Seismic Swarm S20190706.2: Analysis of Activity Near Trona, California
Seismic swarm S20190706.2 occurred in a tectonically active region of southern California, centered 24 km south-southeast of Trona in San Bernardino County. This area lies within the Mojave Desert portion of the Eastern California Shear Zone, where northwest-trending right-lateral strike-slip faults accommodate a significant fraction of Pacific-North America plate motion. The local geology features Precambrian basement rocks overlain by Quaternary alluvium and lacustrine deposits associated with ancient Searles Lake. The Garlock Fault, a major left-lateral structure, lies immediately north, while the swarm epicenters align with secondary faults linked to the Little Lake and Airport Lake fault zones.
The swarm initiated at 12:21 UTC on 5 July 2019 and concluded at 11:52 UTC on 18 July 2019, spanning 311 hours and 31 minutes. During this interval, 643 earthquakes were recorded. Analysis of the first 100 events reveals predominantly shallow foci between 0 and 13 km depth, with the majority clustered between 2 and 8 km. Magnitudes ranged from 0.7 to 4.4, including several events above magnitude 3.0 that occurred within the first 24 hours. Notable early shocks included a magnitude 4.4 at 03:30 UTC on 6 July at 8 km depth, followed closely by magnitude 3.6 and 3.5 events. Subsequent activity showed a gradual decline in both rate and maximum magnitude, consistent with typical swarm behavior driven by fluid migration or aseismic slip rather than a single mainshock-aftershock sequence.
Historical records indicate that the Trona region has experienced recurrent swarms. Since 1 January 2000, 54 swarms have been documented in the immediate vicinity. Annual counts vary, with peaks in 2004 (7 swarms), 2010 (7 swarms), and lower activity in intervening years such as 2002, 2005, and 2018 (1 swarm each). The 2019 sequence represents the second swarm of that year, underscoring the persistent seismic productivity of the area.
This swarm unfolded within the broader context of the July 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, though its parameters are classified independently. The shallow depth distribution and rapid succession of moderate events highlight the potential for ground shaking in nearby communities, including Trona and Ridgecrest. Continued monitoring remains essential given the region's position at the intersection of multiple active fault systems.
References
- United States Geological Survey Earthquake Catalog
- California Geological Survey Fault Activity Map
- Southern California Earthquake Data Center Swarm Database