Extra Credit Question A or 8 (only) - up to 6 points A highly debatable issue in
ID: 233180 • Letter: E
Question
Extra Credit Question A or 8 (only) - up to 6 points A highly debatable issue in Earth systems is the concept of 'Earthquake weather.' For a brief overview, see: httpi//en.wikipedia.orgi'wikiilEarthquake_vveather The source above (Wikipedia) offers some conclusions that are not supported by new evidence. A new theory which is gaining more acceptance addresses relationships of heavy rains, ground water, faults, and Earthquake activrty.See http//www.earthmagazine.org/article.'blame-it-rain-proposed-links-between-severe-storms-and-earthquakes Describe how rain (or weather) may affect Earthquake activity. Do you think there is a coupling with heavy rains and Earthquake activity? Why or why not? OR In our Weekly Readings, you reviewed a video debate on climate change presented by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. In several detailed paragraphs, describe what you thought were the strengths and weaknesses of this debate - as related to the science you have learned in this class. Conclude with your overall impressions of the debate, and how the debate did or did not influence your thinking about Earth systems, and Global Warming and climate change.Explanation / Answer
Question A :
Earthquakes are geological phenomenon which take place due to complex geological processes working in tandem within the earth. Weather is an atmospheric phenomenon. It has no direct relation with the causation of earthquake.
The article in earth magazine suggests that certain type of weather phenomenon like typhoons, heavy monsoons etc., might be responsible for triggering earthquakes. So the focus there is on triggering rather than causing earthquakes by weather.
Rain cannot directly affect earth's internal dynamics which cause earthquakes. Although it may hasten hydroseismic phenomenon. For example, an artificial reservoir constructed on several dormant faults may induce enough hydrostatic pressure during heavy rains for those faults to rejuvenate. The resultant seismic phenomenon may take unknown time to occur after the heavy rainfall. No scientific evidence exist for such an event and thus its a hypothesis.
I personally dont think there is any connection between heavy rains and earhquake activity. Torrential rainfall may be rare in temperate regions but not in the tropics. This means that the latter region should record maximum number of earthquakes than the former. But the data shows equal occurence of earthquakes in both the regions. Moreover, Earthquakes are associated with well-known fracture zones and faults. Coincidentally a storm event or a typhoon etc may occur before the earthquake but they have no connection with the cause of the earthquake. I also don't believe that weather events are responsible for triggering the earthquakes. Except for the Hydro-seismicity reason, I have no doubt to ascertain the trigger of earthquakes to be the sudden release of built of pressure by rocks and not weather.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.