Friday, February 10, 2023

Week 3 - Earthquakes and Seismicity in The Channel Islands


-The Channel Islands are part of a geological formation known as the "Normandy Massif", which is an area of ancient rocks that have been uplifted and folded over many years. While the region is not known for incredibly high levels of seismic activity, earthquakes do occur here on occasion, and there have been a few very notable earthquakes in the Channel Islands in recent history.

-One of the most significant earthquakes to strike the Channel Islands was in 1976, when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck the Island of Jersey. This earthquake caused significant damage to buildings and local infrastructure, including the collapse of several chimneys. Luckily however, there was nobody killed in the wreckage.

-More recently, there have been several smaller earthquakes recorded in the Channel Islands, including a 2.7 mag earthquake in 2018 and a 2.8 in 2019. These earthquakes were felt by residents but did not cause any significant damage or injuries.

-It is important to note that the Channel Islands are located in an area of relatively low seismic activity, and the risk of a major earthquake is considered to be pretty low. Nevertheless, residents are conscious of the possibility that one could strike, and have safety plans in place for the event an Earthquake like the one in 1976 could occur again.

-In conclusion, while earthquakes are not an immediate concern in the Channel Islands, they can and do occur from time to time. Thanks for reading!



Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-28266736

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_earthquakes_in_the_British_Isles

http://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/

https://www.gov.je/weather/earthquakes/

1 comment:

  1. It is always good to be aware and be prepared, even if the hazard risk is not high!

    ReplyDelete

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