Weston Observatory monitoring latest earthquakes

[0:01] ..." This is WBZ's Doug Cope separate large earthquakes have caused casualties and damage in Indonesia. And the south Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa. A talk -- Dr. John evil at Boston college's Weston observatory at about those two quakes."...

[0:17] ..." Yesterday afternoon we had a magnitude eight point oh earthquake that was centered. In some Samoa islands of the southwest Pacific north -- New Zealand. And that caused -- tsunamis. Damaged villages and and the shaking damage. And then. Early this morning there was a magnitude seven point six earthquake under the island of Sumatra. That also did damage. And that are quake was was about fifty miles below the earth and"...

[0:58] ..." Are these earthquakes and earthquakes of these magnitude of the usual for that part of the world apparently apparently not."...

[1:06] ..." Both of these earthquakes occurred on very very well known. Active seismic -- active zones the some more earthquake. Occurred in an area that has hit numerous magnitude seven and eight earthquakes in and damaging tsunamis. The some after a quick was actually farther south from the same zone they gave us the devastating huge earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Has there been any similar activity. Lately. Indonesia art including some my doctor has been very very active starting in 2004 either been. A number. Magnitude seven to eight earthquakes. That have done local damage on the on the Indonesian islands. So in -- that are quake was it was not a usual it happening so close to in time to the these smaller earthquake. Is is somewhat as usual although infect the 2004 quick was preceded. By a magnitude eight point one earthquake two and half days. For now the fact that these two earthquakes have come close together -- is there any way in the future earthquakes can be predicted. Well you know we're gonna study to see if the coincidence of these two were quick so close together. Does indicate any predictability of one earthquake. To another. So far we we have no no indications that that such as true but. -- Earthquake prediction of the holy -- also pumping them that world looking at all the time."...

[2:39] ..." Okay and and how does an earthquake generate a tsunami. How has it moved that much water onto a place like in this. Particular case American Samoa and small. Earthquakes generate tsunamis Wendy -- ocean floor -- down if you think about."...

[3:01] ..." pushing up that will cause a wave on the surface. Well the earthquake at some -- was associated with bending. The plate that the Pacific Ocean played as a tries to some ducked under the"...

[3:49] ..." So I would assume -- keeping an eye out for any other. Aftershocks or anything of that nature as well we we are watching and there have been particularly from Samoa there have been aftershocks have been reported. And of course the major concern right now is. People who were doing rescue work in those areas they have to worry about. Aftershocks particularly if they're trying to do rescue work in buildings have been damaged because. An aftershock in -- the building costs further damage so. That's certainly being watched by -- knowledge so throughout the world. Ten aftershocks. Although not I assume is usually as strong as the initial earthquake they can still be pretty strong if an aftershock is is above magnitude five it it can cause local damage and after a magnitude greater quake there can be aftershocks of magnitude 66 and half seasons haven't. -- seven aftershock can be very devastating it just is the nature."...

[4:43] ..." Dr. John able at the Weston observatory and talking about large earthquakes in Indonesia and the Somalis. I'm Doug Cope WBZ. Newsradio 1030."...

[0:01]" This is WBZ's Doug Cope separate large earthquakes have caused casualties and damage in Indonesia. And the south Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa. A talk -- Dr. John evil at Boston college's Weston observatory at about those two quakes."

[0:17]" Yesterday afternoon we had a magnitude eight point oh earthquake that was centered. In some Samoa islands of the southwest Pacific north -- New Zealand. And that caused -- tsunamis. Damaged villages and and the shaking damage. And then. Early this morning there was a magnitude seven point six earthquake under the island of Sumatra. That also did damage. And that are quake was was about fifty miles below the earth and so even though a tsunami. Warning was initially issued that was quickly canceled because that are quick -- not generated -- Now."

[0:58]" Are these earthquakes and earthquakes of these magnitude of the usual for that part of the world apparently apparently not."

[1:06]" Both of these earthquakes occurred on very very well known. Active seismic -- active zones the some more earthquake. Occurred in an area that has hit numerous magnitude seven and eight earthquakes in and damaging tsunamis. The some after a quick was actually farther south from the same zone they gave us the devastating huge earthquake and tsunami in 2004. Has there been any similar activity. Lately. Indonesia art including some my doctor has been very very active starting in 2004 either been. A number. Magnitude seven to eight earthquakes. That have done local damage on the on the Indonesian islands. So in -- that are quake was it was not a usual it happening so close to in time to the these smaller earthquake. Is is somewhat as usual although infect the 2004 quick was preceded. By a magnitude eight point one earthquake two and half days. For now the fact that these two earthquakes have come close together -- is there any way in the future earthquakes can be predicted. Well you know we're gonna study to see if the coincidence of these two were quick so close together. Does indicate any predictability of one earthquake. To another. So far we we have no no indications that that such as true but. -- Earthquake prediction of the holy -- also pumping them that world looking at all the time."

[2:39]" Okay and and how does an earthquake generate a tsunami. How has it moved that much water onto a place like in this. Particular case American Samoa and small. Earthquakes generate tsunamis Wendy -- ocean floor -- down if you think about."

[2:56]" Soft plastic -- swimming pool -- filling water sliding your hand underneath the Senate pushing up that will cause a wave on the surface. Well the earthquake at some -- was associated with bending. The plate that the Pacific Ocean played as a tries to some ducked under the islands. And that bending. Causes the plate to crack in in this case caused probably small section of -- the plate to sink. And that sinking and move the ocean floor generated the tsunami. So it -- like a giant wave obviously notion well what happens is that the small wave and in the deeper ocean. But when it comes on shore -- the water all collects and rushes up. In gets to be a big way so and you can -- shorelines where one place that the wait might only be a couple feet. And then -- maybe twenty miles down the shore and the weight might be 1015 feet. So I would assume -- keeping an eye out for any other. Aftershocks or anything of that nature as well we we are watching and there have been particularly from Samoa there have been aftershocks have been reported. And of course the major concern right now is. People who were doing rescue work in those areas they have to worry about. Aftershocks particularly if they're trying to do rescue work in buildings have been damaged because. An aftershock in -- the building costs further damage so. That's certainly being watched by -- knowledge so throughout the world. Ten aftershocks. Although not I assume is usually as strong as the initial earthquake they can still be pretty strong if an aftershock is is above magnitude five it it can cause local damage and after a magnitude greater quake there can be aftershocks of magnitude 66 and half seasons haven't. -- seven aftershock can be very devastating it just is the nature."

[4:43]" Dr. John able at the Weston observatory and talking about large earthquakes in Indonesia and the Somalis. I'm Doug Cope WBZ. Newsradio 1030."