List of earthquakes in Texas

Last updated

Map of seismic hazard in Texas as of 2014 , as determined using the peak ground acceleration with 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years Texas seismic hazard map with cities.png
Map of seismic hazard in Texas as of 2014, as determined using the peak ground acceleration with 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years

Earthquakes intense enough to be perceptible occur annually in the U.S. state of Texas. Most earthquakes in the state have been small or have produced minimal impacts. No earthquake-related fatalities have been reported in the state, though one earthquake in Texas caused a death in the neighboring Mexican state of Chihuahua in 1923. The earliest recorded earthquake in Texas occurred near Seguin and New Braunfels on February 13, 1847. [1] Information on the intensities of early Texas earthquakes mainly arose from reports of personal experiences; more seismograph stations were installed in Texas after around 1970. [2] In the 20th century, over 100 earthquakes strong enough to be felt occurred in the state, with epicenters in 40  Texas counties. [3] : 37  While many earthquakes in Texas have natural origins, many have been induced from the waste disposal of petroleum extraction, previously believed to be the byproduct of hydraulic fracturing ,beginning with the Texas oil boom of the early 20th century. The average number of earthquakes per year with magnitudes greater than 3 increased from roughly 2 to 12 between 2008 and 2016. [2]

The regions within the state with the greatest seismic hazard include West Texas, the Texas Panhandle, North Texas, and South Central Texas. Among these areas, West Texas experiences the strongest and most frequent earthquakes, with El Paso featuring the greatest risk from earthquakes among sizable urban areas in Texas. [3] : 18–19  There are several geologic features in West Texas of interest to seismology, including the Central Basin Platform, the Hueco Bolson, and the Marathon Uplift. [3] : 20–23  Several faultlines are also located in West Texas. The strongest and most destructive earthquake in state history was the 1931 Valentine earthquake, [3] : 20  which had an estimated magnitude of mb 5.6–6.4. [4] : 1171  The second strongest earthquake in Texas history also occurred in West Texas, registering as a magnitude 5.7 tremor near Alpine in 1995. [1]

The Texas Panhandle exhibits the second highest seismic risk among regions in the state. The earthquakes in this area primarily occur on buried faults between the Amarillo Uplift and the Anadarko Basin. [3] : 24  An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5–6.0 is expected to occur every 50–100 years in the Texas Panhandle, while an earthquake with a magnitude greater than 6.0 is expected to occur every 300 years. [5] The strongest earthquake in this region was a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that occurred in 1925. [5] [6] Some of the seismic activity in the Texas Panhandle may be caused or influenced by the extraction of petroleum. [3] : 27  [5] The northern and northeastern parts of Texas, including the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, are another region of seismic risk. Though the area does experience some minor earthquakes, including induced earthquakes naturally-occurring tremors potentially along buried faults, shaking from distant earthquakes presents the primary seismic hazard for the region. [3] : 29–31  Some earthquakes of mostly minor strength also occur in South Central Texas and the Texas Coastal Plain. Some of these earthquakes may be associated with geological features produced by the Ouachita orogeny, and many have been attributed to petroleum production. [3] : 32–34 

Notable earthquakes

Relief map of Texas.png
Orange pog.svg
Valentine earthquake
Gold pog.svg
Marathon earthquake
Gold pog.svg
Gold pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
Gray pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
Yellow pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
SpringGreen pog.svg
class=notpageimage|
Earthquakes in Texas (magnitude 4.5+)
Date and time (UTC)LocationEpicenter Mag. MMI DepthNotesCasualtiesRef
DeadInjured
August 16, 1931
11:40:22		 Presidio County 30°30′07″N104°34′30″W / 30.502°N 104.575°W / 30.502; -104.575 (1931-08-16) 5.8 mbLg MMI VIII (Severe) 1.0 km (0.62 mi)All buildings in Valentine aside from wood-frame houses were damaged. Property damage was reported in Brewster, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties with landslides triggered as far as the Big Bend of Texas.—— [7]
April 14, 1995
00:32:56		 Brewster County 30°23′06″N103°20′49″W / 30.385°N 103.347°W / 30.385; -103.347 (1995-04-14) 5.7 Mw MMI VII (Very strong) 17.8 km (11.1 mi)Slight damage occurred in Alpine and Fort Davis. Two people suffered minor injuries in Brewster County. Shaking was felt as far east as the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and San Antonio.—2 [8]
November 16, 2022
21:32:44		 Reeves County 31°38′13″N103°59′56″W / 31.637°N 103.999°W / 31.637; -103.999 (2022-11-16) 5.4 ML MMI VII (Very strong) 6.9 km (4.3 mi)Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 881 earthquakes.—— [9]
November 8, 2023
10:27:49		 Reeves County 31°37′19″N103°58′55″W / 31.622°N 103.982°W / 31.622; -103.982 (2023-11-08) 5.2 ML MMI VII (Very strong) 7.4 km (4.6 mi)Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 278 earthquakes.—— [10]
December 16, 2022
23:35:27		 Martin County 32°11′28″N102°08′28″W / 32.191°N 102.141°W / 32.191; -102.141 (2022-12-16) 5.2 ML MMI VI (Strong) 8.2 km (5.1 mi)—— [11]
July 26, 2024
14:28:29		 Fisher County 32°45′50″N100°39′32″W / 32.764°N 100.659°W / 32.764; -100.659 (2024-07-26) 5.1 ML MMI VI (Strong) 3.2 km (2.0 mi)Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 69 earthquakes.—— [12]
September 17, 2024
00:49:42		 Martin County 32°24′40″N102°03′32″W / 32.411°N 102.059°W / 32.411; -102.059 (2024-09-17) 5.1 ML MMI V (Moderate) 7.9 km (4.9 mi)Possibly the mainshock of a sequence of 50 earthquakes.—— [13]
March 26, 2020
15:16:27		 Reeves County 31°43′01″N104°02′31″W / 31.717°N 104.042°W / 31.717; -104.042 (2020-03-26) 5.0 Mww MMI V (Moderate) 9.5 km (5.9 mi)Research published in Geophysical Research Letters in December 2020 concluded that stress introduced by wastewater injection likely triggered the earthquake.—— [14] [15]
July 30, 1925
12:17:00		 Carson County 35°24′00″N101°18′00″W / 35.400°N 101.300°W / 35.400; -101.300 (1925-07-30) 4.9 Mfa MMI VI (Strong) —The earthquake was the strongest on record in the Texas Panhandle and caused minor damage.—— [6] [3] : 140–144 
July 23, 2024
03:38:42		 Fisher County 32°45′58″N100°39′32″W / 32.766°N 100.659°W / 32.766; -100.659 (2024-07-23) 4.9 ML MMI V (Moderate) 3.2 km (2.0 mi)—— [16]
July 21, 2022
13:35:58		 Culberson County 31°40′48″N104°25′16″W / 31.680°N 104.421°W / 31.680; -104.421 (2022-07-21) 4.9 ML MMI V (Moderate) 5.9 km (3.7 mi)—— [17]
October 20, 2011
12:24:41		 Karnes County 28°51′54″N98°04′44″W / 28.865°N 98.079°W / 28.865; -98.079 (2011-10-20) 4.8 Mwr MMI VI (Strong) 5.0 km (3.1 mi)Felt throughout South Central Texas and South Texas.—— [18]
May 17, 2012
08:12:00		 Shelby County 31°55′34″N94°22′08″W / 31.926°N 94.369°W / 31.926; -94.369 (2012-05-17) 4.8 Mwr MMI V (Moderate) 5.0 km (3.1 mi)—— [19]
August 1, 1975
07:27:57		 Reeves County 31°25′30″N104°00′43″W / 31.425°N 104.012°W / 31.425; -104.012 (1975-08-01) 4.8 mb —5.0 km (3.1 mi)—— [20]
February 17, 2024
06:32:54		 Karnes County 28°57′14″N98°00′04″W / 28.954°N 98.001°W / 28.954; -98.001 (2024-02-17) 4.7 ML MMI VI (Strong) 6.8 km (4.2 mi)—— [21]
February 16, 2023
10:29:04		 Scurry County 32°44′46″N100°39′32″W / 32.746°N 100.659°W / 32.746; -100.659 (2023-02-16) 4.7 ML MMI V (Moderate) 7.8 km (4.8 mi)—— [22]
November 24, 2022
19:19:28		 Reeves County 31°37′37″N104°00′11″W / 31.627°N 104.003°W / 31.627; -104.003 (2022-11-24-mentone) 4.7 ML MMI V (Moderate) 8.5 km (5.3 mi)—— [23]
June 1, 2022
15:46:10		 Culberson County 31°42′54″N104°33′04″W / 31.715°N 104.551°W / 31.715; -104.551 (2022-06-01) 4.6 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.2 km (3.9 mi)—— [24]
March 25, 2022
03:01:58		 Culberson County 31°40′08″N104°25′12″W / 31.669°N 104.420°W / 31.669; -104.420 (2022-03-25) 4.6 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.8 km (4.2 mi)—— [25]
December 28, 2021
01:55:43		 Martin County 32°17′10″N101°46′26″W / 32.286°N 101.774°W / 32.286; -101.774 (2021-12-28) 4.6 ML MMI V (Moderate) 8.4 km (5.2 mi)—— [26]
March 12, 1948
04:29:06		 Dallam County 36°13′16″N102°28′41″W / 36.221°N 102.478°W / 36.221; -102.478 (1948-03-12) 4.5 Mfa MMI VI (Strong) 5.0 km (3.1 mi)Minor damage was reported in the Texas Panhandle.—— [27] [28] [3] : 166–168 
July 27, 2024
21:08:31		 Scurry County 32°44′38″N100°41′46″W / 32.744°N 100.696°W / 32.744; -100.696 (2024-07-27) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 3.4 km (2.1 mi)—— [29]
November 24, 2022
19:14:19		 Reeves County 31°38′02″N103°59′17″W / 31.634°N 103.988°W / 31.634; -103.988 (2022-11-24-westerntexas) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 7.4 km (4.6 mi)—— [30]
August 11, 2022
07:17:16		 Culberson County 31°40′59″N104°25′30″W / 31.683°N 104.425°W / 31.683; -104.425 (2022-08-11) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.6 km (4.1 mi)—— [31]
March 17, 2021
04:19:28		 Culberson County 31°39′14″N104°21′25″W / 31.654°N 104.357°W / 31.654; -104.357 (2021-03-17) 4.5 ML MMI V (Moderate) 6.2 km (3.9 mi)—— [32]
February 15, 1974
13:33:49		 Ochiltree County 36°30′00″N100°41′35″W / 36.500°N 100.693°W / 36.500; -100.693 (1974-02-15) 4.5 mb MMI V (Moderate) 24.0 km (14.9 mi)Damage to the plaster walls of buildings occurred in Oklahoma and Kansas.—— [33] [3] : 197–198 

Related Research Articles

The Modified Mercalli intensity scale measures the effects of an earthquake at a given location. This is in contrast with the seismic magnitude usually reported for an earthquake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lists of earthquakes</span>

Earthquakes are caused by movements within the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle. They range from weak events detectable only by seismometers, to sudden and violent events lasting many minutes which have caused some of the greatest disasters in human history. Below, earthquakes are listed by period, region or country, year, magnitude, cost, fatalities, and number of scientific studies.

The 2006 Gulf of Mexico earthquake occurred in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on September 10 at 10:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time. The intraplate earthquake measured 5.9 on the moment magnitude scale and its epicenter was located about 250 miles (400 km) west-southwest of Anna Maria, Florida. The event was felt throughout much of the Gulf Coast of the United States and was the second earthquake of magnitude 5 or greater in the Gulf during 2006. Felt intensities, as measured on the Mercalli intensity scale, were as high as IV (Light) in Florida, with parts of Georgia at III (Weak).

The 2003 Colima earthquake occurred on 21 January with a moment magnitude of 7.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The epicenter was located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Colima. The earthquake was felt as far away as Mexico City and in southern parts of the United States.

The 2007 Alum Rock earthquake occurred on October 30 at 8:04 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time in Alum Rock Park in San Jose, in the U.S. state of California. It measured 5.6 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). The event was then the largest in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, which measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale, but was later surpassed by the 2014 South Napa earthquake. Ground shaking from the Alum Rock quake reached San Francisco and Oakland and other points further north. Sixty thousand felt reports existed far beyond Santa Rosa, as far north as Eugene, Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1931 Valentine earthquake</span> Most powerful earthquake in Texas history

In the early morning hours of August 16, 1931, a powerful earthquake occurred in West Texas with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). Estimates of its magnitude range between 5.8 and 6.4 mb, making it the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Texas history. Its epicenter was near the town of Valentine, Texas; there, the earthquake caused damage to many homes and buildings. The earthquake may have been caused by movement along oblique-slip faulting in West Texas, the most seismically active region in the state. Shaking from the earthquake was perceptible within a 400 mi (640 km) radius of the epicenter, affecting four U.S. states and northern Mexico. Several foreshocks and aftershocks accompanied the primary temblor, with the aftershocks continuing until at least November 3, 1931. The main earthquake caused no fatalities, though several people sustained minor injuries; the damage in Valentine amounted to $50,000–$75,000.

The 2011 Guerrero earthquake struck with a moment magnitude of 5.7 in southern Mexico at 08:24 local time on 5 May. It was positioned west of Ometepec, Guerrero, with a focal depth of 24 km (14.9 mi), and was lightly felt in many adjacent areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Guerrero earthquake</span> Earthquake in Mexico

The 2014 Guerrero earthquake occurred with a moment magnitude of 7.2 that hit the state of Guerrero, close to Acapulco, Mexico, on 18 April at 14:27:26 UTC. The epicenter occurred 265 kilometers southwest of Mexico City and at a depth of 24 kilometers. Thrust motion at shallow depths is what caused the earthquake. This was broadly consistent with a slip on or near the Guerrero Seismic Gap, a boundary between the Cocos and North American plates along the Pacific coast approximately 200 kilometers long. The shaking was felt in states as far away as Puebla and Tlaxcala.

In 1990, present day South Sudan was rocked by a series of violent earthquakes. It started with the largest event (Mw 7.2), and continued with multiple very large aftershocks for the next couple of months. The earthquake sequence ruptured over a length of 50 km (31 mi). It contains some of the largest recorded earthquakes anywhere in Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 Murr, Erika (September 1, 1995) [1976]. "Earthquakes". The Handbook of Texas. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Frohlich, Cliff; DeShon, Heather; Stump, Brian; Hayward, Chris; Hornbach, Matt; Walter, Jacob I. (July 2016). "A Historical Review of Induced Earthquakes in Texas". Seismological Research Letters. 87 (4): 1022–1038. Bibcode:2016SeiRL..87.1022F. doi:10.1785/0220160016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Frolich, Cliff; Davis, Scott D. (2002). Texas Earthquakes. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press. ISBN   0-292-72550-7.
  4. ↑ Dumas, David B.; Dorman, H. James; Latham, Gary V. (August 1980). "A reevaluation of the August 16, 1931 Texas earthquake". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 70 (4): 1171–1180. doi:10.1785/BSSA0700041171 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  5. 1 2 3 "Texas Panhandle Earthquakes" (PDF). Amarillo, Texas: National Weather Service Amarillo, Texas. August 16, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "M 4.9 – 9 km NE of Panhandle, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ "M 5.8 – 12 km SW of Valentine, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "M 5.7 – 13 km NW of Marathon, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ "M 5.4 – Coalson Draw, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ "M 5.2 – Coalson Draw, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  11. ↑ "M 5.2 – Range Hill, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ "M 5.1 – 17 km NNE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ "M 5.1 – 34 km WSW of Ackerly, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  14. ↑ "M 5.0 – 41 km W of Mentone, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ Tung, Sui; Zhai, Guang; Shirzaei, Manoochehr (December 28, 2020). "Potential Link Between 2020 Mentone, West Texas M5 Earthquake and Nearby Wastewater Injection: Implications for Aquifer Mechanical Properties". Geophysical Research Letters. 48 (3). doi: 10.1029/2020GL090551 . hdl: 10919/103345 .
  16. ↑ "M 4.9 – 17 km NNE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  17. ↑ "M 4.9 – 55 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  18. ↑ "M 4.8 – 14 km SSW of Falls City, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  19. ↑ "M 4.8 – 3 km NE of Timpson, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ "M 4.8 – 24 km WNW of Toyah, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  21. ↑ "M 4.7 – 3 km SSE of Falls City, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  22. ↑ "M 4.7 – 15 km NE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  23. ↑ "M 4.7 – 34 km WSW of Mentone, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  24. ↑ "M 4.6 – 53 km SSW of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  25. ↑ "M 4.6 – 56 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  26. ↑ "M 4.6 – 17 km N of Stanton, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  27. ↑ "M 4.5 – 18 km N of Dalhart, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Earthquakes in Texas". Texas Almanac. 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  29. ↑ "M 4.5 – 13 km NNE of Hermleigh, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  30. ↑ "M 4.5 – western Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  31. ↑ "M 4.5 – 54 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  32. ↑ "M 4.5 – 57 km S of Whites City, New Mexico". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  33. ↑ "M 4.5 – 14 km NE of Perryton, Texas". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.