Powerful earthquakes to ravage Earth in 2018
Jan 2, 2018 14:36:12 GMT -5
Post by schwartzie on Jan 2, 2018 14:36:12 GMT -5
Powerful earthquakes to ravage Earth in 2018 as planet's rotation temporarily slows
Experts believe there is a correlation between the slowing of the Earth's rotation and more powerful earthquakes
ByJeff ParsonsTech/Science Reporter
14:16, 2 JAN 2018UPDATED16:43, 2 JAN 2018
SCIENCE
The world is entering a period of higher seismic activity this year that will bring more earthquakes with it, scientists have predicted.
While that's undoubtedly bad news for those living within affected areas, the ability to accurately predict when and where earthquakes will occur is growing all the time.
This prediction comes from the fact that the Earth is currently experiencing a periodic slowdown of its rotation.
Historically, these slowdowns have coincided with peak times for earthquakes and seismic activity.
"So far we have only had about six severe earthquakes [in 2017]. We could easily have 20-a-year starting in 2018,” said Dr Roger Bilham from the University of Colorado.
Bilham, together with Rebecca Bendick from the University of Montana studied earthquakes occurring since 1900 that measured over 7 on the Richter Scale. They found periods of five years where the Earth's rotation slowed and these were followed by periods when seismic activity was heavier than usual.
“It is straightforward,” said Bilham. “The Earth is offering us a five-year heads-up on future earthquakes.”
These fluctuations are usually very small, sometimes slowing a day by no more than a millisecond. But according to their research it has an effect. How and why is not yet known but it's supposed that it could have something to do with behavioural changes in the the Earth's core.
Although it's impossible to predict where the earthquakes will happen, the pair's research showed that historically they occur around the equator in the Earth's tropical regions.
Full article at link
Experts believe there is a correlation between the slowing of the Earth's rotation and more powerful earthquakes
ByJeff ParsonsTech/Science Reporter
14:16, 2 JAN 2018UPDATED16:43, 2 JAN 2018
SCIENCE
The world is entering a period of higher seismic activity this year that will bring more earthquakes with it, scientists have predicted.
While that's undoubtedly bad news for those living within affected areas, the ability to accurately predict when and where earthquakes will occur is growing all the time.
This prediction comes from the fact that the Earth is currently experiencing a periodic slowdown of its rotation.
Historically, these slowdowns have coincided with peak times for earthquakes and seismic activity.
"So far we have only had about six severe earthquakes [in 2017]. We could easily have 20-a-year starting in 2018,” said Dr Roger Bilham from the University of Colorado.
Bilham, together with Rebecca Bendick from the University of Montana studied earthquakes occurring since 1900 that measured over 7 on the Richter Scale. They found periods of five years where the Earth's rotation slowed and these were followed by periods when seismic activity was heavier than usual.
“It is straightforward,” said Bilham. “The Earth is offering us a five-year heads-up on future earthquakes.”
These fluctuations are usually very small, sometimes slowing a day by no more than a millisecond. But according to their research it has an effect. How and why is not yet known but it's supposed that it could have something to do with behavioural changes in the the Earth's core.
Although it's impossible to predict where the earthquakes will happen, the pair's research showed that historically they occur around the equator in the Earth's tropical regions.
Full article at link
