Seismic Swarm S20060324.1: Analysis of Activity Near Little Lake, California
The region 15 km northeast of Little Lake, California, lies within a tectonically active zone influenced by the Eastern California Shear Zone and proximity to the Coso Volcanic Field. This area experiences frequent microseismicity due to a combination of strike-slip faulting and geothermal processes, with shallow crustal structures facilitating clustered earthquake sequences rather than isolated mainshock-aftershock patterns.
Swarm S20060324.1 was recorded from 14:27 on 23 March 2006 until 01:35 on 28 March 2006, spanning 107 hours and 8 minutes. During this interval, 67 earthquakes were detected at the specified location. Magnitudes ranged from 0.2 to 1.3, with the majority below 1.0. Depths were predominantly shallow, concentrated between 0 and 5 km, and included several events at or near the surface (recorded as -1 km).
Event distribution showed an initial peak on 23–24 March, followed by sustained low-level activity through 27 March and a final event on 28 March. Notable higher-magnitude events included a 1.3 quake at 2 km depth on 26 March at 14:38 and another 1.3 at 0 km on 26 March at 21:20. Depths extended to a maximum of 10 km on one occasion, though most remained within the upper 5 km, consistent with fluid-driven swarm behavior in geothermal-influenced crust.
Historical records since 1 January 2000 indicate 20 swarms in this region. Yearly counts were: 2000 (4), 2001 (4), 2002 (2), 2004 (7), 2005 (2), and 2006 (1). This pattern underscores recurring swarm episodes, often linked to the same fault network and hydrothermal system.
The provided sequence data reveal typical swarm traits: rapid onset, lack of a dominant mainshock, and gradual decay. Most events clustered in the first 48 hours, with later activity maintaining low magnitudes. Such characteristics differentiate these sequences from tectonic mainshock sequences and align with stress perturbations from fluid migration or aseismic slip in the shallow crust.
References
- SeismoSight internal swarm classification records
- USGS earthquake catalog (regional context for Little Lake, CA)