The British Geological Survey recorded
a Magnitude 1.3 Earthquake at a depth of about 3 km, beneath the village of Tyr-y-Berth in Gwent, South Wales, at about 5.35 am British Summertime (about 4.35 am GMT) on Tuesday 5 May 2020.
There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this
event, and nor would they be expected with an Earthquake this small, but
the quake may have been felt locally.
The approximate location of the 5 May 2020 Tyr-y-Berth Earthquake. Google Maps.
Earthquakes
become more common as you travel north and west in Great Britain, with
the west coast of Scotland being the most quake-prone part of the island
and the northwest of Wales being more prone to quakes than the rest of
Wales or most of England.
The
precise cause of Earthquakes in the UK can be hard to determine; the
country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such
as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several
different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the
interplay between these forces.
The
precise cause of Earthquakes in the UK can be hard to determine; the
country is not close to any obvious single cause of such activity such
as a plate margin, but is subject to tectonic pressures from several
different sources, with most quakes probably being the result of the
interplay between these forces.
(Top) Simplified diagram showing principle of glacial rebound. Wikipedia.
(Bottom) Map showing the rate of glacial rebound in various parts of
the UK. Note that some parts of England and Wales show negative values,
these areas are being pushed down slightly by uplift in Scotland, as the
entire landmass is quite rigid and acts a bit like a see-saw. Climate North East.
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. If you felt this quake, or were in
the area but did not (which is also useful information) then you can
report it to the British Geological Survey here.
See also...
Follow Sciency Thoughts on Facebook.