Sharp cam-phone pic of the day!

[yamanote]

Except the magnitude was 8.9...

9.0, actually. According to NewScientist, anyways.

Either way... unbelievably destructive.

[qwerty1235]

What's the difference between 8.9 and 9.0? I'm getting numbers ranging from 8.8-9.1.

[yamanote]

What's the difference between 8.9 and 9.0? I'm getting numbers ranging from 8.8-9.1.

The magnitude scale puts things into perspective because a change from 8.9 to 9.0 is an logarithmic* increase. For comparison, the Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004 was a 9.3 but was almost 3 times more powerful than this one.

*changed exp to log

A starred commenter on gizmodo said that. doesn't sound like much but apparently there's a huge difference.

Force felt in Tokyo was approx 5 mag. btw.

[cheeseus]

It's a formula using 10-base logarithm, which roughly translates to about 10 times bigger for every decimal increase, e.g. from 8.8 to 8.10.

Here's a comparison of apprx. energy released (in megatons of TNT equivalent):

8.7 M = 168 megatons
8.8 M = 238 megatons
8.9 M = 336 megatons
9.0 M = 474 megatons

Every next decimal increase of the energy released is derived by multiplying the previous by 1.42.

Quoted from Wikipedia.

For comparison, the Hiroshima bomb was 13 kilotons and the Nagasaki - 21 kilotons. Friday's earthquake was about 16,000 times (sixteen thousand, yes) times more powerful than the Nagasaki bomb (if th earthquake was 8.9. If it was 9.0 - 22,500 times stronger * I am reading the New Scientist link). Of course, the destructive energy is released in a completely different way in an earthquake, luckily.

[eddieroolz]

Thanks for that info, cheeseus.

[martindesu]

Being told about train services in Tokyo

[qwerty1235]

Is i-concier only in Japanese?

[martindesu]

Is i-concier only in Japanese?

Yup. My girlfriend just loves his cute little outfits.

[zerox678]

everyone that see my docomo's say they want my ram/lamb, lol

[IonNuke]

everyone that see my docomo's say they want my ram/lamb, lol

My lamb is a pad of paper. He just sits by my screen all day.

[martindesu]

My lamb is a pad of paper. He just sits by my screen all day.

And mine's a phone strap...

[qwerty1235]

Wow, I'm so jealous of your guys! I never knew he was a mascot like docomodake.

everyone that see my docomo's say they want my ram/lamb, lol

I forgot what manual it was from, but it's official name is the 'Sheep Butler' hence the tux it wears. And it's job.

[martindesu]

My girlfriend and I call him Mr. Ramsbottom.

[yamanote]

As promised:



JAL safety video playing on both front/rear screens.

[martindesu]

Got to Osaka at 8pm last night. 2 hours later the shinkansen all stopped because of a huge earthquake near Mt Fuji.

Crazy times.



I wait years to get to Tokyo and then when I get here, I have to evacuate!