Satellite radar measures effects of 2016 magnitude 5.8 Pawnee Earthquake

What is it about?

The 3 September 2016 Pawnee Earthquake was the largest recorded yet by modern instruments in Oklahoma. We used seismic data and measurements from radar satellites to locate which fault was responsible and which part of the fault slipped during the earthquake. The earthquake fault is in the hard rocks beneath the sedimentary rock layers where oil extraction and wastewater injection activities are.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Our study showed that the earthquake started at a depth of 4.5 km and propagated downward into the hard rocks below. This is consistent with an earthquake that was induced by wastewater injected into the overlying rock layers moving down into a pre-existing fault in the hard rocks. Learning about where faults might be reactivated by wastewater injection can help mitigate the risk of future large induced earthquakes.