A 4.3 magnitude earthquake was reported off the southern Oregon coast about 4:16 a.m. Tuesday. The quake happened west of the Oregon-California border, about 200 miles west-southwest of Pistol River, Ore., the U.S. Geological Survey reported. No tsunami warning was announced and there were no reports of damage. Four more earthquakes were recorded in the same area. The other earthquakes ranged from magnitude 4.5 to 5.6, according to the Geological Survey. The last earthquake was reported at 6:44 a.m.<doc-sep>Ring of FIRE: 10 earthquakes strike USA off coast of Oregon FREE for the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. In the early hours of July 24, 10 quakes hit the southern Oregon coast – mainly between 5.16a local time and 10.22am. The most powerful was a strong 5.4 magnitude quake which hit at 7.44am, according to reports from the US Geological Survey (USGS). Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center, said that there is no risk of tsunami from the earthquakes which struck about 126 miles west of Crescent City, California. However, the tremors could be part of a much more serious problem and that the Ring of Fire could be ready to unleash devastating quakes. The Ring of Fire is the largest and most active fault line in the world, stretching from New Zealand, all around the east coast of Asia, over to Canada and the USA and all the way down to the southern tip of South America and causes more than 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes. Experts know that the Ring of Fire has to potential to unleash some catastrophic quakes – recent tremors in Mexico and Japan give evidence to this. And a series of relatively strong quakes could push it over the edge. Earlier this year, John Vidale, director of the Southern California Earthquake Center, said that the Ring of Fire could be on the brink. The Ring of Fire He told the LA Times: "A 5.3 could be damaging if it was right under our feet. “It's right on the edge of being an earthquake that could be dangerous. It's a reminder that we need to be ready in the future.” Also running through Oregon is the San Andreas fault – which begins near Cape Mendocino, California, continuing along Oregon and Washington, and ending as far north as Vancouver Island, Canada. Experts have previously warned that minor earthquakes along this fault line could trigger a devastating one. Geologist: Very high threat Pacific Ring of Fire could erupt soon<doc-sep>A series of earthquakes have shaken a region of ocean off the west coast of the US. Scientists have detected a cluster of 11 earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 2.8 to 5.6 on the Richter scale. The cluster occurred on the seabed at the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate, around six miles (10km) underwater. This plate forms part of the Cascadia subduction zone, which runs from Northern California to British Columbia. Previous studies have warned this geological spot of weakness has the potential to deliver an earthquake much stronger than the infamous San Andreas fault. Seismologists say a full rupture along the 650-mile-long (1,000 km) offshore fault could trigger a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and an accompanying tsunami. Scroll down for video A series of earthquakes has shook a region of ocean off the western coast of the US. Ten earthquakes were detected, ranging in magnitude from 2.8 - 5.6 on the Richter scale The latest spate of earthquakes were clustered some 126 miles (203 km) off the coast of Crescent City, in California. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has not issued a warning over the recent shakes, stating that they do no pose a risk of a tsunami. Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the National Earthquake Information Center, said quakes of this calibre are not serious, and occur fairly often off the coast. The largest of the earthquakes occurred at 7:44 am (10:44 am ET/3:44 pm BST), and was large enough to qualify as a 'moderate' earthquake. Earthquakes of this magnitude on the Richter scale are categorised as 'causing damage of varying severity to poorly constructed buildings. 'At most, slight damage to all other buildings will be felt by everyone.' The Juan de Fuca tectonic plate is one of the smallest in the world, and is under constant strain from the Pacific plate. For around 300 years, Juan de Fuca has been pushed down, slowly submerging beneath the much larger Pacific plate. This geological activity has caused the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) 'megathrust' fault, which is a 650 mile (1,000 km) long line that stretches from Northern Vancouver Island to Cape Mendocino California. Eventually, the Juan de Fuca will be pushed underneath the North America plate, causing the region to sink at least six feet. The cluster occurred on the seabed at the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate around 6 miles (10km) underwater. Running from Northern California to British Columbia, the Cascadia subduction zone can deliver a quake that's many times stronger than the infamous San Andreas fault According to seismologists, the end result of this movement could be one of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history. 'Cascadia can make an earthquake almost 30 times more energetic than the San Andreas to start with,' Chris Goldfinger, a professor of geophysics at Oregon State University told CNN. 'Then it generates a tsunami at the same time, which the side-by-side motion of the San Andreas can't do.' The Cascadia could trigger a catastrophic 9.0-magnitude quake, with the shaking lasting anywhere from three to five minutes, scientists claim. WHAT WILL CAUSE THE KILLER CASCADIA QUAKE? The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) 'megathrust' fault is a 1,000km-long line that stretches from Northern Vancouver Island to Cape Mendocino California. It separates the Juan de Fuca, a 700-mile chunk in the Pacific Ocean, and North America plates. For more than 300 years, the two plates have been pushing against one another. Eventually, the Juan de Fuca will be pushed underneath the North America plate, causing the region to sink at least six feet. Advertisement 'In this case, three minutes – and I've been in a 9 in Japan – three minutes is an eternity,' said professor Goldfinger. 'It is a very, very long time.' Professor Goldfinger claims the west coast of the US would lose bridges, highway routes and that the coast will probably be entirely closed down. As a result, it would be difficult to get around, with rescue crews overwhelmed. Federal, state and military officials have been working together to draft plans to be followed when the 'Big One' happens. These contingency plans reflect deep anxiety about the potential gravity of the looming disaster – upward of 14,000 people dead in the worst-case scenarios, 30,000 injured, thousands left homeless and the region's economy setback for years, if not decades. As a response, what planners envision is a deployment of civilian and military personnel and equipment that would eclipse the response to any natural disaster that has occurred thus far in the US. There would be waves of cargo planes, helicopters and ships, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers, emergency officials, mortuary teams, police officers, firefighters, engineers, medical personnel and other specialists. 'The response will be orders of magnitude larger than Hurricane Katrina or Super Storm Sandy,' said Lieutenant Colonel Clayton Braun of the Washington State Army National Guard. A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan in 2011 (pictured) gave greater clarity to what the Pacific Northwest needs to do to improve its readiness for a similar catastrophe HOW ARE EARTHQUAKES MEASURED? Earthquakes are detected by tracking the size, or magnitude, and intensity of the shock waves they produce, known as seismic waves. The magnitude of an earthquake differs from its intensity. The magnitude of an earthquake refers to the measurement of energy released where the earthquake originated. Magnitude is calculated based on measurements on seismographs. The intensity of an earthquake refers to how strong the shaking that is produced by the sensation is. A 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California on Thursday at 10.30am According to the United States Geological Survey, 'intensity is determined from the effects on people, human structures and the natural environment'. Earthquakes originate below the surface of the earth in a region called the hypocenter. During an earthquake, one part of a seismograph remains stationary and one part moves with the earth's surface. The earthquake is then measured by the difference in the positions of the still and moving parts of the seismograph. Advertisement The Cascadia could deliver a huge 9.0-magnitude quake and the shaking could last anything from three to five minutes, scientists claim. Oregon's response plan is called the Cascadia Playbook, named after the threatening offshore fault — the Cascadia Subduction Zone Oregon's response plan is called the Cascadia Playbook, named after the threatening offshore fault — the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The plan has been handed out to key officials so the state can respond quickly when disaster strikes. 'That playbook is never more than 100 feet from where I am,' said Andrew Phelps, director of the Oregon Office of Emergency Management. A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of Japan in 2011 gave greater clarity to what the Pacific Northwest needs to do to improve its readiness for a similar catastrophe. 'The Japanese quake and tsunami allowed light bulbs to go off for policymakers,' Mr Phelps said. Much still needs to be done, and it is impossible to fully prepare for a catastrophe of this magnitude, but those responsible for drafting the evolving contingency plans believe they are making headway. HOW DO SCIENTISTS TRACK THE CASCADIA? The Cascadia earthquake fault zone lies underwater between 40 and 80 miles offshore of the Pacific Northwest coastline. Earthquake scientists have listening posts along the coast from Vancouver Island to Northern California, and have been using ships to drop off and later retrieve ocean bottom seismographs. These record for up to a year right on top of the fault zone. However, they have detected few signs of the grinding and slipping they expected. The Cascadia Initiative (CI) is an onshore/offshore seismic and geodetic experiment that takes advantage of an Amphibious Array to study questions ranging from megathrust earthquakes to volcanic arc structure to the formation, deformation and hydration of the Juan De Fuca and Gorda plates It is 'a puzzle,' according to University of Oregon geophysics professor Doug Toomey. Two teams have been examining the area. A joint Japanese-Canadian team dropped instruments offshore of Vancouver Island, while Toomey's team is in its fourth year of deployments.<doc-sep>
A 4.3 earthquake struck at 5:16 a.m. Tuesday about 133 miles west of Gold Beach, according to the USGS. GOLD BEACH, Ore. — Seven earthquakes were recorded about 130 miles west of Gold Beach, Ore., Tuesday morning. A 4.3 earthquake struck at 5:16 a.m. about 133 miles west of Gold Beach, according to the USGS. It was first reported as a 5.0 quake. As of 9 a.m., six more earthquakes were detected in the same area hours later ranging from 3.2 to 5.6. All the quakes were about six miles deep. Seismologist Seth Moran with the U.S. Geological Survey said the quakes happened within the weaker Gorda plate. The plate was basically being scrunched by the ones around it and broke. "For sure there is some squeezing happening," he said. But does all that squeezing mean a bigger quake is next? Could it trigger a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake? The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a roughly 600 mile long fault off Oregon and Washington's coast. It's the point where the ocean plate and the North American plate are locked together. And when they finally release, it will create not only a tsunami but also a large earthquake. The good news, when it comes to a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake, Moran said the swarm is in no way a precursor. "If there was something leading toward this... we would expect to see those earthquakes lining up much more along the subduction zone itself in the area where the big earthquake would release," he said. Moran said the quake swarm does show the plates offshore are active, which means the Cascadia fault is likely active too. The last big earthquake to hit our area was 317 years ago. Scientists say we are about due for another one.