Despite overwhelming prediction for the Nibiru planet hitting the earth, Nov. 19 has passed off peacefully but now geoscientists have joined the chorus predicting numerous earthquakes in the year 2018 due to the slowing of the Earth's rotation. Most of the major Haiti-like earthquakes may occur near the equator this year and go on for the next 5 years, they caution.
Roger Bilham of the University of Colorado and Rebecca Bendick of the University of Montana, who presented their research at the annual conference of the Geological Society of America vouched for a clear correlation between the speed of the earth's rotation and global earthquake activity.
Though these fluctuations in the Earth's rotation are too small to notice such as changing the length of the day by several milliseconds, they are enough to release vast amounts of underground energy and trigger massive earthquakes, the two scientists said.
"On five occasions in the past century, a 25-30 percent increase in annual numbers of Mw≥7 earthquakes has coincided with a slowing in the mean rotation velocity of the Earth, with a corresponding decrease at times when the length-of-day is short," said Roger Bilham and Rebecca Bendick, in their paper, the abstract of which is obtained by IB Times, Singapore.
The correlation between Earth's angular deceleration and global seismic productivity is far more vivid increasing the seismicity by 5-6 years, exposing people to higher and unexpected earthquakes, they wrote. "The cause of Earth's variable rotation is the exchange of angular momentum between the solid and fluid Earth (atmospheres, oceans and outer core)," they noted in their paper.
They further suggested that these slight changes in the Earth's core may be responsible for this effect. "Whatever the mechanism, the 5-6 year advanced warning of increased seismic hazards afforded by the first derivative of the LoD (Length-of-day) is fortuitous, and has utility in disaster planning," the scientists said.
Based on a study of earthquakes with 7 magnitude and greater since 1900, they said enhanced seismic activity is likely in 2018. "The year 2017 marks six years following a deceleration episode that commenced in 2011, suggesting that the world has now entered a period of enhanced global seismic productivity with a duration of at least five years," the researchers said.
On five occasions in the past century, a 25-30% increase in annual numbers of 7M or more earthquakes has coincided with a slowing in the mean rotation velocity of the Earth, with a corresponding decrease at times when the length-of-day (LoD) is short.
Maximum LoD is preceded by an angular deceleration of the Earth by 6-8 years. The delayed global seismic productivity is most pronounced at equatorial latitudes 10°N-30°S, said the research paper, attributing it to decreased oblateness that attends a slowing of Earth's rotation and lithospheric overshoot, the way a loose cannon slides upon the deck of a moving ship.
However, they said it is difficult to indicate precisely when and where these future earthquakes will occur, but they clearly noted that most of the additional 7M earthquakes have historically occurred near the equator in the West and East Indies.
Since 1900, more than 80% of all 7M earthquakes on the eastern Caribbean plate have occurred in 5 years following a maximum deceleration, with the 2010 Haiti earthquake notable among them.
Every 5-6 year advanced warning of increased seismic hazards, linked to the LoD is helpful in advanced disaster planning and the year 2017 marks six years following a deceleration episode that commenced in 2011, they suggested.
Now that 2018 heralds a period of enhanced global seismic productivity with a duration of at least five years, they warn people to be prepared for more earthquakes.
