I was just writing a long email with a graphic and sending it to a bunch of academic and 1 USGS people when I got an email from one of the academics(Craig Nicholson) that there had just been a M4.6 quake on the same fault system I was writing about.

So, clearly my email triggered the quake (joke/sarcasm).

I was emailing specifically about the Pitas Point fault between Ventura and Carpinteria, with a little bit on the whole system. I am writing a proposal to study the whole system. The whole system includes the N-dipping Pitas Point, North Channel, and Red Mountain faults, and, onshore, the S-dipping Moore Ranch fault.

The focal mechanism was more strike slip with some reverse. Could be on Moore Ranch, or on Red Mountain, or on whatever where they all intersect at depth.

System capable of much bigger quakes: there are abstracts that suggest M8 possible. About M6.6 in 1925 leveled lower State Street in Santa Barbara and killed 15 people.

Chris

• M4.6