#Los angeles quake windows

To illustrate, here are the odds there will be more strong earthquakes - magnitude-6.0 or above - given Friday’s event The bigger the puppy (higher magnitude quake), the more movement to reshuffle (more aftershocks).”īut as mentioned above, when any earthquake happens, the subsequent shakes are typically weaker, not stronger. “As one pup moves, the others squirm around to get comfy. Geophysicist Mika McKinnon compares the situation to a pile of puppies: That’s because earthquakes happen when tectonic plates - and the seismic fault lines where they smash into each other - are relieving stress. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images Will these strong earthquakes keep coming?Īfter one earthquake, it becomes more likely that future quakes will happen in that area. The store has remained open since the 7.1 earthquake struck in an effort to serve the community. The earthquake, which occurred July 5th, was the second large earthquake to hit the area in two days and the largest in Southern California in 20 years. It has now also started its own separate earthquake sequence.Īn employee works at the cash register at Eastridge Market, near broken bottles scattered on the floor, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck in the area, on Jin Ridgecrest, California. This initial sequence contributed to the rupture that caused Friday’s 7.1 quake, and Hough is now wondering if the same fault broke twice in two days, which would be unusual.īut by convention, Friday’s 7.1 earthquake will now be called the mainshock - rather than an aftershock - because it’s the largest event so far in this earthquake cluster.

Geologically, the 6.4 event on July 4 kicked off what’s known as an earthquake sequence - causing nearly 100 weaker aftershocks within 24 hours. Geological Survey.Īfter any seismic event, most subsequent shakes will be of lower magnitude, but there’s always a small chance of a larger quake, such as the one that occurred on Friday night. The “foreshock-mainshock-aftershock” system is considered overly simplistic by seismologist Susan Hough from the U.S. Was Friday’s 7.1 earthquake an aftershock of the one on July 4? Does it matter?

The last magnitude 7 quake to hit this region happened in 1999, so people may be wondering if Friday’s event was an aftershock to July 4, the main quake or even a prelude to a long anticipated “Big One.” (It’s not). It was the biggest aftershock from the past two days, which might lead to questions and concerns moving through the minds of Southern California residents.

#Los angeles quake windows

No injuries were reported, but glass windows shattered, buildings cracked, amusement parks were evacuated and more, rattling people from Mexico to Las Vegas who were already on edge. One day after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Southern California, another earthquake, this one even stronger at 7.1-magnitude, hit Friday night.