FEW things are more likely to prompt instant ridicule from climate sceptics than the idea that there might be a link between global warming and geological disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. "Earthquakes are caused by tectonic plate movements - they are not caused by Bubba driving his SUV down the highway," is typical of the responses found in the denialist blogosphere.Yes, the Earth moves all by itself, but it is becoming increasingly clear that climate plays a role in when and how often. What happens on the surface can suppress quakes and eruptions - and trigger them. There are already signs of such effects in the world's northern regions, which are warming fastest. So seriously is the issue being taken that ah upcoming special report on extreme events and disasters related to climate change, commissioned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will include a section on it. So what exactly is going on and what can we expect during the next century and beyond?
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