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Earthquakes have a very flexible time period that they can last, such as a few seconds, several minutes, days, weeks, or months. But based on new analysis of an ancient coral, the longest lasting earthquake in Earth’s history dragged on for a whopping 32 years.
Researchers in Singapore (specifically at the Nanyang Technological University) were able to confirm the 32-year-long earthquake by studying odd and ancient coral structures called “microatolls” off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Microatolls grow at a very slow rate which provides experts with important information regarding changes in land elevation and sea levels throughout history.
The experts determined that between the years 1738 and 1829, the baseline readings were normal based on the fact that the microatolls were sinking between 1 and 2 millimeters each year. However, they noticed a significant change around the year 1829 when they began sinking at an astonishing rate of 10 millimeters annually. They continue