What causes earthquakes? The science behind why earthquakes like today’s New Jersey earthquake occur

A strong earthquake centered on the outskirts of New York City rattled much of the east coast Several aftershocks continued Friday morning.

The magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred around 10:20 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter of the quake was near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, about 40 miles west of New York City, according to the USGS. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or major damage, but many people who felt the quake posted their unusual experiences on social media.

Here’s what you need to know about seismic activity on the East Coast and what can cause such earthquakes.

What causes earthquakes?

Earthquakes occur when the plates that make up the Earth’s crust move. These plates, called tectonic plates, can push against each other.

Earthquakes are most common along fault lines, which are cracks that allow plates to move.

According to the USGS, earthquakes occur when two plates suddenly slide past each other, creating seismic waves that shake the planet’s surface.

Scientifically speaking, what is an earthquake?

Earthquakes occur when the seismic energy created by plates sliding past each other rattles the surface of the planet.

According to the USGS, these seismic waves are like ripples in a pond.

Earthquakes are strongest at their epicenter (the point on the Earth’s surface directly above where the earthquake began), and their impact decreases as they spread further. Friday’s earthquake had its epicenter in northern New Jersey, but its effects were felt in New York City. Philadelphia and far away baltimore.

What caused the East Coast earthquake?

It is not clear on which fault Friday’s quake occurred.

According to a report from CBS New York, there is a large fault in New Jersey called the Ramapo Fault, which originates from the Appalachian Mountains. There are also at least five smaller fault lines beneath Manhattan Island.

On the West Coast, some plate boundaries, such as the San Andreas Fault, are so well studied that it’s possible to determine exactly which fault an earthquake occurred along, the USGS said. However, on the East Coast, the closest plate boundary is in the center of the Atlantic Ocean, making this region difficult to study.

“While there are many known faults in the urban corridor (between New York City and Wilmington, Delaware), many smaller or deeply buried faults have yet to be detected. The USGS says on its website: “Thus, earthquakes in urban corridors are rarely, if ever, associated with named faults.”

Are earthquakes common on the East Coast?

The east coast has fewer earthquakes than the west coast, but they happen. According to the USGS, moderately damaging earthquakes occur approximately twice every 100 years between New York and Wilmington, Delaware, and smaller earthquakes are felt in the region approximately every two to three years. That’s what it means.

Although earthquakes on the East Coast occur less frequently than on the West Coast, they tend to be felt over a wide area, as Friday’s quake demonstrated, the USGS said. The agency announced that a magnitude 4.0 earthquake could be felt more than 90 miles from the epicenter.

Will earthquakes occur more frequently?

In January, the USGS estimated that nearly 75% of the United States could experience a devastating earthquake over the next century. The predictions are based on research conducted by dozens of scientists and engineers using seismic studies, historical geological data, new information, and additional information that could cause a damaging earthquake. Approximately 500 fault lines have been identified.

Additional earthquakes are possible in the central and northeastern Atlantic regions, researchers said. Earthquakes are also possible in California and Alaska, historically seismically active regions.