3.6.5. Intraplate seismicity: the New Madrid Seismic Zone analogue

There are no modern or historically known strong seismic events within the EEP. However, other cratons (e.g. central USA, central and western India) provide evidence for catastrophic intraplate earthquakes. Although still a subject of debates, the magnitude of 1811-1812 earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ) in central USA was estimated to exceed 7.0. The estimated recurrence interval exceeds 1000 years for magnitude 7 and 10000 years for magnitude 8 earthquakes (Newman et al., 1999), explaining the absence of a historical record in many stable areas. An analogue study on other regions of intraplate seismicity, and the NMSZ, in particular, is important to assess the risk of destructive earthquakes within the EEP, which may have a catastrophic societal impact in highly populated and industrial areas.