The three causes of earthquake
- Tectonic Plate Movements: The most common cause of earthquakes is the movement of tectonic plates. Earth’s outer shell is divided into several large and small plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. When these plates interact, they can collide, pull apart, or slide past each other. This movement can generate immense stress, leading to earthquakes along plate boundaries or faults.
- Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes can occur in volcanic regions due to the movement of magma beneath the Earth’s surface. As magma rises and creates pressure, it can fracture surrounding rocks, causing volcanic earthquakes. These earthquakes are often associated with volcanic eruptions.
- Human Activities: Some earthquakes are induced by human activities. Activities like mining, reservoir-induced seismicity (caused by the filling of large reservoirs behind dams), and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for oil and gas can alter subsurface stress and trigger earthquakes. These are known as induced earthquakes and are typically of lower magnitude than natural tectonic earthquakes.
