THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

People, Land & WaterApril 2006 • Vol. 12 No. 13

■ The Great 1906 Earthquake — A Moment of Magnitude for America and for Science ■ Facing the Great Disaster — How the Men and Women of the U.S. Geological Survey Responded to the 1906 Earthquake ■ Taking Seismic Science into the Third Dimension ■ Did You Feel It? — Citizen Science Goes Seismic

This Dynamic Planet — Special Poster Pullout Letter from Lynn Scarlett

Message from Acting Secretary Lynn Scarlett agencies to assist in emergency response efforts when catastro- One hundred years ago, a devastating earthquake changed the way the phes strike. USGS science pro- San Francisco Bay Area, Calif., and the United States think about the power vides information needed by and unpredictability of the planet on which we live. Although much of what the public to understand the we now know about earthquakes was learned after April 18, 1906, the U.S. hazards that may exist in their Geological Survey was pondering seismic issues for over 25 years before the communities and to help miti- great quake. gate losses and damages when In fact, since its creation in 1879, the USGS has grown to become the na- they occur. tion’s largest water, earth, biological science and civilian mapping agency. USGS is now a world leader The USGS collects, monitors, analyzes and provides scientifi c understand- in the natural sciences thanks ing about natural resource conditions, issues and problems. to its scientifi c excellence and As part of these duties, the USGS plays a vital role in researching natural responsiveness to society’s hazards and minimizing loss of life and property from the disasters they can needs. Throughout this pub- lead to — from earthquakes to volcanic eruptions; from landslides and other lication, you will see how one forms of ground failure to geomagnetic storms; from fl oods, droughts, and remarkable and terrible event coastal storms to wildfi res; from fi sh and wildlife diseases to invasive species. in U.S. history did so much to bring the USGS to the forefront of earth science USGS science assesses where natural hazards may occur and what the risks exploration and to bring natural hazard concerns to the forefront of the American consciousness. are to those who live near these hazards. Lynn Scarlett The USGS also works cooperatively with federal, state, tribal and local Acting Secretary

Letter from P. Patrick Leahy

Message from P. Patrick Leahy instrumentation deep into the San Andreas Fault itself. Earthquake moni- toring has grown from days of analyzing reports of earthquake activity using This special edition of People, Land calculations on globes with tape measures and compasses to a 24/7, global & Water commemorates the 100th seismic network of seismographs, satellites and computers that capture and anniversary of the April 18, 1906, report earthquake events anywhere in the world almost instantaneously. Great San Francisco Earthquake, Scientifi c research, monitoring and assessment have provided the frame- which is deemed by many as the birth work for improving building codes to construct earthquake-resilient build- of earthquake science. Throughout ings and infrastructure. ShakeMaps, which graphically show the differing the edition, you can enjoy stories degrees of shaking from an earthquake, can be available online within min- about the history of seismology, sur- utes for use by emergency-response teams in deploying resources to areas vivor accounts, state-of-the-art devel- hardest hit. opments in earthquake science, and We have built strong partnerships with government and non-government profi les of USGS past and current scientists, academia and other organizations throughout the world to delve premier earthquake scientists. deeper into the causes of earthquakes. The public, too, has contributed by The 1906 earthquake and subse- answering the question posed on our Web site, www.usgs.gov, “Did You Feel quent fi re caused the loss of hundreds It?” — a citizen-based approach to defi ning the magnitude of shaking in of lives, destroyed property and left areas that lack dense instrumentation. approximately 225,000 people homeless. Now, 100 years after the 1906 Earthquake, science and technology mark From that moment, scientists and the public realized a compelling need a milepost on a journey that has brought us far and will take us still fur- to better understand the dynamic — and potentially hazardous — nature ther. Seismology is an example of science in the public service, relevant of Earth’s seismic processes. Research began immediately, with scientists and keyed to making our lives safer. We are proud to provide you with this tackling what they saw before them — displacement of the ground along publication that shows where we’ve been and where we hope to go. We the San Andreas Fault. hope you enjoy it. From those seminal efforts, science has evolved from studying the effects P. Patrick Leahy of earthquakes to discovering the dynamics of plate tectonics, developing U.S. Geological Survey probabilistic earthquake hazard assessments, and installing sophisticated

2 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 The 1906 Earthquake — The Birth of Earthquake Science Table of Contents 26 4 A Moment of Magnitude for America and for Science This special edition of People, Land & Water commemorates the 1906 Earthquake, documents 7 USGS Responds to the 1906 the birth and growth of earthquake science in the United States and demonstrates how this Earthquake science is used to help safeguard communities. For more information about the U.S. Geological Survey, please visit http://www.usgs.gov. 7-10 A Letter Home and a Look Back To go straight to our earthquake science page, visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov/. in Time: Firsthand accounts from survivors 7-11 America’s Shaky Past: The Top 18 Earthquakes Since 1700 7 11

11 Seismic Technology Evolves into the 21st Century: From dragon- 26 Building Safer heads and toads to geophones 30 Not Just A California Thing: The and electronic amplifiers, seismic eastern and central United States science has come a long way. USGS stenographer Adelena M. Fontaine. Photo: George R. Davis family. may be more vulnerable to earth- 12 History of the USGS Earthquake quake damage than the West. Hazards Program 31 Taking Seismic Science into 32 the Third Dimension The People Who Make 32 A Guidebook of San Andreas Earthquake Science Interesting Fault Fieldtrips: USGS geologist Philip W. Stoffer beat the odds 13 “Mr. Earthquake” Takes a Bow: against cancer while writing a Waverly Person retires after 51 guidebook. years of service. 33 Did You Feel It? Citizen Science 15 Thinking Globally: Mary Lou Goes Seismic: Help the USGS and Zoback guides the 1906 its partners save lives by logging Earthquake commemoration. in and reporting your earthquake experience. 28 Working for a Safer Southern California: Lucy Jones 35 A Profusion of Products: Experience a virtual tour of the 1906 Earthquake. Meet the Hayward Fault face to face. View the ground shaking of the 1906 Earthquake. The USGS has a number of exciting events and products that commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1906 People, Land, & Water Special Issue Earthquake. The Interior Department manages 1 out of every 5 acres of land in the nation; provides resourc- es for a third of U.S. domestic energy; works with 562 Indian tribes; provides water to 31 million Other Stories residents through 824 dams and reservoirs; receives 450 million annual visits to 390 National 21 Park System units, 544 wildlife refuges and vast areas of multiple use lands; provides opportuni- 16 Earthquakes that Trigger other ties for hunters and anglers; and works to improve habitat on public and private lands. Natural Hazards 21 What it’s like to be an Earth- 20 Earthquake Basics quake Scientist: Ross Stein This publication is the employee news magazine of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Its news content is developed by Interior bureaus and offices and coordinated by the Office of 24 How the Trans-Alaska Pipeline 22-30 A Nationwide Notion of Pride: Communications (Office of the Secretary). The magazine is distributed through the U.S. Postal Survived a Big One Service. For subscriptions, editorial contributions, Letters to the Editor, and other information: USGS earthquake scientists share 25 Measuring Magnitude their proudest, most exciting or 1849 C St. NW, ms6013-MIB, Washington, DC, 20240; (ph) 202-208-7291; (fax) 202-208-7854; most noteworthy career moments. e-mail: [email protected] 29 Top 10 Tips to Earthquake Preparedness 17-20 Special Pullout: This Dynamic Brian Waidmann, Publisher Planet Map — World Map of Volca- 30 Aftershock Forecast noes, Earthquakes, Impact Craters Clarice Nassif Ransom, Editor-in-Chief P.K. Cascio, Front and Back Cover Design 34 “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake and Plate Tectonics Tania Larson, Managing Editor Will Stettner, This Dynamic Planet Country” Doug Spencer, Creative Direction David Hebert and Susan Wells, The Present and Future Beth Stettner, Creative Direction and Editorial Contributors of Earthquake Science Editorial Assistant Electronic Ink, Production & Graphics Cher Cunningham, Copy Editor The historical photos on the cover of 14 NEIC: The world’s source for this special edition are courtesy of the earthquake information A special thank you to the following individuals for supporting this publication: California Historical Society. The news- 22 The Advanced National Seismic Frank Quimby, Joan Moody, Teresa Rusnak and Donna Margelos of the U.S. Department System: A Sure Bet for a Shaky of the Interior; and Barbara Wainman, Scott Harris, David Applegate and the Earthquake paper photo is courtesy of the Library Nation Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. of Congress.

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 3 At 5:12 in the morning on April 18, 1906, the Bay Area was literally thrown from bed by what was dubbed “The Great San Francisco Earthquake” and has become the most famous earthquake in U.S. history.

4 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 The Great San Francisco Earthquake

A Moment of Magnitude for By David Hebert n December 1904, a University of California at Berkeley geology professor named Andrew Lawson wrote the following in the university’s America and for Science newspaper: “History and records show that earthquakes in this locality have never been of Ia violent nature, as so far as I can judge from the na- ture of recent disturbances and from accounts of past occurrences there is not occasion for alarm at present.” Less than two years later, he might have considered a retraction. At 5:12 in the morning on April 18, 1906, the Bay Area was literally thrown from bed by what was dubbed “The Great San Francisco Earthquake” and has become the most famous earthquake in U.S. history. Starting under the Pacifi c, just off the coast of the San Francisco peninsula, the magnitude-7.9 temblor grew until it had caused shaking and damage along nearly 300 miles of the then-unknown San Andreas Fault in Northern California. Strong shaking lasted for nearly a minute, and in some places along the fault, the earth moved more than 25 feet. For those who were there, it was surely a singular experience. “My sensations … were of being on ship in a gale pounding against the rocks, being thrown this way and that, then up in the air, and dropped with a sickening thud that took away my breath,” said Melissa Stewart McKee Carnahan in her 1908 book documenting her personal experiences of the earthquake. “It lasted twenty-eight seconds. Had it lasted ten seconds longer, I fear every building in San Francisco would have gone down.” As it was, 28,000 buildings were destroyed in San Francisco by both the earthquake and the subsequent fi re, which blazed for three days — the shaking had damaged the city’s water lines, rendering the fi re de- partment ineffective. Throughout Northern California, at least 3,000 people were killed (most in San Francisco and many in the fi re); and of San Francisco’s some 400,000 resi- dents, about 225,000 lost their homes. Damage losses have been estimated at more than $500 million (1906 dollars). A repeat of this quake today would likely lead to thousands of deaths and possible economic losses in the hundreds of billions of dollars. “This bombardment of nature caused greater destruc- tion in the number of seconds it lasted than the most modern engines of war could accomplish in the same number of weeks,” Carnahan said. “From whence did this tremendous force originate?” For all the horror of this earthquake’s destruction, it’s this last question that might lend the disaster its lasting signifi cance. Continued on page 6

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 5 Photo courtesy California Historical Society

Continued from page 5 well as a complementary report published by the USGS in 1907. Before April 18, 1906, knowledge of earthquakes — While the 1906 And these discoveries and observations still fuel how and where they occur and the hazards they pose — seismic science nearly 100 years later. was relatively little. However, that was about to change. earthquake “There is still much to be gained from study of the “While the 1906 earthquake marked a seminal event 1906 report, in spite of the fact that it is nearly a century in the history of California, it can also be remembered marked a seminal old and in spite of the great increases in our understand- ing of the San Andreas Fault since the time of its pub- as the birth of modern earthquake science in the United event in the history States,” said Mary Lou Zoback, a senior research geolo- lication,” said USGS geologist Carol Prentice in a 1999 “ paper. “The 1906 report continues to supply information gist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in an April of California, 2006 article for GSA Today. “It was the first time that for modern studies in geology, geodesy and seismology.” an earthquake was recognized and documented as the it can also be The importance of continuing seismic research result of a recurring tectonic process of strain accumula- becomes apparent when one considers that a powerful tion and release.” remembered as earthquake is bound to happen again — a USGS-led Much of that recognition and documentation was the birth of modern study published in 2003 places a 62-percent probability the work of Professor Lawson, whose ironic statement on an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or larger occurring in in 1904 about the relative lack of seismic hazards in the earthquake science the Bay Area before 2032. Bay Area underscored the need for scientific study and With that sort of likelihood looming, earthquake haz- understanding. in the United States. ard science and mitigation by the USGS and its partners With Lawson as its leader, a group of scientists and It was the first time are vital to the safety and welfare of those living in the engineers documented the physical characteristics of Bay Area as well as the United States’ other seismically the 1906 earthquake’s faulting throughout California that an earthquake active places. and published The Report of the State Earthquake Inves- To ponder future possibilities, however, one should tigation Committee, volume I, in 1908. This report also was recognized also peer into America’s shaky past. In the relatively included reports on shaking intensity and an atlas of 40 and documented short time since its colonization and independence, the maps and folios. nation has seen many moments of major magnitude, A second volume of the report was published in 1910 including April 18, 1906. as the result of a “ under the editing of Harry Fielding Reid. This volume Over the next several pages, you can find a narration of focused on the earthquake’s seismological and mechani- recurring tectonic how USGS scientists in and near the Bay Area respond- ed to the earthquake as well as firsthand accounts from cal traits, and it was from this research that Reid created process of strain the elastic-rebound theory of earthquake sources — the others who were there. primary model of the earthquake cycle even today. accumulation and A brief but significant seismic history of the United “H.F. Reid’s work is one of the seminal studies of earth- States can also be found along the bottom of the next quake science in the 20th century,” said Ross Stein, a release. several pages in the accounts of 18 such earthquake USGS geophysicist. events, beginning in 1700. “Their exhaustive data and thoughtful conclusions led to a number of new discoveries about the cause and effects of earthquakes,” said Zoback of both volumes as — Mary Lou Zoback For more information on the 1906 earthquake, visit http://quake.usgs.gov/info/1906/index.html. Photo courtesy California Historical Society 6 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 Facing the Great Disaster: A Letter Home Earthquake Survivor Percy USGS Responds to the Earthquake J. Holmes Recalls the Historic Day’s Events By Liz Colvard and James Rogers (This letter was published in a Connecticut newspaper, May 1906. Percy J. Holmes was the grandfather n 1906, the only perma- of the wife of John Filson, USGS emeritus.) nent U.S. Geological Survey Merchant E. F. Hawley hands us the following letter (USGS) office in California from Percy J. Holmes, son of Joshua Holmes of Shel- was the Pacific Region Topo- ton: 2550 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, Cal., April 26, graphic Mapping Office in 1906. Sacramento, some 70 miles up the I Dear Mother: Sacramento River from San Francisco Your letter arrived this morning and I will answer it im- Bay. The office had been established mediately. It is noon now and the first chance to have had just three years earlier and was the only to write to you since the earthquake. I tried everywhere USGS office ever created for the sole in ’Frisco to send you a telegram, but could not get one function of topographic mapping. On off until Saturday, when Mrs. Magee went to Oakland. April 18, 1906, many of the USGS to- I gave her a telegram to send to you saying that Uncle William’s family and I were all well. pographers were in Sacramento prepar- The quake was a great one. It happened at 5:13 a.m. ing for summer fieldwork. It was that Left to right: Robert B. Marshall (back to camera), A.I. Oliver, Albert H. Sylvester, and I was fast asleep, but was awakened by an awful roar day that the great earthquake struck. Sidney N. Stoner, George R. Davis and A.B. Searle in the USGS Pacific Region and shaking. The whole house was shaking and I thought Although a small amount of shaking Topographic Mapping office, circa 1904-1905. Marshall, Sylvester, Stoner, Davis, it was going to fall to pieces. I jumped out of bed and ran was felt in Sacramento, detailed infor- and Searle were all part of the USGS group that took the first boatload of relief into the yard, but the bricks were falling so fast there that I mation about the earthquake was slow supplies down the Sacramento River to San Francisco following the 1906 earth- “ducked” back into my room and slipped into my clothes. to reach the residents there. Before the quake. Photo: George R. Davis family. By that time the shake was over and I had to climb over about two feet of fallen bricks to gain the street. full extent of the damage was known, The house next to ours was a brick one, in the course USGS topographic engineer George R. Davis, fearful to the next. Nelson captured the horse-mounted dynamite of construction. It was three stories, and the top story was that his 62-year-old father, Edward Davis, was caught up squad, soldiers marching out from the Presidio and a rare shaken down, depositing about two tons of bricks into in the earthquake devastation, left Sacramento on the scene of two horse-drawn fire engines with one engine our driveway. All the streets were full of bricks, as the first train bound for San Francisco. “He was very worried. drawing water from a cistern on Union Street. One ironic chimneys of the houses were all shaken down. About five minutes later we had another shock, not as heavy as the The phones were down and he wasn’t sure whether or photograph shows refugees wending their way through first and we have had slight shocks at long intervals, ever not the hotel his father was living in was damaged,” says rubble-filled streets in the direction of a wrecked City since. Yesterday we had another severe shock, and most George Davis’ daughter Anna Davis Rogers, now 88 years Hall. Flames of the burning district shone brightly against everyone ran into the streets again, expecting a repetition old, recalling stories she heard of these events while grow- the darkness, and Nelson captured the surreal glow in sev- of the first. ing up. “Fortunately [the hotel] hadn’t fallen down.” eral of his photographs, including one of Union Square Magee’s house stood the shock finely, and with the ex- Davis, a tall man with a quiet demeanor and a dry with the Breuners building burning in the background. ception of two of the chimneys, that were shaken down, it received very little damage. wit, was accompanied to San Francisco by fellow USGS USGS Topographers Swing into Action The first shock was a “peach” all right. I was not bad- topographer Clarence L. Nelson. Both were 29 years ly frightened until after it was all over. The first thing I old and in excellent physical condition after a year spent Because of its proximity to the Bay Area, Sacramento thought of was “I’m sorry for the people near Vesuvius,” but about five minutes after the shock I found myself mapping the Mt. Whitney quadrangle, which features — a growing capital city of 31,000 — figured promi- some of the most rugged terrain in the conterminous trembling like a leaf, and felt as though I was freezing. nently in early relief efforts. At a mass meeting on the You cannot imagine how terrible everything shook. I al- United States. Sacramento courthouse steps the morning of April 19, ways thought that an earthquake was a rolling motion of Upon their arrival in San Francisco, the pair was fortu- citizens cheered when Sacramento’s ad hoc General Re- the ground, but that one felt as though you rode a bicycle nate to find the elder Davis unharmed at the hotel where lief Committee declared that they would not wait to be down a long flight of stairs. The sensation is terrible, a person feels so helpless; in fact you are nearly helpless, he had been living. Nelson had brought his camera to get asked to help and that a riverboat had already been se- photographs while things were still “hot” and began tak- as the only thing you can do is to run to the nearest open cured to transport supplies to San Francisco at the earliest place. ing what would become a memorable set of images. The opportunity. three men wandered through San Francisco all night and the following morning, moving from one dramatic scene Continued on page 8 Continued on page 10

America’s Shaky Past - The Top 18 Earthquake Events in the United States Since 1700

Cascadia Subduction Zone (from British Columbia to Northern California) Wrightwood and Ventura, California Date: Jan. 26, 1700 geologic evidence corroborated by Dates: Dec. 8 and Dec. 21, 1812 collapsed during mass. The Dec. 21 earthquake destroyed the Mission La Magnitude: 9.0 Native American oral traditions and Magnitude: ~7.5 and 7.1 Purisima Concepcion, near present- Japanese written records indicate. The Damage: These potentially related Damage: A resulting tsunami dollar amount of property losses is day Lompoc, Calif. The dollar amount This Japanese map shows the Taken in 1935, this image shows earthquakes damaged several mis- destroyed villages in the Pacific not known. of property losses is not known. Kuwagasaki Coast, an area Northwest of the United States and the ruins of the first La Purísima sions, including the Mission San affected by the tsunami in 1700. Number of deaths: 41 (40 in the San damaged coastal areas in Japan, as Number of deaths: unknown Concepción Mission near Lompoc, Juan Capistrano, where the church Calif. Juan Capistrano collapse)

Feb. 7 earthquake. Areas in Arkansas, New Madrid, Mo. Ka’u District, Hawaii Dates: Dec. 16, 1811; Jan. 23, 1812; Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Feb. 07, 1812 Tennessee experienced landslides, land uplifted and trees destroyed. At Date: April 2, 1868 known. More recently, the magnitude-7.2 Kalapana, Magnitude: All estimated to be in an area rivers, banks collapsed, islands Magnitude: 7.9 Hawaii, earthquake in 1975 led to a local tsunami of approximate range from 7.5 to 8.0 disappeared and waves overwhelmed more than 40 feet. This 19th-century illustration depicts Damage: The earthquake and resulting tsunami and the damage and chaos resulting Damage: Structures collapsed or were or beached boats. The dollar amount landslides destroyed homes, a large church and ware- Number of deaths: 77 (tsunami, 46; landslide, 31) from the 1811-1812 New Madrid damaged from Cincinnati to St. Louis; of property losses is not known. houses. The dollar amount of property losses is not earthquakes. New Madrid was destroyed in the Number of deaths: unknown

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 7 As instructed in a telegram from USGS Director USGS men in unloading the shipment. A Look Back in Time Charles D. Walcott, Robert B. Marshall, the geographer- By this time, uncontrolled fires and continuous in-charge of the USGS Topographic Mapping Office in dynamiting had filled the air of San Francisco with heat, An Interview with a Survivor of the 1906 Sacramento, announced to the Relief Committee that smoke and dust, making it unpleasant to breathe. Davis San Francisco Earthquake the USGS stood ready to send a complete outfit of camp and Nelson attempted to renew their exploration of the (Excerpts reprinted from “Earthquake Information Bulletin” property, horses, wagons and men sufficient to take care ravaged city before the boat’s return trip but were un- May-June 1977, Volume 9, Number 3) of 500 people and that he could be ready to leave that able to bear the conditions for long. At one point, they By: Henry Spall day. The offer was gratefully accepted, and Marshall was quenched their thirst with cans of tomatoes found in an Bert L. Smith, Jr., was born in Eureka, Nev., and was in the Palace assigned to take charge of purchasing additional supplies, abandoned grocery store. Hotel, San Francisco, at the time of the great earthquake of 1906. Now using the more than $50,000 in donations collected that retired, he lives with his wife, Emily, in Santa Rosa, Calif., 45 mi north Staffers Work Overtime Aiding Refugees of San Francisco. From 1926 to his retirement in 1966, he had various day from the citizens of Sacramento. assignments in the field of agriculture with such organizations as the U.S. “Men in the Sacramento office … hurried to the ware- Department of Agriculture and State and Federal farm and water agencies. Back in Sacramento, the women of the USGS fam- For 18 yr he was involved with the Commonwealth Club of California and houses and packed blankets, tents, cooking stoves and ily were hard at work. Stenographer Adelena Fontaine, has been a Regent of the University of California. utensils, folding tables, chairs, axes, picks, shovels and Marjorie Sprague and the wives of Robert Marshall and H.S. What brought your family to San Francisco on April 18, 1906? much other equipment. [They] loaded the big camp wag- Albert H. Sylvester volunteered to assist the Sacramento Smith. First let me back up a little. My mother’s family founded Cen- ons, buckboards, and hitched teams to water tank wagons tennial, Wyo. My father’s family was in the woolen business in Massachu- Women’s Council as they processed thousands of refu- setts. My father decided to come out West with his brother, and he landed and brought them all to the wharf in Sacramento,” wrote gees from San Francisco. “I worked on [the] general Re- in Wyoming long enough to work in the bank and marry my mother. After USGS stenographer Adelena lief Committee several nights, a short time in Mexico, my parents followed the mining boom into Ne- vada. You have to understand that in those days mining was either boom Marie Fontaine. meeting trains crowded to the or bust. In addition, Marshall bought doors with refugees,” wrote H.S. Where were you living in 1906? large quantities of canned Fontaine. “We fed them, Smith. Eureka, Nev. My father was in banking and had various interests goods, milk, baby food, soup in the mining business. The year 1906 was a good one, and my father was clothed them, took them to enjoying a period of temporary affluence. So we decided to visit San Fran- and other prepared food. At friends if they had any, and cisco for the shopping, but largely so my parents could go to the Opera and his request, a factory ran all those who were destitute we hear the great Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso. night producing crackers and assigned to the homes in the H.S. And you stayed at the Palace Hotel? cookies. Marshall and the oth- Smith. Of course. That was what you did in those days if you were afflu- city whose doors had kindly ent. Caruso stayed there, too — although we didn’t see him. We brought 1 er USGS topographers soon been opened to welcome the or 2 trunks with us, rather more modest than the 200 trunks we were told had an old stern-wheeler, San unfortunates.” that Caruso had brought with him. Joaquin, “loaded to the waters Fontaine recounted the H.S. What happened at 5:18 am the next morning? Smith. Well, of course, it was dark at the time. I remember distinctly edge with relief supplies.” story of one refugee, a young being awakened by the earthquake — and the shock, the terror of it all. At some point during the man of about 20, whose broth- And the efforts of my mother to calm us children as best she could. Then, night of the 19th, the San er was mistaken for a looter we heard the panic from the room next door where our friends, the George Bartletts, were staying. They couldn’t get to their children in an adjoining Joaquin began its trip down and shot to death. “[He was] room because the earthquake had jammed the door shut. the Sacramento River toward USGS topographer George R. Davis (standing) in the endeavoring to extricate his H.S. What did your family do then? San Francisco. Aboard were field, circa 1908. Davis rushed to San Francisco after brother and their belongings Smith. Well, you must remember that I was a small child at the time, the earthquake on April 18, 1906, to look for his father, from the hotel where they had and at the age you don’t recall all the minute details. But several distinct Marshall; topographers A. Ben- who was living there in a hotel. Photo: George R. Davis memories have stuck in my mind. I recall being dressed on the bottom son Searle, Sidney Stoner and family. lived, [and] saw his brother steps of the magnificent stairway in the lobby of the hotel. There was fallen shot down before his eyes by plaster from the ceiling all around us, and I couldn’t help wondering if the Albert H. Sylvester; and field chandeliers were going to fall, too. assistant Jake W. Muller. George Davis and Clarence a soldier. The soldier had made a mistake, and the boy One of my most vivid memories was of my mother with her hair un- Nelson were also on board. (After relocating the elder was not stealing. This young refugee was a telegraph op- combed and not braided around her head as she usually had it. That made a distinct impression on me. Davis in a hotel in Oakland and returning to Sacramento erator and volunteered his services [until] the building I recall the discussions about if the Palace would burn and when it by train, the pair was informed that the San Joaquin was was abandoned; [he then] fled before the flames,” wrote would burn. As you know, it survived the earthquake rather well, but it Fontaine. “He was in a dreadful state from exhaustion, burned down later as the fire swept through the city. The answer from the about to depart along with their USGS colleagues. The hotel manager was that despite the very latest fire-prevention measures in two decided to embark as well — their second trip to the hunger and exposure.” the hotel, he thought it was probably going to burn. Perhaps because of this beleaguered city in 48 hours.) The boat was accompa- he gave us all our room keys as mementos. Mapping the Fault H.S. What then? nied by a barge under the direction of Almerin Sprague, Smith. We moved out of the hotel, and I recall our family riding on a the father of Sidney Stoner’s fiancée, Marjorie Sprague. The topographers in Sacramento were not the wagon to Golden Gate Park. Here we lived for a few days in the tents that The barge carried wagons, horses and water barrels. the Army had provided. We didn’t have anything. All we had were the only USGS employees working in the vicinity of San clothes we had walked out of the hotel with. At Golden Gate Park, I recall At 8 a.m. on the morning of April 20, the San Francisco. By great coincidence, eminent USGS seeing the soldiers and the discussions about whether they were going to Joaquin, with its load of relief supplies and USGS topog- geologist Grove Karl (G.K.) Gilbert had been in dynamite to try to check the fire. Eventually the family was able to get on a train (at the station at Third raphers, landed at the Presidio of San Francisco, where Berkeley (7 miles across the Bay from San Francisco) and Townsend) to San Jose and then go up the east side of the Bay to it was greeted with cheers. The military officer who met studying sedimentation and the effect of hydraulic gold- Berkeley. Here we stayed with the Dewey Powell family for a few days until we were back on our feet and could return to Nevada. the boat immediately asked about baby food and milk mining debris in the Sacramento River. A vigorous 63 In those days it used to be up over the hill on Southern Pacific, then and was overjoyed by Marshall’s reply of “a carload.” years old in 1906, Gilbert was considered one of the top Continued on page 9 Volunteer stevedores, soldiers and citizens assisted the field and experimental geologists of his day. He was one

Hayward, California Charleston, South Carolina Date: Aug. 31, 1886 twisted and shifted. Property Date: Nov. 21, 1868 suffered an estimated $300,000 damage was estimated at $5 to (1868 dollars) in property dam- Magnitude: 7.3 Magnitude: ~7.0 $6 million (1886 dollars). age. Before 1906, this was known Damage: Many of the buildings Damage: Communities along as the “Great San Francisco in and around Charleston were Number of deaths: 60 the Hayward Fault and in San This home was damaged in the magnitude- Earthquake.” Parts of Charleston, S.C., lie in ruin after the damaged or destroyed, and rail- 6.9 earthquake on the Hayward Fault on Francisco and San Jose, Calif., Number of deaths: 30 earthquake on Aug. 31, 1886. road tracks around the city were Nov. 21, 1868. ( Photo J.K. Hillers)

Owens Valley, California Long Beach, California

Date: March 26, 1872 Lone Pine, Calif., and there were Date: March 10, 1933 southern Los Angeles County other reports of buildings collaps- Magnitude: 7.4 Magnitude: 6.4 and northern Orange County ing, resulting in approximately were almost totally destroyed. Damage: This earthquake on the $250,000 (1872 dollars) damage. Damage: Property loss was This aerial image looks west toward the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada estimated at $40 million (1933 Number of deaths: 115 Sierra Nevada Mountains across Owens Valley, Number of deaths: 27 These are the remains of Jefferson Junior High Mountains caused the destruction dollars), as some sections of Calif., where an earthquake on March 26, of more than 50 houses in nearby in Long Beach, Calif., following the earthquake 1872, caused heavy damage to the town of on March 10, 1933. Lone Pine. 8 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 of the first five principal geologists hired by the USGS to the area. Local geologists gravitated around Andrew when it was created in 1879 and served as its first “chief C. Lawson, chairman of the geology department at A Look Back in Time geologist.” His scientific reports are considered some of the University of California at Berkeley, and John C. the best geologic papers ever written. Branner, professor of geology at Stanford University, Continued from page 8 Gilbert wrote of his experiences on the morning of both of whom worked part time for the USGS. back to Eureka over a narrow gauge railroad from Palisade (near Elko), April 18: “It is the natural and legitimate ambition of a Three days after the earthquake, the governor of which was just a wide place in the track. properly constituted geologist to see a glacier, witness an California appointed the California State Earthquake H.S. Did the earthquake have any long-lasting effects on your family? eruption and feel an earthquake. … When, therefore, Investigation Commission, chaired by Lawson, to over- Smith. I don’t think my mother ever recovered from the shock of going through something like that. From that day on she too — always wanted to I was awakened in Berkeley on the eighteenth of April see and consolidate all of the scientific investigations. have a light on at night or a candle with matches. She was never going to be last by a tumult of motions and noises, it was with unal- Gilbert was one of eight men assigned to the commis- caught in the dark again. She always had a money belt with money in it of loyed pleasure that I became aware that a vigorous earth- sion. Only Gilbert and one other had any experience course. When you think about it, these were very sensible precautions. quake was in progress. … In my immediate vicinity the with earthquake research. The commission ultimately H.S. What about your father? Smith. My father took it almost routinely. After the ups and downs of the destructive effects were trivial, and I did not learn until brought together more than 21 scientists, architects mining business, he was used to commotions. We moved back to Eureka two hours later that a great disaster had been wrought on and engineers to examine the earthquake. This in- and then to Rhyolite. The next year, 1907, was very bad in mining, and our affluence was gone. We moved to Tonopah, then to Elko. My father just the opposite side of the bay and that San Francisco was cluded several members of Japan’s Imperial Earthquake moved around according to the changing fortunes of the mining ventures in flames.” Investigating Committee, in Nevada. As soon as regular ferry considered at the time to H.S. Have you been through many other earthquakes? traffic to San Francisco was be a leading authority on Smith. I would guess that my wife and I have been through 15 to 20 earthquakes since we were married. Curiously one of the first ones I ex- restored, Gilbert traveled earthquake research. The perienced after the 1906 earthquake, occurred while my family was living across the Bay to observe the commission primarily fo- in Oakland for a short while from 1910 to 1911. We had all gone to the Curran Theater in San Francisco. As we approached the balcony, we got a fires and the results of the cused on studying surface rather severe shake. There was an incipient panic. Don’t forget that this was earthquake firsthand. “The changes caused by the only a few years after the 1906 earthquake, so you didn’t know what was go- flames work with wonder- earthquake, earthquake in- ing to happen. We got seated, and the manager told the audience not to be alarmed. Everything was in order. He said that we were safer in the theater ful speed. While I lingered, tensity, earthquake arrival than anywhere else. Just to relax and the show would go on. And we did! whole squares were con- times and the geophysics And it did! Things like that stick in your mind. sumed. An hour is probably of the earthquake. Gilbert H.S. Any other memorable earthquakes? Smith. Yes, quite a few. While we were fishing off the pier on holiday enough to raze a square of wrote several reports about at Long Beach in 1918, we had a little earthquake which rattled the whole wooden houses.” the earthquake, and both he pier and rippled the water. My aunt lost her precious heirlooms in the 1933 Gilbert’s assistant in and Matthes took many post- earthquake at Long Beach when a corner china cabinet tipped over. Ever since then we’ve always buckled our cabinets to the wall. Berkeley was 32-year-old earthquake photographs. I recall my wife’s first earthquake experience. We were living in Berkeley François E. Matthes, a na- The Earthquake Commis- at the time. She was getting breakfast, and suddenly the silverware began dancing around on the table. “Something is happening,” she called out tive of the Netherlands sion quickly appropriated to me. “It’s just an earthquake,” I replied, “don’t worry.” So she went on and a highly accomplished the services of François frying the eggs. Then there was 1958. My office was on the 9th floor of 821 Market Street USGS topographer and geo- Matthes by sending him in San Francisco. My partner in the olive business came into the office and morphologist. The USGS into the field to examine propped his chair back up against the wall. Suddenly, he said “I’m having a heart attack.” And I said “No, you’re not. We’re having an earthquake.” The sent Matthes to California the effects of the earth- building just shook a little, and that was that. in 1905 for the express pur- quake north of San Fran- H.S. Others? pose of mapping Yosemite cisco. He later mapped the Smith. Yes. The first time our three children experienced an earthquake Valley. Matthes had gar- trace of the San Andreas was in Berkeley once in the middle of the night, and they all dived into bed with us. We were at Santa Barbara during the summer of 1952 re- nered praise for his topographic map of the upper half Fault through the northern part of the state. His maps laxing in front of a motel when we felt a severe shake. I said to my wife of the Grand Canyon, which is one of the finest plane- were included in an atlas published by the commission, that somewhere, someone was getting a devil of an earthquake. That was the Tehachapi (Kern County) earthquake. Later on that summer we had table maps produced by the USGS. While Matthes was and his field observations were incorporated into the ranching friends who went through the Bakersfield earthquake. The only between field seasons in Yosemite, Gilbert hired him to commission’s final report. thing that happened to them was that their liquor came out of a closet, and research scientific articles that were written in Dutch The USGS and the Army Corps of Engineers collab- the husband cut his foot on the broken glass as he was running out of the door. and French. orated on a separate federal investigation of the earth- H.S. Any earthquakes while you’ve lived in Santa Rosa? Matthes, too, was jolted awake on April 18 by the earth- quake’s effects on buildings and construction materials. Smith. Yes — the big earthquake in 1969. It was about 10 o’clock at quake: “Woke up 5 a.m. by violent earthquake, lasting 28 Richard L. Humphrey from the structural materials night. We had no damage, but the chandelier rocked back and forth. We went out into the street and said hello to the neighbors. That’s what you do seconds. Found on getting up San Francisco enveloped division was the primary USGS representative on the afterwards: Check on everyone else. in flames. Severe quake 8:15 while eat[ing] breakfast… team. He was dispatched to San Francisco one day after H.S. You were in the 1906 earthquake. Does it bother you that 70 years Made tour of inspection of Berkeley; found brick chim- the earthquake. Gilbert contributed an overview of the later you are now retired in the same general area? neys demolished by the wholesale; many brick houses earthquake to the team’s report. Smith. Not at all. Earthquakes are a fact of life. It’s just something you have to live with. You remember what you’re supposed to do and what badly damaged. All day long dynamite blasts are heard It’s difficult to know what long-term impact the events you’re not supposed to do. You can take some precautions, like buckling from the city… Fire rages all night.” of 1906 may have had on the USGS employees involved down the cabinets, having a stock of food for a week or two, putting some money away. We have a wrench handy to shut off the gas. We live in a wood There was no lack of scientific interest in the earth- with it. They were all ordinary people who responded to frame house, bolted to the concrete foundation. You don’t need to increase quake. Geologists and other scientists quickly flocked a natural disaster in extraordinary ways. the hazard if you can avoid it.

Aleutian Islands, Alaska This road was Hebgen Lake, Montana broken by Date: April 1, 1946 more than $26 million (1946 dol- a landslide Date: Aug. 17, 1959 creating a lake more than 150 caused by the feet deep. Damage to homes, Magnitude: 8.1 lars) in damage (mostly in Hawaii). Magnitude: 7.3 earthquake at highways, timber and other prop- Number of deaths: 165 (all tsu- Damage: This earthquake gener- Hebgen Lake, Damage: The most significant erty was estimated at $11 million nami-related: 149 in Hawaii; 5 in Mont., on Aug. ated a tsunami that struck Alaska, damage was caused by a large (1959 dollars). This political clubhouse in Hilo, Hawaii, was Hawaii and the west coasts of Alaska; 1 in California) 17, 1959. debris avalanche that dammed shattered by the earthquake-generated Number of deaths: 28 (most North and South America, causing the Madison River, eventually tsunami on April 1, 1946. (Photo: NOAA) caused by rockslides)

Kern County, California Prince William Sound, Alaska Date: March 27, 1964 stroyed. The earthquake also generated Date: July 25, 1952 than 200 miles from the epicenter) a tsunami that struck Alaska, the U.S. were damaged. Property loss was Magnitude: 9.2 Magnitude: 7.3 West Coast and Hawaii. Property loss estimated at $60 million (1952 Damage: The earthquake (the largest Damage: The nearby towns of was about $311 million (1964 dollars). dollars). ever recorded in the US) and ensu- Arvin, Bakersfield and Tehachapi Following the magnitude-9.2 ing landslides caused heavy damage Number of deaths: 125 (15 earthquake- suffered extensive damage, and Number of deaths: 12 (on Aug. 28, earthquake on March 27, 1964, this to towns along Prince William Sound, related, all in Alaska; 110 tsunami Residents of Tehachapi, Calif., fill the streets structures as far away as San 1952, an aftershock caused two section of a street in downtown especially Anchorage, where about 30 related: 98 in Alaska; 11 in Calif.; 1 after the earthquake on July 25, 1952. Diego and Las Vegas (both more more deaths) Anchorage, Alaska, has subsided more than 10 feet. downtown blocks were damaged or de- in Oregon) April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 9 A Letter Home When the Dust Settled – What Became of the USGS Continued from page 7 Employees Who Responded to the Great Earthquake?

At one place it moved the streets from 10 to 15 feet By Liz Colvard and James Rogers Davis took over Robert Marshall’s old position as chief to one side. Three blocks below us it moved the whole geographer for the USGS Pacific Region. street and left cracks three or four feet wide. At Van Ness fter 1906, what became of the USGS Topographer Clarence Nelson stayed with the USGS avenue, about seven blocks from here, it bulged the mac- adam into ridges two feet high. On Valencia street, for a employees who responded to the great for his entire career. He left California in 1907 and block, where the ground was “made,” it dropped about earthquake? moved on to mapping projects in Puerto Rico, Argen- seven feet, and a hotel in that block sunk two stories out Chief Geographer Robert Marshall tina, Alaska and other parts of the United States. He went of sight, and as the large water mains broke there, it flood- moved up to the position of chief geogra- overseas with the Army during World War I, eventually ed into the hotel and about 50 people were killed. pher for the entire USGS in 1908. Although he did not reaching the rank of colonel with the Army Reserve. As soon as I could dress I started down town to see what A damage was done. Some buildings were shaken down and go overseas, he served as a topographer with the U.S. From 1922 to 1923, he was loaned out to the National all were damaged to a greater or less extent. The dome of Army during World War I and achieved the rank of colo- Park Service to serve as acting superintendent of Mount the city hall was nearly shaken down, but a number of the nel. Marshall was a close friend of John Muir and a char- Rainier National Park. large buildings were not damaged at all by the ‘quake,’ ter member of the Sierra Club. In 1916, he was loaned Topographer Hal Sylvester transferred to the U.S. but the fire burned them all. The most modern structures out to serve as superintendent of all the national parks Forest Service in 1907. In 1908, he became the su- are still standing, although they are burned inside. immediately prior to the creation of the National Park perintendent of Wenatchee National Forest in the For three days everyone was packing, where they had time before the fire caught them, and most everyone was Service. Marshall left the USGS in 1919 and returned Cascade Mountains of Washington, where he remained hauling all they could pull out to the parks and sands. until his retirement in 1931. He Everything that had wheels was used to carry away the is credited with naming more most valuable belongings. Some had two bicycles with a than 1,000 geographic features in wooden frame between them carrying bedsteads, Morris Washington. Historian Harry chairs, baby carriages, trunks, etc. There were people with sheets containing their belongings. It was a sad sight. Majors calls him “one of the su- I was driving the auto all day and most of the night, preme figures in the history of the carrying Red Cross nurses, army officers, fire hose, water Cascade Mountains.” in boilers and about everything. Topographer Sidney Stoner and The night that the fire came to Van Ness avenue we Marjorie Sprague were married worked all night, carrying dynamite and nitro-glycerine soon after the earthquake. Stoner to the dynamiters. Van Ness avenue is 125 feet wide, and they blew up a whole block wide, the length of the street, did not remain employed with and thus saved the residential part of the city. Van Ness the USGS. was the best of the residential streets in the city and it Geologist G.K. Gilbert pub- looked awful to see those palaces blown up. lished the results of his research on I carried the dynamite into the most beautiful house hydraulic gold-mining debris in on the street. We put it in two cases. Most everyone was hurrying out of town, but Mr. Magee had all three of his 1914 and 1917. At the same time, machines working. One of them was running on a rim Photo courtesy California Historical Society he continued his interest in earth- without any tire, but he did not care. I do not care to quake research by serving as a member boast, but with those three machines and a small squad to California, where he became known as the “Father of of the Scientific Committee of the Seismological Society of (about eight) of soldiers, we saved this end of the town. the Central Valley Project” when he obtained $200,000 America, which was formed in the fall of 1906. Although When we saw that the flames would not cross the avenue from the California legislature to study his plan for a he and the unconventional San Francisco botanist Alice we went home at 5 a.m. At one place it crossed and it took some fast dynamiting to stop it. You see, the main series of dams, canals and aqueducts to bring water to Eastwood (whom he met through the Sierra Club) were trouble was no water, as the earthquake had broken the California’s fertile Central Valley. intimate friends for many years, they did not get engaged mains. While the fire was burning so fiercely, the city was Ten years after the earthquake, stenographer Adelena until 1918, when Gilbert was 75 and Eastwood was 59. light night and day. The smoke hung over the city in one Fontaine married topographer George Davis. She re- Gilbert died before the marriage took place. vast cloud and the reflection of the fire on this smoke mained with USGS until the birth of their only child, Topographer François Matthes’ topographic map of made a most terrible night. They are now blowing down the dangerous walls that Anna Davis Rogers, who provided much of the infor- Yosemite Valley was published in 1907. It is considered were left standing. A peculiar incident happened to me. mation and some of the photographs for these articles. by some to be one of the most beautiful topographic A fellow came and got me to fix his carburetor for him, as Their grandson, James Rogers, is also one of the authors maps ever created. Between 1910 and 1911, he was in he could not make it work. It was a Locomobile. After I of this article. charge of mapping Mount Rainier National Park and had fixed it, I looked over the levers to see how it worked Topographer George Davis continued to map the High twice hauled his heavy survey equipment to the summit and took it out to see if I could run it. I had only gone a Sierra. He was the first person to take pack stock over of Mount Rainier. He spent the remainder of his career few steps when three soldiers stopped me and told me to take the machine to headquarters, which was only a Muir Pass and made the first ascents of Black Mountain, as a leader in USGS topographic mapping and in the block away, to drive a captain to the Presidio. They were Milestone Mountain and Mount Baxter. In 1917, one study of the geology and geomorphology of Yosemite ordered to seize the first auto and I happened to be the year after he married stenographer Adelena Fontaine, National Park. first. I told the captain I had never run a Locomobile be- fore and that he was risking his life. He thought I was This freeway San Fernando, California interchange in lying, and so he pulled his “six shooter” on me, and told San Fernando, me to run the car and to run it easy, too. I knew he meant Calif., lies broken Date: Feb. 9, 1971 Landslides also damaged highways, it, so I thought I had better do the best I could. He said he following the Magnitude: 6.6 railroads and pipelines. More than 2,000 earthquake on people were injured. Damage: Losses were estimated at $505 would shoot me if I did not go easy. I drove him for four Feb. 9, 1971. hours. Mr Magee was mad and he got me a pass signed million (1971 dollars), as two hospitals and Number of deaths: 65 (49 in collapses at (Photo: R. the San Fernando Veteran’s Administration Kachadoorian) two dams were severely damaged, and by the governor of the state, the mayor of the city and hospital). the commander of this division of the army. It says: “Do several freeway overpasses collapsed. not detain bearer for any cause whatever.” These are the highest passes issued and only about a half dozen were This wall’s col- given out. lapse killed two Borah Peak, Idaho children in Challis, I heard Mr Magee tell a man that he had lost about Idaho, during the Date: Oct. 28, 1983 and Mackay. In addition to structure damage, every source of income. Do not worry about me, as the earthquake on the temblor resulted in several rock falls and Oct. 28, 1983. Magnitude: 7.0 fire is out and I will keep out of all danger. landslides, a temporary lake and tremendous (Photo: Sue Write soon. Damage: This was the largest quake ever surface faulting. Villard, Challis recorded in Idaho. It caused $12.5 million (1983 Love to All from Messenger ) dollars) in damage to the Idaho towns of Challis Number of deaths: 2 Percy J. Holmes

10 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 Seismic Technology Evolves into the 21st Century

By Heidi Koontz opened toward the dragon. The mouth mouth of the toad situated below. The di- instrumentation can be traced back to the of each dragon held a ball, and when an rection of the shaking determined which late 1800s. And while the dragonheads SGS scientist emeritus earthquake occurred, one of the dragon of the dragons released its ball. had been replaced by more advanced Waverly Person remem- mouths would release a ball into the open The ancestry of today’s USGS seismic creations, the equipment of that era was

bers the days when a still a long way from the sophistication of rotary phone, a pen, a today’s machinery.

globe and a keen sense “At the time of the 1906 earthquake Uof geography were the required ingre- At the time of the 1906 there were less than 100 seismographs dients for locating earthquakes around operating around the world. Today there the world. earthquake there “ were less than are thousands,” said USGS scientist Gray Things have changed dramatically since Jensen, who has been tracking earthquakes he was a newly minted seismologist. “100 seismographs operating for the USGS for more than 30 years. “We really had to scramble,” he says, re- John Milne, an English seismologist ferring to earthquake response in the ’50s around the world. Today there are and geologist, invented the first modern and ’60s, when he and his fellow scien- thousands. seismograph and promoted the building tists did calculations on globes with tape of seismological stations. In 1880, Sir measures and compasses. “It might take a — Gray Jensen James Alfred Ewing, Thomas Gray and day or a day-and-a-half to get information Milne, all British scientists working in from remote locations.” Japan, began to study earthquakes. They That struggle makes Waverly all the founded the Seismological Society of more appreciative of the real-time data Japan, and the society funded the inven- and global-monitoring systems available tion of seismographs to detect and mea- now. “It’s great to be a part of the change sure earthquakes. Milne invented the and to have had a hand in getting there,” horizontal pendulum seismograph in said Person, who recently retired after a 1880. 51-year career as a premier earthquake The horizontal pendulum seismograph scientist. [See page 13.] was improved after World War II with Today, the USGS has the most exten- the Press-Ewing seismograph, developed sive seismic monitoring and response sys- in the United States for recording long- This seismoscope, invented in A.D. 132, represents the earli- tem in the nation and works with numer- est account of technology used to record information about period waves. With the advent of modern earthquake shaking. During an earthquake, the direction of electronics, conventional magnet-and-coil ous universities to advance understanding the shaking determines which dragon releases its ball. of the cause and effects of earthquakes seismometers and geophones became the and with emergency response agencies in typical sensors. Electronic amplifiers were the interest of public safety and hazards then used to produce highly sensitive seis- mitigation. mographs. Electronic feedback was added Throughout history, a variety of instru- to these devices to create sensors with the ments has been developed to measure maximum in dynamic range, frequency movement of the earth. range and sensitivity. Ultimately, arrays By definition, seismographs, seismom- of these sensors were connected to com- eters and seismoscopes are instruments puters to produce today’s fully automated used to detect and measure the intensity, seismic networks. direction and duration of movements of Geotech Helicorder model drum recorder used widely since the Although USGS scientists are cur- mid 1900s to record and display seismic records. Now used rently unable to predict earthquakes, the the ground (as caused by an earthquake). mainly for visitor and press displays. Whole-day records like The earliest account of such technology this can be produced on computer but requests still come in advances in technology since 1906 allow for the drums. is a seismoscope invented by the Chinese them to provide much needed informa- tion for saving lives and pinpointing risk. philosopher Chang Heng in A.D. 132. A room full of Develocorders. These were devices with a roll of 16mm photographic film in them. They also had 16 galvanom- The instrument consisted of eight drag- eters with very tiny lights attached. The row of lights was focused on the film as it was drawn past. This caused a line to be drawn on the film for each light. The galvanometers would cause the light to move from side-to-side in response to the seismic Compiled with assistance from Gray onheads, facing the eight principal direc- signal which was then recorded on the film. The film was then developed internally over the next ten minutes. Finally the devel- tions of the compass. Below each of the oped portion of the film was projected on a glass screen for viewing. The film was changed each day and the removed film could Jensen, Steve Walter, Jack Van Schaack then be viewed on a larger projector for analysis of the records. dragonheads was a toad with its mouth and David Hebert.

Loma Prieta, California Nisqually, Washington Date: Oct. 17, 1989 and levees were also damaged, and Date: Feb. 28, 2001 highways and other structures in Magnitude: 6.9 more than 1,000 landslides occurred near the epicenter in the Santa Cruz Magnitude: 6.8 the cities of Olympia, Seattle and Damage: The most severe damage Tacoma. Approximately 400 people Mountains. Damage was estimated at Damage: This earthquake, includ- This section of San Francisco’s occurred in Oakland and San Francisco, $6 billion (1989 dollars), and more than This business in Seattle has sustained were injured. where many buildings and elevated- ing its resulting landslides, caused Marina District is destroyed fol- 3,500 people were injured. heavy damage following the Nisqually, Number of deaths: 1 lowing the earthquake on Oct. 17, freeway and bridge spans collapsed. Wash., earthquake on Feb. 28, 2001. $4 billion in damages to buildings, 1989. (Photo: C.E. Meyer) Pipelines, port facilities, airport runways Number of deaths: 63 (Photo: Kevin Galvin, FEMA)

Denali, Alaska Northridge, California Date: Nov. 3, 2002 anticipation of just such an event, Date: Jan. 17, 1994 than 40,000 buildings, collapses of Magnitude: 7.9 the pipeline was engineered to shift on Teflon-coated slider bars where Magnitude: 6.7 freeway overpasses and subsequent Damage: Despite being the largest The Trans Alaska Pipeline System near it crossed the fault. Despite nearly fires. More than 5,000 people were onshore earthquake in nearly a cen- Damage: In the Los Angeles area, an injured, and more than 20,000 lost the Denali Fault has shifted but remains 20 feet of displacement, the pipeline This section of a Los Angeles-area estimated $20 billion in losses were intact following the earthquake on Nov. tury, the Denali quake was signifi- did not spill a drop and was quickly apartment complex is broken in half their homes. sustained through damage to more 3, 2002, thanks to its slider bar supports. cant for what it did not do: rupture back in service. following the Northridge, Calif., earth- Number of deaths: 33 (Photo: Rod Combellick, Alaska Division of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. In quake on Jan. 17, 1994. (Photo: FEMA) Geological and Geophysical Surveys) Number of deaths: 0 April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 11 History of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program By Susan C. Wells tions of model building codes such as the Uniform Building Code. [See “Building cientific study of earthquakes Safer” page 26.] in the United States arose In 1976, the National Science from three seismic events that Foundation and the USGS developed a occurred in the eastern, cen- report titled Earthquake Prediction and tral, and western parts of the Hazard Mitigation: Options for USGS Scountry beginning in the early 1800s. and NSF Programs, referred to as the In the winter of 1811–1812, three mag- “Newmark-Stever Report,” that combined nitude-8.0 earthquakes shocked New needs assessments, state of knowledge Madrid, Mo.; a magnitude-7.3 earthquake reviews, and recommended provided devastated Charleston, SC, in 1886; programs and budgets on which to base and in 1906, the magnitude-7.9 earth- a national earthquake hazards reduction quake struck San Francisco. Although program. Charleston’s event was thought to be an In 1977, Congress enacted the anomaly because no surface evidence Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act, rec- showed that faults had triggered the earth- ognizing the important role of scientific quake, scientists had begun to recognize research in the mitigation process, and a direct link between faults — or seeming establishing the National Earthquake breaks in the earth’s surface — and earth- The 1964 Alaska earthquake released perhaps twice as much energy as the 1906 San Fran- cisco Earthquake, was felt over an area of almost 500,000 square miles and triggered a tsunami Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), quakes. In 1895, geologist A.C. Lawson that traveled along the coast from Alaska to California. The next year, the USGS Center for a multi-agency effort that includes the at the University of California at Berkeley Earthquake Research was established. USGS earthquake monitoring and re- studied a fault south of San Francisco search programs. earthquake causes and occurrences. The Jim Devine, USGS Senior Advisor for and named it the San Andreas Fault. At A year later, the USGS Earthquake drive toward seismic safety standards for Science Applications, recalls how every- the time he didn’t realize the small fault Hazards Program was established to carry nuclear reactors helped improve seismic one felt that muscle and brains could was part of a vast system of faults along out the mandates of NEHRP. The USGS, hazard analyses, particularly in the east- make it happen, but even now, 40 years the western edge of California. After the with the most extensive seismic monitor- ern part of the United States. later, earthquake prediction remains the great San Francisco earthquake, scien- ing and response system in the nation, “Holy Grail” of seismology. tific research revealed its true extent and The Great Alaska Earthquake joined forces with other agencies and uni- scientists began speculating that energy Consolidation of Earthquake versities to advance understanding of the building up along these fissures eventu- The biggest boost in earthquake aware- Studies causes and effects of earthquakes. Work ally released and shook the earth. ness in the United States occurred in the also began in conjunction with emer- In the 1950s, a permanent USGS site aftermath of the great Alaskan earthquake The U.S. Coastal and Geodetic gency-response agencies to address public in seismically-active California was es- of 1964. This magnitude-9.2 earthquake Survey, part of the National Oceanic and safety and hazards mitigation. tablished in Menlo Park, 30 miles south killed 15 people in Alaska and spawned Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), of San Francisco. Its focus was primarily a tsunami that took more than 100 lives had been involved since 1900 in earth- The Loma Prieta Earthquake geologic and topographic mapping; but along the Pacific Coast from Alaska quake monitoring and research. By 1972, seismology was beginning to take root to California. a network of nearly 600 strong-motion In 1989, the magnitude-6.9 Loma Prieta with little fanfare and little funding. Two seismographs was installed through- earthquake caused significant damage in events soon propelled seismology into the out the United States and Central and an extended area around San Francisco. national spotlight, one was due to the na- South America. In 1973, the U.S. Coastal “I remember answering more than ture of human relations and the other to and Geodetic Survey was merged with 2,000 phone calls in the week after the the dynamic nature of the Earth. USGS seismological studies. The U.S. Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989,” says Coastal and Geodetic Survey’s National Earthquake Hazards Program assistant The Nuclear Connection Earthquake Information Center, in Joyce Costello, who has been with the USGS earthquake program for 33 years. Scientist emeritus John Filson, a for- Golden, Colo., was transferred to the “Callers wanted to know if this was ‘the mer chief of the Earthquake Hazards USGS. [See page 14.] big one’ — an earthquake equal to or Program, recalls that early advancements National Earthquake Hazards greater than the 1906 San Francisco in the field of seismology were closely tied Reduction Program earthquake. It wasn’t.” to nuclear energy, both in monitoring A curious bit of wisdom from Loma nuclear arms testing and in developing The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, re- Prieta was the increased awareness that seismic safety standards for nuclear reac- ferred to as the Stafford Act, gave the emergency responders can also be im- tors. To avoid global catastrophe from ra- USGS authority to issue geologic-related mobilized in an earthquake. In some dioactive contamination, a treaty prohib- hazard warnings — including earthquakes cases, firehouses had been shaken off iting nuclear testing in the atmosphere, in — with the caveat that “predictions of the kilter with their doors jammed shut and outer space and underwater, was signed precise location, time and magnitude of trucks trapped inside. Hazards emphasis in 1963. However, it did not prohibit specific earthquakes cannot generally be By placing instrumentation far beneath the shifted from predicting the occurrence of underground testing. made now.” It did allow that broad-scale Earth’s surface, the San Andreas Fault earthquakes to predicting and mitigating As a result, the Department of Defense Observatory at Depth marks a major advance estimates of earthquake susceptibility began to support a broad-based program in the pursuit of understanding earthquakes. were available for various regions of the their effects. in basic and applied seismic research. United States, principally California. Advanced National Seismic This program included the development The next year, the USGS Center for As a result of this legislation, the USGS System of the Worldwide Standardized Seismo- Earthquake Research was established in National Seismic Hazards Mapping graph Network. During the 1960s, data Menlo Park, hailed as one of the largest Project sprang to life, providing connec- In 1997, Congress reauthorized from this network was used to establish centers for study of the earth sciences tions between earthquake research and NEHRP with a specific request for de- the theory of plate tectonics, an essen- in the world. Scientists became crusad- hazards mitigation. Hazard maps have velopment of a “real-time seismic hazard tial element of modern understanding of ers with a quest: earthquake prediction. become the basis for the seismic sec- warning system.” This paved the way for 12 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 development of the Advanced National Seismic System. entifi c basis for assessing earthquake hazards and pre- [See page 22.] Begun in 2000, the system has helped in- dicting earthquakes. This work ties in with the National tegrate, modernize, and expand earthquake monitoring Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program’s efforts to pro- and notifi cation nationwide. tect lives and property from earthquake hazards. Parkfi eld Prediction The Future

Between 1857 and 1966, six magnitude-6.0 earthquakes “Short-term prediction is still in the future,” says occurred at intervals of approximately 22 years along the Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic San Andreas Fault near Parkfi eld, Calif. In 1985, USGS Hazards David Applegate, “but we are making great scientists took advantage of the seeming regularity of strides at minimizing loss of life and property right now these earthquakes and set up extensive research instru- by providing assessments of hazard zones and deliver- mentation in the area. They boldly predicted the next ing rapid post-event information for fi rst responders and sizable earthquake would occur in 1988, 22 years after USGS Senior Advisor for Science Applications Jim Devine emergency managers.” the last one. Instead, it arrived in September 2004, after recalls that improvements in earthquake monitoring and The USGS continues to improve existing earthquake providing a wealth of valuable research data. advances in seismology and geomagnetism made the 1950s monitoring, assessment and research activities with the and 1960s a very exciting time for scientists. “Nothing has In 2004, the USGS and the National Science matched it since,” he says. ultimate goal of providing the nation with a new gen- Foundation, as part of the EarthScope science initia- eration of earthquake products to improve earthquake tive, went even further and began drilling a deep hole position and mechanical properties of rocks in the fault mitigation and response. On the horizon is an exten- to install instruments directly within the San Andreas zone, the nature of stresses responsible for earthquakes, sive, coordinated seismic-monitoring network that will Fault near the point of the previous magnitude-6.0 earth- the role of fl uids in controlling faulting and earthquake instantly register ground motion and signal an alarm if quakes, forming the San Andreas Fault Observatory at recurrence, and the physics of earthquake initiation and an earthquake occurs near a populated area — automati- Depth (SAFOD). rupture. By observing earthquakes “up close,” SAFOD cally opening the fi rehouse doors seconds or minutes be- SAFOD is providing direct information on the com- marks a major advance in the pursuit of a rigorous sci- fore the tremblors arrive.

way they can understand it — to get the message to the vast majority. When there’s an earthquake, people are frightened. If you relate the information to them so that “Mr. Earthquake” they understand, they calm down.” Behind the public view, Person has some histori- cal feats to boast. He marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and has been coined the nation’s fi rst Takes a Bow black earthquake seismologist. “I’ve learned a lot along the way,” said Person. “And the path hasn’t always been kind.” He feels lucky to be a noticeable face to younger generations and to have the opportunity to persuade minority students to pursue science. Thus, Person will continue educating this demographic about seismol- ogy through speaking at inner-city classrooms. Last year, U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez (Colo.) recog- nized Person’s 50 years of government service at a ceremony honoring his career. “You want economic advice, you go to Alan Greenspan. You want to know anything about seismic activity, you see if you can get Waverly Person on the line,” said Rep. Beauprez in a Denver Post article com- memorating Person’s 50th anniversary. Waverly Person uses the technology of the day to locate earthquakes. So who will fi ll Person’s shoes? “Waverly is a hard act to follow — not only be- cause of his calm under fi re, but also his incredible By David Hebert and Heidi Koontz In the lobby of the Commerce Building in encyclopedic mind for earthquake history,” said Jill Washington, D.C., was a seismograph; and the ink McCarthy, director of the USGS Geologic Hazards fter 51 years of educating audiences used to create seismograms was spilled everywhere Team in Golden, Colo. “For the past few years, we’ve around the globe about earthquakes, because of the machine’s drastic response to the huge been training other scientists to deal with media inqui- USGS scientist Waverly Person called quake. The lobby was full of curious people, some with ries, and we’ve been developing earthquake databases it quits on Feb. 3, 2006. Person is well microphones and cameras, asking questions about the and computer programs that attempt to replicate what known among media circles as the person situation. Person saw what was happening and told his Waverly knows intuitively from decades of hands-on Ato call when an earthquake happens anywhere in the supervisor, “Somebody needs to talk to those people.” experience. Even still, we realize that things just won’t world. Known by many as “Mr. Earthquake,” he is a “Well, there’s nobody else here,” the supervisor be the same without Waverly.” fi xture both in classrooms and on television sets. responded. “You’ve got to talk to them.” And they haven’t been. Before becoming a government scientist, he served And that’s exactly what he did. Media, citizens, “People still call and ask to talk with Waverly about in both World War II and the Korean War with the students — anyone who asked a question about earth- rumblings they’ve felt,” said John Bellini, a geophysi- U.S. Army. He then took his bachelor’s in mathe- quakes, he answered. Some notable names of inquirers cist who was hired by Person 7 years ago. “We tell them matics to a position as a science technician with the over the years include Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and he’s retired, and a bit of shock ensues.” Department of Commerce, which oversaw federal seis- Matt Lauer. Person, a long-time Boulder, Colo., resident, and his mic monitoring in the 1950s. Of course, Person is a natural when it comes to wife, Sarah, plan to enjoy each other’s company and Person was literally thrown in front of the media spot- talking to people. travel around the country to visit family. And since he is light in 1964 following the magnitude-9.2 earthquake “It’s one of the things I enjoy most of all,” he says. now a scientist emeritus, you might just see him in the that hit Anchorage, Alaska. “I’ve always tried to put news to the general public in a background the next time a “big one” hits.

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 13 Photo courtesy California Historical Society The World’s Source for Earthquake Information The USGS National Earthquake Information Center By George Choy and Heather Friesen was painfully evident in the aftermath impact of an earthquake. of the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake The Community Internet Intensity he USGS National in late December 2004. In order to de- Map (or “Did You Feel It?”) project col- Earthquake Information termine the location and magnitude of lects information about ground shak- Center (NEIC) is responsi- significant earthquakes as rapidly and ing following significant earthquakes. ble for the comprehensive accurately as possible, NEIC implement- Persons who experience an earthquake monitoring and reporting ed round-the-clock-on-site staffing in can go online to share information about Tof earthquake activity for our nation and January 2006. This was complemented its effects. A Community Internet Intensity the world. Nearly 30,000 worldwide earth- with a state-of-the-art processing system Map is then generated and automatically quakes are located each year by NEIC. that became fully operational in March updated with real-time data from these Rapid reports are issued for those earth- 2006. This new seismic-event processing first-hand accounts. [See page 33]. After quakes that register at least a magnitude system identifies, locates and measures A new system, the Prompt Assessment 4.5 in the United States, a magnitude 6.5 the size of earthquakes with unprecedented of Global Earthquakes for Response devastating anywhere else in the world or any magni- speed and accuracy. (PAGER), is being designed to estimate tude if the earthquake is known to have earthquakes, caused damage. “ This information is communicated like the 2004 to federal and state government agen- cies that are responsible for emergency Sumatra response, to government public informa- tion channels, to national and internation- earthquake al news media, to scientific groups and to private citizens who request information. and When a damaging earthquake occurs in a foreign country, the earthquake informa- subsequent tion is passed to the staffs of the American embassies and consulates in the affected tsunami, countries and to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs. as well as NEIC has come a long way since its beginnings in 1966 in Rockville, Left to right: U.S. Congressman Bob Beauprez listens to NEIC director Harley Benz describe other natural Md., as part of the National Ocean new earthquake technology. Joan Fitzpatrick, Linda Pratt and Jill McCarthy observe. Survey of the Department of Commerce. hazards in Before 1966, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic “After devastating earthquakes, like the damage from major earthquakes world- Survey, a forerunner of the National 2004 Sumatra earthquake and subsequent wide based on estimates of people and recent times, Ocean Survey, had coordinated the tsunami, as well as other natural hazards property exposed to potentially damag- collection of seismological data in the in recent times, society calls for immedi- ing levels of ground motion. The system society United States. In 1972, the NEIC was ate information, and the new manned promises to be a significant tool for emer- transferred to Boulder, Colo., and in the 24/7 operation at the USGS NEIC helps gency relief organizations such as the U.S. calls for following year, it was made part of the do this,” said P. Patrick Leahy, USGS. Agency for International Development. USGS. NEIC was moved again in 1974 It took an hour to process the informa- PAGER information will also be available immediate to its present location in Golden, Colo. tion about the December 2004 Sumatra to scientists and the public. In the 1960s, NEIC received most of earthquake. With the new system, it will A new earthquake notification service

information, its data from analog stations via telegraph take 12 to 13 minutes to process the same sends out earthquake alerts to subscribers or telephone circuits. It could take sev- information. The immediate transmis- via e-mail. With the new service, users can and the new eral days for the location and magnitude sion of this information to cooperative customize the contents of the alerts they

of an earthquake to be finalized. Today, agencies such as tsunami warning centers receive. For instance, they may define re- manned 24/7 NEIC receives more than 1,000 channels is critical. Previously, there were 25,000 gions of interest, set magnitude thresholds, of digital waveform data in real time from contacts to notify; now the list is up to specify time periods such as day and night, operation “ approximately 475 digital seismic stations 54,000, and the demand for rapid notifi- opt for “Aftershock Exclusion,” and enter worldwide using dedicated satellite cir- cation keeps growing. various notification addresses. Anyone can at the USGS cuits and Internet links. For the largest “We are improving all the time,” said subscribe to the notification service. events, locations and magnitudes are de- Harley Benz, director of the NEIC. “The “The USGS Earthquake Hazards NEIC helps termined in minutes. While NEIC once new systems are more robust, accurate Program Web site allows Internet users to provided only the basic information on and contain new information critical find the information they need,” said Lisa do this. the location and size of the earthquake, for emergency-response applications. Wald, USGS geophysicist and Webmaster it now provides information on the extent We’re essentially replacing 20-year-old at the NEIC. of the affected area, on the location and technology.” The Web site receives more than one degree of damage potential and on the Location and magnitude, the staples of million hits per day. All products of the — P. Patrick Leahy tectonic and historical context. earthquake reporting, are now being sup- NEIC are available to the public via the The urgency for assessing the extent plemented by information equally impor- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Web of natural disasters as quickly as possible tant to describing and understanding the site, http://earthquake.usgs.gov. 14 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 Thinking Globally but Guiding the Local Message for the 1906 Centennial Photo courtesy California Historical Society

By Stephanie Hanna earthquake will occur in this region and Macelwane Award for signifi cant contri- what additional risk and damage might butions to the geophysical sciences by a s the pace of events builds occur from a similar magnitude earth- young scientist of outstanding ability. toward a crescendo on quake that begins either south or north When asked what draws her from April 18, 2006, for the of this area and “steps over” to devastate research to her dedication to public Centennial of the Great San areas further along the San Andreas outreach on earthquake hazards and Francisco Earthquake, Mary Fault. preparedness, Zoback said, “I think it’s ALou Zoback’s work week extends into the Early in her career with USGS, Zoback my personality. When I see problems, I weekend and often well into the evening. headed the International Lithosphere want them to be fi xed. The study of geol- She is currently regional coordinator for Program’s World Stress Map Project. A ogy and geophysics shows us that earth- the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program team of 40 scientists from 30 countries quakes are not random events and that in Northern California and chairs the focused on compiling, standardizing they will happen again where they have steering committee of federal, state, local data collection and interpreting geologic happened before, so we must help society and private partners making up the 1906 and geophysical data on the modern-day be prepared.” Centennial Alliance. In this role, Zoback stress fi eld. Working by telex and fax be- Zoback was instrumental in the rede- routinely fi elds calls and conducts inter- tween 1986 and 1992, before the advent sign and recent publication of “Putting views with the news media, speaks at up of the Internet, the team made impor- Down Roots in Earthquake Country to four public events per week, attends “It’s important to view the 1906 Centennial tant discoveries about stresses acting in — Your Handbook for the San Francisco multiple meetings and recruits new part- as an incredible, teachable moment,” says USGS senior research scientist the interior of the Earth’s tectonic plates Bay Region,” an earthquake prepared- ners to assist in the funding and distribu- Mary Lou Zoback. and producing earthquakes. In recogni- ness guide. This publication by USGS tion of new and important products for tion of the signifi cance of this and other and 11 other partners was published in fi rst responders, decision makers and an Hazards Team in Menlo Park, Calif. Her work, Zoback was elected to the National September 2005 and has already reached interested public. primary research interest is the relation- Academy of Sciences in 1995. She is cur- nearly a million people and is expected to “It’s important to view the 1906 ship between earthquakes and stress in rently the only USGS member of the be translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, Centennial as an incredible, teachable the Earth’s crust. Areas of recent study NAS and also serves as a member of the Cambodian and Chinese during 2006. moment,” Zoback explained. “Living in include the San Andreas Fault system, NAS Council. [See page 34.] California, we see huge vulnerabilities the Basin and Range area of the western Zoback joined USGS in 1978 after Zoback is married to a fellow geo- from earthquakes, both to individuals and United States and intraplate regions such receiving her Ph.D. in geophysics from physicist, Mark Zoback, a professor at to society. The high probability of large, as the central and eastern United States. Stanford University. From 1999 to 2002, Stanford University and principal inves- devastating urban earthquakes exposes so- After the Centennial commemoration she was chief scientist of the Northern tigator on the National Science Founda- ciety to enormous vulnerabilities. So the in April, Zoback plans to return full time California Earthquake Hazards Program. tion San Andreas Fault Observatory at 1906 Centennial becomes an invaluable to her research. Her current research in- Zoback has served on numerous national Depth (SAFOD) project. The Zobacks opportunity to remind people, ‘It will hap- terest is in understanding the deformation committees and panels on topics ranging have a grown son and daughter and are pen here,’ and to encourage citizens to caused by active fault systems such as that from continental dynamics and storage residents of Stanford. Combining their push their communities and governments associated with the epicenter of the 1906 of high-level radioactive waste to science love of adventure and common interest to help them prepare. The Hurricane earthquake. The geologic evidence and education. She is active in several profes- in geology, they recently climbed Mount Katrina disaster, unfortunately, empha- persistent small earthquakes indicate that sional societies and served as the presi- Kilimanjaro in Africa, went trekking in sizes that we have to be proactive.” in this region, the Earth’s crust is pull- dent of the Geological Society of America Bhutan and are planning to climb to Zoback is a senior research scientist ing apart. She would like to determine from 2000 to 2001. In 1987, she received Macchu Pichu in Peru after the 1906 with the USGS Western Earthquake the likelihood that the next big Bay Area the American Geophysical Union’s Centennial activities subside. April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 15 Chain Reaction: Earthquakes that Trigger Other Natural Hazards

Compiled by Diane Noserale and Tania Larson volcanic eruptions. concave structure called a “caldera.” These structures are Scientists have known that movement of magma often found around the world. Yellowstone and Crater Lake fi re destroys much of a major city. The side triggers earthquakes, but they are discovering that this are two examples in the United States. Research shows of a mountain collapses and then explodes. relationship may also work in reverse. Scientists are look- that activity at calderas often occurred within months or A train of waves sweeps away coastal vil- ing at earthquakes that meet very specifi c criteria: a mag- even hours of large regional earthquakes, sometimes as lages over thousands of miles. All of these nitude of 6 or higher; a location on major fault zones a precursor to the earthquakes and sometimes as a result events are disasters that have started with near a volcano; and a later eruption of a nearby volcano. of them. Aor been triggered by an earthquake. Some of the triggers They are fi nding evidence that these earthquakes might were among the largest earthquakes ever recorded. But have triggered the eruptions. Landslides the disasters that followed were often so large that the In the early morning of Nov. 29, 1975, a magnitude- Heavy rain, wildfi res, volcanic eruptions and human earthquakes were overshadowed, and so, we hear about 7.2 earthquake struck the Big Island of Hawaii. Less than activity often work together to cause landslides. In hilly the eruption of Mount St. Helens; devastating landslides 45 minutes later, Kilauea Volcano starting erupting. That terrain, earthquakes can easily cause landslides, and in Washington and Pakistan; and tsunamis in Chile, eruption ended after about 17 hours. The small volume these landslides are often more destructive than the Japan and the Indian Ocean. To understand these events, of magma and brief duration suggest that the eruption triggering event. we need to remember the earthquakes. was triggered by the earthquake. In 1964, the magnitude-9.2 earthquake that violently Tsunamis shook southern Alaska also induced huge landslides throughout Anchorage, including the downtown busi- On Dec. 26, 2004, an earthquake ruptured an 800- ness district. The 1994 Northridge earthquake trig- mile length of the sea fl oor from northern Sumatra to gered more than 10,000 landslides in the hills around the Andaman Islands. A monstrous series of waves rolled Los Angeles. across the Indian Ocean. Together, the earthquake and On May 18, 1980, a magnitude-5.1 earthquake trig- tsunami took more than 200,000 lives in 11 countries. gered the collapse of the north fl ank of Mount St. In 1960, the largest earthquake ever recorded, a mag- Helens, resulting in the largest landslide ever recorded. nitude-9.5, hit Chile. Many survived the earthquake, Debris raced down the mountain at speeds in excess of only to perish in the tsunami that followed. The lead- 180 miles per hour. Within about 10 minutes, enough ing wave hit Hawaii in 15 hours. It struck Japan nearly debris to fi ll 250 million dump trucks traveled up to 24 hours after the earthquake. More than 2,000 people 14 miles down the valley, destroying buildings, bridges were killed in Chile, 61 in Hawaii and 138 in Japan. and many miles of highway. The debris dammed the Hawaii reported $75 million in damage (1960 dol- North Fork Toutle River and its tributaries and posed lars), Japan $50 million. In the Philippines, 32 people hazards to downstream communities because of the pos- were killed or missing, and the United States suffered In January 1700, a mysterious tsunami hit Japan without the sible failure of the dams and catastrophic fl ooding. With $500,000 in damage. warning that a nearby earthquake usually provides. Nearly an earthquake, a massive landslide, a volcanic blast and Hundreds of years earlier, on January 26, 1700, three centuries later, discoveries in North America revealed its fl ooding — Mount St. Helens was truly a multi-hazard America’s Pacifi c Northwest was unknown to most of source. The evidence tells of a catastrophe that helps guide disaster. preparations for future earthquakes and tsunamis in the United the world — a blank spot on maps of that time. Beneath States and Canada. Read the scientifi c detective story in “The The Clear Case for Multi-Hazard Science the shallow waters offshore, an enormous earthquake Orphan Tsunami of 1700.” unleashed, sending a series of waves that would engulf From the 1700 orphan tsunami to the 1991 Mount the Pacifi c Ocean. About 10 hours after the earthquake, This was not the fi rst eruption on Hawaii that appears Pinatubo eruption, these examples show that, to be truly the tsunami’s leading wave reached Japan. The waters to have been triggered by an earthquake. Other scientists understood, hazards cannot be studied in isolation. By swept away houses, fl ooded fi elds and inundated crops, have linked Hawaii’s largest historic earthquake, estimat- developing a better understanding of how one hazard frightening villagers with a disaster that seemed to have ed to have a magnitude of at least 7.5, in 1868 to a small event has triggered others in the past, we are working come from nowhere. That this tsunami had been trig- eruption from Kilauea. to identify potential hazards before they become multi- gered by an earthquake off the West Coast of North On June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the northern hazard disasters. America would remain unknown until the 1990s, when Philippines exploded, sending a column of ash into the The USGS, along with numerous partners, carries out the link was established through a combination of North atmosphere. About 11 months earlier, a magnitude-7.8 research and monitoring designed to reduce losses from American geology and Japanese historical research. earthquake had struck about 60 miles from the volcano. future hazards. From improving building codes to iden- Volcanoes Scientists from the USGS and the Philippine Institute of tifying hazard zones and evacuation routes, integrated Volcanology and Seismology have found that these two science can provide emergency managers with the in- Volcanoes produce a variety of hazards — hot-ash events were related. According to the study, compres- formation they need to continue to make America safer and mudfl ows, landslides, tsunamis, lava fl ows and vol- sion from the earthquake might have squeezed a small from natural hazards. After the tragic events of 2004 and canic gases. And quite often, small-to-moderate earth- volume of magma into the volcano’s reservoir. Strong 2005, scientists have redoubled their efforts to help the quakes serve as a warning of an impending eruption. ground shaking might have also compressed the reser- public learn how to recognize the danger and survive Volcanoes erupt when hot, liquid rock, called “magma,” voir or triggered movement along previously stressed natural hazard events. These hazards will always be with moves upward through cracks in the Earth’s surface. faults that allowed magma to ascend into the volcano. us, but by examining both individual hazards and how This motion, and the building up of pressure, generates Following a massive eruption, a volcano can col- they relate to one another, scientists are building a bigger volcanic earthquakes. Monitoring volcanoes for these lapse, as the empty magma chamber cannot support picture and a better understanding that is helping to save tremors has proven a powerful tool in the prediction of the weight of the material above. The result is a large, lives and property.

16 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 This Dynamic Planet — Special Poster Pullout This Dynamic Planet The following pages are a special poster pullout featuring the front of the USGS map, “This Dynamic Planet.”

About “This Dynamic Planet” ing to illustrate how its present surface came to be. This map shows many of the features that have shaped The map is designed to show the most prominent — and continue to change — our dynamic planet. Most features when viewed from a distance, and more de- new crust forms at ocean ridge crests, is carried slowly tailed features upon closer inspection. The back of the away by plate movement, and is ultimately recycled deep actual “This Dynamic Planet” map zooms in further, into the earth — causing earthquakes and volcanism highlighting examples of fundamental features, while along the boundaries between moving tectonic plates. providing text, timelines, references and other resources Oceans are continually opening (for example, Red Sea, to enhance understanding of this dynamic planet. Both Atlantic) or closing (for example, Mediterranean). Be- the front and back of the map illustrate the enormous cause continental crust is thicker and less dense than recent growth in our knowledge of planet Earth. Yet, thinner younger oceanic crust, most does not sink deep much remains unknown, particularly about he process- enough to be recycled and remains largely preserved cal change. Over geologic time, continuing plate move- es operating below the ever-shifting plates and the de- on land. Consequently, most continental bedrock is far ments, together with relentless erosion and redeposition tailed geological history during all but the most recent older than the oldest oceanic bedrock. of material, mask or obliterate traces of earlier plate-tec- stage of Earth’s development. The earthquakes and volcanoes that mark plate tonic or impact processes, making the older chapters of boundaries are clearly shown on this map, as are craters Earth’s 4,500-million-year history increasingly difficult The complete and full-sized version of “This Dynamic made by impacts of extraterrestrial objects that punctu- to read. The recent activity shown on this map provides Planet” will be available from the USGS in the sum- ate Earth’s history, causing some catastrophic ecologi- only a present-day snapshot of Earth’s long history, help- mer of 2006.

Legend Plate motion — Data from Rice University Global Tectonics Group. Length of arrows is proportional to plate velocity, in millimeters per year. These ap- Volcanoes — Data from Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution, Wash- proximate rates and directions are calculated from angular velocities with ington, D.C.; accessed at http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/summary.cfm, respect to hotspots, assumed to be relatively fixed in the mantle (see plate March 16, 2005 motion calculator at http://tectonics.rice.edu/hs3.html). Erupted A.D. 1900 through 2003 Erupted A.D. 1 through 1899 Plate convergence — More accurately known than “absolute” plate motion, Erupted in Holocene time (Paste 10,000 years), but no known eruptions convergence data are shown by arrows of uniform length showing direction since A.D. 1 and speed, in millimeters per year relative to the plate across the boundary. Uncertain Holocene activity and fumarolic activity Data from Charles DeMets (University of Wisconsin at Madison, written com- mun., 2003) and Bird 2003) Impact Craters — Data from University of New Brunswick, Planetary and Space Science Centre, Earth Impact Database; accessed at http://www.unb.ca/ Earthquakes — Data from Engdahl and Villaseñor (2002). From 1900 through passc/ImpactDatabase/. October 23, 2003 (also see Grieve, 1998). Geo- 1963, the data are complete for all earthquakes >6.5 magnitude; from logic age span: 50 years to 2,400 million years. Crater diameter indicated 1964 through 1999, the data are complete for all earthquakes >5.0 magni- below tude. Most location uncertainties <35 km. Eleven more recent major or great <10km earthquakes (magnitude >7.7) have been added for completeness through 10 to 70 km 2004; data from USGS National Earthquake Information Center at http:// >70 km (shown at actual map scale) neic.usgs.gov/, accessed January 4, 2005. An epicenter is the surface lo- cation of the first rupture on an earthquake fault. Symbols shown represent Notable Events — Numbers next to a few symbols — of many thousands shown epicenters. For earthquakes larger than about magnitude 7.0, the size of the — denote especially noteworthy events, keyed to correspondingly numbered rupture zone, which can extend hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter, entries in tables found on the back of the map. These numbered events have is larger than the symbols used on this map produced devastating natural disasters, advanced scientific understanding or piqued popular interest. They remind us that the map’s small symbols may represent large and geologically significant events. Volcanoes Earthquakes I mpact craters

Plate Tectonics Divergent (sea-floor spreading) and transform fault boundaries — Red lines mark spreading centers where most of the world’s volcanism takes place; thickness of lines indicates divergence create, in four velocity ranges. White Earthquakes that occurred from 1750 to 1963 within stable plate interiors number is speed in millimeters per year (mm/yr) from DeMets and others on continents — Data from A.C. Johnston (Center for Earthquake Research (1994). The four spreading-rate ranges are <30 mm/yr; 30-59 mm/yr; 60-90 and Information, University of Memphis, written, commun., 2002). Even mm/yr; and >90 mm/yr. Thin black line marks the plate boundary, whether though these epicenters do not meet the precise location criteria of Engdahl sea-floor spreading center or transform fault. On land, divergent boundaries and Villaseñor (2002), they are plotted here to remind readers of the poten- are commonly diffuse zones; therefore, most are not shown. The only trans- tially hazardous earthquakes that are distant from known plate boundaries. form faults shown on land are those separating named plates. Size of symbol proportional to earthquake magnitude Notable pre-1900 earthquakes — Nos. 1,2,3,6 and 7 April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 17 17.

18 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 19 This Dynamic Planet — Special Poster Pullout

Earthquake Basics The Fundamentals and Terminology of Earthquake Science n earthquake is a sudden tions called seismic waves are gener- son who feels or observes a quake can movement of the Earth’s ated. These waves travel outward from describe its intensity at their location. The crust caused by the abrupt the source of the earthquake along the intensity is an observation of how strongly release of pressure that surface and through the Earth at vary- a shock was felt at a particular location. has accumulated over a ing speeds depending on the material To quantify the effect or intensity of an Along time. The energy it releases can through which they move. The vibra- earthquake, scientists use the Modified be generated by a sudden dislocation tions produced by earthquakes are Mercalli Intensity Scale. While magni- of segments of the crust; by a volcanic detected, recorded and measured by tudes are expressed as Arabic numbers eruption; or by human activities, such as instruments called seismographs. By and in theory have no upper or lower mining, oil extraction and filling reser- responding to the motion of the ground limits, intensity is expressed in Roman voirs. Most destructive earthquakes are surface beneath it, a seismograph cre- numerals I-XII. Evaluation of earthquake caused by dislocations of the crust. The ates a zigzag line called a seismogram intensity can be made only after eyewit- crust may first bend, and then, when the that reflects the changing intensity of ness reports and results of field investiga- stress exceeds the strength of the rocks, the vibrations. From the data expressed tions are studied and interpreted. (Was it break and “snap” to a new position. in seismograms, scientists can estimate barely felt, did it knock dishes off shelves, The Earth is formed of several distinct how much energy was released and de- destroy poorly constructed buildings or Aerial view of the San Andreas Fault slicing destroy almost all buildings?) layers that have very different physical through the Carrizo Plain in the Temblor termine the time, the hypocenter and and chemical properties. The outer Range east of the city of San Luis Obispo, the type of faulting of an earthquake. Although magnitude is an important layer, which averages about 22 miles Calif. Photo: Robert E. Wallace. factor in the effect of an earthquake, in thickness, consists of about a dozen Magnitude verses Intensity earthquakes of large magnitude do not large, irregularly shaped, brittle plates within the crust and are not visible at necessarily cause the most intense surface on top of a pliable inner layer. These the surface, especially where the plates The severity of an earthquake can effects. An earthquake’s destructiveness are colliding with each other. plates are constantly moving, their edg- be expressed in several ways. The depends on many factors: magnitude, The hypocenter of an earthquake is es sliding over, under, away from or past magnitude of an earthquake describes focal depth and local geologic condi- the location beneath the surface where each other. Most earthquakes occur at its size. Most magnitude computation tions, as well as the distance from the the rupture of the fault begins. The the boundaries where the plates meet. procedures (sometimes referred to as the epicenter, the population density, and the epicenter of an earthquake is the loca- All earthquakes occur along faults, Richter scale) measure the amplitude design and construction types of buildings tion directly above the hypocenter on which reflect zones of weakness in the of various seismic waves. The moment and other structures. The combination the surface of the Earth. The focal depth Earth’s crust. A fault is a fracture in the magnitude is a measure of the physical of these factors is often what determines of an earthquake is the depth from the Earth’s crust where two blocks of the dimensions of the zone that ruptured in the difference between slight damage Earth’s surface to the hypocenter. The crust have slipped with respect to each the earthquake (i.e., the area of the fault and catastrophe. location of an earthquake is commonly other. Even if a fault zone has recently that ruptured) times the amount of offset, described by the geographic position of experienced an earthquake, there is no and that too can be estimated from data Compiled by Steve Vandas with assis- its epicenter and by its focal depth. guarantee that all the pressure has been processed by modern seismographs. [See tance from Diane Noserale. Much of the relieved. Another earthquake could still Measuring Earthquakes “Measuring Magnitude” page 25.] information was obtained from the USGS occur within a short period of time. In general, each earthquake has one publication “Earthquakes” by Kaye M. Many of the most active faults are deep When an earthquake occurs, vibra- preferred magnitude, but each per- Shedlock and Louis C. Pakiser.

20 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 What it’s Like to be an Earthquake Scientist Talking with USGS Geophysicist Ross Stein By Tania Larson

n a field where the work is criti- cal to saving lives, earthquake sci- entists often operate at a dizzying pace, collaborating with partners around the world as they try to Isolve the many mysteries of the Earth’s processes. And just when they least expect it, they are thrown into the public spot- light, expected to respond to the fear and confusion that inevitably follow natural disasters with answers they may or may not have. It is tough, challenging work; but for most, the rewards of scientific Above, Ross Stein with discovery and knowing that they are giv- Professor Mustafa Erdik at the Bosphorous Univer- ing something back to society make it all sity earthquake engineering worthwhile. shake table. USGS geophysicist Ross Stein sums Above, Ross Stein up his average day with two words: At left, Ross Stein sits in prepares for a flight Istanbul’s Aya Sofya, which “collaborative chaos.” Ostensibly, Stein to film the fault and was the largest domed says, his job is to examine how one earth- the city of Istanbul structure in the world for quake sets up the next, how one earth- for the IMAX/Nation- 600 years. It has sustained al Geographic film quake can promote or inhibit another. In 12 large earthquakes in “Forces of Nature.” 15 centuries, serving as an reality, he does much more. Stein wears a climb- ancient seismometer for “In some ways,” he says, “I’m an entre- ing harness under- earthquake scientists. Built preneur. I have to raise funds, account for neath his jacket so he as a Christian cathedral by can lean out of the them and make sure they are being used Justinian in A.D. 537, helicopter, and the becoming an Islamic mosque responsibly. In some ways, I’m a teacher, chopper’s doors are in 1453 and a secular working with high school, college and removed in order to museum in 1938, it is one of post-doctoral students, making sure they fit the IMAX camera the world’s great religious, learn the trade and take wing. And in inside. architectural and scientific some ways, I’m a student, learning from marvels. my colleagues and trying to do a better job of understanding earthquakes.” Stein is currently working on roughly nuity, but also a balance of knowing when you’re working on or you’ll never discover estly. We have a twin responsibility: to tell half a dozen projects, and his office is to look for a new piece of the puzzle and anything new.” what we know and what we don’t know.” virtually a revolving door as colleagues, when to stick with the piece you are al- “It’s a painful choice,” he admits. “But In times of disaster, there can be a lot post-docs and student interns come and ready working with. if you can’t handle that choice, this isn’t of pressure for information. “When you go with questions, problems and ideas. As Stein points out, however, earth- the field for you.” are least prepared is when you will have One of the joys of the job, Stein says, quake science is peculiar in that it is Although some scientists are happiest to talk to the public,” Stein says. “Fifteen is simply being a research scientist, fol- largely an experimental science, yet working close to home, Stein seems to minutes after an earthquake, there will be lowing his ideas to wherever they lead. earthquake scientists cannot set up their jump at opportunities to cross an ocean. 30 cameras on you. And that’s when you “I have the opportunity to follow my own experiments. Because they do not know This is because he believes international know the least. You have to be honest, hunches, to raise the funds, do the re- when and where earthquakes will occur, efforts are imperative to advancing the clear and straight with people.” search and make it happen — and that’s they do not have the preparation and science. He says, “We’re never going to “We have to play it straight,” Stein my shot,” he says. careful planning afforded to other experi- fully understand earthquakes in the Unit- emphasizes, “not pretend what we don’t One of the challenges, Stein says, is try- mental sciences. It is difficult to have the ed States unless we go to places where know and not hold back what we do ing to figure out the strengths and weak- right equipment set up in the right spot at the earthquakes are big, frequent and know. That’s our contract with the pub- nesses of your ideas, finding competing the right time. well-recorded.” lic. That’s an important element of being ideas and testing them against your own. In earthquake science, opportunities He is currently working on projects a government scientist and one I enjoy Stein makes no bones about the fact that come unexpectedly. “Usually,” Stein says, connected to Japan, Algeria and Turkey. and value.” science research is competitive. Consid- “when you are working frantically to fin- “Japan,” Stein says, “is lush in the qual- At the end of the day, however, it is sci- ering the innate bias of wanting to prove ish up something else.” This creates a di- ity of records.” Algeria and Turkey, on entific discovery that Stein enjoys most your own theories right, he feels the com- lemma. “When they hit,” says Stein, “you the other hand, are more vulnerable. He about being a USGS scientist. He says, petition is healthy. have to make a decision about whether says, “They have numerous earthquakes, “I’m not principally responsible for teach- “There is a competition of ideas,” he to drop what you’re doing to chase some- but their records are not as good. So, in- ing, but for discovery. I am responsible for says. “You need to be constantly survey- thing new, something that could turn out ternational work is some giving and some conducting research, and when we make ing alternatives, examining them for to be a phantom, or stick to what you’re taking. We’re learning in some places and discoveries, for making sure they are pub- strengths and fine tuning your theories. doing and possibly miss the bus for some- offering something back in others.” lished. And I’m happy with that.” It’s a process that is very competitive and thing that could be a new breakthrough.” Communicating to the public is an- This is because, for Stein, discovery is very open.” Stein believes that in order to be suc- other way earthquake scientists give back. the best part of the job. He says, “To dis- Earthquakes are complicated events, cessful, earthquake scientists need to find It is also a big responsibility. “There is a cover something new — that’s the intoxi- and discovering how the pieces fit togeth- a balance. He says, “You can’t always strong connection with the public,” Stein cating part, finding out something about er takes not only collaboration and inge- chase something new or you’ll never says. “They are interested in what we do, how the Earth works. That’s what drives finish. And you can’t always finish what and we have a responsibility to speak hon- all scientists.” April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 21 The Advanced National Seismic System: A Sure Bet for a Shaky Nation

By David Hebert Twenty-six U.S. f you were to learn that in 1886, urban areas, identi- ✩ Proposed ANSS urban networks. fied in the map at The earthquake a major U.S. city was ravaged by hazards map of the a magnitude-7.3 earthquake in right, are at risk of conterminous United significant seismic States shows the ar- which 60 people were killed and eas of highest seismic millions of dollars of damage activity: hazard in red and low- est seismic hazard in Idone, where would you guess it had hap- grey. The stars indicate pened — Los Angeles? San Francisco? Albuquerque, N.M. urban areas where dense urban monitor- Anchorage? Anchorage, Alaska ing networks are Highest hazard proposed. The regional Try Charleston, S.C. Boise, Idaho networks (not shown) In fact, damaging earthquakes have Boston, Mass. will be concentrated rocked several U.S. cities far from Alaska in the areas of highest Charleston, S.C. risk, and the national or California — Boston, Memphis and networks (not shown) Chattanooga- will have sites evenly Salt Lake City, to name a few. Chances Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico Knoxville, Tenn. also have proposed sites. distributed throughout are, they will again, and those at risk need Lowest hazard the country. Eugene- All other sites to be determined to be ready. on a region-by-region basis. Springfield, Ore. That’s where the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) comes in. Evansville, Ind. Provo-Orem, Utah San Francisco-Oakland, Calif. The ANSS is a proposed nationwide Fresno, Calif. earthquake-monitoring system designed Las Vegas, Nev. Reno, Nev. San Juan, P.R. to provide accurate and timely data and Los Angeles, Calif. Sacramento, Calif. Santa Barbara, Calif. information products for seismic events, Memphis, Tenn. St. Louis, Mo. Seattle, Wash. including their effects on buildings New York, N.Y. Salinas, Calif. Stockton-Lodi, Calif. and structures. Portland, Ore. Salt Lake City, Utah “The ultimate goal of the ANSS is to San Diego, Calif. save lives, ensure public safety and re- duce economic losses,” said Bill Leith, a USGS scientist and coordinator of the mean that research and monitoring are Coast in South Carolina, New York and John Ebel, a professor of geophysics at ANSS. “Rapid, accurate information necessary everywhere. Massachusetts. Boston College and northeast coordina- about earthquake location and shak- “When people think of faults and The ANSS, when fully implemented, tor for ANSS implementation, estimates ing, now available in parts of California, earthquakes, they tend to think of the San will integrate all regional and national that damaging earthquakes (magnitude 5 Washington and Utah, is generated by Andreas Fault, but earthquakes in the networks with 7,000 new seismic instru- or greater) happen in New England every data from a dense network of seismic- eastern United States might be different,” ments, including 6,000 strong-motion 50 to 60 years. In 1940, there was a mag- monitoring instruments installed in high- said Eugene Schweig, a USGS geologist sensors in 26 at-risk urban areas. (See nitude-5.5 quake in New England, and risk urban areas. The information has in Memphis, Tenn. “Assuming buildings revolutionized the response time of emer- map for a list of these areas.) the clock is ticking. gency managers to an earthquake in these will shake the same in the East as they do Boston is one of those urban areas “I talk to people all the time who ask, areas, but its success depends on further in California is probably not valid.” — indeed, it has experienced damaging ‘Earthquakes don’t really happen here, deployment of instruments in other vul- ANSS network instruments are already earthquakes before. In 1755, an earth- do they?’ ” Ebel said. “And I answer, ‘Yes, nerable cities across the United States.” at work in many areas and are planned quake centered near Cape Ann, Mass., they do.’ ” Although the frequency of earthquakes for other earthquake-prone regions na- caused building damage and chimney Although the frequency of earth- on the West Coast is higher than other tionwide, including Northern and South- collapses in Boston. The buildup of the quakes is much greater in the West, the areas of the contiguous United States, ern California, the Pacific Northwest, city since then would likely make matters damaging effects of a quake in the East the geologic characteristics nationwide Alaska, Salt Lake City, the New Madrid much worse if such an earthquake were travel farther. Seismic Zone, and along the Atlantic to happen there today. “The 1994 magnitude-6.7 Northridge,

USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride By David Hebert Susan Hough to keep these instruments running for leaps in understanding have invariably the next few months, recording many come after large earthquakes not only USGS scientists from across the Title: Geophysicist/Seismologist thousands of aftershocks. strike but are recorded by increas- ingly sophisticated instrumentation. country have been part of many in- Location: Pasadena, Calif. On the morning of June 28, 1992, the magnitude-7.3 Landers earthquake struck Earthquakes do not, however, record credible and memorable earthquake Length of service with the USGS: 14 just to the north of where the Joshua themselves. Long- and short-term moni- years experiences. With that in mind, sev- Tree event had occurred. The portable toring requires ingenuity and commit- eral of them were asked, “What has In April of 1992, less than two months seismometers — instruments developed ment. The USGS has taken a leadership role with such efforts in the United States been your proudest, most exciting after joining the USGS office in Pasadena, by the USGS in Menlo Park — operated Calif., I led the deployment of portable faithfully, recording invaluable close-in for nearly half a century. Looking back at or most noteworthy moment in seismometers after the magnitude-6.1 seismograms of the largest earthquake in my own career, I am proud of any number USGS earthquake science?” “Joshua Tree” earthquake struck the California in 40 years. of accomplishments, but none more than Southern California desert near Palm the chance to contribute in a modest way Now, as in 1906, seismology remains a The answers are as different as the Springs. My colleagues and I were able to this tradition of excellence. scientists themselves. data-driven science: Our most important

22 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 Calif., earthquake was not felt in San the need for a consolidated, coopera- earthquake research and monitoring and felt the earthquake. [See page 33.] Francisco, less than 400 miles away,” tive approach to information gathering it has expertise in house.” • ShakeMap – A rapidly generated Ebel said. “If that same earthquake hap- and mitigation. The USGS is the only agency in the computer map that shows the location, pened in Boston, it would be felt in “The ANSS is working toward develop- United States responsible for the routine severity and extent of strong ground shak- Minneapolis-St. Paul, more than 1,000 ment and implementation of integrated monitoring and notification of earth- ing within minutes after an earthquake. miles away. There is potential for several software and human resources to more ef- quakes. The USGS fulfills this role by Fast information on strong shaking in ur- metropolitan areas to be damaged by a fectively use these with existing hardware operating the U.S. National Seismo- ban areas helps get emergency response single, large earthquake in the East.” resources to provide timely and valuable graph Network, the National Earthquake to the right places. In 1811 and 1812, a series of earth- information to the public,” Withers said. Information Center, the National Strong • Hazard Maps – Hazard maps identify quakes, ranging in estimated magnitude Timely and valuable information is Motion Program and by supporting 14 re- the areas of the country that are mostly from 7.5 to 8.0, started near New Madrid, a key ingredient to effective mitigation. gional networks in areas of moderate to likely to experience strong shaking in the Mo., and shook cities from St. Louis to A possibility USGS scientists have been high seismic activity. All of these efforts future. ZIP code or latitude-longitude are being integrated into the ANSS. Cincinnati. Although the probability for keenly aware of throughout the develop- lookup is available. [See pages 26, 30, 31.] “The ANSS contributes to the infra- another 1811/1812-type sequence in the ment of ANSS is that an early warning • Earthquake Notification – Automat- structure that enables monitoring to be ed notifications of earthquakes are avail- next 50 years is 7 to 10 percent, the prob- of even a few seconds would give school- much more cooperative and integrated, able through e-mail, pager or cell phone. ability for a magnitude-6 or greater during children enough time to get under their allowing information to the public that This provides rapid information and up- that same period is 25 to 40 percent. desks and would allow managers time to combines data from all regional partners,” dates to first responders and resources for “Based on paleoseismic work, we know stop trains and subways, shut off pipelines Withers said. media and local government. that 1811- and 1812-like events have hap- and suspend medical procedures. The goal of USGS earthquake moni- • Earthquake Catalog and Data – pened two or three times in the past,” These sorts of warnings can only be Users can search an online catalog and said Mitch Withers, seismic networks download information and technical director at the Center for Earthquake data.

Research and Information at the Univer- • Real-time Waveforms – Real-time sity of Memphis. “So we know it’s not a The ultimate goal of the waveform displays from 60 stations, show- fluke and that they tend to come in se- “ ing the movement of seismic waves, are quences, where there are several events ANSS is to save lives, ensure available online 24 hours a day. clustered together in time. From a haz- • Regional Earthquake Info – Infor- ard and recovery point of view, it’s much “ mation about earthquake hazards, histori- more difficult if we have several in a row public safety and reduce cal seismicity, faults and more is available like that.” for different regions of the country and Earthquake hazard concerns stretch to economic losses. by state. the Mountain States as well, where sev- • Movies of Structures Shaking eral earthquakes since 1935 have caused – These are Quicktime movies created more than 30 deaths in Idaho, Montana — Bill Leith from the recordings of fully instrumented and Wyoming. The threat of such a structures during earthquakes. quake happening in a mountain urban “USGS and ANSS support allows for area means preparation and monitoring accomplished through national coopera- toring is to mitigate risk — using better much better monitoring than we would instruments to understand the damage are vital in at-risk locations such as Salt tion, so a nationwide network of science otherwise have,” Withers said. “By making caused by shaking and to help engineers Lake City. and civic partners is working to make the use of ANSS tools, we are able to provide create stronger and sounder structures “We haven’t had our 1906 earthquake ANSS a reality. rapid notification, recent earthquakes, that ensure vital infrastructures, utility, in Utah yet, but our partnership with “The USGS and its regional part- ShakeMap, real-time data exchange, water and communication networks can technical expertise exchange, etc.” the USGS under the ANSS has made us ners combine resources to augment keep operating safely and efficiently. feel much better prepared to deal with it ANSS-funded stations to operate regional Rapid and reliable information on the The ANSS comprises several products location, magnitude and effects of an when it happens,” said Gary Christenson, seismic networks,” Withers said. that work to engage and inform the pub- a geologist and manager of the Geologic These partners include state geological earthquake is needed to guide emergency lic, emergency managers and decision response, save lives, reduce economic Hazards Program at the Utah Geological surveys, university researchers, emergen- makers: losses and speed recovery. ANSS can of- Survey. “The USGS has been a partner cy managers, engineering organizations • Recent Earthquakes — Automatic fer these benefits if resources and efforts in earthquake monitoring in Utah from and more. The USGS works to unify maps and event information are avail- are continuously devoted to it. the beginning, and implementation of perspectives and efforts to create a sin- able within minutes online at the USGS “These things play out over decades to the ANSS has been a major achievement gle, national force with which to address Earthquake Hazards Program Web site, hundreds to thousands of years, so imple- in improving preparedness, response and earthquake concerns and provide timely which displays earthquake locations mentations and improvements have to scientific/engineering data gathering.” information. nationwide. be done year in and year out,” Ebel said. The variety of earthquake hazard con- “To have the USGS as overseer and co- • Did You Feel It? – This is a citizen “ANSS is a down-payment investment on cerns that are both unique to and shared ordinator of the ANSS makes sense,” Ebel science Web page where shaking inten- future earthquake monitoring.” by urban areas nationwide illustrates said. “The USGS is nationally involved in sity maps are created by the people who USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride Roberto J. Anima — these communities need to be made aware Ken Rukstales of the potential hazards that surround us and Title: Geologist them. As part of these assumed duties, I have Title: IT Specialist also helped in translating two fact sheets Location: Menlo Park, Calif. concerning earthquakes and tsunamis. Location: Golden, Colo. Length of service with the USGS: 33 years In 2001, I was asked to be part of the Tsunami Length of service with the USGS: 21 years For the past six or seven years, I have had the Response Team that was invited to Peru in Along with Art Frankel and E.V. Leyendecker, we opportunity to report, both locally and interna- response to a series of tsunamis that occurred have produced seismic building-design maps that tionally, to the Spanish-speaking public on both along the coast of Camana, Peru, as a result of are the basis for the seismic design provisions of the television and radio, about earthquakes, tsuna- a magnitude-8.4 earthquake off the coast of International Building Code and the International Res- mis and other natural disasters. I feel that this southern Peru. The study focused on tsunami idential Code. These maps are the most significant is important because much of the information deposits on the beaches between Ocoña and product to ensure that buildings, bridges and other reported in English was not being reported to Mejia, Peru. I am currently working on mapping structures are designed to withstand expected levels the Spanish-speaking community. Because we the rift valley of the San Andreas Fault, Tomales of ground shaking caused by earthquakes. Properly live in an earthquake-prone area — the entire Bay. I am also mapping the continental shelf designed, earthquake-resistant structures greatly re- West Coast of North, Central and South America along the central California coast. duce the loss of life and property from earthquakes.

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 23 Taking it all in Slide — How the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Survived a Big One Compiled by Heather Friesen Pipeline and storage tank construction at Valdez began in 1975. Large segments of the he Nov. 3, 2002, magni- Trans-Alaska Pipeline were elevated above tude-7.9 central Alaska earth- ground to keep the permafrost from melting, quake was one of the larg- and about half of the 800-mile pipeline was est recorded earthquakes buried. A special fault design was adopted for in our nation’s history. The crossing the Denali Fault Zone. Here the pipe- Tepicenter of the temblor was located near line is supported by rails on which it can slide Denali National Park, approximately 75 miles freely in the event of fault offset. In mid-1977, south of Fairbanks and 176 miles north of the first tanker shipped Alaska north slope oil Anchorage. It caused countless landslides and from Valdez. road closures, but minimal structural damage, More than 14 billion barrels (nearly 550 bil- and amazingly, few injuries and no deaths. lion gallons) have moved through the pipeline In contrast, the 1906 magnitude-7.9 earth- since startup in 1977. After the 2002 quake, quake and subsequent fires took 3,000 lives the pipeline continued to carry 1 million bar- and caused $524 million in property losses. rels of oil each day, though it was temporarily The remote location of the magnitude-7.9 shut down for inspection. With the pipeline Denali Fault earthquake played a role in ensur- intact, an important source of revenue for the ing that the earthquake was not more devastat- Designed to withstand a magnitude-8 earthquake with up to 20 feet of movement, the Trans- state of Alaska was preserved. Moreover, as Alaska Pipeline is supported by rails on which it can slide freely during an earthquake. ing. However, advanced seismic monitoring, Alaskans know all too well, the consequences long-term research and a commitment to haz- to the environment, should the pipeline have ard preparedness and mitigation also played a key role. The Walter Hickel, then U.S. Secretary of the Interior failed, would have been catastrophic. science done before the Denali Fault earthquake aided in (1969-70), was alerted about the proposed pipeline and “Good science made the difference between an emer- the successful performance of the Alaska pipeline, and the immediately appointed Bill Pecora, then USGS director gency and a tragedy,” said P. Patrick Leahy, USGS. “It’s science done after the Denali Fault earthquake revealed (1965-71), to chair a technical advisory board. Pecora ap- an example of how partnerships between the USGS, more about large quakes that will help save lives and prop- pointed the Menlo Park working group, made up mostly the Federal Emergency Management Agency, univer- erty during future temblors, especially in populated areas. of USGS scientists, to advise the board. sities, state and local officials, and business leaders and USGS seismologists and geologists serving on a federal USGS created several scientific documents to be used the community enable us to apply our scientific knowl- task force were instrumental to ensuring that the Trans- in planning the pipeline location and construction. Doc- edge. We know we can’t stop the Earth from chang- Alaska Pipeline was designed and built to withstand the uments included an estimate of potential earthquake ing, but we can work together making public safety our effects of a magnitude-8.0 earthquake with up to 20 feet shaking levels and a report on thermal effects of a heated primary goal.” of movement at the pipeline. The USGS design guidance pipeline in permafrost that described how the pipe would The 2002 Denali earthquake is the largest seismic event proved to be on target. In 2002, the Denali Fault rup- float, twist and break. ever recorded on the Denali Fault system — one of the tured beneath the pipeline, resulting in an 18-foot hori- In 1971, Pecora brought the Menlo Park group to longest continental faults in the world. The earthquake zontal offset. The resilience of the pipeline is a testament Washington and thanked them for telling the oil compa- was similar to the magnitude-7.9 1906 earthquake, which to the importance of science in hazard mitigation and nies “what they can’t do,” but now he wanted them to tell ruptured the San Andreas Fault in Northern California. decision making. the companies “what they can do.” Pecora locked the door Both fault systems exhibit strike-slip movement, where More than 30 years ago, Trans-Alaska Pipeline System of the conference room and told the group that he would blocks of continental crust slip horizontally past each (TAPS), formed by seven oil companies, confirmed the not let them out until they had finished the analysis of other. existence of a great deal of oil on the North Slope. In the question “To bury or not to bury?” So the group put “Studying the 2002 Denali Fault earthquake is an op- February 1969, TAPS announced plans to build a 4-foot di- together the necessary stipulations on the pipeline con- portunity to understand the consequences of a very large ameter, 800-mile pipeline to carry crude oil from Prudhoe struction. Among other things, the stipulations required earthquake to better prepare for the time when one will Bay to Valdez. Issues pertaining to the safety of the design that the pipeline system be designed to prevent oil leak- occur in a much more densely populated area,” said emerged. Would the heat in the oil melt the pervasive, age from the effects of a magnitude-8.0 earthquake on the USGS scientist Peter Haeussler. thick, permafrost layer and cause damaging spills? Would Denali Fault. The Denali Fault earthquake was very directional. the pipeline be able to withstand a large earthquake in the In April 1974, construction of a 400-mile, all-weather It ruptured rapidly over a long distance, focusing the nation’s most seismically active state? road from the Yukon River to Prudhoe Bay was started. earthquake energy in the direction of the earthquake

USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride David Oppenheimer laboriously by hand opened up a new vista into Calaveras Fault was much lower than had been culminated in an effort that began more than the earthquake process. commonly thought. It was both exciting and 30 years earlier to instrument a section of the Title: Seismologist; Project Chief of the When Paul, Bob Simpson and I began to look at gratifying to be making a new and fundamental San Andreas Fault that repeatedly ruptures in Northern California Seismic Network the suite of focal mechanisms of aftershocks observation that altered our understanding of similarly sized earthquakes every few decades. from the magnitude-6.2 Morgan Hill, Calif., fault mechanics and the process of how earth- In an instant, the earthquake tested all phases quakes are generated. of the NCSN and University of California-Berke- Location: Menlo Park, Calif. earthquake in 1984, we were initially con- founded. We discovered that the mechanisms The second is operational: As the project chief of ley monitoring system. Length of service with the USGS: 28 years for earthquakes adjacent to the Calaveras Fault the USGS Northern California Seismic Network Not only did we successfully capture a rare The first memorable moment is scientific: In were reflecting a state of stress in which the (NCSN), it has been my privilege to manage data set for study by the seismological research the mid-1980s, my colleague Paul Reasen- orientation of the maximum compressive stress a complex project staffed by very creative community, but the results were automatically berg and I developed software to compute was nearly perpendicular to the fault instead of and hard-working individuals who deploy and available on the Web. Within minutes after the focal mechanism of an earthquake from being oriented approximately 30 degrees to the maintain seismic instrumentation and telecom- the earthquake, we were reliably and rapidly first-motion polarities from seismograms. A fault as predicted by classical mechanics. munications, and who develop sophisticated, delivering earthquake information on the Web focal mechanism indicates to seismologists This finding, together with borehole stress real-time data processing systems. at a rate of 10,000 hits/sec. It was both exciting the orientation and sense of relative motion of measurements, heat-flow measurements and Perhaps the proudest moment was the occur- and gratifying to see that all of our instrumenta- the fault on which the earthquake occurred. geological observations, provided compelling rence of the September 28, 2004, magnitude-6 tion, telemetry and processing systems worked The ability to compute what was formerly done evidence that the frictional strength of the Parkfield earthquake. The Parkfield earthquake as designed. 24 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 rupture. As a result, said Haeussler, dis- levels of water in Pennsylvania wells by up had triggered earthquakes. quakes.” The last time the San Andreas tant earthquake effects were most pro- to two feet, damaged houseboats in Seattle “Research like this conducted by the Fault ruptured in Southern California, in nounced in one direction — southeast from seismic sea waves, and triggered small USGS and collaborating institutions a magnitude-7.9 earthquake in 1857, the of the fault trace toward western Canada earthquakes at many volcanic or geother- helps to anticipate the effects of future earthquake began in central California and the lower 48 states. Consequently, the mal areas in the direction of rupture. The large earthquakes, such as the kind that and ruptured southeastward toward the Denali Fault earthquake was felt as far most pronounced triggering was observed will occur on the San Andreas Fault in now highly urbanized Los Angeles region. away as Louisiana. In the New Orleans at Yellowstone, Wyo., with 130 small earth- the Los Angeles area,” explained Lucy area — more than 3,000 miles away — quakes recorded in the four hours follow- Jones, USGS scientist-in-charge for South- residents saw water in Lake Pontchartrain ing the 1,940-mile-away Alaskan rupture. ern California. “The effect of directivity slosh about as a result of the earthquake’s By contrast, in the other direction, only may be important in hazard planning for Thanks to George Gryc, Robert Page and power. The earthquake also disturbed one of the many active Alaskan volcanoes future large Southern California earth- Peter Haeussler. Measuring Magnitude — What Do the Numbers Mean?

Compiled by Diane Noserale The Most Common Magnitude Scales in the United States ften two or more different magnitudes When earthquakes occur, energy is radiated from are reported for the same earthquake. the origin in the form of different types of waves. Sometimes, years after an earthquake Moment magnitude (M ) is usually the most accurate occurs, the magnitude is adjusted. W measure of an earthquake’s strength, particularly for Although this can cause some confu- larger earthquakes. Moment magnitude accounts for sion in news reports, for the public and among scien- O the full spectrum of energy radiated by the rupture tists, there are good reasons for these adjustments. and is generally computed for earthquakes of at least Preliminary Magnitude magnitude 5.5 when the additional data needed for this computation are available and the effort is war- Following an earthquake, the first magnitudes that Different Methods of Calculating Magnitude ranted. Using some sophisticated regional networks seismologists report are usually based on a subset of in which noise is limited, seismologists can compute seismic-monitoring stations, especially in the case of The concept of using magnitude to describe earth- moment magnitudes for earthquakes down to less than a larger earthquake. This is done so that some infor- quake size was first applied by Charles Richter in 1935. magnitude 3.5. mation can be obtained immediately without waiting The magnitude scale is logarithmic so that a recording Surface-wave magnitude (MS) is computed only for for all the data to be processed. As a result, the first of 7.1, for example, indicates a disturbance with ground shallow earthquakes, those with a depth of less than magnitude reported is usually based on a small num- motion 10 times larger than a recording of 6.1. How- 30 miles. Body-wave magnitude (mb) is computed for ber of recordings. As additional data are processed and ever, the difference in energy released is even bigger. both shallow and deeper earthquakes, but with restric- become available, the magnitude and location are re- In fact, an earthquake of magnitude 7.1 releases about tions on the period of the wave. And local “Richter” fined and updated. Sometimes the assigned magnitude 33 times the energy of a magnitude 6.1 or about 1,000 magnitudes (ML) are computed for earthquakes re- is “upgraded” or slightly increased, and sometimes it is times the energy of a magnitude-5.1. Another way of corded on a short-period seismometer local to (within “downgraded” or slightly decreased. It can take months thinking of this is that it takes about 1,000 magnitude- 370 miles of) the focus of the earthquake. before a magnitude is no longer “preliminary.” 5.4 earthquakes to equal the energy released by just Seismologists may measure an earthquake’s mag- Sometimes the earthquake magnitude is reported one magnitude-7.4 event. A earthquake of magnitude nitude with one scale. Then, once more data are 2 is normally the smallest felt by people. Earthquakes by different networks of seismometers based on only available, reassign the magnitude using another scale with a magnitude of 7.0 or greater are commonly con- their recordings. In that case, the different assigned deemed more accurate based on the additional data. sidered major; great earthquakes have a magnitude of magnitudes are a result of the slight differences in the For example, for the 1999 earthquake near Ismit, 8.0 or greater. instruments and their locations with respect to the Turkey, the 7.8 magnitude first cited was a (M ) sur- Through the years, scientists have used a number of S earthquake epicenter. Depending on the specifics of face-wave magnitude. The later figure of 7.4 is a (M ) different magnitude scales, which are a mathematical W the event, scientists might determine that the network formula, not a physical scale. Although news reports moment magnitude. Magnitudes assigned to a specific closest to the event reports it most accurately. This is often call all magnitudes “Richter,” scientists today event for years can sometimes change. especially true where the instrumentation is denser. rarely use Richter’s original method. Unless further Other times, national networks, in which the instru- detail is warranted, USGS simply uses the terms mag- ments are often more state-of-the-art, produce the nitude or preliminary magnitude, noted with the sym- Compiled with assistance from Steve Vandas. most reliable results. bol “M,” in its news releases.

USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride Brian Sherrod good idea where I thought a strand of we uncovered a thrust fault that placed Joan Gomberg the fault zone traversed the area I was weathered bedrock and old glacial Title: Research Geologist working in, so I obtained permission to deposits over a recent forest soil. The Title: Research Seismologist do some detailed work on an undevel- fault and buried soil were within a few Location: Seattle Location: Memphis, Tenn. oped parcel of land near the shoreline of meters of where I originally thought the Length of service with the USGS: Lake Sammamish. fault was. Length of service with the 11 years USGS: 18 years After many hand-excavated test pits and Want to know what was most satisfy- One of my most memorable times as a soil auger holes, I thought I had found ing about this discovery? I had many The most exciting thing for USGS scientist is when I found evidence a trace of the fault that put weathered modern tools at my disposal, including me was discovering the of surface rupture along the Seattle Miocene bedrock against young glacial LiDAR (laser) maps, geospatial informa- strong correlation between Fault near Bellevue, Wash. I was looking deposits. The time had finally come to tion systems and a host of detailed distant aftershocks and for evidence of the Seattle Fault east of really test my ideas with a large excava- geophysical studies, but it was getting focusing of seismic waves Seattle — using old aerial photographs tion across what I thought was a fault. down on my hands and knees in the dirt (implying triggering by the taken from biplanes in the 1930s, more I remember being nervous when the (oops, soil...) and doing the field geology waves) — a Eureka moment! recent laser mapping data, geologic backhoe arrived and we finally began that really made this study succeed. Visiting Bhuj, India, was also maps and lots of field work. I had a excavating. Within a short time, though, memorable.

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 25 By Tania Larson Looking to the Past to “Construct” Models of the Future n October 17, 1989, occupants of the Coming up with these estimations can Transamerica Pyramid be very complicated. Basically, research- Building Safer: ers do everything they can to learn about in San Francisco were unnerved as the building past events: where earthquakes have oc- Ostarted to shake. Sixty miles away, in the How Decades of Earth Science is Helping curred, how frequently and at what size; forest of Nisene Marks State Park in the how the vibrations have traveled through Santa Cruz Mountains, the Loma Prieta to Reduce the Biggest Earthquake the ground; how those vibrations were af- earthquake had struck with a magnitude fected by soil and bedrock; and how all of of 6.9. The seismic waves were chan- Vulnerability — Man-Made Structures this affected both the land and the struc- nelled — focused by the geological fea- tures we have built. Researchers then tures of the area — toward San Francisco. combine this information to build mod- USGS instruments installed in the build- els of future earthquakes. ing showed that it shook for more than As earth scientists look at historical a minute and that the top floor swayed earthquakes, they are particularly inter- more than a foot from side to side. ested in the levels of shaking the earth- The earthquake caused more than quakes have caused. “Earth scientists can $6 billion in damages and took 63 lives. determine past shaking levels by studying Yet no lives were lost in the Transamerica the effects of past earthquakes on peo- Pyramid. Despite the intensity of the shak- ple, structures and the landscape,” says Unreinforced ma- Perkins. “For more recent earthquakes, ing, the 49-story building came through sonry buildings are undamaged. Having been aware of the especially vulnerable instrumentation on the ground and in area’s potential for even larger earthquakes, during strong earth- buildings gives a more direct measure of engineers had designed the Transamerica quake shaking. Shak- the shaking experienced.” ing-hazard maps are Pyramid to withstand greater stresses than Scientists have been putting instru- used to determine ments in buildings since the 1940s. From those from the Loma Prieta earthquake. areas where these The biggest danger during an earth- types of buildings this data, scientists and engineers can quake is often the failure of man-made need to be reinforced directly estimate how earthquake shak- structures. Not only are lives lost to fall- to make them safe ing will affect similar buildings in the during earthquakes. future. When the information is less di- ing buildings, collapsed bridges and Photo: J. Dewey rect, researchers use computer models crumbling facades, but disruption of of buildings to indirectly generate the infrastructure and utilities can cause ad- estimated effects. ditional hazards and actually keep emer- gency crews from life-saving resources. sign and construction of structures to veloped a number of products to show not Digging Deeper Earth scientists have been working for resist it.” only how probable it is that a structure more than 100 years to improve our un- And as USGS scientist David Perkins will face small, moderate and large earth- What they don’t learn with instru- derstanding of earthquake hazards. One points out, “Earthquake building codes quakes, but also how much shaking build- mentation above the ground, research- of their most important goals is to provide are the primary means to prevent or limit ings are likely to experience and how they ers can sometimes learn from clues be- designers, lawmakers and residents with damage to structures.” tend to respond to these varying levels neath the ground surface. The layers of the information they need to build struc- Building codes help protect us by of shaking. the earth typically lie flat, but when an tures that are better able to withstand the requiring that new construction meet cer- earthquake rumbles through these lay- forces of the earthquakes they are likely tain safety requirements. In many earth- Hazard Maps to Reveal ers, they are disrupted, leaving breaks and to face. quake-prone areas, these codes specify the Nationwide Seismic Threats folds and other clues scientists can use to learn more about an area’s susceptibility levels of earthquake forces that structures Since 1948, scientists have been mak- Building Codes Help Protect to earthquakes. must be designed to withstand. ing national earthquake-shaking maps Earthquake-Prone Communities “Historical seismicity alone does not “To ensure that the code is adequate that show the variations in the seismic tell us all we need to know about future “The most common cause of dam- without being excessively expensive to threat from one area to the next. These earthquake locations and magnitudes,” age to a structure (a building or bridge) implement, engineers have to know the maps demonstrate the potential shaking says Perkins. “Accordingly, earth scientists during an earthquake is strong ground likelihood that certain levels of ground hazard from future earthquakes across the look for faults and signs of earthquake shaking,” says E.V. Leyendecker, USGS shaking will be experienced during the country, and they are frequently updated liquefaction or earthquake-induced scientist emeritus. “The first line of lifetime of the structure,” says Perkins. as scientists learn more about earthquakes landslides in the geological past in order defense against such shaking is the de- But how do they know what conditions and the hazards they pose. a building is likely to face? USGS has de- to estimate the sizes and dates of these USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride Heidi Stenner doing so, we saw multi-story apart- Thomas Noce methodologies to identify and quantify the ment buildings reduced to a single liquefaction hazards that will serve us not only Title: Geologist story of rubble, people living in tents Title: Geologist here in the Bay Area, but across the country in outside their homes in the rain and all seismically-at-risk regions. Location: Menlo Park, Calif. Location: Menlo Park, Calif. bridges and overpasses rendered Although much work remains to be done in Length of service with the USGS: Length of service with the USGS: 20 years useless. And we heard a lot of sad the Bay Area to complete the hazard mapping, 7 years stories. I’m most proud to have been working to what we have begun and hope to finish will In 1999, a large, magnitude-7.4 Seeing firsthand the effects of an help quantify the hazards in the greater San serve as an example of how hazard mapping earthquake rocked northwestern earthquake really motivated me Francisco Bay Area, particularly in the areas should be done in the future in historically Turkey. The fault that ruptured to do what I can to keep that from of man-made land that didn’t exist in the active liquefaction zones across the United is similar in a lot of ways to the happening again. Understanding the 1906 earthquake. These areas are potentially States, such as the New Madrid seismic San Andreas Fault in California, science behind earthquakes is one the most vulnerable in a repeat scenario region, Charleston, S.C., the Pacific Northwest so it was important to learn all aspect needed to better prepare and of the 1906 event, and the Loma Prieta and Alaska. we could about the quake and its earthquake of 1989 provided but a glimpse reduce the risk to people from such It has been equally exciting to work with the effects. As part of a small team, of their shortcomings. We have learned a events. It is my time in Turkey that best of the best in their fields, with people who I helped map where and how great deal about liquefaction and hazard reminds me most why we need to care about their work and their contributions the fault ruptured the ground. In analysis since then, and we have developed keep advancing earthquake science. to make the world a safer place. 26 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 events. This allows them to extend the and design standards,” says Leyendecker. ‘history’ of large events back as much as The revisions incorporated new descrip- 10,000 years or more. From this longer tions of the hazard, such as the specific history, earth scientists can also deter- soil and rock conditions and how build- mine the rate at which earthquakes of all ings experience vibrations in response to sizes occur.” the vibrations of the ground. However, as Leyendecker points out, “This new way of describing the hazard this does not tell the entire story. Design- enables structural engineers to better pre- ing a building requires knowledge not dict structural response to ground shaking only of the earthquakes it will likely face, for design purposes. Knowledge of the site but also how those earthquakes will af- condition of the maps also enables engi- fect the building — the loads it will have neers to adjust the design to incorporate to bear and how and to what capacity it the actual site condition. In the end, these will respond to those forces. “Research improvements result in better protection conducted since the 1906 San Francisco of lives and property,” says Leyendecker. earthquake, particularly over the last 20 to By taking all of this information into Houses without adequate connections to foundations can easily shift during even moderate earthquake shaking, causing extensive damage. Pipes and wires may be broken by a slight 30 years under the National Earthquake account, scientists have created a pow- cripple-wall shift, resulting in fires, water damage or other problems. Much damage of this type Hazards Reduction Program, has contrib- erful data set. “With all these forms of can be avoided by using inexpensive bracing techniques, such as those recommended in the uted to these three areas of loads, response earth science information,” says Perkins, seismic design provisions of building codes. and capacity,” says Leyendecker. “researchers can compute the likelihood Looking Long Term of future earthquake ground shaking even in these areas known for their earth- Science Advancements Help at all locations in the U.S. It is maps of quake preparedness, the losses suffered by The hazard maps that influence today’s Refine and Improve Building Codes these probabilistic ground motions that the densely populated urban areas were building codes incorporate more than a catastrophic. Thanks to increased earth science are used to determine building code century of seismic monitoring and decades focus, building codes have seen regular requirements.” High-Resolution Maps to Help of research. In their quest to find ways to major changes since the 1960s, and ac- More than 20,000 cities, counties and High-Risk Urban Areas protect people from the effects of earth- cording to Perkins, these advancements local government agencies use building quakes, USGS researchers have come have paid off. codes based on these maps, but shaking- To address this vulnerability, engineers, up with many creative ways to expand “Structures built using recent building hazard maps have many other applica- officials and emergency-response teams their understanding of the hazards. They codes have withstood remarkably large tions. They are also used by insurance needed better, more detailed informa- have traveled the globe, comparing notes levels of ground motion in the earth- companies to set rates for properties in tion. In 1998, the USGS began high- and historical records with researchers quakes that have been experienced since different areas, civil engineers to estimate resolution earthquake hazard mapping around the world. They have dug through the 1990s,” says Perkins. the stability of hillsides, the Environmen- in three high-risk urban areas: the eastern mud and sand and clay. They have bored For example, in 1971, the magnitude- tal Protection Agency to set construction San Francisco Bay region, Seattle and through layers of rock. They have even 6.6 San Fernando earthquake left the Los standards for waste-disposal facilities, and Memphis. Since then, projects in St. learned about earthquakes by examining Angeles dam badly damaged. This dam, the Federal Emergency Management Louis, Mo., and Evansville, Ind., have long-drowned forests and other side effects so weakened that a strong aftershock could Agency to allocate funds for earthquake also been started. earthquakes have had on the landscape. have caused a collapse, was all that stood education and preparedness. These projects will provide city officials By taking all of these efforts and turning between 80,000 people and 15 million To make sure users understand and get with hazard maps that are more detailed them into products communities can use tons of water. Residents in an 11-square- the best value out of the maps, the USGS and take local and regional geology into to protect themselves, USGS researchers mile area were forced to evacuate their offers workshops to familiarize users with account. As the Loma Prieta earthquake have helped save many lives and millions homes while the water behind the dam the shaking-hazard maps and earthquake demonstrated, geology can play a big role of dollars. But they know their work is not was lowered. With years of ground mo- issues. in how a city is impacted by an earth- done. In the next 100 years, they will con- tion studies and advancements in earth- While both the Loma Prieta and quake. The assessments are also address- tinue to look for new ways to refine and en- quake studies to turn to, engineers built Northridge earthquakes demonstrated ing potential ground failure hazards, such hance the maps and models that influence a new, safer dam. This new structure was that we can build safer structures that do as liquefaction and earthquake-triggered building codes, making all of our structures tested in 1994 when the magnitude-6.7 withstand earthquakes, there were still landslides. — from our homes, to our hospitals, to the Northridge earthquake hit the area. The considerable losses that revealed just how This research is being used to create infrastructures that support our resources new dam held, with very little damage. vulnerable major metropolitan areas can urban hazard maps, scenario earthquake — better able to withstand the earthquakes “In 1996, a major revision of the ground- be when hit by an earthquake. Awareness maps and long-term forecasts of earth- they will inevitably face. shaking-hazard maps, developed in col- of this vulnerability was reinforced by quake probabilities. These products will laboration with the earth-science com- the 1995 Kobe, Japan, earthquake. With provide better details for updating build- munity and design engineers, resulted magnitudes of 6.7 and 6.9, respectively, ing codes, reducing risks and planning for Thanks to E.V. Leyendecker, Nicolas in major improvement of building codes both the Northridge and the Kobe events recovery in high-risk metropolitan areas. Luco, David Perkins and Robert Wesson are considered moderate earthquakes, yet for their help and expertise. USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride

Hal Macbeth in the future. This effort has brought public this as a continually evolving effort to better in a large earthquake, potentially giving a awareness and access to disaster crisis in- improve the access of real-time earthquake few seconds warning ... more potential lives Title: Supervisor of seismic analysis for the formation to a level where, in the end result, information for federal, state and local saved. Northern California Seismic Network we hope some lives might be saved. disaster-response teams. I serve as one of I don’t think I could be any more proud than five USGS duty seismologists who are on call Location: Menlo Park, Calif. Through the efforts of public outreach, I have being a team member of an organization personally fielded calls and e-mails daily 24/7 for emergency response to earthquakes whose ultimate purpose is to protect lives Length of service with the USGS: 26 years on questions about earthquakes, volcanoes, occurring in Northern California. ShakeMaps and property not only here in the United Public Education: The Earthquake Hazards landslides and other hazard/earth science (one of our map products showing calculated States, but also helping to identify and pos- Team has put a superior effort into providing information. Many of these calls are from ground-shaking intensities) are produced sibly mitigate hazards in a global crisis, such Web-based information to the public not only our nation’s youth, who are eager to educate minutes after a moderate-to-large earth- as tsunamis and other earthquakes occurring about where recent or historical earthquakes themselves and potentially will be our quake strikes, alerting rescue/repair crews to around the world. have occurred, but also about how the public nation’s next generation of scientists. That’s focus on the most damaged areas first. can use that information to protect them- much to be proud of. Efforts are also being made to establish an selves and others from earthquake hazards Emergency Hazards Response: I have seen early warning system for ground shaking

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 27 Working for a Safer Southern California A Profile of Lucy Jones

By Stephanie Hanna and Diane Noserale

An Interview ucy Jones, chief scientist of the Earthquake Hazards Program in Southern California, is with Lucy Jones truly a household name and the face of the USGS in Southern California. Over the past 23 years, she has worked tirelessly to calm By Diane Noserale Lshattered nerves following earthquakes and to convince Southern Californians that they can take steps to make What is your nightmare earthquake their lives safer during an earthquake. scenario? Born in Santa Monica in 1955, Jones is a fourth-gen- eration Southern Californian who has earned an under- Any magnitude-7 in the Los Angeles basin, graduate degree in Chinese language and literature from and we have many faults — Santa Monica, Brown University and a Ph.D. in geophysics from the Hollywood, Puente Hills, Palos Verdes, Sierra Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This somewhat Madre — that are capable of producing an earth- unusual combination tells the tale of her diverse interests quake of that size. During a Santa Ana wind and helped her (as a graduate student in 1979) to become condition when fires cannot be controlled is the the first American scientist to work in China following the scenario for a true nightmare. “Multi-hazard” is normalization of relations. Over the past 23 years, Lucy Jones has worked to calm shat- not just popular jargon. In 1983, Jones joined the USGS as a seismologist. Her tered nerves following earthquakes and to convince Southern first interview as an employee of the USGS was on PBS’s Californians that they can take steps to make their lives safer during an earthquake. nationally televised “MacNeil/Lehrer Report” in 1985. What was your most interesting During a spate of earthquakes that followed, she quickly overpasses during powerful aftershocks. She is still asked, experience while working in the field? became the go-to scientist for earthquake interviews, ap- “How’s your baby?” and responds that he is a defensive pearing on almost all the major network television news I generally don’t do fieldwork. I use the perma- tackle on his high school’s JV football team. shows and making hundreds of appearances on local Los nent seismic network. But to bribe me to go to In her spare time — between earthquakes, media ap- Angeles affiliates. An articulate spokeswoman, Jones has a graduate school at MIT, Professor Peter Molnar pearances, running the USGS office in Pasadena and knack for seeing through the question asked and respond- (my eventual thesis advisor) offered to take me family responsibilities with her two sons and husband, ing to the concern or fear that prompted it. on fieldwork in Afghanistan for the two months Egill Hauksson, a seismologist at Caltech — Jones has Jones has appeared multiple times on many national before school started. I spent the time running authored more than 80 scientific papers. Her research programs, including “Dateline,” “Nightline” and “The portable seismographs in the Hindu Kush Moun- focuses primarily on earthquake-hazard assessment and Today Show.” She has worked with the staff of Univer- tains. In one of the villages, someone tried to forecasting earthquake aftershocks. Her theoretical geo- sal Studios and even been to Disneyland to instruct the buy me from Peter for two camels, double the physics work forms the basis for a Web service that pro- “Three Little Pigs” in earthquake safety and non-structur- going rate. vides 24-hour forecasts for strong shaking from aftershocks al mitigation (They already had learned the construction in California. [See page 30.] lesson!) on Disney’s “Toon-Town Kids.” She has also written several guest editorials printed in You talk to all kinds of groups. Do you For broadcasts across the nation, she must often appear major daily newspapers and published several guidebooks see a difference between young and awake, alert and articulate at 3 a.m., many times after for the general public and for classrooms. One of her old people’s perceptions about live late-night newscasts. What little sleep afforded dur- more significant and lasting contributions was in writing earthquakes? ing these times is often interrupted by the shaking of local and developing the publication “Putting Down Roots in earthquakes or her beeper. Earthquake Country.” [See page 34]. No. There is a fundamental divide between Jones’ most enduring media persona is that of the calm Her contributions to public safety also include briefing people who are afraid of earthquakes and those working mom. During a post-earthquake news conference local and state officials on complex earthquake topics, who aren’t, but I have not found a defining char- in 1992, she comforted her fussing 1-year-old. She was helping to develop safety plans for several cities, including acteristic of what makes people afraid. shown carrying a baby and advising people not to aban- Los Angeles, and helping to train first responders in cities don their homes and potentially be caught near freeway and counties throughout Southern California.

USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride Peter Haeussler first time rupturing has been seen through realized, “Oh — landslides!” of Japanese seismologists who had a notion glacier ice right after an earthquake. About 10 days after the earthquake, we were of there being thrusting at the beginning of Title: Research Geologist I also remember following the Denali Fault also continuing to try to map the fault trace, the earthquake sequences. So when we saw this, we said, “Well, there it is!” Location: Anchorage, Alaska rupture when it suddenly ended, and we and we wanted to go east but couldn’t be- couldn’t find any more surface rupture. Our cause of weather. We decided to head west, That first day we were on the Susitna Glacier Length of service with the USGS: 14 years helicopter then flew over a mountain, and and we started to find all the valleys full of Thrust Fault, we heard a sound like a deep No doubt, my most exciting experience was there we saw more surface rupture, this clouds, so we couldn’t get to the trace. Howitzer in the distance; then the bushes on as the principal geologic investigator for time on the little-known Totschunda Fault, We were getting near the helicopter’s fuel the tundra would start shaking. It was very the immediate post-earthquake geologic which we followed out to the west where it limit as we were flying over a glacier, and we wild hearing and feeling an earthquake after- response to the Nov. 3, 2002, magnitude-7.9 terminated. saw surface rupture through the glacial ice shock while standing on the fault plane. Denali Fault quake in Alaska. Also, in the two days of initial investigations, — we realized we had found a previously In the end, it was the discovery and mapping Right after the earthquake, we chartered a we discovered there were these humongous unknown major thrust fault, which is now out of the entire surface rupture and finding helicopter — we were looking for surface landslides that had covered glaciers. The known as the Susitna Glacier Thrust Fault. these other faults that was just ruptures of the Denali Fault. It was really clouds were down low on the deck, and That was incredibly exciting to see on the really exciting. exciting to be able to follow surface ruptures as we flew over in the helicopter, we were ground, and satisfying because we had heard on land and through glacier ice. It was the asking, “What’s all this rock here?” We then

28 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 Jones is, or has been, a member of a ences and age groups. She has worked to number of local, national and interna- The magnitude-5.0 Pasadena earthquake in empower those who are frightened by re- tional decision-making commissions and peated earthquakes with the message “you professional associations. In 2002, then- 1988 was the most memorable [for me]. It was can keep yourself safe.”

Governor Gray Davis appointed her to the “almost directly beneath my house during the night All these efforts have earned her many California Seismic Safety Commission, professional awards, not only in her spe- and she was reappointed by Governor and literally threw us out of bed. Also, it was the “ cialty of seismology, but also from educa- Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005. The fi rst time my oldest child, Sven, then 2 years old, tors, civic groups, safety offi cials and from work of the Commission has led to the media. In 2000, she was awarded the two bills now before the California saw me on TV (in that case, a live interview) and Alquist Medal for “signifi cant contribution Legislature. Jones has advised the Califor- told my husband, ‘Mommy’s in the TV!’ to earthquake safety in California.” This nia Offi ce of Emergency Services on the year, she became the second non-journal- state’s earthquake-prediction and response — Lucy Jones ist to win a Golden Mike Award from the plans and has briefed the U.S. Congress Radio and TV News Association of South- and other high-level offi cials. has given more than 200 talks to civic to retirement home residents, Jones has ern California for a radio-news special that Generous with her time, Jones esti- groups, teachers associations and the pub- provided science education with a focus drew lessons from Katrina for a future big mates that since joining the USGS she lic. From 2- and 3-year-olds at preschool on hands-on inquiry to a variety of audi- earthquake in Los Angeles. Top 10 Things Northern Californians Should Do to Prepare for the Next Big Earthquake

Excerpted from material by the 100th Anniversary disabled and other vulnerable residents. property that a major Northern California earthquake Earthquake Conference Steering Committee 4. Get involved in preparing the region to respond could cause. While many areas are better prepared to and recover from major earthquakes. This includes than ever before, the region is not yet suffi ciently ready he people, businesses and government region-wide, multi-organizational plans, training, exer- for the next major earthquake, and the social and eco- agencies in Northern California will risk cises and coordination assessments, as well as continu- nomic consequences could prove to be long-lasting and suffering loss of life and structural and ing improvements in our collective understanding of ruinous to communities. A renewed emphasis on pre- fi nancial damage when major earth- seismic risks. paredness and safety is needed to fully prepare Northern quakes strike. Scientists, engineers and California for a major natural disaster. ✔ Ensure Resiliency in Recovery Temergency-management experts gathering for the th ✔ Invest in Reducing Losses 100 Anniversary Earthquake Conference call on the 8. Collaboratively plan for the regional relocation region’s citizens, businesses and governments to take and housing, both short- and long-term, of residents 5. Target those buildings that pose the greatest risk of the following actions to increase safety, reduce losses displaced by potential fi res, uninhabitable buildings or collapse for seismic mitigation through retrofi t, reduced and ensure a speedier recovery when the next major widespread economic and infrastructure disruption fol- occupancy or reconstruction. earthquake strikes. lowing a major earthquake. 6. Retrofi t or replace all facilities essential for emergen- ✔ Develop a Culture of Preparedness 9. Assess and plan for fi nancing your likely repair and cy response to ensure that they function following earth- at Home, Work and School recovery costs following a major earthquake. quakes. These facilities include fi re and police stations, 10. Ensure adequate post-event funding to provide emergency communications centers, medical facilities, 1. Know the seismic risks of the buildings you in- economic relief to individuals and communities after a schools, shelters and other community-serving facilities. habit, the transportation systems you use and the utili- major earthquake, when resources are scarce yet crucial 7. Set priorities, and retrofi t or replace vulnerable ties that serve them, and the actions you can take to for recovery and reconstruction. emergency- and community-serving infrastructure — protect yourself. In conclusion, the earthquake professionals of the 100th including cellular communications, airports, ports, roads 2. Be prepared to be self-suffi cient for up to three Anniversary Earthquake Conference believe that, based and bridges, transportation, water, dams and levees, sew- days (72 hours) following a disaster. on our current understanding of the hazards, local plan- age, and energy supplies — to ensure that functions can 3. Take steps to ensure adequate response care for ning, stronger building codes and ongoing mitigation be resumed rapidly after earthquakes. all special-needs populations — seniors, the poor, the have substantially reduced the potential loss of life and

USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride

John Solum The SAFOD hole successfully crossed the State University), Sheryl Tembe (SUNY Stony Stanford University, and I were the conveners active San Andreas Fault at a depth of Brook), Fred Chester (Texas A&M), Joe Svitek of those sessions). It was very heartening Title: Mendenhall Fellow, Earthquake several kilometers this past summer. I spent (USGS Menlo Park), Steve Hickman (USGS for me to see all of the effort that people Hazards Team the summer of 2005 driving between Menlo Menlo Park) and Dave Lockner (USGS Menlo had put into analyzing results from SAFOD Park and the SAFOD site near Parkfi eld, Park). We devoted a lot of long hours to ex- pay off with a lot of really nice presenta- Location: Menlo Park, Calif. Calif., spending a few days here and there at tracting the cores from the pieces of drilling tions at that meeting. I’m a newcomer to the Length of service with the USGS: 1 year the drill site to lend a hand, and then driving equipment they were collected with and then SAFOD project, and I feel very privileged to My proudest moment has defi nitely been back to Menlo Park to analyze samples preserving them, making thin sections from have been able to work with so many highly working with the team of scientists from a using a powder X-ray diffractometer (a lot them and making a fi rst pass at describing dedicated scientists. large number of academic institutions, as of people were also kind enough to ferry their mineralogy. well as the USGS, on the San Andreas Fault samples up to me from the drill site). There were three sessions on SAFOD at the Observatory at Depth (SAFOD), which is part In Menlo Park, I also helped to prepare the annual meeting of the American Geophysical of the EarthScope project funded by the sidewall and spot cores that came up from Union in San Francisco in December 2005 National Science Foundation. the hole, with the help of Sarah Draper (Utah (Naomi Boness, a post-doctoral student at

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 29 Not Just a California Thing Why Earthquakes in the Eastern and Central United States could be a Bigger Problem than You Think

By Diane Noserale more efficiently and for greater distances than those in the West. cientists estimate that Mem- This expansive shaking is a concern phis has a 25 to 40 percent because of how shaking affects buildings probability of a magnitude-6.0 and other structures. It has been said that or greater earthquake during earthquakes don’t kill people, buildings do. the next 50 years. During the A greater population density and an older Swinter of 1811 to 1812, the central Missis- stock of buildings and roads that have not sippi River Valley was violently shaken by been retrofitted for earthquake safety are a a series of earthquakes with magnitudes of big concern. Building codes with strict pro- 7.5 to 8.0. The area of strong shaking from visions for earthquake-resistant construction these shocks was two to three times larger of new buildings are less common in east- than that of the 1964 Alaska earthquake and ern and Middle America than in California 10 times larger than that of the 1906 San and much of the West. Francisco earthquake. And there’s a 7 to 10 Another complication for earthquake percent chance that an earthquake of this science in the eastern United States is that size will hit in the next 50 years. faults here rarely break the ground surface. The eastern United States is not gener- Although this is a good thing, it means that ally regarded as “earthquake country.” Yet, Earthquakes of similar size (1895 New Madrid Seismic Zone earthquake and 1994 Northridge in many areas faults capable of hosting earthquakes do strike here. A look back earthquake) show how earthquakes in the central and eastern United States affect much larger earthquakes have not been mapped or even areas than earthquakes in the West. Illustration by Eugene Schweig shows that the eastern and central United identified. How frequently and how strong- States have a significant earthquake history, covered an area of at least 30,000 square western United States, but they affect much ly earthquakes hit the area is, therefore, and there are factors that could make these miles. Chimneys were toppled, and log larger areas. For example, let’s compare often unknown. areas of the country even more vulnerable cabins were thrown down as far away as two earthquakes of similar strength: a mag- When it comes to earthquakes, one of than the West. Cincinnati, Ohio, and St. Louis, Mo. These nitude-6.8 earthquake in the New Madrid the most important differences between the In November 1755, an earthquake with earthquakes were felt throughout the eastern Seismic Zone in 1895 and the magnitude- East and the West is the lack of awareness an estimated magnitude of 6.0, centered United States, rattling even the White House. 6.7 Northridge, Calif., earthquake in 1994. about earthquake hazards. Many people 25 miles off the coast of Cape Ann, Mass., President Madison and his wife were said to After the New Madrid earthquake, shaking are unaware of the potential for a major heavily damaged Boston. In August 1886, a have thought a burglary was in progress. was reported from Louisiana to Michigan earthquake to hit outside of California, and magnitude-7.3 earthquake hit Charleston, Almost every state east of the and from Kansas to North Carolina. Shak- fewer still know what to do when one does S.C., destroying most of the city. During Mississippi River has had at least one earth- ing reports from the Northridge earthquake, hit. Whether in the East, the West or some- the winter earthquakes of 1811 to 1812, quake strong enough to cause damage, and however, were mostly limited to Southern where in between, all Americans should observers reported that the ground rose and a major earthquake seems to occur some- California. learn the earthquake risk for their area and fell. Large waves were generated on the where along the Eastern Seaboard about This strong contrast is caused by differ- incorporate earthquake preparedness into Mississippi River; high banks collapsed; once every 100 years. ences in geology east and west of the Rocky their overall disaster plan. and whole islands disappeared. Raised or Earthquakes in the central and eastern Mountains. Rocks in the eastern and cen- sunken lands, fissures and large landslides United States are less frequent than in the tral United States transmit earthquake waves Written with assistance from Tania Larson Forecast of Aftershock Hazard Maps Show Daily Shaking Probability By Tania Larson way to quantify the current probability of floor. Sometimes, the first earthquake is shaking based on recent seismic activity a main event, followed by a series of af- n the course of a day, the — all the earthquakes recorded by the tershocks. At other times, it is a foreshock probability for moderate-to- California Integrated Seismic Network, with a larger earthquake to follow. Either strong earthquake shaking in part of the USGS ANSS. [See page 22]. way, after the rumbles of one earthquake California is between 1-in- The aftershock forecast map, re- subside, there is a strong probability of 10,000 and 1-in-100,000. That leased in May 2005, shows the chance more shaking to come. Within an hour Iisn’t very high when you consider that for strong shaking at any location in of a damaging earthquake, there will the average American has a one-in-2,500 California within the next 24 hours. likely be several aftershocks. The second chance of being in a car accident in the “The only times probabilities become day will often have half as many after- same period of time. However, there are large enough to cause concern is after shocks as the first day. times when the likelihood of experienc- Forecast of aftershock hazard maps show a significant earthquake that may have Updated hourly, the forecast maps ing earthquake shaking goes up consid- Californians the likelihood of strong after- already caused damage,” said Matt illustrate this change in the likelihood erably. The USGS 24-hour forecast of af- shocks, which could destroy already dam- Gerstenberger, former USGS of experiencing shaking during earth- tershock hazard maps show Californians aged buildings. Photo: J.K. Nakata Mendenhall Fellow, when the maps quake sequences. Perhaps even more when and where the risk is elevated. were released. “Aftershocks are likely in importantly, they take magnitude and Custom earthquake probability maps based on a mean probability for random this situation, and the new maps show distance into account and show where are available nationwide. Simply en- time periods. where those aftershocks are most likely potentially damaging levels of shaking ter your ZIP code, the magnitude, and The USGS and the Swiss Federal In- to be felt and how the hazard changes are likely to occur. Past sequences show number of years you would like the prob- stitute of Technology, with additional with time.” that an increase in probability could be ability to reflect; and the tool will return funding from the Southern California As a fault ruptures, it tends to stutter, seen before about half of California’s a map of your area. But the results are Earthquake Center, have developed a like heavy furniture pushed along a hard larger earthquakes.

30 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 By Tania Larson By pulling all of this information to- gether, the model developers have cre- uring the Loma Prieta Taking Seismic Science ated a powerful new tool for earthquake earthquake in 1989, 42 science. “We expect this new 3D model people were killed when to revolutionize our ability to forecast the Cypress Structure, into the Third Dimension the location of ‘hotspots’ — where shak- the freeway approach to ing occurs most intensely — throughout Dthe Bay Bridge from Oakland, Calif., col- the Bay Area,” said Tom Brocher, USGS lapsed. But it wasn’t just the strength of 3D Models Help Predict Shaking seismologist and co-developer of the the earthquake that contributed to its fall. Vulnerability in Your Neighborhood model. “For the first time, we have a tool There were factors beneath the Earth’s that allows us to forecast the strong shak- surface that made this location particu- ing likely to be produced by large Bay larly vulnerable to earthquake shaking. Area earthquakes on a neighborhood-by- Remember the parable of the wise man neighborhood basis.” who built his house upon the rock and In addition to helping researchers the foolish man who built his house upon forecast strong ground motions that may the sand? Well, the principle is still true damage buildings, essential infrastruc- today, and a new tool from the USGS is ture and levees, the 3D model will help taking it to a whole new level. The USGS locate earthquakes more accurately; pre- has created a 3D geologic map and dict where destructive liquefaction of the seismic-velocity model of the upper 30 ground may occur; and model permanent miles of the Earth’s crust in the greater ground deformation that may be produced San Francisco Bay Area and much of by earthquakes, including ground subsid- Northern California. ence that could cause flooding. The 3D “The new 3D model is a result of the geologic map was also built with the flex- long and productive collaboration be- ibility to serve other needs in the future. tween the California Geological Survey Oblique view, looking from the southwest toward San Francisco Bay: The corner of the 3D Researchers are already using it to study and USGS,” said California state geolo- Geologic Model has been cut away to show faults (red lines), basins (yellow) and other geologic what happens when the crustal plates that gist John Parrish. “Its usefulness will be to rock units (various colors). By incorporating geologic features, scientists have created a powerful meet in California move slowly past each test and predict the intensity and effects new tool to help protect people and their investments by showing where earthquake shaking is other, and future refinements will help likely to be more intense. of shaking in future earthquakes and to scientists study groundwater movement build safer structures. This will be cost and toxic contaminant dispersion. saving and life saving for residents of the Bay Area, now and in the future.” strongly than surrounding regions on This information will help not only Most loss of life and property damage stronger ground. And second, there were scientists, but residents, lawmakers during earthquakes stems from the ef- variations in the thickness of the Earth’s and building designers. Chris Poland, fects of strong ground shaking, and scien- crust between the hypocenter and Oak- president of Degenkolb Engineers, said, For the first tists have shown that how long and how land that actually focused energy toward “The 3D velocity model will provide a time, we have a tool strongly a building will shake is directly Oakland and downtown San Francisco. much more detailed definition of the influenced by the properties of the Earth The 3D model is an important scien- intensity of shaking.”

that allows us to beneath it. The Loma Prieta earthquake tific advancement that combines 100 With more detailed information, build- “forecast the strong provided the first set of recordings of the years of surface geologic mapping with ers will have a better idea of how to tailor levels of shaking on a wide variety of geo- decades of research into the seismic prop- construction to fit the location, protecting

shaking likely to logic materials, including soft, unconsoli- erties of rocks. It also incorporates infor- people and their investments. be produced by dated sand and clay. mation from boreholes and variations in “There are hundreds of billions of dol- These records clearly documented that the Earth’s gravity and magnetic fields. In lars of new construction each year in high large Bay Area “ ground shaking is much more violent on creating the model, scientists broke the seismic regions,” said Poland. “The more earthquakes on a the soft sediments around the Bay mar- upper 15 to 30 miles of the Earth’s crust we can design for the proper amount of gins than on bedrock. They also showed into irregular shaped blocks bounded strength and durability, the more we can neighborhood- that differences in the Earth’s crust can by faults, making it a “fault and block” achieve cost efficiencies, perhaps in the by-neighborhood affect how seismic waves move through model. Since seismic waves can bounce billions, while giving people greater safety the ground. For example, at least two off faults, bend and be focused as they during a large, damaging earthquake.” basis. properties of the Earth’s crust worked to- cross faults, and be trapped and amplified USGS developers of the model in- gether to cause the collapse of the Cypress in buried basins, the inclusion of subsur- clude Thomas Brocher, Robert Jachens, Structure. First, the structure was built face faults and basins provides important Russell Graymer, Carl Wentworth, Brad- — Tom Brocher on loose soils that shook much more information. ley Aagaard and Robert Simpson. USGS Earthquake Scientists — A Nationwide Notion of Pride Jack Townshend the observatory grounds. We were 300 miles Anchorage to assist with medical care. We air. I was told that if I could find a pilot, they from the earthquake’s epicenter, but I re- couldn’t land until daylight because the would lend me an airplane. Fortunately, I Title: Special Projects Coordinator, USGS member feeling the shaking and hearing the airport tower was down and much of the had a pilot with me! We flew around for a Geomagnetism Group observatory’s earthquake warning alarms. runway was damaged. When we finally few hours taking photos and assessing the I rushed to the instrument room and saw landed, I flagged down a car and driver and damage until the FAA restricted the airspace Location: Fairbanks, Alaska red ink splashed all over the place. Visual asked for a ride into town. The driver was we were flying and instructed us to land. Length of service with the USGS: 33 years seismographs used at the time had inkwells, a chief flight engineer with a major airline The results of this and subsequent assess- I remember the magnitude-9.2 Good Friday and the instruments had been shaken off whose commercial jet had been grounded ment trips were published by the Alaska earthquake in Alaska on March 27, 1964. their piers. The magnetic instruments were because of damaged runways. He volun- Division of the American Association for the I was chief of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic also askew. I called in the staff, and a few teered to drive me around Anchorage and Advancement of Science, 1964 Proceedings Survey’s Geomagnetic and Seismological hours later, we had most of the instruments outlying areas to assess the damage and of the Alaskan Science Conference held at Observatory at the University of Alaska, back up and working. take photos. The University of Alaska in Fairbanks, titled, Fairbanks (The Observatory was transferred Later that night, I made a decision to do After assessing the damage from the Preliminary Intensity Evaluations of the to the USGS in 1973.) a preliminary intensity assessment in the ground, we stopped at a useable airstrip, Prince William Sound Earthquake of March The house my family and I lived in was on Anchorage area. I managed to get on a flight and I asked for a piloted plane to survey the 28, 1964, U.T. chartered to fly doctors from Fairbanks to landscape even further out and from the

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 31 Stoffer’s Favorite Bay A Guidebook to the San Andreas Region Places to Visit:

Geology Fieldtrips on the World’s Most Famous Fault The High Peaks area By Clarice Nassif Ransom within Pinnacles hen Philip W. Stoffer, geolo- National Park. gist for the USGS in Menlo Park, Calif., learned he had ■ Pinnacles National Monument lymphoma, or cancer of the (San Benito and Monterey Counties) lymph system, in 2004, he — This monument features high, rug- Wwas not sure if he was going to live. The statistics ged mountain scenery (an ancient vol- for surviving were grim. He knew he had to do cano), boulder-covered slot canyons whatever he could to try to survive. and many miles of well-maintained For four months during the summer of 2004, hiking trails. Stoffer underwent rounds of chemotherapy and a stem cell implant while in isolation at the Point Reyes Seattle Cancer Care Association. At the same Headlands time, he authored a first draft of Where’s the in Point San Andreas Fault? A Guidebook to Tracing the Reyes Fault on Public Lands In the San Francisco Bay National Seashore. Region, which was unveiled in April by USGS USGS scientist Philip W. Stoffer leads a public field trip in Sanborn Park on the and the National Park Service (NPS). San Andreas Fault. (Photo by Leslie Gordon) ■ Point Reyes National Seashore The book features more than 50 destinations (Sonoma County) — This national the U.S. Geological Survey to provide scientific information along the 800-mile fault, including 20 differ- park features unrivaled coastal sea cliffs to help make informed decisions and to help educate the ent hiking trips in national and local parks. Stoffer wrote the and coastal prairie scenery. field guide as part of cancer survival therapy and to encourage public,” writes Don Neubacher, park superintendent, Point people to live life, not just through maps, books, television or Reyes National Seashore, in the preface to the guidebook. the Internet, but in person. “This field guide is an example of collaboration between the California poppies grow- “Phil was hospitalized for weeks during the transplant,” said two federal agencies. Our hope is that this guidebook will help enrich public understanding and encourage exploration ing near the Stoffer’s good friend and colleague John Vogel, a USGS sci- top of Mount entist in Tucson, Ariz., who spent many weeks with Stoffer of our natural and cultural heritage.” Wilson in during his recovery. “He worked every day, except for the a “The [guidebook] is the best thing since the invention of Henry Coe few days when he was most sick from the chemotherapy. I ice cream!” said David Boore, a docent with the Midpen- State Park. insula Regional Open Space District. “This publication don’t mean eight hours a day. If he was awake, he was work- ■ Henry Coe State Park (Santa Clara is a fantastic resource for those interested in the geology of ing. It was amazing. He wasn’t County) — This is the second largest watching TV. He wasn’t read- the San Francisco Bay Area. 1 state park in California and has hun- It’s well-written, detailed, ing books or magazines. He 101 Point Reyes dreds of miles of trails throughout the National 780 up-to-date, includes useful was working. I would say that Seashore central Diablo Range. having something productive 80 background information about N 580 to do, to focus on, was thera- San Andreas Fault earthquakes and faults, con- 101 880 680 480 tains lots of color photos and The valley peutic — make that incredibly San Francisco 205 12 MILES 580 maps, and the price is right.” of the Arroyo therapeutic.” 20 KILOMETERS P Seco a c 5 Tom Brocher, a seismologist “I love to hike and explore,” i Canyon in fi 84 880 c 92 101 with the USGS, added, “This the Ventana O Half said Stoffer. “The whole ex- c e Moon 1 35 a 280 guidebook is a great educa- Wilderness. perience of having cancer n Bay 85 tional resource for learning changed my outlook on life. I Map of field-trip San Jose ■ Arroyo Seco Canyon (Ventana Wil- stop locations 1 about the geology and natural am someone who was not just 101 derness, Monterey County) — This 9 Hollister and San Juan Bautista 17 environment along the coast treated for cancer, but cured Lexington Reservoir and Loma Prieta 152 wilderness area features a perennial Forest of Nisene Marks 152 in the Bay Area. What I love from cancer. I had to give Lyndon Canyon and Lake Ranch Reservoir Santa 25 stream that cuts through gorges in Sanborn County Park Cruz 129 156 about the guidebook is that it something back. You never Skyline Ridge 156 Hollister the Santa Lucia Range. The lower San Mateo County San Juan Bautista offers several different tours know how much time you have Point Reyes National Seashore 25 valley usually has unrivaled spring of the San Andreas Fault that left, and I had all of these pic- wildflowers. tures of different places along cater to diverse educational in- the San Andreas Fault that I had compiled over the years and terests and hiking abilities. Everyone can find something of The Marin a project I was going to get to, ‘one day.’ When I was in the interest in it.” The release of the guidebook also coincides with the 100th Headlands hospital, I was motivated to write the book and get it done. I portion of had a field trip to go on when I got out of the hospital.” anniversary of the Great San Francisco Earthquake. On April Golden Gate Stoffer encourages everyone to see an aspect of the San 18, 1906, the earth ruptured for about 300 miles along the National Andreas Fault in person. The field guide provides detailed San Andreas Fault through Northern California, both on Recreation Area. information about the geologic diversity of the landscape and land and where the fault extends offshore. The earthquake and fires that followed caused catastrophic damage to cities also describes the cultural and historical aspects of the area. ■ Marin Headlands, Golden Gate and towns throughout the region and had a dramatic im- Loaded with colorful photographs and detailed road maps, National Recreation Area (Marin pact on the culture and history of California. The event also the guide describes the natural setting in which Bay Area County) — This park provides spec- initiated national interest in the study of earthquakes and disaster residents live. The guide should interest a wide spectrum of tacular views of the San Francisco Bay prevention. The field guide can be accessed online at http:// the public, from serious hikers and geology students, to casual and has many miles of excellent hiking pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2006/16/. strollers and earth science novices. and riding trails. “The National Park Service relies on the organizations like Story written with contributions from Tom Brocher. 32 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 Elkhorn Slough harbors the largest tract of tidal Did You Feel It? salt marsh in California. ■ Elkhorn Slough (Santa Cruz and Citizen Science Goes Seismic Monterey County) — This is a kaya- king, wildlife-viewing wonderland. The seacliffs at Cove Beach in Año Nuevo State Park. ■ Año Nuevo State Park (San Mateo County) — Año Nuevo is host to large seasonal population of el- ephant seals and other marine mam- mals, and also has scenic beaches and access to coastal mountain hiking. This map shows responses for ZIP codes The rugged in the conterminous sea cliffs United States since along the Did You Feel It? coast trail in started. More than Wilder Ranch 500,000 individual State Park. responses have been measured. Earth- ■ Wilder Ranch State Park (Santa quakes have been felt Cruz County) — This park has many in all 50 states and in miles of hiking and riding trails, the U.S. territories. including trails along an undevel- oped 4-mile stretch of sea cliffs. By Heidi Koontz and David Wald ternet. In a couple of hours, with several The outcrops of thousand responses at times, a Commu- limestone ave you ever been As a result of work nity Internet Intensity Map shows where on the top through an earthquake? and how strongly the earthquake was felt of Black Did you know that re- by USGS with the and where damage has been reported. Mountain. porting your experience cooperation of The maps are then continuously ■ Black Mountain (Mid Peninsula during an earthquake updated as additional data are received. Open Space Preserve, San Mateo Hcan help save lives and property during various regional Did You Feel It? Summarizes the re- County) — This is an exceptional future quakes? sponses, and an intensity value is assigned hiking area within the central As a result of work by USGS with the seismic networks, to each ZIP code received. The intensity Santa Cruz Mountains. cooperation of various regional seismic may change as more questionnaires are networks, the world can log in on the In- the world can log in submitted, and the map reflects these Two large, fire-scorched ternet and tell USGS scientists what they on the Internet modifications. ZIP code areas are color- Coastal felt during an earthquake. coded according to the intensity scale that Redwoods By logging on to the USGS Earthquake and tell USGS accompanies the map. From the user’s in Big Basin Hazards Program Web site (http://earth- perspective, Did You Feel It? is interac- State Park. quake.usgs.gov) and clicking on the “Did scientists what tive, providing instantaneous feedback on ■ Big Basin State Park (Santa Cruz You Feel It?” link, the public can help they felt during an the individual’s intensity along with a link County) — This has a relatively provide information about the extent of back to the maps. untouched stand of great coastal red- shaking and damage during earthquakes. earthquake. During the past five years, more than woods, but the park also has many These “citizen scientists” may also pro- 500,000 reports for earthquakes ranging miles of hiking trails that extend vide specific details about how their area from magnitude 2.0 (New Jersey, April from the crest of the Santa Cruz may respond to future earthquakes. thing user-friendly for emergency per- 2004) to magnitude 7.9 (Alaska, Decem- Mountains, near Castle Rock State Did You Feel It? and ShakeMaps have sonnel to rely upon,” said Wald, who ber 2001) have been logged via the Did Park, to the coast at Año Nuevo. revolutionized the way earthquakes are created the software along with Vincent You Feel It? Web site. Events have been reported and how emergency responders Quitoriano and James Dewey. felt in every state in the nation, as well as One of the un- Not too long ago, the first thing that usual rock for- take action. in Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands mations along USGS scientist David Wald knew most people did after feeling an earth- and other U.S. territories. What’s more, the trail system these tools could help communicate post- quake was to turn on their television or other phenomena, often initially per- at Castle Rock earthquake information. But when he radio for information. Recently, more and ceived as earthquakes, have been widely State Park. wrote a computer program on a whim more people turn to the Internet instead, reported with Did You Feel It?, includ- ■ Castle Rock State Park (Santa in the late ’90s, he had no idea how not only to obtain information, but also to ing sonic booms from the space shuttle, Clara and Santa Cruz Counties) pivotal these instruments would be- share their experience of the earthquake. other supersonic aircraft and even me- — This park straddles the crest come to citizens, a.k.a. Net-izens, and Users enter their ZIP code and an- teors! Recently, the system went world- of Castle Rock Ridge in the cen- emergency responders. swer a list of questions, such as, “Did wide; and numerous responses for earth- tral Santa Cruz Mountains and “We wanted to make the science the earthquake wake you up?” and “Did quakes felt around the globe, including provides exceptional hiking and tangible and allow the users to tell us in objects fall off shelves?” These responses reports within thousands of miles of the rock-climbing opportunities. simple terms how the quake impacted are compiled into a database, and within magnitude-9.1 2004 great Sumatra them, so we could in turn create some- minutes, a map to take shape on the In- tsunami earthquake, were documented.

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 33 Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country Are You Prepared for “The Big One”?

By Tania Larson or sleep are clear of dangerous items — bookcases, glass picture frames and other arthquakes are scary be- heavy objects — that could fall during cause they are largely an earthquake. Other tidbits of wisdom unpredictable. We don’t are to prepare your loved ones for earth- know exactly when, where quakes by making disaster kits, practicing or with how much force earthquake safety with children, and mak- Ethey are going to strike, but we do know ing sure you don’t forget Fido and Fluffy they will strike again. It’s easy to feel pow- in your disaster-preparedness plan. erless in the face of such information, but So, what do you do when the earth there are several things you can do to pro- actually starts shaking? — “Drop, Cover tect yourself and your loved ones. In fact, and Hold On.” preparedness is key to survival. “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake About the Handbooks Country,” developed by the USGS and These practical guides to earthquake numerous partners, contains a wealth survival are the result of many groups of earthquake information. There are coming together to meet a public need. two versions of the handbook, one for When a magnitude-6.9 earthquake struck Northern California and one for Loma Prieta, Calif., on October 17, 1989, Southern. Both provide information to it caused extensive damages and took help you prepare for, survive and recover many lives. Many people, having seen from future earthquakes. the destructive power of earthquakes but “All Californians need to be made still having little understanding of how to aware of earthquake hazards and how protect themselves, came out of the event to survive them,” said California state with an overly heightened sense of fear; geologist John Parish. “This handbook is others thought they had survived “the big a valuable primer for preparedness.” “Putting Down Roots” cover art by Jere Smith. one” and came out with an overly height- Because earthquakes can strike pre- ened sense of safety. However, this earth- Peter Ward, now retired, was a USGS publication ever prepared by the USGS. viously unknown faults, even those quake, though strong and damaging, had seismologist at the time of the Loma The magnitude-6.7 Northridge earth- who don’t believe they are in an earth- only released 3 percent of the energy of Prieta earthquake. He said, “While we in quake in 1994, created the need for a book quake-prone area could benefit from the the “Great 1906 Quake” and was not “the the geosciences were studying the scien- targeting the southern part of the state, handbook’s clear explanations and practi- big one” that scientists believe is likely tific causes and effects of Loma Prieta, and “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake cal advice. to occur in the area. Something needed those in the social sciences asked us how Country — Your Handbook for Living in The handbook contains seven steps to to be done to give residents both a real- we could help them educate the public to Southern California” was produced. The earthquake safety and is filled with recom- istic understanding of the dangers and be better prepared for future earthquakes handbook was first written in 1995 by mendations you can start on today. One knowledge of the things they should do to that we told them would surely happen.” Lucy Jones, USGS scientist-in-charge for tip is to make sure areas where people sit protect themselves. In response, Ward contacted Red Cross Southern California. She said, “It took a officials and offered to year of my life but was extremely satisfy- write a booklet explaining ing. I was able to bring my understand- why and how frequently ing of earthquakes to many people and earthquakes occur in the reduce fear and empower change.” San Francisco Bay area Two million copies were printed and what people could do and distributed between 1995 and to prepare to survive fu- 2003. For the 10th anniversary of the ture earthquakes. Northridge earthquake, Jones teamed The Red Cross and oth- up with Mark Benthien, of the Southern er disaster-relief agencies California Earthquake Center, to update the pitched in the funds to handbook. produce the booklet, and Shortly after the Southern Califor- three months later, “The nia edition was updated, a version for Next Big Earthquake In Northern California was underway, and the Bay Area May Come “Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Sooner Than You Think Country — Your Handbook for the — Are You Prepared?” San Francisco Bay Region” was published was published. With a in 2005. pressrun of ultimately The creation and distribution of these more than 3 million booklets has been a phenomenal collab- copies, this helpful, easy- orative effort, bringing federal and state “Putting Down Roots” is full of helpful hints to protect you, your loved ones and your property from earthquake to-read booklet became agencies, private companies, nonprofit hazards. This cutaway diagram shows how weak cripple walls can be strengthened with properly attached the most widely distributed organizations and the media together to plywood sheets. 34 PEOPLE, LAND & WATER ★ April 2006 identify and meet the needs of local com- munities. Zoback said, “The amazing thing about ‘Roots’s’ Northern California version was A Profusion of Products and Events the coming together of all the groups and agencies in the greater Bay Area with ‘ownership’ of the earthquake problem for the 1906 Earthquake Centennial — science, engineering and emergency response. The best thing about the effort n addition to those already A 1906 ground- was that it was a true team collaboration, shaking simulation all 12 groups listed on the cover as au- mentioned in this publica- shows how the thors actually contributed to the writing tion, the U.S. Geological Sur- earthquake spread from its epicenter, in a significant way.” vey is involved with a number of products and several events about two miles This edition of the handbook is part west of the San of the 1906 Earthquake Centennial Icommemorating the 1906 centennial, Francisco Zoo, Alliance effort, and thanks to the Pacific many of which are listed below. Please and grew to cause Gas & Electric (PG&E) Foundation, continue to visit http://earthquake. strong shaking usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/ for more and damage along plans for the handbook now include more than 300 translation into Spanish and several information. miles of the San Asian languages. PRODUCTS Andreas Fault. When the new version was released, Harold Brooks, CEO of the Red Cross The USGS Gives Tours of the 1906 USGS Partnership Puts Curriculum cus on the 1906 earthquake, a century Bay Area Chapter, said, “The American San Francisco Earthquake — This Into the Classroom — The USGS has of progress in earthquake science and Red Cross will be working over the next USGS tour offers a variety of informa- created two new educational resources engineering and the likely impact of fu- three years to get more than 1 million ad- tion, from ground-shaking maps and to help teachers explain earthquake ture earthquakes in the Bay Area. Orga- ditional families in the Bay Area prepared fault locations to historic photographs science. nized by Disaster Resistant California, for a large earthquake. This handbook and quotes from those who were actual- the Seismological Society of America will play an important role in our train- ™ ly there. This tour uses Google Earth , “Earthquake Science Explained” and the Earthquake Engineering Re- ing efforts.” a computer program that combines sat- highlights how scientists study earth- search Institute. On September 18, 2005, booklets ellite imagery with geospatial informa- quakes, what evidence they collect were distributed to more than 500,000 tion to allow users to view and interact and what they have learned since the April or May readers in the Sunday edition of the with actual images of the Earth’s sur- 1906 Earthquake. Meet the Hayward Fault Face to San Francisco Chronicle. On April 9, face in three dimensions. 2006, the handbook was sent to more Face — The USGS will host “The “Living in Earthquake Country: A than 1 million readers with the Sunday Hayward Fault — An Interpretive View- The USGS Gives a Virtual Tour of Teaching Box,” a newly released on- Los Angeles Times, and upon completion, ing and Educational Exhibit” along the the Hayward Fault — This is a Web- line earthquake hazard resource, pro- the forthcoming Spanish version will be Hayward Fault, near Sailway Drive at based strip map. This tour offers a virtu- vides teachers with lessons including included in Oy, the LA Times’ Spanish Central Park in Fremont, Calif. al helicopter tour of the Hayward Fault fully developed hands-on earthquake language daily. The exhibit will feature a 12-to- with parcel scale resolution so that curriculum, teaching points and easy- “The real story of the success,” Zoback 15-foot-deep trench across the Hay- property owners can locate their land. to-reproduce handouts. said, “is the amazing continued demand ward Fault in Fremont. The fault is for the booklet.” The San Francisco Gen- easily visible within the sediments at this Two New USGS Maps Identify The USGS Unveils New Digital eral Hospital requested 5,000 copies for location, and visitors will be encour- San Francisco Bay Area Liquefaction their employees. The Solano County Jail Map to Show Active Portions of the aged to descend a staircase to meet the Risk — The first of these products is a requested 200 for concerned inmates. San Andreas Fault near San Francisco Hayward face to face. For safety reasons, new map of the young geologic depos- But Zoback thinks the best compliment to Help the Public Be Better Prepared the trench walls will not be vertical, and its in the low-lying sections of the Bay came from former ambassador and Sun- for Earthquakes — This is the first-ever the space will not feel too confining. Area. Some of these areas can undergo set Magazine publisher William (Bill) comprehensive digital strip map of the liquefaction, the phenomenon in which Lane. She said, “Bill called and said he San Andreas Fault on the San Francisco Recreation of the Famous 1906 saturated soils lose their stiffness and loved ‘Roots’ and wanted to give a copy peninsula. The map features new, more Kite Photograph of San Francisco strength during shaking, and some can to every household in his town, Portola accurate mapping of the 1906 fault rup- After the Earthquake and Fire — The greatly increase the severity of shaking Valley. He drove his station wagon to our ture and also includes digital versions Drachen Foundation and the USGS’ that is transmitted through the deposits. office, and we loaded up 21 boxes (2,100 of previous paper-only maps along with Scott Haefner recreate photographer The second of the map products, de- copies!) in the back. He then took them earthquake reports from the 1906 earth- George Lawrence’s famous aerial im- rived from the first map, shows the like- to the Menlo Park post office where he quake, designated fault hazard zones, age of San Francisco, taken from a kite lihood that these young deposits will paid to have the postmaster deliver one to trenches and historical photos. three weeks after the earthquake and liquefy due to the strong shaking a big every household in Portola Valley.” fire of 1906. earthquake will produce. A Web site was created that allows EVENTS people to order up to 10 copies of the Late May/Early June handbook, and Zoback is happy to report Two New USGS Maps Show the April 18 USGS Open House in Menlo that many people are ordering multiple Bay Area’s Active Faults and Geo- Park — This is an opportunity for the copies. She said, “We were sending them logic Materials — The first of these “Shock Waves: 100 Years After the to auto body shops, beauty shops, etc. products is a new map of the known 1906 Earthquake” — The USGS’ public and partners to see displays of — absolutely the best type of grass roots Quaternary-active faults in the Bay Area Steve Wessels hosts this one-hour docu- USGS research and talk to scientists distribution, folks giving them to folks that have pushed up mountains and mentary, scheduled for prime time on about their work in a variety of fields. they care about.” generated earthquakes over the past San Francisco Bay Area CBS affiliate A special earthquake tent will focus on If you would like copies for yourself 2 million years. KPIX Channel 5. 1906 and other topics. There will also and loved ones, visit http://pubs.usgs. The second product is a new map of be interactive displays and activities for gov/gip/2005/15 or call the Red Cross the geologic materials and structures of April 18-22 adults and children. the Bay Area. at (510) 595-4459 for the Northern The International Earthquake California Handbook. For the Southern, Conference — The conference will fo- go to http://www.earthquakecountry.info/.

April 2006 ★ PEOPLE, LAND & WATER 35 U.S. Dept. of the Interior Prsrt Std Mail Stop 6013 POSTAGE & FEES PAID 1849 C St. NW U.S. Dept. of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 Permit No. G-832 Official Business Penalty for Private Use $300