Earthquake Literature Review

California’s unique geography as a state makes it a very appealing place to call home. From the odd east to west transverse San Gabriel mountain ranges of the Los Angeles Basin, to the bumpy coastal ranges of the Bay Area, any person can find a compatible topographic terrain to their liking. California may seem to be the perfect place to live with its ideal climate and extensive geographic features. However, due to California’s location over the shifting continental plates, coupled with its enormous and also multiple faults, at any time this great state can fall victim to a seismic disaster. After examining evidence from both Rong-Gong Lin’s II Los Angeles Times article of April 18, 2016 and the NOVA videos Killer Quake ( 2006), Earthquake (2007), as well as Geologic Journey II – Episode 3 (The Pacific Rim: Americas) – Part 3 (San Francisco) and The Great San Francisco Earthquake (American Experience ~ 2005), one can take a comparative account of the three major earthquakes of California’s past. Although each earthquake was very devastating on is own; the Great Quake 0f 1906, the Loma Prieta quake of 1989, and the NorthRidge quake of 1994 each amounted to an extensive forfeiture of property and life. Each of these earthquakes created much suffering and loss. It is imperative for each citizen of this great state to understand the damage that a California quake can actually do and be prepared; for the threat of one always looms.

The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake tectonic setting was in the outermost shell of earth known as the crust this is composed of rigid plates that have been moving for hundreds of millions of years. Two of these moving plates meet in western California; the boundary between them is a zone of faults, the principal one being the San Andreas fault. The horizontal sliding of the Pacific Plate relative to the North American Plate, causes earthquakes along the San Andreas fault and similar plates near the region. The San Andreas fault is a transform plate boundary, accommodating horizontal relative motions (usgs.gov).

The tectonic setting for the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake was in the outermost shell of earth consisting of rigid plates that have been moving for hundreds of millions of years. Two of these moving plates meet in western California; the boundary between them is a zone of faults, the principal one being the San Andreas fault. The Pacific Plate (on the west) slides horizontally northwestward relative to the North American Plate (on the east), causing earthquakes along the San Andreas and associated faults. The San Andreas fault is a transform plate boundary, accommodating horizontal relative motions (usgs.gov).

Of all the naturally occurring events on Earth, earthquakes are among the most devastating and bring a lot of truth to the statement, “Just because something is natural does not mean it is not dangerous.” Earthquakes are one of the most natural things I can think of that can cause massive damage and loss of human live in many instances, and the effects are sometimes long term. “Nothing happens without a force. Many geophysicists accept the theory that continents move as a result of the forces generated by mantel convection deep within Earth – motions driven by our planet’s internal heat energy” (Trefil & Hazen, 2010). According to National Geographic (1996-2012), constant movement in the tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s

Have you ever been in a deadly earthquake? In 2013, the people of the Philippines experienced one. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that affected around 43,000 people with 2,211 aftershocks that ended up killing a total of 185 people. Earthquakes are known as one of the most dangerous natural disasters. This horrific event happened October 15th, 2013. The earthquake hit hardest in the central Philippines, it was reported to be caused by the East Bohol Fault. People act in a response to a natural disaster by gathering resources, spreading word, and government aid.

The following paper is on the economic effects of the Cascadia subduction fault line earthquake. This earthquake is predicted to happen within the next fifty years, and it's predicted to devastate everything west of Interstate 5. The earthquake can range from a 8.0 magnitude to a 9.2 magnitude, and will impact "some hundred and forty thousand square miles... and some seven million people" (Schulz).

Large magnitude earthquakes occur on plate boundaries and can produce hazards such as movement along faults, landslides, and tsunamis. In North America, the western coast is an active margin, meaning that it is home to earthquakes and

This land assessment will recommend which community would be the best and safest place to live. Hazard City is made of up of five communities. Riverside is a mobile home community with most of the current homes located upon the sandy soils of the floodplain. Downtown consists nearly of one-to-three story buildings constructed of unreinforced brick and masonry. Ralston contains mostly large wood-framed, single family, Victorian-style homes built in the late 1800's. Hickory Estates contains of single-family, multi-story, wood-frame homes that were all built before World War II. Walnut Heights is a planned, gated residential community of single-family homes founded in 1981.

Earthquakes are something that happen every day all around the world. Most earthquakes are very small and go unfelt, however every once and while there are massive earthquakes that cause tremendous damage to life and property. Sonoma County has a lot of fault lines running through it. These faults line are; the San Andreas Fault, the Rodgers Creek Fault, the Maacama Fault and the Healdsburg Fault. Since 1855, there have been more than 140 earthquakes that have actually been felt where we live in Santa Rosa Area Of the earthquakes that have cause damage, the worst damage was caused by; 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, 1969 Rodgers Creek/ Healdsburg Fault Earthquake, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, 1994 Northridge Earthquake. We should use the data of past earthquakes in our area to help come up with a plan in case there is another major earthquake in Sonoma County. Data suggests that there is a 63% probability of at least one magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake striking somewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area before the year 2032. The key to surviving and earthquake is to be prepared.

One of the most significant earthquakes to hit the San Fernando Valley in the past was the 1971 San Fernando/ Sylmar earthquake. On February 9, 1971 at about 6 o’clock the cities of San Fernando and Sylmar experienced an earthquake that ruptured along the Sierra Madre Fault Zone (Oakeshott, Gordon B). The epicenter of this earthquake was reported to be in the San Gabriel Valley Mountains above the valley. The citizens of both cities felt tremendous shaking. The magnitude of the earthquake was measured as a 6.6 on the Richter scale and the shaking had the intensity of a level 11 (extreme) on the Modified Mercalli system (U.S. Geological Survey). The shaking of this 6.6 magnitude earthquake lasted about 12 seconds with a very strong ground motion. The source of this faulting was located about five miles to the north of the San Fernando valley. The surface faulting of this earthquake was reported to be seen along the surface of the San Fernando fault zone from a point south of Sylmar, the faulting stretched 6 miles more as far as east to the little Tujunga Canyon, also more surface faulting was reported more east as well. In total the maximum surface rupture was 12 miles and the amount of slip was about 6 feet (U.S. Geological Survey). The type of fault scientist label this earthquake to be was an oblique-slip or also known as a thrust. The depth of this earthquake was 13km (8.1 mi) and the peak acceleration was when it reached the Pacoima dam having the speed of 1.25g (U.S.

The late 1800s and early 1900s also saw scientific inquiry into earthquakes begun by Japanese researchers. Seikei Sekiya became the first person to be named a professor in seismometry ; he was also one of the first people to quantitatively analyse seismic recordings from earthquakes.

Earthquakes are environmental catastrophes which are unpreventable by human beings. While major earthquakes are not predictable, they could be further understood through scientific analysis of infrastructure evidence made by seismologists. The Hayward Fault in northern California poses a great seismic hazard for a megathrust earthquake. This paper utilizes environmental evidence along the fault line to further understand the nature of this major fault and the probability of a major earthquake occurrence.

What is an earthquake and why do they happen? : An earthquake is vibrating of the ground caused by the rapid breaking and motion of large parts of the earth’s rocky outermost crust. Earthquakes

“I felt very at home in California, but the place is prone to earthquakes, and the one in 1944 scared the life out of me. For months afterwards, I felt that every time I sat down, I should have to put on a seatbelt.” Earthquakes are when tectonic plates slip past each other causing a “snap’. The ground shakes violently and can even crack. Though the occurrence of an earthquake is dreadful, familiarizing yourself with the causes and effects can be useful, and in turn make it less scary.

     An Earthquake is the shaking of the earth's surface caused by rapid movement of the earth's rocky outer layer. The sudden shaking of the ground that occurs when masses of rock change position below the Earth's surface is called an earthquake. The shifting masses send out shock waves that may be powerful enough to alter the surface of the Earth, thrusting up cliffs and opening great cracks in the ground.