On Friday, April 5, near New York City, an earthquake occurred, causing buildings to shake and leaving residents of the area astonished, where experiencing a major seismic event is perhaps rare. The epicenter of the earthquake occurred in New Jersey, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and its initial strength was 4.8.
In Short
A 4.8 Magnitude Earthquake(watch)
WOW! EarthCam cameras captured the shaking of the New York City skyline & Statue of Liberty this morning during a magnitude 4.8 earthquake in New Jersey. #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/DZitt7LD4s
— BA56 (@MrUnusual42) April 6, 2024
People from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts reported feeling the tremors. There have been no reports of any damage, a New York City Police Department spokeswoman told Reuters.
Let’s investigate the possible causes of the recent earthquake in New York and the reasons why these occurrences are uncommon there.
Cause of the calamity in New York?
It’s not clear which fault line the latest earthquake occurred on. Fault lines are fractures that allow tectonic plates – pieces of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle – to move, resulting in earthquakes.
According to a report by the USGS, “The Ramapo Fault, a major fault line, is located in New Jersey, emerging from the Appalachian Mountains.” The report also states that there are at least five smaller fault lines beneath Manhattan Island.
In particular, determining on which fault line the earthquake occurred on the eastern coast is not easy. “The challenge in studying the region stems from the fact that “the nearest plate boundaries reside deep within the heart of the Atlantic Ocean,” as stated in the piece.”
Why are earthquakes rare in New York?
Unlike western coastal areas such as California, the eastern coast, including New York, is not situated near the edges of tectonic plates.
According to The New York Times, “Hundreds of millennia in the past, the terrain that would later evolve into New York witnessed the convergence of continents, accompanied by significant seismic upheavals.” The fault lines running through the area have become less active over time. However, they sometimes relieve the stresses of that period.
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John C. Mutter, a professor of earth and environmental sciences at Columbia University, told NBC News, “What you’re feeling here, these little earthquakes, is the release of those tensions from that time.”
“These little earthquakes that you’re experiencing here are the release of those tensions from that time,” he continued. Things take some time to calm down.”
Photos source : X
