Are Earthquake Lights Real or Just Power Arcs?

[davenn]

hi gang

3 x M6+ events within 24 hrs down the west coast regions of the Americas
as recorded on my system here in Australia

firstly from top to bottom
a M 6.4, coastal central Chile
then the M 6.0, Napa Valley area California, USA
then a M 6.9, within the Andes Mountains of central Peru

The last one, altho the largest was relatively small in amplitude because of its
101 km depth - this results in a lack of significant surface waves

cheers
Dave

 

[berkeman]

The Napa quake just missed me by about 30 miles. No deaths, but several hundred injuries and lots of broken water and gas distribution pipes. Good local response by EMS, Fire, PD, and other emergency agencies.

 

[davenn]

wow Mike
that's a little too close for comfort

I haven't been up through the Napa Valley area since 2006

Dave

 

[berkeman]

From 96.5 KOIT San Francisco news station. Now that's creative!

 

[davenn]

indeed :)
making the best of a bad situation

D

 

[Bobbywhy]

Hi Dave!

Re: your graphs
1. Is the first one at ~2320 UTC on 24 August the one recorded off Valparaiso, Chile?
2. Did you receive and record anything on 17 August from Southwestern Iran?
3. Do you know of any theory connecting lunar tidal forces with earthquake activity?

Cheers, Bobbywhy
p.s. Congratulations! Love your real data!

 

[davenn]

hi Bobbywhy

1) a bit NNE of Valparaiso ~ 50km and inland from the coast ~ 10km or so

2) The M 6.2, Yes I did but pretty low amplitude

3) Yes, there's a few theories floating around. Some with good scientific grounding others fall into the woowoo science realm haha

my online real time seismo's

Thanks
Dave

 

[Dotini]

It's worth noting that some Bay Area residents reported earthquake lights during the Napa earthquake.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/20...ing-seti-institute-earthquake-lights-twitter/

 

[nsaspook]

Most likely just power line arcs. They can cascade for a pretty good light show in the right conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYCHBI66izs

This one was lightning induced.

 

[davenn]

Most likely just power line arcs. They can cascade for a pretty good light show in the right conditions...
.

Yup would have to agree with that comment

in that other link, the press report was pretty unscientific

Dave

 

[Dotini]

Yup would have to agree with that comment

in that other link, the press report was pretty unscientific

Dave

The scientist Freund referred to in that link is also referenced here: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mysterious-light-associated-earthquakes/

Earthquake lights are discussed here:
http://www.nature.com/news/earthquake-lights-linked-to-rift-zones-1.14455

Finally, we have our own thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=731038

 

[davenn]

I'm not saying the possibility of earthquake generated lights is a myth

I'm saying that with the way that was reported in that article without any scientific investigation
NSASPOOK's explanation is substantially more likely

Dave

 

[nsaspook]

I don't think it's a myth but I think most are just power arcs instead of some strange type of geological Earth stress discharge.

Other earthquake lights type events.
Major substation fault.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIdjfDdYs9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y196J86YrRU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMunTcLvSzE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBwXR_It9kw

 

[davenn]

I don't think it's a myth but I think most are just power arcs instead of some strange type of geological Earth stress discharge.

Other earthquake lights type events.

Yup ... still agree with you
and none of those videos shows anything that couldn't be explained by arcing power lines ... transformer explosions etc caused by earthquakes or other electrical faults


cheers
Dave