If Puget Sound is Falling Down
William Steele, seismology Lab Coordinator at the University of Washington Geophysics Program, has a son, Chris, who goes to elementary school. "He comes sometimes and he likes to do things." It seems he had recently put a sticker on one monitor the laboratory, and his father had difficulty accessing the material. "What excuse! "Steele has never come in the program he wanted to show me.
December 4 of last year there was an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Aftershocks were felt in Washington State. I was directed to the UW to find information on the activity recent earthquake in the Puget Sound.
"Oregon is relatively quiet, near Washington. But this year we had a huge amount activity in Oregon, against historical trends. "Klamath Falls could not be worse, Steele said, checking the Numbers: September 4, 5.9; September 20, 5.9, 5.0, 4.3, December 4, 5.1, and Christmas Day, 4.0, 3.4.
Most of our local activities in the Puget Sound is recorded by the laboratory equipment of the UW. They have a computer program for emergency preparedness called "Beat the Quake", from the land of earthquakes in California, which has suffered much damage severe earthquake lately. This is Steele, the program had trouble running on his computer. Fortunately, the UW Seismology Lab has much more information Protection civil "if we do not start from scratch" in the event which an earthquake. Steele is also the Information Officer public on tremors by the UW. "We have 135 seismic stations throughout Washington and Oregon, currently in operation, and we're growing. We really cover a very wide area. "
They precisely locate earthquakes and determine the magnitude (quantity total energy released by the earthquake), location (area affected by the earthquake), and the epicenter (location on the surface above the fireplace, or the place where an earthquake originates.)
They collect data on the geology of the region as well. "It critical data. This lab is an educational center for graduate students in geophysics. "They also educate citizens. Groups school students come and talk to Steele civic organizations, encouraging people to act and be safe from earthquakes.
Of course, everyone wants is the big question: "When?
"We are not able to make a date. It is more complicated because three types of earthquakes occur in the Puget Sound. The most common are deep earthquakes.
"Journey through Transmission of the planet crust, sometimes all the way across. "Events occur anywhere on their leaves helicorder, forming an analog, a record of 24 hours of each earthquake. For example, the Klamath Falls earthquakes, which are very near the California coast Oregon.
"We cover the Cascade Mountains, and have several stations on each volcano. We have a good site at Mont. Baker, sufficient to cover region. "Earthquakes around volcanoes are very common.
The LAB shares data with California for earthquakes on the border of California and Oregon. "We are part of Washington Regional Seismic Network." Steele showed me a map of seismic Pacific Northwest, 1969-1991. There were huge blue clusters in the Puget Sound. Which ones, I asked. "Moderate, shallow, and deep earthquakes. The clusters are deep in the basin of Puget Sound. "
deep earthquakes, those that you really tend to write home about, are the largest in magnitude, measured on the Modified Mercalli Scale. The values usually range from 1.0 (not felt) to 7.0 (range damage to buildings and land). They can go even higher, as they have in recent deep earthquakes in Alaska.
Here's what's happening in the Puget Sound, about 300 kilometers or more from the east coast, where deep earthquakes are generated. There is a ridge of 500-700 kilometers outside called Juan de Fuca Ridge, and new materials, new seafloor is deposited all time on the road. He pushes the subducting Juan de Fuca to the North American plate in the Seattle area. The Juan de Fuca plate moves an average of two centimeters year, towards us, lifting the other plate.
A border zone, it crashes, an interface between two oceanic plates that stops the plate, which makes subducted beneath us, forcing the oceanic plate sinks into the mantle of the Earth. This limit is called the Cascadia subduction zone, and extends from mid-Vancouver Island in British Columbia to northern California.
mantle of the Earth lies in its fragile crust. It is semi-solid, because of the enormous heat and pressure. "Our Cascade volcanoes are there probably because of plate subduction beneath us. Thrust deforms the crust and built enormous constraints. Currently, the Washington coast is rising. It is rounded up. "Plate ocean is "cold rock" and the shock of the encounter of two forces led to deep earthquakes. Washington has recently seen two major in 1949 and 1965.
A leaflet from the laboratory states that about 1,000 earthquakes per year are registered in Washington and Oregon. "Between one and two dozen these cause enough ground shaking to be felt by residents. Most are in the Puget Sound, and cause some real damage. However, according past history of destructive earthquakes and our understanding of the geological history of the Pacific Northwest, we are confident that destructive earthquakes (Magnitude 6.0 or greater) will be in our region, although we have no way to predict whether it is more likely to be today, or years from now. "Steele thinks it will be soon.
"In 1949, there was a severe earthquake in Olympia, 7.1. Eight people have been killed and there were millions of dollars in damage to property. The earthquake was located 70 kilometers deep.
"In 1965, there was an earthquake of 6.5 magnitude between Seattle and Tacoma. "The two earthquakes were felt as far away as Montana. But there were no replicas, as usual during an earthquake in depth. The infamous replicas, known to catch people in the middle of recovering from a bad earthquake, occur during terrestrial shallow earthquakes. Shocks ocean which occurred once, causing tremors that lasted ground for several minutes. "The earthquake in 1965 killed five people around, and yet there was millions of dollars of damage to property. "Other events deep, difficult to calculate from records of the time, in 1882, 1909 and 1939. "Every 35 years or if a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs beneath Puget Basin +. The entire area along the coast will move both. When he finally builds up enough pressure to kick in, it'll be great. "
Eighty percent of earthquakes on the planet is along the coast of the Pacific Northwest, which is called "The Ring of Fire" because of all our volcanic activity. In 1964, a year before last This great event area, south-central Alaska generated a monster 9.3 earthquake, shaking the ground for twenty minutes, tidal waves that devastated the coast of Seward, touched 34.000 square miles, killing 143 people. And recently there have been major shocks in Cape Mendecino in California, and Parkfield, California, notorious for ground shaking, in 1992.
Brian Atwater of the USGS (United States Geological Service) and the UW Department of Geology has made studies on the coasts of Washington and Oregon. He found a sort of laminate flooring … "What he has found … ghost forests killed by the last major tremor. Matters covered by the subduction of coarse black sand. "A layer gradually transformed in undergrowth, then the layer of sand. "As always curved, up the coast and lowland areas are cleaned by salt water. Stress release during the earthquake made the coast disappear seven or eight feet. It drops. "If you live to five feet, this is not a something very comfortable. "
Earthquakes also generate large tsunamis, or tidal waves, the larger, generated by earthquakes can tear up miles of coastline, wiping away bridges, roads and buildings. Earthquakes very great subduction zone, 9.0 or more, occur about once a century on the face of the planet. Curiously, an earthquake can result in large approximately three and a half minutes of strong shaking, which does not sound like it. "An earthquake in California was recently seventeen seconds strong motion, earthquake 7.1. A 7.0 earthquake releases the equivalent of 199,000 tons of TNT in the energy of a 9.0 200 million tons of press, worth 17,000 atomic bombs "of force.
"The difference between an 8 and 9 is greater than the difference between a 2 and an 8, because of the logarithmic scale. The force increases exponentially. It receives 30 times more each time. "I wondered if never goes up to 10.0.
By carbon-14 dating of organic matter in soil and sea levels, scientists can determine approximate dates for events going back 10,000 years. "Finding clues about these earthquakes involves both careful research and educated guess.
Research has recently identified a flaw in Seattle that has generated a major earthquake between 1000-1100 years. "It There were landslides, and a huge squid-something important when falling water, creating waves like tsunamis. Landslides Large block occurred in the forests. Restoration Point on Bainbridge Island has increased by twenty feet of Puget Sound in a few seconds during this event. "
The accumulation of ice sheets that once covered the continent, it is difficult to analyze the shallow crustal faults. But geologists are Almost certainly, there are two major faults Seattle. The most important is the northern tip of Mercer Island, Eastgate by the kingdom, just north of West Seattle. The other fault through White Center, parallel to the largest. In 1872, an estimated 7.3 earthquake has caused this shallow seismologists call "felt reports" by observers, the only evidence of some earthquakes more. Native Americans tell stories about what must have been very few earthquakes Important and tsunamis.
Nowadays, all real-time telemetry (automatic transmission of data from a remote source to a receiving station) comes through the back of the lab, where Steele poured me a cup of Starbucks coffee to their sink metal equipment in a very crowded space. "Energy activity ZAP Relay" in nanoseconds to the laboratory. Before, people in a region know what's hit them, we do. "The helicorders monitor 23 stations on analog." We focus on volcanoes. All stations, including those helicorders on, go on the computer system in the next room. The discriminator on the back takes FM carrier signals and separates them from seismic signals, leaving a signal amplified seismic. He goes to the front room, transformed into digital information the computer can read.
"If selects a "jump" (a leap in the needle on the helicorder) on a station, it checks the other stations and stores all data, if a signal or not. If a large earthquake, it estimates the magnitude through programs, etc., tones of the people (like Steele), and sends information to seismologists in the region. "Steele can hear a" beep "at any time.
As I drank my coffee, I Steele says he is a graduate student working in his life partner, and together they support their families, renting a house in Wallingford and raising two children. "It's a fun job, but … rewards are not monetary. "Nevertheless, he feels treated like a colleague by everyone, and has a good working relationship with all his "comrades in the laboratory. "
About preparing for earthquakes, Steele is adamant. "The secret Not the fear and loathing in Seattle, and we have to hide under the beds. Let's Get Ready. Our schools need to get to the point where we can not resist an earthquake of 7.4. How small do we need body under the bricks before you begin to spend money? "In Currently, there is no specific law enforcement of building codes earthquake, "If the years the building code there said you could pile of bricks without mortar on top of another. "
unreinforced masonry structures that creates fall during earthquakes land, even moderate. "The entire wall of a school can fall and kill students. A brick that falls three stories does not slow, he said, Referring to the death of a boy during the 1965 earthquake. Steele is certain these deaths are preventable.
At least six schools Oregon have unreinforced structures, bricks that can fall and fill out a door, blocking the exit. "Renovation them or tear them down and build another school. If a school has been considered dangerous for a recent earthquake, they can sell it, and it becomes a center for elderly. No laws prevent. These buildings must be set up to code or removed. Death will happen if we do nothing. India just had an earthquake of 6.8 … tens of thousands of deaths. It takes water and food stored away to last 72 hours. You need money a table and walked out, down on the ground, under something, see if you smell gas, and off, electricity, too. "
You should get to know your community resources, A Steele said. And in case of severe aftershocks, if you're in a building "You should wait until the shaking stops, and then leave." Many people are killed by falling debris while evacuating buildings.
The number of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) in Woodinville, led by Chris Trisler, is (206) 487-4645. It's their job to help People earthquake preparedness.
What Steele see in the immediate future? "I expect more of the same. Probably some quakes over 4.0 in the Puget Sound. While we talked, there have been events in Klamath Falls. "As I write this, there are replicas of December 4 is the" sequence "from Klamath Falls." The question is, will we recognize the danger and do something, or will we wait until we have a number of deaths they adequate? I would see a map and a dedicated leadership of the State. There will be a lot of money. "
Steele said one of his colleagues said it best: "The next disaster will happen a lot when we forget the last."
Some of the information contained in this article from "Washington State Earthquake Hazards", by Lawrance, Qamar, and Thorsen, 1988.)
WHAT to do but cry to kill – down!
Apparently, you can hear a very loud, his building before the frenzy begins. What follows is "How to Survive in Tremor Earthquake Country, "a brochure FEMA. Learn about your risks at home and in your workplace. Get more details from the American Red Cross, or FEMA.
Learn what causes injury: the pieces fall outside of buildings and interiors, broken glass, libraries reversal; unanchored water heater, storage facilities, nothing made of glass, fire damaged gas lines, power lines, stoves wood, fire, toxic fumes.
Creating Emergency Plans: finding safe places in your house, identify escape routes, Plan two ways out of each room; Pick two meeting places outside your home and outside the neighborhood, if you can not go home, everybody shows how to shut off water, gas and electricity; practice your projects now.
Read "Your disaster plan Family, "and" Checklist for Emergency Preparedness ", which you can get from FEMA.
Reducing earthquake hazards: assessment of your home water heaters and gas appliances strap down, remember, straight snap Articles; place heavy objects on the shelves while heavy anchor, anchor hanging objects, earthquake preparedness community support.
Businesses, schools, daycare centers, neighborhoods, churches, clubs organize workshops:. Prepare a disaster preparedness kit: Store food, water, clothing, a first aid kit, radio, flashlights and batteries, good for 72 hours of use in your car trunk, home and office. For more details, consult the brochure from FEMA, "Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit."
During and after an earthquake, stay calm, not panic or execution. Earthquakes are generally preceded by loud sounds, to take rapid action. In fact, you have approximately two seconds, then get ready for this earthquake now protect yourself and others. Stay where you are: drop, cover and hold some something solid, or to take immediate cover under a heavy desk or table, in a doorway, hallway, or against interior walls. Turn away from glass. Keep away from chimneys, windows, shelves and large objects that could fall.
Evacuate until the shaking stops. Use the stairs not the elevator. Remember, aftershocks may occur at any time. Listen to radio or television for instructions. Outdoors: away from buildings, trees and electric son. Sit on the ground until the shaking stops. Fly Domestic immediately when near a coastline. Check for injuries. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in danger. Interior: evacuate damaged buildings, as aftershocks could cause additional damage, or buildings can collapse.
Do not re-enter a building until declared safe by authorities. Do not use the telephone except in emergencies; stay away from the phone. Check for fires. Have a fire extinguisher, and know how to use it. Check utilities: gas, electric, and water pipes may be broken. Gaz: Do not use matches, candles, open flames or electric switches indoors, because of gas leaks. If you smell gas, open windows, leave, and turn off the main gas valve, which is usually outside.
Electricity: If the wiring is broken, turn off the electricity at the main switch. Hands shot anything near or damaged lines. Water: If water pipes are broken, shut off the main valve outside. Use water ice cubes, water heaters, toilet tanks (if they do not contain chemical cleaners). Clean up spills. Assist carefully to spills of hazardous materials, such as drugs, medicines and household cleaners. Ventilation adequate, that chemicals can combine to produce toxic gases. Do not forget to help others in need.
More Remember: this is not your fault. (Sorry, I could not resist the joke.)
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