Geophysicists have identified a reason of a powerful earthquake that was recorded in Antarctica in 2020. A series of aftershocks was triggered by the awakening of the underwater volcano Orca.
In total, in the area of King George Island from August to November happened 85 earthquakes. Scientists have determined that the epicenter of so-called swarm of earthquakes was at the Orca seamount, which rises 9,000 meters above the seabed in the Bransfield Strait.
The strongest earthquakes in the series were recorded in October and November. Their magnitudes were 5.9 and 6.0, respectively. The shocks of earthquakes shifted the ground on King George Island by 11 centimeters.
However, as per the specialists, such sizeable shift could be caused by the penetration of magma into the earth's crust during the eruption of an underwater volcano.
Scientists intend to continue studying the geo-event, in particular, to measure the current depth of the seabed in the strait and compare it with historical maps.
