Earthquake Swarm

Earthquake Swarm occurs when multiple seismic events of comparable intensity strike a small area in relatively quick succession

Earthquake Swarm

Earthquake Swarm Latest News

A state of emergency has been declared on Greece’s Santorini and the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi after a swarm of undersea earthquakes this month.

About Earthquake Swarm

  • It occurs when multiple seismic events of comparable intensity strike a small area in relatively quick succession.
  • It involves a series of many (sometimes thousands) low-intensity earthquakes without a discernible main shock that can occur over weeks in active geothermal areas.
  • When seismic energy piles up inside the Earth and is released in small amounts from certain points, such a series of earthquakes can occur.

What Causes Swarm Sequences?

  • Fluid movement
    • In volcanic environments, this can be fluid released from deeper magma or circulating within active geothermal areas (in volcanic areas such as the Taupō Volcanic Zone).
    • The earthquakes triggered by fluids occur as fault slip on the cracks and faults through which the water is moving.
  • Active volcanism
    • Magma movement can also act as the ‘driving mechanism’ for swarms, creating the earthquakes as magma-filled cracks push their way through the Earth’s crust.
    • In such a case the earthquakes commonly occur near the crack tip (ahead of the magma where the crack is starting to open), or off to the side of the crack.
  • Slow-slip events
    • A slow-slip event is essentially an earthquake in slow-motion, and typically involves centimetres to tens of centimetres of movement along a fault, over weeks to years.
    • We commonly see slow slip events at the Hikurangi subduction zone, usually at least one or two per year. 

Earthquake Swarm FAQs

Q1: What is the difference between earthquake aftershocks and swarms?

Ans: Aftershocks become less frequent with time, although they can continue for days, weeks, months, or even years for a very large mainshock. A swarm, on the other hand, is a sequence of mostly small earthquakes with no identifiable mainshock.

Q2: Where do most earthquakes occur?

Ans: It occurs along the rim of the Pacific Ocean

Q3: What is an earthquake?

Ans: An earthquake is a violent and abrupt shaking of the ground, caused by movement between tectonic plates along a fault line in the earth’s crust.

Source: TH

Latest UPSC Exam 2025 Updates

Last updated on July, 2025

UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.

UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is out now for the CSE held on 25 May 2025.

UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025  are available now.

UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.

→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.

UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.

UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.

→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.

UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!

UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.

→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi

Vajiram Editor
Vajiram Editor
UPSC GS Course 2026
UPSC GS Course 2026
₹1,75,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
Prelims PowerupTest Series
Prelims PowerupTest Series
₹13000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mains Test Series
UPSC Mains Test Series
₹16000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹85000
Enroll Now
Enquire Now