There is no scientific evidence that people can accurately predict the occurrence of earthquakes simply by monitoring behavioral changes in certain fish species or unusual cloud patterns, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday.
“Many people have heard that some animals can sense earthquakes before they occur and respond with unusual behaviors, or earthquakes would surely ensue when certain natural phenomena happen. So far statements similar to these have yet to be substantiated by any scientific evidence,” the state-run meteorology agency wrote on Facebook.
Some call oarfish or the Ishikawa roughfin “earthquake fish” because they often emerge before and after quakes, the agency said.
Photo: Tsai Shu-yuan, Taipei Times
However, scientific evidence suggests that behaviors of fish could be affected by sea temperature, water quality and feeding habits, but a direct causal relation between fish behavior and earthquakes has yet to be established, it said.
Others call altocumulus clouds — small clouds with a clear profile — “earthquake clouds” as they often appear before the occurrence of earthquakes, whether they come in oblate or round shapes, tiles or waves.
“But shapes and changes of clouds are affected by various phenomena, and scientists have yet to ascertain a direct relationship between earthquakes and particular shapes of clouds. As such, one cannot predict the occurrence simply by observing changes in clouds,” the agency said.
Scientists have found small changes within the Earth’s interior to be more reliable precursors for earthquakes, such as changes in the number of seismic activities, minor deformations of the Earth’s crust and abnormal changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, the agency said, adding that these phenomenon need to observed and monitored through sophisticated scientific instruments, rather than through pure observations of nature.
“Myths and rumors about earthquakes might lead to misjudgements or erroneous forecasts. People should use scientific methods and techniques to conduct risk assessments for earthquakes, rather than mysterious legends,” the agency said.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Yilan County at 8:39pm tonight, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The epicenter was 38.7km east-northeast of Yilan County Hall at a focal depth of 98.3km, the CWA’s Seismological Center said. The quake’s maximum intensity, which gauges the actual physical effect of a seismic event, was a level 4 on Taiwan’s 7-tier intensity scale, the center said. That intensity level was recorded in Yilan County’s Nanao Township (南澳), Hsinchu County’s Guansi Township (關西), Nantou County’s Hehuanshan (合歡山) and Hualien County’s Yanliao (鹽寮). An intensity of 3 was
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