Earthquake Near Baja Peninsula

An earthquake shook the ground 47miles north of La Paz, Mexico, on Mexico's Baja Peninsula. No injuries were reported, for the area has a small population. It was noted that quakes rarely happen in the area, despite it being near the Pacific Plate and Caribbean Plate boundary.

Location of La Paz, Mexico. On Baja Peninsula
photo credit: Google maps

Reportedly, the earthquake was ranked 6.2-magnitude (out of 10+) on the Richter scale. It was 6 miles (10km) deep, which makes it a shallow earthquake. Shallow earthquakes are stronger than deep earthquakes because they happen closer to the earth's crust. The crust is much cooler in comparison to the mantle (next layer into the earth). So, when tension builds and builds and builds, it snaps, like an icicle, versus a less violent break, like splitting a warm brownie.

Location of Baja Peninsula, along Pacific and Caribbean Plate boundary
photo credit:  http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/images/new_map.jpg

source: 
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/25/world/americas/mexico-earthquake/index.html

Typhoon Sanda, Followup

High waves caused by Typhoon Sanba crash onto a Yeosu beach,
south of Seoul, South Korea, on Monday Sept. 17, 2012
credit: Washington Post

In a follow up to my first post reporting about Typhoon Sanba, the storm did indeed reach South Korea Monday afternoon.

Prior to reaching South Korea, Sanba hit Japan on Sunday. Southwestern Japan homes lost power and some areas experienced flooding. One man, from an island off the southern side of Japan, drowned while swimming  in the high waves caused by the storm.

South Korea received the worst of the storm, with heavy rain, wind, and massive waves crashing along the southern coast. Homes and shops were without power for the day. The storm also caused flight and ferry cancellations. Only one casualty and one injury were reported in South Korea, both via landslides. Over 170 people were left homeless from the storm.

North Korea was not directly hit by the storm, however the outer rings did bring heavy rain into the southern part of the country. Strong winds were also reported near the capital city, Pyongyang.

Path of Typhoon Sanba
credit: wunderground.com

sources:
 http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/wp201217.asp?MR=1
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/after-drenching-japan-and-causing-blackouts-typhoon-sanba-churns-over-south-korea/2012/09/17/fe049d10-0084-11e2-bbf0-e33b4ee2f0e8_story.html

Typhoon Sanba

credit: Google Maps

On Saturday afternoon, September 15th, the eye of Typhoon Sanba hit the Japanese island of Okinawa. Sanba produced winds up to 79 miles per hour and had an intensity equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane, according to CNN.com. Earlier in the week, Sanba peaked intensity with winds peaking at 175 miles per hour!

credit: wunderground.com

Sanba will head for South Korea, and eventually North Korea early Monday morning, US time. Though Sanba's power will be weakening, the storm will continue to be labeled a typhoon through its landfall journey. Parts of western Japan are under warnings for intense winds and heavy rainfall.

The Philippians experienced flooding from Typhoon Samba's turmoil. Philippine capital, Manila, was one area hit by surprise monsoon rains.

credit: weather.com

More photos from Sanba:
http://www.weather.com/news/typhoon-sanba-slideshow-20120915


source:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/sanba-western-pacific-20120914
http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/wp201217.html

Volcano eruption in Guatemala

photo credit:   CNN iReporter Harby David Marroquin

Around 10am on September 13, 2012, the "Volcan de Fuego" (Fire Volcano) began spitting ash into the air. The volcano is located near Antigua, Guatemala.

photo credit:  http://www.macalester.edu/courses/geog261/aberger/andrew_berger_antigua/index.html 

Officials promptly evacuated residents within a 12 mile radius of the volcano via buses and private cars, though some refused to leave in fear of their possessions being stolen   Mobile health care centers were made available to those in need of respiratory treatment, and only one person was hospitalized in critical condition as of 8:41pm EDT. Ash was reported to be reaching up to 25 miles from the source.


Vinicio Sarazua Santillan, a Red Cross spokesman, told CNN that this was the sixth eruption this year. According to the Smithsonian Nations Museum of Natural History, the Fire Volcano is one of the most active in Central America.



















source:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/americas/guatemala-volcano-eruption/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Bermuda Braces for Hurricane Leslie

Bermuda is preparing quickly as Hurricane Leslie approaches the island. The US East Coast is also recommended to play it safe until the storm clears out.


source: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/06/world/americas/bermuda-hurricane-leslie/index.html?iref=obinsite