By Ana Meza Roman
A 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2016. It hit around 7:02 a.m.
The earthquake was one of the biggest in Oklahoma since 2011. There were tremors reported in Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Although there were no injuries, some buildings and houses were cracked.
Scientists believe this earthquake was man made and it was caused by fracking.
Fracking is the disposal of wastewater from oil and natural gas companies.
According to Dictionary.com, fracking is a process in which fractures in rocks below the earth’s surface are opened and widened by injecting chemicals and liquids at high pressure used especially to extract natural gas or oil.
Fracking is bad for the earth because it can cause earthquakes and it pollutes the water.
“While it may be a necessity for human life right now, fracking is harmful to human health, can contaminate drinking supplies, and leads to minor earthquakes in areas that normally don’t experience it,” said Science teacher Mark Novotny.
According to forbes.com, Frackers have used this method of extracting gas and oil since 1947, and it has caused earthquakes in other places in the world, not just Oklahoma.
Between the years 1973 and 2003, there have been 21 earthquakes reported of a 3.0-point or more magnitude mainly around the Central U.S, including Nebraska, Arkansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Kentucky, Colorado and South Dakota.
There are Pros and Cons to fracking. There have been over 100 “Fraccidents.” According to treehugger.com Fraccidents are something that has caused poisoned drinking water, polluted air, mysterious animal deaths, as well as industrial disasters and explosions. Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio have been the states with the most Fraccidents in the U.S.
There are other Cons as well. According to conserve-energy-future.com, although it’s an efficient energy source, it can contaminate surface and groundwater sources around the fracking site. This happens when the fluid used is left behind and it contaminates future water.
Fracking releases chemicals like Nitrogen Oxides, Toluene and Benzene that can harm humans and wildlife. Fracking is also responsible for record droughts in places like California and Texas. Fracking also uses huge amounts of water and spreads toxins.
However there are some Pros. Fracking helps lower gas prices. It also provides more jobs for people and it reduces the air pollution. Fracking pollutes the air less than what Fossil Fuels leave behind.