The position of the moon right now is pulling on Earth and the gravitational tug of war could cause a major earthquake on our planet. The pull from our lunar satellite could cause tension to build within Earth’s tectonic plates, which could be unleashed in a magnitude six earthquake. This is according to earthquake ‘forecasting’ website Ditrianum, run by researcher Frank Hoogerbeets, which said: “Lunar geometry may trigger large seismic activity, possibly mid to high 6 magnitude on the 7th or 8th.”
A magnitude six quake could “cause a lot of damage in very populated areas”, according to Michigan Tech, although Mr Hoogerbeets does not state where he believe the tremor may strike.
The Dutch researcher reached his conclusion using his Solar System Geometry Index (SSGI) which “is the computation of a dataset for a specific time-frame of values given to specific geometric positions of the planets, the Moon and the Sun”.
He said: “After three years of observations, it became clear that some planetary geometry in the Solar System clearly tends to cause a seismic increase, while other geometry does not.”
But experts have previously dismissed Mr Hoogerbeets’ claims, saying that there is no way earthquakes can be predicted.
John Bellini, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said: “We can’t predict or forecast earthquakes.
“Sometimes before a large earthquake you’ll have a foreshock or two, but we don’t know they’re foreshocks until the big one happens.”
However, there is some suggestion that Mr Hoogerbeets did correctly predict the powerful 7.3 magnitude quake which hit on March 1 in Peru.
He wrote on his website prior to the quake: “Specific lunar geometry today could cause some seismic increase in the next two days, possibly into the 6 magnitude range.”
Following the quake, which was actually stronger than Mr Hoogerbeets had predicted, he said: “A quake watch was in effect on February 28 and March 1 because of critical lunar geometry on February 27, as discussed.”
But it is likely to be a coincidence, as Peru is prone to earthquakes as the South American nation sits upon the dreaded Ring of Fire.
The Ring of Fire is the largest and most active fault line in the world, stretching from New Zealand, all around the east coast of Asia, over to Canada and the USA and all the way down to the southern tip of South America and causes more than 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes.
Experts know that the Ring of Fire has to potential to unleash some catastrophic quakes.
