[escepticos] Terremotos

["C. Mario del Río" <cdelrioc@...>]

http://www.usgs.gov/public/press/public_affairs/press_releases/pr1394m.html
Me extraña que no haya salido ningún magufo diciendo que tantos terremotos
son una señal de quién sabe qué. Por si acaso os encontrais a alguno de
estos, reenvío un artículo del USGS.

    Saludos

    Mario

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Planeta Escéptica http://www.geocities.com/planetaesceptica

R&R! http://www.geocities.com/rocaandroll
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http://www.usgs.gov/public/press/public_affairs/press_releases/pr1394m.html


News Release  U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey
Address Mail Stop 150 345 Middlefield Road Menlo Park, CA 94025
Release March 5, 2001   Contact Pat Jorgenson   Phone 650-329-4011      Fax


No More Earthquakes Than Usual, But 2001 So Far Is Deadly

With more than 35,000 estimated deaths from earthquakes in the first two
months of 2001, it may seem like the earth is more restless than usual. Not
so, according to scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's National
Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) in Golden, Colo.
"While it's true that more people have died from earthquakes during the
first two months of this year than in the last two years put together, the
average number of earthquakes per month has stayed about the same," said
NEIC chief scientist, Waverly Person. "Overall, earthquake activity isn't on
the rise," said Person. "We're simply able to locate more lower magnitude
earthquakes due to advances in the technology, and when a deadly quake
occurs, those images of death and destruction come right into our living
rooms on the evening news."
In January 2000, there were six "significant" earthquakes that were
responsible for seven deaths. Significant earthquakes are defined by NEIC as
"earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.5 or larger, or ones that caused
fatalities, injuries or substantial damage." In January 2001 there were also
six significant earthquakes, but the combined death toll from the January 13
earthquake in El Salvador and the January 26 quake in southern India is
estimated at 30,000 to 40,000.
In February 2000 there were five significant earthquakes, with one death,
whereas in February 2001 there were three significant quakes, with 325
deaths. The highest magnitude of any quake in February 2001 was the 6.8
temblor that struck the Seattle area, February 28, but no deaths were
directly attributed to the earthquake, and damage, though extensive, was far
less than it would have been in many cities of the world.
"Dense urban populations coupled with weak building structures near the
epicenters are responsible for most of the fatalities, in any year," Person
said. "The annual, long-term average is 10,000 deaths worldwide, but that
figure varies greatly, from year to year. In 2000, for example, there were
only about 225 people killed in earthquakes, whereas, fatalities totaled
8,928 in 1998, and 2,907 in 1997. The deadliest year of the 20th century was
1976, when at least 255,000 people, and perhaps more than 600,000, were
killed after one quake rocked Tianjin (formerly Tangshan), China."
Person said a typical year for earthquakes consists of 18 major temblors
(magnitude 7.0 to 7.9) and one great quake (8.0 or higher). During the first
two months of 2001, there were seven earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.0 or
higher, and two others with magnitudes of 6.8. The highest magnitude of any
quake in February 2001 was the magnitude 7.3 in Southern Sumatra.
The greatest number of earthquake-related deaths this year has been in
India, where at least 30,000 have been confirmed dead, from the 7.7, January
26, earthquake, with the death toll estimated to go as high as 50,000. The
death toll from the January 13, 7.6 quake in El Salvador, plus several
aftershocks, is estimated at around 1,170. Many of the El Salvadorans were
killed when earthquake-triggered landslides crushed their homes.
The USGS estimates that several million earthquakes occur in the world each
year. Many go undetected because they hit remote areas or have very small
magnitudes. The USGS now locates about 50 earthquakes each day, or about
20,000 a year, with an average of 20 earthquakes per day in California.
Real-time information about earthquakes can be found at
<http://quake.wr.usgs.gov>.
Since 1973, the USGS has provided up-to-date earthquake information to
emergency response and mitigation teams, government agencies, universities,
private companies, scientists and the general public. This information
includes determinations of the locations and severity of seismic events in
the United States and throughout the world, including the rapid analysis of
significant earthquakes on a 24-hour basis. Seismologists around the world
use this information to increase their understanding of earthquakes and to
better evaluate earthquake hazards. As the nation's largest water, earth and
biological science and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in
cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide
reliable, impartial, scientific information to resource managers, planners,
and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS
scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters,
contribute to the sound conservation, economic and physical development of
the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by
monitoring water, biological, energy and mineral resources.
***USGS***
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URL
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Last Modification: 3-5-2001 en 5:47pm(CB)