Induced Earthquakes

Within the central and eastern United States, the number of earthquakes has increased dramatically over the past few years. Are they natural, or man-made? And what should be done in the future?

Overview

• Between the years 1973–2008, there was an average of 25 earthquakes of magnitude three and larger in the central and eastern United States. This rate ballooned to over 600 M3+ earthquakes in 2014 and over 1000 in 2015. Since 2015 the earthquake rate has declined significantly (364 M3+ earthquakes in 2017), but this is still much higher than the natural earthquake rate.
• 
  Year Published: 2019

  Injection-induced earthquakes

  https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70203307

  Earthquakes in unusual locations have become an important topic of discussion in both North America and Europe, owing to the concern that industrial activity could cause damaging earthquakes. It has long been understood that earthquakes can be induced by impoundment of reservoirs, surface and underground mining, withdrawal of fluids and gas from...

  Attribution: Earthquake Science Center, Natural Hazards, Earthquake Hazards
• 

  Hydraulic Fracturing and Induced Seismicity

  Hydraulic fracturing, informally referred to as “fracking,” is an oil and gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well.

  • Overview of Hydraulic fracturing
  • Earthquake Hazards Program - Induced Earthquakes