A British earth scientist of some renown predicts that earthquakes and volcanoes will come along with climate change. The earth’s crust is on the thin side, and the redistribution of weight resulting from the melting of ice and rising of the oceans will do the trick. He claims that rapid thawing has led to earthquakes and volcanoes in the past, as well. And thawing is quite rapid at this juncture. All this sounds perfectly plausible, of course, but he cannot predict exactly when such events will take place. It depends on the pace of climate change, but movements in the earth’s crust would be difficult to predict even if the pace were known quite exactly. In short, his argument is nigh irrelevant. Humans like exact dates. Even when entirely dubious, such precision is the domain of astrology rather than science. Lucky astrologers! They cater to human needs much better than scientists ever could.

Addendum I (November 24, 2016)

The growing number of earthquakes in Italy, New Zealand, Japan, and elsewhere seem to offer support to the theory that the redistribution of weight on the earth’s crust will lead to its cracking. Volcanoes are also springing to life. And the melting of ice seems to be proceeding at a clip. In fact, scientists are surprised again and again by the speed with which it is vanishing. But a quick search on the World Wide Web shows that all sorts of prophets have gotten new wings from the avalanche of earthquakes and volcanoes. In support of my theory, they are offering ever more dire prophecies. The end of the world is nigh, no less. Not surprisingly, there are many dates on offer for the final calamity. Ah, humanity has rarely been blessed with times as interesting as these. Not only will we be regaled with natural disasters of all descriptions, but also with human stupidity galore. Astrologers, prophets, wizards, have a ball!

Addendum II (October 13, 2021)

The British scientist in question is Bill McGuire, a geologist at the University College London. The title of his book, published by Oxford University Press in 2012, is Waking the Giant: How a Changing Climate Triggers Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and Volcanoes. Now an emeritus professor, McGuire is recognized by his colleagues around the globe for his predictions about major shifts in the earth’s crust caused by the melting of the ice at the two poles. And yet, most news concerning earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, which one comes across ever more often the last few years on the World Wide Web, fail to mention the connection with climate change. This is the only reason why I decided to write yet another addendum to this piece penned as many as nine years ago. The silence about the most likely cause of so many perturbations in the earth’s crust is no less than mindboggling. It offers yet another proof of human stupidity, which reaches to high heaven by now. As it appears, the greater the danger that humans happen to face, the greater the height of their collective stupidity, as well. Another Bon’s law, as it were.

Addendum III (February 7, 2023)

The World Wide Web is brimming with news about the powerful earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, where thousands have perished under collapsed buildings the last few days. The images of devastation can be found on every social network. And all sorts of experts are doing their best to explain these horrors. One of the most important explanations is that building codes are hardly followed in the region affected by the earthquakes in spite of the knowledge that they are quite common there, which stands to reason. Alas, neither Turkish nor Syrian contractors are about building codes! Experts also refer to long-known fault-lines between tectonic plates and the like. Still, the connection between climate change and increasingly frequent tectonic movements across the planet are not mentioned by any of these experts. Perish the thought. Even though Bill McGuire is well known in his profession, the connection is shoved under the rug time and again. Climate change is something completely different, or so we are led to believe. There are other experts who will give their opinion on that worthy subject, but earthquakes are earthquakes. The two kinds of experts rarely if ever come together, whence the repeated silence on their intimate connection at this juncture. And this is how things will most likely remain for many more years. But enough. All things considered, climate change is beyond the human species. It is high time to stop worrying about it. And for good.