Seismic Swarm S20220608.1: Analysis of Activity East of Little Lake, California
Seismic swarm S20220608.1 occurred 18 km east of Little Lake in Inyo County, California, within a tectonically active zone influenced by the Eastern California Shear Zone and proximity to the Coso Volcanic Field. The sequence began at 14:17 on 7 June 2022 and concluded at 11:13 on 9 June 2022, spanning 44 hours and 55 minutes with a total of 34 recorded events. Magnitudes ranged from -0.2 to 2.2, with the largest event measuring 2.2 at a depth of 3 km. Depths clustered primarily between 2 km and 9 km, consistent with shallow crustal processes in this region.
The swarm exhibited a typical pattern of clustered microseismicity, with initial low-magnitude events on 7 June giving way to a peak in activity around 8 June, including multiple events between 1.0 and 2.2. Activity tapered off by early 9 June. Such swarms reflect fluid migration or stress adjustments along local fault networks rather than a single mainshock-aftershock sequence.
Geologically, the area east of Little Lake forms part of the Coso Range, where right-lateral strike-slip faulting interacts with volcanic and geothermal systems. The Coso Volcanic Field, located nearby, features Quaternary rhyolitic domes and active hydrothermal circulation that can trigger earthquake swarms through pore-pressure changes. This setting aligns with broader deformation along the Walker Lane belt, accommodating Pacific-North America plate motion.
Historical records since 2000 show 111 swarms in the vicinity, with notable concentrations in 2019 (29 swarms) and 2020 (23 swarms). These peaks coincide with the aftermath of the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake sequence, which altered regional stress fields and promoted swarm activity. Earlier years displayed lower but persistent rates, such as 7 swarms each in 2004 and 2010, underscoring the area's recurrent seismic character.
This swarm reinforces the importance of monitoring in geothermal-influenced zones for understanding both tectonic hazards and subsurface fluid dynamics.
References
USGS Earthquake Catalog
California Geological Survey regional reports
SeismoSight internal swarm classification data