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+--- Thread: USGS statement on rising Oklahoma quake risk (/showthread.php?tid=100)
USGS statement on rising Oklahoma quake risk - Skywise - 05-06-2014
Full articles at links.
From http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3880&from=rss_home#.U2iIXKw0p9Q
Quote:Record Number of Oklahoma Tremors Raises Possibility of Damaging Earthquakes
The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased by about 50 percent since October 2013, significantly increasing the chance for a damaging quake in central Oklahoma.
In a new joint statement by the U.S. Geological Survey and Oklahoma Geological Survey, the agencies reported that 183 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater occurred in Oklahoma from October 2013 through April 14, 2014. This compares with a long-term average from 1978 to 2008 of only two magnitude 3.0 or larger earthquakes per year. As a result of the increased number of small and moderate shocks, the likelihood of future, damaging earthquakes has increased for central and north-central Oklahoma.
From http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/ceus/products/newsrelease_05022014.php
Quote:Record Number of Oklahoma Tremors Raises Possibility of Damaging Earthquakes
The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased remarkably since October 2013 – by about 50 percent – significantly increasing the chance for a damaging magnitude 5.5 or greater quake in central Oklahoma.
![[Image: oklahoma.jpg]](http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/oklahoma/images/oklahoma.jpg)
Brian
RE: USGS statement on rising Oklahoma quake risk - PennyB - 05-06-2014
(05-06-2014, 06:04 AM)Skywise Wrote: Full articles at links.
From http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3880&from=rss_home#.U2iIXKw0p9Q
Quote:Record Number of Oklahoma Tremors Raises Possibility of Damaging Earthquakes
The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased by about 50 percent since October 2013, significantly increasing the chance for a damaging quake in central Oklahoma.
In a new joint statement by the U.S. Geological Survey and Oklahoma Geological Survey, the agencies reported that 183 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater occurred in Oklahoma from October 2013 through April 14, 2014. This compares with a long-term average from 1978 to 2008 of only two magnitude 3.0 or larger earthquakes per year. As a result of the increased number of small and moderate shocks, the likelihood of future, damaging earthquakes has increased for central and north-central Oklahoma.
From http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/ceus/products/newsrelease_05022014.php
Quote:Record Number of Oklahoma Tremors Raises Possibility of Damaging Earthquakes
The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased remarkably since October 2013 – by about 50 percent – significantly increasing the chance for a damaging magnitude 5.5 or greater quake in central Oklahoma.
Brian
These quakes seem to be clustering in five or six locations. I wonder if well correlation has been done (I would guess that somebody has). I also wonder if somebody will start condemning geologists for "frightening" people a la Mammoth Lakes!
RE: USGS statement on rising Oklahoma quake risk - Skywise - 05-06-2014
(05-06-2014, 06:37 PM)PennyB Wrote: These quakes seem to be clustering in five or six locations. I wonder if well correlation has been done (I would guess that somebody has).
Something else that should be checked is the underlying geology. It could be the fracking is reopening old wounds, so-to-speak, reactivating or accelerating old faults that don't do much any more. The clustering may be along folds and faults even though the drill operations are more evenly spread. Not sure how detailed the geology is known outside of the energy industry.
(05-06-2014, 06:37 PM)PennyB Wrote: I also wonder if somebody will start condemning geologists for "frightening" people a la Mammoth Lakes!
Well, at least they can't get prosecuted for NOT predicting an earthquake.
Brian