Chile earthquake: 6 surprise effects

While the authorities struggle to maintain order in quake-struck Chile, the world is coming to terms with the implications of such a powerful earthquake. Hiding behind the headlines, however, are some less-discussed and rather odd consequences of the 8.8-magnitude temblor:

1. Chileans in Concepcion now live 10ft closer to the sea

Concepcion, the nearest city to the epicenter, moved 10 feet to the west during the quake, according to GPS measurements reported by Betsy Mason in Wired. It wasn't just them, either. The capital city of Santiago moved 11 inches to the west, and even Buenos Aires, 800 miles away in Argentina, shifted an inch.

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2. Our days on planet Earth will be shorter

The magnitude of the quake was so great it actually tilted the plenatary axis — as a result, the world will spin infinitesimally faster and our days will be shorter by 1.26 millionths of a second. "It's interesting," says seismologist David Kerridge in the Wall Street Journal, even if "it has no particular consequence on anything."

3. Volcanoes may become rather common

Chile's earthquake is likely to prompt a "legacy of volcanic explosions," says Kate Ravilious in the New Scientist. Large quakes have historically acted to "resurrect previously inactive volcanoes" and make "active ones" more likely to erupt.

4. Chilean wine just got more rare

Reports from Chile's wine region paint a disastrous picture of "wine casks destroyed; huge vats cracked, their wine spilling out; ruined equipment." One vintner laments that the quake is "a double whammy" — it hit right at harvest time, meaning much of this season's crop will likely rot in the fields.

5. Printer paper may get pricier

Chile is one of the world's largest wood pulp producers and most mills in the country "have been shuttered owing to damage and power outages." Consequently, global paper prices could leap to $40 a ton — a roughly 5 percent bounce — according to analyst estimate.

6. Virginians may sense a certain dryness

Water levels in a monitoring well in Christiansburg, VA dropped two feet as a result of Saturday's quake, reports the Baltimore Sun. The only explanation: The site is "well known" for its sensitivity to "seismic waves."

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SEE MORE OF THE WEEK'S COVERAGE OF THE CHILE EARTHQUAKE:

• Quake comparison: Chile vs. Haiti

• Quake watch: Is America next?

• Video: Chile death toll hits 700