Note:This page contains AI-generated content for informational and entertainment purposes only. It may contain inaccuracies. Raw event data is from USGS and EMSC. All statistics, lists, and derived information are generated by this site. Full disclaimerFound an error?
Location:
6km SW of Ocotillo, CA
Period:
3 Nov 2006 15:56:43 - 5 Nov 2006 15:09:12 (1 day 23 hours 12 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Salton Buttes(67km), Prieto, Cerro(77km)
Earthquakes:
33
15 swarms found nearby.
2006
14 Sep
1 day 19 hours
38 earthquakes
S20061129.1(14.3km)
29 Nov
1 day 4 hours
34 earthquakes
2007
15 Apr
16 days 10 hours
190 earthquakes
2010
S20100404.1(14.6km)
3 Apr
55 days 14 hours
4548 earthquakes
4 Apr
23 days 16 hours
571 earthquakes
PS20100405.1(89.2km)
4 Apr
1 hours
5 earthquakes
S20100504.1(10.8km)
3 May
2 days 2 hours
89 earthquakes
S20100517.2(17.8km)
16 May
3 days 18 hours
47 earthquakes
S20100529.1(28.9km)
28 May
83 days 1 hours
3232 earthquakes
S20100724.2(11.2km)
23 Jul
4 days 12 hours
62 earthquakes
S20101210.1(29.8km)
9 Dec
5 days 20 hours
59 earthquakes
S20101218.1(25.0km)
17 Dec
2 days 1 hours
36 earthquakes
2021
S20210201.1(21.2km)
31 Jan
3 days 21 hours
68 earthquakes
S20210208.1(21.3km)
7 Feb
4 days 3 hours
49 earthquakes
2023
S20231202.1(17.7km)
1 Dec
3 days 16 hours
64 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20061104.1 Near Ocotillo, California

An earthquake swarm designated S20061104.1 occurred 6 km southwest of Ocotillo in Imperial County, California. The sequence began at 15:56 on 3 November 2006 and concluded at 15:09 on 5 November 2006, spanning 47 hours and 12 minutes. During this interval, 33 earthquakes were recorded.

The swarm initiated with a magnitude 4.6 event at a depth of 13 km. Subsequent activity consisted predominantly of smaller events, with magnitudes ranging from 0.9 to 3.6 and focal depths between 2 km and 17 km. The largest aftershock reached magnitude 3.6 within the first hour, followed by a magnitude 3.3 event later on 3 November and a magnitude 3.0 event on 4 November. Most events clustered at depths of 5–9 km, consistent with shallow crustal faulting in the region.

This swarm represents the sole seismic swarm recorded in the area since 1 January 2000. No additional swarms have been documented in the subsequent historical record for this specific locale.

The Ocotillo region lies within the Salton Trough, a tectonically active pull-apart basin formed by the interaction of the Pacific and North American plates. The area is influenced by the southern San Andreas Fault system, including strands of the Imperial and Brawley fault zones. These structures accommodate right-lateral strike-slip motion and produce frequent microseismicity. Historical seismicity in the Imperial Valley includes notable swarms associated with fluid migration along fault networks, although the 2006 sequence remains the only classified swarm in the immediate Ocotillo vicinity since 2000.

Geological mapping indicates that the swarm epicenters align with Quaternary alluvial deposits overlying basement rocks of the Peninsular Ranges. The modest depths and rapid decay of event magnitudes suggest a localized stress release without significant mainshock-aftershock triggering typical of larger tectonic events.

References

  • SeismoSight internal swarm classification S20061104.1
  • USGS Earthquake Catalog (events 2006-11-03 to 2006-11-05, Ocotillo, CA)