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NASA
Images from NASA's Terra satellite show the coastline of Japan's Honshu island in the area around Sendai before and after Friday's earthquake. The left image is from Feb. 26, and the right image is from today. The images are color-coded to reflect surface composition rather than what the eye would see. The "Flood" label helps you gauge the extent of the flooding caused by the tsunami that followed the quake.
This week's earthquake caused the main island of Japan to shift as much as 13 feet to the east, seismologists say. That may sound like a shocker, but it's just one of the natural changes that come along with an 8.9-magnitude temblor — like the 1.8-microsecond speed-up of Earth's daily rotation and the 6.5-inch shift in Earth's axis.
The eastward shift was documented by Japan's Geonet network of GPS monitoring stations, based in Tsukuba, said Ken Hudnut, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program in Pasadena, Calif. Similar shifts took place during last year's 8.8 earthquake off the Chilean coast, as well as the 9.1 earthquake near Sumatra that caused a disastrous tsunami in 2004.
"It's the same phenomenon in all three cases," Hudnut said. The movement is linked to the release of the strain that builds up when one tectonic plate grinds against another in a subduction zone.
"What's going on is that the plate going down drags along with it the upper plate as strain is stored in between earthquakes," he explained. "When the earthquake occurs, the upper plate lurches eastward over the subducting plate. The oceanic plate that's going down is relatively rigid, but the upper plate is like a wedge of material that's more elastic. So picture that upper wedge as being almost like an accordion that's being compressed between the times of earthquakes. It's like a spring. You're loading up the spring between earthquakes — in other words, you're compressing the eastern edge of the spring toward the main island of Japan. The earthquake allows that material to spring out toward the east."
Japan's network of 1,200 GPS monitoring stations, operated by the Geographical Survey Institute, shows a maximum springing-out effect of 13 feet (4 meters), with an average displacement of about 8 feet (2.5 meters) along a stretch measuring more than 300 miles (500 kilometers).
Everything that links GPS readings to maps, ranging from driving directions to property records, will have to be changed as a result of the shift, Hudnut told me. "Their national network for property boundary definitions has been warped," he said in an e-mail. "For ships, the nautical charts will need revision due to changed water depths, too (of about 3 feet). Much of the coastline dropped by a few feet, too, we gather."
We're starting to get pictures from space that document how the coastline has changed due to the earthquake and the tsunami. The NASA photos at the top of this posting show the coastline around the city of Sendai, which was one of the hardest-hit areas. The left photo was taken on Feb. 26 by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, or MODIS, aboard NASA's Terra satellite. The right photo was taken today by the same instrument. You can see that wide stretches of the coast are still flooded, in part because barriers erected at the coastline's edge are now keeping water in rather than keeping it out.
Other satellite pictures, distributed by Google, provide a closer-in view of the devastation caused by the tsunami. In each of the before-and-after sets below, the left picture was taken before the earthquake and the right picture was taken afterward. We've put together an eye-opening slideshow of before-and-after imagery that gives you control of the slider. And you can check out Google's blog posting and this Picasa Web album for still more.
Google / GeoEye / DigitalGlobe
Satellite photos provide before-and-after views of Kamaishi, a coastal city north of Sendai in Japan.
These photos show before-and-after views of Japanese communities, with the left views taken before the earthquake and the right view taken today. The upper set shows Yuriagi and the lower set shows Yagawahama, both in Japan's hard-hit Miyagi prefecture.
Update for 7:25 p.m. ET March 13: I've updated the figures for the change in the day's length and the position of Earth's axis to reflect fresh figures from Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
More post-earthquake imagery:
- Slideshow: Japan before and after the tsunami
- Satellite photos show scope of Sendai damage
- Japan's devastation documented by satellites
- Slideshow: Japan struggles to recover from quake
Join the Cosmic Log community by clicking the "like" button on our Facebook page or by following msnbc.com science editor Alan Boyle as b0yle on Twitter. To learn more about Alan Boyle's book on Pluto and the search for planets, check out the website for "The Case for Pluto."
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and the british are worried about the impact of cow farts on global warming!
Methane is many, many times more potent than CO2, traps lots more heat,alot more Climate change-disasters make this little 9.0 quake look like a picnic! Be Afraid, be Very, VERY AFRAID of COW FARTS!!!
With all the pain and misery going on over there .....your comment makes you sound like a total... ASS !!!!!!!
" ....... your comment makes you sound like a total... ASS !!!!!!!"
Must agree with that. Over 1,000 dead, several thousand unaccounted for, tens of thousands pretty much homeless now, hundreds of thousands directly affected in some way, & every single one of the 130 million population now at the very beginning of a LONG hardship which VERY few of us reading this have ever had to endure ....... but all some people care to do is use the disaster to push their pet-agenda of the over-hyped farce which is Global Warming.
Even if it was meant as a joke, I highly doubt that any of the 130 million Japanese, or the other hundreds of millions having some type of connection to Japan, will find any humour at all in that type of selfishness. Perfect example of the typical ignorance & attention-seeking behavior of the average Global Warming preacher.
But hey, it's all okay ..... right? Just as long as you can use ANY subject, incident, or disaster as yet another platform to spread your agenda about how we're all going to be cooked alive within a couple years ... no matter how LITTLE it's actually related to that agenda ... then it's just fine & dandy, right?
This type of person is one of the prime reasons that the collective IQ of the human race has plummeted in the last couple or three decades. When you don't actually think for yourself, but let Mass-Media, Al Gore, the National Enquirer, & your choice of the thousands of CONspiracy/Doomsday sites on the web do that thinking, then it's just common sense that the neurons inside your skull will die from lack of being used.
Replying to an article about a natural disaster involving an earthquake & a tsunami, with that reply including crap about Global Warming, is pretty much undeniable proof that your ability to reason & understand has about reached the point of NONE.
But I'm not even going to attempt entering any further discussion, except this single post, about any of those things with the ones guilty of doing them. That course of action has proven over & over again to be entirely useless. It's just so sad that some have such low morals that they use an extreme tragedy such as this for yet another place to spread their BS. But isn't the first time, won't be the last.
My prayers go out to every single Japanese citizen, and other people of the world who have somehow been affected by this disaster. MOST of us feel your pain, although surely not even a fraction of how much the ones directly involved are going through. Those few who are taking advantage of the situation for their own low purposes most definitely do NOT represent the rest of us in any possible way.
Totally agree with you Stan Pontus & David!
Thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan and their families. It could have been any country so we should all consider ourselves blessed and lend a helping hand in any way that we can.
*massive applause for David-296853*
I wish I could hit the little up arrow a zillion times for that. Some people have absolutely no perspective in life.
Now you are blaming fart on Cows. In reality countries with more aged population has the tendency to raise fart related global warming. You can not discount the Germans as they are the one who first admited by making a car called "fartnugen". Sunday is a good day to be silly for a change.
What the....? David your condescending little self-righteous speech was all so high and mighty and let us all rise above the morass yet you managed to clearly define YOUR position on the taboo subject in 5 out of the 7 paragraphs. Then Jambah and Torchy happily go right along with you without even seeing the opinionated crap you pumped out using the very same method you condemn. Unbelievable. While I completely agree with your core idea if you can't get your point across any better than that you need to give it up.
Get over yourself.
the situation in japan really sucks for all of us not just them.
Mandi-2716514 - then what exactly is it do you think you're doing? If there was a "Pointlessly Whining Hypocrite Award" for the day, you'd win it. Congrats!
Some of us are entirely sick of every single newsvine feed being clogged with political claptrap and unrelated nonsense that rants like David's sometimes are more than necessary, even if a little backwards in logic. You should take your own advice and give it up. After all, David made a point, what is yours?
Amazing isn't it? Hundreds of thousands of US citizens, children and elderly, hungry, homeless, without medical assistance, and many Americans want to jump in and help "whomever" during their crisis. How come those same Americans don't care about helping OUR people on a daily basis? Hey, I am a conservative, but pouring money into foreign nations when OUR people are in serious trouble is just plain evil.
@BlackCat69 - Just shut the f up. Nobody really cares what you think.
@BlackCat69~ It's people with attitudes like yours that make the world the craphole it is today. In the midst of what is one of the worst natural disaster's in our world's history and your going to complain about where the help funds come from? Didn't your mommy ever teach you that it is better to give than to recieve? Japan has ASKED FOR NOTHING. They are suffereing a crisis right now and your going to complain about the help being offered to them?? They are HUMAN BEINGS..regardless of nationality!!! The "children and elderly" of Japan did nothing to deserve this horrible tragedy....if your not happy about how things operate at home take it with your congressman, don't slander a country in desperate need right now for recieving help that they never even asked for!
@David: Given the original poster was making fun of Global Warming, your rant is entirely out of place, and blames the wrong people. Not to mention it's ironic as all hell.
But I agree totally that to bring Global Warming denial into this particular discussion is highly out of place, and makes you and the OP both look like asses.
I am glad to see that everyone is enjoying thier right to free speech. If you have something to contribute to people in this country or another please do. This is a global event in Japan and my thoughts and prayers go out to all the people touched by this. I hope that everyone has a Great day and continues to enjoy thier free speech.
Glad to see everyone's so easily distracted by nonsense.
Any astro-navigation issues?
Hard to say. The Japanese launch facility at Tanegashima is far to the south, and was probably unaffected by the earthquake. If that launch site had moved 13 feet like the northern island, all the data they use to launch satellites would need to be recalibrated. The launch pad elevation, latitude and longitude are very precisely computed values.
You are saying all values are fixed with no reference input to the system for correction. I never knew a design that can not and does not make adjustment automatically for small changes without human interaction. Interesting.
Thirteen feet is not small change.
Had not returned to this post so sorry to see you collapsed my comment, im sure none of you will even read this.
My comment was not meant as a joke it was meant that our priorities are far off base and we have absolutely no control over mother earth.
The british think taxing meat will reduce the amount of methane produced, it won't it is just a money grab.
Earthquakemoves an island 8' and entire earth 4" off axis not to mention the tsunami and numerous reactors melting down. Yet we still have idiots saying cow farts can make a difference.
The comment got your attention now apply it to real life as it was meant, not a joke!
how else do you comment on this article other than to say so sad?
This disaster is a small demonstration of coming attractions before the end of '12...
You've got to be freaking joking "absolutelyright". Have you ever heard that the planet is dynamic? Its how things are on this little planet. We are living on the crust of material on a dynamo of molten magma. What does the "end of '12" got to do with it?
If you live that long grownup- maybe you'll see what the 'end of 2012' has to to with it.
The Mayan calendar may have stopped at 2012, but the one on my computer has the ability to go far beyond that. I think all will be well. (And relying on either one as an indicator of the end of the world is just plain silly.)
That's not true. There is no calender for the year 2525. I checked it out. I'm not fanatical about a worldwide extinction, but it is absolutely true that every day is doomsday for thousands of people. You'll get your turn too.
Oh no! Not another one of those "god's wrath, end of days" crap. That bs has been spewed by your ignorant mouths for eons and when it continually doesn't happen you keep moving up the years. You people make me sick to my stomach. I'll leave you to your rapture idiocy and I'll stick to my atheism.
It is pathetically sad...and sad isn't even really the word that there are people who use NATURAL disaters on the earth to point to an "end of the world." The world was created and will remain...it is the PEOPLE on the earth that have the issues.....that being said, people do use the earth for their own greed, they destroy natural ecolands and wetlands & cut down and destroy forests and build and populate land that shouldn't be populated to the extent we do. People build tons apoun tons of material in relatively small areas and expect the earth to just take that type of pressure and abuse....We pull oil out of the ground & leave pockets, we mine for various rocks & stones....we pour pollutents into the air and bury nuclear and every other kind of waste imaginable in the ground....Do we really believe that our actions over the years- all this abuse & destruction to the earth both on land and underground have no repricutions???? My prayers go out to all those who have lost loved ones & are without the neccessaties and maybe we should all put ourselves in others shoes and try to understand what it might be like to be existing in those areas of Japan today. It should make you count your blessings, your health, your famiy, the fact that you have food & water and a warm place to sleep. And we should each and every one of us look at how we treat this plantet we call home- treat it with respect & stop treating it like it's a garbage disposal.
There are no atheists in hell.
or, maybe it's a long awaited showing of Karma... Perhaps, it's His punishment for the murders of 2350 people in Pearl Harbor?
Sungod (no, that's not narcissistic at all), listen, when you are trying to make an intelligent sociopolitical point, how abut using words you know how to spell - or at least take the time to look them up. What the hell is a "repricution"? Is that anything at all like a repercussion?
The Mayan calendar may have stopped at 2012,
They just ran out of paper.
In times like these every whacko on the web who needs attention posts in these forums. Ignore them. From looking at the pictures of that area it appears the death toll is now being severely underestimated. In the one town alone the police are saying there my be 10000 lives lost.
Message to the one who posted we should not help. Japan was one of the nations who offered assistance when we had a disaster and it is called common sense to help your friends.
I'm not an athiest, nor am I christian, but I do know my belief system transends this trivial 3 dimension ball of gas bags that choose to believe in themselves. Continue to rely on your electrical crap, plug in another toaster, buy another T.V., even think your doing the right thing by getting an electrical vehicle, it is now all in vain, and that is the problem with most all here... their vanity.
I'm not a doomsdayer, but have an inquisitive belief in the Mayan, Hopi, Egyptian, and even Masonic calendars. How can so many seperated by so much including time and distance, conclude the same times and dates?
All I know is that if you were to put twenty scientist in a room and give them a question of similar magnitude, they would all have a differant answer, and these are supposed men of great scholorly education, but notice on thing, they all wear slip on shoes, not enough common sense to be able to tie their shoes.
So for whatever the outcome that the future holds, civil unrest and and government failure is eminent, no more infrastructure, no more "come and save me" police at your ready beckon, so there is this final conclusion, are you willing to give your life up when you come into my backyard to steal my vegetables because your idiocy has left you completly disabled and totally reliant on that which is coming to a swift end?
You are going to have to bet your own existance on it, because when it happens, and it will, I'll kill you to ensure my own existance, and you'll lose your life not for a pocket full of money, which will be worthless, but instead for a potato and a couple of carrots.
Be sure you will cease to exist with one shot, it's just the way your soon to be fallen government has trained me.
@trsweeton: In curiosity, I did a search for repricution. In fact, there are 2090 pages for that misspelled word according to my Google search, which is not of any language I know. It can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXRl32vqTSA While you are enjoying the music, which unfortunately, I can not hear due to my broken speakers, I would suggest you consider correcting your own misspelling in your response to Sungod. I need not know the reason why you used the word "abut" instead of using the word "about" in your response to Sungod, but I do get some mild humor in the narcissistic personality displayed by calling another person narcissistic because of his name. It makes one wonder what possible tweets could be made about your name. Although, I would never do it.
@Sungod: I happen to agree with your post. I lived five years without my house after hurricane Katrina took it. It took me five years to get it back. Knowing this, I know they have years and years ahead of them in trying to rebuild and recover somewhat from the disaster. I say somewhat, because it never really goes away. There is always something coming up with regards to it, whether it is taxes, insurance, medical, land problems, legal, etc... The list goes on and keeps on coming, while the rest of the world forgets it's place in history, except for when there is an anniversary or excerpt in a news article referring to it. I feel for the people in Japan and send my prayers and positive vibes their way, for I know they will be living with it for the rest of their lives.
This I know, no matter what belief or disbelief you have regarding faiths or lack thereof, positive vibes can never go wrong, and the ripple effect of what we create spreads, whether that be something massive or simply a positive thought. Speaking of vibes, what are the vibes of that music I can't hear from that link? Are they any good?
No Joke- you proclaim, "I'm not a doomsayer", yet you say doom is "eminent". How can anyone take that seriously?
And if you're not an athiest, and believe in eteral reward/ punishment, why is it your intent to murder anyone who you feel compelled to rather than 'love your neighbor as yourself'?. After all, that's not just a Christian law, but runs through every major religeous belief system in the world. Call it 'Karma" if you like, or the'golden rule', or it's many other incarnations; only atheists cannot see the truth of it.
"Live by the sword, die by the sword", and don't complain when you're treated exactly as you treat others. "One shot". Indeed!
In response to you post naughtylass Cheryl. I say AMEN!! No one knows for sure when the end will be. Only God and He is not telling us for sure. We are Christians and know that God is in control not us. He is the one who decides when the end will come. But do not be afraid, He has promised to take all of His followers before the end ( rapture ) comes. So my suggestion to the sceptics is, to clean up you own house before you tear down others. We've been on the hard knock side many times, ( loss of home , loss of children ) and know without a doubt that we ( people ) are not in control. Praise His Holy name.
Will you people please stay on topic and just comment on the article?
We could say many things on many issues; however the plain suffering of fellow human beings is enough to make us all very sad.
It seems on every comment board the conversation degrades to bickering and judgmental put-downs. People here are using this forum to shove their opinions down others' throats, while overseas thousands of people try to recover from a horrible trauma.
How about just expressing how we all SHOULD feel, because the lives of all those people have been turned upside down-- not just for a day or two, but for a very long time?
Thanks, and my heart goes out to all the innocent lives that won't be the same for some time.
D'nile is not a river in Egypt
DIDO 'No Joker...US Army '69-'73.you very much right on the money other than maybe lossing a leg or so comming over or under the fence to get to back yard....and I am a Christian,a soldier of Jesus Christ Army wityh a confirmation name to proove it. How soon 'THEY' forget that when Christ went to the Temple he got a big stick and cleaned out the court yard....
I can't help but wonder what Seattle would look like had it happened there! (so many of their freeways and highways are viaducts & bridges). Or Los Angeles. Or San Francisco. We on the West Coast talk about 'The Big One' but that's about it. Well, except for California, they've done a lot. But I live in Washington, and am a wee bit closer to, and knowledgeable of, Seattle. Bet this quake will spur a lot more talk about all the viaducts, and not real action.
So, Earth's axis has tilted 4 inches. Doesn't sound like a lot, but wonder what, if any, effect that will have on our weather. Any ideas out there?
It was a 4" eastward shift, but even if it was a northern or southern shift, that's too small to have much affect on anything. Oh except for the constant snow Saudi Arabia would have been seeing. The thing I'm concerned about is the 1.6 microsecond speedup of the earth's rotation. I don't have enough time to get things during the day as it is, and now I have 1.6 microseconds less? And here I thought last year went by fast...
:)
Dr. Cat, I think you're confusing the shift of the axis and the island.. how could an axis shift east? Any shift in a northern axis is by definition southward.
the tecktonics plates are shifting a natural occurance but man has to indure what he has done he has drained the world for an energy .oil we consume what was a balance of nature is leaving enormous sink holes the size of our great lakes scattered all over the globe so when we have plate shifts eventually we will have many massive quakes of 12 or higher on richter scale causing tsuanami to reach 200 to 500 foot hight which will flood land hundreds of miles inland., weight of water over land will crush the land were we have been draining oil for the past hundred years ,we have consumed the earth balance of life ..land will shrink to 1/16 time for man to start over so-sorry bye bye a new beginning is due good luck
Scientists no longer use the Ricter Scale. Earth quakes are simply measured in "magnitudes." Each succeeding magnitude is 10 times greater than the preceeding number, ie an earthquake of a 9 magnitude is 10 times greater than an 8. This is based log scale.
When the earth was young there were more earthquakes than now. Read about continenal drift. The land was once all together, it broke apart and is now moving back together. This has nothing to do with Karma.
Human suffering is sad and terrible where ever it occurs - the US, Rowanda, Japan ... People who care should help others where ever they can, where ever they see suffering. Many of us will experience suffering whether in a natural disaster, a car accident, a life threatening illness, alcoholism that will lead to a tortured death. Show compassion and hopefully you will get compassion in return when you are at the suffering side. Begin by loving yourself.
Sorry Kiker, not quite. Yes, the Richter scale is still used, however it is only one of several scales used depending upon the size of the quake, the hypocenter (depth), etc. The Richter scale was nice in the 20th century as earthquake study began, however it is not accurate enough for larger events. As a result, the scale called "Moment Magnitude" (abbreviated Mw) is most often used for large events. For deeper earthquakes, "Moment Base" (Mb) is used. Generally Richter is used for smaller local events (3-4) and is abbreviated Ml (l=local). The reason for so many different systems is accounted for the different types of earthquake. The most appropriate is used for the specific quake conditions. Thus USGS classified the 8.9 quake using "moment magnitude from initial P wave (tsuboi method)", abbreviated Mi/Mwp. But the bottom line is that all scales are designed so the number assigned is accurate. That's when the general term "Magnitude" is used.
The earth speeding up and the axis changing are big deals! Think about it if you have a long hot dry summer you may get more bugs, more vegetation dies. Our ecosystem is quiet fragile! One change and things will go out of whack! I saw a thing on PBS a couple years ago about how the axis's will eventually change and the poles will move - they said that is what happened when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and what caused the great ice age. Through their research in the north and south poles they are seeing the same events happen now. Through time things will begin to shift and weather will change drastically. Although they did say it would not ultimately happen for a long time.
Pretty much everybody agrees the old viaduct has to go for just that reason. You may not have noticed but over the past 20 years Seattle has done a LOT of earthquake reinforcement to bridges and freeways.
The Pacific Northwest hasn't rattled in about 300 years. With the Juan de Fuca plate diving under the North American Plate, it will create a big subduction quake. There are several volcanoes which are fueled by the rising of melting magma, which occurs when the Juan de Fuca plate melts. All those volcanoes have glaciers, which will melt in the event of an eruption. The tsunami which will result in any subduction volcano will destroy what is left.
@countrygirl -The floods/mud flows from the glaciers melting aren't tsunamis. Tsunamis come from the Sea. Of course, if global warming melts the glaciers first, we won't have that worry! ;-D
@ countrygirl...You need to do a little research on seismic activity in the Pacific Northwest before making statements such as "The Pacific Northwest hasn't rattled in about 300 years". The NW is in fact quite active, with a 1.7M event occurring only 6 days ago. (10:39:02 on 3/18/2011) A 4.5M event occurred at 07:36:4.79 PST on 6/29/2002 which caused some damage and "rattled" quite a few people, incl. my sister who lives about 6 mi. from the epicenter. The 2002 event was a BIG story at the time. There have been quite a few in between. Just nothing of any real note.
It's a devastating effect not only on the mother nature but on the man kind. Japanese people are suffering unimaginable issues for so many years. earlier nuclear bombs, now this holocaust. god has something in store for everybody. time to time he proves that he is supreme. no wonder, any amount of technology can't withstand the nature's fury. let us pray to mother nature and the departed souls of Japan in this earth quake and tsunami. Hope this nuclear reactor radiation leakages will not prove to be another Chernobyl holocaust. god bless the man kind.
hmmm...
how can you use God in one sentence (talking about how he has something in store for all of us) and Him being supreme....
and then say let us pray to mother nature....??? PICK A SIDE, U CANT SERVE TWO MASTERS
Deborah-2806761
Why do you choose to sound so foolish,make fun if you like, also try reading the Bible....
Tried reading the bible once, got more common sense out of Mother Goose. "The world's coming to an end!","Be prepared for the rapture!","I've fallen and I can't get up!" Sh't happens. You christians need to get over yourslves!
The earth is constantly evolving and yes some day it will all stop. But in a geographical timescale our lifetimes are like the blink of an eye. Things we see in todays mothernature are miniscule to the way the earth was formed. A 4 inch tilt not so bad, a 4 foot tilt spells disaster. By the way this is for you Crazy In The North, put down the kiddie books and go get a degree!!! If you cant get a college education try wathcing the discovery channel instead of the cartoon network.
col prasad rao
There is only ONE ( GOD )
and cray in the north
I fill sorry for you .....
GOD BLESS EVERY ONE
col prasad rao - Please note that God is almighty and deserve respect. There is only one true God and He does love each and everyone. I am sadden by what happened in Japan and we must pray and help. Prayer to God does help and it goes a long way.
Imagining nature is a being or that natural disasters are punishment for something is first of all a logical fallacy, second of all amnesia or ignorance of who has been affected by past disasters, and lastly betrays an unreal selfcenteredness that mistakes ones present fortunate situation as the favor of a devine being. Stop with the prayers and sentiment. Too often this is just a way for someone to show off to others that they are genuine. NOT! A real person's attention, time, and effort are what makes a difference. Do something or give something but quit yapping about your religion.
I don't understand how people of Faith can pick and choose their science.
We know why earthquakes happen, we know they will continue to happen, and we have a pretty good idea of all of the areas where mankind live that will be affected by them when they happen in the future. Which they will. Has absolutely nothing to do with a higher power "punishing" anyone.
There may be an orbital change on the earth rotation.
Heartfelt touch and condolences to Japan and the lost japanese soul.....
what happened to the big talk about the "shift" after the Chilean earthquake? So does this offset that?
Wouldn't shock me if the US is next. Although I wonder...Will it be over by California or will there be an earthquake in the middle of the US heartland. I think the US should start taking a bit more precautions becuase we will be next at some point, very soon I think.
I'm really quite sure that the middle of the US wouldn't suffer an earthquake. It's the middle of a solid continental plate. Pretty sure the East is lacking in seismic activity as well.
Recently I've heard say that Washington is overdue for its next big quake. Whether it's Seattle or San Francisco, let's hope it's not a disaster and that we get prepared for it!
The New Madrid fault in the central US is over due for a major quake!
As a matter of fact, there are 2 "major" fault lines in the central US - one in Texas (the Balcones Faultline), and one in Missouri/Arkansas.
In the late 1800s, the MO/AR faultline had a major quake - nobody knows exactly how powerful, but it's been well recorded that the "Mississippi River ran backwards for 15 minutes." That sounds pretty powerful to me!
I don't expect much out of the Balcones fault, simply because there are dozens of quarries on it, blasting daily - this helps mitigate the buildup of pressure in the faultline. It's likely that there will never be a significant earthquake on that fault as long as the quarries are still active. The MO/AR one, however, has been giving shocks lately - more and more powerful, and more commonly as well. It may be revving up for a major tremblor.
how insensitive can you people be. There are many dead and missing and you bring your end of the world crap in here. How about a prayer for the survivors looking to find their loved ones, the displaced thousands that had their lives washed away. I know I was raised better than that weren't you. The earth has taken and given allot over the decades, start realizing it is what we make of it. We're all going to die eventually, I pray it's in a way God has planned, not left to idiots like the ones posting here. my deepest sympathy goes out to those unfortunate souls of japan. My prayers are with you and your country
@ SwishandFlick: Brush up on your geology my friend...I live in Nebraska (can't get much more central than that) and we have had 2 earthquakes in the last few months.
@ Christians, atheists, naturalists, fatalists, etc.....shame on you for spouting your personal rhetoric and making the prayers/good wishes for a devastated people and country something about you. How hard is it to just have a little compassion and be able to express it without making a big deal over YOUR offended sense of....whatever!!
I can't express how sad and sorry I feel for the humans suffering from this horrible disaster.
Instead of beating up on each other for your personal beliefs, please spend some of that energy making a positive difference is someones life. Selfish.....
They need to worry about Yellowstone which sits on what could be a super volcano.
On the matter of Japan shifting east that may be so as the Earth quake was east if the island and if the plate that it sits on was the one over riding the other on you can see the move would be eastward.
According to the USGS website there were several earthquakes in the central US in the last 48 hours, specifically Arkansas. So yes, it can happen there.
The New Madrid fault is overdue,it was 200yrs ago this year.They guess it was a 8.0, it was felt all the way in the Carolinas and Georgia. But Yellowstone is whats so scarey, if it blows, all life as we know it, is lost.
Earthquakes are happening in Illinois every once in a great while the last one was in Feb of this year.
Although it was nothing like the Japan earthquake, one day it may. There may not be a tsunami from lake Michigan but the many Nuclear reactors that dot Illinois is a concern.
Whats the percentage of the worlds population that believes in an all mighty supreme being of some kind? I am not in the minority. If I was floating on the roof of my house I know what I would be doing. 's-life-saved-after-floating-on-his-roof-after-tsunami
If you don't Believe fine. but do something for them if not to prey. The Red Cross would be a good choice. Before anyone says "Who helps us?"
They do.
quake so powerful it blew out the flash on the satellite.
Shock and Awe !
I am more afraid of the big one that is Yellow Stone, a super volcano. When that one blow, the entire North America will be redrawn.
I agree with you regarding Yellowstone. However, if Yellowstone does blow, it could be an 'Extinction Level Event' (ELE).
There is another area that is overdue, and has the potential of doing as much damage to the US as this last quake did to Japan, and that is the Cascadian Subduction Zone off the coast of Washington and Oregon. The Cascadian Subduction Zone is a 600 mile fault, about 30 miles off the coast. The last quake of a significant magnitude to cause Tsumanis occurred sometime between 1701 and 1712. Ironically, this event was recorded in Japan, as there is documentation of a tsumani without a corresponding quake. Based on all the major quakes which have occurred around the 'ring of fire' over the past few years, we need to monitor this area very closely.
It's mother Earth. She's a dynamic Lady! I love the Japanese people and I really hurt with them. They are though, a great people and will come back stronger than ever. We will all help in the ways we can. There is much new factual data in this tragedy. Everyone, especially the Japanese will learn much. Sometimes it takes great obstacles to redirect us to a better path. I think that is what human tragedy, whether self induced or naturally ordered is about.
Considering the melting of the polar ice caps reducing the pressure on the Earth's crust; it only seems natural that the residual effect would be more dramatic movement of the geographic plates and more volcanic releases. Since this is also an expected year for more violent sun flare activity; it only goes to reason that we should live with hope in our souls that the human animal may live on this lovely Blue planet for another 10K years. May all of us do what we can for Japan as we did for Haiti.
Arni V, did it occur to you that if an icecap melts, the water is still on top of the Earth's crust? Being so weak-minded that political hacks and special interest groups can fill you full of fear about made-up threats is so sad, for you. Al Gore loves people like you...he's making a fortune off your ignorance. The problem is, normal people will also have to pay for the stupidity of those in your intellectual dinghy.
Is it dark and scary in there, Arni V? I mean, where your head is?
@steve999 No. I think your mistake is in thinking that ice is "on top" of water, when it is actually IN the water, displacing it. Look at an iceberg. Most of the volume and its mass is below the surface of the water. Same thing with ice caps. An ice cap displaces water, even if ice is less dense than liquid water. Once they melt, then the volume and mass of the lost ice is replaced with an equal volume but more dense liquid water with greater mass. Even though both liquid water and ice are "on top" of the crust, they both have mass, and mass equals downward pressure on the crust. Pressure is not even across the ocean floor and is dependent upon depth and the amount of water above. Replacing the volume of less dense ice with an equal volume of more dense water equals increased mass and pressure on the crust in that area. Evidently, you're ignorant of that guy Archimedes and his principle that we teach in high school, and Earth Science teaches about the interconnected effects of an imbalanced system. You were saying something about "stupidity"?
ArniV is correct to a point. When the ice melts, the water is likely to travel away from where it was sitting in the beginning. So, essentially, part of the earth's crust would be relieved of that pressure. I remember seeing a demonstration on a web site once where they demonstrated by illustration what Greenland would look like from a side view if the ice all melted off. It had more of a bump to it afterward.
Mercurial Rust, you should have paid more attention in Earth Science. There may be an affect if the ice on a land mass melts and runs into an ocean, but an iceberg displaces the weight of water needed to support the berg. When floating ice melts, there is no change to the water level.
Bruce Anderson, You must not be aware that ice caps and glaciers sit on land and when they melt it raises the water level of the oceans!! This is scientific fact,,,dumbass.
There have been many many devastating natural events through out history. Some how we
forget that each time a new disaster happens. Pompeii was destroyed in 79AD but no
one is talking about that any more. I do not mean to make light of Japan's struggles but
we live on a tiny little shelf of land over a huge ball of lave. There are more and more of
us living closer and closer to destructive forces. The same events have been happening since
the beginning of time there are just so many more of us getting in mother natures way now-with cameras.
I mean really, who though it would be a good idea to build a nuclear power plant in an earthquake zone
in the first place?
ya like for real and we call our self's "SMART" I don't think so ..... good point
Just exactly where in Japan are you not near a fault?
Unfortunately, the reality is that Japan is a small country with limited natural resources. So, when it comes time to produce electricity, they have few options other than nuclear. And, since the whole country is in an active seismic zone, they have almost no options of where they may build the nuclear facilities. It sounds like the facilities survived the earthquake fairly well. It was the (if I may use the word) unprecedented tsunami that caused the problem.
They should have thought that in the event of an Earthquake and tsunami the Nuclear Facilities would be damaged, why didnt they build them farther from the sea more inland, and just pump the water in, to keep the reactor rods cool. I guess its easy to say that now though. my prayers go out to the people of Japan
The earths axis shifted 4 inches, the way I got it figgered is from now on Florida will have winter snow about 2 feet deep, and low temps around zero (about the same as Michigan has had the last century). And, the northern states such as Michigan, North Dokota, etc., will be like Florida has been in the winter.
Aw heck, Tiger will have to sell his 25 million dollar new home in Florida and build up in the U.P. of Michigan. If not, he will not be able to find his balls in the snow. And Elin will have to bring her 25 million dollar yacht to the Great Lakes.
Just so you idots would know.
Tiger's new home was $50 million, not $25 million. Just saying' ... :)
It only moved 4 inches not 4 feet, if we are talking in feet then i would be getting worried, but not in inches.
I D O's A ME GO
Isn't Mexico or the Arab nations due for the big one yet. Need to thin out the herd.
Shame it doesn't target the shallow end of the gene pool. You and Frank would be screwed.
Congratulations, you're an awful human being.
As a matter of fact, there are 2 "major" fault lines in the central US
Maybe that one will open a gap wide enough to keep the beaners on their side,, And if the old man was still alive he would be smiling,, He hated those slanty eyes rice powerd fish head mutherfukrs as he called them,, Mr. Godzila your office is callling you!!!!!!!
my father was the same way
Suddenly the Mayans are geniuses because their calendar ends after 2012? Maybe they couldn't count any higher than 2012?? Anyone ever met a Mayan? How 'bout an Incan?? The only time you ever heard about these two cultures was in grade school textbooks....but now the Mayans are "Nostradamus geniuses"! HA!! See you in 2013!
I married a Mayan. She is pretty smart, thought I've never heard her count past 2012...
The Mayans simply made a calendar that accounts for a 24,000 year period that happens to be real accurate. Then you simply go to the center of the calender and start over... Judging from what I see as I read these comments, the Mayans may have left the planet to avoid any possibility of association.
Very unfortunated for the Japanese. Had this happened in Southern California, it could have been even worse...might have wiped out a million or more Mexicans.
every little earthquake is opening the gulf of california and a "big One' could open all the way to the salton sea (as it was thousands or millions of years ago)...did you know that catalina island actually came across the pacific from the bottom of the sea near japan....it did not break off from california like the anacapa islands. oh and those islands were they there before the santa barbara area did a 180% spin or was that during or after that "big one". going to have a cup of coffee and see if i can find that website again and bring in the link.
this salton sea thing would really make for a difficult southern border .... my thought process when i read the above post
i just reread steves' post and realized he was not mourning the number of souls lost or potential number of souls lost if the quake was here in southern california........so i never would have posted if i had realized what he was saying
For goodness sake this is not about religion no matter what your belief, This is about all the poor souls lost and those suffering still. What about the little children who have become orphans or have lost a parent or the pain they are suffering from injuries they have received instead of calling each names we should be thinking how can we help after all we would expect to receive help if it had been our country every individual as a right to his or her beliefs most religions are based on love for each other and our fellow man This could have been anyone of us no matter where in the world we are. So I say again how can we as individuals help Would it not be better to see this as a practise run for when it is our turn???
Certainly this tragedy affects millions. As Americans we should question whether we should be spending bazillions to help nations struck in tragedy when right here in the USA we have children, elderly, unfortunates who struggle with basic needs of life. Americans feel all warm and fuzzy when they can "help" during disasters, all the while Americans ignore our needy millions. As a nation we need a bigger stronger military, less liberals, less illegal immigrants, and more compassion for OUR own citizens. Me? Christian, white, conservative, realistic. Go to numbersUSA.org and watch gumballs and view the graph at the bottom.
I am sorry that this has happen but as time goes on it is only going to get worse as we are moving in to the last days it is only a matter of time be fore we all fill the calling... God Bless Each and Every One Of You!
IT IS SO SAD that so many posting here have taken advantage of sorts to talk about everything from the end of the world to the tilting of our earth, without any regard to the thousands of lives that have been effected in Japan I for one am sending out my prayers and best wishes to the people of Japan May I suggest all of you do the same. Remember this could happen here any second.
I bet you pray for the starving and unfortunate citizens here in the USA, too, don't you. When is the last time YOU actually did something tangible for someone in an unfortunate situation? But you prayed, and made yourself feel all warm and fuzzy, didn't you?
Ya better start sending money and not useless "thoughts and prayers".
You can donate very easily with your mobile phone to the Red Cross:
Text to 90999 and type "REDCROSS".
A $10.00 donation is added to your next month's phone bill.
JM CALIFORNIA, Your right! Ten dollars is worth more than all the chit chat here combined. Sure, I feel horrified by the destruction I see and all the prayers in the world are not going to bring back the dead.
From what I have seen they are going to need all the money they can get so here's my idea of best hopes for the Japanese in the form of ten dollars.
Well it is God ways of reminding us all to be Good to each other, " Love For All Hatred For None "
This is My Message to the world.
I fully agree with 'who thought it was a good idea to build...'
We need to reexamine where all the nuclear reactors are built, and make better plans for solving the problems with these sorts of diasters, and possibly move them to 'safer' locations, or find better energy sources and dismantle them completely.