Charles Darwin on Earthquakes - Did He Predict Chile's Latest 8.8?

We all know about Charles Darwin because of his Theory of Evolution through natural selection. But, what you may not know is something I have just learned thanks to National Public Radio: Darwin helped forecast the most recent devastating earthquake in Chile. This famous naturalist is being credited with giving current scientists and seismologists a better understanding of the warning signs of impending temblors.

On February 20, 1835, Darwin felt an earthquake in Valdivia, Chile during his voyage on the ship, the Beagle. His geological studies and observations helped scientists to forecast the Chilean earthquake that happened last February 27, 2010.

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As Darwin visited Chile, he had the perfectly opportune chance to witness the 1835 earthquake first-hand. It destroyed the city of Concepcion and altered the country's landscape. The quake's magnitude is estimated to have been 8.5.

He visited the same area a few years later to make further observations. One thing he had noticed during his original visit was a rotten smell in the air. He now realized it was from sea life being washed up on shore and being deprived of its watery confines. He also determined that this was not due to the earthquake causing the ocean level to lower from draining. Rather, it was the radical shifting of the Earth's surface that caused the new sea level thus leaving "fish out of water." He noticed a very transformed landscape all around the area.

Darwin observations have led scientists to realize that "a fault segment that has ruptured in a large quake in the past will, once enough strain has again accumulated, likely fail again in a similar-size earthquake (from ScienceNow)." I doubt most people know what an impact Darwin's experiences and observations with earthquakes have on their modern-day study and understanding. I certainly had no clue.

Because of Darwin's work, scientists knew another quake similar to the one Darwin experienced would hit Chili again at some point in time. Obviously, they were correct. The 8.8 quake was a result of pressure building along the same fault since 1835, seismologists believe. Because earthquakes continually strike the same areas in similar fashion, what Darwin observed and theorized has given us a launching pad to a much better understanding of the entire specter of earthquakes.

While no one can predict exactly where and when a quake will occur, we now have a much better idea of how to arrive at an in-the-ballpark-style prediction.

Charles Darwin has left yet another gargantuan scientific legacy which the world somehow never got wind of...until now.

Charles Darwin on Earthquakes - Did He Predict Chile's Latest 8.8?

Is It Easier To Predict Volcanoes Or Earthquakes?

It seems that in new years some of the most severe hazards have taken place. Their substantial destructiveness goes hand in hand with the suffering of the people concerned. Many of us will ask ourselves why such disasters could not be prevented in times of contemporary technology and high scientific know how. But like weather, volcanoes or earthquakes cannot be influenced by the human intelligence. Life would not be life if we could control everything, even if it is difficult to perceive why these terrible things do happen.

I have written this narrative to clarify a minute about the nature of volcanoes and earthquakes.

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Especially volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are devastating natural hazards which are both difficult to predict and difficult to respond to.

However, examples like Montserrat, Mount St. Helens, Heimaey, the San Francisco earthquake and the Mexican earthquake clarify the differences in terms of predicting and responding to these hazards.

Volcanic eruptions are easier to predict than earthquakes, as minor earthquakes are often the first 'sign' of a following volcanic eruption. The example of Mount St. Helens underlines this, as first signals of a advent volcanic eruption could be noticed already three months before the actual eruption. These signals can be whether minor earthquakes or even gas output in a volcano shows that it is 'active.'

Earthquakes are harder to predict as they occur suddenly without any warning or with short notice. Any way both earthquakes and volcanoes can be monitored and observed by seismographs, tilt meters, lasers, Gps and observation. Furthermore some animals like catfishes can be used to predict them as they are very sensitive. It is also potential to originate hazard maps as prediction for volcanic eruptions. These are based on old eruptions and close observations.

The example of Heimaey in Iceland shows that volcanoes can also occur unexpectedly. It erupted without any old signs on January 23rd 1973. In this case there were only 24 hours of minor tremors before a 400 metre fissure opened up to pour out lava. The Heimaey is only one example where a volcanic eruption occurred without old warning. Other examples like Mount St. Helens and Montserrat show that volcanic eruptions are usually easy to predict. Mount St. Helens for example resulted in the largest landslide in recorded history with a speed of 70 to 150 miles per hour. But due to great preparedness only 57 people died. This shows that early warning results in easier and more correct prediction.

As a normal rule, it can be said that earthquakes are more difficult to predict than volcanoes as they occur without any warning.

Is It Easier To Predict Volcanoes Or Earthquakes?