Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Tsunami Warning for 27 Countries After Magnitude 8.5 [or 8.7] Earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a tsunami warning for the following 27 countries: Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Burma, Thailand, Maldives, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Reunion, Seychelles, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Madagascar, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Comores, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, South Africa and Singapore.
Indonesia issued a tsunami warning Wednesday after the earthquake hit waters off westernmost Aceh province. Traffic was chaotic Wednesday afternoon in Banda Aceh as people fled coastal areas for higher ground in the west. Power and internet is reportedly down in the provincial capital. In Padang, hospitals are reportedly evacuating patients from the building.
Thailand issued an evacuation order Wednesday for its Andaman coast, a popular tourist destination, after the massive earthquake. Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center advised people in the area to move to higher places and stay as far away as possible from the sea. People on Twitter said tremors were felt in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and India. High-rise apartments and offices on Malaysia’s west coast shook for at least a minute. In Bangalore, India hundreds of office workers left their buildings.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the powerful quake was centered 20 miles (33 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor around 308 miles (495 kilometers) from Aceh’s provincial capital.

LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
8.7 OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
5.3 BANDA SEA
5.1 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.2 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

Yesterday -
4/11/12 -
5.0 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

4/10/12 -
5.8 NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND

4/9/12 -
None 5.0 or higher.

4/8/12 -
5.4 TAIWAN REGION

Today in Earthquake History - April 11, 1997 - 6.2 in China – At least 9 people killed, 89 injured, 100,000 homeless, thousands of buildings destroyed and 11,000 livestock killed in Jiashi County. This was the largest earthquake to date in a swarm of large strike-slip and normal faulting events which began on January 21, 1997. (map)

VOLCANOES -

Eyes are still on Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia, where the volcano has been showing increasing signs of an impending eruption over the last month.

On April 10, 1815, the Indonesian volcano of Mount Tambora exploded in the largest eruption in recorded history. An entire mountain annihilated itself in the volcanic eruption.

TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

Alaska - Anchorage breaks seasonal snow record. A 3.4 inch spring snowfall has BROKEN THE NEARLY 60-YEAR-OLD SEASONAL SNOW RECORD of Alaska's largest city. Anchorage has received 133.6" of snow this season breaking the previous record set in 1954.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

US sees RECORD FOR WARMEST MARCH IN RECORDED HISTORY - and WARMEST FIRST THREE MONTHS OF A YEAR. In the lower 48 states, only Washington State had below normal weather.

SPACE WEATHER -

ALMOST-BLANK SUN - This solar cycle is THE WEAKEST IN DECADES. Today the sun is almost blank. Only last month, solar activity reached a fever pitch with one sunspot alone dumping enough energy in Earth's atmosphere to power every residence in New York City for two years. Such outbursts are consistent with predictions that solar maximum is only about one year away. Yet even on the threshold of Solar Max, the sun remains capable of deep quiet.

HEALTH THREATS -

RECALLS & ALERTS:
Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice. This is being done as a precautionary measure, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.