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A team of researchers is on a mission to find the fault line responsible for the recent earthquake that shook New Jersey and New York City. This 4.8 magnitude quake, the largest to hit New Jersey in over 240 years, was felt from Washington, DC to Maine.
The earthquake was centered in Whitehouse Station, and its aftershocks are still being felt. To locate the fault line, scientists from institutions including Rutgers University and the University of Texas have installed 100 seismometers at the Hunterdon County Arboretum, close to the quake's epicenter. These devices, buried about three feet into the ground, will monitor the Earth's movements and help pinpoint the fault line.
Dr. Ken Miller, a geologist from Rutgers University, explained that the more seismometers deployed, the better the imaging of what's happening beneath our feet. This could potentially help predict future seismic activity.
The exact fault line responsible for the quake has not been definitively identified yet. It's believed to run north-south, but scientists are still unsure whether an existing fault triggered the quake or if it's an entirely new one.
The United States Geological Survey has recorded at least 50 aftershocks since the quake. They have also installed five new seismometers a few miles from the quake site to monitor future rumblings.
The earthquake was unusual due to its location in New Jersey. Oliver Boyd, a USGS research geophysicist, stated that when earthquakes happen above 4.5 magnitude and are close to a major population center, they are definitely interested in studying them.
While the aftershocks have been tapering off, with none measuring over 1.5 magnitude since April 12, scientists believe that the additional seismometers, expected to remain in New Jersey for three to six months, may provide more clues and possibly predictions for the future.