Earthquakes Quick Read

The 4th quake of magnitude 7 or higher in December rocks Mindanao, Philippines raising fears of tsunami across the region now withdrawn
A powerful earthquake of 7.0 magnitude struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Saturday, raising fears of dangerous tsunami waves across the region but after about two hours, the tsunami warning was withdrawn.
There were no reports of casualties or damage from the earthquake, which the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said struck 193 km (120 miles) east of the Philippine city of General Santos, at a depth of 60 km (37 miles).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially said “hazardous tsunami waves” were possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicentre”, along the coasts of the Philippines, Indonesia and the Pacific island nation of Palau.
But about two hours after the quake struck, the centre said there was no longer a tsunami threat.


Earthquakes in strange places: A mag 5.5 strikes Zimbabwe leaving villagers in a state of panic and terror: Not reported on USGS
The 5.5 magnitude earthquake which hit Chipinge has left villagers in a state of panic and terror.
The earthquake which struck at 7.40 am this morning was also felt in other parts of Zimbabwe.
The Meteorological Service Department Spokesperson, Mr Rich Zinyemba said they are still investigating the effects of the earthquake.
The tremor affected at least 40 homesteads, destroying less strong buildings and granaries, and leaving cracks on some houses in the Beacon area of Chipinge, which is less than 2kms from the border with Mozambique.


A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 reduced to 7.4 strikes Russia! Tsunami warning released: Quake is the 129th major quake of 2018
A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off Russia’s far east on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said, although Russian news agencies carried no immediate reports of damage from the sparsely populated area.
The quake off Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula, which was initially measured at 7.8 before being revised downwards, struck 82 km (55 miles) west of Nikolskoye at a depth of 9 km, it said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said hazardous tsunami waves from the earthquake were possible within 300 km of the epicentre along the coasts of Russia.
With just 11 days left of 2018, it could be the last major quake of this year.
So far 2018 has delivered 129 major quakes which are 18 more than 2017 which recorded the lowest total this century.


A magnitude 6.2 M - Southeast of Easter Island is the 128th major quake of 2018 which will probably be the second lowest total this century after the 111 in 2017
USGS
A magnitude 6.2 M - Southeast of Easter Island is the latest major quake to strike our planet.
With just 12 days left of 2018, it could be the last major quake of this year.
So far 2018 has delivered 128 major quakes which are 17 more than 2017 which recorded the lowest total this century.
This year promises to be a low total too, with less than two weeks to go to the end of the year 128 would be the second least total this century after the low 2017 total.


Another monster quake rocks the Southern Hemisphere as magnitude 7.1 - strikes the South Sandwich Islands.
USGS
Another monster quake rocks the Southern Hemisphere after a magnitude 7.1 - hits the South Sandwich Islands.
The magnitude 7.1 quake struck on Monday in the southern Atlantic Ocean, close to the South Sandwich Islands north of Antarctica, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The quake initially reported as a magnitude 7.5, was in a remote area and fairly deep underground. The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in an advisory that it did not cause a tsunami threat.
This mornings quake is the 5th of December and the 125th of 2018.


A major quake that never was, or was but now isn't! Reuters report Phantom quake missing on USGS website (Not for the first time!)
Something to ponder, a major quake that never was, or was but now isn't!
This morning at 7:27 GMT Reuters reported: Quake of magnitude 6 strikes northeast of Australia's Norfolk Island: USGS
The phantom quake (all reference of this quake has been removed from the USGS website) apparently occurred just 500 miles southwest of the three powerful quakes that rocked New Caledonia yesterday including the massive magnitude 7.5.
The report goes on: A shallow earthquake of magnitude 6 struck northeast of Australia’s Norfolk Island on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey said.


Three powerful quakes including a massive mag 7.5 rock the South Pacific where nearly 250 whales died last week in 6 separate strandings
Three massive quakes, a magnitude 7.5 - magnitude 6.6 and a magnitude 6.0 has rocked New Caledonia in the Coral Sea.
New Caledonia and Vanuatu ordered coastal evacuations on Wednesday after the powerful undersea earthquakes triggered tsunami warnings in the South Pacific, but appeared to have suffered little damage.
Neighbouring Vanuatu also issued an evacuation warning.
What could be significant here is the fact the quake area is close to where almost 250 whales died last week in six different strandings.
Experts are at a loss as to why the whales have been washing up such large numbers recently.


An incredible 2,061 aftershocks have rocked Southcentral Alaska - 24 per hour since the powerful magnitude 7 struck on Friday
USGS
The aftershocks of the 7.0 magnitude quake that hit Southcentral Alaska, while nowhere near as powerful as the initial earthquake, are strong enough to compete with initial quakes on any ordinary day, and they still haven't stopped and will remain a part of Alaska quake climate for months to come, and maybe even years, according to CNN.
Incredibly more than 2,000 aftershocks have battered Southcentral Alaska since the powerful magnitude 7 struck four days ago, that works out at around 24 aftershocks per hour since the big one.


A massive 7.9 quake reduced by USGS to a mag 7.0 rocks Southern Alaska along with almost 200 aftershocks The Big Wobble's Bill Laughing Bear is safe
A powerful earthquake jolted southern Alaska on Friday morning, buckling roads, disrupting rush-hour traffic and jamming telephone service in and around Anchorage, the state’s largest city, but there were no reports of serious injuries.
Shocking aerial images of shown the devastating impact the earthquakes in Alaska had on the roads and landscape.
 The tremors that struck the state on early Friday morning decimated stretches of road and made them impassible.
A barrage of nearly 200 aftershocks has rocked the area after the original magnitude 7 quake.


When will they learn? A powerful magnitude 6.3 quake hits the Iraq Iran border just miles from the Arak heavy water reactor production plant
At least 361 people were injured in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck near the border with Iraq, Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency reported.
Sunday's quake in the western part of Iran struck close to the Arak heavy water reactor production plant leading to the question when will one of these nuclear sites receive a direct hit?
The powerful quake was 6 miles deep, the US Geological Survey said.


Earthquake measuring 6.1 magnitude strikes off Colombia coast: Is the 11th major quake of November and the 117th of 2018
USGS

An earthquake measuring 6.1 magnitude struck off the Colombian coast on Saturday, and while there was no major tsunami threat, there was a possibility of tsunamis along the nearby coast, the European earthquake monitoring agency EMSC and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
The quake epicentre was 36 km (22 miles) southeast of Mountain, Colombia, and at a depth of 10 km (six miles).
Last night's quake was the 11th major quake of November and the 117th of 2018.


Three powerful major quakes this morning bring the weeks total to 7 as The Pacific Ring shakes: Year total overtakes 2017
USGS

An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 reduced to mag 6:2 by USGS, struck east of a provincial capital in the Solomon Islands on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said.
It preceded two earlier major quakes, a mag 6.2 struck the southern East Pacific Rise and a mag 6.4 struck the South Sandwich Islands region.
The three major quakes bring the November total to 9 and the 7th of this week, the year total has now overtaken 2017 with 115 major quakes which are 4 more than the entire total of 2017.


Almost a 2,000% increase in major quakes since 1900! 2000 to 2018 so far recorded 2,911 major quakes compared to 147-1900/1918
USGS
According to USGS, (U.S. Geological Survey), the year 1900 recorded 3 major quakes (major quake = mag 6 or higher) around the world, two magnitude 7.7's in October and a 7.6 in July. See here
One hundred years later in the year 2000, USGS recorded 160, an incredible 157 more major quakes than the year 1900, See here 
In the years 1900 to 1918 USGS, recorded 147 major quakes, 13 less than the total 160 recorded in the year 2000, See here

In the years 2000 to 2018 USGS have recorded 2,911 major quakes so far, an incredible 2,764 more than the years 1900 to 1918, See here The link may say too many quakes for your device, Click on continue anyway and wait.



A shallow powerful magnitude 6.8 struck 119km NW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
USGS

A shallow powerful magnitude 6.8 struck 119km NW of Olonkinbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen this morning.
No tsunami warning, advisory, watch, or threat are connected with this quake.
This mornings quake is the 3rd and the largest major quake of November so far it is also the 109th major quake of 2018, just 2 short of the 2017 total.




220,000 homeless 2,200 dead thousands more missing Indonesia's quake and tsunami-battered city of Palu is facing a public health crisis
Photo downloadlengkap.com
Indonesia's quake- and the tsunami-battered city of Palu is facing a public health crisis as torrential rains threaten to spread malaria and dengue fever to the devastated region a month after the disaster, aid agencies have warned.
On Sept. 28, a magnitude 7.5 quake and a subsequent tsunami razed swaths of Palu on Sulawesi island, killing some 2,200 people and displacing more than 220,000.
Thousands more are missing, presumed dead, after entire neighbourhoods were swallowed up by liquefaction - a process where a strong quake makes the ground behave like a liquid, turning it into a kind of quicksand.


Powerful mag 6.8 quake shakes western Greece bringing the total to 13 major quakes this month and the 101st of 2018.
A powerful earthquake shook western Greece early on Friday, damaging a port and a 15th-century monastery, but causing no major injuries, officials and local media said.
The quake sent out tremors felt as far afield as Libya, Italy, Malta and Albania.
Greek authorities initially issued a tsunami warning then withdrew the alert.
A series of 20 aftershocks, the highest at 5.6, rattled the island and power was briefly disrupted.
According to Reuters,  the energy unleashed, based on the angle of the faultline, fanned out towards Italy,”


Near Miss! Three powerful major quakes: Mag, 6.8, 6.6 and a 6.5 strike west of Vancouver and Seattle no immediate tsunami warning
Three powerful earthquakes of magnitude 6.8, 6.6 and 6.5 have struck west of the Canadian province of British Columbia on Monday, the United States Geological Survey said.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the major quakes, which hit at a depth of 33 km (21 miles) about 190 km (117 miles) southwest of Port Hardy, a town on the northeast end of Vancouver Island.
There was no immediate tsunami warning.
Solar wind flowing from a large coronal hole on our Sun could reach Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 24th and is known to influence quake activity here on our planet.


USGS: Two powerful major quakes strike east of New Caledonia in the South Pacific along with 13 strong aftershocks early Tuesday
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake reduced to a mag 6.4 was recorded east of New Caledonia in the South Pacific on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, about half an hour after an earlier 6.5 quake reduced to a mag 6.3 by the USGS in the same area.
The second quake was registered 163 km (100 miles) east of Tadine in the Loyalty Islands at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), the USGS said.
The two major quakes were followed by 13 powerful aftershocks.
There were no tsunami alerts from the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center after either quake and there were no early reports of casualties or damage.




A magnitude 6.7 - 262km NW of Ozernovskiy, Russia Saturday was the 7th major quake of October and the 95th of this year
A magnitude 6.7 - 262km NW of Ozernovskiy, Russia Saturday was the second major quake to hit the area after a mag 6.3 struck on Thursday.
There was no immediate tsunami warning or any reports of any damage or casualties resulting from the quake, which the USGS said had occurred at a depth of 470 km (292 miles).
The quake occurred during a G1 solar storm in the Earth's magnetic field allowing solar wind to enter our planet's magnetosphere from a large coronal hole on the Sun.
Saturday's quake was the 7th major quake of October and the 95th of this year.


Solar storm hitting Earth from massive Coronal Hole almost 1 million km long on our Sun coincides with 4 major quakes last night
spaceweather/SDO 
On October the 6th The Big Wobble posted a major quake warning from an enormous Coronal Hole on our Sun, it stretched more than 900,000 km from the sun's north polar crown across the equator into the sun's southern hemisphere, it was a giant and the solar wind being ejected from this monster was heading toward Earth at one million mph and was expected to hit the Earth's magnetosphere head on yesterday, see the graph below. Full story here
Last night the solar wind arrived causing a geomatic storm which coincided with 4 major quakes, including a  mag 6.0 earthquake in the Bali Sea just 600 hundred km from the mag 7.5 quake which devastated Palu in Indonesia.

Magnitude 6.4 quake strikes off Kuril Islands Russia: It is the 2nd major quake of October and the 90th of 2018

USGS
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 struck off Russia’s Pacific coast on Tuesday, about 155 km south of Severo-Kurilsk in the Kuril Islands, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The major quake struck in an area of relentless volcanic activity.
This mornings quake is the 2nd major quake of October and the 90th of 2018.





Death toll from Indonesia mag 7.4 quake, tsunami and landslides likley to be around 10,000, at least, 5,000 still missing
Credit earth.com

Indonesia's disaster agency claim they have recovered more than 1,800 bodies so far from the 7.5-magnitude and subsequent tsunami that struck Sulawesi on September 28, a further 2,000 have been killed in subsequent landslides however these deaths are not being reported for some reason. Full story Jakarta Post 
However, a new report claims a further 5.000, people who have not been found," agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told reporters Sunday.
"Nevertheless, officials there are still trying to confirm this and are gathering data.


Indonesia rattled by a powerful mag 6.0 last night (the 1st major quake of October) followed by a mag 5.9 and mag 5.6 aftershocks
A collapsed bridge in Palu, Central Sulawesi on October 1, 2018. (JP/Ruslan Sangaji)
Indonesia suffered more earthquake misery last night as a powerful quake magnitude 6.0 struck 33km S of Nggongi Satu, Indonesia with four large aftershocks including a mag 5.9, a mag 5.6 and a mag 5.4.
No tsunami threat was issued.
Further north to Palu, the area devastated by last weeks mag 7.5 and consequent tsunami was hit by another powerful mag 5.2 aftershock last night.


"Thousands estimated to be dead! " Indonesia quake horror another 2,000 dead from landslides with 1,200 dead from quake and tsunami
The death toll from the 7.4-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has now risen to 1,200 with still many missing, a further 2,000 are thought to be dead from landslides.
With no power and many of the villages isolated the death toll is expected to rise substantially. 
A number of areas in Central Sulawesi have been hit by large amounts of mudflow following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that jolted the province on Friday that also triggered a tsunami.
Petobo subdistrict in South Palu district, Palu, which is located 10-kilometres from the sea, has been struck by such mudflow.


A powerful magnitude 6.6 rocks Fiji Islands: 88th major quake of 2018 and 78 of them have occurred along The Pacific Ring Of Fire
USGS

A powerful magnitude 6.6 rocks Fiji Islands: 88th major quake of 2018 and 78 of them have occurred along The Pacific Ring Of Fire
It's the first major quake of October, a very deep, 551.2 km, magnitude 6.6 rocks Fiji Islands, however, no tsunami warning has been issued, presumably because the quake is so deep (shallow quakes are more destructive than deep quakes).
It is the 88th major quake of 2018 and 78 of them have occurred along The Pacific Ring Of Fire




A massive mag 7.5 rocks Indonesia prompting a tsunami warning hours after multiple earthquakes rocked the island earlier including a mag 6.1
A powerful 7.5 magnitude struck Indonesia on Friday, prompting a tsunami warning hours after multiple earthquakes rocked the island including a mag 6.1.
The quake struck near the central Sulawesi region at around 6 p.m.
It wasn't immediately clear if there were any injuries or damage resulting from the quake.
Tsunami warnings were issued by Indonesia's meteorology agency for the Central Sulawesi and West Sulawesi provinces.
Residents in the area were urged to get to higher ground.
Earlier Friday, Indonesia was struck by multiple earthquakes.
At least one person was killed and dozens of homes were damaged.




A magnitude 6.1 - 55km NNW of Palu, Indonesia is the 9th major quake of September and all 9 have struck The Pacific Ring Of Fire
A magnitude 6.1 - 55km NNW of Palu, Indonesia.
An earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, but there was no threat of a tsunami, the meteorology and geophysics agency BMKG said.
The U.S. Geological Survey put the magnitude at a powerful 6.1 and a relatively shallow 18 km.
(Shallow quakes tend to be more destructive than deep quakes)
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is regularly hit by earthquakes.
In 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia.
This mornings quake is the 9th major quake of September and all 9 have struck The Pacific Ring Of Fire, it is also the 85th major quake of 2018.


A magnitude 6.4 Guam is the 9th major quake of September with all nine of them hitting the Pacific Ring Of Fire
 USGS
A magnitude 6.4 - 197km SE of Inarajan Village, Guam is the 9th major quake of September with all nine of them hitting the Pacific Ring Of Fire.
Last nights quake was the 86th major quake to strike our planet in 2018.
2018 is now well on course to overtake 2017's lowest total this century of just 111 major quakes.
All the major quakes in September have struck during coronal activity on our Sun.



A powerful magnitude 6.5 struck the Fiji Islands last night the 5th major quake to hit the area this month and the 85th major quake of 2018
USGS
Above 5 major quakes have hit the Fiji Island area this month including a massive magnitude 7.9.
A powerful magnitude 6.5 struck South of the Fiji Islands last night and is the 5th major quake to hit the area this month.
The quake comes as the powerful solar wind is expected to reach the Earth's magnetosphere from a massive coronal hole on our Sun later today, (many experts believe coronal hole activity on our Sun is a trigger for large quakes on Earth) see picture below.




7 major quakes in 5 days rock the Pacific Ring Of Fire: All 7 have occurred during coronal activity and G1-class geomagnetic storms
Earth is currently inside a stream of solar wind flowing from a massive coronal hole on our Sun which is facing Earth, see dark areas on the image below.
This is the 2nd G1-class geomagnetic storm to impact Earth in the last few days after another coronal hole caused a G1-class geomagnetic storm on Sept the 7th and 8th.
The coronal activity on the Sun and the two geomagnetic storms have coincided with a flurry of seven major quakes to impact the Pacific Ring Of Fire, coincidence?

 Right now, G1-class geomagnetic storms are sparking bright auroras around the Arctic Circle as a stream of high-speed solar wind buffets Earth's magnetic field.
Originally, NOAA forecasters thought the stream might cause a G2-class geomagnetic storm, but now it appears set to peak as a weaker G1-class disturbance.


The 3rd major quake to strike the Pacific Ring Of Fire in the last 36 hours rocks Ecuador coronal activity on our Sun suggests more to come?

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck central Ecuador on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, injuring one person and disrupting power supply to nearby areas.
The major quake hit 94 km (58 miles) south of the city of Ambato at a depth of 112 km (69 miles), the USGS said.
Last nights quake was the 3rd major quake to strike the Pacific Ring Of Fire in the last 36 hours.
There is double coronal activity on our Sun at the moment, two coronal holes are sending two solar wind streams toward Earth.
The first should arrive on Sept. 7-8.
The second is expected Sept. 11-12.
Last nights quake was the 3rd major quake of September and the 80th of 2018.


BOOM! Massive mag 7.8 rocks Fiji after mag 6.7 strikes Japan yesterday...Pacific ring still very active after August record haul
USGS
It's the second major quake of September after the mag 6.6 27km E of Tomakomai, Japan yesterday. A major 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the Fiji coast on Friday, but no tsunami threat was issued.
The quake struck 123 km east south-east of Suva, Fiji, the US Geological Survey said.
The epicentre of the tremor was 63 miles (102km) southeast of the capital Suva.
It was downgraded from an initial reading of 8.1 by the USGS.
Today's quake is the second major quake of September and the 79th of 2018.


When will they learn? A powerful mag 6.7 earthquake paralysed the northern island of Hokkaido Japan knocking out Tomari nuclear plant
USGS
At least one person was killed and 32 were missing, Japanese media reported, after a powerful earthquake paralysed the northern island of Hokkaido on Thursday, triggering landslides and knocking out power to its 5.3 million residents.
Public broadcaster NHK reported the first confirmed fatality and said 120 people had also been injured after the 6.7-magnitude quake.
Aerial footage showed dozens of landslides exposing barren hillsides near the town of Atsuma in southern Hokkaido, with mounds of reddish earth and fallen trees piled up at the edge of green fields. The collapsed remains of what appeared to be houses or barns were scattered about.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that 25,000 troops and other personnel were being dispatched to the area to help with rescue operations.


Earthquakes in divers places: Two more major quakes this morning makes August the 3rd highest count this century with 24
Two more major quakes were recorded last night, a powerful mag 7.1 rocked southeast of the Loyalty Islands, following a mag 6.4 strike at the Anatahan region, Northern Mariana Islands.
A tsunami wave was observed following the M7.1 earthquake in 22.1 south and 169.9 east.
The earthquake hypocenter was 10 km / 6 miles depth.
The observed tsunami wave height was 27 cm (not dangerous level).
There is currently no information on damage or injuries.
Today's major quakes bring the total in August to 24, easily the most in one month this year with the annual total to 74 so far.


They keep on a-comin' Yet another major quake the 22nd of August as a powerful shallow Mag 6.2 rocks the Timor region Indonesia
A magnitude 6.2 - 99km SE of Kupang, Indonesia is the 22nd major quake of August and the 72nd of 2018 and the 5th in the Indonesia area this month.
The quake comes as Earth's magnetic field is quieting, finally, almost 48 hours after a surprisingly strong geomagnetic storm sparked auroras seen from the Arctic Circle to the continental USA.
August has seen a plethora of major quakes and volcanic activity, unprecedented in my years as a blogger and the quakes keep coming...
According to Spaceweather.com, a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm has been in progress since Aug. 26th as Earth passes through the wake of a CME that arrived with little fanfare as it was unexpected. 


The major quakes keep on comin' a deadly mag 6.1 hits Iran and a mag 6.0 rocks Alaska as major quake and volcanic activity continues
August has seen a plethora of major quakes and volcanic activity, unprecedented in my years as a blogger and the quakes keep coming...
Three earthquakes including a magnitude 6.1 major quake have struck western Iran, with state media reporting at least two people killed and 241 injured.
The U.S. Geological Survey says two other earthquakes, measuring 4.4 and 4.2 magnitude, struck early Sunday near the city of Javanrud in Iran's Kermanshah province.
State TV reported the toll, citing Reza Mahmoudian, a governorate official.
The state-run IRNA news agency says one of the two killed was a 70-year-old man who died of a heart attack during the earthquakes.


Another major quake hits the Pacific Rim: A magnitude 6.3 - 45km SSE of Tanaga Volcano Alaska is the 4th major quake in the last 24 hours
A magnitude 6.3 - 45km SSE of Tanaga Volcano, Alaska is the 4th major quake in a 24 hour period after the magnitude of 6.3 rocked Oregon and an extremely powerful magnitude 7.3 Earthquake - near the coast of Venezuela and a magnitude 6.5 - 79km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu struck our planet.
 yesterday.
Once again the quakes come as our Earth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from a massive coronal hole.

An incredible surge of major quakes has hit the planet in the last two weeks after an incredible low count this year up to the beginning of August when a flurry of major quakes have been registered around the world coming entirely out of the blue.

The third major quake of the day is a little too close for comfort a powerful offshore mag 6.3 strikes 200 miles offshore from Oregon
It's the third major quake of the day and it's a little too close for comfort, a powerful offshore earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 hit 302 km (188 miles) west of Bandon, Oregon, on Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The quake was recorded at a depth of about 10 km, according to the USGS website.
No immediate tsunami warning was posted.
Earlier in the day an extremely powerful magnitude 7.3 Earthquake - near the coast of Venezuela and a magnitude 6.5 - 79km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu struck the planet, and once again the quakes come as our Earth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from a massive coronal hole.


A powerful mag 7.3 Earthquake off the coast of Venezuela and a mag 6.5 near Vanuatu strike as Earth is inside another stream of solar wind
An extremely powerful magnitude 7.3 Earthquake - near the coast of Venezuela and a magnitude 6.5 - 79km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu is the 16th and 17th major quake of an incredible August so far,
and once again the quakes come as our Earth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from a massive coronal hole.

An incredible surge of major quakes has hit the planet in the last two weeks after an incredible low count this year up to the beginning of August when a flurry of major quakes have been registered around the world coming entirely out of the blue.

The surge of major quakes does, however, coincide with two enormous coronal holes which have been spewing solar wind at the Earth's magnetosphere during the same period of the quake flurry.

PACIFIC GRIM! A very powerful magnitude 7.2 quake reduced by USGS to a 6.9 strikes Indonesia the 5th major quake today
A very dangerous shallow magnitude 7.2 quake reduced later by USGS to a mag 6.9 has struck Indonesia just hours after a mag 6.3 struck and just two weeks after another mag 6,9 killed nearly 500 in the same area.
The quake is the 5th major quake today after another 4 major quakes struck this morning bringing the total to 13 major quakes in the last 6 days and one of them was the biggest quake of the year so far.
A massive quake of magnitude 8.2 struck in the Pacific Ocean close to Fiji and Tonga on Sunday but it was so deep that it did not cause any damage, authorities in Fiji said.
Among the many aftershocks was a further mag 6.8 and a mag 6.3 in the same region.
A magnitude 6.3 struck Indonesia also this morning.

Four more major quakes hit the Pacific Rim Sunday including the biggest quake of the year a mag 8.2 Fiji: 12 major quakes in 6 days
USGS
Another 4 major quakes struck last night bringing the total to 12 in the last 6 days and one of them was the biggest quake of the year so far.
A massive quake of magnitude 8.2 struck in the Pacific Ocean close to Fiji and Tonga on Sunday but it was so deep that it did not cause any damage, authorities in Fiji said.
Among the many aftershocks was a further mag 6.8 and a mag 6.3 in the same region.
A magnitude 6.3 struck Indonesia also this morning.
Just a week ago 2018 was on course to register the lowest count of major quakes this century.

The 8th major quake in 5 days struck Costa Rica last night along with Peru's Sabancaya volcano spewing ash two miles into the air
USGS
The 8th major quake in 5 days struck last night when a magnitude 6.1 rocked Costa Rica.
The mag 6.1 - 17km N of Golfito, Costa Rica has come as a flurry of major quakes have been registered in a week when a massive coronal disturbance on our Sun has ejected a stream of solar wind which has battered the Earth's magnetosphere.
On top of the major quakes, we have also had an uptick with volcanic activity, this morning Peru's Sabancaya volcano, which is located less than 50 miles from the country's second city, Arequipa, has begun erupting, sending a column of ash more than two miles into the air. 

Pacific rim on fire as the 7th major quake in 5 days struck tonight when a magnitude 6.5 rocked Kampungbajo, Indonesia

The 7th major quake in 5 days struck tonight when a magnitude 6.5 rocked Kampungbajo, Indonesia
The last few days have seen a massive coronal hole open up on the Sun ejecting a stream of solar wind flowing from an enormous 700,000 km-long coronal hole possibly influencing quake and volcanic activity here on Earth and it comes as no surprise to me we have had a flurry of major quakes this week after the lowest count so far this century.
On top of the major quakes, we have also had an uptick with volcanic activity with nearly two dozen quakes striking the gigantic Katla volcano in Iceland and Japanese authorities are preparing to evacuate Kuchinoerabujima island after the threat of an eruption as earthquakes and sulphur emissions have suddenly increased dramatically.

A magnitude 6.4 - 252km SE of Iwo Jima last night the 2nd in the area yesterday was the 6th major quake in just 4 days
USGS
The 6th major quake in 4 days struck last night and the 2nd to hit Japan on Thursday when a magnitude 6.4 - 252km SE of Iwo Jima, earlier in the day a mag 6.0 struck the same area.
The mag 6.0 - 263km SE of Iwo Jima, Japan is the 56h major quake in the last 4 days, 5 more than the entire month of June.
The last few days have seen a massive coronal hole opened up on the Sun ejecting a stream of solar wind flowing from an enormous 700,000 km-long coronal hole possibly influencing quake and volcanic activity here on Earth and it comes as no surprise to me we have had a flurry of major quakes this week after the lowest count so far this century.

A mag 6.0 - 263km SE of Iwo Jima, Japan is the 5th major quake in the last 4 days the 7th of August and the 60th of 2018
A mag 6.0 - 263km SE of Iwo Jima, Japan is the 5th major quake in the last 4 days, 4 more than the entire month of June.
As Earth is battered by a stream of solar wind flowing from an enormous 700,000 km-long coronal hole it comes as no surprise to me we have had a flurry of major quakes this week after the lowest count so far this century.
Since this massive hole opened up on the Sun around the 10th of August 5 major quakes have been registered across the planet 4 more than the entire month of June.
On top of the major quakes, we have also had an uptick with volcanic activity with nearly two dozen quakes striking the gigantic Katla volcano in Iceland and Japanese authorities are preparing to evacuate Kuchinoerabujima island after the threat of an eruption as earthquakes and sulphur emissions have suddenly increased dramatically.

A magnitude 6.1 Earthquake - South Sandwich Islands region is the 4th major quake in August and brings the total this year to 57
USGS

A magnitude 6.1 Earthquake - South Sandwich Islands region is the third major quake in the last 24 hours after a magnitude 6.4 and a magnitude 6.0 struck Alaska's village of Kaktovik which is part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge where the Trump administration plans to allow oil drilling, but no injuries or damage were reported.
This mornings tremor bring the total to 4 major quakes in August and brings the total this year to 57 which is 4 less than at the same stage last year.



Tsunami warning issued after magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocks Indonesia tourist hotspot Bali the second major quake in a week
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake has struck the Lombok region, Indonesia close to the tourist attraction of Bali.
Authorities in Indonesia issued a tsunami alert on Sunday after a massive earthquake rocked the popular tourist mecca of Bali.
The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.0 quake was reported around 11:46 a.m. local time off the country's Lombok Island, located next to Bali.
The quake was about 6.5 miles deep, according to the USGS.
The quake comes just a week after magnitude 6.4 struck the same area killing 12 people and injuring many more.

Two major quakes strike Indonesia with a shallow mag 6.4 killing at least 10 with many more injured near the tourist destination of Bali
A strong earthquake has struck Indonesia's Lombok island, which is not far from the tourist destination of Bali.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.4 and its epicentre was 1.4 kilometres (0.8 miles) southwest of Lelongken, Indonesia.
It had a depth of 7 kilometres (4.4 miles).
Authorities issued a yellow alert, with 10 people dead and many more injured and there are reports of widespread damage and destruction to buildings.
Tourist Jean-Paul Volckaert was woken in his hotel by the quake and said: "We jumped out of our bed to avoid anything falling on our heads." He said: "The water in the pools was swaying like a wild sea," as tremors shook the island for between "20 to 30 seconds".

Two more major quakes yesterday-Alaska and Papua New Guinea bring the yearly total to 49 as the miserly count continues
A further two major quakes were recorded yesterday. 
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck to the south of the Alaska peninsula early on Thursday, but the National Weather Service said no tsunami warning has been issued.
The quake was centred about 62 miles (100 km) south-southwest of Sand Point, Alaska, at a depth of 10.6 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Later in the day, a magnitude 6.0 struck Papua New Guinea.
The two quakes bring the total of major quakes in July to 5 and the yearly total to 49 which is 6 less than the at the same time last year when 2017 finished with the lowest count of major quakes this century with a total of 111.

Another major earthquake a mag 6.0 in the Gulf of Aden is only the 47th major quake of 2018 more than 33% down on century average
An earthquake of 6.2 magnitude reduced to a 6.0 struck off Yemen on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported, but there were no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.
The quake struck 213 km northwest of Socotra island in the Gulf of Aden.
There was no immediate no tsunami warning.
The quake is the 3rd major quake of June and only the 47th of 2018, on course to be the lowest total this century for the second year running.
According to Spaceweather.com, the sun has been without spots for 16 straight days.
To find a similar stretch of blank suns, you have to go all the way back to April of 2010 when the sun was emerging from the deepest solar minimum in a century.

A rare major quake strikes Vanuatu magnitude 6.4 is the 2nd of July and only the 46th of 2018 on course for lowest year total this century
Map USGS 
Only the 2nd major quake of July and only the third since a mag 6.1 struck South of the Kermadec Islands on May the 18th has hit the island of Vanuatu.
The mag 6.4-72km NNW of Isangel, Vanuatu is the biggest quake to hit the planet since a mag 6.9 - hit Leilani Estates, Hawaii at the beginning of May.
The Vanuatu quake is the 2nd major quake so far this month and only the 46th of 2018, 4 short of the 2017 total at this point and 2017 finished the year on only 111 major quakes, the lowest total this century.

A major quake only the 2nd since the middle of May has struck E of Ozernovskiy Russia as major earthquakes have almost dried up in 2018
USGS
A very rare major quake, only the 2nd since the 18th of May, (only one major quake was recorded in June) has struck  E of Ozernovskiy, Russia.
The mag 6.1 quake is the first major quake of July and only the 45th of 2018 which is on course to be the smallest total of major quakes this century.
2017 recorded the lowest amount this century with just 111 major quakes but this year is is three quakes behind last years total at the 6th of June.
It's interesting to note, the lack of major quakes is corresponding with the lack of sunspot activity on the Sun as it enters its solar minimum period, is there a link?

A rare major quake only the 2nd of June hits the Pacific coast of Mexico: 2018 on course to be the lowest count of major quakes this century
USGS
A rare earthquake measuring 6.1 magnitude, reduced to a mag 6.0 by USGS struck the Pacific coast of Mexico on Friday, 88 kilometres (55 miles) west-southwest offshore from Cihuatlan, in Jalisco state.
The USGS estimated the depth of the tremor at 10 km.
Two massive quakes hit Mexico last September when a mag 7.1 - 5km struck Raboso, Mexico just 11 days after a massive mag 8.2 struck the west coast which was the biggest Mexican earthquake in 100 years.
According to La Times, the quake struck on the anniversary of a 1985 quake that did major damage to the capital.

Vancouver Island on the move: Episodic Tremor and Slip event feared after more than 150 tremors hit the island in the last 24 hours
Google maps
More than 150 tremors have hit Vancouver Island in the last 24 hours, and seismologists are monitoring the situation to see if it turns into an Episodic Tremor and Slip event.
Vancouver Island is normally moving toward the Lower Mainland at a rate of about one centimetre per year.
"Ferry fares keep going up but the distance is actually getting a little bit shorter," jokes John Cassidy, a seismologist with the Geological Survey of Canada.
But every 14 months or so there is a Tremor and Slip event - a discovery made by two local scientists Gary Rogers and Herb Dragert - when Vancouver Island slips backwards a few millimetres towards Japan.
Seismic recording instruments show Victoria moving in one direction and then changing direction for about two weeks during these episodes.

A magnitude 6.1 quake kills three and injures more than 200 near Osaka, Japan’s second-biggest metropolis: First major quake in 36 days
Photo credit Reuters
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake shook Osaka, Japan’s second-biggest metropolis, early on Monday, killing three people and injuring more than 200.
The major quake has not yet been confirmed on USGS but if it is last night's quake will be the first major quake for 36 days which must be some kind of recent record.
At least three people are feared dead after a strong earthquake shook the city of Osaka in western Japan on Monday morning.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said one person had no heartbeat and wasn't breathing and a second person also had no vital signs.
Japanese media reported one of the likely victims is a 9-year-old girl found at a school.
Japanese authorities don't confirm death until after an examination at a hospital.

Are we in the calm before the storm? 25 days since the last major quake continuing worrying trend as they began to dry up at an alarming rate
They have dropped off the cliff, disappearing and no one can say why?
We should be happy but after a steady rise since 1900 major quakes (mag 6+) have for some reason began to dry up at an alarming rate.
It is now 25 days since a mag 6.2 struck the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand, since then nothing higher than 5+'ers with two magnitude 5,7's, one in the Philippines on the 2nd of June and one in Guam on the 22nd of May being the largest quakes since then.
Earth's magnetic field has been quiet recently which could be an influence when we consider 42 of the 43 major quakes this year have occurred during coronal activity on the sun.
Major quakes (mag 6+) have averaged around 13.5 a month this century until 2017 when the average per month dropped to 9.2 and this year is even lower at 7.8.

Earthquakes in strange places! A mag 3.9 strikes north-east England more than a 1,000 miles (1600km) from the nearest fault line.
As the world enters its 23rd day without a major quake (mag 6+) a mag 3.9 strikes north-east Lincolnshire and was reportedly felt up to 60 miles (100km) away and more than a 1,000 miles (1600km) from the nearest fault line.
People in the city of Hull were reporting feeling a tremor at 11.15pm on Saturday night.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it happened at 23:14 BST on Saturday with the epicentre in Grimsby at a depth of 11 miles (18km).
It is the second quake to hit Britain this year after a magnitude 4.4 in February struck the South Wales city of Swansea and was the largest earthquake on mainland Britain in almost 10 years, since the magnitude 5.2 ML Market Rasen earthquake on 27 February 2008.

Where did they go? Major quakes have dropped off the cliff" 22 days since the last mag 6+: Feb was the last mag 7: 2017 the last mag 8
Major quakes (mag 6+) this century, Graph Gary Walton.
It is a mystery that no one can answer why do major quakes just drop off the cliff?
It is now 22 days since a mag 6.2 struck the Kermadec Islands north of New Zealand, since then nothing higher than 5+'ers.
We have to go back to February this year when a mag 7.5 struck Papua New Guinea and back to January when the biggest quake so far this year a mag 7.9 struck Alaska, strangely enough, 3 mag 7+'ers were recorded in January and two in February then zilch no more since then.

Mag 6.2 - Kermadec Islands New Zealand is the 42nd of 43 major quakes to strike this year during coronal hole activity on the sun
A mag 6.2 - South of the Kermadec Islands is the 6th major quake of May with all but one of them around the Pacific Ring Of Fire and with volcanic activity in Hawaii, Japan and Indonesia the vast area is literally on fire!
A stream of solar wind was expected to rattle Earth's magnetic field yesterday.
The gaseous material is flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere and should come as no surprise 42 of the 43 major quakes this year have occurred during coronal activity on the sun.
Bill Laughing Bear (our friend in Alaska) sent me an email this week regarding the large coronal to hit our magnetosphere on May 7-9, below is a snippet from the email...

An incredible 14th major quake to strike Papua New Guinea and a mag 6.2 in Tajikistan are the 40th and 41st major quakes of 2018
USGS 14 major quakes have struck the Papua New Guinea area this year

Two major quakes struck Papua New Guinea, mag 6, and a mag 6.2 Tajikistan.
Incredibly it was the 14th major quake to strike Papua New Guinea in the 5 months of this year.
Yesterday's quake was the 40th and 41st of a quiet 2018 so far compared to 33 at the same period last year which ended as the lowest major quake count this century.
It's worth mentioning that of the 41 major quakes reported this year, 40 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the sun and yesterday's two was no exception.

It looks like the island is collapsing! More than a hundred quakes yesterday brings the total to 1400 in the last 7 days at Kilauea volcano
Nearly another 150 quakes rattled the South Island of Hawaii yesterday bringing the total to more than 1360 quakes of various power in the last 7 days as the island continues to be shaken and it doesn't look like stopping anytime soon!
Scientists forecast more eruptions and more earthquakes, perhaps for months to come, after the southeast corner of the island was rocked by a 6.9 tremor on Friday, the strongest on the island since 1975.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on Saturday that several new lava fissures had opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Puna District, about a dozen miles (19 km) from the volcano.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said at midday local time on Saturday that “eruptive activity is increasing and is expected to continue.”

A Mag 7.0 on the Mariana Islands last night reported by USGS was a mag 4.6 in another strange mixup from the the quake experts?
Email to me this morning from USGS.
Last Saturday I wrote of 2018 being an extremely busy volatile year for major quakes and volcano activity up to April 10th when it all suddenly stopped which is highly unusual.
Imagine my excitement this morning (yes I find major quakes exciting) when an email arrived on my tray from USGS claiming a Magnitude 7.0 - on "ANATAHAN REG, N. MARIANA ISLANDS" had struck during the night.
I clicked on the link with the email which took me directly to USGS only to find no mention of a magnitude 7.0 quake anywhere on the planet and the largest quake of the day on the Mariana Island was a magnitude 4.6.



Our wonderful living breathing planet: 2018 extremely busy volatile year for major quakes and volcano activity up to April 10th when it all stops
24 days ago another major quake hit Papua New Guinea incredibly it was the 13th of this year to hit the volatile country in the South Pacific.
That major quake was the 25th major quake of a very busy year along the Pacific Ring Of Fire, however, since then the major quake count has dropped off the cliff, not just around the Pacific Ring Of Fire but the whole planet.
Since then a mag 6.2 - 54km SW of Ovalle, Chile was the 35th and last major quake of 2018 to hit our planet which was 21 days ago.
Up to the 10th of April, our planet averaged a major quake just over every 2 days with the Ring Of Fire witnessing a major quake every 4 days, since then nothing, it's as if someone turned the switch off.

A mag 6.2 - 54km SW of Ovalle, Chile is the 35th major quake of 2018 and the 34th to occur during coronal activity on our Sun
USGS
A powerful mag 6.2 - 54km SW of Ovalle, Chile has been reported by USGS this morning.
The quake is the 4th major quake of April and brings the total for the year to 35.
Of the 35 major quakes reported this year, 34 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the sun and today's is no exception.
According to Spaceweather.com, arriving some hours earlier than expected, a stream of fast-moving solar wind has reached Earth.
The gaseous material is flowing from a wide hole in the sun's atmosphere and could engulf our planet for several days.
NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on April 10th and 11th as Earth moves deeper into the stream.
Another powerful magnitude 6.5 quake, reduced to a 6.3 by USGS has struck the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea early on Saturday, the European earthquake monitoring service reported.
The very shallow quake was only two km (1.2 miles) deep and 93 km (58 miles) southwest of Porgera in the Enga province, said the EMSC. Quakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire”, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
Incredibly of the 34 major quakes to strike the planet this year 13 of them have happened on or around Papua New Guinea.
Today's two major quake is the 3rd of April and brought the total for the year to 34.


A magnitude 6.8 - 13km NNE of Carandayti, Bolivia is the second major quake today and the 33rd of 2018
A deep magnitude 6.9 earthquake reduced to a mag 6.8 by USGS has struck about 130 miles (209 km) east-northeast of Tarija, Bolivia early on Monday at a depth of 346 miles (557 km)
It is the 2nd major quake to strike today after a magnitude 6.3 struck in the Pacific Ocean, 427 km southwest Southwest of the Fiji Islands earlier this morning.
The two major quakes struck as a northern coronal hole has opened up on our Sun.
Of the 33 major quakes reported this year, 32 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the sun.
Solar wind flowing from the indicated coronal hole is expected to brush against Earth's magnetic field.

A magnitude 6.1 strikes South of the Fiji Islands almost smack-bang in the eye of Tropical Cyclone Josie: 32nd major quake of 2018
A magnitude 6.3 struck in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, 427 km southwest Southwest of the Fiji Islands the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.
Regular readers of The Big Wobble will be aware tropical storms, typhoons, hurricanes etc also influence earthquake activity and the major quake this morning struck almost dead centre in the eye of Tropical Cyclone Josie which last night killed four people with one missing.
The major quake also struck as a northern coronal hole has opened up on our Sun.
Of the 32 major quakes reported this year, 31 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the sun.

Another powerful quake strikes Papua New Guinea: A magnitude 6.9 is incredibly the 12th major quake to hit in or around the island's this year
Earthwindmap
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Papua New Guinea’s New Britain Island on Friday, initially triggering a tsunami warning for surrounding coastlines, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The shallow quake struck close to the coast, around 100 miles (162 km) southwest of Rabaul, a much more remote region than the country’s mountainous mainland highlands where a magnitude 7.5 tremor struck on Feb. 26, killing 100 people.
Incredibly 12 of the 31 major quakes this year have occurred in or around Papua New Guinea.
Today's major quakes were the 8th of March and brought the total to 31 in 2018, 14 more than the same time period of last year.


A magnitude 6.6 - 139km E of Kimbe is the 11th major quake in or around Papua New Guinea this year: 4th major quake in 2 days
USGS
A magnitude 6.6 - 139km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea is the 4th major quake in the last 2 days.
Earlier this morning a magnitude 6.4 struck Indonesia and yesterday two magnitude 6.3 quakes were reported by USGS, the Southeast Indian Ridge under Australia and Papua New Guinea being the recipients.
Incredibly 11 of the 30 major quakes this year have occurred in or around Papua New Guinea.
Today's major quakes were the 6th and 7th of March and brought the total to 30 in 2018, 13 more than the same time period of last year.


A mag 6.4 - 214km NW of Saumlaki, Indonesia is the 3rd major quake in the last 24 hours as a stream of solar wind blows around Earth
A mag 6.4 - 214km NW of Saumlaki, Indonesia is the 3rd major quake in the last 24 hours.
Yesterday two magnitude 6.3 quakes were reported by USGS during the night, the Southeast Indian Ridge under Australia and Papua New Guinea being the recipients.
Ten of the 29 major quakes this year have occurred in or around Papua New Guinea.
Last nights major quake was the 6th of March and the 29th of 2018, 12 more than the same time period of last year.
Of the 28 major quakes reported this year, 28 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the sun.


Two magnitude 6.3 quakes strike the Southeast Indian Ridge and Papua New Guinea bringing the total of major quakes to 28 for the year so far
As a London bus we have waited almost 3 weeks for a major quake and then two come at once.
Two magnitude 6.3 quakes were reported by USGS during the night, the Southeast Indian Ridge under Australia and Papua New Guinea being the recipients.
Nine of the 28 major quakes this year have occurred in or around Papua New Guinea.
Last nights major quakes were the 4th and 5th of March and the 28th of 2018, 11 more than the same time period of last year.
Of the 28 major quakes reported this year, 27 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the sun.
Solar wind is flowing from a coronal hole and is expected to reach Earth today.



A magnitude 7.1 reduced by USGS to a mag 6.8 rocks Papua New Guinea the 5th major quake to strike the country in the last two weeks
An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 reduced by USGS to a mag 6.8 struck 135 km (85 miles) east of the town of Rabaul, on the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea’s island of New Britain, at 3.39 a.m. on Friday, local time (1739 GMT on Thursday), the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The shallow quake was not expected to cause a tsunami.
This evening's tremor was the 5th major quake to strike Papua New Guinea in the last two weeks.
A very powerful magnitude 7.5 quake rocked Papua New Guinea in February killing more than 100 people and destroying villages.

Another massive aftershock rocks Papua New Guinea magnitude 6.7 quake is the 4th mag 6 + quake since the initial mag 7.5 struck last weekend
Another massive aftershock rocks Papua New Guinea this afternoon, the powerful magnitude 6.7 quake is the 4th mag 6 + quake since the initial mag 7.5 struck last weekend, in all nearly 150 aftershocks have rocked the area since.
Almost 100 people have died with thousands homeless and without food and clean water.
The recovery effort has been slow as aid workers grapple with blocked roads and power outages to reach cut-off villages after the 7.5-magnitude quake struck on February 26 in the Pacific nation's mountainous interior.
Terrified locals in the Southern Highlands, Western, Enga and Hela provinces have also had to deal with more than 150 strong aftershocks, including four 6.+ magnitude tremors.

A magnitude 6.0 rocks Papua New Guinea once again: The third powerful aftershock slams the area after the mag 7.5 last week killed 20
A magnitude 6.0 - 83km SW of Porgera, Papua New Guinea is the third major aftershock this week after the mag 7.5 rocked Papua New Guinea last week leaving at least 20 dead and whole villages destroyed.
More than a hundred aftershocks have hit the area most of them large with 3 in the mag 6's.
This morning as a large coronal hole on the sun turned and faces Earth which is, I believe a trigger for major quakes, (24 major quakes have hit our planet this year and 23 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the Sun) I received an email from a researcher, scientist Patrick Geryl.



Earthquakes in strange places: As the UK copes with freezing Siberian weather dubbed “the Beast from the East” a mag 3.2 strikes Cumbria
With much of Britain blanketed in snow on Wednesday as freezing Siberian weather dubbed “the Beast from the East”, disrupted the travel plans of thousands another earthquake with a 3.2 magnitude has struck Cumbria, the British Geological Survey says.
It is the second earthquake to hit the UK in less than two weeks after a magnitude 4.4 near the South Wales city of Swansea was the largest earthquake on mainland Britain in almost 10 years, since the magnitude 5.2 ML Market Rasen earthquake on 27 February 2008.
"Earthquakes occur fairly randomly."
The largest known earthquake to hit the UK occurred in 1931 near Dogger Bank in the North Sea, which had a magnitude of 6.1.
The most damaging UK earthquake happened in Colchester in 1884 when 1,200 buildings needed repairs.



Another major quake hits Papua New Guinea as nearly 100 large aftershocks have hit the area since the deadly mag 7.5 struck Sunday
Another major quake has rocked Papua New Guinea during the night, almost a hundred heavy aftershocks have struck the area since a magnitude 7.5 quake rocked the rugged Southern Highlands province some 560 km (350 miles) northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, triggering landslides, damaging mining, gas and power infrastructure, and cutting communications.
According to Reuters, whole villages were flattened and water sources spoiled by a powerful earthquake that killed at least 20 people, residents said on Wednesday as rescuers struggled to reach the hardest-hit areas in Papua New Guinea’s remote, mountainous highlands.
Scores of aftershocks have hampered rescue efforts and rattled nervous villagers over the past two days, including a 6.0 tremor just before 1 p.m. (0300 GMT) on Wednesday registered by the U.S. Geological Survey.



A mag 6.0 hits Indonesia and another mag 6.2 aftershock rocks Papua New Guinea bringing the total to 4 major quakes in 24 hours
USGS
It's the third major quake of the day and the 4th in 24 hours, a magnitude 6.0 - 46km NE of Airbuaya, Indonesia is the 22nd major quakes to hit our planet this year, 21 of them have occurred during coronal activity on the Sun and 18 of them has been around the very volatile Pacific Ring Of Fire.
Today's major quake is the 10th of February.
Three days ago an enormous canyon-like hole (coronal hole) opened up in the Sun's atmosphere, since then three major quakes have struck Papua New Guinea and another rocking Indonesia, all four quakes along the volatile Ring of Fire.


USGS
at least 30 large aftershocks have rocked Papua New Guinea after the magnitude 7.5 hit the area late last night.
The huge 7.6 magnitude earthquake severely hit Hela and Southern Highlands.
Although communication networks into the two provinces have been cut off, reports through satellite communication by Hela Provincial Administrator William Bando reveal that about 10 people have been killed while thousands of properties have been destroyed.
Mr Bando said it is a very severe disaster as many lives have reportedly been lost.



A magnitude 7.5 - Papua New Guinea is the 18th of 19 major quake to strike this year during coronal activity on our Sun
It was expected it was just a question of where!
A very powerful magnitude 7.5 quake has rocked Papua New Guinea early Monday morning.
Its depth was around 35 kilometres (22 miles), USGS said.
According to USGS, the tremor hit near the centre of the country’s main island, around 560 kilometres (348 miles) from the capital Port Moresby at around 0345 local time (1545 GMT).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no risk of a tsunami in the aftermath of the tremor.



Yellowstone supervolcano shaken by a swarm of over 200 earthquakes since February 8th is Yellowstone just being Yellowstone USGS
According to geophysicists with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the past fortnight has seen Yellowstone supervolcano shaken by a swarm of over 200 earthquakes since February 8, accompanied by innumerable smaller tremors too faint to accurately record.
Despite how alarming this cavalcade of seismic activity might seem - considering its unnerving proximity to one of nature's most potentially devastating powder kegs - scientists say we shouldn't be panicked.
Researchers Mike Poland and Jamie Farrell from Yellowstone Volcano Observatory explain in a USGS update that swarms like this account for more than half of the seismic activity at Yellowstone, and they've never actually been known to contribute to volcanic activity at the caldera.



Earthquakes in strange places! Largest quake hits the UK in 10 years a rare quake hits New Hampshire hundreds of small earthquakes hit The Azores
It has been a week of earthquakes in strange places, a magnitude 4.4 near the South Wales city of Swansea was the largest earthquake on mainland Britain in almost 10 years, since the magnitude 5.2 ML Market Rasen earthquake on 27 February 2008.
According to BSG, a magnitude 5.2 ML earthquake in 1906 was one of the most damaging British earthquakes of the 20th Century, with damage to chimneys and walls reported from Kidwelly to Cardiff.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) said on Saturday, tremors were felt across parts of Wales and southwest England but no notable damage reported.




BOOM! A powerful mag 7.2 rocks Mexico with nearly 200 aftershocks leaving one million homes and businesses without power in the capital
A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake has rocked Mexico late Friday evening leaving a million homes and businesses without power in the capital and four southwest states according to Reuters.
The powerful, sustained shaking on Friday gave way to 194 aftershocks, the national seismology service said, and caused widespread panic.
In Mexico City, the seismic alarm sounded 72 seconds before tremors were felt, Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said, giving residents time to flee to the streets.
Last nights shock is the third powerful quake to hit the area since September last year when a mag 8.2, the biggest quake in a 100-years to hit Mexico and a magnitude 7.1 which struck just a week later.



Earthquakes in strange places: A rare quake strikes Beijing just 400km from a rare North Korean quake as more hit the peninsular after nuke test
A very rare magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck the Chinese capital Beijing on Monday, the government said the 4.3 magnitude quake’s epicentre was in a county that is part of Hebei’s Langfang city.
Earthquakes in this part of China are extremely rare although in 1976, the Tangshan earthquake, just to the east of Beijing, killed up to 300,000 people.
A 2.3-magnitude earthquake struck an area of North Korea just 400 km from Beijing, China early Wednesday, according to South Korea's meteorological agency.
Seoul said the earthquake occurred at about 8.7 miles from Ongjin, South Hwanghae Province, according to Yonhap news agency.




Hundreds of small earthquakes Monday cause concern on The mid-Atlantic Azores Islands strongest quake registered 3.6 on the Richter scale.
The mid-Atlantic Azores Islands experienced hundreds of small earthquakes on Monday, the Azores Center for Seismovolcanic Information and Surveillance (CIVISA) confirmed.
The tremors began shortly before midnight on Sunday and continued throughout Monday morning. Most were microseisms, tremors caused by a natural phenomenon that cannot be felt by humans.
But around 20 of the earthquakes were strong enough to be felt by the local population.
"I was fast asleep when I suddenly felt the bed shaking," Helena Pacheco told the Portuguese Lusa News Agency.
"It's frightening as there's no telling what might happen."
According to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the strongest quake registered 3.6 on the Richter scale.



A mag 6.2 reduced by USGS to a 6.0 East of the Philippines hits The Ring Of Fire close by Tropical Storm Sanba and the volatile Mayon volcano
On Saturday I wrote, "with 16 major quakes from 17 occurring this year during coronal hole activity on our Sun and 14 of them along The Pacific Ring Of Fire and a similar amount of rumbling volcanoes, the coming days will most probably bring some fireworks, I would wager a major quake or two is a certainty." See here.
Right on cue late last night a magnitude 6.2, reduced by USGS to a 6.0, rocked the Northern Mariana Islands East of the Philippines in the general area of tropical storm Sanba (02W) which regular readers of The Big Wobble will be aware tropical storms, typhoons, hurricanes etc also influence earthquake activity.




50,000 affected with145 people still missing trapped in buildings Taiwan after magnitude 6.4 earthquake and swarm of after-shocks rock the island
Rescuers combed through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Wednesday, some using their hands as they searched for about 145 people missing after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near the popular Taiwanese tourist city of Hualien overnight.
At least four people were killed and 225 injured in the quake that hit near the coastal city just before midnight (1600 GMT) on Tuesday, officials said.
The latest figures from government data indicated 145 people were missing.
Many of those were believed to be still trapped inside buildings, including a military hospital, after the quake hit about 22 km (14 miles) northeast of Hualien on Taiwan's east coast.




M 6.4 - 21km NNE of Hualian is the 2nd major quake to hit Taiwan in 24 hours and the 13 major quake to hit the Pacific Ring Of Fire this year
A very shallow magnitude 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck 22 km (14 miles) east-northeast of Hua-lien in Taiwan at a depth of 10 km, the U.S Geological Survey said on Tuesday.
It come after a shallow magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit the same area yesterday with five aftershocks in the mag 5 .5 range.
The mag 6.4 Taiwan quake this afternoon is yet another major quake to strike the Pacific Rim.
It is the 4th major quake of February and the 16th major quake this year and we are just into February and all of them except three, I believe, were along the ring of fire.

And with solar wind spilling from a northern coronal hole in the sun's atmosphere (a "polar crown coronal hole") it was not entirely unexpected.




The 15th major quake of the year belongs to Taiwan as the 12th major quake hits the Pacific Ring Of Fire
A very shallow Magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes off the east coast of Taiwan, with five aftershocks in the mag 5 .5 range, no damage reported at this moment.
 The mag 6.1 - 14km NNE of Hualian, Taiwan this afternoon is yet another major quake on the Pacific Rim.
It is the 3rd major quake of February and the 15th major quake this year and we are just into February and all of them except three, I believe, were along the ring of fire.

And with solar wind spilling from a new northern hole in the sun's atmosphere (a "polar crown coronal hole") we could be in for more major quakes.




A magnitude 6.1 - 35km S of Jarm, Afghanistan is the 12th major quake of January 2018
A deep magnitude 6.1 rocked Afghanistan early this morning which shook the Afghan capital Kabul, there are no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.
The quake which was also felt in neighbouring Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan struck 270 km (167 miles) northeast of Kabul in the Hindu Kush mountains according to USGS.
Structure Information Summary






After the USA got lucky last week more than 400 after-shocks have rattled the Gulf Of Alaska since Tuesday's powerful quake
USGS
More than 400 after-shocks have rattled the Gulf Of Alaska after the powerful mag 7.9 rocked Kodiak Island on Tuesday with many of them significant and some in the mid 5 magnitude.
The huge earthquake of magnitude 8.2, reduced by USGS to a mag 7.9 struck 256 km (157 miles) southeast of Chiniak, Alaska at a depth of 10 km n Tuesday morning, see below.






mag 6.6 - Southwest of Africa is the eleventh major quake of 2018
After last weeks record-breaking week along The Pacific Ring Of Fire, we have yet another major quake in the busy month of January.
A mag 6.6 - Southwest of Africa is the 11th major quake of January and of course 2018.
And with Spaceweather.com reporting the sun is leaking solar wind from a peppering of small coronal holes now facing Earth, see pic below, this would imply an impressive 11 from 11 major earthquakes this year have occurred during solar wind and or a coronal hole influencing the Earth's magnetosphere.




Another major quake another near miss! M 6.3 - 186km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea just east of extremely volatile Kadover Island volcano
Another major quake another near miss!
A mag 6.3 - 186km N of Madang, Papua New Guinea just 200km south-east of volatile and extremely active Kadover Island volcano is the 10th major quake of January 2018 and the 6th of an incredibly active week for the Pacific Ring Of Fire with as many volcanoes just as lively as the quakes, 6 extremely active volcanoes with at least 2 warning of a massive eruption imminent.
Today's major quake is the 10th major quake to strike our planet this month and of course 2018.




A mag 5.8 - 173km struck W of Ferndale, California after a week of near misses along the Ring Of Fire: When not if will we run out of luck?
What a week a week it's been for The Pacific Ring Of Fire and millions of people can consider themselves very lucky because it was also a week of very very near misses.

Yesterday evening I wrote; "the whole Pacific Ring is rumbling, from Alaska to Papua New Guinea and Chile to Russia and Philippines to Mexico with one exception, once again the US West coast has come away unscathed but for how long?" See Here.




Phantom tsunami: Alaska buoy at station 46410 sent data to the mainland showing a massive 35ft (10 meters) spike in water and a wave that never was!
The tsunami that never was...
The case of the phantom tsunami: Why did an Alaska buoy show a big wave that wasn’t there?
in the moments just after the powerful 7.9 Alaskan quake, a small buoy out in the Gulf of Alaska caused panic among officials.
As the massive quake struck a buoy out in the Gulf of Alaska at station 46410, a deep-ocean data collector sent data back to the mainland showing a massive 35ft (10 meters) spike in water displacement of the coast of Kodiak Island, tsunami...




A mag 6.2 - Russia rocks the Pacific ring again! It's now 6 major quakes and 6 extremely active volcanoes in the last 7 days: Disaster imminent?
The mag 6.2 - 38km NE of Nikol'skoye, Russia this morning is yet another major quake on the Pacific rim, the 6th in the last 8 days, see above, add to it the 6 most active volcanoes and it's easy to see the Pacific ring of fire is bursting at the moment.

With the Mayon volcano in Indonesia and the Kadova Island volcano Papua New Guinea expecting imminent explosions and three major quakes in 24 hours including the powerful Alaskan quake something big could be in the offing.




Fukushima rocked as a mag 6.2 hits Mutsu Japan: The Pacific ring is on fire! 3 major quakes in 24 hours and 3 potentially massive volcano eruptions
The Pacific ring of fire continues to alarm as the third major quake in 24 hours rocks the Fukushima nuclear palnt with a mag 6.2 hits Mutsu Japan.
It could be seen as another lucky break for millions of people as was the millions who got lucky along US and Canada coast once again yesterday when a massive 7.9 quake rocked Alaska.
Japan was also rocked when Mount Kusatsu-Shirane erupted yesterday killing 1 and injuring 11 some of them critical with at least 78 skiers still trapped as exploding rocks caused an avalanche.




Almost 100 after-shocks have rocked Kodiak Island since the mag 7.9 quake yesterday! Millions got lucky along US and Canada coast once again
After-shocks are now rattling the Kodiak Island area, nearly 100 after-shocks have now occurred south east of Kodiak Island since the original mag 7.9 quake rocked the area yesterday. 85 after-shocks have now been recorded with the biggest being a mag 5.7 quake just two hours after the original.
It appears now millions of people from Alaska to California rode their luck once again yesterday along the US Canadian West coast as the actual depth of the powerful was not susceptible to a massive tsunami
As we saw with the mag 9.0 earthquake in Honshu Japan in 2011 after-shocks can be just as damaging as the original quake, the Honshu quake which brought down the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered more than 70 aftershocks over the mag 6, with many in the mid mag 7's




After-shocks now the real danger for Alaska as a swarm is being formed around the original mag 7.9 quake area some approaching mag 6.0
After some tsunamis warnings have been lifted after the magnitude 7.9 quake in Alaska this morning a new threat is already asserting itself, after-shocks.
After-shocks are now rattling the Kodiak Island area, a total of 22 after-shocks and rising, since the original quake have now been recorded with the biggest being a mag 5.7 quake just two hours after the original.
As we saw with the mag 9.0 earthquake in Honshu Japan in 2011 after-shocks can be just as damaging as the original quake, the Honshu quake which brought down the Fukushima nuclear plant suffered more than 70 aftershocks over the mag 6, with many in the mid mag 7's.




A massive mag 8.2 reduced to mag 7.9 hits the coast of Kodiak causing a tsunami panick to Alaska and the entire western coast of Canada and US
A huge earthquake of magnitude 8.2, reduced by USGS to a mag 7.9 struck 256 km (157 miles) southeast of Chiniak, Alaska at a depth of 10 km this morning.
A tsunami warning for southern Alaska and the entire western coast of Canada and the US has been issued.
Officials in Anchorage warned coastal areas, saying there was "extraordinary threat to life or property".
The alert told people to seek refuge on higher ground in affected areas.
Tsunami sirens could be heard in Kodiak.



A mag 6.0 - 40km S of Binuangeun, Indonesia is the sixth major quake of 2018 and each one has occurred as a coronal hole faced Earth
A mag 6.0 - 40km S of Binuangeun, Indonesia, not too far from Indonesia's active and erratic Mount Agung volcano on the island of Bali is the sixth major quake of January and 2018 of course.
The epicentre of the quake was less than 100km's from Indonesia's capital Jakarta, there is no tsunami warning for the shallow quake.
Today's major quake comes at the back end of a coronal hole on our Sun




A mag 6.3 - 76km S of Putre, Chile is the fifth major quake of January and 2018 a G1 Solar Storm expected later today
A mag 6.3 - 76km S of Putre, Chile is January's 5th quake and the 5th of 2018 of course but what you probably didn't know, every major quake this month has occurred when a coronal hole on our Sun has been facing Earth and ejecting solar wind at incredible speeds and causing massive stress on our magnetosphere as it absorbs these incredible powerful winds.
With that in mind this year, whenever I report a major quake, a space weather report will be added for roughly the same time as the quake to monitor just how many major quakes are being influenced from our Sun.



The fourth major quake of January a mag 6.6 reduced by USGS to a 6.3 hits California Sur Mexico
A mag 6.3 - 77km NNE of Loreto, Mexico is the fourth major quake of January and of course 2018.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured at 6.3 magnitude, after initially reporting it at 6.6. The epicentre was 48 miles (77 km) north-northeast of the town of Loreto in the state of Baja California Sur, the USGS said.





Chariots of the Gods! UNESCO World Heritage Site The Nazca Lines hit by the massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Peru Sunday
 Sent in by Bev...
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck about 124km south-west of the town of Puquio, Peru Sunday hit almost on top of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Nazca Lines.
According to Peru’s government Geophysical Institute, the earthquake was of magnitude 7.3 reduced to 7.1 with its epicentre in Lomas, in the southern region of Arequipa, which is around 50km's from the Nazca Lines.




As promised yesterday another major quake! A magnitude 6.0 - 39km WSW of Pyu, Burma (Myanmar) is the second major quake of January 2018.
As promised yesterday due to a coronal hole on our sun facing earth major quakes are a possibility in the next couple of days see here.
A magnitude 6.0 - 39km WSW of Pyu, Burma (Myanmar) is the second major quake of  January 2018.
It comes after yesterday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the coast of Honduras which was one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in the region.




One to watch! Iran Iraq border struck by 100 quakes in the last 11 hours with 17 mag 5+ range: Iran has 5 nuclear sites and 3 research reactors
It's one to watch...Is a major quake about to hit the Iran-Iraq border as more than 100 small to large quakes have hit the area in the last eleven hours, with 17 of them in the mag 5+ range with the biggest recorded at mag 5.5.
The Big Wobble has been keeping an eye on Iran since the magnitude 7.3 struck in November which killed 350 people and injuring 4,000.
It is one of the most active quake areas in the world and Iran also has 5 nuclear sites and 3 research reactors with the Bushehr nuclear site actually built right on top of a tectonic fault line, it is an accident waiting to happen.


A shallow magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the coast of Honduras is the first major quake of 2018 small tsunamies have been observed
We are ten days into the new year and we have our first major quake!
It's the first major quake of 2018 and it's a big one.
A shallow magnitude 7.8 earthquake has been observed 79.00 km of Barra Patuca Central-America Honduras, along the Puerto Rico Trench on 10th January 2018 02:51:32 AM, Depth is 10 km.




38 years since the mountain blew its top, spewing ash 80,000 feet in the air Mount St. Helens hit with a mag 3.9 quake followed by a swarm of aftershocks.
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake that hit near Mount St. Helens early Wednesday was followed by a swarm of aftershocks.
The quake hit east of Mount St. Helens, 23 miles south-southeast of Morton, just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network.
The PNSN said there have been as many as 19 aftershocks.





2000 to 2018 recorded a staggering 2,697 more major quakes than in the same period 1900 to 1919 but 2017 records the lowest amount this century
It is not the expected narrative we have come to expect but for the second year running major quakes (mag 6 or greater) are down on the previous year with 2017 recording the lowest total this century and the lowest total since the 1980's.








It is one of the most active quake areas in the world with a nuclear site sitting on a fault line! Iran suffers a swarm of more than 50 quakes in 10 hours
52 quakes in 10 hours in 5 different regions swarm Iran
It is one of the most active quake areas in the world, and just last month more than 300 people were killed in when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the country.







Near miss! The Big Wobble prediction of a major quake or eruption in the vicinity of Kanlaon volcano Philippines see's a mag 5.1 and 2 mag 4.7's
It's was a disaster waiting to happen, active Volcano Kanlaon in the Philippines which had shaken with 2,234 volcanic earthquakes on Thursday and Friday, along with a coronal hole on our Sun, spewing solar wind towards Earth and tropical storm Kai-Tak battering the volcano's vicinity with severe winds and torrential rain over the weekend had led me to forecast a major quake or volcanic eruption in the area on Saturday or Sunday.



September 2017 was probably the most devastating month in modern times but still recorded only 10 major quakes! Year total set to be lowest in decades
September will be remembered for two massive quakes in Mexico, four devasting hurricanes in the Atlantic, two tropical cyclones in the Pacific, deadly flooding in India and Bangladesh, two monster X-class flares and a spike in volcanic activity, September 2017 was probably the most devastating month in modern times with more than 50 million people evacuated around the world.








Calm before the storm? August continues massive downward trend in quakes of mag 6 or higher: Should the alarm bells be ringing?
Could it be the calm before the storm? Should the alarm bells be ringing? I find it very strange that no mention of an unprecedented cliff face drop off of major quakes has not been mentioned by specialists sights like the USGS for example. Only 8 major quakes were recorded around the globe in August continuing the unprecedented dip this year in quakes of mag 6. or over






Could the Sun entering it's solar minimum be the reason for the massive drop in major quake and volcano activity this year?
Graph Gary Walton; click to enlarge.
It's the second smallest total in almost 40 years from January to August, 2017 has witnessed major quakes dropping off the cliff altogether and we could be heading to the lowest total in decades, which is extremely interesting when you consider major quakes have increased by over 450% since 1900.





Last nights mag 6.0 on the coast of Ecuador brought the lofty total of 10 major quakes in June: Major quakes so far this year almost 50% down on last 17 years
Last nights magnitude 6.0 on the Ecuador coast was the tenth major quake of June and the first time this year a months total has reached double figures in an astonishing quiet period for major quakes, I know I keep banging on about this but the drop off is unprecedented in the last 117 years.









It can’t be possible, it’s reminiscent of a stock market crash, it’s unheard of in more than a hundred years, it’s a huge anomaly: Major quakes down by more than 50% in 2017
It can’t be possible, it’s reminiscent of a stock market crash, it’s unheard of in more than a hundred years, it’s a huge anomaly and it shouldn’t be happening but it is!
It will come as a major shock to some people but incredibly major quakes in in the first quarter of this year, 2017 is the lowest amount since the first half of last century with just 25 major quakes recorded since January 1st 2017.



Waiting for the big one! Magnitude 8.0 or greater has somehow missed California in more than 100 years: A question of when not if!
Since 1905, 91 quakes of magnitude 8. Or higher have been recorded around the world and 90% of them have been on the Pacific ring of fire.
The Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.






Only 21 major quakes this year so far the lowest number this century 2017 on course to have the lowest amount of major quakes since the 1960's
Where have all the major quakes gone?
We are into the second half of April yet this year’s total so far is extraordinarily low, 2017 has recorded only 21 quakes of magnitude 6 or higher, this total is the lowest this century by a country mile at this stage of the year.



Have the United States Geological Survey altered historic data on their website so as not to panic the people as major quakes have risen by more than 400% since 1900?
It is a well-known fact that the United States Geological Survey  (USGS) have gone on record as saying major quakes are not increasing, they have stated that no such increase has been detected around the world.
Because this topic is so often debated USGS issued a press release claiming major quake increases are not occurring.
This surprised me, because in 2014, I downloaded every quake from mag 6; upwards from 1900 to the end of the year of 2013 and placed all the data on a graph, supplied below.
The graph was stunning and frightening; earthquakes had increased from 1900 to 2014 by an astonishing 400%.


If proof was needed coronal holes on our Sun is the main quake and volcanic activity factor on Earth it's here! 2 major quakes and 3 volcano eruptions around Alaska's Aleutian Islands
If proof was needed Coronal holes on our Sun are the main quake and volcanic activity factor here on Earth well, it is happening right before our eyes
For the 3rd consecutive day, our planet is inside a stream of fast-moving solar wind flowing from a canyon-shaped Coronal hole in the sun's atmosphere. The gaseous material is pressing against Earth's magnetic field with speeds exceeding 700 km/second.


But it’s the earthquakes statistics which I find jaw-dropping, this century, from January the 1st in the year 2,000 until January 2017 a total of 2,697 major quakes have been recorded.
In the same period, January the 1st 1900 to January 1917 only 97 major quakes were recorded, that is an incredible increase and indicates our planet is showing signs of birth pains because just as a woman in labour suffers contractions of increasing pain and intensity likewise our planet is also suffering with increasing quake pain and intensity.


Large earthquakes have risen by over 400% since 1900 but thats not the whole story!
I accessed the earthquake information web-site USGS and downloaded every quake of a magnitude 6 or greater and fed the information into a series of graphs, the results as you can see above are outstanding!
In the year 1900 our planet recorded 22 earthquakes of M6. or greater, 9 were between M6 to 6.9, 13 were between M7 to 7.9.
Exactly 100 years later in the year 2000 our planet recorded a staggering 173 earthquakes of M6. or greater, of which 158 were between M6 to 6.9 and  15 above M6.9.



Are major earthquakes and volcano eruptions increasing in the 21st century?
I receive many comments on The Big Wobble claiming major quakes are on the rise, since the year 2000 major quakes have remained quite consistent in numbers.
I have broken down all major quakes since the 2000 and put each category onto the same graph, (see above)
Apart from 2007 which recorded 196 major quakes and 2011 which recorded a record 207 major quakes, 81 of these being in the Japan area, the chart is remarkably similar.




Major Quake Shock! The first three months of 2017 is the lowest number of major quakes this century by a mile!
It will come as a major shock to some people but incredibly major quakes in the first three months of this year, 2017 is the lowest amount this century with a pitiful 19 major quakes recorded, only 8 in January, 5 in February and six last month in March.

It appears to be a downward trend too because the next two lowest years was the last year 2016 and the year before 2015 both years recorded 28 major quakes in the first three months of the year.






146 Major quakes shook our planet in the year 2016 a slightly below average year this century

2015 Earthquakes in numbers
A total number of 156 mag 6 or greater was an average amount of major quakes for 2015, September having the most with a surge of 34 mag 6 +er's and January having the least with 4.
The biggest quakes of the year was the 2 mag 8.3's in Chile in September.
Are major quakes increasing?
The general consensus is yes but the graph below showing major quakes since 2000 suggests differently.



According to USGS, (U.S. Geological Survey), the year 1900 recorded 3 major quakes (major quake = mag 6 or higher) around the world, two magnitude 7.7's in October and a 7.6 in July. See here One hundred years later in the year 2000, USGS recorded 160, an incredible 157 more major quakes than the year 1900, See here In the years 1900 to 1918 USGS, recorded 147 major quakes, 13 less than the total 160 recorded in the year 2000, See here

  Quakes: 2014 IN NUMBERS

2014

December had 10 quakes of M6 or more
November had 12 quakes of M6 or more.
October had 8 quakes of M6 or more the biggest being M7.3 WSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua. 
September had 8 quakes of M6 or more.
August had 9 quakes of M6 or more...