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Reservoir-Induced Seismicity

Earthquakes Triggered by Dams

Sichuan earthquake damages building, 14 May 2008 (Miniwiki)

Sichuan earthquake damages building, 14 May 2008 (Miniwiki)

Earthquakes can be induced by dams. Globally, there are over 100 identified cases of earthquakes that scientists believe were triggered by reservoirs (see Gupta 2002). The most serious case may be the 7.9-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, which killed an estimated 80,000 people and has been linked to the construction of the Zipingpu Dam.
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Global Dam Safety and Security Challenges

By Katy Yan

Originally published in Volume 10 Number 4 of the The CIP Report
Center for Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (CIP/HS)
George Mason University, School of Law

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Chinese Government Acknowledges Problems of Three Gorges Dam

Thu, 05/19/2011 - 3:56pm
By: 
Peter Bosshard
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River

The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River

In an unexpected statement, China’s government has just acknowledged the serious problems of the Three Gorges Dam. “The project is now greatly benefiting the society in the aspects of flood prevention, power generation, river transportation and water resource utilization,” the government maintained, but it has also “caused some urgent problems in terms of environmental protection, the prevention of geological hazards and the welfare of the relocated communities.” On the same day, it announced concrete measures to improve the living conditions of the displaced people, protect the Yangtze’s ecosystem and prevent geological disasters. What is new about this acknowledgment? And what does it mean for China’s future dam building plans?

Dam Burst Feared After Qinghai Earthquake, China

On April 14, 2010, an earthquake measuring at 7.1 (6.9 according to the US Geological Survey) struck Yushu County in the largely Tibetan area of Qinhai Province. The tremor, whose epicenter lies near the high mountain town of Jiegu in Yushu County on the Qinghai Plateau, killed 1,700 people and seriously injured 11,000.

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The Qinghai Earthquake and Dams

International Rivers
Media Advisory

Another terrible earthquake has struck China. The 7.1 tremor with an epicenter near Jiegu in Yushu County on the Qinghai Plateau has killed at least 400 people. According to Chinese news reports, the Changu (or Thrangu in Tibetan) hydropower dam was damaged by the earthquake, and is "at the risk of collapse at any time." The Changu (Thrangu) Project is located upstream of the county seat, Jiegu, and is clearly visible on Google Earth. If the dam breaks, it would endanger the lives of more than 100,000 people living downstream. International Rivers' thoughts are with the families of the victims, the rescue teams, the Chinese people and the authorities.

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The Dam That Shook the Earth

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:23am
Zipingpu Dam (ChengDu Online, www.cdol.net/BBS)

Zipingpu Dam (ChengDu Online, www.cdol.net/BBS)

Scientists agree that dams can trigger earthquakes. A new research paper presents fresh evidence that the devastating earthquake which killed more than 80,000 people in China’s Sichuan Province in May 2008 was triggered by the Zipingpu Dam. This would be the world’s deadliest dam-induced earthquake ever.

A Faultline Runs Through It: Exposing the Hidden Dangers of Dam-Induced Earthquakes

RIScover.jpg

RIS Besides posing a major risk to dams, scientists are increasingly certain that earthquakes can be triggered by the dams themselves.

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Google Earth Map of Global RIS Sites

Click on the virtual push pins below for more information on known or suspected RIS sites.

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Katse Dam-triggered earthquake crack in village

Katse Dam-triggered earthquake crack in village

Researching his book "Deep Water" took Jacques Leslie to a village in Lesotho where the filling of Katse reservoir had caused the ground to emit eerie moans that frightened villagers. In January 1996, a 3.2-magnitude earthquake left a deep crack which extended from the reservoir straight up a slope for nearly a mile.

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Debunking the Debunkers: Dams Really Can Trigger Quakes

Wed, 02/18/2009 - 3:32pm

Microseismicity in an exploited reservoir for an oil field (NORSAR)

Microseismicity in an exploited reservoir for an oil field (NORSAR)

Amid the recent hubbub surrounding whether Zipingpu Dam may have triggered the disastrous Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, it's important to clear up a few misconceptions about Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS):

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