A swarm of over 700 small earthquakes (you read that right) measuring mostly under 2.0 that began on Thursday in Long Valley, seven miles east of the Mammoth Lakes resort area, is being "closely tracked" by the United States Geological Survey. However, seismologists do not believe that this is presaging any sort of volcanic eruption despite the near proximity of a number of recently active volcanos. Such swarms are fairly common in the area, also known as the Long Valley Caldera, because it sits in a big crater that was formed during a "super eruption" about 760,000 years ago. But seriously, nothing to see here, folks.

I just want to take a second to note that while the eruption in Japan on Saturday at Mount Ontake was not a huge one, it was serious and unexpected enough that at least 36 people are dead, and seismologists missed the boat on that one despite a recent swarm of small earthquakes there. Just saying.

As the LA Times reports, the earthquakes have slowed as of Monday, with only four so far today.

As CBS reports, the official word from the USGS California Volcano Observatory Site is that this recent swarm "[does] not result from the underground movement of magma” and “pose[s] no immediate hazard.”

Some more explanation, via the LAT:

The volcanic region is one of the most seismically active in a mostly quiet network of 17 volcanoes throughout California.

The central part of the caldera has been rising slowly in recent decades, and earthquake swarms occur periodically as part of the volcanic and tectonic interactions in the area. The earthquakes are usually triggered when water and carbon dioxide above the magma move up into higher layers of the Earth’s crust and into the cracks of the small faults. The increase in pressure sets off the movement. In 1980, it produced four quakes greater than 6.0 magnitude.

LAist adds, "The last volcanic activity in California was when Lassen Peak, near the Oregon border, erupted in 1917."

And yes, this thing is mere child's play compared with the super volcano under Yellowstone that could ultimately destroy us all. Happy Monday.

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