Recent earthquakes nothing new, says seismologist
Posted April 15, 2010 5:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – There have been devastating earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Mexico, and China, and now a massive volcano has erupted in Iceland.
Each of these natural occurrences have occurred just three months into the new year.
Although it may seem that 2010 has started with a bang, one seismologist told 680News, there is nothing different with the seismic activity this year than any other.
University of Toronto geology professor Andrew Mail told 680News the planet usually sees 15 to 20 powerful earth quakes each year and at least one that registers between 8.0 and 9.0 on the Richter scale.
“The only unusual point is, perhaps, that they have occurred within populated areas, that’s what’s brought them to everyone’s attention.” said Mail
According to Mail, we can still expect another 10 or so powerful quakes, although he pointed out that it is hard to predict when and where they will hit.
However, he said that Vancouver and California do need to be prepared for large earth quakes, saying it is not a matter of if but when, “I mean it could happen tomorrow, it could happen 300 years from now.”
In Ontario, there is a very old series of fault lines running along the Ottawa Valley but Mail said there is nothing to worry about. He said that an earthquake in Toronto would feel more like a truck driving by and actual damage to the city would be very limited.
