On Nature of Earthquakes with Cause of Compressed Methane Gas Expansion and Migration in Crustal Rocks

Abstract

This paper presents a hypothesis of compressed methane gas expansion and migration in crustal rocks and faults for the cause of earthquakes. An earth quaking is an adiabatic process of kinetic interaction between rapid upward expansion and migration of compressed natural gas and its surrounding crustal rocks and ground soils. The natural gas is produced in core and/or mantle. It is escaped from its traps in deep fault zones of the lower crustal rocks. The interaction is instantaneous and flashing. It can be complete within few to tens and to hundreds seconds. The gas expansion and migration are confined and constrained by the inward gravity, the tectonic stresses, and the rigidness and strengths of the crustal rocks. The kinetic energy of earth quaking is mainly the physical expansion energy of the highly compressed methane gas. The gas expansion work causing the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake and the 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake are estimated.