Magnitude-5.1 Earthquake Strikes Calif.

[xultar]

Magnitude-5.1 Earthquake Strikes Calif.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20050416/ap_on_re_us/socal_quake
38 minutes ago

MARICOPA, Calif. - A magnitude-5.1 earthquake struck in Southern California on Saturday and could be felt dozens of miles away in downtown Los Angeles, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake struck at 12:18 p.m. and was centered about 13 miles east of Maricopa and 25 miles south-southwest of Bakersfield, according to a preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Maricopa is about 85 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, a Kern County Sheriff's Department supervisor said. A spokesman for the Los Angeles city fire department said he received no damage reports.
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I get the feeling that somethin big is setting itself up. There's too much rumbling going on across the world.

[Misunderestimator]

1. Oh great

:(

[Algorem]

2. Fred Thompson farted.

I'm sure that could cause a 5.1.

[Deja Q]

3. Everything has its time.

Ours might be 5.5 billions years too early.

[libertypirate]

4. Only a dozen miles...

it's nothing, when I have to hold on to the door frame to stand up let me know... Otherwise nothing but rubbernecking.

[xultar]

5. Consider all of the movements across the world over the past few

months, Mt. St. Helens waking, etc.

The earth is a churnin and a burnin 24/7. I think the Tsunami was just the precursor for something.

[smirkymonkey]

7. I agree...it's still going on.

There are earthquakes of 5-plus magnitude still happening everyday along the Pacific Rim, however they don't get widely reported because they don't hit populated areas.

I could be wrong, but it seems like such massive activity in one part of the world would have a pretty significant effect on geological events worldwide.

[AuntiBush]

42. With regards to "Physical Geography" it does.

Amazingly true. An activity like an earthquake does in deed affect parts across the globe. One of the most amazing electives I ever took. Scary at times, but gives one an appreciation for what Scientists "know."

Shame Chimp & followers only believe in "science" when it soots them.

[icymist]

47. Here's a good earthquake site of the US with maps:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqs/

We could also click on the world wide maps and get really scared, but today, I'm going to eat this delicious salad!

[Melynn]

9. It's the RAPTURE!!!!!!!!

Good news! Just make sure you convert so that you aren't "LEFT BEHIND". :sarcasm:

[thecai]

11. Kinda Reminds Me

My Dad's bumper-sticker says "If you're living like there is no God, YOU'D BETTER BE RIGHT!"

Oh, maybe it means "RIGHT WING".

[montana_hazeleyes]

30. More like the Rupture!

:D

[MADem]

32. Maybe it was a spelling error!

Rapture, Rupture....celibate, celebrate????

Talk about a big OOOPS!

[kurtyboy]

57. This year deviates in a statistically insignificant manner from the past

We can expect worldwide, on average, one magnitude 8 or greater quake per year, seventeen in the 7.0-7.9 range, and many dozens in the 6.0-6.9 range. The 5.1 just felt near Bakersfield is only one of the 1300 we will see this year, give or take.

From the USGS-- http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eqlists/eqstats.html

Type Magnitude Average Annual Occurence
Great 8 and higher 1 ¹
Major 7 - 7.9 17 ²
Strong 6 - 6.9 134 ²
Moderate 5 - 5.9 1319 ²
Light 4 - 4.9 13,000 (estimated)
Minor 3 - 3.9 130,000 (estimated)
Very Minor 2 - 2.9 1,300,000 (estimated)

¹ Based on observations since 1900.
² Based on onservations since 1990.

We had 6 great quakes in the last six years (including this year, which is not yet complete). 2004 had 2, 2002 had none, and the rest had one each. Nearly four months into the year, we've had only 2 major quakes--we'll need fifteen more to make the average.

That said, we should have a bumper crop of lesser quakes this year (6.9 and under) due to the thousands-upon-thousands of aftershocks resulting from the Banda Aceh megaquake at Christmas.

Overall--no big aberation to report here. This year and last year are normal, normal, normal.

[Trillo]

6. Adding a little historical perspective:

http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/info/cahist_eqs.html

We always have earthquakes. Lotsa fault lines.

[Xithras]

64. California only exists because of those fault lines.

If it weren't for the uplifts caused by the San Andreas and it's child faults, the natural coastline for California would be somewhere in the Sierra foothills.

[CountAllVotes]

8. best link for CA/NV quakes

Been living on the San Andreas fault my entire life. I guess you get used to it after awhile ... I guess ... I guess .... :scared: anyway *erp*

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Quakes/quakes0.html

:kick:

[montana_hazeleyes]

12. I have also.

Until a quake is in the range of 6 we don't pay much attention in these parts. All we do is take guesses on the magnitude. Most Bay Areans are pretty good at it.

I've been expecting something here before long. We (S.F. Bay Area ) have been unusually quiet since the Loma Prieta quake, 7.1 magnitude in 1989.

As a sidelight April 18th will be the 99th anniversary of the Big 1906 S. F. quake.

[CountAllVotes]

31. 1906

yep, I know all about that one.

It amazes the value of property in SF. I believe that over time many houses were lost - insurance was non-existent in the old days.

I was living in SF when the Loma Prieta earthquake stuck myself. Wasn't any fun AT ALL. However, I strongly believe another one is right around the corner.

:kick:

[montana_hazeleyes]

35. I agree.

It's been way too quiet since Loma Prieta. I get the feeling something big is coming also.

The Loma Prieta was the first one that scared me and I've been here all my over 50 years. The worst memory I have is of the collapse of the top level of 880 in Oakland and the cars and people trapped sandwiched inside. That was so horrific. That caused the most deaths from that quake.

[thecai]

60. That Was So Sad

My uncle operated a crane to remove those parts of the freeway. He said it was horrible.

[Up2Late]

10. Here's a map from USGS

[wallwriter]

14. That's a beautiful map...

[Jamastiene]

53. Love it. n/t

[TahitiNut]

40. I'll bet driving the Grapevine was fun during that one.

:eyes:

[Up2Late]

46. What road is "the Grapevine?"

Up in the mountains?

[TahitiNut]

51. It's I-5 over the mountains to Bakersfield.

Each side (north or south) has its own "special" feeling, but the south side would be the most fun during the quake, methinks.

[kineneb]

13. As a Cal native, so?

I hate to say this, but 5.1 is really unimpressive. Now Loma Prieta, at 7.3 was destructive. There are lots of ~5.0 earthquakes here, and other than jangling nerves and rattling the crockery, they are not important. Above 6.0 is where there is structural damage. Also, most newer buildings in Cal. have to meet certain structural codes.

Humorous note: the locals in Belgium were amused because we had never seen so much brick used for building. Here, it is just not used.

[tinrobot]

17. I agree...

I was unfortunate enough to live through both Loma Prieta and Northridge. A 5.1 is really nothing to write home about, and being 80 miles north makes it even less of an event for LA.

[magnussun]

18. As a Caleeefornian, it's creepy!

Though a 5.1 is not going to do structural damage, I worry more about damage done to earth's faultlines. We will get the "big one" someday, so any quake is scary in this populous state. I am not as worried being up in the mountains and self-sufficient, but city people are not prepared for the hardship a massive earthquake would produce.

M

[XemaSab]

36. small quakes

release stress on the earth and make it less likely that there will be a really big quake. the more small quakes the better.

[MADem]

33. I was in that earthquake!

My television walked across the room, the cats came out a few minutes before it and looked at me like "Hey, shit about to hit fan!" and then ran and hid. I was living in a house with those earthquake springs in the foundation, and it was like being in a box bouncing on a trampoline!

[Baclava]

15. No volcanoes in Cali?

Consider yourselves lucky.......

[Maple]

21. Oooh do you have a link

for that?

If you do, thanks!

[Roland99]

34. Google is your friend

:)


http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Indonesia/Maps/map_indonesia_volcanoes.html

[kineneb]

28. We several volcanos here, too

A short list-
Lassen, last eruption, 1914
Shasta, "extinct"
Konocti, "extinct"(and viewed out my window)
and lots of small cones around NorCal, mostly older.

Maybe not as many as poor Indonesia. Damn, they can't seem to win.

[XemaSab]

37. Mammoth:

"extinct."

Mono Craters:

"extinct."

Lava Beds and Medicine Lake:

"extinct."

Calistoga hotspot:

"extinct."

Lots of little "extinct" cinder cones and basalt flows and other little *interesting* features all over California.

[haele]

54. Mt. Lassen, Mt. Shasta, and Mammoth Mountain...

Lots of volcanic activity in California, however, we haven't had much since the 1914-1917 Mt. Lassen eruptions that threw ash and bits of pumice at least 250 miles.

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Lassen/Locale/framework.html

http://www.msss.com/earth/lassen/lassen2.html

Mammoth Mountain was expected to erupt and/or blow it's top a decade or so ago, lots of little quakes and a potential lava dome, but it went quiet (so far as volcanoes are quiet) after a couple years. There was an eruption scare at Shasta a few years ago.

List of active volcanoes in California:

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/California/framework.html

Haele

[all.of.me]

16. about a week ago, someone left a link to a world map of

the earth's activity. does anybody have that? it's not in my history anymore.

thanks.

[theHandpuppet]

20. Was it this one?

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

[all.of.me]

26. yes, that's it! thanks!

i spent hours looking over the world that night. this stuff fascinates me. thanks again.

[eaglenetsupport]

25. Here's the one I use

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/

[all.of.me]

27. this is great, too! thanks!

[HeeBGBz]

48. This one?

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

[all.of.me]

50. got it! thanks!

[DemoTex]

19. Dr. DemoTex is in LA at the Bonaventure hotel right now.

She is there until Monday. I rode out a couple of quakes at the Bonaventure. It is one of the safest hotels in the world from both quakes and fires. Still, I worry.


Westin Bonaventure
Los Angeles, Ca.

[KeepItReal]

44. Welcome to L.A.! Hope you enjoy your stay

Cheers, from an Ex-Houstonian now living in L.A..

:-)

[DemoTex]

45. Ah, she is there in LA .. not me. I am in the western mountains of NC!

I did time in Houston too. A' workin' for the boss-man Ken Lay (pre-Enron at Transco, when he was there). We lived in (actually ON) Montrose in the early 1980s. One block or so north of the University of St. Thomas and across the street from the River Cafe (Parc IV and V condos). We loved Montrose. Know whut I mean, Vern?

[Ilsa]

59. Hi DemoTex, from Texas Ilsa visiting southern Cal this weekend.

A friend was having her 50th b-day celebration this weekend. We met when she was a pilot in the Navy and I was a banker. I used to babysit her young'uns. I guess I was too far away to feel this one. Or too busy having fun.

[Tempest]

22. I felt it in Bakersfield

I was sitting on the couch when it hit.

It was a rolling earthquake, not a jarring one.

[Mountainman]

23. I was in Bakersfield and didn't feel anything

[Tempest]

24. Slight rolling

My neighbors didn't feel it either.

I was sitting down when it hit and it rocked me for 5 to 10 seconds.


Bakersfield was in the shake range.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/shakemap/sc/shake/14138080/intensity.html

[AlCzervik]

29. I remember my first earthquake in california and it was rolling indeed

i thought i was imagining things until i saw the pool water sloshing over the sides and then the news alert came on and confirmed the earthquake.

[ebayfool]

56. Hey, Caliente - Hi, almost neighbor!

I was on the floor taking a nap, didn't even roll over when the quake rolled thru (according to the kids)!

BTW - I love Caliente, beautiful area! We are from outside of Glennville, currently in Bksfld (specifically, Oildale - ewww!). Talk @ a fall from grace! Nice to see a few Kern DUers, bet we are few & far between.

[K8-EEE]

38. I like these little quakes...

my "unscientific" thinking is, oh good, blowing off steam.

Because if I really started thinking what a magnitude 9 or greater quake would do here in L.A., I'd move and I don't wanna move.

The Northridge quake in 94 was baaaaad. A woman I worked with and her fiance were killed when their house slid down the hill. We had to move out of the house we rented. It was the first time an EQ really scared me, I told my husband we should move back to where he is from (Buffalo) and he was like "no way! I'm not budging." We couldn't think of anywhere we wanted to live that wasn't EQ territory so since then I've developed a fatalistic view.

[Dem2theMax]

39. 48 yr. So. Cal. native here. Haven't missed one yet. BUT...has anyone

been HEARING the quakes before they actually start to shake? I'm not talking about the normal rattling of objects or windows shaking.
The last two quakes we've had, one near Mt. Palomar, rated a 2.9 and one a week ago, near El Cajon, rated 3.9, both of them were heard before they actually hit. The first time I was awake and thought a military helicopter must be in the distance and approaching. There was this huge roar, felt like it was coming from every direction. Then the quake hit and you could feel it in the ground, waving around under the earth.

Last week, I'm dead asleep in bed. All of a sudden, I sat bolt upright. The noise woke me up. Sounded like a freight train coming at me from every direction. I was still half asleep, trying to figure out what the noise/roar was. This was no 'normal' earthquake sound. Finally the shaking started and then I realized it was a quake. Waited till it stopped to get out of bed and log on and see where it was centered and how big it was. Strangely enough, many people, both on the TV and in the local paper, reported the strange noise that preceded the quake. I'm almost ready to put on a tin foil hat and start wondering if those were quakes or if the government is doing something underground.

Anyone else been HEARING quakes before feeling them? Weird I tell you, from one who has been through more than her share of quakes.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

61. I have hear that sound too! sounded like a long swhoosh or strong wind

I was in Hollywood when a quake hit years ago-Right up above Franklin toward the Hills, you know, one of those apts with a city view balcony---
Well,my windows and balcony door were open, it was quiet, and I heard a long swoosh wind/roar sound --very distinct! very loud - lasted for maybe 5-10 seconds, and then my apartment started rocking.
I've told people about the sound but haven't found anyone who noticed it too...

cool to know someone else has heard it!

[Daphne08]

41. We were driving northeast of LA in my husband's bumpy truck

and didn't feel it. In fact, I just found out about it here.

We've grown accustomed to the little ones (although 5.1 isn't that small) and really don't notice them so much anymore.

[scarletlib]

43. called my daughter who lives in LA

she didn't feel anything.

[theHandpuppet]

49. Quake sparks panic on Nias Island

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Quake-sparks-panic-on-Nias-Island/2005/04/17/1113676635658.html?oneclick=true

Quake sparks panic on Nias Island

April 17, 2005 - 9:50AM


A powerful undersea earthquake has struck the Indonesian island of Nias, causing widespread panic, officials said.


The quake measured an estimated 6.3 on the Richter scale and struck about 220 km out to sea south-south-west of the city of Medan at 11:44 pm (0244 AEST Sunday), the Hong Kong Observatory said in a statement.


Wijayanto, a Meteorology and Geophysics Agency official based in the town of Gunung Sitoli, on the eastern side of Nias island, said there was no tsunami threat from the tremor.


The quake cut off the town's electricity supply and caused widespread panic for residents in the town, with many women seen running for the hills clutching their babies, an AFP correspondent witnessed.


The town was blacked out for about 30 minutes after the quake but electricity was restored and police used megaphones to urge residents to remain calm.


It was the second quake to hit the area today, after a tremor measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the seabed 256 km west of Sumatra island in the middle of the afternoon.

MORE ....

[ailsagirl]

52. I'm sure the fundies are saying it's because we're a BLUE state

:applause: :rofl: :woohoo:

[roguevalley]

55. times that by two and you have the Alaskan one. It lasted nearly

six MINUTES. Amazing.

[thecai]

62. Blue State...

...with a red governator.

[ailsagirl]

63. Really. BLECCHHH!!!!!!!!!!

:puke:

I heard that Maria doesn't want him to run again-- not that he'd listen to anything a mere woman would say-- but maybe he won't!!!

God, I can dream, can't I??

[reprobate]

58. eBelieve it or not, I swear we saw it in Florida.

We were in Olive Garden for a late lunch when my wife pointed out that the hanging table lite was trembling. I joked that we were experiencing an earthquake, but a kind of punie one. It was about 3:30 PM local.

Wierd.