Scientists have found a surprising connection between solar activity and earthquakes. Research led by computer scientist Matheus Henrique Junqueira Saldanha of the University of Tsukuba in Japan has established that changes in the Sun’s temperature can affect seismic activity on Earth.
According to the study, solar heat drives atmospheric temperature changes, which in turn can cause rocks to become more brittle and prone to fracturing. This, combined with fluctuations in rainfall and snowmelt, can alter pressure at tectonic plate boundaries, potentially triggering earthquakes.
The study’s findings suggest that knowing the link between solar activity and earthquake probability could help scientists better predict seismic activity. However, predicting earthquakes remains a complex task due to numerous variables involved.
Researchers have identified a correlation between sunspot activity and earthquake activity in previous studies, but the new research sheds light on why this connection exists. The study’s results show that adding surface temperature data to the model improves accuracy for shallow earthquakes originating from the upper crust.
The discovery highlights the intricate relationship between Earth’s atmosphere and its life-giving star. While the findings are exciting, they also underscore the complexity of predicting earthquakes and the need for continued research into the factors that contribute to seismic activity.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/the-suns-activity-can-trigger-earthquakes-and-now-we-know-how