Post by Paddy by Grace on Jan 29, 2009 5:36:45 GMT -7
www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_028082822.html
Minor earthquake occurred early Tuesday morning
Times-Tribune Staff Report
A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported outside of Williamsburg early Tuesday morning.
According to the Center for Earthquake Research and Information based in Memphis, Tenn., the earthquake happened at 6:20 a.m., with the epicenter located at Wofford, about four miles northeast of Williamsburg.
Angie Matney, supervisor at the Whitley County dispatch center, was on duty at the time of the earthquake and said the center didn’t receive any 911 calls about the event.
Tuesday’s earthquake occurred at a depth of 25.7 kilometers, a relatively shallow occurrence. Though the earthquake was large enough to be felt, it likely did little to cause alarm.
“It happened before daylight and sounded like an explosion or heavy thunder,” said Whitley County Extension Agent Phil Meeks, who lives in Goldbug. “I first heard it in the distance, and a second later it rattled my house a bit — not very much because it didn’t wake my wife or kids.”
According to earthquake magnitude classes described by the U.S. Geological Survey, anything less than a magnitude 3 is considered a “micro” event. “Minor” classification earthquakes, such as the one felt Tuesday, occur between magnitude 3 and 3.9.
A magnitude 6 earthquake is considered “strong,” a 7 is considered “major” and anything greater than a magnitude 8 is considered “great.”
According to USGS, most of Kentucky’s earthquake activity has occurred in the western part of the state, near the New Madrid seismic zone. From 1990 to 2006, eight earthquakes were reported in southeastern Kentucky, all of them minor.
The strongest earthquake in Kentucky’s history was a magnitude 5.2 that occurred on July 27, 1980, and originated near Sharpsburg, Ky.
According to USGS, there are an estimated 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. Only 100,000 of these can be felt, and about 100 of them cause damage.
According to the USGS, the largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 in Chile in 1960.
Minor earthquake occurred early Tuesday morning
Times-Tribune Staff Report
A magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported outside of Williamsburg early Tuesday morning.
According to the Center for Earthquake Research and Information based in Memphis, Tenn., the earthquake happened at 6:20 a.m., with the epicenter located at Wofford, about four miles northeast of Williamsburg.
Angie Matney, supervisor at the Whitley County dispatch center, was on duty at the time of the earthquake and said the center didn’t receive any 911 calls about the event.
Tuesday’s earthquake occurred at a depth of 25.7 kilometers, a relatively shallow occurrence. Though the earthquake was large enough to be felt, it likely did little to cause alarm.
“It happened before daylight and sounded like an explosion or heavy thunder,” said Whitley County Extension Agent Phil Meeks, who lives in Goldbug. “I first heard it in the distance, and a second later it rattled my house a bit — not very much because it didn’t wake my wife or kids.”
According to earthquake magnitude classes described by the U.S. Geological Survey, anything less than a magnitude 3 is considered a “micro” event. “Minor” classification earthquakes, such as the one felt Tuesday, occur between magnitude 3 and 3.9.
A magnitude 6 earthquake is considered “strong,” a 7 is considered “major” and anything greater than a magnitude 8 is considered “great.”
According to USGS, most of Kentucky’s earthquake activity has occurred in the western part of the state, near the New Madrid seismic zone. From 1990 to 2006, eight earthquakes were reported in southeastern Kentucky, all of them minor.
The strongest earthquake in Kentucky’s history was a magnitude 5.2 that occurred on July 27, 1980, and originated near Sharpsburg, Ky.
According to USGS, there are an estimated 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. Only 100,000 of these can be felt, and about 100 of them cause damage.
According to the USGS, the largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 in Chile in 1960.