In response to the recent earthquake and more than 50 aftershocks in New Jersey, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is sending Aftershock Kits to the state. These kits will help scientists better understand where these aftershocks are happening and how strong they are.
Last Friday, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake shook the tri-state area, and since then, over 50 aftershocks have been recorded. These aftershocks have ranged from a magnitude of 1.3 to 3.8. The USGS predicts there's still a 12% chance of a magnitude 3 or greater aftershock within the next week.
The Aftershock Kits will record motion and frequencies, which will then be sent back in real time to the National Earthquake Information Center in Colorado. There are eight kits in total that will be deployed this week.
While earthquakes are not common in the eastern U.S., when they do occur, they can be felt stronger and across a wider area than quakes in the western part of the country. This is due to the eastern U.S. having older rocks and formations, according to the USGS.
The USGS says it's important to study aftershocks to help prepare for future events, but there is currently no way to predict the exact time, location, or magnitude of any earthquake. The recent earthquake and aftershocks have been one of the largest seismic events on the East Coast in the last century.
Despite the unsettling nature of these events, local and state officials have been swift in their response. There have been no immediate reports of significant damage, and the top infrastructure concern is the Hudson River tunnels. However, there have been no reports of major damage so far.