The USGS confirmed the 10:49 p.m. tremor near Searles Valley at just over 1 mile deep.
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck near the Ridgecrest area of California shortly before midnight Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey. A second monitoring organization, the European and Mediterranean Seismological Centre, independently confirmed the same magnitude reading. The tremor hit at 10:49 p.m. local time and was centered roughly 13 miles north of Searles Valley and 28 miles northeast of Ridgecrest.
Where the earthquake hit and who felt it
The quake occurred at a depth of approximately 1 mile, making it a relatively shallow event. Shallow earthquakes tend to be felt more widely at the surface than deeper ones of the same magnitude. The towns closest to the epicenter were Searles Valley at 13 miles, followed by Ridgecrest at 28 miles, China Lake Acres at 30 miles, Inyokern at 32 miles and Death Valley at 38 miles. All five communities have populations under 30,000, with Ridgecrest the largest at roughly 28,800 residents.
Three residents submitted reports to the USGS Did You Feel It program, describing the shaking as weak. Several people in and around Ridgecrest reported feeling the tremor through the same reporting system.
What the data shows
The USGS issued the initial report with the EMSC independently confirming the 3.6 magnitude reading. As is standard practice with newly detected earthquakes, the exact figures for magnitude, depth and epicenter may be revised in the hours following the event as seismologists examine additional data and refine their calculations.
A magnitude 3.6 falls in the range commonly felt by people but rarely capable of causing structural damage. Events between 2.5 and 5.4 in magnitude are frequently noticed but tend to leave little physical impact in most circumstances.
What to know about earthquakes in California
California sits in one of the most seismically active regions of the United States, and events of this scale are not uncommon. Scientists estimate that roughly 500,000 detectable earthquakes occur worldwide each year. Of those, approximately 100,000 are strong enough to be felt, and around 100 are significant enough to cause meaningful damage.
The magnitude scale, which replaced the older Richter scale, measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake. Events below 2.5 are rarely noticed by people nearby. Those in the range of this quake are frequently perceived but unlikely to cause damage under normal conditions.
What to do if an earthquake strikes
Safety officials advise that the most effective action during an earthquake is to drop to the ground, take cover and hold on to something sturdy. People indoors should avoid running outside and stay clear of windows and doorways. Getting beneath a table or desk offers better protection than standing in a doorway, contrary to older guidance.
Those in cars should pull over, stop and set the parking brake. Anyone in bed should turn face down and protect their head and neck with a pillow. People who are outdoors should move away from buildings and stay in open space.
After the shaking stops, aftershocks should be expected. Hazards following a significant earthquake can include gas leaks, damaged water lines and downed power lines.
SOURCE: VOLCANO DISCOVERY