Are the earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan related?

(Baonghean.vn) - The United States Geological Survey (USGS) announced on April 18th that millions of earthquakes occur annually, but most go unnoticed due to their relatively low intensity. However, the three recent earthquakes – on April 14th and the morning of April 16th in Japan, and on the evening of April 16th in Ecuador – have drawn attention due to their extremely destructive power.

Here are five things you should know about these three devastating earthquakes.

1. Are the earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan related?

Paul Caruso, a geophysicist at the USGS, believes it is too early to confirm this.

The volcanic belt (red line) according to the National Geographic Society.

The distance between Japan and Ecuador is 15,445 km, and "The earthquake in Ecuador occurred one day after the second earthquake in Japan; however, there is no actual research to prove that earthquakes far apart are related," Caruso said.

Currently, one study is attempting to demonstrate "remote triggering," suggesting that a large earthquake can cause other earthquakes far from the original epicenter.

2. Volcanic Belt

All three recent earthquakes occurred within the "Ring of Volcanoes," as defined by the National Geographic Society, which is "a chain of volcanoes and centers of seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean."

"Earthquakes occurring in close succession may be a coincidence. However, the vast majority of the world's earthquakes—about 90%—occur within the volcanic belt," according to the National Geographic Society.

3. How can we compare the strength of the two earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan?

The earthquake in Ecuador was nearly 16 times stronger than the earthquake that occurred on the same day in Japan, according to the USGS. This result is based on calculations on the official USGS website.

4. Was the earthquake that occurred on April 16th in Ecuador the strongest earthquake in the country's history?

According to the USGS, Saturday's earthquake was the deadliest in the country since March 1987, when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed 1,000 people. Prior to that, on January 31, 1906, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coasts of Ecuador and Colombia, generating a tsunami that killed approximately 500 to 1,500 people, according to the USGS.

5. Do earthquakes of similar magnitude occur frequently?

Earthquakes with magnitudes between 7.0 and 7.9 on the Richter scale occur approximately 15 times a year, according to data collected by the USGS over several decades. In addition, earthquakes with magnitudes of 8 or higher occur only once a year.

Thanh Hien

(According to CNN)