Nevertheless,
Climate change influence seismic risk:
The melting of glaciers increases seismic activity under the Mont-Blanc massif. Furthermore, A Franco-Swiss study establishes for the first time a solid link between climate change and local seismic risk.
Below the mountain range of the Grandes Jorasses. Consequently, which is part of the Mont-Blanc massif, only isolated earthquakes had been recorded so far, the Swiss seismological service (SED) said on Wednesday. Consequently, Since fall 2015, a clearly marked and persistent seismic sequence has however been active.
From SED scientists to the EPF of Zurich. For example, the geological and mining research office in Montpellier and the Institute of Earth Sciences in Grenoble have looked into this phenomenon in their new study.
Seasonal diagram – Climate change influence seismic risk
Overall, the seismic hazard has been ten times higher since 2015 than before, according to their conclusions. For example, It is striking to note that earthquakes follow a clear seasonal scheme and that climate change influence seismic risk they are particularly frequent in autumn.
During the cold season. from fall to spring, short-term seismic hazard, that is to say the risk that an earthquake of magnitude 3 or more occurs in the next 24 hours, can be temporarily multiplied by a factor of 10,000.
![Comparison of the evolution of seismic activity at different periods of the year. [Earth and Planetary Science Letters] climate change influence seismic risk](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== "Comparison of the evolution of seismic activity at different periods of the year. [Earth and Planetary Science Letters]")
Heat waves and decline in glaciers
According to the study, the fault is the responsibility of climate change. The heat waves in these regions melt the permafrost and accelerate the melting of the glaciers.
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Consequently, the landslides increase, which modifies the tracks by which the cast iron water infiltrates. This influences the pressure of interstitial water even in deep rock formations and modifies the tension reports in the basement. The expression of these processes is an increased seismic activity in regions where no earthquake has been observed so far.
Seasonal variations in seismic activity following changes in interstitial pressure have already been observed in other regions of the world. However. this is the first time that a study has proven that this phenomenon, favored by climate change, can lead to a significant increase in the local seismic hazard.
This conclusion is crucial to improve the prevention of earthquakes in the Alpine regions. which could be more confronted with earthquakes due to climate change in the future, writes the SED.
The Mont-Blanc massif is not the only one in this case. Other high mountain. climate change influence seismic risk arctic regions around the world are also concerned, according to this work published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
ats/edel
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