The U.S. Geological Survey’s annual forecast maps for the first time include human-induced earthquakes alongside natural temblor hazards, with Oklahoma leading Midwestern states in shaker probability. America’s midsection has experienced an uptick in quakes due to part of the hydraulic fracturing process: Wastewater from the fossil fuel extraction is pumped deep into the ground, causing faults to separate and slip. Since 2009, tremors in mid-America of at least magnitude 3.0 have increased from a couple of dozen to hundreds annually. In recent years, Oklahoma has had more magnitude 3.0 quakes than California, says Michael Blanpied of USGS, including its two largest ever recorded: a 5.7 magnitude in 2011 and a 5.8 magnitude in 2016.
A composite of new maps from the U.S. Geological Survey shows both natural seismic hazard risks and those induced by human activity. (Credit: Geologic Hazards Science Center/U.S. Geological Survey)
