Earthquake Information

February 4, 2010 (20:20:21 UTC)

Quake Location

Magnitude 5.9 Offshore Northern California

This earthquake occurred north of the Mendocino Transform Fault, inside the Gorda plate, which is deforming as the Gorda Plate and Pacific plate slide past each other. The fault motion during the earthquake was strike-slip (side-by-side like the San Andreas Fault) with the Gorda Plate moving east and while the Pacific plate jumped west along the Mendocino Transform Fault.

Teachable Moment

View All Teachable Moments