Centuries-old Earthquakes Still Shaking the United States

Recent research suggests that some modern seismic activity in the central and eastern United States may be aftershocks from significant earthquakes that occurred in the 1800s. The study analyzed seismic data from three historic quakes and found that regions near the epicenters of these earthquakes are still experiencing seismic activity today. The researchers identified that around 30% of earthquakes near the Missouri-Kentucky border and 16% of earthquakes in Charleston, South Carolina, are likely aftershocks from events that took place centuries ago. Understanding the cause of modern earthquakes is crucial for assessing future disaster risk in these regions.