Huge Mexican earthquakes warn Southern California residents

A pair of massive earthquakes in Mexico – 7.6 on September 19 and 6.8 on September 22 – hit some in Southern California, and one wonders if the Golden State is next. Here, UC Riverside seismologist Abhijit Ghosh reflects on the potential for more shakers, and how to prepare for them. Ghosh is an associate professor of geophysics in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. His work focuses extensively on understanding the physics of earthquakes, the processes that control them, and the risks associated with them.

Q: Does the two giant earthquakes that hit Mexico last week mean that California is now likely to experience an earthquake of similar size? Abhijit Ghosh doing fieldwork in the Mojave Desert with a seismic station. (Baoning Wu/UCR)

Ghosh: Since the earthquake in Mexico was about 1,300 miles from southern California, there is no direct impact on local faults. However, the seismic waves from the large earthquake spread through our region and shook the Earth, and this could lead to smaller earthquakes. In rare cases, such waves of distant earthquakes may trigger more destructive events, but again, they are not very common.

There are two ways in which one major seismic event can lead to another. One is the stationary trigger, when moving rocks create a fault only one or two hundred kilometers from the original fault. It won’t happen in this case. The other way, dynamic operation, can work remotely.

Using dynamic stimuli, seismic waves from a single earthquake propagate from a distance across the entire Earth. As they do, they can cause earthquakes anywhere. These earthquakes are usually smaller, but not always. The recent earthquakes in Mexico may not have changed the pressure on our mistakes, but they are a good reminder of what can happen here. It is only a matter of time before we experience the same kind of vibration and damage.

Q: What is the probability of an earthquake in this area even without the recent Mexican events?

Ghosh: Southern California hosts a major blunder, the San Andreas blunder, as well as another one, like the San Jacinto blunder. These could and will produce devastating earthquakes in the future. When San Andreas goes, it will definitely produce an event of similar size, like the Mexican event. Therefore, it is always good to be prepared for this. Drop it, cover it, and hold it when you feel the vibration. Have your earthquake kit ready and accessible at all times, in your car, home and workplace.

Q: Have the Mexican earthquakes reduced the likelihood of another major earthquake any time soon?

Ghosh: Mexico lies on what we call a subduction zone, and is prone to large earthquakes. What happened last week changed the pressure in the surrounding areas near Mexico which directly affected the faults. The aftershocks will last there for years, and some of them can be devastating. The aftershocks are usually smaller than the main initial shock which was 7.6 in this case. But even a magnitude 7 earthquake would be smaller, and obviously cause damage to buildings that have already been damaged and become vulnerable.

(Cover Image: SteveCollender/iStock/Getty)

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos