Janice R. Andrews
Tuesday night, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake with its epicenter around 18 miles southwest of Bakersfield shook a substantial portion of Southern California. The earthquake’s magnitude was originally assessed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to be 5.3, but it was later corrected to 5.2. The largest of the several aftershocks, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake that happened less than a minute after the main tremor and a magnitude 4.1 aftershock that happened at 9:17 p.m., were felt shortly after the 9:09 p.m. seismic event.
The Epicenter and Direct Effect
The epicenter of the earthquake was situated in a sparsely populated agricultural area, approximately 14 miles northwest of Kern County’s unincorporated city of Grapevine. This region is around 88 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and 60 miles northwest of Santa Clarita. roughly a mile south of Grapevine Road, the tremor caused a big boulder, roughly the size of an SUV, to obstruct many southbound lanes of Interstate 5. For at least an hour following the earthquake, the boulder blocked traffic lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Shaking Severity and Affected Areas
According to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, “very strong” shaking was felt in the region nearest to the epicenter, according to the USGS. A portion of the California Aqueduct, which is essential for moving water from Northern to Southern California, is located in this zone. The shaking in more populous locations like Ventura, Santa Clarita, and Bakersfield was described as “weak,” similar to vibrations from a passing truck.
A prolonged duration of shaking was observed by several residents. One person in Los Feliz reported seeing three separate waves of movement lasting 45 seconds. There were two waves of trembling that lasted around 20 seconds each in Whittier and South Pasadena. Lucy Jones, a well-known seismologist in Pasadena, reported experiencing trembling for almost three seconds.
Documents and Reactions
There were instant reports of no damage, even though the vibrations were widespread. The earthquake was not felt by many, including Jose Gomez, a deputy for the L.A. County Sheriff’s Office. There has been no major damage within the city borders, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles Basin, interior valleys, Santa Maria, Bakersfield, and Fresno were all affected by the earthquake, according to the USGS.
Through Android phones and the MyShake app, residents of Southern California got notifications from the USGS’s earthquake early warning system. 30 to 45 seconds prior to the earthquake starting, according to reports, there were warnings.
Professional Evaluation
According to seismologist Lucy Jones, the length of the shaking varies around the Los Angeles region because of variations in the nature of the rock and soil underneath sites, people’s degree of activity, and whether or not they are on ground floors or upper levels of structures. She said that several persons experienced three waves of shaking when the first aftershock happened less than a minute after the original shock.
The chief of Caltech’s Southern California Seismic Network, Allen Husker, observed that a large portion of the earthquake’s occurrence was caused by the time of day. People are more likely to feel an earthquake at night while they are sleeping than during the day when they are more active. Husker also emphasized the amplification effect inside the Los Angeles Basin, a bathtub-shaped depression with weak sand and gravel that is six miles deep. Because seismic waves bounce off the basin walls, increasing the length of the movement, this basin effect intensifies the shaking.
Historical Background
The magnitude 7.5 Kern County earthquake that struck on July 21, 1952, was around 12 miles northwest of the epicenter of Tuesday’s earthquake. Twelve people lost their lives as a result of that earthquake, which also severely damaged many aging and shoddy buildings in Tehachapi, Bakersfield, and Arvin. Tall structures in Los Angeles and at least one structure in San Diego suffered nonstructural damage as a result of the 1952 earthquake, which was felt as far away as San Francisco and Las Vegas. The White Wolf fault was connected to the 1952 incident, but no previously identified faults were connected to Tuesday’s earthquake.
Preparedness and Public Safety
The earthquake happened 5.6 miles below the surface. The USGS invites the public to share their experiences in order to enhance data gathering and enhance comprehension of seismic occurrences.
The “Unshaken” newsletter offers a thorough guide on disaster preparedness, including suggestions on earthquake kits and necessary applications, for anyone wishing to get ready for future earthquakes. To obtain helpful advice on how to be safe during earthquake occurrences, residents should register.
Reporting System Automated
Quakebot, an automated system that tracks and reports on earthquakes identified by the USGS, produced the original version of this article. Before it was published, the content was examined by a Times editor. See our website’s frequently asked questions section for further details on the system.
Fortunately, there was not much immediate damage from the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck near Bakersfield, despite the fact that it generated considerable shaking throughout Southern California. The incident serves as a reminder of the seismic activity in the area and the need of being ready for earthquakes in the future. In order to protect themselves in the case of future seismic occurrences, residents are urged to keep informed and adopt the appropriate safety measures.
