Low level seismic (swarm) activity at Mt Hood, Oregon

In summary, a journalist reported a new earthquake swarm in Oregon's Mt Hood, but upon further investigation, it was found that the earthquakes were all low magnitude (ranging from 1 to 1.9) and scattered around the south side of Mt. Hood. These earthquakes are not related to the Yellowstone bubble, which is about 600 miles away. Mt Hood is one of the most seismically active volcanoes in the Washington and Oregon Cascades, with 1-2 earthquakes occurring near the summit every month. These recent earthquakes are believed to be tectonic in nature and not directly related to volcanic activity.
  • #1
Astronuc
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A journalist reported a 'New Earthquake Swarm is Rocking Oregon's Mt Hood.
http://www.wired.com/2016/05/new-earthquake-swarm-rocking-mt-hood

I wouldn't say rocking.

I checked USGS, and didn't find anything over Mag 2.5, so I refined the search in the range of Mag 1 to 2.5, and found a number of small earthquakes in the range of 1 to 1.9 scattered around the south side of Mt. Hood just north of State Rd 35, and just east and south east of the Timberline ski area. The depths are about 3 to 4 km.

Code: 
2016-05-17 00:17:39 UTC  3.5 km  1.0  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 21:59:51 UTC  3.1 km  1.2  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 21:50:07 UTC  2.9 km  1.7  Other Event 22km E of Mount Hood Village
2016-05-16 21:47:52 UTC  3.7 km  1.4  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 21:47:40 UTC  3.5 km  1.4  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 21:35:33 UTC  3.8 km  1.1  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 19:30:45 UTC  3.2 km  1.0  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 16:48:35 UTC  3.6 km  1.3  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 14:31:03 UTC  3.4 km  1.7  22km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:53:50 UTC  3.8 km  1.4  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:45:54 UTC  3.6 km  1.5  21km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:39:20 UTC  3.3 km  1.9  22km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:30:08 UTC  4.2 km  1.4  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:26:56 UTC  3.8 km  1.1  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:21:30 UTC  4.1 km  1.2  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:17:22 UTC  2.6 km  1.4  21km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 13:02:33 UTC  4.2 km  1.3  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 12:53:31 UTC  3.9 km  1.7  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 12:30:49 UTC  3.8 km  1.1  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 12:19:43 UTC  3.6 km  1.8  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 12:03:38 UTC  4.0 km  1.6  23km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 12:03:33 UTC  3.7 km  1.5  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 11:54:59 UTC  4.0 km  1.2  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 11:43:48 UTC  3.1 km  1.6  22km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 10:55:00 UTC  3.5 km  1.3  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 10:39:08 UTC  3.8 km  1.5  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 10:10:11 UTC  3.6 km  1.1  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 09:02:55 UTC  3.2 km  1.5  21km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 08:53:15 UTC  3.8 km  1.5  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 08:28:25 UTC  3.6 km  1.2  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 06:33:10 UTC  3.6 km  1.5  22km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 06:19:36 UTC  3.2 km  1.6  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 05:56:23 UTC  2.6 km  1.3  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 05:25:53 UTC  3.5 km  1.1  23km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 05:24:41 UTC  3.8 km  1.1  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 05:07:56 UTC  3.8 km  1.5  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 02:07:19 UTC  4.1 km  1.1  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 01:38:33 UTC  3.3 km  1.5  22km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon
2016-05-16 01:17:42 UTC  4.3 km  1.1  22km ESE of Mount Hood Village, Oregon

2016-05-13 12:09:43 UTC  4.4 km  1.1  20km E of Mount Hood Village, Oregon

I'm not sure what is the 'other event'.
 
Last edited:
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  • #2
Astronuc said:
A journalist reported a 'New Earthquake Swarm is Rocking Oregon's Mt Hood.
http://www.wired.com/2016/05/new-earthquake-swarm-rocking-mt-hood

I wouldn't say rocking.

I checked USGS, and didn't find anything over Mag 2.5, so I refined the search in the range of Mag 1 to 2.5, and found a number of small earthquakes in the range of 1 to 1.9 scattered around the south side of Mt. Hood just north of State Rd 35, and just east and south east of the Timberline ski area.
Beside the low magnitude. How far is the Yellowstone bubble? This distance concerns me whenever I hear about an earthquake in the US.
 
  • #3
fresh_42 said:
Beside the low magnitude. How far is the Yellowstone bubble? This distance concerns me whenever I hear about an earthquake in the US.
About 600 miles from Yellowstone, so it's not related. Mt Hood is one of numerous Cascade volcanoes. Hood's last eruption was about 200 years ago.
 
  • #4
Astronuc said:
I'm not sure what is the 'other event'.

usually refers to something caused by human activity ... mining blast, mine collapse, fracking, etc etc

but noted tho that this "other Event" is in the same area as the other events
so maybe just not well defined ??
 
  • #5
davenn said:
but noted tho that this "other Event" is in the same area as the other events
so maybe just not well defined ??
I downloaded the data after I saw this thread, and it appears they've thrown that reading out.

I was also surprised to see in the Wired article that this was tectonic activity, and not volcanic, so I double checked that.

Seismic Monitoring at Mount Hood, Oregon [USGS]
Mount Hood is one of the most seismically active volcanoes in the Washington and Oregon Cascades, and the most seismically active volcano in Oregon. In an average month 1-2 earthquakes are located by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) within 3 miles of the summit. Most Hood earthquakes don't actually occur directly beneath the volcano's summit, but instead in one of several clusters located 2-5 km west, southwest, and southeast of the summit.
...
Scientists believe that earthquakes in the clusters south of the summit occur on tectonic faults and aren't directly related to volcanic processes occurring beneath Mount Hood.

Here's a neat little info-graphic of how often the Cascade volcanoes have erupted over the last 4000 years:

img1052_623w_500h.eruptions.of.cascade.mountains.last.4000.years.jpg

[ref]
 
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Likes 1oldman2, Borg and davenn

1. What is low level seismic activity?

Low level seismic activity refers to small magnitude earthquakes that occur at a relatively shallow depth, typically less than 20 kilometers. These earthquakes are often too small to be felt by humans, but can be detected by sensitive seismic instruments.

2. Why is there low level seismic activity at Mt Hood, Oregon?

Mt Hood, Oregon is located in a seismically active region known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This area experiences frequent earthquakes due to the movement of tectonic plates. Additionally, Mt Hood is a volcanic peak and can experience seismic activity related to volcanic processes.

3. Is low level seismic activity at Mt Hood, Oregon a cause for concern?

Low level seismic activity at Mt Hood is not necessarily a cause for concern. While it may indicate some movement or activity within the volcano, it does not necessarily mean that an eruption is imminent. However, it is important for scientists to monitor and study these seismic events to better understand the volcano's behavior.

4. How do scientists measure and track low level seismic activity at Mt Hood, Oregon?

Scientists use a variety of instruments, such as seismometers, to measure and track low level seismic activity at Mt Hood. These instruments record the vibrations and movements of the ground, which can then be analyzed to determine the location, magnitude, and characteristics of the earthquakes.

5. Can low level seismic activity at Mt Hood, Oregon lead to a major eruption?

It is unlikely that low level seismic activity alone would lead to a major eruption at Mt Hood. However, it is important for scientists to continue monitoring and studying the volcano to better understand its behavior and potential hazards. A combination of other factors, such as changes in gas emissions or ground deformation, would also need to be observed for a major eruption to occur.

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