4.1 Earthquake Today near Carbon Canyon

Co-workers were rushing to call each other about the earthquake that came along at about 1:30 this afternoon, so maybe there are more jitters than usual given the Imperial County swarm of quakes that have hit recently.

In any case, today's little episode was measured at 4.1 and has been located very close to the epicenter of the 5.5 temblor that hit in summer 2008 and has been called the "Chino Hills" quake, although it really ought to be more like the "Sleepy Hollow" shaker.  That larger quake would be somewhat more than 10 times as strong as the meek rumbler from today.  Today's was a tad smaller in Richter scale measurement than the 7 August quake that has been called the "Yorba Linda" quake, but was actually in the vicinity of that section of Chino Hills State Park near that city.

So, earthquake activity continues in and around Carbon Canyon, though today's was not much of an event.  Unless you're already jittery.

4.4 Earthquake Close to Carbon Canyon

A few minutes ago, while enjoying some Olympics gymnastics competitions, a short, but sharp jolt and movement was felt and it did seem quite close.

Indeed, it was a 4.4 earthquake that just now has been reported as being 2 miles northeast of Yorba Linda, which puts the epicenter within Chino Hills State Park at just about the same point (and, likely, the exact fault) as the most recent quake on 13 June, less than two months back.  At 5 1/2 miles below the surface, it is considered a shallow shaker, hence the stronger feeling for those of us up above.

At that magnitude, damage is most probably non-existent, but this is a reminder that there has been some fairly significant seismic activity, recall the 5+ shaker that hit a few years back on 29 July 2008, in this area.

UPDATE, evening of 8 August. 

Turns out there were at least 30 tremors in and around the area of last night's shaking, with one this morning at about 9:30 being slightly smaller than the previous evening.  All in all, though, little stuff compared to the Big One (8.0+) that we're long overdue for, given that the last of these major quakes was in 1857.  And, it's amusing to hear people on TV going into great detail concerning what happened with that 4.4 struck and caused a pencil to roll off the desk or a Franklin Mint collectible to shift an eighth of an inch to the right.  Makes you wonder just how unprepared people are for what is bound to slam into us one day.

Earthquake Near Carbon Canyon Tonight

At 8:17 this evening, a small earthquake measuring about 4.1 on the Richter scale struck along what might be the active Whittier Fault, the source of the 5.4 temblor that struck in July 2008, at which is described as three miles depth and two miles north of Yorba Linda.

This appears to place the quake at an area within Chino Hills State Park, just south of Carbon Canyon and perhaps in or very near Soquel Canyon.

A shaker of this magnitude, described as a short, quick jolt, is a minor event, but a reminder that we are prone to activity on a regular basis.

As for the "Big One" that has long been predicted to be an 8.0+ event, likely along the massive San Andreas Fault, which runs north of the San Gabriel Mountains and roughly west to east along that chain in the desert areas there, this region has not seen a quake of that strength since 1857.

Obviously, we're long overdue for a major earthquake.  Are you prepared?