New Madrid Seismic Zone

Reelfoot Rift and the New Madrid Seismic Zone in a 3D topographic image

Magnetic potential map of the Reelfoot Rift

The New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), sometimes called the New Madrid Fault Line, is a major seismic zone and a prolific source of intraplate earthquakes (earthquakes within a tectonic plate) in the Southern and Midwestern United States, stretching to the southwest from New Madrid, Missouri.

The New Madrid fault system was responsible for the 1811–12 New Madrid earthquakes and has the potential to produce large earthquakes in the future. Since 1812, frequent smaller earthquakes have been recorded in the area.^[1]

Earthquakes that occur in the New Madrid Seismic Zone potentially threaten parts of seven American states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and to a lesser extent Mississippi and Indiana.^[2]

^ "Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis". University of Memphis.
^ Stelzer, C. D. (December 15, 1999). "On Shaky Ground". Riverfront Times. Retrieved October 16, 2017.

[1] "Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis". University of Memphis.

[2] Stelzer, C. D. (December 15, 1999). "On Shaky Ground". Riverfront Times. Retrieved October 16, 2017.

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