My OperaDon't panic over earthquakes !
Monday, March 8, 2010 7:19:32 PM
Let’s face it. There has been no big increase in the number of magnitude 6.0 earthquakes in the past decade - and not in magnitude 7.0 earthquakes either.
Todays earthquake in turkey was magnitude 5.9. According to USGS data, the world is hit by about 134 earthquakes a year in the 6.0- to 6.9-magnitude range — or about two a week. Earthquakes are common and always have been.
That we have seen such a large death toll over the last couple of months is coincidence, and part of a natural variability. The Haiti quake struck in a very unfortunate place.
Increased construction up and down the world's fault lines like the East Anatolian fault in Turkey is certainly not due to global warming, or a full moon on Old Year's Night, or your mortal sins. We are just more people on this small earth than we were ten, or 100, years ago. In 2009 alone the human population increased by close to 75 million people, and they have to live somewhere, so more people now live in earthquake prone areas, and that is it!
Apart from that earthquakes (and other natural hazards) also seem to get more attention in the media. If this could lead to better understanding of how earthquakes work, and to higher earthquake preparedness, I would be happy.
Todays earthquake in turkey was magnitude 5.9. According to USGS data, the world is hit by about 134 earthquakes a year in the 6.0- to 6.9-magnitude range — or about two a week. Earthquakes are common and always have been.
That we have seen such a large death toll over the last couple of months is coincidence, and part of a natural variability. The Haiti quake struck in a very unfortunate place.
Increased construction up and down the world's fault lines like the East Anatolian fault in Turkey is certainly not due to global warming, or a full moon on Old Year's Night, or your mortal sins. We are just more people on this small earth than we were ten, or 100, years ago. In 2009 alone the human population increased by close to 75 million people, and they have to live somewhere, so more people now live in earthquake prone areas, and that is it!
Apart from that earthquakes (and other natural hazards) also seem to get more attention in the media. If this could lead to better understanding of how earthquakes work, and to higher earthquake preparedness, I would be happy.
You must be 
Dorte Jakobsendortejakobsen # Monday, March 8, 2010 8:19:25 PM
Ole Nielsennielsol # Tuesday, March 9, 2010 8:07:12 AM
See also:
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/building-safer-but-cheaply-in-quake-zones/