EARTHQUAKES - WHAT ARE THE LONG TERM TRENDS? YOUR COMMENTS.
Comments made below are from 2007 and 2008, problems with spam have forced this to be closed since then.
| From : Sarpei Nunoo This is very informative. For me, it constitutes a reliable and independent assurance to me that what I have been studying, and the conclusions I have come to, are well-informed. Good work. |
| From : robert impellitteri I would like to know when this was authored, (month) as it appears at least sometime in 2007. Given today's date (17/8/07) after several significant very recent powerful earthquakes, it would seem further evidence is mounting in support of your conclusions Editor reply: The applicable date is given on the front page - the latest earthquake to be listed is identified by date , just below the 'earthquakes number' in the 1977 to 2014 period. On the day of writing the comment above, the report was last updated on 1st August 2007. The text/numbers is updated every few weeks. |
| From : L. T. Brown What would be most useful is an overlay of the location and magnitude of earthquakes at least in the last ten years. Then showing all volcano eruptions associated or nearby to these earthquakes in the same period will complete the "perspective" of activity and the tectonic plate movements. Can you provide this easily? Editor reply: Thank you for your comment. The report is primarily related to large earthquake activity, and not to volcanoes (although we do mention a possible correlation). We will look at providing some information to cover your idea here, within the limitations of the higher magnitude earthquakes, and covering the past ten years. |
| From : tanner im doing a project on earthquakes and your site has really helped me thnx. |
| From : Shane Brennan It would be useful for the purposes of me doing my homework if you gave a paragraph or two on reasons for abnormalities in the graph Editor reply : What appear as abnormalities do just indicate how unpredictable earthquake frequency can be on a year to year basis. Remember also that that graph covers 'quakes of all magnitudes, not just the major ones! Your request will be addressed in the report shortly. |
| From : Paul Grundy I find your claim that there are more earthquakes in recent times dubious, as seimologists consistently state that there has been no increase. You site states http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ as a reference. Interestingly this website says that there has been no increase, and at earthquake.usgs.gov it says: "Although it may seem that we are having more earthquakes, earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater have remained fairly constant throughout this century and, according to our records, have actually seemed to decrease in recent years. There are several reasons for the perception that the number of earthquakes, in general, and particularly destructive earthquakes is increasing. 1) A partial explanation may lie in the fact that in the last twenty years, we have definitely had an increase in the number of earthquakes we have been able to locate each year. This is because of the tremendous increase in the number of seismograph stations in the world and the many improvements in global communications. In 1931, there were about 350 stations operating in the world; today, there are more that 4,000 stations and the data now comes in rapidly from these stations by telex, computer and satellite. This increase in the number of stations and the more timely receipt of data has allowed us and other seismological centers to locate many small earthquakes which were undetected in earlier years, and we are able to locate earthquakes more rapidly.” Editor reply : I have tried to address the situation with a perceived increase in earthquakes through better reporting, in the report, and this would certainly apply to magnitudes below 7.0 in earlier decades, although is less likely to be a factor with the larger earthquakes under consideration here, which are well recorded with fewer stations as we had in the past. In terms of the view that earthquakes have not increased, this is an ongoing project to review the situation, but comparisons between 1997 to 2007 and earlier 11 year periods suggest a rise has happened recently, when earlier periods are reasonably constant according to USGS website. I notice there is a 'disconnect' between what the USGS says in the above link, and what it shows in its earthquake listings. |
| From : Roch Brassard I suspect that Global warming has much more to do with the increase of seismic activity over the decades than any human factor. Since 1973 there has been a 600% increase, and accordingly relates a proportional increase in geothermal energy release into the Earth's crust. As crust temperatures rise, CO2 is being released from the depth of the oceans and the poles. Likewise sunspot cycles have increased in activity. The earth will exhibit magnetosphere expansions with small variations (oscillations) in gravitational fields which can translate into tectonic stress under the effect of increased mechanical energy output. |
| From : philomena great, thanks pls post more information on here. |
| From : Tim (posted Dec 28th 2008) I have noticed in recent years and months an increase in activity. To consider that global warming could be a contributing factor I feel is a good possibility. With Ice melt, water from the north flows south and Ice melt from the south moves north to meet at the equator. I believe someone coined a term "Equatorial bulge". As water collects towards the equator it adds pressure to the bottom of the ocean floor causing a squeeze on the earth ever so slightly. With the earth out of balance and off a few degrees from the Sumatran Quake of 2004 I think that the earth will see more activity as it already has. As of this day, 28 December, 2008 the trend in the United States is on the rise. Yellowstone National Park, the location of the world's largest Super Cauldara, has seen 16 quakes in the past 24 hours. The new Madrid fault has seen a bit more activity in places not before believed to be a part of that fault. Look for more activity world-wide and possible a major quake in the next 30 days in the US. |
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