2008 Sichuan Earthquake Likely Man-Made

[littlemissmartypants]

A new study (PDF) published by Probe International, based on around 60 other studies of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, backs earlier arguments that the disaster was caused by the weight of the Zipingpu dam reservoir. The authors suggest that extensive plans for further hydropower projects in vulnerable regions should be urgently reconsidered.

The Chinese earthquake that killed 80,000 people in May of 2008 most likely was not an act of God, a study released today has found. Rather, the culprit was probably a nearby hydro-electric dam whose construction and operation triggered one of the world’s worst disasters of the century.

The study by Fan Xiao, a Chinese geologist and chief engineer of the Regional Geological Survey Team of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau, arrived at this conclusion after an analysis of some 60 studies of the earthquake, conducted between 2008 and 2012.

In the aftermath of the deadly Sichuan-area, Wenchuan earthquake, many scientists suspected the Zipingpu Dam of causing the quake. Chinese authorities denied it, saying that the epicentre of the quake was too deep and on an unrelated fault and, therefore, not a case of reservoir-induced seismicity.

More at link:
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2012/12/2008-sichuan-earthquake-likely-man-made/

[Warpy]

1. Nah, I don't think so

We know fracking can cause mild quakes up to the 4.0 level. However, were hydro installations capable of causing strong, deep quakes, we'd be shaking like a big bowl of Jello out west and we're not. Nor did the TVA projects cause big quakes in Dixie in the late 30s to late 40s.

I'm with the Chinese authorities on this one.

[TheMadMonk]

2. Depends on how stable the area is overall.

China's dams are in much younger (and strained) terrain than North America's.

Wonder what you'd get if you tried to "frack" the San Andreas fault?

[Warpy]

3. Uh, you think the Rockies are completely stable?

Uhhhhh.....

[TheMadMonk]

4. No, but nor are they the Tibetian Plateau.

The rockies sit on a subduction zone in which there is relatively free movement of the plates, and less opportunity for stress to build up.