EVT Zone News Headlines
11 September 2013
MOUNT Etna National Park in Italy was declared a World Heritage site since June 2013 based on its geology.
5 May 2013
EVT Zone features Mount Etna Volcano under EVT Zone Zooms In
12 October 2011
LECTURE: TSUNAMI, FUKUSHIMA AND CLIMATE CHANGE: WHAT IS THE SCIENTIST’S ROLE?
by Prof Moto Ikeda from Hokkaido University, Japan
SATREPS/ACCESS Public Lecture hosted by the Geological Society of South Africa – Western Cape Branch
When: Friday, 14 October 2011
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Where: W P de Kock Lecture Hall – Chamber of Mines Building – Stellenbosch University (Western Cape – South Africa)
No RSVP needed
23 September 2011
A SILENT KILLER LURKS IN QUAKE-TORN AREAS OF JAPAN
By ERICA SOUTHEY (copyright 2011)
A DANGEROUS killer lurks in the rubble of quake-torn Japan; after the devastating tsunami that struck off the coast of Sendai on March 11, 2011.
To read the full article go to EVT Focuses on – https://evtblog.wordpress.com/evtfocuse-on/
24 May 2011
GRIMSVÖTN VOLCANO ALTERS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S IRELAND VISIT
US PRESIDENT, Barack Obama’s visit was cut short by Grimsvötn Volcano due to ash emissions as reported by 94.5 KFM (Cape Town’s number 1 radio Station. 94.5 KFM broadcasts to the Western Cape in South Africa).
GRIMSVÖTN RETAINS GRIP ON ICELAND’S AIRPORTS
GRIMSVÖTN’s eruptions continue keeping Iceland’s main airport closed. The ash cloud is expected to reach Scotland today.
Officials continue to monitor the volcano and airspace.
22 May 2011
ICELAND’S GRIMSVÖTN VOLCANO MAY PLAY HAVOC WITH FLIGHTS
GRIMSVÖTN volcano in Iceland erupted yesterday sending a plume of ash 50 000 ft up into the atmoshpere making it a no fly zone.
The eruption started about 17:30 UTC yesterday and still continues. A 120 nautical mile no-fly zone was declared over the volcano.
The volcano is located under the Vatnajokull glacier in south-east Iceland.
This is not unusual behaviour for this volcano as it erupts round about every 10 years. If this volcano follows eruption pattern and frequency – then it should not last longer than 3 weeks. It is reported that this is the biggest eruption since Hekla’s in 1947.
Grimsvötn last erupted in 2004.
5 May 2011
CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON ARCTIC “WORSE THAN INTIALLY THOUGHT”
A NEW research report on the effects of climate change in the Arctic says that the effects are worse than initially thought.
Some facts from the report state that by 2100 sea levels can rise by 0.9 – 1.6 meters and temperatures today are higher than over the last 2000 years. For the full story on the findings of the report go to: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110504084032.htm
It is no longer a topic that is restricted to scientists, but also to the global community – US. Scientists and leaders in this field have warned us of impending disasters – including to cut back on our activities that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
In a personal interview with Canadian Geologist, Dr Alan Morgan he said that one Canadian child uses the resources of 20 children in India. He said that a stronger term for the environmental changes is “Global Change”.
In other EVT news around the globe:
On 30 April the Tungurahua Volcano in Ecuador showed strong explosive activity. (Volcano Live)
A 3.7 magnitude earthquake struck Central California. No injuries or damage were reported. (Earthquakes in the Last Week)
12 April 2011
SHALLOW 6.3 AFTERSHOCK CLAIMS MORE LIVES CLOSE TO TOKYO
A DEADLY aftershock measuring 6.3 on the Richter’s scale struck east of Tokyo early this morning (local time) claiming more lives and sending residents fleeing.
The third of three big aftershocks (over magnitude 6.0) struck within a 24 hour period killing six and leaving many more trapped in buildings.
The epicentre is near the coast of Chiba east of Tokyo. Though no threat at present volcanologists are monitoring Mt Fuji that is close to Tokyo.
No tsunami warning was issued.
11 April 2011
USGS REVISES 7.1 MW TO 6.6 MW
USGS REPORTS PRELIMINARY 7.1 QUAKE IN JAPAN
THE USGS reported another 7.1 quake that struck Japan’s Eastern Honshu region today at 17:16:13 (Japan time) at the epicentre.
The Iwaki Perfecture is the closest to the epicentre.
Staff at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant were asked to evacuate
A tsunami warning was issued.
At time of this report – no reports of damage or injuries were given.
VOLCANO NEWS
Mt Etna is reported to have started new eruptions. Read more on http://www.sveurop.org
8 April 2011
JAPAN AFTERSHOCK CLAIMS THREE LIVES AND CAUSES LEAKS AT ONAGAWA NUCLEAR PLANT
THE 7.1 AFTERSHOCK reportedly claimed three lives on Myagi and Yamagata Perfectures. The March 11 quake according to reports claimed 12 731 lives and and 15 000 people are still reported as missing.
Amidst global focus on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plant the TEPCO managed Onagawa Nuclear Plant in the Myagi Perfecture reported water spill and leaks.
RTT NEWS reports:
A report by public broadcaster NHK said blowout panels for controlling pressure inside the buildings housing reactor 3 had been damaged. Also, two of its three external power connections were lost in the quake’s aftermath, temporarily causing the cooling system for pools holding spent fuel-rods to stop functioning.
7.1 MW AFTERSHOCK CAUSES WIDESPREAD BLACK-OUTS IN NORTH EASTERN JAPAN
THE ALREADY devastated Myagi Perfecture and surrounding areas suffered a further blow after yesterday’s 7.1 magnitude quake that left several people injured and residents in the dark.
Still suffering from the devastating aftermath of the March 11 earthquake that clocked 9 Mw on the Richter’s scale; the residents of Myagi Perfecture and surrounding areas faced yet another tremblor. The 7.1 magnitude ripper caused a major black-out leaving numerous households without electricity and telecommunications.
Several nuclear plants were shutdown as precautionary measure following the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.
Experts say that there will be more aftershocks in the higher magnitude range due to the intial 9.0 quake that caused stress on the fault lines.
30 March 2011
AFTERSHOCKS continue to rage through an already stricken Japan. The latest is the 6.3 magnitude quake that struck yesterday at a depth of 18 km.
30 September 2010
7.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE SLAMS INDONESIA’S EASTERN REGION OF PAPUA
A 7.4 MAGNITUDE earthquake struck Indonesia’s eastern region of Papua in the early morning hours of 30 September 2010 at a depth of 12.3 km reports the USGS.
The regions:
105 km (65 miles) NNW of Dobo, Kepulauan Aru, Indonesia
310 km (190 miles) WSW of Enarotali, Papua, Indonesia
900 km (560 miles) NNE of DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia
2985 km (1850 miles) E of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
No reports of injuries and/or damages were available.
A tsunami warning was issued and aftershocks are expected.
17 September 2010
Soon on ‘EVT Zone Zooms in’:
Icelandic Volcanoes with Dr Alan Morgan
A sneak preview on What On Earth is Global Change?! An in depth article will follow on Global Change as per an interview with Dr Alan Morgan
Check-out What on Earth: A Canadian Newsletter for the Earth Sciences on http://www.whatonearth.org
In future features we’ll take cyber tours to more volcanoes as seen through the eyes of those; who’ve been fortunate to get up close and personal with these fascinating phenomenas of nature.
Volcano News:
Gunung Sinabung in Sumatera, Indonesia’s ash plumes rose significantly.
This is based on analyses of satellite imagery and the CVGHM web camera, the Darwin VAAC reported that on 12 and 14 September ash plumes rose to altitudes of 4.3-4.6 km (14,000-15,000 ft) – see http://www.sveurop.org/gb/news/news.htm
With a close eye on Katla following the eruption of Eyjafjellajokul Volcano earlier this year – Dr Morgan said that in his last contact with Iceland geologists – Katla has not shown signs activity.
Earthquake News:
3.8 magnitude quake in Central Oklahoma late Thursday, September 16 at 4:41pm Central Time.
10 September 2010
CHRISTCHURCH PICKING UP THE PIECES
FOUR HUNDERD aftershocks later – residents of Christchurch are still picking up the pieces since the 7.0 wrecker quake struck there just under a week ago.
Stuff.co.nz sports an excerpt from a seisomograph depicting the aftershocks. For more, go to: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/canterbury-earthquake/4114666/Quake-Christchurch-cordon-lifted
9 September 2010
6.1 MAGNITUDE QUAKE STRIKS BIO-BIO CHILE
USGS REPORTS a 6.1 magnitude quake in Bio-Bio, Chile.
The quake struck the epicenter at 03:28:02 early this morning.
Visit: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010azar.php for more details.
EARTHQUAKES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE GLOBE:
Reykjanes Ridge, Iceland: 5.2 – Sept 9 at 08:31:05 near epicenter
Oklahoma City, USA: from 1.8 – 3.1 magnitude – Sept 8
Banda Sea, Indonesia: 5.4 magnitude – Sept 9
VOLCANO NEWS
Planchon Peteroa Volcano, Chile – minor explosions.
Go to: http://www.sveurop.org/gb/news/news.htm
8 September 2010
QUAKE-THE-RIPPER AND COHORTS ON THE LOOSE IN CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND
AFTERSHOCKS continue to keep Christchurch residents on high alert and out of sleep after the devastating 7.0 quake-the-ripper that struck the city recently.
New Zealand’s second largest city is still in the grip of unrelenting aftershocks that followed the destructive 7.0 magnitude quake reported by the USGS. Various online sites report that another big shaker is expected.
Since Saturday, Tonga and Fiji (within the same zone) got their share of earthquakes. Tonga followed Christchurch (September 4) with a 6.2 magnitude quake.
The most recent earthquake (6.3 magnitude) for the region happened September 7, at Nuku’Alofa in the Tonga Fiji region.
What do the experts think the relation is between these quakes. What is the general ‘feel’ with regard to fears of a bigger quake in the form of an aftershock?
7 September 2010
Aftershocks continue to hamper a stricken Christchurch.
Damages are estimated at US$ 1.4 billion.
In other parts of the world:
Indonesian Volcano, Seulawah Agam’s alert level was raised to Level one from Normal
Activity at the moment:
Ekarma Volcano Kuril Islands, Russia
Galeras, Colombia
Manam, New Guinea
6 September 2010
ANNOUNCEMENT:
A rare opportunity presented itself in that , Dr Alan Morgan will give a lecture on Iceland Volcanoes.
Dr Morgan is an eminent geological educator, who has been involved in the production of several documentary features on the volcanoes of Iceland and on climate change. He is actively involved in Geoscience outreach, and has won several awards and medals for his service in bringing geosciences to the public arena. He received the Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Waterloo in 1995.
Topic: Iceland: The Land of Ice and Fire
Date: Thursday 16th September
Venue: University of Cape Town
Time: 18h00 for 18h30
Hosted by: Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA)
Please contact Saranne Cessford on 021 794 8957 or gssa_wcb@worldonline.co.za
Due to limited space – you need to book. A small entry fee may be charged for non GSSA Members
A 7.0 EARTHQUAKE WREAKS HAVOC IN CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND
By ERICA SOUTHEY
A STATE of emergency was declared after a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake ripped through Christchurch, New Zealand in the early hours of Saturday injuring many.
Residents of New Zealand’s second largest city were rudely awakened by an unwelcome ‘visitor’ that shook their homes. One resident said their home “wobbled like jelly” reports Stuff.co.nz.
After extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure including water and sewage pipes, a state of emergency was declared. A person suffering a heart attack during the quake was the only casualty reported among many injuries.
Christchurch Mayor, Bob Parker asked Prime Minister John Key “to request the army to maintain safety and security and help the police over the next 24 hours.” says Stuff.co.nz
The earthquake struck the epicentre at 04:35 New Zealand time at a depth of 44 km west from Christchurch.
Two powerful aftershocks in the upper 5 magnitudes struck soon after.
No Tsunami warnings were issued.
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