AUSTRALIA could be hit by an earthquake measuring seven on the Richter scale
From the Northern Territory News, February 27, 2005;
Major earthquake tipped
by Milanda Rout
27jan05
AUSTRALIA could be hit by an earthquake measuring seven on the Richter scale because the plate we are on is breaking up, research has found.
Scientists from Melbourne University have discovered that the Indo- Australian plate is under considerable stress from its neighbouring plates in Indonesia and Asia.
The energy generated from the connection points between plates at Sumatra and Java are transferring back into our plate, causing immense tectonic stress. "This stress can produce earthquakes up to magnitude seven about every 30 years," said Prof Michael Sandiford, from the university's School of Earth Sciences.
"And magnitude seven is a big earthquake, considering the Newcastle earthquake was a 5.6."
Prof Sandiford said Australia was considered fairly stable because we did not sit on the border of plates, as did Indonesia, Japan or California.
The report appears in the journal Geology today.
Informant: cobra_1122
Major earthquake tipped
by Milanda Rout
27jan05
AUSTRALIA could be hit by an earthquake measuring seven on the Richter scale because the plate we are on is breaking up, research has found.
Scientists from Melbourne University have discovered that the Indo- Australian plate is under considerable stress from its neighbouring plates in Indonesia and Asia.
The energy generated from the connection points between plates at Sumatra and Java are transferring back into our plate, causing immense tectonic stress. "This stress can produce earthquakes up to magnitude seven about every 30 years," said Prof Michael Sandiford, from the university's School of Earth Sciences.
"And magnitude seven is a big earthquake, considering the Newcastle earthquake was a 5.6."
Prof Sandiford said Australia was considered fairly stable because we did not sit on the border of plates, as did Indonesia, Japan or California.
The report appears in the journal Geology today.
Informant: cobra_1122
Starmail - 27. Jan, 10:41
