CQU seismologist Mike Turnbull.Feeling the earth move from under your feet in Central Queensland might not just be a figment of your imagination or a reaction from the ‘love bug'.

According to Bundaberg-based seismologist Mike Turnbull the earth very well could be moving. How much is his job to find out.

Mr Turnbull is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Central Queensland University who monitors seismic or earthquake activity in the Central Queensland region. He is leader of the Central Queensland Seismology Research Group.

Recently, Mr Turnbull was a guest on ABC's national radio program, The Conversation Hour.

You can listen to the program by clicking here.

He spoke about his life's journey as a country boy from Charleville, working as a technician with Telecom to becoming Telecom's national expert in data communications, then going back to study Physics at Queensland University of Technology, working in the university's photometric lab and later working as a research academic at CQU studying earthquakes in CQ. Also of interest was his recent success at authoring short stories and poetry, and his plans to write a novel in the near future. [The program is yet to be aired]. 

Mr Turnbull's advice on earthquakes and their consequences has been widely sought after from various South-East-Asian governments and media in recent times with the increase in tsunamis and earth movement in the global region.

He advises that much of Central Queensland has the geology susceptible to earthquakes, particularly Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

He has been monitoring earthquakes in the region since 2001 and has reported about 30 earthquakes of various sizes annually in the region.

"The largest earthquake I have recorded was a magnitude 4.4 which occurred 30km east of Monto and was felt 70km away.

"People in the Gin Gin area thought their roofs were falling in."

The largest earthquakes recorded in the region were in 1918 at Lady Elliot Island (6.2 magnitude) and in 1935 10km north of Gayndah (6.0 magnitude).

These 2 events are the largest earthquakes to have been recorded on the east coast of mainland Australia - much larger than the magnitude 5.6 Newcastle earthquake that occurred in 1989.

"The Lady Elliot Island earthquake was felt in Mackay and west to Charleville. Damage was reported in Rockhampton and Bundaberg. Panic broke out in Rockhampton and people ran out into the streets."

"Records show that the Central Queensland region can expect at least one magnitude 6 earthquake in any given 120-year period."

In general, areas with unconsolidated sediments in its geology will be more prone to being affected by earthquakes in the CQ region.

"The Yeppen Plains on the southern outskirts of Rockhampton would be the prime location where earthquake activity could be problematic. Bundaberg has similar geology, while Gladstone with its more rocky ground would be less likely to experience problems from an earthquake."

"In 1997 an earthquake was recorded at Lady Elliot Island with a magnitude of 3.4 and was felt 120km out to sea. This should not have been felt more than about 30km from the epicenter - and yet 14 reports came from people feeling the quake in Bundaberg. Fisherman had reported strange rough seas that passed underneath their vessels lasting about ½ an hour."

Recent talks with an American seismologist trialing new earthquake detection and location techniques strengthened Mr Turnbull's suspicions that an undersea mudslide had occurred causing a tsunami-like response.