Feature Earth

Pumping carbon dioxide deep underground may trigger earthquakes

The potential is there, but tests so far have shown only imperceptible rumbles

A corn processing plant in Illinois

CARBON QUAKES  Injecting CO2 deep underground offers a promising way to curb global warming, but the extra pressure may cause faults to slip or fractures to release the buried carbon dioxide.

Archer Daniels Midland

By Charles Petit

- More than 2 years ago

The shaking in the nation’s midsection has been intense enough in the last few years to break chimneys and scatter dishes.