Earthquakes are significant natural disasters that can cause extensive damage and loss.They consist of seismic waves that travel through the Earth's rocks, typically occurring when rock masses break and slide over one another. But can climate change contribute to the occurrence of earthquakes?

This question was explored by two researchers from Colorado State University in the United States, especially since there are few studies examining the relationship between climate change and seismic activity. They concluded that climate change could influence the seismic cycle and published their findings in the Geology journal in November 2024.

Research Focus

The researchers concentrated their study on the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado. They chose this location for several reasons, including the presence of an active fault—essentially a crack in the rocks where rock masses slide past each other. Additionally, these mountains were covered with ice during the last ice age. The researchers utilized field data and remote sensing to reconstruct a model of the ice's location, after which they measured the displacement along the fault.

Impact of Melting Ice

The researchers discovered that the fault remained stable during the existence of glaciers in the last ice age. However, as global temperatures increased when the Earth emerged from that period, the melting ice led to greater sliding along the fault, resulting in heightened seismic activity. This increase in seismic events is attributed to climate change and rising temperatures. Thus, climate change may act as a catalyst for earthquakes.

Numerous faults, similar to those in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, exist around the world, including those in Alaska, the Himalayas, and the Alps. As global temperatures continue to rise, the risk of ice melting increases, which in turn activates faults that can trigger earthquakes.

The year 2023 recorded the highest average temperatures compared to pre-industrial levels, and the Emissions Gap Report for 2024 indicated that Earth’s surface temperatures are expected to rise by 2.6 to 3.1 degrees Celsius during this century. This warming trend could create conditions conducive to devastating earthquakes.