A small earthquake with a magnitude of 0.4 has been recorded off the north west coast of Wales, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS). The tremor occurred at a depth of 17km in the Irish Sea, with its epicentre located just over five miles southwest of Rhosneigr on Anglesey.
The earthquake was registered at 7.55am on Sunday, November 2. The BGS has not received any reports of impacts on land from the minor event. Northwest Wales is known for relatively high levels of seismicity, with several small tremors recorded in recent months.
In July, a 0.2-magnitude tremor was recorded 9.9 miles northeast of Amlwch, north Anglesey. The following month, a 1.6-magnitude event struck the Gwynedd village of Llwyndyrus on the Llŷn Peninsula. In September, a 0.7 tremor was recorded in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park at Llangyndir, and Powys has seen at least six tremors in the past three months.
Separately, a 3.3-magnitude earthquake was felt in parts of Perth and Kinross, Scotland, in late October. The BGS reported the quake began at 7.25am, with the epicentre in Pubil in the Glen Lyon region. The Volcano Discovery website received dozens of reports from residents and travellers in the area at the time.
Scientists continue to investigate possible links between solar activity and seismic events. Recent solar flares have driven geomagnetic storms, including a 'cannibal storm' among the largest in 20 years. While a direct link has not been established, studies suggest solar heating may affect rock properties and underground water movement, potentially playing a minor role in earthquake activity.
