Is there a correlation between the movement of Earth’s magnetic poles and seismic activity? Geophysical research over recent decades has led scientists to conclude there is a connection between earthquakes and processes occurring within the Earth’s core. Our planet’s core is a system that synchronizes and stabilizes all processes within the Earth’s crust and on its surface. It plays a key role in tectonic plate dynamics, climate change, and the formation of our planet’s electromagnetic characteristics.
For a long time, the Earth’s core rotation remained constant, but several decades ago, the situation changed. Beginning in 1995, changes in Earth’s movement and its magnetic field began to occur. Observations include:
- Anomalous acceleration of the North Magnetic Pole’s drift at a rate four times faster than normal. Simultaneously, the magnetic field is weakening ten times faster than previously observed.
- The planet’s axis of rotation is changing direction and moving 17 times faster.
- The Earth’s rotation is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, following a step-like pattern. The Earth accelerates, then decelerates, and in the next phase, the rotation speed increases even further.
Along with these changes, powerful neutrino emissions are emerging from the core, and observations from space of the center of mass show a displacement of the Earth’s core towards the Taymyr Peninsula. In 1998, seismic stations in Europe recorded an increase in the centrifugal force and gravity of our planet. Laser ranging systems from space have determined that the Earth is expanding rapidly in the equatorial zone, although until the last century, the trend was the opposite.
Do the processes occurring in the Earth’s interior affect the level of seismic activity? And is it possible, under these circumstances, to make accurate earthquake predictions to maintain the stability of economies and populations located in seismic risk zones?
Earth’s Core Dynamics and Anomalous Seismic Activity
The acceleration of Earth’s rotation and the increase in centrifugal force are causing magma chambers to rise closer to the surface. This has increased geothermal heat flows, heated the base of tectonic platforms, and led to a rise in the number of earthquakes over the past two decades. As a result, new faults and fissures are forming, through which surface water is seeping into the Earth’s interior. The anomalous seismic activity observed in recent years is manifested in:
- An increase in the number, energy, magnitude, and hypocentral depth of earthquakes.
- Increased seismic activity on the ocean floor in the mid-ocean ridge regions, associated with the expansion of the planet due to rising magma.
- A high probability of approaching mega-earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 9.5 on the Richter scale.
The shift in the Earth’s center of mass has been the primary factor disrupting the system’s equilibrium. This event has led to a dissonance between the Earth’s outer and inner layers, causing an increase in many natural disasters. In recent years, there has been an increase in earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, and other events.
The Influence of Climate on Earth’s Geological Stability
Changes in our planet’s magnetic field affect not only its internal structures but also its outer layers. Rising magma and volcanic activity lead to an increase in global temperature, which, in turn, affects the overall climate. Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and an increase in extreme weather events destabilize tectonic plates and lead to additional earthquake risks.
Climate change leads to an uneven distribution of ice and water load on the Earth’s surface. Therefore, active tectonic zones may experience more frequent fault movements, leading to new earthquakes due to rapidly changing seismic conditions. Based on observations in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rockies, American scientists have concluded that fault shifts in areas freed from ice occur five times faster than when the peaks were covered by glaciers. Comparing the frequency of earthquakes in different geological epochs, it has been concluded that the seismic activity of the Rocky Mountains has become significantly higher in recent years.
Rising sea levels and changes in water temperature increase the overall mass of the oceans and, consequently, the forces acting on underwater tectonic plates. Seismic risks increase due to the danger of tsunamis, and coastal regions will become increasingly vulnerable as water levels rise. Storms, intense rains, or floods also affect seismic activity. For example, in 2020, during Hurricane Alex, a record rainfall of almost 600 millimeters in 24 hours in Mercantour, France, affected the region’s soil stability. Over the next three months, the monitoring system recorded about 200 mini-earthquakes with magnitudes of 2-2.5.
Scientists have not yet found answers to all the questions posed. However, it is evident that the extreme changes occurring in our planet’s core, primarily affecting its climate and geological stability, will lead to increased seismic risks in the coming years.