The U.S. Geological Survey Response and Research Related to the January 2020, M6.4 Southwest Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence

Session: Early Results from the 2020 M6.4 Indios, Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence
Type: Oral
Date: 4/30/2020
Time: 08:45 AM
Room: 115
Description: 

The January 7, 2020, M 6.4 earthquake off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico was part of an active sequence of earthquakes that began in late December 2019, when a M 4.7 event struck the same region. Over the course of the following weeks (through January 21, 2020), over 200 M3.5+ events occurred in the sequence, many of which were felt locally. These included a M 5.8 event on January 6, the M 6.4 mainshock on January 7 (as of writing the largest event in the sequence), subsequent M 5.6 and M 5.8 events also on January 7 and a M 5.9 event on January 11.

We will discuss the USGS response to these earthquakes, including real time earthquake characterization in coordination with our local Advanced National Seismic System partners at the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, aftershock deployments and related fieldwork and more detailed sequence analysis since that time. Earthquake relocations and moment tensor solutions are critical for providing an interpretative content for the sequence and its implications for local hazard characterization and rapid assessment of ground shaking, ground failure and impact assessments. We will also place the sequence in the context of evolving earthquake content on USGS Earthquake Hazard Program webpages and plans at the National Earthquake Information Center to develop earthquake sequence products that better reflect an evolving understanding of these extended earthquake sequences.

Presenting Author: Gavin P. Hayes

Authors