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Location:
22km ESE of Ocotillo Wells, CA
Period:
13 May 2018 00:28:56 - 15 May 2018 23:04:14 (2 days 22 hours 35 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Salton Buttes(31km), Prieto, Cerro(90km)
Earthquakes:
70
53 swarms found nearby.
2000
VS20000512.1(28.8km)
11 May
2 days 10 hours
52 earthquakes
2002
S20020225.1(30.0km)
24 Feb
1 day 2 hours
31 earthquakes
2006
S20060630.1(23.2km)
29 Jun
5 days 14 hours
126 earthquakes
S20061129.1(26.5km)
29 Nov
1 day 4 hours
34 earthquakes
2008
S20080527.1(24.2km)
27 May
9 hours
47 earthquakes
30 Oct
2 days 14 hours
105 earthquakes
2009
VS20090417.1(26.6km)
17 Apr
1 day 13 hours
29 earthquakes
S20090614.1(27.4km)
13 Jun
1 day 5 hours
53 earthquakes
S20090721.1(28.2km)
20 Jul
1 day 10 hours
32 earthquakes
VS20090801.1(30.0km)
1 Aug
3 days 10 hours
106 earthquakes
S20091101.1(19.2km)
1 Nov
12 hours
26 earthquakes
2010
VS20100123.1(28.6km)
22 Jan
2 days 3 hours
46 earthquakes
PS20100405.1(108.9km)
4 Apr
1 hours
5 earthquakes
S20100517.2(22.6km)
16 May
3 days 18 hours
47 earthquakes
VS20101112.1(28.5km)
11 Nov
1 day 10 hours
28 earthquakes
VS20101228.1(29.0km)
27 Dec
11 hours
66 earthquakes
S20110101.1(27.7km)
31 Dec
1 day 14 hours
33 earthquakes
2011
VS20110328.1(29.3km)
27 Mar
1 day 18 hours
42 earthquakes
S20110701.1(27.5km)
1 Jul
1 day 2 hours
36 earthquakes
2012
VS20120304.1(29.7km)
3 Mar
3 days 11 hours
72 earthquakes
VS20120323.1(22.6km)
22 Mar
2 days 22 hours
73 earthquakes
VS20120608.1(29.7km)
8 Jun
19 hours
95 earthquakes
S20120925.1(29.6km)
24 Sep
1 day 17 hours
51 earthquakes
2013
S20130219.1(27.8km)
18 Feb
4 days 14 hours
57 earthquakes
VS20130404.1(25.9km)
3 Apr
2 days 12 hours
59 earthquakes
S20130429.1(27.9km)
28 Apr
2 days 2 hours
41 earthquakes
VS20130603.1(23.2km)
3 Jun
3 days 15 hours
134 earthquakes
S20130820.1(29.3km)
19 Aug
3 days 21 hours
47 earthquakes
S20131014.1(28.7km)
13 Oct
2 days 10 hours
83 earthquakes
S20131127.1(28.5km)
27 Nov
1 day 7 hours
52 earthquakes
2015
VS20150521.1(27.6km)
21 May
1 day 13 hours
38 earthquakes
2016
VS20160729.1(28.8km)
29 Jul
1 day 9 hours
30 earthquakes
2018
S20180618.1(28.1km)
17 Jun
1 day 9 hours
26 earthquakes
2019
S20190118.1(29.3km)
17 Jan
4 days 13 hours
71 earthquakes
2020
VS20200506.1(28.8km)
5 May
1 day 14 hours
56 earthquakes
S20200510.1(11.2km)
10 May
5 days 22 hours
133 earthquakes
S20200810.1(28.0km)
9 Aug
4 days 12 hours
319 earthquakes
S20200930.1(27.9km)
30 Sep
9 days 1 hours
1724 earthquakes
VS20201113.1(29.3km)
13 Nov
23 hours
38 earthquakes
2021
VS20210201.1(28.7km)
31 Jan
23 hours
38 earthquakes
S20210319.1(28.7km)
18 Mar
14 hours
27 earthquakes
S20210605.1(29.6km)
4 Jun
19 days 4 hours
2347 earthquakes
18 Aug
2 days 0 hours
37 earthquakes
2023
VS20230430.1(28.2km)
30 Apr
17 hours
68 earthquakes
VS20231003.1(29.6km)
3 Oct
1 day 11 hours
29 earthquakes
VS20231209.1(29.5km)
9 Dec
18 hours
34 earthquakes
2024
VS20240211.1(29.5km)
10 Feb
1 day 21 hours
26 earthquakes
S20240214.3(29.4km)
14 Feb
1 day 12 hours
31 earthquakes
S20240803.1(23.4km)
2 Aug
2 days 23 hours
54 earthquakes
2025
VS20250410.1(28.7km)
10 Apr
1 day 9 hours
64 earthquakes
S20250422.1(25.7km)
22 Apr
10 hours
28 earthquakes
VS20250711.1(28.5km)
11 Jul
1 day 18 hours
132 earthquakes
2026
18 May
3 hours
43 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20180513.1: Activity Near Ocotillo Wells, California

A notable earthquake swarm, designated S20180513.1, occurred in the desert region of southern California from 00:28 on 13 May 2018 to 23:04 on 15 May 2018. The sequence was centered 22 km east-southeast of Ocotillo Wells in San Diego County, within the seismically active Salton Trough. Over 70 hours and 35 minutes, 70 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from 0.8 to 3.6 and focal depths predominantly between 0 and 8 km. The swarm began with a cluster of events on 13 May, including several magnitude 3+ shocks at shallow depths. Peak activity featured a 3.6 event at 00:35 and additional events exceeding magnitude 3 later that day. Subsequent days showed declining frequency but persistent low-magnitude seismicity, consistent with swarm behavior rather than a mainshock-aftershock sequence. Depths remained shallow throughout, indicating activity within the upper crust. This region lies at the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates, where right-lateral strike-slip faulting along the San Andreas system transitions into extensional tectonics of the Salton Trough. The area experiences frequent seismic swarms due to interaction between the San Jacinto Fault zone and transtensional features near the Imperial Fault and Brawley Seismic Zone. Historical records show elevated swarm occurrence linked to fluid migration and magmatic processes at depth. Since 2000, 32 swarms have been documented in the vicinity, with notable concentrations in 2009 (5 events), 2010 (6), and 2013 (7). These episodes reflect the area's ongoing tectonic adjustment and high strain rates. The 2018 swarm fits this pattern, underscoring the persistent seismic hazard in this sparsely populated desert landscape. Monitoring by regional networks continues to track such activity, aiding in understanding fault interactions and improving hazard assessment for nearby infrastructure and communities.

References

  • USGS Earthquake Catalog
  • California Geological Survey Regional Fault Maps
  • Southern California Seismic Network Reports