Recent research reveals that an unusual energy transmission pattern during the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that struck New Jersey in April led to stronger shaking in New York City compared to the epicenter. This finding suggests that future disaster response strategies and seismic building standards may need to be adjusted sooner than expected.

A new paper published by Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory highlights that the earthquake, which occurred on April 5 in Tewksbury, is the strongest seismic activity in the New York metro area since 1900. Interestingly, despite being located several miles away from the epicenter, New York City experienced stronger tremors and damage. Over 150 buildings in the city reported minor damage, and there were instances of gas and water leaks in the Hudson Valley region further away from the epicenter.

The research indicates that natural factors primarily contributed to this phenomenon, not merely the density of buildings and population in New York City. By analyzing the Lg wave relative source-time functions from seismological stations near the epicenter, researchers developed a fault movement model showing that the energy released did not follow the traditional pathways along known fault lines. Instead, it propagated in a northeastern direction towards New York City.

The study illustrates that the core of the energy release extended from Nassau County on Long Island through Queens and into the Bronx and Westchester County, with the epicenter situated at the edge of this energy release zone. Researchers pointed out that the geological activity leading to the earthquake involved oblique fault ruptures that initiated at shallow depths, and because of the fault’s orientation, the energy release was directed northeast.

Furthermore, the paper notes that while researchers were not focused on identifying new geological faults, they suggested that the April earthquake released energy along a direction that differs from known fault lines. This implies that New York City’s earthquake preparedness and preventative measures may need to account for unexpected variables. According to Won-Young Kim, the paper’s co-author, earthquakes of around magnitude 5 occur on average every century in this region, emphasizing the potential for future seismic events.

A 2008 study from Columbia University indicated that Manhattan’s skyscrapers are generally built on strong bedrock with good seismic resistance; however, areas like Long Island City and Astoria in Queens are primarily composed of clay, sediment, and fill material, which poses a greater risk of damage during significant earthquakes.