6.9 Quake off northern California coast

[GrauGeist]

We just had a serious earthquake centered offshore off Northern California's coast.

I actually didn't feel it here in Redding, but many friends in the area did. I hope any members that live out near the coast are safe.

M6.9 - 77km WNW of Ferndale, California 2014-03-10 05:18:12 UTC
M6.9 - 77km WNW of Ferndale, California 2014-03-10 05:18:12 UTC

 

[Thorlifter]

I hope everyone is safe.

 

[Lucky13]

Agree, hope that everybody's safe and sound...

 

[Airframes]

Me too. Keep us informed.

 

[michaelmaltby]

Stay safe

 

[Wayne Little]

Take care Guys!

 

[GrauGeist]

Over 20 aftershocks so far, strongest one was almost a 5

No reports of injuries or damage on the news. Hopefully it'll calm down, but has the people there on edge because back in the early 90's, two strong quakes hit and levelled one town and severelly damged a few others.

 

[mikewint]

Been nothing on the news around here so far. Is a tsunami a posibility?

 

[razor1uk]

I hope all will be well, but if memory of the 90's/000's Turkish quakes and recent tectonic theory has highlighted, since this is near the joint of 3 plates, then the littler plate is either releasing/equalising pressure or being pressurised; lots of small/micro quakes could suggest equalising, though those still influence the other 2 plate interactions.

Hopefully any further quakes will not spread further up the fault along landwards San Andreas line or Southwards across the Sea of Cortez. It's a question now which way, how and when the future quakes develop - the thinner tip of a blade will resonate more than the lower part of the blade will...

 

[GrauGeist]

Been nothing on the news around here so far. Is a tsunami a posibility?

Probably not on the news out there Mike, because we have quakes all the time

This one was fortunately centered off the coast so the land damage was minimal. They were watching for possible tsunamis, but the underwater quakes in this particular region rarely initiate a tsunami, so no worries.

Just for a point of interest here, the famous "San Andreas" faultline that bisects California, heads off shore at San Francisco and runs due north along the coast to the vicinity of Fortuna and Eureka, then turning abruptly west for and heading about 140 miles before heading towards Alaska. At the point where the San Andreas starts it's run offshore at Fortuna, is the start of another large offshore faultline that runs due north along California, Oregon and Washington and it's at this junction is where the Quake and aftershocks were centered.

Might mention that this offshore faultline that branches off the San Adreas faultline is the base of what is called the Cascadia subduction zone and it's the one that devestated Japan in the 1700's with one of the largest tsunamis ever recorded...

But for now, it sleeps

 

[syscom3]

Nothing happened. No reported injuries or damage. It was too far out to sea to do anything.

 

[Shinpachi]

I hope everyone is OK.

 

[mikewint]

Dave, maybe something will be on the evening news. Really great to hear that; damage is minimal and no tsunami

 

[GrauGeist]

Right Mike, just a few things knocked off shelves, scores of rattled nerves and the continuing aftershocks.

Fortunately, the ocean region where this quake is centered, doesn't generate tsunamis due to it's geographic layout.

 

[razor1uk]

With the luck of Vulcan, those words wont be ironic Grau..

 

[vikingBerserker]

Glad to hear everything is ok.

On a side note, is Matt visiting Chuck Norris in California????

 

[GrauGeist]

Glad to hear everything is ok.

On a side note, is Matt visiting Chuck Norris in California????

There are some real nice watering holes over there on the coast, in that area. I wouldn't be surprised if all this was a result of Matt's shenanigans

 

[vikingBerserker]

 

[Gnomey]

Stay safe everyone!

 

[gumbyk]

Wow, just read this!

Glad to hear everyone's safe.