Science Behind the 2020 Sparta, North Carolina Earthquake

In August 2020, the town of Sparta, North Carolina experienced a magnitude 5.1 earthquake, the largest earthquake seen in the area since 1916. This region is nowhere near a plate boundary where we see the most earthquakes. So why does this area get earthquakes despite being so far away from these boundaries? To find out we go back in time hundreds of millions of years ago when continents were colliding. Our website: https://utdgss2016.wixsite.com/utdgss Twitter:   / utdgss2016   Instagram:   / utd_geosciencestudio   Credits Edited by Zach Clowdus Written by RJ Stern & Zach Clowdus References Hatcher, R. D. Jr. (1987). Tectonics of the southern and central Appalachian internides. Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Science, 15, 337–362 Hatcher, R. D. Jr. (1987). Tectonics of the southern and central Appalachian internides. Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Science, 15, 337-362 Usgs.gov Music – “Dude, Where’s My Horse” by Nat Keefe with The Bow Ties Earthquake map – usgs.gov Plate Tectonic Globe – Paleogeographic maps by C.R. Scotese, visualization developed by Ian Webster https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-... Cross Section Modification from https://gotbooks.miracosta.edu/geolog... Image - Blue Ridge Mountains Deep Gap overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina via Wikimedia Commons Fault Mechanism Solutions and Fault Block diagrams modified from usgs.govhttps://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sim3446 Google Maps Sounds: “Thunder” by straget via freesound.org “Rope being swing” by ChaleneZ via freesound.org “Rocks Sliding” by yatoimtop via freesound.org #geonews