Hydro-seismicity

Subject – Geography

Context – ‘Micro-tremors in North Karnataka, a phenomenon called hydro-seismicity’

Concept –

The series of tremors in Bidar and Kalaburagi districts in North Karnataka were possibly due to hydro-seismicity, which occur post monsoon.
Their preliminary observations indicated that the micro tremors of this nature normally occur during the post monsoon period. It is related to a phenomenon called hydro-seismicity after a heavy rainfall.
A natural increase in hydraulic head due to the elevation of the water table in recharge areas of groundwater basins increases the stress in earth. This triggers micro tremors and in some cases it is accompanied by sound.
These are due to shallow earthquakes that generate high-frequency surface waves. This type of seismic activity is very common and nothing to worry about, since it may not cascade into a large devastating earthquake.

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