More potential flooding this weekend (31/01/2014 - 02/02/2014)

[whole diary]

[Cynthia]

And I just hear there's been a 4.1 magnitude earth tremor in the Bristol Channel, felt in Devon. Hope that doesn't shake up the infrastructure.

There was a documentary on T.V. a few years ago about a faultline under the Bristol Channel, which shifted in the 15thc and caused a tsunami in Weston-super-Mare; I wonder if it's the same one that's caused this earth tremor?

[Chris from Nailsea]

That's a good point, Cynthia - although that 'tsunami' occurred on 30 January 1607, rather than in the 15th century: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Channel_floods,_1607 

[ellendune]

And I just hear there's been a 4.1 magnitude earth tremor in the Bristol Channel, felt in Devon. Hope that doesn't shake up the infrastructure.

There was a documentary on T.V. a few years ago about a faultline under the Bristol Channel, which shifted in the 15thc and caused a tsunami in Weston-super-Mare; I wonder if it's the same one that's caused this earth tremor?

The programme iirc suggested that fault was off the south coast of Ireland not in the Bristol Channel

[stebbo]

A geology lecturer on TV this morning definitely referred to the Bristol Channel, though he made the point that the longer the fault line, the bigger the effect so the fault could well stretch out towards Ireland. That's apparently why the San Andreas fault is so dangerous because it's so long.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Earthquake confirmed in Bristol Channel

An earthquake has been recorded under the Bristol Channel, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has confirmed.

The 4.1 magnitude quake happened at about 13:21 GMT and was felt in Devon, south Wales and Somerset.

The focus was north of Ilfracombe, Devon, and south of the Gower, in Wales, and was at a depth of 3.1 miles (5km).

The BGS said it had received reports of people feeling the quake in Dartmoor, Bristol, Taunton, Swansea, Llanelli, Exmouth, Barnstaple, Gloucester and South Molton.

Susanne Sargeant, from the BGS, said it was "not unusual" to get quakes in the channel.


The quake was felt in parts of south Wales, Devon and Somerset

"It is an area in the Bristol Channel we know to have seismological action," she said. "One guy called and said he was in his house when he felt the earthquake - he said it was a bit of a surprise. Things were shaking on the shelves and he ran outside.

"We do see earthquakes here from time to time and the last one was at Hartland Point in 2001 - that's 50km south west of today's earthquake."

Colin Taylor, who is a professor of earthquake engineering at the University of Bristol, said an event with a magnitude of 4.1 should not cause any significant damage. "Humans are very sensitive to movement and although it might feel quite noticeable the worse you're likely to get is perhaps cracks in plaster or old masonry," he said. "These so-called shallow events happen every now and again in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and is typically caused by a local fault - under stress - which moves from time to time.

"It is an intra-plate event rather than the inter-plate movement you'd see on something like the San Andreas fault in California."

[Cynthia]

That's a good point, Cynthia - although that 'tsunami' occurred on 30 January 1607, rather than in the 15th century: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Channel_floods,_1607 

Thanks for putting me right there, CfN, can you let me off - I was only about 200 years out! 

[Chris from Nailsea]

A mere 'drop in the ocean', Cynthia! 

[ellendune]

The link given by

That's a good point, Cynthia - although that 'tsunami' occurred on 30 January 1607, rather than in the 15th century: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Channel_floods,_1607 

also gives the theory that the cause was a sub-sea landslip off the coast of Ireland

[Cynthia]

A mere 'drop in the ocean', Cynthia! 

Ha!  I like it!

There is a theory that animals are sensitive to seismological events.  Now, I know that here in West Wiltshire I'm a long way from the Bristol Channel, but coincidentally, my dog was behaving very strangely yesterday; restless, jumpy, confused (oh sorry, that was me actually....) she kept trying to hide under the table/under the bed/in her bed but under the bedding/ you name it she tried to hide under it.  I've never known her behave in that way before.  There was definitely something spooking her.  Anyone else's dog freaking out yesterday? 

[bobm]

Meanwhile further east, the Swindon Advertiser reported the earthquake - but said you wouldn't notice....

CLAIMS of an earthquake in Swindon this afternoon were a little premature, after the British Geological Survey (BGS) clarified confusion surrounding tremors in the town.
 
Seismometers belonging to the earth science experts in the town did pick up ground movement caused by the earthquake, which began in the Bristol Channel, but this was not great enough for humans to feel it.
 

[Cynthia]

Meanwhile further east, the Swindon Advertiser reported the earthquake - but said you wouldn't notice....

CLAIMS of an earthquake in Swindon this afternoon were a little premature, after the British Geological Survey (BGS) clarified confusion surrounding tremors in the town.
 
Seismometers belonging to the earth science experts in the town did pick up ground movement caused by the earthquake, which began in the Bristol Channel, but this was not great enough for humans to feel it.
 

Ah, maybe that is what Echo was picking up on......

[JayMac]

Meanwhile further east, the Swindon Advertiser reported the earthquake - but said you wouldn't notice....

CLAIMS of an earthquake in Swindon this afternoon were a little premature, after the British Geological Survey (BGS) clarified confusion surrounding tremors in the town.
 
Seismometers belonging to the earth science experts in the town did pick up ground movement caused by the earthquake, which began in the Bristol Channel, but this was not great enough for humans to feel it.
 

You didn't fall off your bike again did you bobm? 

[bobm]

You didn't fall off your bike again did you bobm? 

Now before this becomes an "in" joke.  I fell off my bike on the ice - and then only as I was moving it from the road to the pavement outside my destination.  Cost me a new pair of trousers too after I ripped a large part out of my knee and the fabric.

(Someone ask him about his trip from Swindon to Bristol via Yatton.....)

[JayMac]

(Someone ask him about his trip from Swindon to Bristol via Yatton.....)

Touch^ 

It was a nice forty winks though. Although maybe not for those around me if I was snoring again.