Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake in Noble County, Oklahoma.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake at a depth of 5 km in eastern Noble County, Oklahoma, before 5.10 am local time on Saturday 21 March 2015 (slightly before 10.10 am GMT). These is little danger of any damage or injuries being caused by an Earthquake of this Magnitude, but people have reported feeling it across much of northern Oklahoma and parts of southern Kansas.

The approximate location of the 21 April 2015 Noble County Earthquake. Google Maps.

Oklahoma is naturally prone to Earthquakes, particularly in the southwest of the state, near the Meers Fault Zone, but since 2009 has suffered a sharp increase in the number of small quakes in the central and northeast parts of the state. While most of these quakes have been quite small, a few have been large enough to potentially cause problems, and any unexplained increase in seismic activity is a cause for concern. 

In a paper published in the journal Geology on 26 March 2013, a team of geologists led byKatie Keranen of the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma linked one of the largest of these quakes, a Magnitude 5.7 event in November 2011 which caused damage locally and was felt across 17 states, to the practice of pumping liquids (usually brine) into injection wells, which is common in the hydrocarbons industry and used to displace oil or gas, which can then be extracted from nearby extraction wells (where this is done in bursts at pressure to intentionally break up rock it is called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking). Significantly they suggested that the practice could lead to quakes years or even decades after the actual injection.

Witness accounts of quakes can help geologists to understand these events and the rock structures that cause them. If you felt this quake (or if you were in the area but did not, which is also useful information) you can report it to the USGS here.

See also...

Magnitude 3.3 Earthquake in Grant County, Oklahoma.
The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.3 Earthquake at a depth of 5 km in northern Grant County, Oklahoma, slightly after 7.10 pm...

Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake in southern Logan County, Oklahoma.
The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake at a depth of 3.5 km in southern Logan County, Oklahoma, slightly after...

Magnitude 3.2 Earthquake in Payne County, Oklahoma.
The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.2 Earthquake at a depth of 4.5 km in northeast Payne County, Oklahoma, slightly before...


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