California's 6.9 magnitude on the Richter scale earthquake on the San Andreas fault line was just one of the 8,239 earthquakes that hit the state in the last 12 months. Earthquake magnitudes are measured on an exponential scale, with each point of increase representing ten times more intensity.  California normally experiences about 20 temblors a day, but July 4 and 5 saw a "quake storm" with over 766 events. Approximately 90 percent of all earthquakes and 80 percent of all volcanic eruptions in the world occur along the infamous volcanic "Ring of Fire."  The 25,000-mile horseshoe-shaped ring that runs along the western Pacific coast, across to the Polynesian Islands, and up the east coast of Asia has moved out of its approximately 65-year quiet period and into its 65-year active period.  The Ring is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts that all can become...(Read Full Post)