Posted on 03/12/2011 6:23:38 AM PST by NYer
A massive tsunami sweeps in to engulf a residential area after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, cars and farm buildings on fire.
Cars and destroyed homes swept by a tsunami are seen on a street after an earthquake in Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
The letters "SOS" are seen written on the ground at Minami Sanriku Elementary School, after an earthquake in Minami Sanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
USGS Dr. Dave Applegate says the Japan earthquake ruptured a 180 mile long by 50 mile wide section of the Earth's crust.
Scientists from the United States Geological Service answered questions from the public this afternoon, with some startling revelations made.
* The first tsunami wave in Samoa was reportedly one foot tall, but the seventh wave was much larger, indicating coastal areas shoudl remain on tsunami advisory well after the first wave hits, even if that wave appears small.
* 100+ aftershocks have rated 5.0 magnitude or more in Japan since the initial shake.
* Earth's axis has reportedly shifted ten inches as a result of the quake, and Japan's coast is said to have permanently shifted 2.4 metres.
* The quake was 900 times stronger than the quake that hammered San Francisco in 1989.
* Aftershocks from the Peru earthquake of almost a year ago are still felt to this day.
* Honshu earthquake occurred on ocean floor of the Pacific plate, bumping 250 miles of coastline.
* Shaking was felt as far away as China.
* The Honshu quake was not as large as the 1964 Alaska earthquake, but was comparable to the recent Chile earthquake.
* Tsunami waves that hit California earlier today washed three onlookers out to sea. Two have been recovered.
* St Louis, Missouri media outlets report that city has moved an inch as a result of the quake.
* Waves from the ensuing tsunami reached 32 feet high.
Yep!
It makes no sense at all to say an axis shifted in inches. What is the shift in arcseconds?
Where is Obama; golfing or having another party or OBSESSING with MO about bullies and fat kids?
What does it mean for the earth’s axis to shift 10 inches? Will it mean bad weather or good weather or what?
Does it affect the way we see the moon at night, the shift?
Questions, questions, I got questions!
My gps unit usually has me driving in the cornfield next to the road anyway. I hope the 10 inch shift will put me back on the street. My wife is getting a little pissed about having to pick the stalks out of the grill.
Damn. That's shocking.
I remember reading that. Also created more talk on the U.S, madrid fault line.
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Farther to the left, I would imagine.
Yeah, I thought the drive to Springfield seemed quicker.
The universe got knocked cattywampus.
BREAKING NEWS the shift moved Obama to a golf course from his party. < / sarcasm >
Has anyone heard from our FReeper friend Americanin Tokyo?
Who cares about the Japanese, we got some high pay union jobs to save and death threat thugs to feed in WI. (sarc off)
To the left or right?
You are correct. As stated, those words sound like sensationalist nonsense to me.
March 1-7 would be a new moon, whereas we're just about at the first quarter moon. The two times the moon (if we're using the theory that the moon would affect earthquakes) would be at the strongest influence would be during the new and full moons when the moon is in alignment with the sun.
This road has been trod so many times, but hey, if someone wants to recreate it once again, have at it. Earthquake researchers, outside the immediate aftermath of a large earthquake sequence, are some of the most friendly people I've ever come across when it comes to sharing data.
I understand that part. The words “shifted X inches” suggest a parallel displacement. If so, where? Does not make sense to me; or, at least, I cannot make sense of this news.
There is not enough information here.
How much mass moved in what direction relative to the center of the earth?
The spinning earth is like a gyroscope. Depending on which direction the mass moved, the axis of rotation can precess. It can slow down or speed up the normal precession.
The Chilean earthquake (2/28/2010) was estimated to have moved Earth's figure axis (the axis about which Earth's mass is balanced) by 2.7 milliarcseconds (about 8 centimeters, or 3 inches). Earth’s figure axis is not the same as its north-south axis; they are offset by about 10 meters (about 33 feet). This is accounts for the uneven distribution of mass on the surface of the earth.
A milliarcsecond is 1/3,600,000 of a degree. This is not a big deal.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
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