Scientists Concerned About Recent New Madrid Earthquakes
Posted on July 20, 2005
ABC News reports that scientists are concerned that the New Madrid fault zone could see another big earthquake soon. They have no way to accurately predict an earthquake but recent small earthquakes in the region have them concerned. The New Madrid fault zone is best known for two extremely powerful earthquakes (believed to be over 8.0) that occured in 1811 and 1812. The earthquakes were so powerful that the Mississippi River even ran backwards temporarily.
Gary Patterson, the center's information services director, said Tuesday that there is a "significant probability" that a major trembler could rock the region."There's always reason to be aware when you're in an area that has the probability to have a magnitude 6 or greater," Patterson said.
There have been six earthquakes measuring 2 or above along the southern part of the New Madrid fault zone since May 1, and four earthquakes near a 4 magnitude since February, he said.
"It is unusual to have that many fours, but we're only basing that on 30 years worth of data we have to compare it too," Patterson said. "Earthquakes are kind of like hundred-year floods, these things don't follow like clockwork."