So many things are said to cause earthquakes, things have become a little complex during the last years. For many people it might be hard to remember all of them and you will probably ask yourself “What can I do to avoid finding myself having caused a seismic event by accident?” Here’s help. I prepared a list with no claim to completeness of things that might cause earthquakes. Some are already well-known, some were suprising to me. Recently, chancellor Angela Merkel said she’s against equal taxation for gay and straight couples. I guess this can only be interpretetd as an attempt to minimize seismic hazard in Germany, everything else would be ridiculous…

What’s your favorite? What’s missing?

Is this the silver lining at the horizon?

Things that cause earthquakes

• Groundwater extraction – decrease in pore pressure
• Groundwater – increase in pore pressure
• Heavy rain
• Pore fluid flow
• High CO2 pressure
• Building dams
• Earthquakes
• No earthquakes (Seismic quiescence)
• Stress transfer
• Tides
• Silent slip
• Surface quarrying
• Typhoons
• Fracking
• Volcanoes
• Volcanic inflation
• Explosions
• Deep penetrating bombs
• Deforestation
• Climate change
• Geothermal energy

Plus, surprisingly:

• Extramarital sex
• Gay marriage
• Homosexual activity
• An antenna in Alaska named HAARP
• The Foo Fighters (thx Sascha!)

Anything missing here?