Earthquakes are one of the most devastating natural calamities on Earth. They have been known to destroy property and take hundreds of lives. No current technology will be able to detect when and where an earthquake will hit, and what the governments can do is to prepare the citizens and educate them what to do when an earthquake hits.
According to new research published by the scientists at the Oregon State University, large earthquakes can trigger other large earthquakes on the other side of the planet. It is not only a simple aftershock but a whole new devastating earthquake that can happen on the Earth’s opposite side, thousands of miles away from the epicenter of the first earthquake. Scientists stated that the discovery is an important advancement in the field of earthquake sensing and monitoring, and it can be used to help forecast future earthquakes.
The researchers from the Oregon State University checked a data of earthquake events from the past 44 years, and they have concluded that earthquakes that registered a 6.5 magnitude on the Richter scale can trigger earthquakes that are magnitude 5.0 or higher. For decades, scientists have thought that an aftershock is the only phenomenon taking place after an earthquake. The analysis of the Oregon State University has excluded zones which have triggered aftershocks, and by carefully studying the pattern, they can come into a conclusion that there is a big chance of a strong earthquake happening three days after a major earthquake event.
Higher magnitude earthquakes tend to result in more earthquakes triggered on the other side of the globe. There has been an increase in the number of high magnitude earthquakes, and scientists believe that it is the reason why the number of earthquake events has climbed significantly in the past few years. According to the scientists, the earthquake that can be triggered by a strong magnitude earthquake would take place on the epicenter’s antipode, and a strong earthquake can hit all areas within 30 degrees. The antipode is the exact location opposite of where an earthquake hit.
Earth scientists around the world are still studying this research. If more information is developed from these findings, it could help millions of people and protect them from injuries and death. Even if earthquakes are unpredictable, this type of findings is helping the scientists to understand these geologic processes and how it affects humanity and their properties.
