Turbulence in the southern hemisphere: earthquake swarm along the Nazca plate

June 4, 2011 –ARGENTINA – An earthquake swarm has erupted around Neuquen, Argentina. 8 moderate magnitude earthquakes have struck the region in rapid succession: three 4.7 earthquakes, two 4.6 quakes, and two 4.8 earthquakes, and the strongest a 4.9 quake at 20 km. The quakes represent growing tension seen in the Southern hemisphere and more specific to this case, seismic unrest along the Nazca Plate. A 5.2 earthquake also struck Northern Peru during the same time frame though the quake was very deep. Below, the seismogram for Argentina we posted 3 days ago showing seismic stress under the country. The aftershocks are resonating closer and closer to the surface in this swarm. This is a cautionary tale for potential seismic flare-ups also in Chile and Central America.