Tulane geoscientist helping researchers understand rare north Louisiana earthquakes
A Tulane University geoscientist has installed seismic monitoring equipment in northwest Louisiana following an unusual series of earthquakes in the Coushatta area of Red River and DeSoto parishes, including the largest inland earthquake recorded in state history.
Since December, at least 14 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 2.5 have been detected in north Louisiana, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The most significant occurred on March 5 near Coushatta and measured magnitude 4.9. Several additional earthquakes, including one measuring magnitude 4.4, were recorded March 9 within minutes of one another.
Smaller earthquakes were missed because of the distances between large detection instruments.
Cynthia Ebinger, the Marshall-Heape Chair in Geology in Tulane University’s School of Science and Engineering, traveled to the region to deploy instruments that will help scientists better understand the source of the seismic activity.
