If the ongoing seismicity in the region were composed of aftershocks, those quakes would be relieving strain and reducing the earthquake hazard. Instead, this new research indicates, strain is continuing to accumulate in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and the earthquake hazard remains high. The NMSZ also known as NMFZ or the New Madrid RIFT Zone, is an area which has magmatic movement beneath the rock. Once millions of years ago, this area began splitting apart, then it went to sleep. Because of this, for quite some time, geologists called it a failed rift. Rifts take time to break open, so it is not a failed rift, but rather a slow rift. (Pangaea took millions of years to split apart, for instance.) Further, there are plutons around the area which show that magma does want to come to the surface. Sometimes, geologic processes happen suddenly, and others take time. If you live in this area and are not aware of the history regarding these events, I would suggest educating yourself. Another NMSZ quake would cause major devastation in the midwest. incidentally, this is also why there have been upticks in earthquakes in those areas -- not because of fracking, but because there is a huge angry earthquake area right there. Better to be educated and prepared than ignorant and dead.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 15:52:45 +0000
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