New Jersey earthquake struck at 4.8 magnitude yesterday
A uncommon 4.8-magnitude earthquake rattled the U.S. Northeast on Friday, April 5, 2024. In response to the U.S. Geological Survey, it occurred at 10:23 a.m. EDT and was centered close to Lebanon, New Jersey, about 45 miles (70 km) west of New York Metropolis and 50 miles (80 km) north of Philadelphia. Residents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania additionally reported being rattled by the quake. USGS reported that, altogether, greater than 42 million folks might need felt the quake. And all of them should have been stunned, since earthquakes of that magnitude are uncommon within the U.S. Northeast. And, because the day handed yesterday, wacky theories – some linked to Monday’s total solar eclipse – emerged on the web. Learn extra about that under.
Within the meantime, no accidents or main infrastructure damages resulting from this earthquake have been reported alongside the U.S. East Coast.
EarthSky’s Michael Maimone lives in New Jersey and was there when the quake occurred. He mentioned he was 62 miles (100 km) from the epicenter. He mentioned:
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All the photographs on my wall rattled like loopy. It took me a minute to comprehend what was occurring till the home began to sway and the shaking received extra intense.
Wow! A M4.8 struck in New Jersey this morning round 10:30 am native time. Shaking was broadly felt from Maine to Washington D.C. Did you’re feeling this earthquake? Share your expertise right here: https://t.co/xdohQbzpcq https://t.co/ADcDLsTp8b pic.twitter.com/bAjEbSgvwc
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 5, 2024
Is the earthquake associated to the eclipse?
The proximity in time between the April 5 earthquake within the U.S. Northeast – and the total solar eclipse of April 8 – has conspiracy theorists’ heads spinning. As a result of, you realize, it was a 4.8-magnitude earthquake. And the eclipse is on 4-8 (April 8). Do these people suppose any pure occasions are random?
The eclipse and the earthquake are, nevertheless, unrelated. Extra within the tweet under and within the following part.
So we had a really fascinating geological day within the area. The Earthquake and aftershocks are resulting from strain being launched by the Ramapo Fault line. This fault line is energetic and has produced quite a few earthquakes in New Jersey over the previous 500 years ( that we’ve got recorded… pic.twitter.com/YWb0YohSBV
— NY NJ PA Climate (@nynjpaweather) April 5, 2024
How uncommon are earthquakes on this area?
USGS explained:
Since colonial occasions folks within the New York-Philadelphia-Wilmington city hall have felt small earthquakes and suffered harm from rare bigger ones. New York Metropolis was broken in 1737 and 1884. Reasonably damaging earthquakes strike someplace within the city hall roughly twice a century, and smaller earthquakes are felt roughly each 2-3 years.
Earthquakes within the central and japanese U.S., though much less frequent than within the western U.S., are sometimes felt over a wider area. East of the Rockies, an earthquake might be felt over an space as a lot as 10 occasions bigger than an identical magnitude earthquake on the west coast. A magnitude 4.0 japanese U.S. earthquake sometimes might be felt at many locations so far as 100 km (60 mi) from the place it occurred, and it occasionally causes harm close to its supply. A magnitude 5.5 japanese U.S. earthquake often might be felt so far as 500 km (300 mi) from the place it occurred, and typically causes harm as distant as 40 km (25 mi).
The New Jersey earthquake from across the internet
Earthquake in Lebanon NJ!!! Home was shaking @CNN @NBCNews @ABC7 @News12NJ @nytimes pic.twitter.com/pJRNQOv5ty
— Mel (@mncasasnovas) April 5, 2024
Can’t imagine I received it on digicam lol ? #earthquake pic.twitter.com/OevQ5q30ZF
— jared (@jareddemel) April 5, 2024
I AM FINE
— Empire State Constructing (@EmpireStateBldg) April 5, 2024
Backside line: Conspiracy theorists are having a subject day imagining a connection between yesterday’s 4.8-magnitude New Jersey earthquake within the U.S., and Monday’s solar eclipse. The quake and the craziness right here.
