Aurora Borealis

I remember back in 1998 we loaded up the motor home and took our first major family trip to the Great White North. Although it was in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we saw the aurora borealis. It was amazing, I only wish that in those days we had the technology we do now and I would have been able to take photos with our digital camera. Maybe our next trip that way.

NORTHERN LIGHTS VIDEO: Oh to be in Norway! Norwegian photographer Ole C. Salomonsen has sorted through more than 50,000 images of the aurora borealis he took during the past six months and assembled the best ones to create a must-see video entitled Land of the Northern Lights. Click here to watch--and then call your travel agent.

Supermoon; Incredible video!

Watch video of the "Supermoon," which could be seen on March 19, 2011. It was the closest the moon has been to Earth since 1993.

BIG Trouble on the Way?

A big sunspot is emerging over the sun's southeastern limb, and it is crackling with activity. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a surge of extreme ultraviolet radiation from the sunspot's magnetic canopy on March 21st.
This appears to be the return of old sunspot 1165, last seen in early March when it formed on the sun's southwestern limb. Since then it has been transiting the far side of the sun, apparently growing in size and restlessness. The potential for trouble will become more clear in the hours ahead as the active region emerges in full. Stay tuned.

Tsunami Climbing: Ship heading into wave in Japan

The Japanese Coast Guard released footage of a ship in the ocean during the tsunami.

PRESTO ALERT

Rare event 03 21 2011 0957 UTC: Proton flux increased; storm threshold not reached. Back-sided plasma cloud came into view of STEREO B COR2 @ 0254 UTC maybe associated w/proton levels. Earth is magnetically connected w/source site behind Sun. Parker spiral has bended magnetic field lines that guide the electrically charged protons. Earth is near such field lines along which these protons travel. This is a rare event.

SIDC - Solar Influences Data Analysis Center - Homepage

PRESTO Alert

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Special Event Station

Amateur Radio at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is celebrating the Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival by running three Special Event stations, one located at Strathisla distillery in Keith (call-sign GB3SWF) another located at the Craigellachie Distillery (call-sign GB2SWF) and a third at Glenfarclas Distillery (probably GB4SWF).

The objective of this exercise is to contact as many amateur radio stations as possible, worldwide, to promote Scotland’s iconic dram – malt whiskey. Each station will operate on the Shortwave (HF) bands, principally 80m, 40m and 20m SSB, and also on VHF when possible.

A commemorative QSL card will be sent to all stations that contact the club during the weekend and the station with the most confirmed number of contacts will also win a bottle of malt whiskey. There will be prizes of miniature bottles of malt whiskey sent to the top listed stations in the countries of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, & Northern Ireland).

The Spirit of Speyside Whiskey Festival is held each year during the first long weekend in May (28 April to 2 May 2011), it creates an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a visit to Speyside before the start of the main tourism season.

The Festival invites visitors to celebrate Scotland’s national drink through an inventive and wide-ranging program of whiskey-inspired events – some educational, all of them fun.
Further details can be found on their website www.spiritofspeyside.com
source

Big Eruption on the Sun 3/19/11

ICONIC ERUPTION: A huge filament of magnetism and hot plasma blasted off the sun's southwestern limb on March 19th around 1200 UT. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the action.
The eruption was not Earth-directed, but it did attract plenty of attention on our planet. Many amateur astronomers in Europe witnessed the blast and said it was the biggest one they'd ever seen. This event continues the recent trend of increasing solar activity, and shows anew that Solar Cycle 24 is gaining steam after a long period of relative quiet.
source

Super Moon; What's So Super?

Very cool e-mail I just got.

"On Saturday night, the moon will arrive at perigee at 19:09 UT (3:09 p.m. Eastern Time). Its distance from the Earth at that moment will be 221,565 miles. But just over three years ago, on Dec. 12, 2008, which was also the night of a full moon, the moon reached perigee at 21:39 UT (4:39 p.m. Eastern Time) at a distance of 221,559 miles, about 6 miles closer than Saturday night's perigee distance."
"Chester points out that on Dec. 12, 2008, the moon reached fullness at 16:37 UT, while perigee was at 21:39. That's a difference of just over five hours. So when the moon turned full that night, it was still five hours away from reaching its closest point to Earth; its distance at the moment it turned full was 221,587 miles.
In contrast, today's full moon occurs at 18:10 UT, while perigee occurs at 19:09; the difference being less than an hour. So today, when the moon officially turns full, its distance from Earth will be 221,566 miles.
So even though the moon actually came a little closer to Earth in December 2008, if we compare distances when the moon officially turns full, today's full moon wins out by a scant 21 miles. "
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/...permoon-super/

This Weekends Contest.

10-10 Int. Mobile Contest Mar 19
BARTG HF RTTY Contest Mar 19-21
Feld Hell Sprint Mar 19
Russian DX Contest Mar 19-20
Oklahoma QSO Party Mar 19-20
AGCW VHF/UHF Contest Mar 19
Virginia QSO Party Mar 19-21
North Dakota QSO Party Mar 19-20
UBA Spring Contest, 6m Mar 20
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest Mar 21
Bucharest Contest Mar 21

Full Calendar; click here

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant; UPDATE 3/19/11

I am encouraging everyone to avoid the media reports in regards to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
I truly feel that the media is placing fear into those who do not understand what is going on.
I recommend the following sites.

IAEA; International Atomic Energy Agency
Click here
Japanese Earthquake Update (19 March 2011 12:00 UTC)

Contamination in Food Products around FukushimaJapanese Earthquake Update (19 March 2011 12:00 UTC)

Click here

NEI; Nuclear Energy Institute
click here

Fukushima Nuclear Plant Update 3/18/2011

I am avoiding the media reports covering the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants. I feel that the NEI and the IAEA provide better reports with out the drama and hype.

NEI-Nuclear Energy Institute

IAEA-International Atomic Energy Agency


Top Story | 18 March 2011
Japan Earthquake Update

18 March 10:15 UTC: Japanese authorities have informed the IAEA that new INES ratings have been issued for some of the events relating to the nuclear emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants. Read more →

Information on the Japanese Earthquake and Reactors in That Region

ICOM & Kenwood Shutdown Factories Due to Events in Japan

Yesterday I posted an e-mail sent to me informing that Yaesu has shut down its factory in Japan due to last weeks Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear event.
Today I-Com and Kenwood have been added to the list.

From the Icom press release at
http://www.icomamerica.com/en/features/earthquake.aspx

On March 11, northern Japan was struck by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. Icom Inc. is an international company with its home base in Japan.

Fortunately, no one from Icom is known to be injured. There are no damages reported at Icom's headquarters in Osaka or at either of our two main factories in Wakayama. Both Osaka and Wakayama are located far south of the most severely affected areas. Icom did suffer some minor damage at our Tokyo and Sendai branch offices.

Most of Icom's facilities and systems are ready to get back to normal business. However, supplier logistics, commuting issues and future power disruptions will affect our company. It is too soon to tell how big an impact the earthquake and its aftermath will have on Icom. We appreciate your interest and concern for Icom Inc. and will update you as information becomes available.

We are fortunate that most of the Icom family has so far survived this crisis intact. Other families have not been so fortunate, and many lives have been lost. Crisis relief donations are requested through the American Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org/ . Google has also posted a helpful crisis response page on how to get involved.

The Kenwood statement says
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/NewsArchiv...1-bb97d0fff096

“Thankfully, our staff in Japan is safe due to earthquake preparedness and the special construction of our buildings,” said Junji Kobayashi, President of Kenwood USA Corporation. “Power outages and interruption of mass transit have kept most of Kenwood’s staff at home since the earthquake however we expect the infrastructure to improve in the coming week and our operations to fully resume accordingly. We appreciate the concern for our employees expressed by all those who have contacted us.”

Yaesu Fukushima Factory Shutdown

CQ Newsroom reports that production of Yaesu Amateur Radio equipment at Vertex Standard's factory in Fukushima, Japan, has been temporarily halted due to earthquake damage

In an open letter to the amateur radio community, Vertex Standard CEO and President Jun Hasegawa expressed his gratitude for the many "kind words and thoughts about us during this difficult time." He reports that all Vertex Standard employees and their families are OK, although the company has not been able to reach its many dealers and subcontractors located near the coast. "We just hope that they are alive," he writes.

Read the CQ Newsroom story at
http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2011/...roduction.html

It is understood the factory is just 60km from the quake-stricken nuclear reactors.

Source; this was e-mailed to me by several and I also see it is posted on
Southgate Amateur Radio News and QRZ

Could the Next Major Earthquake Be in California?

I have read his book, "Krakatoa": The Day the World Exploded: Excellent book.


Here is a link to Amazon.com for Simon Winchester's
book, Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: click here

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant; How to Fix it

Chernobyl, USSR, April of 1986.
I remember the event being on the news and also remember talking about it with my teachers, I was in my senior year of High School.

I can remember hearing about the fires and the firefighters pumping water into the reactors and fighting the fires for days.

Now with what is going on in Japan at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, firefighters are dumping Sea water into reactor 2 after its fuel rods were fully exposed twice.

Is it time for Japan to consider what they did in Chernobyl?
YES IT IS!!!
What I see happening in Japan is they are going to screw around trying to save this plant and the situation will get away from them. They need to act NOW and seal it.

The reactors were entomb in concrete forever in Chernobly.
5,000 tons of boron compounds, dolomite, sand, clay, and lead were dropped onto the reactor. Boron was used because it strongly absorbs neutrons and thus stops a chain reaction. Lead melts easily, and they hoped it would flow over the top to keep air out and thus stop the burning. The dolomite, sand, and clay were to smother the fire. The helicopter pilots had to fly into the rising plume of radioactive dust, exposing many of them to heavy doses of radiation that later proved fatal. As a result of their heroism, the discharge of radioactive dust dropped sharply by May 6.

Related News Updates

ANOTHER PLANT EXPLOSION...
Firefighters battle blaze at reactor...
Rods fully exposed for 2.5 hours...
Spewing radiation...
Higher radiation recorded north of Tokyo...
RACE TO SAVE THE REACTORS...
Japan Asks USA To Help...
WRAP...
BBC LIVE... REUTERS LIVE... KYODO WIRE...
QUAKE MAPS, DETAILS...
PM Kan asks public to act calmly...

Japan Earthquake Frequencies

As Japan continues to weather the events of the last 5 day I sit here and continue to pray for the entire country as well as friends and family I have there.

Amateur Radio Operators are gathering and exchanging emergency information on the following frequencies.

Please keep DXing and Rag-chewing clear of these frequencies.
3525KHz+/-5KHz
7030KHz+/-5KHz
14.100MHz+/-10KHz
21.200MHz+/-10KHz
28.200MHz+/-10KHz
50.100MHz? 51.000MHz? 51.500MHz
144.100MHz? 145.000MHz? 145.500MHz
430.100MHz? 433.000MHz? 433.500MHz

Thank you for your cooperation.

March 19 Super Moon

With all that is happening in Japan I can not help as to wonder.............
There’s a Super-Moon on the rise next week, Saturday, March 19 and according to Internet buzz, it’ll bring a scary surge in natural disasters around the globe.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/12/supermoon-cause-moonquakes-scientist-says/#ixzz1GT1M5sec

Japan 3/11/11 Tsunami Video; Unbelievable

Unbelievable video of the Japan Tsunami, 2011

Japan Earthquake; Amateur Radio Modes

After reading the following article I sat back for a moment to reflect on what I just read.

An active amateur radio operator eventually makes friends via amateur radio from all around the world.
For instance, I have a friend who lives in Japan, he is an amateur radio operator and we have spoken many times via different modes to include Echo-Link, WiRES II, Skype and FaceBook. Within a few hours of the earthquake I received notice from him that he was well, Praise the Lord. Yes, he and his family live in effected areas.

What Amateur Radio Offers;
Now we have more options in hand other than analog. What is analog you ask?
* Amplitude Modulation (AM)
* Double Sideband Suppressed Carrier (DSB-SC)
* Independent Sideband (ISB)
* Single Sideband (SSB)
* Amplitude Modulation Equivalent (AME)
* Frequency Modulation (FM)
* Phase Modulation (PM)
* Continuous Wave (CW)

With the ever advancing technology we now have Voip and Digital Modes.

The most popular is Voice over Internet Protocol (Voice over IP, VoIP) is one of a family of internet technologies, communication protocols, and transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms frequently encountered and often used synonymously with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, and broadband phone.

The 2 I use most other than Yahoo IM and Skype are WiRES II and Echo-Link

WIRES II (Wide-Coverage Internet Repeater Enhancement System) is a comprehensive and easy-to-use system for linking repeaters and/or home stations together, using Internet voice technology. Now you can talk to old friends, or make new ones, around the world. . .using your hand-held or mobile radio via a WIRES-equipped node to talk to other Hams across the country or across an ocean.

Echo-Link is a computer based Amateur Radio system that allows radio amateurs to communicate with one another using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology on the Internet for at least part of the path between them.

Most amateur digital modes are transmitted by inserting audio into the microphone input of a radio and using an analog scheme, such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or single-sideband modulation (SSB).

* ALE Automatic Link Establishment
* AMateur Teleprinting Over Radio (AMTOR)
* D-Star
* Echolink (VoIP)
* Hellschreiber, also referred to as either Feld-Hell, or Hell
* Discrete multi-tone modulation modes such as Multi Tone 63 (MT63)
* Multiple Frequency-Shift Keying (MFSK) modes such as
o FSK441, JT6M, JT65, and
o Olivia MFSK
* Packet Radio (AX25)

* Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)

* PACTOR
* Phase Shift Keying
o 31 baud binary phase shift keying: PSK31
o 31 baud quadrature phase shift keying: QPSK31
o 63 baud binary phase shift keying: PSK63
o 63 baud quadrature phase shift keying: QPSK63

* Spread spectrum
* Simplex Teletype Over Radio (SITOR)
* Radio Teletype (RTTY)
* 8FSK 8ary Frequency Shift Keying

We also have other modes such as
Image Modes
* Amateur Television, also known as Fast Scan television (ATV)
* Slow Scan Television (SSTV)
* Facsimile
These following 'modes' use no one specific modulation scheme but rather are classified by the activity of the communication.
* Earth-Moon-Earth (EME)
* Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP)
* Low Transmitter Power (QRP)
* Satellite (OSCAR)

So after all that here is the article I was referring too.

When Ham radio, social networks provided the connect
For three hours after hearing about the tsunami in Japan, Delhi resident Dr A.P. Mishra tried to contact his daughter, Surabhi, a student of biology at the Hokkaido University. Unable to get through, he contacted Mr Sandeep Baruah, a Ham radio operator.

To Read more; Click Here

Japan Earthquake (Amateur Radio) JARL Info

It has been 24 hours since the worst earthquake for 140 years hit off north-eastern Sendai registering 9.1 (REVISED) on the Richter scale and triggering a tsunami.

The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) Secretary Ken Yamamoto JA1CJP reports that the disaster appears to have resulted in more than 1,300 people killed or missing.

JARL Regional HQ station JA7RL is now involved in emergency communication to support rescue and disaster relief coordination.

Ken JA1CJP said they are using 7 MHz SSB, 144 MHz SSB/FM and 430 MHz SSB/FM.

The freqency 7043 controlled by JR3QHQ the Osaka branch manager of JARL.

He is gathering incident information on radio and forwarding this information on the internet.

The channel 7075 is operated by JL3YSP in Wakayama occasionally. While 7030 kHz is the JARL emergency communication frequency in their band plan is in use by JA7RL (JARL regional HQ station).

Japan has 1.3 million hams and is not in need of emergency communication help externally, although this has been kindly offered.

Ken JA1CJP said basically the efforts being made are purely voluntary. No organised emergency communication has been arranged.

Television coverage includes the heartbreaking stories of the quake hitting and the tsunami that swept away coastal towns and felt throughout the Pacific.

Occurring late afternoon on Friday, disrupting plans for travel, it was the worst in Japan for 140 years.

Caught up in the drama was IARU Regional 3 Chairman Michael Owen VK3KI who had earlier attended an IARU conference. He’s safe and well, and hopeful of being on a flight home.

Jim Linton, VK3PC
Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.

Japan Earthquake Updates & Info

With images of yesterday’s earthquake and events in Japan I want to continue to share info I get to help those looking for valuable information. However, at this time with every major media outlet and the fact that the people of Japan have done such a great job at provided the rest of the world information, I will only be sharing links from this point forward unless new events warrant addressing.
I want to thank those of you who took the time to contact me with your comments and concerns.

Media Sites
NHK...
KYODO WIRE...
BBC LIVE...
REUTERS LIVE
Fox News

USGS Magnitude 5 and greater earthquakes

Articles of interest.
Quake's Magnitude Hiked to 9.1...
Radiation leaking, pressure in core unstable...
Caesium detected; points to nuke fuel melt...
'MAY BE EXPERIENCING NUCLEAR MELTDOWN'...
Japan nuke officials: 'High probability'...
'No immediate health hazard,' officials say -- while evacuating 45,000...
REPORT: Evacuation widened to 20 km...
Japan declares emergencies at 5 nuclear units...
Evacuations at Fukushima II...
Building Housing Fukushima I Reactor Blows Up...
VIDEO...
Top official: There was no explosion...
Quake moved Japan coast 8 feet; shifted Earth's axis...

Raw video of NOAA animation of Tsunami path

Look at how all that water hits the country of Chile

U.S. W.Coast Tsunami News & Media Links

US West Coast Tsunami news media links;
Waves sweep 4 out to sea in Crescent City as tsunami surges reach west coast...
Coastal towns battered by swells...

California Television
Chico - KRCR
Channel 7 - ABC.
Los Angeles - KCAL
Channel 9 - WorldNow Online Network.
Los Angeles - KPXN
Channel 30 - PAX
Sacramento - KTXL
Channel 40 - Fox
San Francisco - Citywatch
Channel 54 - San Francisco Government
San Francisco - KGO
Channel 7 - ABC

Oregon Television
Portland - KATU
Channel 2 - ABC
Portland - KPDX
Channel 49 - Fox

Washington Television
Seattle - KOMO
Channel 4 - ABC
Spokane - KREM
Channel 2 - CBS
Spokane - KXLY
Channel 4 - ABC

Japan Earthquake Updates & Info

I have several post today with all kinds of links and information.
Here are some more links with news info.

KYODO: 88,000 REPORTED MISSING...
8.9 MAG CAUSES CHAOS...
SKY LIVE... VIDEO...
Earth crust rupture 150 miles long, 50 miles wide...
Thousands roam Tokyo streets...
PHOTOS...
Agency: North American plate snapped upward...
HUGE WHIRLPOOL CREATED...
MAPS, DETAILS...
BBC LIVE...
KYODO WIRE...
NHK...

Ecomms for Japan Earthquake

At this time there are no reports of amateur radio involvement in the disaster response but it would be appreciated if extra care was taken to avoid any emergency traffic. The IARU Region 3 Emergency Center of Activity frequencies are;

3600 kHz
7110 kHz
14300 kHz
18160 kHz
21360 kHz

The situation is developing as it can take many hours for a tsunami wave to cross the Pacific ocean, more information will be provided when it is available.

Tsunami Arrival Times for North America

The following list gives estimated times of arrival for
locations along the North American Pacific coast from a tsunami generated at the given source location. The list is ordered by arrival time starting with the earliest.
Since tsunami speed is directly related to water depth, tsunami ETAs can be computed independent of tsunami amplitude. THE LISTING OF A TSUNAMI ARRIVAL TIME BELOW DOES NOT INDICATE A WAVE IS IMMINENT. The listed arrival time is the initial wave arrival. Tsunamis can be dangerous for many hours after arrival, and the initial wave is not necessarily the largest.
Click Here
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/01/webetalhvpd9-01.txt

HAWAII; TSUNAMI WARNING

I'm following the media sites in Hawaii. I thought I would share you the links I have.
If you have an appropriate link that should be added please contact me with details
at GlobalDisasterNetwork-owner@yahoogroups.com or kd8big@yahoo.com

Television;

Honolulu - KHON
Channel 2 - Fox/CNN.
Hilo - KHNL
Channel 8 - NBC
Honolulu - KGMB
Channel 9 - CBS
Honolulu - KITV
Channel 4 - ABC

News Papers;

Hawaii Tribune Herald
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Kailua-Kona West HawaiiToday
Kauai TheGarden Island
Maui News

Hawaii Radio;

KCCN FM Honolulu
KPOI FM Honolulu
KUCD FM Honolulu
KUMU AM/FM Honolulu
KAIM AM Honolulu,
KCCN AM Honolulu,
KGU AM Honolulu,
KHNR AM Honolulu,
KHVH AM Honolulu,
KIKI AM Honolulu,
KQMQ AM Honolulu,
KTUH FM Honolulu,
KQNG AM Kauai,
KAOI AM Kihei,
KIFO AM Pearl City,

Amateur Radio;

Hawaii RACES
Health Comm Hawaii
Oahu RACES
Pacific Section Amateur Radio Emergency Service

8.9 Earthquake hits Japan. UPDATED

U.S. Geological Survey: Magnitude 8.8 Earthquake Strikes Northern Japan.

Current USGS updates

Major Earthquake, Tsunami Hit Japan
USGS upgrades Japan quake to 8.9 magnitude
Magnitude 8.9 earthquake rocks Japan



Update No. 20
On 11.03.2011 at 18:10 GMT+2

A devastating tsunami triggered by the biggest earthquake on record in Japan killed at least 1,000 people along the northeastern coast on Friday after a wall of water swept away everything in its path. Thousands of residents were evacuated from an area around a nuclear plant north of Tokyo after fears of a radiation leak, but officials said problems with the reactor's cooling system were not at a critical level. Underscoring grave concerns about the plant, the U.S. air force delivered coolant to the facility, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. The unfolding disaster in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and 10-meter (33-feet) high tsunami prompted offers of help from dozens of countries. China said rescuers were ready to help with quake relief while President Barack Obama told Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan the United State would assist in any way. Stunning TV footage showed a muddy torrent of water carrying cars and wrecked homes at high speed across farmland near the coastal city of Sendai, home to one million people and which lies 300 km (180 miles) northeast of Tokyo. Ships had been flung onto a harbor wharf, where they lay helplessly on their side. Japanese politicians pushed for an emergency budget to fund relief efforts after Kan asked them to "save the country" . Japan is already the most heavily indebted major economy in the world, meaning any funding efforts would be closely scrutinized by financial markets.

Domestic media said the death toll was expected to exceed 1,000, most of whom appeared to have drowned. The extent of the destruction along a lengthy stretch of coastline suggested the death toll could rise significantly. Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific but were later lifted for some of the most populated countries in the region, including Australia, Taiwan and New Zealand. Even in a nation accustomed to earthquakes, the devastation was shocking. "A big area of Sendai city near the coast, is flooded. We are hearing that people who were evacuated are stranded," said Rie Sugimoto, a reporter for NHK television in Sendai. "About 140 people, including children, were rushed to an elementary school and are on the rooftop but they are surrounded by water and have nowhere else to go." The quake, the most powerful since Japan started keeping records 140 years ago, sparked at least 80 fires in cities and towns along the coast, Kyodo said. Other Japanese nuclear power plants and oil refineries were shut down and one refinery was ablaze. Television footage showed an intense fire in the waterfront area near Sendai. There were also reports that an irrigation dam had broken and swept away houses in Fukushima prefecture.

Update No. 19
On 11.03.2011 at 17:58 GMT+2

The Sendai airport in Japan became flooded. Thus all flights were shut down. The subway system in Tokyo was closed due to the earthquake. There were power outages after the earthquake. Also, cell phone systems became overloaded and thus cut people off from communicating with their friends and family. This surely led to an air of isolation, which makes any disaster all the more upsetting. Best wishes to the people of Japan as the country recovers from this devastating earthquake. The people there must still be in shock. Let’s hope Japan gets a lot of help to get everything running normally again after damage from the earthquake and tsunami.


Update No. 18
On 11.03.2011 at 15:52 GMT+2

At least 93 people have been killed in the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, according to the first official death toll from police. The official Kyodo News Agency reported that about 88 000 people were missing after a tsunami triggered by the quake swept away houses, farmlands and vehicles. Up to 300 bodies were found in the beach of Sendai, the closest city to the epicenter of the quake. The city has a population of 74 000. A large waterfront area near the city is on fire. Houses and other buildings are also ablaze near the Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, near Sendai.


Update No. 17
On 11.03.2011 at 14:56 GMT+2

- Yokota received 11 commercial airliners; disposing pending. Red Cross set up relief center if needed.
- Rail lines and major roads in Tokyo closed down.
- Numerous prefectures without power.
- Indications of initial tsumani waves withdrawing.
- Update on Okinawa - wave estimated to hit back to 1812; USMC evacuating lower areas.
- Ambassador Roos has called USFJ commander; not sure of conversation. Not thought any Japan request for US support yet.
- AMB Tokyo has been in contact w/GOJ officials and offered USG assistance. Gen Burt Field @ USFJ is in contact with peers in GOJ, and offers for assistance have been made at all levels, and appropriate checklists are being run.
- Irt the 3x USAF bases in Japan, there are ongoing EOC meetings, NOSIG reports at this time, aftershocks still being felt. Sendai, halfway up the Japanese coastline seems to be the hardest hit with some tank farm fires, etc and that’s being shown on news.
- Misawa has some minor power outages, but all manageable
- Yokota accepted 6x commercial airliners that diverted w/precautionary Haneda a/p closure, but GOJ has not got 2 of the 4 runways there back open. No significant issues in accepting the a/c.



Update No. 16
On 11.03.2011 at 14:54 GMT+2

- Miyagi police say 200-300 bodies found at coastal area in Sendai city
- Death toll from Japan quake rises to 64
- Police report major explosion at petrochemical complex in Sendai
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano says evacuation from near nuclear plant is precautionary
- Evacuation instruction on Fukushima plant problem 'just in case'
- Preliminary reports indicated some cooling functions at Fukushima nuclear plant not working properly; no radiation leak so far;



Update No. 15
On 11.03.2011 at 12:52 GMT+2

A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing at least 60 people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast. The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 20 aftershocks for hours, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Police said at least 60 people were killed and 56 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster. Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter. "The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference. Japan issued a state of emergency at a nuclear power plant after its cooling system had a mechanical failure. Trouble was reported at two other nuclear plants as well, but there was no radiation leak at any. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the measure at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima was a precaution and that the facility was not in immediate danger. Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions because of the tsunami that crashed ashore, swallowing everything in its path as it surged several miles (kilometers) inland before retreating. Large fishing boats and other sea vessels rode high waves into the cities, slamming against overpasses or scraping under them, snapping power lines along the way. Upturned and partially submerged vehicles were seen bobbing in the water. Ships anchored in ports crashed against each other.

Update No. 14
On 11.03.2011 at 12:42 GMT+2

The death toll from a massive earthquake that hit the north-east of Japan on Friday has reached 38, NHK Television reported. The 8.9-magnitude quake that struck about 373 kilometers from the capital Tokyo sparked a tsunami that hit the Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, sweeping away houses and cars. A tsunami more than 7.3 meters high hit the Soma port in the Fukushima Prefecture. Tsunami more than 4 meters high hit the ports of Kamaishi and Miyako in Iwate Prefecture, the Meteorological Agency said. A tsunami over 3 meters high was observed at the Oarai port in the Ibaraki Prefecture, the city of Ishinomaki city in the Miyagi Prefecture, and the Ofunato port in the Iwate Prefecture. NHK helicopter footage on live TV showed a large number of houses being washed away in Miyagi Prefecture and elsewhere. In Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture, many Oceanside houses are under water. A large number of buildings and oil facilities can be seen burning in wide areas of the Pacific coast. NHK showed footage of waves sweeping away buildings and vehicles as far as 1.5 kilometers inland. Airports were closed down and train services suspended. More than 4 million homes are without power. The country's Meteorological Agency is urging people in quake-hit areas to evacuate to higher ground to avoid tsunamis. More earthquakes measuring over 7.0 on the Richter scale could occur in and around Japan within a month, the Meteorological Agency said. The 8.9-magnitude quake that struck about 373 kilometers from the capital Tokyo sparked a tsunami that hit Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, sweeping away houses and cars. A 10-meter tsunami subsequently hit the Miyagi prefecture on Honshu. Honsu's Iwate prefecture was reported to have been hit by a 4.2-meter tsunami. Dozens of cars fell into the sea when a highway in Iwate was partly destroyed by the quake.


Update No. 13
On 11.03.2011 at 12:35 GMT+2

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunamis that hit northern Japan Friday killed and injured dozens of people besides causing much damage, officials said. Japan's National Police Agency and officials said at least 32 people were killed, including 10 in Iwate Prefecture by tsunami waves, Kyodo News said. Reports of casualties from other regions were slowly coming in with local officials reporting one death each in Miyagi, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. A woman died when a roof collapsed in Takahagi, Ibaraki Perfecture and a falling factory wall killed a person in the town of Haga, Tochigi Prefecture, Kyodo said. The offshore quake, the strongest ever recorded in Japan, struck at 2.46 p.m. Tokyo time, 81 miles off the coast of Sendai, capital of Miyagi Prefecture, more than 230 miles from Tokyo, at a depth of 15 miles. The quake triggered a number of powerful aftershocks including one with 7.4-magnitude and giant tsunamis, some as high as 13 feet. Besides deaths and injuries, the disaster also set off fires at refineries, plants and other sites and forced the shut down of some of the nuclear power plants. At least 4.4 million homes in the six quake-hit prefectures remained without power. In Tokyo, trains were not expected to resume service any time soon. Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa was quoted as saying the U.S. ambassador had informed him that U.S. military forces stationed in Japan would be ready to render any help. Tsunami warnings and watches have been issued for nearly the entire Pacific region including Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. A CNN report said in several office buildings in Tokyo papers were strewn all over the floor while people clung onto seats and desks during the quake. Stock markets in Asia sold off following the disaster and the Japanese yen, which had been showing much strength lately, also fell.


Update No. 12
On 11.03.2011 at 12:17 GMT+2

Japan's top government spokesman and local administrators say emergencies have been issued at two nuclear power plants over cooling-system fears in the wake of Friday's giant earthquake. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the nuclear power plant in Fukushima developed a mechanical failure in the system needed to cool the reactor after it was shut down after the earthquake. He said there was no radiation leak. Edano said the measure was a precaution and there was no radiation leak at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant. He said the facility was not in immediate danger. Meanwhile, an administrator at the Tohoku Electric Power Co's Onagawa facility said the process for the cooling reactor is "not going as planned," adding that "nuclear emergency situation" has been declared. The company asked people nearby to stay calm, the official TV news channel NHK reported. A fire broke out at the plant following the quake, the Kyodo news agency said. Prior to the Kyodo report, the company had said it had not received information on whether there had been any problems at the plant after the disaster. At the Fukushima facility, the site of a Tokyo Electric Power nuclear power plant, a spokesman on Friday that the plant's reactor cooling system was working, denying an earlier report that it was malfunctioning. Miyagi prefecture, where it is located, was one of the areas worst hit by the tsunami. Kyodo also reported that an emergency core-cooling unit had been activated at the Fukushima nuclear plant, without giving further details. The four Japanese nuclear power plants closest to the epicenter of the quake have been safely shut down, the United Nations atomic watchdog said Friday. The quake struck just under 250 miles northeast of Tokyo, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was followed by more than a dozen aftershocks, one as strong as 7.1. Earlier, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the quake caused "major damage" in northeastern Japan, but that nuclear power facilities in the area were not damaged and there was no radiation leakage.


Update No. 11
On 11.03.2011 at 12:15 GMT+2

Fukushima nuclear plant:

North-east Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant performed an emergency shutdown Friday following a massive earthquake, the Kyodo news agency said. Reactor cooling systems shut down at Units 1 and 2 of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., the industry ministry said. Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, triggering waves of tsunamis that hit coastal areas. At least 18 people have been killed and over 100 injured in the quake that measured 8.9 on the Richter scale.


Update No. 10
On 11.03.2011 at 12:12 GMT+2

Tokyo:

Many people were injured after a roof collapsed at a hall in Tokyo where a graduation ceremony for 600 students was being held, the Tokyo Fire department said, after a huge 8.9 magnitude quake hit Japan on Friday. The huge earthquake shook Japan, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.


Update No. 9
On 11.03.2011 at 09:04 GMT+2

A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook Japan on Friday, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. Multiple injuries and one death were reported from the Pacific coastal area of Miyagi on the main Honshu island, police said according to media, and TV footage showed widespread flooding in the area. The quake hit in the early afternoon, also strongly shaking buildings in greater Tokyo, the world's largest urban area with 30 million people. At least six fires were reported in Tokyo, where the subway system stopped, sirens wailed and people streamed out of buildings. The first quake struck about 382 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, the U.S. Geological Survey said, revising the magnitude from an earlier 7.9. Japan is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" and dotted with volcanoes, and Tokyo is situated in one of its most dangerous areas.

A tsunami warning was issued for Japan, Taiwan, Russia and the Mariana Islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicentre within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the centre said in a statement. It also put the territories of Guam, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Micronesia and Hawaii under a lower tsunami watch. People in Vancouver who are looking to contact friends and family in Japan are advised to register for the Finding Family Links program at their local Red Cross. "That is the best way to reconnect with people," said Bas Brusche, spokesman for the Red Cross in B.C. "In Japan there will be a registration as well." More information on Restoring Family Links is available here. The yen fell to 83.30 against the dollar from 82.81 before the quake struck. The mega-city of Tokyo sits on the intersection of three continental plates — the Eurasian, Pacific and Philippine Sea plates — which are slowly grinding against each other, building up enormous seismic pressure.

The government's Earthquake Research Committee warns of a 70 per cent chance that a great, magnitude-eight quake will strike within the next 30 years in the Kanto plains, home to Tokyo's vast urban sprawl. The last time a "Big One" hit Tokyo was in 1923, when the Great Kanto Earthquake claimed more than 140,000 lives, many of them in fires. In 1855, the Ansei Edo quake also devastated the city. More recently, the 1995 Kobe earthquake killed more than 6,400 people. More than 220,000 people were killed when a 9.1-magnitude quake hit off Indonesia in 2004, unleashing a massive tsunami that devastated coastlines in countries around the Indian Ocean as far away as Africa. Small quakes are felt every day somewhere in Japan and people take part in regular drills at schools and workplaces to prepare for a calamity. Nuclear power plants and bullet trains are designed to automatically shut down when the earth rumbles and many buildings have been quake-proofed with steel and ferro-concrete at great cost in recent decades.

Update No. 8
On 11.03.2011 at 08:55 GMT+2

It's caused at least one massive wave - called a Tsunami - that has washed away cars, boats and even buildings in the area. The quake was thought to be the biggest in Japan for 140 years, and could be felt in the capital city Tokyo. It's not clear how many people have been injured, but lot's of buildings are damaged and a big power station has been forced to shut down. The Japanese Prime Minister feels the earthquake The earthquake was so powerful it was even felt by the Prime Minister of Japan in Tokyo The center of the quake was around 240 miles away from Tokyo, but there are still reports it shook buildings in the city. Large parts of the coast have been put on Tsunami warning, as people are worried that more huge waves could hit Japan. The Richter scale is used to measure the strength of Earthquakes around the world. It's a scale of 1 to 10 and the latest to hit Japan has been measured at 8.9 - so it was really strong.

Update No. 7
On 11.03.2011 at 07:51 GMT+2

Japan was hit by a series of powerful quakes on Friday, with two major quakes measuring 8.8 and 7.1 on the Richter scale. The first 8.8-magnitude quake struck off the country's largest Honshu Island's eastern coast, 373 kilometers to the north-east of Tokyo. The second major tremor, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, occurred 505 kilometers to the north-east of Tokyo. A 10-meter tsunami subsequently hit the Miyagi prefecture on Honshu, local television reported. Honsu's Iwate prefecture was reported to have been hit by a 4.2-meter tsunami. Dozens of cars fell into the sea when a highway in Iwate was partly destroyed by the quake, Japan's NHK TV channel reported. There have been no reports on casualty figures. Tremor from the first quake can still be felt in Tokyo, a RIA Novosti correspondent said. A tsunami warning has also been issued for another Honshu prefecture, Fukushima. Authorities in Russia's Far Eastern Sakhalin Island also issued a tsunami warning, the local emergencies services said in a statement. Coastal areas of three of the Sakhalin region's districts may be hit by tsunami, the statement said. Japan has been hit by a series of earthquakes in the past few days, including a 7.3-magnitude quake that occurred off Japan's northeastern coast on Wednesday.

Update No. 6
On 11.03.2011 at 07:42 GMT+2

Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter. There were reports of injuries in Tokyo. In various locations along Japan’s coast, TV footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by waters. A large ship swept away by the tsunami rammed directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK. Officials were trying to assess damage, injuries and deaths from the quake but had no immediate details. The quake that struck at 2:46 p.m. was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later. The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the first quake to a magnitude 8.9, while Japan’s meteorological agency measured it at 7.9. The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan. NHK was warning those near the coast to get to safer ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the U.S. state of Hawaii.

The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80 miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency said. The area is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo. In downtown Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. TV footage showed a large building on fire and bellowing smoke in the Odaiba district of Tokyo. In central Tokyo, trains were stopped and passengers walked along the tracks to platforms. The ceiling in Kudan Kaikan, a large hall in Tokyo, collapsed, injuring an unknown number of people, NHK said. Footage on NHK from their Sendai office showed employees stumbling around and books and papers crashing from desks. It also showed a glass shelter at a bus stop in Tokyo completely smashed by the quake and a weeping woman nearby being comforted by another woman. Several quakes had hit the same region in recent days, including a 7.3 magnitude one on Wednesday.

Thirty minutes after the quake, tall buildings were still swaying in Tokyo and mobile phone networks were not working. Japan’s Coast Guard has set up task force and officials are standing by for emergency contingencies, Coast Guard official Yosuke Oi said. “I’m afraid we’ll soon find out about damages, since the quake was so strong,” he said

Update No. 5
On 11.03.2011 at 07:40 GMT+2

Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast today, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter. There were reports of injuries in Tokyo.

Update No. 4
On 11.03.2011 at 07:22 GMT+2

Five powerful aftershock has been observed in the Pacific Ocean region.

2011-03-11 06:57:12.3 35.81 N 141.05 E 15 mb 6.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2011-03-11 06:48:52.0 38.02 N 142.81 E 60 mb 6.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2011-03-11 06:25:49.0 38.19 N 144.72 E 10 Mw 7.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2011-03-11 06:15:45.0 36.29 N 140.25 E 28 mb 6.9 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
2011-03-11 06:06:13.0 39.07 N 142.37 E 40 mb 6.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

Update No. 3
On 11.03.2011 at 06:46 GMT+2

Japan has issued its top tsunami warning after a major offshore quake measuring 8.8 hit on Friday, strongly swaying buildings in Tokyo and sending people fleeing into the streets. The meteorological agency issued its top-level evacuation alerts for the entire Japanese coast, warning of a tsunami of up to six meters. A four-meter tsunami has already engulfed parts of Kamaishi on Japan's Pacific coast and residents have been ordered to rush to high ground. "An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the agency said. It also put the territories of Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Micronesia and Hawaii under a lower tsunami watch. The quake struck about 382 kilometers north-east of Tokyo at a depth of 10 kilometers, the US Geological Survey said. Smoke could be seen rising from a building in Odaiba, a Tokyo suburb, and scores of cars are floating in Iwate prefecture harbor in northern Japan. Police in Miyagi prefecture have reported numerous injuries. Shinkansen bullet trains stopped when the quake struck, while the nuclear power plant in Miyagi prefecture stopped operating. Power has been cut in Sendai city, where there are numerous reports of gas leaks. Narita airport has temporarily closed and the runways are being inspected for damage. The government has set up a crisis management team at the prime minister's office. Japan's northeast Pacific coast, called Sanriku, has suffered from quakes and tsunamis in the past and a 7.2 quake struck on Wednesday.

Update No. 2
On 11.03.2011 at 06:38 GMT+2

The earthquake's magnitude has been revised. The magnitude modified from 8.0 to 8.8 in the Richter scale.

Update No. 1
On 11.03.2011 at 06:22 GMT+2

Estimated initial Tsunami wave arrival times at forecast points within the warning and watch areas are given bellow. Actual arrival times may different and initial wave my not be the largest. A Tsunami is a series of waves and the times between successive waves can be five minutes to one hour.

JAPAN KATSUURA 35.1N 140.3E 0635Z 11 MAR
KUSHIRO 42.9N 144.3E 0642Z 11 MAR
HACHINOHE 40.5N 141.5E 0700Z 11 MAR
SHIMIZU 32.8N 133.0E 0756Z 11 MAR
OKINAWA 26.2N 127.8E 0912Z 11 MAR
RUSSIA URUP_IS 46.1N 150.5E 0714Z 11 MAR
SEVERO_KURILSK 50.8N 156.1E 0834Z 11 MAR
PETROPAVLOVSK_K 53.2N 159.6E 0836Z 11 MAR
UST_KAMCHATSK 56.1N 162.6E 0840Z 11 MAR
MEDNNY_IS 54.7N 167.4E 0903Z 11 MAR
MARCUS IS. MARCUS_IS. 24.3N 154.0E 0757Z 11 MAR
N. MARIANAS SAIPAN 15.3N 145.8E 0853Z 11 MAR
GUAM GUAM 13.4N 144.7E 0909Z 11 MAR
WAKE IS. WAKE_IS. 19.3N 166.6E 0925Z 11 MAR
TAIWAN HUALIEN 24.0N 121.7E 0932Z 11 MAR
HUALIEN 24.0N 121.6E 0933Z 11 MAR
TAITUNG 22.7N 121.2E 0936Z 11 MAR
CHILUNG 25.2N 121.8E 1004Z 11 MAR
YAP YAP_IS. 9.5N 138.1E 0944Z 11 MAR
PHILIPPINES PALANAN 17.1N 122.6E 0955Z 11 MAR
LEGASPI 13.2N 123.8E 1026Z 11 MAR
DAVAO 6.8N 125.7E 1053Z 11 MAR
MARSHALL IS. ENIWETOK 11.4N 162.3E 1013Z 11 MAR
KWAJALEIN 8.7N 167.7E 1044Z 11 MAR
MAJURO 7.1N 171.4E 1124Z 11 MAR
BELAU MALAKAL 7.3N 134.5E 1025Z 11 MAR
MIDWAY IS. MIDWAY_IS. 28.2N 182.6E 1026Z 11 MAR
POHNPEI POHNPEI_IS. 7.0N 158.2E 1027Z 11 MAR
CHUUK CHUUK_IS. 7.4N 151.8E 1034Z 11 MAR
KOSRAE KOSRAE_IS. 5.5N 163.0E 1043Z 11 MAR
INDONESIA GEME 4.6N 126.8E 1049Z 11 MAR
BEREBERE 2.5N 128.7E 1058Z 11 MAR
WARSA 0.6S 135.8E 1110Z 11 MAR
MANOKWARI 0.8S 134.2E 1118Z 11 MAR
PATANI 0.4N 128.8E 1124Z 11 MAR
JAYAPURA 2.4S 140.8E 1135Z 11 MAR
SORONG 0.8S 131.1E 1135Z 11 MAR
PAPUA NEW GUINE MANUS_IS. 2.0S 147.5E 1124Z 11 MAR
KAVIENG 2.5S 150.7E 1124Z 11 MAR
VANIMO 2.6S 141.3E 1134Z 11 MAR
WEWAK 3.5S 143.6E 1146Z 11 MAR
RABAUL 4.2S 152.3E 1154Z 11 MAR
NAURU NAURU 0.5S 166.9E 1149Z 11 MAR

Honshu Japan; Earthquake Swarms Continue

Yes, this is unbelievable. I hope these swarms slow down. There is a potential for the much larger quake that could end in major disaster.
JAPAN - A series of powerful aftershocks shook the eastern coast of Japan early Thursday, briefly triggering a tsunami alert, in the wake of a strong earthquake that hit a day earlier. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quakes. Thursday's quakes were likely aftershocks from a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit in the same area Wednesday, shaking buildings hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in Tokyo and triggering a small tsunami.

5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.3 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.6 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
7.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

JAPAN - A series of powerful aftershocks shook the eastern coast of Japan early Thursday, briefly triggering a tsunami alert, in the wake of a strong earthquake that hit a day earlier. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quakes. Thursday's quakes were likely aftershocks from a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit in the same area Wednesday, shaking buildings hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in Tokyo and triggering a small tsunami.

Postage Stamps Becoming Extinct

With the continue rising cost of everything and technology continuing to make huge advances every year, it appears to me that the simple things are becoming extinct.
With Facebook, Twitter and other social networks there is no need for that son, daughter, grandchild etc. to send a card through the mail. Heck, I’d be surprised if kids send love notes at school, I’m sure they probably just send text messages.
I have been saying it for a long time; the US Postage Stamp appears to be getting ever closer to be added on to the extinction list.
I just came across a news article that says Sweden is replacing the postage stamp with a text message.

Sweden's postal service is considering letting customers pay for their mail using text messages, rather than with traditional stamps, in a move to use mobile technology to ease the lives of its citizens.
To read more; Click Here

Honshu Japan Earthquake Swarm

Earthquakes continue to swarm Honshu Japan. This is of major concern.

UPDATE
Large aftershocks in Japan, plus new quake locations -
5.2 NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION
5.0 LUZON, PHILIPPINES
5.1 TONGA
5.0 CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA

5.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.4 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.3 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

5.8 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
6.4 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.3 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.6 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
7.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

JAPAN - A major 7.2-magnitude offshore earthquake rattled Japan on Wednesday, swaying Tokyo buildings, triggering a small tsunami and reminding the nation of the ever-present threat of seismic disaster. Police reported no casualties or property damage, and operators of nuclear power plants and Shinkansen bullet trains quickly gave the all-clear, while the wave hitting the Pacific coast measured just 60 centimetres (24 inches).
The tremor struck in the late morning about 160 kilometres (100 miles) offshore and 430 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres below the Pacific seafloor. In greater Tokyo -- the world's most populous urban area with more than 30 million people -- the earthquake and a succession of tremors that quickly followed were uncomfortably felt as they shook buildings. Television channels immediately cancelled their programming to transmit information on the quake and a coastal tsunami advisory.

Earthquakes in Honshu Japan.

I feel that this is something to watch. Bad feeling about this.

7.2 earthquake hits off coast of Japan - A tsunami advisory has been issued in Japan after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan's main island of Honshu. The quake was centered 169 kilometers (105 miles) off the east coast of Honshu, directly east of the city of Sendai. The quake occurred about 8.8 miles below the earth's surface. The expected height of the tsunami was only expected to be 0.5 meters (19.6 inches). They could feel the earthquake in Tokyo, 267 miles southwest of the quake's epicenter, and the shaking lasted as long as three minutes, but there was no significant damage. TV Asahi showed video of boats rocking back and forth, as well as images taken from shaken city cams as the earthquake hit.
So far -
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.7 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
7.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN

There may be no such thing as a dormant volcano, according to scientists, who say that many could in fact be reawakened in a period of months. It has long been thought that once a volcano's magma chamber has cooled down, it stays dormant for centuries before it can be remobilized by fresh magma. But researchers have tested a theoretical model on two major eruptions and found that this process can take place in just a few months. The findings should lead to a reassessment of the dangerousness of some dormant volcanoes.
According to the team's mathematical model, reheating takes place in three stages. When fresh hot magma rises from below and arrives beneath the chamber, it melts the viscous magma at the base of the reservoir. This freshly molten magma therefore becomes less dense and starts to rise through the chamber, forcing the rest of the viscous mush to mix. This mixing process, they say, enables the heat to spread through the chamber a HUNDRED TIMES FASTER THAN PREDICTED by volcanologists.
The two researchers tested their model against the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in March 1991 and the ongoing eruption of the Soufriere Hills volcano in Montserrat, in the Caribbean. In both cases, seismic shocks preceding the eruption indicated the arrival of fresh magma beneath the cooling reservoir. By taking account of various known physical parameters of the two volcanoes - such as magma temperatures, size of the chamber and crystal concentration inferred from the study of magmas - the team was able to pretty much reproduce the time intervals between these warning signals and the eruptions. For Pinatubo, for instance, the mathematical model predicted that the underlying chamber could be reactivated within 20 to 80 days, whereas conventional theory gave a figure of 500 years. In reality, there was a gap of two months between the tremors and the eruption of the volcano.

'Glory' Observatory Satellite Failed to Separate

Houston, VAFB had a problem........
Yes indeed, a Big problem this morning.

The launch of three Amateur Radio satellites on a Taurus XL rocket has ended in failure.

The satellites were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 10:09:45 UT Friday, March 4 on an Orbital Sciences Taurus XL rocket.

The rocket's fairing, the part of the rocket which covers the satellite on top of the launcher, did not separate properly so the Taurus XL did not have enough velocity to enter orbit.

The rocket is believed to have crashed near the Antarctic; the Amateur Radio satellites Explorer-1, KySat-1 and Hermes were all lost.

Watch Glory Launched, but Separation Failed / Orbital Sciences Taurus Rocket

source

Articles of Interest and Contest Opportunities.

Lots going on this week. Myself I have more things going on than I care for.
Let's hope next week is better.
Have a great weekend.

Articles of Interest
No HF Frequencies Being Used in New Zealand Earthquake Operations

Amateur MF Allocation Moves a Step Closer

Ham Radio Is More Than a Hobby For NMARES Club (Washington)

GOP Targets Public Radio, Amateur Radio, and PBS

The FCC hunts down a Los Angeles pirate

Oceanside adopts ham radio ordinance (California)

Propagation Reports
Solar Report 1415 04 Mar 2011

Forecast Space Weather 1415 04 Mar 2011

Sunspots 1415 04 Mar 2011

This Weekends Contest

QRP Fox Hunt	Mar 4
NCCC Sprint	Mar 4
ARRL Inter. DX Contest, SSB	Mar 5-6
Wake-Up! QRP Sprint	Mar 5
Open Ukraine RTTY Championship	Mar 5-6
DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest	Mar 6
RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data	Mar 7

Wouxun KG-UV920R (RESERVATION)

I have recieved a lot of e-mails asking me if I have any details on the KG-UV920R Dual-Band Mobile by Wouxun.
Wouxun has not set a price on this radio yet and has stated that the price will be competitive.
At this point I know Wouxun US is taking reservations for this radio.
For more details; Click Here

Previous Post;
Sunday, October 24, 2010 Wouxun KG-UV920R Mobile