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Can an earthquake cause more earthquakes?

In: Earthquakes [Edit categories]

Answer:

For the same place, yes, it is possible. This does not usually occur though, because most earthquakes will die off after a few minutes followed only by aftershocks.

Once an earthquake occurs it causes and imbalance in the forces along nearby fault planes increasing the likelihood that those will also rupture. In this sense small earthquakes can trigger larger ruptures or vice versa. This is why it is sometimes possible to predict future large rupture from fore-shocks depending on the known recurrence interval and estimated built up stress.

First answer by Dana Lee Smith. Last edit by Nfenn. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

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