New Madrid Seismic Zone Quiz
Location, risk areas, historical quakes (10 questions).
New Madrid Seismic Zone Quiz: Quick Study Notes
The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) is the most active seismic area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Located within the central Mississippi River Valley, it is famous for a series of massive intraplate earthquakes in the early 19th century.
Key Takeaways
- The zone spans parts of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.
- The 1811–1812 quakes were strong enough to ring church bells in Boston.
- Unlike California (plate boundary), this is an intraplate zone where seismic energy travels efficiently through cold, old rock.
- Reelfoot Lake was formed when land subsided during the historic quakes.
- Major cities like Memphis and St. Louis face significant seismic risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the New Madrid Seismic Zone?
It is located in the central United States, primarily along the Mississippi River, impacting Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois.
When did the biggest New Madrid earthquakes happen?
The most famous sequence occurred between December 1811 and February 1812, including at least three earthquakes estimated at magnitude 7.0 or greater.
What is an intraplate earthquake?
It is an earthquake that occurs in the interior of a tectonic plate, rather than at a plate boundary. The New Madrid zone is a classic example.
Could the Mississippi River flow backward again?
During the 1812 quake, a “fluvial tsunami” and uplift caused the river to appear to flow backward for a few hours. A similar magnitude event could theoretically cause comparable hydraulic effects.
Why is the risk so high in the Midwest?
The region has deep, sandy soils prone to liquefaction, and the older, colder crust allows seismic waves to travel much farther than in the fractured crust of the West Coast.
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