Details on the Tongan Eruption (click here)In the case of the Sichuan, China quake, it was a matter of ignorance when the people first settled there. China has proven with the Three Gorges Dam that where knowledge of adversity to its populous will occur they are capable of moving huge populations of people to different living standards and locations. The Sichuan quake was predictable simply by the 'geology' of the region, however, the people has long lived in the region and hence the damage to them was 'set.' With geological surveys of seimic and potentially seimic areas, China and other nations, should be able to safe guard their people and provide improved quality of life for them and their safety.
A quake reading on a seismographWe ask a lot of China and countries such as Pakistan that support many people within their borders when the governments are offered expertise to match the demands of safety to their populous. How can the people of these countries NOT characterize their misfortunes as an 'act of God' as if displeasure with their obedience. It is tragedies such as this that are used to the advantage of 'anti-government' organizations such as al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan to turn the populous away from favoring their governments in rituals of superstition and confusion. Likewise, the suffering of the people following such tragedies can act as a 'methodology' against the government as well. Seeking venues of opportunity to protect populations of people by including within treaties and diplomatic understandings that people will receive safety from their governments both in the way of housing designed to 'code' and response to emergency to reassure rescue.It is these basic needs of citizens of these countries that should be included in State Department initiatives as 'in roads' to help 'stable' governments' maintain 'favor' with their people. Beyond that understanding it is also the 'moral' directive of the people of the USA to be sure such protections occur for other people. It is classic for the USA populous to be concerned and extend aid and NGO initiatives when tragedy strikes. So, to that end, we are the people most concerned with extending opportunities of expertise to these governments and help them build their own industries initially lending ours.
Released: 1/6/2009 4:41:02 PM Contact Information:U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOffice of Communication119 National CenterReston, VA 20192The number of earthquake-related fatalities across the world was much higher in 2008 than in recent years. (click title to entry - thank you)
About 88,070 deaths resulted from earthquake activity worldwide during 2008, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and confirmed by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This is the largest number of deaths from earthquakes in a year since 2004.
The strongest and most destructive earthquake of 2008 occurred in Eastern Sichuan, China on May 12, claiming at least 69,185 lives. This 7.9 magnitude earthquake injured 374,171 people, while a further 18,467 remain missing and are presumed dead in the Chengdu-Lixian-Guangyuan area. More than 45.5 million people-a total greater than the combined populations of California, Arizona and Nevada-were affected by this earthquake, which struck in one of China's most densely-populated regions. The event also triggered many landslides, some of which buried large sections of some towns including Beichuan.
In addition to China, earthquakes killed people in 13 countries on 4 continents during the past year, including Algeria, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, and Rwanda.
In the contiguous United States, the highest magnitude earthquake in 2008 occurred at 6.0 on Feb. 21 near Wells, Nevada. While no lives were lost as a result of this quake, at least three people were injured and more than 20 buildings were heavily damaged....
Pacific quake causes tsunami, no damage (click here)Published: 7:59AM Friday March 20, 2009ReutersSmoke is seen after an underwater volcano erupted in Hunga Ha'apai, Tonga
WATCH the video (0:41)
A powerful undersea earthquake struck off the south Pacific island of Tonga on Friday and generated a tsunami capable of causing severe damage to the area, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported. There were no reports of damage or of sea levels rising in Fiji or Tonga, and the tsunami warning was later cancelled. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.9 quake struck 212.4 kilometres southeast of Nuku'alofa, Tonga, at 7am NZT on Friday. "Sea level readings confirm that a tsunami was generated. This tsunami may have been destructive along coastlines of the region near the earthquake epicenter," the US National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said....There is an opportunity for the USA to develop industry surrounding this reality. It begins with realizing a State Department engaged with countries such as Pakistan can start to lend a potential for the Pakistani government to reassure its populous it is a benevolent government that cares about them. Sadly, the potential for engineers to work on 'seismic proof' construction in very dangerous regions of the world, providing the people there with expertise to train and perform their own construction is sometimes left to 'fumbing' around 'the net.' (click here)
New Island and Pumice Raft in the Tongas (click here)Posted November 16, 2006Click here for the pictures in 2006 (these are the larger images)Historic USGS Moment Tensor Solutions of Tonga (click here) - This historical data shows a trend. As the earthquakes occur further from the 'ridge' (In this case it is a 'trench' subducting to the Australian plate, but, those terms are so obsure to most people that it is easier to call it a ridge. Most people understand that. But, to geologists a ridge is a different geological feature. Simplicity sake I'll call it a ridge.) they are deeper. The deeper the earthquakes, potential for land movement is greater, simply because of the 'area' between the surface and depth of quake. Not all quakes manifest in a full thickness of the location to the surface either. The more land displacement and velocity of the quake the more chance of tsunami, but, it also depends on the 'direction' of that velocity as well. So, predicting earthquakes and tsunamis is not carved in stone, hence, the potential for death.
