New Madrid Seismic Zone: Dead or Alive?

Over 200 earthquakes per year occur in the New Madrid seismic zone. The challenge is to determine if this region will have a repeat of the large 1811-1812 earthquakes in the near future. Different data sources seem to give conflicting information about the level of stress buildup in the faults of the New Madrid seismic zone.

Accurate knowledge of the size of future earthquakes in the region is important for human safety as well as minimizing the additional costs (insurance, building codes) required to protect buildings from higher predicted seismic hazard.

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Question 1:
What is the geodetic evidence for seismic activity?
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Question 2:
What is the geologic (paleoseismic) evidence for seismic activity?
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Question 3:
Can we expect a repeat of the 1811-1812 sequence of earthquakes?
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Question 4:
What damage can we expect from a repeat of the 1811-1812 earthquake sequence?
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