MONSTROUS EARTHQUAKE TO HIT OHIO?

Before we delve into the science a we bit of a rant.

This is a perfect example of fear mongering and for a website to prey on the naivete of their readers is pathetic! The author of the piece, had he done his due diligence, could easily have dispelled unwarranted fear by doing some research. For a site that states, "Credibility is important to us. With this in mind, we pledge to get the facts, get them right and get them right the first time. We pledge to speak truth and let the chips fall where they may," they did a lousy job of fact checking. Or they just plain lied!

NOW on to the really kewl stuff,,,

1] There really is a phenomenon called "earthquake lights" that is currently being studied and has been in research since at least 2001. It was then that Friedemann Freund, presented his discoveries and theory.

Freund has been investigating how rocks respond to stress. "If the stress level is high, electronic charges appear that momentarily turn the insulating rock into a semiconductor," he said,,,

"These charges are not easy to pin down. They move with impressive speed, as fast as 300 meters (1,000 ft.) per second," he said. By measuring the semiconductor properties of the rocks, Freund was able to show that the charges are positive. "Normally, these charges are dormant," he said. "But when rocks are squeezed, the charges wake up and flow out of the rock volume in which they were generated."

When charges flow, they constitute an electric current. When there is an electric current, there also is a magnetic field. If current varies with time, electromagnetic waves will be emitted. "The frequency of these electromagnetic waves will probably be very low, much lower than radio waves, but basically of the same nature," said Freund. "Scientists can pick them at the Earth's surface with suitable antennae or by measuring the magnetic-field pulses that go with them."

As far as I know, there are no active fault lines within Ohio and the state rates on the lowest rung in terms of hazard.

2] This is NOT what residents witnessed. What occurred in Ohio is a phenomenon called "light pillars" (similar to the Aurora Borealis; Northern Lights). It is a known, scientifically explained phenomenon that is prevalent in frigid weather like we have been having. It is not UFOs, HARRP, or as the author erroneously states, "earthquake lights."

3] What the author got wrong was this. Recently Freund et al. released a paper titled, "Prevalence of Earthquake Lights Associated with Rift Environments." News of said paper was picked up and reported. Due to the authors lack of due diligence, he wrongly associated two completely different phenomenon; he got his science FACTS wrong.

This is why teaching science and by proxy, critical thinking, is important; whether it be K-12 or college (as now some college science curriculum is coming under fire by the anti-science crowd). The author's lack of understanding has led to distrust, distrust has turned into fear-mongering, "While the local TV Weatherman claims all is well - saying it's only ice crystals in the air - this phenomenon has been seen before in many places just days or hours before a massive earthquake."

I now admit I fully understand what a friend was referring to in regards to the recent Nye-Ham debate, ",,,keeping the conversation within public view,,,[t]hat's important,,,the "Man in the Arena" has a pedestal that stands MUCH taller than the critic's soapbox."


MONSTROUS EARTHQUAKE TO HIT OHIO?