Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004 |
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Science & Technology Industry & Economy - Natural Calamities Geophysicists body to discuss seismicity M. Somasekhar
Hyderabad , Dec. 27 DURING the last 48 hours, the earth has been `unusually' shaky. The slippages in its plates, have unleashed a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake, and around 27 after-shocks of over 5.5 magnitude, starting off Sumatra Islands in Indonesia on a quiet Sunday morning to Andaman & Nicobar Islands, a stretch of about 1,000 km. The rough sea conditions and post-shocks due to these moments of `unstable' earth, will need to be monitored carefully and coastal related activity such as fishing avoided in the next 48 hours, scientists here feel. The high number of after shocks that have rumbled the region and wrecked havoc across seven Asian countries have baffled seismologists. For example, in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, after the initial 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Sunday, another 17 of magnitude around 6 on the Richter scale have struck the scenic islands. The destruction is expected to be high, because these earthquakes have their epicentre deep in the earth, shaking large areas, throwing up cracks in the earth and causing death and destruction, scientists at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), here told Business Line. In contrast, the massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake had its epicentre deep in the Ocean, off Sumatra Islands. In the past 24 hours, nine more earthquakes (after shocks), averaging 5.5 magnitude and above, have occurred. These rumblings triggered deadly Tsunamis, which raced at 400-600 km speed, throwing up high tidal waves, which struck shores and led to heavy damages in several countries. In view of these very `unstable' times down below, the sea, even in Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh continues to exhibit very rough conditions, sounding caution, explained Dr R.K. Chadha, senior Seismologist at NGRI. While predicting earthquakes is still a difficult task, putting out warning of the impending Tsunamis triggered by large quakes, already in place in the Pacific Ocean region, could be a necessity for the Indian Ocean region countries as well in the future, he felt. Meanwhile, the Indian Geophysical Union (IGU), a professional body of Geophysicists is bringing together a large number of experts from India and abroad to discuss "Inter and Intraplate seismicity in India, present knowledge and future strategy," for its annual convention beginning on Wednesday. The present earthquake could be a major point of discussion for seismologists who are intensely peering into the activity of the earth's plates (Plate tectonics), which result in earthquakes. The rupture of the Burmese Plate with the Indian plate is pointed out to be one reason for the present massive earthquake.
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