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Surge in strong earthquakes likely in 2018 as Earth’s rotation slows down

Published

8 years ago

on

Earthquake

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The slowing down of Earth’s rotational speed over last four years can cause a surge in deadly earthquakes in 2018, says a study.

The study, a paper presentation at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, links this rise to the periodic slowdown of Earth’s speed of rotation around its axis.

The two principal researchers on the project, Roger Bildham of the Univerity of Colorado and Rebecca Bendick of the University of Montana argue that the correlation is “intense” between this slowdown and an increase in earthquakes.

What is more, these intense earthquakes are more likely to occur in the more heavily populated tropical regions closer to the equator.

They analyzed earthquakes that were above magnitude 7 on the moment magnitude scale (see box) that have happened since 1990.  They found that approximately every 32 years, there is a rise in frequency of severe earthquakes – at about 25 to 30 per year in some years – compared to the average of around 15 or so in other years.

The only factor that strongly correlates is a slight slowing of the Earth’s rotation in a five-year period before the uptick.

Although such fluctuations in rotation are small – changing the length of the day by a millisecond – they could still be implicated in the release of vast amounts of underground energy, it is argued.

It shows that when the Earth’s rotation slows somewhat, it gives a five-year warning for future earthquakes, and it has been four years since Earth started a slowing cycle.

“The correlation between Earth’s rotation and earthquake activity is strong and suggests there is going to be an increase in numbers of intense earthquakes next year,” Bilham said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1511174491735{margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 20px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Moment magnitude vs Richter scale

The Richter scale uses the amplitude of a waveform recorded with a Wood-Anderson seismograph at a known distance from the source to calculate the strength of an event.  Unfortunately, the Richter scale and many other magnitude scales which have been proposed have some drawbacks.  For one, the Richter scale is capped at a magnitude of 7.0, meaning that all larger earthquakes would always have a magnitude of 7.0 or less.  Also, the Richter scale only describes the maximum wave amplitude, and does not give any indication of the total energy that is released by the event.

Moment magnitude (Mw) was introduced in 1979 by Hanks and Kanamori and has since become the most commonly used method of describing the size of a microseism.  Moment magnitude measures the size of events in terms of how much energy is released.  Specifically, moment magnitude relates to the amount of movement by rock (i.e. the distance of movement along a fault or fracture) and the area of the fault or fracture surface.  Since moment magnitude can describe something physical about the event, calculated values can be easily compared to magnitude values for other events.  The moment magnitude is also a more accurate scale for describing the size of events.

The moment magnitude uses seismograms plus what physically occurs during an earthquake (which can also be derived from seismograms), known as the “seismic moment”. The seismic moment defines how much force is needed to generate the recorded waves. That information is plugged into the moment magnitude scale to give us the amount of energy that is released during an earthquake.

Based on their magnitude, quakes are assigned to a class, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Because of the logarithmic basis of the scale, each whole number increase in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude: an increase in one number, say from 5.5 to 6.5, means that a quake’s magnitude is 10 times as great. As an estimate of energy, each whole number step in the magnitude scale corresponds to the release of about 31 times more energy than the amount associated with the preceding whole number value.

The classes are as follows:

   Great: Magnitude is greater than or equal to 8.0. A magnitude-8.0 earthquake is capable of tremendous damage.

   Major: Magnitude in the rage of 7.0 to 7.9. A magnitude-7.0 earthquake is a major earthquake that is capable of widespread, heavy damage.

   Strong: Magnitude in the rage of 6.0 to 6.9. A magnitude-6.0 quake can cause severe damage.

   Moderate: Magnitude in the rage of 5.0 to 5.9. A magnitude-5.0 quake can cause considerable damage.

   Light: Magnitude in the rage of 4.0 to 4.9. A magnitude-4.0 quake is capable of moderate damage.

   Minor: Magnitude in the rage of 3.0 to 3.9.

   Micro: Magnitude less than-3.0. Quakes between 2.5 and 3.0 are the smallest generally felt by people.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In their study, Bilham and Bendick looked at earthquakes of magnitude 7 and greater that had occurred since 1900. They found five periods when there had been significantly higher numbers of large earthquakes compared with other times. “In these periods, there were between 25 to 30 intense earthquakes a year,” said Bilham. “The rest of the time the average figure was around 15 major earthquakes a year.”

The researchers searched to find correlations between these periods of intense seismic activity and other factors and discovered that when Earth’s rotation decreased slightly it was followed by periods of increased numbers of intense earthquakes.

Bilham and Bendick found that there had been periods of around five years when Earth’s rotation slowed by such an amount several times over the past century and a half. Crucially, these periods were followed by periods when the numbers of intense earthquakes increased.

The Earth’s rotation has been slowing down for the past four years.

“The inference is clear,” said Bilham. “Next year we should see a significant increase in numbers of severe earthquakes. We have had it easy this year. So far we have only had about six severe earthquakes. We could easily have 20 a year starting in 2018.”

“It is straightforward,” said Bilham. “The Earth is offering us a five-year heads-up on future earthquakes.”

Layers-of-the-earth

The Earth’s rotation is known to go through regular decades-long periods in which it slows down and speeds up. Even seasonal changes, like a strong El Niño, can affect the planet’s rotation.

Exactly why decreases in day length should be linked to earthquakes is unclear although scientists suspect that slight changes in the behaviour of Earth’s core could be causing both effects.

The planet is made of a solid iron and nickel “inner core,” liquid iron and nickel “outer core,” a thick liquid mantle, and finally a thin solid crust. Earthquakes occur on the crust, but the crust floats on the mantle.

Though Bilham and Bendick don’t know for sure, they believe that every so often the Earth’s mantle might stick a little more to the crust. That could change how the liquid outer core flows. And because it’s all metal down there, the change in flow will affect planet’s magnetic field, which would ever so slightly affect the Earth’s rotation and thus change the length of the day by milliseconds.

It is difficult to predict where these extra earthquakes will occur – although Bilham said they found that most of the intense earthquakes that responded to changes in day length seemed to occur near the equator. About one billion people live in the Earth’s tropical regions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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OnePlus India CEO Robin Liu steps down, shutdown rumours resurface

OnePlus India confirms business continuity after CEO Robin Liu’s resignation sparks shutdown rumours online.

Published

3 weeks ago

on

March 26, 2026

By

The resignation of Robin Liu as India CEO of OnePlus has triggered fresh speculation online about the company’s future, even as the firm has firmly denied any plans to shut down operations.

Liu will step down from his role effective March 31, 2026. His exit comes months after he publicly dismissed similar rumours about the company withdrawing from certain markets.

Google searches spike after leadership exit

Following news of Liu’s departure, search trends for terms like “OnePlus shutdown”, “OnePlus shutting down”, and “OnePlus India shutdown” saw a noticeable surge, indicating rising public concern.

However, OnePlus India clarified that there is no change in its business operations and dismissed the shutdown claims as misinformation.

In a public statement, Liu said the company is “operating as usual” and urged stakeholders to rely on official sources rather than unverified reports. He reiterated that claims about the company shutting down are false.

Company says operations remain unchanged

The company stated that Liu’s decision to step down was due to personal reasons and not linked to any strategic withdrawal or operational challenges in India.

OnePlus further emphasized that its India business continues normally, with no immediate changes expected in its strategy or market presence.

Restructuring within OPPO group

Industry observers suggest Liu’s exit may be part of a broader restructuring within the OPPO group, which owns OnePlus.

The restructuring is believed to focus on streamlining operations, reducing costs, and accelerating product development amid challenges such as rising component costs and supply constraints.

Reports also indicate that OnePlus experienced a decline in shipments in 2025, which may have contributed to internal changes.

Reports hint at global strategy shift

According to a report by 9to5Google, the company may scale back its presence in some global markets, including parts of Europe, as early as April 2026.

At the same time, OnePlus is reportedly planning to strengthen its focus on India and expand further into the mid-range smartphone segment.

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Oppo K14 5G launched in India with 7000mAh battery, starts at Rs 17,999

Oppo has launched the K14 5G in India with a 7000mAh battery, fast charging and durability features, starting at Rs 17,999.

Published

4 weeks ago

on

March 20, 2026

By

oppo K14 5G

Oppo has launched its latest mid-range smartphone, the K14 5G, in India, positioning it as an “endurance powerhouse” with a strong focus on battery life, smooth performance and long-term reliability.

The smartphone starts at Rs 17,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant, while the 6GB + 256GB and 8GB + 256GB models are priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 21,999 respectively. It will be available for purchase starting March 20 via Flipkart and the company’s official online store. Buyers can also avail an instant discount of up to Rs 1,000 along with no-cost EMI options for up to three months.

Focus on battery life and endurance

A key highlight of the Oppo K14 5G is its 7000mAh battery, designed to support extended daily usage without frequent charging. The company claims the device can deliver up to 738.8 hours of standby time. It also supports long usage across activities such as voice calls, video streaming, navigation and messaging.

The device comes with 45W fast charging, which can charge the battery from 1 percent to 37 percent in around 30 minutes, with a full charge taking about 92 minutes. Oppo says the battery is engineered to maintain durability for up to five years. Reverse wired charging is also supported for added convenience.

Built for durability and everyday use

The smartphone is designed with durability in mind, featuring SGS 5-star certification and MIL-STD-810H military-grade testing. It has undergone multiple drop tests and transportation shock testing to ensure resistance against accidental falls and rough usage conditions.

The device also carries IP66, IP68 and IP69 ratings, offering protection against dust, water immersion and high-pressure water exposure. Additional features like water-repellent camera coating and glove and splash touch support further enhance usability in different environments.

Display and design

The Oppo K14 5G features a 6.75-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and brightness of up to 1125 nits in high brightness mode. It is available in three colour options — Icy Blue, Prism Violet and Prism White — with a matte finish and subtle reflective design elements.

Performance and cooling

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, the smartphone is designed to handle everyday tasks such as browsing, streaming and multitasking efficiently. It runs on ColorOS 15, which includes system optimisation features aimed at maintaining smooth performance over time.

To manage heat during extended usage, the device includes a vapor chamber cooling system with graphite layers for improved thermal management. This helps maintain stable performance during gaming and heavy usage.

Camera and AI features

The smartphone is equipped with a 50MP main camera, supported by a 2MP monochrome sensor, along with an 8MP front camera. It offers AI-powered features such as portrait retouching, AI eraser, AI clarity enhancement and dual-view video recording.

These tools are designed to improve image quality, assist in editing and enhance overall photography experience for users.

Availability and after-sales support

The Oppo K14 5G will be available starting March 20 with launch offers including discounts and EMI options. The company is also offering a 30-day inspection and replacement policy in case of manufacturing defects, supported by its nationwide service network.

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OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 brings discounts on 15, 15R, 13, Nord 5 and tablets

OnePlus Freedom Sale 2026 begins Jan 16 with discounts on phones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline stores.

Published

3 months ago

on

January 13, 2026

By

OnePlus has announced its Freedom Sale, offering discounts on smartphones, tablets, and audio products across online and offline platforms. The deals include the recently launched OnePlus 15 series, Nord lineup, Buds audio devices, and other gadgets.

When and where to shop

The OnePlus Freedom Sale starts on Jan. 16 and will run both online and offline. Shoppers can purchase smartphones through OnePlus.in, OnePlus Experience Stores, Amazon, as well as offline retailers including Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, and others. Tablets are available on Flipkart during the sale period.

Discounts on OnePlus smartphones

  • OnePlus 15: Launched at Rs 72,999, buyers can get an instant Rs 4,000 discount, lowering the effective price to Rs 68,999. Additional benefits include six months of no-cost EMI and a bundled OnePlus Nord Buds 3.
  • OnePlus 13: Originally priced at Rs 69,999, the phone receives an Rs 8,000 price drop, plus a bank discount of Rs 4,000, bringing the price down to Rs 57,999.
  • OnePlus 15R: Listed at Rs 47,999, buyers can avail Rs 3,000 off until Jan 26. After the date, the effective price is Rs 45,999.
  • OnePlus 13R: Launched at Rs 42,999, this device gets up to Rs 6,000 price cut and an additional Rs 1,000 bank discount.

Discounts on OnePlus tablets

  • OnePlus Pad 2: Rs 2,000 instant bank discount reduces the price to Rs 34,999.
  • OnePlus Pad 3: Eligible for a Rs 3,000 instant discount, making the price Rs 44,999. Purchases until Jan 26 include a free Stylo 2 stylus.
  • OnePlus Pad Go 2: Rs 1,000 price drop plus Rs 2,000 bank discount, now Rs 23,999.
  • OnePlus Pad Go: Price reduced to Rs 13,999 after Rs 3,000 cut and Rs 1,000 bank discount.
  • OnePlus Pad Lite: Available for Rs 11,999 after a Rs 2,000 price drop and Rs 2,000 bank discount.

Audio devices on offer

  • OnePlus Buds 4: Rs 700 price cut with Rs 300 bank discount, bringing the effective price to Rs 4,999.
  • OnePlus Buds Pro 3: Now Rs 9,999 after Rs 1,000 price drop and Rs 1,000 bank discount. No-cost EMI options are available for both Buds 4 and Buds Pro 3.

Additional discounts are also applicable to the Nord Buds series — including Nord Buds 3, Nord Buds 3 Pro, and Nord Buds 3R — and neckband devices such as Bullets Wireless Z2 ANC and Bullets Wireless Z3.

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