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Earthquake Swarms At Canary Islands, Puerto Rico, and Mariana Islands

December 27, 2013 by

Large earthquakes get our attention for many reasons, but sometimes, the earthquake swarms can be more dangerous than the big quakes.

Earthquake swarms are a sign of major earth movement, and they also warn of underlying volcanic activity. Either way, earthquake swarms are a warning to pay attention before major damage is done.

Right now, there are three areas of significance that are experiencing earthquake swarms :

  1. Canary Islands; approx 120 quakes above 1.8 magnitude and more than 40 quakes up to 3.2 magnitude in the past 24 hours
  2. Puerto Rico; occurring at same time the US Craton quakes occurred
  3. Mariana Islands; on the volatile Ring of Fire and SW of the Mariana Trench/subduction zone.
Small USGS globe of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea

Earthquake swarm at Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea – USGS

The USGS small globe showing the 5.9 Earthquake off the Azores Islands, Portugal on April 30, 2013.

Earthquake swarm at the Canary Islands in the Atlantic – USGS

USGS small globe of Mariana Islands

Earthquake swarm north of the Pacific Mariana Islands – USGS

 

Filed Under: Earthquakes, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Power Of Waking Volcanoes

December 8, 2013 by
A view of Askja volcano at two crater lakes. The smaller, turquoise one is called Viti and contains warm geothermal water and is good for swimming. The large lake is Oskjuvatn, the second deepest lake on the Iceland.

Askja volcano offers a view of two crater lakes. The smaller, turquoise lake contains warm geothermal water and is good for swimming. The large lake is the second deepest lake in Iceland. Both are part of a MASSIVE volcanic crater.

Humans don’t realize how TINY we are. Stand next to a volcanic crater, and you’ll realize just how small you are in comparison to a massive, explosive hole in the Earth.

When volcanoes erupt, they are much more dangerous than most people think. When several volcanoes erupt at once, the impact is far more devastating than we can imagine.

Active Volcanoes Today

Between November 27 – December 3, 2013,  Smithsonian/USGS reported activity at the following volcanoes – activity ranging from active volcanoes  to new activity to unrest:

  1. Etna, Sicily (Italy)
  2. Kliuchevskoi, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
  3. Nishimo-shima, Japan
  4. Sinabung, Sumatra (Indonesia)
  5. Shiveluch, Central Kamchatka (Russia)
  6. Chirinkotan, Kuril Islands
  7. Chirpoi, Kuril Islands (Russia)
  8. Karymsky, Eastern Kamchatka (Russia)
  9. Kilauea, Hawaii (USA)
  10. Manam, Northeast of New Guinea (SW Pacific)
  11. Pacaya, Guatemala
  12. Rabaul, New Britain
  13. Sakura-jima, Kyushu
  14. Suwanose-jima, Ryukyu Islands and Kyushu
  15. Ulawun, New Britain

Earth’s Internal Heat

Sakurajima Volcano

Volcanic eruptions are the result of the Earth’s internal heat releasing pressure.

Fueled by both internal and external forces, the Earth remains in a dynamic state of motion.

Its internal heat is caused by radioactivity in the crust and from heat that rises up from a molten-metal core that is hotter than the surface of the Sun. This heat melts rocks, creates volcanoes, and thrusts mountains upward.

The Earth’s crust expands from this intense, interior heat, and today, this is breaking the continents apart and heating up many global volcanoes.

As the crust gets warmer, sea levels rise and fill the widening spaces between  land masses with fast-moving salt water.

The Earth is in full force motion today, and after 200 million years, the Earth’s many volcanoes are waking up.

Heads Up – it’s time to prepare for an increase in weather changes, rising sea levels, and atmospheric ash!

Filed Under: Social Awareness, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Can The Philippines Recover From Non-Stop Natural Disasters?

November 11, 2013 by
Super Typhoon from NOAA the Philippines

Super Typhoon Haiyan devastates the Philippines – NOAA

Never before in human history have we seen so many natural disasters hit one area – over and over again.

Many islands in the Philippines are in total ruin, and hundreds of thousands of people have been devastated by continuous natural disasters.

7,000 Islands

Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire close to the equator makes the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons.

And don’t forget to throw in a volcano or two.

The Philippines is actually an archipelago of 7,107 islands that are within three main geographic divisions:

  1. Luzon
  2. Visayas
  3. Mindanao.

With a population of more than 98 million people, the Philippines is the seventh-most populated country in Asia.

Typhoon Haiyan

Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda) is the strongest recorded tropical cyclone to ever make landfall, with wind speeds up to 315 km/h (195 mph).

On November 4, 2013, the tropical storm began to intensify to typhoon levels. By November 6, the typhoon had magnified into a super typhoon equal to a Category 5- hurricane as it passed over the island of Kayangel.

Haiyan continued to intensify as it made landfall. Gradually weakening, the storm made five more landfalls before reaching the South China Sea. Over 720,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

Typhoon Haiyan leveled Samar Island and Leyte, where at least 10,000 people in the city of Tacloban alone are reported dead. Turning northwest, Haiyan struck northern Vietnam as a severe tropical storm on November 10.

Next Is Typhoon Zoraida

The world will be closely watching the next typhoon, Zoraida, that appears to be going on the same track as Haiyan. Still a Tropical Depression, Zoraida is the 25th cyclone to enter the Philippine archipelago this year. It made landfall in Cagayan, Davao Oriental Tuesday morning, November 11, 2013.

Several areas within the Philippines have been placed under Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1.  Zoraida is packing maximum winds of 55 kp/h (34 mph). This cyclone is not as powerful as Haiyan by any stretch, but high waves and flooding will impact an already saturated region.

Earthquakes

A seismogram reading showing an increase in earthquake activity today.

The Philippines is experiencing large earthquake activity today.

Typhoon Haiyan exacerbated the damage on Bohol Island from a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that killed 222 people merely three weeks earlier.

Over 270,000 people are displaced and homeless from the October 15 quake.

On November 3, 2013, a 6.0 magnitude quake struck SSW of Palimbang, Philippines.

And, then came Haiyan.

A picture of Mount Mayon Volcano in the province of Bicol, Philippines.

Mount Mayon Volcano in the province of Bicol, Philippines.

Volcanoes

Today, volcanic eruptions are increasing worldwide, and the Philippines is no exception.

Located on the Pacific Rim’s Ring of Fire, the Philippines sits on top of the world’s most active volcanic zones.

It is hard to label a volcano as “active” or “inactive” these days as earthquake and volcanic activity increases. There are 23 – 25 volcanoes within the Philippine archipelago, however, that are presently showing signs of volcanic activity.

Tsunamis

There have been no tsunamis to date, although several local tsunami warnings have been posted after large earthquakes have rattled this region in 2013.  Let’s hope for the best on this one.

The Philippines has had its share of natural disasters in 2013.

Enough, right?

 

 

Filed Under: Climate, Earth Changes, Earthquakes, hurricanes, Storms, Volcanoes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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