No. Consensus from the many experts cited below is that we’re not seeing more frequent earthquakes right now. We’re all just paying more attention.
This year has been remarkable in the number of earthquakes in close succession that have had human impacts, but the number of earthquakes, from the earth’s perspective, is not unusual … it’s exciting and it’s terrible, but it’s not unusual – says Michael Blanpied, USGS’s associate coordinator for earthquake hazards.
Here are just a few of the many articles explaining exactly what’s happening with the earth right now:
- Are Earthquakes Becoming More Frequent? [John Solomon]
- The Earth Holds Steady [New York Times op-ed by Roger Musson]
- Is Recent Earthquake Activity Unusual? Scientists Say No. [USGS]
- Is Earth Shaking More? [MSNBC]
- Was China’s Quake Linked to Haiti’s, Chile’s, or Mexico’s? [The Atlantic]
- The Year of the Earthquake? [Newsweek]
Once again, here’s our tip sheet for making sure you handle a potential earthquake in the most resilient and prepared way you can. Just by reading it you’re helping yourself.