TOPEKA (KSNT) – Geologists are putting their skills to the test studying hidden threats that lie beneath the feet of thousands of Kansas residents.
Kansas may not be the first state to come to mind when talking about earthquakes, but this geological occurrence will sometimes make itself known through slight tremors or even more violent shakes in some parts of the state. But is this something that everyday Kansans should be worried about?
The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) is one organization that is dedicated to understanding what is happening beneath the ground. 27 News got in touch with Shelby L. Peterie, a research geophysicist with the KGS, to learn more about how earthquakes are impacting the lives of Kansas residents and where some of the strongest earthquakes have been recorded previously in the Sunflower State.
Why are so many strange fish coming out of this Kansas lake?
Peterie said earthquakes are common in Kansas but most, more than 90%, are so small they are overlooked. These “microearthquakes” sit in the shadow of stronger tremors that can start to be noticed at magnitudes of 3 or higher.
“Earthquakes that have a magnitude of M 3 or larger are usually large enough to be felt at least locally,” Peterie said. “Events of this size occur about once a month on average the last couple of years. Prior to 2013, earthquakes of this size occurred once every 2-3 years on average.”
Peterie said most earthquakes in Kansas happen close to geologic structures which are known to have faults. A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two pieces of rock which may cause an earthquake when they shift underground, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
“Structures with the most seismic activity are the Central Kansas Uplift in central Kansas (Rooks and surrounding counties are the most seismically active in that area), and the Nemaha Ridge in eastern Kansas,” Peterie said. “In recent years, there have also been earthquakes recorded in Saline and neighboring counties along the Midcontinent Geophysical Anomaly.”
Found an arrowhead in Kansas? Archaeologist urges you to leave it alone
KGS staff recorded an earthquake outbreak in 2013 and 2014 in south-central Kansas with each one registering at a magnitude of 3 or higher. The largest Kansas earthquake in recent memory also occurred during this time when a magnitude 4.9 earthquake was recorded in Sumner County on Nov. 12, 2014. This uptick in seismic activity was concerning as prior to 2013, earthquakes of this strength were seen only once every two or three years.
“The increased magnitude and rate of earthquakes in south-central Kansas was not consistent with natural earthquake patterns and was strongly suspected to have been induced or triggered,” Peterie said.
Peterie said saltwater disposal wells in north-central Oklahoma created increased pressure underground, leading to increased earthquake activity along existing faults. The KGS later worked with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to create the Seismic Action Plan to keep tabs on the increased seismic activity.
What are the pink mystery rocks scattered across northeast Kansas?
“In 2015, the Kansas Geological Survey began deployment of a statewide earthquake monitoring network,” Peterie said. “There are currently 30 earthquake stations across the state detecting earthquakes in real-time. Monitoring and research at the KGS along with partnerships with other agencies and industries will ensure that any changes in seismic activity will be quickly identified and effectively addressed to minimize the impacts of induced seismicity.”
Kansans shouldn’t be too worried about earthquakes though as the occurrence of such tremors has decreased since 2014. Peterie said that even during the height of earthquake activity about a decade ago, the earthquakes only amounted to a nuisance for locals.
“Despite elevated seismic activity in recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey classifies the earthquake hazard/risk in Kansas as low,” Peterie said. “In more than 150 years of earthquake reporting, even the largest earthquake in Kansas (the M 5.2 Wamego earthquake in 1867) resulted in only moderate damage.”
You can learn more about seismic activity in Kansas by heading to the KGS website by clicking here. To find a map of recent earthquakes recorded in Kansas by the KGS, click here.
Can you get in trouble for driving too slowly on the highway in Kansas?
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.
Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf
