1932 Eureka earthquake

Summary

The 1932 Eureka earthquake occurred on June 6 at 00:44:26 local time along the northern coastal area of California in the United States. With a moment magnitude of 6.4 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe), this earthquake left one person dead from a falling chimney and several injured. The shock was the largest in the area since 1923 and was felt in southern Oregon and northern California.

1932 Eureka earthquake
1932 Eureka earthquake is located in USA West
1932 Eureka earthquake
UTC time1932-06-06 08:44:26
ISC event906203
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateJune 6, 1932 (1932-06-06)
Local time00:44:26
Magnitude6.4 Mw [1]
Depth9.3 mi (15 km) [1]
Epicenter40°44′N 124°13′W / 40.73°N 124.21°W / 40.73; -124.21 [1]
TypeUnknown
Areas affectedNorth Coast (California)
United States
Max. intensityMMI VIII (Severe)[2]
CasualtiesOne dead, three injured [2][3]

Tectonic setting edit

Near Cape Mendocino, the Mendocino Triple Junction is an area of active seismicity where three tectonic plates come together. The Mendocino Fracture Zone (also known as the Mendocino Fault east of the Gorda Ridge) is a transform fault that separates the Pacific and Gorda Plates. To the south, the relative motion between the Pacific Plate and North American Plate is accommodated by the San Andreas Fault, and to the north, the Gorda Plate is converging with the North American Plate at the Cascadia Subduction Zone.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c ISC (2016), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2012), Version 3.0, International Seismological Centre
  2. ^ a b Stover, C. W.; Coffman, J. L. (1993), Seismicity of the United States, 1568–1989 (Revised) – U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, United States Government Printing Office, pp. 78, 129, 130
  3. ^ "One Dead, Three Hurt in Eureka Earthquake". Woodland Democrat. June 6, 1932.
  4. ^ Bakun, W. H. (2000), "Seismicity of California's North Coast", Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 90 (4): 797–812, Bibcode:2000BuSSA..90..797B, doi:10.1785/0119990138

External links edit

  • M 6.4 - Northern California – United States Geological Survey
  • The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.