Imperial Valley Earthquakes Catching Attention

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host

According to the Los Angeles Times, a swarm of more than 250 small earthquakes have struck Southern California just north of the California-Mexico border since New Year's Eve.  Scientists have taken notice.  While they have all been mild quakes, with the strongest being a magnitude 3.9, the Brawley Seismic Zone connects the San Andreas and Imperial faults, both of which can produce damaging earthquakes.

The swarm began Saturday, and increases the chance of an earthquake of magnitude 5 or larger.

The Imperial fault caused two major earthquakes in 1979, both at a magnitude-6.5.

A magnitude-7.1 hit El Centro in 1940, swaying buildings as far away as Los Angeles.

Earthquake swarms that occur at the north end of the Brawley Seismic Zone could trigger a major event on the San Andreas fault, one of California’s most dangerous, which could send catastrophic shaking into Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

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