Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Natural Resources Canada reported a Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake at a depth of 5 km roughly 182 km off the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, slightly after 7.35 pm local time on Tuesday 24 December 2019 (slightly after 3.35 am on Wednesday 25 December, GMT). This is a large quake, and was felt across much of southern British Columbia and northwest Washington State, although there are no reports of any damage or casualties, and no tsunami warning was issued.

The approximate location of the 24 December 2019 Vancouver Island Earthquake. USGS.

Vancouver Island is located on the western margin of the North American Plate, close to the Challenger Trench, along which the Explorer and Juan de Fuca Plate are being subducted. These are two remnant parts of the ancient Farallon Plate, which formerly underlay part of the eastern Pacific, and which has now been largely subducted beneath North America. The Explorer an Juan de Fuca Plates pass under the North American Plate as they sink into the Earth, but this is not a smooth process, with the plates constantly sticking together then breaking apart as the tectonic stresses build up.

 The subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath North America. United States Geological Survey.

On this occasion the Earthquake occurred on the northern part of the Juan de Fuca Plate, close to the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The Juan de Fuca ridge marks the extensional margin between the Juan de Fuca Plate and the Pacific Plate. The Juan de Fuca Plate is thought to be a remnant of an ancient plate known as the Farallon Plate, a once vast plate now largely subducted beneath the North American Plate. There are three remnants of this plate remaining off the west coast of the US; the Juan de Fuca Plate, the Gorda Plate to the south and the Explorer Plate to the north. The Juan de Fuca Ridge was once part of the longer Farallon Ridge, which ran along the eastern margin of the Farallon Ridge before it was fractured into three parts.

Spreading on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and its relationship to the volcanoes of the North American west coast. Wikimedia Commons.

Witness reports can help geologists to understand the processes going on in Earthquakes and the structures in the rocks that cause them. If you felt this quake you can report it to Natural Resources Canada here.

 

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Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake in Curry County, Oregon.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 4.5 Earthquake at a depth of 16.7 km, roughly 6 km to the northeast of the city of Port Oreford in Curry County, Oregon, at about 1.45 am local time (about 9.45 am GMT) on Saturday 30 November 2019. This was not a large quake, and no damage or injuries have been reported, but it was across much of southwest Oregon and in parts of northern California.

The approximate location of the 30 November 2019 Curry County Earthquake. USGS.

Oregon forms the southern part of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, along which the Juan De Fuca plate, which underlies part of the northeast Pacific, is being subducted beneath the western margin of the North American Plate. This is not a smooth process, and the two plates frequently stick together then break apart again as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process. The heat and pressure within the Earth also slowly melts the subducting plate, liquefying more volatile minerals which then rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fuelling the volcanoes of America's Pacific Northwest.

Subduction along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Kathleen Cantner/American Geosciences Institute/Earth Magazine.

Witness accounts of quakes can help geologists to understand these events and the rock structures that cause them. If you felt this quake (or if you were in the area but did not, which is also useful information) you can report it to the United States Geological Survey here.

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Three major Earthquakes off the west coast of British Columbia.

Natural Resources Canada recorded a series of three Earthquakes at a depth of 10 km about 200 km off the west coast of British Columbia on 21/22 October 2018, with the first occurring slightly before 10.40 pm local time on Sunday 21 October (slightly before 5.40 am on Monday 22 October GMT), and having a Magnitude of 6.5 , the second occurring slightly after 11.15 pm local time (slightly after 6.15 am GMT), and having a Magnitude of 6.8, and the third occurring slightly after 11.20 pm local time (slightly after 6.20 am GMT) and having a Magnitude of 6.5. These events were felt along much of the coast of British Columbia and Washington State, but there are no reports of any damage or casualties.

The approximate location of the 21/22 October 2018 British Columbia Earthquakes. USGS.

Vancouver Island is located on the western margin of the North American Plate, close to the Challenger Trench, along which the Explorer and Juan de Fuca Plate are being subducted. These are two remnant parts of the ancient Farallon Plate, which formerly underlay part of the eastern Pacific, and which has now been largely subducted beneath North America. The Explorer an Juan de Fuca Plates pass under the North American Plate as they sink into the Earth, but this is not a smooth process, with the plates constantly sticking together then breaking apart as the tectonic stresses build up.

 The subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath North America. United States Geological Survey.

On this occasion the Earthquake occurred on the northern part of the Juan de Fuca Plate, close to the Juan de Fuca Ridge. The Juan de Fuca ridge marks the extensional margin between the Juan de Fuca Plate and the Pacific Plate. The Juan de Fuca Plate is thought to be a remnant of an ancient plate known as the Farallon Plate, a once vast plate now largely subducted beneath the North American Plate. There are three remnants of this plate remaining off the west coast of the US; the Juan de Fuca Plate, the Gorda Plate to the south and the Explorer Plate to the north. The Juan de Fuca Ridge was once part of the longer Farallon Ridge, which ran along the eastern margin of the Farallon Ridge before it was fractured into three parts.

 Spreading on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and its relationship to the volcanoes of the North American west coast. Wikimedia Commons.

Witness reports can help geologists to understand the processes going on in Earthquakes and the structures in the rocks that cause them. If you felt any of these quakes you can report it to Natural Resources Canada here.

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Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake off the coast of British Columbia.

The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center reported a Magnitude 4.4 Earthquake roughly 90 km off the northwest tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, slightly before 4.10 pm local time (slightly before 11.10 pm GMT) on Thursday 22 October 2015. There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, but people have reported feeling it on Vancouver Island.

The approximate location of the 22 October 2015 British Columbia Earthquake.Google Maps.

Vancouver Island is located on the western margin of the North American Plate, close to the Challenger Trench, along which the Explorer and Juan de Fuca Plate are being subducted. These are two remnant parts of the ancient Farallon Plate, which formerly underlay part of the eastern Pacific, and which has now been largely subducted beneath North America. The Explorer an Juan de Fuca Plates pass under the North American Plate as they sink into the Earth, but this is not a smooth process, with the plates constantly sticking together then breaking apart as the tectonic stresses build up.

The subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath North America. United States Geological Survey.

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit organization Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.

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Breach of mine tailings pond leads to major pollution scare in British Columbia.

A mine tailings pond at the Imperial Metals operated Mount Polley Mine, an open-pit copper mine in the Cariboo Region of British Columbia was breached on Monday 4 August 2014 after...

Two injured in British Columbia landslide.

Two people were injured when part of a cliff collapsed onto Highway 97 in British Columbia, about 6 km north of Summerland, at about 11.30 am local time on Sunday 6 July 2014. The pair, thought to be a couple in their 60s from Alberta, were taken to a local hospital for...

Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.

The Natural Resources Canada reported a Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake roughly 20 km off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, at about...

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Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake in Lane County, Oregon.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.4 Earthquake at a depth of 7 km, in Lane County, Oregon, at about 6.00 pm local time on Wednesday 24 June 2015 (about 1.00 am on Thursday 25 June GMT). This is not a large quake, and no damage or injuries have been reported, but it was felt in Springfield and Eugene.

The approximate location of the 24 June 2015 Lane County Earthquake. Google Maps.

Oregon forms the southern part of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, along which the Juan De Fuca plate, which underlies part of the northeast Pacific, is being subducted beneath the western margin of the North American Plate. This is not a smooth process, and the two plates frequently stick together then break apart again as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process. The heat and pressure within the Earth also slowly melts the subducting plate, liquifying more volatile minerals which then rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fueling the volcanoes of America's Pacific Northwest.

Subduction along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Kathleen Cantner/American Geosciences Institute/Earth Magazine.

Witness accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events, and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit organization Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.

See also...

Eruptive activity on Axial Seamount.

A seismic monitoring system beneath the northeast Pacific operated by the Ocean Observatories Initiative has detected a probable eruption on Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano roughly 480 km off the coast of Oregon. The network has detected...

 Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.

The Natural Resources Canada reported a Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake roughly 20 km off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, at about...

Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake in Washington State.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake at a depth of 27 km, 2 km to the north of Indianola, on Puget Sound opposite...

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Eruptive activity on Axial Seamount.

A seismic monitoring system beneath the northeast Pacific operated by the Ocean Observatories Initiative has detected a probable eruption on Axial Seamount, a submarine volcano roughly 480 km off the coast of Oregon. The network has detected around 8000 minor Earthquakes since Friday 1 May, accompanied by a drop in the sea-floor level of about 2.4 meters. Minor tremors around volcanoes are most commonly caused by magma moving through subterranean chambers beneath the vent of the volcano, and are therefore used as advances warning of eruptions. In this instance any eruption would be hard to directly observe due to its remote location, but presents little danger to any human settlement for the same reason.

A vent on Axial Seamount. Schmidt Ocean Institute.

Axial Seamount is a submarine volcano located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, 480 km west of the Oregon Coast. It has been the subject of extensive study as it is extremely active and is of complex origins: it is on the intersection of the Cobb Hotspot Seamount Chain, and the Juan de Fuca extensional ridge; it is also close to the Blanco Fracture Zone. The seamount rises 700 m above the rest of the Juan de Fuca Ridge and about 1100 m above the surrounding sea floor; it is 1400 m bellow the sea surface. It is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting several 'black-smokers' - underwater hot springs producing super-heated mineral rich water, which support unique ecosystems.

The volcano appears to have a very regular eruptive cycle, enabling scientists to predict eruptions by the rate at which it inflates due to magma movements. It currently appears to be erupting roughly once every four years, having last erupted in 2011, and a 2015 eruption was predicted by Bill Chadwick of Oregon State University and Scott Nooner of the University of North Carolina Wilmington in September 2014.

The approximate location of Axial Seamount. Google Maps.

The Juan de Fuca ridge marks the extensional margin between the Juan de Fuca Plate and the Pacific Plate. The Juan de Fuca Plate is thought to be a remnant of an ancient plate known as the Farallon Plate, a once vast plate now largely subducted beneath the North American Plate. There are three remnants of this plate remaining off the west coast of the US; the Juan de Fuca Plate, the Gorda Plate to the south and the Explorer Plate to the north. The Juan de Fuca Ridge was once part of the longer Farallon Ridge, which ran along the eastern margin of the Farallon Ridge before it was fractured into three parts.

Spreading on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and its relationship to the volcanoes of the North American west coast. Wikimedia Commons.

The Cobb Seamount Chain runs from the Aleutian Trench off the south coast of Alaska south to Axial Seamount. It is gets its name from the Cobb Seamount, which is 500 km west of the Washington coast, and was named after the research vessel MV John N Cobb; this can cause some confusion as other objects on the seafloor of the NE Pacific are also named after this vessel (Cobb) and are not necessarily related to the seamount chain.

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Scientists predict eruption of Axial Seamount. August 2011.

Axial Seamount is a submarine volcano located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, 480 km west of the Oregon Coast. It has been the subject of extensive study as it is extremely active and is of complex origins: it is on...

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Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island.

The Natural Resources Canada reported a Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake roughly 20 km off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, at about 8.10 pm local time on Wednesday 23 April 2014 (about 3.10 am on Thursday 24 April, GMT). This is a large quake, and was felt across much of southern British Columbia and northwest Washington State, although there are no reports of any damage or casualties, and no tsunami warning was issued.

The approximate location of the 23 April 2014 Vancouver Island Earthquake. Google Maps.

Vancouver Island is located on the western margin of the North American Plate, close to the Challenger Trench, along which the Explorer and Juan de Fuca Plate are being subducted. These are two remnant parts of the ancient Farallon Plate, which formerly underlay part of the eastern Pacific, and which has now been largely subducted beneath North America. The Explorer an Juan de Fuca Plates pass under the North American Plate as they sink into the Earth, but this is not a smooth process, with the plates constantly sticking together then breaking apart as the tectonic stresses build up.

The subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath North America. United States Geological Survey.

Witness reports can help geologists to understand the processes going on in Earthquakes and the structures in the rocks that cause them. If you felt this quake you can report it to Natural Resources Canada here.

See also...

 Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake in Washington State.

 Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake of the coast of British Columbia.

 Magnitude 3.6 Earthquake in Washington State.

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Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake in Washington State.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 3.0 Earthquake at a depth of 27 km, 2 km to the north of Indianola, on Puget Sound opposite Seattle, slightly before 0.10 am local time (slightly before 7.10 am GMT) on Thursday 5 September 2013. This is not a large quake, and no damage or injuries have been reported, but it was felt over a fairly wide area.

The approximate location of the 5 September 2013 Indianola Earthquake. Google Maps.

Washington State is located on the western margin of the North American Plate, to the west the Juan de Fuca Plate is being subducted along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, passing under Washington State as it sinks into the Earth. This is not a smooth process, and the two plates frequently stick together then break apart again as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process. 

The heat and pressure within the Earth also slowly melts the subducting plate, liquifying more volatile minerals which then rise through the overlying North American Plate as magma, fueling the volcanoes of America's Pacific Northwest.

Witness accounts of quakes can help geologists to understand these events and the rock structures that cause them. If you felt this quake (or if you wee in the area but did not, which is also useful information) you can report it to the USGS here.

See also Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake of the coast of British Columbia, Magnitude 3.6 Earthquake in Washington State, Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake shakes Vancouver Island, Magnitude 4.3 Earthquake in central Washington State and Scientists predict eruption of Axial Seamount.

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