<p>There is a nice tracker for global earthquake activity at <a href="https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes/global-seismic-activity-level.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes/global-seismic-activity-level.html</a>, although it doesn't conveniently allow you to look at regional statistics, as opposed to global or national records.</p>
<p>At a global level there doesn't seem to be any particular increase in events , although in a quasi random series clustering in time and space isn't unexpected.</p>
<p>The perception that there might be an increase is probably a reflection of human and media behaviour; when one event occurs it heightens our interest and the likelihood of noticing other events. The media are far more likely to report a small earthquake occurring in the immediate aftermath of a large earthquake elsewhere in the world, than they would have if it had occurred in isolation.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-18T17:18:17.657Z
And you can look at the individual mentions: Greek EQs of M6 are pretty normal - so much so, they'd only raise an eyebrow from me if they were >7.2 or so.  Etna is one of the most active volcanoes near significant population. It would be more news-worthy if it was quiet for 5+ years. And are we seeing the same eruption? (I would say yes)  Iceland gets a volcanic eruption every ~2 yrs or so - you only hear about them when international air travel is disrupted, or the tabloids are bored of scaring people with immigrants and switch to volcanoes for a day or two (see also, Yellowstone).
winwaed
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-18T10:30:02.717Z
2021-03-18T10:30:02.717Z
Andy M
<p>It seems that Europe and the Mediterranean Sea have had high seismic activity in last six months. Major events which I remember are:</p>
<ul>
<li>2020 Aegean Sea earthquake, magnitude of 7.0  Mww</li>
<li>29 December 2020:  Petrinja, Croatia, magnitude 6.4 earthquake</li>
<li>Many Etna volcano eruptions</li>
<li>3 March 2021: Týrnavos, Greece  6.3  Mww</li>
<li>Many earthquakes in recent weeks in Iceland and an alert for volcanic eruption</li>
<li>Today (18 March 2021): 6.0 Mww earthquake in souther Mediterranean Sea, near Béjaïa, Algeria</li>
</ul>
<p>What could this high seismic activity across Europe tell us?</p>

<earthquakes><seismic>
Recent high seismic activity in Europe
user22053
# Recent high seismic activity in Europe

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-18)

It seems that Europe and the Mediterranean Sea have had high seismic activity in last six months. Major events which I remember are:

* 2020 Aegean Sea earthquake, magnitude of 7.0 Mww
* 29 December 2020: Petrinja, Croatia, magnitude 6.4 earthquake
* Many Etna volcano eruptions
* 3 March 2021: Týrnavos, Greece 6.3 Mww
* Many earthquakes in recent weeks in Iceland and an alert for volcanic eruption
* Today (18 March 2021): 6.0 Mww earthquake in souther Mediterranean Sea, near Béjaïa, Algeria

What could this high seismic activity across Europe tell us?

**Tags:** earthquakes, seismic


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-18. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

There is a nice tracker for global earthquake activity at <https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquakes/global-seismic-activity-level.html>, although it doesn't conveniently allow you to look at regional statistics, as opposed to global or national records.

At a global level there doesn't seem to be any particular increase in events , although in a quasi random series clustering in time and space isn't unexpected.

The perception that there might be an increase is probably a reflection of human and media behaviour; when one event occurs it heightens our interest and the likelihood of noticing other events. The media are far more likely to report a small earthquake occurring in the immediate aftermath of a large earthquake elsewhere in the world, than they would have if it had occurred in isolation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: And you can look at the individual mentions: Greek EQs of M6 are pretty normal - so much so, they'd only raise an eyebrow from me if they were >7.2 or so.  Etna is one of the most active volcanoes near significant population. It would be more news-worthy if it was quiet for 5+ years. And are we seeing the same eruption? (I would say yes)  Iceland gets a volcanic eruption every ~2 yrs or so - you only hear about them when international air travel is disrupted, or the tabloids are bored of scaring people with immigrants and switch to volcanoes for a day or two (see also, Yellowstone).  

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