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© Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.Series of quakes rattle Japan, but cause no damage
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some14some
that's good, now the chances of bigger earthquake (in near future) are less, i hope.
nath
Yes but most importantly was there any further damage to Fukushima Daiichi and especially the SFP of reactor #4?
Apsara
None reported. The first quake was much too far away and the second was no bigger than a lot of other aftershocks we've had in the last year so I don't see why there would be.
nath
They were occurring all night...
choiwaruoyaji
The big one (the predicted Kanto nearfield earthquake) will hit soon... I'm sure of it.
kurisupisu
Seismic movement will have disturbed the damaged reactors at Fukushima. If the buildings' integrity is worsened there should be a noticeable effect on the radioactive emissions, verifiable in a day or two.....
caffeinebuzz
Unfortunately earthquake prediction remains far-off. Scientists at present can only make guesses based on a variety of factors- something that's hard enough in countries with few quakes; let alone Japan which sits on multiple time-bombs. What's certain is that they'll inevitably happen, and you can only prepare yourself just in case. Right now it's just too hard for any expert to say (with certainty) whether smaller quakes are a sign of worse to come, or alleviating built-up pressure. I don't think we'll reach that level of scientific knowledge for a long time. Just be prepared for any disaster!
choiwaruoyaji
When the big one hits, I'm going to follow the "triangle of life" theory... I'm always checking the room I am in to find a likely triangle.
I think the existing advice to get under the table is best for older people's homes in Japan, which are typically crammed choc-a-block with millions of items of furniture filled with ornaments or crockery just waiting to tip over on your head.
My home is more simply furnished with each piece of furniture secure.
When I tried the earthquake simulator at that place in Tokyo for a magnitude 7, the table we got under was moving so much it almost bashed my head. Also, it was summer so I was wearing shorts and as a result badly grazed my knees on the floor. I can't let that happen again.
choiwaruoyaji
And remember... don't stay unsafe, people.
nath
Nothing new here, next news item please.
HansNFranz
@caffeinebuzz Oh, don't be such a buzzkill ;-) The people on here just love to spin crazy theories about earthquake scenarios and "the big one" coming "closer".
gyouza
Hmm, so smashed windows, collapsed walls and merchandise thrown to floor is not REAL damage.
Aries Post
Wow so many earthquakes... Was it always like this? Did the frequency increase?
caffeinebuzz
HansNFranz, I hear where you're coming from. I was in Fukushima on 3.11 and while the radiation was a worry close to the reactors for sure, I made sure to compare the radiation levels in my area (with three Geiger counters at different intervals) with the official readouts and found no flaws with the official data. It was bemusing to see people calling for the entire prefecture to be evacuated for the next trillion years or whatever, when all that was needed was commonsense and cool heads. Pseudo-scientific theories do little but needlessly worry people, when all that needs to be done is just level-headed preparedness for any disaster that could knock out vital supplies (I was luckily prepared for when the gas and water supplies were knocked out, and had enough food- but remember only being able to buy peanuts and beer from any convenience store for days in the aftermath...Not such a bad thing if that's what keeps you alive!)
Liberty Joe Lowe
There was so many quakes last night, I got up this morning and had sea legs!
Heda_Madness
When the big one hits, I'm going to follow the "triangle of life" theory... I'm always checking the room I am in to find a likely triangle.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/survive-earthquake5.htm
caffeinebuzz
Reminds me of the South Park "duck and cover!" approach to a deadly lava flow :p Always be critical and check science-based articles or sites like Snopes. If it seems to good to be true...And all that ;)
Apsara
Where was that, gyouza?
Apsara
Yes, the frequency has increased since 3/11 last year, there are apparently about five times as many earthquakes in the areas hit last night now as there were before the big one. They weren't unusual at all before 3/11 though.
gogogo
Nuclear power plants offline does not mean a thing, if they lose power they have no way of cooling the fuel.
Seavey
Well, if any new fault lines are discovered during all this seismic activity, I am sure the Japanese will waste no time building a new nuclear power plant right on top of it.
caffeinebuzz
One thing a lot of people have trouble with is the "increase in earthquakes" in general. Monitoring stations have increased and improved over the last few decades (not to mention population expansion which means more people are at risk than before), meaning that previously undetectable or insignificant quakes are increasingly picked up and reported on- giving the impression that seismic activity is increasing. While increases in local earthquake frequencies are a given with major tremors every how many centuries, the earth is in a period of relative geological stability overall.
caffeinebuzz
This has all happened before, and it will all happen again ;)
Gurukun
I'm no expert at EQ's, but isn't it better to have alot of little ones than one big one? To me, it seems that the pressure of the plates are relieving pressure little by little, instead of building up pressure and snapping at one time and releasing another 9 plus EQ. Any takers on this?
KuYani
"Nuclear power plants offline does not mean a thing, if they lose power they have no way of cooling the fuel"
See, that is why nuclear is bad for a volcanic Island, well now yu got it. Well people I am sure you are prepared for the eventuality, but just in case, go live with a relative off somewhere in the hills, but not in the mountains. Because if a volcano came suddenly like Vanunu it will blow everything sky high, from recorded history Vanunu gave many warning before it blows. Stay away from Fuji as far away as possible. This much activity is a sure sign that there is volcanic activity afoot and is a sure warning that you had better get out of the way. It is time to think about that vacation if you have one coming, or visit a relative. Watch it!
caffeinebuzz
Gurukun, it's still mostly in unknown territory, science-wise. It would definitely be the case in some circumstances, but no one can say for sure because of the multitude of factors that go into an earthquake.
caffeinebuzz
To put it in perspective, the earth's crust (the solid part we're plonked on) is about 1 percent of the entire earth, and the plates move according to internal convection that happens deep in the liquid layers of the planet. So many factors mean that earthquake prediction remains mostly out of our reach, but scientists are starting to get some clues. Hopefully they understand more before larger ones strike in the future!
KuYani
Well it is recorded that animals and insects start moving when a valcano is immenent so maybe one should be alert and watch for the signs and at that time animals and insect do not exihibit any sign of fear from humans, they just kept moving out from their habitat as fast as possible, so that is one thing to watch for.
Seavey
One man's garbage is another man's treasure. One plate's relief is another plate's strain.
cleo
Mmm, no, I've been here for the past few decades, I haven't had any monitoring stations fitted to my person and I can state with confidence that I have felt more quakes in the past twelve months than in the whole of the previous 30 years. Stronger ones, too. So it isn't simply a case of more, and more sensitive, equipment picking up on the tiny quakes that got missed before.
I think that's the common-sense view, but it doesn't always work that way. 3/11 triggered the earthquake that occurred in Niigata the following day, due to pressure being released and allowing the fault to move. Or so it was explained to me.
choiwaruoyaji
@Heda
I didn't check it but presumably the link is for some kind of 'debunking' of the triangles of life theory.
That's ok... you take your chances the best way you see fit.
However, I don't think the existing standard advice, in the event of a huge earthquake will necessarily save your life.
I think all bet's are off in that case. You look at the situation you are in and decide what you want to do.
There was the famous case of the Australian guy in that auditorium when the big earthquake hit Tokyo last year. Everyone was told to stay put but he decided to run for it. He survived but a woman two seats away from him who stayed was killed by the collapsing ceiling.
I absolutely commend his actions and also I think there's a message in that story for the rest of us.
caffeinebuzz
Cleo, I think you might have missed or misunderstood where I referred to both local and global earthquake frequencies.
gyouza
@aspara
In Kamisu in Ibaraki - Fuji TV showed footage of all of these this morning, as well as broken/fallen roof tiles.
Nessie
The big one is always coming closer, by definition, unless you've got a time machine.
BernieK
C'mon people. There's really no news here for us survivors up north. Just remember, during an earthquake go underneath a safe place. Shut up and ride it out. The worst thing to do is panic. Then walk outside, if your not already out. Sorry if I'm spoiling the fun here.
Heda_Madness
many of Copp's claims have been debunked on scientific grounds or shown to be inaccurate because they come from experiences in other countries with different building codes. He has also been shown to have distorted and selectively used evidence to prove his points
You're right. Best to do what you think in any given situation but I'd also like to think that my decision is based on all of the evidence around from scientists and not from people using distorted or selective evidence to prove points.
mctavish
A lot of speculation one way or another and none of us can say what lies ahead but at least we are all giving it thought and (hopefully) making sensible preparations like having emergency kits and supplies - something I've neglected in the past.
Someone on this board (sorry, I forget who) posted a very good idea a few weeks ago that I've taken on board and acted on. The advice was to determine places where you and family/friends can go to leave messages following a devastating quake and so stand a better chance of meeting up. Certainly, my first priority will be confirming the kids are OK. We've chosen a few places around our neighborhood, such as particular trees, where the kids can leave a note, or if necessary, make a mark by scrapping with a stick or rock.
Regarding the nuclear issues, it's the current condition of spent fuel pools that I worry about and what would happen if one of them topples or collapse as a result of these continual tremblors...
nath
@gyouza
I used to teach in Kamisu. I hope the locals are ok. According to the USGS, there was a magnitude 5.7 with an epicentre almost right under the city of Choshi in Chiba, and at least one report of "moderate" damage.
gyouza
@ the_harper
I'm normally out there twice a year - love the place as it normally so quiet. The lack of high ground has always worried me if there was a tsunami - it would basically wash over the whole pennisula. Luckily, the recent ones (8 or more now in the last two days) have not triggered any tsunami in that region.
Yesterdays injuries were light - one 95 year old died after falling ill AFTER the quake. Could be heart related, not sure, and one woman fractured a wrist.
Gurukun
caffienebuzz, cleo, Patrick Samsh and others. Thanks for the input. I guess I'll just leave it up to the pros that deal with these plate shifts and all. LOL!! Just wanted some insight from other posters.
Heda_Madness
Bruce, the March 7 quake was a 'pre-shock' or 'Fore-shock'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshock
Disillusioned
The theories of earthquake prediction are just that, theories. There is no scientific way to accurately predict where and when earthquakes will strike. You are better relying on a psychic. Even the theory of many small quakes will release pressure is not proven to be accurate. The only thing you can be sure of is, earthquakes will continue to happen and to hope you are not in an elevator when the big one does come. Having an emergency pack in your home is also a false security considering most people spend less than 40% of their time at home. Just be ready to run and keep the faith you will survive.
Elbuda Mexicano
I have my solar powered lights ready to go 24/7! Take no chances with quakes that can strike at any time, 24/7!
efisher
Some days ago, many deep-sea fish were found dead, is the place near that of the earthquake this time?
Apsara
No, nowhere near, and earthquakes of this size happen frequently here, whether fish have died in large numbers a few days before or not.
nath
@gyouza
The main dune along the peninsula beach is actually quite high, so it would depend on the height of the tsunami and the state of the tide. Areas to the northern end of Kamisu near Kashima Port have a sea wall which I'd guess at around 5 metres above ground level on the inland side, maybe less. Nowhere near enough to protect from something on the scale of the Tohoku tsunami, but it's hardly possible to build a 15m wall around all of Japan. Glad to hear that the injuries were minor. I suspect that there was significant damage in places, rather than "no damage". One of my friends in Kashima (just north of Kamisu) told me that a house belonging to one of his friends was destroyed by an early aftershock of the Tohoku quake. There was at least one quite close to Kashima with a magnitude of over 6 on the richter scale.
efisher
If a 15m wall is built, people in the street can see the sea anymore. It seems like living in underground.
nath
@efisher
Agreed, although at the spot I was thinking of in Kamisu, nobody living the buildings close to the current wall could see over it either. Living next to a massive wall would make me feel like I was in a prison. I don't think there's a realistic answer for once-in-a-lifetime events like the Tohoku tsunami other than ensuring that people living in the path of such a wave have a good chance of getting to a place that is high enough and strong enough to survive it. Building shelters with enough height and strength to withstand such a wave would be a better answer than trying to build a wall high enough and strong enough to keep the water away.
HansNFranz
@Patrick Smash Or maybe nothing has to do with anything. What we witness in this forum is people trying to deal with uncertainty. Maybe "the big one" is never coming, maybe it's coming in six minutes. I use quotes for "the big one" because if we have a >5+ quake under Tokyo, how do we know it was "the big one"? Maybe there's a M10, never-seen-before quake coming a day after it?
I could respect people more if they'd just accept that the earth is bleak piece of rock, molten on the inside, with forces working that we might never understand, much less be able to predict.
Just accept we can't predict or control anything, and work it from there. Be nice to your loved ones, because tomorrow all could be over. Maybe because of an earthquake, maybe because of a nuke smuggled into the city by terrorists, who knows?
nath
Take note that although one earthquake may not show any immediate abnormalities, repeated earthquakes defintely degerate the nuclear power plants to an extent that maybe one small earthquake will be the last straw to the blow up. So, quick announcements of 'no damage/abnormalities to the nuclear plants' should be taken with caution.
KuYani
People who are informed and keep alert will most likely survive, those who are ill informed, lazy and lackadaisical will be left behind, I agree when instinct kicks in move no matter what others say or does, it might just save your life. Also, this is the first time that there is so many anomalies in Japan, so one should be prepared for the worst and if it doesn't happen then everybody will all be happy.
Wakarimasen
A few of my colleagues went on business trips today. must be unrelated.
Chaz Ed
I've always wanted to come to Japan to see the culture and experience the people~ Since Japan is smack dab in the middle of one of the most active earthquake zones, I think I'll pass! The more I read and see about the spin and misuse of the truth about Japan's government and the Nuke plants! I wonder sometimes if Japan is even governed by reality of any real strength! It's bad enough here in the US with cronies and politicians attempting to rule the world! Since the people can't seem to control the controllers, maybe we should all subscribe to the nuclear fairy tales of the 50's, duck and cover! As far as earthquakes happening, they will continue as far as you and I walk this earth! And beyond! Our thin crust is floating on a ball of hot goo! The rock found on our east coast, along the Appalachian mountains is the same rock that is found in England! We really have no choices do we?
efisher
Maybe, the government has its' concern for national security, Japan has no energy resources, so nuclear is the only affordable option.
Debbie Itabashi
Making observations here... I read somewhere on a science page that the moon was at its closest to the Earth the week of March 11th. I was reading on Space.com threw facebook that the past 48 hours both Jupiter and Venus was lining up with the moon. Gravitational pull could have a portion of say about this.
Animals and bugs, I have been noticing and commented about the fact that I havent seen as many animals running around as I normally do - since the begining of February. I also havent noticed any crows either. Bugs wise, by now I have spiders and ants all over my front entry way - yet none yet. Over by the train station there is normally a large amount of cockroaches.... Yet seem to be very deminished this year as well. I dont know how to read the meaning behind it ... As I said on a post on facebook, but I would like to know. So mean while I am going to live my life - but keep an eye/ear out for watching what mother natures living non humans are trying to say.
Like I said, making some observations. Anyone else notice any of these as well?
Gramie
@Debbie, there is no way that the gravity of Jupiter and Venus could have any effect upon the earth, in any real sense. Venus is 38-261 million km from earth, and Jupiter is 628-928 million km away. Given that gravity decreases with the square of the distance, I think we're safe from them.
The "maximal perigee", when the moon is closest to the earth, was last year (a week AFTER the Fukushima quake); since then it has been moving (slightly) farther away. Also, experts say that the moon might have a slight statistical effect on the frequency of earthquakes, but has a negligible effect upon their intensity.
nath
@Chaz Ed
Would you cancel a trip to California because of the earthquake risk? Or Alaska? Alaska has more earthquakes than Japan.
Debbie Itabashi
Gramie, didnt say it was THE answer, but even if any of their effects were about... Science - still learning of things about space - it is still an observation of things that may or may not have direct effect on how Mother Nature reacts to things here on planet Earth. Solar flares not even directed towards us still seem to effect things just fine.
7777777
Heda, I once heard a very good presentation about the "triangle of life" theory. The speaker said the triangle of life studies were done in collaspeable structures. So this theory is good for countries where construction is poor and structures are likely to collapse, but Japan has good earthquake resistent construction so structures arent as likely to collapse so the best thing to do in Japan is to get under a table, desk, etc. and protect your head. In the triangle of life, getting under something would mean you get smashed by it as the structure collapses, but in Japan it is more likely something will fall and injure you if you are not under something to protect yourself because the structures in Japan tend to sway and throw things rather than just completely collapse on your head. The speaker said Mexico, China, Iran, etc. these countries make collapsable construction so the triangle of life is your best bet in these countries if you cant get out into an open space. Anyway, it is hard to know, but I personally am going to follow the "get under cover" theory because it made sense to me for Japan.