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Floods In Hawaii And More To Come

October 15, 2013 by
A tropical beach with clouds raining over it.

Heavy rains are causing flooding in Hawaii.

Heavy rains and runoff are causing flood advisories in Hawaii. If the heavy rains persist, the advisories will be extended.

To top this off, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck east of Balilihan, Philippines early morning October 15, 2013, and although tsunami warnings for Hawaii were not issued, high waves will be rolling into the upper Hawaiian Islands.

This will exacerbate heavily flooded areas.

High waves crashing on the sea shore.

High waves will reach the Hawaiian Islands after the 7.2 quake in the Philippines.

Advisory

A flash flood watch through Tuesday has been issued for the State of Hawaii. The entire Island of Lanai is under flood advisory, as well as the Big Island, Oahu, Kauai, Waianae, Maui, Haleakala, and Kona.

The Island of Molokai was under flood advisory, but that was cancelled once the heavy rains stopped.

Let’s hope the volcanoes don’t erupt right now – that’s all they need.

 

Filed Under: Earthquakes, Storms Tagged With: , , ,

Earthquake Under Kilauea Volcano Shakes Hawaii

August 13, 2013 by
A USGS map of the earthquake under Kilauea Volcano.

A 4.9 earthquake strikes beneath Kilauea Volcano, August 11, 2013 – USGS

A 4.9 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Hawaii, 5 miles south of the summit of Kilauea Volcano and at a depth of about 20 miles under the island. Tsunami watches went out, but no tsunami was generated – luckily.

Many “Big Island” residents felt the shaking and people as far away as Oahu and Maui reported feeling the earthquake. Over 400 reports were received within the first hour of the earthquake.

The 5.9 quake was followed minutes later by a 3.4 quake and a 2.9 quake as the activity settled down and the region reached equilibrium.

A Volcano-Quake

An underwater volcano smoking ash.

Underwater volcanic earthquakes should be taken seriously – especially for the residents on the island.

Wes Thelen, Hawaii’s Seismic Network Manager, said that these earthquakes were most likely structural adjustment of the Earth’s crust due to the weight of the island on the underlying mantle.

I disagree, and wonder why he doesn’t take this deeper (sorry about the pun). The Pacific Rim is more active today than it has been in recorded history, with an increase in both large earthquakes and volcanic activity.

The Earth’s oceans are warming, the crust is heating up, and the planet is shifting – big time. 

This 4.9 magnitude quake under the Kilauea Volcano signals that the magma deep beneath Kilauea is moving upward. For this much movement to occur, a shift in the mantle has taken place, yes, but this is not due to the weight of the “island” – it is due to the movement of hot magma coming closer to the Earth’s surface under Kilauea.

THIS was a volcano-quake.

Take It In Stride

Sometimes I wonder if earthquake magnitudes are kept just under the mark to make the increase in magnitudes seem lower – like 4.9 amd 5.9 as opposed to 5.0 and 6.0. This sounds less threatening, right? It serves little purpose to keep the people living near an active volcano in the dark. Have you ever watched the movie Dante’s Peak?

Watch it!

Be prepared, and stay aware. Enjoy the Hawaiian paradise, but also know that things are heating up under your feet!

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

Volcanic Earthquakes Increase Threats Of Eruptions

June 5, 2013 by
A picture of a volcano erupting.

Earthquakes increase in volcanic areas.

Earthquake activity is increasing in areas of dangerous volcanism, and when quakes increase in volcanic areas, the threat of natural disasters doubles.

Quakes and Eruptions June 4, 2013

Kuril’sk, Russia – Chirinkota Volcano

  • 5.1, 4.7, 4.6, 5.5, 5.3, 4.7 magnitude quakes

Solomon Islands – Yasur Volcano (N of Vanuatu)

  • 6.1 magnitude quake

South America:

Chile – Copahue Volcano

  • 4.7 magnitude quake

Peru – Sabancaya Volcano

  • 5.2, 4.6 magnitude quakes

Argentina – Copahue Volcano

  • 4.5 magnitude quake

Guatemala – Pacaya Volcano

  • 4.4 magnitude quake

Pahala and Volcano, Hawaii – Underwater Volcanoes

One of the many underwater volcanoes erupting today.

Highly active underwater volcanos off Pahala, Hawaii.

  • 2.9, 2.5, 2.7, 5.3, 2.9, 3.0 magnitude quakes

Greenville, California – Lassen Volcano

  • 2.8, 2.7, 2.7, 2.7, 2.5, 3.1 magnitude quakes

Volcanic earthquakes are increasing as magma rises to the top of these volcanoes. Watch for an increase in Earth activity both above and below the ground.

 

 

 

 

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