Literally earth-shaking, Tsunami quake shifted the North Pole, moved Newark, NJ, 1/2 inch

The Newark Star Ledger ^ | 12.31.04

[Coleus]

Beyond killing tens of thousands and unleashing a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, the twinned earthquake and tsunami that struck Southeast Asia Sunday altered the angle of the Earth on its axis, moved the North Pole, pushed walls of water throughout all the world's oceans and shifted the soil as far away as Newark, researchers are reporting.

Scientists said yesterday they are looking beyond the tragedy to try to extract meaning from an event of such magnitude. They want to learn how the Earth responds as a system to one of Nature's terrible jolts. And they wonder about the Earth's resilience.

Calculations performed by Richard Gross of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California show that the quake sped up the rotation of the Earth and enlarged its wobble, causing the length of a day to shrink permanently by 3 millionths of a second. It also moved the North Pole 1 inch, he found.

Researchers at the Lamont-Doherty facility in New York, part of Columbia University, have been tracking earthquakes for decades and say their instruments showed that the quake rang the Earth like a bell. Seismic waves emanated from the epicenter, like ripples moving out from a pebble thrown onto a pond surface.

Armbruster, the Lamont-Doherty seismologist, said that, though he hasn't completed his analysis, he believes the quake moved the soil in the Newark and greater metropolitan area by a half- inch. The temblor on the other side of the world pushed the ground up that far, then back down the same distance. The movement was so swift, it was not noticed by residents of the region, he said.

A well-studied 1964 quake in Alaska of a greater magnitude moved the ground in New York up 2 inches and then down 2 inches, he said.

[EternalVigilance]

Calculations performed by Richard Gross of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California show that the quake sped up the rotation of the Earth and enlarged its wobble, causing the length of a day to shrink permanently by 3 millionths of a second.

A millionth of a second here, and a millionth of a second there, and pretty soon you're talking real time!

It also moved the North Pole 1 inch, he found.

Give or take an inch or so...

[Coleus]

Yeah, like anyone knows where Newark, or even Trenton, really is to start with...OK...heading there in a couple weeks, though, gotta rent a car! >>

Good, come on down we'd love to have ya. You can come and see the "culture" whether or not you'll make it out alive is a different story.

Actually a lot of people do know where Newark is because when one vacations or visits NYC they usually land at Newark airport which is just over the river from NYC.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

"I feel the earth move under my feet. I fell the sky tumbling down, tumbling down."

Band name forgotten.

[Sam Cree]

Visiting daughter in Syracuse...probably rent a car Newark or Trenton, drive the rest of the way...where do you think I should get off the train, Newark or Trenton?

Thanks much, btw!

[Coleus]

I would say Newark which would save you about 1.5 hours of driving time. From Penn. Station you would either take a cab (there may be a light rail too) for a couple of miles to the airport area for the car rental, there may be car rental agencies in Penn. Station too.

http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/ewrframe.HTM
http://www.njtransit.com/

[Sam Cree]

Well, Penn Station is in Manhattan, which I'm going to avoid for driving out of, I think...I know Trenton is fairly close to the country and clear driving, but don't know about Newark...is there a clear shot from Newark as well to points NW?

[firebrand]

The NJ Transit trains stop at Newark Airport now. Maybe Amtrak does too.

[Coleus]

There are 2 Penn stations, one in NYC and one in Newark on Raymond Boulevard a very busy place, Amtrak is there as well as the path trains into NYC and a bus terminal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Station

http://www.soulofamerica.com/cityfldr/newark9.html

[Sam Cree]

Thank you

[bwteim]

May have been posted before, but FWIW, you can get emails of BIG QUAKES... sent to you even as you sit in pajamas or half asleep in your cubicle....See

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/products/neic_data_services.html

"Sends a message whenever an earthquake is reviewed by the duty geophysicist that has a magnitude of 5.5 or greater anywhere in the world or a magnitude of 4.5 or greater within the 50 US states, excluding the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. The speed of review is somewhat variable, but in most cases a magnitude 6.5 or greater event anywhere in the world or a magnitude 4.5 or greater event within the contiguous US is reviewed within a few hours of its occurrence."

[firebrand]

Newark airport is actually better for driving north than NYC is. From NYC everybody crosses over the GW Bridge and goes north on the other side.

[Sam Cree]

What do you think about Newark vs Trenton, for a drive to Syracuse?

Thanks.

[firebrand]

I'll find out.

[BobS]

Is NJ 180 deg from the original earthquake? I have my own little theory in development.

[Palladin]

It didn't move Newark far enough--like into the Atlantic Ocean.

[BobS]

Go west from Newark to PA and take the 81 North to Syracuse. I remember it as a nice drive. I believe it's 80 West to 81 North.

[Coleus]

Trenton to Syracuse

Newark to Syracuse

  Do you have AAA, they are good with these things and will map everything out for you.

[firebrand]

But he'll be leaving from the airport stop, maybe, which is right on the turnpike (NJ Turnpike).

[delacoert]

The movement was so swift, it was not noticed by residents of the region

It patently idiotic statement.

[Coleus]

That song just brought back some good memories from my childhood.