Are Earthquakes the Reason Whales Are Dying?
Quest for Solutions to the Argentine Whale Mystery
Scientists are baffled by the mass death of 308 baby right whales off Argentina’s Patagonia Coast. The usual suspects–whalers have been ruled out. Could earthquakes be a factor in this growing mystery? 
Is there a disturbance in the force? No, not of the Star Wars variety, I’m referring to the earth’s geo-magnetic field. A field of magnetism existing on the earth’s surface, stretching from north to south poles. Growing evidence suggests earthquakes can altar this geo-magnetic force.
Earthquakes and animals have a long and interesting relationship. Animals such as sea turtles and birds rely on the earth’s geo-magnetism for navigation. Significantly, bird deaths often accompany earthquakes as they rely on the force field to navigate flight paths. Further, breeding and migratory patterns go hand in hand.
Argentina’s mass whale deaths occurred around the same time as a 6.3 magnitude earthquake off its coast. Are they related? Quite possibly.
Gray Whales
The last mass die off of whales occurred around the same time, and vicininty as other significant earthquakes. Specifically, 250 gray whales died in mass from 1999 to 2000, between Alaska and Mexico.
A few of these 1999-2000 major quakes hit—Tonga Island, Mexico, areas off the Northern Pacific Coast, Colombia.
Whale migration data is also very telling. Gray whale migration puts them at the scene—breeding in Mexican waters in December-April. Then off to migrate north from February-July to Arctic waters northwest of Alaska, making many stops along the Pacific coast on the way.
Jim Berkland, former geologist with U.S. Geological Survey, theorizes that earthquakes interfere with sea mammals’ ability to navigate by radically changing the earth’s geo-magnetic field, giving rise to mass beachings.
I’m with Jim. His theory is considered “controversial”—but the growing evidence speaks for itself. It certainly calls for more research in this area.
Any scientists or readers care to weigh in?
Sources:
(1.) Tonga Quake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Tonga_earthquake
(2.) “Mysterious Whale Die-Off is Largest on Record,” March 29, 2010. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36083941/ns/technology_and_science-science/?gt1=43001)
(3.) Whale Migration Routes (http://www.whaleroute.com/migrate/)
(4.) USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/2000/2000_stats.html)
Tags: Argentina's Whale Die-Off, earthquakes, gray whales, whalers, whales