Increased earthquake activity in Yellowstone National Park
Tremors up to 3.9 magnitude recorded over past several days
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
December 31, 2008
There have been a series of more frequent small earthquakes in Yellowstone National Park over the past several weeks, causing scientists to watch the activity more closely. There have been more than 250 tremors in the 2.5-3.9 range. A magnitude 3.9 tremor occurred on Sunday, December 28th. Although tremors are common in the Yellowstone National Park area, the increased activity is more frequent than usual.
Although there is no way to know the significance of the increased activity, the Yellowstone area is an active geothermal site. The last major eruption of the Yellowstone volcano was 700,000 years ago. The area experiences frequent minor tremors, most of which go unfelt except by measuring equipment. The last major eruption of the Yellowstone volcano was 700,000 years ago.
Below are tremors the USGS has listed on their earthquake website that have been recorded in Yellowstone National Park for the past several days. Click on the links at the end of this article for related stories and more earthquake information.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008: Magnitude 3.5, Time: 09:02:29 Magnitude 2.5, Time: 08:58:12
Tuesday, December 30, 2008: Magnitude 2.8, Time: 11:59:07 Magnitude 2.8, Time: 00:36:40
Monday, December 29, 2008: Magnitude 2.9, Time: 20:38:25 Magnitude 2.9, Time: 19:29:39 Magnitude 2.5, Time: 19:28:56 Magnitude 3.3, Time: 19:14:49 Magnitude 2.8, Time: 04:25:54
Sunday, December 28, 2008: Magnitude 2.6, Time: 23:57:57 Magnitude 3.1, Time: 19:55:18 Magnitude 3.0, Time: 19:32:16 Magnitude 2.8, Time: 15:37:41 Magnitude 3.2, Time: 09:23:58 Magnitude 2.7, Time: 09:16:58 Magnitude 2.5, Time: 07:15:19 Magnitude 2.5, Time: 06:37:42 Magnitude 2.8, Time: 05:23:54 Magnitude 3.9, Time: 05:15:56 Magnitude 2.7, Time: 04:51:04 Magnitude 2.6, Time: 00:08:51
Saturday, December 27, 2008: Magnitude 3.3, Time: 22:30:04 Magnitude 3.2, Time: 20:26:28 Magnitude 3.5, Time: 20:17:33 Magnitude 3.0, Time: 18:23:07 Magnitude 2.7, Time: 17:01:08 Magnitude 2.6, Time: 16:30:54
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