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Reports of increased earthquakes in 2018 - Expert reaction
Media reports of increased earthquakes in 2018 -
Expert reaction
20 November
2017
A media report from the
weekend suggests a link between the Earth's rotation and an
increase in intense earthquakes.
The report
follows a conference presentation last
month by two US researchers who suggest a slowing of Earth's
rotation is correlated with an increase in earthquakes of
magnitude 7 or higher.
The SMC asked experts to comment on the media reports, please feel free to use these comments in your reporting.
________________________________________
Professor Mark Stirling, Chair of Earthquake Science, University of Otago, comments:
"The Otago Earthquake Science group does not support the primary conclusion of this article. We see it as yet another example of a fortuitous correlation between earthquake occurrence and an unrelated phenomenon.
"Earthquake rates fluctuate greatly around the plate boundaries of the world, and many explanations for the fluctuations have been provided over the years (e.g. Super Moon, Diurnal controls, Earth Orbit Eccentricity). While the researchers involved in this most recent work are very well known and regarded, we have no basis to support their conclusions at this time."
________________________________________
GNS Science (can attribute to John Callan, communications manager):
"GNS Science is unable to provide a meaningful comment on this research. It appears to be a conference presentation and very preliminary rather than peer-reviewed research, so there is no detail for us to examine.
"It is true there have been periods of elevated rates of large earthquakes in the past 100 years. However, if you go looking for correlations with other natural phenomenon, you will almost certainly find some interesting matches."
________________________________________
Dr Virginia Toy, senior lecturer, Department of Geology, University of Otago, comments:
"A lot of people attempt to make statistical correlations between occurrence of natural events/hazards and other environmental phenomenon. For example, there are studies of whether earthquakes are preceded by ‘lightning’ or related to ‘solid earth tides’. Some of these yield statistically defendable correlations; others don’t. I tend to think of them in the context of Ken Ring… the man who writes about apparent statistical correlations between the phase of the Moon and the weather.
"This study… I am sure the statistical correlation is more defendable than Ken Ring’s work. However, it shouldn’t inspire panic. The story has reported the researcher’s statements in a way it sounds like we will get a jump from 6 to 20 large earthquakes per year. I don’t think this is likely."
________________________________________
Dr Tim Stahl, lecturer in tectonic geology, University of Canterbury, comments:
"Professors Bilham and Bendick are respected scientists in earthquake geology and seismic risk. I would look forward to seeing this study in a peer-reviewed journal, with some reporting of the statistical tests for the significance of the observed relationships and with further consideration of potential mechanisms. As with any conference abstract or presentation, it is difficult to judge the scientific merit of the claims being made until they have undergone rigorous peer-review and additional testing by other research groups.
"It is important to note that the authors explicitly state in the abstract that the precise locations, times, or magnitudes of earthquakes cannot be predicted, even if their observations and interpretations are eventually confirmed by other researchers."
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