In the event of a major new madrid earthquake, we could be looking at fukushima times 15. Earthquake hazards near the new madrid fault zone human and economic vulnerability in the central united states earthquakes in the new madrid fault zone the new madrid fault zone nmfz is a longestablished weakness in the earths crust in the central and eastern us where earthquakes have occurred for hundreds of millions of years. But earthquakes also happen in the eastern and central u. Seth stein, the leader of the research group, published these views in a book, disaster deferred. In 18111812, three large earthquakes up to magnitude 7. The new madrid fault zone is famously known for the earthquakes of 1811 to 1812 and registered four of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in north america. And there is worse news yet, the fault line offers up extremely shallow earthquakes.
Predictions for future earthquakes along the new madrid fault, as well as. New madrid earthquake usgs partnering with the central u. But in new madrid they were thrown to the ground at almost every step during the violent quakes. Strongest ever earthquake hits alaskas north slope region, but at the same time a quake in the center of the new madrid seismic zone occurs signaling an awakening of fault zones globally. The new madrid seismic zone of the central united states chapter. Experts say its new madrids fault daily journal news. From cairo, illinois down through new madrid, missouri and then on into arkansas.
These eyewitness accounts give a glimpse at what was seen and experienced by people as the earthuquakes occurred. The new madrid fault system earthquake activity in the new madrid region is concentrated in an area of weak ancient crust called the reelfoot rift. In this study we have analyzed 1704 earthquake hypocenters obtained between 1995 and 2006 in threedimensional 3d space to more accurately map fault geometry in the new madrid seismic zone. A new madrid earthquake is coming and america will be. Earthquakes in new madrid, missouri, united states most. The new madrid fault finders guide ray knox, david. New madrid fault line could unleash catastrophic midwest. The biggest earthquakes in the history of the united states were. See more ideas about earthquake fault, map and geology. The new madrid seismic zone nmsz is located in the central mississippi river valley. Suggesting current quakes are just aftershocks and therefore the new madrid fault is dead doesnt follow, says susan hough of the usgs 1109. Earthquakes in missouri missouri department of natural. This would make a total of seven earthquakes of magnitude 6. If a strong new madrid earthquake, with a magnitude equal to the historic 18111812 earthquakes 7.
The new madrid fault system does not behave as earthquake hazard models assume and may be in the process of shutting down, a new study shows. Evidence that earthquakes threaten the mississippi, ohio, and wabash river valleys of the central united states abounds. Wasatch fault zone map salt lake city and utah faults map. An earthquake prompted by the new madrid seismic fault line occurs. A new trash can with lid is a good water tight place to store items. The new madrid seismic zone, also known as the reelfoot rift or the new madrid fault line, is a major seismic zone located in the midwestern united states. Geological survey has confirmed a thursday afternoon temblor near midlothian.
Eyewitness accounts the series of new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 was one of the most dramatic natural disasters to strike the north american continent. Of course most americans are completely oblivious to all of this. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading disaster deferred. New madrid seismic zone nmsz, region of poorly understood, deepseated faults in earths crust that zigzag southwestnortheast through arkansas, missouri, tennessee, and kentucky, u. The fault line runs roughly 150 miles from arkansas into missouri and illinois. The quakes struck the new madrid fault zone 200 kilometres south of st louis. New madrid seismic region fault line maps page 4 showme. The new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 missouri heritage readers. The second data set includes 16 events recorded from 2001 to 2006 by stations of the new madrid seismic zone permanent network. Lying in the central area of the north american plate, the seismic zone is about 45 miles 70 km wide and about 125 miles 200 km long. The new madrid fault system contains two types of faults, a strike slip segment oriented to the northeast, running from marked tree, ar to caruthersville, mo, and a northwest trending reverse fault that rests below the new madrid region. The source of all this anxiety is the fabled new madrid seismic zone. Next new madrid earthquake is imminent strange sounds.
Some scientists believe there is about a 10 percent chance of a magnitude 78 earthquake in the new madrid seismic zone in a 50 year time interval. This area is underlain by one of the most destructive faults in north america, the. Casting doubt a 2010 ap story says a new study casts doubt that the new madrid fault zone unleashed a series of quakes in 181112. A new view of earthquake hazards in the new madrid seismic zone kindle edition by stein, seth. Salt lake city earthquake faults including wasatch fault zone, west valley fault zone, east great salt lake fault zone, southern oquirrh mountains fault zone, east canyon fault, and utah lake faults. New madrid compendium eyewitness accounts ceri the. In the winter of 1811 and 1812, three earthquakes of magnitude 7, and possibly as high as 7. The new madrid earthquake that will divide the united. A map of earthquakes epicenters, however, reflects faulting at depth and shows that the earthquakes define several branches of the new madrid seismic zone in northeastern arkansas, southwestern kentucky, southeastern missouri, and northwestern tennessee. The author wrote it about 100 years after the earthquake of 181112, so he had to depend a lot on the observations of the few people who had written them down. Dinosaur southeast missouri dinosaurs were trapped in an earthquake fault. In fact, most americans dont even know what the new madrid fault zone is or where it is.
A new view of earthquake hazards in the new madrid seismic zone. Diagram showing trench or fissure formed by settling of fault blocks. Earthquake occurrences in southeast missouri are not rare. New madrid earthquakes of 181112 united states britannica. The earthquake hypocenters used in this study were obtained from two data sets. Uncertainty is the maddening aspect of earthquakes. January 2015 texas more earthquakes strike north texas shaking going on. The study was conducted for fema by the midamerica. Epicenters of earthquakes since 1974 shown by red dots. The most active portion of the new madrid fault is named for a town in missouri that was obliterated by the earthquakes of 181112. I was interested in finding out more about the new madrid earthquake fault and this book was recommended. New madrid seismic zone maps of past quake activity.
The new madrid seismic zone sometimes called the new madrid fault line, is a major seismic. What we know about earthquakes in the new madrid fault. In fact, one of the largest historical earthquakes to strike the continental united states occurred in the winter of 18111812 along the new madrid seismic zone, which stretches from just west of memphis, tennessee, into southern illinois. The department of homeland securitys federal emergency management agency fema today released a report, impact of earthquakes on the central usa, which presents the findings of a twoyear study on the impact of a 7. The new madrid seismic zone, sometimes called the new madrid fault line, is a major active seismic zone in the southern and midwestern united states. Federal emergency management agency warned that a serious earthquake in the new madrid seismic zone could result in the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the united states, further predicting widespread and catastrophic damage across alabama, arkansas, illinois, indiana. Earthquake frequency in the new madrid seismic zone. Those earthquakes opened deep fissures in the ground, caused the mississippi river to run backwards, and were reportedly felt more than 1,000 miles away. About one billion years ago the continent began to rift apart in this region, but the rifting never completed. The solid red lines show fault lines and the dashed red liens show the edges of growing fault zones. Science briefs about new earthquake research written for nonscientists. The new madrid fault zone is six times bigger than the san andreas fault zone in california and it covers portions of illinois, indiana, missouri, arkansas, kentucky, tennessee and mississippi. Most of the residents of new madrid fled, on foot, to higher ground about 40 miles north. Articles, maps, and information on the new madrid fault zone or system and the great new madrid earthquakes of 18111812, as well as recent seismic activity.
In this lesson, we will learn about the 181112 earthquake sequence in the new madrid seismic zone and discuss the controversy regarding the extent of seismic risk in the central united states today. We know they happen frequently along the earths tectonic plates. New madrid earthquakes of 181112 map of the new madrid earthquakes of 181112. Seismic hazard maps of the united states need to take the new. This is the data set used in mueller and pujol 2001. They are believed to have been magnitude 8 earthquakes with one of them possibly as high as magnitude 8. Map of the central united states showing location of the new madrid seismic zone. Is the new madrid fault earthquake zone coming to life. Subsurface mapping of the upland complex in western kentucky and. It lies deep in the earth and cannot be seen from the surface. The red bulls eye covering the bootheel of missouri is the new madrid seismic zone. When people think of earthquakes in the united states, they tend to think of the west coast. This animation shows the simulated ground motion of the earths surface that could occur in the central u. The 18111812 events were some of the largest in the united states since its settlement by europeans, and the nmsz spans portions of seven states.
New madrid seismic zone quaternary fault localities. Fun and educational resources including science fair ideas and earthquake science you can understand. Foxnews jan 2010 update of nm seismic zone following a haiti aftershock. The new madrid seismic zone stretches for 150 miles into five states.
It is a zone about 50 miles wide and 150 miles long within which more than 2,000 earthquakes occurred between december 16, 1811, and may 25, 1812. Computer simulations of earthquake shaking, replicating the quakes that occurred in 18111812 in the new madrid seismic zone nmsz, indicate that future large earthquakes there would produce major, prolonged ground shaking. Two additional earthquakes of similar magnitude followed in january and february 1812. However, it is not clear from the text just what he means by zero movement. The main point of the book, one which the stein repeats again and again, is that his location surveys using gps in the new madrid area show zero movement. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Are the new madrid and alaskan fault zones waking 687. Map of earthquake features of the new madrid district. There are historical accounts of major earthquakes in the new madrid region during 181112. The geologic record of pre1811 earthquakes also reveals that the new madrid seismic zone has repeatedly produced sequences of major earthquakes, including several of magnitude 7 to 8, over the past 4,500 years.
As shown in the map above, it stretches to the southwest from new madrid, missouri. The heartland of north america is not the stable geography one would expect in the middle of a tectonic plate. The new madrid earthquakes of 18111812 by norma hayes bagnall 1996. Usgs resources and links to outside educational resources.
The new madrid fault is expected to generate a largescale earthquake within the next 50 years. New madrid seismic zone fault geometrynew madrid seismic. The new madrid fault, also called the new madrid seismic zone, is actually a series of faults, or fractures, at a weak spot in the earths crust called the reelfoot rift. It is also important to note that there are 15 nuclear reactors along the new madrid fault zone. New simulations of 18111812 new madrid earthquakes show. We also know there are no such plates in the central united states. New madrid seismic zone fault geometry geology guy. New madrid seismic zone earthquake hazard article and map. New madrid fault system seismic earthquake zone fault line activity nmsz quake map central midwest.
Earthquakes with magnitudes equal to or larger than 2. Most of the earthquakes appear to align along fault planes. New madrid earthquake map earthquake zones, new madrid. One included 568 events recorded between october 1989 and august 1992 using a portable seismic network panda, chiu et al. In 18111812, it was responsible for the most violent series of earthquakes in. The simulation is based on a detailed geologic model of the central u. The new madrid fault zone nmfz is a longestablished weakness in the earths crust in the central and eastern us where earthquakes have occurred for hundreds of millions of years. Back in 1811 and 1812, there were four earthquakes along the new madrid fault zone there were so immensely powerful that they are still talked about today. The new madrid earthquakes may have been considerably smaller than.