1975 North Atlantic earthquake explained

The 1975 North Atlantic earthquake occurred on May 26 at 09:11 UTC. The epicenter was located in the North Atlantic, in an area between the Azores, Iberian Peninsula, and Morocco. It had a magnitude of M_w 7.9, or M_s 8.1.^[1]

This was an intraplate earthquake that was located about 200 km south of the Gloria Fault, the presumed boundary between the African plate and the Eurasia Plate. It had a right-lateral strike-slip focal mechanism and was unusually large for an oceanic strike-slip event.^{[2] [3]} Damage was reported in Madeira, which is about 250 km away.^{[4] [5]} A tsunami of 0.3 m in maximum water elevation was recorded in Lagos, Portugal and an eyewitness reported a 2m (07feet) wave height at Ponta Delgada in the Azores.^[2]

See also

• List of earthquakes in 1975

Notes and References

1. Reevaluation of the Turn-of-the-Century Seismicity Peak. Kanamori. H.. Hiroo Kanamori. Abe. K.. Journal of Geophysical Research. 1979. 84. B11. 6134. 10.1029/JB084iB11p06131. 1979JGR....84.6131K.
2. On the focal mechanism of the 26.05.1975 North Atlantic event contribution from tsunami modeling. Kaabouben F.. Brahim A.I.. Toto E.. Baptista M.A.. Miranda J.M.. Soares P.. Luis J.F.. Journal of Seismology. 2008. 12. 4. 575–583. 10.1007/s10950-008-9110-6. 2008JSeis..12..575K. 54881674.
3. Source process and tectonic implications of the great 1975 North Atlantic earthquake. Lynnes C.S.. Ruff L.J.. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society. 1985. 82. 3. 497–510. 10.1111/j.1365-246X.1985.tb05148.x. free. 1985GeoJ...82..497L. 2027.42/72996.
4. Web site: Earthquake History for May 26th. October 20, 2012. February 22, 2013. United States Geological Survey.
5. Web site: Processos de perigosidade natural no Município de Câmara de Lobos – Madeira, contributo para a gestão do risco e de emergência. February 22, 2013. Abreu U.. Tavares A.O.. Rodrigues D.. Portuguese. 53–71.