Moon at Maximum Traction During Latest Earthquake Clusters
March 14, 2011
The moon’s gravitational impact on the earth, especially between February and April this year, coincides with the latest cluster of major earthquakes.
Many astronomers and climate scientists studying the relationship of the moon with the orbits of the earth and sun, have noted that lunar perigree can coincide with major tectonic activity.
Lunar perigree is when the moon’s orbit is closest to the earth, as on 19th March 2011, but a proxigean cycle is even stronger.
This occurs when the moon is closest in orbit to the Earth, (this year between March 18th and 21st), and also in its new or full Moon phase.
Present proxigean cycle has maximum effect
This proxigean cycle is when the moon has its strongest gravitational pull and so a maximum tidal effect on the Earth. Seismic activity is more likely to occur around this time, but is still dependent on the nature of the dynamics in tectonic plates at that time.
Therefore, an earthquake is more likely to occur when the Moon is in a proxigean cycle, but there is no absolute that it will occur.
Tidal gravitational forces vary as the third power of the distance between Earth and Moon, so even a small difference in distance can translate into a big effect. This proposition is explored in a book by Fergus J Wood, called “Tidal Dynamics”, published in 1978 in the Netherlands
The orbit of the moon varies from a distance of 356,500 to 406,700 kilometers in orbit around the Earth with an average distance near 380,000 kilometers. The variation between the maximum and minimum distances results in tidal force changes of a factor of 1.2 times the average tidal forces.
Sun Moon and Earth in alignment
During a New moon, the Sun and moon are on the same side of the Earth, and so with the Moon also at its closest point to the Earth, the Moon’s traction is at its highest. At this time there is the greatest potential for seismic events and floods.
In 2011, in the month preceding the maximum traction of the Moon on the earth, and as the Moon nears its perigree on March 19th, there have already been two major earthquake disasters – in Christchurch, New Zealand on February 22nd, and in Japan on March 11th.
The significance of the March 2011 perigree to seismic and weather events is discussed by New Zealand, climate scientist, Ken Ring, author of weather almanacs and earthquake predictions for Australia and New Zealand.
When you have a new or full moon at 90 percent or greater of its closest perigee approach to the earth, this has been called a Super moon by astrologer Richard Nolle, and the name has been recently picked up by astronomers, he says. An extreme Super moon is when it is new moon or full moon at 100 percent greater mean perigee (closest) distance to earth.
19 year lunar cycle repeated
“What’s happening now is more or less a repeat of the early-mid 1970s which is the cycle of the 36-yr solar system bary-centre and it is also two 19-yr lunar cycles,” he says. “Now we’re having the same kind of higher temperatures as 1973. Back then 30 degree days were happening in New Zealand, and it was hot enough in 1973 for cyclones to affect Australia – tropical cyclone Madge in 1973 that lasted two weeks bringing rain and flooding, and in 1974 – tropical cyclone Tracy that blew Darwin away. Temperatures cooled down in 1975. This is similar to the cyclone season we have had causing flooding in Queensland in early 2011 and increased cyclonic activity off the coast of New Zealand.
At the heart of planet Earth lies a solid iron ball, almost as big as the Moon and about as hot as the surface of the Sun. Researchers call it the inner core, and it is 70 percent as wide as the moon; really a world within a world.
It spins at its own rate, as much as 0.2 degrees of longitude/ year faster than the Earth above it, and it has its own ocean – a very deep layer of liquid iron known as the outer core, as well as its own tides and king-tides, says Mr Ring.
New moons at Perigree activate core
“Earth’s magnetic field comes from this ocean of iron, which is an electrically conducting fluid in constant motion,” he says. “Sitting atop the hot inner core, the liquid outer core seethes and roils like water in a pan on a hot stove.”
The outer core has its own hurricanes – whirlpools powered by the Coriolis effect of Earth’s rotation. These complex motions generate Earth’s magnetism, he says.
“New moons in particular, when in perigee, activate the Earth’s inner and outer core which affects the mantle”, he says.
As a result of the Earth’s fragile magnetic field, the charged particles may be responsible for all forms of extreme weather, including earthquakes and volcanoes.
It has also been well researched that most shakes occur on new or full moons, and the most severe are when the moon is closer, says Mr Ring. The moon seems to influence the timing, whereas the sun appears to supply the energy required. There is more earthquake activity right now because the sun has awakened after its last solar minimum. Sunspot counts and solar winds are on the increase.