National Geographic on the Moon & Earthquakes & More

A couple weeks ago, I ended up watching this show called "Moon Mysteries" on the National Geographic Channel. It was particularly interesting because it was after we had finished our lessons on the moon, but what was especially interesting was the theorizing on the moon's role in causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Theorists argue that the gravity of the moon can cause tectonic plates to move in some situations, similarly to the effect the moon's gravitational pull has on the Earth's tides, and thus causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A San Fransisco scientist has even been able to successfully predict major earthquakes based on this theory according to the show.

If you're interested in the episode which says much more about the moon than just this, then check out the listings for the National Geographic Channel or consider downloading this video on the moon from here. Otherwise, here's a simple article from 2004 about how the moon may affect earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on Earth.