4.8 magnitude earthquake in New Jersey this morning which shook the ground and disrupted my group chats. It’s somewhat unusual but not unprecedented for earthquakes to occur in this part of the country and some may be wondering will climate change lead to more extreme events in the future?
It’s probable but nobody knows for surety.
As you may recall from 4th-grade science earthquakes are typically caused by sections of the earth’s crust colliding separating or sliding past one another. Surface temperatures and CO2 concentrations do not affect this movement because it is driven by changes deep underground.
Neither climate change nor earthquakes are related to water. Water changes resulting from heavy rains, snow or drought could cause geologic faults to shift as a result of increased or reduced stress.
However, experts are still unsure whether there is some connection between climate-driven changes in surface water and earthquakes. Some studies have found a correlation between shifting seasonal water loads, Snow accumulation or rapid melting for example can cause micro earthquakes that are so small that people cannot feel them. Scientists have also found an uptick in glacial earthquakes rumblings related to glacial ice lurching forward cracking or falling which may be related to the warming climate.
While this is a fascinating field of study, you shouldn’t be too concerned about an increase in earthquakes just yet regarding global warming.
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