Maine earthquakes - press release

Press release from the Maine Geological Survey:

Bucksport-Searsport Region Feels Small Earthquake Swarm

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A series of small earthquakes has been affecting the Bucksport-Searsport area in the past few days, beginning with events on April 30, according to Maine Geological Survey officials.

As many as 30 very small events -- called a swarm -- have occurred, all measuring less than 2 on the Richter magnitude scale, said Dr. Robert Marvinney, Maine state geologist and director of the Maine Geological Survey, under the Maine Department of Conservation [right, recent quakes in New England. Credit, Weston Observatory, Boston College].

"This swarm may continue for several days, but there is no need for alarm," Marvinney said. "This type of swarm has occurred before in Maine. While local residents may feel these earthquakes, because they occur only a few miles below the surface, they are well below the magnitude 5 threshold at which damage might occur."

The occurrence of this swarm cannot be taken as an indicator that a larger, potentially damaging earthquake will occur, he said.

"Earthquakes are not something that Mainers think about a lot," Rob McAleer, Maine Emergency Management Agency director, said. "This earthquake swarm reminds us that we need to understand Maine earthquakes as part of preparing for all the hazards we face here."

The Maine Geological Survey, Maine Emergency Management Agency and the New England Seismic Network will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary, the officials said.

The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale measuring the amount of energy released by an earthquake. An earthquake that measures 5.0 on the Richter scale, for example, is 10 times stronger than one that measures 4.0.

Seismologists at the New England Seismic Network, run by the Weston Observatory at Boston College, have located eight of the larger events. The locations determined for these earthquakes are approximate only, Marvinney said.

A number have taken place in an area between Bucksport, Belfast and Searsport.

Typically, Maine experiences several earthquake events of magnitude 2 or less each year, Marvinney said.

"These occur in response to the movement of large, rock plates that make up the earth’s crust, even though Maine is not near a plate boundary, where most of the large events occur, such as California and Japan," Marvinney said. "The crust in Maine is still adjusting to the loss of thick ice at the end of the last ice age, and this may be a cause for some earthquakes."

Marvinney noted that similar swarms have occurred in the past:

• 2006 in the Bar Harbor area -- About three dozen earthquakes occurred, including one magnitude 4.2 event and two magnitude 3 events. These were much larger events than in the current swarm, and they caused minor rock-fall damage.
• 1967 in the Augusta area – At least 12 located events occurred, but probably many smaller events were not detected. The largest event in that sequence was 3.9.

Additional information on these earthquakes can be found at the New England Real-Time Earthquake Monitor (from Weston Observatory of Boston College).

Anyone feeling earthquakes can report the occurrence to the Maine Geological Survey at mgs@maine.gov

McAleer said that MEMA recommends residents take the following preparedness steps for earthquakes:

• Check for hazards in the home;
• Identify safe places indoors and outdoors;
• Educate yourself and family members;
• Have disaster supplies on hand;
• Develop an emergency communication plan.

More information on earthquake preparedness is available at Maine Prepares

The direct link to the earthquake information article, "Earthquakes: What You Should Know"

A large-format "Earthquake Awareness" brochure also is available from MEMA by calling 1-800-452-8735 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-452-8735 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to request a copy.

Link to more information about the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

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Last updated on May 3, 2011