Earthquakes over magnitude 6.3 in 2011

[Phil Carter]

I noticed, after the two major Eartquakes just off the coast of Japan a week or so ago, that these had followed up the one in New Zealand. What I did NOT know, was how many significant Earthquakes have occured in relation to fault lines, areas of the world etc, in 2011 alone. Here is the list of all Eartquakes which registered a magnitude of 6.3 or more..

Magnitude 6.3 VANUATU March 17, 2011
Magnitude 9.0 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 11, 2011
Magnitude 6.5 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA March 09, 2011
Magnitude 7.2 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 09, 2011
Magnitude 6.6 SOLOMON ISLANDS March 07, 2011
Magnitude 6.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION March 06, 2011
Magnitude 6.3 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND February 21, 2011
Magnitude 6.6 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE February 14, 2011
Magnitude 6.8 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE February 11, 2011
Magnitude 6.5 CELEBES SEA February 10, 2011
Magnitude 7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011
Magnitude 6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011
Magnitude 7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011
Magnitude 7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011

best wishes,

Phil

[Chris]

I noticed, after the two major Eartquakes just off the coast of Japan a week or so ago, that these had followed up the one in New Zealand. What I did NOT know, was how many significant Earthquakes have occured in relation to fault lines, areas of the world etc, in 2011 alone. Here is the list of all Eartquakes which registered a magnitude of 6.3 or more..

Is there any reason to think that's an unusual number of earthquakes?

Judging from the statistics on this page - http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak...ar/eqstats.php - I'd say it's roughly the number you'd expect in a period of that length.

[Phil Carter]

Hello Chris,

No, I just looked at the recent developments and saw many Earthquakes in the Pacific region that I was unaware of. Perhaps others were unaware of this too.

best wishes

Phil

[Errata]

I read somewhere that we are about to lose the Solomon Islands. Between global warming, earthquakes and tsunami the islands are going to be under water soon. Soon geologically speaking.