Quake, rattle & roll in north of our island...

Scientists solve earth shattering mysteries

- DANNY DE VAAL

SCIENTISTS have discovered more earthquakes occur in the north of the island of Ireland because the solid outer part of the earth is thinner there.

Researchers from the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and the University of Cambridge made the discovery when trying to figure out why seismic shakes occur more frequently in Britain compared with here.

They found that variations in the thickness of tectonic plates, which are also known as lithospheric plates, relate directly to the distribution and risk of earthquakes in Ireland, Britain, and around the world.

The research team used “seismic tomography”, which uses seismic waves generated by earthquakes to create 3D images of Earth’s interior.

The data revealed variations in the thickness of the solid outer part of Earth across Ireland and Britain.

The experts found the lithosphere, which is the rigid outer part of the earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle, under southern Ireland was cold, thick and mechanically strong.

Whereas, across the water in Britain, it was thinner, warmer and weaker.

LITHOSPHERE

They also discovered the lithosphere in the north of Ireland was thinner than the rest of the country.