2,619

That is, aproximately, how many earthquakes will happen today, according to CERI at the University of Memphis and some solid arithmetic.

*clears throat*

None of these will be caused by immodesty.

Just so we're clear.

Today is Boobquake 2010 (thanks to Jen at BlagHag.com).

And I am joyously including my erm immodesty in the effort to demonstrate that it is not human behavior nor supernatural whatsits, but natural phenomena which cause earthquakes.



That CERI site has some great information about earthquakes besides how often they occur. Let's snag the basics.

1. What is the Definition of an Earthquake?

An earthquake is the sudden, sometimes violent movement of the earth's surface from the release of energy in the earth's crust.

2. What Causes Most Earthquakes?

The crust of the earth when it is subject to tectonic forces, bends slightly. But, because the crust is rigid, when the stress or pressure exceeds the strength of the rocks, the crust breaks and snaps into a new position. Vibrations called seismic waves are generated and travel both through the earth and along its surface. These seismic waves cause the movement we call earthquakes.

3. Where Are Earthquakes Likely to Occur?

Within areas of the crust are fractures, known as faults, along which two crustal blocks have slipped or moved against each other. One block may move up while the other moves down, or one may move horizontally in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. Geologists and seismologists (scientists who study earthquakes and the processes that create them) have found that earthquakes occur repeatedly at faults, which are zones of weakness in the earth's crust.

4. How Many Earthquakes Happen Each Year?

There are over a million quakes annually, including those too small to be felt.

Another blogger has been kind enough to do a little dissecting for us. Take it away, Lousy Cannuck.

Statistically, there’s going to be about three “damaging” earthquakes, e.g. 5.0-5.9 on the Richter scale, throughout the world this Monday.

Bet it felt nice to get that off your chest.

In fact, today at 11am, an earthquake shook Taitung and Taipei in Taiwan. It was a big one, at 6.9. But, there have been no reports of deaths or major damage. Why? Could it be that Taiwan was formed by the suturing of several island arcs formed by the subduction of the Eurasian Plate under the Phillipine Sea Plate. In fact, Taiwan is a great big fault all by itself. As such, one might expect, if faults had anything to do with earthquakes, that the people there might build accordingly to reduce the amount and degree of damage caused by earthquakes, since they might expect to have a great deal of them.

It would appear that they have done just that.

But, earthquakes are SRS BSNS. Jokes aside, they cause serious damage and have great human cost. We've already seen, in horrifying detail in Haiti, how a significant earthquake can impact already fragile developing nations. So, today, take inspiration from our defiance (or your own) and give. At Jen's suggestion, give to the Red Cross to support their continued humanitarian response in communities impacted by earthquakes. And give to the James Randi Education fund to support the continued effort to fight pseudoscience and superstition everywhere. I'd also recommend donating to the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation to aid Ali's continued fight to protect women's basic human rights and bodily integrity from fundamentalist Islam.

We can't stop earthquakes, but we can end the kind of ignorance that would shame women by claiming that what they choose to do with their bodies not only should cost them their lives, but will cost the lives of their neighbors by natural disaster.