3.1 Earthquake in Playa Del Rey 4/26/13

Shakemap Courtesy of USGS

Update: There recently was another earthquake, magnitude 2.9, struck at 1:08 pm on 
5/9/13. The quake was detected by my QCN Sensor. The verification of the detection can be seen below.

This is the detection of the most recent 2.9 earthquake on 5/9/13
(Image property of Socal Earth Science Blog)

Update: The earthquake was recently downgraded to a 3.1, and a smaller earthquake measuring 2.7 (originally 2.8) on Sunday the 28th, occurred nearby.

At 7:52 pm, a magnitude 3.2 earthquake occurred in Playa Del Rey, just south of the Ballona Wetlands.   The quake had a depth of 8 miles and had an intensity of IV on the Mercalli Scale near the epicenter. The quake's epicenter was near the location of the 3.7 earthquake in Westchester, in July of last year. At my location just to the north I felt light shaking for approximately three seconds (my quakealarm went off), and then a sharp jolt.

The light shaking I felt was the P-wave, while the jolt was the S-wave of the earthquake. This time difference is used in earthquake early warning technology. As you have heard, the P-wave is usually not felt as strongly, while the S-wave is the stronger and causes most of the damage during a large earthquake. 

If you felt the earthquake and would like to report your experience, go to: 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/ci15333497#dyfi_form

Earthquake Early Warning Receives 5 Million

Scientists at the US Geological Survey just announced on Friday that they have received five-million dollars to purchase 100 new seismic stations to place throughout SoCal, and to provide for computer processing space. This step will be crucial for creation of an earthquake early warning system, by decreasing the "blind zone," or region that would not receive alerts in the event of a large earthquake.

Los Angeles Mayor Anotonio Villaragiosa stated to the press that, "Our system will be more capable of providing fast, easily understood and actionable warnings that could save lives when the Big One hits."

To see more information on earthquake early warnings see my earlier posts on the subject:
Information on the Passing of State Bill 135 on EEW in California State Senate
A Plethora of Videos on Earthquake Early Warning
EEW in Japan in December 2012 During a 7.3 Earthquake
My Original In-Depth Post on EEW

A Great Example of Why We Need EEW if We Have High Speed Rail

Here is a video of a Shinkansen train slowing to a stop during a 7.1 earthquake in Japan last year. Imagine what could have happened without the earthquake early warning system in Japan.