Unusual Signs a Natural Disaster is Coming
Table of Contents
- Giant Oarfish Warn of Earthquakes and Tsunamis
- Strange Earthquake Lights in the Sky
- How Animals Sense Disasters
- More Unusual Natural Disaster Signs
Giant Oarfish Warn of Earthquakes and Tsunamis
It was a beautiful summer day at the beach until a giant, Volkswagen Beetle-sized sea creature brushed up against your leg. You spotted an enormous, eel-like fish in the water and rushed out immediately to warn others. This strange fish turned out to be an oarfish, the longest bony fish species in the world. While oarfish typically reside deep underwater, they occasionally drift closer to shorelines prior to major earthquakes and tsunamis.
Ancient Japanese legend tells of a mythical earthquake-causing catfish named Namazu that thrashes its tail to make the earth shake. Though fanciful, this story contains a kernel of truth. Research suggests oarfish can sense underwater tremors and changes in electromagnetism before seismic events occur. As poor swimmers, they struggle to fight strong tidal currents unleashed by underwater earthquakes and tsunamis, causing them to rise toward coastlines.
Oarfish Biology and Behavior
Oarfish are elongated, eel-like fish reaching lengths over 50 feet. They populate deep ocean waters up to 3,300 feet below the surface. With poor swimming abilities, oarfish instead drift passively through the water column, feeding on plankton and small crustaceans. While oarfish sightings are rare, sporadic beachings do occur prior to underwater earthquakes. Researchers believe oarfish sense minute shifts in electric or magnetic fields, or detect subtle sea floor tremors through remote detection organs running the length of their bodies.
Legend of the Earthquake Catfish
According to Japanese myth, a monstrous catfish named Namazu lives imprisoned beneath the islands of Japan. When Namazu thrashes in discontent, violent earthquakes ensue. This legend likely originated from observing real-world connections between oarfish beachings and seismic activity. While fanciful, the Namazu myth conveys kernels of truth. Subterranean shifts deep below Namazu's mythical prison parallel real tectonic movements along fault lines. And Namazu's unhappy thrashing mirrors the struggles of oarfish against turbulent currents before quakes and tsunamis.
Strange Earthquake Lights in the Sky
After the oarfish sighting, you witnessed an incredible sight ??? bursts of light radiating directly from the ground. Known as "earthquake lights," these luminous phenomena appear before major seismic events as tectonic stresses activate electromagnetic fields surrounding mineral-rich faults. Earthquake lights manifest in various colors and forms ??? erratic flickering glows, gentle orb-like spheres, forking lightning bolts, and more ??? lasting seconds to minutes.
Precisely what causes earthquake lights remains unclear, but leading theories involve shifts in underground electrical currents surrounding quartz-abundant rock formations. Essentially, tectonic forces switch on a massive subterranean battery. Earthquake light sightings have spanned centuries and continents ??? from Italy to Alaska ??? preceding great earthquakes by minutes to days.
How Animals Sense Disasters
In the confusion after the oarfish and earthquake light sightings, you noticed wildlife behaving strangely. Deer darted confused across roadways, while flocks of birds flew erratically at low altitudes. Cows laid synchronously facing the same direction. These phenomena relate to animals sensing impending quakes before humans can.
The mechanisms behind animal earthquake detection remain mysterious, but likely involve sensing minute electromagnetic or pressure shifts. Studies confirm unusual animal behavior precedes seismic events by hours or days: nervous pets, disoriented deer, toads fleeing ponds, and mass beachings of dolphins have all been recorded prior to quakes. Understanding such sensory abilities could save future lives.
More Unusual Natural Disaster Signs
Receding Tide and Rip Currents
Driving toward high ground, you noticed rapidly receding ocean tides ??? a reliable indicator of encroaching tsunamis. The initial drawback results from offshore seabed displacements; waters then rush landwards as devastating waves. Recognizing this retreat signals critical, lifesaving minutes to evacuate coastlines. You also spotted hazardous rip currents ??? fast, narrow seaward flows carrying debris ??? which can overwhelm swimmers. Rip currents stem from gaps in oncoming waves and become more frequent prior to seismic sea surges.
Green Skies and Ozone Smells
Further inland, an ominous green tint colored the skies ??? indicative of approaching storms ??? caused by red sunset light mixing with storm cloud blue. This enormous thundercloud foreshadows possible tornadoes. You also smelled the pungent scent of ozone ??? released from the atmosphere by lightning strikes ??? and petrichor ??? the pleasant, rain-associated aroma of plant oils permeating the air. As the storm neared, positive ions electrified the air while static charges raised the hairs on your body. Hail pummeled the ground as severe thunderstorm winds carried raindrops into freezing altitudes. Even bees hurried home before heavy rains, guided by electrostatic shifts sensed via mechanisms still not fully understood.
FAQ
Q: Why do oarfish come to the surface before earthquakes?
A: Oarfish are poor swimmers so they drift to the surface when disturbed by electromagnetic changes and strong currents prior to underwater quakes and tsunamis.
Q: What causes rare earthquake lights?
A: Earthquake lights are caused by electrical discharges from certain rocks like basalts and gabros during seismic activity.
Q: How can animals sense coming natural disasters?
A: Animals have specialized abilities to detect subtle electromagnetic, atmospheric, and seismic changes preceding disasters.
Q: What is the legend of the earthquake catfish?
A: An ancient Japanese legend describes a giant catfish named Namazu under the islands that thrashes its tail to cause earthquakes.
Q: Why does the tide go out rapidly before a tsunami?
A: An underwater earthquake pulls the tide far out rapidly to build up height for the incoming tsunami wave.
Q: What causes ozone smells prior to storms?
A: Lightning discharges ozone from higher altitudes which descends and produces a distinct smell.
Q: Why do bees collect nectar quickly before storms?
A: Bees sense electrostatic buildups from approaching storms. They hurry nectar collection before heavy rain.
Q: How can rip currents form during coastal disasters?
A: Gaps in incoming waves can create dangerous rip currents sweeping debris and swimmers out to sea.
Q: What causes green stormy skies?
A: Green skies result from a mix of red sunset light and blue thunderstorm cloud light.
Q: Why does hail often accompany tornadoes?
A: Strong updrafts carry raindrops high to freeze into hail while also fueling tornado formation.