Paul -- Is an earthquake considered "weather"?

[Cornelia Montgomery]

T&T had an 5-plus earthquake yesterday. I think it was yesterday, anyway. I just got off the website for the Trinidad Guardian, and I don't remember whether it was yesterday or the day before. Anyway, no major damage. It was felt in Tobago. Near-miss hurrican, mudslide, earthquake: Three's the charm, right?

[Paul Tallet]

Hi Cornelia

Yes there was a tremor that lasted for about 15 seconds.

Someone reported this on the Carib Stormwatch site and apparently it happened on Thursday with a gentle swaying motion ... not sure what the measurement was though.

A much stronger tremor was felt in Costa Rica earlier in the week and this was reported in the media news because it measured 6+ on the richter scale.

Tobago does get these tremors quite regularly although few are noticed ... this was a rather strong one.

Anyway, although I am fascinated by earthquakes too, they have nothing to do with the weather and I have no aspirations of being an earthquake forecaster !!!

Regards

[Jane H]

So - no jokes about the earth moving then Paul?

Sorry Cornelia - couldn't resist!

Jane

[Paul Tallet]

Well Jane ... it must have come as quite a 'shock' !!!

[Paul Tallet]

For those suffering from a sense of humour failure, I apologise ... but I could not resist posting a selection of the advisories given in the article that Cornelia read as follows:-


What to do before an Earthquake (if you have the time !!!):-

1. Become actively involved in community preparedness organisations in your district.

2. Unstable, heavy furniture should be fastened to a wall or bolted to the floor. When loading storage cabinets heavy objects should be placed on lower shelves.


3. Water heaters and other appliances should be firmly bolted down.


4. All family members should know how to turn off electricity, gas and water using safety valves and main switches.


5. Family members should know basic First Aid steps.


6. Purchase emergency equipment such as battery-operated radios and fire extinguishers for your home.


Even better still ...


What to do during an Earthquake:-


1. Look out for falling plaster, bricks, lighting fixtures and other objects.



That has brightened up my day no end !!!


Regards

[Paul Tallet]

Hi

There were 2 earthquakes both measuring more then 5, the first of which was felt in Tobago and the second unlikely to have been felt in Tobago.

Done some research and here are some excerpts from the official report from the USGS website:-



No. 1

Magnitude 5.8 TRINIDAD
Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 19:16:34 UTC

Reference

20 km (10 miles) SSE of PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad
95 km (60 miles) E of Guiria, Venezuela
110 km (70 miles) SW of Scarborough, Tobago
180 km (110 miles) S of SAINT GEORGE'S, Grenada

Remarks

Moderate damage to buildings at Mayaro and cell phone service was down on Trinidad. Felt (V) at Port of Spain; (IV) at Arouca and Tunapuna. Felt on much of Trinidad and at Crown Point, Tobago.



No. 2
Magnitude 5.1 TRINIDAD
Friday, December 03, 2004 at 03:46:46 UTC

Reference

15 km (10 miles) SE of PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad
100 km (60 miles) E of Guiria, Venezuela
105 km (65 miles) SW of Scarborough, Tobago
170 km (105 miles) S of SAINT GEORGE'S, Grenada


Remarks

Felt (IV) at Port of Spain, San Fernando and Tunapuna; (III) at Chaguanas. Felt on much of Trinidad.


Hope this helps

Regards

[David Watkins]

Gee,thanks Paul!!!!!!The weather doesn't bother me but I like my drinks stirred not shaken!Next Monday is THE DAY-------all packed and eager.David

[Paul Tallet]

It's Raving David [Watkins] again.

10 weeks ... well if there are 2 tremors in 2 days, then for 10 weeks I guess Raving Dave will be rocking and rolling for some time to come.

Cheers Dave

[Sam Deeks]

Yup
We had an earthquake while I was in Tobago last week... in fact, I was in the ocean in Store Bay at the time.. and didn't feel a thing. However, my girlfriend was knocked over by two big breakers that came in out of nowhere at about the same time... possibly a result of the quake. Missed the aftershock the same night, too - but that was possibly the rum

I was once in a serious quake in Japan (1990) and I can tell you THAT was... no fun at all. Waking up to find my six storey hotel bouncing three or four feet vertically up and down ?!?!? Scary as hell. Couple of likkle waves on Store Bay I can handle!

Sam

[Sue-S]

Well here we are in Tobago, and it is raining, pouring, monsooning today, no more sun today we have been told.
However Tobago is a lovely place and we are thoroughly enjoying ourselves.
We are off tonight to the Pelican Reef to hear Sharon somebody sing she is brilliant.
Hope its not too cold in Uk.

[Paul Tallet]

0445. 11th December.

Another small earthquake measuring 4.5 just west of Trinidad.

Nobody would have felt it because it was about 90 kms below ground.

Regards

[Paul Tallet]

I mentioned in my last weather update that most of the Pacific was on Tsunami alert following a large earthquake measuring 8.1 just south of Australia.

Low and behold ... days later, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded (9) occurs near Indonesia and I am wondering if the 8.1 could have triggered the 9 ... not on the same plates, but linked plates nonetheless.

It does not seem that Tsunamii were triggered by the 8.1 but, from the news, it is obvious that Tsunamii followed the 9 event.

The 9 event was a different type of quake ... a drop in the ocean floor and this sent 'ripples' going off in all directions.

All countries of the world will feel the effect of this ... even if it is a strange looking surge no more than 12 inches high moving up the Bristol channel in the next week or so.

The social and economic effects will be more profound when the full details of this catastrophe are known.

Thoughts be with those visiting these areas and of those that live there.

Regards

[Paul Tallet]

For those that need to know ...

A small earthquake measuring 4.7 has just gently rocked Delta Amacuro in Venzuela, about 80 miles south of Tobago.

I wonder if anyone felt it?

Regards

[Paul Tallet]

A 4.8 earthquake happened 130 miles east of Tobago on 25th January 2005.

FYI.

[Paul Tallet]

Although there was plenty from 'above' on 4th July, I wonder if anyone felt the earth move at 0400 in the morning.

An earthquake of 4.3 was recorded.

The epicentre was 25 kms south east of Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Regards

[Paul Tallet]

4.5 earthquake just north of Caracas, Venezuela at 0538 (local time) on 8th August.

Probably make your jelly wobble if you like that sort of thing for breakfast.

Regards

[Annabelle Oconnell]

Hiya Paul

Blimey o'reilly - does this sort of thing happen often round there?
We're due in Tobago on the 20th of this month (hurrah!): hurricane AND earthquake season??!

It's ok i'm not panicking (yet) however can it be that one shift leads to another...?

Great reporting by the way!

[Annabelle Oconnell]

Ok now I am embarrassed having read all the previous posts and pretty much got answers to my questions above.
Sorry Paul, I am paying attention honest!

Anyway, i still think your weather reporting is brill.

Off to Blue Waters Inn soon... we'll see what the weather's like!

[Kevin Hampson]

Hi Annabelle,
If your off to BWI you had better watch out for earthquakes on Friday evening as that’s Duane's free Rum Punch evening and the ground was defiantly moving when I got off my bar stool.

Regards
Kevin

[Annabelle Oconnell]

Hi Kevin

Now THAT'S the sort of earthquake I like to hear about...
Yes i remember those friday nights.... sadly Duane won't be there as he'll still be in the UK, but we'll drink to his health and keep those bar stools warm