2011 Colorado earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Colorado Earthquake was a magnitude
5.3 (Mw) intraplate earthquake
that occurred on August 22, 2011 at 11:46 PM MDT (05:46 UTC). The epicenter
was 15 kilometre west northwest of Trinidad, Colorado
, 290 km (180 mi) South from the City of Denver
, according to the United States Geological Survey
(USGS).
The last time the Colorado region received a series of earthquakes was in 2001, when about a dozen smaller-sized temblors were recorded.
Another USGS geophysicist, Shengzao Chen, said the center had received calls from more than 70 people in Trinidad, Colo., who felt the shaking, as well as several dozen people in New Mexico. More than 30 people in Colorado Springs, about 130 miles from Cokedale, also reported feeling the quake, he said.
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
5.3 (Mw) intraplate earthquake
Intraplate earthquake
An intraplate earthquake is an earthquake that occurs in the interior of a tectonic plate, whereas an interplate earthquake is one that occurs at a plate boundary....
that occurred on August 22, 2011 at 11:46 PM MDT (05:46 UTC). The epicenter
Epicenter
The epicenter or epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface that is directly above the hypocenter or focus, the point where an earthquake or underground explosion originates...
was 15 kilometre west northwest of Trinidad, Colorado
Trinidad, Colorado
The historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado, United States...
, 290 km (180 mi) South from the City of Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, according to the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS).
The last time the Colorado region received a series of earthquakes was in 2001, when about a dozen smaller-sized temblors were recorded.
United States
A Las Animas County Sheriff's Office dispatcher said she had received calls from "tons" of county residents who felt the shaking, as well as reports of rockslides along a highway following the quake. USGS geophysicist Jessica Sigala said the quake has the potential of causing minimal damage.Another USGS geophysicist, Shengzao Chen, said the center had received calls from more than 70 people in Trinidad, Colo., who felt the shaking, as well as several dozen people in New Mexico. More than 30 people in Colorado Springs, about 130 miles from Cokedale, also reported feeling the quake, he said.
See also
- Earthquakes in 2011Earthquakes in 2011This is a list of earthquakes in 2011. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they are notable for some other reason, as well as earthquakes that resulted in casualties. All dates are listed according to UTC time....
- List of earthquakes in the United States