Man-Made earthquakes Ein Weg zum Verständnis natürlicher seismischer Aktivität

The occurrence of earthquakes causing damage in regions, where no seismic activity had been observed previously, has confirmed the suspicion that the construction of high dams and pumped storage hydroelectric plants as well as the pressing of fluid into petroleum reservoirs and of waste water into deep boreholes will trigger the release of tectonic stresses in the earth's crust. A great number of examples indicates that a similar mechanism must be operative in all cases. Comparing the results of laboratory experiments to seismological observations, it is evident that the causes for the “loss of internal balance” must be sought in zones of low velocity and of relatively high energy absorption within the upper part of the earth's crust.