"While comments to Roger on statistics were good ones, I don't think a statistical correlation will be convincing unless the maps show something. You would need both to publish."
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I think statistics from data going back to 1973 will count much more (and do statistics wise) than looking at a few random cases here and there (using the graphics).

For any small sample situation, no matter what result shows you can always say "Let's look at more data to see that the "result" either persists or continues to "non-exist".

I think your comment above presumes a high correlation must exist (if an effect exists) ...whereas, if there is something going on, it may only be visible as a seemingly spurious signal in the midst of lots of noise. If the lower correlation exists you will need to look at lots of data in order to detect it and quantify it.

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"So, what to do if there are a relatively few triggered earthquakes, but not clear global pattern?"

Well, again, maybe something exists or maybe not. A search for occurrences based on the expected probability should (or already has been?) be done. If something is present it will show up in that the historical probablity is exceeded.

This brings is to another related question. How were the ring angles derived ? I suspect the process above was conducted to derive the ring angles. I did ask Lowell as to where the ring angles came from but he has not answered me yet.

I speculate that maybe that this whole project has been through a peer review and was killed when it was found that whatever the effect is...it is too spurious (and not well explained) that it is not worth publishing. I'm just guessing though. I suppose a literature review on this topic should be conducted first so as not to re-invent the wheel.

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There was a paper once that pointed out that quakes happen in particular 60 degree angles from given locations on the globe. Maybe, just like a tin can fractures in a diamond pattern, there is a form of pattern that exists regarding the earth that manifests as quakes happening at given angles away from a particular epicenter (... kind of like a bell ringing ...but which has been previously rung and where the waves interact with each other to plus up or cancel each other).

Just my $.02 worth