Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake Struck 4 km WNW of Mainz, Germany on December 23, 2010 01:35:58

Last Updated: 2014-11-07 01:43:12

On December 23, 2010 01:35:58 an earthquake with magnitude of 3.4 on the richter scale hit 4 km WNW of Mainz, Germany. The earthquake originated at a depth of approximately 9.0 kilometers below the Earth's surface on longitude 8.224° and latitude 49.993°. According to documented reports people felt the earth quake, No tsunami was triggered due to the earthquake.

Magnitude & Depth

The earthquake that appeared on December 23, 2010 01:35:58 had a magnitude of 3.4 on the richter scale. Which is considered to be a minor earthquake and is often felt but causes little to no damage.

Shallow earthquakes are considered between 0 and 70 km deep, while intermediate earthquakes range from 70 - 300 km deep and deep earthquakes are between 300 - 700 km deep.

Are shallow earthquakes more destructive?

Shallow quakes generally tend to be more damaging than deeper quakes. Seismic waves from deep quakes have to travel farther to the surface, losing energy along the way.

Nearby Cities and Towns

The nearest significant population center is Budenheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, located 4 kilometers or 3 miles ← W of the earthquake's epicenter. Other cities in close proximity include Mainz (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) located 4 km (2 mi) → E and Ober-Olm (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) located 6 km (4 mi) ↓ S of the epicenter.

In total, we found 546 cities in our database that might have been impacted by the earthquake.

Nearby Power Plants

We found a total 64 utility-scale power plants in the vecinity of the earthquakes epicenter. The closest being Kraftwerk Mainz Gas power plant, located 3 kilometers (2 miles) ↑ N from the epicenter.

Power Plants & Risks During Earthquakes

We found 7 types of power plants in the vecinity of the magnitude 3.4 earthquake that struck 4 km WNW of Mainz, Germany on December 23, 2010 01:35:58. These types were Hydro power plants, Gas power plants, Waste power plants, Nuclear power plants, Solar power plants, Coal power plants, Biomass power plants, below you find information how each type of power plant can pose a risk to you as a person or the ecosytem around you.

None of this information should be used as guidence in an event of an emergency, but rather as additional references to information provided by national, state and local authorities.

Hydropower

Hydropower plants are generally considered as safe in many aspects, but when it comes to severe earthquakes they pose a substantial risk that can manifest in the form of dam faliours, landslides and grave impacts on surrounding ecosystems.

Dam Failure

The most significant risk is the potential failure of the dam that holds the water reservoir. Severe ground shaking can damage or breach the dam, leading to downstream flooding and as a result endangering people and wildlife living downstream. Such an event can also have severe impact on key infrastructure that cascades through society.

Landslides

Earthquakes can trigger landslides in the areas surrounding hydropower plants, potentially damaging infrastructure and causing harm to nearby communities.

Damage to Aquatic Ecosystems

Both landslide and dam failures can have a severe impact on upstream and downstream aquatic wildlife, ecosystem and groundwater, resulting in longterm risks for people and industires living and operating in areas near the water supply.

To mitigate these risks, engineering and construction standards for hydropower plants often include earthquake-resistant designs. These designs incorporate measures such as flexible foundations, strengthened dam structures, and advanced monitoring systems to detect early signs of stress. Additionally, emergency plans and evacuation procedures should be in place to protect personnel and downstream communities in the event of a severe earthquake.

Nuclean Power

Nuclear power plant bear an inherent risk during earthquake events, as we all witnessed on 11 of Mars 2011 in Fukushima. However, According to the World Nuclear Association, nuclear facilities are designed to witstand earthquakes.

"Nuclear facilities are designed so that earthquakes and other external events will not jeopardise the safety of the plant. In France for instance, nuclear plants are designed to withstand an earthquake twice as strong as the 1000-year event calculated for each site. It is estimated that, worldwide, 20% of nuclear reactors are operating in areas of significant seismic activity. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a Safety Guide on Seismic Risks for Nuclear Power Plants. Various systems are used in planning, including Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA), which is recommended by IAEA and widely accepted."

"Peak ground acceleration (PGA) or design basis earthquake ground motion (DBGM) is measured in Galileo units – Gal (cm/sec2) or g – the force of gravity, one g being 980 Gal. PGA has long been considered an unsatisfactory indicator of damage to structures, and some seismologists are proposing to replace it with cumulative average velocity (CAV) as a more useful metric than ground acceleration since it brings in displacement and duration and "operators are able to determine the absence of potential damages with high confidence" according to the IAEA."

"The logarithmic Richter magnitude scale (or more precisely the Moment Magnitude Scale more generally used today*) measures the overall energy released in an earthquake, and there is not always a good correlation between that and intensity (ground motion) in a particular place. Japan has a seismic intensity scale in shindo units 0 to 7, with weak/strong divisions at levels 5 and 6, hence ten levels. This describes the surface intensity at particular places, rather than the magnitude of the earthquake itself."

Gas Power

Gas power plants can pose significant risks to people and the environment in their vicinity during earthquakes.

Gas Leaks and Fires

Gas power plants rely on natural gas, which can leak from pipelines and equipment when damaged by seismic activity. These leaks can lead to fires and explosions, endangering people in the plant's vicinity.

Impact on Air Quality

Gas power plants emit pollutants, and fires caused by gas leaks during an earthquake can release harmful substances into the air. This can pose health risks to nearby residents.

Environmental Impact

Gas leaks can also harm the local environment, potentially contaminating soil and water sources.

To mitigate these risks, most modern gas power plants have robust safety measures in place, including gas leak detection systems, emergency response plans, and communication protocols to alert nearby communities in case of an incident. Additionally, local authorities should conduct risk assessments and ensure that emergency services are well-prepared to respond to potential hazards posed by gas power plants during earthquakes.

Solar Power

Solar power plants generally pose fewer risks compared to conventional power plants that use fossil fuels or nuclear energy. However, they are not without their own set of potential risks and challenges. Below you can find some of the risks associated with solar power plants in an event of a severe earthquake.

Environmental Impact

The production of solar panels involves the use of various materials, including rare metals and chemicals. Severe earthquakes could potentially introduce these into the ecosystems of their location.

Fire Risk

Although the solar panels themselves are not typically a fire hazard, electrical components like inverters and batterises that store the electricity can pose a risk. Electrical malfunctions or faults can lead to fires, especially in poorly maintained systems in an event of a severe earthquake, and thus pose a longterm risk for the local ecosystem.

Overall, the mitigation of risks associated with utility-scale solar power plants involves a combination of technological advancements, sustainable practices, regulatory adherence, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance.

Biomass Power

Biomass power plants, which generate electricity by burning organic materials like wood, agricultural residues, or waste, can pose certain risks during earthquakes. While biomass power plants are generally considered less hazardous than some other types of power generation facilities, yet there are still potential risks to be aware of.

Fire Risk

One of the primary risks associated with biomass power plants during earthquakes is the potential for fires. The shaking during an earthquake can damage electrical systems, equipment, and fuel storage, which may lead to electrical faults and fires.

Fuel Handling

Earthquakes can disrupt the fuel handling systems in a biomass plant, potentially causing spills or accidents related to the storage and transportation of biomass feedstock.

It's important to note that the specific risks associated with biomass power plants can vary based on factors such as plant size, location, and design. The biomass power industry prioritizes safety and works closely with regulatory authorities to ensure that biomass energy is generated with minimal risk to people and the environment, even in earthquake-prone regions.

Data Information

Information found on this page is a derivative set, based on sources mentioned below.

Data Sources

We aggregate and combine data from USGS (United States Geographical Survey) and the EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre). This allow us to get near real-time and historical earthquake data dating back to the year 1950.

Disclaimer

Information or data found on this page should not be used for, or as an early warning system. It is intended as an historical reference or near real-time complementary information to offical and governmental sources. In an event of an emergency it is important closely monitor and follow advice from national, state and local authorities.