Why did SP and RJ record earthquakes in the last few days? Understand

The Southeast region of Brazil has recorded distinct seismic activities in recent days. In Rio de Janeiro, a 3.3 magnitude tremor was recorded off the coast of Maricá, last Thursday (21). In São Paulo, the population reported vibrations, this Monday (25), resulting from a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Chile.

Although both events involve tremors, they have different origins and geological mechanisms. In the state of Rio de Janeiro it was a local shock, while in the capital of São Paulo a reflection of amplified seismic waves hit the ground.

Rio de Janeiro: Tremors on the ocean margin
The event recorded at 5:31 am last Thursday on the coast of Rio de Janeiro had its epicenter near Maricá. According to the Brazilian Seismographic Network (RSBR), this type of phenomenon occurs due to tectonic tensions that act on the Earth's crust.

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Seismologist Dr. Gilberto Leite, from the National Observatory, clarifies that the southeastern margin of Brazil is the country's main offshore seismic zone, where small earthquakes are relatively frequent.

As it is an event of low magnitude and located at sea, there were no reports that the population felt the impact, nor any record of significant risks.

São Paulo: Reflections of earthquakes in the Andes
Different from the case in Rio de Janeiro, the tremors felt in São Paulo this Monday (25) originated thousands of kilometers away, in northern Chile.

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The perception of the earthquake in the capital of São Paulo, especially in tall buildings in the West zone, is due to the fact that the city is located on a sedimentary basin.

The geological feature has the property of amplifying seismic waves that travel through the crust. USP experts reinforce that, despite the discomfort reported by residents, it is "very unlikely" that distant earthquakes will cause structural damage in São Paulo.

Difference between tremor and earthquake
The technical distinction between the terms is based on the intensity and magnitude of the event.

According to the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB), low-intensity phenomena, such as those recently recorded in Minas Gerais (2.9 mR) and Rio de Janeiro (3.3 mR), are classified as earthquakes or seismic shocks.

The term earthquake is technically reserved for events of greater magnitude and great extent of rupture, such as the one that occurred in Chile.

Security and earthquake engineering
Brazil is located in the center of the South American Plate, a tectonically stable region, which explains why most national earthquakes are of low intensity.

In civil engineering, seismic studies design buildings with structural redundancy and controlled deformation capacity to withstand dynamic loads, ensuring greater stability.

Source: CNN