Is the earth falling apart? Have they started using the Hadron Colider early and not mentioned it to anyone? Are we experiencing a Global Coincidence? Have science reporters suddenly gotten interested in earthquakes? There must be some explanation for the nearly simutaneious occurrence of a powerful 7.1 earthquake in the southern ocean, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano Exploding, an earthquake hitting near Rome, and unusual earthquakes off the coast Oregon all within one blogging cycle....
Details:
Powerful 7.1 Quake in Southern Ocean from PhysOrg.com
(AP) -- A strong earthquake hit near the remote Australian territory of Macquarie Island Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of injury or damage, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
[...]
Kilauea Volcano Explodes Again from PhysOrg.com
(AP) -- Kilauea Volcano has exploded again. Officials say a small explosion that sent rocks more than 200 feet up onto the rim of the volcano's main Halemaumau crater occurred Wednesday night, hours before the park reopened.
[...]
Earthquake Shakes Hills Near Rome from PhysOrg.com
(AP) -- Italian authorities say a small earthquake has shaken the Alban Hills southeast of Rome. No injuries or damage have been reported.
[...]
Unusual Earthquakes Measured Off Oregon from PhysOrg.com
(AP) -- Scientists listening to underwater microphones have detected an unusual swarm of earthquakes off central Oregon, something that often happens before a volcanic eruption - except there are no volcanoes in the area.
[...]
Physical Science
Comments
Nothing to see here, move along. There are no reports yet that R'lyeh has emerged out of the water.
Posted by: Lassi Hippelinen | April 13, 2008 10:19 AM
Well it wouldn't be random if it didn't cluster once in a while. Cue the millennialist whackjobs in 5, 4, 3, 2...
Posted by: decrepitoldfool | April 13, 2008 11:42 AM
So, what you're telling me is that I don't have to pay my credit card bill?
Yay, Apocalypse! Time to do some shopping.
Posted by: Dan | April 13, 2008 11:57 AM
Back when I lived at home, there was a weekly science section that had a feature where they showed a map with major environmental occurances, like earthquakes. Every week would have at least one somewhat major earthquake (6.0 or above, IIRC) so a week with 4, while somewhat unusual, doesn't seem to be enough to really mean much. Now, if it continues at 4 per week for more than, *then* I might get worried.
And the Kilauea event hardly seems out of the ordinary for a volcano that's been erupting continuously for the past several decades.
There are plenty of faults in Europe that are due for earthquakes; it's not at all surprising to me that one's happened there.
All in all, unless I see something that definitively says otherwise, I'm going to chalk up the simultaneousness of these events to coincidence.
Posted by: Anon | April 13, 2008 1:29 PM
"Nothing to see here, move along. There are no reports yet that R'lyeh has emerged out of the water."
My money is on Gamera.
Posted by: Romeo Vitelli | April 13, 2008 1:57 PM
"It's the end of the world as we know it,
it's the end of the world as we know it,
it's the end of the world as we know it,
and I feel fine...."
More seriously, I need some baseline data before I can decide if the coincidence is even remarkable, mush less in need of explanation.
Posted by: BaldApe | April 13, 2008 2:22 PM
Geez, all them are nothing. All those areas are known for that stuff.
If you really want news and a need for people to pay attention, the following would be news:
"Volcano erupts and explodes from nowhere in the middle of Paris"
"Series of quakes rock sea floor off Florida coast; Tsunami expected within day to pound Miami, Cuba, Bahamas, Carolinas"
"Powerful 7.1 Quake Destroys New York City; Millions Believed Dead in Big Apple"
I couldn't even do a 4th headline as, to quote Independence Day when the aliens arrive: "It's not even a 4 pointer. Go back to sleep."
When you get quakes and volcanoes in unusual spots around the world with little or no history of that stuff happening, then you have major news and potentially the End Of The World. Until then, just normal stuff along the plate boundaries and normal volcano stuff from a very active volcano.
Posted by: Scorpious | April 13, 2008 2:47 PM
Right. Or, the wold is about to end. It has to happen some time, some way.
Posted by: Elizabeth | April 13, 2008 3:29 PM
The world does have to end some time, some day.
But it's continued to not end for four billion years in a row. We are standing on a several billion ton BALL OF IRON. The cracks may move a bit, but unless we screw up really, really bad it should be okay for at least another billion years.
As others have said, this isn't news right now. Another ten or fifteen, maybe, but not yet.
Posted by: sandswipe | April 13, 2008 3:47 PM
You forgot to mention the missing Chilean glacial lake...
lol, can you say Nibiru?
Posted by: Torii | April 13, 2008 4:15 PM
Oh noes!!!11!! It's the Grand Planetary Alignment from 2000 a few years late!!!!!
Posted by: Monty | April 13, 2008 6:23 PM
The Oregon thing was cool...but a few years ago, they said they were seeing weird things (earthquakes and inflation) around the 3 sisters, and nothing ever came of it. (Although it would be cool if something came of this...as long as no one gets hurt.)
Kilaeaua has been doing some crazy stuff for about the past year, so it's unusual, but nothing different than what's been going on for a year or so.
If you spend a couple weeks watching the USGS world earthquake map, you'll see that these sorts of things happen on a regular basis.
Posted by: Cherish | April 13, 2008 7:01 PM
Well, duh.
Posted by: Sili | April 13, 2008 7:32 PM
I'm just an Old Soul passing through, with something important to say;
The design and creation of Earth's core was and is more than just a random creation of nature. From the beginning Earth's core was purposed for a specific celestial function, and has now begin a timely predestined shift of it's mantle plates in the �at first� gradual return back to it's original function. Such regressing changes are those which has off-sit increasing earthquakes, rising surface temperature, and increasing temperature changes in ocean and sea floors which will continue heating up until all such waters reach boiling degrees and began to evaporate. BUT THAT�S JUST THE BEGINNING !. The mantled core will return to such a heated state, that the very surface and crust of Earth�s surface will peel away from the core as one would peal off the hull of an orange and cast it into space. The Core of this Planet will become once again a temporary supper-heated source similar to that which scientist knew existed, but didn�t understand where it came from, or what it actually was that cause the accumulation of cosmic element unto the combustion of that big bang. This in a much much smaller since makes our solar system ground zero for a very special work which will soon take place, the Core will not be working alone. The last time this Core performed these functions, Earth�s sun was born. The last time the inner Core transformed in such a dramatic way peeling away it�s outer curst from inside it�s fold of space, the outer .
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Posted by: Evelyn SoD | April 13, 2008 8:56 PM
EVELYN: "I'm just an Old Soul passing through" Is that because you were reincarnated?
"I am not a Profit"
I am not a non-profit.Yet. My work will be in preventing "inseminated babies," and a host of other things like religious indoctrination of children, and to prevent people from bringing children into the world, only to mislead them.
Posted by: the real cmf | April 13, 2008 9:18 PM
Never trust any soul over 3000.
Posted by: Susan | April 13, 2008 9:42 PM
I actually have "Shakedown Cruise" running in my head right now.
It could be that the events are neither terribly significant nor entirely coincidental. Vibrations travel-- a quake that was due to happen in 4-9 days anyway could finally slip because of them. A shockwave could push up more material into an active volcano to cause more activity. And then everything goes back to normal.
The activity off the Oregon coast could lead to something more.
Posted by: Samantha Vimes | April 13, 2008 10:15 PM
"Never trust a soul over 3000"
At least it isn't OVER NINE-THOUSAAAND!
sorry, it had to be done.
Also, doomsday people are funny.
Posted by: Rowan | April 13, 2008 11:56 PM
The Core of this Planet will become once again a temporary supper-heated source
Oooooh! Is that what happens to the heat from my meals when they get cold. It all makes sense now!
Posted by: Cherish | April 14, 2008 12:01 AM
I'm afraid I can't come up with a punchline any funnier than the setup.
Posted by: pough | April 14, 2008 12:38 AM
Everyone should drop what they are doing and immediately run into the streets, screaming as loud as they can!
Posted by: yogi-one | April 14, 2008 6:45 AM
This Soul goes to eleven.
Posted by: stogoe | April 14, 2008 9:24 AM