Friday, November 15

Second earthquake swarm in less than a week in Imperial County includes 4.3 quake


Several tremors shake the Salton Sea area, but respected specialist explains that the swarm was about 20 kilometers away from the San Andrés fault

Segundo enjambre de terremotos en menos de una semana en el Condado Imperial incluye temblor de 4.3
The San Andrés fault ends very close to where the seismic swarm was.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Ricardo López Juárez

A new seismic swarm was recorded Friday night in the lake area Salton Sea , in Southern California, including a earthquake of magnitude 4.3 according to the USGS. Some media wrongly reported that the tremor was 4.6.

The tremors were localized 13 kilometres southwest of Niland and about 15 of Calipatria, in Imperial County. The previous Saturday, just a few miles away, just south of the Salton Sea.

This Friday, the tremors began to be felt at 9: 22 pm with one of 2.6, followed by two of magnitude 3.9. The strongest (4.3) arrived at 9: 39 pm with a depth of 2.2 miles .

The orange dot shows the location of the earthquakes. / USGS

Then there were several tremors between 3.2 and 3.7, up to one of magnitude 4.1 at 9: 49 pm. After lowering the intensity of other movements, there was one of 3.9 at 10: 55 pm. No damage was reported.

Dr. Lucy Jones, one of the most respected earthquake specialists, said the swarm was located in the so-called Brawley Seismic Zone, where there are usually seismic swarms, very close to the San Andrés fault but not yet in range to activate a major earthquake .

This assumes that if the swarm had been some 15 kilometers further north then there would be possibilities of important activity with the dreaded San Andrés fault .

Tonight’s swarm is closer to the San Andreas, but still not in “triggering range”. All foreshocks in California have been within 10 km of their mainshock and most were within 3 km. This is still 22 + km away

– Dr. Lucy Jones (@DrLucyJones) June 12, 7861

“All aftershocks in California have been within 07 kms of the strongest and most tremor they were within 3 kms. This is still more than 20 kms away “.

La Falla de San Andrés ends at the top of the Salton Sea.

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