What scientists know about aftershocks following another earthquake in Turkey
An further earthquake occurred on Monday in southeast Turkey, close to the Syrian border. This time, the earthquake was recorded as having a magnitude of 6.3, which is far less powerful than the first, catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake and the magnitude 7.5 aftershock that shook the region on February 6 of last year. As of Tuesday, the most recent earthquake has left at least six people dead and more than 200 wounded. According to the United States Geological Survey, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 is still regarded as powerful (USGS). And when Monday's aftershock struck, several people were inside buildings looking for items they had lost in the original earthquake, as has previously reported. We began to wonder: What are aftershocks? How long will citizens in Syria and other nearby countries, such as Turkey, have to experience aftershocks while rebuilding their life piece by piece? Days? Years?According to earthquake scientist Wendy Bohon, an earthquake must occur after a "mainshock," the strongest earthquake to ever strike the region, and before the region has recovered to its regular background seismicity level. She points out that aftershocks are frequent, predictable, and that they can continue for years after an earthquake. As a result, according to Bohan, "they're the only earthquakes that we can truly kind of forecast." In fact, according to the USGS, it is "very usual for hundreds of aftershocks to occur over the next few weeks, months, or perhaps years" following an M7.8 earthquake like the one that occurred on February 6. Regrettably, there is currently no technology that can precisely and correctly forecast when a further aftershock will occur. "I'd like to be being able to tell the people of Turkey and Syria, "You're done." It's great. Bohan declares, "It's over; it's time to rebuild." But, we are aware of the specific manner in which the planet functions and that there will likely be further aftershocks. And the situation is so traumatic and awful.
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