Do Quakes in the 'Ring of Fire' Bring Us Closer to the World's End?

COMMENTARY | As reported on CNN, an earthquake with a preliminary 6.8 magnitude crashed off the coast of Papua New Guinea Monday morning. New Guinea is the world's second largest island and is divided into two political sections. Papua New Guinea is an independent country in the east as opposed to the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

While there are no current warnings in place for a tsunami, we should all beware: Papua New Guinea is in the "Ring of Fire." Approximately 90 percent of the world's earthquakes develop in the Ring of Fire. The region is also responsible for over 75 percent of the world's active volcanoes. With each earthquake, do we get closer to the end of the world?

The ring of fire is an arc of volcanic and earthquake zones stretching around the Pacific Rim. According to a government brochure, the Pacific Ocean's great expanse and the colossal earthquakes associated with the Ring of Fire mix to create deadly tsunamis. Earthquakes have been the end for some, but could an earthquake cause the end of the world? Tsunamis have claimed many lives, yet could a tsunami claim the lives of all?

Keep in mind the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. That earthquake triggered a 23-foot tsunami. Japan sits on the Ring of Fire. If several earthquakes triggered tsunamis around the area at the same time, could we experience the end of the world? Imagine erupting volcanoes accompanied by high-magnitude earthquakes producing colossal tsunamis. Such events could be a disastrous combination of fire, tremors, and killer waves. The end product could be the end of the world.

There seems to be an increasing abundance of earthquakes throughout the world as well as other natural disasters. The Earthquake and Hazards Program shows data of more than 200 earthquakes in July alone. Three of the over 200 earthquakes reached a 6.0 magnitude and two a 6.3 magnitude. One earthquake overtook the others with a 6.4 magnitude. Negros, Philippines, experienced a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on July 11. The earthquake in the Philippines overtook the others in the month of July, but could an earthquake or several earthquakes overtake us all?

The UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) showcases a graph highlighting the trends in natural disasters over the years. This chart by NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC highlights the number of weather disasters from 1980 through May 2011 that exceeded a cost of $1 billion in damages. Pay close attention to 2011 (in green) and keep in mind 2011 is only halfway over.

With the increase of natural disasters, many have wondered if the end of the world is near. One thing is for sure is that each day that passes on Earth is a day closer to the end of the world. All this talk of the end of the world makes me think of the R.E.M. song, "It's the End of The World As We Know It" and the lyrics: "It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine."

Sources:

CNN

Encyclopedia

Japan Meteorological Agency

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

geography.about

Weather.gov

"End of The World" song lyrics by:

Songwriters: BERRY, WILLIAM / BUCK, PETER / MILLS, MIKE / STIPE, MICHAEL