Is there an earthquake in the Northeast? Study says the area has a seismic risk of 5.2 on the Richter scale

According to a new study published in the scientific journal Cell, Some regions in Brazil’s northeast are at risk of being damaged by earthquakes that could destroy homes and disrupt services. In the article prepared by a team from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), it is pointed out that some of these tremors can exceed 5.0 on the Richter scale (mR).

Brazilian researchers José Augusto Silva da Fonsêca and Aderson Farias do Nascimento, together with Polish scientist Stanislaw Lasocki, assessed the risks based on data provided by the Brazilian Seismic Catalog (SISBRA) and the Brazilian Seismographic Network (RSBR).

Scientists state that seismic risk depends on three basic components: source, path and location. From the analyzed data they discovered that: Destructive earthquakes with a magnitude above 5.2 on the Richter scale may probably occur in the Northeastern region of the country in the next 50 years. Much of Brazil’s territory is ‘protected’ because it lies in the Stable Continental Zone (SRC) of South America, which has the lowest recorded seismic levels on the planet.

“Stable continental regions pose unique challenges in performing Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis because the mechanisms driving seismic activity are not fully understood. The Northeast of Brazil is a stable region that has been recorded with significant seismic intensities and has exhibited moderate-magnitude events that have caused the collapse of poorly constructed buildings in the last century.” It is a continental region. Therefore, assessment of seismic risk is important in reducing earthquake risk. [problema]” wrote the scientists in the study.

Seismic shock in the Northeast

There is a 50 percent chance of experiencing an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 to 5.1 in the northeast of the country in the next 50 years, but there is also a 10 percent chance of experiencing an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 to 6.2 on the mR scale. During last week’s flood period, Serra Gaúcha in Rio Grande do Sul experienced four minor tremors reaching magnitudes 2.3 and 2.4.

Anyway, Scientists explain that seismic risk in the Northeast is lower than in other regions with more active seismic zones. But this can also be kind of a problem. A region of low seismicity provides little data for analysis, but these data are considered necessary to accurately locate the source of possible tremors.

“Our analysis showed that there is a 50% probability of exceeding magnitude 4.7 to 5.1 earthquakes within 50 years in northeastern Brazil, and a 10% probability of exceeding magnitude 5.5 to 6.2. Such earthquakes affect poorly constructed buildings in Northeastern Brazil.” Considering a 10,000-year period suitable for critical infrastructure, however, the seismic risk in Northeastern Brazil is lower compared to highly active intraplate areas such as the New Madrid seismic zone. .” The study concludes:

Did you like the content? Stay up to date with more work like this on TecMundo. If you wish, take the opportunity to find out whether solar storms are the cause of earthquakes on Earth.