Actually it happened ~2:32 (vs 1:32) PM EST (for chris) and could've been the same time for myself (or maybe a little sooner or later). This is 19:32 UTC. I would have have forgotten about my "tone" had I not seen chris's post on his (especially since it had a short duration....)

Coincidentally it matches a down-tick in the Z-component of the College, AK magnetometer (which might be in the region where the magnetosphere meets the earth....). ==> I know, that to some, this is a really big guess as to what may have caused this event....

In addition, on Today's Space Weather (at http://sec.noaa.gov/today.html)...there is the downside of a wider X-ray flux spike for both Goes-10 and Goes-8 happening around 19:30 UTC or so. (There are multiple spikies going on though...).

Of course, checking stacks of this kind of data would be needed in order to build a case in this area.... This is where funding would come in handy for both data access fees (if applicable), software tools support, and labor hours for processing and analysis.

Also, if we "heard" the same causative factor then the distance over which it has an effect is large (e.g. ~ 3000 miles ). {The fact that GOES-10 and 8 shows a x-ray spikes around this time lends credence to this idea). {BTW, this long distance opens up possibilities if this effect is shown to be significant in the area of eq. preds.}

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I think it is a given that, aside from some who post on this board and maybe some readers, that hearing "tones" is more of a curiousity rather then a proven method backed up with convincing evidence in support of the idea of it being a precursor for eqs....

That said, I believe (along with others as has been shown on this and other boards) that it warrants further attention.

The Loma Prieta, CA quake caused > 16 Billion in damage. You'd think the (Life) insurance companies would pony up some sponsorship as a way to hedge their risk for payouts for deaths / injuries for large quakes in populated areas. Call it "pie-in-the-sky" research....

This area of research has many logical "next step" areas of investigation which would logically be pursued in other areas of science. In the area of EQ. Prediction though, there are so many socio-political roadblocks that create mental barriers to pursuing the next logical (steps). This same barrier also keeps funding streams going to the same (generally unfruitful) areas.

Just my 2cents worth....

• College, AK (Z-component) Magnetometer