U.S. Fault Lines Make Seismologists Concerned
January 22nd, 2010 - 7:56 pm ICT by GDBy Ranjan Bhaduri
Jan 22, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The Earthquake that hit the impoverished nation, Haiti, a few days back have caused the seismologists and scientists to take notice about the possibility of similar incidents in various regions of the earth. The death count in the Haiti quake is quite shocking and the damage caused to the island is immeasurable. In a revelation that might come as a shock to the residents of USA, the seismologists have said that a catastrophe similar to the Haiti quake can strike many regions in America. A seismologist involved with U.S. Geological Survey, David Applegate, has termed the earthquakes as a national hazard.
While most of the people think that the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and the West Coast regions are most quake prone, new studies suggest that 39 US sates can face earthquakes owing to the US fault line. David Applegate feels that the New Madrid fault is risky and it covers a part of the central United States. It is responsible for some of the most violent quakes that hit USA in the past. In the 19th century the fault triggered severe earthquakes in the region and as per the reports it caused the Mississippi river to flow backward. The damages were significant.
Gary Patterson, an employee in the University of Memphis Center for Earthquake Research and Information reports that more or less 200 earthquakes having lesser intensity hit various parts of USA every year. However, these minor quakes are not felt by the majority of people. A fault line goes through New York City as well. It has been lying inactive for almost 200 years.
Tags: 19th century, david applegate, death count, earthquake research, fault line, fault lines, gary patterson, information reports, memphis center, mississippi river, new madrid fault, northwest alaska, pacific northwest, quakes, regions of the earth, seismologist, severe earthquakes, u s geological survey, university of memphis, west coast regions