Geologists debunk myths linking heatwaves to earthquake prediction

Experts and the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) have addressed public misconceptions regarding the relationship between surface weather and seismic activity following recent earthquakes in Colombia. Despite common myths suggesting that high temperatures or heatwaves can predict tremors, scientists clarify that there is no direct link between atmospheric conditions and the movements of tectonic plates.

Earthquakes are caused by the movement and deformation of tectonic plates deep within the Earth's crust. For instance, a recent seismic event in Colombia originated at a depth of approximately 103 kilometers, a level far removed from surface temperature fluctuations. While the Earth's interior is driven by radioactive heat that moves magma and plates, surface weather operates under entirely different dynamics.

Additionally, questions have arisen regarding whether recent seismic activity in Colombia is connected to previous earthquakes in Venezuela. While both nations are located in tectonically active regions, the specific connections between these individual events remain a subject of geological study.