The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake at a depth of 31.5 km on the northern Tibetan Plateau, slightly before 3.45 pm local time (slightly before 7.45 am GMT) on Monday 18 November 2013. This is a moderately large quake, but in an extremely remote region, and there are no reports of any damage or casualties.
The approximate location of the 18 November 2013 northern Tibet Earthquake. Google Maps.
Earthquake activity in the area is caused by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, due to the impact of India into Eurasia to the south. he Indian Plate is moving northwards at a rate of 5 cm per year, causing it to impact into Eurasia, which is also moving northward, but only at a rate of 2 cm per year. The collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates has lead to the formation of the Himalayan Mountains, the Tibetan Plateau, and the mountains of southwest China, Central Asia and the Hindu Kush.
See also Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake in northwest Gansu Province, China, Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake in Northern Sichaun Province, China, Magnitude 5.1 Earthquake in northeastern Qinghai Province, China, Magnitude 4.9 Earthquake in western Inner Mongolia and Magnitude 4.7 Earthquake beneath Lake Guozha, northwest Tibet.
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