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California Shakes: Thanksgiving Quakes Near Geysers
27 Nov
Summary
- Multiple earthquakes rattled Northern California on Thanksgiving morning.
- The tremors were centered near The Geysers geothermal field.
- Geothermal operations may be triggering some seismic activity.
Residents in Northern California were awakened by a series of earthquakes on Thanksgiving morning, with seismic activity concentrated near The Geysers geothermal field. At least 13 tremors, with magnitudes between 1.0 and 3.7, occurred starting around 4:30 AM PT. The shaking was felt by residents as far south as San Francisco.
The Geysers, a vast geothermal area spanning Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino counties, utilizes underground steam to generate electricity. This region is known for its frequent seismic activity due to a network of underlying faults. Experts indicate that the geothermal operations themselves, which involve extracting steam and injecting water, could be triggering some of these tremors.
Seismologists explain that the extraction of underground resources and the temperature differences caused by injecting cold water can destabilize the environment, leading to earthquakes. While significant seismic events are considered unlikely due to the absence of large continuous faults, the area is prone to frequent smaller quakes.
