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:
10km WSW of Alberto Oviedo Mota, B.C., MX
Period:
15 Aug 2010 21:06:47 - 21 Aug 2010 07:03:31 (5 days 9 hours 56 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Prieto, Cerro(30km)
Earthquakes:
45
19 swarms found nearby.
2000
S20000502.1(21.0km)
1 May
4 days 19 hours
60 earthquakes
VS20001102.1(29.7km)
2 Nov
2 days 22 hours
63 earthquakes
2001
S20011209.1(22.7km)
8 Dec
3 days 15 hours
57 earthquakes
2002
S20020222.1(22.9km)
22 Feb
6 days 19 hours
453 earthquakes
S20020303.1(18.3km)
2 Mar
4 days 12 hours
88 earthquakes
2006
S20060528.1(25.3km)
27 May
1 day 14 hours
27 earthquakes
2008
S20080626.1(20.3km)
25 Jun
21 hours
27 earthquakes
2009
S20090920.1(23.9km)
19 Sep
2 days 5 hours
46 earthquakes
2010
4 Apr
1 hours
5 earthquakes
S20100405.4(27.0km)
4 Apr
7 days 6 hours
271 earthquakes
S20100410.1(20.4km)
9 Apr
1 day 9 hours
29 earthquakes
1 May
4 days 3 hours
63 earthquakes
S20100508.1(24.7km)
7 May
6 days 19 hours
95 earthquakes
S20100517.1(17.2km)
16 May
23 days 11 hours
365 earthquakes
S20100620.1(25.7km)
19 Jun
13 days 17 hours
161 earthquakes
24 Jul
9 days 17 hours
117 earthquakes
11 Dec
2 days 18 hours
50 earthquakes
2012
1 Jul
3 days 2 hours
77 earthquakes
2024
S20240512.1(29.9km)
12 May
2 days 10 hours
93 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20100816.1 Near Alberto Oviedo Mota, Baja California

Seismic swarm S20100816.1 occurred in a tectonically active zone 10 km west-southwest of Alberto Oviedo Mota, Baja California, Mexico. The sequence began at 21:06 on 15 August 2010 and concluded at 07:03 on 21 August 2010, spanning 129 hours and 56 minutes. During this period, 45 earthquakes were recorded, with the majority occurring at depths of 9 km and magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 3.4.

The events clustered tightly in both space and time, characteristic of swarm behavior rather than a mainshock-aftershock sequence. Early activity on 15–16 August included the largest event of magnitude 3.4, followed by numerous smaller shocks. Activity persisted at a moderate rate through 17 August, then declined gradually, with isolated events continuing until the swarm’s termination on 21 August. Depths remained predominantly shallow, though two events on 20 August reached 11 km and 14 km.

This swarm took place within the Salton Trough, a pull-apart basin formed by the interaction of the Pacific and North American plates. Right-lateral strike-slip motion along the Imperial and Cerro Prieto fault systems, combined with regional extension, drives frequent seismicity. The area also hosts the Cerro Prieto geothermal field, where fluid movement can trigger earthquake swarms through pore-pressure changes.

Since 2000, sixteen swarms have been documented in the same region. Yearly counts include two in 2000, one each in 2001, 2002 (two swarms), 2006, 2008, and 2009, and eight in 2010. These recurrent swarms underscore the persistent strain accumulation and release along the plate boundary.

The geological setting remains consistent with long-term monitoring by regional seismic networks, confirming ongoing activity linked to transform tectonics and geothermal processes.

References
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program – Regional tectonics of Baja California
Servicio Sismológico Nacional – Historical seismicity of northern Mexico
Geological Society of America – Salton Trough fault architecture