1783 New Jersey earthquake

The 1783 New Jersey earthquake occurred on November 29 in New Jersey. With a magnitude estimated at 5.3,[2] it stands as the most powerful earthquake to occur in the state.[3]

1783 New Jersey earthquake
UTC time1783-11-30 03:50
Local dateNovember 29, 1783
Magnitude5.3 Mfa[1]
Areas affectedNew Jersey
Max. intensityVII (Very strong)
TsunamiNo

Damage

Shaking was felt from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania.[4] A brief foreshock occurred at 9:00 PM on November 29 (02:00 UTC on November 30) and an aftershock five hours later were reported only in New York City and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] The earthquake caused intensity VII damage on the Mercalli intensity scale.[6] George Washington was sleeping at Fraunces Tavern when the earthquake struck, but he was not woken by the tremors.[7]

References

  1. Stover & Coffman 1993, p. 306.
  2. Stover, C. W.; Coffman, J. L. (1993), Seismicity of the United States, 1568–1989 (Revised) (PDF), U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1527, p. 306.
  3. "New Jersey Earthquake Information". USGS. July 16, 2008. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  4. "Damaging Earthquakes Felt in New Jersey". New Jersey Geological Survey. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  5. "Historic Earthquakes: New Jersey 1783". USGS. July 16, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2008.
  6. Dombroski Jr. R. David. "Earthquake Risk in New Jersey". New Jersey Geological Survey. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
  7. Chernow, Ron (2010). Washington: A Life. New York: Penguin Press. ISBN 978-1-59420-266-7.

40.819°N 74.498°W / 40.819; -74.498


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