Indonesia on Thursday (Dec 27) raised the danger alert level for the Anak Krakatau volcano amid signs of increased activity, after its eruption last weekend triggered a deadly tsunami. Flights around the volcano, which sits in between the islands of Java and Sumatra, were also redirected. Here's a look at Indonesia's volcanic hot spots. Why is Indonesia prone to quakes and eruptions? Indonesia is a vast archipelago that sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire". The Ring is a 40,000km arc that stretches from New Zealand, to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, across to Alaska, the United States, Mexico to the southern tip of South America. It is where tectonic plates collide and a large portion of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. The United States Geological Survey says more than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level encircle the Pacific Ocean to form the Ring of Fire, while about 90 per cent of the world's earthquakes occur along the … [Read more...] about A look at Indonesia’s volcanic hot spots
Why does a volcano erupt
News OPINION: Duterte government slashed disaster fund without explanation
And why did his hand-picked disaster operations chief go on vacay amid flood warnings? By the time many Filipinos turn 21, they would have experienced a volcanic eruption, several strong earthquakes and over 400 storms – dozens of them worsened by deep floods, violent winds and landslides. So it is rather hard to understand why President Rodrigo Duterte has kept slashing the disaster fund. Because of this, only P7.6 billion (roughly US$150 million) is left for natural disasters this year. I hope the ongoing floods in and around do not totally wipe out this sum. And we still have to go through the “ber” months when deadlier typhoons usually come. ***** Duterte also appointed former Navy Captain Nicanor Faeldon as the deputy administrator for operations of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). After removing him as Customs Commissioner. The OCD is the operational arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). NDRRMC, created in the tragic … [Read more...] about News OPINION: Duterte government slashed disaster fund without explanation
In a world where islands are disappearing, a new one has formed from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano
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By Isaac Stanley-Becker The Washington Post Wed., July 18, 2018 A small new world has materialized on the shores of the Big Island of Hawaii. The 20-by-30-foot expanse is a geological tabula rasa, untouched and unlike just about anywhere else on earth. The island first emerged Thursday from lava flowing out of a new fissure that opened on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano in May, according to the United States Geological Survey. The agency said underwater pressure forced the lava flowing northeast from the vent to the surface. A Hawaiian Volcano Observatory crew noticed the mass during a flight on Friday morning. One of the most active volcanoes worldwide, Kilauea has erupted virtually continuously for the last 35 years and with great intensity over the past several months. In June, molten rock smothered a neighbourhood called Vacationland. And on Monday, a basketball-sized lava bomb smashed through the roof of a sightseeing boat, injuring more than 20 people. The … [Read more...] about In a world where islands are disappearing, a new one has formed from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano
Our politicians need to understand why science matters
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By Reinhart Reithmeier Opinion Peter Love Fri., July 13, 2018 The dismissal of Ontario’s chief scientist and elimination of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science sends unfortunate signals that science doesn’t matter. But where will high-paying jobs and future economic prosperity come from? You guessed it — innovation driven by science. The life sciences sector in Ontario is bigger than the automotive sector and both are science-driven and major drivers of our economy. The research done in Ontario’s universities, hospital-based research institutes and in growing industries, such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence, lead to new medical treatments and exciting innovations like self-driving cars. Our highly trained university and college graduates are helping to drive these innovations and the economic development that follows. These graduates are the critical thinkers, problem solvers and innovators that we need moving … [Read more...] about Our politicians need to understand why science matters