PORTLAND, Ore. — A viral article about an impending earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific Northwest continues to ride out the storm on social media.
Amid alarm, particularly in Oregon, the National Weather Service wants people to know the information is misleading and there's nothing to worry about.
The article "US West Coast Earthquake Warning as Cascadia Subduction Zone Surges" posted on the website SuperStation95 claims a data buoy in the Cascadia Subduction Zone recorded a sharp drop in water depth on Monday.
>> SLIDESHOW: Geologic illustrations explain the Cascadia subduction
“According to the data buoy, the water column height (depth) fell sharply within minutes off the coast of Oregon, signaling the land beneath the ocean has suddenly ‘sunk,'” the article states.
It claimed this type of event is usually followed by a massive earthquake.
KOIN news reports the National Weather Service says not only are these drops normal — happening many times a day — this particular one was only 1 meter, or about 3 feet.
"The moon causes these fluctuations," NWS Portland Meteorologist Laurel McCoy told KOIN 6 News. "If you take a snippet of any of these fluctuations, it'll make it seem like something big is happening, whereas if you look at the larger picture you can tell it's natural and happening every day."
January's article by SuperStation95 is different than The New Yorker's article published last year.
For background on Kathryn Schulz's credible article, click here.
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