Human activities like water and energy extraction increase risk of induced earthquakes
The article highlights that human activities such as mining, groundwater extraction, impounding water behind dams, and injecting fluids into the ground can induce seismic activity, leading to human-induced earthquakes. These activities cause strain accumulation between tectonic plates. A 2021 study linked shallow earthquakes in the National Capital Region to excessive groundwater extraction. Large dams, like the Koyna hydroelectric dam, have also been associated with significant earthquakes. India's growing energy demand, met through hydropower and oil/gas extraction (including fracking), further increases this risk. Scientists emphasize the need for scientific management of groundwater, proper evaluation before dam construction, and strong seismic networks to monitor these activities.
Key Points
- Human activities like groundwater extraction, dam construction, and energy extraction can induce earthquakes.
- These activities alter the stress regime in the Earth's crust, leading to seismic events.
- Examples include earthquakes linked to groundwater depletion in Delhi-NCR and the Koyna dam.
- Scientific management of resources, proper environmental assessments, and robust seismic monitoring are crucial to mitigate these risks.
- Climate change can indirectly influence earthquake frequency by affecting water loading processes.
Exam Facts
- Over 700 human-induced earthquakes recorded worldwide in the last 150 years.
- A 2021 study in Scientific Reports linked Delhi-NCR earthquakes to groundwater extraction.
- Koynanagar earthquake (Maharashtra) of 6.3 magnitude in 1967 was blamed on water overloading in Koyna dam.
- India has 56 fracking sites across six States.
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