Richter calls it a 3.2, but I just call it shaky.

January 16, 2004 1:07 AM

Minor Washington state quake. It's been a while since I've experienced and earthquake, so when tonight's little one hit my hometown (a mere 3.2) I was a little shocked (and a little excited). I was also really impressed with the seemingly instantaneous response by the USGS and the University of Washington's GeoPhysics Dept. on their websites classifying it.

In the olden-days (eg- pre-Internet) I'd have to wait for the early morning news to find out any information about it, but through the miracle of HTTP I have all the info I want mere seconds after the event. In fact, less than 15 minutes after the quake the USGS site had over 260 responses on their website about the quake from people who felt it and left comments on their site.

I wonder if there are other sites that help classify and/or disseminate information about other naturally occurring phenomenon (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.)... anyone, anyone?
posted by crankydoodle (9 comments total)

Now they're saying 3.6--that lasted longer than some, too. And I found the same page in about 4 minutes. And here's the topological map of the epicenter:
47.5670°N, 122.5800°W (NAD27) USGS Bremerton East Quad
posted by y2karl at 1:13 AM on January 16, 2004

I felt it in Kenmore. It was a single minor pulse. Until I checked the local seismographs (which are all online), I wasn't sure it was an earthquake.

There was another quake near Bremerton last May, about the same size, that shook the house more. But there have closer and larger quakes that I haven't felt. I wonder why quakes near Bremerton are felt in Kenmore, whereas other quakes aren't.

The amount of info online is definely cool.
posted by Xoc at 1:59 AM on January 16, 2004

i heard it first from y2karl, and found this.
posted by quonsar at 2:00 AM on January 16, 2004

No. There are no other sites on the Interweb that help classify and/or disseminate information about other naturally occurring phenomena.
posted by jmccorm at 6:29 AM on January 16, 2004

For hurricanes I really like Hurricane Watch Net, an extension of an amateur radio service devoted to hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center is also a good source for info during times of active 'cans.

(Hurricane buff I be)
posted by jammer at 9:06 AM on January 16, 2004

Hooray, Bremerton.
Isn't 2 miles east of Bremerton . . . Port Orchard?

(class of '97, Oly)
posted by cinderful at 1:27 PM on January 16, 2004

Face it, you're just a voyeur. A net nerd looking for a real connection to your experience. Before .com an event had to be "made" news by a news agency. The new question is not if you can find it, but do you want it?

That said, here is a buoy,
http://seaboard.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.phtml?$station=46026

-ehhehe-
Enjoy
posted by xtian at 6:27 PM on January 16, 2004

Yep. Some of the maps show the epicenter in the heart of Port Orchard. Funny how they had to use Bremerton as the reference... Oh, and I went to CK. :)
posted by crankydoodle at 9:25 PM on January 16, 2004

From Google's 2003 zeitgeist report, it looks like they can tell when an earthquake happens.
posted by aigeek at 9:36 PM on January 16, 2004