“In addition to the multiple 5 and above aftershocks here is a new 6.6.  Are these just aftershocks or telling signs of more to come.  Right now the ‘ring of fire’ is very active.  The seismologists say, ‘Move along, nothing to see here’, but the activity says different.  If you haven’t been watching the quakes, take a look. And see the map below.”

6.6 – SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS

Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude 6.6

Date-Time

7 Feb 2013 18:59:16 UTC

8 Feb 2013 05:59:16 near epicenter

7 Feb 2013 11:59:16 standard time in your timezone

Location 11.001S 165.658E

Depth 9 km

Distances

412 km (256 miles) E (99 degrees) of Kira Kira, Solomon Islands

647 km (402 miles) ESE (106 degrees) of HONIARA, Solomon Islands

2027 km (1259 miles) E (96 degrees) of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea

Seismotectonics of the Eastern Margin of the Australia Plate

The eastern margin of the Australia plate is one of the most sesimically active areas of the world due to high rates of convergence between the Australia and Pacific plates. In the region of New Zealand, the 3000 km long Australia-Pacific plate boundary extends from south of Macquarie Island to the southern Kermadec Island chain. It includes an oceanic transform (the Macquarie Ridge), two oppositely verging subduction zones (Puysegur and Hikurangi), and a transpressive continental transform, the Alpine Fault through South Island, New Zealand.

Summary

Updated 2013-02-07 19:56:19 UTC

• 321 earthquakes

• M2.5+ events in the past 7 days (USGS)

Photo from IRIS Credit also to the USGS

Categories: Earth quakes news/data