Andy Bobyarchick discusses earthquake activity in the Carolinas with WBTV
Andy Bobyarchick, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, was interviewed by WBTV for the feature, ‘Geology professor breaks down earthquake activity in Carolinas following major earthquake near Russia.’
After the 8.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded off the coast of Russia on July 29, the west coast of the United States was put on alert for possible tsunami waves.
This was among the top 10 most powerful earthquakes on record, but the tectonic setting of the eastern hemisphere is different from the Carolinas. The majority of seismic activity that happens in the region usually sits between a 2-3 magnitude, but higher magnitudes are not out of the realm of possibility.
In 2020, thousands felt the 5.1 magnitude earthquake reported near Sparta, North Carolina. In 1886, the Charleston earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 was believed to have been felt mid-continent.
“Here, we’re sitting on an old continental edaphus that has old fractures in it. And if the stresses, if the pressures get just right, one of these old fractures will break,” explained Bobyarchick. “We know also in geology that things tend to repeat themselves, and so this is why we need to be aware of the fact that we’re not completely out of danger of a large seismic event.”