Abstract

There were 6563 earthquakes of magnitude 1.0 - 2.9 in 1993 and 10233 in 2003. The lunar apse was at about 90° to the axis of rotation of the earth. The number of earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 to 4.9 between 2000 and 2005 increased when the minimum perigee moved from North Pole to South Pole. The decrease in earthquakes of magnitude 1.0- 2.9 after 2003 in Mediterranean region was accompanied by an increase of earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 - 4.9 in Pacific sea region. The minimum perigee nearer to South Pole of Earth decreased the number of earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 to 5.9 from 1542 in 1994 to 979 in 1998. The minimum perigee nearer to North Pole of Earth increased the number of earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 to 5.9 from 979 in 1998 to 1203 in 2003. The apse parallel to the axis of rotation of earth in 1990, 1995, 1999, 2004 and 2008 increased the number of large earthquakes in these years. From 2004 - 2008 (April-September), 33 out of 34 large earthquakes were close to 28, 0, -28 and -0° lunar declinations. During the same year (October - March), 29 out of 39 large earthquakes were close to above lunar declinations.

Key words: Plate tectonics, mantle convection, Sun-Earth-Moon interaction, perigee-apogee, lunar phases, lunar declination, earthquake triggering.