Could the N. Korean Nuke Test Cause Worldwide Quakes?

Question

In my opinion, I believe that the Nuke test that occured on Oct. 9, could cause worldwide earthquakes. Searching other quakes in the time period of the test, Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines reported small to moderate sized quakes. Now that the Hawaiian Island had quakes, it sounds a little coincedential to me.

Answer 1

Here is the USGS report for the earthquake:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/ustrb2.php

Here is a site that shows the bomb was 'equivalent' to the force of a 4.2 Mag.
http://www.csamuel.org/2006/10/09/how-big-was-north-koreas-bomb/

Bassically, the enrgy of that earthquake in Japan was about 60 times bigger in energy release. Also, consider the bomb's energy was dispersed in all directions, and a fault is a consentrated, directional stress. The bomb's energy might not have lined up on the fault. Also, the earthquake was hundreds of miles away and 3 days later. So, no, it could not cause it. Could it happen sooner because of the bomb? Maybe a second or two at most.

If you look at patterns of earthquakes before and after on the USGS, you will see no statistical difference.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvE5ePSBCZEhQBzW3tmj4Tbsy6IX?qid=20060720095931AAbh51J
This is a time I explained earthquakes better. It may help you.

Answer 2

Not a chance.

There have been hundreds of nuclear tests conducted over the last 61 years and most of them were much larger than the North Korean nuclear test. None of them caused any significant or notable change in earthquakes.

The North Korean test is now estimated at less than one kiloton. The first bomb exploded by the US in a test was 20 kilotons. The USSR tested a bomb in 1961 that was estimated at 50 MEGATONS. The US has tested over 1,000 nuclear bombs, Russia over 700, France over 200, China 45, and the UK about 45. Did you notice any earthquakes from the previous 2000 nuclear tests, many of which were underground?

for more information try these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_testing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_North_Korean_nuclear_test

Answer 3

You should get some numbers instead of just having an opinion. What is the total energy released by a nuclear bomb. In the same units, what is the total energy released by a typical hurricane, by a volcanic eruption, and by an earthquake. Then go figure.

Answer 4

No not powerful enough. Japan, Taiwan, Philippines and Hawaii are always having earthquakes. No correlation what so ever. There is no comparison to the forces of mother earth and a little tiny nuclear bomb

Answer 5

No. There are earthquakes around the world all the time. And even small earthquakes release much more energy than that small nuclear test - so if your hypothesis was true, then an earthquake in one place would trigger earthquakes all around the world, as well!

Answer 6

The size, of 1 kiloton or less(20 times smaller than Hiroshima) of the bomb, makes that explosion too tiny to make a significant effect! The probability is zero!

Answer 7

Oh yeah, WW 3. Nuclear War coming right up. From the impact of their blasted tests yeah. From their stupid radiation causing a bunch of damage and reactions. We are doomed if let them attack first. Especially if they do it near fault lines and they will be able to CAUSE earthquakes. But they will not be able to control where it hits or the power. They can just make it bigger with bigger tests.

Answer 8

No chance whatsoever. The explosive yield was far too small to cause adjustments at any other faults.

Answer 9

under floor try of that nature result our earth, in devastating procedures. Why do you think of the factors is all tousled. it extremely is frightening the try that are performed, and their outcomes.

Answer 10

That is a great question. I wish I had the answer but it does seem a bit strange.as you pointed out.