Does fracking cause natural diasters to occur? In LA where oil drilling occurs, researchers have found that earthquakes have risen from these same locations, which causes them to question whether humans are causing earthquakes. In these areas, drilling occurred at least 3,000 feet below the ground. David Jackson, a researcher from UCLA points out that oil drilling activity is the cause for these major earthquakes such as the one that occurred in Long Beach, California in 1933, which had a magnitude of 6.4 and killed 120 people. Not only has man caused earthquakes in Southern California, but in Oklahoma as well. Researchers found that during the 20th century when oil and gas production occurred, Oklahoma suffered from several major earthquakes. Although hard evidence has not been found that fracking is a factor in major earthquake occurrences, LA is more susceptible to earthquakes than residents believe. Fracking may not be the main cause of earthquakes occurring, but this technique of drilling is still degrading the environment. Due to the utilization of large quantities of water and chemicals that can contaminate groundwater in the process of fracking, environmentalists are concerned that industries are not using water wisely. If contamination occurs in groundwater, water becomes even more scarce for individuals, especially for those that rely on groundwater as a source to irrigate their crops. Therefore, large fracking industries must establish another alternative for fracking that does not deteriorate the environment. HTTP://WWW.SMITHSONIANMAG.COM/SMART-NEWS/OIL-DRILLING-MAY-HAVE-CAUSED-SOME-20TH-CENTURY-QUAKES-LA-180960986/#2DWMO50BM1FVKWX7.99GIVE THE GIFT OF SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE FOR ONLY $12! HTTP://BIT.LY/1CGUIGVFOLLOW US: @SMITHSONIANMAG ON TWITTER
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