The recent 6.0 earthquake in the Gulf of California (July 3, 2009) is a reminder of the complex fault structures that run up the western coast of the United States. Although the earthquake struck 42 miles southwest of Ahome, Mexico, in Sinaloa state, the fault structures involved are intricately connected with the faults in Southern California.
USGS map of July 3, 2009, showing faults and recent earthquakes.
Historically, when one of these faults in the Gulf of California slips it begins a chain reaction of fault movements up and down the coast. The fault that runs under the Gulf of California runs north into the Imperial Valley of California in the vicinity of the cities of Mexicali, El Centro and Palm Springs. Not far to the west and northwest, and connected to these fault systems, lay San Diego and the sprawling Los Angeles Basin, with its infamous San Andreas Fault.
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKES
| Date |
Time |
Location |
Magnitude |
| 1. |
01.09.1857 |
8:24 am |
Fort Tejon |
7.9 |
| 2. |
2.24.1892 |
11:20 pm |
Laguna Salada |
7.3 |
| 3. |
12.25.1899 |
4:25 am |
San Jacinto/Hemet |
6.7 |
| 4. |
04.21.1918 |
2:31 pm |
San Jacinto |
6.8 |
| 5. |
06.29.1925 |
7:42 am |
Santa Barbara |
6.8 |
| 6. |
11.04.1927 |
5:51 pm |
Offshore Lompoc |
7.1 |
| 7. |
03.10.1933 |
5:54 pm |
Long Beach |
6.4 |
| 8. |
05.18.1940 |
8:37 pm |
Imperial Valley |
6.9 |
| 9. |
04.10.1947 |
7:58 am |
Manix |
6.5 |
| 10. |
07.21.1952 |
3:52 am |
Kern County |
7.5 |
| 11. |
04.09.1968 |
6:29 pm |
Borrego Mountain |
6.6 |
| 12. |
02.09.1971 |
6:01 am |
San Fernando |
6.6 |
| 13. |
10.15.1979 |
4:16 pm |
Imperial Valley |
6.4 |
| 14. |
07.08.1986 |
2:21 am |
North Palm Springs |
5.7 |
| 15. |
10.01.1987 |
7:42 am |
Whittier Narrows |
5.9 |
| 16. |
11.24.1987 |
5:15 am |
Superstition Hills |
6.6 |
| 17. |
06.28.1991 |
7:43 am |
Sierra Madre |
5.8 |
| 18. |
04.22.1992 |
9:50 pm |
Joshua Tree |
6.1 |
| 19. |
06.28.1992 |
4:57 am |
Landers |
7.3 |
| 20. |
06.28.1992 |
8:05 am |
Big Bear |
6.3 |
| 21. |
01.17.1994 |
4:30 am |
Northridge |
6.7 |
| 22. |
10.16.1999 |
2:46 am |
Hector Mine |
7.1 |
| 23. |
12.22.2003 |
11:15 am |
San Simeon |
6.5 |
| 24. |
07.29.2008 |
11:42 am |
Chino Hills |
5.4 |
A word of caution should be conveyed to the residents of the southern California area whenever this type of fault activity commences so they may be better prepared for the BIG ONE.
Keep your eyes on Southern California, I anticipate a major quake within 90 days.
The Gulf of California (highlighted)
