North And South Poles Are At It Again

USGS small globe showing the Bellany Islands off Antarctica

The Balleny Islands off Antarctica – USGS

There’s been some major movement at both the North and South Poles over the past two days, and the equatorial regions are now responding.

The Poles

On October 28, 2013, a 5.3 magnitude quake shook the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Greenland and Iceland. Approximately six hours later, the Antarctic Plate responded with a 4.5 magnitude quake south of Africa off the Prince Edward Islands.

Two hours later on October 29, 2013, a 6.0 magnitude quake shook the Antarctic Plate between Antarctica and South America at the Balleny Islands.

Less than an hour later,  Leavenworth, Washington had a 3.3 quake, a small 2.5 earthquake rattled south of San Francisco, and Nikolski, Alaska had a 4.3 and a 5.0 magnitude quake an hour apart.

South America

USGS map of quake off Peru

Recent quakes off the South American coast – USGS

After the 5.3 quake shook west of Iceland, the following quakes have occurred off the west coast of Central and South America:

  1. 2.8  Alberto Oviedo Mota, Mexico
  2. 4.3  Coquimbo, Chile
  3. 4.6  Ovalle, Chile
  4. 4.5  Chirilagua, El Salvador
  5. 5.0  Chivay, Peru
The USGS small globe showing the June 2013 earthquake in Papua New Guinea

Quakes at Papua New Guinea – USGS

Japan and Indonesia

The following quakes have occurred in the western Pacific around Japan and Indonesia:

  1. 4.6  Papua, New Guinea
  2. 5.3  Papua, New Guinea
  3. 5.0  Japan
  4. 4.7  Kuripan, Indonesia
  5. 5.0  Fiji
  6. 4.3  Kendari, Indonesia
  7. 5.1  Fiji
  8. 5.2  Sarangani, Philippines

US and Alaska

  1. 3.0  King Salmon, Alaska
  2. 3.0  Fort Yukon, Alaska
  3. 3.3  Leavenworth, Washington
  4. 2.5  East Foothills, California
  5. 2.5  Lompoc, California
  6. 4.3  Nikolski, Alaska

Caribbean

The USGS small globe showing the Caribbean earthquake April 30, 2013.

Caribbean earthquakes – USGS

  1. 3.0  Puerto Rico
  2. 2.8  Puerto Rico
  3. 3.1  British Virgin Islands
  4. 2.6  Puerto Rico

There’s a lot of movement all over the world right now. Watch for more activity off the US, Central American, and South American coasts.