California has experienced unusually heavy rainfall. California is also earthquake-prone, hosting the great San Andreas fault zone.
If there is an unusual surge of earthquakes in the near future—allowing time for the rain to percolate deep into faults—California may well become an interesting laboratory to study possible connections between weather and earthquakes. The effect is likely to be subtle and will require sophisticated computer modeling and statistical analysis.
Earthquakes are triggered by a tiny additional increment of stress added to a fault already loaded almost to breaking point. Many natural processes can provide this tiny increment of stress, including the movement of plate tectonics, a melting icecap, and even human activities.
Yes, there are numerous evidence to show that human activities like construction of water reservoirs, e.g., dams, etc can cause low magnitude earthquakes (tremors) in many parts of the world. Just browse 'human induced earthquakes' and you will be surprised with the results.
I hope this will be useful
Although areas with high rainfall, may be aseismic due low level of vibrations that can only cause tremors, rainfall, a natural phenomenon cannot cause a damaging earthquakes. However, some anthropogenic activities capable of causing subsidence in the subsurface like withdrawal of water, oil etc. mostly along the fault regions can cause earthquakes.
thanks alot Anthony E. Akpan and Nyakno jimmy George
If we consider the causes of earthquake, our judgement on whether or not rainfall can trigger earthquake will be close to having an answer. Although current debate holds that "heavy rainfall" can cause Rain-induced erosion that can loosen faults. However, this is yet to pass through rigorous scientific tests.
Dear Dr. Minas
All things in the earth are related to each others by some relation...some majer relations are discoverd...and may be thousand miner relations still not discovered ....to answer your quastion ...the world need hundered years of observation and interpretation to achive the actual answer.... I think the rainfall may be caused trigger of an earthquake but this case depends on the geology, tectonic and structural features in addition to the universal effects.......good luck to reach your goal....with best wishes ....
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