Intraplate earthquake

Distribution of seismicity associated with the New Madrid seismic zone (since 1974). This zone of intense earthquake activity is located deep within the interior of the North American plate.

An intraplate earthquake is an earthquake that occurs in the interior of a tectonic plate, in contrast to an interplate earthquake on the boundary of a tectonic plate. It is also called an intraslab earthquake, especially when occurring in a microplate.[1][2]

Intraplate earthquakes are relatively rare compared to the more familiar interplate earthquakes. Buildings far from plate boundaries are rarely protected with seismic retrofitting, so large intraplate earthquakes can inflict heavy damage. Examples of damaging intraplate earthquakes are the devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes, the 2017 Puebla earthquake, the 1811–1812 New Madrid earthquakes, and the 1886 Charleston earthquake.[3]

  1. ^ Iwata, Tomotaka; Asano, Kimiyuki (2011). "Characterization of the Heterogeneous Source Model of Intraslab Earthquakes Toward Strong Ground Motion Prediction". Pure and Applied Geophysics. 168 (1–2): 117–124. Bibcode:2011PApGe.168..117I. doi:10.1007/s00024-010-0128-7. S2CID 140602323.
  2. ^ Senoa, Tetsuzo; Yoshida, Masaki (2004). "Where and why do large shallow intraslab earthquakes occur?". Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors. 141 (3): 183–206. Bibcode:2004PEPI..141..183S. doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2003.11.002.
  3. ^ Hough, Susan E.; Seeber, Leonardo; Armbruster, John G. (October 2003). "Intraplate Triggered Earthquakes: Observations and Interpretation". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 101 (3). Seismological Society of America: 2212–2221. Bibcode:2003BuSSA..93.2212H. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.189.5055. doi:10.1785/0120020055.