The British Geological Survey recorded
a Magnitude 1.5 Earthquake at a depth of 16 km, about 10 km to the southeast
of the town of Grimsby in north Lincolnshire, slightly
after 5.30 am GMT
on Friday 17 February 2017. This was followed by a second quake with a Magnitude of 1.3 at roughly the same location about 6.5 minutes later. These quakes were not large enough to have caused
any
damage or injuries, but may have been felt locally.
The approximate location of the 17 February 2017 Lincolnshire Earthquakes. 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. However, while quakes in
southern England are less frequent, they are often larger than events in
the north, as tectonic pressures tend to build up for longer periods of
time between events, so that when they occur more pressure is released.
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. However, while quakes in
southern England are less frequent, they are often larger than events in
the north, as tectonic pressures tend to build up for longer periods of
time between events, so that when they occur more pressure is released.
Britain is being pushed to the east by the expansion of the Atlantic
Ocean and to the north by the impact of Africa into Europe from the
south. It is also affected by lesser areas of tectonic spreading beneath
the North Sea, Rhine Valley and Bay of Biscay. Finally the country is
subject to glacial rebound; until about 10 000 years ago much of the
north of the country was covered by a thick layer of glacial ice (this
is believed to have been thickest on the west coast of Scotland),
pushing the rocks of the British lithosphere down into the underlying
mantle. This ice is now gone, and the rocks are springing (slowly) back
into their original position, causing the occasional Earthquake in the
process.
Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these
events, and the structures that cause them. If you felt the first 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, and if you felt the second quake (or did not) then you can report it here.
See also...
