supermoon and its effect on lithosphere
Supermoon of 18th march isnt the cause of quake at japan
We all know that earth’s only natural satellite, moon was very close (356,575 kilometres) to the
earth on 18th march of this year . The phenomenon is called as supermoon. Let me explain you the
phenomenon first and then I will focus on its relation with the recent deadly quake at japan.
If a new moon or a full moon occurs when moon is much closer to earth then the phenomenon is
known as supermoon . The supermoon which occurred on 18th of this month is known as ‘maximal
perigee’ in the field of astronomy. The moon appeared unusually large and in full phase to
stargazers as it was at the closest distance from earth in the past 18 years. Supermoons occur
approximately 4 or 5 times in an year but he distance of the moon from the earth varies. The
one which occurred on 18th march was quite extreme supermoon. Here is a list of future and past
extreme supermoons ( as published bywikipedia.org):
November 10, 1954
November 20, 1972
January 8, 1974
February 26, 1975
December 2, 1990
January 19, 1992
March 8, 1993
January 10, 2005
December 12, 2008
January 30, 2010
March 19, 2011
November 14, 2016
January 2, 2018
January 21, 2023
November 25, 2034
January 13, 2036
Though many people accuse supermoons for natural disasters, there is no apparent
evidence in the support of such theories. It’s a fact that moon has effect on tides in the sea
but there is no effect of moon on tectonic activity (the movement of earth’s lithosphere).
Whenever any seismic activity occurs, there are many factors involved in it and the lunar
activity’s contribution is a topic of debate. Geologist Bill Burton with the US Geological
Survey (quoted from discovery.com) says that high tides which are caused by
moon’s gravitational force do have effect on seismic activity or we can say the effect
is more than negligible. Mr. burton adds that very minor, low magnitude earthquakes
might occur during the period of high tides and lunar perigee. He says that this
will happen only if the conditions were in favour of that minor quake .There is no
evidence of such supermoons being the cause of major seismic activities. The
earthquake and the following tsunami waves that hit Japan have no connection with
the supermoon which occurred on 18th. People should not believe in any such claims.
We all know that earth’s only natural satellite, moon was very close (356,575 kilometres) to the
earth on 18th march of this year . The phenomenon is called as supermoon. Let me explain you the
phenomenon first and then I will focus on its relation with the recent deadly quake at japan.
If a new moon or a full moon occurs when moon is much closer to earth then the phenomenon is
known as supermoon . The supermoon which occurred on 18th of this month is known as ‘maximal
perigee’ in the field of astronomy. The moon appeared unusually large and in full phase to
stargazers as it was at the closest distance from earth in the past 18 years. Supermoons occur
approximately 4 or 5 times in an year but he distance of the moon from the earth varies. The
one which occurred on 18th march was quite extreme supermoon. Here is a list of future and past
extreme supermoons ( as published bywikipedia.org):
November 10, 1954
November 20, 1972
January 8, 1974
February 26, 1975
December 2, 1990
January 19, 1992
March 8, 1993
January 10, 2005
December 12, 2008
January 30, 2010
March 19, 2011
November 14, 2016
January 2, 2018
January 21, 2023
November 25, 2034
January 13, 2036
Though many people accuse supermoons for natural disasters, there is no apparent
evidence in the support of such theories. It’s a fact that moon has effect on tides in the sea
but there is no effect of moon on tectonic activity (the movement of earth’s lithosphere).
Whenever any seismic activity occurs, there are many factors involved in it and the lunar
activity’s contribution is a topic of debate. Geologist Bill Burton with the US Geological
Survey (quoted from discovery.com) says that high tides which are caused by
moon’s gravitational force do have effect on seismic activity or we can say the effect
is more than negligible. Mr. burton adds that very minor, low magnitude earthquakes
might occur during the period of high tides and lunar perigee. He says that this
will happen only if the conditions were in favour of that minor quake .There is no
evidence of such supermoons being the cause of major seismic activities. The
earthquake and the following tsunami waves that hit Japan have no connection with
the supermoon which occurred on 18th. People should not believe in any such claims.
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