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.