“THIS IS WILD!” (USGS says of Dover 4.1 earthquake)
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2017/11/30/earthquake-strikes-kent-county-thursday/911208001/
It was the strongest quake ever measured for the state of Delaware. Is it possible that the Super Moon* (expected three days later on Dec. 3rd) was, in some way, a catalyst?
* The technical name is the perigee syzygy of the Earth–Moon–Sun system
Image from space.com – Nov. 29, 2017 – “When and How to See 2017’s Super Moon”
A dozen years ago (5/23/2005), National Geographic stated some statistics and then asked a rhetorical question: The moon’s orbit is inclined in relation to the Earth, causing the moon’s position in the sky to nod north and south on an 18.6-year cycle. Is the observed correlation between the moon’s position in its 18.6-year cycle (or any other lunar phase) and earthquake activity a coincidence or something more?
Let’s toss this question into the search engine and see what sticks to the wall…
The Washington Post – September 16, 2016
“Major earthquakes might be caused by the moon”
The Atlantic – September 12, 2016
“More Evidence that the Moon Contributes to Earthquakes”
Science Alert – July 19, 2016
“The Sun and Moon are linked to earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault”
Scientific American – April 29, 2015
“Can Astronomical Tidal Forces Trigger Earthquakes?”
On the other side of the coin, a continued search using slightly different wording spits out these hits:
Fairfax Media (NZ) – November 14, 2016
“There’s No Evidence that Moon Causes Quakes”
Snopes.com – November 8, 2016
“Earthquake-Supermoon Connection Was Called FALSE”
Wired.com – September 25, 2015
“It’s Official; the Supermoon Won’t Set Off Earthquakes”
Universe Today – March 11, 2011
“Just to be clear: The Moon did NOT cause the earthquake in Japan”
Image from earthsky.org – November 3, 2011
Well, the way I look at this … it ain’t the lunar phase that matters, it’s the perigee… just sayin’
Scott Mathews
FOLLOW UP POSTSCRIPT:
On 12/3/17 there was a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Ecuador
12/5/17 two 4.2 quakes – one in Oklahoma and one in Alaska
Scott Mathews is one of our guest bloggers. He is the Director of Alternative Investments at The Dow Corporation.
