Disaster compared to scene from Bible (Planet rotation said affected by 9.0 quake)

WorldNetDaily ^ | December 26, 2004

[NYer]

The largest earthquake in the past 40 years and the resulting deaths of thousands from 33-foot tidal waves are being compared by an American reporter to descriptions of disaster from Holy Scripture.

"The speed with which it all happened seemed like a scene from the Bible – a natural phenomenon unlike anything I had experienced before," said Washington Post reporter Michael Dobbs, who was swimming off a Sri Lankan island when the disaster struck this morning.

"As the waters rose at an incredible rate, I half expected to catch sight of Noah's Ark. Instead of the Ark, I grabbed hold of a wooden catamaran that the local people used as a fishing boat. My brother jumped on the boat, next to me. We bobbed up and down on the catamaran, as the water rushed past us into the village beyond the road."

Officials at the U.S. Geological Survey the 9.0 quake centered off the Indonesian island of Sumatra was the world's fifth-largest since 1900 and the biggest since a 9.2 temblor hit Prince William Sound Alaska in 1964.

The temblor sparked a tsunami, a series of giant walls of water which left more than 14,000 dead in six countries, with the death toll continuing to rise.

Dobbs gives a first-person account of the dramatic event in the Post:

Disaster struck with no warning out of a faultlessly clear blue sky. ... I was a quarter way around the island when I heard my brother shouting at me, "Come back! Come back! There's something strange happening with the sea." ...

In less than a minute, the water level had risen at least 15 feet – but the sea itself remained calm, barely a wave in sight. ...

After a few minutes, the water stopped rising, and I felt it was safe to swim to the shore. What I didn't realize was that the floodwaters would recede as dramatically as they had risen.

All of a sudden, I found myself being swept out to sea with startling speed. Although I am a fairly strong swimmer, I was unable to withstand the current. The fishing boats around me had been torn from their moorings and were furiously bobbing up and down.

For the first time, I felt afraid, powerless to prevent myself from being swept out to sea.

I swam in the direction of one of the loose catamarans, grabbed hold of the hull, and pulled myself to safety. My weight must have slowed the boat down and soon I was stranded on the sand.

As the water rushed out of the bay, I scrambled onto the main road. Screams and yells were coming from the houses behind the road, many of which were still half full of water, trapping the inhabitants inside. Villagers were walking dazed along the road, unable to comprehend what had taken place.

I was worried about my wife who had been on the beach at the time I went for my swim. I eventually found her walking along the road, dazed and happy to be alive. She had been trying to wade back to our island, when the water had carried her across the road and into someone's back yard. At one point she was underwater, struggling for breath. She finally grabbed onto a piece of rope and climbed into a tree, while the waters raged beneath her.

An Italian scientist says the earthquake was so strong, it even disturbed the rotation of the Earth.

"All the planet is vibrating," Enzo Boschi, head of Italy's National Geophysics Institute said on SKY TG24 TV.

The U.S. State Department says at least three Americans are confirmed dead, two in Sri Lanka and one in Thailand.

A written statement from the White House says "the President expresses his sincere condolences for the terrible loss of life and suffering caused by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in the region of the Bay of Bengal.

"The United States stands ready to offer all appropriate assistance to those nations most affected including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as the other countries impacted. Already relief is flowing to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. We will work with the affected governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and other concerned states and organizations to support the relief and response to this terrible tragedy."

Relief agencies say the full scale of the disaster is impossible to assess, since communications have been cut to remote areas.

[Steely Tom]

can an earthquake alter the angular momentum of the earth?

No. The angular momentum of the earth can only be changed by either encountering an extra-terrestrial object that transfers angular momentum to us (for instance, by collision with a sizeable asteroid, particularly if the angle of collision is "glancing") or by ejecting some material from the earth and thereby carrying away some angular momentum.

However, the rotational speed of the earth, or the orientation of its axis of rotation, could be changed even if its angular momentum does not change, if there occurred a sufficiently radical redistribution of mass within the earth, including its crust.

You can prove this to yourself by getting one of those little half-pint cartons of milk and "flipping" it in the air. You will observe that the carton always ends up rotating at a speed that is considerably slower than you expect. This is because you are imparting spin to the carton, and the carton, in turn, imparts spin to the milk it contains, but this process takes place after the carton has left your hand.

It is also possible (though doubtful IMO because of the magnitudes involved) that some angular momentum the earth once had got "trapped" in the form of stored energy (by putting millions of cubic miles of rock located in earth's crust or mantle under stress) at some point in the distant past. If an earthquack were to "release" this stored angular momentum, it could change the earth's rotation.

But, as I said, it seems to me that for this to be measurable the earthquake would have to be truly biblical. Massive tidal waves in every ocean of the world, costal cities everywhere devastated, that sort of thing.

As big as this one was, it's energy release was small potatoes compared with a quake that could do that sort of thing.

What the Dr. Boschi said is that "the planet is vibrating." This could be the case with no change in angular momentum whatsoever.

(steely)

[Sacajaweau]

I tend to agree with this. That gaping hole had to refill with something from someplace....either behind it or from the side of it...you HAVE the idea.

[wolfpat]

Registering cod as weapons? Ridiculous. However, I'm going out to cut down some trees with a herring...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Did we jump forward, backward, slow, speed up?

A mouse scammering across the room changes the rotation of the earth, though not in any measurable way. This earthquake and resulting tsunami could not significantly change the angular momentum of the earth as a whole, however, if it redistributed the mass of the earth, it could change both the rotation rate and the rotational axis.

The canonical analogy is the ice skater who spins faster by drawing her arms in towards herself. The actual case is a little more complicated. Leaving out the astronomical effects of nutation and precession (which actually do involve long term predictable changes in the direction of the earth's rotation and hence changes in the earth's angular momentum) the earth's axis of rotation wobbles around its "mean" or conventional point. This wobble is not completely understood, but it is not much different than the expected results of "eulerian wobble". You see "eulerian wobble" every time you see a replay of a pass thrown by Jim Plunket - a not perfect spiral.

Motion of the North Pole Exhibiting Wobble

The effect is somewhat subtle, one second of arc corresponds to a displacement of about 30 meters on the surface of the earth. For a good discussion of matters effecting the earth's rotation start here

[Sacajaweau]

These astonomers are awesome. There's another I would like to hear from....Apache Point.

[XRdsRev]

We need to reset our clocks to 8pm (EST). The date is now June 12 and please amend all maps and atlas' to show that the north pole is now located at Parma Ohio. Thanks

[Tennessee_Bob]

I thought it was a Pacific fault...

[ExtremeUnction]

I'm amazed that all of Sumatra is 100 feet over from where it was a couple of days ago.

Look at "Earthquake Park" in Anchorage." A vast area of land that dropped 20 feet when their 9.2 hit in 1964.

[wolfpat]

Great! It's my birthday. It doesn't seem like a whole year has passed...
My in-laws in Middletown will be glad the pole stopped before it got to them.

[Jemian]

Thanks. Your explanation helps.

[David]

Chapter Six of the Revelation lists and describes six events or conditions that occur during the period prior to commencement of the Great Tribulation (Mathew 24:15-21)--we know that because the last verse in Revelation 6, verse 17, says "the great day of his wrath is come"--it is about to start but has not started previously.

Those six events are: 1) A conquering; 2) A war; 3) A complex event in the market for wheat and barley; 4) Complex events in a quarter of the earth; 5) Persecution and death of Christians; and 6) "a great earthquake" in which "every mountain and island were moved out of their places".

The wheat and barley event is most significant--a prophecy that wheat will trade at three times the price of barley and that Oil and Wine will not be hurt. (Rev 6:6) Wheat has traded at three times the price of barley one time during the Church Age--May 1996; at which time the 200% penalty tax on oil and wine which was suspended and never collected, was ultimately terminated, assuring that the oil and wine would not be hurt. We believe 6:6 may have happened then.

The conquering was Saddam's conquest of Kuwait; the war was Desert Storm. The quarter of the earth in 6:8 is that portion of the earth between 76 degrees East Longitude and 14 degrees West Longitude; the war was Bosnia; the killing by beasts of the earth was by the desease transmitted by eating the flesh of the beasts (eboula; mad cow; etc.).

World Net Daily runs a continuing Chronicle of persecution and killing of Christians.

The next thing to look for is a Great Earthquake in which the mountains and islands are moved out of their places. Note that the word translated "islands" in KJV Rev. 6:14 is actually a Greek word which means shorelands, including islands.

[television is just wrong]

I'd like to see his credentials...(Sarcasm)

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

If you're really interested read the link. (I spent a lot of time last winter in Alabama. Alabama in the winter is like Shemya in spring. I only saw ONE pick up truck with a "Confederate" (i.e., General Lee's) flag.)

[Little Pig]

bookmark

[Larry Lucido]

"the north pole is now located at Parma Ohio"

So, then, the polar ice cap is safe.

[steplock]

"An Italian scientist says the earthquake was so strong, it even disturbed the rotation of the Earth. "

All the msm have latched onto this one sentence by somebody ... sounds scary doesn't it?


Only one problem, it doesn't say a thing! "..it disturbed the rotation.." !!!??? What is that supposed to mean?

[angkor]

[WorkingClassFilth]

This just in...

CBS reports that astronomers at Apache Point observatory have just confirmed the earlier CBS report from Mount Palomar. The Director of the Astrophysical Research Consortium, noted authority Dr. Who, has just issued a statement indicating objects have been observed traveling on a trajectory from Mars to Earth. Using the facility's powerful 3.5 meter telescope to make the startling discovery, Dr. Who stated that while the observed phenomenon was subject to further investigation, it is widely felt that initial catastrophic conclusions were beyond question.

[steplock]

Let's do a poll of how many muslims and what were the percentages. Maybe it was "biblical"?

[television is just wrong]

LOL, I said that on another thread.

[reagan_fanatic]

Yeah, but what does that have to do with the rotation of the Earth?

Not to worry. Michael Moore has tripped and fell a few times, and the Earth survived the massive vibrations from that as well...

[livius]

Thanks for your explanations! I have been rather puzzled by this comment all morning, since it sounded rather dire, but your explanations have made sense of it.

[Jemian]

I have clicked the link. That article helps. Thank you.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Yeah, they actually say,

"It is also possible that a large earthquake might affect polar motion, but to date, this effect has not been observed closely."

- interesting.

It'll take weeks before all the observations are in and the data reduced, but if it did have a measurable effect, I'm sure we'll hear about it.

[7.62 x 51mm]

"Disaster struck with no warning out of a faultlessly clear blue sky."

Sounds like 9-11...

[fporretto]

I think he meant "disturbed" as in "troubled." You know, the way Senator Lieberman was "troubled" by the behavior of President Clinton. Thus: unsettled enough to cause some discomfort, but not enough to produce perceptible action.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit Eternity Road:
http://www.eternityroad.info

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

By now you've had several responses, but none have addressed the practical issue that animates many believers to not spell out "G-d".

It really has nothing to do with "a forum like this" or the fact that it's a political discussion or anything of that sort. The practicality is that many believe the hallowed name of the Creator should not be spelled out on any thing that might be desecrated: wadded up, soiled, dropped to the floor, etc. And web pages can be printed out ...and our posts here might even be cut-and-pasted onto DU, and there's no worse desecration! [grin]

Hence you will see this little formality observed by many as a sign of respect. As you know by now, it does not reflect any reluctance to acknowledge religion or belief or the Creator. Quite the contrary.

[Frapster]

Some people hold the name of God in such reverence that it would be a violation of their convictions to spell it out. You should not take offence as it is a sign of respect and nothing else.

[Samurai_Jack]

As early as yesterday aftenoon, the team observed multiple bright flashes eminating from the surface of the red planet Mars. It is unknown what this might mean at this time...

[wizr]

I t'ink I gonna go visit my soon to be beachfront property in the Sierra. I'll email you a snowball, when, or if, I get back.

[Samurai_Jack]

Elected to the office of the Presidency in the Ukraine!

[COEXERJ145]

And people have been saying every natural disaster has been a sign of the "end times" for the last 2000 years and yet we're still here. The truth is no one has a clue except God the Father and for humans to try and predict it is just foolish.

[Jaded]

Matthew er, Mark.

This is an interesting thread. I'd still like to know precisely how the quake changed the earth's rotation.

[quant5]

A quick question about Jews and "G-D". Why don't the Jews use the YHWH or in english, Yahweh? I am 1/4 Jewish and just curious.

[verity]

Then, how do you explain that my toilet is flushing counter clockwise? ;~)

[WorkingClassFilth]

They LIVE!

http://www.railwaybridge.co.uk/images/martian5.jpg

[Lijahsbubbe]

If the earth gets knocked off of its axis, how far can it fall?

[Lijahsbubbe]

Then, how do you explain that my toilet is flushing counter clockwise? ;~)

Will the room be spinning counter clockwise for the New Year's Eve revelers? :O

[COEXERJ145]

Let's do a poll of how many muslims and what were the percentages.

Considering the fact that the largest number of dead appear to be in India and Sri Lanka, it most likely means that the majority of those killed are Buddhist and Hindu, not Muslim.

[RightWhale]

can an earthquake alter the angular momentum of the earth?

The planet rotates unevenly in the first place, partly due to the changing position of the moon but partly due to the non-uniform structure of the earth. The main axis of rotation precesses with several periods ranging from 400 days to 22,000 years. In addition, the rotation is slowing as the moon recedes. The momentum of rotation, angular momentum, changes all the time, mainly being transferred from one minor rotational axis to another all the time. The bell has been rung, and about yet another axis.

[Nowhere Man]

I don't understand this. Did we stand still for a while? Did we jump forward, backward, slow, speed up? In what way did it affect our rotation and what is the data for this conclusion? If it did affect our rotation, everything will be affected. So, is this an emotional response or does the scientist have some measurements to back it up?

I'm curious too, I know in the Bible, there is the story of the Earth stopping its rotation for a day. Still, I'd like to add to your question things like "did it affect the tilt of the axis" and "what about the magnetic field." Maybe with the latter, I'm curious on how strong earthquakes can affect that. One thing is interesting is on December 23rd, we had that 8.1 off of New Zealand and now this.

[ArtyFO]

According to one news report, the island of Sumartra moved 100 feet toward the Southwest.

[Samurai_Jack]

RUN AWAY!!

[RS]

"...does the scientist have some measurements to back it up?
"

Best guess is that any any explosion or eruption will send shockwaves through the earth, and they will bounce around as they hit harder and softer sections. This would happen all the time, but we simply have many more and much more sensitive sensors scattered around that allows us to plot these back to the source.
These are probably the vibrations he mentions - The jump to "rotational" reference is probably bad translations by people who don't know the science.

[kimosabe31]

I don't understand this. Did we stand still for a while? Did we jump forward, backward, slow, speed up? In what way did it affect our rotation and what is the data for this conclusion? If it did affect our rotation, everything will be affected. So, is this an emotional response or does the scientist have some measurements to back it up?

Good point. Since there have been 5 larger quakes in the past 100 years, what has been the experience?? Have any of those affected rotation or is this italian just blowing smoke??

[Cold Heart]

Kind of like spelling it xmas instead of Christmas?

[Uncle Miltie]

"Kind of like spelling it xmas instead of Christmas?"

Whoa! Living up to your moniker this morning?

Ha!

[Quix]

GOD SAID

those who blessed Israel, God would bless.

those who cursed Israel, God would curse.

There are a few other issues, too.

Check the other 'religious' threads, if one is truly interested.