The earthquake near Malibu on Sunday was part of a larger earthquake pattern that Southern California is seeing.
The region has been experiencing many moderate earthquakes since 2024. In 2024, Southern California experienced 15 earthquake sequences, with at least one magnitude 4 or higher, according to a count by Caltech researcher Lucy Jones. This is the highest annual total in the past 65 years, surpassing the 13 years in 1988.
Jones said Sunday the earthquake was the first magnitude earthquake in Southern California so far.
Three earthquakes in the Malibu region have been greater than magnitude 4 in the past 13 months.
Are these tembers a sign of a major earthquake coming?
Experts have warned that the latest earthquake does not provide any additional clarity to the timing of the next devastating earthquake in Southern California.
“Seismologists have spent decades trying to read tea to find patterns,” said Susan Hough, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
“The earthquake network was installed in Southern California because scientists think that before a big earthquake occurs, small earthquakes will show patterns. That just doesn't work,” she said.
One thing is clear, she said: “No one has found a statistically significant pattern before the big earthquake.”
Experts say recent earthquakes should strengthen the threat posed by the state’s infamous positive earthquake landscape and remind people how many Californians live in dangerous areas.
For example, the Eastern La earthquake in the summer focused on faults associated with the Puente Hills thrust fault system, which is located below downtown Los Angeles, southeast of Los Angeles County, San Gabriel Valley and Orange Northern County Swaths.
In the past, strong earthquakes occurred in areas close to Malibu. On January 18, 1989, a magnitude 5 earthquake occurred eight miles southeast of Malibu Point, below Santa Monica Bay. According to the Southern California Earthquake Data Center, several people were injured, items fell off store shelves and some windows were broken.
On New Year's Day in 1979, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck about eight miles south of Cape Malibu, notable as it hit the Rose Bowl game between USC and Michigan.
“Some fans in the stadium were shocked by the shaking, but the game continued,” the data center said.
USGS geophysicist Morgan Page said a few months ago that an earthquake could reach magnitude 8 in the Malibu region, which is “a standard standard anywhere in California.” This is because in a seismic event, a single fault can be linked, resulting in a larger earthquake.
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that occurred in Malibu on September 12 was initially considered to have 40% chances associated with the Malibu fault and 46% chances associated with the Anacapa fault.
Experts say that the earthquake of this size and size only has a relatively small fault section, perhaps only a few hundred yards. Such moderate events usually occur in small, unshapedable failures.
Where did we see the recent earthquake activity?
Malibu – The Malibu region has always been a hot topic. Just 13 months ago (February 9, 2024), there was a magnitude 4.6 earthquake, enough to throw items away from the counter. On September 12, there were also 4.7 levels – shockingly, the mayor of the city and his wife were under the kitchen table.
Ontario – A magnitude 4 earthquake occurred before dawn near Ontario International Airport on October 6. Just in Ontario, one of the most populous cities in San Bernardino County, five magnitude 3 or more earthquakes had already occurred in the month before the October 6 earthquake.
East – Eastside La was shocked by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake centered on El Sereno on August 12, with an amplitude of 3.4 on June 2.
Kern County – The 5.2-magnitude earthquake, the strongest earthquake in three years, shook Southern California, the center of the Northwest region of Vines on August 6. On July 29, another shocking earthquake struck about 13 miles northeast of Barstoy, with an amplitude of 4.9.
What about the damage?
Sunday's earthquake was felt throughout the region, but there were no reports of damage.
This matches last year's experience. The 2024 earthquake shocked the area, but the damage was absolutely moderate, such as removing items from shelves, as they are relatively small temblors.
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