In the early hours of Sunday morning, Boorowa experienced an unusual phenomenon, two small earthquakes. The first tremor struck at 2:14 am, followed by another at 7:25 am. Both earthquakes, recorded at magnitudes of 2.2 and 1.9, were detected by seismic observatories in nearby Young and Canberra.
The epicentre was located approximately 5km beneath the earth’s surface, and while the tremors weren’t catastrophic, the unusual timing of the events left many wondering, what’s going on?
Boorowa is no stranger to seismic activity and although the tremors were relatively mild, they serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the earth beneath us.
With just four official reports from residents feeling the tremors, it’s likely many others experienced the shakes but didn’t report them.
Earthquakes, even small ones, can have a profound psychological impact on communities, especially when they follow other extreme weather events. Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates, huge sections of the earth’s crust, move and release energy.
The region sits on fault lines, where these plates are constantly shifting. While earthquakes themselves are a natural part of the earth’s geological processes, recent research suggests that climate change may influence the frequency of these seismic events.
A warming climate leads to increased water vapor, which intensifies thunderstorms and creates more powerful updrafts. This, in turn, can lead to larger hail, as seen in the recent storm on Feb-ruary 10.
As global temperatures rise, ice and water loads on the earth’s surface change, particularly in tectonically active regions. The rapid shifts in these loads can cause stress on fault lines, potentially triggering earthquakes in areas like Boorowa, which is situated near active faults.
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