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| After rising steadily yesterday, Kilauea's summit lava lake offered visible volcanic activity this morning. Photo from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory |
AN EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED underneath Moku`aweoweo, Mauna Loa’s summit caldera, this morning. U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recorded the magnitude-4.0 earthquake at a depth of 0.74 miles at 4:25 a.m.
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| A magnitude-4.0 earthquake struck at Mauna Loa's summit this morning. Map from USGS-HVO |
The USGS "Did you feel it?" website (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/dyfi/) received only one felt report within an hour of the earthquake. This report described light shaking (Intensity III). At that intensity, damage to buildings or structures is not expected. The lack of felt reports is consistent with the remote location and shallow depth of the earthquake.
The earthquake appears to be isolated. As of 6:30 a.m., no aftershocks had been observed. HVO’s deformation monitoring instruments registered the earthquake but show no significant change in deformation rates or patterns that would indicate increased volcanic hazard at this time.Magnitude-4.0 or greater earthquakes occurred in the summit of Mauna Loa six to seven months prior to the volcano’s two most recent eruptions in 1975 and 1984. However, today’s isolated earthquake does not represent a significant departure from the seismic activity rate for the past year, so the Volcano Alert Level for Mauna Loa remains at Advisory.
According to HVOs Scientist-in-Charge Christina Neal, the earthquake had no apparent effect on Kilauea Volcano’s ongoing eruptions. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center determined that no damaging tsunami was generated (http://ptwc.weather.gov/?region=2).
HVO reported this morning that Kilauea’s summit lava lake level has risen to 62 feet below the adjacent floor of Halema`uma`u crater, bringing volcanic activity into view once again.
For information on recent earthquakes in Hawai`i and eruption updates, see USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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For information on recent earthquakes in Hawai`i and eruption updates, see USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
ELEVEN OF THE WORLD’S leading conservation organizations will partner to identify, map, monitor and conserve Key Biodiversity Areas – places that include vital habitats for threatened species – with more than $15 million committed over the next five years. The announcement was made at the IUCN World Conservation Congress currently taking place on O`ahu.
Through the KBA Partnership, resources and expertise will be mobilized to further identify and map Key Biodiversity Areas worldwide. Monitoring of these sites will enable detection of potential threats and identification of appropriate conservation actions. The Partnership will also advise national governments in expanding their protected areas network and will work with private companies to ensure they minimize and mitigate their impact on nature.
“This is a vitally important initiative for our planet’s biodiversity,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. “This partnership will enhance global conservation efforts by highlighting internationally important sites in need of urgent conservation action. It will also help us reach the targets in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and allow national governments and conservation organizations to ensure that scarce resources are directed to the most important places for nature.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has engaged with hundreds of experts and decision-makers to develop a Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas. The standard was launched during the World Conservation Congress, on Monday.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has engaged with hundreds of experts and decision-makers to develop a Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas. The standard was launched during the World Conservation Congress, on Monday.
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| Porites pukoensis is a critically endangered coral found in Molokai's marine area. Photo from Corals of the World |
“Our planet is at the crossroads, and we need to take urgent action if we want to secure its ability to support us,” said Inger Andersen, Director General of IUCN. “Information about where and why a site is considered key for the survival of threatened species underpins all sustainable development and will be critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”
In particular, knowledge about Key Biodiversity Areas will contribute to achievement of goals on conservation and sustainable use oceans and to manage forests, combat desertification and halt land degradation.
The KBA Partnership builds on the partners’ established track record in site identification, monitoring and conservation. Over the past four decades, BirdLife International has identified more than 13,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas on land and at sea in every region of the world through its 120 national partners and others, while the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund has supported identification of 6,000 Key Biodiversity Areas within global biodiversity hotspots.
To date, more than 18,000 global and regional Key Biodiversity Areas have been identified and mapped. These include Molokai Island marine area, home to the Critically Endangered coral Porites pukoensis, known only to occur in the shallow waters of this site.
The new Partnership will unite these efforts under a single KBA umbrella. It will expand the KBA network to cover other species and ecosystems using the global KBA standard. These data will guide decision-makers on areas that require safeguarding and will help a range of end users to define their conservation priorities, achieve their international commitments, and comply with their environmental policies.
KBA Partners are the Amphibian Survival Alliance, BirdLife International, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Conservation, IUCN, NatureServe, RSPB, Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Wildlife Fund.
The KBA Partnership builds on the partners’ established track record in site identification, monitoring and conservation. Over the past four decades, BirdLife International has identified more than 13,000 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas on land and at sea in every region of the world through its 120 national partners and others, while the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund has supported identification of 6,000 Key Biodiversity Areas within global biodiversity hotspots.
To date, more than 18,000 global and regional Key Biodiversity Areas have been identified and mapped. These include Molokai Island marine area, home to the Critically Endangered coral Porites pukoensis, known only to occur in the shallow waters of this site.
The new Partnership will unite these efforts under a single KBA umbrella. It will expand the KBA network to cover other species and ecosystems using the global KBA standard. These data will guide decision-makers on areas that require safeguarding and will help a range of end users to define their conservation priorities, achieve their international commitments, and comply with their environmental policies.
KBA Partners are the Amphibian Survival Alliance, BirdLife International, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Conservation, IUCN, NatureServe, RSPB, Wildlife Conservation Society and the World Wildlife Fund.
“Advancing and implementing successful conservation solutions depends on clearly identified global strategies,” said Naoko Ishii, Global Environment Facility CEO. “In this regard, we are proud to be one of the founding members of this exciting new partnership to help map and protect some of the planet's most valuable biodiversity.”
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| Brennen Nishimura Photo by Coach Erin Cole |
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| Kyle Calumpit at HPA Photo by Coach Erin Cole |
KA`U HIGH CROSS COUNTRY team has started its season. Two runners participated in the race on Aug. 27 at HPA. It was warm and sunny in Waimea on the first race of the season, which makes the hill at HPA extra challenging, reports coach Erin Cole. The race changed this year from three miles to 5K (5K is 3.1 miles).
Brennen Nishimura came in with a time of 26:32 – #101 out of 177. Kyle Calumpit ran a time of 27:32 – #118 out of 177.
The Trojans have several more runners that have been training and will be running in future races this season. The race scheduled for Sept. 3 at Kealakehe was cancelled due to the storm. Next race is at Kamehameha School on Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.
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HAWAI`I COUNTY COUNCIL HOLDS meetings this week. Tomorrow, the full council meets at 9 a.m. Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee meets at 1 p.m.; Finance, 1:15 p.m.; Planning, 1:30 p.m.; Public Works & Parks & Recreation, 2 p.m.; and Governmental Relations & Economic Development, 2:45 p.m.
The Committee on Finance conducts a workshop to discuss the county’s Dedicated and Nondedicated Agricultural Real Property Tax Programs on Thursday at 9 a.m.
Testimony from the public will be taken at the beginning. “Healthy and structured interaction between stakeholders, committee members and members of the public” will be encouraged during the workshop, according to the announcement.
All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo. Agendas and live-streaming are available athawaii.county.gov.
Ka`u residents can participate via teleconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
The Committee on Finance conducts a workshop to discuss the county’s Dedicated and Nondedicated Agricultural Real Property Tax Programs on Thursday at 9 a.m.
Testimony from the public will be taken at the beginning. “Healthy and structured interaction between stakeholders, committee members and members of the public” will be encouraged during the workshop, according to the announcement.
All meetings take place at Council Chambers in Hilo. Agendas and live-streaming are available athawaii.county.gov.
Ka`u residents can participate via teleconferencing at Na`alehu State Office Building.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com |
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
