Induced Seismicity Hazard

Several central U.S. states have seen a remarkable rise in earthquake rates since 2009, which has raised alarm in affected communities, and led to an abundance of new research on the causes and effects of earthquakes in these previously quiet regions. In many cases, the new seismicity has been linked to the deep injection of wastewater that is a by-product of petroleum production; but regardless of the cause, the more-frequent earthquakes mean a higher hazard. The USGS has partnered with scientists from the states, industry and academia to tackle three important questions:  Are the earthquakes human-induced? Can their rates and magnitudes be limited? And how do we assess and forecast the potential shaking, to support risk-reduction decisions? The speaker will survey the state of research in these areas, with a focus on the USGS 2017 update to its annual forecast of earthquake shaking hazard from both natural and induced earthquakes. For more information on USGS research on induced earthquakes, go to: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced

Michael L. Blanpied, Associate Coordinator, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, Reston, Virginia