There are two seismic zones that touch Tennessee: the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in west Tennessee and northeast Arkansas and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) in east Tennessee. Experts say these areas are particularly likely to experience earthquakes, though earthquakes can occur in other areas.
Are there earthquakes in East Tennessee?
Earthquake magnitude
Most earthquakes in the ETSZ are small and are detected only with instruments. A few damaging earthquakes have occurred in the ETSZ; the largest historic earthquakes measured 4.6 magnitude, occurring in 1973 near Knoxville, Tennessee and April 29, 2003 near Fort Payne, Alabama.
When was the last earthquake in East Tennessee?
Since March of 2019 alone in East Tennessee, earthquakes of at least a 2.2 magnitude have rattled Mascot (2.4 on May 15), Coalfield (2.5 on May 10), Farragut (2.6 on May 8), Maryville (a 2.4 on April 4 and a 2.3 on March 18) ,Greenback (2.3 and 2.2, both on March 15) and Maynardville (3.4 on March 5).
How common are earthquakes in Tennessee?
Earthquakes relatively common in Tennessee
Tennessee had 301 quakes in 2018, the highest amount in the past 25 years, according to USGS data. This year’s 175 earthquakes as of Tuesday put the state in 14th place. For perspective, California clocks in at first with more than 58,000 quakes so far this year.
What part of Tennessee has earthquakes?
“Earthquakes frequently occur in Tennessee because the state’s eastern and western areas sit along seismic zones where earthquake activity happens more frequently – the East Tennessee Seismic Zone and the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).
Is East Tennessee on a fault line?
Tennessee is in two seismic zones, the New Madrid and the East Tennessee zone.
Where is Eastern Tennessee seismic zone?
The Eastern Tennessee seismic zone extends across Tennessee and northwestern Georgia into northeastern Alabama. It is one of the most active earthquake areas in the Southeast. Although the zone is not known to have had a large earthquake, a few earthquakes in the zone have caused slight damage.
Is Tennessee on a fault line?
Tennessee has two seismic zones, the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone. This has led to a lot of fault lines in Tennessee….
What type of fault is found in East Tennessee?
We have identified an 80 km-long, 060o-trending corridor in eastern Tennessee that contains collinear northeast-striking thrust, strike-slip, and normal Quaternary faults with displacements of 1-2 m, herein termed the Dandridge-Vonore fault zone (DVFZ).
Is Knoxville TN on a fault line?
The East Tennessee Seismic Zone extends from Northeastern Alabama into Southwestern Virginia. The quakes felt Wednesday were in the East Tennessee Seismic Zone. The known fault lines in this zone are ancient and there are no known active fault lines.
When was the last major earthquake in Tennessee?
Apart from the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes, only three major events have struck the state of Tennessee, in 1843, 1865, and 1895.
Are there earthquakes in Knoxville TN?
A 2.4-magnitude earthquake was reported near Knoxville Monday morning by the United States Geological Survey. The USGS reported a 2.4-magnitude quake at approximately 9:47 a.m. on Monday in West Knoxville, about 9 miles west-southwest of downtown Knoxville and five miles east-northeast of Farragut.
Did Tennessee have an earthquake last night?
The last earthquake in Tennessee occurred 1 hour and 31 minutes ago: Minor mag. 1.5 earthquake – 7 Km ESE of Calhoun, Tennessee, on Friday, Aug 5, 2022 at 11:30 am (GMT -4).
Why are there earthquakes in East Tennessee?
Earthquakes frequently occur in Tennessee because the Volunteer State has two seismic zones — the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in the west and the East Tennessee Seismic Zone in the east.
Where are tornadoes in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, tornado winds are increasingly fast near major cities like Nashville and Memphis.
Does Tennessee have tornadoes?
Tennessee is home to the deadliest type of tornadoes, but we aren’t prepared. People in this state don’t believe tornadoes hit this area, leaving them vulnerable to the most fatal type of tornadoes in the country – the ones that strike at night.
Which two states have the least number of earthquakes?
Florida and North Dakota are the states with the fewest earthquakes. Antarctica has the least earthquakes of any continent, but small earthquakes can occur anywhere in the World.
How many earthquakes has Tennessee had in 2020?
In 2020, Tennessee was shaken by 1 quake of magnitude 5.1, 3 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 213 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 266 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don’t normally feel.
Is Chattanooga in a seismic zone?
It’s not a secret that Chattanooga is located in an active seismic zone, but new research suggests this zone has the potential to produce a larger, more devastating earthquake than previously thought.
Where is the New Madrid fault line located?
The New Madrid Fault extends approximately 120 miles southward from the area of Charleston, Missouri, and Cairo, Illinois, through Mew Madrid and Caruthersville, following Interstate 55 to Blytheville, then to Marked Tree Arkansas.
Has Nashville ever had an earthquake?
The largest earthquake in Nashville:
this year: 2.3 in Unionville, Tennessee, United States.