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In the source text about induced seismicity from wastewater wells used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking), which state shows a 0.1 or higher peak acceleration of standard gravity within natural gas supply areas (Natural Gas Supply Areas - North America layer) that is likely not due to natural earthquake causes near plate boundaries or major fault lines: Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, or South Dakota?

Though all earthquakes occur along faults, not all earthquakes result from natural processes. Induced seismicity refers to minor earthquakes and tremors caused by human activity. Waste water wells ass...
Though all earthquakes occur along faults, not all earthquakes result from natural processes. Induced seismicity refers to minor earthquakes and tremors caused by human activity. Waste water wells associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking) have been implicated in a precipitous increase of seismic activity in some areas.

1. Reset the map.
2. Select Earthquake Hazard Areas - United States and from the Petroleum and Natural Gas - North America Group Layer, select Natural Gas Supply Areas - North America. Select Split map window.
3. In Main Menu, Change Projection to Albers (North America).
In the source text about induced seismicity from wastewater wells used in hydraulic fracturing (frac...
Answer

Oklahoma. It shows peak ground acceleration of about 0.1g or higher overlapping natural gas supply areas, and this elevated hazard is widely linked to induced seismicity from wastewater injection rather than plate-boundary or major fault-line tectonics.

Explanation

What the question is really asking

You are looking for a place where earthquake hazard is high (peak acceleration $\ge 0.1g$) in the same places as natural gas activity, but where the earthquakes are less likely to be explained by normal plate-boundary tectonics.

Using the layers to spot induced seismicity

  • The Earthquake Hazard Areas (United States) layer highlights where strong shaking is expected (peak acceleration values).
  • The Natural Gas Supply Areas (North America) layer highlights where natural gas extraction and related infrastructure are concentrated.
  • Induced seismicity is most suspicious where these two layers overlap in an intraplate area (not near a major plate boundary).

Checking the answer choices

  • Oklahoma: Not near a plate boundary, yet it has well-known clusters of earthquakes associated with wastewater disposal wells and shows areas with about $\ge 0.1g$ hazard overlapping energy activity.
  • Missouri: Has naturally higher hazard due to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which is a major natural fault system, so it does not fit the “likely not natural causes” clue.
  • Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota: Generally low seismic hazard on national peak-acceleration maps and do not typically show $\ge 0.1g$ patterns tied to gas supply areas.

Why Oklahoma is the best match

The combination of (1) high mapped shaking potential (around $0.1g$ or more), (2) overlap with natural gas-related areas, and (3) location away from plate boundaries points most strongly to induced seismicity in Oklahoma.

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Skills You Achive
map interpretation seismology geospatial analysis environmental risk assessment

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