Sunlight is reflected most by areas that are snow and ice covered.
If global warming is causing ice to melt, then Earth will reflect decreasing amounts of sunlight back into space. Scientists are monitoring this dimming of earthshine to see if the trend continues and if it is related specifically to the warming of our planet and subsequent melting of reflective ice or, if it is related to an 11-year cycle in the sun's magnetic activity. Fault , as are the quakes along the San Andreas Fault in California. Seattle's quake was the result of the subduction of 2 converging plates. It is amazing to think that, at this very moment, the crust of the earth is actually moving at the rate of anywhere between one to twenty centimeters per year, depending upon location.