An Enhanced Seismic Activity Observed Due to Climate Change: Preliminary Results from Alaska

Abstract

The impact of human induced climate change on the rising temperature cannot be neglected. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2012 report, the mean temperature roughly rises up to 3°C relative to 1990. Permafrost in Siberia and Alaska has started to thaw for the first time since it formed 11,000 years ago, has caused by the recent rise in temperature over the past six decades. The melting rate of glaciers has become significantly higher, causing a noticeable rise (0.19meters) in the sea level globally. Climate change can trigger catastrophes such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and landslides due to melting glaciers and rising in sea level. The melting of glaciers driven by global warming warns us of a seismically turbulent future. When glaciers melt, the massive weight on the Earth's crust reduces and the crust bounces back in what scientists call an "isostatic rebound". The process can reactivate faults and lift pressure on magma chambers that feed volcanoes, hence increases seismic activity. The paper discusses the correlation between rise in temperature due to global warming and earthquake frequency using Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis based on a case study from Alaska. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.