UNUSUAL EARTHQUAKES HIT ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

SUMMARY

A swarm of earthquakes in the Bombay Beach area of southern California
near the southern extension of the San Andreas fault was the eyecatcher
today. This swarm included 8 earthquakes of Ml>=3 including a Ml 4.1
in the midst of the swarm. Today's events were somewhat different
from the usual areal swarm, however, as each of the previous swarms
BEGAN with an event of Ml>=4. The events of October 14-16 in Imperial
Valley started with a Ms 7.1; the events on November 23, 1987 started with
two earthquakes of Ms > 6.3. The earthquakes of March 6, 1989 began with
an Ml 4.7 and occurred during one of the strongest X-ray flares ever
recorded on the sun.

The following local swarms within 20 km of today's epicenter have
contained 7 or more recorded events of Ml>=3.

SWARM DATE YEAR # EVENTS M>=3 GEOSTORM DATE AA Index

OCT 27-28 1963 14 events October 24 AA: 78
OCT 16-17 1979 07 events October 10 AA: 48
APR 26-27 1981 07 events April 20 AA: 59
NOV 24-25 1987 20 events November 06 AA: 48
MAR 06-07 1989 11 events March 02 AA: 48

The thing that apparently binds these sequences together was pointed
to by the March 1989 events. That is, they all have moderate to strong
geomagnetic storms occurring 4-6 days before the earthquake swarm
in the region. All are also associated with a Sudden Commencement
Storm (SSC). All these swarms declined rapidly in intensity. Strong
earthquakes (Ml>=3) seldom occurred more than 3 days after the
swarm commencement. If today's sequence differs significantly from
this pattern, it may mean that something is afoot.

But, the Bombay Beach earthquakes were not the only events
of interest in North America today. The largest event was a Ml 6.3
off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico this morning hours before the
Bombay Beach Events began. It has been argued that earthquakes
along the Gulf of California often trigger events further north
also along the S.A. from fault dynamic considerations. If the
San Andreas moves south, some of the movement may show itself
further north. Only two other events of Mw>=6.1 have been recorded
within 100 kmk of the Gulf of California event today. This is the
largest such event since a Mw 6.7 on Sept. 30, 1953. The largest
earthquake was a Mw 6.9 which occurred on Dec. 4, 1948.
No swarm of events was recorded in the region of southern California
immediately after the September 30, 1953 Gulf of California event, however,
a strong swarm with mainshock Mw 6.5 did begin within 23 hours of
the Mw 6.9 on Dec. 4, 1948. This swarm occurred with hundreds
of aftershocks of Ml>=3 in the area near Palm Springs, CA. Since
there was a strong swarm today, the hypothesis that events in
that region of the Gulf of California could prove interesting
to investigate. Two out of three ain't bad!!!

The largest event in the U.S. today, however was not associated
the Bombay Beach swarm. That honor goes to a Ms 6.1 in the western
Aleutians of Alaska (Near Island).

Readers of this report will also recall that over the weekend
an unprecedented series of events (3 events within 24 hours of Ml>=4)
hit in the Northwest U.S./B.C/Vancouver Canada region. This was
the first well-documented case of this kind of regional seismicity.

Rare seismic events were not confined to the Pacific coast, however.
The most unusual event of the day occurred in NW Nebraska near Norton
(Ml 3.3). Another earthquake of Ml 3.3 also occurred in southeastern
Canada near the Ontario/Quebec border.

Those who are regular readers of this report can atest to the fact
that there are many weeks when seismicity is at low levels and no
unusual earthquakes of swarms occur in the U.S./Canada region. This
experience should convince the avid reader that all these events
occurring within 3 days of each other in the same general region
(North America) is probably not "coincidence" but begs for a
reasoned study/response.

GLOBAL

After the Ml 6.3 in the Gulf of California the next largest event
occurred on the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge (Mw 5.6) and was followed
by local and areal aftershocks. A Mb 5.3 (and aftershock of Mb 4.6) also
occurred on the North mid-Atlantic Ridge. These events match the previously
discussed pattern in which areas of high heat flow (volcanism, mid-
Ocean Ridges) become strongly active following major geomagnetic storms.
For example, the Ml 2.4 in the Coso Junction CA region this afternoon
may indicate an area where underground heating has now been sufficient to begin
triggering of small or light earthquakes.
Other earthquakes of M>=4 also occurred, for the most part in
subduction zones today off Honshu (Ml 4.7); in the Ryukyu Islands (Mb 4.6);
in the Fiji Islands (Mb 4.6) and in the Hindu Kush mountains in
northern Afghanistan (Mb 4.7, depth 207 km). A number of smaller
events (uncertain whether these were earthquakes or not) were also
recorded in the Afghanistan/Xinjiang/Pakistan/Kashmir regions.

U.S./CANADA

The Ml 3.3 in Nebraska was the most rare of all earthquake today. Only
three earthquakes of Ml>=3 have been recorded in the past 100 years
within 50 km of this epicenter. This is the largest event in the area
since a Ml 3.7 in April 13, 1961. The largest event ever recorded in
the region was a Ml 4.2 on Feb 20, 1933. The other earthquake in the
M>=3 category was a Ml 3.2 on July 16, 1979. This event was probably
not dynamically triggered, as it lies about 8 hours after the Ms 5.7
Southern East Pacific Rise quake and 8 hours before the event in
the Gulf of California.

The Ml 3.3 west of Maniwaki, Quebec was the largest within 50 km of
today's epicenter since a Ml 3.7 on Feb 26, 1998. Fifteen earthquakes
of Ml>=3 have been recorded in this region since 1873, so this also
is nearly a decadal event. A small aftershock was recorded the next day
(Nov. 11; Ml 2.3).

Until the Bombay Beach swarm began this morning, the largest events
newly listed in the California/Nevada area occurred as a Ml 2.8 and
Ml 2.4 that occurred yesterday (Monday) at opposite ends of the
San Clemente Island. Other earthquakes of Ml>=2 in California/Nevada
occurred today in Coso Junction area (Ml 2.4); in the Mammoth Lakes
area (ml 2.4, 2.4, 2.0, 2.0 and smaller) as part of a continuing
light swarm in the region. A Ml 2.2 was also recorded northeast of
Mammoth near Gabbs, NV.

The Spokane, WA swarm also continued today with a new Ml 3.0 in that
group. A second event of Ml2.5 was also recorded in the northwest
N of Bellingham, WA. There have been 11 events in the Washington state
area since 7 November at five different epicenters after a nearly
2-week quiet period when no event of ML>=2 were listed in this region
of the U.S.

The largest event in Alaska was a Mb 6.0 in the Near Island area.
Twelve earthquakes of Mw>=6 have occurred within 100 km of today's
epicenter since record keeping began in 1939 - about one every five
years. The last occurred on Dec. 16, 1993 with Mw 6.1. This event
followed a Mb 4.5 in Central Alaska that occurred yesterday.

One event of ML>=3 was registered in Hawaii (Ml 3.1) near Ka'ena Point.

Events from the central Mountain states and provinces have not
yet been reported for the past 3 days. These could also include
a rare event (listed on the web quakes from Montana) but this could
also be a recording of the Spokane, WA event. Likewise, the southeastern
U.S. and northeast U.S. networks have not yet reported.

NEW ZEALAND

IGNS did not issue any event bulletins today, however the on-line
seismogram does show a number of light regional earthquakes.

The IGNS on-line Seismometer can be found at:
http://www.gns.cri.nz/news/earthquakes/latest_drum.html

GEOMAGNETIC/SOLAR FIELDS

The geomagnetic field remained at very quiet levels today.
A change in this status may be in progress at this writing,
however. No solar flares of M- or X- class were observed today.

For general space weather conditions see:
http://sec.noaa.gov/today.html
For Solar flare data see:
http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/events/20011113events.txt

TROPICAL STORMS

No tropical storms were recorded in any oceans today.

TIDAL TRIGGERING (LUNAR)

Statistics have been done on many regions of the world in terms of
relationship of significant regional earthquakes with respect to lunar cycle.
Each report will summarize the most likely areas for tidal triggering
for the next day based on these statistics. It is expected
that tidal triggering will add an additional 0.5 - 1.0 units of
magnitude to events which are about to occur or will move these
events forward in time by up to seven days in the regions where
there is a statistical correlation between lunar phase and
earthquakes.

November 14 is the first day of the new moon, the beginning the lunar month
Regions most likely to experience tidal triggering
on this day (With associated magnitude ranges; the percent change in
seismicity rate over background seismicity rate on this
day of the lunar month; statistical z-value and
significance level) are:

Region Magnitude range %change z-value Significance level

Alaska MB>=4.0 9 2.6 0.03
Aleutians MB>=4.0 38 2.9 0.02
New Britain MB>=4.0 26 2.7 0.02
N Indonesia MB>=4.0 37 2.0 0.05
Central So America MB>=4.0 20 2.0 0.05
Kuriles MB>=4.0 36 3.1 0.01

Regions expected to experience reverse triggering (i.e. they are
unlikely to experience a significant event at this period of the
lunar cycle) are:

East Pacific Rise MB>=4.0 -40 -2.4 0.04
Canada MB>=0.0 -23 -2.0 0.05

Region Magnitude range %change z-value Significance level

No Regions

EARTHQUAKE LISTINGS

GLOBAL

SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS

O: 13Nov2001 16:04:27 11.0S 173.4W MB=4.8 NEIS SAMOA ISLANDS REGION
O: 11Nov2001 00:10:29 15.8S 172.1W MB=4.5 NEIS SAMOA ISLANDS REGION

O: 13Nov2001 16:02:38 17.5S 178.8W MB=4.6 NEIS FIJI ISLANDS REGION

O: 12Nov2001 10:42:43 20.2S 178.4W MB=4.1 NEIS FIJI ISLANDS REGION
O: 12Nov2001 07:18:21 20.5S 178.2W MB=3.8 NEIS FIJI ISLANDS REGION

O: 11Nov2001 18:27:10 21.2S 174.7W MB=4.8 NEIS TONGA ISLANDS

O: 11Nov2001 19:49:15 6.4S 150.0E MB=4.2 NEIS NEW BRITAIN REGION, P.N.G.

ASIA

O: 13NOV2001 16:35:52 36.4N 70.7E MB=4.7 NEIS HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANIST

O: 13NOV2001 07:45 39.3N 142.0E Mj=5.1 NIED E_OFF_IWATE_PREF, JAPAN

O: 13NOV2001 08:25:31 25.2N 128.0E MB=4.6 NEIS RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN

O: 13Nov2001 18:15:10 40.7N 73.5E ML>4.0 NEIS KYRGYZSTAN
O: 13Nov2001 18:15:10 40.7N 73.5E ML>4.0 NEIS KYRGYZSTAN
O: 13Nov2001 01:19:04 41.8N 73.9E ML>4.0 NEIS KYRGYZSTAN
O: 11Nov2001 03:48:58 41.9N 73.3E ML>4.0 NEIS KYRGYZSTAN

O: 12Nov2001 10:37:25 42.7N 74.8E ML>4.0 NEIS KYRGYZSTAN
O: 12Nov2001 21:06:13 42.7N 74.8E ML>4.0 NEIS KYRGYZSTAN

O: 13Nov2001 16:35:52 36.4N 70.8E MB=4.7 NEIS HINDU KUSH, AFGHANISTAN
O: 13Nov2001 03:14:51 36.9N 70.5E MB=4.6 NEIS HINDU KUSH, AFGHANISTAN
O: 12Nov2001 22:22:24 37.1N 70.3E MB=4.6 NEIS AFGHAN-TAJIK BORD REG.

O: 11Nov2001 06:26:28 31.7N 68.0E ML>4.0 NEIS PAKISTAN
O: 13Nov2001 12:07:02 31.0N 67.8E ML>4.0 NEIS PAKISTAN

O: 13Nov2001 03:10:33 35.7N 74.8E MB=4.6 NEIS NORTHWESTERN KASHMIR

O: 11Nov2001 18:12:46 33.3N 137.4E MB=4.7 NEIS NR S. COAST HONSHU, JAPAN

O: 12Nov2001 11:30:25 41.7N 142.1E MB=4.8 NEIS HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION

O: 12Nov2001 01:37:29 52.6N 156.7E MB=4.0 NEIS KAMCHATKA PEN, RUSSIA

O: 13Nov2001 07:59:44 1.0N 123.1E MB=4.2 NEIS MINAHASSA PEN, SULAWESI

O: 11Nov2001 18:36:59 5.9S 124.4E MB=4.8 NEIS BANDA SEA

CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA

O: 13NOV2001 09:24:54 17.0N 100.2W ML=3.7 SSN COSTA DE GUERRERO, MX
O: 13NOV2001 09:08:53 17.0N 100.2W ML=3.8 SSN COSTA DE GUERRERO, MX
O: 13NOV2001 07:42:17 17.0N 100.2W ML=3.9 SSN COSTA DE GUERRERO, MX

O: 13NOV2001 09:47:35 22.2N 106.9W MB=6.1 NEIS NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL MEXICO
O: 13NOV2001 10:16:54 22.4N 106.8W MB=4.9 NEIS NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL MEXICO
O: 13NOV2001 09:16:50 22.3N 107.2W ML=4.9 SSN CORD. PACIFICO ORIENTA, MX
O: 13NOV2001 10:47:34 22.3N 107.2W ML=6.3 SSN CORD. PACIFICO ORIENTA, MX
Note: This event occurred during a seismic watch for the area from
the delayed effects of the geomagnetic storm which were expected to
produce strong earthquakes within 20 degrees latitude of 120W. This
is the third earthquake in the Central American/Mexican area of ML>=6
since landfall of Hurricane Michelle which was expected to trigger
several moderate events in the region. The other two events occurred
in Costa Rica (Mw 6.1) and in Oaxaca, Mexico (Ml 6.1).

O: 12NOV2001 06:49:35 19.1N 105.1W ML=4.6 SSN COSTA DE JALISCO, MX

O: 13NOV2001 12:26:10 11.7N 87.3W ML=3.4 SIS NICARAGUA, C.A.
O: 13NOV2001 17:57:37 10.9N 87.8W MC=3.8 SIS NICARAGUA, C.A.

O: 12NOV2001 14:12:03 9.9N 69.8W Mc=3.0 ULA Morin, Venezuela

EUROPE

O: 12NOV2001 11:11:26 40.6N 20.8E ML=3.7 NOA GREECE

OCEANIA

O: 12Nov2001 18:11:29 48.2S 118.7W MB=4.8 NEIS SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN

O: 12Nov2001 17:54:19 49.5S 116.0W MB=5.5 NEIS SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
O: 12Nov2001 06:54:39 49.2S 116.7W MB=4.6 NEIS SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
O: 12Nov2001 05:01:25 49.5S 116.0W MB=4.4 NEIS SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE

O: 12Nov2001 10:58:32 22.3N 45.0W MB=4.8 NEIS N MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
O: 12Nov2001 10:11:15 22.2N 45.1W MS=5.3 NEIS N MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE

U.S/CANADA

CALIFORNIA/NEVADA

O: 13Nov2001 16:08:37 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.2 NEIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
O: 13Nov2001 16:03:42 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.0 NEIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
O: 13NOV2001 16:45:04 33.3N 115.7W MB=3.5 NEIS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

O: 12NOV2001 13:45:08 32.6N 118.0W ML=2.6 SCSN SE of San Clemente Is.(SE tip)

O: 12NOV2001 17:12:21 33.2N 118.7W ML=2.8 SCSN NNW of San Clemente Is.(NW tip)

O: 13NOV2001 16:14:39 33.0N 115.7W ML=2.2 SCSN WSW of Westmorland, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:52:35 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.6 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:25:56 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.8 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:46:40 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.2 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:53:51 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.5 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 18:57:07 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.1 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:50:21 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.0 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 19:44:33 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.4 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:45:04 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.4 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:00:40 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.2 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 19:54:55 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.9 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:48:50 33.3N 115.8W ML=2.3 SCSN SSW of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 19:37:05 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.7 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:07:39 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.0 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:43:14 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.8 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:08:37 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.2 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:52:05 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.7 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 17:18:54 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.9 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:59:39 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.9 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:58:16 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.1 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 19:34:33 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.9 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 18:37:38 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.0 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:58:56 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.0 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:12:58 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.2 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 13:43:03 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.7 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:42:59 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.1 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 13:54:06 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.3 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:03:42 33.3N 115.7W ML=3.0 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:05:47 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.1 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:15:22 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.8 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 20:56:14 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.7 SCSN SSE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:23:59 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.4 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 18:50:48 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.8 SCSN SE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:01:15 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.2 SCSN ESE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 18:36:18 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.4 SCSN ESE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:36:08 33.3N 115.7W ML=1.6 SCSN ESE of Bombay Beach, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:16:48 33.3N 115.7W ML=2.0 SCSN E of Bombay Beach, CA

O: 10NOV2001 22:00:05 34.3N 118.6W ML=1.8 SCSN N of Chatsworth, CA

O: 13NOV2001 18:56:03 35.4N 118.6W ML=2.4 SCSN NNW of Tehachapi, CA

O: 13NOV2001 16:09:31 36.2N 116.5W ML=1.5 NCSN SW of Death Valley Jct, CA
O: 13NOV2001 16:46:03 36.4N 116.6W ML=1.4 NCSN NW of Death Valley Jct, CA

O: 13NOV2001 15:17:13 37.4N 119.0W ML=2.0 NCSN S of Mammoth Lakes, CA
O: 13NOV2001 9:50:27 37.4N 119.0W ML=2.4 NCSN S of Mammoth Lakes, CA
O: 12NOV2001 20:44:44 37.5N 118.8W ML=2.4 NCSN SW of Toms Place, CA
O: 13NOV2001 21:51:28 37.5N 118.8W ML=2.0 NCSN WSW of Toms Place, CA
O: 13NOV2001 7:10:21 37.6N 118.8W ML=1.9 NCSN E of Mammoth Lakes, CA

O: 13NOV2001 19:39:10 39.0N 117.9W ML=2.2 NCSN N of Gabbs, NV

O: 13Nov2001 02:04:25 36.9N 121.4W ML=3.0 NEIS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

O: 12Nov2001 23:53:01 36.2N 120.2W MD=2.8 NEIS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

PACIFIC NORTHWEST/CANADA

O: 13NOV2001 20:26:26 47.7N 117.4W ML=3.0 PNSN N of Spokane, WA
O: 13NOV2001 7:39:05 47.7N 117.4W ML=2.1 PNSN NW of Spokane, WA
O: 13NOV2001 5:41:45 47.7N 117.4W ML=2.3 PNSN N of Spokane, WA
O: 12Nov2001 03:03:02 47.7N 117.4W MD=3.3 NEIS WASHINGTON
O: 11Nov2001 17:21:33 47.7N 117.4W MD=3.1 NEIS WASHINGTON
O: 11Nov2001 16:00:30 47.7N 117.4W MD=4.0 NEIS WASHINGTON

O: 13NOV2001 10:14:01 48.9N 122.5W ML=2.5 PNSN N of Bellingham, WA

EASTERN U.S./CANADA

O: 13NOV2001 1:56:13 40.0N 100.2W ML=3.3 CERI NW Norton, Nebraska
O: 13Nov2001 01:56:13 40.0N 100.2W LG=3.3 NEIS NEBRASKA

O: 11NOV2001 16:41:52 46.3N 76.9W MN=2.3 GSC NE from PETAWAWA, ONT.
O: 10NOV2001 05:18:36 46.4N 76.3W MN=3.2 GSC W from MANIWAKI, QUE.

ALASKA

O: 12Nov2001 14:11:03 62.1N 149.8W MB=4.5 NEIS CENTRAL ALASKA

O: 13Nov2001 10:43:22 53.8N 170.3E MS=5.8 NEIS NEAR ISL, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
O: 13NOV2001 10:43:22 53.7N 170.3E MB=6.0 NEIS NEAR ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLAN

HAWAII

O: 13NOV2001 17:41:55 19.2N 155.1W ML=3.1 HVO SE of Ka`ena Point, Hawaii