M5.4 quake jolts Nagano; 7 hurt

These earthquakes won't stop, will they? Countries like Japan and New Zealand sit on the Ring of Fire. One plate always affects the other. Cause and Effect. I'm not a Geophysicist but I'm pretty sure the theory is sound. Here is a quote from the article below.

Japan is located on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines spanning the Pacific Basin, and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

Undisputable

Earthquakes have been and will be for eons to come very much a part of the planet’s mechanics, all across the globe. We are most likely coming out of a quieter period in terms of geological activity and now that we're all over the surface we had better be vigilant.

The Ring of Fire and Nuke Energy do not mix well, don't they?

These earthquakes won't stop, will they?

They've been occuring for longer than humans have existed - they are part of nature and will never stop (naturally anyway)

Ahhhhhh,,, nice to be on Vacation in Florida, Never felt it!

Hmmm. Was this the one that I felt this morning while having breakfast? First my tummy flipflopped, then the dishwater started moving, then the doors rattled, and then I felt the swaying in the building.

Legs - You know you'll be back for more. You know you can't stay away. smile

Was this the one that I felt this morning while having breakfast?

I think there was one in Chiba this morning - somewhere between 7 and 8 anyway - so might have been that?

They've been occuring for longer than humans have existed - they are part of nature and will never stop

Question is, why are they getting more often and more intense? I read somewhere that it's 6 times more than last year. When will it stop? Or will it be leading to wider dissaster? How about volcanic eruptions? Is it related? Is one big event causing these? There are some answers out there, but how can we believe anything they say.

Question is, why are they getting more often and more intense?

But are they? The world has always had large earthquakes. Just because we have had 2 large ones relatively close together (the NZ quake was not really that powerful so I am only talking about Japan/Chile) doesn't mean things are getting any worse than they have been throughout history.

How about volcanic eruptions? Is it related?

One way to create volcanos is through tectonic movement so I would imagine so.

About the often and more intense thing it is a matter of perspective.....the world is billions of years old... even if humans have measured and experienced earthquakes for 5000 years, there have been many, many more. As yildiray implied above... natural disasters have become 'disasters' cause humans have populated the earth... they are otherwise simply nature running its course. Hopefully the earth will have some patience and give us time so we can be more ready for the next one(s) .

Of COURSE there have been major earthquakes in the past, and there will be major ones in the future. I just hope the people in the north get a break for a while (I realize this one was Nagano, but still).

Werent we just assured that all the other earthquakes relieved all the tension for a while? Seismologists ought to talk when they get it figured out and not before!

Agree with Farmboy.

No true scientist will say this is it, etc. More likely they will say this our understanding and findings based on currently available data and future data can verify current understandings or proof it wrong.

Science deals with current understandings based on available data/understandings only.

Apparently this quake caused some cracks in a tower at Matsumoto Castle.

The Ring of Fire and Nuke Energy do not mix well, don't they?

Yeah they should have thought of that before they got down to construction

@Zenny.

Science deals with current understandings based on available data/understandings only.

Not true. Science also theorizes. A very VERY important aspect of its approach.