上周六晚現(xiàn)身的“超級月亮”照亮了各國的夜空，同時也打破了其與日本地震相關(guān)的傳言。據(jù)報道，周六晚間月球與地球之間的距離不到36萬公里，為兩者之間最近的距離，這種現(xiàn)象叫做“最大近地點”，每18年才會發(fā)生一次。之前網(wǎng)上傳言，“超級月亮”現(xiàn)身期間，地球會出現(xiàn)地震、洪水以及火山爆發(fā)等自然災害。而在日本特大地震發(fā)生后，這一說法引起了更多網(wǎng)友的關(guān)注。對此，美國地質(zhì)學家表示，雖然地月距離引發(fā)的潮汐變化會對地質(zhì)活動產(chǎn)生輕微的影響，但日本大地震是多種地質(zhì)條件共同影響的結(jié)果，與“超級月亮”并無明顯關(guān)聯(lián)。另外，日本地震發(fā)生時月亮并未處于離地球最近的位置，而當時海洋潮汐也處于相對最低潮期間，因此，將日本地震歸罪于“超級月亮”是不合理的。

The rare lunar occurrence, when Earth's natural satellite is only a mere 356,575 kilometers out in orbit, brings the moon to its closest position to Earth.

The 'maximal perigee' on Saturday night has only a minimal effect on seismic activity and cannot be linked with last week's earthquakes in Japan.

The rare lunar occurrence, when Earth's natural satellite is only a mere 356,575 kilometers out in orbit, brings the moon to its closest position to Earth.

This phenomenon of extreme proximity, known as 'maximal perigee,' only occurs once every 18 years. In addition to appearing to be uncommonly big to stargazers, the moon will also be in its full phase. However, what some might see as an interesting astronomical event raises concerns for others.

Despite opinions being dispersed over the Internet that the 'super moon' will lead to natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions, geologist Bill Burton with the US Geological Survey says that this is unlikely.

"There are just too many factors that go into seismic activity to make that statement," Burton told Discovery News. "I think you'd be hard pressed to see a difference in tectonic activity during different lunar phases."

Severe natural disasters such as the earthquake off the coast of Japan last week can raise questions about all of the factors involved. Research geophysicist Malcom Johnston with the USGS says that blaming such events on the moon's orbit is not a new idea.

"This idea of blaming natural disasters on the phases of the moon goes way back to the Greeks. It has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years," Johnston said.

These ideas, Burton adds, are largely unfounded. He noted, however, that a higher tide does have a very slight effect on tectonic activity.

"Obviously the oceans are affected by the moon; whether it causes earthquakes is under debate," Burton said. "Some minor, very shallow quakes might take place during full tide and perigee."

He explained that an increase in water pressure caused by the lunar phases might cause very minor tremors, but only if other conditions were already aligned for an earthquake to occur. Seismologists theorize that the higher tide could cause an earthquake to occur just a few days or hours earlier than it would have at normal tide.

"This might be the little push that would cause the tectonic plates to slip," Johnston told Discovery News. "Overall, the effect is negligible. But if you take data on ten thousand earthquakes, you can show there is a significant correlation between minor quakes and where the moon is in its orbit. Looking at one quake, no."

While the phases of the moon might have a minimal effect on small movements of the tectonic plates, Burton says that the correlation with major seismic activity is near nonexistent. He also stressed that the maximal perigee had nothing to do with the events in Japan.

"The Japanese quake didn't occur while the moon was close to Earth at all, so we can't link those events. It occurred a week before the lunar perigee, while the ocean was at weak tide."

Burton predicts that the only earthly change that will occur because of the moon's increased proximity will be a slightly higher tide.

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(Agencies)

（中國日報網(wǎng)英語點津 Helen 編輯）