ICELAND'S VOLCANO AFFECTS ALL OF EUROPE

By Debbie Bulloch



The Eyjafjallajokull volcano, one of Iceland’s largest, had been dormant for nearly two centuries before returning to life in the late evening of March 20. The first sign that the volcano was coming back to life was the angry, red cloud glowing above the vast glacier that covers the volcano.

In the following days, fire fountains jetted from a dozen vents on the volcano, reaching as high as 100 meters, according to the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland. After a few day of spectacular volcanic activity the volcano seemed to return to sleep. Then on Wednesday, the volcano roared back to life sending clouds of ash soaring as high as 11,000 meter and molten lava down the mountain.

The latest eruption caused massive flooding as molten lava ate away at a 200-foot-thick cap of ice that covered some sections of the volcanic fissure. As much as a third of the glacial ice above the crater has melted — it had been up to 250 meters thick in spots — raising the level of a nearby river by nearly a meter and covering some roads. Three large holes have opened in the ice as a result of the eruption. The Red Cross evacuated residents of Hvolsvollur, a town approximately 65 miles from Reykjavik.

The latest eruption is the fourth by Eyjafjallajokull in 1,100 years, volcanologists say. The last one, in 1821, which began with days of explosive eruptions, left deep layers of dark-gray ash through vast areas of southern Iceland — some of it nearly reached Reykjavik — and it caused the Markarfljot and the Holtsa rivers to flood.

In an interesting historical twist, historians believe that the explosion of another Icelandic volcano helped trigger the French Revolution. The Laki volcanic fissure in southern Iceland erupted over an eight-month period from June 1783 to February 1784, spewing lava and poisonous gases that devastated the island's agriculture, killing much of the livestock. It is estimated that perhaps quarter of Iceland's population died through the ensuing famine. The disruption to farming and the death of large numbers of livestock throughout most of Europe caused widespread hunger and much misery.

In France a sequence of extreme events included a surplus harvest in 1785 that caused poverty for rural workers, accompanied by droughts, bad winters and summers, including a violent hailstorm in 1788 that destroyed crops. This in turn contributed significantly to the build up of poverty and famine that triggered the French Revolution in 1789.

European health authorities warned people Thursday to beware of possible health problems from ash falling to the ground. Persons in European countries directly in the path of the ash flow are being encouraged to take precautions, including staying indoors and avoiding all outdoor physical activities.

It seems that the world has entered a cycle of heightened seismic and volcanic activity. Large earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, China, Indonesia and Mexico /Southern California plus the Iceland volcano are indicators of a period of possible future instability. Whether this activity is a presage of more serious trouble to come, or simply a hiccup in the life of the Earth remains to be seen.

Stay tuned and be safe!

MORE MOVING AND SHAKING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

By Debbie Bulloch



According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the number of earthquakes greater than magnitude 4.0 (measured in the Richter magnitude scale ) in the Southern California and Baja California area has increased significantly in 2010.

The article notes that there have already been 70 such quakes so far this year, the most of any year in the last decade. There were only 30 magnitude 4.0 or greater in 2009 and 29 such quakes in 2008.

Seismologists said they are studying the increase in seismic activity but cannot fully explain it. Major earthquakes tend to occur in cycles, and experts have said the region in recent years has been in a quiet cycle when it comes to sizable temblors.

The string of quakes this year raises the possibility that Southern California might again be entering a more active seismic period. Scientists said the increase does not mean the Big One is imminent, but it could mean more significant quakes are on the way.

Just last night I watched the movie “2012.” Could it be that all of this recent quake activity means that Los Angeles is going to slip away into the Pacific?

To read the full story, please go here: More Moving and Shaking in Southern California.

Shango – Day After Day

THE GUNS OF VENTURA - PART TWO

By Debbie Bulloch


A few weeks ago I wrote an article describing the mood of Californians after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the attack, few months later, on a Santa Barbara offshore oil field. As a result of those two events, the Army decided to install two gun emplacements off the mouth of the Ventura River. You can check the post here:

Sunday Photo History Corner - April 19, 2009.

At the time that I posted the April 19 article, I promised that I would go to the actual site of the gun emplacements and take pictures of the remaining ruins and share them here with you.

Well, I do like to keep my promises so this Sunday morning I headed out by bike to the beach where the guns are located and waited for the low tide. When the tide was low enough (at approximately 11:00 a.m. PST – SL time) that I could safely walk across the mouth of the Ventura River, I picked up my bike, held it aloft (cross-country rider style) and headed for the gun emplacements.

After walking for a about half a mile I reached the site of the East Gun. The low tide had exposed both gun sites. Please note, however, how the shore line has shifted by comparing my photographs to photographs of the same area taken approximately five years ago.

Walking on wet sand, pushing a mountain bike and carrying a backpack with photo gear can pose a special challenge – but it can also provide a nice workout (especially for the calf muscles). When I finally got to the first gun emplacement I encountered one problem that I had not planned for. The rocks around both gun emplacements had been worn smooth by the constant action of the tides and waves. Additionally, the smooth rocks were covered with slimy green seaweed (“sea lettuce”). The combination of smooth rocks and “sea lettuce” made these rocks extremely slippery - too slippery to walk across on my bike shoes. Cleated shoes are great for pedaling (the cleats on the soles attach to the pedals). But the very same thing that makes cleated shoes great for bike riding makes them lousy for walking across wet and slippery surfaces rocks. Some of the rocks were also covered in places by sharp coral-like growth. This growth made the rocks too rough to walk across barefooted – the sharp, cutting edges could cut right through the soles of feet made tender by the water. So, much to my disappointment I had to content myself with taking shots from a safe distance, using a telephoto lens. (I promise, however, that I will return to take more pictures - this time using proper footgear.)

Here are photos, taken from various angles, of the old gun emplacements. The type of gun emplacement used on the shores of Ventura County is called a “Panama Mount.” Here is information on what a Panama Mount gun emplacement is. Here are photographs of surviving Panama Mount guns. Please note that on these photographs the “mount” is at the center of the circle and the top is level. I have not found photos of what the Ventura guns looked like when they were first installed. I suspect, however, that the “mount” was also at the center and the top was level (like in the pictures of the Bolsa Chica guns). Time, a shifting coast line (the original Ventura guns were well above the tide line) and the power of the ocean’s waves have shifted the location of the mount shown on my photographs.

A view of the East Gun emplacement.



Same gun emplacement, but in black and white.



A view of the rail upon which the gun turret turned.



Close up of the gun mount. Please note that the mount is off-center and it is no longer level (like the ones seen in the pictures of the Bolsa Chica guns). Time, the shifting surf line and the powerful action of the waves have taken a toll on the guns of Ventura.



This is a view "back" to the area behind the guns, the area that the guns were supposed to protect. The city of Ventura is in the background.



Another view of the East Gun.



Another view of the East gun emplacement. Please note on the background, on the left hand side of the picture, my trusty "steel steed" at rest.



These are two views of the second gun emplacement, the West Gun. I will take closer pictures of this gun at a later time.





As and “added” bonus I have included some photographs that I took of the surrounding area.

A crane scouting the surf. Planning to go surfing perhaps?



A sun bleached tree trunk. Black and white.



Two trees. The train bridge over the Ventura River is to the right of the trees. The bridge is still in use by AMTRAK and by Southern Pacific RR. The bridge was in place before the guns were set up.



Close up view of bridge.



Amtrak train going over the same bridge. Picture taken from the East side of the Ventura River.





And as a real “value added” bonus, here are photographs of a dolphin pod that was feeding close to the surf line. The pod probably consisted of a mommy dolphin and its baby (in one photograph you see them swimming very close to each other). In the pod there were also what appeared to be two males dolphins and maybe one or two more females. Dolphin sightings are common along this stretch of the Ventura coast between the shore and the Channel Islands. The area is a protected habitat, the waters are deep and cold and they are full of rich marine life presenting these playful and smart animals with a perfect playground – and an all-you-can eat seafood buffet.

Images of dolphins frolicking by the beach - followed by birds.









Seaside life in Southern California - kids playing on the beach, surfers, dolphins and a boat. It does not get any better than this (earthquakes or not).



I hope you enjoyed looking at these photographs as much as I enjoyed taking them. (In the summer I may rent a kayak so that I can get closer to the dolphins. But first I need to spend more hours on the rowing machine to build my upper body and I need to buy a waterproof case for my camera gear. Stay tuned!)

BTW – as I was finishing this post another small quake rattled Southern California. Maybe the “Big One” is coming! Here is the preliminary information on this “event.”

A moderate earthquake occurred at 8:39:36 PM (PDT) on Sunday, May 17, 2009.
The magnitude 4.7 event occurred 3 km (2 miles) NNE (24 degrees) of Hawthorne, CA.

The hypocentral depth is 14 km (8 miles). This quake caused moderate damage in the L.A. area, it was followed by a number of aftershocks.

For the latest information, please click the link below.

May 17, 2009, Hawthorne Earthquake

This is the same fault line that caused severe damage in the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. The extensive damage caused by the 1933 quake eventually led to the enactment of very strict building codes.

FRIDAY EVENING - SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL

By Debbie Bulloch



In Southern California the stunning mountains, the lush valleys, the sharply rising coastline all serve as constant reminders of California’s geological past. The place that I call home was shaped (and continues to be shaped) by tectonic forces that are still not clearly understood.

Tonight, while having dinner with friends, we were all once again reminded that California is Earthquake Country. At precisely 6:11:13 p.m., while my friends and I were all raising a glass of J.Lohr’s Cabernet Savignon to toast the end of another work week, a minor (4.4 magnitude) earthquake hit.

No one in my group panicked (though a few diners, obviously from outside California, let out a shriek as the quake hit). After a brief pause almost everyone in the restaurant went back to business as usual. A few diners reached for their Blackberries and iPhones to contact loved ones or to check the news. A few others, myself included, engaged in a favorite California game: “Guess the magnitude and epicenter’s location.” I am happy to report that of all the people in my group I was the closest to guessing the quake’s magnitude (I estimated a magnitude of 4.2) and the one closest to guessing the location of the quake’s epicenter ( I guessed Malibu). Because I was the “winner” my friends paid for my dinner!

For those of you who track earthquakes, I have included data from this “event.”

MAGNITUDE: 4.4

TIME: Friday, May 1, 2009, at 6:11:13 (Pacific Standard Time)

LOCATION: 6 miles (10 km) SW of Westlake Village - SW (216 degrees)
7 miles (11 km) WNW of Malibu – WNW (294 degrees)
8 miles (13 km) S of Thousand Oaks – S (156 degrees)

EPICENTER
COORDINATES: 34 degrees, 4.1 minutes N (34.069 N), 118 degrees 52.9 minutes W (118.882 W)

EPICENTER
DEPTH: 8.6 miles (13.9 km)

If you wish to see more detailed information, including links to Google Earth showing the exact location of the quake’s epicenter, please click on the link to the U.S. Geological Survey.

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SERVICE – EARTHQUAKE DATA

One day, in the not too distant future, we in California will be hit by a monster earthquake from the famed (or infamous) San Andreas Fault.

Unfortunately o far, there is no reliable technology for predicting exactly when the “Big One” will hit. In the meantime all that we can do is to be as prepared as possible for the day when it hits. Already there are efforts to prepare the area for when (not if) the "Big One" hits.

Remember this, if you are in California and you feel the ground move under your feet get ready, it may be the "Big One" coming to get you.


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