Climate/Other Nature trends

[jo]

While many in the temperate zones above the equator are looking forward to spring and its friendly weather...

here in the wet tropics by the Pacific -- we are going thru the effect of a mild El Nino phenomenon. The El Nino originates in this area of the wide Pacific. It is usually wrapped in very hot and thoroughly uncomfortable temperatures, with low water supply characterizing many water reservoirs, irrigation systems unable to cope with agricultural needs, and  the sight of drought in many areas looking bad for food production...while people look for wherever they can cool off themselves ( beaches - we do have 7100 islands wrapped in water all around, airconditioned offices and other public places, and if possible some airconditioned comfort in the home).


Today, by the airport in Manila, temperature reading is at 36'4" Centigrade...while the Heat Index ( how it feels like) is 41'2" C. Never in the past do I remember having to reckon with such stifling weather. What makes it much more unbearable is our very high humidity factor. Yet last night I remember heavy tropical rains thundering down the roof!

Some do relish the hot weather -- I have just seen a video clip of a flower farm around here with mostly 2-ft tall sunflowers where the friendly faces of the floral yellow/brown display enjoy putting up their floral beauty to the sun! And of course some tropical fruits are at their sweetest when harvested during the hottest weather around.


Ahhh...the vagaries of nature!


While technology seems to have united the world in some respects - nature is a reminder that differences also make us unique from each other.


Have a nice spring day --- and maybe looking forward to Easter Sunday soon!



Jo

[jo]

The ubiquitous summer flower inspired Van Gogh to give us an immortal artistic rendering of the sunflower!

[jo]

We just had what is originally reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
as a 5.7( Edit: Now Upgraded to 6.1) tectonic earthquake at the epicenter on the Richter scale. Slightly weaker where we are but buildings were fast evacuated. Epicenter was near the once-notorious Mt.Pinatubo volcano ( strongest volcanic eruption of the 20th century) -- but this is tectonic ( which would affect the continental tectonic plates underneath) in origin.

Also --

"Earthquake of 6.3 magnitude strikes central Philippines, no reports of casualties. MANILA (REUTERS) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the central Philippines on Monday (April 22), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. ... The quake struck at 5.11pm local time, about 60 km north-west of Manila at a depth of 40km."


Being in the frightening RING OF FIRE surrounding the Pacific Ocean, people here always get frightened at the thought that this might be the big one that we have regular drills for.

Some infrastructure damage and some reports of natural damage. No tsunami warning for coastal towns, though ( according to the government agency that can happen at around 6.5 magnitude). Mass transit operations closed to allow engineering review of the structures. Many aftershocks reported.

There was a comment which speculates if it is relatable to the continued unusually high temperatures prevailing - some reaching 37.0 C! Who knows??

Very hot and humid....and now very shaky


Jo

[hughmanity]

Glad you're ok, Jo.  Be careful!

Apr 22, 2019 4:32:10 GMT -5 jo said:

We just had what is originally reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
as a 5.7( Edit: Now Upgraded to 6.1) tectonic earthquake at the epicenter on the Richter scale. Slightly weaker where we are but buildings were fast evacuated. Epicenter was near the once-notorious Mt.Pinatubo volcano ( strongest volcanic eruption of the 20th century) -- but this is tectonic ( which would affect the continental tectonic plates underneath) in origin.

Also --

"Earthquake of 6.3 magnitude strikes central Philippines, no reports of casualties. MANILA (REUTERS) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the central Philippines on Monday (April 22), the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. ... The quake struck at 5.11pm local time, about 60 km north-west of Manila at a depth of 40km."


Being in the frightening RING OF FIRE surrounding the Pacific Ocean, people here always get frightened at the thought that this might be the big one that we have regular drills for.

Some infrastructure damage and some reports of natural damage. No tsunami warning for coastal towns, though ( according to the government agency that can happen at around 6.5 magnitude). Mass transit operations closed to allow engineering review of the structures. Many aftershocks reported.

There was a comment which speculates if it is relatable to the continued unusually high temperatures prevailing - some reaching 37.0 C! Who knows??

Very hot and humid....and now very shaky


Jo

[jo]

Thanks for the word of concern, hughmanity

I had the most unusual luck - I had just had a shower ( very hot temperatures at the moment) and was vigorously shaking my wet hair with a towel when it occurred. A few seconds later, someone in the house pointed to the shaking of the overhead lights on the ceiling. Yikes - I missed the moment ( it lasted only about 10 seconds but already some damage, including some casualties who were trapped in buildings which suffered partial collapse)...but I know the horrifying and heart-thundering feeling because I've personally experienced several very strong quakes. This time, I mistook my body movements as natural while the earth moved beneath.

Jo

[jo]

This is becoming a bit frightening - a slightly stronger but deeper earthquake ( 6.5 magnitude) hit somewhere else south in our island archipelago. Last night, a milder earthquake hit another area south of where we are - and I had wondered whether we are going to be hit by a series. They are individual quakes and are not aftershocks of the first one. Hope our part of the earth ( unfortunately, the Ring of Fire around the Pacific is highly susceptible to seismic activity) will settle down soon.

Btw, an unusual sight from yesterday's earthquake as it affected Manila itself. Here a rooftop swimming pool overflowed down the sides of a skyscraper condominium -- an unusual waterfall sight!

www.msn.com/en-ph/news/world/philippines-earthquake-incredible-footage-shows-rooftop-swimming-pool-pour-down-skyscraper-after-earthquake/ar-BBWc4zD?ocid=spartandhp&fullscreen=true#image=1




Jo

[hughmanity]

Apr 23, 2019 3:26:53 GMT -5 jo said:

This is becoming a bit frightening - a slightly stronger but deeper earthquake ( 6.5 magnitude) hit somewhere else south in our island archipelago. Last night, a milder earthquake hit another area south of where we are - and I had wondered whether we are going to be hit by a series. They are individual quakes and are not aftershocks of the first one. Hope our part of the earth ( unfortunately, the Ring of Fire around the Pacific is highly susceptible to seismic activity) will settle down soon.

Btw, an unusual sight from yesterday's earthquake as it affected Manila itself. Here a rooftop swimming pool overflowed down the sides of a skyscraper condominium -- an unusual waterfall sight!

www.msn.com/en-ph/news/world/philippines-earthquake-incredible-footage-shows-rooftop-swimming-pool-pour-down-skyscraper-after-earthquake/ar-BBWc4zD?ocid=spartandhp&fullscreen=true#image=1




Jo