[Geysers] Earthquake Swarn News Release

[David Monteith]

Of course now that the report has been released, the earthquake swarm
appears to have subsided.

Dave

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE 
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Series Of Minor Earthquakes Continue In Yellowstone 

A series of micro to moderate earthquakes continue to shake some
visitors and residents in and near Yellowstone National Park. 

The activity is centered in the northwest corner of the Yellowstone
Caldera, in the backcountry roughly half-way between Old Faithful and
the community of West Yellowstone, Montana. 

As of 9:00 a.m. MST Friday, January 22, 1,033 earthquakes had been
recorded since the swarm began occurring on Sunday afternoon, January
17. 

Ten of the earthquakes have been magnitude 3.0 or greater, with a 3.8
magnitude earthquake recorded late Wednesday evening. The larger quakes
have been felt by people in Old Faithful, West Yellowstone, Canyon,
Mammoth Hot Springs, Grant Village, Madison, and Gardiner. No damage or
injuries have been reported. 

Scientists are confident that the current earthquake activity is due to
the shifting and changing pressures in the earth s crust, and not to any
change or increase in volcanic activity in Yellowstone. 

The park is using this occasion to reinforce earthquake preparedness,
and to remind both employees and visitors how the unique and active
geologic nature of the park has resulted in the creation of the world s
largest collection of geysers, hot springs, and other hydrothermal
features. 

Yellowstone averages about 1,600 earthquakes a year, and recorded 1,652
earthquakes in 2009. The park has experienced 80 earthquake swarms in
the last 15 years. The last swarm of 133 very small earthquakes occurred
in mid October 2009 near Heart Lake, in the south-central portion of the
park. 

This earthquake activity is being monitored around-the-clock by staff of
the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, a cooperative effort of the
National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of
Utah. 

<http://www.seis.utah.edu/req2webdir/recenteqs/Maps/Yellowstone_full.html>