Peru quake shakes Va. well
Last night's 8.0 earthquake southeast of Lima, Peru, sent the water level in the USGS groundwater monitoring well near Christianburg, Va. surging. A second, slightly less sensitive well in Augusta County also felt the tremor from 3,400 miles away. Hydrologist David Nelms writes:
"The water level started oscillating about 15 minutes after the quake. The total oscillation was 0.50 feet and lasted for nearly 3 hours. The long period of oscillation is mainly due to the magnitude and close proximity of the M7.9 and the numerous M5+ aftershocks.
"The Augusta County well also saw a response. Again the water level started oscillating about 15 minutes after the quake. The response in this well is normally more subdued as evidenced by the smaller oscillation of 0.09 feet and shorter period of just over 30 minutes."
Here's the tracing from the Christianburg well. Here's another view of the well's response. And here's the USGS report on the Peru quake. At this writing, the USGS has reported 14 aftershocks since the initial quake last night. Two of them have been 6.0 quakes or stronger.
