The day the earth wobbled.

The earthquake that struck Japan on 11-March-2011 was so powerful that it has shifted the Earth’s axis by 25cm (9.8 inches).  In perspective of the Earth that is not much, but for mankind it’s a huge shift.

December 2004.  The earthquake that caused the 2004 Asia tsunami was so powerful that it changed the local geography, shifted islands, and pushed Sumatra’s mainland by as much as 120 ft.  The energy released by the earthquake made the earth “wobble” on its axis.  According to a 17-Jan-2005 article in Scientific American, this earthquake caused the Earth’s wobbling motion to change by about 2.5cm (1 inch)

January 2011. The earthquake that struck Japan last Friday was so powerful that it has shifted the Earth’s axis by 25cm (9.8 inches).  In perspective of the Earth that is not much, but for mankind it’s still huge.

Both the earthquakes have left parts of inhabited land permanently underwater because of the change in terrain.  The tremors caused land to lose elevation in some places and gain in other.  Which means the tsunami didn’t go back to the sea in all places.  The water has stayed back.

Daily Mail has done an excellent article explaining the whole axis shift and the impact of last week’s earthquake.  You can read the full article here.

Reference:

17-Jan-2005 Scientific American

29-Dec-2004 Times Online