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Powerful storms may be causing offshore ‘stormquakes’

Strong ocean swells hammer ridges in the seafloor and produce the earthquake-like shaking

In August 2009, Hurricane Bill (shown) tracked northwest from Puerto Rico toward Newfoundland. As it passed offshore of New England, the winds churned up the ocean, which interacted with the seafloor to create stormquakes.

Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Rapid Response Team/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Powerful hurricanes can whip the ocean into a frenzy — and that wave energy can be strong enough to hammer the seafloor, producing a novel kind of quake.