• Active volcanoes in the world: May 21 – 27, 2014

    New activity/unrest was observed at 3 volcanoes from May 21 – 27, 2014. Ongoing activity was reported for 11 volcanoes.New activity/unrest: Ahyi, Mariana Islands (USA)  | San Miguel, El Salvador  | Santa María, GuatemalaOngoing activity: 

  • Shiveluch spews ash 10 km into the air, Kamchatka

    Kamchatkan Shiveluch volcano had another strong eruption at 22:45 UTC on May 26, 2014 and spewed ash up to 10 km into the air, according to KVERT. Volcanic alert level is on orange.Satellite data showed an ash cloud extended up to 850 km (520 miles)

  • “Storm of the Chinese century” causes severe flooding

    Continuous downpours that started more than a month ago are causing severe flooding in several provinces of south and central China. Provincial flood control and civil affairs authorities are saying this type of rainstorms occur once every 100 year.&

  • Pyrocumulonimbus clouds above Funny River Fire seen from space

    Pyrocumulonimbus clouds, also known as pyroCb events, are thunderclouds formed when superheated air rises above an intense fire. They are the most extreme manifestation of a pyrocumulus cloud, accompanied by hail, lightning, and strong winds and can loft

  • 131st eruption of the year at Sakurajima, Japan

    Japanese Showa Crater of Sakurajima volcano had a series of relatively strong eruptions today. According to Tokyo VAAC, the volcano first erupted at 00:58 UTC on May 23 and ejected a column of smoke and ash up to 3.6 km (12 000 ft) into the air. This is Sakura

  • Super strong El Niño in 2014?

    Conditions in the Pacific Ocean continue to suggest that a super strong El Niño might be forming in 2014. Strong bursts of winds coming out of the west in the equatorial tropical Pacific replaced the easterly winds and ocean surface currents, which