Central Virgina Earthquakes Study

Researchers are preparing to conduct a two-month study of earthquakes in central Virginia, a region that has a history of seismic activity.

Twenty seismic stations are being installed for the study by researchers from Virginia Tech and the U.S. Geological Survey. The installations are expected to be completed by Monday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

The region is “sort of a natural laboratory for earthquake work,” Virginia Tech seismologist Martin Chapman told the newspaper.

“It’s an area where we think with a little investment, we’ll learn a great deal about earthquakes in eastern North America,” Chapman said.

More than 450 aftershocks have been recorded since a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Mineral in August 2011.

The electromagnetic sensors, each about the size of a soda can, will help the researchers study the background seismicity and any continuing aftershocks from the 2011 earthquake. The seismic stations will be located in Louisa, Powhatan, Goochland, Cumberland, Buckingham, Fluvanna and Albemarle counties.

The electromagnetic sensors will help the researchers study the background seismicity in the area and any continuing aftershocks from the 2011 earthquake.

Researchers expect the sensors to record tiny ground vibrations from about 100 quakes during the study. Although earthquakes are frequent in the region, they’re too weak for people to feel them, Chapman said.

“We think it’s a good thing that the USGS and Virginia Tech are adding more seismic monitors around the Mineral area,” Dominion Virginia Power spokesman Rick Zuercher told the newspaper.

The electric company has its own seismic monitors at its North Anna nuclear power plant near Mineral, he said, but, “The more data we have on it, the better.”

The 2011 earthquake shook the North Anna plant offline but caused no functional damage to its two reactors’ safety systems.