Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Earthquakes in Gothenburg – Göteborgs-Posten

A large area in and around Gothenburg was shaken by an earthquake on Wednesday evening. The epicenter was 15 kilometers south of central Gothenburg.

People around and Gothenburg testify excessive shaking around at 21.45 on Wednesday evening.

– There is an earthquake. It is pretty clear. Most likely southwest of Styrsö. It has happened for real. I would think that there are over 2.0 on the Richter scale. Perhaps it is 2.5 but I hardly think that it would be 3.0, said seismologist Reynir Bödvarsson at Uppsala University, the GP just after the quake.

Later confirmed Uppsala University that it was an earthquake with a magnitude of 2.8 .

– It’s pretty big in Swedish conditions, but there is nothing remarkable. 2014 we had a quake of 5.6 in the Kattegat, said Reynir Bödvarsson.

The quake’s exact position was 15 kilometers south of central Gothenburg and at a depth of 20 kilometers.

Hundreds of concerned people have contacted the GP about the powerful tremor. There are reports of excessive noise and vibration not only from the Gothenburg area but also in Halland, so far up in Bohuslan Lysekil and east in Lilla Edet.

– On Vrångö shook and rumbled significantly. We first thought it was thunder struck down but it felt like it was more of a sharp detonation, says a witness.

Freelance journalist Stefan Renström staying at Vrångö. He says the quake felt really well.

– The sound and the vibration was like a freight train. I have experienced before. But something was different from the past is that we felt a sharp shock. It is the first time. Probably it is because the quake began as closely here.

He has been a tour of the house on the farm, but everything seems to have survived.

Became children afraid?

– No, not at all. They just feel that this is fun.

Read also: Hundreds of witnesses have contacted about how the quake affected them

Björnlund is seismically active and at Uppsala University. He sorts out some of the question marks surrounding the earthquake.

Will the sea by an earthquake of this magnitude?

– No, I would not believe it This earthquake is not large enough, it is in this case insignificant changes.

Björnlund tells us that major waves or tsunamis only occur at much stronger quakes.

– It is necessary to is a specific type of vertical movement of the fault, which lifts or lowers the seabed. For a large tsunami with waves over one meter required a quake of around 7.0 on the Richter scale.

When can an earthquake be dangerous to the public?

– It is of course difficult to answer precisely. But they say that when it comes up above 5.0 on the Richter scale, there is a risk of damage to buildings, although it then do not tend to move about more damage, it also depends on how well constructed buildings. At six and above on the Richter scale, it becomes damage.

The Earth’s crust consists of a number of so-called tectonic plates, where Sweden is on the Eurasian continental plate. Where the different plates meet is the risk of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions greatest.

How is it possible that there will be earthquakes in Sweden, which is not located on any plate boundary?

– We are of course a long way from the plates, but the tension generated at the plate boundaries are all over the plate, and therefore can even Sweden is experiencing smaller aftershocks.

Did you receive any reports aftershock?

– We have not seen anything yet, but it will be something they will become smaller, probably around 2.0 on the Richter scale on the islands, says Björn Lund.

The rescue services and the police have so far been no reported injuries associated with the earthquake.

Landvetter airport was not affected by the quake.

– I’ve talked to managers at Landvetter at 22:20 o’clock. There is nothing that affects air traffic. They had not even known by the earthquake, says Ulf Wallin, Press Officer at Swedavia, which operates Landvetter Airport.

Also read: Not the worst quake in Sweden

FACTS: Known earthquakes in Sweden in the 2000s

2014 15 September. An earthquake with magnitude 4.1 occurred 15:08 25 km southeast of Lillhärdal, 41 km south of Sveg and 61 km north of Orsa in Härjedalen at about 12 km depth.

2012: August 6. A Swedish conditions large earthquake occurred 04:57 on Monday morning 6/8 in the Kattegat. The quake occurred at about 14 km depth, 47 km west of Halmstad, 41 km northwest of Torekov at a magnitude of 4.1. In the same area occurred in June 1985, a quake with a magnitude of 4.6. These quakes occur along the Tornquist Zone, an ancient plate boundary that was active for more than 400 million years ago.

2010: June 15. A magnitude 3.6 quake occurred ca. 30 km south-southeast of Skelleftea (near Upper Brook) in Västerbotten. The quake was followed by several severe aftershocks.

2009: July 22. A magnitude 3.1 quake occurred 11 km southwest of Kalix in Norrbotten. The quake was followed by a noticeable and several smaller aftershocks.

2008: December 16. A quake with a magnitude of 4.3 measured in Skåne. It was 1 km northwest of Blentarp, at about 12 km depth.

2008: October 17. A smaller quakes with a magnitude of 2.2 measured at about 12 km depth, 21 km north of Robertsfors (5 km east of Anders water).

2008: February 2. A quake with a magnitude of 2.9 measured in the mine in Kiruna. The quake was felt in the clear in the Kiruna area. At the same time caused the race in the Kiruna mine a death.

2007: March 19. A quake with a magnitude of 2.9 measured in Malmberget.

2007: 1 March. Earthquake (magnitude 2) shook Hornborgasjön between Skara and Falköping.

2006: January 4. A quake with a magnitude of 2.4 was measured in the dormitory area in Malmberget, followed by a quake of 2.0 on the Richter scale.

2006: 27 February. Quake in Malmberget. The mine closed the day after the quake.

2006: May 25 A small earthquake of magnitude 2 raises Stockholm. The quake had its epicenter near the new Teacher Training College in Kungsholmen.

2005: May 13 Earthquakes of magnitude 3.1 shook the Sundsvall area. Epicenter was between Harnosand and Sundsvall and felt a bit from Stöde in the west to Njurunda the south

2004: 21 September. Powerful earthquake on the Baltic Sea at magnitude 5.0 with the epicenter in Kaliningrad in Russia. Felt firmly in southernmost Sweden.

2003: 22 October. Earthquakes in Luleå. Magnitude third

2002: 18th December. Earthquakes in the Baltic Sea south of Gotland feels in southern Sweden. Magnitude 3.3.

2002: 11 April. Earthquakes northwest of Kusmark, north of Skellefteå. Magnitude 3.4.

Source: Swedish National Seismological Network

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