As tremors continue to shake Oklahoma, the United States Geological Survey prepares to release a first ever seismic hazard map that will include both induced and natural earthquakes.
In the past, the USGS has excluded man-made earthquakes from their seismic hazard maps.
“They realized with all of the activity here and some other places, they needed to include this induced seismicity,” said Jeremy Boak, director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey and state geologist.
Boak said this map will allow researchers to better assess which areas of the state are prone to see the most earthquake damage.
The state geologist said he hopes this map will focus on the risk of not just the large earthquakes, but the long term effects of the smaller 2.0 earthquakes as well.
“That’s because these earthquakes could have an effect on a large number of people’s homes and buildings,” Boak said.
The map will also allow engineers to evaluate the earthquake safety of buildings, homes, and bridges in areas where the man-made earthquakes are occurring, according to the USGS.
After they research the map, Boak said the OGS will determine where to install the next seismic station and whether or not wastewater injections will need to be reduced somewhere else.
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