Consider the following statements regarding Earthquake swarm: It is a ...
Recently, a seismic swarm has hit the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland with more than 5,500 small earthquakes in the last three days.
- Earthquake swarm is a series of many (sometimes thousands) low-intensity earthquakes without a discernible main shock that can occur over weeks in active geothermal areas.
- When seismic energy piles up inside the Earth and is released in small amounts from certain points, such a series of earthquakes can occur.
What causes swarm sequences?
- Fluid movement:
- In volcanic environments, this can be fluid released from deeper magma or circulating within active geothermal areas (in volcanic areas such as the Taupō Volcanic Zone).
- The earthquakes triggered by fluids occur as fault slip on the cracks and faults through which the water is moving.
- Active volcanism:
- Magma movement can also act as the ‘driving mechanism’ for swarms, creating the earthquakes as magma-filled cracks push their way through the Earth’s crust.
- In such a case the earthquakes commonly occur near the crack tip (ahead of the magma where the crack is starting to open), or off to the side of the crack.
- Slow-slip events
- A slow-slip event is essentially an earthquake in slow-motion, and typically involves centimetres to tens of centimetres of movement along a fault, over weeks to years.
- We commonly see slow slip events at the Hikurangi subduction zone, usually at least one or two per year.
Hence both statements are correct.
Consider the following statements regarding Earthquake swarm: It is a ...
Earthquake Swarm:
An earthquake swarm refers to a series of many low-intensity earthquakes that occur in a specific region over a short period of time. These earthquakes are characterized by their relatively small magnitudes and lack of any main seismic activity, such as a large earthquake. Earthquake swarms can last for hours, days, or even months, and they can occur in various parts of the world.
Statement 1: It is a series of many low-intensity earthquakes formed without any main seismic activity.
This statement is correct. Earthquake swarms are defined by the absence of a main seismic activity or a significant earthquake. Instead, they consist of numerous smaller earthquakes that occur in succession. These earthquakes may have magnitudes ranging from barely perceptible to a few units on the Richter scale. The lack of a main seismic event differentiates earthquake swarms from typical earthquake sequences.
Statement 2: Magma movement inside the earth can act as a driving force for these swarms.
This statement is also correct. While the exact causes of earthquake swarms are still not fully understood, one possible driving force is the movement of magma inside the Earth's crust. Magma is molten rock that is present beneath the Earth's surface, and its movement can exert pressure on the surrounding rocks. This pressure can cause the rocks to fracture and generate seismic activity, leading to an earthquake swarm. However, it is important to note that earthquake swarms can also be caused by other factors, such as tectonic stress release or fluid movement.
Conclusion:
Both statements are correct. Earthquake swarms are a series of low-intensity earthquakes that occur without any main seismic activity. The movement of magma inside the Earth can act as a driving force for these swarms, although other factors can also contribute to their occurrence. Understanding earthquake swarms is important for studying seismic activity and assessing the potential risks associated with them.
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