Seismic Swarm S20190915.1 Near Coso Junction, California
Seismic swarm S20190915.1 was recorded 10 km northeast of Coso Junction, California. Activity began at 11:24 on 14 September 2019 and concluded at 01:48 on 10 October 2019, spanning 614 hours and 24 minutes. A total of 387 earthquakes were registered during this period.
The Coso region lies within the Basin and Range province of eastern California, adjacent to the Coso Volcanic Field. This area features Quaternary rhyolite domes, basaltic flows, and extensive geothermal systems driven by shallow crustal heat sources. Tectonic extension along northwest-trending normal faults interacts with magmatic processes, producing frequent earthquake swarms. Geothermal energy production at the Coso facility further influences local seismicity through fluid injection and extraction.
Analysis of the first 100 events reveals predominantly low-magnitude earthquakes. Magnitudes ranged from 0.4 to 2.4, with the majority between 0.8 and 1.6. Depths were shallow, concentrated between 1 and 4 km, although isolated events reached 10 km. The initial sequence showed rapid onset with events occurring within minutes on 14 September, followed by sustained activity over subsequent days. Notable events included a magnitude 2.4 quake on 16 September at 2 km depth and several magnitude 2.0–2.3 shocks clustered at depths of 1–2 km. No clear migration pattern was evident in the early catalog, consistent with fluid-driven swarm behavior rather than mainshock-aftershock sequences.
Historical records indicate persistent swarm activity in the region. Since 2000, 69 swarms have been documented, with notable yearly counts including 7 in 2004, 7 in 2010, and 18 in 2019. This frequency underscores the area's elevated seismic hazard linked to both tectonic and geothermal factors.
The swarm S20190915.1 aligns with established patterns of microseismicity in the Coso Volcanic Field. Continued monitoring remains essential for assessing potential links to deeper magmatic or hydrothermal processes.
References
USGS Earthquake Catalog
Coso Volcanic Field geological summaries (California Geological Survey)
SeismoSight internal swarm classification records