I probably over-reacted. But this table is from the United States Geological Survey from when I first wrote this:
| MAG | UTC DATE-TIME y/m/d h:m:s |
LAT deg |
LON deg |
DEPTH km |
Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | 2010/03/04 01:59:51 | -33.154 | -72.064 | 34.4 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 6.4 | 2010/03/04 00:18:52 | 22.903 | 120.823 | 23.1 | TAIWAN |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/03 21:24:03 | -38.465 | -73.696 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/03/03 19:58:29 | -33.463 | -71.825 | 28.7 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 6.0 | 2010/03/03 17:44:25 | -36.452 | -73.069 | 19.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/03 11:13:58 | 3.160 | 127.084 | 64.5 | KEPULAUAN TALAUD, INDONESIA |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/03 06:16:23 | -33.620 | -71.959 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/03 04:36:00 | -37.527 | -73.773 | 30.2 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/03/03 01:51:21 | -34.966 | -72.671 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/02 22:18:42 | 3.528 | 126.917 | 67.4 | KEPULAUAN TALAUD, INDONESIA |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/02 21:56:43 | -30.212 | -68.909 | 33.7 | SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/02 19:12:56 | -34.253 | -72.112 | 41.3 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/02 17:57:02 | -33.841 | -72.123 | 26.8 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/02 12:16:36 | -36.451 | -73.277 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/02 11:42:36 | -35.072 | -72.000 | 35.0 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/02 11:30:32 | -35.203 | -72.638 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/02 10:42:24 | -10.411 | 166.244 | 232.3 | SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/02 09:44:57 | -34.062 | -73.263 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/02 08:21:44 | 26.092 | 128.318 | 27.3 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.5 | 2010/03/02 06:10:54 | -34.454 | -72.471 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/02 04:28:46 | -36.666 | -73.372 | 39.2 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/02 04:09:29 | -35.884 | -73.502 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/02 03:48:37 | -33.774 | -71.669 | 26.0 | VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/02 03:44:58 | -34.473 | -72.625 | 27.2 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.8 | 2010/03/02 02:51:24 | 18.238 | 122.487 | 29.6 | LUZON, PHILIPPINES |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/02 02:09:35 | -39.797 | -71.242 | 18.5 | NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/02 01:55:39 | 42.542 | 75.584 | 17.4 | KYRGYZSTAN |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/01 21:51:03 | -33.762 | -71.201 | 48.4 | REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/01 17:23:33 | -34.795 | -73.924 | 19.2 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/01 16:56:50 | -36.305 | -72.479 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/01 14:36:30 | -34.359 | -73.432 | 30.1 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/01 12:27:16 | -34.216 | -71.821 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/01 12:20:19 | -34.513 | -73.636 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/01 08:58:34 | -37.701 | -74.390 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/03/01 07:49:08 | -34.997 | -72.861 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/01 06:24:59 | 32.347 | 105.178 | 36.2 | SICHUAN-GANSU BORDER REGION, CHINA |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/01 06:16:12 | -37.581 | -74.531 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/01 05:30:36 | -34.451 | -73.481 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/01 03:53:16 | -38.638 | -73.122 | 35.0 | ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/01 03:15:58 | 25.995 | 128.363 | 19.9 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.2 | 2010/03/01 03:15:51 | 7.144 | 126.423 | 7.2 | MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES |
| 5.1 | 2010/03/01 03:07:51 | -36.125 | -72.796 | 40.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.8 | 2010/03/01 02:44:43 | -35.095 | -72.608 | 26.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/03/01 01:10:58 | -35.163 | -71.704 | 42.6 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/03/01 00:01:27 | -38.306 | -73.746 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 23:49:05 | -37.355 | -72.952 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 23:45:06 | -35.275 | -72.257 | 34.9 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 22:41:29 | -36.840 | -73.528 | 26.5 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 22:07:48 | 39.508 | 140.426 | 124.4 | EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN |
| 5.9 | 2010/02/28 19:48:39 | -38.054 | -73.525 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 18:44:31 | -36.630 | -72.506 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 18:19:53 | -34.845 | -71.605 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/28 16:13:49 | -58.242 | -8.005 | 35.0 | EAST OF THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 15:46:25 | -35.330 | -72.165 | 28.7 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 15:26:55 | -35.085 | -72.061 | 29.6 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 14:55:25 | -33.880 | -73.286 | 32.7 | OFF THE COAST OF VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 14:50:33 | -33.844 | -73.191 | 26.0 | OFF THE COAST OF VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 13:47:06 | -35.328 | -72.918 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 12:18:59 | -38.129 | -73.341 | 26.5 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 12:13:27 | 2.146 | 98.906 | 51.3 | NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 12:01:15 | -35.809 | -72.786 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 11:50:36 | -35.067 | -72.730 | 20.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 6.2 | 2010/02/28 11:25:36 | -34.864 | -71.571 | 46.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 11:14:27 | -35.324 | -72.655 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 10:43:11 | -38.408 | -75.219 | 35.0 | OFF THE COAST OF ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 10:26:53 | -1.110 | -80.310 | 40.8 | NEAR THE COAST OF ECUADOR |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 10:11:07 | -33.910 | -72.030 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 09:14:54 | -33.593 | -71.765 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/28 08:17:45 | 34.867 | 141.444 | 10.0 | OFF THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 08:07:46 | -35.182 | -72.517 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 07:36:30 | -37.763 | -73.141 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 07:14:21 | -38.345 | -73.514 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 05:19:35 | -37.705 | -73.412 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 05:13:59 | -37.458 | -73.014 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 05:04:06 | -35.232 | -71.214 | 35.0 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 04:55:49 | -33.925 | -71.945 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 04:29:12 | -34.905 | -69.631 | 35.0 | MENDOZA, ARGENTINA |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 04:17:52 | -34.723 | -72.183 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 03:33:50 | 25.952 | 128.385 | 35.0 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 03:23:49 | -37.681 | -73.533 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 03:14:12 | -33.959 | -73.195 | 35.0 | OFF THE COAST OF VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 02:51:47 | 25.994 | 128.394 | 35.0 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 02:41:10 | -38.054 | -73.213 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/28 02:38:32 | -38.243 | -73.672 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/28 02:04:29 | -34.610 | -73.532 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 01:58:50 | -34.876 | -72.646 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/28 01:45:29 | -34.436 | -73.728 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 01:33:12 | -36.600 | -72.771 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 01:20:35 | 25.973 | 128.353 | 35.0 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/28 01:08:24 | -34.113 | -71.947 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 01:01:12 | -36.791 | -73.352 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/28 00:53:34 | -37.949 | -73.659 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/28 00:00:49 | -36.573 | -73.279 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 23:35:15 | -33.867 | -72.226 | 34.8 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.7 | 2010/02/27 23:21:13 | 35.912 | 70.051 | 104.9 | HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN |
| 5.8 | 2010/02/27 23:12:35 | -34.741 | -71.864 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.8 | 2010/02/27 23:02:01 | -37.755 | -72.713 | 35.2 | ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 22:22:33 | -34.072 | -71.308 | 35.0 | REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 22:20:04 | -35.094 | -72.712 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 22:16:15 | -36.491 | -73.380 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 22:13:52 | -34.437 | -72.531 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 21:59:08 | -36.794 | -73.311 | 34.8 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 21:48:26 | -33.968 | -72.140 | 28.6 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 21:43:11 | -35.131 | -72.450 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 21:00:37 | -33.855 | -73.028 | 35.0 | OFF THE COAST OF VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 20:44:34 | -37.893 | -73.423 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 20:37:41 | -37.532 | -73.580 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 20:29:23 | -34.689 | -73.621 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 19:54:30 | 10.896 | -43.442 | 10.0 | NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 19:46:10 | -36.090 | -73.332 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 19:06:18 | -37.473 | -73.502 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 6.3 | 2010/02/27 19:00:08 | -33.425 | -71.909 | 34.8 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 18:41:51 | -37.581 | -73.501 | 34.9 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/27 18:23:12 | -37.618 | -73.818 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/27 18:15:23 | -37.527 | -73.696 | 20.8 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 18:12:51 | -33.856 | -71.754 | 35.0 | VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/27 17:56:53 | -34.688 | -71.571 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 17:43:37 | -36.453 | -72.978 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 17:40:10 | -33.357 | -71.918 | 4.2 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 6.0 | 2010/02/27 17:24:31 | -36.318 | -73.156 | 19.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 17:11:49 | -33.953 | -71.796 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 16:50:20 | -34.162 | -72.010 | 35.0 | LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 16:37:34 | -37.509 | -73.605 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 16:32:21 | -34.986 | -72.356 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 16:27:58 | -37.820 | -73.404 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 16:21:14 | -38.266 | -73.434 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 6.3 | 2010/02/27 15:45:36 | -24.674 | -65.403 | 9.5 | SALTA, ARGENTINA |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 15:23:06 | -34.528 | -74.987 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 15:09:08 | -33.890 | -71.268 | 35.0 | REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 14:41:51 | -35.678 | -72.521 | 35.0 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 14:23:28 | -34.505 | -72.596 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 14:20:00 | -37.274 | -73.062 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 14:06:47 | -37.288 | -72.835 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 13:54:04 | -33.269 | -71.834 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 13:12:52 | -35.014 | -71.660 | 35.0 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 13:07:42 | -38.436 | -73.254 | 35.0 | ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 12:58:33 | -33.443 | -70.944 | 35.0 | REGION METROPOLITANA, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 12:46:19 | -37.699 | -73.681 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 12:44:50 | -36.999 | -73.038 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 12:23:06 | -36.253 | -72.266 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 12:19:51 | 25.979 | 128.434 | 9.9 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 12:03:27 | -34.399 | -73.825 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 11:45:03 | -36.318 | -73.216 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/27 11:27:00 | -38.103 | -73.587 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 10:54:24 | -36.828 | -73.336 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.9 | 2010/02/27 10:38:36 | -38.019 | -73.575 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 6.0 | 2010/02/27 10:30:33 | -33.969 | -72.879 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/27 10:10:15 | -33.701 | -72.184 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.8 | 2010/02/27 09:59:21 | -37.991 | -73.467 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 09:21:26 | -36.609 | -73.218 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/27 09:00:18 | -33.425 | -71.625 | 35.0 | VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.3 | 2010/02/27 08:53:57 | -34.447 | -73.397 | 35.0 | OFF COAST OF LIBERTADOR O’HIGGINS, CHILE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/27 08:53:27 | -35.073 | -71.760 | 35.0 | MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/27 08:48:05 | -38.584 | -75.257 | 35.0 | OFF THE COAST OF ARAUCANIA, CHILE |
| 5.7 | 2010/02/27 08:31:05 | -34.820 | -72.443 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 6.1 | 2010/02/27 08:25:30 | -34.750 | -72.394 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/27 08:19:24 | -33.479 | -71.574 | 35.0 | VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/27 08:13:16 | -33.062 | -71.702 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 6.9 | 2010/02/27 08:01:24 | -37.654 | -75.199 | 39.0 | OFF THE COAST OF BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 07:59:56 | -36.050 | -73.562 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/27 07:56:37 | -36.933 | -73.240 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 07:51:06 | -36.399 | -72.498 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 07:46:50 | -36.795 | -72.924 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 6.0 | 2010/02/27 07:37:18 | -36.837 | -72.541 | 35.0 | BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.6 | 2010/02/27 07:33:31 | -38.007 | -73.484 | 35.7 | OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/27 07:19:49 | -35.811 | -72.945 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 6.0 | 2010/02/27 07:12:29 | -33.807 | -71.913 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE |
| 6.2 | 2010/02/27 06:52:35 | -34.735 | -72.638 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 8.8 | 2010/02/27 06:34:15 | -35.846 | -72.719 | 35.0 | OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/27 00:48:46 | 25.989 | 128.510 | 32.8 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 7.0 | 2010/02/26 20:31:27 | 25.902 | 128.417 | 22.0 | RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN |
| 5.1 | 2010/02/26 16:18:57 | 5.842 | 125.792 | 53.7 | MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES |
| 5.7 | 2010/02/26 08:37:03 | 6.394 | 126.805 | 117.3 | MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES |
| 5.4 | 2010/02/26 04:42:30 | 28.432 | 86.769 | 10.0 | WESTERN XIZANG |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/26 04:41:29 | 0.892 | 123.194 | 66.6 | MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/26 01:07:58 | 23.782 | 122.839 | 34.7 | TAIWAN REGION |
| 5.5 | 2010/02/26 00:11:51 | -55.882 | -5.052 | 6.0 | SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE |
| 5.0 | 2010/02/25 11:26:36 | -23.765 | -175.713 | 107.0 | TONGA REGION |
| 5.2 | 2010/02/25 08:03:41 | 51.703 | -176.019 | 42.2 | ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA |
After four headline-making earthquakes so early in 2010, in Eureka (California), Haiti, Chile, and now Taiwan, I’m remembering a passage from Fritjof Capra, The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living systems. He is discussing “whether the Gaia system can indeed be described as autopoietic,” meaning that the organization of the components of the earth regenerates the components:
The Gaia system is also clearly self-generating [one of three criteria proposed by Gail Fleischaker]. The planetary metabolism converts inorganic substances into organic, living matter and back into soil, oceans and air. All components of the Gaian network, including those of its atmospheric boundary, are produced by processes within the network.
A key characteristic on Gaia is the complex interweaving of living and nonliving systems within a single web. This results in feedback loops of vastly differing scales. Rock cycles, for example extend over hundreds of millions of years, while the organisms associated with them have very short life spans. In the metaphor of Stephan Harding, ecologist and collaborator of James Lovelock: “living beings come out of rocks and go back into rocks.”
How could this lead to earthquakes?
When the algae die, their shells rain down to the ocean floor, where they form massive sediments of limestone( another form of calcium carbonate). Because of their enormous weight, the limestone sediments gradually sink into the mantle of the Earth and melt and may even trigger the movements of tectonic plates. Eventually some of the CO2 contained in the molten rocks is spewed out again by volcanoes and sent on another round in the great Gaian cycle.
My thinking on this is hazy. But we have entered a massive species die-off, due to a number of factors–many man-made. As the death toll rises and other factors involved–global warming; tundra, seabed, and glacial melt; and atmospheric composition changes–play out, well, it just seems like we’re having an awful lot of big earthquakes lately.
There’s no good way to tell. That the number of seismographs has increased dramatically means that more earthquakes will be detected. Probably strong earthquakes will be detected regardless, and the U.S.G.S. claims those have remained relatively constant. I’ll have to take their word for it.
But the passages I’ve taken from Fritjof Capra are in his explanation of complexity theory. He makes a compelling case for it. In any discussion of climate change, it is increasingly apparent that we should be looking at cascading effects, like global warming replacing highly reflective ice surfaces with more heat-absorbing land and ocean surfaces leading to more global warming, like global warming leading to increased methane releases leading to more global warming, and like global warming leading to low oxygen “dead zones” in the Pacific that kill aquatic animal life, presumably including algae, and definitely including (bottom dwelling) shell fish, which I’m guessing can produce a similar effect to the dead algae shells that Capra describes.
Scientists are unsure how low oxygen levels will affect the ocean ecosystem. Bottom-dwelling species could be at the greatest risk because they move slowly and might not be able to escape the lower oxygen levels. Most fish can swim out of danger. Some species, however, such as chinook salmon, may have to start swimming at shallower depths than they’re used to. Whether the low oxygen zones will change salmon migration routes is unclear.
Some species, such as jellyfish, will like the lower-oxygen water. Jumbo squid, usually found off Mexico and Central America, can survive as oxygen levels decrease and now are found as far north as Alaska.
Are the powerful earthquakes we’ve experienced this year the result of climate change? I’ll be so bold as to say probably not. Could they be in the future? They very well might be.