New Madrid Earthquake

By: Julie Dillon and

Caroline Miller

New Madrid Earthquake 1811-1812

The three earthquakes that occurred during 1811-1812 are among the great earthquakes of known history.

Took place near New Madrid, MO.

Magnitude of 8.0 or higher on the Richter Scale.

Results

The Fault is halfway between St. Louis and Memphis beneath the Mississippi

Shook the entire United States.

Church bells rang in Boston, Massachusetts.

Damages

Large areas sank into the earth, new lakes were formed, the course of the Mississippi River was changed, and forests were destroyed over an area of 150,000 acres

"Houses, gardens, and fields were swallowed up" one source notes

But damages were low, because the area was sparsely settled then

Today

Today, the region is home to

millions of people, including those in the cities of St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Adding to the danger, most structures in this region were not built to withstand earthquake shaking, as they have been in California and Japan

Recent Earthquakes

Even today, this region has more earthquakes than any other part of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.

Probability

the probability of a moderate earthquake occurring in the New Madrid seismic zone in the near future is high.

Scientists estimate that the probability of a magnitude 6 to 7 earthquake occurring in this seismic zone within the next 50 years is higher than 90%.

Differences Earthquakes in the central or eastern United States

effect much larger areas than earthquakes of similar magnitude in the western U.S.

For example, the San Francisco, CA, earthquake of 1906 (magnitude 7.8) was felt 350 miles away in the middle of NV, whereas the New Madrid earthquake of Dec. 1811 rang church bells in Boston, MA, 1,000 miles away.

Differences in geology east and west of the Rocky Mountains cause this strong contrast.

Prevention

Through better understanding of earthquake hazards and through public education, earth scientists, engineers, government agencies, universities, and private organizations are helping to protect the citizens of all parts the United States from loss of life and property in future earthquakes

References

http://hsv.com/genlintr/newmadrd/

http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/richards/index.htm

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/usa/1811-1812.html

http://www.olympus.net/personal/gofamily/quake/famous/madrid.htlm

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/factsheets/NewMadrid/

http://www.science.siu.edu/geology/quakes/nmadrid.html