Stories of Strange Lights in the Skies after Earthquake - Essay Example

Stories of strange lights in the skies believed to come into view during and after an earthquake. Earthquakes lights, known to researchers as EQL is one of natures most elusive and least understood phenomenon. The first recorded sighting of this strange light dates back to 373 BC in Greece but its existence was not accepted as fact until the first recorded scientific investigation in the 1930s and 60s. It was when Japanese Seismologist collected 1,500 reports of luminescent phenomenon from various Japanese tremors particularly Japan's Idu Peninsula earthquake in November of 1930 and were able to draw substantial conclusions. Earthquake Lights at Matashiro Japan in 1966 from Steinbrugge Collection, University of California, Berkley. However, the scientific community remained skeptical until several unusual earthquakes generated a number of earthquake lights (EQL) in Matashiro Japan in the 1960s. Yutaka Yasui, a Japanese seismologist for Kakioka Magnetic Observatory made his personal observations and documented 34 detailed accounts of EQL including 14 sketches and 10 photographs taken by residents in the Matashiro area. Later, Yasui concluded that 18 of the 34 detailed accounts could not be elucidate by known lighting activity like twilight, zodiacal light, auroras, meteors and other sources and the other 16 accounts cannot be considered natural phenomena (Wagner, 1978). The appearances of these strange lights during and after an earthquake are also visible in other parts of the globe. In 1976, a stunning EQL activity covering several hundred of square kilometers was seen in mainland China. Many other recorded sightings in various parts of the world including Hawaii, Taiwan, Alaska, Soviet Union, and the United States. Earthquake Lights or EQL are generally known as bright luminescence based near ground level or broad sky glows that cover areas up to several square kilometers and sometimes more (Wagner, 1978). EQL varies in color from bright white and blues to reds and oranges, occurrence with other colors than those mentioned said to be effects of variations in the atmosphere such as humidity, barometric pressure, pollutants and cloud cover (Wagner, 1978). According to Wagner's (1978) article, a more detailed description of EQL summarized by two seismologists Yutaka Yasui and John Derr as: a) Flashes of lights lasting from 10 seconds to 10 minutes. b) Extensive blaze like search light beams limited to point sources. The estimated luminescent spheres are between 50-100cm in diameter up to 200m in diameter. c) Incidences of EOL are mostly near areas of known active faulting, mountain peaks, and areas with rich deposit of high normative quarts or silicia minerals. d) Usually occurring accompanied by major weather fronts instantaneous with earthquake activity. e) Large decrease in electric potential gradient, radio interference ranging from 10-20KHZ, absence of anomalies in magnetometer and spectroscope readings during EQL activity. f) Presence of atmospheric potential gradients and increase in radon gas near mountain peaks and fault zones. The most widespread explanation of EQL's mechanism is the violent low-level air oscillation due to tremor movement that sets up electrical disparity in the air. The other is the piezoelectric effects that occur when SiO2 rich rocks undergo stress. The theory is a less accepted because of the facts that EOL's are sighted and visible before the earthquake take place. According to Wagner 1978, another weak theory is the explanation that some earthquake radiance is auroras (northern lights). Auroras are made up of charged particles about 60 miles above the earth and comes naturally in colors of blue and green. Auroras occur year round and most visible in fall and spring months and typically last an hour. Earthquake lights are only visible whenever there is a tremor and last for a few minutes. There is a great possibility that EQL's are spawn by electrostatic charges considering animal behavior when an earthquake is about to take place (Wagner, 1978). Occurrence of unexplained lights has been reported over the years in the Alaskan continent near a 10,016 ft high dormant volcano named Mt. Iliamna. Two published accounts mentioned luminous phenomena over the mountains to the south, a brilliant glow, so bright it can seen 45 miles away. In the middle of January of 1978, residents of Homer Alaska viewed a "false sunrise" over the western side of Cook Inlet minutes before the actual sunrise. Many other testimonies of the mysterious luminescent phenomena were documented with different explanation and theories of its origin. The origin of these bright lights in the sky is more important than seeing them happen. The most common explanation scientist offers is the piezoelectric effect in quarts bearing rocks. Scientifically, quarts are known to emit electricity when put under pressure in the laboratory but there is no proof that it can produce light emissions under actual earthquake conditions. One of the characteristics of this material is that they do not generate an electrical output until there is an alteration in pressure. Rocks are fine blend of crystalline material and when underground are subject to high pressures. It is rational to assume that the electrical output of an earthquake is depending on whether or not it occurred in the region where the magnitude of pressure changes. Data collected through Southern Ontario Seismic Network reveals that the Scugog faults have been active (Shaun Lunney). Through the geophysical study of this area, researchers learned that it is rich in minerals that offer the right element to create a piezoelectric effect. Map of Tectonics of Scugog by Shaun Lunney Some researchers theorize that EQL are due to seismic stress that maybe possible to generate enough high voltages to produce small masses of ionized gases that are released into the air near the fault line. Hypothesis that some earthquake lights are preceding regional quakes and are caused by ignition of gases from stressed rocks maybe possible considering the widespread flexing of the strata. For instance, earthquake lights were seen along a 1000km arc in 1933 Japanese earthquake (Corliss 2000). Furthermore, the 1977 Romanian earthquake proves that there is no correlation between the earthquake epicenter and the location of the earthquake lights because the epicenter of the Romanian quake is at the east of Cluj but the earthquake lights were seen at the western horizon (Corliss 2000). Persinger 1997 supports this argument stating that earthquake lights are known to occur at a distance of 500km from the epicenter of intense seismic events. In Saguenay region of Quebec, 67 quakes were recorded between November of 1998 to January 1989. Throughout this wave of tremors, 38 strange luminosities were originally reported; eight of the reports were made prior to foreshock. According to Corliss (2000), twenty-two reports coming from different places shows earthquake lights were seen far from the epicenter. Some EQL were stationary, others were seen emerging from the ground. Some were moving fast near the ground and the others were seen attached to a luminous band. These instances of EQL activity according to Frederic Montandon's 1948 EQL Taxonomy as reported by Corliss(2000) all fall under category three. 1. Seismic lighting (no thunder) 2. Luminous bands in atmosphere 3. Globular incandescent masses 4. Fire tongues, small mobile flames near the ground 5. Flames emerging from the ground. Another is the theory that, EQL came from small pockets of trapped natural gas that are release and ignited by friction during an earthquake and produces the effect of lights. Natural gas is lighter than air, which can escape and rapidly scatter. Natural gas has ignition temperature of 100 degrees and flammable to the scale of 4% and 14%. Another theory and maybe the most complicated and harder to comprehend of all is the explanation that the pressure generated during earthquakes are separating the water molecules into atoms of hydrogen and oxygen and swiftly recombining it back thus releasing lights. There are no clear conclusions regarding the origin of EOL that can be reach because there is no detailed data available, there are no available means of observing EQL's as it is occurring by qualified personnel and there is no means of measuring and quantifying them. An artificial light source in today's modern world further complicates light sources. However, further study should be conducted using the nearest and more logical theories like earthquake origin of EOL because precursor indicators of seismic activity are apparent. The possibility of stresses along fault resulting to atmospheric probability that could produce ionized gases should also have equal importance. Moreover, increasing interest in EQL offers an opportunity to predict earthquake activity and further understand our environment. Earthquakes lights are real and they exist. BIBLIOGRAPHY PRIMARY SOURCE Corliss W, 2000, "Earthquake Lights and Crustal Deformation", Science Frontiers No. 16 Summer 1981, [online], last accessed: 03/19/2006, web address: http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf016/sf016p12.htm Corliss W, 2000, "The Saquenay Earthquake Lights", Science Frontiers No. 30 Jul-Aug 2000, [online], last accessed: 03/19/2006, web address: http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf130/sf130p10.htm Persinger M, 2003, "The Tectonic Strain Theory", NeuroScience Research Group, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6 (705) 675-4824, [online], last access: 03/15/2006, web address: http: / / www.rr0.org / Documents / Etudes / TectonicStrainTheory_Persinger.html Wagner W, 1978, "Earthquake Lights in Alaska, A Summary of the Evidence", Mines & Geology Bulletin Vol. XXVII, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Department of Natural Resources, State of Alaska, [online], last access: 03/15/2006, web address: http://wwwdggs.dnr.state.ak.us/scan1/mp/text/MP11.PDF SECONDARY SOURCES Lunney S, n.d., " Physical Geography", Tectonic Map, Canadian Communities Atlas,[online], last accessed: 03/19/2006, web address: http:// www.durham.edu.on.ca / s_links/ schools/ portperry/ ccatlas/ physgeog/ physgeog.htm Lunney S, n.d., "The Southern Ontario Seismic Network (SOSN)", [online], last accessed: 03/19/2006, web address: http://www.gp.uwo.ca/welcome.html Palmer S, n.d., "The Earth Lights Phenomenon", Inamidst, [online], last access: 03/15/2006, web address: http://inamidst.com/lights/earth Palmer S, n.d., "Earthquake Lights EQLs", Inamidst, [online], last access: 03/15/2006, web address: http://inamidst.com/lights/earthquake ZetaTalk, 1997, "Flashes", Troubled Times, The Hub, [online], last accessed: 03/19/2006, web address: http://www.zetatalk.com/theword/tworx113.htm Read More