Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chris_J2]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7266136.stm

[pharflung]

There are scientists who believe that global warming is increasing the risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. They have data from previous historic warming trends to support this.

The reason is the melting of the glaciers and ice fields shifts the pressures on the Earth's crust.

Whether any specific quake or eruption is directly tied to warming is another matter, and generally impossible to say. The question is whether there is a statistical increase in activity, which is also difficult to determine. But some say there appears to be such an increase.

If we do get more major quakes and eruptions, that could prove to be one of the greatest costs from global warming. In the wrong places, it could result in enormous loss of life and destruction.

[Milwaukiedave]

I hope everyone is ok over there. Fortunately, it wasn't bigger then a 5.3. My guess is there will be damaged buildings, depending on where the epicenter was.

[pharflung]

I've been in many 5.x quakes, but never real close to the epicenter. One time I was outside in a national park when one struck. It sounded like the distant roar of a jet aircraft and felt like being in a pickup truck on a bumpy dirt road. That one was more like 5.6, I think, so it was significantly stronger.

Being near the center of a 5.3 quake, especially if it is close to the surface, and one like this lasting 10 seconds would definitely shake you up. But it's not like the big quakes that knock down buildings or bridges. A 5.3 quake should not damage a modern, well-constructed building, though it might knock stuff off shelves.

[Milwaukiedave]

You are right depends on the depth of the quake as well. I was in the "Spring Break Quake" of 1993 in Portland. The epicenter was quite a distance, but I was at the time living on the 8th floor of a 15 floor dorm building in college. It happened about 5:30 in the morning. I remember all the Asian foreign exchange students running down the stairs scared as hell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotts_Mills_earthquake