Earthquakes return to South Carolina, rattle nervous residents

A paused swarm came back to life last night as two earthquakes were felt in the area north and east of Columbia, South Carolina. Photo: USGS

After a pause in activity, two earthquakes struck central South Carolina last night, shaking residents already worried about the dozens of earthquakes that have hit the area since December. After nearly a week of seismic silence, a 2.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Elgin, South Carolina at 8:42 p.m. Shortly after 3 a.m., another earthquake of magnitude 2.1 struck nearby. With more earthquakes expected in the continuing swarm of uncertainty, officials are hosting a special virtual social meeting this week to update area residents about earthquakes and what the official local and state survey is doing to help, especially in the event of a more severe earthquake.

All earthquakes that have hit South Carolina in the past seven days are in the same general area near Elgin. Each point reflects the epicenter of the earthquake that occurred over the past seven days, with the yellow and orange points most recent. Photo: USGS

As South Carolina rattles, scientists are trying to figure out why the mysterious rattle persists. Dozens of earthquakes within this swarm have hit South Carolina over the past seven months, and these new nighttime quakes raise the total number of earthquakes above 70. Most of the earthquakes in South Carolina were around Elgin, a small, compact town in Kershaw, about 20 miles northeast of Columbia , the state capital. Elgin is located within the Carolina Sandhills region of the Atlantic Coastal Plain County; This area is characterized by many windswept sand dunes that were active during the last Ice Age but the sand dunes are currently installed due to vegetation under modern climatic conditions.

The mysterious swarm began on Monday, December 27 at 2:18 p.m. The first earthquake, measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale, struck 30 miles north of Columbia, South Carolina, at a depth of just 3.1 kilometers. More than 3,100 USGS residents reported feeling it at the time, with one reporting shaking coming from as far away as Rock Hill, which straddles the North/South Carolina border. While the earthquake was felt by many, no damage was reported in Palmetto State. This earthquake was followed by 10 other events of magnitude between 1.5 and 2.6. The second earthquake occurred three hours and twenty minutes after the first. The last earthquake in that series occurred on the morning of January 5, bringing a temporary end to the earthquakes there.

According to the USGS, a swarm is a series of mostly small earthquakes with no identifiable main shock. “Swarms are usually short-lived, but they can last for days, weeks, or sometimes even months,” the USGS adds. However, the South Carolina event did not fit the typical definition of a swarm because the first event was much larger than the rest.

According to the USGS, “aftershocks” are a series of earthquakes that occur after a larger main shock occurs on a fault. Aftershocks occur near the fault zone where the main shock rupture occurred and are part of the ‘resetting process’ after the main slip on the fault, says the USGS. However, aftershocks of a magnitude 3.3 earthquake will only last a few days. Not the week before.

According to the South Carolina Department of Emergency Management (SCEMD), there are approximately 10-15 earthquakes each year in South Carolina, most of which are not felt by residents; On average, only 3-5 are felt each year. Most earthquakes in South Carolina occur in the Middleton Place-Summerville seismic zone. The two most significant historical earthquakes in South Carolina were the 1886 Charleston-Summerville earthquake and the 1913 Union County earthquake. The 1886 Charleston earthquake was the most damaging earthquake in the eastern United States. It was also the most devastating earthquake in the United States during the 19th century.

Fault lines operate throughout South Carolina. And while coastal South Carolina’s Charleston region is home to potentially significant seismic activity, questions remain about the cause of earthquakes northeast of Columbia in the central part of the state. Photo: SCEMD

Experts are concerned that at some point in the future a large-scale earthquake will strike and cause significant damage and loss of life. Although it has been more than 100 years since the last major earthquake, a 2001 study titled A Comprehensive Study of Seismic Hazard and Vulnerability for South Carolina confirmed that the state is highly vulnerable to seismic activity. The study, based on scientific research, provided information about the potential effects of earthquakes on current residents and on modern structures and systems, including roads, bridges, homes, commercial and government buildings, schools, hospitals, and water and sanitation facilities.

No one is sure what will happen to this constant stream of light earthquakes or whether or not something bigger is looming. Right now, SCEMD is sending out tweets to South Carolina residents encouraging them to prepare for any disaster this year – including earthquakes.

Do you know what to do if an #earthquake strikes while you are in ?? You have ? & ? ? next to it. Stay in, do not risk injury in potential dangers. Turn on your stomach. Cover your head and neck with a pillow. Wait until the shaking stops. Wear ? before leaving ?. pic.twitter.com/m5QeE12IEK

– SCEMD (@SCEMD) January 6, 2022

Earlier this month, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources released a report on earthquakes in the Elgin region. It was authored by C. Scott Howard, Ph.D., state geologist, Dr. Stephen Jaume, Professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences at the College of Charleston, Scott M. White, PhD, director and professor, with the South Carolina Seismological Network, University of South Carolina School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, and Dr. Pradeep Talwani, professor emeritus in the University of South Carolina School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, report summarized seismic activity and offered a hypothesis being considered for their case. One of the contributing factors being investigated is the concept of hydroquakes, and the effect of water on fault levels. According to the report, proximity to the Wateree River, fluctuating river discharges, and monsoon precipitation can all contribute to the current earthquakes. The authors recommend that more studies on hydrohydrosis be explored to see if this is the root cause of the shaking in South Carolina.

To keep the community informed of the swarm and take questions from concerned residents, the Kershaw County government is hosting a virtual earthquake meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, July 27, at 6 p.m. The event will be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube; Elgin residents can also watch the broadcast from the Elgin Government Building. Committee members include the South Carolina Department of Emergency Management, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Duke Energy. Questions can be sent to committee members early by sending an email to [email protected].

Kershaw County is hosting a virtual earthquake town hall meeting this week that will be streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Photo: Kershaw County

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