The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.1 Earthquake at a depth of 7.3 km in southeastern Kern County, California, slightly after 11.05 pm local time on Friday 27 June 2014 (slightly after 6.05 am on Saturday 28 June, GMT). There are no reports of any damage or injuries relating to this quake, but it was felt across much of southern Kern County.
The approximate location of the 27 June 2014 Kern County Earthquake. Google Maps.
California is extremely prone to Earthquakes due to the presence of the San Andreas Fault, a tectonic plate margin that effectively bisects the state. The west of California, including Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, is located on the Pacific Plate, and is moving to the northwest. The east of California, including Fresno and Bakersfield is on the North American Plate, and is moving to the southeast. The plates do not move smoothly past one-another, but constantly stick together then break apart as the pressure builds up. This has led to a network of smaller faults that criss-cross the state, so that Earthquakes can effectively occur anywhere.
Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events and the underlying structures that cause them. If you felt this quake (or if you were in the area but did not, which is also useful information) then you can report it to the United States Geological Survey here.
See also...
The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.6 Earthquake at a depth of 19.6 km in the San Jacinto Mountains in...
The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake at a depth of 1.9 km, in the western Mojave Desert...
The United States Geological Survey recoded a Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake at a depth of 6.7 km in Orange County, California...
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