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Your Theories & Comments On 'Earthquake Weather'

KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.

My recent blog asking the question, "Do You Believe In Earthquake Weather" is definitely one of my highest read blogs, but more importantly, the subject matter generated more comments than ever before! It has been a pleasure to read your thoughts and theories. Here is a sampling of a few emails I have received.

Gerald Newall comments:
I would agree that weather cannot cause an earthquake directly. However, I do believe somethings can influence both the weather and earthquakes.
This for instance. Something I believe is connected relates to this.

Clifford Jones says:
I know scientist don't believe in it, but I just think they're wrong! Maybe it's more than just the temperatures, but an overall "condition". Early October, 1987. My soon-to-be wife and I are walking one evening, and the discussion suddenly turns to the nice weather we are enjoying. Before much talk goes by, we both agree that it seems like "earthquake weather". The very next morning the Whittier-Narrows earthquake hits.

Fast forward to 1994. January 16 is the exact date. A Sunday evening. We have a new baby in the house, and the evening "feels" like earthquake weather. Now living in a condo, I actually tell my wife that I'm gonna go down and move one car out of the garage and into an outside parking space, just in case. Do I need to go any further with this scenario? The Northridge quake made me a firm believer in earthquake weather, as silly as you say it is. Either that, or I'm one helluva quake predictor! Of course it doesn't make sense, but I believe it.

Steven writes:
Hmmm, idk if I'm just looking for a debate or if my thoughts could have a serious point on this topic. I somewhat do believe that weather has an effect on quakes and their timing. The simple explanation or theory would be season changes. I understand changes in different parts of America are less "drastic" as others. Not as cold in the SW in winter & vice versa in the NE where it's not as warm in the fall and spring. To make a long thought short, I believe that much like frost lines in the N and NE there may be a circumstance in the SW that could help or lead to "better quake conditions". Think of a road in the colder regions of the country. After freezing and thawing for a season or two a pot hole is created. Couldn't a fluctuation in ground temperature in the SW and W in places like California have bearing on the quakes?

Charolette Edinboro fascinates me with:
Regarding this 'phenomenon' I have some obviously anecdotal observations.   In the summer of 1968, my family moved from the Peninsula to Santa Barbara.  Periodically things became still - no wind and no birdsong.   Then there would be a small earthquake - this happened several times that summer.   I learned that there are three faults beneath Santa Barbara,  and I became wary whenever everything went quiet.  Of course, three faults just meant there could be frequent activity.

When I hear people say they think we are having earthquake weather,  I notice the wind and ambient sound - occasionally, there is a temporal relationship.  Yup, not a connection,  just a matter of timing.   There is no easy way to connect wind - actual weather - to earthquakes, as you point out.  The stillness of animals may be an indicator, but tough to measure during the World Series/rush hour or early in the morning (Simi Valley/Sylmar ~1970).  If there is a connection (something animals respond to), it is likely to drop off with distance or depend on the type of event.  Perhaps I will study this further!  (Yeah,  I'm a scientist!)

Kathleen Menke asks:
Just wondering if melting glaciers, expanding oceans, and altered river flows and ground water might lead to changes in pressure on the land..more climate than weather..but something to think about.

B. Partridge:
The earthquake weather thing is an amusing distraction. I think lunar cycles can affect earthquakes... Full and new moons with linear gravitational effect seems as though it could have some effect. Especially likely would be a perigee full moon. Science is not settled on this and support is not widespread. There is some supporting anecdotal data. It's not that lunar cycle could cause an earthquake... It's that if an event is geologically imminent.... The lunar effect could be a trigger.

And Andrew Gray reminds me:
I know it's an old canard, but it's older than a lot of people realize.  Here's a passage from Jack London's "Sea Wolf".  This was 1904, and he refers to it as something the old timers talk about:"By eleven o'clock the sea had become glass.  By midday, though we were well up in the northerly latitudes, the heat was sickening.  There was no freshness in the air.  It was sultry and oppressive, reminding me of what the old Californians term "earthquake weather."  There was something ominous about it..." It may not be true, but it sure is persistent.

I have so many more responses favoring and disagreeing with the theory of "Earthquake Weather", but I am unable to print all of them. However, I love the fact we are all able to entertain and debate the idea. I am enjoying reading your thoughts and logic. I welcome and solicit more notions and suggestions at Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com and most of all, I sincerely appreciate you watching KPIX and reading my blog!

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