#Michigan Earthquake
7 messages in this thread
On the evening of Friday, September 2nd, there was an earthquake located around
the Lansing, Michigan area. CNN said it measured 3.3 on the Richter Scale, and
was felt up to 90 miles away. I live west of the Kalamazoo area and did not
feel the quake. However, I am interested in the event, and would like to know
the exact location of the quake itself, and the exact time of the event.
If anyone would have this information or knowledge on how I can find this info.
I would appreciate it. It is unusual, as I'm sure you know, to have
earthquakes in this area. This is the first time I heard of a fault running
through the Lansing area. I would like to learn more about this fault as well
as this event.
Thank you in advance for any response. Mike.
There's a UPI article that says, "The National Earthquake Information Center in
Boulder, Colo., said the quake measured 3.4 on the Richter scale and was
centered in Lansing, the state capital. The quake struck at 5:23 p.m. EDT and
lasted about four seconds. The temblor was reportedly felt as far as Jackson
and Grand Rapids, 50 miles from Lansing."
Thanks Gary for the reply. I wonder how far underground this quake was and
what fault it lies on. Western Michigan University has a good size geology
department with seismographs, I'm going to give them a call and see if I can
find out some additional info. Thanks again for the info.
Michael, I live in East Lansing and did hear and feel it, although this is the
first time I knew that it was a quake since I haven't tuned into any
local news or read a paper since then. It was just one house-shaking jolt.
They are just finishing up the job of repaving streets, curbs, and sidewalks
past my house so I have been feeling bumps associated with pavement breaking,
etc. for two weeks. Thus when I heard what seemed like an actually close
encounter between the house and a large machine I took a look around, but saw
nothing to explain the jolt. Shortly thereafter I went out to meet friends at
a bar for TGIF, and no one else mentioned anything so I had forgotten about it
till I read your message. -db-…
Thanks Richard for responding to my inquiry. It has been years since I have
felt any tremors in this area of the country. The last thing you suspect is
that it's an earthquake. Another source tells me that it was centered actually
in Lansing. I'm going to get ahold of W.M.U. or possibly M.S.U. to see how far
underground it was , and some other info. Thanks again.
Hi, Michael–
I do not know if it will have what you are after, but 800-358-2663 is a number
I picked up from earlier forum messages for USGS seismology and geomagnetic
data. Use 1200 bps and N-8-1 (no parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit) modem settings.
For 9600 bps (baud) use phone 1-703-648-4168. I have not tried this myself.
It may give a more precise sense of the epicenter, but is less likely to have
an indication of the fault involved; geologists still may be working on that.
Any early indication as to the fault is to be taken with a grain of salt – it
seems to me the Whittier Narrows quake was still being adjusted as to fault and
location a week afterwards. Recent "quakes" in NY/PA were later found to be a
mine collapse, several days afterwards, I think.
Don't be surprised if you did not feel it; during my youth in Calif. I was
constantly hearing about such small shakers, but never actually felt an
earthquake that I knew to be such until the Sylmar quake (6.x) woke me up
during my college years. A 3.3 is easy to miss unless you are right on top of
it – people who felt it at 50 miles must have been wide awake, sitting down,
and undistracted.
–Doug
Doug, thank you so much for the information. I will try them tonight to see
what I get. There is a university in town (Western Michigan) that may also be
a resource if I can't find anything through the network. Take care, and maybe
we will be talking again in the future.
Mike