Mexico is a country with high seismic activity, Therefore, in different parts of the Republic, tremors can be perceived due to multiple plates and tectonic faults that cross the country. This morning, Mexicali had more than 20 earthquakes of between 3.5 and 5.3 degrees of magnitude with data from the United States seismological system.
It is common for the phenomenon called a seismic swarm to occur in seismic areas, which, according to the UNAM Institute of Geophysics, It is a set of minor earthquakes, some imperceptible to humans. The National Seismological Service (SSN) indicates that there are multiple microseisms that occur in a certain area.
According to Hugo Delgado, geological engineer at the UNAM Faculty of Engineering, These swarms are related to multiple ruptures of the crust that fracture at different depths.. The academic explains that when these stones are broken, they release accumulated energy; which causes movements or vibrations of the ground, generating microseisms.
Delgado explains that earthquake swarms can have two origins, one tectonic and the other magma; The first occurs when this release of energy is generated in a plate, while in the second it occurs when volcanic magma from deep areas pushes and causes movements on the crust, which causes rocks to fracture, releasing energy. between faults and fractures.
“If it is a magmatic body that is rising and causing the swarm, there are possibilities that the magmatic body remains within the surface, or that it comes out and eventually a volcano is born,” explains engineer Delgado in an academic bulletin from the UNAM.
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The specialist clarifies that to a large extent, earthquake swarms have a tectonic origin, since it is not very common for them to be due to the birth of a volcano. However, he does not rule out the possibility that this could happen.
It is worth mentioning that in Mexico City, Durango and Michoacán they are constantly studying the Institute of Geophysics of the UNAM and the National Seismological Service (SSN) for the possibility that its constant microseisms are due to the birth of a volcano
Seismic swarm in Mexicali
Early this Monday, February 12, in Mexicali, there were more than 20 earthquakes of between 3.5 and 5.3 degrees of magnitude with data from the United States seismological system.
According to the SSM, the first earthquake occurred at 12:36 local time (2:36 am Central Mexico) and was 5.6 degrees of magnitude, located 62 kilometers southwest of Santa Isabel, with a depth of 10 kilometers.. It is worth mentioning that the majority of earthquakes have been in El Centro and the Imperial Valley county.
Remember that Baja California is a seismic zone due to the collision of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
The governor of Baja California, Marina Del Pilar, canceled classes at all educational levels in the state and asked to remain calm in the face of this phenomenon.
Civil Protection of Baja California reported no damage or injuries after the swarm of earthquakes that shook Baja California.