Why do earthquake aftershocks continue in New Jersey after the historic April earthquake

Nearly a month after New Jersey was hit by a historic 4.8-magnitude earthquake, parts of the state are still experiencing aftershocks and residents are wondering if that's a cause for concern.

The April 5 earthquake originated in Hunterdon County near Tewksbury, and could be felt throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. While the quake sparked waves of jokes and memes, the last time an earthquake of this magnitude or higher was recorded in the region was 1973.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) told Newsweek that it recorded 161 earthquakes associated with the Tewksbury earthquake. The latest aftershock occurred on Wednesday after 7 a.m. near Gladstone, and reached a magnitude of 2.6. The region also witnessed a 2.9 magnitude earthquake last Saturday.

First responders and firefighters respond to a call after the April 5, 2024 earthquake in Lebanon, New Jersey. A 4.8 magnitude earthquake was felt late in the morning in the Northeast and no injuries were reported, but… First responders and firefighters respond to a call after an April 5, 2024 earthquake in Lebanon, New Jersey. An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale was felt in the northeast of the country. No injuries were reported, but many people reported visible tremors in buildings and homes. The tremors were felt from Philadelphia to Boston. More Getty

Aftershocks particularly affect those close to the epicenter, James Burke, a postdoctoral fellow in Rutgers University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, told Newsweek.

“For people who live directly above the earthquakes, they feel most or all of those earthquakes,” Burke said. “I've spent the last few weeks driving around north-central New Jersey installing sensors, and there is real concern among many people I've spoken to who live around the epicenter.”

Despite residents' concerns, Burke explained that aftershocks are likely to decrease in strength over time, and the area is unlikely to suffer another major earthquake.

Residents and police gather outside homes that were structurally damaged and had to be evacuated after New York City and parts of New Jersey were hit by a 4.8 magnitude earthquake on April 05, 2024 in… Residents and police gather outside homes that were structurally damaged and had to be evacuated after the city New York and parts of New Jersey for a 4.8 magnitude earthquake on April 5, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. No injuries were reported in the late-morning earthquake, but several people reported visible shaking in buildings and homes. The tremors were felt from Philadelphia to Boston. More Getty

“There is no cause for concern at all,” Burke said. “We have likely already seen larger aftershocks, and they will decrease in size over time.” “There is a very small chance of another large earthquake, but again, there is a very small chance of it being serious or destructive.”

While seismic activity is likely to decline over time, the USGS said people in the affected area could be exposed to earthquakes for the next year or longer.

Although there was a “fair” amount of aftershocks, that could be attributed to the quake's rarity, Burke said.

“It seems to be fairly consistent, and that's probably because of the nature of the rocks, we don't see earthquakes here in [New Jersey]“So when they happen, it may take some extra time for the rocks to settle into a new equilibrium,” Burke said. “Again, it is important to note that we do not expect this to result in any strong or dangerous earthquakes.

Uncommon knowledge

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