Yup, That Was an Earthquake that Shook Wareham This Morning (WBSM News)

Why Does the Earth Quake in New England?

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On July 6, 2019, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that occurred in Ridgecrest, CA was recorded by Weston Observatory. Below is the seismogram recorded in the BC O’Neill Library.

For more information about this earthquake see: Earthquakes put Ridgecrest residents on edge (CNN)

Scroll down for more about this earthquake, and earthquakes in California and New England in general, from Weston Observatory/Boston College Educational Seismology Project (BC-ESP) and Partners and Collaborators. Also follow Weston Observatory on Twitter (Twitter.com/Weston_Quakes) for updates.

Magnitude 7.1 Ridgecrest, CA earthquake, recorded by “Raspberry Shake” seismographs along the entire East Coast of the US: From Florida to Maine.

Weston Observatory recording of two major earthquakes on July 4, 2019: Top quake is Western Canada (6.2), bottom is Southern California (6.4).

WBZ Radio interviewing Alan about earthquakes in California and New England. If you scroll to the bottom you can listen to the audio recording of the interview:
https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/have-major-earthquakes-happened-in-new-england/
Click here to go directly to the audio recording of the interview.

Why Does the Earth Quake in New England?

Prof. John Ebel’s book on earthquakes in New England

July 5-7 at Pinon Flat seismic station in Southern CA. The 7.1 quake is buried in its huge signal, but all of those other spikes are earthquakes: aftershocks of previous quakes, maybe foreshocks of the 7.1 (??), aftershocks of the 7.1, etc.

July 7 at Pinon Flat seismic station in Southern CA. Those are mostly aftershocks, generally about magnitude 3 or so. Hopefully, the Earth is in the process of settling down after the big quakes…

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On July 4, 2019, two large earthquakes, magnitude 6.2 in Western Canada and magnitude 6.4 in Southern California, were recorded by Weston Observatory. Below are Weston seismograms of these earthquakes. (Top quake is Western Canada, bottom is Southern California.)

For more information about these earthquakes see:

This is the largest earthquake to hit Southern California since 1999 (CNN)

M 6.4 – 12km SW of Searles Valley, CA (USGS)

M 6.2 – 196km WSW of Bella Bella, Canada (USGS)

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On December 21 and 23, 2018, the magnitude 2.1 and 2.0 earthquakes that occurred in Gardner, MA were recorded by Weston Observatory. Below are “Raspberry Shake” (RS) seismograph recordings of these earthquakes, recorded at BC-ESP RS sites, and at other RS community sites.

For more information about these earthquakes see:

Second Earthquake in 2 Days Rattles Templeton-Gardner Area (7 News, Boston)

Additional information about this earthquake, and other New England quakes, can also be found at: U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website. and Why Does the Earth Quake in New England?

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On November 30, 2018, the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Alaska was recorded by Weston Observatory. Below is the Weston Observatory “Seismic Pier” and seismograms of this earthquake recorded by four different types of seismographs. Each different type of seismograph records different aspects of the earthquake that seismologists study.

For more information about this earthquake see:

Anchorage Earthquake Left Crumbling Buildings, Collapsed Roofs and Damaged Roads (CNN)

Additional information about this earthquake can also be found on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website.

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On October, 7, 2018, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that occurred in Haiti was recorded by Weston Observatory 😢 once again reminding us of the importance of being sensitive in our roles as seismologists regarding the human tragedy caused by powerful earthquakes. 😢

“Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake Hits Northern Haiti (CNN)”
https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/06/americas/haiti-earthquake/index.html

See Weston Observatory seismogram below: Magnitude 5.9 main shock on top, and magnitude 5.2 aftershock below.

Earthquakes are among the most frightening and devastating of natural hazards, often resulting in catastrophic loss of life and property 😢 And yet, earthquakes are also among the most fascinating of natural phenomena, teaching us humility in the face of the power of nature…

Additional information about this earthquake can also be found on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website.

Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/Weston_Quakes

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On September, 28, 2018, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that occurred in Indonesia was recorded by Weston Observatory (see seismogram below) 😢 once again reminding us of the importance of being sensitive in our roles as seismologists regarding the human tragedy caused by powerful earthquakes. 😢

“Indonesia Tsunami and Earthquake Kill 384, Leave Hundreds Injured (CNN)”
www.cnn.com/2018/09/29/asia/indonesia-earthquake/index.html

Earthquakes are among the most frightening and devastating of natural hazards, often resulting in catastrophic loss of life and property 😢 And yet, earthquakes are also among the most fascinating of natural phenomena, teaching us humility in the face of the power of nature…

Additional information about this earthquake can also be found on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website.

Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/Weston_Quakes

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On August 21, 2018, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that occurred in Venezuela was recorded by Weston Observatory. Below are seismograms of this earthquake recorded at Weston Observatory and on one of our “Raspberry Shake” seismographs.For more information about this earthquake see: 7.3-magnitude Quake Reported Along Venezuelan Coast (CNN)

Additional information about this earthquake can also be found on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website.

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On August 19, 2018, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake that occurred off the coast of Fiji was recorded by Weston Observatory, and during that same 24 hours four other major earthquakes were also recorded: Colombia (5.6), Indonesia (6.3), Fiji (6.8), Indonesia (6.9).

Below is a seismogram of these earthquakes recorded on one of our sites of the Boston College Educational Seismology Project (BC-ESP): Gleason Public Library in Carlisle, MA.

For more information about the magnitude 8.2 earthquake see: 8.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes in South Pacific off Fiji (CNN)

Additional information about the magnitude 8.2 earthquake can also be found on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website.

Alan Kafka
Weston Observatory
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Boston College

On August 12, 2018, the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that occurred in northern Alaska was recorded by Weston Observatory. Below is a seismogram of this earthquake (and a magnitude 6.4 aftershock) recorded on one of our “Raspberry Shake” seismographs.

For more information about this earthquake see:

Large Earthquake in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Raises Questions About New Oil Drilling Leases (temblor.net)

Additional information about this earthquake can also be found on the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake monitoring website.