In reference to the 10 December rare
stranding of 7 sperm whales on the Italian Coast:
The most likely cause of this event
was an 5.9 magnitude shallowed-focused undersea earthquake that occurred
on 5 November 2009 just offshore of Zakinthos Island. The event
was epicenter about 500 miles from the stranding site.
(see earthquake report
below)
You can also get more info on this
event from:
Likely Scenario:
The pod was on a feeding when the
seafloor below suddenly erupted violently. There was no warning. The
rocky bottom started dancing up and down rapidly, generating a series of
pressure changes that sweep over the whales. The air contained in the head
sinuses of the whales expanded and contracted in unison with the sudden
changes in ambient pressure in the water. Several of the sinuses that
play a major role in echo-navigation and echo-location rupthured. The pod
returned to the surface but could not longer dive and feed itself. Nor
could the pod echo-locate or determine direction. The pod was LOST.
They traveling with the flow of the current into the Adriactic Sea and swim
aimlessly around. Eventually they got to weak to avoid a stranding and
where carried ashore by surface
currents.
To read more on how
seaquake cause injury in diving whales, visit the following
website:
This is truly a rare opportunity to
understand the mystery of why whales mass strand. It is highly likely that
these stranded whales can be photo identified since the population offshore
of Zakinthos has been well-studied for years. In fact, there was a film
made only recently of the sperm whales in this area. These particular
beached whales might even be part of that film.
For more information on the seaquake
theory contact:
David Williams
or call USA Phone # 954-306-1549
5.9 Mw - IONIAN SEA
Preliminary Earthquake Report
| Magnitude |
5.9 Mw |
| Date-Time |
- 3 Nov 2009 05:25:09 UTC
- 3 Nov 2009 07:25:09 near epicenter
- 3 Nov 2009 13:25:09 standard time in your timezone
|
| Location |
37.617N 20.782E |
| Depth |
10 km |
| Distances |
- 108 km (67 miles) SW (231 degrees) of Patras, Greece
- 135 km (84 miles) WNW (299 degrees) of Kalamata, Greece
- 228 km (142 miles) S (182 degrees) of Ioannina, Greece
- 263 km (163 miles) W (262 degrees) of ATHENS, Greece
|
| Location Uncertainty |
Horizontal: 7.0 km; Vertical |
| Parameters |
Nph = 136; Dmin = 428.5 km; Rmss = 0.98 seconds; Gp = 82°
M-type =
Mw; Version = 7 |
| Event ID |
US 2009nnak ***This event supersedes event AT00722591.
|