texas

Satellite-Based Radar Confirms Man-Made Texas Earthquakes

Scientists used radar from satellites to show that five Texas earthquakes, one reaching magnitude 4.8, were caused by injections of wastewater in drilling for oil and gas.

In 2012 and 2013, earthquakes -- five of them considered significant -- shook East Texas near Timpson.

A team of scientists for the first time were able to track the uplifting ground movements in the earthquake using radar from satellites.

A study in the journal Science on Thursday says it confirms that these were not natural, something scientists had previously said was likely using a more traditional analysis.

Study co-author Stanford University William Ellsworth said the technique provides a new way to determine what quakes are man-made.

Ellsworth said the shaking stopped when injection of wastewater was dramatically decreased.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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