A recent earthquake in New Jersey was felt strongly in Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has explained why. The quake, which originated near Lebanon, New Jersey, registered at a magnitude of 4.8 and was felt by many in southeastern Pennsylvania.
According to Paul Earle, a researcher for the USGS, the reason for the quake's far-reaching effects has to do with the type of rock on the East Coast. This rock is harder, allowing seismic waves to travel further. Additionally, the quake was shallow, meaning it retained more of its energy as it traveled, making it feel stronger and potentially more destructive.
The USGS also debunked any speculation that the quake was related to the upcoming total solar eclipse. "This is unrelated to the solar eclipse," Earle said. "Earthquakes of this size have no correlation with celestial bodies."
This event was the strongest quake felt in the region since 1950. Despite the strength of the quake, it's still unclear what damage, if any, resulted from the shaking.
The USGS maintains that earthquakes are driven by processes in the Earth's interior and would occur even if solar flares and magnetic storms were to somehow cease occurring. Therefore, any claims about resulting earthquakes from the solar eclipse don't "deserve any serious attention" and are "irresponsible fabrications," according to Francisco Diego of University College London.
While earthquakes are not common on the East Coast, they are not unexpected. The Reading-Lancaster seismic zone in Pennsylvania tends to have more magnitude 3 quakes, which people in the Lehigh Valley sometimes feel.
The USGS continues to monitor seismic activity and invites users to describe the intensity of quakes in their area through a "Tell Us" feature on its website.