Yellowstone Earthquake Update

keci ^ | (12/31/08) | Christian Hauser

[Flavius]

Nearly 400 earthquakes have rocked Yellowstone National Park since last Friday. The quakes are putting scientists on alert, but they say this type of activity isn't unusual. As long as the quakes continue, the park will keep a very close eye on the region.

Hank Heasler, the Park's Geologist, said "Back in 1985, up to 3 months of earthquakes (occured). (They were) up to magnitudes 4.7. So the past four days have been relatively energetic for the last few years."

Scientists say predicitng earthquakes is still in it's infancy and not reliable. Park officials are not worried that this swarm of quakes could lead to a catastrophic event. However with the lack of accurate forecasting it is possible that these small tremors could be a precursor to a much bigger quake or even a volcanic eruption.

[travelagent]

Thank you...

[bannie]

wwwstatic.kern.org/filer/GISManilaWebsite/gismaps/kerncountysuperintendentofschools/Bakersfield_Isabella_Dam_Burst1.pdf

[Flavius]

http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/Yellowstone.html

[Flavius]

http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/Yellowstone.html

[uglybiker]

Well, of course they're interested! They're vulcanologists! It's what they do!

And they have the added benefit of spending the new year plying their trade here in the U.S. as opposed to some third-world sh*thole!

[Nuc1]

Yes it was true but I don’t know if the tilt is still present.

[Loud Mime]

Where’s the electricity going to come from to run your “new Trane furnace with the super-filter” when the all the electrical substations in the western two thirds of the country are shorted out due to ash?

From the batteries on our Prius! /s

[uglybiker]

Yellowstone Animation.

[ASOC]

Check yur freepmail

[TYVets]

The Lake, Mary Lake, and Mirror Lake Plateau seismographs looks downright ugly tonight.

Almost constant movement for the past 5-6 hours.

I just looked at the Webcorders for the seismographs at Mary Lake and Mirror Lake Plateau, neither of them have been reporting since about 5PM MST today.

Any idea why?

The Yellowstone Lake seismograph is working.

[SVTCobra03]

Bug Out Bag and Bug Out Vehicle.

[SVTCobra03]

If you look at the map Arkansas is just outside the red zone.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Holmes Hill and Soda Butte as well.

Interesting observation.

Wonder if those all feed through a common area?

[abigkahuna]

Here's something for ya: Form todays Telegraph.uk

Mr Smith, director of the Yellowstone Seismic Network, which operates seismic stations around the park, said the earthquakes have ranged in strength from barely detectable to Saturday's 3.9. A magnitude 4 earthquake is capable of producing moderate damage.

"This is an active volcanic and tectonic area, and these are the kinds of things we have to pay attention to," he said. "We might be seeing something precursory.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/4032098/Yellowstone-Park-shaken-by-hundreds-of-earthquakes.html

[Drill Thrawl]

I remember as far east as NJ there was a haze in the sky and people had a hard time breathing. I worked in landscaping that summer. Man that sucked.

[djf]

Well, it has erupted in the past in regular volcano eruption form, I mean not Supervolcano type of eruptions.

70,000 years ago.

[djf]

Yup.
Get outa town or seriously hunker down time.

[GOPJ]

As long as the quakes continue, the park will keep a very close eye on the region.

Yep, the "region" from North Dakota to California...

[GOPJ]

Mary Lake and Mirror Lake Plateau, neither of them have been reporting since about 5PM MST today.

Are they in Yellowstone?

[21twelve]

Here’s a link to some information regarding Mt. Saint Helen’s about seismicity AFTER the main May 18, 1980 eruption. By the way, harmonics are the types of motion that cause buildings and bridges to fall apart.

http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/Seismicity/seismic_studies_1980-1983.html

The following major types of seismograms have been recognized at Mount St. Helens:

1) deep earthquakes and those located away from the volcano, which produce high-frequency signatures and sharp arrivals similar to tectonic earthquakes,

2) shallow earthquakes, located under the dome at depths of less than 3 kilometers, which produce medium-to-low-frequency seismic arrivals,

3) surface events, such as gas and tephra events, rockfalls associated with dome growth, and snow and rock avalanches from the crater walls, which produce complicated signatures with no clear beginning or end, and

4) harmonic tremor, which is a long-lasting, very rhythmic signal whose origin is not well understood but which is often associated with active volcanoes.

Increased seismic activity also preceded the post-May 18 explosive eruptions of 1980. Each of the seismic precursors were of a slightly different character, but two categories were recognized: shallow volcanic earthquake precursors and harmonic tremor precursors. harmonic tremor is a nearly continuous train of vibrations lasting from a few minutes to several hours.

An increase in shallow earthquakes preceded the July and October 1980 eruptions when a lava dome was present in the crater. Harmonic tremor preceded the May 25, June 12, and August 7, 1980, eruptions when the vent was open and no dome existed. Having learned from the seismic buildup preceding the May 25 explosive eruption, seismologists were able to issue warnings of the subsequent explosive events by at least 2 hours.