Earthquakes
GEOFON Mariana Islands
Apr 01 23:19 PM
4.9 245.0 MAP
USGS Alamagan Region, Northern Mariana Islands
Apr 01 23:19 PM
4.8 175.1 MAP
EMSC Alamagan Reg, N. Mariana Islands
Apr 01 23:19 PM
4.9 160.0 MAP
EMSC Near The Coast Of Western Turkey
Apr 01 23:18 PM
3.0 6.0 MAP
USGS Central California
Apr 01 23:03 PM
3.1 5.6 MAP
EMSC Southeastern Iran
Apr 01 22:30 PM
3.6 28.0 MAP
GEOFON Guerrero, Mexico
Apr 01 22:23 PM
5.0 74.0 MAP
EMSC Guerrero, Mexico
Apr 01 22:23 PM
5.2 49.0 MAP
USGS Guerrero, Mexico
Apr 01 22:23 PM
5.3 20.8 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 22:21 PM
3.0 17.0 MAP
EMSC Greece
Apr 01 22:13 PM
3.1 2.0 MAP
EMSC Canary Islands, Spain Region
Apr 01 22:03 PM
2.7 15.0 MAP
GEOFON New Ireland Region, P.n.g.
Apr 01 21:44 PM
5.6 122.0 MAP
EMSC New Ireland Region, P.n.g.
Apr 01 21:44 PM
5.8 121.0 MAP
USGS New Ireland Region, Papua New Guinea
Apr 01 21:44 PM
5.7 97.5 MAP
USGS Central Alaska
Apr 01 19:49 PM
3.3 79.0 MAP
GEOFON Southern Italy
Apr 01 19:21 PM
4.1 253.0 MAP
EMSC Southern Italy
Apr 01 19:21 PM
3.9 275.0 MAP
USGS Southern Italy
Apr 01 19:21 PM
4.5 274.8 MAP
EMSC Coquimbo, Chile
Apr 01 19:10 PM
4.9 73.0 MAP
USGS Coquimbo, Chile
Apr 01 19:10 PM
4.9 72.6 MAP
EMSC Western Turkey
Apr 01 18:43 PM
2.5 8.0 MAP
USGS Virgin Islands Region
Apr 01 18:15 PM
2.5 34.8 MAP
USGS Alaska Peninsula
Apr 01 18:00 PM
3.0 66.1 MAP
USGS Southern California
Apr 01 15:02 PM
2.5 6.9 MAP
EMSC Near The Coast Of Djibouti
Apr 01 14:22 PM
3.7 5.0 MAP
USGS Central Alaska
Apr 01 14:12 PM
2.8 0.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Honshu, Japan
Apr 01 14:04 PM
5.8 60.0 MAP
GEOFON Eastern Honshu, Japan
Apr 01 14:04 PM
5.9 10.0 MAP
EMSC Central Turkey
Apr 01 13:50 PM
2.7 8.0 MAP
EMSC Tristan Da Cunha Region
Apr 01 13:14 PM
5.4 33.0 MAP
GEOFON Tristan Da Cunha Region
Apr 01 13:14 PM
5.3 10.0 MAP
USGS Tristan Da Cunha Region
Apr 01 13:14 PM
5.4 6.8 MAP
EMSC Western Turkey
Apr 01 13:02 PM
2.6 3.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 12:36 PM
2.9 12.0 MAP
EMSC Western Turkey
Apr 01 12:26 PM
2.7 10.0 MAP
EMSC Romania
Apr 01 12:08 PM
3.1 122.0 MAP
EMSC Western Turkey
Apr 01 10:50 AM
2.4 13.0 MAP
EMSC Central Turkey
Apr 01 10:40 AM
2.4 7.0 MAP
EMSC Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Apr 01 10:37 AM
2.5 14.0 MAP
EMSC Northern Italy
Apr 01 10:22 AM
2.5 36.0 MAP
USGS Southern California
Apr 01 09:47 AM
2.6 6.4 MAP
EMSC Central Turkey
Apr 01 09:14 AM
2.6 28.0 MAP
EMSC Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan
Apr 01 08:48 AM
4.7 33.0 MAP
USGS Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan
Apr 01 08:48 AM
4.5 34.3 MAP
USGS Southern California
Apr 01 08:26 AM
3.0 5.2 MAP
USGS Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Apr 01 08:07 AM
4.5 42.5 MAP
EMSC Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Apr 01 08:07 AM
4.6 30.0 MAP
USGS Dominican Republic Region
Apr 01 08:01 AM
3.3 105.0 MAP
USGS Tonga
Apr 01 07:41 AM
4.9 35.0 MAP
EMSC Tonga
Apr 01 07:41 AM
4.9 10.0 MAP
GEOFON Northern Chile
Apr 01 07:31 AM
5.1 79.0 MAP
USGS Antofagasta, Chile
Apr 01 07:31 AM
4.9 87.4 MAP
EMSC Antofagasta, Chile
Apr 01 07:31 AM
5.0 88.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 07:29 AM
3.0 20.0 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Apr 01 06:52 AM
2.9 109.4 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 06:45 AM
2.6 6.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 06:30 AM
3.5 5.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 06:26 AM
3.4 7.0 MAP
USGS Northern California
Apr 01 06:17 AM
3.2 3.8 MAP
EMSC Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Apr 01 06:07 AM
2.4 10.0 MAP
EMSC Western Turkey
Apr 01 06:02 AM
2.5 5.0 MAP
EMSC Sicily, Italy
Apr 01 05:38 AM
3.2 258.0 MAP
USGS Batan Islands Region, Philippines
Apr 01 05:34 AM
4.8 22.1 MAP
EMSC Batan Isl Region, Philippines
Apr 01 05:34 AM
5.0 10.0 MAP
GEOFON Philippine Islands Region
Apr 01 05:34 AM
5.0 10.0 MAP
USGS Southern California
Apr 01 05:31 AM
2.9 15.5 MAP
USGS Greece
Apr 01 05:18 AM
3.3 5.0 MAP
EMSC Greece
Apr 01 05:18 AM
3.0 6.0 MAP
EMSC Western Turkey
Apr 01 04:47 AM
2.4 133.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 04:42 AM
3.5 5.0 MAP
GEONET Raukumara Plain
Apr 01 04:30 AM
4.1 6.0 MAP
GEONET Raukumara Plain
Apr 01 04:24 AM
4.7 5.0 MAP
GEONET Raukumara Plain
Apr 01 04:06 AM
4.8 3.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 03:30 AM
2.5 7.0 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Apr 01 03:18 AM
4.0 127.2 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Apr 01 03:18 AM
4.1 122.0 MAP
EMSC Southern Greece
Apr 01 02:10 AM
2.4 54.0 MAP
EMSC Kyrgyzstan
Apr 01 01:43 AM
4.0 2.0 MAP
USGS Baja California, Mexico
Apr 01 01:40 AM
2.9 26.7 MAP
USGS Northern California
Apr 01 01:28 AM
3.5 1.4 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Apr 01 01:08 AM
2.4 5.0 MAP
EMSC Sicily, Italy
Apr 01 00:57 AM
2.9 6.0 MAP
Earthquakes north of White Island off New Zealand in Bay of Plenty.
Three earthquakes, the largest measuring magnitude-4.8, have been recorded near volcanic White Island within half-an-hour each other.
GNS Science reported a 4.8 quake at 4.08pm, 110km north of White Island, which sits off New Zealand in Bay of Plenty.
A second quake, measuring 4.7 struck at 4.24pm, followed by a 4.1 quake at 4.30pm.
All three quakes were shallow, with the focal depth of each quake being measured at between 3km to 6km.
The first two tremors were reportedly felt in Coromandel.
White Island, New Zealand’s largest volcano, last erupted in 2000.
GNS Science could not immediately be reached for comment on whether the earthquakes might affect volcanic activity on the island.
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Volcanic Activity
Video Etna, Italy eruption April 1
Italy / Sicily / Etna
In fact this eruption (paroxysm) started yesterday evening. See our early report below. People who have responded to that alert must have seen the action in the etna-guide webcam. The HD quality video from Etnawalk shows the explosions in the crater and the lava streams running down the hill. the actual eruption images are starting at 1:30. The video is accompanied by great music!
Satellites Find Dormant Volcanoes Now Waking Up
The importance of global and frequent data coverage of volcanoes was highlighted in a recent article published in Science. Satellites are finding that volcanoes previously thought to be dormant are showing signs of unrest.
As the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland demonstrated, volcanic eruptions can have consequences over large regions, so the global perspective offered by satellite systems is vital for monitoring volcanoes in remote and inaccessible terrain.
Most volcanoes around the world are not monitored effectively – or at all. The ‘Monitoring Volcanoes’ article made reference to a study of over 440 active volcanoes in 16 developing countries. The study revealed that 384 have rudimentary or no monitoring, including 65 volcanoes identified as posing a high risk to large populations.
Earth-observing satellites, such as ESA’s Envisat, can detect unrest on currently unmonitored volcanoes.
Etna volcano – tremor signal started to rise sharply
The tremor signal has started to rise sharply on Saturday, March 31, which could mean that the 23rd paroxysm is about to occur. The next hours will show.
Strombolian activity continued since Friday, March 30, at the new Southeast Crater crater.
Explosions throw incandescent material tens of meters beyond the crater edge and, in some cases, bombs fall on the flanks of the cinder cone. During the late Friday afternoon and evening explosions followed one another with an average rate of 20-30 events per hour. The real-time seismic tremor signal shows no substantial changes in amplitude.
The Watchers
Mount Etna spews fiery lava for the fifth time this year
Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, Mount Etna, has erupted for the fifth time in 2012, spewing hot lava and ash in the early hours of Sunday. The lava, which could be seen moving down the mountain’s side just after 4am local time, continued to spew until around 5.30 am, according to local news reports. Ash from the eruption landed on the villages at the foot of the volcano; however no damage was reported and nearby airports remained open
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Storms
Tropical Storm Pakhar (02W) by Vietnam – April 1st, 2012
On March 17, an area of disturbed weather associated with a cold front formed about 300 km (190 mi), to the northwest of Palau Island. At that time, the low pressure area was located in an area of moderate vertical wind shear, with unfavorable water temperature.
Over the next couple of days, it slowly moved towards the Samar area, and crossed the Visayas region. On March 20, the low pressure area remained almost stationary, about 140 km (85 mi) to the northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The cause of the low’s stalling was due to a high pressure system, that was building up to the northeast of the system, extending into Vietnam. At the same time, the JMA upgraded the storm to a disturbance.
The system remained stationary for more four days, before the JMA upgraded it to a tropical depression. However, on March 25, the JMA downgraded the tropical depression to a disturbance, as the storm’s outer rainbands began to collapse, and its low level circulation center began to be fully exposed.
Early on March 26, the JMA re-upgraded the disturbance to a tropical depression, as the storm began to reorganize. By this time, the depression became well organized, due to low vertical wind shear associated with favorable water temperatures.
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Solar Activity
N3KL Solar Activity Monitor
| Solar X-rays:Geomagnetic Field: | >
|
From n3kl.org
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Solar System
Tarek Niazi on Surrounded by Idiots
Uploaded by sunskymysteries on Feb 7, 2012
http://www.sunskymysteries.com
Tarek is the author of More Than 60 Minutes: When Earth Stands Still and like many other science based researchers around the world, has reached the conclusion that in fact we are seeing the approach of an extra-solar body towards the Earth.
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Mysterious Booms / Rumblings
Ferndale, Michigan
Did You Hear That Boom? Residents Report Saturday Night Sounds that Shook Homes
Ferndale Police are investigating what might have caused three loud booms and light flashes that shook homes and concerned many local residents Saturday night. The booms were heard around 9:30-10 p.m. and may have originated near the area of Hilton and Marshall. More than 40 people posted on Ferndale Patch’s Facebook page about the incidents — describing flashes of light seen in the sky, their homes vibrating with the noise, and helicopters heard overheard following the sounds. A Ferndale Police dispatcher said last night at 12:30 a.m. that they investigated the noise but could not find its cause. He said fireworks were a possibility. Ferndale Police Lt. Casey O’Loughlin said Sunday morning that he was not aware of any reports made but said loud booms can be caused by fireworks. “That’s usually what loud booms turn out to be are fireworks,” he said. In Ferndale, any type of fireworks that explode or leave the ground are illegal, he said. O’Loughlin said he was not aware of any helicopters being sent out. Here’s what some Patch readers had to say about the noise:
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Articles of Interest
FEMA chief says agency bracing for ‘maximum’ disaster
By Eric Berger
Recent hurricanes Ike and Katrina may rank among the three costliest storms in U.S. history, but in preparing for disasters the federal government must think bigger still, says America’s top emergency planner.
“As devastating as those two hurricanes were, they’re not as bad as it gets,” said Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Fugate told reporters Tuesday at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Fla., that his agency has been preparing for realistic worst-case scenarios – not just natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, but terrorist attacks, as well.
Japan’s quake defenses not enough, official reports warn
By Antoni Slodkowski
(Reuters) – Japan’s defenses against a major tsunami and the safety of its nuclear plants were thrown into further doubt after two official studies predicted much higher waves could hit and that Tokyo quake damage could be bigger than it was prepared for.
The reports, carried in the media over the weekend, are likely to intensify the debate about whether to restart Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors, all but one of which are shut amid public fears about nuclear safety sparked by the Fukushima disaster in March 2011.
One report said a quake as big as the one that rocked Japan in 2011 could trigger waves topping 34 meters (112 feet), almost double its previous estimate made in 2003 when its worst scenario forecast tsunami of no more than 20 meters (66 feet).
The Cabinet Office panel which authored the report, revised its predictions after one of the biggest tremors on record struck Japan last year, setting off a tsunami that topped 20 meters in the worst-affected areas and triggering the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years.
“We won’t be able to contain a massive tsunami with the (current) embankments,” said Masaharu Nakagawa, disaster prevention minister on a news conference on Saturday evening.
“We will have to work the (changes regarding) the city planning, disaster prevention education and evacuation into the policies,” he said.
Waves at the now off-line Hamaoka nuclear plant in Shizuoka prefecture, operated by Chubu Electric Power, could reach 21 meters, breaching the 18-metre breakwater that the operators are currently building, the report said.
The government is keen to get some of the reactors running after surging fuels imports resulted in a rare trade deficit, raising worries about its declining ability to fund a huge public debt with domestic savings. But it must first persuade wary locals that the plants are safe.
