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4 months ago
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New Jersey reported three earthquakes within just three days, sparking concerns about what could have caused the spate of quakes.
The 1.0 to 1.4-magnitude tremors are believed to be an aftershock from a larger earthquake that hit around 10:23 a.m. EST on August 16.
All three earthquakes have stemmed from the town of Califon in northern New Jersey, which unleashed the 4.8 magnitude quake last week.
The event was the strongest one to hit the East Coast since 2011 and was reported as the most powerful epicenter to strike the area since 1884.
New Jersey experienced three minor earthquakes this week ranging from a one-magnitude to 1.4
The first earthquake hit Gladstone, New Jersey at 5:17 p.m. EST on Monday, a mere 3.7 miles northwest of where the 4.8-magnitude quake struck last week.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that it was a magnitude 1.4 quake which was followed by a 1-magnitude in the same town only a minute later.
Califon was likewise impacted when a magnitude one quake struck at 4:40 a.m. on Wednesday.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that people typically only feel earthquakes that have a magnitude 3.0 or higher but it also depends on the quakes' depth and location.
At their deepest, quakes can begin as far as 400 miles underground.
Earthquakes that reach 43 miles or less are considered shallow and will only result in mild to moderate damage.
The Califon quake originated from just 4.3 miles beneath the earth's surface while the Gladstone tremors stemmed from five miles and less than a mile underground respectively.
There were reportedly no immediate damages or injuries reported in the wake of the earthquakes.
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck New Jersey on August 16 and spurred a series of aftershocks within three days
After the main earthquake hit New Jersey, the USGS predicted there would be other aftershocks within the week, saying there would be a 50 percent chance of a magnitude three or higher.
Depending on the size of the original quake, aftershocks can last for years and usually occur near the epicenter of the main shock.
The recent spate of New Jersey quakes follows a report of seven with a magnitude of 1.2 or higher striking the region in May and early June.
Despite the recent rise in East Coast earthquakes, the USGS has clarified that it is still rare for those with a magnitude above 4.5 to strike the area.
Since 1950, the East Coast has seen only 20 earthquakes reach a 4.5 magnitude compared with the more than 1,000 major quakes that hit the West Coast in the same timeframe.
