Earthquake numbers differ

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Records indicate that the Oklahoma Geological Survey reported half as many magnitude 4.0 and higher earthquakes in Oklahoma last year as the U.S. Geological Survey did.

The Tulsa World reports that the differences are due to the way the agencies calculate earthquake magnitudes.

While OGS reports six earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and higher last year, the USGS reported 14 earthquakes in that range. This year, 13 earthquakes in that range have been reported by OGS while 21 have been reported by the USGS.

A Tulsa World analysis shows that since 2010, OGS reported a smaller number than USGS more than half the time for earthquakes of magnitude 3.8 and higher.

Last year the state experienced 585 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or higher, more than the past 35 years combined.