UUSS Director Keith Koper sat down on Facebook live to explain how the UUSS responds to earthquake events, like the Magnitude 5.7 earthquake in Magna, UT. He also shared important things to know and simple steps to take to be prepared.
Month: March 2020
Press Conference for Magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake
Press Conference from March 18, 2020 regarding the Magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Magna, UT.
Magnitude 5.7 near Magna, UT
PRESS RELEASE
University of Utah Seismograph Stations
Released: March 18, 2020 8:20 AM MDT
The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports that a moderate
earthquake of magnitude 5.7 occurred at 07:09 AM on March 18, 2020
(MDT). The epicenter of the shock was located in the northwestern
Salt Lake Valley, 3.1 mi N of Magna, UT. This earthquake was widely
felt throughout the Wasatch Front area of north-central Utah. It
has been followed by numerous aftershocks, including 20 of magnitude
3.0 or larger during the first hour after the M 5.7 and two of
magnitude 4.0 or larger. The largest aftershock so far was a M 4.6
event that occurred at 7:14 am.
Today’s earthquake was the largest earthquake to occur in Utah since
a magnitude 5.9 earthquake in 1992 in southwestern Utah near St. George.
Today’s earthquake occurred in a seismically active part of the Salt
Lake Valley, where six magnitude 3.0 or larger earthquakes have
occurred since 1962. The largest of these events was a magnitude 5.2
on September 05, 1962, 0.8 mi NE of Magna, UT.
Anyone who felt the earthquake is encouraged to fill out a survey form
on the US Geological Survey website: earthquake.usgs.gov.
Earthquake Summary:
Date (UTC): March 18, 2020 Time (UTC): 13:09
Date (local): March 18, 2020 Time (local): 07:09 AM MDT
Latitude: 40 45.11′ N
Longitude: 112 4.65′ W
Depth: 10.7 km
Preferred magnitude: 5.7 USGS Mw
COVID-19 UUSS work from home, 24/7 EQ response unaffected
To protect our community during the #COVID crisis: The University of Utah Seismograph Stations offices will be closed. We will continue our regular office hours while working from home, in support of #SocialDistancing.
Most importantly:
THE 24/7 EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE WILL BE UNAFFECTED.
Our duty seismologists will have the same response capabilities as before.
For the latest earthquake information: www.quake.utah.edu
For the latest Utah COVID information:
https://coronavirus.utah.gov/
Please do what you can to keep yourselves and the community safe.
Thank you.
UUSS Earthquake Information Center Tours Canceled
In response to the changing dynamics in the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, UUSS is canceling all EIC tours through the end of April. We will update this information and resume tours when we are able to.