Tuesday’s earthquake in California likely not a ‘foreshock’ to larger one, expert says

Specialists say the 5.1 magnitude earthquake that hit San Jose on Tuesday just isn't a preview to one thing bigger.
AP

An earthquake that rattled elements of the San Francisco Bay Space on Tuesday might result in aftershocks that would final days or longer.

The magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck shortly earlier than midday simply southeast of San Jose, close to Alum Rock. It was broadly felt throughout the Bay Space. Individuals as far-off as San Diego and Lake Tahoe reported shaking.

A number of hours after the temblor, FOX Climate spoke to Kimberly Blisniuk, Ph.D., an earthquake geologist at San Jose State College in regards to the probabilities for added aftershocks.

“It’s primarily based on the dimensions of the magnitude, so it’s 67% of a magnitude 3 or above,” Blisniuk stated. “As we get to magnitude 5, which is what we simply felt, there’s a 2% likelihood.”

As of Wednesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey forecast for a magnitude 3 or higher quake was at 21% inside a day and 45% inside per week. The forecast for an earthquake bigger than a magnitude 5 or higher was lower than 1%.

There have been not less than three different tremors reported within the space the place Tuesday’s shaking occurred, starting from 2.7 to three.5 in magnitude.

Blisniuk stated Tuesday’s tremor occurred alongside the Hayward-Calaveras fault, which is a part of the bigger San Andreas fault system.

“These faults are principally accommodating movement between two huge tectonic plates,” Blisniuk stated. “The 2 plates are the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate.”

In accordance with the USGS, the Calaveras fault final produced a notable earthquake in October 2007. That was a 5.4-magnitude temblor close to Alum Rock.

California experiences two or three earthquakes every year that may trigger sizable harm and register a magnitude of 5.5 and better, in response to the Nationwide Earthquake Info Middle.