M5.8 Quake Strikes Western Nevada: Geologist Analysis

[@shawnwillsey]

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[@JNosewicz7569]

Hi @shawnwillsey 👋 thanks for the update on this quake. I had friends that really felt it in Reno. 🫨😁

[@askher9388]

@@shawnwillsey Did you happen to watch the spectros when it happened? It showed teleseismic waves the whole way to the East Coast. Very unusual for a West Coast quake to travel that far. Thank you for ur informative video on this EQ 😊

[@spikeybunny6577]

I wonder if there was any movement in the water in the water at Devils Hole? Do they update that information on the pupfish research website every time there’s water movement during/after an earthquake, & how quickly do they post it? Is that something you would typically reference after an earthquake in this area? I only learned about Devils Hole, the pupfish, and the water’s “special connection” to earthquakes a few days ago… I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t know about it yet either. It’s absolutely fascinating!

[@Zinginaround1]

I watch your geology education and road cuts - I love them. My kids and a few of my grand kids are watching them sometimes with me. Saw the Sedona one, gives me a better understanding of that area.

[@joechiaretti4131]

I was outside in my yard yesterday when the 5.8 quake happened. I didn't feel it as much as I heard it. There were lots of small tools in my shed that were suddenly rattling and making noises. Then, my smartphone received an emergency alert notification about the quake. We have lots of earthquakes in western NV, and the risks of property damage from ground shaking are higher here than in eastern NV or western UT. This is just another reminder that the Earth is still active and constantly changing. Thanks for doing a video on this event!

[@jennyjones7370]

@@joechiaretti4131 What county

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

I heard it and it was loud! Felt it too, violent shaking for a few seconds then it stopped. I've felt a few small aftershocks in the days since but it's just been light rocking.

[@kevlu808]

I love how you break this down. I feel smarter every time I watch your videos. Keep it up, and thank you!

[@sandrine.t]

Thanks for this update, Shawn! Very informative :) And I really liked your analysis of the aftershocks that seem to outline the fault responsible for the earthquake: "pretty cool stuff", yes indeed! :)

[@elikohler6165]

I watched your video on the Northern California quakes a few days ago then felt this quake here in Reno. Seeing the follow-up video and relating it to what I felt was like an interactive lesson! Thanks for posting these!

[@joannekellam191]

Thank you for the update! So interesting! The beach balls are starting to make more sense to me now. 😊

[@bjbumblebee5324]

Probably the best KZbin presentation explaining the use of moment tensor ball and also connecting to the direction of lateral strike slip faults and quake series. Nice job!

[@PhredWorld]

Thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Many thanks.

[@stephyadcock1233]

Thank you Shawn for your brilliant analysis. Your interpretation of the orientation of the cluster of quakes certainly makes a lot of sense and helps a great deal when trying to understand an unexpected pattern. It's all down to the detail. Love it.

[@Abington586]

Thank you so much for switching back to this mic! Sounds MUCH better

[@stevemackelprang8472]

Growing up and living in the Salt Lake City area, I'm used to earthquake precautions. I've installed many seismic restraints over the years . I was doing a job in Reno years ago and had to get some materials from the local welding supply house. I was really surprised to see all the Oxygen and Acetylene cylinders standing on the loading dock without any sort of restraint. I ask the gentleman helping me load why the cylinders weren't tied down , which is pretty much standard procedure most places, he told me they didn't have to worry about that as there were no" earthquakes around there."

[@mybachhertzbaud3074]

Hi neighbor✌Let's hope this doesn't decide to travel eastward like a zipper.😁

[@elainejones5109]

Cool! Great information! Thanks for posting it.

[@StellaVinum]

I was so excited when I moved to Nevada and finally got to experience an earthquake and fill out an I felt it report. I didn’t expect the after effects with a larger one, the two large Ridgecrest quakes left me with sea legs and mild dizziness for over a week.

[@hikerJohn]

Welcome to the wild west :o) I've felt a half a dozen major earthquakes in my life in Southern CA and 100 small quakes.

[@snort5203]

@@StellaVinum no where is 100% safe. The powerful storms could hit anywhere. Maybe underground with the other beings👽

[@Reziac]

I was only about 12 miles from the 1994 Northridge quake. Trailer hopped up and down like it was on a pogo stick for 15 seconds, but didn't come off its blocks! Walker Lake is one of my favorite places. Cool to hear what's going on underneath.

[@NancyRode-u9i]

SC​@hikerJohn 🙋🏽‍♀️ that's SC

[@jamesba4206]

Many people near Ridgecrest experienced the same mild dizziness and other things for at least a week. Crazy stuff very uncomfortable.😵‍💫

[@cafeenfre9339]

Activity seems to be increasing on the west coast. Alaska, California, etc.

[@Angie-pl3uw]

Thanks so much for your very clear explanations of the "beach balls" in action. Quakes are on everybody’s radar so it seems, but having you go through all this info is truly a huge help to this one of your Willsey disciples! Thank you again, Professor Willsey.

[@richards3075]

I always wondered how the Walker lane worked, thanks for explaining it!!

[@rubensilva_]

I live in the Reno area and I suddenly got an uptick of alerts from my Ring app from other users asking, “Did you feel that?” And because I have email earthquake alerts set up through Nevada Seismology Laboratory, I received 17 emails in the span of about an hour-starting with the first 5.7 hit. I get alerts all the time but they are always in the 3.x range and lower. I didn’t feel a thing but I did flush the toilet about a half hour prior to all these alerts and it made a significant clunking sound which startled me and concerned me because it has never done that before and it made me think that a sewer line broke under the house-which cause me some dread. Now that I think about it maybe it was related to the earthquake passing underneath the precise moment I flushed. My other thought was I wonder if Shawn Willsey (edit) will cover this. Thanks Shawn. You are a valuable educator in the geological community.

[@westsparks6844]

I live in NE Reno, didn't feel a thing. But other parts of town said they felt it. Weird

[@xwiick]

Thanks for all the hard work on these videos!

[@rickschlosser6793]

Thanks for the expert commentary Shawn.

[@SPak-rt2gb]

After a windy day of the truck rocking, it stopped finally. Then the truck started moving ever so slightly and noticed it wasn't wind. Felt it in Round Valley California just North of Bishop. You had to be sitting pretty still to feel it. It surprisingly lasted about 15-20 seconds

[@taninogi]

Thanks for the great video. I've found myself more and more interested in geology. I've been in a rabbit hole on hydro-geology lately, I have been questioning myself about the effects of droughts on groundwater and how the changes in groundwater levels may impact fault movements and other structure movements.

[@sharonlobo7930]

I happen to be in Vegas, and was hiking in the Red Rock Canyon yesterday but didn't feel it from there. Thank you as always for your post!

[@markhanish4463]

Super interesting analysis. Again love the connection of the recent seismic data which the local structure with the added bonus of having a pretty relevant and detailed scientific paper that helps bring it all together. I will definitely take time to read this paper. Thanks so much!

[@YewtBoot]

Helpful explanation again. thanks.

[@gladysdecelles9951]

Thanks for the update Shawn.

[@lauralyons8446]

Shawn, thank you for this analysis! I've been interested in the Walker lane ever since I got up close and personal with it during the July 2019 ridgecrest quakes - I happened to be heading to Mammoth for that fourth of July weekend and felt both the foreshock (while on the road) and the mainshock (from my hotel in Mammoth) from that sequence. Interesting the mechanics of how those blocks are rotating, creating faults that are not lined up with the usual basin and range orientation. I'll have to take a look at that paper, though I'm sure some of it will be out of my league.

[@JanClancey]

Thanks shawn great to see an in depth explanation of this setting

[@sunshoe-l5r]

the entire west coast is under heavy strain all the way up into Alaska so I do believe that whatever happens WILL affect the desert west of the Sierra, its right next door relative to the planet.

[@rickc4317]

Nicely done, Shawn.

[@Jszar]

I once saw a USGS map of Nevada that color coded the age of the topmost rock layer. That land has been squished and stretched and intruded through so much that you could have put the pattern on clothing and called it tie-dye.

[@pmgn8444]

Thanks! I was wondering if some of the funky Nevada geology was at play. Nicely answered that!

[@joshridderhoff2050]

Hey Shawn! Did you cover the swarm up near Adak near the Aleutian Trench the other day, or are you going to be talking about it soon? Pretty nifty little cluster of relatively energetic temblors… far off the volcanic arc, and deep too likely not be related to the large volcano (Great Sitkin) near there, but pretty fascinating to see. Moment tensor on the bigger ones looked related to subduction activity but would love to see your thoughts on it. Take care!

[@srudine]

Nice job Shawn. Thanks for explaining this. Cool!

[@Dexter101x]

How is the "beach ball" drawn up? Is it done by Machine Learning or some supercomputer?

[@skyking1328]

I was there in Fallon. Moderate shaking !

[@Anon_Ymous]

@shawnwillsey what are your thoughts on the 1-2 magnitude earthquake swarm that struck along the new Madrid fault? Would you be concerned about 6-7 quakes in less than 24 hours?

[@HeirOfNothingInParticular]

@@Anon_Ymous When did these earthquakes happen?

[@Anon_Ymous]

@ within the last few days.

[@HeirOfNothingInParticular]

@ For real?? I felt nothing and seems like I should have. Gonna have to keep my eye on that. Thanks for the reply!

[@landsail]

Over 55 yrs living in Northern Nevada, I felt many earthquakes. One quake felt stronger when I was in a meeting on the 4th floor of a steel framed building.

[@jackiebrand3352]

nicely done

[@dianespears6057]

Thank you! This was fascinating. We learners don’t often get much detailed information about this area.

[@laurawoodford1225]

Thanks very informative! Continuing senior student here!

[@sarahs472]

Fascinating discussion with the block rotation areas! It's amazing what massive forces are involved in these plate movements.

[@Siletzia]

Excellent presentation, as always, Shawn. I've studied this area, but I learned some important things. Thank you.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

Thanks for a great explanation.😊

[@IndridCool54]

I’m 70 and am a native of Tucson. I have always liked geology and after taking some classes in our local community college I started imagining what the valleys around my hometown would look like without the alluvial fill. The difference would be impressive I’m sure.

[@scottazevedo7628]

Great info Shawn!! I've been fascinated and following all the activity in the Walker Lane area since 2017. Especially with all the seismic activity in Walker Lane and all the thermal activity too.

[@Sunnbobb]

I believe You can see a fault in the air photo. just to the NE of the quake, running sw-ne.

[@markhanish4463]

@@Sunnbobb absolutely can see the fault trace!

[@leohorishny9561]

Thanks for the descriptors, and link to the paper, I had not seen the mapping of the Olinghouse fault, but that dramatically shows us why almost every quake we’ve felt here has had an East/West movement! I thought there was past, or not, geothermal activity in that edge of the Mason Valley? 🤔

[@Kreemerz]

Shawn, did you say you did a video about tensors and focal mechanisms?

[@shawnwillsey]

I’ve discussed them at various times in Iceland updates and such but still need to do a dedicated video.

[@YosemiteLee]

I live just west of Yosemite and this was the first time I got the MyShake alert with a 10 second warning.

[@chingachgook9718]

hey thanks, Shawn! this is home ground here, and your info is super!

[@RobertJl9516]

Thank you Shawn. I live next to the Walker Lane north of Reno and we have a rotated block called Dog Skin Mountain in the vicinity. I have had detailed geology in the past and aware of the tectonics in western North America and it was a pleasure to watch your very knowledgeable presentation. Interesting my wife is a nurse but being around a geology guy like me when we heard of the earthquake location she asked was that on the Walker Lane! Wow she listens to me... sometimes;) Looking forward to your next video.

[@pk-ld6dp]

So interesting. Thanks from Australia

[@jugshangar573]

Always love learning Geo news and insights on my home state. Not a plug but the Let's Go Geo channel did a fascinating video a couple weeks ago on the Mina Deflection and the shearing going on in the Walker Lane. Her video was mostly on the Excelsior Domain but also alluded to historical earthquakes in the Carson Domain. All fascinating stuff I never knew.

[@MelanieCravens]

The 'beachball' looks more like a 'tennis ball.'

[@aliceinoregonland3942]

I live in S Oregon, just North of the Cali border, along the coast. I didn't feel anything here from the 7.0 quake in Cali, so when I got the tsunami alert, I thought it was a mistake! Then I heard the tsunami siren, that made the situation very real! Thankfully, I live in a green zone and the tsunami also never developed! 🌊🙏 It was very surreal hearing the siren, because I grew up in Arizona!😵‍💫 This channel is amazing!

[@Reziac]

Friend felt the Nevada quake in her 2nd floor condo in Sacramento -- sort of like the building swayed for a moment, nothing more. Did not feel the NorCal quake.

[@mclyman-onkka3579]

Thanks, nice explanation of the quake and region.

[@gregindavis]

I did not "feel it" in Davis, but my hanging lights swayed, so my house felt it, thanks for the explanations!!

[@markhanish4463]

Also a very obvious lineament on the Google earth view that aligns amazingly with the magnitude 5.8 primary earthquake and subsequent magnitude 2 aftershocks you showed

[@Coinbro]

Rocking around the Christmas tree 🎄lol

[@jeffs72]

Love a good shaker, get the adrenaline flowing 😂

[@floranneable1]

I've been to Yerington! It's on the way to Lake Tahoe from the Las Vegas area.

[@hikerJohn]

9 to 10 KM depth on the Technical Summary tab. Do you know why NN 4 might not have any depth data? I dont even know what NN 4 is other than it says it is "most preferred data"

[@shawnwillsey]

Not sure.

[@scenoch]

Was this part of the Walker Lane/ Eastern California shear zone?

[@shawnwillsey]

Yes. In the Walker Lane.

[@pablokagioglu2546]

From what I have gathered on the California 7+ earthquake, its aftershocks were widespread and extended all the way down to Baja. So, it is not too far-fetched to think that it could have “destabilized” the faults near the Nevada border to cause them to move a few day later.

[@michele698]

I live in an apartment above the garage and it sounded very loud and knocked a bunch of stuff off my shelves, I felt a horrific jolt, my cat was literally shaking and looked in shock...

[@mikea66]

Yes, a very cool subject ... Walker Lane is fascinating. And thanks for the link to the paper.

[@donneverae3050]

Thank, Shawn. The Earth is a wonderful and fascinating thing.

[@davidk7324]

Thanks Shawn

[@CodeAkihiro]

I lived in Reno for years , the foot hills of peavine Mt. Felt a few earthquakes but nothing significant. We owned properties just outside portola that we were going to build retirement home. Ended up moving to the East Coast due to business, but really miss Nevada.

[@chazzface8562]

Hi Shawn, where can I get access to a map like that. I tried on the Silver chair website and it says access denied.

[@marcsorensen2985]

A little surprised you did not mention the dozen or so pre shocks that occurred.

[@shawnwillsey]

Forgot. Overall their video was a bit rushed with finals going on here. My apologies.

[@ZeroPointZap]

I felt it in Tonopah

[@MattCorley]

I got an alert in Sacramento, and it arrived about 10 sec later. Light rolling motion, slightly swayed window blinds

[@MommaARA]

This makes sense given the earthquake off the coast of Northern California. The energetic wave clearly went further inland than expected and shook something loose.

[@TheDanEdwards]

Nah. The quakes in western NV happen all the time. The Mendocino fracture zone did not cause this.

[@anitapaulsen3282]

I like the channel name you chose best.

[@Jestmystuff]

My sister who lives in Fallon said it shook pretty good there. It panicked her cat too! Lol

[@Justin-st9kn]

I live in Fernley Nevada. It was about 25 miles away. Crazy,

[@AmyBraden]

I felt it in Sacramento (across the street from the Capitol). Felt a couple of the initial aftershocks. It felt about the same as the 7.0, but we are closer to the NV epicenter.

[@charlesward8196]

The alignment o the quake made think of the Walker Lane feature. I see that the Lake Tahoe graben is right in the “mouth” of the Olinghouse-Wabuska zone.

[@frenchysandi]

Is it unusual for Nevada to have earthquakes??

[@shawnwillsey]

Not at all. www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/new-usgs-map-shows-where-damaging-earthquakes-are-most-likely-occur-us

[@Marcus-s2q]

@@frenchysandi no

[@grandparocky]

I just caught this today thank you from Boise!

[@scottmcdonald5237]

There is an emergent pattern of microquakes that appears to extend the tectonics of the Walker Lane towards Mt. Shasta of the California Cascade arc. The quakes seem to stop NW of Vegas but might become diffuse instead. Meanwhile, the previously very active ~E-W accommodation zone centered at the intersection of US95 & NV160 has, basically stopped.

[@davidkaplan2745]

Looks like the moment tensor show some normal fault motion too. No surprise in the Basin and Range.

[@kenbrady119]

I much appreciate these detailed analyses. I hope to check out more of the resources from USGS that I've seen you employ here. A full video on the public resources available to geologists would be an awesome offering. The complexity of the faulting in the region near to this quake just looks like the fracturing of an extremely large rock under pressure from numerous directions. As a rock eventually fragments into smaller chunks, does it become more fluid?

[@matildagreene1744]

Any fracking operations in the area ?

[@shawnwillsey]

Not that I know of. Not any (or few) source rocks for hydrocarbons here.

[@Sonoma_Coast]

Copper mine

[@maryseeker7590]

Hey we live in Reno and we both were home and quiet we did NOT feel this quake or any aftershocks. Since it was such a big quake we are wondering why we didn’t feel any of it.

[@shawnwillsey]

Lots of factors. If you were moving or driving bs stationary, type of building you were in, subsurface geologic materials, etc. can effect the amount of shaking.

[@zelthar]

You should show the 30day all magnitudes US on the USGS map zoomed out a bit. Depending on the month it shows the larger scale movement quite nicely and shows the outline of the Walker lane. Makes for a bit easier show n tell. Also fun to bring up how Reno to Salt Lake City is getting further apart.

[@randyewing8552]

Since this post, I have seen a few 3's hitting Yerington Nevada...and Schurtz Nevada is getting activity as well, Mina Nevada also!...A couple weeks ago I saw a couple USGS vehicles in that area!....I'm interested in all this because,I drive through all of this area!....I'm just a simple truck driver!

[@SaltAndVinegar42]

Always very interesting. Even though I understand as much as a noob. But learning. Would love to see 3d models of the faults, movement and deformation of the ground.

[@erictjones]

I am in Volcano California and got to feel it in two waves.

[@jefferyporter9645]

Hello everyone

[@StellaVinum]

I found the coolest rock today, something I’ve never encountered before or heard of. Shungite. It looked like someone had dumped a bucket of fireplace coals all over this area, but they were weird and lumpy and ropey. It’s lightweight, messy when you get it wet, and would remind you somewhat of hardened road tar. I had to tell someone who knows rocks about it, without my rock ID app I would’ve been completely lost on what this stuff is. I got a piece wet and it is messy. Apparently this form is type 3, somewhere between 30-50% pure carbon. I can send you a photo and the location in email if you would like to collect some yourself. I could send you a sample since I took three pieces.

[@ericfielding2540]

Nice explanation! Good to see the better-located afteshocks lining up like that. We will probably get good InSAR, but not until next week when the Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite passes over this area.

[@Diesel0807]

It shook the hell outa lions county though it was shallow with lots of lateral play ..it felt stronger than its magnitude.. the epicenter is right underneath a small geothermal plant right where the walker river dumps into the walket lane

[@allanegleston4931]

felt it in sonora ca in a 2 story 40 apartment building . compunter desk jiggled .

[@gibrath5514]

Be safe y’all

[@lionvillelion]

geothermal energy exploration in that area.

[@CC-td7ff]

There is an underground mine outside Yerington. Pumpkin Hallow, I believe is the name.

[@alantrott6581]

Between this quake, California and all the activity off of Adak, AK (6.2) a few days ago...all coincidental?

[@williamlloyd3769]

Quite a cluster of earthquakes

[@shawnwillsey]

Yep.