The enigmatic Bala earthquake of 1974
Abstract
The earthquake that shook most of North Wales on the night of 23 January 1974 appears unremarkable from its entry in the UK earthquake catalogue. With a magnitude of 3.5 ML it represents the size of earthquake to be expected in the UK with a return period of about one year. However, the prominent atmospheric lights observed at the time of the shock led to speculation that an aircraft had crashed, and search-and-rescue teams were deployed. Since nothing was discovered, it was concluded that a meteorite was responsible; more imaginative members of the public decided (and still believe) that a UFO had crashed. In this paper the record of events is set out, and the nature of the earthquake is discussed with reference to its geological setting.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Geophysics
- Pub Date:
- October 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1111/j.1468-4004.2006.47511.x
- Bibcode:
- 2006A&G....47e..11M