Will the “golden state” befall fate Atlantis?
Photos from open sources
Sixteen major lithospheric plates of our planet are located in movement. They remind us that they do not stand still earthquakes that have killed over the past 7 years more than half a million people. The most destructive were earthquake in Southeast Asia in 2004 in Haiti in 2010 and in Japan in early March. Where next time can a powerful release of energy to the surface of the earth’s crust occurs? One of the most unstable places, scientists consider tectonic San Andreas fault on the US West Coast. And some even I am sure that natural disasters can be fatal for California …
The Pacific coast of North America is one of the most active seismic zones of our planet. There are two huge lithospheric plates – Pacific and North American, according to the boundaries of which are the breaks of the earth’s crust. San Andreas Fault – one of the borders between these two plates. It stretches for 1300 km from southwest to northeast, diagonally crossing the state of California. Its depth averages 16 km. Over the past 3 million years the average plate velocity along this fault was 5.6 cm per year. At about this rate, a person’s nails grow.
Pacific plate moves northwest, North American – to the southeast. When moving, they constantly touch, which in ultimately is the cause of earthquakes. Deep beneath ground slabs run into protrusions of hard rock, thereby Locking on top of each other. The longer the “lock” holds, the more splash of energy on the surface of the earth’s crust.
California remembers …
The city of San Francisco, almost at the edge of the rift San Andreas already experienced a similar release of accumulated energy. It was here that an earthquake occurred on April 18, 1906. which, according to various estimates, amounted to 7.8-8.3 points on a scale Richter. At the beginning of the 20th century there was no concept of earthquake-resistant construction. Therefore san francisco was almost completely destroyed. Due to explosions in gas communications, the city was engulfed in fire. Wooden houses flashed like matches. Then died about 3,000 people, at least 225 thousand were left homeless. Break Earth’s crust could be observed over 470 km. Depth some cracks reached 1 meter and a width of 6.4 meters.
Once again, San Andreas loudly announced himself on April 17, 1989. The epicenter of a powerful earthquake was 10 km from the mountain peak Loma Prieta. Fortunately, at that time many buildings were built already taking into account the increased seismic activity of the region. However 62 people died, more than 3 thousand were injured. At least 18 thousand houses were destroyed – mainly in the city of Santa Cruz, where many old buildings of the late XIX – early XX century have been preserved.
The two examples cited are the most famous and dramatic with the point of view of human loss and destruction. However in history California, they are not the only ones. Land of the Golden State walks with a walker on average 30 times a day. Only in the last two US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded over 10 weeks tremors with a capacity of 3 to 3.5 points, not to mention weaker fluctuations. In theory, this is even good, since similar small shakes should prevent the accumulation of excess energy potential. But…
A photo from open sources
Calm before the storm
The fact is that in addition to the “great and terrible” San Andreas by There are many minor faults and cracks in the vicinity. how at least five large enough. Tremors occurred mainly in these cracks and faults. In the fault itself San Andreas intense seismic activity was observed only in its northern part. While in its central segment the last major earthquake occurred in 1857, i.e. more 150 years ago. The more time passes since the last tangible tectonic shift, the higher the probability of a powerful earthquakes in the future. In this regard, particular concern is the southern segment of San Andreas, which has been in suspicious silence. Concerns increase as that in this area are densely populated cities such as Riverside, Long Beach and Los Angeles. For scientists, one thing is clear: powerful California earthquake is inevitable. It is only a matter of time.
Fortune telling
The most authoritative forecast of UCERF was compiled by a group of scientists and experts from the USA. The most likely place for a strong shake is South California, this is where the last three hundred years have been disturbing. calmness. According to UCERF forecast, earthquake M≥6.7 will happen with a probability of 99.7% in the next 30 years. This is indeed study gives 46% in favor of a possible earthquake with power M≥7.5 during the same period of time. Research however held 4 years ago. And during this time the conditions have changed and variable factors that should have affected the final result.
In the Russian earthquake prediction center “Geokwijk” suggest that Americans are wrong. In exchange it is offered the mysterious method of seismic entropy that prepared disappointing conclusions for the Americans. A place of increased risk as in the previous forecast, Southern California became. That’s just in “Geoquake” believe that an earthquake of strength M≥7.5 should occur until 2016. At the same time, it is possible that trouble can happen to north of Los Angeles as early as 2011.
Yuri Fialko, professor at the Scripp Institute of Oceanography, jointly with colleagues tried to evaluate the consequences of a possible seismic gap, again in Southern California. The basis was taken an earthquake of 7.8 points with the epicenter in Bombay Beach. According to calculations Violet, a trembling earth can last about a minute. With such power and durations, even earthquake-resistant buildings may simply not withstand the load and collapse. According to the most conservative estimates of mister Fialko, in the event of such shocks, at least 1800 people will die, tens of thousands will be injured. Economic damage will be no less than $ 200 billion. As a useful advice, a professor at the Institute Oceanography Scripp recommends that you get all the inhabitants of the state an elementary emergency plan. Fire extinguishers and facilities must be provided first aid. It is also important to have supplies of drinking water, which enough for at least a few days.
“Even computer technology doesn’t will help … ”
But the most fantastic are the assumptions, actively discussed in Russia. Allegedly in case of a powerful earthquake half of California can slide into the ocean, that is, simply sink.
“MK” decided to contact a specialist Bred EGARDO from US Geological Survey (USGS) to ask if California to suffer the fate of Atlantis.
– Not. Plates move parallel to each other along the fault San Andreas. None fall lower in relation to the other. Los Angeles is shifting northwest as it is on Pacific plate. But at the same time its height above sea level is not is changing.
– What part of San Andreas is the most risky?
– The most dangerous section is its southern part, which located east of Los Angeles, closer to the Mexican border. Here, for several centuries, no serious seismic activity. While in the northern part of the fault there was a discharge in the form of an earthquake of 1906.
– How active are the remaining faults and cracks in California?
– Very active. Relatively recently, there were several major earthquakes caused by tectonic processes in these faults. For example, the 1992 earthquakes in Lenders and 1994 in Northridge, both caused considerable destruction and death dozens of people.
Hayward Rogers Creek Fault East of San Francisco the probability of a major earthquake is 30%. Hayward Rogers The scream runs parallel to San Andreas and is part of a common system California Rifts. Roughly the same chance of a break San hosinto. It is like an offshoot of San Andreas.
– Can existing warning systems in the USA earthquakes help avoid serious human loss?
– The main measure to prevent deaths is construction rules and regulations. Buildings are built so that they can withstand tremors and did not collapse. Currently in California doesn’t have systems reporting the slightest gender fluctuations, which are available in Japan. But even the most modern computer technology will not help if you are close to the epicenter earthquakes, because the speed of seismic waves is very high.
A photo from open sources
“It comes without warning”
Dr. Alan Lind of the US Geological Survey (USGS) at one time rightly remarked: “An earthquake causes great fear in people because it comes without warning. This is probably the only event besides atomic warfare capable in 10 seconds raze your beautiful city. ”
Natural disasters remind people of how far we are from status of the master of nature. Against the backdrop of global processes such as movement of lithospheric plates and earthquakes caused by it, man looks tiny and helpless. Japan is the most advanced country technology, and she was able to survive after a crushing blow elements. The courage of the Japanese people is admirable.
But what if an earthquake were 1.5 times more powerful? Not no guarantee that disaster will be much greater strength. After all, we know so little about the internal structure of our planet, that it’s hardly possible to speak with confidence about something. What potential does she keep in her bowels?
But our civilization continues to exist as if everything in our hands. We are like insects on the surface of a thin earth’s crust. We build our anthills. We drill holes in the planet, deflate it juices. We destroy and poison the life around us. In the best traditions “scientific and technical Bolshevism” we destroy the temple of nature and We sell its values. There are still clean and untouched on the planet corners, but every year they are less and less. Humanity is already more than once pressed her limbs in the process of transformation environment into one big “workshop.” And it is possible that one of the “machines” we ourselves will saw off his head. After all, most of all we suffer from our own inventions. The most tragic the consequence of the March earthquake in Japan was an accident on NUCLEAR POWER STATION. An object that generates energy and should make it easier for us. life, turned into a nightmare in reality. And if it shook so that Would a giant wave destroy several nuclear power plants at once? And I would dare them to the base, and we would get something worse than 10 Chernobyls put together. The planet will survive a full-blown nuclear disaster. True, the cleansing of the radioactive infection will take as at least several hundred thousand years. But the earth, given its length life cycle, has a similar reserve of time. And here we are – not.
Atlantis Time Life Earthquake Russia USA Japan
