Earthquake? in the Gulf (No Joke)
September 10, 2006 by Captain Jeff
Filed under Salt Water Fishing, Weather
The National Earthquake Center confirmed an earthquake in the Gulf at
10:56 a.m. It was centered 260 miles west southwest of
Clearwater and about 251 miles west southwest of Bradenton Beach. The depth in the Gulf was estimated at about 6.2 miles.
It registered a 6 magnitude, which is considered strong in scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey web site. A 7 is considered large and 3 is rated a minor earthquake.
Tremors were reportedly felt north to Gainesville and in Georgia and Alabama.
There was a small earthquake in the Gulf in February, but It is unusual because Florida sits near the middle of what’s known in geological circles as the North American Plate. Earthquakes usually happen on the edge of that plate in places such as California.
“There are stresses associated with these boundaries, and these stresses can be transmitted to the middle of the plate and can perhaps reactivate old faults that occurred but haven’t been active for a long period of time.
While there may be aftershocks, the National Earthquake Center said don’t expect a tsunami (tidal waves).
“This particular quake probably did not displace the sea floor, so there’s no displacement of the water column on top, hence there probably was no tsunami.