August 23rd, 2011 Category: Earthquakes, Fires

USA and Canada - August 15th, 2011

The East Coast of the USA was rocked by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake Tuesday, shaking buildings in many cities, delaying flights and trains and sending thousands of frightened workers into the streets, although there have been no reports of major damage or injuries

The earthquake was centered in about 4 miles southwest of Mineral, Virginia, near Richmond, Virginia, and about 80 miles south of Washington, D.C. Its effects were strongest in the Mid-Atlantic region, although it was felt from as far north as Ottawa, Canada, to North Carolina, in southern USA. This image shows part of the eastern seaboard, including most of Virginia.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that at the epicenter, the quake had a very shallow depth of 0.6 mile. It hit at about 1:51 p.m. ET and lasted 45 seconds, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS has warned of the possibility of aftershocks.

Earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 to 6 can cause damage to buildings and other structures, especially if shallow. The U.S. East Coast does not normally feel quakes of this strength. However, the shallower a quake is, the more intense it is felt on the surface, and the potential for damage is greater.

Also visible in this image of some of the areas affected by the earthquake is a fire burning in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia (visible in full image). The blaze has been burning since the 4th of August.

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July 30th, 2011 Category: Earthquakes

Japan - July 30th, 2011

Fukushima - July 19th, 2011

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has been felt in northeast Japan, shaking buildings in the capital Tokyo, reports say. The quake’s epicentre was off the east coast of Honshu. The main orthorectified image focuses on the northeastern coast of that island on the day of the recent quake.

It struck in the same area as the 11 March earthquake and tsunami but no abnormalities at Japanese nuclear plants were reported, Reuters reports. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami warning was issued.

More than 20,000 people died or were reported missing as a result of the disaster in March, which also crippled nuclear reactors in the Fukushima area. The detail image, also orthorectified, gives a recent view of that area, with Tokyo partially visible at the bottom upon opening the full version.

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March 18th, 2011 Category: Earthquakes, Image of the day

Japan - March 12th, 2011

Damage from Tsunami

10-metre (33-ft) High Tsunami

This image shows the islands of Japan one day after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami afflicted the country. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on Friday 11 March 2011.

The epicenter was 130 kilometers (81 mi) off the east coast of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku near Sendai, with the hypocenter at a depth of 32 km (19.9 mi). Here, the land closest to the quake epicenter is partially obscured by clouds, although the city of Tokyo can be seen clearly to the south.

The earthquake triggered extremely destructive tsunami waves of up to 10 meters (33 ft) that struck Japan minutes after the quake, in some cases traveling up to 10 km (6 mi) inland, with smaller waves reaching many other countries after several hours. Tsunami warnings were issued and evacuations ordered along Japan’s Pacific coast and at least 20 other countries, including the entire Pacific coast of North America and South America.

Kesennuma City

Fukushima Nuclear Plant

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March 1st, 2010 Category: Earthquakes, Image of the day

Chile - February 28th, 2010

Chile has begun to count the cost of its deadly earthquake as nations around the Pacific eased their fears of a devastating tsunami. The quake, which occurred on Saturday morning, killed at least 350 people – 90% of them in their homes. It is feared the damage may cost tens of billions of dollars.

The epicenter was offshore of Chile’s Maule Region, near the city of Concepción, about 325 km (200 miles) southwest of Santiago. However, the effects of the 8.8 magnitude quake were felt as far away as Sao Paulo, Brazil – a distance of about 2850 kilometers.

It is the largest earthquake to hit Chile in 50 years and the sixth strongest ever recorded – 100 times stronger than the one that hit Haiti in January.  Over 50 aftershocks have been recorded.

The epicenter of the quake was towards the center of this image; Santiago is located towards the top. Upon opening the full version, the majority of the Chilean coast can be observed, from the Atacama Desert in the North to Patagonia in the South.

The death toll looks set to rise, following reports that about 350 people died in the town of Constitución alone. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said that two million people had been affected by the earthquake. Many Chileans in affected areas have spent the first night since the earthquake outdoors, afraid to stay inside.

Meanwhile fears of a devastating tsunami across the Pacific receded on Sunday. About 50 Pacific countries and territories had issued tsunami alerts, although on Sunday the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted its Pacific-wide alert. Japan has maintained an alert, issuing evacuation orders for 320,000 people around the coast. However, it downgraded it from major to normal – meaning waves of two metres were expected rather than three. French Polynesia and Tahiti were among those hit by high waves, but no casualties have been reported.

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January 24th, 2010 Category: Earthquakes, Image of the day

Haiti - January 20th, 2010

This orthorectified image focuses on Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on the shores of Port-au-Prince Bay. A massive earthquake occurred inland, on 12 January 2010, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west-southwest from Port-au-Prince at a depth of 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) at 16:53 UTC-5 on the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded six aftershocks in the two hours after the main earthquake. The aftershocks were at magnitudes of approximately 5.9, 5.5, 5.1, 4.5, and 4.5. Within the first nine hours 26 aftershocks of magnitude 4.2 or greater were recorded, 12 of which were magnitude 5.0 or greater.

On 20 January at 11:03 UTC, the date this image was taken, the strongest aftershock since the earthquake, measuring magnitude 5.9 Mw, struck Haiti. The U.S. Geological Survey reported its epicentre was about 56 kilometres (35 miles) WSW of Port-au-Prince, which would place it almost exactly under the city of Petit-Goâve. A UN representative reported that the aftershock collapsed seven buildings in Petit-Goâve.

Workers from the charity Save the Children reported hearing “already weakened structures collapsing”  but most sources report no further significant damage to infrastructure in Port-au-Prince. Further casualties are thought to be minimal because people had been sleeping in the open.

Tags: Aftershock ASAR Earthquake Enriquillo-Plaintain Garden Fault System Haiti Orthorectification Petit-Goâve Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince Bay | | Leave a comment

January 21st, 2010 Category: Earthquakes

Haiti - January 19th, 2010

A major earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, January 12th, knocking down buildings and power lines and inflicting what its ambassador to the United States called a catastrophe for the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation.

The 2010 Haitian earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake. Its epicentre was near Léogâne, approximately 25 km (16 miles) west of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Port-au-Prince can be seen along the shores of the Port-au-Prince Bay near the center of this orthorectified image, taken one week after the catastrophe.

The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010, at a depth of 13 km (8.1 miles). The United States Geological Survey recorded a series of at least 33 aftershocks, 14 of which were between magnitudes 5.0 and 5.9.

The International Red Cross estimated that about three million people were affected by the quake; the Haitian Interior Minister, Paul Antoine Bien-Aimé, anticipated on 15 January that the disaster would claim between 100,000 and 200,000 lives. Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive announced that by 18 January over 70,000 bodies had been buried in mass graves.

The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. Many notable landmark buildings were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace (President René Préval survived), the National Assembly building, the Port-au-Prince Cathedral, and the main jail. The headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), located in the capital, collapsed and the Mission’s Chief, Hédi Annabi, his deputy, Luiz Carlos da Costa, and the acting police commissioner were confirmed dead.

Tags: Aftershocks ASAR Earthquake Haiti Léogâne Orthorectification Port-au-Prince | | Leave a comment

April 10th, 2009 Category: Earthquakes

L'Aquila, Italy - April 9th, 2009

Collapsed church, L'Aquila

Map of epicenter

The city of L’Aquila can be seen in the valley in the middle of this orthorectified ASAR image of central Italy.

The death toll from the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the region was raised to 289 on Friday morning, reports the BBC.

The Italian government has extended the search for people who could still be alive under the rubble until Sunday; however, rescue workers believe the chances of finding survivors to be remote and so will focus on recovering bodies and assessing the extent of the damage.

Aftershocks are continuing to hamper such rescue efforts. On Thursday evening a tremor measuring 4.9, the fourth-largest since the earthquake, brought down a badly damaged four-storey building in the centre of L’Aquila.

Some 28,000 people have been left homeless by the quake. Meanwhile, President Napolitano has said poor construction is to blame for many of the deaths in Monday’s disaster.

Rescue worker and damaged building

Aerial view of L'Aquila

Citing “widespread irresponsibility” in the design and construction of modern buildings, he called for an investigation to find out how it was possible that essential buildings standards had not been applied. Modern buildings that suffered partial or total collapse in the quake include a hospital, city buildings, the provincial seat and university buildings, AFP news agency reports.

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April 8th, 2009 Category: Earthquakes

L'Aquila and the Abruzzo Region, Italy - April 6th, 2009

Simulated aerial view of Central Italy

The main picture is an orthorectified Radar (ASAR) image of Central Italy, focusing on the city of L’Aquila and the epicenter of the earthquake.

The thumbnail image gives a three dimensional look at the area simulating an aerial view (the Xvid codec, if missing, can be downloaded here).

Fresh aftershocks have rattled earthquake-hit central Italy, killing at least one more person and complicating rescue efforts, reported the BBC. One 5.2-magnitude tremor at 0253 (0053 GMT) on Thursday caused damage to buildings in L’Aquila and several nearby villages. Several of the aftershocks were felt as far away as Rome and Naples.

As the desperate search for survivors continues, officials have raised the death toll from the quake to 279. However, thanks to intense rescue efforts about 150 people have been pulled alive from the rubble.

Another 100 people are reported to be in serious condition and some 28,000 people were made homeless. Thousands spent a second night in tent camps around L’Aquila, the capital of the central Abruzzo region, as temperatures dropped to 4-5C overnight.

Crushed cars, L'Aquila

Collapsed building, L'Aquila

Italy’s Civil Protection Agency noted that tremors were continuing and it was difficult to know when they would end. At least seven strong shocks hit the region during the night, waking people from their sleep in the tent shelters.

Between 3,000 and 10,000 buildings are thought to have been damaged in L’Aquila, making the 13th-Century city of 70,000 uninhabitable for some time.

The head of the Italian Red Cross, Francesco Rocha, said 20,000 people were homeless and it could be months or even years before they were all back in their own homes.

Tags: 3D Abruzzo Aftershocks ASAR Earthquake Epicenter Italy L'Aquila | | Comments (1)