QUAKE'S JOLTING EFFECT LEAVES THE EARTH RINGING

New York Post ^ | 12/28/04 | Andy Geller

[kattracks]

Because of Sunday's gargantuan quake, planet Earth is ringing like a church bell.

You can't hear it, but it's being measured at seismic stations around the world, including Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, N.Y.

It will last for three days, perhaps longer.

The quake, which measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, was caused by the shifting of geological plates along a 600-mile area.

This changed the Earth's mass. As the mass returns to normal, it moves back and forth, much like a church bell when struck by a tong, said Stony Brook geophysicist Teng-fong Wong.

[snip]

The quake caused a shift in the Earth's rotation, as the change in the planet's mass altered the effect of the pull of gravity on the Earth.

But not to worry. The same thing happens in the summer and winter. It's harmless and it shouldn't last long.

[Darnright]

On Christmas Day, some of the ornaments on my in-laws Christmas tree were swaying back and forth. We're in Virgina.

We attributed it to drafts. Now I'm not so sure.

[Cobra64]

Yes. I wish I could remeber the entire skit. Funniest skit I've ever seen on TV.

[SunkenCiv]

Note: this topic is from 12/28/2004. Dunno who added the earthquake keyword, but it seemed a little odd at first that I'd not heard anything about it. :') The late FReeper kattracks contributed this under-visited thread, which is why it seems a good idea to add this to catastrophism.

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