Does Global Warming Cause Earthquakes?

[Jacqueline Rizk]

In the wake of the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in Japan a few days ago, I got to thinking and researching whether global warming had anything to do with the event and if so, could large scale "green living" prevent future events. I have to tell you, I don't have an answer but I wanted to start a discussion and see what you all think. On one hand, it is very true that the melting of the polar ice caps are putting a lot of strain on the tectonic plates causing huge shifts which do result in earthquakes. It is a verifiable fact that the gap in the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Croatia is narrowing and one day they may even meet. Shifts happen slolwy, VERY slowly, and are happening all the time and have since the earth was created. I don't know if you have noticed but the continents actually fit together if you take the coastal areas of one continent and fit them like a jigsaw puzzle to the coastal area of another. It's really interesting and awe inspiring how land masses came to form with vast oceans between them. It is also nothing short of miraculous how islands continue to form (and disappear) today by underground volcanic activity. That activity also causes shifts in the tectonic plates which lead to earthquakes. That volcanic activity also leads to amazingly nutrient dense sea salt around these islands. Isn't God great???

I believe in living a chemical free, eco conscious lifestyle so that, maybe, the earth will be a better place for my children and their children. I think we have a cultural and moral responsibility to clean up the mess we have managed to make since the Industrial Revolution with our ever increasing consumerism and, to some degree, growing laziness in wanting everything faster, creating the demand for harsher chemicals to work without any real "elbow grease" and lighter creating the demand for more and more plastics. I believe these things because I know God knew what he was doing when he created us and gave us all we ever could need to not only survive but live a truly blessed life and we as a society have twisted that creation into something unrecognizable, and worse, unsustainable. All this environmental chaos we have created could have something to do with the recent string of life and earth altering events around the globe. Or not.

[Jacqueline Rizk]

Hi Shane!  I do tend to think probably too much and kept reiterating that it is still important that we live a green lifestyle.  But to me, the jury is still out.  Global warming, probably has SOMETHING to do with how quickly the polar ice caps are melting but yes, I am like you and believe they were melting long before us and will keep melting and refreezing long after we are no longer here.  Still, I wanted to get people discussing whether they felt WE had something to do with the disasters so I could learn about people's motivations for being green.  Mine is just sustaining resources we already have and maybe creating an ability to bring back some old ones by living a simpler life.  I don't believe they will stop earthquakes.  I don't believe we are that big.  ;)  It's interesting though how many scientists say yes we contribute, and many scientists say no.  I think we aren't helping but I think they would have happened anyway.  I'll put up some links both yay and nay and see what people think!

[Shane Shirley-Smith, Admin.]

Hi and thanks for posting.  I must say that green living is beneficial for people and planet of course.  Still, do you think there is really Global Warming and that is caused by man?  I have always questioned this bc of all of the climate change that has occurred long before man.  I would love any links or info on this.  You are a thinker aren't you?  I am so very pleased to have you with us.