A Berkeley study of the San Andreas fault after the 2004 Sumatra earthquake found a heightened number of earthquakes that run up in our spot. On the upside, though, their magnitude was also smaller than normal.
But the researchers’ conclusions are still speculative, according to some. Though the data the researchers were working with was extensive, it was gathered from a long time ago, a real long time ago—about 20 years. Thus they were able to compare a whole heap of data points from way before Slim Shady was in demand to that of the post-2004 San Andreas land—including Parkfield, which is where the data comes from.
Which reminds us of the looming threat of the big one and what we can do to be prepared.
Image Source: Frank’s Images under Creative Commons
UC Berkeley study ties 2004 Sumatra quake to California temblors [LA Times]
This LA Times article about the latest earthquake findings may be a little too scientific for the average, blog-reading Joe, so let’s break it down for you: for the past few years, scientists have tested ultra-sensitive pressure detection devices in the San Andreas fault. So far, these devices possibly predicted two earthquakes–one measuring a magnitude 1, and the other measuring a magnitude 3–up to 10.5 hours before they both occurred. More experiments are necessary, however, before we can all jump for joy and confirm that the devices do, indeed, predict tremors with accuracy.
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No, the most dangerous place in Berkeley is not your lecture hall during an O-Chem final. It’s not Eshleman Hall during an earthquake either.
Where is it then? In the hills, alive with the sound of residents totally freaking out.
East Bay Express reports that the Panoramic Hill neighborhood is at risk:
bq. It’s up where million-dollar homes are vulnerable to fires and earthquakes, and where the only road in or out is a one-lane street too narrow and winding for a full-size fire truck, let alone a smooth escape route for panicking residents.
Oh, the troubles of living in a million-dollar home. On a hill. With just a terrible view of the bay.
OK, so living in the Panoramic Hill area isn’t all peachy keen. Apparently, it’s long overdue for an alternate access road. According to EBE, Berkeley wanted to consider the feasibility of the road in the ’50s and then again in the ’70s. But nothing ever came of it.
Maybe this time around, the city will look into doing something about increasing the safety (or at least decreasing the risk) of the neighborhood.
But the more important point is does any Berkeley student even really care?
Probably not, considering half of you are in SoCal right now.
A Dangerous Place [East Bay Express]
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