Earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

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In summary: Mag, 63 km SSE of Mammoth, Wyoming2021-07-15 21:35:09 (UTC-07:00) Depth 6.2 km3.1 Mag, 64 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana2021-07-15 21:24:51 (UTC-07:00) Depth 7.2 km
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An ongoing swarm with more than 141 earthquakes (as of about 11:30 AM MDT) is centered beneath Yellowstone Lake. At this point the University of Utah Seismograph Stations has located 40 earthquakes larger than M2, with two events in the M3 range. The swarm continues, and more locations will be posted throughout the day at https://quake.utah.edu/earthquake-center/quake-map.

Earthquake sequences like these are common and account for roughly 50% of the total seismicity in the Yellowstone region.
The current swarm has some similarities to one that occurred in roughly the same place in December 2020 -- more on that swarm at
https://www.usgs.gov/center-news/an...s_science_products=4#qt-news_science_products

Code:
3.2 Mag, 64 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 12:44:20 (UTC-07:00) Depth 7.1 km

2.5 Mag, 65 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 12:41:02 (UTC-07:00) Depth 7.0 km

2.5 Mag, 63 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 10:22:55 (UTC-07:00) Depth 5.4 km

2.5 Mag, 64 km SSE of Mammoth, Wyoming
2021-07-16 09:01:26 (UTC-07:00) Depth 2.7 km

2.7 Mag, 63 km SSE of Mammoth, Wyoming
2021-07-16 09:01:09 (UTC-07:00) Depth 6.6 km

2.9 Mag, 64 km SSE of Mammoth, Wyoming
2021-07-16 08:22:33 (UTC-07:00) Depth 5.7 km

3.1 Mag, 64 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 07:12:51 (UTC-07:00) Depth 7.2 km

2.5 Mag, 62 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 06:12:02 (UTC-07:00) Depth 1.1 km

2.6 Mag, 67 km SSE of Mammoth, Wyoming
2021-07-16 06:00:53 (UTC-07:00) Depth 8.6 km

3.0 Mag, 64 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 05:54:41 (UTC-07:00) Depth 6.9 km

2.5 Mag, 65 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-16 05:30:39 (UTC-07:00) Depth 8.7 km

2.5 Mag, 64 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana
2021-07-15 23:25:55 (UTC-07:00) Depth 7.7 km
 

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2.9 Mag, 65 km ESE of West Yellowstone, Montana2021-07-15 22:55:39 (UTC-07:00) Depth 6.7 km2.5 Mag, 64 km SSE of Mammoth, Wyoming2021-07-15 21:45:57 (UTC-07:00) Depth 2.7 km
 
  • #3
Wow, that is quite a swarm of earthquakes! It's interesting to see the different magnitudes and depths of each event. It's also fascinating to learn that these types of earthquake sequences are common in the Yellowstone region. Thank you for sharing the link to the University of Utah Seismograph Stations and the USGS article about a similar swarm in December 2020. It's important to stay informed about these events and their potential impact on the area. Stay safe!
 

What causes earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake?

Earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. The North American Plate and the Pacific Plate meet in this region, creating a lot of seismic activity.

How often do earthquakes occur under Yellowstone Lake?

Earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake occur frequently, with an average of 1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes recorded each year. However, most of these earthquakes are very small and go unnoticed.

Are earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake dangerous?

Most earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake are not dangerous and do not pose a threat to visitors. However, there is a possibility of larger earthquakes occurring, which could potentially cause damage to infrastructure and endanger visitors.

Can earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake trigger volcanic activity?

There is no evidence to suggest that earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake can trigger volcanic activity. The geothermal activity in the region is caused by a hot spot in the Earth's mantle, not by earthquakes.

What measures are in place to monitor earthquakes under Yellowstone Lake?

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has a network of seismographs in Yellowstone National Park that constantly monitor seismic activity. This allows scientists to track earthquakes and better understand the geology of the region.

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