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| Stockton earthquake: How many quakes happen in the UK? | Stockton earthquake: How many quakes happen in the UK? |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Residents of Teesside were woken just before 06:00 GMT on Thursday by a 3.0-magnitude earthquake. The "Tees tremor" caused homes to shake, although no injuries were reported. | Residents of Teesside were woken just before 06:00 GMT on Thursday by a 3.0-magnitude earthquake. The "Tees tremor" caused homes to shake, although no injuries were reported. |
| So, how frequent are earthquakes in the UK and how big can they be? | So, how frequent are earthquakes in the UK and how big can they be? |
| Are earthquakes common in the UK? | Are earthquakes common in the UK? |
| Yes, although most of time people do not notice them. | Yes, although most of time people do not notice them. |
| About 20 to 30 earthquakes are felt by people each year, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). A few hundred smaller ones are recorded by sensitive instruments. | About 20 to 30 earthquakes are felt by people each year, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). A few hundred smaller ones are recorded by sensitive instruments. |
| There have been 28 recorded in the last 50 days but only three were noted as being felt by people. Several were beneath the Irish Sea and English Channel. | There have been 28 recorded in the last 50 days but only three were noted as being felt by people. Several were beneath the Irish Sea and English Channel. |
| Astley in Greater Manchester was hit by two in a 40-minute period on 23 December but they were less than 1-magnitude. | Astley in Greater Manchester was hit by two in a 40-minute period on 23 December but they were less than 1-magnitude. |
| Seismologist Glen Ford described the 3.0-magnitude Teesside tremor as a "typical British earthquake" - strong enough to knock over ornaments, but of the kind you would expect to see three times a year. In world terms it was "absolutely tiny". | Seismologist Glen Ford described the 3.0-magnitude Teesside tremor as a "typical British earthquake" - strong enough to knock over ornaments, but of the kind you would expect to see three times a year. In world terms it was "absolutely tiny". |
| How bad can UK earthquakes be? | How bad can UK earthquakes be? |
| Very occasionally, UK earthquakes have caused considerable damage. | Very occasionally, UK earthquakes have caused considerable damage. |
| Earthquakes appear to occur most frequently in Wales and in the west of Scotland. Seismologists do not know exactly why this is, but it is likely to be because of the location of faults in the Earth's crust. | |
| Why doesn't the UK experience large earthquakes? | Why doesn't the UK experience large earthquakes? |
| An earthquake happens when the ground is subjected to so much force that it fractures or breaks. | An earthquake happens when the ground is subjected to so much force that it fractures or breaks. |
| Earthquakes are usually caused by stress built up by the gradual shifting of tectonic plates - rigid structures on the outer layer of the Earth. | Earthquakes are usually caused by stress built up by the gradual shifting of tectonic plates - rigid structures on the outer layer of the Earth. |
| The UK is situated in the middle of the Eurasian tectonic plate, so is not close to these pressure points. | The UK is situated in the middle of the Eurasian tectonic plate, so is not close to these pressure points. |
| The largest possible earthquake in the UK is around 6.5, research from the BGS suggests. For comparison, the recent Puerto Rico earthquake was 6.4-magnitude, resulting in at least one death and causing island-wide power cuts. | The largest possible earthquake in the UK is around 6.5, research from the BGS suggests. For comparison, the recent Puerto Rico earthquake was 6.4-magnitude, resulting in at least one death and causing island-wide power cuts. |
| Can fracking cause earthquakes? | Can fracking cause earthquakes? |
| Yes. Fracking involves injecting pressurised fluid into the earth. This changes the state of stress in the Earth's crust, making it easier for slips to occur. | Yes. Fracking involves injecting pressurised fluid into the earth. This changes the state of stress in the Earth's crust, making it easier for slips to occur. |
| In 2019 the government called a halt to shale gas extraction - or fracking - in England amid fears about earthquakes. | In 2019 the government called a halt to shale gas extraction - or fracking - in England amid fears about earthquakes. |
| Fracking was suspended at the end of August after activity by Cuadrilla Resources at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire caused a 2.9-magnitude earthquake. | Fracking was suspended at the end of August after activity by Cuadrilla Resources at its Preston New Road site in Lancashire caused a 2.9-magnitude earthquake. |
| It was not possible to predict the probability or size of tremors caused by the practice, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said. | It was not possible to predict the probability or size of tremors caused by the practice, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) said. |
| Are earthquakes becoming more frequent? | Are earthquakes becoming more frequent? |
| There is no evidence to suggest natural earthquakes are happening more frequently now. | There is no evidence to suggest natural earthquakes are happening more frequently now. |
| While there have only been sophisticated instruments recording earthquakes since the middle of the 20th Century, they have long been described in literature and public records. | While there have only been sophisticated instruments recording earthquakes since the middle of the 20th Century, they have long been described in literature and public records. |