce the sedimentation.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
SPAIN - Heavy rain flooded Spanish towns yesterday, stranding thousands as roads and railways were submerged and washing away olive trees and vineyards. Hail and rain destroyed hundreds of millions of euros worth of crops. Fruit harvests like early cherries have been ruined. Over 400 people fled their homes in the town of Alcazar de San Juan as a dyke came close to bursting in the normally parched province of Ciudad Real. Thunderstorms were set to keep pounding the central grain and wine producing region of Castilla La Mancha until the weekend. A wetter-than-normal spring had helped to alleviate drought conditions in central and southern Spain. However, as much rain has fallen on the central region's rolling plains in the last few days as in the whole of 2005. Train services, including links between Madrid and major Mediterranean coast cities, were suspended yesterday as tracks disappeared under water. “Overflowing rivers have dragged away centuries old olive trees and destroyed hillsides." Grain crops had been doing well thanks to a mild, wet spring and harvesting had been set to start next week in the south. If the ground is too wet that will be delayed. Damage in the region was put at up to $261 million.

ASIA - La Nina, a weather phenomenon characterised by incessant rainfall, storms and flooding in most parts of Asia, may be emerging again this year, and farmers may have to brace themselves for a “wet” dry season. In Thailand, farmers have reported UNSEASONAL RAINS on rubber, cocoa and coffee plantations in Southeast Asia, which have curbed supply and helped support global prices. “It’s already May but still there’s so much rain. I think the world is getting strange,” said a rubber dealer in Jakarta. “It’s getting tougher to find raw material,” said the dealer, referring to difficulties in extracting latex from rubber trees because of erratic weather. Parts of Indonesia normally enter the dry season in April and May but rain is still falling. Rains induced by this weather anomaly may lash oil palm, rubber, coffee and cocoa plantations as well as inundate rice fields and open pit mining areas.

MIDWESTERN U.S. - Torrential rainfall hit parts of the Plains and Midwest, flooding towns in Kansas Thursday, toppling trees and power lines and pelting the countryside with hail. Some central Kansas towns recorded as much as 7 inches of rain – in some places up to 2 inches per hour – starting Wednesday. The deluge closed dozens of roads, some flooded for the second time in three weeks. The storms also spawned tornadoes and funnel clouds, but no significant tornado damage was reported. Toppled trees and power lines were reported in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The National Weather Service posted a flood warning for the Big Nemaha River in southeastern Nebraska.

COLORADO - An UNUSUAL storm moved through the state Wednesday triggering flash flood watches along the Arkansas River from Pueblo through the lower Arkansas Valley. "This is an unusual storm system for this time of year. It's late in the season. Typically, these types of storms occur in the winter." The storm was a result of a strong low pressure system moving across the state with a cold front.

CLIMATE CHANGE-
CHINA - Melting glaciers 'could flood Yangtze' - Chinese Government authorities warn that melting glaciers in Tibet could flood China's longest river, the Yangtze, later this year. Currrent meteorological and hydrological readings are similar to those in 1998. In that year, 3,000 people were killed when the Yangtze River overflowed. "We should be vigilant for a comparatively big flood on the Yangtze." If the river again rises to such levels, it would put huge pressure on areas close to the Three Gorges Dam. Vast amounts of snow have melted on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, where the Yangtze originates. Some Chinese officials have previously linked this year's high winter temperatures to man-made global warming. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned last month that global warming posed a grave threat to Himalayan glaciers. The China Meteorological Administration has forecast heavy rainfall and typhoons this summer, mainly in the southern part of the country, especially affecting the lower reaches of the Yangtze. Heavy floods could be potentially disastrous as populous cities such as Nanjing, Wuhan and Chongqing are situated along the river. State media earlier this month warned that China this year faced its greatest threat in a decade from typhoons, floods, droughts and other extreme weather caused by climate change.

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
- ALERT - The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to buy or eat imported fish labeled as monkfish, which actually may be puffer fish, containing a potentially deadly toxin called tetrodotoxin. Eating puffer fish that contain this potent toxin can result in serious illness or death. Two people in the Chicago area became ill after consuming homemade soup containing the fish. The product was imported and distributed by Hong Chang Corp., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
-RECALLED - Diamond Pet Foods has recalled a limited quantity of Nutra Nuggets 40 Lb. Lamb Meal and Rice Formula because of confirmatory testing that indicates the product may include traces of melamine resulting from cross contamination during manufacturing.

Thursday, May 24, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
The only useful answers are those that pose new questions.
Vittorio foe

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5.4 SIMEULUE, INDONESIA
5.2 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.3 GULF OF MEXICO
5.3 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.5 NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

INDONESIA - A strong undersea earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia on Thursday, briefly triggering a tsunami alert. Indonesian scientists gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 6.5. The United States Geological Survey said its initial estimate was a more modest 5.5. The agency initially said the quake had the potential to cause a tsunami and issued a warning to coastal towns close to the epicenter. It lifted the warning an hour later, saying no waves had hit shorelines.

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - The abnormal rise in sea-level during high-tides in the last three days has re-opened the tsunami scars of thousands on the Islands of Andaman and Nicobar. However, officials have failed to provide any concrete data regarding this. This UNUSUAL PHENOMENON has left huge heaps of sand deposited in front of houses and hotels nearby, causing problems for the people. "The coastal road is overloaded with sea sand of nearly one meter height." After getting similar reports from Phuket and Bangkok, people in tsunami hit Car Nicobar Islands feared this as an indication of another disaster, but local administration dismissed it, saying everything was normal. However, the Port Management Board Harbour Master said that there might be three main reasons - monsoon, change in the beach profile after the tsunami and the timing of tides coinciding with office timings. "This is normal after heavy monsoon as water from hilly areas mix up with seawater which raises the sea level." Normally reading of high-tides in these Islands is 1.8 to 1.9 meters but during monsoon and full moon nights, the reading goes up to 2.4 meters. In this case monsoon and full-moon came together. The waves smashed into the premises of a few restaurants along coastal areas on May 19 and 20, overturning tables and chairs. The National Institute of Ocean Technology had installed nearly 15 tide gauges across the country to measure tidal variations, but officials failed to provide any reading behind this ABNORMAL rise of tide level. "We have readings of rise in the wave height of sea but not of tides. Due to Southwest monsoon, the wave heights are higher and the beach profile of Andaman has already changed which can be the reason behind this." Apart from the changes in the beach profile, many believe that Sea Walls had prevented seawater entry in these places, thereby forcing the sea to flood other adjacent areas. Massive Sea walls have been constructed in various places of South Andaman to reclaim land, inundated by seawater after the tsunami due to tilting of the land mass. The project, Post Seismic Relaxation in Andaman and Nicobar, had already recorded a tilt of four-and-a-half metres along the North-South belt of the 572 island conglomerate in the Indian Ocean and an East-West tilt of two-and-a-half metres, explaining why most of the 1700 hectares of paddy fields in Port Blair's eastern coast were still submerged in water. People and fishermen have not ventured into the sea during the last few days, fearing another disastrous tsunami.
Mentawai Islands, off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia - Thursday, May 17 & Friday, May 18, has seen an amazing 20-25 feet plus swell hit the Mentawai Island chain. A number of surfers ventured out and scored some of the most epic barrels of their lives. "On Thursday, there was a set of at least 9 waves that were maxing 20 feet - but absolutely perfect...some of the most amazing waves I've ever seen. They were every bit of 25 feet. Just wish I had a camera! " Not everyone was so lucky though. The local villagers of Katiet were swamped by the swell which combined with a seasonal Monsoonal King Tide and has left their village under 0.5 metres of water. "This is the first time we have had so much water in the village. Normally we get a little but spend our time watching the surfers in the big waves. This time, we were too busy to watch as we were bailing out the water. " A resort owner was amazed at the size of the swell. "I've never seen anything like this first hand. The surf was massive."

SPAIN - A quiet holiday in Alicante, Spain ended in tragedy for a British couple when they were swallowed up by a FREAK WAVE, sucked out to sea and one of them drowned. It was before lunchtime on Friday, May 18, when they were walking from the water after a swim in the sea at Cala Estaca beach when a freak wave sucked them under the water and pulled them both out to sea. The woman was able to free herself from the water, however, the 21-year-old male was unable to extricate himself and tragically drowned.

VOLCANOES -
RUSSIA - The Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has spewed a major ash column to a height of up to eight kilometres above sea level. The plume is moving to the southeast. There is no danger to nearby populated localities. Klyuchi settlement is located 32 kilometres from the volcano and no fallout of volcanic dust has been registered there. However, the volcano roar and explosions can be heard in this settlement with a population of about 5,000. “House windows are trembling from them.” Two lava flows over two kilometres in length are observed on the volcano slope. They are melting the mount’s glacier at a height of about three kilometres. Phreatic explosions occur when the hot lava with a temperature of 1,000 degrees comes in contact with ice. Volcanic bombs are spewed from the crater to a height of up to 500 metres.

PHILIPPINES - After finding lahar deposits in Bulusan Volcano in Bicol, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned Sorsogon residents to take precautions. The volcano has at least three cracks from where steam came out. But what prompted them to issue the warning was the lahar deposits that may endanger villages around the volcano when the rains come. Weather forecasters expect heavy rains to come in the next few months because of the La Niña phenomenon. The United States and the United Kingdom warned their citizens against travel near the Bulusan volcano. The alert level has been raised from “1" to “2" by Phivolcs. “There is a four-kilometre Permanent Danger Zone within which no entry is allowed. Furthermore, areas beyond this zone which are downwind are likely to be affected by ash falls." Alert Level 2 indicated evidence of “magmatic intrusion that could eventually lead to an eruption." Earlier, the embassy noted both Mayon volcano in Albay and Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Oriental are on Alert Level 1. It noted the general public is prohibited from entering the four-kilometre radius Permanent Danger Zones around the two volcanoes. “You should avoid the areas surrounding the volcanoes as sudden steam and ash explosions may occur."

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - The hundreds of people who fled their home on Siassi Island in Papua New Guinea are refusing to return home until they get an assurance that the volanic eruption which drove them to higher ground at the weekend won’t happen again. Reports from the local disaster and emergency centre in Morobe province say up to two thousand people fled their home after the eruption on nearby Ritter Island. A resident on Siassi Island, Stella Aitova, says they’re still waiting for the experts to assess the volcano and people won’t return home until then.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

BARBADOS - There may be good news for Barbados hurricane-wise as the recent trend of near misses caused by intense hurricane activity in the southern Caribbean may soon change. This could all be due to climate change. Projections coming out of last year's United Nations conference on climate change indicated that hurricane systems would soon return to their traditional pattern of passing through the northern Caribbean. In recent years, several devastating systems such as Tropical Storm Lili and Hurricanes Ivan and Emily wreaked havoc in the southern Caribbean, barely missing Barbados as they took an UNUSUAL PATH through the southern region. However, the "medium to long-term outlook is for systems to form further north, to return to the old track". The strength of a high pressure weather system known as the Bermuda High had been partly responsible for pushing hurricanes further south in recent times. However, while Barbadians might be able to breathe easier in the future, this year's hurricane season is predicted to be very active. United States government forecasters yesterday predicted a busier than normal season. National Weather Service forecasters said they expected 13 to 17 tropical storms, with seven to ten of them becoming hurricanes. Forecaster William Gray predicted that this year's season would be more active than usual, with an "above-average" chance of hurricane landfall in the Caribbean. According to Gray and his team, the 2007 season would have 17 named storms, way above the average of 9.6. They are also forecasting nine hurricanes, again more than the average of 5.9, and five major (Category 3, 4 or 5) hurricanes. The likelihood of above normal hurricane activity was 75 per cent, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
CHINA - Lightning struck a school in southwest China killing seven children and injuring 40 pupils and teachers. The accident happened during a rain storm yesterday at a village school in Chongqing municipality.

CAMEROON - Five children were killed by a lightning bolt while gathering firewood in a forest in northeastern Cameroon. The month of May typically sees heavy rains in the Adamawa Plateau region of the Central African country.

INDIA - Four sheep-rearing children, who took shelter under a tree, were killed when lightning struck at Burjugadda thanda of Shamshabad, on Wednesday evening. The children rushed to a nearby tree abutting a huge rock for shelter from rain. Minutes later, the lightning struck leaving all the four dead on the spot and injuring another girl standing beside them.

SNOW / COLD -
SOUTH AFRICA - Millions of South Africa's poor living in homemade shacks tried to keep warm this week, and 22 people have died, mostly due to exposure or fire-related incidents. The South African Weather Service reported 54 NEW RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES nationwide. The lowest minimum temperature of 18 degrees was expected in the eastern town of Standerton today. Icy conditions are expected to persist for about another week as a series of cold fronts pass over the country.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 -

A quiet day.

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.
Vince Lombardi

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/22/07 -
5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.2 VANUATU

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
HAWAII - The weekend's voggy weather is likely to stick around through today. The recent shift from trade winds to light southeasterly breezes produced these sticky conditions and brought the hazy air from the Big Island's Kilauea Volcano to Maui and O'ahu. Southeasterly winds are RARE in Hawai'i, where trade winds dominate much of the wind pattern. Wind from the south — commonly referred to as Kona wind — doesn't bring the vog with it. A high-pressure ridge is blocking the usual trade wind, causing the wind shift that resulted in hazy, voggy conditions. "It's been quite hazy, like we're in L.A." This kind of wind pattern is UNCOMMON during the early summer months. "This is normally something that occurs during the winter months, late fall and early spring. The summer months are the steadiest trade-wind days, when it blows maybe about 90 to 95 percent of the time."

HEAT /DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
GEORGIA - Drought could stop all outdoor water use, after ONE OF THE DRIEST SPRINGS IN RECENT HISTORY. The lingering drought - now categorized as "extreme" in 74 Georgia counties - already has led state authorities to limit outdoor water use to only a few days each week. If it intensifies, state officials could soon decide whether to limit most outdoor water usage to one weekend day or even ban it altogether. Farmers are also facing their own tough decision: Whether planting some crops is even worth the hassle. The state's $50 billion agricultural industry already is under siege by the drought and the outlook is withering. Staples such as corn, which usually soak up water around this time of the year, are particularly suffering. And Georgia peanut farmers, who typically plant the seeds in May, are holding off for now.

ALABAMA - It's being called the WORST DROUGHT IN ALABAMA IN NEARLY FIFTY YEARS. The lack of rain taking its toll on everything from drinking water in some towns to electricity production. The dry conditions are perhaps most obvious on the state's lakes and rivers. A close look at the shore line and bridges at Lake Martin reveals a 4-foot drop in the water level over recent weeks.

HEALTH THREATS -
COLORADO - PLAGUE - Officials at Denver Zoo are taking precautions to avoid an outbreak of plague after a monkey at the zoo died of the disease. The zoo's 17 remaining capuchin monkeys have been put into an isolated cage and are being treated with antibiotics. Zoo officials suspect the monkey caught the disease from the carcass of an infected squirrel it may have eaten. Several squirrels and a rabbit have been found dead of the disease in recent weeks near the zoo. Veterinarians say there is little risk of the plague spreading to humans but visitors are being warned to avoid squirrels and rabbits. The disease is normally found in some wild animals in Colorado during the spring, but usually in rural areas. "We see it every year in wild rodents. But it's uncommon circulating in tree squirrels in urban neighbourhoods, including metro Denver."

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.
Confucious

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/21/07 -
5.1 SOLOMON ISLANDS

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
Tourist beaches in Southeast Asia reopened on Monday after giant waves triggered by intense winds thousands of kilometres away crashed ashore last week, reviving memories of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The waves, which were 7 metres (23 feet) high in some areas late last week, struck large parts of Indonesia, the Maldives, Thailand and Western Australia. There was no official warning about the freakish waves that killed at least one person, damaged hundreds of homes and displaced thousands of people. Weather officials said the waves were the result of an accumulation of winds in one spot on the ocean, but were looking at why they were so intense. The phenomenon was likely caused by Kelvin waves, giant waves caused by a surge of irregular wind patterns in the Indian Ocean. It could have easily been predicted because such waves commonly occur around this time. "However, we didn't expect the waves to be of this size, that's why we need to analyse the other factors first before arriving at a conclusion." The European Space Agency said the huge waves were generated by intense storm winds in the Southern Ocean on May 8. The waves originated south of Cape Town in South Africa and travelled northeast for nearly 4,000 km (2,500 miles) over three days before slamming into Reunion Island on May 12. Using satellites, French researchers tracked the huge swell as it travelled northeast, hitting first Reunion, Madagascar, the Maldives and finally Indonesia. Initial forecasts were for waves only a couple of metres in height, but due to the large time period between swells, around 19 seconds, the intensity of the waves was much greater. Australia's big surf breaks around Margaret River in southwest Australia were pounded by waves up to 20 feet as the huge westerly swell hit the coast. Huge waves later hit Bali, washing away beachside restaurants and fishing boats. "This month there has been an ASTRONOMICALLY EXTREME PHENOMENON. The tidal waves were caused by a combination of several factors, including winds travelling at extreme speed in the Indian Ocean." (damage photos)

ICELAND - A 75 year-old woman from Pennsylvania on her fifth trip to Iceland drowned Saturday at Reynisfjara beach, South Iceland, after a large wave crashed into the shore and pulled her out to sea. Her tour group stopped at the beach for its popular scenic view looking out over the rock formations and cliffs by the sea. It is a known danger to go too far down the beach because of the massive waves that can rise up without warning and pull people out to sea. When the group arrived at the beach at 3:00pm the sea seemed relatively calm, with little risk of fatal waves coming in on the tide.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA - On Saturday, tidal waves created by the eruption of Ritter Island smashed into Kabi and Kampalap villages on the eastern part of Siassi Island, flattening four houses and sending about 10,000 local villagers fleeing to the hills for safety. (see item under 'Volcanoes" below.)

VOLCANOES -
PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Up to 2000 villagers have fled to higher ground from their seaside homes on Siassi Island in Papua New Guinea, for fear of tsunamis, after a volcanic eruption on nearby Ritter Island. There were no reports from the island of casualties, but sea surges reportedly destroyed four houses and a boat following Saturday's eruption. "They reported waves and the level of the sea rising. They still hear rumbling noises and see smoke coming out of the island and had a few tremors last night." The islands lie between the PNG mainland and the island of New Britain. The Rabaul Volcanological Observatory and the Geophysical Observatory did not pick up indicative seismic activity of the eruption on their equipment. Minor eruptions occurred on the uninhabited Ritter Island in 1972 and 1974. In 1888 half the island collapsed in an eruption that triggered massive tsunamis that claimed an estimated 3000 lives on surroundings islands and the PNG mainland. On April 2 this year an 8.1 magnitude quake triggered a tsunami in the northwest Solomon Islands that killed 52 people and left thousands homeless. Many are still camped on higher ground above their destroyed seaside homes. Aftershock quakes measuring above 5.0 magnitude continue to shake the region.
There was no seismic activity in the area to indicate that the eruption was imminent, catching the Rabaul Volcanic Observatory by surprise. Ritter Island is an active volcano. The island is spewing ash and smoke. Thousands of people on the eastern side of the Siassi Island in Morobe province are homeless after fleeing to higher grounds after the nearby active Ritter Island blew up. Reports from the area confirmed that tidal waves created by the eruption smashed into Kabi and Kampalap villages on the eastern part of Siassi Island, flattening four houses and sending about 10,000 local villagers fleeing to the hills for safety. Reports did not say whether tidal waves generated by the latest eruption were as destructive to other small islands in the area and parts of the East and West New Britain provinces. The aftershocks from the latest volcanic eruption could trigger further tsunamis and it was advisable for the people in low lying villages and areas to move to higher grounds for their safety.

RUSSIA - The Klyuchevskaya Spoka volcano on Kamchatka is emitting ash to the distance of 30-360 kilometers at the height varying from 6.5 through eight kilometers. A minor amount of ash has fallen in the village of Klyuchi, 32 kilometers away. Villagers could hear the volcano roaring, yet could not see it because of thick clouds. There is no threat to the Klyuchi population. The seismic activity of Klyucheskaya Sopka remains high. Over 220 tremors occurred over the day, and it was impossible to monitor the seismic activity of another two active volcanoes, Shiveluch and Bezymyanny. This eruption started on February 15. Lava is pouring down for nearly two kilometers and the volcano’s snowcap is melting. Meanwhile, an eruption of the Bezymyanny Volcano, also in Kamchatka, started on May 12. The volcano emitted steam and ash. Visual monitoring of the volcano was impossible as clouds were thick, but satellites confirmed a thermal anomaly. Heated gas, steam, water and rock fragments poured down the volcano slope, and an ash emission stretched northeastward. Volcanic ash fell down in the Klyuchi village, which is located 40 kilometers away. “The ash fall was rather large, about 320 grams per one square meter, which shows that the eruption was strong. It seems that the volcano emitted ash to the height of nine kilometers.” In the opinion of some experts, Bezymyanny is calming down. The latest prior eruption occurred in December 2006 and was very strong. Bezymyanny erupts once or twice a year. On another Kamchatka volcano, Shiveluch, activity started on December 5, 2006. Shiveluch volcano emitted ash to the height of 6,000 meters, and volcanic stones tumbled down volcano slopes. The nearby villages are not in danger.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Typhoon YUTU was 611 nmi SSE of Tokyo, Japan.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
FLORIDA -The rainy season officially arrived May 14, almost a week ahead of schedule and the EARLIEST START SINCE 1995, when it began on April 25. On average, the rainy season begins May 20 and runs through mid-October. This year's season also is a bit UNUSUAL in that it was launched by a series of cold fronts that created stormy weather. Normally, the season is triggered when the dew point temperature reaches 70 degrees, an indicator that the atmosphere is loaded with moisture. That threshold, however, has yet to be reached. "We haven't had that deep tropical moisture yet, but we've had other factors that compensated for it. We've had a lot of instability in the atmosphere due to warm surface air and cold air aloft." Rainy season usually produces about 42 inches of rain, or about 70 percent of the region's annual rainfall. In commencing early, it should ease the severe drought. But it would take a much wetter season than normal to end it.

BANGLADESH & BURMA - Border trade between Bangladesh and Burma was stopped temporarily Sunday due to heavy winds and rain. Many goods and traders have piled up on both sides in the border towns. In the border trade there is only one transportation route between the Burmese town of Maungdaw and the Bangladeshi town of Teknaf, which requires crossing the Naff River in a small ferry. Heavy winds and rain yesterday in the border area caused high waves and swift tides in the Naff River such that the ferry was unable to cross. One businessman said that he HAS NOT SEEN SUCH HEAVY RAINFALL IN TEN YEARS, and it has caused flooding everywhere in the border town of Teknaf.

SOUTH AFRICA - Over the weekend, persistent heavy rain flooded roads and homes, sent trees crashing on to roads and transformed tiny streams into torrents. Winter weather, caused by a north-westerly storm generated by a cut-off low pressure system, caused widespread flooding and damage that left more than 1,000 people temporarily homeless. The heavy rain and high winds destroyed a newly built church in Vrygrond, submerged roads and shacks, and hit a major power line, plunging much of the southern Peninsula into darkness.

CHINA - A national command center for weather modification will be built before 2010 to coordinate the practices of rainmaking and hail suppression around the country. China regularly suffers from natural disasters, and its weather-modification operations are the largest in the world. Thirty of the country's 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative regions, and 1,952 of about 2,900 counties have been involved in such operations and they are equipped with 7,113 anti-aircraft guns, 4,991 special rocket launchers and more than 32,300 people. Since 1999, some 250 billion tons of rain have been created and 470,000 sq km of land have been protected from hail. By 2010, the volume of artificial rain is expected to reach 50 billion tons a year. Weather modification is even being used to help Beijing prevent a downpour forecast for the opening day of the 2008 Olympics. All weather-modification efforts will be coordinated by the central government with support from provincial, municipal and county administrations by 2010. A national weather-modification experimental base will also be launched. Having a national command center and experimental base will better protect the country against extreme weather conditions. China is at more risk of being hit this year by extreme weather, such as drought, floods and typhoons, than at any time over the past decade because of climate change.

CLIMATE CHANGE-
INDIA - Is the weather pattern changing? Monsoons last year saw deficient rains. Winters were fogless. Now summers are witnessing more rains than usually witnessed during this time of the year. Average rainfall from March 1, 2007 to May 16, 2007 was 121% more than the normal standard set for the period. In fact, every district on an average received 48.5 mm rains in said period in comparison to 22.0 mm normally. The phenomenon was widespread. Out of 57-met-districts in the state, 37 witnessed rains more than normal standard. Rainfall exceeded normals by more than 100% at 26 districts. At five places it was more than 300%. In 26-met-districts rainfall was normal or below normal. Ghazipur topped the list by receiving 104.1 mm rains which was 428% above normal. In Bahraich, Azamgarh and Lucknow, the rainfall was 396%, 360% and 330% above normals, respectively. Auraiya, Badaun, Ferozabad and Jyotiba Phule Nagar witnessed rains 229%-297% above normal standards. Significantly, the weather trend has been irregular since the start of 2006. The usual chill was missing from the winters followed by ‘humid’ summers, while the entire month of May was lashed by rains and thunderstorms. Total rainfall in monsoon was 30% less than normal, followed by winters sans fog. Now summer 2007, which is also referred to as post-winter and pre-monsoon session by meteorologists, has also been continuously lashed by rains and thunder showers over the last two and half months, giving rise to fears that monsoon might again go dry this year, if the present situation continues. The change in wind pattern led to a rise in maximum temperatures all over the state on Monday. Dry hot westerly winds dominated the climate, replacing moisture laden easterlies. It was the FIRST TIME IN THE MONTH OF MAY THAT PEOPLE FACED DRY HOT WINDS popularly known as "loo" in this part of the world. While Kanpur was the hottest by recording 42.2 Degrees Celsius maximum temperature, Lucknow was simmering at 41 degrees Celsius. While the weather has been behaving in an HIGHLY UNUSUAL MANNER over the last year, the period taken for assessment is too small to make any sweeping remarks about change in weather pattern. "Weather calculations are based on a period not less than 20 years."

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
- RECALLED - McCall Farms of Effingham, South Carolina, is voluntarily recalling more than 2,500 cases of canned Margaret Holmes Seasoned Turnip Greens after tests confirmed trace amounts of diesel fuel in product samples. The recalled product was distributed to retail stores in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Monday, May 21, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Like a tropical storm, I, too, may one day become 'better organized.'
Lydia Davis

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/20/07 -
5.0 SEA OF JAPAN
5.2 SIKKIM, INDIA
5.0 KHABAROVSKIY KRAY, RUSSIA
5.4 COQUIMBO, CHILE

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
MALDIVES - the government has appealed to the international community for aid to deal with the damage caused by floods from tidal swells which began on Tuesday. The UNPRECEDENTED sea swells caused extensive flooding, inflicting damage to homes, livelihoods and infrastructure in many parts of the country since the 15th of the month. Floods caused by storm surges had affected 55 of the 197 islands in the Maldives on Tuesday, some local reports say 80. A Director of the Ministry of Atolls Development has hit out at the central government’s reaction to the recent widespread flooding, saying it shows that lessons from the tsunami have not been learnt. “We should have learnt our lessons from the December 2004 tsunami and the disaster preparedness or mitigation plans, awareness creation and training should have taken place after the period following the tsunami. Instead, what happened recently was an ad-hoc reaction to an unprecedented event.” The “usual donors” will continue to be relied upon if changes are not made. “Disaster management functions should be decentralised to the local level instead of local authorities having to go through government red-tape and bureaucracy. Communities should be taught and mobilized to be self-reliant and to be resilient in such situations.” The government’s chief spokesperson had said Tuesday’s “simultaneous flooding of 55 islands was UNPRECEDENTED...there is no record of such an event apart from the tsunami.” The government had played down the gravity of the event however, and had even claimed, “media reports of tidal waves are exaggerations…these are clearly storm surges [which] regularly happen in the Maldives at this time of year.” But following renewed floods in Gaaf Dhaal atoll on Thursday afternoon, the situation worsened and the cabinet called for assistance and they admitted “the damage is much worse than we initially thought.” "This is the SECOND BIGGEST FLOOD DISASTER IN OUR HISTORY AFTER THE TSUNAMI. Unlike the tsunami, flood waters have destroyed a lot of agricultural land. Assistance will be needed for the restoration of livelihoods." NEVER IN THE COUNTRY'S RECORDED HISTORY HAD SO MANY ISLANDS FACED FLOODING SIMULTANEOUSLY. (photo)
The people of Fares Mathoda, Gaaf Dhaal atoll, reportedly abandoned the island, which was submerged, and took to boats at around 12:30 Tuesday night, on May 15th. The Maldives Meteorological Office warned all islands to be braced for further UNUSUAL tides through Wednesday and possibly Thursday. The Met Office could not explain why the sudden swell had taken place but had said it is definitely not the result of a tsunami. The worst affected islands appear to be those exposed to open sea, the "fringe islands." A swell of between one and two feet first washed through about ten islands at around 9.30am Tuesday morning, causing much flooding, and continued to affect further islands. Many homes have been flooded by the swell, and many families have been left without electricity. (photo)
A Meteorological Office forecaster says storm surges are not responsible for the widespread flooding in the Maldives. “We don’t do oceanography here, but we don’t think it can be storm surges. Storm surges don’t last three or four days. They normally just last one day. This is not a normal swell. The sea is not rough. The waves are also not constant. A huge wave comes all of a sudden. The truth of all this should be told.” “All the houses near the sea have been damaged. Walls have collapsed, furniture has been washed away and families have lost all their belongings.”

INDONESIA - After destroying hundreds of houses across the coastal lines of Java, Bali and western Sumatra, tidal waves struck the coasts of eastern Indonesian islands of Lombok and Flores, forcing more than 1,000 people to flee their homes, local media reports said Sunday. While residents across the southern coast of Java and Bali, and the western coast of Sumatra, were cleaning out debris from their homes which were damaged by the tidal waves two days earlier, the huge waves heavily damaged or destroyed more than 150 homes along coastlines on Lombok and Flores islands. Weather officials say the waves were a result of the accumulation of winds in one spot and are not linked with annual weather patterns. Forecasters warned that high waves may reoccur in the coming days. Tidal waves have pounded coastlines in 11 provinces in Indonesia, from Aceh, on the northern end of Sumatra to the southern tourist resort island of Bali since Thursday, with the southern coast of Java the worst hit. On the western coast of Aceh, at least 4,00 residents had to abandon their homes after sea-water flooding Thursday.

VOLCANOES -
PHILIPPINES - scientists raised the alert level on restive Mount Bulusan volcano on Sunday after detecting increasing signs of activity that could be a precursor to a new bout of explosive eruptions. The volcano in Sorsogon province, about 390km southeast of Manila, has been showing signs of unrest since coming back to life in March 2006 with on-and-off ash and steam explosions. Since it ejected ash on May 12, the mountain’s northeastern slope has swelled slightly and abnormally high numbers of earthquakes have been recorded, prompting authorities on Sunday to raise the public alert level from one to two on a five-step scale.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Typhoon YUTU was 599 nmi NW of Saipan, N. Mariana Islands.

Typhoon Yutu, the second named storm of the Western Pacific cyclone season, headed for the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, with winds of 212 kilometers per hour, (132 miles per hour). The eye of Yutu, where winds are gusting to as high as 258 kilometers per hour, was about 502 kilometers southwest of Iwo Jima at 9 a.m. Japan time, according to the latest advisory on the Navy's Web site. Yutu, a Category Four storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was moving northeast at about 29 kilometers an hour and is forecast to cross Iwo Jima, which is 1,224 kilometers south of Tokyo, by tonight. Wave heights in the vicinity of Yutu's eye are 12 meters (40 feet). By tonight the storm is forecast to weaken to a Category Two storm with 175 kilometer per hour winds and is expected to continue losing strength as it maintains a northeasterly path. By tomorrow night Yutu will probably weaken into a tropical storm.

BANGLADESH - Five sailors were rescued by local fishermen from where they were found floating in the coastal area of Manaung Island after their ship sank during cyclone Akash. However, two other sailors are still missing after the ship sank on May 14. In Bangladesh there are about 100 fishermen that have been missing since the cyclone; the bodies of two cyclone victims were recovered by Bangladeshi authorities in the coastal area of Teknaf Townshipon May 18.

"FEMA Vows They're Ready For Hurricane Season" - Yet FEMA admits that they will not have their emergency response plans ready by the start of this hurricane season on June 1. Compounding the problem, the levees that failed to protect New Orleans two years ago are still not up to code and there is turmoil at the agency in charge of predicting and tracking storms with the new director of the National Hurricane Center publicly announcing that they are being denied the proper resources to perform their job. Some are even saying that the Iraq war has drained states of National Guard resources that play a key role in any emergency response within the U.S. One forecaster is predicting at least nine hurricanes will hit the United States this season. There has already been movement in the gulf when tropical storm Andrea formed off the Northern Florida coast two weeks ago. (video)

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
BULGARIA - A landslide caused by the heavy torrential rains blocked the E79 European road in the Vladaya suburb of Bulgarian capital Sofia late on Sunday. The road links the city to the southwestern part of the country, continuing on to Greece. Another landslide blocked a lesser road, from Sofia to Samokov in the foothills of the Rila Mountains. The torrential downpour has swelled the small rivers passing through the Bulgarian capital, causing minor damages and slowing down traffic. (photo)

CLIMATE CHANGE-
NORTH CAROLINA - Fish in Townsend Lake seem confused by the unusual weather. Fishermen found that the fish were following a seemingly aimless pattern : some pre-spawn, some post-spawn, some just about to move into the spawn. "The fish were all confused. We've had weird weather this year, so they're all screwed up."

PAKISTAN - Earlier characterized as a remote threat, the effects of global warming have started emerging in Pakistan with summers becoming hotter and winters chillier, making it unbearable for human beings to adapt themselves to the sharply swinging mercury. In some areas of NWFP an unprecedented freezing cold weather was recorded this year that crippled life and its routine activities. The meteorologists' have predicted record hot weather this year which would enhance chances of health related problems apart from increasing shortages of food and water. Moreover, due to the changing global weather, the risk of heavy floods would increase that would inundate low lying areas. The world renowned meteorologists maintain that the lives of high number of people are at great risk due to the rapidly altering weather. According to the research of Psychology experts, the rising suicide ratio in the society is also caused by the altering atmosphere which is one of the major factors leading to the behavioral change in people. Likewise, meteorologists and weather experts have forewarned of acute dearth of food and water by the year 2020 and have said that 2007 would be the hottest year after 1850 when the recording of temperatures was started.

Sunday, May 20, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Political languange ... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
George Orwell

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/19/07 -
5.2 FIJI REGION
5.0 LA RIOJA, ARGENTINA
5.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION

5/18/07 -
5.1 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.0 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
5.5 NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.
5.5 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.2 TONGA
5.3 TONGA
5.4 D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION

CHILE - The Aysen region was declared a disaster area when a 6.2 degree earthquake shook the city three weeks ago. The 30-second quake caused giant waves between seven and 20 meters high and landslides in the region, and 11 people were swept away. At least a third of the inhabitants affected by the earthquake emigrated to nearby cities for more security. Overall, scientists measured more than 4,000 tremors in just the three months of late January to late April. A team of scientists dispatched to the area in late January concluded that the quakes are likely being caused by an underground magma flow, located below the floor of the nearby Aysén fjord and could be related to the birth of an undersea volcano. Now a Chilean Armada study has dismissed damages in the seabed of the Aysen southern region, despite the strong tremors in recent days. The study showed a lack of volcanic cone under the water.
Neither the press nor the government has paid proper attention to what may over time prove to be a devastating and long-term environmental effect of the April quake: escaped salmon. At the time of the earthquake, 14 salmon farms operated within the Aysén Fjord. Together the farms may have housed as many as 14 million fish. As a result of the quake, which caused serious physical damage to the farms, some of those 14 million salmon must certainly have escaped. “Even if just 10 percent of (the fish) escaped, we could be looking at the worst environmental disaster to have yet taken place in the fjords of Aysén. Because salmon is a carnivorous species, (the escape) could, among other associated problems, affect the area’s native fish stocks.”

NEPAL - A series of earthquakes on Wednesday created panic among the residents of Taplejung's eastern remote villages. Cracks appeared in most of the houses and people were forced to spend the night in the open. The earthquakes recurred at 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm. The Richter scale of the earthquakes could not be known due to a lack of Seismographs in the region. The land began to emit smoke after the earthquakes. The earthquakes also caused landslides in some areas. There was no report of human casualty, but some cattle died in the landslides.
UPDATE - Fear among locals of Taplejung's eastern region has not subsided, the area is witnessing a recurrence of earthquakes over the last three days - from Wednesday through Friday. Mudslides and stones coming loose continued in the area on Friday as well. Many houses have developed cracks and some of them have crumbled after the earthquake, while the local school was damaged and classes are disrupted. The rooftops of dozens of houses were destroyed after the earthquake and rooms were also damaged as the ground floor cracked. The area has received 15 jolts since Wednesday 10:00 am. The repeated jolts have sparked fears of a volcanic eruption. An eruption occurred at Mehele's Sadhukuti many years ago. The locals are alarmed at the repeated jolts. To add to their agony, the rescue operations have not been carried out in an effective manner. The 15,000 quake-affected people are spending nights under the open sky in spite of rain, because there were no tents. The rescue operation is facing challenges due to the remoteness and pre-monsoon rainfall.

MALAYSIA - "Although Malaysia is located on the stable Sunda plate, pressure on the continent is mounting because the Australian, Eurasian and Philippine plates around us are moving and pushing into us. To relieve this stress, cracks occur on the surface. As the pressure intensifies, cracks are more frequent and bigger." The major Aceh earthquake in 2004 disturbed the surrounding plates. The plates are moving closer towards the Sumatran fault line and a shift of a few centimetres towards the west was recorded after the incident. "We are now closer to the epicentre. In the event of an earthquake, the pressure will be greater." They are only 350km away from the closest active fault line in Sumatra. Strong earthquakes could cause severe damage in areas up to 400km away from its epicentre. Year after year, neighbouring tectonic plates inch towards theirs from all directions. Putrajaya and Klang are sitting on the kind of soil most susceptible to tremors. And on every other day, new fault lines are unearthed in Sabah. Sabah has experienced the most earthquakes — 78 in the last century. Sabah still has many active young faults and rock formations and its rocks are only 150 million years old, making them new kids on the block in geological terms. Compared with formations in the peninsula which are 500 million years old, these tertiary rocks are still unstable. Malaysia is also only 700km from another trouble zone, off Sumatra’s west coast, where the 2004 earthquake and tsunami originated. In Ipoh a few months after the Aceh earthquake, they discovered 50 sinkholes.

TSUNAMI /FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - Coastlines across Indonesia have been inundated by high waves, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people. An accummulation of strong winds in the Indian Ocean has been blamed for the UNUSUAL tidal surge causing havoc along Indonesia's coastline. Tidal surges up to seven metres high have damaged hundreds of homes in several provinces, and sent tourists fleeing from the beaches of Bali, also destroying hundreds of fishing boats. The 11 provinces that suffered from high waves included Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bengkulu and Lampung provinces on Sumatra island. High waves also struck major coastlines of Java and Bali islands. No casualties have been recorded so far by the UNUSUAL waves. West Java province was the worst hit, with at least 200 houses swept away by the tidal waves along the coast of Pelabuhan Ratu. Weather forecasters have predicted the high waves would occur in the upcoming days and warned tourists to avoid coastline areas.
Television footage showed the high waves crashing into the tourist island of Bali, parts of the southern coast of Java island and Sukabumi area in West Java where dozens of residents scrambled inland as flood waters flowed into a little village. "More than 400 people escaped from their houses since the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the tidal waves will last for three days." Weather officials said the waves which began hitting the Indonesian coast on Thursday and continued on Friday were UNUSUAL and not linked with the annual weather pattern. One scientist said "the moon is in line with the sun and this, therefore, results in higher tidal waves than usual. Tidal waves are predicted to occur for three days, then it will be normal again." Another weather official said the waves were caused by winds accumulating in one spot. "What happened today was caused by winds accumulating in certain spots, causing the sea to rise and move towards the beach. Tidal waves caused by wind movement are VERY RARE. It's rather ODD actually ... It will be normal in three days." (photo)
The massive waves pounded Indonesia's coastlines for a third day Saturday, forcing fishermen to stay on land and keeping tourists from the beaches. One person was killed by the huge waves that began hitting coasts across the sprawling archipelago on Thursday and dozens of fishing boats were destroyed by the rushing waters that rose as high as 7m in some areas. The waves receded to 1.5-2m in some parts today, but weather officials still warned fishermen against sailing in the Java Sea. The waves could rise up to 3m in the Indian Ocean near the western part of Java. The crashing waves, which have struck all the way from Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra to the resort island of Bali, have triggered panic among residents in some parts. Among the worst hit was Sukabumi regency in West Java where more than 600 people have fled from their homes.
Victims of massive high waves, are counting losses, while the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency warned Saturday that the waves may still occur in the next three days. In Meulaboh, Aceh province, thousands of houses in 10 villages were swept by massive waves, forcing people fled their houses. Meanwhile, in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, the waves also damaged hundreds of houses. High waves also hit Bali, West Sumatra, Pelabuhanratu in West Java, Central Java, and Papua. In Pelabuhanratu, hundreds of high wave victims were still in temporary shelters as their houses were stormed by the waves on Saturday.

THAILAND - A road in Ban Ta Khun district was closed to traffic yesterday after it partially sank due to the presence of large holes underneath it, believed to be the result of a soil-shifting effect caused by the 2004 tsunami. The holes were large enough to sink a car. A new road might have to be built because the road could subside again. The holes, the biggest of them many metres deep, were found near one another. The ground there has been prone to sinking after the tsunami hit Andaman coastal provinces, although Surat Thani borders the Gulf of Thailand. The deadly waves brought about wide geographical changes, causing large gaps in the soil in some of the southern provinces. The area is made of carbonate rock, a rock type that typically has cavities. The rock cannot resist heavy weights and needs ground water to support it. Geologists believe the powerful earthquake which triggered the tsunami may have caused water to flow out through cracks in the soil. The loose soil structure had to bear the weight of water from rainfall, contributing to the land sinking. Elsewhere, heavy rain and high tides continued to cause flash floods, affecting commercial areas and farmland. In Phuket, some beaches, including popular Patong beach, were closed to swimmers due to high tide and strong waves. Floods inundated low-lying areas in Ayutthaya's Bang Ban, Phak Hai and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya districts as water overflowed from the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers. Badly hit is Bang Ban district where crops and garden vegetables grown on the river banks were submerged. The vegetables were planted after the floods late last year and residents were hoping to make money off them. The overflowing water in the province was mainly caused by high tides on May 17 and 19. The floods now threaten many archaeological sites and ancient temples. Officials are closely monitoring the situation and will designate the affected areas as "disaster zones". (photo)
Provincial authorities are guarding beaches in Phuket, banning swimming and access to the beaches due to dangerously strong winds and high tide. This week's unusually high tide peaks Saturday at Phuket Island. Life has slowed to a standstill with the rising tide affecting beachfront shops, homes, and seaside restaurants. Would-be holiday-makers instead gazed raptly at waves which are three- to four-metres high. Crowds of residents and tourists watched the beach with a kind of grim fascination, calling to mind memories of the twin giant waves in 2004.

REUNION - The origin and movement of waves reaching up to 11 metres that devastated France’s Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean on Saturday evening, May 12, have been detected by satellite. The waves that thrashed the southern port of Saint Pierre, leaving two fishermen missing, causing several piers to collapse and flooding several homes and businesses, originated south of Cape Town, South Africa, and travelled northeast for nearly 4000 km over a period of three days before slamming into Reunion Island. "Swells are still surprise factors, which can unfortunately be deadly." Although waves were forecast to hit Reunion Island, their intensity was predicted to be only a couple of metres. Swell periods are typically in the range of 12 to 25 seconds." A larger wave period correlates to a more extreme wind event. The one that hit Saint Pierre, Reunion Island, had a 19-second range and initially originated from very intense storm winds on May 8. Waves of all wavelengths and travelling in several directions are generated by storms. Upon leaving the storm, they disperse and those with the longest wavelengths travel the fastest. Approaching the coastline, the wave system slows down and individual waves increase to easily reach at least two times the mean average of their initial wave height.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Typhoon YUTU was 578 nmi SE of Kadena AB, Okinawa.

Tropical storm Amang (international name Yutu) entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
TIBET - There's growing concern for people living in a remote county of Tibet where days of torrential rains have triggered an avalanche and mud-slide closing the only highway to Zayu County isolating more than 22,000 people. As of Thursday morning no casualties had been reported but there has been little contact with villagers and herders in the area. Zayu has received more than 140 millimeters of rainfall since Monday, more than half of the county's monthly average for May. Located in southeastern Tibet, Zayu County borders India and Myanmar and has a total population of 26,200. More than 1,000 cubic meters of snow covered a 90-meter-long stretch of highway, while the mud slide left a 35-meter-deep gully on another section of the road.

CYPRUS - Mountainous areas and villages in Limassol felt the brunt of a freak hailstorm that lashed the Troodos range. Residents said they sustained catastrophic damages to their fields and crops from the heavy rain and hailstorms to strike the villages of Amiandos, Chandria, Pelendri, Agros and Kyperounta. The violent downpour started at around 3:30pm and residents of the villages could only look on in horror as the rainstorm was followed by one hour of hailstones which some witnesses said were the size of walnuts. The narrow streets of Chandria were iced with hailstones with elderly residents of the village inspecting their roofs and gardens to examine the severity of the damage. Fields were flooded as were the roads especially in the mountains. The Kyperounta–Agros road was closed off well into the night due to heavy floods and the local authorities were placed on high alert after it was reported that the nearby Xyliatou Dam was close to overflowing. “I grow peaches and my entire crops have been devastated. An entire year’s work was literally ruined in less than hour. It’s hard to believe." Other farmers in the area who grow fruit and vegetables such as figs, grapes and potatoes have also been hit hard by the storms. An elderly woman from Agros said, “In all my years, I have never seen rain and hailstorms like this...we all feared for our safety. It sounded like people were pelting my house with stones and rocks”. Another resident burst into tears. “I am totally ruined. All our crops and even our grapevine have been destroyed. I am lost for words.” Early government reports suggest that the damages could exceed £1 million.

LEBANNON - Spring-time storms have damaged crops across the Chouf Mountains and the Bekaa Valley and led to the flooding of Al-Assi River. Torrential rains in the past few days caused flooding in several parts of the Bekaa, transforming streets into rivers and leaving residents stranded in their homes. The government deployed earth-moving equipment Thursday to redirect waters that had trapped residents in their homes. Farmers in the upper Chouf villages say that high winds and hail this year have smashed both trees and fruits with the cherry crops destroyed. The persistence of cloudy skies and rainfall in May may be part of a broad, long-term alteration of the country's weather patterns. The unpredictable weather has frustrated beachgoers, pedestrians, and farmers. "We never saw such ugly weather since 1948. Our whole season is now at real risk." Tons of fish also perished when Al-Assi flooded leaving behind heavy damages to farms, parks and nearby cafes.

SNOW / COLD -
MONGOLIA - A snowfall hit Bashang on Thursday, an UNUSUAL phenomenon in May in the area. (photos)

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT/ CLIMATE CHANGE-
CANADA - A Manhattan-sized ice island off the northwest coast of Canada's Ellesmere Island could soon be on the move because of extraordinary conditions in the eastern Arctic - a "sentinel" of climate change, being fitted with a tracking device, that can be followed in real time as it travels the Arctic. Huge cracks and areas of open water have been appearing near the Ayles Ice Island in recent weeks. The ice island formed in August 2005 when the Ayles Ice Shelf, which was between 3,000 and 4,500 years old, cracked off Ellesmere Island and slid into the sea. It is 66 square kilometres in area and between 30 and 40 metres thick, making it the LARGEST ICE ISLAND IN CANADA IN 30 YEARS. The island could soon start moving because of the remarkable ice loss occurring in the nearby Lincoln Sea at the northeastern tip of Ellesmere. The sea is losing vast amounts of ice because the Nares Strait ice bridge, which normally forms between Ellesmere Island and Baffin Island in December - and prevents the Arctic ice from moving south, did not form this winter. The loss is also generating enormous fractures in the polar pack ice, some of them hundreds of kilometres long. Large parts of the Lincoln Sea "have essentially been ice-free for the last month or two, which is EXTREMELY UNUSUAL." Huge slabs of thick, hard multi-year ice up to 90-kilometres across have been breaking free in the Lincoln Sea and sailing south, bound for the waters off Labrador and Newfoundland. The ice is coming down and breaking up as it travels through Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea. Some chunks have been spotted as far south as Fogo Island off Newfoundland. In the past, large ice islands have migrated around the Arctic for 40 to 50 years. The big question now is whether Ayles Island, which is expected to head toward the southwest, will become stuck in Canada's Arctic islands, or head for the Beaufort Sea - a prospect that worries oil companies. The Ayles Ice Shelf was one of six ice shelves left in Canada, remnants of a vast icy fringe that covered the top end of Ellesmere for eons.

CROP FAILURE / FOOD SHORTAGES -
MISSOURI - CORN - Tens of thousands of cropland acres were forced under water by recent flooding along the Missouri River and will need to be replanted.

GUATEMALA - CORN - will be scarce in Guatemala in the coming months due to the huge demand in the United States for ethanol production, which is buying and hoarding massive amounts of the grain. In the last six months, a bushel of corn (56 pounds), doubled its price on the US market, from $4 to $8 US because ethanol producers consumed 86 million metric tons, 5 million over the figure planned. Although to date there is no biofuel production using grains in Guatemala, the prices have also begun to increase, up as much as 73 percent. As a result, many producers believing prices will go even higher are making huge purchases of animal fodder, which will affect the availability of corn for human consumption. High prices and shortages will affect lower-income families from June to August, when the second harvest of the year has not even begun. This is just the beginning of the negative effects for the region due to the massive ethanol production promoted by the United States.

33 nations require external food assistance - Most of the countries — 25 to be precise - are from Africa (with exceptional shortfall in aggregate food production and supplies, or widespread lack of access, and severe localized food insecurity). 7 countries in Asia require external food assistance. Nepal is suffering from widespread lack of access to food. Two additional countries with widespread lack of food include Afghanistan (causes include Conflict, Internally Displaced People and returnees, floods) and Dem. People's Rep of Korea (causes include Economic constraints, floods). Iraq is described as having “exceptional shortfall of food” (due mainly to conflict and insecurity, IDPs). Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Timore-Leste face “Severe localized food insecurity.” The only country outside of Africa and Asia with food shortage is Bolivia in Latin America. Adverse weather conditions (floods in lowlands; drought, hail and frost in highlands) in Bolivia have led to severe localized food insecurity. In Africa, millions of Zimbabweans are expected to face food shortages as the country’s economic crisis deepens and inflation continues to skyrocket, while the recent flare-up of conflict in southern Somalia has led to so much displacement that crop production is almost certain to drop sharply around the capital Mogadishu. The “countries in crisis requiring external assistance” in Africa are: Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. But it is not that food supply is limited. In fact food supply has improved, with a record or bumper 2006 cereal crops. The FAO reports says that cereal production is on track to reach 2,095 million tons, an increase of 4.8 per cent on the figures from last year. The bulk of that produce will be maize. The fast-growing biofuels industry is in demand of more and more maize, and that has also contributed to an increase in cereal prices.

ZIMBABWE - WHEAT & MAIZE - the country is facing shortages of bread and flour, the government has warned. It says the planting of this year's wheat crop is well behind target and the season ends in two weeks' time. Farmers have only planted 10% of the expected winter wheat crop. Zimbabwe faces a huge maize deficit this year, making it dependent upon imported food. The government had already declared 2007 "a drought year". Zimbabwe's sugar industry is also experiencing problems, including industrial action by workers and officials are concerned about a nationwide sugar shortage. Last week, households in Zimbabwe were told they would be limited to four hours power supply a day in a move designed to support the country's wheat farmers who need power to irrigate their crops. The monthly rate of inflation rose to 2,200% in March, the highest in the world. This has led to widespread shortages of fuel and food.

WATER SHORTAGES -
AUSTRALIA - The water shortage in the Murray-Darling Basin is significantly worse than first thought. The amount of water flowing into the basin may have been overestimated by as much as 40 per cent, as surface water and ground water have been regarded as separate systems until recently. Southern Australia was particularly feeling the pressure as groundwater tables were depleted. "You've seen quite good rainfalls in some areas but very small stream flows and that's because the ground is very dry, groundwater tables have been depleted and the water is running into that dry sponge which is the earth. "
The water shortage across eastern Australia is now so acute it has begun to affect power supplies, and the country is at risk of electricity shortages next year. "I think we are in denial, and are going to have brownouts in NSW if we don't get snow this winter." Coal and hydro power generation require very large amounts of water, and the Snowy scheme depends on it for 86 per cent of its generation capacity. "Last year we had the lowest snowfall ever recorded. If this happens again we are in trouble." Power stations have a voracious appetite for water, and the shortage is affecting production in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, despite an abundance of coal and gas supplies. "Australia has never factored in the cost of water, which is why it has some of the cheapest power in the world." In January the price of a megawatt hour for delivery to NSW in 2008 was $38. This week the price rose to just over $72, a 90 per cent rise in less than five months. The electricity price in Queensland has more than doubled. It ranks as ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMMODITY PRICE INCREASES EVER SEEN.

TURKEY - Alarm bells are ringing in the country's three-largest cities over water shortages. Officials, startled by the low level of water resources, have been warning the public over the last few days about a possible water shortage crisis. Water levels in dams serving Istanbul indicate supply will last just six more months at current levels. Meteorology reports stating that the weather this summer will be warmer than in former years increases the worries.

BEE DIE-OFF-
Melamine? - Federal scientists are researching whether the same industrial chemicals blamed for sickening and killing thousands of pets are responsible for decimating the honeybee population. No link has been found, but researchers at the Department of Agriculture's Bee Research Laboratory and the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine are testing commercial bee feed for melamine-related compounds and doing feed tests on honeybees. Beekeepers generally need to provide supplemental feed to bees at certain times of the year. One of those times could have been last fall, shortly before the honeybees began dying off. Investigators do not believe honeybees in the United States are dying for the same reason as populations in Europe and Latin America but do not know if the bee problem is related to honeybee die-offs in 2004, the 1970s or the 1890s.

TAIWAN - 4/26/07 - Around 10 million bees have gone awol in the last two months, with farmers in three regions reporting heavy losses. One beekeeper on the northeast coast said that six million insects had vanished "for no reason", while another in the south said "80 of his 200 bee boxes had been emptied". While the exact reason for the exodus is unknown, experts say "volatile weather" may be to blame. The temperature recently swung from 20°C to 30°C over a few days, and this may have done for the bees. "You can see climate change really clearly these days in Taiwan." The impact of the bees' absence has yet to be felt, although it could have a serious effect on pollination.

Excellent summary of what has been happening with the bee and the bird die-offs.

DISEASE THREATS -

COLORADO - SQUIRRELS - Residents of Denver, Colorado are being warned that a spate of squirrel deaths is being caused by "Black Death" the common name for Bubonic Plague, which killed millions of people in the 14th Century. So far, no humans have been infected. However, the plague is inside one of the city's most popular parks. Plague bacteria are carried by fleas that get on squirrels, rodents, pets and people and spread the disease by biting. This bout has killed 13 squirrels found in or near City Park, and two squirrels and a rabbit found in Denver suburbs. Usually the plague is confined to the foothills or remote areas of Colorado and it kills a few dozen rodents and pets every year. Residents are being instructed to take some common sense measures to avoid squirrels and don't feed them, keep pets away from squirrels and treat pets for fleas. Some 58 people in Colorado have contracted plague since 1957, with nine of them dying. One human case of Bubonic Plague has been reported this year, it was in New Mexico and the victim is recovering.

YELLOW FEVER - The UN is launching a multi-billion dollar initiative to combat the spread of yellow fever in Africa, as it warns of more uncontrollable outbreaks. Several countries, including Togo, have recently reported cases of the haemorrhagic illness, in spite of mass immunisation campaigns for children. The disease is spreading as population movements intensify. Yellow fever has no cure and causes some 30,000 deaths a year, but there is a good, affordable vaccine. In an outbreak of yellow fever in an under-immunised densely populated city, the disease could spread fast and claim many lives.

Friday, May 18, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
I may disapprove of what you say,
but will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/17/07 -
5.3 NEAR N COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA
5.5 KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
5.0 FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

THAILAND - The National Disaster Warning Centre yesterday said people living near geological fault-lines should be prepared for more earthquakes, as many faults in Asia have apparently become more active following the huge quake that caused the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004. "Take part in evacuation drills and ensure that your houses are as strong as possible." The Information and Communications Technology Ministry is in the process of procuring 1,000 early-warning towers at a cost of Bt388 million. The Meteorological Department is planning to open 30 more earthquake-measuring stations by the end of the year. There are now only 15 such stations in the Kingdom. The Mae Chan fault in Thailand has been more active since the Boxing Day 2004 earthquake off of Sumatra. Movement on the Mae Chan fault caused the powerful 6.3 quake on the Lao-Burmese border on Wednesday afternoon.

INDONESIA - An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted Banten province at 6:37 a.m. on Thursday, causing residents to go on alert for a possible tsunami. But there was no such extraordinary seawave following the tremor. [see Freak Waves below though]

TSUNAMI / FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
INDONESIA - FREAK WAVES - On Thursday, high waves hit coastal areas across Indonesia, devastating houses, expelling tourists from beaches, preventing fishermen from going down to the sea, and causing at least one person to go missing. On the Indonesian main resort island of Bali, high waves hit dozens of makeshift buildings owned by vendors in Kedonganan beach, Jimbaran district, Badung regency after they had been swept by high waves since Thursday. "A sudden high wave was (also) devastating huts owned by fishermen," and a number of fishing boats were also destroyed. Meanwhile, beaches on the island, which were usually crowded by tourists, were quiet Friday as they were prevented from approaching those areas. In Yogyakarta, high waves destroyed dozens of building in Kuwaru beach, Bantul regency. "The high waves, which had occurred since late Thursday to Friday destroyed a number of houses and kiosks." The high waves reached up to 8 meters above the sea level. A similar condition was also seen in Pelabuhanratu beach, Sukabumi regency, West Java as hundreds of houses and kiosks were swept by the high waves. In West Sumatra, high waves did not only damage houses, but also prevented fishermen from going to the sea. An official said that high waves had occurred since Thursday. In Aceh, rescuers were searching for a senior high school student, who was swept by high waves when he and his friends were in Lhoknga beach, Aceh Besar regency Thursday. The waves have been generated by strong winds blowing across the Indian Ocean.

SRI LANKA - A tidal surge flooded the Paliyawatte Island off Kalpitiya on Wednesday. The National Aquatic Research and Development Agency predicted that more tidal surges may occur in the seas off Kalpitiya till Tuesday. (Kalpitiya is 103 miles (165 kms) from Colombo.) The tide was a combination of the tidal surge and the normal astronomical tide, and was not a tidal wave and was not induced by tidal phenomena. “It is enhanced during high tides with strong winds”. Regions with gentle slopes of the continental shelf experience larger surges, while areas with narrow continental shelves experience smaller surges. Tidal surges can occur one or two days after the full and new moon days. The highest tide occurred in the seas off Kalpitiya in the evening with simultaneous strong winds. 150 houses were flooded, with over 60 families displaced. Dry rations have been provided to them by the Navy. Similar tides occurred in the Kalpitya area in May 1996. A small scale tide occurred in Hikkaduwa in June 1988. Meanwhile it was reported that a similar tide occurred in Hambantota area last afternoon. However the emergency operations unit said there were no reports on any loss of lives or displacements. “Tides usually hit the coast and travel back to the sea therefore they cannot do much damage.”

VOLCANOES -
HAWAII - Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcano, is bulging and the swelling could help pinpoint where the Hawaiian volcano will erupt next. The finding could save lives by helping officials to plan evacuations of residents living on the volcano's flanks, although researchers are no closer to predicting when an eruption will occur. Mauna Loa is a shield volcano, meaning it erupts from rifts in its flanks, rather than out through a crater at the top. A 1983 earthquake and a 1984 eruption unclamped the rift zone, making it possible for the magma to push into it. As it does so, it pushes the flanks of the south-west rift apart, creating the bulges. "We now have a good idea where the next eruption is most likely to occur." They expect the pressure that the magma is placing on the rift to first trigger an earthquake, followed by an eruption. The rate at which the magma is pushing into the rift zone has significantly slowed since 2006. "It is now about one-quarter to one-third of what we had between 2002 and 2005, so we have no indication that it will erupt anytime soon."

WASHINGTON - Mount St. Helens' latest eruption, which began more than two and half years ago, continues to slowly wind down, and it's unlikely now that the mountain's new lava dome will peek above the crater rim anytime soon. By last summer, the hissing, steaming dome of hot rock had risen to within less than 10 feet of the height of "Shoestring Notch," a low point on the crater rim on the Southeast side of the peak. But the dome has settled and partially collapsed, and its top now is a good 60 to 70 feet below the notch. "It's anyone's guess when the dome may again approach the volcano's rim. It's expanding sideways now. It wants to build sideways as much as it wants to build up." Today marks the 27th anniversary of the eruption on May 18, 1980, which flattened 230 square miles of forest, killed 57 people, destroyed 200 homes, sent a cubic mile of ash around the Earth.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone PIERRE was 636 nmi NE of Cairns, Australia.
Tropical storm YUTU was 523 nmi WSW of Agana, Guam.

Tropical Storm Yutu, the second named storm of the Pacific cyclone season, formed west of Guam to the south of Japan and may become a typhoon. The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 101 kilometers an hour (60 miles per hour), was about 972 kilometers west of Dadedo on the island of Guam at 9 a.m. Japan time. Yutu, with typhoon-strength gusts of 129 kilometers per hour, is moving northwest at about 22 kilometers an hour. The storm is forecast to strengthen into a typhoon by tonight as it heads on a path Navy forecasters say will take it over the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Wave heights in the vicinity of the eye of the storm are as high as 6 meters (20 feet). The storm's winds are forecast to strengthen to 120 kilometers per hour with gusts as high as 147 kilometers per hour by tonight.

Tropical Cyclone Pierre will continue moving towards Cape York Peninsula, in far north Queensland, and gradually intensify over the next 24 hours. The category-one system is currently situated 1,200 kilometres east of the cape community of Lockhart River. Winds along the eastern cape should start to pick up over the weekend. It is UNUSUAL to see a cyclone form this late in the season. "Early in the season in October, in that area there's only been about eight cyclones since about 1926 formed in that region, so it's unusual but I wouldn't really put it down as a rare event."

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
AUSTRALIA - Residents in Victoria's west were preparing for possible flash flood as a series of storms swept across the state. Elsewhere, hailstorms have caused damage to cars and homes at Pooncarie, north-west of Mildura. The weather bureau says it is UNUSUAL weather for autumn. "We don't normally expect to see hail stones that were reported to be golf ball size at this time of year."

CHINA - More than 100 residents have been evacuated after a fresh landslide occurred in another village of central China's Hubei Province yesterday. The landslide, with about 100,000 cubic meters of mud-rock flow, happened in the wee hours at Tizikou village in Taiping township of Badong county. Local government has relocated 112 people in 31 households. No casualties have been reported. The landslide is the newest of a spate of mud-rock flows which began on May 10 in the area after the water level in a reservoir on Qingjiang river, a tributary of the Yangtze River, rose to 290 meters. To date, 18 houses have been toppled down, 770 residents have evacuated and Qiaohe River, a major tributary of Qingjiang, is blocked by mud and rocks. The local government is closely monitoring the area on the opposite side of the river.

VIETNAM - The beginning of the rainy season brought prolonged heavy downpours to the southern provinces and the Central Highlands last week. The rainy season this year differed to that of past years. The past years saw small, sporadic showers on a small scale during the beginning of the season. This year, the rainy season started earlier with prolonged heavy rains across large areas from the south-east, the south-west and the Mekong River Delta provinces to the Central Highlands. Rainfall in Dong Nai, HCM City and Long An last weekend measured between 100-130mm, higher than the average level during the same period in previous years. The early high rainfall was attributed to a tropical low pressure system coupled with a cold atmosphere wave moving south from the northern provinces. Prolonged torrential rains during the past few days have submerged several roads in the city centre. Many sections of Dinh Tien Hoang and Nguyen Huu Canh roads wee under 20-30cm of water, blocking traffic for several hours. In the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong heavy downpours have caused small floods that disrupted traffic for several hours on National Highway 27. Many sections of this highway were under 50cm of water. In Phan Rang - Thap Cham Town, in the south central province of Binh Thuan, rainfall measured 120mm, the HIGHEST LEVEL IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. In the Central province of Quang Tri, torrential rains have hit districts of Hai Lang, Gio Linh and Cam Lo, destroying several thousands of hectares of rice. Initial losses are estimated at VND10bil (US$625,000). In the Mekong River delta, prolonged heavy downpours during the last four days have led to a sudden change in the water environment, resulting in a loss of half of the area's tra catfish stocks. About 30 hectares of fish ponds in Binh Minh District, Vinh Long Province have been infected by a disease that flourishes during heavy rainfall, forcing tra catfish farmers to stop breeding new fish stock until the prolonged rains stop. The rainy season this year is expected to last until the end of November with high rainfall in June, September and October.

Mobile phones could predict lightning strikes - The Finnish mobile phone giant, Nokia, has proposed a warning system that senses the radio waves produced by bolts of lightning. Each bolt produces frequencies between 10 hertz and 5 gigahertz, and the distribution of these signals depends on how far away the lightning is. The multiple receivers in a phone can be tuned to pick up these signals. Software will then interpret them, work out the distance to the lightning, and tell you if strikes are getting closer.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
Earth's natural defences against climate change 'beginning to fail' - The earth's ability to soak up the gases causing global warming is beginning to fail because of rising temperatures, in a long-feared sign of "positive feedback," new research reveals. Climate change itself is weakening one of the principal "sinks" absorbing carbon dioxide - the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. As a result, atmospheric CO2 levels may rise faster and bring about rising temperatures more quickly than previously anticipated. Stabilising the CO2 level, which must be done to bring the warming under control, is likely to become much more difficult, even if the world community agrees to do it. "The climate clock is beginning to tick faster...The shift that has been detected in a four-year study...is ONE OF THE MOST OMINOUS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE. It implies a breach in the planet's own defences against global warming." Human society has hugely benefited from the earth's natural carbon absorption facility, which means oceans and forests take up roughly half of the CO2 pumped into the atmosphere. Although supercomputer models of the climate have for some time predicted the weakening of the ocean and terrestrial sinks, no example of it happening has actually been detected - until now. Now the research team has found the vast Southern Ocean, which is the earth's biggest carbon sink, accounting for about 15 per cent of the total absorption potential, has become effectively CO2-saturated. The level of the gas it is absorbing has remained static since 1981 - but in that time the amount emitted has grown by 40 per cent, so it has stopped keeping pace and much more CO2 is left over to trap the sun's heat. Stormier weather and stronger waves are churning up the sea and bringing natural CO2 stored there closer to the surface - which reduces the ability of the surface to absorb the gas from the air.

ODD -
TEXAS - Central Texans witnessed a RARE weather effect - Wednesday afternoon people were wondering about something kind of interesting in the sky. A large ring encircled the sun for a little while as some clouds passed overhead. It was an optical phenomenon caused by the sun shining through thin clouds at a very high altitude. Frozen water droplets acted as prism, creating a halo effect. (photo)

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
-RECALLED - NBTY, Inc. of Bohemia, NY, is recalling 3 lots of Shark Cartilage Capsules manufactured in 2004 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The Shark Cartilage Capsules were distributed to consumers through mail orders, internet orders, and retail stores throughout the United States.
-RECALLED - IKEA wants customers who have purchased an IKEA FOOD labeled jar of marinated herring with a Best Before Date 13-02-2008 or earlier to return it to their local IKEA store for a full refund. IKEA has received two reports where customers have found a large piece of glass in their jars.

Thursday, May 17, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.
Anais Nin

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/16/07 -
5.0 SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
5.9 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, P.N.G.
5.4 KURIL ISLANDS
6.3 LAOS

THAILAND - A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre in northern Laos, jolted many parts of the country yesterday, shaking buildings in downtown Bangkok and toppling spires of ancient temples in Chiang Rai. No injuries were reported as a result of the quake which lasted about 30 seconds. Tremors were also felt in Hanoi in Vietnam, but there were no reports of any major damage or injuries there or in Laos around the epicentre of the quake. The most intense tremors were felt in Chiang Saen district, some 30km from the epicentre of the quake where cement and bricks fell from the 1,000 year-old Wat Prathat Chedi Luang. A one-foot golden spire on top of Wat Phra That Jomkitti snapped and fell while the lotus-shaped tip of Wat Pasak also broke off. "This COULD BE THE BIGGEST QUAKE EVER EXPERIENCED IN THE NORTH." Earthquakes are rarely felt to any great degree in the capital of Thailand, so yesterday's tremors caused concern among many residents. Tall buildings in Bangkok are at risk because soil in the capital is very soft, which worsens the effects of the vibrations.

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Tropical depression 02W was 369 nmi SW of Agana, Guam.

The United States military’s Typhoon Warning Centre in Hawaii is monitoring the possible tropical cyclone. Conditions are right for a tropical cyclone to form south of the Mariana islands within the next 12 to 24 hours. The warning centre is monitoring the weather system about 260 nautical miles south of Guam which has undergone "significant consolidation" during the previous 12 hours.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
GEORGIA - The WORST WILDFIRES IN GEORGIA SINCE THE 1950s have blackened more than 600 square miles of dried-out forest and swampland in drought-stricken southeastern Georgia and northern Florida. Commercial timber losses are estimated to be at least $30 million. "The fire will burn in the swamp until we get a tropical depression that will drop 9 to 10 inches of rain. That's what it's going to take." And it could be months before that happens. The area probably will not get a drenching until hurricane season peaks, perhaps between August and October or November. In 2002, a wildfire in the Okefenokee burned nearly 20 square miles before rain doused it almost a year later. Hundreds of residents from cities up to 100 miles apart have fled their homes for short periods. In Florida, thick curtains of smoke have briefly closely sections of two busy interstate highways, I-10 and I-75. Fire officials worry that the outside help could evaporate once the summer wildfire season heats up in the West. "California's probably going to explode at some point this summer and states like Nevada and Colorado are in drought conditions. There is a potential for property and lives to be at risk because there's not enough fire trucks." Inside the swamp, it is so dry that water levels are as much as 2 feet below normal.

HOME SWEET HOME - A billion people — one in seven people on Earth today — could be forced to leave their homes over the next 50 years as the effects of climate change worsen. About 155 million people are known to be displaced now - this includes 25 million displaced by conflict and human rights abuses, 25 million by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, and 105 million by large development projects, with another 8.5 million now officially classed as refugees. This figure could be augmented by as many as 850 million, as more people are expected to be affected by water shortages, sea level crises, deteriorating pasture land, conflicts and famine. "A staggering number of people are being pushed aside to make way for dams, roads and other large-scale development [projects]."

Wednesday, May 16, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
As a human being, one has been endowed with just enough intelligence
to be able to see clearly how utterly inadequate that intelligence is.
Albert Einstein

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

This morning there has been a 6.1 quake in Laos, shaking skyscrapers as far away as Bangkok, 800 km (500 miles) to the south.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/15/07 -
5.2 EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS
5.4 KURIL ISLANDS
5.0 BATAN ISL REGION, PHILIPPINES
5.1 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.2 PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
None.

THAILAND - The Meteorological Department warned Tuesday that many provinces would still be hit with heavy rains now that the cyclone has landed on the Burmese coast. The cyclone was packing wind power of 75 kilometres per hour and was about 700 kms northwest of Rangoon, moving northeast at the speed of 10 kms per hour as of 4 am Tuesday.
BANGLADESH - Three fishermen were killed at Saint Martin's Island while at least 50 others went missing in the bay as cyclone Akash crossed the coastal area yesterday morning and weakened into a land depression. A tidal surge triggered by the cyclonic storm with winds up to 80 kph, swept through the coastal district of Cox's Bazar at about 9:00am yesterday, damaging some two thousand houses. On Saint Martin's Island, some 45 houses and 30 shops were flattened and around 200 trees were uprooted by the cyclone while a fishing boat capsized in the sea. Twenty fishing boats were rescued. In Cox's Bazar, the storm and accompanying rain cut off power and uprooted trees, while the tidal surge swamped several roads. At least 10 boats with some 50 fishermen aboard are still missing. Two hectares of shrimp farms and six kilometres of embankment were washed away in the 4-feet (1.2 metre) high tidal waves in the wake of the storm, but fortunately it did not cause as much damage as was feared initially. Reports from the coastal areas said that several chars and lowlands near the river banks and coasts were flooded due to high tide prompted by the cyclone since Monday morning.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
INDONESIA - The early onset of the monsoon in India has brought misery for thousands of tsunami victims in the remote Andaman and and Nicobar Islands, struggling to keep rain water out of their temporary shelters. Monsoon rains have begun entering the temporary homes through holes in the roofs and collecting because of poor drainage. "Rain water is leaving a sea of water inside the shelters. Heavy spells are adding to our misery." Monsoon rains arrived over the South Andaman Sea on May 10, more than a week ahead of schedule. Tribal leaders had complained bitterly about the design of the shelters since they were first unveiled, arguing that local materials should have been used instead of corrugated iron, which makes the shelters unbearably hot in the summer.

AUSTRALIA - 42,200 lightning strikes were recorded in the 24 hours from 2pm Monday to 2pm Tuesday. The weather Monday night was "completely unexpected". It was UNUSUAL to have a lot of lightning outside "lightning season" which runs between early October and early April. The lightning caused power interruptions for up to 10,000 customers Monday night. Several cars were washed off roads by heavy rain which caused flooding.

HEAT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
ANTARCTICA - Vast areas of snow in Antarctica melted in 2005 when temperatures warmed up for a week in the summer (January) in a process that might accelerate invisible melting deep beneath the surface. A new analysis of satellite data showed that an area the size of California melted and then re-froze - THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THAWING IN 30 YEARS. Unlike the Arctic, Antarctica had shown little-to-no warming in the recent past with the exception of the Antarctic Peninsula, where ice sheets have been breaking apart. The melting occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland, at high latitudes and at high elevations, where melt had been considered unlikely. Evidence of melting was found up to 560 miles inland from the open ocean, farther than 85 degrees south (about 310 miles from the South Pole) and higher than 6,600 feet above sea level. Maximum air temperatures at the time of the melting were UNUSUALLY high, reaching more than 41 F in one of the affected areas. They remained above melting for approximately a week. "Antarctica has shown little to no warming in the recent past with the exception of the Antarctic Peninsula, but now large regions are showing the first signs of the impacts of warming as interpreted by this satellite analysis. Increases in snowmelt, such as this in 2005, definitely could have an impact on larger scale melting of Antarctica's ice sheets if they were severe or sustained over time." The 2005 melt was intense enough to create an extensive ice layer when water refroze after the melt. However, the melt was not prolonged enough for the melt water to flow into the sea. No further melting has been detected through March 2007. "It is vital we continue monitoring this region to determine if a long-term trend may be developing."

METEORS in 2007, so far -
VERMONT - May 14th - Recorded as a 2.1 temblor on the Richter scale, a quake hit at 4:10 a.m. along a fault line about four miles under the town of Hubbardton. One Hubbardton resident who said he was wide awake at 4 a.m. said he not only felt the earthquake, he saw what caused it. He said he saw something in the sky to the northeast of Lake Hortonia. He believes he saw a meteorite and that's what triggered the earthquake. "It was like a streak of fire. I've heard meteorites hit before and that was what it sounded like. It was no earthquake, it was a meteor." Earthquakes are RARE in Vermont and in the Northeastern U.S. in general. But while the quake on Monday was the first in Vermont in 2007, it was the second in the Hubbardton area in less than a year. In October, a 2.9 earthquake hit Vermont about 10 miles north of the one that jostled the town on Monday.

SPAIN - May 10th - Fireball spotted across central Spain. Scientists think some fragments may have fallen to earth in the Ciudad Real area. A fireball fell across the centre of the country on Thursday night with sightings in Cuenca, Toledo, Ciudad Real and Valladolid. Scientists believe it was a meteorite and say it’s quite a normal phenomenon, possibly a fragment from a comet which fell from earth orbit.

IDAHO - May 10 - A meteor lit up the night sky across eastern Idaho. Residents from Pocatello to Driggs say they saw the bright flashes around 9 pm. The National Weather Service confirmed that the striking sky show resulted from a meteor. Photos show a jagged trail of light across the darkening sky -_ easily visible to the naked eye.

CANADA - May 9 - There are reports of people seeing a meteor all over British Columbia. Startled stargazers were treated to a rare and beautiful sight when a brilliant meteor streaked through Okanagan skies. "It was an amazing, vibrant sight, a fireball with a white centre, blue halo and a long pink tail." The UNUSUALLY LARGE shooting star was visible for just a few seconds around 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday. "It was like a piece of fireworks travelling horizontally through the sky, much bigger than the normal shooting stars you see."

COLORADO - April 20th - Area residents who were lucky enough to be looking at the sky late Friday night are still in awe over a greenish-red fireball they saw zoom past. The object, likely a meteorite associated with the Lyrid meteor shower, was witnessed up and down the Front Range. It apparently landed somewhere near the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs. These things are usually moving fast enough they impact themselves in the ground.” Several Longmont-area witnesses said they thought the object looked like it landed north of Boulder or somewhere in the mountains near Estes Park. In cases like this, local law enforcement and fire officials are notified by NORAD so they can check the impact site and ensure there’s no fire.
There were numerous reports of the meteor near the Air Force Academy around 11 p.m. “It kept lasting and lasting and lasting. All of a sudden, there was a big, green ball, and it changed to a red color and looked fiery. It seemed to shoot off some kinds of sparks and turned bright white. The sky lit up and then it went right into the mountains. It was frightening but at the same time amazing.” Every year in late April, Earth passes through the dusty tail of Comet Thatcher, and the encounter causes a northern hemisphere meteor shower, the Lyrids.

HAWAII - April 11 - A brightly glowing object that streaked across the sky above Maui was reported by a few people up early enough Wednesday morning to witness the phenomenon. Several people saw what probably was a large meteor that moved from northwest to southeast and/or an unusual cloud that remained in the sky after it passed. "We saw a glow going over us, just like an airplane" - a light blue, almost white object moving from northwest to southeast. For one to two minutes, they watched the object move across the sky, leaving a trail of smoke before it disappeared behind Haleakala. They couldn't tell if the object landed on land or in the ocean. "We didn't see any kind of explosion or flash." The object traveled roughly parallel to land until it abruptly changed course, "dropping down at a 45-degree angle." One man snapped photos at 5:49 a.m. of the smoke trail with his digital camera, but he didn't see the object itself. "It was just an amazing looking sight.The smoke lingered for an hour in the sky. . . . It was big, very noticeable in the sky."

NEW ZEALAND - March 29 - Flaming debris of a possible meteor almost hit a plane - The pilots of a Chilean passenger jet reported seeing flaming debris fall past their aircraft as it approached the airport at Auckland, New Zealand. The captain "made visual contact with incandescent fragments several kilometres away". The pilots reported the near-miss to air traffic controllers, reportedly saying the noise of the debris breaking the sound barrier could be heard above the roar of his aircraft's engines. The debris missed the jet by a margin of 40 seconds. An orbital debris expert at Nasa had checked with the Russians and their vessel - a spacecraft resupplying the International Space Station - had fired its re-entry rockets as scheduled, 12 hours after the Chileans reported the near miss. The Nasa expert said no other space junk was expected to be re-entering atmosphere at that time so the pilots probably saw a meteor.

CANADA - March 11 - what fell from the sky on Sunday night, visible between 8 and 8:30 p.m. to rapt observers from southern Ontario to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was likely a rock, no bigger than a fist and weighing about a kilogram. "Everything I have heard suggests that it was a bolide - a meteorite that was flaming though our atmosphere." Some people mistook it for a plane crash - a ball of light, seething white, careening overhead, spitting out dazzling debris. The whitish-green fireball seemed to be on such a dramatic collision course with Earth that from his vantage, an IT technician imagined two grim scenarios: a mighty cannonball into Lake Michigan. Or Milwaukee itself was due for a celestial smackdown. "I honestly waited to see something come up from the ground." For three or four spine-tingling seconds, people from a massive swathe of the continent shared the same slice of burning sky. And everyone imagined that whatever it was had landed in their own backyard. "That is not at all unusual for a really bright bolide. They have huge distances over which they can travel and, therefore, be seen. Especially if it's in the twilight or darkness hours." Of the thousands of meteorites raining on earth every year, most plunk into the oceans.

PANAMA - February 23 - Panamanian geologists found a meteorite at Rio Hato, a coastal town west of the capital Panama City. The meteorite fell onto Rio Hato's beach on Friday. The landing was witnessed by a security guard, who described it as a ball of fire crashing down from the sky onto the sand. The 4.2 kg red object, measuring 20 cm in diameter, was to be X-rayed for more details. The meteorite shows burn marks on its exterior, and appears to be mainly carbon-based, in contrast to most meteorites, which mainly contain iron.

OHIO - February 15 - Something happened at around 9 p.m. that a lot of people heard. But nobody seems to have any idea what it was. “It” was a loud bang, something loud enough to be heard all over the county, and loud enough to make small objects move in houses. Rumors range from an earthquake to a meteor strike, a sonic boom to something ice-related. While we may never know for sure, at least one scientist believes the meteor could be the answer. There’s no evidence to suggest an earthquake could have caused the bang, especially not over the range specified. “The type of waves that I see is not earthquake-type stuff. What bothers me is we don’t see it anywhere else. Right now this is mysterious to me.” The National Weather Service’s station in Wilmington is equally lost, especially after hearing calls from the Cincinnati area. The only common factor is that each area was affected by Tuesday’s ice storm. “It definitely wasn’t thunder. We’re kind of stumped on that ourselves.” One man said he saw a meteor with a relatively long trail, with red, green and gold coloration. It was headed east to west and lasted about three seconds; after it faded, the sonic boom washed over him. “I saw it first. It was the most eerie, cool, scary, wonderful thing. You just see this dragon tail going across the sky. All of a sudden, everything goes boom."

MIDWESTERN U.S. - February 4 - Scores of people all over the Midwest and Upper Midwestern United States reported seeing flames and fiery explosions in the sky Sunday night. From southeastern Wisconsin to as far as Des Moines, Iowa and St. Louis, people reported seeing balls of fire, possibly meteors, streaking across the sky on Sunday night. "We had a pilot reporting seeing a meteor". Reports came from residents in central Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

TURKEY - January 31 - Police were inundated with calls from scores of people from Didim to Bodrum after they heard a big bang and a flash of light across the skies. The flashing green, yellow and red lights were from a meteorite which crashed through the earth’s atmosphere and landed in Yeþilkent. A startled man revealed that the rock had smashed a hole in the ground at the Green Park Complex, at Yeþilkent, narrowly missing him by ten metres. Police reported that people from Bodrum, Milas and Didim had heard a bang and seen the flashing light across the skies at about 5:30pm on January 31. (photos)

VIRGINIA - January 24 - Some Giles County residents were a little shaken after a tremor-like event, others say they heard a loud "thunder-like" sound. Virginia Tech researchers say they received several calls about a meteor sighting the same time of the tremors. The bizarre incident took place around 8pm. Researchers say the seismic station in Giles County did get a very short but intense seismic signal.

RUSSIA - January 10 - a meteorite fell in January in the Altai Territory in southern Siberia and searchers found an extraterrestrial substance which could be meteorite fragments. "We have collected about 50 samples, and vitreous threads (traces of comet substance) were discovered in the first of them using a microscope." Local motorists and residents witnessed the impact of a fiery ball, which eventually ended in a loud sound resembling an explosion. Since a fallen meteorite was discovered in 1840, some 20 meteorites, including 4 in the 21st century, have been registered in the area.

A comet or some other extraterrestrial object appears to have slammed into northern Canada 12,900 years ago and triggered an abrupt and catastrophic climate change that wiped out the mammoths, mastodons and sloths that once roamed North America. Evidence of the ecological disaster exists in a thin layer of sediment that has been found from Alberta to New Mexico. The sediment layer contains high concentrations of iridium, fullerenes and other compounds associated with space rocks and impacts. "We have evidence for distribution of impact debris over several thousands of miles over the North American continent." The sediment layer formed 12,900 years ago coincides with both the extinction of the animals and the onset of a mini-ice age that lasted more than 1,000 years.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.
Mark Twain

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/14/07 -
5.5 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
5.0 PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION
5.2 MOLUCCA SEA

FREAK WAVES / HIGH TIDES -
5/14/07 -
MAURITIUS & RODRIGUES - FREAK WAVES swept away at least six people off the coast of the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues at the weekend. One person went missing after a strong swell overturned his boat off the coast of south-east Mauritius on Saturday evening, while three fishermen disappeared on Sunday afternoon off Rodrigues, a territory 560km to the east of Mauritius. There was also no sign of two coast guards whose boat was overturned when they were searching for the missing fishermen on Sunday afternoon. Mauritius weather services reported waves of larger than three metres off the coast of the Indian Ocean islands at the weekend, and warned of further large waves on Monday. Two fishermen went missing on Saturday evening off the neighbouring French island of Reunion after their boat was swept away by a giant wave.

VOLCANOES -
ITALY - A £5.5 billion transport project in Italy that includes a railway to ferry tourists to the top of Vesuvius has become mired in controversy amid warnings of an imminent volcanic eruption and a mafia war at the foot of the mountain. Herculaneum, a town at the foot of the volcano, is to be the first stop on a £20 million reconstruction of Thomas Cook's 19th-century funicular railway. However, there is a "one-in-two" chance of the volcano erupting in the next few years. A survey of the volcano last month warned that 300,000 people could die in an eruption. "The rule is that the longer the period of inactivity, the bigger the eruption." The line to Vesuvius was originally opened in 1880. Vesuvius erupted eight times in the 19th century, and in 1906, 1929 and 1944. The last eruption destroyed the original railway. Only four years ago, the city council launched a £500 million compensation scheme to move villagers away from the volcano. A law was passed forbidding further construction within 1.5 miles of Vesuvius, about five miles from Naples. The 550,000 people who lived in houses inside the "red zone" were offered £20,000 towards the cost of a new house somewhere else. Almost half of Herculaneum's population took the offer and abandoned their homes. The departure of locals left the way open for the Camorra, the local mafia, to move into their homes. The area is now regarded as one of the most dangerous parts of the city as gangs wage a turf war. (photos)

TROPICAL STORMS -
Map.
Projected storm paths .
Cyclone AKASH was 32 nmi E of Chittagong, Bangledesh.

THAILAND - Hundreds of homes and farms in Thailand's northern provinces have been inundated, and more rain is on the way, all due to a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, west of neighbouring Myanmar. Hundreds of families in Pichit were affected by floods, with homes and farmland in Photalae district and a concrete bridge destroyed by rising torrents. In Nakhon Sawan, continuous rain has caused flooding and road links with other communities have been cut off. Some 4,000 acres of croplands were inundated. Residents of low-lying areas have been warned of imminent flash floods. In Phrae, a flash flood hit three villages in Wangshin district. Hundreds of homes have been damaged, and few villagers were able to move their belongings to higher ground before the onrushing waters arrived. Many farming families reported that their livestock was swept away by the floodwaters. Provincial authorities in Phrae warned residents of five districts to brace for more flash floods. In Uttaradit, local authorities are concerned about the flood situation. Some 4,000 acres of paddy fields were under one-metre deep floodwaters. The Meteorological Department warns of further heavy rain throughout Thailand as the weather system is influenced by the Bay of Bengal cyclone.

BANGLADESH - Around 12:30am today the depression, centred around 100km off Cox's Bazar coast, was moving towards Chittagong with a speed of 80km per hour. Thousands of people of Saint Martin's Island, Teknaf and Cox's Bazar took shelter in nearby cyclone shelters last night. Four boats reportedly went missing at Paharchura in Teknaf and another fishing boat with 14 fishermen has gone missing too. The sea rose seven feet above the usual height of tide while rainfall in the last 18-hour was recorded at 53mm. "Gusty wind has sent our tin roof flying and we can see the wind bringing trees down to the ground." "Sea waves are leaping high like mountains now and our house has already been flooded by sea water," said a shop owner at Saint Martin's Island. "We are crying and praying to Allah as the wind is blowing with such a force that I won't even be able to go to a shelter now."
As many as 80,000 people have been evacuated to cyclone shelters in Bangladesh as the tropical storm blew in towards the low-lying South Asian country. About 100 fisherman and up to 20 boats have been reported missing as rain and strong winds swept Bangladesh's coast. The body of one man had already been washed ashore. Tropical storms and cyclones kill hundreds of Bangladeshis every year. One of the worst cyclones to hit the country killed 138,000 people in 1991.

HEAVY RAINS / FLOODING / LANDSLIDES / WIND -
AUSTRALIA - Massive storm clouds clashed to unleash a spectacular tornado near the You Yangs yesterday. The storm front developed about 3pm at the foot of the mountains and gained momentum as it sucked up dirt from dusty paddocks surrounding Lara. The tornado spanned almost two kilometres and reached heights up to 700m before it died down after an eight-minute afternoon spectacle. Residents were amazed by the size of the tornado, which produced a black twisting haze above the mountains. One witness captured the majority of the tornado on video. He said the experience was surreal. "It was like a double tube, like there was a tornado inside the tornado. It was really weird. It was just amazing. I can't believe I've seen one of those today. There was no wind, no nothin' and just this cloud that produced this cell." Tornadoes are usually associated with the super cell variety but this storm didn't fit into that category. (photo)

BRITAIN - Flood warnings have been issued across Britain as forecasters say the rainy weather is unlikely to let up. Some parts of England and Wales saw as much as two weeks' worth of rainfall in just 24 hours over the weekend. The wet weather follows the warmest April since 1914. Hard ground resulting from April's unusually warm weather led to the increased risk of flooding, as instead of seeping into the soil, the rain is falling into the rivers, causing the levels to rise.
More than 2,000 shivering children were plucked off Dartmoor yesterday as high winds, fog and lashing rain turned its 150 brooks into treacherous torrents. As thunderstorms also whipped up the 40mph winds, the military organisers of the gruelling two-day Ten Tors Challenge were forced to launch the biggest rescue operation of its kind. With 2,100 teenagers out on the rugged national park in Devon, and the weather fast getting worse, more than 700 military and civilian staff spent six hours hauling them all to safety. Sea King helicopters, Land Rovers, minibuses and soldiers from the regular and Territorial Army were all drafted in. Many children were in tears; some needed treatment for shock and exposure. Organisers did not want a repeat of the tragedy of a 14-year-old who was swept to her death in a rain-swollen Dartmoor stream in March while she was on a training exercise for the Ten Tors Challenge. The rescue was launched in SOME OF THE MOST SEVERE MAY WEATHER ON RECORD. Boggy areas became lethal and streams swelled to several feet wide, trapping pockets of youngsters high on the 368-square-mile moor. The rivers tend to flash-flood. If you are trying to cross when you think it’s safe and suddenly a great rush of water comes down, it’s very dangerous.

HEAT / WILDFIRES / DROUGHT / CLIMATE CHANGE-
AUSTRALIA - Melbourne has notched up its DRIEST YEAR ON RECORD, with less than half the average annual rain falling on the city. The 40-year record was smashed at 9am (AEST) today with a measly 316.4mm of rainfall recorded in the past 365 days. Melbourne's average annual rainfall is 638.8mm. UNPRECEDENTED severe drought conditions persisted in Melbourne and surrounding areas over the last year. They have had an UNPRECEDENTED 10-year pattern of below-average rainfall, prompting a dire warning from the weather bureau. "Melbourne will need to experience significantly higher than average rainfall for sustained periods for water catchments to return to near-normal levels."

NAMIBIA - RECORD TEMPERATURES at the coast soared at the weekend, as the dreaded annual east-wind conditions set in. The mercury at Swakopmund shot up to 42.3 degrees Celsius on Friday. This may well be the highest maximum temperature officially recorded at the coast. There were only 12 days since April 1994 when temperatures rose above 40 degrees. The last record reading was 42 degrees, and that was measured in April 1999. According to these statistics, it could be safe to assume that Friday's maximum temperature was in fact the HIGHEST THE CENTRAL COASTAL AREA HAS EVER EXPERIENCED. It is the start of winter, even though it felt and looked like summertime at the coast this weekend.

U.S. - Smoke from massive wildfires in southeast Georgia and north Florida is spreading gradually into south Alabama, northwest Florida and southeast Mississippi.
FLORIDA - Strong winds were complicating firefighters' efforts to contain a gigantic wildfire along the Georgia-Florida line Monday, and officials said more north Florida residents may need to be evacuated. About 570 residents still were not allowed to return to 150 homes evacuated between Interstate 10 and the Florida-Georgia state line.

MYSTERY BOOMS -
TENNESSEE - Dozens of people in Knox County woke up to some rumbling Monday morning and investigators are still working to figure out what it was. Dozens of calls flooded central dispatch at about 1:15am, mostly from two neighborhoods off Northshore Drive in West Knoxville; Admiral's Landing and Northshore Landing. Many people tell us they woke up to loud rumbling and thought there were animals or prowlers in their basements or attics. Others thought there was some sort of explosion shaking the ground. "Half of our neighborhood had come outside and there was these constant shakes in the ground, constant thud. It felt like some type of missile attack. It wasn't an earthquake, I've been through an earthquake."

HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS:
- RECALLED - Royal Canin USA is recalling eight Sensible Choice dry dog food products and seven Kasco dry dog and cat food products. This announcement is based on the company's ongoing extensive review of its manufacturing and quality assurance testing procedures, which identified trace amounts of a melamine derivative from tainted Chinese rice protein concentrate provided to the company by domestic ingredient supplier Cereal Byproducts, headquartered in Illinois.
-RECALLED - Consumers who have purchased raw milk from Misty Meadow Farm in Bernville, Berks County, any time after April 16, 2007, should discard it immediately due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

CHINA - authorities are denying reports that at least 26 children have died from a mysterious illness in the east of the country while local media accuses the Government of covering up an epidemic. Newspaper and internet reports from Shandong province say that "many" children are dead and hundreds of others have fallen ill from a mysterious illness that has swept through Linyi city since late April. Medical authorities in Linyi said the deaths were caused by an outbreak of "hand-foot-mouth disease" which had infected up to 292 children in the city at that time. Hand-foot-mouth disease is a viral infection that usually begins in the throat. It is a relatively common infection caused by the Coxsackie virus. The Shanghai Morning Post blamed health officials for failing to inform the public of the disease leading to panic in the city. Parents were refusing to allow their children out of doors and avoiding the consumption of beef or lamb, believing the illness was linked to foot-and-mouth disease that affects livestock.

Monday, May 14, 2007 -

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY -
The only difference between a weed and a flower is a judgment.
Wayne Dyer

QUAKES -
World map of the quakes in the past 7 days.
Quake list.

Largest quakes yesterday -
5/13/07 -
5.5 FIJI REGION
5.5 FIJI REGION
5.0 WEST CHILE RISE

BRITAIN - Scared residents in the coastal town hit by an earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale have been warned there could be another big quake on its way. Since the initial quake shook Folkestone on April 28, seven smaller tremors have been felt by residents, with the biggest measuring 1.8 on the scale according to seismologists. And experts at the British Geological Survey have warned the tremors could be leading up to an aftershock that could measure 3.3 on the Richter scale. “The general rule is that aftershocks may reach a magnitude of one less on the Richter scale than the initial earthquake. “The la