Why are there earthquakes in Manchester?!

[poppyj]

I am only a kid so please forgive me if i sound really stupid, but i am studying tectonic plates at the moment in science and how places like San Francisco have earthquakes because they are on the edge of a plate. But as Britain is not near the edge of a tectnoic plate can someone please explain to me why we have had earthquakes today and last month! Thanks xx

[poppyj]

thank u tartanwizard! You are a gem.

[Obo]

We do indeed have Earthquakes (between 200 and 300 earthquakes are detected and located in the UK each year by the British Geological Survey) which are caused by faultlines in the Earth's crust, granted faults in the UK are not as extensive as the San Andreas fault complex in California, and not "active" in the same sense. While the UK is not "currently" on the edge of a tectonic plate, where the majotity or tectonic activity occurs, this was not always the case and the geological history of the UK has left a legacy of crustal faults beneath us. So while we are distant from the nearest plate boundary, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, earthquakes occur as crustal stresses within the tectonic plates are relieved by movement occurring on these pre-existing fault planes. An Earthquake the size of the one experienced in Manchester yesterday occurs with a frequency of 1 in every 2 years or so. I suggest if you are interested in this topic you take a look here http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/ which is a good start point to learning more about the subject.

[Obo]

Man what a waste of an education, 3 years undergraduate 2 years post graduate and not even 1 star for my answer!

[poppyj]

Obo - i am so sorry. You constructed a brilliant answer and it was very much appreciated. I even printed it and took it into school to show my science teacher - who was also very impressed. If you ever answer one of ny questions again i will be sure not to be so ungrateful and i will give u the rating u deserve - which this time is 3 stars! xx

[Obo]

Thank you poppy, flattery will get you far in life! but no need to apologise I was only fishing for compliments and should know better! I do hope that you are interested in earthquakes and Geology in general, because I think that it is a most fascinating subject that is not covered in schools in anywhere enough detail, luckily the internet has a vast wealth of information on the subject. I would also echo Tartanwizards comment's, it is in fact the people who don't ask questions who are stupid, so never in any circumstances be afraid to ask a question.

[Obo]

Oooops, while I may know a thing or two about earthquakes I certainly wouldn't come to me and ask questions on english grammar and the use of the apostrophe, I hope you don't print out my last answer and show it to your teacher...!