Rumors of a connection between the digging of basins and the recent earthquake in Charente-Maritime have been circulating on social networks. However, scientists have dismissed this claim as erroneous reasoning.
The rumor gained traction after a Facebook post suggested a link between the exploitation of groundwater and the earthquake. This post was also shared by Benoît Biteau, a Member of the European Parliament (EELV), on his Twitter account. Biteau’s tweet referenced an article from Le Monde published in October 2012, which cited a study suggesting that the destruction of the water table around Lorca contributed to an earthquake in 2011.
Julien Le Guet, spokesperson for the Bassines non merci movement, further fueled the rumor by stating that the high concentration of basins in the towns of Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon and La Laigne may not be a coincidence. However, he acknowledged that he is not a geologist or seismologist.
Contrary to these claims, Guy Sénéchal, a teacher-researcher at the University of Pau, explained that the volume of water in the basins is not large enough to have caused the earthquake. He emphasized that the earthquake was of tectonic origin, with a slip of a few centimeters on a small fault being the cause. Sénéchal also highlighted that earthquakes in France are rare, leading to a misconception among the general public that they do not exist.
The Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) pointed out the importance of the nature of the rocks, specifically the marly and clayey limestones, in amplifying the seismic movement. The BRGM stated that further in situ measurements would be conducted to verify and quantify this effect.
In summary, scientists have dismissed the rumors connecting the digging of basins to the recent earthquake in Charente-Maritime. They have emphasized that the earthquake was of tectonic origin and that the basins did not have a significant impact on its occurrence.
How does the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) plan to investigate the role of different types of rock in amplifying the seismic movement
Rumors are swirling on social media about a possible link between the digging of basins and a recent earthquake in Charente-Maritime. However, scientists have quickly dismissed these claims as unfounded.
This rumor gained steam after a Facebook post suggested a connection between groundwater exploitation and the earthquake. It was then shared by Benoît Biteau, a Member of the European Parliament, on his Twitter account. Biteau’s tweet cited an article from Le Monde, which referenced a study suggesting that the destruction of the water table in Lorca had contributed to an earthquake in 2011.
Julien Le Guet, spokesperson for the Bassines non merci movement, added fuel to the fire by speculating that the concentration of basins in certain towns may not be a coincidence. However, he admitted that he is not an expert in geology or seismology.
Contrary to these assertions, Guy Sénéchal, a teacher-researcher at the University of Pau, explained that the volume of water in the basins is too small to have caused the earthquake. He emphasized that the earthquake was of tectonic origin, with a minor slip on a small fault being the primary cause. Sénéchal also noted that earthquakes in France are rare, leading to a widespread misconception that they don’t occur.
The Bureau of Geological and Mining Research (BRGM) highlighted the importance of the type of rock, particularly marly and clayey limestones, in amplifying the seismic movement. The BRGM stated that further on-site measurements would be carried out to verify and quantify this effect.
To sum up, scientists have discredited the rumors linking the digging of basins to the recent earthquake in Charente-Maritime. They have emphasized that the earthquake was tectonic in origin and that the basins had a negligible impact on its occurrence.
It’s relieving to see that scientists have refuted the rumor linking basin digging to the June 2023 earthquake in Charente-Maritime. This debunks unfounded claims and provides a clearer understanding of the event’s causes.