WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ – A team from the U.S. Geological Survey has initiated the installation of seismic sensors in New Jersey to monitor aftershocks following a recent earthquake.
After a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck on April 5, 2024, the USGS team started setting up eight “aftershock kits” in Whitehouse Station. These kits are designed to record data on aftershocks’ origins, durations, and magnitudes, according to USGS electronics technician Greg Tanner.
The project involves collaboration with several academic institutions, including the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, the Texas Seismological Network, Rutgers University, and Yale University.
To date, the USGS has detected 50 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 3.8. There is a predicted 12 percent chance of a magnitude 3 or greater aftershock occurring within the next week, and a one percent chance of one reaching magnitude 4 or greater. This seismic activity is occurring in a region known for its ancient, inactive faults which can still occasionally reactivate due to ongoing tectonic pressures.
The newly deployed kits include sensors for recording strong motion and high frequency, digital transmission devices via cellular networks, and solar panels.
Data collected will be transmitted in real-time to the USGS National Earthquake Information Center in Colorado for immediate analysis. Some sensors are being placed alongside existing USGS stream gages in the state for enhanced monitoring capabilities.