Even though the authors presented only one side of the issue about whether fracking causes small earthquakes, they did make their point and support it with facts. Authors Liu and Kaplan cited seismologists, geologists, and other experts and specialists in their evidence that fracking could cause small earthquakes in the area/s of drilling. They used Cleburne, Texas and West Virginia as examples of the connection between the two. Earthquake specialist, Steve Horton, was quoted as saying "Ninety percent of these earthquakes that have happened since 2009 have been within 6 kilometers of these salt water disposal wells."
It is obvious from the article that not all scientific specialists agree with the conclusion drawn by Horton. "... there is still little consensus about whether the practice is contributing to the quakes." (authors Liu and Kaplan).
What further research or data would be needed to confirm a link?
ReplyDeleteThough you effectively cited places in the text that connected drilling to earthquakes, you also cited evidence in the text that made clear there are other views, so I'm not sure you can say that only one side of the issue was presented. Especially consider that the seismologist from UA connected earthquakes to natural causes.
ReplyDeleteCould the quakes become larger
ReplyDeleteIt is still early in the research process for any scientist to come to a definite conclusion that the drilling causes the earthquakes. If not the drilling, though, what could be causing the increase in earthquake frequency and magnitude?
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