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5.1 earthquake, aftershocks rattle California

Superfly

Superfly

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Superfly said:
5.1 earthquake, aftershocks rattle Southern Calif.

So last night a 5.1 earthquake hit LA.

4.4-magnitude earthquake hits Los Angeles area - CNN.com


assume it is the open ended Richter Scale, so the magnitude is not of concern. we get 3 + to 4.5 rather routinely as we sit atop the conjunction of three tectonic plates.

They do seem to have a pattern, but earthquakes are even more difficult to predict than volcanic activity or twisters.

Last week a 4.4 earthquake hit LA.



Granted, I am not a seismologist. But I've heard that smaller quakes lead up to a really big one. Thankfully, it's been years and years since we've had a really big West coast quake.

Are we in for another one? Anyone specialize in this?
Click to expand...


I assume it is the open ended Richter Scale, so the magnitude is not of concern. we get 3 + to 4.5 rather routinely as we sit atop the conjunction of three tectonic plates.

They do seem to have a pattern, but earthquakes are even more difficult to predict than volcanic activity or twisters.
 
These "Smaller" shifts within a fault zone are likely a release of pressure rather than an indicator of a build up. It is true there is often activity before a large earthquake, but this is certainly not an indication of it happening. Truth be told, the seismology field will clearly state it is guessing as much as anything.....we cannot know the complexity of fault dynamics at this point.
 
tecoyah said:
These "Smaller" shifts within a fault zone are likely a release of pressure rather than an indicator of a build up. It is true there is often activity before a large earthquake, but this is certainly not an indication of it happening. Truth be told, the seismology field will clearly state it is guessing as much as anything.....we cannot know the complexity of fault dynamics at this point.
Click to expand...

I grew up in So Cal and earth quakes became so normal to me I barely noticed them unless they were so big freeway over passes collapsed.
 
sawyerloggingon said:
I grew up in So Cal and earth quakes became so normal to me I barely noticed them unless they were so big freeway over passes collapsed.
Click to expand...

So did I.....nothing like laying in bed and counting to see if it was worth getting up.
 
sawyerloggingon said:
5.1 is a huge yawn in So Cal. People that live there barely notice it. You put things back on shelves and go about your business.
Click to expand...

I never said 5.1 was a big quake. I said it was a smaller quake, but could it lead up to a big quake.
 
oK - just wondering. I've never lived through any kind of an earthquake. My natural disasters are much different, living on this side of the country. :lol:

I'd just always read that smaller ones like the ones happening over the last few days, might be a precursor to something bigger.

Thanks for the info. :)
 
sawyerloggingon said:
5.1 is a huge yawn in So Cal. People that live there barely notice it. You put things back on shelves and go about your business.
Click to expand...

but all of a sudden, you get a loma prieta or a northridge
then, find a doorway for protection. QUICK!
 
Superfly said:
I never said 5.1 was a big quake. I said it was a smaller quake, but could it lead up to a big quake.
Click to expand...

So Cal is sitting on a huge fault line and the way I heard it when I was growing up was that small quakes release pressure and are a good thing but who knows. I was in a couple of big ones where everyone in the neighborhood ended up in the street in their pajamas or whatever, it was fun and exciting. :lol:
 
Superfly said:
5.1 earthquake, aftershocks rattle Southern Calif.

So last night a 5.1 earthquake hit LA.

4.4-magnitude earthquake hits Los Angeles area - CNN.com

Last week a 4.4 earthquake hit LA.



Granted, I am not a seismologist. But I've heard that smaller quakes lead up to a really big one. Thankfully, it's been years and years since we've had a really big West coast quake.

Are we in for another one? Anyone specialize in this?
Click to expand...

It's funny -- I was woken up by the 4.4 but never even knew until someone told me that a 5.1 hit.
 
sawyerloggingon said:
I grew up in So Cal and earth quakes became so normal to me I barely noticed them unless they were so big freeway over passes collapsed.
Click to expand...

They're actually quite rare these days. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of earthquakes I've experienced since moving here.
 
Ockham said:
You can see them right here on the interactive map:

Recent Earthquakes for Los_Angeles
Click to expand...

Thanks. :)

There are actually quite a few above 3.0 in the last couple of days. Y'all are saying that's normal? Are aftershocks that big? (sorry for the stupid questions - don't know about this stuff)
 
Superfly said:
Was the epicenter in different locations?
Click to expand...

They were, but the 5.1 was only marginally further from me than the 4.4. I should have felt it.
 
tecoyah said:
So did I.....nothing like laying in bed and counting to see if it was worth getting up.
Click to expand...

I also grew up there. After I left people would walk into my house and ask why I had nothing on the walls.

It really had never occured to me to put anything onthe walls. Things on walls fall off in earth quakes. I still don't have anything on my walls and I live in a different country.

I had a very small female friend back inthe 80s. She said she was deathly afraid of earth quakes. I couldn't understand that as they are no big deal.

When I saw her bedroom for the first time I finally understood.

She had a huge bookcase as the head of her bed and it was not attatched to the Wall in any way.

If a big one had hit, whe would have been crushed. I laughed at her a Little.
 
Cardinal said:
They were, but the 5.1 was only marginally further from me than the 4.4. I should have felt it.
Click to expand...

Oh, you know what? I was drinking. I was at a function last night and they were serving 16% alcohol wine. I didn't drink all week so my tolerance was at rock bottom, and the two glasses I had hit me like a truck. That probably explains it.
 
Cardinal said:
Oh, you know what? I was drinking. I was at a function last night and they were serving 16% alcohol wine. I didn't drink all week so my tolerance was at rock bottom, and the two glasses I had hit me like a truck. That probably explains it.
Click to expand...

:lol: I was wondering if you were just sleeping heavier through the 2nd one. Guess that's a "yes". :D
 
Superfly said:
5.1 earthquake, aftershocks rattle Southern Calif.

So last night a 5.1 earthquake hit LA.

4.4-magnitude earthquake hits Los Angeles area - CNN.com

Last week a 4.4 earthquake hit LA.



Granted, I am not a seismologist. But I've heard that smaller quakes lead up to a really big one. Thankfully, it's been years and years since we've had a really big West coast quake.

Are we in for another one? Anyone specialize in this?
Click to expand...

Can scientists predict earthquakes?

No, and it is unlikely they will ever be able to predict them. Scientists have tried many different ways of predicting earthquakes, but none have been successful. On any particular fault, scientists know there will be another earthquake sometime in the future, but they have no way of telling when it will happen.
Click to expand...

The Science of Earthquakes

Scientists may not be able to predict earthquakes but you know one day the San Andreas fault will separate and drastically reduce the size of California.

Pangaea, plate tectonics...

Pangea Continent Map - Continental Drift - Supercontinent
 
tecoyah said:
You do know that the San Andreas cannot do such a thing I hope.
Click to expand...

Hey, I saw Superman. I'm perfectly aware of what one well-placed nuke can do. Now admit it: I just scienced the **** out of you.
 
Cardinal said:
Hey, I saw Superman. I'm perfectly aware of what one well-placed nuke can do. Now admit it: I just scienced the **** out of you.
Click to expand...

Yup....but, I would expect nothing less from someone who has seen Superman.
 
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