Lets bet on the date we'll have a 7-10 in the metro.

We don't have any major fault here that would trigger one of those. The Meers fault in SW OK hasn't really been all that active recently. The closest possibility would be the New Madrid fault in SE Missouri. It is a bit dated, but an interesting read: http://156.110.192.25/newmadrid.pdf

Last thing, OGS has this out as part of their 2009 in review.


A brief update on the 2009 Oklahoma earthquakes northeast of Oklahoma City:

On average there are about 50 measurable earthquakes each year in Oklahoma with only a few of these having shaking strong enough to be felt. A total of 43 felt earthquakes in 2009 made this an exceptional year for seismic activity in Oklahoma. Twenty-seven of the felt earthquakes occurred in Oklahoma County, and another 7 were located in Lincoln County.


Is the number of felt earthquakes occurring northeast of Oklahoma City, unusual? Somewhat, but at this point there is no reason to be alarmed. Small earthquakes such as these can occur anywhere in the world. The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that there are as many as 3,000 of these small earthquakes occurring every day. Earthquake swarms like this can go on for many months, and usually do not lead up to a major earthquake.


Do we know what is causing the earthquakes? No, without further study it is not possible to determine what is causing the earthquakes. The USGS and the Oklahoma Geological Survey are working together to conduct a limited field study to better measure any future earthquakes that could occur in eastern Oklahoma County.

The closest possibility would be the New Madrid fault in SE Missouri. It is a bit dated, but an interesting read: http://156.110.192.25/newmadrid.pdf



I was thinking about that last night. As sad as the disaster is in Haiti......it should be a wake up call to everyone in a quake prone regions of our country. The San Andreas, the Cascadia, and especialy the New Madrid fault could cause catasprophic damage someday. The New Madrdid just because its in an area where buildings aren't up to code like they are (suppodsed to be) on the west coast. St Louis and Memphis could see alot of buildings come down if they have a major quake. Lets hope that day never comes....

4.0 in that area today. It's going up and up. To all residents there, be warned, the big one is about to strike.

I heard a boom today when I was walking on the OUHSC campus, roughly around the same time when that 4.0 earthquake occurred.

Venture, do you have any articles on that subduction zone that we supposedly sit on? Bonus points if it is in a science journal :)

We don't have any major fault here that would trigger one of those. The Meers fault in SW OK hasn't really been all that active recently. The closest possibility would be the New Madrid fault in SE Missouri. It is a bit dated, but an interesting read: http://156.110.192.25/newmadrid.pdf

Last thing, OGS has this out as part of their 2009 in review.

There's a major fault line that runs on the west side of OKC that is larger than the San Andreas fault in California. Thankfully, it is more stable. I believe Jonathan Condor talked on Channel 4 last night about the largest recorded earthquake to ever hit this area was a 5.5 magnitude back in the mid 1800's (he may have said 1950's but i heard 1850's) in El Reno. Oklahoma County is at the convergence of the 'Central Oklahoma Fault Zone' & the 'Nemaha Fault Zone'.

Here's the link to an awesome map I found. I don't know how to post the pic in here:

http://www.okgeosurvey1.gov/level2/geology/ok.geo.provinces.large.gif

I found this article this morning regarding Oklahomas strongest earthquakes in history. ....I remember my mother talking about it when I was a kid....at the time she worked at the telephone company in downtown okc and said it shook the whole building.

Historic Earthquakes (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1952_04_09.php)

Oklahoma (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/oklahoma/history.php)

3.8 Mag Quake for this morning
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010rmbm/us/us2010rmbm_ciim.jpg

And the 4.0 Mag Quake

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010rmbk/us/us2010rmbk_ciim.jpg

4.0 in that area today. It's going up and up. To all residents there, be warned, the big one is about to strike.

Give us a break. Oklahoma already has more than enough disasters every year.

I'm going to try to keep an updated map at Google. I wanted to do this in 2009 but didn't get a chance. Will eventually work on it.

Oklahoma Earthquakes 2010 - Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106769263262406480646.00047ce76a8ac63919633&t=h&z=12)

There's a major fault line that runs on the west side of OKC that is larger than the San Andreas fault in California. Thankfully, it is more stable. I believe Jonathan Condor talked on Channel 4 last night about the largest recorded earthquake to ever hit this area was a 5.5 magnitude back in the mid 1800's (he may have said 1950's but i heard 1850's) in El Reno. Oklahoma County is at the convergence of the 'Central Oklahoma Fault Zone' & the 'Nemaha Fault Zone'.

Here's the link to an awesome map I found. I don't know how to post the pic in here:

http://www.okgeosurvey1.gov/level2/geology/ok.geo.provinces.large.gif

OOOO Nice. I could never find anything like this. Must not have dug far enough.

OOOO Nice. I could never find anything like this. Must not have dug far enough.

You're welcome :irule:

I've been waiting a long time to use that emoticon, lol.

I think it's funny that I felt the 3.8 but slept through the 4.0. Maybe it's because I was actually asleep for the 4.0 and for the 3.8 I was laying there with my eyes open in that frozen mode right before you jut out of bed to get your day started, lol. But in regards to the 4.0, this damn dog was barking this morning that never does. He must have felt it...

I knew about the huge fault line that basically split the entire state in half.

There was a movie that aired on KFOR several years ago and it included Oklahoma and this fault line as one of the major events. Fantastic movie! I'm not sure if they exaggerated (sp?) how wide and deep this fault line can split as shown in the movie.

I really wish KFOR will air that movie again with all these latest earthquakes. Anyone remember the name of the movie? It was a small budget movie, only went straight to us rather than going to the theaters.

I knew about the huge fault line that basically split the entire state in half.

There was a movie that aired on KFOR several years ago and it included Oklahoma and this fault line as one of the major events. Fantastic movie! I'm not sure if they exaggerated (sp?) how wide and deep this fault line can split as shown in the movie.

I really wish KFOR will air that movie again with all these latest earthquakes. Anyone remember the name of the movie? It was a small budget movie, only went straight to us rather than going to the theaters.

Would this be the movie where they showed the ground crumbling away to create a huge chasm that was headed straight for a nuclear plant (haha, totally Hollywood) in Texas and they diverted it around the plant with explosives but it continued down to the gulf of Mexico and before we know it, Oklahoma was a new gulf inlet? If so, lol, I remember that movie. Quite cheesy!

Yes! It's a good movie and I enjoyed it. That was a bit odd that they were able to divert the shifting around the nuclear plant. They wasn't able to stop it, but the blast so powerful was able to direct it.

I wonder if this fault can actually split open and the gulf come rushing in? How possible is it?

Just wondering, have there been an earthquake anywhere in the world that split open exposing the lava down below?

Yes! It's a good movie and I enjoyed it. That was a bit odd that they were able to divert the shifting around the nuclear plant. They wasn't able to stop it, but the blast so powerful was able to direct it.

I wonder if this fault can actually split open and the gulf come rushing in? How possible is it?

Just wondering, have there been an earthquake anywhere in the world that split open exposing the lava down below?

Possible? Not very. Probable - maybe. However, when talking geology the time frame must be looked at a much broader scale. In Ethiopia right now is a perfect example of a rift that has developed in the crust.

http://newsone.com/files/2009/11/091103-ethiopia-crack.hlarge.jpg

http://www.intute.ac.uk/worldguide/satellite/2339.jpg

Many expect that this is the start of a new ocean. However, it just started to form in 2005. This will be a process that will continue for many years long after we've been recycled many times over.

However, it needs to be understood that is a gradual process of tearing. I can't find anything where an earthquake exposed magma away from an existing volcanic system.

Nice find venture..remindes me of the rift zone crossing Iceland.

I vaguely remember the movie Thunder was talking about, or maybe it was one of those discovery or science channel specials....I watch alot of that stuff so I get them confused, and it did show North America being split down the middle and a new ocean forming there.....but it seemed like they were talking about a time period of millions of years. The plates dont move very fast (maybe a few inches a year) and since there is no current plate boundary under Oklahoma I think we're safe.

With all the curent earthquake activity it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks and months though. Was todays quake the "big one" by our standards, or will there be a slightly stronger quake to follow? Gotta love Oklahoma. Just when I was getting bored for the lack of interesting weather!!!!!

Today was a fine line between minor and major.

http://kocoweatherblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/earthquake.jpg

Actually it wasn't. KOCO's graphic is highly inaccurate and they should be ashamed of having it up.

Some references from quality sources:

http://www.ogs.ou.edu/earthquakes/EarthquakemagnitudeSM.jpg

FAQs - Measuring Earthquakes (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/faq/?categoryID=2)

The Severity of an Earthquake (http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq4/severitygip.html)

Richter Magnitude (http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/magnitude.html)

Also on the USGS's map, it has the relation between Intensity to Shaking felt to Damage expected.

Does the depth of the quake also make a difference? For instance, the one in Haiti I read was just 10 feet below the ground, which made the impact all the more devastating.

Does the data indicate the depth of the two earlier today? I couldn't tell from the USGS site.

Yes, depth matters. The Haitian quake happened 6 miles below the earth's surface. This is why the level of destruction is so severe.

But the most severe shaking was over a small area of Haiti.

Here is a quick comparrison. Mind you the OK depth measurements aren't all that accurate - which is why they are deploying more equipment to get a handle on this swarm.

Magnitude
7.0
Date-Time
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 21:53:10 UTC
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 04:53:10 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
18.457°N, 72.533°W
Depth
13 km (8.1 miles) set by location program
Region
HAITI REGION
Distances
25 km (15 miles) WSW of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
130 km (80 miles) E of Les Cayes, Haiti
150 km (95 miles) S of Cap-Haitien, Haiti
1125 km (700 miles) SE of Miami, Florida
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 3.4 km (2.1 miles); depth fixed by location program

------

Magnitude
4.0
Date-Time
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 15:18:25 UTC
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 09:18:25 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.592°N, 97.258°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
4 km (3 miles) NE (44°) from Jones, OK
10 km (6 miles) SE (143°) from Arcadia, OK
10 km (6 miles) SW (218°) from Luther, OK
28 km (17 miles) ENE (64°) from Oklahoma City, OK
313 km (195 miles) N (352°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 6.5 km (4.0 miles); depth fixed by location program

It's not that deep....

Then they must have given the wrong information on Channel 4 last night. They said that if our 3 miles below the surface quake had been 6 miles below that we wouldn't have felt it. But the Haiti quake was 8 miles below? I think the obvious answer is what kind of fault you have and what kind of motion results from the shifting of the earth's crust.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010rwan/us/us2010rwan_ciim.jpg

Magnitude
3.7
Date-Time
Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 07:14:52 UTC
Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 01:14:52 AM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.564°N, 97.298°W
Depth
10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
1 km (0 miles) W (266°) from Jones, OK
9 km (5 miles) NNE (19°) from Nicoma Park, OK
9 km (6 miles) NE (46°) from Spencer, OK
23 km (14 miles) ENE (67°) from Oklahoma City, OK
311 km (193 miles) N (351°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 12.9 km (8.0 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters
NST= 8, Nph= 8, Dmin=141.6 km, Rmss=0.94 sec, Gp=133°,
M-type="Nuttli" surface wave magnitude (mbLg), Version=6
Source
USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID
us2010rwan

Oh my god!

Was just about to post about the quake tonight. People next door are having a party and I thought one of them had blown something up lol. Gave the house a pretty good jolt.

I didn't even feel it. :*(

Couple creaks down here in Norman, first time I'm noticed anything.

One difference from the other quakes, this one was centered deeper than the previous ones.

So, is that good or bad that it is deeper? Does that say anything?

I live in Choctaw. This one felt more powerful than any of the previous ones. Unlike the others which were over before you could even respond, this one shook the house for at least 5 seconds. I was asleep and actually had time to wake up, realize what was going on, and get completely out of bed before the shaking stopped. I would love to hear someone's take on what the hell's going on. This is getting rediculous.

On the news. portion of the ground had just opened and lava is shooting out right now. It's amazing sight to see! :-O

We had another earthquake about 1:30 am. Felt it in Midwest City around Post and
29th. It felt like the one we had Jan 15th.

I am in Choctaw the last quake on Sunday morning the 24th Jan was preceded by weird clouds and blue shy between them, when the rest of the sky was red, the sun was almost set. I'm not saying it was HAARP or anything but I made the comment on Twitter, oh look earthquake lights NW Choctaw. The clouds and color were very strange, wondering if anyone took pictures that night, would have been a good shot for a photo buff.

Sounds simply like a prettier than usual Oklahoma sunset.

Magnitude
2.5
Date-Time
Monday, February 01, 2010 at 23:43:04 UTC
Monday, February 01, 2010 at 05:43:04 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.547°N, 97.236°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
5 km (3 miles) ESE (112°) from Jones, OK
8 km (5 miles) NNE (22°) from Choctaw, OK
9 km (6 miles) NNW (329°) from Harrah, OK
28 km (17 miles) ENE (75°) from Oklahoma City, OK
308 km (192 miles) N (352°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 9.3 km (5.8 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters
NST= 9, Nph= 9, Dmin=24 km, Rmss=1.1 sec, Gp=108°,
M-type="Nuttli" surface wave magnitude (mbLg), Version=R

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010secf/us/us2010secf_ciim.jpg

Damn. AGAIN?

I am in Choctaw the last quake on Sunday morning the 24th Jan was preceded by weird clouds and blue shy between them, when the rest of the sky was red, the sun was almost set. I'm not saying it was HAARP or anything but I made the comment on Twitter, oh look earthquake lights NW Choctaw. The clouds and color were very strange, wondering if anyone took pictures that night, would have been a good shot for a photo buff.

Your tinfoil hat needs adjusting.

Smokin' the funny weed?

No funny weed, just weird blue sky at sunset. Thought someone may have snapped a picture. My camera only takes magenta pictures, something wrong with it. My tinfoil hat fits fine, I bet they've found ways to penetrate tin foil anyway.....

Boom! We had another one just before midnight (3.2). Did you feel it?

Magnitude
3.2
Date-Time
Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 05:30:55 UTC
Friday, February 12, 2010 at 11:30:55 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.583°N, 97.172°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
9 km (6 miles) S (169°) from Luther, OK
11 km (7 miles) E (79°) from Jones, OK
12 km (7 miles) N (5°) from Harrah, OK
34 km (21 miles) NW (321°) from Shawnee, OK
35 km (22 miles) ENE (71°) from Oklahoma City, OK
312 km (194 miles) N (354°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 7.6 km (4.7 miles); depth fixed by location program

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010sraq/us/us2010sraq_ciim.jpg

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010stak/us/us2010stak_ciim.jpg

Magnitude
2.8
Date-Time
Monday, February 15, 2010 at 03:32:25 UTC
Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 09:32:25 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.570°N, 97.275°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
2 km (1 miles) ENE (65°) from Jones, OK
10 km (6 miles) N (356°) from Choctaw, OK
10 km (6 miles) NNE (29°) from Nicoma Park, OK
25 km (16 miles) ENE (67°) from Oklahoma City, OK
311 km (194 miles) N (352°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 6.6 km (4.1 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters
NST= 12, Nph= 12, Dmin=36.6 km, Rmss=0.75 sec, Gp= 76°,
M-type="Nuttli" surface wave magnitude (mbLg), Version=6

Is it still a total mystery what's causing all these earthquakes?

Is it still a total mystery what's causing all these earthquakes?

I still maintain oil & gas development is suspect. I don't know for sure, but if there is a giant gas field in the area and then you could imagine what happens when some of the enormous pressures are released. Something is certainly going on.

I still maintain oil & gas development is suspect. I don't know for sure, but if there is a giant gas field in the area and then you could imagine what happens when some of the enormous pressures are released. Something is certainly going on.

I know that when the quakes centered around SE 44th and Bryant started, about 3-4 years ago, they were preceeded with renewed activity at the oil and gas wells in the area that had been dormant for close to 20 years. I have a friend who lives in the area who found it a little too coincidental that approx. 2-3 weeks after she started seeing trucks going into these well sites, for the first time in the 15 years she had lived there, that the quakes started. I don't pretend to know much about these things, but it does seem suspect.

I know that when the quakes centered around SE 44th and Bryant started, about 3-4 years ago, they were preceeded with renewed activity at the oil and gas wells in the area that had been dormant for close to 20 years. I have a friend who lives in the area who found it a little too coincidental that approx. 2-3 weeks after she started seeing trucks going into these well sites, for the first time in the 15 years she had lived there, that the quakes started. I don't pretend to know much about these things, but it does seem suspect.

The good thing, the USGS and OGS along with others have more equipment in the state now to help find the cause for these. The state is naturally seismically active, but this swarm has been pretty concentrated compared to past years. There was also an issue down in the Dallas area not too long ago where gas drilling and refilling with water caused a swarm of quakes. The operation was halted and the quakes did too.

I could be mistaken but I dont think there is O & G drilling in that area is there? The DFW area certainly does.

Thought this was interesting to read this morning:

Fault lines found under Jones, site of earthquakes

Associated Press - February 16, 2010 8:05 AM ET

JONES, Okla. (AP) - New detectors have found fault lines in the Jones area - where dozens of small earthquakes have been recorded since last year.

Six quake detectors known as NetQuakes accelerometers are on loan from the U.S. Geological Survey. They were set up this year to help scientists find answers to earthquake activity in the region.

There have been nine earthquakes felt this year in the area around Jones after 27 were recorded last year. No serious damage or injuries have been reported.

The NetQuakes machines are at Luther Middle School, Jones and Choctaw high schools, Science Museum Oklahoma and at two private residences in the area.


Information from: The Oklahoman, NewsOK (http://www.newsok.com)

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Makes sense. I'm wondering if this is an offshoot from the Nemaha or Central OK Fault. Kind of interesting that it has taken this long to discover it, but also shows there is a lot more going on underground we don't know about.

Another earthquake. - 2.6

2010 feb 19 14:35:00 lincoln f 2.6 35.641n 97.934w

Magnitude
2.9
Date-Time
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 16:12:48 UTC
Friday, February 19, 2010 at 10:12:48 AM at epicenter
Location
35.667°N, 97.051°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
3 km (2 miles) SSE (157°) from Wellston, OK
4 km (3 miles) WSW (242°) from Warwick, OK
11 km (7 miles) SE (145°) from Fallis, OK
38 km (23 miles) NNW (344°) from Shawnee, OK
48 km (30 miles) ENE (65°) from Oklahoma City, OK
320 km (199 miles) N (356°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 10.3 km (6.4 miles); depth fixed by location program
Parameters
NST= 8, Nph= 8, Dmin=46.2 km, Rmss=1.2 sec, Gp=104°,
M-type="Nuttli" surface wave magnitude (mbLg), Version=6

There has been conflicting reports. People are reporting 2 quakes, one at 0835 and one at 1012. The first quake was reported a 2.6 and the second (while I was gone) reported a 2.9.

http://www.okgeosurvey1.gov/level2/2010catalog.htm

There has been conflicting reports. People are reporting 2 quakes, one at 0835 and one at 1012. The first quake was reported a 2.6 and the second (while I was gone) reported a 2.9.

Untitled 0 (http://www.okgeosurvey1.gov/level2/2010catalog.htm)

Those are not conflicting reports. They are two separate quakes. The site you are looking at are seismograph recorded events, they don't record "quakes" that only people feel but not the machines.

Another one yesterday, 21st, registered a 2.5 and today registered a 2.1.

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/bulletin/neic_tbaf_2.gif

Magnitude
2.1
Date-Time
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 03:57:29 UTC
Monday, February 22, 2010 at 09:57:29 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.676°N, 97.038°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
3 km (2 miles) SE (126°) from Wellston, OK
3 km (2 miles) WSW (248°) from Warwick, OK
11 km (7 miles) SE (137°) from Fallis, OK
38 km (24 miles) NNW (346°) from Shawnee, OK
50 km (31 miles) ENE (64°) from Oklahoma City, OK
321 km (199 miles) N (356°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 9.3 km (5.8 miles); depth fixed by location program

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010szat/us/us2010szat_ciim.jpg

Magnitude
2.5
Date-Time
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 05:07:42 UTC
Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 11:07:42 PM at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location
35.659°N, 97.057°W
Depth
5 km (3.1 miles) set by location program
Region
OKLAHOMA
Distances
4 km (2 miles) S (171°) from Wellston, OK
5 km (3 miles) SW (236°) from Warwick, OK
12 km (7 miles) SSE (150°) from Fallis, OK
37 km (23 miles) NNW (342°) from Shawnee, OK
47 km (30 miles) ENE (65°) from Oklahoma City, OK
319 km (198 miles) N (356°) from Dallas, TX
Location Uncertainty
horizontal +/- 6.9 km (4.3 miles); depth fixed by location program

Glad you all keep that stuff up around Jones and such. I'm not certain
they have been able to fully shore up the Vista down here in Norman yet.

Wouldn't want to lose it for good.

I've never felt one. Might need to take a trip to California, or Jones...hmmm

...


== PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT ==

***This event has been revised.


Region: OKLAHOMA
Geographic coordinates: 35.571N, 97.094W
Magnitude: 3.1 M
Depth: 5 km
Universal Time (UTC): 26 Feb 2010 09:02:07
Time near the Epicenter: 26 Feb 2010 03:02:07
Local standard time in your area: 26 Feb 2010 09:02:07

Location with respect to nearby cities:
13 km (8 miles) NE (38 degrees) of Harrah, OK
13 km (8 miles) SE (139 degrees) of Luther, OK
14 km (8 miles) SSW (192 degrees) of Wellston, OK
41 km (26 miles) ENE (76 degrees) of Oklahoma City, OK
309 km (192 miles) N (355 degrees) of Dallas, TX