Posted on 05/02/2015 12:38:19 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
There's a new hazard in the Heartland.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently released a map highlighting the future risk for man-made earthquakes, and up to eight states have an increased chance to see ground shaking.
Azle, Texas, which had no recorded quakes for 150 years, felt 27 tremors from November 2013 to January 2014. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex continues to feel regular earthquakes.
As Science Magazine reports, earthquakes hit areas of Kansas bordering Oklahoma 192 times in the last two years; the same counties were only hit twice in the preceding 35 years.
For the most part, the scientific community has already reached a consensus that oil and gas operations, more specifically underground wastewater injections, are causing the swarm of earthquakes down the middle of the country -- this new map visualizes that knowledge.
These types of earthquakes, as opposed to those in say California, are non-tectonic and independent of large-scale subterranean movement. Rather, earthquakes like the hundreds cropping up over the last couple years result from the disposal of oil and gas byproducts into the ground.
“This new report describes for the first time how injection-induced earthquakes can be incorporated into U.S. seismic hazard maps,” Mark Petersen, Chief of the USGS National Seismic Hazard Modeling Project, said. “These earthquakes are occurring at a higher rate than ever before and pose a much greater risk to people living nearby."
If you live in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Ohio, Alabama or Arkansas, the USGS has offered a clear warning that you'll feel induced earthquakes.
Now, the likelihood that these quakes will surpass magnitude-2 levels is low; however, as the Dallas Morning News reports, engineers use USGS hazard maps to decide on building codes, which insurers then consider to set their rates.
Instead of just seeing shaking windows or a fallen lamp, you could be footing the bill for living in the new hazard hubs.
Even worse, the USGS won't rule out the possibility of a magnitude-7 earthquake in any one of the eight states listed above.
"I would recommend that if you live in one of these areas that you should educate those near you on actions to take in the event of an earthquake," Petersen said.
EXELSIOR!!!!
scientific community has already reached a consensus
Sounds like global warming.
Yes, fracking is the culprit. If only they hadn’t been fracking in Nepal. Oh, that’s right they weren’t. Never mind.
“scientific community has already reached a consensus”
There’s that word again.
My 70 year old sister, who keeps the CNN on in the background, told me fracking causes earthquakes. I filled her in the number of intra-plate quakes (those not at the plate boundaries) that occurred normally before fracking and how the number hadn’t statistically changed. She didn’t believe me because she’d “heard somewhere” that all the scientists agreed. It’s awesomely dangerous to just leave CNN running as your subconscious picks up what they say and now you’ve heard it someplace so it must be true.
Uh oh, there's that term "scientific consensus."
“scientific community has already reached a consensus”
There’s that word again.”
Follow the money trail. Going to cost everyone more to meet building codes and upgrade their homes, particularly in retirement states like Arkansas, and any states that are oil producers. EPA regs will be out soon.
I suspect that at least part of this money trail leads to middle eastern oil ticks who stand to lose trillions if the US achieves true energy independence.
It may not be coincidence that the limousine liberals and hot tub eco-wackies who push the anti-frakking line are also practically 100% anti-Israel
This article is conclusive proof that the Weather Channel cannot be trusted.
along with the ocean getting too salty.
I was going to post a “BS” graphic, but the cool one I found was, well, disturbing.
https://sportsblogmovement.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/bullshit-sculpture.jpg
Maybe lots of little quakes reduce the pressure(s) for big ones?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
