earthquakes
Fracking's role in Argentina's increased earthquakes
Residents of northern Patagonia are enduring increasing earthquakes caused by intensive fracking, with little action from Argentine regulators despite clear evidence linking the two.
In short:
- In Argentina's Patagonia region, frequent earthquakes have become a norm due to intense fracking activities, severely impacting local communities and structures.
- Despite clear links between fracking operations and seismic activities, regulatory bodies remain largely inactive, failing to provide necessary oversight or mitigation strategies.
- Indigenous Mapuche communities, alongside other locals, experience significant distress and damage, with little to no governmental support or recourse.
Key quote:
"I have been completely traumatized."
— Ana Guircaleo, member of the Wirkaleo Mapuche community
Why this matters:
Seismic events triggered by fracking can have far-reaching consequences beyond property damage. They can disrupt local economies, causing financial strain on residents and businesses alike.
Fracking not only consumes vast amounts of water and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere but also has the potential to contaminate groundwater and surface water sources with harmful chemicals.
Well permits suspended to reduce earthquakes in West Texas
Editorial: Fracking earthquakes are a devil’s bargain Texas doesn’t need
Temblors in Texas have risen sharply over the past decade, and research has linked the increased seismic activity to fracking.
Earth is taking a pounding from bigger ocean waves. Why this matters
Stormier seas and larger ocean swell in recent decades are pounding Earth’s seafloor with more force, sending larger ripples through Earth’s crust — almost like a tiny, tiny, tiny earthquake.
Activists want California nuclear reactor closed over safety concerns
It's not just earthquakes — fracking also linked to small tremors, study finds
While past studies have linked fracking to earthquakes, scientists now say the drilling method is also a source of even small seismic tremors.