Cause Of Earthquakes In Southeastern United States? Research Finds Parts Of Earth's Mantle Peeling Off

Earth Science class taught us that when an area sits in the middle of a tectonic plate, it will rarely experience earthquakes. Based on this simple fact, Southeastern United States have nothing to worry about because they land on the side of tectonic plates, but surprisingly, recent earth-shattering episodes have hit the region. Why is that so?

The Cause Of Recent Earthquakes In Southeastern United States

A new research sought to explain this phenomenon, as reported by CBS News. Researchers cited the possibility of the bottom of the North American tectonic plate peeling off and affecting the plates where the southeastern states lie. They estimate that this activity has been occurring for the past 65 million years.

A quick search on National Geographic explains that the activity in the mantle drives plate tectonics. This means that what happens in the mantle contributes to volcanoes, seafloor spreading, mountain-building, and earthquakes. The study of the mantle is important to determine exact causes of earthquakes.

Using 3D photos of the uppermost part of the Earth's mantle, the research team headed by seismologist Berk Biryol discovered that the thickness of the plates located at the southeastern states is becoming uneven with thick parts of old rock and thin regions of young rock, both dense but varying in degree. The researchers deem that this is the cause of gravity pulling down denser areas towards the mantle and the heavier regions were caused by new material being added to the plate. The asthenosphere, a liquid layer below the tectonic plates, most likely have received parts of the plate areas that broke down in the mantle.

This means that parts of the mantle are peeling off, leaving holes that can be filled by the lighter material in the asthenosphere. The replaced areas, in turn, become thinner and are more prone to slip along fault lines that cause earthquakes, according to CBS News.

Nothing To Worry About In The Near Future

As per CBS News, this is not a cause of worry for residents in the southeastern parts of the U.S. yet. Berk Biryol says, "I don't think things will be changing in the future, at least not in our lifetimes or our grandchildren's life. Geological processes take place over long periods of time and nothing will change dramatically overnight."

According to the Daily Mail, the most recent earthquake that hit southeastern United States was the 2011 5.8-magnitude quake near Mineral, Virginia. The southeastern part of U.S. is around 1,056 miles from the nearest edge of the North American plate that covers North America, Greenland and parts of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, as described by Daily Mail.

How will this study help in preparation for earthquakes? Tell us what you think in the Comments section below!