How Severe Was the Mag 7.1 Earthquake Near Taiwan?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that occurred near Taiwan on December 26, 2006. Participants explore the implications of the earthquake's magnitude, its timing in relation to other significant earthquakes, and potential causes and effects, including the possibility of tsunamis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the 7.1 magnitude earthquake was preceded by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake nearby, occurring just 8 minutes apart and 32 km apart.
  • There is discussion about the potential for tsunamis resulting from the earthquakes, with some arguing that the degree of vertical motion of the sea floor is critical.
  • One participant mentions the coincidence of the earthquake occurring on the anniversary of the 9.1 magnitude earthquake in Sumatra, suggesting it was on people's minds.
  • Another participant questions the frequency of earthquakes around Christmas, suggesting it may be coincidental and referencing historical data about the timing of major earthquakes.
  • There is a mention of a resource for monitoring earthquakes globally, which includes recent data from the USGS.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints regarding the significance of the earthquake's timing and its potential effects, with no clear consensus on the relationship between the timing of earthquakes and specific dates like Christmas.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference historical patterns of earthquake occurrences and the influence of gravitational effects from celestial bodies, but these claims remain speculative and are not universally accepted within the discussion.

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The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: A major earthquake occurred 90 km (55 miles) SSE of Kao-hsiung, Taiwan and 795 km (495 miles) N of MANILA, Philippines at 6:26 AM MDT, Dec 26, 2006 (8:26 PM local time in Taiwan). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/eqinthenews/2006/uswtai/

This is where I spotted the news...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11100901/
 
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The 7.1 mag earthquake was preceeded by a 7.0 earthquake also nearby.
http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uswtan.php

They are only 13 mi (32 km) apart and separated in time by 8 minutes. They are sufficiently shallow to cause tsunamis, but a lot depends on the degree of vertical motion of the sea floor, as opposed to lateral motion.

They come two years to the day of the 9.1 mag earthquake off western Sumatra (Aceh), Indonesia.
 
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...and you can imagine that today's anniversary was on everyone's minds as the quake hit.
 
...
What is it with Christmas and Earthquakes lately?
 
Earthquakes occur every day in different parts of the world.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsanim/world.php - provides the last 7 days by hour. It is purely coincidental that two major earthquakes just happen to follow Christmas this year, as was the 9.1 mag of Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004.

Looking at - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/10_largest_world.php

7 of the 12 largest earthquakes in the world since 1900 occurred between the end of January to end of March. This is the time between Winter Solstice and Vernal Equinox in the norther hemisphere. Earth's perihelion with the sun occurs generally during the first week of January, and that should be the peak of the sun's gravitational (tidal) effect on the earth, and then there is the effect of the moon in conjunction with the sun.
 
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