credit: base images: GoogleEarth, IRIS
credit: overlay: MSB
I found this latest earthquake to be interesting, 100 miles off the coast of California / Oregon, a magnitude 4.4.
The magnitude is of no particular interest, however it’s location is, at least to me… Given the recent very large earthquakes that have been shaking at the Pacific tectonic plate boundaries during the past year or so, the remaining ‘untouched’ region so far has been the west coast U.S (untouched – meaning a large earthquake).
While looking at the location of the past 5,000 earthquakes in the region shown in the map above, it is interesting that the recent magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred in an area by itself, with no other apparent history of quakes there. In itself this is not alarming, but given the specific region with it’s very high concentration of historical earthquakes pulling and tugging at the Pacific plate boundary, the specific location of yesterday’s quake is exactly between two very active zones.
Could it be a precursor or fore-shock of the next big Pacific plate earthquake? Or is it just another anomaly. No one knows of course, but it did peak my curiosity.
The region is complicated in that on the left there is the Pacific plate, which is actually pulling away from the coast there. Towards the right, just off the coast of Oregon and northern California lies the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where the piece in-between itself and the Pacific plate (the Juan de Fuca plate) is actually diving down underneath the North American plate to the right.
This subduction zone is capable of producing magnitude 9+ earthquakes, and it’s historical timetable is due for another one.
Got your earthquake kit ready?
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“Failure to prepare is preparing for failure. Be prepared…” CBz
10.0 coming, make room and be wise, June looks likely! Lets change it with a sincere focus on time lines.
Ken, If a magnitude 9.+ should happen at this spot, and I hope it doesent, apart from the hitting the area very hard, how do you think it would affect the rest of the USA,or even the planet ? would it cause you guys problems within the USA in the areas of food, fuel etc. what could we do to help? what do you think people could do to be more prepared ? the thought of being so far away and not able to help is frustrating to say the least!
Stay safe you guys!
I believe that if a major 9.0 earthquake + several aftershocks occur, it will be totally devastating to the West Coast, simply because most buildings are not up to the standards that they are in Japan (most damage from the events in Japan are from the tsunami, not the earthquake itself). I know in Seattle, where I live, after a 6.8 earthquake in 2001 we had some buildings walls fall and the highway next to downtown was damaged to the point they’re removing it now. I would expect to see significant damage in the major urban centers within a 200 mile radius of the earthquake, and moderate damage 400 miles from the epicenter. Major buildings (like those 20+ stories) could collapse and kill hundreds in a single go. And in cities like San Fransisco, the buildings are just too old to have been built to such standards. Highway 101, which runs along the coast, would be destroyed but I-5 would not be as well as the numerous highways going to the west coast. I think the US would have an easier time responding to a crisis like this because of one thing to our advantage: sheer size of this nation.… Read more »
Go where???… No gas; massive traffic jams; no running water; spotty elctricity service; predators everywhere; climatic conditions depending on season; chance favors the prepared, be a victim or do the work now. Let the tidal waves wipe the slate clean and start over…..can’t live forever.
Esker, thanks for all the info, very interesting. Lets pray that people take notice of the warnings and are prepared the best way they can.Stay safe
Can the earthquake be related to the Juan De Fuca plate. I watched a show on earthquakes and they talked about the Juan De Fuca plate and how it was wedged between the pacific plate and was buckling up the North American plate and once it goes it will cause a mega thrust that will be totally devastating. This is right outside of Oregon. They claim this will be the next to cause a really big quake and tsunami. I don’t know much about this so excuse me if I get anything wrong but this is something to look into.
H.A.R.R.P.U
It’s strange as I am sitting here about to hit the sack it’s 12:25AM, I just had the strangest sensation and almost feel dizzy while thinking is that a mild rumbling I feel?? Another strange occurrence as I was driving home from work today I couldn’t take my eyes off the sky, very strange clouds they appeared angry and feathery and the other half of the sky was clear and sunny. Sorry for the poor description but it’s hard to put into words. The time is near for the quake, this I know!! Jesus Christ is my earthquake survival kit..along with a few other items that can help temporarily;-)
I had the same feeling tonight, I could not take my eyes from looking at the sky, the clouds, and they looked angry, different,sureal, its hard to put into words,but deep down I felt something big was pending! the strange thing is, I live in Scotland UK! I dont know the time difference between us, It was around 8.15 -8. 30 pm sunday. Yes,I belive to that the quake is not far off.
If we stand on the rock then we are standing on solid ground!
our hope is in you Lord!
Average between Cascadia quakes over the last 16,000 years is around 500 years..sometimes a 1000 year space between.I’ve heard that “we are due for the big one”a lot but its not true,last one was 1700 so its been 300 years.
Not to say it could’nt happen tomorrow!
Just wanted to add as we live on the Oregon Coast that I’m doing some research because in a local diary of a early pioneer, he talks about a mega quake and tidal wave where we live. He says he thought it was the end of the world. The water went for miles. That event happened in the 1850’s folks, so this may mean it happens more often than we think. I am passing this information I am collecting to Dr. Goldfinger=the expert on the Cascadia Fault. We need to get more prepared because it could happen any day…Not a time to let your guard down-think ahead….No one knows for sure…I’m hoping he’ll be able to come out here to do some soil sampling and collect more information, so we have a better record of how often they really do happen..
Robin, I agree with you, the more info everyone has the more prepared they can be and that includes being safer. The sooner everyone is prepared the better, no one can give a definite time or date but they do say it will happen so, all you guys over there, please stay safe and get prepared, ASAP.
Hey guys, just wanted to post again b4 I shut it down for the evening and share a little info that I thought would be useful. So on another site I visit the host asked the women specifically how they have been feeling. Question was asked b/c of several women (myself included) have been having pressure in the ears like on a plane ride, strange bouts of no energy and strange aches in the neck and head, way different than the norm “i so stressed” aches. Speaking with my father who is on a work assignment in San Antonio TX complained to me Sunday that his ears were tight as if he needed to yawn to release the pressure. Could this be a result of the magnetic pull on earth right now? Just wanted to share along with another strange weather/cloud day in Oregon…still an uneasy feeling, a quake in the next several days?
God Bless..:-)
If you are interested in seeing the recent earthquake activity in the US and around the world go to USGS. When we had a small earthquake here, no one knew about it and it was on this site within the hour. Lots of activity in California, Alaska and of course in places that have already had major quakes. I don’t know if this out of the ordinary as this is the first time I have visited this site. I also was hoping that the more small quakes we have, the less likely we will have a mega one, but it seems from what I read it will take millions of small quakes and that is unlikely. In case you weren’t aware, we are building an ocean observatory out about 100 miles to the Juan De Fuca Fault. They are going down 20 miles, and I hope that doesn’t trigger something. Of course, it will take years to build. This project is through the U of W. Sad to say, that we had a disaster preparedness meeting where I live on the coast and very few people showed up. People are still in denial. My neighbor and I are trying to… Read more »