Do Earthquakes Spawn More Earthquakes? Eeek.
Posted: Wednesday, March 03, 2010
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Some people say that the violent shaking of a portion of the earth during a powerful earth quake may put in motion the approach of another since some faults are on the very verge of a drastic movement. It might have some validity but those who study those things have mixed views. Some seem to think that this would depend on a number of factors other than just the proximity. Let's look at some of the little facts about these monster killers.
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude quake hit Haiti.
On February 4, 2010, a 5.9 magnitude quake occurred offshore from Northern California.
On February 18, 2010, a 6.9 magnitude quake occurred on the China-Russia-North Korea border region.
On February 26, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude quake hit Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
On February 27, 2010, a 8.8 magnitude quake occurred just offshore, Maule, Chile
These earthquakes are classified as "significant" and in 2009, there were 72 quakes world-wide classified as significant. 58 occurred in 2008.
But these "significant" earthquakes are only a drop in the bucket. In the past seven days, worldwide, there have been 367 quakes, all over 4.5 except in the U.S. where they were counted from 2.5 on the Moment Magnitude Scale. 367 in 168 hours! That averages to over 2 each hour. That is amazing. I've only witnessed one earthquake personally. One morning about 5 or 6 years ago, I was asleep on my recliner when I awoke with the chair, and entire house for that matter, shaking noticeably but certainly not violently. It never crossed my mind that it was an earthquake. I thought it simply an explosion some distance away. My wife, who was in bed, never knew it happened. Then we learned that it had actually been an earthquake.
To see a map with the above quakes marked you may find them at; http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/
You will notice a good number of small ones on our own west coast line and numerous ones along the Aleutian Islands and coast of Alaska. But bear in mind that these include anything over 2.5 on the Moment Magnitude Scale.
California has long been prognosticated for a major earthquake. Fortunately they have known this for many years and, as Chile, have prepared as well as is practicable. It is still a frightening thought however, when you take a look at the damage caused in Chile, even though the thing was offshore and deep. Plus the fact that Chile does not have the masses per square acre as you will find in the larger California cities.
To continue our though as to whether or not quakes spawn others. It is impossible to tell since there is such an enormous amount of them occurring and so many other factors.
One other thing I had never known about strong earthquakes, but one NASA geophysicist, Richard Gross, sys the Chile quake should have shortened the earth-day by about 1.26 millionth of a second. (umm. No wonder time seems to be passing faster) But all kidding aside, he says it is true. According to him, and others, such a quake shifts the earth's "figure axis" by about 3 inches. Another scientist (seismologist) named Keith Sverdrup, explanation was quite complicated but I did understand what he meant. If only I can explain it as well as he did.
He used a spinning figure skater with a rock in one hand, as an example. He said that her rotational axis was down the center of her body, but her figure axis was slightly shifted toward the rock hand. And, he says, as she spends, and pulls her arms in closer to her body, her speed increases. I can follow that and I can see what they say is probably true, but 1.26 millionth of a second!!
Other information can be found concerning these quakes at the following links;
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100302-chile-earthquake-earth-axis-shortened-day/
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/LCSN/view_pal.html
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)hi ,my name is sandrala from pakistan.from tis artocal i got latest updates.i am christian.ad felt gud to read ur artical.my age is 21.fe...JESUS BLESS U.Well, thank you Sandrala, I am honored indeed that you read and commented on my article. The internet is a wonderful thing. I have made friends with several people from Kenya, Nigeria and Romania and one from Russia. But you are the first I've heard from of Pakistan. Thank you again for reading my article. Have a blessed day.
yeah earthquakes are interconnected because any event in the other side of the world may also happen to places with active faultlinesThank you, John, for reading and commenting on my article.
Nice article.
I am sure that earthquakes are connected because the nature is also connected with us... How we, humans act will be the answer how the nature reacts. Which means that Earthquakes spawn more earthquakes and more and more stronger earthquakes and will not finish until we start acting how we were supposed to live from the beginning of humanity from Adam and Eve.Thank you HyunSoung, for reading and your nice comment. I sincerely appreciate it.
Sure they do... the ground is moving and when that happens, more earth will move too...
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