wrapvast.blogg.se - Most recent eartquake

There are approximately 100 faults known to be active within Arizona’s borders (Figure 1). If large enough (greater than about M6.3), earthquakes will disrupt the land surface (figure of Pitaycachi fault scarp). In this belt, there have been multiple events above M3.0 with an M5.0 occurring nearly every 10 years or so (see the image to the right).Įarthquake faults are fractures below and at the land surface that have evidence of rock, sediment and or soil offsets. There is a distinct seismic belt that runs from the north-northwestern to the southeastern part of the state, the Arizona Seismic Belt. The majority of Arizona’s earthquake activity occurs in the northern part of Arizona, although there are areas such the southeastern (Safford, Duncan, Tucson), southwestern (Yuma) and central mountain region (Prescott, Mayer, Holbrook) of the state that experience significant earthquake activity.

Most of the earthquakes in Arizona occur near 10km depth or deeper, and do not release enough energy to break the ground-surface. The resultant energy released from the breaking of the rocks is an earthquake.

This break in the rock is called a fault. Over time, buildup of stresses exceed the strength of the rocks undergoing the stress and they break. Where and why do earthquakes occur? – Earthquakes occur in areas where the crust of the Earth is under stress from plate tectonics.

Arizona earthquakes generally occur within a swath from the north-northwestern to the southeastern part of the state. Most of the earthquake activity is located within 5-10 miles of known faults. Over the last decade, the AZGS has improved seismic monitoring throughout the state and we are now capable of detecting in-state earthquakes with a Magnitude 3.0 or larger. But every 5-10 years a moderate-sized earthquakes remind us of the potential for larger, more destructive events. The latter shook Phoenix and was felt by perhaps millions of people.Įarthquakes in Arizona do not occur as frequently as they do in neighboring California, Nevada and Utah, but hundreds of earthquakes occur each year in Arizona.

Most recent felt events, include: 2005 M5.2 near Holbrook 2014 M5.3 near Duncan 2015 M4.1 near Black Canyon City, AZ.

1993 Cataract Creek Earthquake Sequence – Several earthquakes occurred in a swarm of events that included an M5.4 and M5.0 near Valle, just south of the South Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ.

1976 Prescott/Chino Valley Earthquake – An M5.0 earthquake occurred near Prescott, AZ.

These events were widely felt throughout northern Arizona.

1906, 1910, 1912 - Flagstaff Area, 3 moderate-sized earthquakes (magnitude range from M6.0 to M6.2) rattled Flagstaff at the turn of the 20 th century.

1887 Sonoran Earthquake – A M7.6 earthquake on the Pitaycachi fault near the Arizona -Mexico border, south of Douglas killed nearly 60 people and was felt widely throughout the Southwest, including: Tucson, Bisbee, Yuma, Phoenix, Prescott, Albuquerque, El Paso, and Sonora, Mexico.

The Arizona Geological Survey maintains an active catalogue of earthquake activity that includes events recorded by the Arizona Broadband Seismic Network.

Arizona has earthquakes! Each year hundreds of unfelt and several felt earthquakes occur in Arizona (see the graphic to the right for felt 3+ magnitude earthquakes).