Earthquakes Are Frequent in 2010

Saturday's 8.8 earthquake that hit Chile` has left more than 300 people dead and at least 15 missing with more than 2 million people affected, according to the latest reports There have been at least 76 aftershocks that registered 4.9 or greater that has apparently caused at least 2 deaths in neighboring Argentina. The initial 8.8 quake caused a large wave that is responsible for the deaths of at least 3 people on the island of Juan Fernandez where another 10 are still missing. The island lies 400 miles off the coast of Chile`.

Although the earthquake was stronger than the 7.0 quake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12, Chile's quake was from a depth of 21.7 miles compared to Haiti's depth of 8.1 miles.

The strongest earthquake in recorded history was on May 22, 1960, when a quake that registered 9.5 on the Richter scale hit almost in the same place as the 8.8 quake off the coast of Chile`. It was estimated that the wave of the 1060 earthquake was so strong that it traveled 3,200 miles, all the way to the Earth's core.

Earthquakes are caused by plate tectonics and you would need to understand which plates affect Chile in order to understand why there are so many earthquakes in the area. Chile is positioned at a point where three (3) tectonic plates meet (Nazca, South American and Arctic). The Nazca plate is being subducted (pushed under) the South American plate and when the land mass that is being bent under on the South American plate snaps back, the result is an earthquake.

Most earthquakes in Chile` seem to be caused where the Nazca and South American plates collide.

According to the USGS (United States Geological Survey), there have been at least 6 earthquakes that were of a magnitude 5.9 or larger since the year 2010 began.

Jan. 10, Offshore Northern California, magnitude 6.5__________ 18.2 miles in depth

Jan. 12, Haiti, magnitude 7.0_____________________________ 8.1 miles in depth

Feb. 4, Offshore Northern California, magnitude 5.9___________ 14.7 miles in depth

Feb. 18, China-Russia-North Korean border, magnitude 6.9_____356.6 miles in depth

Feb. 26, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, magnitude 7.0_______________13.7 miles in depth

Feb. 27, Offshore Maule, Chile`, magnitude 8.8______________ 21.7 miles in depth

Scientific studies have shown us to have seven major crustal plates that are subdivided into several smaller plates. These plates are about 80 kilometers thick and are in constant motion, comparative to one another at varying speeds from 10 to 130 millimeters per year. Patterns of movement are neither simple nor symmetrical and many times there are complicated and intricate movements taking place. Most of the geological movement happens where plate boundaries interact.

There is speculation by some that due to the frequency of earthquakes this year combined with the Chilean quake, Mexico, California and Alaska with be hit by serious earthquakes in the near future. Earthquake prediction is nowhere near an exact science but Newsblaze.com has seen fit to issue their own warnings of impending disaster.

There is speculation by some that due to the frequency of earthquakes this year combined with the Chilean quake, Mexico, California and Alaska with be hit by serious earthquakes in the near future. Earthquake prediction is nowhere near an exact science but Newsblaze.com has seen fit to issue their own warnings of impending disaster.

Their website has actually put out an "Earthquake Alert". They wrote, "If the three plates in the Chile region have moved in an easterly direction, this could allow the Pacific plate to do the same. If this is the case, pressure can be expected along the eastern Pacific and create further quakes in traditionally suspect areas: Mexico, California and Alaska.."

Considering that the Pacific plate is actually located to the North of the Nazca plate that is burrowing under the South American plate to the East of it, it is nothing more than irresponsible to make statements such as this on the internet. The recent earthquakes offshore of Northern California are connected to the Pacific plate but the plates connected with the Chilean quake are not. The USGS website has all information needed for plate tectonics and will show the separation so even the layman can get a good idea of what is happening.

California has been waiting for "the big one" for years and Alaska deals with seismic activity of their own but please do not panic just because someone sees fit to try to sensationalize the tragedy in Chile` If the data does not come from someone with a scientific background you can bet it is not worth investing emotion into.