3-Minute Earth and Space Weather News February 6, 2013: 8.0 Santa Cruz, Electroquake Recap, Solar Eruption

Posted by clnews _Featured_, Earth, Space, Videos, Weather Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

3-minute Earth and space weather news for February 6, 2013:

A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake hit the Santa Cruz Islands east of the Solomon Islands at 12:12 p.m. local time (01:12 GMT). Officials from the Solomon Islands report at least five dead and villages destroyed. Only a small tsunami was generated.
Could static electricity hold the key to predicting earthquakes? Ionospheric density variations recorded before the 2010 M 8.8 earthquake in Chile. Electromagnetic disturbances were also present for the earthquakes in Japan in March 2011 and in Wenchuan, China in May 2008.
In April 2012, a leading earthquake scientist warned that the planet could be cracking up after a series of massive quakes in just 48 hours (see Quake Expert: Earth Cracking Up, Large 2012 earthquake triggered temblors worldwide for nearly a week, and Study shows huge jolt measured 8.7, ripped at least 4 faults).
Pakistan is being assaulted by storms that have killed at least 34 people and injured dozens more. India is also being pounded with more mega-hail.
Lava flow and moving rock at Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile has scientists concerned about volcanic activity.
One hour before the earthquake in the Santa Cruz Islands, the sun unleashed a C9-flare, while at the same time a coronal hole directly faced Earth.