There is a new fault line found in Oklahoma, the Wilzetta Fault line, also called The Seminole uplift.
It is mentioned in this pdf : [
link to www.appliedgeophysics.com]
Sure enough, the mapped Wilzetta fault (lower right corner of figure 20 on page 39) occupies the precise area where these quakes occurred, and the quakes’ focal mechanisms are consistent with the geometry of the fault line.
Maps of historic seismicity in Oklahoma reveals a very active belt stretching northeast from the vicinity of the capitol city, of which these earthquakes appear to be a part. This same area–around Oklahoma City–has experienced plenty of earthquakes of similar magnitudes recently. The quakes have been so common recently that the OGS has a special FAQ page for its concerned citizens. The USGS also has an info page detailing Oklahoma’s rich earthquake history : [
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
From another site:
The reason we're feeling more could be a new fault line that researchers believe they have discovered near Jones in the Oklahoma City area.
Bixby - At the Oklahoma Geological Survey Observatory in Leonard, just south of Bixby, earthquakes are recorded from all over the world. That includes an average of 50 earthquakes per year right here in Oklahoma, and we are feeling more and more of them.
The reason we're feeling more could be a new fault line that researchers believe they have discovered near Jones in the Oklahoma City area. Seven of the 9 earthquakes that have been felt since January 1 were centered near Jones.
We can't see it, but simply put, a fault line is a crack above pieces of earth that rub up against each other causing the earth to shake. That shaking has been felt right here in Green Country.
Here at the Observatory even the tapping feet can be recorded. With that kind of sensitivity, these machines have been busy lately. The day we were there it recorded an earthquake 1600 miles away in northern California.
With that kind of technology and a new fault line, more earthquakes are being felt here in Oklahoma, but can we see the kind of devastation that recently occurred in Haiti?
"No way we can see that kind of devastation for one. Just because of our economic benefit. Having enough money as a nation to build right. I'm not saying it wouldn't destroy anything, but we're a lot better than they are," said USGS researcher Amie Gibson.
"Growing up in California, we were taught to stand in a doorway during a big earthquake, but chances are slim we'll have to do that around here," said News Channel 8 chief meteorologist Frank Mitchell.
The last time a really big earthquake affected Oklahoma was back in the 1800s, but damage has occurred as recently as January 15th. While some experts say we're overdue for another big one, others say don't count on it.
What are our chances of another big one around here? it's possible but not probable. One thing that is for sure, is despite feeling more earthquakes we still can't predict them.
"You cannot predict them. They are not like the weather. You can't see them. You can't say oh look there's a cloud. Not going to happen. They just come from nowhere," said Gibson.
Earthquakes Saturday:
2011/11/05 07:12:45 Mag 4.7 [
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 07:27:20 3.4 [
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 07:44:35 2.7 [
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 07:50:43 2.7 [
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 09:12:11 3.3
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 11:24:16 3.3
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 13:42:26 3.4
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/05 14:36:30 3.6
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
Earthquakes Sunday:
2011/11/06 03:53:11 5.6
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/06 04:03:42 3.6
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/06 04:54:00 3.0
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
2011/11/06 06:31:11 3.8
[
link to earthquake.usgs.gov]
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