On climate change and earthquakes
I recall snickering rightwing comments on a financial forum along these lines after Japan’s most recent big quake: “Just watch, eco-nuts will try to blame this on global warming.” My engineering instincts perked at this, as my first thought was, “And why not? Massive weight redistribution from melting polar ice should indeed create stresses on the earth’s crust.” The question is: how much stress and is it enough to matter?
Ever since, I’ve been following the research on global warming and seismic activity. A consensus is building that there is a link. Maybe. Probably.
This Newsweek article provides a good overview of that growing consensus: More Fatal Earthquakes to Come, Geologists Warn.