The Jamaica Seismograph Network
The Jamaica Seismograph Network (JSN) consists of
-76š
-76.5š
-77š
-77.5š
-78š
-78.5š
12
18.5š
Montego B ay
MB J
d
BBJ
r-
t
ta
San
MA J
Rio Min
m
ea
River
n
An
Spur
et
Newmark
ho-Cra
wle
Cru
Tree
MCJ
o
ott
en
P ort A ntonio
Lin
CMJ
S TH
H OJ
e-
r
Ve
z
18š
GW J
P ort R oyal
Y HJ P lantain Garden Fault
P CJ
accelerograph
-78.5š
-78š
-77.5š
-77š
seismograph
stations
-76.5š
Mission
(triangles) and 8 digital accelerographs (filled circles)
The
links to Mona Campus where the signals are digitally
Through operating the
sampled and a time signal is added. Monitoring for
Jamaica Seismograph Network
earthquakes is continuous, however, recording takes
and affiliating with
place only when 3 or more stations are triggered, which
other Caribbean and Regional networks,
signals an increased likelihood that an earthquake has
the Earthquake Unit
18š
Ki n g s to n
So u th Co a s t
epicentre
seismograph
analogue
data from the stations are transmitted by UHF radio
B NJ
CV J
elie
N egril
period
strategically distributed on the island of Jamaica.
O cho R ios
ntp
ryla
n
vale
Mo
Ma
Duan
short
-76š
occurred. Solar Energy is utilised at a number of the remote stations and at the Central Recording Station at Mona,
seeks to
where an array of 24 solar panels is used to power critical equipment, including computer data acquisition systems.
understand earthquake processes
The JSN is developed and maintained by staff of the Earthquake Unit (EQU). In addition to giving near real-time
in and around Jamaica
information about earthquakes felt in Jamaica, we produce detailed annual earthquake bulletins. Other areas of ex-
and
pertise include seismic hazard assessment, and vibration analyses.
advise the society about
earthquake hazard,
Earthquakes and Jamaica
thereby
Roughly 200 to 300 earthquakes are located in and around Jamaica per year by staff at the Earthquake Unit. As
many as 14 of these are reportedly felt in parts of the country.
The magnitudes of most local events is less than 3.0, but at
least one event of magnitude 3.8 to 4.0 is expected each year.
The largest
encouraging community awareness
and
the application of
mitigative strategies to development.
local earthquake in recent times occurred on
January 13, 1993, and had a magnitude of 5.4. Where do these
earthquakes come from?
The Jamaican landscape and the
seafloor around Jamaica are dissected by a number of
geological faults that move in response to stresses that
accumulate due to forces deep within the earth. While some
of the movement may be aseismic, others generate seismic waves that travel away from the source in all directions
through the ground, causing shaking as they pass. This shaking is referred to as an earthquake. The magnitude of the
earthquake is determined by the amount of slip at the source. The amount of shaking experienced from place to
place is called the intensity.
Telephone (876) 927-2586 or
935-8249.
Facsimile (876) 977- 3575.
email: [email protected]
http://www.mona.uwi.edu/earthquake
incidences of felt earthquakes.
with
The famous
Port Royal earthquake of June 7, 1692 was
perhaps our largest and most damaging natural
disaster.
Other damaging earthquakes in
historical times include the January 14, 1907
Kingston earthquake and the March 1, 1957
Montego Bay event. A full list of damaging
earthquakes can be found at
our website
(listed above). Monitoring for earthquakes in
late 19th century. In the early 20th century the
Jesuits
Association
also
established
seismograph stations on the island. However,
it was not until the early 1960s that the first
modern seismograph station was installed at
Hope Gardens, Geological Survey Division. In
1963, that station was moved to the Mona
campus of the University of the West Indies,
The
Earthquake
Unit
EQU/BR1-Ver2/January 2003
Jamaica began with the weather service in the
The Earthquake Unit
history is rife
University of the West Indies
Mona, Kingston 7
Jamaica
West Indies
Jamaica’s recorded
Updated January 2003
Earthquake Unit
History
from where the growth into the Jamaica
Seismograph Network began. In the 1970s,
the number of stations increased to three and
this enabled details of epicentres and focal
depths of earthquakes to be determined. Thus,
the database of felt earthquakes extends back
to the 17th century, while that for
events is only about 30 years long.
located
Funded by the Government of Jamaica
Ministry of Land and Environment
A Research Unit of the University of the
West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica