Yesterday, September 17, in different areas of the Mexican Republic, including Oaxaca, Colima and Chiapas, with a range of less than 6.0 degrees on the Richter scale. Events that reacted to the collective hysteria about the earthquakes in September and their concurrence before September 19.
In Mexico, a perception has been created that more earthquakes in September, month in which the tremors occurred that left the most damage in Mexico City, specifically in 1985 and 2017, years in which there were deaths due to telluric movements.
However, according to science rather than a reminder, there is an explanation for these constant and large movements in September.
Why does it shake in September in Mexico?
Although an earthquake is a phenomenon that occurs from time to time and in some way human beings have become accustomed to its presence, mystery and uncertainty still surrounds its origins. There are different types of earthquakes or earthquakes, some occur more lightly, others are megaearthquakes and others are almost imperceptible. However, in September for Mexicans they usually occur without fail every year.
But, What is the reason, is it a coincidence or is there a scientific reason? According to science it is both.
Mexico, a highly seismic country
Seismologists and engineers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico have come out to deny the Misperceptions about earthquakes in Mexico during September. Based on the records of the National Seismological Service (SSN) collected throughout history, they emphasized that the belief that Mexico trembles more in this month fades when December is the month with the most seismic movements, however, in September is when they are most intense.
And that is because earthquakes have their origin in the most superficial layer of the Landcalled lithospherecomposed of material that can fracture when a force is exerted on it, forming a puzzle called Tectonic plateswhich travel like blocks of cork in water on the Asthenospherewhich is a visco-elastic layer where the material flows when a force is exerted on it.
Mexico, being located in a region that is between five tectonic plates: the Caribbean, Pacific, North American, Rivera and Cocos plates, makes it a highly seismic area, however, according to science they are coincidences since it cannot be predicted. when an earthquake or earthquake will occur.
Sediment is another factor
On the other hand, the center of Mexico City, which is one of the most populated cities in the world, was built on land that in ancient times was a huge network of lakes that meandered through the capital’s land.
According to the capital’s Civil Protection Secretariat, the city’s soil presents a mixture of different types of sediments in a small region. Three types of sediments are distinguished: firm, soft and transitional. These characteristics of the soil type of the Valley of Mexico allow the seismic waves to suffer a very large amplification and take longer to fade. The most immediate consequence is that earthquakes spread with greater force, causing disasters in their wake.
In conclusion, although there are scientific factors of earthquakes, it is important that we understand that it’s a coincidencean event that is undoubtedly singular, but means that it has a certain periodicity, because Mexico is a seismically active country where it shakes every day and many of these earthquakes are imperceptible.