For a very long time, the concept that earthquakes don’t occur in Brazil has been propagated. This consensus comes from the truth that earthquakes in Brazil would not have the depth of those who happen in different nations, akin to Japan and the US, they usually hardly ever trigger vital harm, however in-depth research have proven that this isn’t true.
To grasp earthquakes and their incidence in Brazil, it’s crucial to know what are known as geological faults (also referred to as faults). tectonic faults), buildings of the planet’s crust that trigger earthquakes. Lately, one in every of them caught the eye of scientists by releasing a really unusual liquid.
There are such geological formations in Brazil, and Many cities within the nation are on high of themIn accordance with latest geological research. The large distinction is that Brazil lies virtually on the middle of the South American tectonic plate, which makes the potential of robust tremors, normally recorded on the edges of those continental-sized plates, uncommon.
Nonetheless, even a plate as stable as ours has drawbacks – The bulk is seen from the floor.
The analysis by the UFMG Institute of Geosciences (Federal College of Minas Gerais) recognized 48 main geological faults within the nationwide territory, “a few of them kilometers lengthy,” in response to Professor Alaa El Saadi, coordinator of the analysis revealed in 2002.
In accordance with the scientist, many of the faults are situated within the southeast and northeast of the nationwide territory. Even with such maps, it’s just about not possible to foretell the place earthquakes will happen, or what their depth will probably be, however it’s secure to say that it’s in these areas of the nation that the epicenter will probably be.
Beneath, we record seven Brazilian cities situated precisely above geological faults, in numerous areas of the nation’s territory. Nonetheless, the placement doesn’t imply that the inhabitants must be afraid, as a result of a few of these faults haven’t proven a lot exercise for hundreds of years.
1 – Joao Camara (RN)
Town of Joao Camara is situated on the Samambaya Fault and has already recorded a number of earthquakes. In August 2022, 9 earthquakes have been felt within the metropolis by residents.
In accordance with UFRN (Federal College of Rio Grande do Norte), the Samambaya fault is the most important of its sort in Brazil, measuring 38 kilometers lengthy, 4 kilometers extensive, and 1 to 9 kilometers deep.
Along with João Camara, the cities of Parasíno, Pocho Branco, and Pinto Fernández are situated on the fault, which continually data earthquakes.
2 – Itacarambi (MG)
Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state that data extra seismic exercise. In accordance with the tectonic map ready by Professor Al Saadi, seven geological faults cross the state (particularly: BR 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 47).
47 is situated within the north of the state, slightly below the municipality of Itacarambi, which recorded an earthquake of magnitude 4.9 on the Richter scale in December 2007.
Six folks have been injured and a 5-year-old woman died within the geological occasion.
3 – Copatao (SP)
The Cubatão fault, found in 1987 off the coast of São Paulo, is a part of a system greater than 2,000 kilometers lengthy, with a community of assorted faults, which has been named the Cubatão fault system.
Regardless of its measurement and being much less of an industrial space, analysis has indicated a low threat of doable imminent earthquakes on this system—and the construction has been proven to be lively between 400 and 10,000 years in the past, in response to research.
4 – Borangato (GO)
The municipality of Borangato, in northern Goiás, is one other metropolis on high of a Brazilian geological fault, which takes the title of town (Zona de Valhas de Borangato). In April 2022, a 3.7-magnitude earthquake prompted panic in a single day.
On different events, extra intense tremors have been felt in Goiânia and even Brasilia, such because the one in October 2010.
5 – Tarawaka (AC)
This metropolis in Acre is situated close to the epicenter of the most important earthquake ever recorded in Brazil – 6.5 on the Richter scale, in June 2022. Tarawaca can also be the municipality within the state with the very best variety of earthquakes. All as a result of it’s situated on high of the Taruacá Fault, which divides the nation into two elements.
Regardless of the fixed shocks within the space, it’s greater than 500 km deep, which reduces the chance of harm and being observed by the inhabitants. In 2015 alone, the yr through which full research have been performed within the space, greater than 15 earthquakes have been felt by town.
It additionally helps that town is shut to 2 very lively tectonic plates: the South American and Nazcar, each within the Andes.
6 – Jaguareb Valley (CE)
A big geological fault underneath town of Ceará, 300 km from Fortaleza, generates earthquakes thought-about to be of low energy. A number of the most up-to-date occurred in March 2016, with a magnitude of three.1 and three.4 on the Richter scale.
The researchers suspect that the waters of a dam within the space, which penetrated the fault, could enhance the variety of earthquakes.
7 – Curitiba (PR)
The South area has the fewest variety of faults in Brazil. Regardless of this information, Curitiba is the one capital in Brazil instantly above a geological fault – the identical fault that crosses Copatao.
Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for cities across the capital, Paraná, to expertise earthquakes. São Jerónimo da Serra, 351 km from Curitiba, suffered a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in September 2017.
Different information reveals that between 2006 and 2019 the state recorded seven earthquakes of utmost magnitude.
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