Life Arkansas quake swarms rattle nerves, raise questions

**Donger** · 05-27-2013, 12:32 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/26/us/ark...html?hpt=hp_t3

(CNN) -- Three dozen earthquakes over the past week in central Arkansas shook shelves, rattled nerves and prompted speculation about their cause.

"Are they being being triggered or are they natural? That's something we don't know," Arkansas Geological Survey scientist Scott Ausbrook said Sunday.

The chances of so many temblors in the region in such a short time are "Powerball kind of odds," Ausbrook said. "What was unusual was to have four different areas in the state to be active in the same week."

More than two dozen quakes recorded since Wednesday have been centered north of Morrilton, Arkansas. The strongest, on Wednesday and Thursday nights, had reported magnitudes of 3.5 and 3.4.

"Right now all we've gotten reports of is shaking stuff and rattling shelves, but people are definitely noticing them," Ausbrook said.

Measuring the magnitude of eathquakes

Solving the mystery is important because of suspicion the quakes could be related to natural gas exploration nearby using hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, he said.

"The best probability at this point is they are natural, but we can't rule out the possibility that there may be a relationship," Ausbrook said.

A swarm of hundreds of earthquakes centered near Guy, Arkansas, ended two years ago after state regulators imposed a moratorium on new injection wells in the area.

Two operating injection wells, just outside of the moratorium area, are about 8 miles from some of the quakes. "I can't say at this time there's not a connection, but given the distance from those wells, it would be pretty amazing," Ausbrook said.

One natural explanation would be a fault running through the area that makes a sharp turn, where "you would expect more strain to accumulate," Ausbrook said.

RINGLEADER · 05-27-2013, 12:35 PM

Strange. Was just there. Didn't feel a thing.

Rasputin · 05-27-2013, 12:41 PM

It's the faults fault.

Earthling · 05-27-2013, 12:53 PM

Interesting. Fracking was the first thing I thought of before reading the article.

Dunerdr · 05-27-2013, 12:55 PM

Conspiracist says its the anti resources obama administration trying to frame fracking. Anyone wanna bet against me?

**gblowfish** · 05-27-2013, 12:55 PM

Most people in Arkansas are busy fracking their cousin....

Earthling · 05-27-2013, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Most people in Arkansas are busy fracking their cousin....

L.A. Chieffan · 05-27-2013, 01:28 PM

aw dang, id sure hate to see earthquake smack be taken away from people who live in the midwest and the south.

Passepartout · 05-27-2013, 01:37 PM

Wow and you thought CA had all the quakes in the world?!

EagleRob · 05-27-2013, 01:41 PM

Fracking unreal. Isn't there a dormant fault line somewhere along the Mississippi River? Thought it was in Southern Missouri though.

**ShortRoundChief** · 05-27-2013, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Most people in Arkansas are busy fracking their cousin....

When the state is a rocking don't come a knocking.

LiveSteam · 05-27-2013, 01:45 PM

The Mississippi is gonna flow backwards

Chief Roundup · 05-27-2013, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.A. Chieffan

aw dang, id sure hate to see earthquake smack be taken away from people who live in the midwest and the south.

Guess some dumbasses never heard of New Madrid.

**Munson** · 05-27-2013, 01:54 PM

I blame it on global warming.

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 05-27-2013, 02:21 PM

There was quick quake in KC on the evening of April 25. I believe it was caught on tape...

05-27-2013, 12:32 PM
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6919900 VARSITY	Arkansas quake swarms rattle nerves, raise questions http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/26/us/ark...html?hpt=hp_t3 (CNN) -- Three dozen earthquakes over the past week in central Arkansas shook shelves, rattled nerves and prompted speculation about their cause. "Are they being being triggered or are they natural? That's something we don't know," Arkansas Geological Survey scientist Scott Ausbrook said Sunday. The chances of so many temblors in the region in such a short time are "Powerball kind of odds," Ausbrook said. "What was unusual was to have four different areas in the state to be active in the same week." More than two dozen quakes recorded since Wednesday have been centered north of Morrilton, Arkansas. The strongest, on Wednesday and Thursday nights, had reported magnitudes of 3.5 and 3.4. "Right now all we've gotten reports of is shaking stuff and rattling shelves, but people are definitely noticing them," Ausbrook said. Measuring the magnitude of eathquakes Solving the mystery is important because of suspicion the quakes could be related to natural gas exploration nearby using hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking, he said. "The best probability at this point is they are natural, but we can't rule out the possibility that there may be a relationship," Ausbrook said. A swarm of hundreds of earthquakes centered near Guy, Arkansas, ended two years ago after state regulators imposed a moratorium on new injection wells in the area. Two operating injection wells, just outside of the moratorium area, are about 8 miles from some of the quakes. "I can't say at this time there's not a connection, but given the distance from those wells, it would be pretty amazing," Ausbrook said. One natural explanation would be a fault running through the area that makes a sharp turn, where "you would expect more strain to accumulate," Ausbrook said.
Posts: 190,868

05-27-2013, 12:35 PM	#2
RINGLEADER In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Confusion, USA Casino cash: $8070503	Strange. Was just there. Didn't feel a thing.
Posts: 48,488

05-27-2013, 12:41 PM	#3
Rasputin Tip of the hat LIV Champs Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ks Casino cash: $235421	It's the faults fault. __________________ "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it"
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05-27-2013, 12:53 PM	#4
Earthling MVP Join Date: Apr 2001 Casino cash: $10008447	Interesting. Fracking was the first thing I thought of before reading the article. __________________ AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT SO EASY ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR ONLY FRIEND TALKS SEES LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE YOU AND YOU DO JUST THE SAME AS HIM -Jiimi Hendrix
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05-27-2013, 12:55 PM	#5
Dunerdr MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $-2670000	Conspiracist says its the anti resources obama administration trying to frame fracking. Anyone wanna bet against me? __________________ Adopt-A-Chief- Rachel Santschi
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05-27-2013, 12:55 PM	#6
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16896178 VARSITY	Most people in Arkansas are busy fracking their cousin....
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05-27-2013, 01:28 PM	#8
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2718654	aw dang, id sure hate to see earthquake smack be taken away from people who live in the midwest and the south.
Posts: 17,400

05-27-2013, 01:37 PM	#9
Passepartout May Day & Flowers Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Seymour TN Casino cash: $9785239	Wow and you thought CA had all the quakes in the world?! __________________ *May Day, May Flowers, Memorial and Mother's Day!*
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05-27-2013, 01:41 PM	#10
EagleRob Living Vicariously Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Leesburg, VA Casino cash: $10004900	Fracking unreal. Isn't there a dormant fault line somewhere along the Mississippi River? Thought it was in Southern Missouri though. __________________ Enjoy the ride up!
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05-27-2013, 01:45 PM	#12
LiveSteam The Constitutional Choo choo Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: homeof43conferencetitles Casino cash: $-1484568	The Mississippi is gonna flow backwards
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05-27-2013, 01:54 PM	#14
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $8369646	I blame it on global warming.
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05-27-2013, 02:21 PM	#15
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	There was quick quake in KC on the evening of April 25. I believe it was caught on tape...
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