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The following is a list of notable
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...
s that have affected the British Isles. On average, several hundred earthquakes are detected by the
British Geological Survey each year, but almost all are far too faint to be felt by humans. Those that are felt generally cause very little damage. Nonetheless, earthquakes have on occasion resulted in considerable damage, most notably in 1580 and 1884; Musson (2003) reports that there have been ten documented fatalities – six caused by falling masonry and four by building collapse. The causes of earthquakes in the UK are unclear, but may include "regional compression caused by motion of the Earth’s tectonic plates, and uplift resulting from the melting of the ice sheets that covered many parts of Britain thousands of years ago."
Medieval reports of "earthquakes" that threw down newly built cathedrals may simply have been catastrophic failure of overloaded masonry, particularly towers, rather than actual tectonic events.
Earthquakes
See also
*
Geology of England
The geology of England is mainly sedimentary. The youngest rocks are in the south east around London, progressing in age in a north westerly direction.
*
Geology of Great Britain
The geology of Great Britain is renowned for its diversity. As a result of its eventful geological history, Great Britain shows a rich variety of landscapes across the constituent countries of England, Wales and Scotland. Rocks of almost all geol ...
*
List of volcanoes in the United Kingdom
There are no active volcanoes in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, although a few do exist in some British Overseas Territories, including Queen Mary's Peak in Tristan da Cunha, Soufrière Hills volcano on the Caribbean ...
References
Citations
Bibliography
BGS Historical earthquakes listing* Archives of the British Geological Survey
* R M W Musson, "Fatalities in British earthquakes". ''Astronomy & Geophysics''. Vol. 44, p1 (2003)
External links
– BGS
List of Earthquakes in the British IslesQ&A: UK's small-scale earthquakes
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of Earthquakes in the United Kingdom
Earthquakes in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
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