Washington: A new study has uncovered that even the slightest stress can set off tidally triggered earthquakes. Years ago, scientists realised that earthquakes along with mid-ocean ridges and underwater mountain ranges at the edges of the tectonic plates are linked with the tides. But nobody could figure out why there’s an uptick in tremors during low tides.
“Everyone was sort of stumped, because according to conventional theory, those earthquakes should occur at high tides,” explained seismologist and co-lead of the study Christopher Scholz.
In a study researchers have uncovered the mechanism for this seeming paradox, and it comes down to the magma below the mid-ocean ridges. It’s the magma chamber breathing, expanding and contracting due to the tides, that’s making the faults move,” said Scholz.
During movement, the upper block slides down with respect to the lower one. So, scientists expected that at high tides, when there is more water sitting on top of the fault, it would push the upper block down and cause the earthquakes.
