STRONG QUAKE IN BANDA SEA FELT IN NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA

 

EARTHQUAKE SUMMARY FOR FEBRUARY 25, 2020

 

EMSC reported this earthquake was felt with light intensity in northwestern Australia and Darwin and Coolalinga. NEIC added Humpty Doo-MacMinns Lagoon, Nguiu, Palmerston and Howard Springs, Northern Territory, Australia to sites feeling this earthquake with intensity II-III. Strong earthquakes in the Banda Sea are often felt in northern Australia due to the depth of these events and the cone of felt effects. This earthquake in the Banda Sea is the strongest within about 200 km of this epicenter since an M 5.9 on September 21, 2019 with the largest of greater magnitude in the area an M 7.3 on June 24, 2019 about 250 km to the northwest of today's epicenter. Forecast 122125 had expected today's event was likely within about 100 km around February 27. This event may also have been promoted by high tidal stresses associated with the new moon of February 26 as it occurred near the longitude where these were maximized as noted in previous issues of this summary:

 

"The New Moon  arrived on February 23, 2020 at 15:32 UT. Longitudes which were sub-solar at this time are near 52 West while those antisolar are at 128 East longitude. These include areas of the Central Atlantic such as Puerto Rico and the South Sandwich Islands in the west and central Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan in the east. A strong tidally enhanced earthquake is possible in the next six days. Other tidal enhancement would promote larger quakes near local solar noon and midnight. Many other areas of the earth can also see tidal enhancement of seismicity at this time." (February 22-25, 2020)

 

O: 26FEB2020 07:33:11   7.6S  131.2E Mw=5.9  EMSC   KEP. TANIMBAR REGION, INDONESI

P: 27FEB2020 122125     7.0S  130.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  West Irian, PNG            

 

Seismicity in eastern Turkey to Kazakhstan continued at an elevated level today. This include an M 5.0 in Western Kazakhstan; an M 5.0 in eastern Turkey and continuing aftershocks of M 4.4 and 4.2 in the region of the Turkey-Iran border. The M 5.0 earthquake was felt today in the region of Eastern Turkey. This is an aftershock of the M 6.8 of January 24 in the area but not an aftershock of the recent M 6.0 to the southeast of this two days ago. It was felt with maximum intensity IV in Malatya, Yesilyurt, Elazig, Diyarbalir, Ebistan and Gaziantep, Turkey. This earthquake is at 103 degrees from the M 7.7 south of Cuba of January 28 and, like much of the regional activity in the past several weeks, have been promoted by energy from that source. Forecast 122007 had expected a moderate earthquake in Kazakhstan around February 21.

 

O: 26FEB2020 07:51:26  41.8N   52.1E mb=5.0  EMSC   WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN           

P: 21FEB2020 122007    40.0N   50.0E 4.0-5.3 BBBAA  Kazakhstan                 

 

The events in eastern Turkey were aftershocks of strong regional earthquakes of the past month and had been expected at this time in forecasts 121995 and 122219.

 

O: 25FEB2020 23:03:38  38.3N   38.8E mb=5.0  EMSC   EASTERN TURKEY               

P: 18FEB2020 121995    39.0N   40.0E 3.5-4.8 CAAAA  Turkey                     

 

O: 25FEB2020 22:28:15  38.4N   44.4E mb=4.4  EMSC   TURKEY-IRAN BORDER REGION    

O: 25FEB2020 14:14:02  38.4N   44.5E mb=4.5  EMSC   TURKEY-IRAN BORDER REGION    

P: 24FEB2020 122219    39.0N   44.0E 3.5-4.8 AAAAA  Caucasus/Caspian Sea       

 

An unusual earthquake was recorded in Namibia, southern Africa today with  M 3.1. This epicenter is at 102 degrees from the M 7.7 south of Cuba of January 28 and may have been promoted by energy from that source. The last earthquake within about 300 km of this epicenter in Namibia of M>=3.1 was an M 4.1 on May 24, 2010, the only such event in this area in the past 30 years.

 

 

O: 25FEB2020 15:23:57  26.7S   15.1E ML=3.1  EMSC   NAMIBIA                      

 

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

 

NEIC reported an earthquake of M 4.0 in Bangladesh  was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Bangladesh at Dacca.

 

O: 26FEB2020 05:34:13  23.8N  121.7E mb=4.8  EMSC   TAIWAN                       

O: 26FEB2020 05:34:15  23.9N  121.6E ML=4.7  TAI    Hualien, Taiwan              

O: 25FEB2020 11:14:02  24.4N  121.4E ML=5.0  TAI    Hualien, Taiwan              

O: 25FEB2020 12:27:03  24.4N  121.4E ML=4.1  TAI    Hualien, Taiwan              

P: 24FEB2020 122163    24.0N  123.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  Taiwan                     

P: 25FEB2020 122163    23.0N  121.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  Taiwan                     

 

CWB reported the earthquake of M 5.0 was felt with intensity V in Yilan; IV in Hualien, Taichung and Nantou; II in Taoyuan, Miaoli,Taipei, Changhua, Yunlin and I in Hsinchu, Taitung, Tainana and Kaohsiung Counties, Taiwan.

The M 4.1 was felt with intensity IV in Yilan; II in Hualien, Taichung, Nantou, Taoyuan and Hsinchu and I in Miaoli.

The M 4.7 was felt with intensity IV in Hualien; III in Nantou and Taichung; II in Yilan, Taitung, Changhua and Yunlin and I in Taoyuan, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Miaoli Counties, Taiwan.

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.8 in Taiwan  was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Taiwan at Taichung.

The M 5.1 was reported with intensity IV in Taiwan at Taoyuan and II-III in Hualien, Miaoli, Hsinchu, Taipei, Taichung.

 

O: 25FEB2020 11:42:08  26.9N   55.7E mb=4.4  EMSC   SOUTHERN IRAN                

P: 26FEB2020 122161    28.0N   57.0E 3.5-4.9 ABAAA  So. Iran/Persian Gulf      

 

O: 25FEB2020 21:48:42  37.4N   72.0E mb=4.3  EMSC   TAJIKISTAN                   

P: 29FEB2020 122181    35.0N   74.0E 3.8-5.1 BCBAA  Hindu Kush/Pakistan        

 

O: 26FEB2020 07:51:26  41.8N   52.1E mb=5.0  EMSC   WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN            

P: 21FEB2020 122007    40.0N   50.0E 4.0-5.3 BBBAA  Kazakhstan                 

 

O: 25FEB2020 12:27:03  24.4N  121.4E ML=4.1  EMSC   TAIWAN

O: 25FEB2020 11:14:03  24.4N  121.4E mb=5.1  EMSC   TAIWAN

 

INDONESIA AND PHILIPPINES

 

O: 25FEB2020 15:36:09   0.1S  125.3E ML=4.0  EMSC   MOLUCCA SEA                  

P: 29FEB2020 122104     0.0N  124.0E 4.0-5.3 BABAA  Mindanao, Philippines      

 

O: 25FEB2020 16:54:29   2.0S  122.5E ML=4.0  EMSC   SULAWESI, INDONESIA          

P: 25FEB2020 122122     2.0S  123.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  Sulawesi area              

 

O: 25FEB2020 19:15:36   2.0S  128.4E ML=4.1  EMSC   KEPULAUAN OBI, INDONESIA     

P: 26FEB2020 122103     1.0N  128.0E 4.0-5.4 ACAAA  Halmahera                  

 

O: 25FEB2020 13:39:41   2.5S  121.0E ML=4.0  EMSC   SULAWESI, INDONESIA          

P: 25FEB2020 122122     2.0S  123.0E 4.0-5.3 AABAA  Sulawesi area              

 

O: 26FEB2020 06:44:12   4.8S   99.1E ML=4.4  EMSC   SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESI

P: 26FEB2020 122121     4.0S  103.0E 4.0-5.3 AACAA  So. of Sumatera            

 

O: 25FEB2020 20:50:50   5.2N  125.4E mb=4.6  EMSC   MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES        

P: 25FEB2020 122105     6.0N  126.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  Mindanao, Philippines      

 

O: 26FEB2020 00:23:35   6.0N   95.2E ML=4.2  EMSC   NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA  

P: 29FEB2020 122106     7.0N   94.0E 4.0-5.3 BAAAA  Nicobar Islands            

 

O: 25FEB2020 13:13:09   6.1N  124.0E mb=4.4  EMSC   MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES        

O: 25FEB2020 21:38:23   7.7N  121.7E ML=4.0  EMSC   MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES        

P: 25FEB2020 122105     6.0N  126.0E 4.0-5.3 AACAA  Mindanao, Philippines      

 

O: 26FEB2020 00:23:32  15.9N  119.2E mb=5.0  EMSC   LUZON, PHILIPPINES           

P: 22FEB2020 122137    18.0N  120.0E 3.5-4.8 BCAAA  Luzon, Philippines          

 

 

O: 26FEB2020 07:33:11   7.6S  131.2E Mw=5.9  EMSC   KEP. TANIMBAR REGION, INDONESI

P: 27FEB2020 122125     7.0S  130.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  West Irian, PNG            

 

EMSC reported this earthquake was felt with light intensity in northwestern Australia and Darwin and Coolalinga.

NEIC added Humpty Doo-MacMinns Lagoon, Nguiu, Palmerston andHoward Springs, Northern Territory, Australia to sites feeling this earthquake with intensity II-III.

 

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

 

O: 25FEB2020 10:45:41  15.5N   95.0W ML=4.1  EMSC   OFFSHORE OAXACA, MEXICO

O: 25FEB2020 09:32:00  16.3N   94.7W ML=4.1  EMSC   OAXACA, MEXICO

O: 25FEB2020 14:10:49  16.5N   95.6W ML=4.0  EMSC   OAXACA, MEXICO

O: 25FEB2020 19:13:03  15.5N   94.7W ML=4.0  EMSC   OFFSHORE OAXACA, MEXICO       

P: 25FEB2020 122129    16.0N   94.0W 3.5-5.9 AAAAA  Chiapas, Mexico            

 

O: 25FEB2020 16:39:48  17.7N   66.9W ML=3.0  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION

O: 25FEB2020 09:28:31  17.8N   66.9W Md=3.1  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION

O: 25FEB2020 20:31:15  17.9N   66.8W ML=3.5  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION

O: 26FEB2020 07:41:32  18.0N   66.8W Md=3.0  EMSC   PUERTO RICO

O: 26FEB2020 07:33:49  18.0N   66.7W Md=3.2  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION

O: 26FEB2020 03:30:31  17.9N   66.9W Md=3.1  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION            

P: 25FEB2020 122147    18.0N   67.0W 3.4-4.8 AAAAA  Puerto Rico                

 

O: 25FEB2020 23:16:09  19.0N   67.0W ML=3.1  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION           

O: 25FEB2020 23:24:54  19.1N   67.1W Md=3.2  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION

O: 25FEB2020 10:41:04  19.1N   67.6W ML=3.0  EMSC   PUERTO RICO REGION

P: 27FEB2020 122147    19.0N   67.0W 3.4-4.8 AAAAA  Puerto Rico                

 

O: 26FEB2020 00:00:53  19.1N   63.9W ML=3.1  EMSC   VIRGIN ISLANDS REGION        

P: 24FEB2020 122136    18.0N   64.0W 3.0-4.8 ABAAA  Leeward Islands            

 

O: 26FEB2020 01:23:39  21.4S   67.3W mb=4.5  EMSC   POTOSI, BOLIVIA              

P: 25FEB2020 122296    24.0S   66.0W 4.0-5.3 ACAAA  Argentina                  

 

AFRICA AND EUROPE

 

O: 25FEB2020 15:23:57  26.7S   15.1E ML=3.1  EMSC   NAMIBIA                      

 

O: 25FEB2020 23:03:38  38.3N   38.8E mb=5.0  EMSC   EASTERN TURKEY               

P: 18FEB2020 121995    39.0N   40.0E 3.5-4.8 CAAAA  Turkey                     

 

O: 25FEB2020 22:28:15  38.4N   44.4E mb=4.4  EMSC   TURKEY-IRAN BORDER REGION    

O: 25FEB2020 14:14:02  38.4N   44.5E mb=4.5  EMSC   TURKEY-IRAN BORDER REGION    

P: 24FEB2020 122219    39.0N   44.0E 3.5-4.8 AAAAA  Caucasus/Caspian Sea       

 

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC

 

O: 25FEB2020 21:17:33   9.9S  161.1E mb=5.2  EMSC   SOLOMON ISLANDS              

P: 26FEB2020 122287    10.0S  162.0E 4.0-5.3 AAAAA  No. of Santa Cruz Islands  

 

OCEAN RIDGES

 

O: 25FEB2020 16:54:36  40.6S   86.0W mb=4.5  EMSC   WEST CHILE RISE              

P: 23FEB2020 122312    41.0S   88.0W 4.0-5.3 AABAA  Chile Rise                 

 

No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported on Ocean Ridges today.

 

 

ZEALANDIA AND AUSTRALIA REGION

 

O: 25FEB2020 16:00:05  29.7S  178.6E ML=4.6  EMSC   KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION      

O: 25FEB2020 08:54:25  31.2S  179.1E ML=4.3  EMSC   KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION      

P: 25FEB2020 122305    25.0S  179.0E 4.0-5.3 ACAAA  Tonga/Fiji                 

 

O: 26FEB2020 06:17:39  35.9S  178.9W mb=4.8  EMSC   EAST OF NORTH ISLAND, N.Z.   

O: 26FEB2020 06:17:38  35.9S  178.9W mb=4.8  ANSS   Island of New Zealand        

P: 28FEB2020 122309    37.0S  180.0W 3.5-4.8 ABAAA  E. of North Islands N.Z.   

 

JAPAN AND KURIL ISLANDS

 

O: 26FEB2020 00:22:29  31.1N  130.3E mb=4.3  EMSC   KYUSHU, JAPAN                

P: 25FEB2020 122160    26.0N  128.0E 4.0-5.3 ACBAA  Ryukyu Islands             

 

U.S./CANADA*

 

WESTERN U.S./CANADA

 

CALIFORNIA

 

O: 26FEB2020 00:08:00  32.5N  115.2W Ml=2.1  EMSC   BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO      

P: 27FEB2020 122195    32.5N  115.7W 2.5-4.4 AAAAA  So. California             

 

O: 25FEB2020 18:50:33  32.8N  116.1W Ml=2.2  EMSC   SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA          

P: 27FEB2020 122195    32.5N  115.7W 2.5-4.4 AAAAA  So. California             

 

O: 25FEB2020 09:56:15  35.6N  120.9W Md=2.0  EMSC   CENTRAL CALIFORNIA           

P: 22FEB2020 122172    36.1N  120.1W 2.5-4.3 BAAAA  Central California         

P: 24FEB2020 122172    36.6N  120.7W 2.5-4.3 AAAAA  Central California         

 

O: 25FEB2020 17:19:38  33.9N  119.4W Ml=3.1  EMSC   CHANNEL ISLANDS REG., CALIFORN

P: 25FEB2020 122197    33.6N  118.5W 2.5-4.3 AAAAA  So. California             

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 3.1 in Southern California  was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Southern California at Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara.

 

O: 26FEB2020 03:45:48  36.1N  117.9W Ml=2.0  EMSC   CENTRAL CALIFORNIA           

P: 24FEB2020 122167    36.1N  118.1W 2.5-4.3 AAAAA  California/Nevada area     

 

O: 26FEB2020 04:01:25  37.0N  118.3W Md=2.7  EMSC   CENTRAL CALIFORNIA           

O: 25FEB2020 12:35:20  38.1N  119.1W ml=2.2  EMSC   CENTRAL CALIFORNIA           

P: 23FEB2020 122169    37.4N  118.6W 2.5-4.3 AAAAA  California/Nevada area     

 

O: 25FEB2020 18:06:03  39.2N  123.1W MD=2.1  EMSC   NORTHERN CALIFORNIA          

P: 27FEB2020 122175    39.2N  123.1W 2.5-4.4 AAAAA  Central California         

 

 

O: 25FEB2020 22:35:19  35.4N  117.8W ML=3.2  EMSC   SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

O: 25FEB2020 22:37:17  35.4N  117.8W Ml=2.0  EMSC   SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

O: 25FEB2020 17:16:03  35.7N  117.5W ML=2.9  EMSC   SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

O: 26FEB2020 03:09:38  35.8N  117.7W Ml=2.4  EMSC   CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

O: 26FEB2020 03:45:48  36.1N  117.9W Ml=2.0  EMSC   CENTRAL CALIFORNIA           

P: 24FEB2020 122167    36.1N  118.1W 2.5-4.3 AAAAA  California/Nevada area     

 

NEIC reported these earthquakes of M 3.2 in Central California  were felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Central California at Ridgecrest and Trona.

 

ALASKA

 

O: 25FEB2020 23:12:57  59.9N  139.4W ML=2.5  EMSC   SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA          

P: 26FEB2020 122264    59.0N  138.0W 3.0-4.4 AAAAA  Southeast Alaska           

 

O: 25FEB2020 22:56:37  61.6N  146.6W ML=3.3  EMSC   SOUTHERN ALASKA              

P: 25FEB2020 122271    63.3N  147.5W 3.2-4.8 ABAAA  Central Alaska             

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 3.3 in  Southern Alaska was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Southern Alaska at Glennallen.

 

PACIFIC NORTHWESTERN U.S./WESTERN CANADA

 

No events of M>=2 were located in the northwestern U.S. or western Canada today.

 

ROCKY MOUNTAINS REGION

 

O: 25FEB2020 09:45:36  37.2N  113.4W Ml=2.2  EMSC   UTAH                         

P: 24FEB2020 122186    37.3N  114.9W 2.5-4.4 AABAA  Nevada area                

 

O: 25FEB2020 21:04:39  39.4N  110.3W Ml=2.2  EMSC   UTAH                         

P: 29FEB2020 122213    39.7N  110.8W 2.0-3.9 BAAAA  Utah area                  

 

EASTERN U.S./CANADA

 

O: 25FEB2020 17:31:02  35.3N   97.8W ML=2.0  EMSC   OKLAHOMA                     

O: 26FEB2020 03:31:46  35.3N   97.9W ML=2.3  EMSC   OKLAHOMA                     

P: 27FEB2020 122209    35.0N   97.0W 2.0-3.9 AAAAA  Southern Plains            

 

O: 26FEB2020 04:57:21  36.3N   98.1W ML=2.2  EMSC   OKLAHOMA                     

P: 28FEB2020 122210    37.0N   98.0W 2.0-3.9 AAAAA  Southern Plains            

 

O: 25FEB2020 02:33:52  65.2N   87.4W MB=2.7  ECAN Repulse Bay, NU                

P: 24FEB2020 122278    65.0N   86.0W 2.5-3.8 AAAAA  Nunavit/Hudson Bay, Canada 

 

HAWAII

 

No earthquakes of M>=3 were located in Hawaii.