From concert crowds to oil wells... can humans also cause earthquakes, what does science say?

News Topical, Digital Desk : Earthquakes are usually caused by natural movements along fault lines (cracks) within the Earth. However, under certain circumstances, human activities can also cause ground vibrations. Scientists distinguish between natural tectonic earthquakes and human-induced earthquakes.

Activities such as mining, filling large reservoirs, or injecting fluids underground can generate small seismic tremors. Most such tremors are very mild and cause no damage. However, relatively strong tremors have been recorded in some areas due to industrial activities.

Over the past few years, scientists have been trying to understand why and how such earthquakes occur, and whether they can be controlled. The question isn't whether humans can shake the ground, but how big an impact it can have and how much controllable it can be.

Crowds can also cause mild tremors.

Thousands of fans at a concert by pop star Taylor Swift in Seattle, US, jumped and danced in unison, causing ground tremors that were considered equivalent to a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.

This information was provided in a report published in The Washington Post. According to scientists, when large numbers of people jump together, their energy spreads through the ground in the form of waves.

However, a 2.3 magnitude tremor is considered very minor. It can only be felt in the vicinity and does not cause any damage. This shaking is temporary and does not involve deep fault lines in the Earth.

Real earthquakes from underground fluid injection

More serious cases have been linked to the oil and gas industry. Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology studied an Italian oil field. When oil companies inject wastewater deep underground, pressure builds up.

If this pressure impacts a pre-existing fault line, rocks can slip and the energy release can trigger an earthquake. Such cases have been observed in parts of the US and southern Italy, where the number of earthquakes increased after high-volume injections.

Reduced shock by reducing injection speed

The study found that when the daily injection volume was reduced, the number of earthquakes also decreased. While previously hundreds of small tremors were recorded, after the reduction in the rate, there were very few and mild tremors.

Using computer models and geological data, scientists have discovered that increasing pressure slowly and in a controlled manner can reduce the risk. This suggests that human-caused earthquakes can be controlled to some extent, provided careful monitoring and planning are done.

Prevention depends on geography and planning.

Natural earthquakes cannot be prevented, as they are caused by years of pressure accumulating in the Earth's layers. However, human-induced tremors can be mitigated if industrial projects are designed with local geography in mind and changes in underground pressure are carefully controlled.

Experts agree that a complete shutdown isn't the only solution. Accurate data, careful planning, and constant monitoring can mitigate the risk. The ground may shake, but perhaps less frequently.

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