MAJOR CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE IN SEPTEMBER 2010!!!

[Dr Sardonicus]

There was a three-part series about Haiti in The New Yorker (November 27, December 4, and December 11, 1989) entitled "Beyond the Mountains." Very depressing reading.

From history classes and subsequent reading many years later, I remember that Haiti's successful revolt against the French was what led Napoleon Bonaparte to sell the French Louisiana Territory to the United States. He was preparing to go to war against the rest if Europe, and figured that if 20,000 soldiers couldn't hold onto tiny Haiti, holding the vast Louisiana Territory was incompatible with his program of conquest in Europe.

If there's a country other than Haiti that's been forced to pay indemnities for a war it won, I am not aware of it.

In recent weeks, I heard someone talking on the radio about Haiti's revolution and abolition of slavery as its "Black Lives Matter" event. I rolled my eyes, because the person ignored the Dessalines massacre after the French military left.

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

I rolled my eyes, because the person ignored the Dessalines massacre after the French military left.

Thanks for raising that very sad prior example of human behavior.

Frankly, Afghanistan scares the hell out of me! How could this have been allowed to happen???

The "energy" will be reverberating for generations. I see no long-term upside; no matter how dark the lens.

[xilman]

A whole bunch of earthquakes is occurring about 10km south of here. We had some last year but what is unusual about these is that their number (hundreds), strength (several above Richter 3) and shallow depth (3-1km).

TPTB have raised the eruption alert level to yellow (amarillo, actually, because we live a Spanish-speaking area) and the usual mega-tsunami BS is being dusted off all over the interweb thingy.

https://eldiario.es/canariasahora/la...1_8303469.html
and
https://youtube.com/watch?v=DsuDrx6yaJI
and
https://youtube.com/watch?v=LKTucvy-...icReversalNews

for some of the stuff I mean.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by xilman

A whole bunch of earthquakes is occurring about 10km south of here.

I just searched the IGN data and there have been 924 earthquakes on and around the island, since 6 Sept, and at or above Mag 1.0
Only 2 of those were before the 11th.

Has this had an effect on your celestial work?

[Dr Sardonicus]

La Palma, Canary Islands: seismic crisis Sep 2021 - updates

The volcanic-seismic crisis continues to evolve. During the past 24 hours, earthquakes have been moving westwards and become shallower, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) reported.

This is likely reflecting continued magma intrusion and migration under the surface, supported also by continued deformation of the surface in the same area as the quakes. In places, the ground has been uplifted by 1.5 cm (almost one inch) already.
<snip>

Hmm, I wonder of that should be 2.5 cm, since 1.5 cm is just under 5/8 of an inch, and 2.5 cm really is "almost 1 inch," which is 2.54 cm.

The strong earthquake swarm is continuing beneath Cumbre Vieja, and now PEVOLCA has raised the alert level to Yellow, citing the repeated occurance of earthquake swarms since 2017, with this one being the strongest and also the shallowest, suggesting magma is slowly rising into the edifice. Measurements of Helium-3 gas flux are also indicating this.
<snip>

Helium-3? Why Helium-3 specifically? I could understand Helium-4 being present. Uranium (over 99% being U-238) is a common constituent of rocks. U-238 undergoes radioactive decay by emitting an alpha particle, and alpha particlesa are Helium-4 nuclei.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

La Palma, Canary Islands: seismic crisis Sep 2021

I ran across that site and quickly understood it to be a volcano travel package promotion site. The use of the word "crisis" and their lame units approximation (closer to 1/2 inch) were indicators that they are trying to sensationalize it. Yes, it is noteworthy, but as xilman pointed out, no need to hype it beyond measure.

[chris2be8]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

Helium-3? Why Helium-3 specifically? I could understand Helium-4 being present. Uranium (over 99% being U-238) is a common constituent of rocks. U-238 undergoes radioactive decay by emitting an alpha particle, and alpha particlesa are Helium-4 nuclei.

I *think* it's because helium-3 will be primeval gas incorporated into the earth when it formed. Most of the helium-3 in the crust will have escaped by now. So significant emissions show that magma from deep inside the earth is approaching the surface.

Since helium-4 is produced in the crust now increased emissions don't tell you much about where it's coming from.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

I ran across that site and quickly understood it to be a volcano travel package promotion site.

Hmm, so it is. I guess I hit the saturation point with the information on the volcano, and didn't pay much attention to the margins. Still, plenty of actual info there.

Exaggerating the danger as a tourist draw seems strange to me, but I'd be happy to supply some free ad copy...

ONCE IN A LIFETIME ADVENTURES BECKON!!!

• A swim in a lava lake is sure to relieve aching joints!
• Watch incandescent rock "bombs" land all around you!
• Experience the thrill of watching a pyroclastic flow head straight at you!

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

La Palma, Canary Islands: seismic crisis Sep 2021 - updatesHmm, I wonder of that should be 2.5 cm, since 1.5 cm is just under 5/8 of an inch, and 2.5 cm really is "almost 1 inch," which is 2.54 cm.
Helium-3? Why Helium-3 specifically? I could understand Helium-4 being present. Uranium (over 99% being U-238) is a common constituent of rocks. U-238 undergoes radioactive decay by emitting an alpha particle, and alpha particlesa are Helium-4 nuclei.

Now 6cm according to the latest reports. This is really starting to become rather significant.

For those residing in the North American Colonies: 6cm is well over 2 inches.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by Uncwilly

I just searched the IGN data and there have been 924 earthquakes on and around the island, since 6 Sept, and at or above Mag 1.0
Only 2 of those were before the 11th.

Has this had an effect on your celestial work?

Not in the slightest. We didn't feel even the strongest tremor.

Clouds are the limiting factor (hærfest is icumen in), not ground movements.

The situation may change during the final week of our current visit.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by xilman

Not in the slightest. We didn't feel even the strongest tremor.

Clouds are the limiting factor (hærfest is icumen in), not ground movements.

The situation may change during the final week of our current visit.

Here's hoping the volcano doesn't get too active too soon.

I note there has also been a recent "earthquake swarm" at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano with tremors of magnitude 3 or less. Kilauea has been on an extended nap after erupting from 1983 to 2018.

My vague recollection of previous "earthquake swarms" caused by rising magma is, when the magma starts getting close to the surface, the quakes tend to get stronger.

Another indicator of a volcano "waking up" is increased emission of gases like SO₂. Such emissions can combine with humidity in the air to form "vog," which might further impede visibility.