Posted on 04/13/2010 7:10:57 PM PDT by bd476
KTLA NewsSoCal Experiencing Surge in Earthquake Activity
70 quakes greater than a magnitude 4.0 have struck the region this year -- more than any year in the past decade.
KTLA News
11:08 AM PDT, April 13, 2010
LOS ANGELES -- Southern California, along with Baja California, has seen a surge in moderate earthquake activity this year and scientists are trying to figure out what's causing the uptick.
There have been 70 quakes greater than a magnitude 4.0 so far this year. That's the most of any year in the last decade -- and, it's only April. There were 30 in 2009 and 29 in 2008.
Seismologists say they are looking into the recent surge but they can not yet fully explain it.
The string of earthquakes could mean that Southern California might again be entering a more active seismic period, and more significant quakes could be on the way, according to experts.
Scientists also said the increase does not mean the Big One is more likely to hit.
Egill Hauksson, a geophysicist at Caltech, told The Los Angeles Times that the rate of quakes in the region is "probably . . . picking up again" after a relative lull that lasted more than a decade.
"What it means is that we are going to have more earthquakes than in the average year. With more earthquakes, we're bound to have more bigger ones. But there are always fewer of those than the smaller ones."
Caltech seismologist Kate Hutton said experts would like to be able to explain the surge, but "there's no real correlation with any cause."
Many of the quakes this year have been aftershocks to the 7.2 magnitude temblor that struck the Mexicali area, killing two people. The border had previously experienced a swarm of earthquakes.
Scientists say one of their biggest concerns remains the San Andreas fault, which has produced some of the state's largest earthquakes and is said to be overdue for a major event.
I’m again glad I moved to Alaska, and even more so that I am on rocky ground unlike a silt plain like Turnagin Arm or along the coast like around Seward. There is a fault near me, a measely minor one, the 4.6 last week was less than 10 miles from me, I most definitely that one, it was one sharp jolt, almost like an upthrust.
I do not think its reasonable or logical to say of the hundreds of quakes a day we get in Alaska that they are leading up to a big one, if that was the rule then we should have had a 10.0 a long time ago.
I’m again glad I moved to Alaska, and even more so that I am on rocky ground unlike a silt plain like Turnagin Arm or along the coast like around Seward. There is a fault near me, a measely minor one, the 4.6 last week was less than 10 miles from me, I most definitely felt that one, it was one sharp jolt, almost like an upthrust.
I do not think its reasonable or logical to say of the hundreds of quakes a day we get in Alaska that they are leading up to a big one, if that was the rule then we should have had a 10.0 a long time ago.
(editing, missing word)
“To be frankly honest, I would move to firmer ground, like Utah?”
I’d suggest North Dakota. It is seismically very quiet there.
lol.
Yes it is..Still there as a Time Share and Golf Course...
While Utah is indeed seismically active, it's likely some folks might feel safer there than in an even more active zone.
Hmmmm
Thx.
I wonder what part of the planet is the LEAST earthquake prone, I’m thinking Australia.
You're welcome, Pollywog. It's funny but I had been listening to & partially watching a PBS documentary on earthquakes, heard Dr. Lucy Jones discuss probabilities, prediction and preparation and then suddenly the quake South of the border happened.
We rolled here for what seemed like 60 seconds. Before I learned where it was, my first thoughts were that it had to be a big one far away. The shaking reminded me of what I felt down here during the Loma Prieta quake.
Thank you, Ernest. That's very sad news! Prayers up for the people in Tibet and China affected by this quake.
INDEED.
Sigh.
Australia is on the southwestern side of the Pacific ring of fire. It looks like most of their EQs are in the southeast part of the country.
Excuse me .. I live here - so thanks for wishing me to drown.
VOA News
Dozens Killed in Powerful Earthquake in China
The 6.9 magnitude quake struck the area around Tibet early Wednesday
VOA News 13 April 2010
Chinese state-run media say 67 people are dead after a strong earthquake struck the area around Tibet in China early Wednesday.
Xinhua news agency says it has learned from local and military officials that many people are buried under the debris in the northwestern province of Qinghai.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the 6.9 magnitude earthquake was centered 240 kilometers north of Qamdo prefecture, which borders China's Sichuan province.
A massive 7.9 quake hit Sichuan province in 2008, killing close to 90,000 people.
Dozens Killed in Powerful Earthquake in China
Bd, It sure did feel like what I remember of the Loma Prieta quake. Went on for ever too.
Where exactly do you live?
Anything on the Raymond Fault or Whittier would shake Eagle Rock like a whip lash! A biggy on the San Andreas will probably be more likely...although this past week every one has had their eyes on the Elsinore Fault.
I thought it was strange that the quakes started up in a northwesterly direction, and then suddenly it made a right turn and jumped over to another fault line. Don’t know the names of the fault lines.
Very weird though!
Tornado Alley is fairly quiet usually. ;)
maybe you should look up the fault lines on wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andreas_Fault
no none of that could be true?
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