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Not the Big One, but big enough ...

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  • 04-07-2019 11:14pm
    #1
    CelticRambler
    Registered Users Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭


    'Quake of magnitude 6.4 in California today, out in the Mojave Desert but felt from LA to Vegas.

    Even though the Big One has been spoken of for years, geologically speaking this is "not unexpected"; but given that this wasn't centred on the San Andreas fault you'd have to wonder if all the fracking and draining the aquifers for almond orchards in that area might have contributed to the force.


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    #2
    ceadaoin.
    Registered Users Posts: 8,276 ✭✭✭ceadaoin.


    Felt this here in Vegas this morning. Every quake that happens in California is supposedly a precursor to "the big one". I wouldn't be too worried tbh


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    #3
    dennyk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,701 ✭✭✭dennyk


    CelticRambler wrote: »
    Even though the Big One has been spoken of for years, geologically speaking this is "not unexpected"; but given that this wasn't centred on the San Andreas fault you'd have to wonder if all the fracking and draining the aquifers for almond orchards in that area might have contributed to the force.

    The San Andreas fault system isn't the only place quakes happen in California. The Walker Lane, of which Ridgecrest is a part, is plenty active as well, and the area around Ridgecrest produces earthquake swarms fairly regularly, so this is definitely not an unusual event. In fact, it's probably overdue, given the relative lack of quakes throughout that entire fault zone in recent times (fewer quakes means more energy is being built up over time from the constantly moving plates, which means you'll tend to get larger quakes when they do finally slip...).


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    #4
    ceadaoin.
    Registered Users Posts: 8,276 ✭✭✭ceadaoin.


    And another one a short while ago, felt a lot worse than yesterday.


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    #5
    CelticRambler
    Registered Users Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭CelticRambler


    dennyk wrote: »
    In fact, it's probably overdue, given the relative lack of quakes throughout that entire fault zone in recent times (fewer quakes means more energy is being built up over time from the constantly moving plates, which means you'll tend to get larger quakes when they do finally slip...).

    Hmm. That then would seem to disprove the suggestion that fracking is typically responsible for (lots of) mini-quakes, as they would surely help to dissipate some of that pent-up energy.


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