How are Humans Causing Earthquakes?
How are humans causing earthquakes? Now that we know that the 1967 earthquake in India was man made, there is several other ways humans can trigger earthquakes.
The United States Geological Survey has given information that humans can produce man-made earthquakes. The most affected area is the central US. Since 1973 to 2008 there has been an increase of up to 24 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher that have been caused by human activity. But how are these earthquakes being caused? Many of the central U.S. man made earthquakes are caused by fracking. And what exactly is fracking? What are induced earthquakes? Is fracking causing induced earthquakes?
First of fracking is when liquid is injected at high pressure into the ground in order to extract oil or gas. Fracking takes places in gas wells. Most gas wells are located outside the urban and suburban areas. Small towns out in the rural area, are the ones that get to see what fracking is causing.
Fracking will eventually cause induced earthquakes. Induced earthquakes are minor earthquakes that are caused by human activity. One of this contributions is fracking. The United States Geological Survey said there is three key factors about fracking that are causing induced earthquakes.
These factors are:
- Fluid injection
- Wastewater Injection
- Hydraulic Fracking
These factors have been causing man-made earthquakes to increase constantly in the past 6 years.
How can fluid injection cause earthquakes?
Injecting fluid into the underground can increase pressure within the fault zones. Essentially, the fault zones will loosen and it will be more probable to for the fault lines to go off.
What is Waste Water Injection?
Waste water is water that is polluted with chemicals that is not considered fresh water. This process happens when polluted water is no longer safe for humans so it is injected into the ground. This can cause an earthquake because water will sink and it will cause pressure in fault zones that can loosen and cause an earthquake.
What is Hydraulic Fracking?
Hydraulic fracking is the injection of water at high pressure levels in order to crack rock formations so it is easier for oil and gas extraction. Although during the process in happens that small micro-earthquakes are felt. Thankfully a microearthquake is a magnitude 2.0 or less earthquake. They are rarely felt. However, if the process of hydraulic fracking constantly continuing it can cause instability in major fault lines if they're near by.
Continuous fracking will create instability in our fault lines. Although induced earthquakes aren't that destructive, the instability in the fault lines can go off causing a major big earthquake.
Continuous fracking will create instability in our fault lines. Although induced earthquakes aren't that destructive, the instability in the fault lines can go off causing a major big earthquake.
Waste Water Injection Process
We have talked about how humans contribute to natural disasters and how there is even evidence of how humans can cause man-made earthquakes. Sadly Dr. Justin L. Rubinstein doesn't agree with us. Let's see his point why.
The Daily Caller gives information from Dr. Justin L. Rubinstein where he states fracking doesn't cause damaging earthquakes. On a side note earthquakes caused by fracking occur in only the most extreme cases. According to Dr. Rubinstein "induced earthquakes aren't something new." Dr. Rubinstein said this in a Kansas Science Museum where he also provided information that induced earthquakes have been triggered by humans since 1894 due to gold mining and creating water reservoir. Providing support for Dr. Rubenstein the USGS has also stated that "Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as 'fracking' does not appear to be linked to the increased rate of magnitude 3 and larger earthquakes.
In other words it seems like Dr. Rubinstein does not believe fracking could cause earthquakes.
One of the main ideas that related to my inquiry question in my first source United States Geological Survey is that humans are producing man-made earthquakes. For my second source Daily Caller
the idea that fracking doesn't cause earthquakes but humans are does relate to my question also. My first source affirms fracking does cause earthquakes and those earthquakes can create instability in the faults which can later cause contribute to a major earthquake. My second source completely disagrees with my first source. I did want to a opposing opinion on here. My second source says fracking doesn't cause earthquakes and that fracking does not appear to be linked with higher magnitude earthquakes. Both of my sources do agree that man-made earthquakes is a real issue, and fracking can contaminate water. While the United States Geological Survey says fracking causes earthquakes, the Daily Caller completely disagrees and says fracking doesn't cause earthquakes. Although they are very good sources I stand with the United States Geological Survey. Fracking does cause earthquakes and I still stand that humans do contribute to natural disasters.
Your post has very solid and strong evidences. You are using a very scientific approach, and it is impossible disagree with it. At same time you show the point of view of different experts that have different ideas about the relationship between fracking and earthquakes. In my opinion, an increase of up to 24 earthquakes per year is alarming. I am curious to know your position about fracking. What do you think about the use of this method? Is it dangerous?
ReplyDeleteSomething I found interesting was how they made the differentiation between fracking causing earthquakes and fracking causing damaging earthquakes. They seem to have moved beyond the question of whether fracking is directly related to the increase of earthquakes and are now focused on emphasizing that the earthquakes are causing no real damage. This, to me, seems like they lost some footing and had to backtrack a little. It leads to the question of whether prolonged exposure to the faults will cause greater damage in the future. Perhaps only time will tell on that one. I feel like I didn't see too much of your own insight in this post. Maybe more of that in future posts so that you're adding to the information you're presenting.
ReplyDeleteI think that your blog post is very interesting. I think that if science says that these earthquakes are not dangerous then that it's ok. However, as a person who was raised in California that has experienced many earthquakes growing up I can tell you that I am very happy to be in Colorado. I am deathly afraid of earthquakes. The smaller ones that you don't feel are awesome because you don't feel them. I still wake up at night if I hear a train pass. The sounds that the trains make remind me of the noise made during a very large earthquake. I think that more research should be done on this matter because playing with nature is a dangerous game. If they are not dangerous but can lead to them being dangerous this is a big problem. Another question you could address is Dr. Rubinstein being paid to tell us not to worry? I do agree with your statement about "Injecting fluid into the underground can increase pressure within the fault zones. Essentially, the fault zones will loosen and it will be more probable to for the fault lines to go off. " This is a scary fact.
ReplyDelete