Nowhere after "That's not true" did you say it was possible to predict either...(?) And I'm not really sure if you're describing volcanic pressure as well in the first paragraph or strike-slip faulting, which wouldn't affect the pacific northwest. I also don't know what "modern imaging techniques" you're referring to. Monitoring heat levels doesn't go very far and doesn't supply much of a warning until the volcano is getting ready to blow.

When scientists say volcanoes are due for eruptions, they're talking along the geologic timeline. Meaning it could happen tomorrow like sensationalists would have you believe, or it could happen in 400 years, or it could happen in 2,000 years (or in cases like Yellowstone, any day in the next 90,000 or whatever years). That's not really predicting, and no scientific body (like the USGS) would go by it. You might see Mt. Baker or even Ranier go boom boom in your lifetime; it's impossible to know until it goes into overdrive as much as a week or more beforehand (likely less), at which point you're past the time to make predictions.

What specialists now fear is that this major earthquake will hasten the Big One due in Tokyo (and possibly the Big One due in Osaka - Kansai area). Because you don't dissipate so much energy withou consequences...

I'd have said this was the big one (just slightly wrong location). Somehow, I don't being in Kanto so much anymore.
Some silly article posted a few days ago stating that there was no connection as it was unlikely a major disaster would happen this year. If nothing else, that's tempting fate.

I personally found it amusing in some sorta Alanis Ironic way.

I'm actually pretty scared now, we had a big 7.2 quake almost a year ago on Easter Sunday... so I'm wondering if I'll start living in Baja California Island soon.

Well I think it would be foolish to hope it never hits you as you simply can't stop the planet when it's pissed off. But, I hope it doesn't hit you for a few decades yet.

I've been trying to leave this place for thirty years. It's like I'm doomed to stay here forever. :(

so you´re speaking of chain reaction?
can happen. as said in "geological terms"



Situation Update.
Today one nuclear power plant had an actual quake related accident.
And since most plants are shut down, gov. ask everybody to use less electricity.

Gas is working in Tokyo in most places.

The 24h convenience stores are almost totally sold out.
New deliveries are not expected before night.
I guess more food resources are going to the disaster areas.

Lots of people had to spent the night in the office because most trains were out.
Some Metrol-lines that were safe ran all night.

aftershocks still happen, just now. very small but you can feel it.
it´s said there are around 1000 casualties.
my thoughts are with them.

that´s it from Tokyo / Sumida, for now.

Thanks for the update Dyscode. Please you and other folk in Japan keep it up for us fellow GoGers when you can.

I hope to God those nuclear powerplants get fully under control.

from the day i heard 2012 thing anything else similar gets my attention :\ i hope nothing happens but who knows what the future holds
and yep take care of yourselves, hope all your family and friends and other close ones are safe in japan, the only person i know from there is the metal gear solid creator and he tweeted hes alright :)

This is horrible. I hope the damage is less than we fear it is.


Yet you think you know better than your president how the government should prioritize.


I'm sure that you would be of another opinion if it was you that was hit.

Just came back from a little shopping outing. All stores, not just convenience ones here are out of bread based products and pretty much everything else that is delivered daily.

A couple of houses in the neighbourhood have suffered damage to their roofs. But at least none appear to have collapsed.

I was a bit surprised. Properly designed nuclear reactors can lose all power to the core without risk of nuclear meltdown. The reason being that when power is lost, the control rods drop from the top and the power rods drop out of the core into a shielded slot of sorts. And quickly the reactor cools down as any radioactive particles collide with the control rods.

Unfortunately, these are apparently older plants and for reasons I can't fathom they were apparently not designed like that. Chernobyl was an example of an upside down reactor.

I don't see any reason to panic, they'll get things working properly one way or another, but I'm a bit shocked that they were counting on backup generators to keep things in control.

Norwegian media report that Japanase media report that the Japanese government report that there is possibly a nuclear meltdown in one of the nuclear plants.

Yeah, it's like first a big quake, wash it down with a tsunami and then polish it off with a nuclear explosion. What did Japan ever do to anyone? =/
Ah, shit man.

Yeah, this is pretty tense now.
Fukushima is 250Km up north from Tokyo but if the wind is right there are no barriers for radioactive particles.
We got food supply for some days.
Later there will be an electricity emergency plan, since there is just not enough power to cool down Fukishima 1 powerplant. How Ironic.

It´s funny but somehow I expect to see Godzilla coming out of the ocean any moment.