The belief that animals are able to sense the oncoming of natural disasters has been around for centuries. Many have also believed that more specifically, some animals can predict earthquakes by their behavior to suddenly flee out of their environment when nothing else seems amiss.
A new study suggests that toads may be able to detect pre-seismic clues to impending earthquakes due to changes in their watery habitats. This study was set up after a scientist observed many toads fleeing from a breeding ground just prior to an earthquake that struck Italy in 2009. By coincidence at that time, a researcher by the name of Dr. Rachel Grant happened to be in Italy monitoring a toad population that was only 74 km from the 6.3 magnitude earthquake.
What Dr. Grant noted was that 5 days before the earthquake struck the number of breeding toads dropped drastically. 3 days prior to the earthquake she had witnessed that most of the breeding pairs and the males were gone. Her speculation was that they were leaving due to some kind of pre-seismic clues but she was not clear as to what this could be.
After publishing her findings in the Journal of Zoology she was contacted by Nasa. The Nasa scientists had been studying the chemical changes that occur when rocks are put under extreme stress and they knew that the rocks then released charged particles. When these charged particles reach the Earth's surface they then react with the air converting air molecules into charged particles called ions. Positive ions are known to cause headaches and nausea in humans. Also when they react with water, they will turn it into hydrogen peroxide which would be toxic to aquatic animals therefore causing them to flee.
Although the researchers stress that more studies must be done in order to verify this, Dr. Grant continues to be very optimistic that if verified, these clues could be used in the future to help predict earthquakes. All with the help from a very unusual partner - the common toad.
Today at 8.25pm local time an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 hit northeastern Burma along the borders of Thailand and Laos. No initial reports of casualties or damage have been reported however approximately 600,000 people would have felt strong to violent shaking. Residential homes in this area are very vulnerable to moderate to heavy damage because they are made of mostly wood and unreinforced brick construction so reports of damage are to be expected. Landslides are also more prone to happen in these hilly areas when seismic activity occurs.
The nearest populated city was Mae Sai, with a population of 28,000. Effects were also felt in Bangkok, Thailand where buildings were reported to have swayed. People were also been said to have felt it in Hanoi, Vietnam. Because the area is so far inland though, no tsunamis will be a result of this quake.
To put the magnitude into perspective by comparison, the January 2010 earthquake that killed 230,000 people in Haiti was measured at 7.0; the February 2010 earthquake that shook Chile was rated at 6.8; and the Japan earthquake on March 11 was a 9.0 magnitude event.
On March 11th, Japan was devastated by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake that was one of the largest on record. The earthquake then triggered a deadly tsunami that slammed into the east coast of Japan, leaving thousands of people dead, injured or missing.
In the days that have followed we have all been moved by the devastating scenes and traumatic stories about Japan that are literally unfolding before our eyes. We want to help our Japanese brothers and sisters since they are in desperate need of aid. Not only are the people there suffering and in need but the animals are also in need of rescue and shelter. In the past, Japan has also generously donated often when other countries have experienced disasters. It is now our turn to help them.
Here is a list of legitimate organizations that are working with those in Japan to assist them in this time of great need. Please donate to to the organization of your choice to help both the people and animals of Japan. Remember these words, " there but for the grace of God go I".
Tsunami warnings were sent out to at least 50 countries and territories after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan Friday afternoon. This earthquake could be registered as the 5th largest quake ever recorded.
The wide-ranging list under the tsunami warning includes Russia and Indonesia, Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica and the U.S. state of Hawaii.
"The quake, which struck near the coast of Honshu, Japan on Friday afternoon, unleashed a wall of water that rushed in toward land, leveling houses and bashing cars in its path." - CNN news
Fears are that the fast-moving waves from a tsunami could be so high that they wash over entire islands in the Pacific ocean. Tsunami waves can move at a speed of 620 MPH.
Estimated Times of Initial Tsunami Arrival:
The following list gives estimated times of arrival for locations along the North American Pacific coast from a tsunami generated at the given source location. The list is ordered by arrival time starting with the earliest.
Since tsunami speed is directly related to water depth, tsunami ETAs can be computed independent of tsunami amplitude. THE LISTING OF A TSUNAMI ARRIVAL TIME BELOW DOES NOT INDICATE A WAVE IS IMMINENT. The listed arrival time is the initial wave arrival. Tsunamis can be dangerous for many hours after arrival, and the initial wave is not necessarily the largest.
DART 21415 2348 AKST MAR 10 0848 UTC MAR 11
Shemya, Alaska 0020 AKST MAR 11 0920 UTC MAR 11
Attu, Alaska 0020 AKST MAR 11 0920 UTC MAR 11
DART 21414 0020 AKST MAR 11 0920 UTC MAR 11
Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak) 0034 AKST MAR 11 0934 UTC MAR 11
Amchitka, Alaska 0037 AKST MAR 11 0937 UTC MAR 11
DART 46413 0059 AKST MAR 11 0959 UTC MAR 11
Atka, Alaska 0116 AKST MAR 11 1016 UTC MAR 11
Adak, Alaska 0118 AKST MAR 11 1018 UTC MAR 11
DART 46408 0119 AKST MAR 11 1019 UTC MAR 11
DART 46402 0145 AKST MAR 11 1045 UTC MAR 11
Nikolski, Alaska 0159 AKST MAR 11 1059 UTC MAR 11
DART 46403 0219 AKST MAR 11 1119 UTC MAR 11
Akutan, Alaska 0224 AKST MAR 11 1124 UTC MAR 11
Dutch Harbor, Alaska 0228 AKST MAR 11 1128 UTC MAR 11
Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Dutch Harbo 0236 AKST MAR 11 1136 UTC MAR 11
St. Paul, Alaska 0239 AKST MAR 11 1139 UTC MAR 11
DART 46409 0300 AKST MAR 11 1200 UTC MAR 11
King Cove, Alaska 0303 AKST MAR 11 1203 UTC MAR 11
Sand Point, Alaska 0304 AKST MAR 11 1204 UTC MAR 11
Perryville, Alaska 0326 AKST MAR 11 1226 UTC MAR 11
DART 46410 0326 AKST MAR 11 1226 UTC MAR 11
Cold Bay, Alaska 0337 AKST MAR 11 1237 UTC MAR 11
Chignik Bay, Alaska 0357 AKST MAR 11 1257 UTC MAR 11
Kodiak, Alaska 0358 AKST MAR 11 1258 UTC MAR 11
Cape Suckling, Alaska (75 miles SE of Cordova) 0359 AKST MAR 11 1259 UTC MAR 11
Old Harbor, Alaska 0400 AKST MAR 11 1300 UTC MAR 11
Hinchinbrook Entrance, Alaska (90 miles E of Se 0409 AKST MAR 11 1309 UTC MAR 11
Seward, Alaska 0423 AKST MAR 11 1323 UTC MAR 11
Alitak, Alaska 0425 AKST MAR 11 1325 UTC MAR 11
Elfin Cove, Alaska 0425 AKST MAR 11 1325 UTC MAR 11
Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles SW of Homer) 0428 AKST MAR 11 1328 UTC MAR 11
Saint Matthew Island, Alaska 0433 AKST MAR 11 1333 UTC MAR 11
Cape Fairweather, Alaska (80 miles SE of Yakuta 0433 AKST MAR 11 1333 UTC MAR 11
Yakutat, Alaska 0433 AKST MAR 11 1333 UTC MAR 11
Sitka, Alaska 0433 AKST MAR 11 1333 UTC MAR 11
Salisbury Sound, Alaska (25 miles NW of Sitka) 0434 AKST MAR 11 1334 UTC MAR 11
Port Alexander, Alaska 0434 AKST MAR 11 1334 UTC MAR 11
the Alaska/British Columbia border 0538 PST MAR 11 1338 UTC MAR 11
Valdez, Alaska 0443 AKST MAR 11 1343 UTC MAR 11
Langara Island, British Columbia 0543 PST MAR 11 1343 UTC MAR 11
Cordova, Alaska 0452 AKST MAR 11 1352 UTC MAR 11
Cape Decision, Alaska (85 miles SE of Sitka) 0455 AKST MAR 11 1355 UTC MAR 11
DART 46419 0608 PST MAR 11 1408 UTC MAR 11
Homer, Alaska 0516 AKST MAR 11 1416 UTC MAR 11
DART 46404 0625 PST MAR 11 1425 UTC MAR 11
the north tip of Vancouver Island, British Colu 0626 PST MAR 11 1426 UTC MAR 11
DART 46407 0632 PST MAR 11 1432 UTC MAR 11
Craig, Alaska 0534 AKST MAR 11 1434 UTC MAR 11
Ketchikan, Alaska 0540 AKST MAR 11 1440 UTC MAR 11
Juneau, Alaska 0543 AKST MAR 11 1443 UTC MAR 11
DART 46411 0656 PST MAR 11 1456 UTC MAR 11
Tofino, British Columbia 0706 PST MAR 11 1506 UTC MAR 11
Gambell, Alaska 0606 AKST MAR 11 1506 UTC MAR 11
Prince Rupert, British Columbia 0711 PST MAR 11 1511 UTC MAR 11
the Washington-British Columbia border 0712 PST MAR 11 1512 UTC MAR 11
Neah Bay, Washington 0718 PST MAR 11 1518 UTC MAR 11
Clatsop Spit, Oregon 0719 PST MAR 11 1519 UTC MAR 11
La Push, Washington 0719 PST MAR 11 1519 UTC MAR 11
Cape Blanco, Oregon 0719 PST MAR 11 1519 UTC MAR 11
the Oregon-Washington border 0720 PST MAR 11 1520 UTC MAR 11
Point Grenville, Washington 0721 PST MAR 11 1521 UTC MAR 11
Port Moller, Alaska 0622 AKST MAR 11 1522 UTC MAR 11
Charleston, Oregon 0723 PST MAR 11 1523 UTC MAR 11
Douglas/Lane County Line, Oregon (10 miles SW o 0724 PST MAR 11 1524 UTC MAR 11
Cape Mendocino, California 0724 PST MAR 11 1524 UTC MAR 11
Cascade Head, Oregon (70 miles SW of Portland) 0724 PST MAR 11 1524 UTC MAR 11
Tillamook Bay, Oregon 0726 PST MAR 11 1526 UTC MAR 11
Horse Mountain, California (50 miles SW of Eure 0727 PST MAR 11 1527 UTC MAR 11
Fort Bragg, California 0728 PST MAR 11 1528 UTC MAR 11
Humboldt Bay, California 0729 PST MAR 11 1529 UTC MAR 11
Crescent City, California 0730 PST MAR 11 1530 UTC MAR 11
Seaside, Oregon 0731 PST MAR 11 1531 UTC MAR 11
the Oregon-California border 0731 PST MAR 11 1531 UTC MAR 11
Westport, Washington 0732 PST MAR 11 1532 UTC MAR 11
Point Arena, California 0733 PST MAR 11 1533 UTC MAR 11
Newport, Oregon 0733 PST MAR 11 1533 UTC MAR 11
Gualala Point, California (80 miles NW of San F 0735 PST MAR 11 1535 UTC MAR 11
Point Reyes, California 0746 PST MAR 11 1546 UTC MAR 11
Davenport, California (10 miles NW of Santa Cru 0747 PST MAR 11 1547 UTC MAR 11
Point Sur, California 0749 PST MAR 11 1549 UTC MAR 11
Astoria, Oregon 0751 PST MAR 11 1551 UTC MAR 11
Monterey, California 0752 PST MAR 11 1552 UTC MAR 11
Port Angeles, Washington 0755 PST MAR 11 1555 UTC MAR 11
Ragged Point, California (45 miles NW of San Lu 0758 PST MAR 11 1558 UTC MAR 11
DART 46412 0759 PST MAR 11 1559 UTC MAR 11
Point Concepcion, California 0805 PST MAR 11 1605 UTC MAR 11
Port San Luis, California 0811 PST MAR 11 1611 UTC MAR 11
Bella Bella, British Columbia 0812 PST MAR 11 1612 UTC MAR 11
San Francisco, California 0816 PST MAR 11 1616 UTC MAR 11
Cape Newenham, Alaska 0723 AKST MAR 11 1623 UTC MAR 11
Santa Barbara, California 0824 PST MAR 11 1624 UTC MAR 11
Rincon Point, California (15 miles SE of Santa 0835 PST MAR 11 1635 UTC MAR 11
San Pedro, California 0839 PST MAR 11 1639 UTC MAR 11
Santa Monica, California 0839 PST MAR 11 1639 UTC MAR 11
Newport Beach, California 0845 PST MAR 11 1645 UTC MAR 11
La Jolla, California 0848 PST MAR 11 1648 UTC MAR 11
Seattle, Washington 0851 PST MAR 11 1651 UTC MAR 11
Alamitos Bay, California (20 miles SE of L.A.) 0854 PST MAR 11 1654 UTC MAR 11
the California-Mexico border 0854 PST MAR 11 1654 UTC MAR 11
Hooper Bay, Alaska 0854 AKST MAR 11 1754 UTC MAR 11
Little Diomede Island, Alaska 0904 AKST MAR 11 1804 UTC MAR 11
Dillingham, Alaska 0946 AKST MAR 11 1846 UTC MAR 11
Nome, Alaska 1059 AKST MAR 11 1959 UTC MAR 11
Unalakleet, Alaska 1430 AKST MAR 11 2330 UTC MAR 11
Japan earthquake - epicentre location
Quakes measuring up to 8.9 magnitude hit northern Japan
• Tsunami waves of up to 10 metres sweep away homes and vehicles
• Strong tremors shake buildings in Tokyo and spark major fire in Chiba
Source : Google Earth
A massive explosion on Saturday and feared meltdown at one of Japan's nuclear plants took place in the aftermath of the the devastating earthquake/ tsunami disaster that continues to raise fears and threaten thousands of lives. This explosion destroyed a building that was housing the reactor however the metal containers housing the reactor supposedly were not damaged. Radiation levels have however risen outside of the nuclear plant. Up to 45,000 people have been evacuated in the surrounding area in a 6 mile radius. Another environmental concern comes from the out of control fires at a major oil refinery just outside of Tokyo with the possibility of toxic chemicals being released down onto the city if it rains.
Here is the actual video of the explosion:
UPDATE March 12, 2011: Warnings : another big earthquake is imminent in Iwate, Miyagi,
Indonesia Embassy sends evacuation teams to Miyagi, Iwate.The Indonesian embassy in Tokyo said on its website it had sent two rescue teams to Miyagi and Iwate prefectures on Saturday at 02.00 local time.
"The Indonesian embassy in Tokyo sent two evacuation teams to Miyagi and Iwate on Saturday , March 12, 2011, to assist Indonesian citizens in the disaster areas," the website said.
