14 DAY TRIAL // We're not yet even halfway through the fourth month of the year, and the planet has already experienced a number of devastating natural disasters, which saw hundreds of thousands losing their lives. Starting in January, earthquakes have devastated numerous locations, including Haiti, Chile, Mexico and now China, and many people have begun wondering whether any connections between these events exist. But experts from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) say that there is no reason for alarm.
The investigators reveal that each year, starting from 1900, sees an average of about 16 major earthquakes, which the USGS defines as tremors that are over magnitude seven. This means that this years' seismic activity has yet to exceed any average for the last century. The scientists also add that a huge amount of variability exists between years, and give the example of 1986 and 1989, which both saw only 6 major tremors occur. By comparison, the year 1943 saw no less than 32 such events spread all around the world. The recent concerns were prompted by the April 13, magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the Yushu Prefecture, in the Qinghai province of China, at 7:49 AM local time.
“While the number of earthquakes is within the normal range, this does not diminish the fact that there has been extreme devastation and loss of life in heavily populated areas,” explains Dr. Michael Blanpied, who is the Associate Coordinator for Earthquake Hazards at the USGS. He adds that six major tremors within four months is well within the expected variation from the centennial average. Additionally, the expert says that for the last year, defined as the time between April 15, 2009 and April 14, 2010, the number of large earthquakes reached 18, which is also within limits.
“What will happen next? Aftershocks will continue in the regions around each of this year’s major earthquakes sites. It is unlikely that any of these aftershocks will be larger than the earthquakes experienced so far, but structures damaged in the previous events could be further damaged and should be treated with caution. Beyond the ongoing aftershock sequences, earthquakes in recent months have not raised the likelihood of future major earthquakes; that likelihood has not decreased, either. Large earthquakes will continue to occur just as they have in the past,” experts at the USGS write in an official press release on their website.