The earthquake in Morocco generated exaggerated claims and subsequent news coverage of “earthquake lights” as well as faked videos and conspiracy ideas.
Category: GeoHazards
Clickbait “news” exaggerates risk about Pythia’s Oasis
Researchers who published findings on a warm oceanic spring called Pythia’s Oasis discovered along the Cascadia subduction zone have clarified misinformation disseminated in tabloid media about their work. It’s not common for this to happen even thought it’s extremely common for non-scientific sources to mischaracterize scientists’ work.
Anomalous claims from Turkey-Syria earthquake 2023
With a flood of images and videos coming out of the affected area in southern and central Turkey and western Syria from the February 6, 2023 series of quakes, there are MANY inaccuracies, misattributed content, conspiracies, and pseudoscientific claims being shared and promoted by nonexperts.
Spooky events from the New Madrid earthquakes
A series of giant earthquakes within the continental interior is strange in itself, but other notable phenomena associated with the New Madrid, Missouri quakes of 1811-2 made the events preternaturally awful. In this piece, I explore the scary and weird features that were said to accompany the New Madrid earthquakes.
Sinkhole drains pool in Israel resulting in death
A man enjoying a private pool at a company party in central Israel was sucked into the subsurface when a sinkhole opened up under the pool. The ground collapsed into a void and rapidly drained all the pool water. After a four-hour rescue attempt in the town of Karmei Yosef, the body was later found 15 meters into the hole. Another man sustained minor injuries.
Fireball “mud volcano” in Caspian Sea
On July 4, news started circulating about a huge explosion in the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan captured on video. The first information was relayed by the state oil company, SOCAR, to the Russian news agency saying the explosion was real and probably caused by a “mud volcano”.
Nyiragongo volcano misinformation
The eruption of Nyiragongo in May of 2021 generated misinformation, exaggerated claims, and fake images on social media.
The fabled Blue Hole of the Pine Barrens
The fabled blue hole of the New Jersey Pine Barrens is rumored to be bottomless and the home of demons or monsters who will pull swimmers under.
Gold mine pit collapse in Sulawesi, Indonesia
The unstable slopes of an unauthorized gold mine pit on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island gave way on February 24, 2021, burying workers. Many were rescued, several died in the collapse.
Fillmore underground fire
A thermal anomaly in Fillmore, California emits gases and heat that can burn the vegetation. A form of spontaneous combustion, the underground fire is difficult to extinguish.
Dog rescued after disappearing down a sinkhole
A dog is rescued in State College, Pennsylvania from a sinkhole. The dog vanished in the night after falling into a large underground void.
The “Hellmouth” Batagaika crater
A megaslump is affecting the villagers of Batagay in Yakutia, Siberia. Local legend is that it’s a mouth to hell. The area of land continues to slump and sink, changing the landscape and creating a hazard for the village.
Trapped in Quicksand
Quicksand was a deadly peril in unknown lands, according to pop culture in the late 1900s. But quicksand is a real thing and its creation (and your ability to escape from it) is a lesson in soil dynamics.
Thirteen trapped in Thailand flooded cave
From June into July of 2018, media coverage about 12 boys and an adult man trapped in a cave in Thailand transfixed people around the world. How did they get trapped and not be able to get out? Let’s talk groundwater and karst.
Pele’s hair and tears
Volcanic eruption products are attributed to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. Her hair and tears form from lava bubbles in the wind.
The wrath of Pele
The legend of Pele, goddess of fire, still resonates with natives of the Hawaiian islands. Stories of her kindness and curses are still popular today as Kilauea’s activity continues.
Earthquake Lights
The evidence for earthquake lights (EQLs) consists overwhelmingly of anecdotal accounts. But scientific evidence has been accumulating, and in the past 10 years a plausible theory to explain the host of unusual precursors has been proposed. Spooky Geology examines the credibility and cause of earthquake lights and other associated phenomenon.
Sinkholes – Are you at risk?
There is something highly unnerving about the thought that the ground can give way into a gaping void that can swallow trees, cars, structures, and even people. How frightened should you be of sinkholes? While they can be catastrophic, they are not entirely unpredictable.
The Grand Kenyan – A huge fissure in the East African Rift valley
A huge fissure developed in the East African Rift Valley in Kenya on March 19, 2018. Was it caused by faulting or rains?
Ground fissures in Saudi Arabia
Huge and terrifying ground cracks appeared in central Saudi Arabia. Is the earth breaking apart or is the cause far more local?
River of rock flows in New Zealand
Heavy rainfall led to a rapid flow that entrained rocks of considerable size in New Zealand. The Rakaia River in Canterbury turned into a dangerous river of rock.
Misbehaving lakes: Three water bodies that exhale death gas
In August 1986, approximately 1800 people living in a 15-mile radius of Lake Nyos in Cameroon didn’t live to see the morning, dying by suffocation from toxic gas exhaled from the bottom of the lake. They were warned but didn’t recognize the signs.
Putrid pit of dinosaur corpses
A recent find of a fossilized death assemblage tells a graphic story of mass death. Remains of 46 allosaurs and some 25 other dinosaurs were found clustered together in what was probably a smelling rotting pile before being buried by sediment and fossilized.
Giant dust devils with crystal blades
A researcher observes gypsum mineral blades flying around in a hot tornadic wind in the Atacama desert in Chile.
Darvaza: Gate to Hell
The Darvaza crater in Turkmenistan is a pit formed after a mistake by exploratory drillers. Fueled by natural gas, it’s been impossible to extinguish and has been called a “gate to hell”. More appropriately, it’s been a gateway to tourist dollars.
Amazing fossils: Death scenes – geologically preserved
Earth processes can preserve exquisite detail and even a dramatic story of animals’ life and death. Several examples of incredible preserved or fossilized remains have been found.
Cracked, baby, cracked: The earth is splitting up with us humans
Ground cracks and long fissures in dry areas can indicate an over-extraction of groundwater. Some view these features as a sign of End Times. At least, its the end of times of easy to access clean water.
A Trip to Hell: Mysterious tunnel system and underground river at Baiae, Italy
The ancient village of Baiae in Italy has secrets. A recent discovery suggests that an underground tunnel system may have served as a Oracle of the Dead and simulated a trip to Hell (Hades), including crossing an underground “river”.