Originally posted by Proper Knob
An analogy if you will -
Witht the development of better technology scientists have managed to detect more than 400 exo-planets (planets outside our solar system), because we hadn't had the technology to detect them before, it doesn't mean they didn't exist. They've always been there. The same with earthquakes.
(AP) New research compiled by Australian scientist Dr. Tom Chalko shows that global seismic activity on Earth is now five times more energetic than it was just 20 years ago.
The research proves that destructive ability of earthquakes on Earth increases alarmingly fast and that this trend is set to continue, unless the problem of "global warming" is comprehensively and urgently addressed.
The analysis of more than 386,000 earthquakes between 1973 and 2007 recorded on the US Geological Survey database proved that the global annual energy of earthquakes on Earth began increasing very fast since 1990.
Dr. Chalko said that global seismic activity was increasing faster than any other global warming indicator on Earth and that this increase is extremely alarming.
"The most serious environmental danger we face on Earth may not be climate change, but rapidly and systematically increasing seismic, tectonic and volcanic activity," said Dr. Chalko.
"Increase in the annual energy of earthquakes is the strongest symptom yet of planetary overheating.
"NASA measurements from space confirm that Earth as a whole absorbs at least 0.85 Megawatt per square kilometer more energy from the Sun than it is able to radiate back to space. This 'thermal imbalance' means that heat generated in the planetary interior cannot escape and that the planetary interior must overheat. Increase in seismic, tectonic and volcanic activities is an unavoidable consequence of the observed thermal imbalance of the planet," said Dr. Chalko.
Dr. Chalko has urged other scientists to maximize international awareness of the rapid increase in seismic activity, pointing out that this increase is not theoretical but that it is an Observable Fact.
"Unless the problem of global warming (the problem of persistent thermal imbalance of Earth) is addressed urgently and comprehensively - the rapid increase in global seismic, volcanic and tectonic activity is certain. Consequences of inaction can only be catastrophic. There is no time for half-measures."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/18/tech/main4191556.shtml
this is not so easy for those who claim that an increase in stations means and increase in recorded seismic activity which they have erroneously assumed means no increase in frequency nor of magnitude. The fact of the matter is, an increase in temperature (we now have the highest recordings of ocean temperature ever since records began) means more ice melts, means more water pressure , means more pressure on the tectonic plates, mans more seismic activity, plus even a few degrees of temperature increase makes the rock more prone to disturbance. The matter is of course, that we now have enough scientific reasons to believe that siesmic activity has and will increase in the future, irrespective of whether there is more stations for recording it or not. I am reminded of the words of Bob Dylan, 'how many times must a man look up, before he sees the sky'.