Earthquakes

"...no earthquake in the UK area in historical times has exceeded a value of around 5.7 Mw." (Musson, Roger, The case for large (M >7) earthquakes felt in the UK in historical times) This is a quote then from a 2008 report looking into the United Kingdoms history of earthquakes. In reference, the highest magnitude earthquake ever recorded was 9.5 in Valdivia, Chile in 1960. 

The U.K. isn't known for its earthquakes, but that doesn't stop The British Geological Survey, which is a natural environment research council that has set up 100 seismograph stations across the U.K. They track about 100 earthquakes a year, 20% of which are actually felt by people. According to detection statistics, the U.K. may expect an earthquake with a magnitude of 3 every year, within 4 every 10 years and within 5 every 100 years. Although the United Kingdom hasn't felt a large earthquake in decades, preparation is always a consideration towards of an ever increasing population that could easily be affected if a large quake devastated a large inland city.

"Modern London has about 40 times as many people living in it and while a comparable earthquake would certainly not cause a disaster on an international scale, the level of shaking would come as an unpleasant shock in a country that tends to think of itself as immune from earthquakes." (British Geological Survey) Constant focus is spent on learning the locations and sizes of the seismic waves sent through the British Isles to prepare for the possibility of a third large scale quake on a more populated modern society. The best source of information for geologist in the U.K. to prevent disaster and prepare for this natural hazard is using the data they are currently collecting, the ever increasing progress of earthquake prevention technology and taking the events throughout history to prepare for the possibility of another high magnitude quake. Only through study and educating will the U.K. be ready for what is considered by many a non earthquake country, a mistake Haitians made in January 2010.

Sources

Are yesterday's earthquakes tomorrow's disasters? | British Geological Survey (BGS). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.quakes.bgs.ac.uk/research/yesterdaysearthquakes.html

Musson, R. (2009, January 6). The case for large (M >7) earthquakes felt in the UK in historical times - NERC Open Research Archive. Retrieved from http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/5356/