News in Japan - August

GEJET:

NRA to study ways to deal with volcanic eruptions near nuclear reactors

No. of dead and missing from 2011 disaster stands at 21,586: The National Police Agency said Monday that the number of deaths and missing persons attributed to the March 11, 2011 disaster stands at 21,586—18,498 in the disaster itself and 3,088 persons who have since died as a result of stress or illness recognized as being related to the disaster. According to the NPA, the death toll in Miyagi stands at 9,538; in Iwate, it is 4,673, and in Fukushima, the death toll is 1,611. In other prefectures, Ibaraki had 24 deaths, Chiba 21, Tokyo seven, Tochigi and Kanagawa four each, Aomori three, Yamagata two, Gunma and Hokkaido one each—for a total of 15,889 dead. Currently, the remains of 90 victims remain unidentified. The NPA said 1,269 persons remain unaccounted for in Miyagi, 1,132 in Iwate, and 204 in Fukushima. Meanwhile, police and Maritime Safety Agency personnel on Monday conducted another search for missing tsunami victims in the three disaster-hit prefectures of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima, Fuji TV reported. Such searches have become common on the 11th day of each month, conducted at the request of families of the missing. No remains were found.

Japan:

Scientist predicts another major earthquake in Japan by 2017

3 drown after car caught in flash flood at campsite

Half a million advised to evacuate as heavy rain lashes Japan

Death toll Japan typhoon Halong risen (Dutch)

Organic food movement in Japan progressing slowly

Typhoon leaves up to 10 dead, dozens injured

At least 39 dead, 7 missing as landslides hit Hiroshima

It's necessary to take measures to prevent newcomers from living in dangerous areas by coordinating the designation of areas as caution zones and through urban planning. It's also important to keep residents informed of the risks of mudslides.

Netherlands:

"Large-scale dike reinforcement needed" (Dutch)

Nuisance from bad weather particularly in the East (Dutch)

USA:

Northern California earthquake is area's strongest in 25 years

Other:

7th GEWEX: Better understanding of clouds and human activities can improve global water cycle models

How should flood risk assessments be done in changing climate?

Deadly floods return to Serbia and Bosnia

Flood risk visualization software

A Global Inventory of Lakes Based on High-Resolution Satellite Imagery: Earth has 117 million fresh water lakes

Increase in reported flooding a result of higher exposure

'Just right' plant growth may make river deltas resilient

Vulnerable people:

Japan to host 'World Assembly for Women' next month

Happy consumers are better for the planet (Dutch)

Animal welfare in Japan improving

Filling water bottles mandatory for festivals in Amsterdam (Dutch)

US: Worst hurricane anyone remembers

http://xkcd.com/1407/large/

The Netherlands in 21 infographics

The Dutch government has released a document called "The Netherlands in 21 infographics", containing facts and figures on the human environment.

It contains visualizations of food production (including fish), the environmental burdens (including on water use) of the current meat consumption trends, energy consumption (with the highest point of some 300 meters the Netherlands is too flat to generate hydro power), and transportation. The document also has several suggestions for change in the current consumption patterns and how this would help in reaching the EU target goals in reduced emissions. In the end, all production, consumption, and transportation will affect water use, and any reduction will leave room to improve in other areas.

Early Warning System in Chicago

Chicago has elected to apply the Modulator® II Electronic Siren Series for tornado warnings. Chicago has also chosen the most eerie of the sound options the sirens provide. This siren sounds almost as though it has already been heavily affected by the tornado and thereby strongly encourages people not to go outside but to seek shelter (as it effectively sounding as if it is the end of all times). Judge the effectiveness of this warning sound during a real tornado for yourself, or try out the various other options the Siren Series provides.