Earthquake and Seismology

Scripps Geological Collections are an important cornerstone of Scripps Oceanography's invaluable scientific collections. Join collections manager Alex Hangsterfer and curator Richard Norris as they reveal the treasure trove of samples housed at Scripps. Hear some of the fascinating stories behind how these samples were collected and learn about the incredible variety of investigations that they enable from plate tectonics to earthquakes to archaeology. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 33841]

Although many recent advances, such as building codes and construction techniques, have reduced some aspects of risk to natural disasters, other features of modern society— including population density and the networking of transportation, power facilities, and communications systems—have led to increased vulnerability in California and beyond. Lucy Jones, Science Advisor for Risk Reduction, U.S. Geological Survey, discusses and answers questions about interdisciplinary research to measure the vulnerabilities of modern society and ways to increase society’s ability to respond to future events. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Science] [Show ID: 30175]

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes seismologist Lucy Jones for a discussion of science, natural disasters and public education. Topics covered: the trajectory of her career, attributes of a scientist, earthquake prediction, science education, and effective communication between scientists and the public. The conversation concludes with lessons learned. Series: "Conversations with History" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 30204]

Most people think that in the United States, the area around the San Andreas Fault poses the highest risk for a large earthquake. But the risk for a "great earthquake" and tsunami is highest in the Pacific Northwest. Join seismologist Diego Melgar and learn about the risks, the geologic forces behind the potential for a truly massive U.S. earthquake, and efforts underway to build warning systems for the western U.S. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 29994]

If you live with the potential of earthquakes it is important to be prepared. Matthew Springer, UCSF Professor of Medicine, gives specific strategies about how to secure your home, yourself and your pets. Series: "Osher WISE: Well-being and Integrative Science for Everyone" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 29289]

Computer simulations of earthquake shaking can provide valuable information on the expected intensity of shaking from earthquakes. Arthur Rodgers, a seismologist/geophysicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, covers seismic hazard in the Bay Area, describes computer simulations of past and possible future earthquakes and looks at the physics that underlies the numerical methods. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 29612]

Richard Allen, professor and director of the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, discusses the lessons learned from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which was centered on a section of the San Andreas Fault near Santa Cruz. It shook Northern California at 5:04 p.m., causing 63 deaths, several thousand injuries, and $6 billion in property damage, including the collapse of a section of the upper deck of the Bay Bridge, a section of the Interstate 880 freeway in Oakland, and many residential homes in San Francisco’s Marina District. Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Science] [Show ID: 29314]

Join Neal Driscoll for an illuminating look at how Scripps scientists are working to understand and monitor earthquakes. Learn how scientists model the potential impacts of major events in Southern California. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 28674]

Join geophysicist Michael Hedlin as he describes how the exciting new field of atmospheric acoustics is allowing researchers to listen to Earth as never before. Discover how researchers tune into sounds in the atmosphere to learn more about dynamic Earth processes—from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to meteorite impacts. You'll be surprised at what you can hear when you know how to listen! Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 24911]

The probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake in the Greater Bay Area during the next 30 years is 63 percent, or about two out of three. Lawrence Livermore National Lab scientist Sean Ford and teacher Ken Wedel discuss what an earthquake of that size in the Bay Area would look like and explain its effects. Just like an earthquake, a nuclear test can cause seismic disturbances that are recorded at monitoring stations around the world. Learn how seismologists tell the difference between these two sources by sleuthing seismic signals. Series: "Lawrence Livermore National Lab Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 24772]