❓ why
Why do some earthquakes happen far from plate boundaries?
GeologyEarthquakes
Quick Answer
Old faults inside plates can be reactivated when stress builds up, even far from the edges of tectonic plates.
The Full Story
Although most earthquakes occur near plate boundaries, the interior of a plate can still contain ancient faults and weak zones. Stress from distant plate motion or local crustal changes can reactivate those faults. These intraplate earthquakes can be surprising because they happen in regions that are not obviously tectonically active. The 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes in the central United States are a classic example.
Key Facts
1.Not all quakes occur at plate edges
2.The New Madrid sequence occurred in 1811-1812
3.Ancient faults can be reactivated
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Why do some big quakes happen in the middle of nowhere?"