Pacific Typhoon updates 26.10.10

It was unbelievable that 3 storms appeared at the same time. The 2 storms formed at South China Sea, meanwhile a typhoon under Category III was heading to East China Sea between mainland China & Japan islands. (The storms currently active)

On the 25th August 2010, a disturbance is formed at the east of Cagayan, Philippines. On the next day, the disturbance started to move west and later crossed the island of Luzon but on the next day, the circulation became slightly disorganized due to dry air. Later on, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) which was later upgraded to a tropical depression. On the 28th August, the JMA upgraded the system to a Tropical Storm and was named "Lionrock". On the next couple of days, Lionrock remains almost stationary in South China Sea. On 31st August, Lionrock started to move northeast slowly due to interaction with tropical storm Namtheun. Early on 1st September, Lionrock made a Fujiwhara effect with Namtheun, whilst Lionrock maintained it's strength while Namtheun was absorbed. Lionrock made landfall on the east coast of Guangdong Province, China, just north of the city of Shantou. It then stated to dissipate and weaken into a tropical storm and moved over Guangzhou, Guangdong's capital. Lionrock soon lost it's intensity as it went over Guangdong and on 3rd September, the storm had turned into a low pressure area.

On the 27th August 2010, a disturbance is formed at the east of Yap Island near Guam. On the next day, the disturbance was located at northwest of Guam. At that time, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the system into a tropical depression. On the 29th August, the JTWC issued a TCFA on the system had become organized. JTWC announced that the system had quickly developed into a tropical storm. Intensification continued, the JMA reported that the depression had intensified into a tropical storm and assigned it "Kompasu". The JMA reported that Kompasu had intensified rapidly into severe tropical storm. At the same time, the JTWC also upgraded Kompasu into a category 1 typhoon (max wind 120km/h). On the next day, Kompasu crossed the island of Kadena and rapidly intensified into a category 2 typhoon (max wind 155km/h). On 1st September, Kompasu upgraded as a category 3 typhoon (max wind 180km/h), becoming the strongest typhoon of the 2010 season. Later, the storm weakened to a category 1 typhoon in the Yellow Sea before veering northeast and making a landfall on Ganghwa Island, northwest of Incheon and Seoul, killing at least 4 people. Kompasu was the strongest tropical storm to hit the Seoul Metropolitan area in 15 years. Kompasu weakened to a tropical storm over the sea of Japan on 2nd September.

Tropical storm tracks taken on 01.09.10

Tropical storm tracks taken on 02.09.10

Tropical storm tracks taken on 03.09.10

On 1st September 2010, Malou started out as a tropical depression wardering around the Western Pacific. It remained for a depression for two days before it strengthened into a tropical storm and given the name Malou. Malou drifted over the Ryukyu Islands and became a severe tropical storm. After passing through Ryukyu Islands, Malou was expected to make a landfall on Jeju Island on 7th September. It then moved along the coast of Honshu and made another landfall Tsuruga, Japan on 8th September. After the second landfall, Malou weakened into a tropical depression until it dissipated on 10th September.

Tropical storm tracks taken on 04.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 05.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 06.09.10
Tropical storm tracks taken on 07.09.10

Early on 6th September 2010, the JMA reported that a tropical depression had formed about 330km to the southeast of Taipei, Taiwan. Later that day, the depression had an unorganized low level circulation center and was located in a favorable environment of decreasing vertical windshear and high sea temperatures. During the next day as the depression moved towards Taiwan the system became better organized with a tropical cyclone formation alert issued later that day. In the morning of 9th September, JMA upgraded the cyclone into a tropical storm, and it was named Meranti. After Meranti upgraded into a tropical storm, it continued to move northward into Taiwan Strait. In the early hours of 10th September, Meranti made a landfall at Shishi City, China. It continued to move north inland Fujian Province. In the evening of 10th September, the JMA downgraded Meranti into a tropical depression.

Tropical storm tracks taken on 08.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 09.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 14.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 15.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 16.09.10

Tropical storm tracks taken on 17.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 18.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 19.09.10

Tropical storm tracks taken on 20.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 21.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 22.09.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 23.09.10

Tropical storm tracks taken on 13.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 14.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 15.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 16.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 17.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 18.10.10 (landfall)Tropical storm tracks taken on 18.10.10 (after landfall)Tropical storm tracks taken on 19.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 20.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 21.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 22.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 23.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 25.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 26.10.10Tropical storm tracks taken on 27.10.10 (to be updated later)

Mount Sinabung volcanic eruption

Mount Sinabung is located at North Sumatra, Indonesia. Many old lava flows are on its flanks and the last know eruption occurred in the year 1600. Solfataric activities (cracks where steam, gas and lava are emitted) were last observed at the summit in 1912 but no other documented events taken place until an eruption in the early hours of 29th August 2010.
Geology:
Most of the Indonesian volcanism from the Sunda Arc, created by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate under the Eurasian Plate. This arc is bounded on the north-northwest by the Andaman Islands, a chain of basaltic volcanoes, and on the east by the Banda Arc, also created by subduction. Its elevation peak was 2,460m (8,071ft).
Eruption:
On 29th August, the volcano experienced a minor eruption after several days of rumbling. Ash spewed into the atmosphere up to 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) and lava was seen overflowing the crater. The volcano had been inactive for centuries with the most recent eruption occurring in 1600. Mount Sinabung is classified as category “B” volcano, which means it is not necessary for it to be monitored intensively.
On Friday 3rd September, two more eruptions were noted. The first happened at 4:45hrs in the early morning, forcing more villagers to leave their homes, some of them had just returned the day before. This eruption was the most intense so far, with ash spewed up into the atmosphere about 3km high. Some hours before the eruption a warning had been issued through the volcanology agency, the most villagers were prepare to leave quickly. A second eruption occurred the same evening, around 18:00hrs. The eruption came with earth quakes which could be felt in a 25km distance around the volcano.Effects:
The nearest towns to the volcano are Kabanjahe and Berastagi; there are no disruptions reported to air services at the regional airport, Medan's Polonia. One person is reported dead from respiratory problems while fleeing his home.

The location of Mt. Sinabung between from my home country, Ipoh is as far as 341km away.

Movie Trailer: The Expendables

Plot:
A group of elite mercenaries, the Expendables, has been deployed to Somalia to halt local pirates from executing the hostages. The team consists of Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone), former SAS soldier Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), martial artist Yin Yang (Jet Li), sniper Gunnar Jensen (Dolph Lundgren), weapons specialist Hale Ceasar (Terry Crews) and demolitions expert Toll Road (Randy Couture). Ross pays the original agreement of $3 million to secure the release of the hostages. However, the leader demands $5 million, and Jensen instigates a firefight, causing casualties for the pirates. With moral disagreements over hanging a pirate, Yang and Jensen have a brief fight, only for Ross to intervene. In the aftermath, Ross reluctantly releases Jensen from the Expendables due to psychological problems.

Ross then goes to a church, where he and his rival, Trench (Arnold Schwarzenegger) meet "Mr. Church" (Bruce Willis), who offers them a mission in Vilena (a fictional South American country), to overthrow a brutal dictator, General Garza (David Zayas). Busy with other things, Trench gives the contract to Ross. Ross and Lee Christmas do initial reconnaissance after meeting with their contact, Sandra (Gisele Itie), only for the mission to go awry. Sandra is revealed to be Garza's daughter. Ross then decides to abort, and causes casualties among the army as they escape, but feels guilt for leaving Sandra behind. Meanwhile, Jensen approaches Garza and allies ex-CIA agent James Monroe (Eric Roberts), and henchmen Paine (Steve Austin) and Brit (Gary Daniels) to identify his former comrades. During vital points in the film, it is revealed that Monroe controls the actions of Garza, in exchange for Garza's wealth and fear from his own people.

Ross, Yang and Christmas find information about Monroe, and guesses that "Mr. Church" is a member of the CIA. He thinks that Church hired them to kill Garza and Monroe, since the CIA could not. Jensen and a number of Monroe's men tail Ross and Yang, instigating a shoot-out during a car chase. Just as the pursuit ends in an abandoned warehouse, Yang and Jensen fight each other a second time. Jensen eventually gets the upper hand and attempts to impale Yang on a pipe, only for Ross to shoot Jensen before he does. Believing that he is going to die from his gunshot wound, Jensen gives the layout of Garza's palace to Ross in an attempt to make amends.

The Expendables then infiltrate Garza's compound, with Ross bent on rescuing Sandra, while Christmas, Yang, Ceasar, and Road plant explosive charges throughout the site and prepare for battle. When Garza has a change of heart after hearing of The Expendables reputation, Monroe kills him. Ross briefly rescues Sandra, only for Sandra to be re-captured by Monroe. The entire team fights and shoots their way through scores of Garza's soldiers. Ross and Ceasar manage to destroy the helicopter Monroe was to escape on, and Christmas, Yang and Road kill Paine and Brit. Ross and Christmas catch up to Monroe and kill him, while also managing to save Sandra. Instead of taking the payment of $5 million, Ross decides to give it to Sandra in order to help restore Vilena.

The film ends with the team celebrating their victory at the bar of former teammate Tool (Mickey Rourke), with the reformed Jensen and Yang having reconciled with each other and Lee and Tool challenging each other to a game of knife throwing. Before his final throw, Lee recites a poem about his respect for Tool, who he claims cannot beat him in knife throwing as he walks outside of the bar before turning to make his throw, which lands perfectly in the middle of the screen, implying that it landed at the center of the board. They then collectively ride off on their motorcycles into the night.

Casts:

Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross

Jason Statham as Lee Christmas

Jet Li as Yin YangRandy Couture as Toll RoadDolph Lundgren as Gunnar Jensen

Terry Crews as Hale Caesar

Mickey Rourke as ToolEric Roberts as James MonroeDavid Zayas as General GarzaSteve Austin as Dan PaineGary Daniels as The Brit

Gisele Itié as SandraCharisma Carpenter as LacyAmin Joseph and Senyo Amoaku as the leaders of a group of Somali piratesBruce Willis as Mr. ChurchArnold Schwarzenegger as Trench

Behind the scenes of The Expendables

Movie Trailer: The Last Airbender

Plot:

The film begins with a fourteen-year-old Waterbender named Katara, and her older fifteen-year-old warrior brother, Sokka from the Southern Water Tribe, unfreezing an Iceberg with a twelve-year-old boy Aang, and a flying bison named Appa, trapped inside. This attracts the attention of Zuko, the Prince of the Fire Nation who was exiled by his father: The current Fire Lord Ozai. Arriving to Southern Water Tribe, Zuko demands the elderly under the impression that Avatar is an old person until Aang is found. Aang surrenders himself to Zuko as long as he agrees to leave the village alone. Aboard Zuko's ship, Aang is at Zuko's mercy, but he dares the two escorts that he could take them both in a fight with both of his hands tied behind his back. Eventually he manages to maneuver away from the guards before Katara and Sokka arrive on Appa, making their escape. Aang and friends visit the Southern Air Temple where the Avatar learns that he was in the ice for a century and the Fire Nation wiped out everyone he knew there, entering the Avatar State and revealing to the world that the Avatar has returned via spiritually significant statues begin to glow white, just like Aang's eyes and tattoos. It was there Aang meets up with the only known remaining "flying lemur", naming it "Momo" as it joins Aang's group. Meanwhile, Commander Zhao invites Prince Zuko and Iroh for lunch, only to humiliate Zuko in front of his men.

Arriving in a small Earth Kingdom town that is controlled by the Fire Nation, Aang's group are arrested while helping a boy named Haru there. They then incite a rebellion with reminding the disgruntled Earthbenders that earth was given to them through the air ducts. Soon after, Katara finds a Waterbending scroll that she uses to perfect her innate Waterbending abilities while helping Aang master Waterbending as they make their way to the Northern Water Tribe and liberate more Earth Kingdom villages in the process. During a side track to the Northern Air Temple on his own, Aang is betrayed by a peasant and captured by a group of Fire Nation Yuu Yan archers, commanded by Zhao. However, a masked marauder, the "Blue Spirit", helps Aang escape from his imprisonment. Aware that Zuko is the "Blue Spirit," Zhao arranges the prince's demise. But Zuko survives the attempt on his life and, with Iroh's help, sneaks aboard Zhao's lead ship as his fleet departs for the Northern Water Tribe to execute the plan he and Ozai set up with the scrolls from the Library detailing the spirits there.

Upon arriving, Aang's group is welcomed warmly by the citizens of the Northern Water Tribe. Sokka falls in love with Princess Yue, while Aang and Katara master their waterbending skills under Pakku. Once the Fire Nation armada arrives, Zhao begins his attack while Zuko infiltrates the tribe on his own, capturing Aang while he entered the spirit world to find the dragon spirit to give him the wisdom to defeat the Fire Nation. Coming to his senses, Aang battles Zuko before Katara freezes him. As the battles escalates, Iroh watches Zhao slay the moon spirit Tui, causing the Waterbenders to lose their all of their powers and abilities to Waterbend. However, Yue, who was imbued with some of the energy of the Moon Spirit when she was a newborn, sacrifices her life to revive the Moon Spirit. As Zhao is drowned by Northern Waterbenders after Zuko and Iroh leave him to his fate, Aang uses the ocean to drive the armada back. Aang now fully embraces his destiny as the Avatar and prepares to continue their struggle against Ozai. When news of Zhao's death and Iroh's betrayal reaches him, Ozai appoints his daughter Azula to capture both her uncle and older brother while hindering the Avatar in any way before Sozin's Comet makes its return within three years time.

Movie Trailer: Piranha 3D

Plot:
Each year the population of sleepy Lake Victoria explodes from 5,000 to 50,000 for the annual Spring Break. But then, a sudden underwater earthquake opens an underwater chasm, releasing an enormous swarm of Lake Trout that have been dormant for thousands of years, now with a taste for human flesh. This year, there's something more to worry about than the usual hangovers and complaints from locals, a new type of terror is about to be cut loose on Lake Victoria.