Interesting Uptick In Earthquakes

A picture of the Earth with an earthquake crack going down the USA and S America

There is an increase in earthquakes today.

There has been an increase in earthquakes over the past two days, and these quakes are taking place in some very interesting places – as I am writing this article, a 5.2 magnitude quake just occurred in Italy.

4.5+ Quakes

Here is the list of earthquakes 4.5 and above that have occurred worldwide over the past 36 hours from the Middle East to the Pacific Rim:

  1. 5.1  ENE San Isidro, Philippines
  2. 5.2  NNE of San Gregorio, Italy
  3. 4.7  NW of Saumlaki, Indonesia
  4. 5.7  E of Bitung, Indonesia
  5. 4.8  SE of Puente Alto, Chile
  6. 5.1  E of Bitung, Indonesia
  7. 5.0  SSE of Bilungala, Indonesia
  8. 4.7  S of Shemya Island, Alaska
  9. 5.6  SE of Taron, Papua New Guinea
  10. 4.7  SSW of Lata, Solomon Islands
  11. 4.7  N of Orebic, Croatia
  12. 4.5  N of Isangel, Vanuatu
  13. 4.5  SE of Ishinomaki, Japan
  14. 4.7  WNW of Hachijo-jima, Japan
  15. 4.9  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  16. 4.7  ENE of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  17. 4.6  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  18. 4.8  ESE of Abdanan, Iran
  19. 4.8  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  20. 5.5  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  21. 5.9  NW of Neiafu, Tonga
  22. 5.8  North of Ascension Island
  23. 4.8  ENE of Ndoi Island, Fiji
  24. 4.6  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  25. 5.8  SSW of Avsallar, Turkey
  26. 4.9  S of `Ohonua, Tonga
  27. 5.0  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  28. 4.8  E of Farallon de Pajaros, Northern Mariana Islands
  29. 4.9  E of Irapa, Venezuela
  30. 4.6  ESE of Lambasa, Fiji
  31. 4.7  N of Gizo, Solomon Islands
  32. 5.3  Pacific-Antarctic Ridge
  33. 5.1   NNE of Lae, Papua New Guinea
  34. 4.6  NE of Tamrida, Yemen
  35. 4.8  WNW of La Ligua, Chile
  36. 5.4  W of Frontera, Spain
  37. 5.0  E of Hachinohe, Japan
  38. 4.5  NNW of Raoul Island, New Zealand
  39. 4.7  SSW of Chirovanga, Solomon Islands
  40. 4.5  NW of Sikabaluan, Indonesia

The quakes are occurring about every 30 minutes, so expect this list to continue growing …

5.4 Quake In Canary Islands Means The Volcano Is Waking Up

A map of the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands is very active with both earthquake and new volcanic activity.

Just days after the Canary Islands and the volcano El Hierro experienced an increase in activity and an earthquake swarm; a 5.4 magnitude quake rocked the tiny island of la Palma outside Santa Cruz.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 13 miles (22 kilometers) deep. Before the earthquake struck early afternoon, December 27, 2013, the volcanic eruption risk for El Hierro had been raised to “yellow.”  This warning means that activity is increasing at the volcano, but no eruption can be predicted.

El Hierro

The swarm of earthquakes over the past few days are indicators that magma is moving into the area and pressurizing the volcanoes. This means that the chances of a new eruption at El Hierro have become more likely.

This also means that a chance of a US East Coast tsunami is more likely.

It is impossible to say whether, and when, a new eruption will occur, but it could happen any time, and quickly. It would probably begin with a series of stronger earthquakes to open up a magma conduit. Based on the inflation and earthquake patterns, the most likely opening would be near the 2011 vent near La Restinga. In any case, La Restinga would be the village most at risk on the island.

Keep a watch on the Canaries, and let’s hope for the best as we see a new island rise from the sea.

Small Tsunami Hits US East Coast

A picture of a large ocean wave.

A small tsunami hit the US East Coast June 13, 2013

Few people noticed that on June 13, 2013,  a small tsunami hit the East Coast of the US from Massachusetts to North Carolina to the Caribbean.

NOAA used 30 different tide-measuring gauges to pick up the tsunami tides that were 1 to 6 feet above normal along the coast – plus, they wanted to confirm that this was really happening.

Tsunami Or Storm Surge?

When you see a sudden 6 foot wave sweeping people off the beach, you know you have a problem. A tsunami is any unexpected series of destructive and fast-moving waves coming on shore, and this is what happened June 13.

NOAA doesn’t know for sure if the tsunami was caused by a shift in the continental crust at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, or if it was caused by a storm surge, even though no major storms occurred in the Atlantic at the time. They are definitely researching to see if the sea floor shifted in the Atlantic.

Earthquakes And Super Moon

Something else no one is paying much attention to is the fact that the Atlantic Ocean IS experiencing an increase in earthquakes, and a few days after this small tsunami, a 6.6 magnitude quake hit on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (later downgraded to a 6.4 magnitude). So, the bottom of the Atlantic is active and it is shifting.

And don’t forget that the Super Moon is still influencing the Earth, but it peaked the same week as the tsunami and the Atlantic 6.6 quake. Three more large quakes occurred at the equator during this once-a-year full-moon event, with the largest quake in the Atlantic Ocean.

Increase In Global EQS And Tsunamis

The USGS small globe showing the 5.9 Earthquake off the Azores Islands, Portugal on April 30, 2013.

Earthquakes in the Atlantic Ocean can send tsunami waves onto the east coast of the US and into the Caribbean.

Any and all coastlines are susceptible to tsunami waves, and as the Earth’s axis continues to sway and vibrate, don’t be surprised to hear of more tsunamis occurring.

Tsunamis are normally generated by offshore earthquakes, sub-marine landslides, and undersea volcanic activity. One of the largest tsunami threats to America’s east coast is likely to begin on the Canary Islands off the coast of North Africa.

Both volcanoes and sub-marine landslides are occurring here, and this can cause a wall of water to race across the Atlantic Ocean at the speed of a jet airliner, which can devastate the east coast and the Caribbean.

My guess is more small tsunamis will be hitting the US in the days to come because as the Atlantic sea floor moves, shakes, and uplifts, the water has to go somewhere.