Earthquakes On The Rise – 6.9 In New Zealand and 5.9 In China

USGS shake map of 6.9 earthquake in New Zealand

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake shakes Cook Strait, New Zealand amid an earthquake swarm – USGS

Over the past few days, a string of powerful earthquakes has shaken the Pacific Rim, especially around New Zealand. And quakes are increasing in magnitude, day by day.

Intensity Increasing

Merely a few months ago, we were seeing more 4.0 magnitude quakes worldwide. Slowly but surely, the magnitude of global earthquakes has intensified, and today we are witnessing more 5.0 quakes and more 6.0 quakes.

Over the next few weeks and months, let’s see if we start seeing more 7.0 and 8.0 quakes shaking our little planet.

Over The Past Week

This past week, there have been over 1,440 earthquakes worldwide; 225 earthquakes over 2.5 magnitude, and 97 quakes over 4.5 magnitude.

On July 18, 2013, the South Pacific began to open up around Vanuatu, Kermadec, and New Zealand, and earthquakes ricocheted back and forth across the Pacific Rim like a volley in a tennis match.

The following quakes are in order of occurrence:

  1. 5.1  Vanuatu
  2. 5.3  New Zealand
  3. 4.6  East Pacific Rise
  4. 5.4  Vanuatu
  5. 4.5  New Zealand
  6. 4.6  East Pacific Rise
  7. 5.1  Solomon Islands
  8. 5.7  New Zealand
  9. 5.1  Solomon Islands
  10. 4.9 Vanuatu
  11. 4.5  Vanuatu
  12. 5.8  New Zealand
  13. 4.7  New Zealand
  14. 4.8  New Zealand
  15. 6.9  New Zealand
  16. 4.6  New Zealand
  17. 4.7  New Zealand
  18. 4.7  New Zealand
  19. 4.7  New Zealand
  20. 4.9  New Zealand
  21. 4.5  New Zealand
  22. 4.6  New Zealand

Today, earthquakes are increasing in historic numbers, and in “earthquake swarms”,  signaling major Earth movement. This is something to be concerned about.

China

USGS small world globe showing the earthquake in Chabu, China

5.9 magnitude quake in Gansu, China occurred shortly after the 6.9 quake in New Zealand – USGS

July 21, 2013 during the earthquake swarm in New Zealand, China had three large quakes – 5.9, 4.7, and 5.6, followed by a 4.9 in Chile and a 5.4 magnitude quake in Argentina.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings …

 

 

 

Another 5.2 EQ Vanuatu

A USGS small globe showing the May 1, 2013 earthquake swarm around Vanuatu.

Vanuatu is having strong earthquakes – USGS

Vanuatu had a 5.2 quake today, June 11, 2013, and I always watch this area of the Pacific Rim closely because when Vanuatu is active, the planet seems to respond with a chain of strong quakes.

Quakes June 09 & 10-2013

There were 27 earthquakes over 4.0 magnitude Monday – Tuesday June 09 & 10-2013. Except for a 4.2 quake in Greece and a 4.1 earthquake in the Caribbean, all of these quakes were in the Pacific Rim arena.

  1. 4.5 81 km NNW of Ternate, Indonesia
  2. 4.6 125 km SW of Ndoi Island, Fiji
  3. 4.2 3 km NW of Vartholomion, Greece
  4. 4.7 165 km SSW of Cibungur, Indonesia
  5. 4.5 109 km E of Mutsu, Japan
  6. 5.2 35 km SSE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
  7. 4.4 131 km W of La Libertad, Mexico
  8. 4.7 131 km SW of La Reforma, Mexico
  9. 4.9 42 km SSW of Ndoi Island, Fiji
  10. 4.4 179 km ENE of Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island
  11. 4.9 275 km WNW of Saumlaki, Indonesia
  12. 4.8 248 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia
  13. 4.8 Sea of Okhotsk
  14. 5.1 101 km NE of Calama, Chile
  15. 4.9 67 km SW of Painan, Indonesia
  16. 4.7 131 km NNE of Calama, Chile
  17. 4.9 Galapagos Triple Junction region
  18. 5.0 75 km ESE of Pangai, Tonga
  19. 4.9 71 km SW of Paita, Peru
  20. 4.7 68 km E of Sarangani, Philippines
  21. 4.6 60 km WNW of Lata, Solomon Islands
  22. 4.8 170 km ESE of City of Saint Paul, Alaska
  23. 4.1 121 km W of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina
  24. 4.1 69 km N of Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
  25. 4.6 South of the Fiji Islands
  26. 4.6 98 km NNW of Yunaska Island, Alaska
  27. 4.9 154 km SW of Dadali, Solomon Islands

Keep your eye out for more large quakes over the next few days.

Another Round Of Earthquakes Shake The North and South Poles

A USGS small globe showing the two Russian earthquakes on May 10, 2013.

Two earthquakes shook Northern Russia in the north polar region on May 10, 2013 – USGS

Six earthquakes shook the northern and southern polar regions today. One of the quakes was a 4.8 magnitude quake at Kiska Volcano, Alaska, and a 5.5 magnitude quake,  the largest of the quakes, occurred at the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge near Antarctica.

A USGS map of the Earth at the South Pole near Antarctica.

May 10, 2013 earthquake off Antarctica – USGS

When The Poles Become Unstable

As the Earth continues to readjust the position of the North and South Poles, an increase in earthquakes and volcanoes will result. We witnessed a pole shift on April 20, 2013, and again today, May 10, 2013.

Vanuatu is a location to monitor for earthquakes, and today a 4.6 magnitude quake rattled this South Pacific island region.

Earthquakes At The North Polar Region Today

4.2  Amukta, Island, Alaska

4.8 Kiska Volcano, Alaska

4.6 Nikolskoye, Russia

5.4  Severo-Kurilsk, Russia

Earthquakes At The South Polar Region Today

5.5 Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge

4.6 Vanuatu

 Watch for Iceland to have an earthquake and more volcanic rumblings over the next few days.