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The Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone is a geographic area subject to frequent small earthquakes which stretches from northeast Alabama to southwest Virginia. The Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) is also known as the East Tennessee Seismic Zone and the Southern Appalachian Seismic Zone. The area is one of the most active earthquake zones in the eastern United States.^[1][2]

Contents 1 Earthquake magnitude 2 Faults 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Earthquake magnitude

Most earthquakes in the ETSZ are small and measured only with instruments. Damaging earthquakes have occurred in the ETSZ with the greatest magnitude earthquakes measuring 4.6 magnitude occurring in 1973 near Knoxville, Tennessee and April 29, 2003 near Fort Payne, Alabama. Earthquakes large enough to be felt occur approximately once a year in the ETSZ.^[1]

[edit] Faults

The ETSZ is located far from edge of the North American continent and represents a mid-continent or intraplate earthquake zone. The faults in the ETSZ are generally ancient and no known active faults reach the surface.^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} [1] USGS Poster; M4.6 Fort Payne, Alabama Earthquake of 29 April 2003
2. ^ [2] Geological Survey of Alabama; Geologic Hazards Program; Earthquakes

[edit] See also

• April 29, 2003 earthquake near Fort Payne, Alabama
• Geology of Alabama
• Geology of Georgia
• Geology of Tennessee
• Geology of the Appalachians

[edit] External links

• Center for Earthquake Research and Information, University Of Memphis, TN