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Location:
55 km N of Kelly, Wyoming
Period:
23 Nov 2008 04:02:51 - 24 Nov 2008 19:51:31 (1 day 15 hours 48 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
None
Earthquakes:
66
12 swarms found nearby.
2002
3 Nov
2 days 6 hours
67 earthquakes
2006
5 Apr
16 hours
77 earthquakes
2009
14 Sep
2 days 16 hours
39 earthquakes
17 Sep
19 hours
25 earthquakes
14 Oct
3 days 23 hours
138 earthquakes
2013
15 Apr
17 hours
30 earthquakes
2015
4 Sep
4 hours
24 earthquakes
2016
24 Nov
1 day 13 hours
60 earthquakes
2019
29 Aug
14 hours
43 earthquakes
2020
12 Feb
11 hours
36 earthquakes
10 Sep
2 days 23 hours
117 earthquakes
2022
2 Mar
1 day 22 hours
33 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm SVS20081123.1: Earthquake Activity North of Kelly, Wyoming

Seismic swarm SVS20081123.1 occurred 55 km north of Kelly, Wyoming, from 04:02 on 23 November 2008 to 19:51 on 24 November 2008. The event sequence lasted 39 hours and 48 minutes and included 66 recorded earthquakes. All events were of low magnitude, with the largest reaching 2.7 and most falling between 0.2 and 1.9. Focal depths ranged from 6 km to 14 km, clustering predominantly between 8 km and 12 km.

The swarm exhibited typical characteristics of clustered seismicity without a dominant mainshock-aftershock pattern. Early activity on 23 November featured several events above magnitude 1.5 within the first few hours, including a 1.9 at 05:17 and a 2.7 at 06:41. Later peaks occurred near 22:00 that evening with magnitudes of 2.5 and 2.4. Activity tapered significantly on 24 November, ending with a final 1.8 event at 19:51.

This sequence aligns with regional patterns in the Intermountain Seismic Belt, where swarms arise from fluid migration or minor fault adjustments rather than large tectonic ruptures. Depths in the 6–14 km range are consistent with brittle failure in the upper crust beneath the area.

The location lies near the southern margin of the Yellowstone Plateau, influenced by the Yellowstone hotspot and associated extensional tectonics. The Teton Fault system and nearby normal faults accommodate regional extension linked to Basin and Range province dynamics. Historical records since 2000 indicate only two prior swarms in the immediate vicinity, occurring in 2002 and 2006, underscoring the episodic nature of such clusters amid background seismicity.

Swarm events in this setting often reflect interactions between regional faulting and hydrothermal or magmatic processes tied to the hotspot. Monitoring data from the period show no escalation to larger events or surface deformation, consistent with the modest energy release observed.

References

  • USGS Earthquake Catalog
  • Wyoming State Geological Survey seismic reports
  • SeismoSight internal swarm classification data