Earthquakes around the world

[Eboard10]

Couldn't help but try plotting some of the data comparing sunspot number to the number of earthquakes, going back to 1900.

Seems like there is indeed a link between the two, with the number of earthquakes picking up when solar activity starts dropping after having reached a maximum. The only exceptions to this are the periods spanning the 1940s and the 1970s, although the overall trend is clearly evident during the last 3 solar cycles, where more accurate data is available.

Still eager to see Altair's findings which should provide a better view from an historical perspective.

 

[Mr.Cyan]

Thanks Eboard10 for the research, much appreciated.

Really interesting as well, that there seems to be a "step" for increasing earthquake activity - first jump around 1915 and second jump around the 1950. Must be following some exponential or log based ratio. Wonder when the next "step" will be...

 

[Eboard10]

Thanks Eboard10 for the research, much appreciated.

Really interesting as well, that there seems to be a "step" for increasing earthquake activity - first jump around 1915 and second jump around the 1950. Must be following some exponential or log based ratio. Wonder when the next "step" will be...

Could indeed be the case, though it might also in part be due to technological advances allowing us to spot earthquakes/sunspots more accurately and an increase in the number of equipment tracking these phenomena.

Is there a graphic comparison of major earthquakes with solar cycles anywhere?

Laura, it's interesting that you are trying to link these two phenomena together. I recently posted an article on the forum which goes into great lengths to try to explain (with the help of papers) the influence of cosmic/solar radiation on earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Some excerpts of the article (http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,38664.0.html):

The results of this study showed very strong correlation between solar activity and the largest seismic and volcanic events, within the continental US and globally. The correlation for volcanic activity was bigger than (> 80%) and for the largest earthquakes was (100% of the top 7 most powerful) versus solar activity lows. Additionally, the research concluded the existence of a strong correlation between global volcanic activity among the largest of classes of eruptions and solar activity lows. With the 80.6% occurrence of large scale global volcanic eruptions taking place (> VEI 5) during solar activity lows and with 87.5% occurring for the very largest (> VEI 6) eruptions during major solar minimums.

During solar minimum high energy cosmic radiation can penetrate to a very deep distance below the Earth’s surface, in some case a few hundred kilometers. This is the reason why most if not all earthquakes during solar minimum are deep earthquakes. The stress on the Magnetosphere during solar minimum is higher because the Heliosphere is weaker and more high energy charged particles can penetrate the solar system.

Wrong explanation has been given by some Russian scientists. They believe that reduced magnetic pressure on Earth during solar minimum enables tectonic plates to move a little more freely and that would make the release of built up frictional forces between them much easier. But, the magnetic pressure during solar minimum is increasing not decreasing. The stronger is the solar minimum the higher is the magnetic pressure.

The bottom line is that all earthquakes and volcanic eruptions-big or small- are triggered by an external pressure induced on Earth’s magnetic field.

Maybe Pierre could comment on the validity of the above statements...?

 

[Pierre]

Thanks Eboard10 for the research, much appreciated.

Really interesting as well, that there seems to be a "step" for increasing earthquake activity - first jump around 1915 and second jump around the 1950. Must be following some exponential or log based ratio. Wonder when the next "step" will be...

Could indeed be the case, though it might also in part be due to technological advances allowing us to spot earthquakes/sunspots more accurately and an increase in the number of equipment tracking these phenomena.

Is there a graphic comparison of major earthquakes with solar cycles anywhere?

Laura, it's interesting that you are trying to link these two phenomena together. I recently posted an article on the forum which goes into great lengths to try to explain (with the help of papers) the influence of cosmic/solar radiation on earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Some excerpts of the article (http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,38664.0.html):

The results of this study showed very strong correlation between solar activity and the largest seismic and volcanic events, within the continental US and globally. The correlation for volcanic activity was bigger than (> 80%) and for the largest earthquakes was (100% of the top 7 most powerful) versus solar activity lows. Additionally, the research concluded the existence of a strong correlation between global volcanic activity among the largest of classes of eruptions and solar activity lows. With the 80.6% occurrence of large scale global volcanic eruptions taking place (> VEI 5) during solar activity lows and with 87.5% occurring for the very largest (> VEI 6) eruptions during major solar minimums.

During solar minimum high energy cosmic radiation can penetrate to a very deep distance below the Earth’s surface, in some case a few hundred kilometers. This is the reason why most if not all earthquakes during solar minimum are deep earthquakes. The stress on the Magnetosphere during solar minimum is higher because the Heliosphere is weaker and more high energy charged particles can penetrate the solar system.

Wrong explanation has been given by some Russian scientists. They believe that reduced magnetic pressure on Earth during solar minimum enables tectonic plates to move a little more freely and that would make the release of built up frictional forces between them much easier. But, the magnetic pressure during solar minimum is increasing not decreasing. The stronger is the solar minimum the higher is the magnetic pressure.

The bottom line is that all earthquakes and volcanic eruptions-big or small- are triggered by an external pressure induced on Earth’s magnetic field.

Maybe Pierre could comment on the validity of the above statements...?

Your chart is great. I would have liked such an image for my book! I mentioned the studies showing a correlation between earthquakes and solar activity but didn't include such a fancy chart. The mechanisms you mention are totally possible (from what I understand).

Other complementary factors might be at work to explain the increase in tectonic activity:
-Reduced Solar activity -> Earth slowing down -> earth shape deformation (ellipsoidal to spheroidal)
-Reduced Solar activity -> Earth slowing down -> mantle/crust slippage
-Reduced Solar activity -> reduced core/surface E-field -> loosening plates (Earth opening up)
-the mechanical-electromagnetic properties of rocks as described by Friedmann T. Freund.

Those factors are explained in more details in chapter 24 of ECHCC.

 

[Altair]

Sorry that it took some time. I didn't manage to create a scatter chart with 2 Y-axes neither in Google Spreadsheets nor in LibreOffice. It worked out only today in Excel on my work computer (see the attached chart).
I used only years from 1905-2004 since it's the only data on earthquakes I have now. On the left Y-axis: sunspot number, on the right Y-axis: magnitude (I used only earthquakes with magnitued >= 8M).

 

[Altair]

I found a better earthquakes database: _http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/form?t=101650&s=1&d=1 and will extend the period to 1700.

 

[Altair]

Here is a new chart starting at 1700.

 

[Eboard10]

Your chart is great. I would have liked such an image for my book! I mentioned the studies showing a correlation between earthquakes and solar activity but didn't include such a fancy chart. The mechanisms you mention are totally possible (from what I understand).

Other complementary factors might be at work to explain the increase in tectonic activity:
-Reduced Solar activity -> Earth slowing down -> earth shape deformation (ellipsoidal to spheroidal)
-Reduced Solar activity -> Earth slowing down -> mantle/crust slippage
-Reduced Solar activity -> reduced core/surface E-field -> loosening plates (Earth opening up)
-the mechanical-electromagnetic properties of rocks as described by Friedmann T. Freund.

Those factors are explained in more details in chapter 24 of ECHCC.

Yes, like in most cases I guess, there is a number of different factors that affect tectonic activity and cause more violent earth changes.

If I remember correctly, in the book Earth Changes and the Human-Cosmic Connection you explain how reduced solar activity and the subsequent increase in effect of cosmic forces on the planet doesn't necessarily lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions and the like, but causes such events to increase in strength, such as stronger eruptions, earthquakes etc. If that's actually the case then I think this next chart would lend further support to this theory. I have compared solar activity to volcanic activity on Earth since 1900. Initially, plotting sunspot number to the frequency of volcanic eruptions didn't show any correlation between the two (Picture 1). However, when taking only volcanic eruptions with a Volcanic Eruption Index of 3 and higher (_https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_explosivity_index), then a pattern becomes visible (Picture 2). In almost all cycles you will note that eruptions pick up when the sunspot number begins to fall. The only clear exception seems to be cycle 20-21 during the 1970s, which also showed a drop in earthquakes from the chart in my post above. Please also note that 2015 only goes to June, hence the low figure.

Summing up, the data suggests that reduced sunspot activity is associated with stronger volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on Earth.

Not sure how useful this is, but thought I would share it FWIW.


Picture 1 - Sunspot Number vs. All Volcanic Eruptions

Picture 2 - Sunspot Number vs. Volcanic Eruptions (VEI 3+)

 

[Pierre]

If I remember correctly, in the book Earth Changes and the Human-Cosmic Connection you explain how reduced solar activity and the subsequent increase in effect of cosmic forces on the planet doesn't necessarily lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions and the like, but causes such events to increase in strength, such as stronger eruptions, earthquakes etc. If that's actually the case then I think this next chart would lend further support to this theory. I have compared solar activity to volcanic activity on Earth since 1900. Initially, plotting sunspot number to the frequency of volcanic eruptions didn't show any correlation between the two (Picture 1). However, when taking only volcanic eruptions with a Volcanic Eruption Index of 3 and higher (_https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_explosivity_index), then a pattern becomes visible (Picture 2). In almost all cycles you will note that eruptions pick up when the sunspot number begins to fall. The only clear exception seems to be cycle 20-21 during the 1970s, which also showed a drop in earthquakes from the chart in my post above. Please also note that 2015 only goes to June, hence the low figure.

Summing up, the data suggests that reduced sunspot activity is associated with stronger volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on Earth.

I suggested an increase in earthquakes and volcanic eruption due to the reduced solar activity. No mention was made of the magnitude of those phenomena though. You might be mixing up with the chapter about hurricanes and tornadoes.

 

[Eboard10]

If I remember correctly, in the book Earth Changes and the Human-Cosmic Connection you explain how reduced solar activity and the subsequent increase in effect of cosmic forces on the planet doesn't necessarily lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions and the like, but causes such events to increase in strength, such as stronger eruptions, earthquakes etc. If that's actually the case then I think this next chart would lend further support to this theory. I have compared solar activity to volcanic activity on Earth since 1900. Initially, plotting sunspot number to the frequency of volcanic eruptions didn't show any correlation between the two (Picture 1). However, when taking only volcanic eruptions with a Volcanic Eruption Index of 3 and higher (_https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_explosivity_index), then a pattern becomes visible (Picture 2). In almost all cycles you will note that eruptions pick up when the sunspot number begins to fall. The only clear exception seems to be cycle 20-21 during the 1970s, which also showed a drop in earthquakes from the chart in my post above. Please also note that 2015 only goes to June, hence the low figure.

Summing up, the data suggests that reduced sunspot activity is associated with stronger volcanic eruptions and earthquakes on Earth.

I suggested an increase in earthquakes and volcanic eruption due to the reduced solar activity. No mention was made of the magnitude of those phenomena though. You might be mixing up with the chapter about hurricanes and tornadoes.

You're right, it was about hurricane and tornadoes. Well, still thought it would be interesting to share the data since there does seem to be a pattern for eruptions of a higher magnitude.

 

[Mr.Cyan]

An earthquake in Queensland Australia, which is not common :

From RT
http://www.rt.com/news/line/

5.7 quake surprises Australia’s eastern coast
A rare 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the south-east coast of Queensland in Australia on Thursday morning, US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Tremors were felt in Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. The epicenter of the quake was in the Coral Sea at a depth of 10 kilometers. The first reports began coming in at 9:41 am local time. Police said that no damage has been reported, and no tsunami threat has been issued. The quake has been described as historic since earthquakes are very rare in this part of Australia: the previous tremor of a similar magnitude struck the area in the 1930s.

I think this has been the 4 or 5th quake of close to 6.0+ in the last 1-2 weeks.....

 

[mabar]

An earthquake in Queensland Australia, which is not common :

Another uncommon in Sweden??, from USGS, but apparently viewing google sites, it is not that uncommon, though ...

M 3.4 - 7km WSW of Surte, Sweden
Time
2015-07-29 19:46:03 UTC
Location
57.786°N 11.901°E
Depth
13.9 km

Found a report of the landslide at Tuve in 1977 on November 30, to me-checking google maps- is quite near (Göteborg) to this recent earthquake, there was also an eartthquake in 1977, november 7th, near Uppsala, magnitude 1.8 _http://www.earthquakes24.com/en/eq_1097371.html. Most probably sweden goverment is more conscious towards its people? is just that, between earthquakes and goverments, there is a big differenced among countries, regarding prevention and related. Either way, was interesting to know, that there are earthquakes at every place on earth.

Here the report of Tuve: _https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=vY4rAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=sweden+earthquake+29+july&source=bl&ots=p8yD0v_cZ-&sig=kuKhu3Y7eZC-squ9sdngUDX4fho&hl=es&sa=X&ved=0CEIQ6AEwBWoVChMIi5Gzp5GCxwIVgnuSCh3XowP1#v=onepage&q=sweden%20earthquake%2029%20july&f=false

 

[MusicMan]

An earthquake in Queensland Australia, which is not common :

From RT
http://www.rt.com/news/line/

5.7 quake surprises Australia’s eastern coast
A rare 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the south-east coast of Queensland in Australia on Thursday morning, US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Tremors were felt in Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast. The epicenter of the quake was in the Coral Sea at a depth of 10 kilometers. The first reports began coming in at 9:41 am local time. Police said that no damage has been reported, and no tsunami threat has been issued. The quake has been described as historic since earthquakes are very rare in this part of Australia: the previous tremor of a similar magnitude struck the area in the 1930s.

I think this has been the 4 or 5th quake of close to 6.0+ in the last 1-2 weeks.....

This is quite a volcanic area, although the volcanoes have been dormant for a long time.
The Mount Warning Shield volcano is the second largest in the world, and lava from it flowed south as far as Lismore, and up to 300km out to sea. The spectacular Glasshouse Mountains are a part of this system.
I would not want to be within 100 miles if that lot went up.

 

[Mr.Cyan]

Earthquake in Mexico:

5.3 quake in Mexico Sea of Cortez, 119km northeast of San Jose del Cabo - USGS
http://www.rt.com/news/311811-quake-mexico-sea-cortez/

 

[Eboard10]

Just saw on FB that there was an earthquake near San Francisco:

_http://www.breakingnews.com/topic/earthquakes/

4.2-magnitude earthquake strikes north of Piedmont, Calif., shaking felt in San Francisco - @USGS

Looks like things are gradually heating up in California. Hope that all you guys in the area are doing well.