Chuck Bednar for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
A swarm of seismic activity affecting a secluded area of northwestern Nevada has increased in intensity over the past few days, leading seismologists to issue new warnings about the possibility of a large earthquake occurring in the near future, various media outlets reported over the weekend.
Javier Panzar of the Los Angeles Times spoke to Ian Madin, chief scientist for Oregon’s Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, who said that approximately 750 earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 2.0 to 3.0 have occurred in the region roughly 40 to 50 miles southeast of Lakeview, Oregon since July.
However, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory told Reuters that three earthquakes of at least magnitude 4.0 have occurred since October 30, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) said that a dozen quakes between magnitude 2.5 or 3.6 hit the area on Friday. That activity was followed up by a magnitude 4.6 earthquake Tuesday, the laboratory said.
In a statement, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory said the current seismic activity resembled a swarm that took place in Adel, Oregon in 1968. That incident, the lab explained, also lasted several months and included three events of approximately magnitude 5.0. Furthermore, the current swarm is described as similar to the 2008 Mogul-Somersett swarm in west Reno, which consisted of escalating earthquake activity over a period of two months before culminating in a magnitude 5.0 event.
Image Above Credit: Nevada Seismological Laboratory
“Following any sequence of earthquakes similar to what is occurring in northwest Nevada, there is a small increase in the probability of a larger event,” the laboratory said. “Whether a larger event will occur in the northwest Nevada swarm cannot be predicted or forecast. However, large earthquakes can happen anywhere in Nevada, and we encourage citizens to take steps to prepare
Marcy Kreiter of International Business Times reported Saturday that the swarm originated around the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge on July 12, and despite the increase in strength and frequency, she noted that some experts are not convinced a larger quake is on the way. In fact, she quotes Madin as saying that there was a “slightly elevated risk” of a stronger seismic event.
However, Alison Ryan, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, told the Los Angeles Times that the 2,300 residents of Lakeview should prepare as though they are expecting a large earthquake. “If you are not ready for an earthquake, now is an awfully good time to get ready for an earthquake,” she said.
Likewise, John Vidale, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network at the University of Washington, told Panzar that scientists believe groundwater is gradually filtering through the region along the faults, causing pressure to build up and make movement on the faults much easier.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean anything big is coming, but it does raise the risk there will be a bigger quake in the future,” Vidale explained. “Ninety-nine percent of the time nothing too dramatic happens, but every now and then there is a good pop and everyone asks why we didn’t predict it.”
For earthquake preparedness information, visit http://www.seismo.unr.edu or http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/preparedness.php.
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Could Nevada Earthquake Swarm Lead To Larger Seismic Event?
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