Earthquakes

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-la-quakes-20140603-story.html

So, what is the scientific reason for them? If you look at earthquake charts for recorded earthquakes since 1900, you'll notice we have like 10 times more now than a hundred years ago.

Is this the end? Are we going to go like Krypton?

I don't see how humans could've affected the frequency of earthquakes.

Have in mind seismic equipment wasn't as sophisticated in the early 20th century as of today so it probably didn't record the weaker tremors.

I'm no expert, but according to this article IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME it doesn't matter what equipment was being used in the 19th century because scientists can duplicate the results, compare them to modern more accurate instruments, and say what an earthquake was on the Richter scale in 1890.

Am still curious about the increase of seismic activity though. Just like scientists can predict hurricanes and a volcano eruption, I wonder what this predicts, if anything?

[image: twoicefloes.com]

USGS recorded the following number of seismic events which were ruled as earthquake, foreshock or aftershock and which were 5.0 on the Richter Scale or higher.
1900-1910 32 events
1910-1920 127 events (296% increase in seismic activity over previous decade)
1920-1930 460 events (262% increase)
1930-1940 539 events (17% increase)
1940-1950 380 events (-29% decrease)
1950-1960 2,492 events (555% increase)
1960-1970 2,838 events (13% increase)
1970-1980 44,775 events (1477% increase)
1980-1990 110,112 events (145% increase)
1990-2000 197,875 events (79% increase)
2000-2010 274,767 events (38% increase)
2010-May 13, 2015 310,786 events (13% increase)

The 70's coincided with a progress in sesimic science. The moment magnitude scale replaced the richter scale.

So we have had better records.


The effect of human activity on seismic activity is a hotly debated topic.

Keep in mind that earthquakes and seismic activity in general is something that happens over thousands of millenia, so observations of small time scale like 100 years, no matter how accurate, is not going be conclusive

sorta like receiving 10 FHC's in a single month is rare but not impossible

Is the moment magnitude replacing the richter scale for measuring earthquake? I have a site about measuring earthquake on this page www.whatcausesearthquakes.com/how-are-earthquakes-measured.htm. Could anyone agree with it? Is the moment magnitude different from the Richter Scale calculation? Or it just to replace the index of Richter scale into magnitude?

Upon reading that page I noticed something. Moment magnitude scale was mention as energy. Richter was mentioned as power. While energy dispersion is a type of power I do believe they are referring to something else.

Also humans have had little to no effect of the Earths rotation field. The tectonic plates rubbing against one another causing these earthquakes; are most likely due to a shift if the Earths orbit.

Winter was late in Ohio, and places that don't normally get a lot of snow got it. Not to mention the many droughts this past year. I believe it is safe to say the earths orbit may have shifted. Causing various issues including the earthquakes.

The planet's rotation is slowing down overall because of tidal forces between Earth and the moon. Roughly every 100 years, the day gets about 1.4 milliseconds, or 1.4 thousandths of a second, longer.

curious what about nuclear weapons? could they have an effect on records?

I am sure shifting the earth an inch in one particularly heavy blast would have some kind of effect on orbit/fields/other words i dont fully understand.