Post date: Oct 22, 2012 9:24:17 AM
Reuters/Independent - The deadly earthquake that struck Lorca in southern Spain in 2011 killing nine people may have been caused by groundwater extraction, scientists have claimed. A study published in Nature Geoscience said decades of overextraction of groundwater for irrigation and livestock had seen the water table drop around 250m resulting in pressure at the Earth’s surface. Satellite data was used to correlate changes to the Earth’s crust caused by water extraction to deformities caused by the quake.
“Scientists have linked the May 2011 earthquake that occurred in Lorca, southern Spain to excessive extraction of groundwater ”“Groundwater extraction over a five decade period caused the water table to drop by around 250 meters, putting pressure on the Earth’s surface which scientists say resulted in the deadly earthquake.”
SOURCE: Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/21/us-science-earthquake-water-idUSBRE89K0HT20121021
Independent