UAE | Environment
Quakes mostly minimal in size
Earthquakes occur by the thousands every day, usually as small tremors.
- By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:39 September 10, 2008
Dubai: Earthquakes occur by the thousands every day, usually as small tremors.
Most earthquakes occur at fault zones, where tectonic plates - giant rock slabs that make up the Earth's upper layer - collide or slide against each other. These are usually unnoticeable. However, immense stress can build up and when this is released quickly, it sends massive vibrations.
Around 8,000 micro-earthquakes occur everyday and measure less than 2 on the Richter scale. Up to 1,000 earthquakes are recorded everyday with a magnitude of up to 2.9. There are around 800 moderate earthquakes a year which measure 5 to 5.9. Earthquakes of a magnitude of 10 are as yet unknown.
Source - National Geographic
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