Scientists have been baffled by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic and numerous earthquakes in midcontinent and East Coast states recently.
They were unable to explain what caused the two incidents.
Here, we show that the only reasonable explanation for these two events is that geological forces suddenly and significantly separated the two parts of the North Atlantic seafloor rock formation (Fig. 1).
This movement greatly increases the volume, frequency and intensity of emissions of superheated fluids and gases from active geological features.
It also shifted the pressure of the movement onto the eastern seaboard states. The stress activates dormant faults, causing earthquakes.
Abnormal warming in the North Atlantic
I am convinced that the unusual increase in surface water temperatures in the North Atlantic is caused by the massive amounts of heat released by approximately 1,000,000 active seafloor geological features.
This may seem like too many geological features, however, the North Atlantic is 5,000 miles long, covers an area of 17,000,000 cubic miles, and has an average depth of 11,000 feet.
Using new high-resolution seafloor elevation mapping equipment, oceanographers have discovered a surprising number of previously unidentified hydrothermal vents, volcanoes and faults in the ocean (Figure 2).
Beginning in May 2023, North Atlantic sea surface temperatures increased by two degrees Fahrenheit in four months (Figure 3). Some small areas of North Atlantic surface waters warmed by nine degrees Fahrenheit. The unusual event left scientists baffled and unable to explain what was causing the temperature rise.
Taken together, multiple data sources including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show that from 1850 to 2020, the Earth’s ocean temperatures increased by about 0.0052°C (0.0094°F) per year.
The North Atlantic Ocean covers an area of 42,000,000 square miles, accounting for 8.5% of the Earth's surface, has an average depth of 11,000 feet, and a volume of 38,506,390 cubic miles.
Heating this volume of water two degrees Fahrenheit in four months cannot be accomplished through man-made emissions.
The most convincing evidence to support this argument is The average surface temperature of all oceans increased by 0.88 [0.68 to 1.01] Between 1850 and 2020, temperatures increased by 1.58°F (approximately 1.58°F) (according to IPCC AR6 report). This equates to an average increase of approximately 0.0052°C (0.0094°F) per year.
This means that it would take approximately 212 years for North Atlantic surface temperatures to rise two degrees Fahrenheit.
Figure 3 shows changes in North Atlantic sea surface temperature relative to a historical baseline. Dark orange corresponds to unusually warm areas, and blue areas correspond to cooler areas. (Image source NOAA, July 30, 2024, annotated by J. Kamis). It also shows three points of high heat flow, each associated with geologically active areas
The high heat flow point in the northeast is Iceland. The northern half of the Mid-Atlantic Fault Zone cuts across Iceland. Faults here are known to pull apart the seafloor in and around Iceland by an inch every year. This is an extreme amount of exercise.
This movement creates a channel for molten rock from deep within the Earth to upwell along the now-open two-dimensional push-off fault surface. For more details on why volcanic activity is increasing in Iceland, see here.
The Northeast Hotspot sits atop the Labrador/Baffin Bay Fault that pushes up the seafloor along Greenland's entire east side. It has become very active in the last 12 months or so.
The final hotspot is offshore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Figure 4 also shows the circular rotation of the North Atlantic Ocean Current. This current distributes heat from hot spots throughout the North Atlantic.
Earthquakes in the Central Continent and East Coast States
Over the past 16 to 24 months, numerous earthquakes have occurred in the Midcontinent and East Coast states. These states are New Jersey, North Carolina, Illinois and Michigan. It is extremely rare for these earthquakes to occur within a short period of time.
So, what forces cause these earthquakes?
I hypothesize that these earthquakes were caused by push-away motion in the northern part of the Mid-Atlantic Fault Group (Figure 1). This movement increases pressure within rock formations in the eastern and central United States.
Stresses that cause fault instability in this region. Eventually, the fault moves, creating an earthquake.
Here are some examples of these earthquakes.
Mississippi River Stadium
I hypothesize that the course of the Mississippi River is controlled by a major midcontinent-scale fault system (Fig. 5). Faults consist of long linear segments that are oriented at different angles but are all connected. The Mississippi River flows precisely along these faults.
The New Madrid fault complex is located on one of the long straight sections of the river. This fault recently experienced a strong earthquake (see here) This earthquake was followed by a number of weaker earthquakes in the same area.
The New Madrid Fault has been responsible for several very large earthquakes. The 1811 earthquake was so powerful that it caused the course of the Mississippi River to reverse from south to north. It also destroyed towns and buildings in the area. This proves that the fault is part of the Mississippi River fault.
Another observation is that the orientation of Lake Superior's long linear northwest shoreline matches the orientation of other long linear faults connecting the Mississippi River (Fig. 5). The Lake Superior Fault is part of another major fault system that crosses the Mississippi River Fault.
New Jersey and New York City
On April 5, 2024, a major earthquake occurred in New Jersey and New York City. (Taken from Yahoo News)
“Level 4.8 earthquake The record in New Jersey on Friday morning, one of the most intense in the state's history, shocked residents of surrounding states and New York City. Tremors were reported as far north as Maine and as far south as Norfolk, Virginia.
During the earthquake, residents also heard extremely loud roars. Shortly after this quake, two more earthquakes struck the area, one of which was as strong as the April 5 earthquake.
North Carolina
- A major earthquake occurred on August 1, 2020. “How often can you put your hands on an active seismic fault? In the eastern United States, no one had done so until two years ago. That's because the recorded earthquakes east of the Mississippi River didn't cause surface ruptures, not even like the one in South Carolina in 1886. Devastating earthquakes like the Charleston, N.C. earthquake. When people think of earthquakes, images of cracked highways and visible fault lines come to mind in the eastern United States, until a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Sparta, North Carolina, on August 9, 2020. The fault line was revealed when Carolina geologist Kevin Stewart of the Department of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences rushed to Sparta that morning. Professor. His specialty is the study of structural geology, such as faults and fractures in the Earth's crust. He has worked in areas with active faults in the Italian Apennines, Rocky Mountains, and western North Carolina. Stewart told the U.S. Geological Survey about Spa. People were shocked by the announcement of the earthquake, which was felt throughout North Carolina, much of the eastern United States and west into Tennessee and Kentucky.
- “North Carolina doesn’t shake, rattle, and roll like other parts of the United States or the world, but in 2023, there were more than 20 earthquakes in the Tar Heel State.”
- June 19, 2023 A small town in North Carolina was hit by its eighth earthquake in more than three weeks on June 16, meaning an old fault line is now active, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The earthquake, a magnitude 2.1, was centered in a sparsely populated area about 2.4 miles north of West Canton. Records show there have been seven earthquakes in the area since May 23, ranging in magnitude from 1.8 to 3.2. Hundreds of witnesses reported feeling some of the stronger quakes, but the latest was just one as of midday Friday. The USGS said it was submitted by a man feeling weak and shaking in the town of Clyde, eight miles away. All earthquakes originated near Chambers Mountain north of Interstate 40.“
- On December 31, 2023, North Carolina experienced a series of unusually strong earthquakes.
- On July 24, 2024, a small earthquake occurred in North Carolina.
Michigan
Michigan experienced a low-intensity earthquake on August 1, 2024. Via The Detroit News:
“In case you missed it, Lake Michigan earthquake Miles from the Wisconsin coastline – a rarity in the Great Lakes region. A 2.9-magnitude earthquake struck Lake Michigan just after 9 a.m. Friday, 24 miles off the coast of Sturgeon Bay. This earthquake is extremely rare and is the only time in the past century that an earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or above has occurred in the lake. According to data From the U.S. Geological Survey.
in conclusion
This article presents information, data, and observations that demonstrate that the only reasonable explanation for the extremely anomalous increase in North Atlantic sea surface temperatures and the rare occurrence of multiple earthquakes in the Midcontinent and East Coast states is pull-away motion along the northern part of the Mid-Atlantic Fault Complex
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James Edward Kamis is a retired geologist with 47 years of experience, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Northern Illinois University (1973) and a Master of Science degree in geology from Idaho State University (1976). More than 46 years of research led him to believe that, according to his plate theory of climate, geological forces significantly influence, or in some cases completely control, climate and climate-related events. Kamis's new book, “Geological Influences on Climate,” is out now.
Author's Note
By referring to the article “Evidence shows that geological features play a major role in recent ocean heat absorption”, readers can learn more detailed information about the abnormal increase in sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic.
