Translate

Tuesday, January 07, 2014

Cryoseism


Cryoseism

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A cryoseism, also known as a frost quake,[1][2] may be caused by a sudden cracking action in frozen soil or rock saturated with water or ice.[3] As water drains into ground, it may eventually freeze and expand under colder temperatures, putting stress on its surroundings. This stress builds up until relieved explosively in the form of a cryoseism.[4]

Another type of cryoseism, known as an ice quake, is a non-tectonic seismic event caused by sudden glacial movements. This movement has been attributed to a veneer of liquid water which may pool underneath a glacier sourced from surface ice melt. Hydraulic pressure of the liquid can act as a lubricant, allowing the glacier to suddenly shift position.[5][6] This type of cryoseism can be very brief, or may last for several minutes.[7]

The requirements for a cryoseism to occur are numerous; therefore, accurate predictions are not entirely possible and may constitute a factor in structural design and engineering when constructing in an area historically known for such events.[3] Speculation has been made between global warming and the frequency of cryoseisms.[7]

Effects

Cryoseisms are often mistaken for minor intraplate earthquakes.[3][8] Initial indications may appear similar to those of an earthquake with tremors, vibrations, ground cracking and related noises,[2] such as thundering or booming sounds.[4] Cryoseisms can however be distinguished from earthquakes through meteorological and geological conditions.[3] Cryoseisms can have an intensity of up to VI on the Modified Mercalli Scale.[3] Furthermore, cryoseisms often exhibit high intensity in a very localized area,[2] in the immediate proximity of the epicenter,[8] as compared to the widespread effects of an earthquake.[3] Due to lower frequency vibrations of cryoseisms,[5] some seismic monitoring stations may not record their occurrence.[8] Although cryoseisms release less energy than most tectonic events,[9] they can still cause damage or significant changes to an affected area.[2]

Some reports have indicated the presence of "distant flashing lights" before or during a cryoseism, possibly due to electrical changes when rocks are compressed.[4] Cracks and fissures may also appear as surface areas contract and split apart from the cold.[2][8] These sometime superficial to moderate occurrences may range from a few centimetres to several kilometres long, with either singular or multiple linear fracturing and vertical or lateral displacement possible.[3]

Occurrences

Location

Geocryological processes were identified as a possible cause of tremors as early as 1818.[3] In the United States, such events have been reported throughout the Northern and Northeastern United States[4] in Connecticut,[2] Maine,[2] Massachusetts,[2] Michigan,[2] Ohio[10] New York,[2] Vermont[2][8] and Wisconsin,.[1]

Cryoseisms also occur in Canada, especially along the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence corridor, where winter temperatures can shift very rapidly.[11][12] They have surfaced in Ontario and Québec. Southern Ontairo experienced numerous frost quakes on December 24, 2013,[13][14] and more severe, waking a great many from sleep, on December 30, 2013 at 3:00 AM and later at 7:00 AM,[15] as a result of an ice storm on December 21–22, 2013.[16] This was the first such storm to hit since the devastating ice storm of January 1998.[17][18] The towns of Cornwall, Middlebury, Ripton, and Weybridge, Vermont experienced the same phenomenon after the same weather conditions with the loudest occurring around 4:50am on December 25. Essex County in New York experienced crysoseisms as late as December 31, 2013, and numerous frost quakes again occurred in the Greater Toronto Area around 2:00 AM January 4, 2014.[19] Many cryoseims were also reported near Lac-Mégantic, in the Eastern Townships (Québec, Canada) in the last days of December.

Glacier-related cryoseism phenomena have been reported in Alaska,[20] Greenland,[21] Iceland (Grímsvötn).,[22] Ross Island,[9] and the Antarctic Prince Charles Mountains.[23]

Precursors

Cryoseisms typically occur when temperatures rapidly decrease from above freezing to subzero, in the first cold snap of spring,[2][8] usually between midnight and dawn (during the coldest parts of night).[3] However, due to the permanent nature of glacial ice, glacier-related cryoseisms may also occur in the warmer months of summer.[5] In general, cryoseisms occur 3 to 4 hours after significant changes in temperature.[24] Perennial or seasonal frost conditions involved with cryoseisms limit these events to temperate climates that experience seasonal variation with subzero winters. Additionally, the ground must be saturated with water, which can be caused by snowmelt, rain, sleet or flooding.[3] The site of a cryoseism generally has little or no snow cover to insulate the ground.[2][3] Geologically, areas of permeable materials like sand or gravel, which are susceptible to frost action, are likelier candidates for cryoseisms.[3] Following large cryoseisms, little to no seismic activity will be detected for several hours, indicating that accumulated stress has been relieved.[24]

 

he original wiki link on the subject can be found at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryoseism

 

No comments: