New Paper Reveals Seismic Activity & Climate are Connected

Written by John O'Sullivan on July 24, 2019. Posted in Current News

International Journal of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources publishes a new paper showing a significant and growing relationship between mid-ocean seismic activity and global temperatures (extended through 2018).

The author, Arthur Viterito (College of Southern Maryland, USA) affirms what has been shown in earlier studies, with regional disparities in mid-ocean seismic activity emerging.  These will be monitored going forward.

Published July 16, 2019, ‘The Relationship Between Mid-Ocean Spreading Zone Seismic Activity and Global Temperatures Remains Strong Through 2018,‘ [1] found:

“…a  link between mid-ocean spreading zone seismic activity (MOSZSA) [4] and global temperatures (GT) [5] over the past 40 years. In this brief note, the MOSZSA, as measured by the moment-magnitude 4-6 earthquake frequencies in these high geothermal flux areas, along with GT, are extended through 2018 (Figure 1) to re-test the hypothesis that MOSZSA serves as a significant driver of GT. The methods employed are the same as those detailed in CSARGW with one exception: the data from University of Alabama – Huntsville, version 6.0, are now averaged with the Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) version 4.0 data instead of the older RSS 3.3 version.”

As Figure 1 clearly demonstrates, GT remain strongly tied to global MOSZSA through 2018, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.83 (P<0.001). As detailed in CSARGW, the high correlation
can be explained by the fact that greater MOSZSA is a proxy for intensified geothermal flux (GF) in these areas [6]. Greater GF strengthens the thermohaline circulation, facilitating greater heat flux into the North Atlantic and the Arctic [7-10]. Warmer bottom water also intensifies thermobaric convection in Polar regions, a ventilating mechanism that promotes greater vertical heat transport throughout the water column [11,12]. Consistent with the outcomes generated in CSARGW, CSARGW16, and HGTRTP, multiple regression determines that MOSZSA frequencies are significant (P<0.02) while atmospheric CO2 concentrations are not (P>0.1)

With such good evidence pointing to seismic activity being far better correlated with temperature  than CO2 (contrary to the core claim of the greenhouse gas hypothesis) Professor Viterito concludes:

“The correlation of MOSZSA and GT showed continued strength through 2018. As per the practice in previous years, a follow-up research note will be drafted after GT and MOSZSA data have been compiled for all of 2019. It is anticipated that continued exploration of these datasets will further validate the hypothesis that MOSZSA and GT are linked in a meaningful way while rendering a clearer picture of emerging global and regional trends. In addition, links to other potential drivers may be better understood and assessed. Of course, the ultimate goal of these efforts is to develop the skills needed to accurately forecast GT from MOSZSA and other significant drivers.”

[1] : Arthur Viterito. The Relationship Between Mid-Ocean Spreading Zone Seismic Activity and Global Temperatures Remains Strong Through 2018. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res. 2019; 20(3): 556039. DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2019.20.556039

PRINCIPIA SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, legally registered in the UK as a company incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX. 

Please DONATE TODAY To Help Our Non-Profit Mission To Defend The Scientific Method.

Trackback from your site.