On Dec 18, 9:55 pm, Weatherlawyer wrote:

No other news on volcanoes so far. But then, the Smithsonian is about
2 weeks late in producing what limited information it can get hold of.
And there is no one else doing it unless you know which region's group
to look up.

Re-reading that, it does look like an intended slight. I don't believe
that was my intent. The fact remains that the coverage of volcanic
activity leaves a fair bit to be desired.

Unfortunately the sump that modern science finds itself in consists
mostly of of a pit it seems to have dug itself and then head dived
straight into.

Anyway, back in the day...
Planet Zog Archive:

Scientists who study dust storms have long known that Saharan dust can
travel all the way across the Atlantic to the Americas. Asian dust,
however, must travel much farther to reach the same destination. In
April 2001, researchers watched with surprise as dust from an Asian
storm crossed the Pacific reaching as far east as the Great Lakes and
even Maryland.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/New...3?img_id=17874

Get that? Long known!

Not like the slap I got for suggesting the same thing was the source
of the dust in Andean ice cores a few years back. As if I never
bothered to try finding out what these guys have "long known".

But I digress, here's the interesting bit:

"In early April of 2001 a strong temperate cyclone spun counter-
clockwise over China, pushing a wall of dust as it moved."

1st April 2001. 10:49:
No major earthquakes
1 major tropical storm:

WALTER Basin: AUS (SE Pacific) Start date: 02.04.2001
Maximum sustained wind: 80 knots End date: 08.04.2001
That's a Cat 1 cyclone on the Saffir Simpson scale. Close but no real
effect, as far as I know.

And several smaller ones (60 knots)
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...001/april.html
None of these were even on the Saffir Simpson scale.

Half an hour from the time of phase which is the main subject of this
thread. Another 10 minutes and it was a full blown anticyclone for the
UK. But you'd never guess, looking at this:
http://www.wetterzentrale.de/topkarten/tkfaxbraar.htm

Talking of dust storms and dark skies:
26 March First quarter at 10:33 and Passover, Full Moon (at 14:51) 3rd
April 33 CE. There was a quake then though but that was after the full
moon thus occurring on the day of ....

Oof.. it's 4 am and I need sleep before I try deciphering what time
the full moon took place in Jerusalem local time, 2000 years ago.