A short note on the two most recent large EQs of New Zealand (Mw=7.0 on September 3rd, 2010 and Mw=6.1 on February 21st, 2011). A typical example of tidally triggered large EQs by the M1 tidal component

TL;DR

This paper investigates the timing of two recent large earthquakes in New Zealand and finds strong evidence that they were triggered by the M1 tidal component of lithospheric oscillations, suggesting potential for earthquake prediction via electric signals.

Contribution

It presents a novel analysis linking earthquake occurrence times to the M1 tidal component, highlighting a possible trigger mechanism for large earthquakes.

Findings

Earthquakes coincided with peaks in lithospheric oscillation at M1 tidal component.

Strong correlation between M1 tidal peaks and earthquake timing.

Potential for preseismic electric signals to predict earthquakes.

Abstract

The time of occurrence of the two most resent large EQs of New Zealand (Mw = 7.0 on September 3rd, 2010 and Mw = 6.1 on February 21st, 2011) is compared to the time when the lithospheric oscillation at the focal area reaches its peak amplitude in terms of the M1 (Moon declination) tidal component. The observed very good coincidence of the EQs occurrence time with the lithospheric oscillation peak amplitude time for the M1 tidal component clearly suggests that both these EQs were triggered by the M1 component of the lithospheric tidal oscillation. It is speculated that large preseismic electric signals should be observed before the EQs occurrence if the appropriate hardware were installed.