Airborne Mapping for Faults and Earthquake Data to Begin in State

While central and northern Oklahoma have received the attention when it comes to earthquakes, southwest Oklahoma will soon get attention too.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey along with the U.S. Geological Survey plan to carry out airborne mapping of a large area of the state including some southwestern counties. At least 18 counties will be mapped through the low-level airborne project to give geologists a better understanding for the location of deep faults and sub-surface geology.

“Oklahoma has been experiencing seismicity since about 2009,” said USGS scientist and project lead Dr. Anji Shah. “Many of these earthquakes occur on faults that haven’t been mapped. In order to better understand local seismic hazards, the USGS and OGS will use the new data to work towards improved fault maps.”

Goldak Airborne Surveys will fly over the counties and capture 3-D images of geology below the earth’s surface for earthquake hazard and mineral resources. Variations of the earth’s magnetic field will be measured. Based out of Altus, the mapping by Goldak Airborne Surveys will take six to ten weeks.

The counties include: Alfalfa, Beckham, Comanche, Greer, Harmon, Kiowa, Jackson, Lincoln, Logan, Major, Noble, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Stephens, Tillman, Woods and Woodward counties.