earthquakes

2010 Earthquake Summary

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The Pacific Ring of Fire wins the prize for the most earthquakes during 2010. No doubt it is always the hot spot each year for activity.

In the world during 2010, there were 2,103 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and greater.

• magnitude 5 range (1,930), 46 percent more than 100 year average
• magnitude 6 range (151), 13 percent more than 100 year average
• magnitude 7 range (21), 40 percent more than 100 year average
• magnitude 8 range (1), exactly average

The largest earthquake of the year was a magnitude 8.8 located in Chile, South America.


The deadliest earthquake of the year was a magnitude 7.0 that killed more than 200,000 people in Haiti.


There were 226,895 deaths from earthquakes during 2010, one of the deadliest years on record.


The highest increase in the number of earthquakes of 10 and 100 year averages was in the magnitude 5 range (plus 43 percent), mainly as a result of aftershocks associated with the magnitude 7 range earthquakes. There were 40 percent more magnitude 7 earthquakes during 2010 than the last 100 year average, and 60 percent more than the last 10 year average (USGS statistics).


The most concentrated location of earthquakes and the shakiest place in the continental United States during 2010 was in southern California just north of the Mexican border near the tiny town of Coyote Wells, about 70 miles east of San Diego and 25 miles west of the Pacific Plate tectonic boundary. Although most were relatively small in magnitude, approximately 600 earthquakes, many hundreds more some spilling into Mexico rattled there during 2010.

An incredible number of earthquakes (about 3,000) and earthquake swarms rattled along the Aleutian islands of Alaska (a chain of volcanoes), located along the northern Pacific Plate boundary. Nearly 1,500 of those earthquakes shook in one concentrated area about two-thirds the way down the chain, just off the tip of a tiny island named Samalga island. This location is by far the largest concentration of earthquakes on the planet during 2010.

About 135 earthquakes rumbled in Oklahoma, most of which were located just a few miles outside of Oklahoma City, near no apparent fault lines. One earthquake there was the second largest ever recorded in Oklahoma.


The most powerful earthquake in the United States during 2010 was a magnitude 6.5 which shook just off the northern California coast near Fortuna and Eureka, at the Pacific Plate boundary.


The most powerful earthquake in Europe occurred near Granada, Spain, a magnitude 6.0.


The European country with the most earthquakes was Greece, and just off its shores (about 50).


Very active regions always include the island chains of Indonesia, up to the Philippines, over to Papua New Guinea, and down the countless number of island chains of the South Pacific Ocean, again at the Pacific Plate boundary (about 3,000 total earthquakes).


The following image is an animation of world earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and greater during 2010, differentiating those from magnitude range 5, 6, 7, and 8.

To summarize, the totals of all of the earthquake magnitude ranges from 5 on up, were way above average during the first three-quarters of the year. The last quarter has been somewhat slow and has lowered the average slightly closer to normal (magnitude 7 range is still quite high), while all categories (5 and up) remain above normal. It was a very active year.


Update, 21-Dec-2010, I will keep this up to date through the end of the year as new USGS statistics are updated. We just had a magnitude 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Japan, which brings that range total to 20. The very numerous aftershocks, many of them in the 5 range, will be added soon. This will surely change the higher percentage outcome.

Update, 25-Dec-2010, A magnitude 7.6 rocked the South Pacific today and is being followed my 5-range Aftershocks. It is incredible how two mag 7′s have knocked off just during the last 4 days! The mag 7 range is now sitting approximately 40 percent higher than the 100 year average, 60 percent higher than the 10 year average.



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Gulf of Aden, What Happened in November?

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An unusual earthquake event occurred off the coast of Yemen, underneath the Gulf of Aden during the month of November. The initial earthquake swarm rapidly ramped up during 14-Nov, while subsequent earthquakes rumbled on, even as late as 11-Dec.

The swarm event seemed unusual in that the majority of the earthquake depths during the first day were pin-pointed at 10 km, some of them 10.1 km below the seafloor of the Gulf of Aden.  The earthquakes that followed did not vary too far from this depth. The account of that event with maps and graphs can be viewed here, Major Earthquake Swarm off Yemen.


Initial explanations regarding the consistent 10 km depth included the notion that the USGS data will default to 10 km, “if they are not sure”. I find difficulty in subscribing to that theory because of the very accurate capabilities that exist in seismology today with accurate seismograph instruments scattered all around the world, which are triangulated and cross-checked with computer precision. All earthquake depths are resolved to the one-tenth kilometer, and displayed as such.


Some thought that perhaps magma was moving along channels, perhaps building up stress with threat of an undersea eruption. There certainly are numerous known volcanoes very close by within the region, mainly to the west.

Other explanations included the idea that HAARP somehow played a roll, affecting the Gulf of Aden all the way from Gakona, Alaska with its 33 acre antenna array and 3.6 million watt transmitting station which experiments with upper atmosphere and ionospheric propagation in HF (high frequency), ELF (extremely low frequency), and VLF (very low frequency) bands.

Other explanations from a few received E-mail messages suggested that a secret StarGate was opening, used by aliens, which the US government (base of operations in Djibouti at the Gulf of Aden) and other governments of the world were trying or using themselves to harness the mystical power, or communicate with other beings.

Or, it could be tectonic plate stress fractures along the divergent plate boundary that runs right up the middle of the Gulf of Aden.

We have put together an animated map showing the sequence of events as they occurred beginning 14-Nov-2010. It’s interesting to look for patterns.

Update, 31-Dec-2010, more earthquakes have popped today, apparently bringing the region back to life… (we will see what happens). Link to the original post for updated maps and stats, Major Earthquake Swarm off Yemen


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Major Earthquake Swarm off Yemen – Trouble??

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What is going on off of the coast of Yemen?!

There has been a tremendous number of earthquakes that began early during 14-Nov, and are ongoing at this moment.

More than 30 strong earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.5 to 5.4 have rattled under the sea where the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea meet at a point off of Yemen.

The depths have been mostly around 10km, with a few deeper. A closer look reveals something that appears highly unusual. That is, so far 20 of the earthquakes have been at a depth of exactly 10.0 km.

This earthquake swarm is occurring right now, and is happening right in the middle of major oil and freight transit sea lanes, the busiest in the world.

Stay tuned and check back for more details and graphics as this unfolds…

Yemen Earthquake Swarm, closeup view, Gulf of Aden

This map will be updated as the event unfolds.

If you have already viewed this once before,

You must Press your F5 key to refresh your browser cache for latest image versions:

The first earthquake occurred at 06:29, 14-Nov-2010 as a magnitude 4.6.

Just 3 minutes later, boom, a magnitude 5.4. Subsequent earthquakes have been shaking the ocean floor, some only minutes apart, and some just seconds apart.

The earthquake swarm location is at a tectonic plate boundary region where the Arabia plate meets the Somalia plate and the Nubia plate. A string of volcanoes are in the vicinity.

Update, 15-Nov, 04:00 UTC, they just keep on coming… 39 by my last count. Amazing. I wonder exactly where, and how deep the oil and gas fields are in the region, and what affect or hazard that an undersea volcanic eruption would present to that region.

Yemen Earthquake Swarm – Depths

What seems out of the ordinary, is how so many of the earthquakes have been at a 10 km depth. It’s as though there is a rift there, at that plane. The more recent earthquakes have varied a bit deeper, while there is one shallow 2.4 km event.

Press F5 to refresh browser to latest image:

<something feels unsettling about this one>

Update, 15-Nov, 1500 UTC, three additional earthquakes rumbled near magnitude 5 within 30 minutes of each other,  bringing the current total count up to 42. Location map and depth chart have been updated.


Tectonics

The earthquake swarm just off the southeast coast of Yemen is actually located on the Aden Ridge. This ridge separates the Arabian Plate and the Somalia Plate (Somalia Plate is a subplate of the African Plate). The ridge itself is pulling apart (a divergent boundary).

During 2005 in an area just 400 km from the current Aden Ridge earthquakes, a 35 mile stretch of land suddenly ripped open in Ethopia as two parts of the African continent pulled apart.

Not long after, a University of Rochester study, apparently published in an issue of Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that boundaries along the edges of tectonic ocean plates may suddenly break apart in large sections, instead of little by little as has been predominantly believed.

Could the earthquake swarm that we are witnessing, be a precursor to an undersea tear in the Gulf of Aden Ridge? Time will tell.


Look at this image showing the tectonic plate boundary and see how a larger cluster of earthquakes occurred to the north on the Arabian Plate, while a smaller group occurred on the Somalian Plate. Both are pulling away from each other, and the trench can be seen on the sea floor.

Here is a different view, showing more of a topographical map structure under the sea, and Gulf of Aden.

Volcanoes

The following image shows the location of all volcanoes nearby. There are so many that it nearly looks like Indonesia over on the Ring of Fire.

Update, 15-Nov, 21:30 Pacific, (UTC – 8:00), although less frequent during day #2 then day #1, this does not appear to be over yet. Expect new updates and maps in the morning.

Update, 16-Nov, 07:30 Pacific, (UTC – 8:00), total earthquakes from swarm equal 46, and activity has definitely subsided. We’ll see how it goes today. Whoops, minutes after typing this, there goes another (magnitude 4.8 at 9.8 km depth), so make that 47 so far.

Update, 17-Nov, 07:30 Pacific, (UTC – 8:00), there have a total of 47 earthquakes in the swarm, which appears to have stopped.

• Day 1, 37 earthquakes
• Day 2, 7 earthquakes
• Day 3, 3 earthquakes

Update, 18-Nov, 07:30 Pacific (UTC – 8:00), activity has not yet ceased. There were no earthquakes during the 17th, however 2 additional quakes so far during the 18th has brought the total number to 49. The depth map and closeup location map above should now be updated.

• Day 4, 0 earthquakes
• Day 5, 2 earthquakes

Update, 20-Nov, 08:30 Pacific (UTC – 8:00), after a quiet period, one more popped today at 9.8 km depth.

• Day 6, 0 earthquakes
• Day 7, 2 earthquakes

Update, 21-Nov, 13:00 Pacific (UTC – 8:00), it hasn’t given up yet… one more yesterday, and so far one more today.

• Day 8, 2 earthquakes

Update, 24-Nov, although the swarm frequency of occurrence is negligible at this time,  after 2 quiet days, another earthquake at 10 km depth brings the total to 53.

• Day 9, 0 earthquakes
• Day 10, 0 earthquakes
• Day 11, 1 earthquake

Update, 25-Nov, two more today, so far, 10 and 11 km.

Update, 30-Nov, after five days of quiet, the deepest quake so far popped at magnitude 4.6, depth 18.2 km.

Update, 5-Dec, 1 today, 9.5 km depth, magnitude 4.6

Update, 11-Dec, 1 today, 11.2 km depth, magnitude 4.8

Update, 31-Dec, after 20 days of silence, suddenly 2 new earthquakes pop here today, 11.4 and 9.6 km depth, magnitude 4.6 and 4.8.

Update, 10-Jan, it hasn’t stopped yet, 1 more today

Here is a map of the Yemen – Gulf of Aden earthquakes which shows more specific location detail. Many of the earthquakes seem to form a pattern, the way I see it. I drew lines connecting the earthquakes that appeared related in some way. Again, it’s just the way my eye sees it. Interesting.

Update, 19-Apr-2011
After a period of quiet, 2 Earthquakes within 30 minutes shake the sea floor of the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen and Djibouti, a magnitude 4.9 and 4.7. Could this be the beginnings of a new swarm? We’ll see…

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Earthquake In Oklahoma rattles Norman

Update: November 5,2011
40 miles away from Norman, near Prague, a sudden earthquake swarm has developed in Lincoln County Oklahoma.
Magnitudes 4.7, 3.4, 2.7, 2.7, 3.3, 3.3, 3.4, and they’re still coming…

The earthquakes are clearly occurring on a known fault as observed on a map from the Leonard Geophysical Observatory

Update:
(newsok.com) “The largest earthquake ever recorded in the state of Oklahoma struck Saturday night. The quake had a magnitude of 5.6, and its epicenter was four miles east of Sparks in Lincoln County, according to the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The quake hit at 10:53 p.m.”

The quake was the result of movement along the Seminole Uplift Structure, a broad subsurface feature, which is approximately 50 miles wide and over 75 miles long. The feature itself has a number of anticlines and faulted noses that account for much of the historic, prolific oil production in that area.

Original Post:
A magnitude 4.3 shook up residents around Norman Oklahoma during the morning of 13-Oct-2010, while the number of higher magnitude 2010 earthquakes continue to rise well above averages.

There is currently some discrepancy regarding the magnitude of the event. The USGS quickly rated a 4.3, IRIS has it rated 4.5, while the Oklahoma Geological Survey rated a magnitude 5.1

The Norman earthquake in Oklahoma, originating 5 miles underneath Lake Thunderbird, was one of the strongest ever felt in the state. The strongest was a magnitude 5.5 located in El Reno during 9-Apr-1952 when chimneys fell and plate glass windows were shattered.

Earthquakes in Oklahoma are not rare with between 50 and 150 recorded each year. However this year during 2010, more than 200 have rattled the state, while at the same time people around the world have been sensing a higher number of earthquakes.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey, Leonard Geophysical Observatory, verifies the 2010 earthquake increase in the following statement.

2010 has been an active year for earthquakes in Oklahoma.  The OGS has recorded more than 200 earthquakes which occurred in Oklahoma.  There have been nearly 60 earthquakes which were felt.  This is a much greater number than in years past (see figure below).  The seismicity at this point appears consistent with normal background seismicity.  Presently, the number of Earthquakes recorded in Oklahoma for 2010, appear more numerous than in years past but the fact remains that earthquake monitoring in our state was only initiated 50 years ago.   This is a very short period of the Earth’s history, and this activity may not be as unusual as it appears to us today.

Interestingly just two days prior to the Norman earthquake, 290 miles due East, a magnitude 4.0 followed by numerous aftershocks rattled central Arkansas, a location within the New Madrid seismic zone.

Residents of Oklahoma may soon be joining the ranks of Californians for Earthquake Insurance…

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Mag 7 Earthquakes Are Up 90 Percent

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The graphic image is stunning. Earthquakes of magnitude 7 – 7.9 are up 90 percent compared with the average number of earthquakes that have occurred during the last 10 years over the same time period, that is, from 1-Jan to 6-Oct, day number 279.

We are 76% of the way through 2010. If the earth does not shake with a single additional magnitude 7 – 7.9 earthquake, we will still finish the year 46% higher than the annual average during the last 10 years. We are only three magnitude 7 earthquakes away from double the average (10 yr.) number, and there are still 86 days to go!

I am just a casual observer with an interest in geophysical activities of the Earth, and while I have been tracking worldwide earthquakes and looking at new cumulative data each month with respect to 10 year and 100 year averages, earthquakes are occurring consistently more frequently this year.

Interestingly, we are not hearing any mention of increased earthquake activity in the main stream media, ore even in the main stream science circles. In fact, what little mention at all, has been downplayed or shrugged off. It will be curious to see if organizations like the USGS will downplay the earthquake statistics of magnitude 7 that are unfolding in front of our eyes.



(data gathered from the USGS and then averaged over time)


At the current rate, we will likely reach double or twice the number of average earthquakes in this magnitude range by the end of the year. In fact, all of the earthquake magnitude ranges that I track from 5 on up, are well above averages (except 8 – 9.9 where we are right at average at this time).

As a survival preparedness minded person, seeing statistics like these reaffirm my mindset that while we make our way through our day to day modern lives, we should regularly set aside some time and resources to prepare for uncertainty or disaster. The Earth is giving us warnings right under our feet that cannot be ignored. Take heed. Take first steps. Store some extra food and water. What could it hurt… You will eat and drink it eventually anyway.



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