Newly available information on likely seismic hazards in the United States is provided by the National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM).
In this sense, the model was updated in 2023 for all 50 states, using new science on seismicity, fault ruptures or ground movements.
They also employ probabilistic techniques to produce a standard of practice for public policy and other engineering applications.
This information was provided by the article called “The 50-State National Seismic Hazard Model in the United States for 2023: Overview and Implications.”
The truth is that, in the last 10 years, more than 1,750 cases have occurred in the United States. earthquakes with a magnitude of 4 or more. All this within 186 miles, that is, approximately 300 km.
According to data from the Earthquake List portal, the figure represents approximately 175 earthquakes per year, or 14 per month.
On the other hand, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) has shared a map with the areas where damaging earthquakes are most likely to occur.
Which territories in the United States are most prone to earthquakes?
Nearly 75% of the United States could experience damaging earthquakes. This was confirmed by a data analysis carried out by more than 50 scientists and engineers.
In this sense, and thanks to new technologies, almost 500 additional faults were identified that could produce a damaging earthquake.
Therefore, more dangerous earthquakes could occur along the central and northeastern Atlantic coastal corridor. These include the cities of Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. According to the most recent National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) there is potential for greater shaking in the seismically active regions of California and Alaska.
Likewise, the 2023 NSHM also points to Hawaii as one of the areas with the greatest potential to suffer tremors. However, there is an important point to note and that is that earthquakes cannot be predicted. So this is not a prediction.
What does happen by investigating past faults and earthquakes is that scientists and experts can better assess the probability of future earthquakes.