UNUSUAL EARTHQUAKES ACCOMPANY FULL MOON
EARTHQUAKE SUMMARY FOR MARCH 21, 2019
Unusual earthquakes occurred today in East and Southern Africa following an increase in solar flare activity. An M 5.5 in Tanzania was felt in Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia and Malawi while an M 4.9 shook several Free States in South Africa. The solar flare activity today included a C5.6, the strongest flare registered this year. Following are parameters for this event which was one of several C-class flares today.
Flare # START MAX END CLASS DATE Flux (Jm-2)
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8880 0308 0312 0315 C5.6 (March 21, 2019) 1.2E-03
The largest earthquake in the world today was an M 5.5 in the area of Tanzania, Africa. NEIC reported maximum intensity V in Libala, northern Zambia and IV in Tanzania at Laela Rukwa, Mbeya, Kiwira, Tanzania and II-III in Tanzania in Makungu, Chimala, and Sumbawanga Rukwa; in Zambia at Mungwi and at Mzuzu, Malawi and Kigali Ville de Kigali, Rwanda. This earthquake occurred near the time of the full moon and was probably promoted by tidal stresses. This event occurred within about an hour of local solar noon a time when tidal stresses maximize in the earth. The last earthquake of M>=5.5 within about 200 km of this epicenter occurred as an M 5.5 on February 20, 2002 also with M 5.5. An M 6.5 hit the area on October 2, 2000. The last event within about 250 km of today's epicenter was an M 5.9 in Malayi on February 24, 2017 about 250 km to the southwest and prior to that an M 5.5 on November 14, 2009 about 250 km to the northwest. Forecast 114205 had expected today's activity was likely around March 21 about 260 km to the northwest of today's epicenter.
O: 21MAR2019 09:15:38 7.9S 32.1E mb=5.1 EMSC LAKE RUKWA REGION, TANZANIA
O: 21MAR2019 09:15:40 7.9S 32.1E mw=5.5 ANSS E of Sumbawanga Tanzania
P: 21MAR2019 114205 6.0S 30.0E 3.0-4.5 ABBAA Lake Victoria area
An unusually large earthquake of M 4.9 shook South Africa today. NEIC reported it was felt with intensity IV in Virginia Free State and in Welkom Free State, South Africa. The last earthquake within about 150 km of this epicenter with M>=4.9 occurred on April 3, 2017 (M 5.2) and prior to that an M 5.3 on August 5, 2014. Forecasts 114434 and 114726 had expected this activity in mid- to late March within about 100 km of this epicenter. This epicenter is located at 101 degrees from the M 7.5 in Ecuador of February 22 and may have been promoted from that source.
O: 22MAR2019 00:30:30 28.1S 26.8E mb=4.9 EMSC SOUTH AFRICA
P: 13MAR2019 114434 27.0S 27.0E 3.0-4.7 CBAAA Rep. South Africa
P: 31MAR2019 114726 26.0S 28.0E 3.0-4.6 CBAAA Rep. South Africa
Tidal stresses from the full moon of March 21 also appear to have promoted seismicity today. The most obvious of these was an M 5.2 in the Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 28 West longitude. This event occurred within about an hour of the full moon and was sub-lunar at the time of the full moon an hour earlier. The tidal forecast for this full moon as published in previous issues of this summary had read:
"The full moon will arrive at 01:43 UT on March 21. Longitudes which area sub-lunar at this time are near 26 West and sub-solar at 154 East. These include the mid-Atlantic Ridge where a series of moderate earthquakes is occurring in the Azores, the South Sandwich Islands, and the region of Kamchatka and New Guinea among others. These will experience maximum tidal stresses but many areas are subject to tidal triggering outside these longitude zones. A strong tidal-related earthquake is likely in the next seven days. Tidally promoted events often occur with geomagnetic storms and/or near local solar noon or midnight." (March 19-21, 2019)
Today's North Atlantic event did not occur at an epicenter which has been active in the recent seismicity of the area. It was probably triggered by strong tidal stresses associated with the full moon. The last event within about 200 km of this epicenter with M>=4.9 occurred August 14, 2017 with M 5.1. The last of M>5.2 in the area was an M 5.4 on September 30, 2013, The only event in the past 30 years of significantly larger magnitude in the area was an M 5.7 on May 17, 2002. Forecast 114381 had expected today's event within about 50 km of this epicenter was likely around March 16.
O: 22MAR2019 02:42:41 49.7N 28.6W mb=4.9 EMSC NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
O: 22MAR2019 02:42:42 49.7N 28.5W mb=5.2 ANSS NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
P: 16MAR2019 114381 50.0N 29.0W 4.0-5.7 CAAAA North Mid-Atlantic Ridge
The strongest earthquakes in the U.S. or Canada today occurred as an M 4.3 and 4.5-4.6 in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The aftershock of M 4.0-4.3 occurred within minutes of local solar noon and was probably promoted by tidal effects. The last event within about 200 km of today's epicenters with M>=4.6 occurred December 22, 2017 about 200 km southwest of today's events and prior to that as an M 5.5 on March 5, 2006. No such earthquakes of M>=4.6 have occurred within 150 km of today's epicenters in the past 30 years. Forecast 114698 had expected today's activity was likely within about 100 km of these epicenters around March 22.
O: 21MAR2019 20:12:30 66.7N 130.4W mb=4.0 EMSC NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA
O: 21MAR2019 20:12:30 66.7N 130.5W MB=4.3 ECAN Fort Good Hope, NT
O: 21MAR2019 16:33:05 66.7N 130.4W MB=4.5 ECAN Fort Good Hope, NT
O: 21MAR2019 16:33:03 66.7N 130.4W mb=4.6 EMSC NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA
P: 22MAR2019 114698 66.0N 130.0W 2.5-4.1 AAAAA Yukon Territory, Canada
An earthquake of M 4.7 shook the region of Barbuda, Leeward Islands, today. This is the strongest earthquake in the region of Barbuda within about 100 km
of this epicenter since an M M 4.7 on April 17, 2018. The last of larger magnitude was an M 5.2 on February 9, 2018. Forecast 114514 had expected the Leeward Islands would be active around March 27 to the south of today's epicenter. Previous issues of this summary had expected regional seismicity in this area related to it's antipodal location to Tropical Cyclone Veronica north of Australia as:
"TC Veronica (21S) continued south of Lombok, Indonesia and north of Australia today with winds up to 150 kts. It may help promote additional seismicity in the Sumba, Sumbawa, Bali and Lombok areas of Indonesia or at the antipode which is 17N 63W in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico region of the Caribbean. A moderate event in this area could be triggered by antipodal energy from Veronica." (March 19-21, 2019)
O: 21MAR2019 08:12:59 18.8N 60.4W ML=4.7 EMSC NE OF BARBUDA, LEEWARD ISLANDS
P: 27MAR2019 114514 16.0N 60.0W 3.0-5.2 CCAAA Leeward Islands
OTHER GLOBAL EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY
For most events there are two listings. The first line is the observed event starting with "O:" for Observed. There follows the date, month and year, the time in UT hours:minutes:seconds, the latitude and longitude, the given magnitude and the reporting agency followed by the geographic location. The second line starts with "P:" This is the forecast event as forecast in our summaries normally more than a month in advance. Magnitudes may vary in response to updated seismic watches and daily variations due to tidal and other influences. This line has the forecast date, month and year, the forecast number, latitude, longitude and forecast magnitude range. This is followed by a comparison between the forecast and the event. The comparison includes letters A-D. The first is number of days difference from predicted (A:up to 2, B3-5; C:6-10; D:more than 10), Difference in latitude (A:up to 1 degree; B:1-2 degrees; C:2-4 degrees; D:more than 4 degrees); longitude (same comparison as with latitude); magnitude (A: within forecast range; B: higher than forecast range; C: lower than forecast range; D: no comparison possible). The last letter is a stand in for a future comparison which needs to be done statistically after a large number of forecasts have been made. In previous data, an excellent match is generally AAAAA; a good match as one or two B's; a fair match has several B's and C's and a poor match is one which contains a number of C's or D's.
ASIA
O: 22MAR2019 12:05:49 24.5N 122.4E ML=4.7 TAI Hualien, Taiwan
P: 23MAR2019 114548 24.0N 122.0E 4.0-5.5 AAAAA Taiwan
CWB reported this earthquake was felt with intensity II in Yilan, Hualien and Taipei and I in Taoyuan, Nantou, Hsinchu and Taichung Counties, Taiwan.
O: 21MAR2019 14:30:54 25.8N 91.0E mb=4.3 EMSC MEGHALAYA, INDIA REGION
P: 31MAR2019 114540 24.0N 94.0E 4.0-5.4 CBCAA Myanmar
NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.3 in Northern India was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Gauhati and Golakganj, Assam and in Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
O: 21MAR2019 10:03:58 27.1N 54.0E mb=4.6 EMSC SOUTHERN IRAN
P: 24MAR2019 114546 28.0N 55.0E 3.5-5.2 BAAAA So. Iran/Persian Gulf
No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Asia today.
INDONESIA AND PHILIPPINES
O: 21MAR2019 10:33:25 3.5S 145.1E mb=4.9 EMSC NEAR N COAST OF NEW GUINEA, PN
P: 28MAR2019 114489 3.0S 146.0E 4.0-5.6 CAAAA New Ireland
O: 21MAR2019 15:54:00 6.9S 128.3E ML=4.0 EMSC BANDA SEA
P: 23MAR2019 114480 7.0S 129.0E 4.0-5.5 AAAAA Banda Sea
O: 21MAR2019 18:57:13 7.6N 126.4E ML=4.7 EMSC MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
P: 26MAR2019 114473 8.0N 127.0E 4.0-5.4 BAAAA Halmahera
O: 21MAR2019 15:03:05 7.7S 107.9E mb=4.7 EMSC JAVA, INDONESIA
P: 22MAR2019 114713 10.0S 109.0E 4.0-5.6 ACAAA So. of Java
O: 22MAR2019 03:16:35 8.9S 124.2E Mw=4.8 EMSC KEPULAUAN ALOR, INDONESIA
P: 26MAR2019 114485 9.0S 124.0E 4.0-5.4 BAAAA Flores Island area
O: 21MAR2019 10:47:34 9.6S 118.0E ML=4.3 EMSC SUMBAWA REGION, INDONESIA
P: 22MAR2019 114712 11.0S 118.0E 4.0-5.4 ABAAA So. of Indonesia
No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Indonesia or the Philippines today.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
O: 21MAR2019 20:34 35.2S 72.7W mb=4.4 GUC Maule at Cauquenes, Palluhue;
P: 27MAR2019 114734 35.0S 73.0W 4.0-5.6 CAAAA Central Chile
CSN reported this earthquake was felt with intensity V in Maule at Cauquenes, Palluhue; IV in Linares, Villa Alegre and III in Chanco and Talca; in Nuble with V in Trehuaco; IV in San Fabian, Niquen and III in Chillan, Cobquecura and Quillan; in Biobio with III in Chiguayante, Concepcion, San Pedro de la Paz, Talchuano and Tome, Chile.
O: 21MAR2019 12:00:00 8.7S 76.4W ML=4.0 EMSC CENTRAL PERU
P: 20MAR2019 114199 9.0S 75.0W 3.5-5.1 AABAA Brazil
O: 21MAR2019 18:38:57 6.8N 72.9W mb=4.4 EMSC NORTHERN COLOMBIA
P: 15MAR2019 114188 7.0N 73.0W 4.0-5.5 CAAAA Colombia
O: 21MAR2019 19:47:20 12.7S 74.9W mb=4.8 EMSC CENTRAL PERU
O: 21MAR2019 19:14:00 12.8S 75.0W ML=4.7 EMSC CENTRAL PERU
P: 20MAR2019 114412 11.0S 74.0W 4.0-5.4 ABAAA Central Peru
P: 22MAR2019 114704 14.0S 76.0W 4.0-5.5 ABAAA Central Peru
O: 21MAR2019 10:12:00 15.4S 74.3W ML=4.7 EMSC NEAR COAST OF SOUTHERN PERU
P: 22MAR2019 114704 14.0S 76.0W 4.0-5.5 ABBAA Central Peru
O: 21MAR2019 19:29:14 15.5N 94.9W ML=4.0 EMSC OFFSHORE OAXACA, MEXICO
O: 21MAR2019 12:28:24 15.5N 95.5W mb=4.2 EMSC OFFSHORE OAXACA, MEXICO
O: 21MAR2019 12:16:06 15.7N 96.1W ML=4.1 EMSC OFFSHORE OAXACA, MEXICO
P: 25MAR2019 114524 16.0N 97.0W 3.5-5.4 BAAAA Oaxaca, Mexico
NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.2 in Oaxaca, Mexico was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Xadani and Huatulco, Oaxaca and in Ixtapa, Guerrero, Mexico.
O: 21MAR2019 08:46:55 16.7N 95.0W ML=4.0 EMSC OAXACA, MEXICO
P: 18MAR2019 114225 18.0N 95.0W 3.5-5.4 BBAAA Chiapas, Mexico
O: 21MAR2019 08:29:44 16.7N 95.0W ML=4.4 EMSC OAXACA, MEXICO
P: 27MAR2019 114508 16.0N 94.0W 3.5-5.3 CAAAA Chiapas, Mexico
O: 21MAR2019 06:54:07 18.1N 68.5W ML=3.5 EMSC ONA PASSAGE, DOMINICAN REPUBLI
P: 26MAR2019 114528 19.0N 68.0W 3.4-5.1 BAAAA Puerto Rico
O: 21MAR2019 11:12:24 18.4N 65.0W Md=3.0 EMSC VIRGIN ISLANDS REGION
P: 26MAR2019 114514 19.0N 65.0W 3.0-5.4 BAAAA Leeward Islands
O: 22MAR2019 04:25:27 18.5N 100.9W mb=4.9 EMSC MICHOACAN, MEXICO
P: 20MAR2019 114244 18.0N 100.0W 3.5-5.1 AAAAA Oaxaca, Mexico
NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.9 in Mexico was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Coacoyul, Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo, Guerrero and in Mexico City area.
O: 21MAR2019 08:12:59 18.8N 60.4W ML=4.7 EMSC NE OF BARBUDA, LEEWARD ISLANDS
P: 27MAR2019 114514 16.0N 60.0W 3.0-5.2 CCAAA Leeward Islands
O: 22MAR2019 00:56:40 18.9N 67.7W Md=3.3 EMSC PUERTO RICO REGION
P: 23MAR2019 114528 18.0N 68.0W 3.4-5.1 AAAAA Puerto Rico
P: 23MAR2019 114528 19.0N 69.0W 3.4-5.1 AAAAA Puerto Rico
O: 22MAR2019 05:52:28 18.9N 68.8W Md=3.0 EMSC DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
P: 23MAR2019 114528 19.0N 69.0W 3.4-5.1 AAAAA Puerto Rico
O: 22MAR2019 01:09:03 19.2N 67.4W MD=3.0 EMSC PUERTO RICO REGION
P: 23MAR2019 114528 19.0N 69.0W 3.4-5.1 AAAAA Puerto Rico
P: 26MAR2019 114528 19.0N 68.0W 3.4-5.1 BAAAA Puerto Rico
O: 21MAR2019 16:57:51 22.9S 68.6W Mw=4.5 EMSC ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE
P: 19MAR2019 114431 23.0S 69.0W 4.0-5.4 AAAAA Coast No. Chile
O: 21MAR2019 15:31:38 27.4S 67.2W mb=4.8 EMSC CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA
P: 29MAR2019 114721 28.0S 67.0W 4.0-5.8 CAAAA Argentina
O: 21MAR2019 20:34:34 36.2S 72.8W mb=4.3 EMSC BIO-BIO, CHILE
P: 27MAR2019 114734 35.0S 73.0W 4.0-5.6 CAAAA Central Chile
No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Central or South America today.
AFRICA AND EUROPE
O: 21MAR2019 09:15:38 7.9S 32.1E mb=5.1 EMSC LAKE RUKWA REGION, TANZANIA
O: 21MAR2019 09:15:40 7.9S 32.1E mw=5.5 ANSS E of Sumbawanga Tanzania
P: 21MAR2019 114205 6.0S 30.0E 3.0-4.5 ABBAA Lake Victoria area
O: 22MAR2019 00:30:30 28.1S 26.8E mb=4.9 EMSC SOUTH AFRICA
P: 13MAR2019 114434 27.0S 27.0E 3.0-4.7 CBAAA Rep. South Africa
P: 31MAR2019 114726 26.0S 28.0E 3.0-4.6 CBAAA Rep. South Africa
O: 21MAR2019 15:42:59 40.7N 52.0E mb=4.6 EMSC CASPIAN SEA, OFFSHR TURKMENIST
P: 24MAR2019 114623 40.0N 52.0E 4.0-5.4 BAAAA Kazakhstan
O: 21MAR2019 11:44:57 50.0N 2.1W ML=3.0 EMSC ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
P: 14MAR2019 114388 51.0N 3.0W 3.0-4.4 CAAAA United Kingdom
No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Europe today.
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
O: 21MAR2019 16:35:34 20.8S 178.7W mb=4.5 EMSC FIJI REGION
P: 18MAR2019 114440 20.0S 179.0W 4.0-5.8 BAAAA Tonga Islands
No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in the Southwest Pacific region today.
OCEAN RIDGES
O: 22MAR2019 02:42:41 49.7N 28.6W mb=4.9 EMSC NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
P: 16MAR2019 114381 50.0N 29.0W 4.0-5.7 CAAAA North Mid-Atlantic Ridge
No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported on Ocean Ridges today.
ZEALANDIA AND AUSTRALIA REGION
O: 21MAR2019 17:47:31 29.9S 178.8W mb=4.8 EMSC KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
P: 19MAR2019 114450 30.0S 178.0W 4.0-5.6 AAAAA No. Kermadec Islands
P: 20MAR2019 114433 29.0S 178.0W 4.0-5.4 AAAAA No. Kermadec Islands
O: 21MAR2019 19:24:07 31.5S 177.7W mb=5.1 EMSC KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
P: 24MAR2019 114741 31.0S 177.0W 4.0-5.5 BAAAA So. Kermadec Islands
JAPAN AND KURIL ISLANDS
No earthquakes of M>=4 were located in Japan or the Kuril Islands today.
U.S./CANADA*
WESTERN U.S./CANADA
CALIFORNIA
O: 21MAR2019 11:56:45 33.2N 116.1W Ml=2.2 EMSC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
P: 19MAR2019 114305 33.4N 116.7W 2.5-4.4 AAAAA So. California
O: 21MAR2019 13:56:46 33.8N 117.6W Ml=2.2 EMSC GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALI
P: 27MAR2019 114589 33.8N 117.7W 2.5-4.6 CAAAA So. California
O: 22MAR2019 06:20:48 36.5N 121.0W Md=2.3 EMSC CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
P: 22MAR2019 114560 36.7N 121.4W 2.5-4.4 AAAAA Central California
O: 21MAR2019 13:51:36 38.8N 122.7W Md=2.5 EMSC NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
O: 21MAR2019 08:08:11 38.8N 122.8W Md=2.1 EMSC NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
P: 24MAR2019 114562 38.7N 122.7W 2.5-4.6 BAAAA Central California
O: 21MAR2019 19:36:00 40.3N 124.5W Md=2.3 EMSC OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
P: 23MAR2019 114639 40.6N 124.9W 2.5-4.6 AAAAA Off Coast of No. Calif
ALASKA
O: 21MAR2019 16:55:22 59.7N 153.3W ML=3.2 EMSC SOUTHERN ALASKA
P: 22MAR2019 114684 60.1N 150.6W 3.2-4.9 AABAA Central Alaska
O: 21MAR2019 08:16:40 65.3N 168.0W ML=3.5 EMSC BERING STRAIT
O: 22MAR2019 00:09:47 69.6N 144.3W ML=3.0 EMSC NORTHERN ALASKA
P: 27MAR2019 114694 69.0N 144.0W 3.0-5.1 BAAAA Northern Alaska
PACIFIC NORTHWESTERN U.S./WESTERN CANADA
O: 21MAR2019 15:33:37 47.5N 117.4W Ml=2.4 EMSC WASHINGTON
P: 29MAR2019 114629 48.0N 115.0W 2.0-4.3 CABAA Montana/Idaho
O: 21MAR2019 20:12:30 66.7N 130.4W mb=4.0 EMSC NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA
O: 21MAR2019 20:12:30 66.7N 130.5W MB=4.3 ECAN Fort Good Hope, NT
O: 21MAR2019 16:33:05 66.7N 130.4W MB=4.5 ECAN Fort Good Hope, NT
O: 21MAR2019 16:33:03 66.7N 130.4W mb=4.6 EMSC NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA
P: 22MAR2019 114698 66.0N 130.0W 2.5-4.1 AAAAA Yukon Territory, Canada
ROCKY MOUNTAINS REGION
O: 22MAR2019 06:57:56 31.1N 103.3W ML=2.5 EMSC WESTERN TEXAS
O: 21MAR2019 10:53:17 31.1N 103.3W mb=3.0 EMSC WESTERN TEXAS
O: 21MAR2019 16:16:23 31.7N 104.4W ML=3.1 EMSC WESTERN TEXAS
P: 15MAR2019 114301 32.4N 103.8W 2.0-4.0 CBAAA SW U.S.A
O: 21MAR2019 07:23:55 38.8N 111.4W Ml=2.3 EMSC UTAH
P: 20MAR2019 114321 38.3N 112.2W 2.0-3.9 AAAAA Utah area
O: 21MAR2019 15:32:04 46.9N 113.2W ML=3.1 EMSC WESTERN MONTANA
P: 25MAR2019 114629 45.7N 112.1W 2.0-4.0 BBAAA Montana/Idaho
EASTERN U.S./CANADA
O: 21MAR2019 08:51:52 38.9N 97.6W mb=2.3 EMSC KANSAS
P: 16MAR2019 114316 38.0N 98.0W 2.0-3.9 BAAAA Southern Plains
O: 21MAR2019 15:36:02 47.2N 70.9W MB=2.5 ECAN Beaupre, QC
O: 21MAR2019 15:36:01 47.1N 70.9W ML=2.0 EMSC ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY REG., CANA
P: 21MAR2019 114344 47.3N 70.5W 2.0-4.1 AAAAA New England
O: 21MAR2019 03:47:08 49.3N 66.9W MB=1.9 ECAN Cap-Chat, QC
P: 20MAR2019 114338 49.3N 67.5W 2.0-4.0 AAAAA Maine
O: 20MAR2019 17:47:51 74.6N 76.8W MB=2.2 ECAN Dundas Harbour, NU
P: 21MAR2019 114408 73.3N 73.5W 2.5-3.9 ABAAA Baffin/Davis Strait Canada
HAWAII
NEIC reported an earthquake of M 3.0 in Hawaii was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Naalehu and Pahoa, Hawaii.
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