Toxic Smog- China

A heavy, Toxic smog is covering NE China.  The smog has caused many schools to close down, flights have been delayed, trains and buses stopped running and it has caused some highway closings.  It is expected that the fog will worsen within the next 24 hours bringing visability down to 100 meters, in a few spots the visability had gone down to 20 meters. People have been buying protective masks to keep from inhaling the bad air. "My mask turned black after I wore it for half an hour," said a citizen of Harbin.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/world/asia/china-smog-lingers/

 



This hazard is technological because it is due to air pollutants caused by humans. The big pollutant emissions are from coal-burning, vehicle exhaust and the burning of crop stalk on the outskirts, according to environmental authorities in Heilongjiang.

There isn't much protection against something like this without stopping constant pollution.  The defense is mainly adaption because they had masks ready for sale.  They are also able to warn the rest of the country that are in danger of the smog to roll in.  Other protective measures include keeping people indoors(especially the elderly or young children).

http://www.newsbullet.in/world/52-more/46748-china-city-shutdown-due-to-hazardous-smog

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/22/world/asia/china-smog-lingers/

Philippines Earthquake

A Philippines Earthquake hit this morning around 8am.  It was a magnitude 7.1 causing 93 deaths.  The roads and bridges were down and it made for some difficult rescue efforts.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24530042

Just as we talked about today there was some developemental pressure in the road/bridge structures in the area as well as housing, government buildings, schools, hospitals and some of their well known churches.  The structures clearly weren't built to withstand such an Earthquake even though the area is prone to Earthquakes.  The lucky thing about the earthquake hitting today was that it is the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha so schools and offices were closed which had saved many lives.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/world/asia/philippines-earthquake/

September 7th of 2012 there was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that caused similar damage as you can see in the photo below.






http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/14/world/asia/philippines-earthquake/
http://www.weather.com/news/72-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-phillipines-least-4-dead-20131014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24530042

Japan Nuclear Leak

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/6/japan-asks-for-worldshelponfukushimaleaks.html
 Japan had a major Nuclear power plant leak about 2 years ago caused by a damaging earthquake. Japanese officials acknowledge that nuclear waste has been flowing into the pacific ocean for the last two years.  Japan is really hoping for some overseas help which would be a good idea because the radioactive leak could potentially spread to our shore.

The flow started at spilling about 300 tons a day.  The biggest health concern is the leak infecting the fish near the area.

Right now to treat this they have treated water in the tanks to remove cesium which is one of the more harmful radioactive elements.  The Japanese government will be funding the building of an ice wall to prevent the spreading of toxic materials to the pure waters.

This was a technological hazard because it was caused by human technologies.  There is nothing we can do to prevent an Earthquake but they could have taken measures to prevent this amount of damage.  Nuclear power has some harsh effects when mistakes are made which is why it's always good to be extra cautious.  Clearly Japan didn't go above and beyond while trying to keep the ocean safe from their radioactive chemicals.  Knowing that Japan is prone to Earthquakes they could have taken better procaution and built up this area better and away from water.



http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/09/04/look-at-radioactive-water-leaks-at-japan-fukushima-nuclear-power-plant-and/

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/6/japan-asks-for-worldshelponfukushimaleaks.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24377520

Yosemite

I won't be reporting on any hazards for the next week because I'll be going to Yosemite National Park!!! My Yosemite tab will have information and pictures from my trip when I return!

Mexico Duel Storms

At least 40 people have been killed in the deadly storms happening on both coasts of Mexico. 60,000 tourists are stranded in Alcapulco.  The storms triggered flash floods and land slides.  On one of the road closings there was a bus accident caused by a landslide killing 12 people.  It's not typical that Mexico gets hit by both a tropical storm and a hurricane at the same time.  Having back-up ready for one storm is much different than preventing distruction on two.



http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/ingrid-manuel-mexico-hurricane/17793800

Above is a damaged van in a low-income neighborhood in Chilpancingo, Mexico after a landslide yesterday.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/17/two-storms-mexico-deaths-tourists-stranded

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/24134494

Severe Thunderstorms

We have some severe storms going on heading to the North West. There are many flood watches in act throughout the west.  Colorado has a flood emergency right now involving closed streets, evacuations, mudslides and 2 deaths so far. The Office of Emergency Management in Boulder is reccomending evacuation for habitants in low-lying areas. Jamestown had reported the collapse of houses.


https://twitter.com/es_hamilton/status/378160161921064960/photo/1

Above is a twitter update of the flooding in Aurora, CO.


https://twitter.com/DenverChannel/status/378148295186464768/photo/1

Above you can see the damage near Hwy 287


http://www.thedenverchannel.com/weather/radars

There is a radar picture of the moisture coming through.
Denver's weather service is hoping for drier conditions beginning monday.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/weather/radars
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-severe/colorado-flooding-live-updates-boulder-denver-20130912

Yosemite Rim Fire

This fire in Yosemite had started around 3:15pm August 17th, 2013.  The fire had started near the Groveland District and is now at about 237,341 Acres.

This is a Picture of the location of fire spread:

http://wildfiretoday.com/2013/08/21/california-rim-fire-west-of-yosemite-np/

The cause for the fire is still under investigation.  Of course with everything that is "still under investigation," there has to be someone jumping to crazy conclusions.  Local fire Chief McNeil was speculating that the fire was likely to be caused by illegal marijuana growers.  Jerry Snyder of the U.S. Forest Service says the area doesn't have the desirable water source to attract such plantations to the area; there has also been no evidence of marijuana growth in that area.  Snyder explains things like an illegal campfire or steep areas causing a spark by falling and collision of rocks could be to blame. Snyder says that lightning as causation is ruled out.

Currently there is around 4,000 people working on putting out the fire.  It is 80% contained and expected to be fully contained by September 20th (Just in time for my research trip to the area on the 21st!) 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/yosemite-fire-60-contained-article-1.1444075

The Rim Fire right now ranks as the 4th largest in the state's history.  According to East Country Magazine, 11 homes have been burned and thousands more are threatened.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Yosemite-fire-S-F-power-plant-back-on-line-4784483.php

 

 

http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm

http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/13907

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3660