Cascadia Fault Line Huge

Ever since the massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck Japan, I've been thinking a lot about my friends in Oregon. Why? Because the impending "Big One" that Californians are nervous about is actually a lot more likely to occur off the coast of Oregon—and would be an even "Bigger One" there.

The Cascadia Subduction Zone, which sits off the coast of Oregon, was the site of the largest known earthquake to have ever struck the Lower 48 American states: a magnitude 9 megathrust in early 1700 that sent a tsunami crashing into the Pacific coast, and across the ocean to Japan.
Andy Revkin, whose post immediately after the Japan quake alerted me to the Cascadia earthquake threat, ran this note from Yumei Wang, an Oregon-based earthquake analyst and expert.

The average time between magnitude 8 and larger Cascadia earthquakes is about 240 years (see page 8, Cascadia earthquake timeline, based on Chris Goldfinger’s data, Oregon State University). The last megaquake, estimated as a magnitude 9, occurred in 1700 — that’s 311 years ago. In geologic terms, Cascadia is “9 months pregnant” and overdue.

Even though geologists identified 41 past Cascadia megaquakes, they cannot pinpoint exactly when the next Cascadia earthquake will strike. Nonetheless, engineers can design and build to withstand earthquake shaking. Now is the time to take preparations seriously, safeguard those in harm’s way, and strengthen aging critical infrastructure.

New Earthquake Fault Found Under Mt Hood

Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in Oregon, has a secret, scientists revealed. Covered by trees and plants is an earthquake fault that stretches for miles from the iconic mountain. The fault appears to have been recently active, and could be an earthquake threat today, reported the Portland Oregonian. Scientists said the last time the fault ruptured, possibly as a magnitude 6 or 7 earthquake, the ground ripped six feet (1.8 meters) apart. The fault was discovered by scientists flying over Mt. Hood using lasers to scan the terrain.

The fault is about 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) long and stretches from the northern flank of Mount Hood to the Columbia River. Earthquakes are not a foreign concept to Oregonians. The nearby Cascadia Subduction Zone could unleash a magnitude 9 earthquake, similar to the size of the deadly earthquake that ruptured in Japan. Scientists aren’t sure how big of an earthquake could rupture from the new Mount Hood fault.

The research team, from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, are now working to estimate the threat that the fault poses to nearby communities. “We don’t know where all the seismic faults exist in Oregon. We don’t know how often they cause earthquakes,” Oregon State University engineer Michael Olsen, told the Oregonian.

“That leads to a lot of uncertainty when we try to design buildings,” he says, that are sufficiently resistant to earthquake damage. In the coming weeks, scientists will dig a trench above the fault line so they can examine the soil for clues about past earthquakes. Looking at how the gravel and dirt has settled after past quakes could tell scientists about the size of previous quakes along the fault

6 Strange Things About Virgina Quake

'My first thought upon hearing the news of the rare 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Virginia this week was that it was not a natural occurrence. After all, no one has ever felt or even heard of such a powerful temblor happening in this area in a lifetime. As is usual for my cynical instincts, I hoped that I was wrong. However, several anomalies indicate that something is not normal with the Virginia quake.

First, I spend a lot of time in the "Ring of Fire" zone and have experienced numerous earthquakes. By no means does this make me an expert, nor scientifically qualified to analyze earthquakes. But, as enthusiasts, we looked up every quake we felt over a five-year period -- the size, epicenter location, depth, and so on, to get a general sense of placing how it "felt" relative to the official data.'

10,000 Quakes German Czeck Border Area

Here is the information the Czech Geophysics site has regarding the 10,000 earthquakes:

The activity started in the evening of 23 August and is almost continuous till now (27 August morning). Almost 10 000 events were recorded in total up to now. Already eight M>3.0 events and hundreds of M>2.0 events occurred.

Something happening here.

HAARP, Hurrican And DC Earthquake Connection?

'New York City and Washington, DC experienced a rather powerful, shallow earthquake this afternoon, just as a category 1 hurricane is making its way towards the Eastern seaboard. While these two events seem to be completely seperate, I have a feeling that they could be connected. Follow me down this rabbit hole, if you will, in a short exercise in conspiracy theory building.

In 1997, US Secretary of Defense William Cohen made the following statement at a well-attended conference on weapons of mass destruction, “Others (terrorists) are engaging even in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves…. So, there are plenty of ingenious minds out there that are at work finding ways in which they can wreak terror upon other nations… It’s real, and that’s the reason why we have to intensify our own counterterrorism efforts.”'

Ring Of Fire Earthquake Map

Do We Face the 'Big One' and Soon?

Prescient geologist Jim Berkland says yes

The Earth is living, moving and continually active. Where and how we live has a very significant impact on how any disaster will effect us. Living in a high rise building in a huge city with few roads out of town will create a different scenario that where we are.

For example. We are 12 miles outside of SmallTown USA. The small town is <4,000, population, the entire county is <20,000. Portland Oregon is 2.5 hours away, Seattle is almost 5 hours away. No tall buildings here, plenty of game, fish and open areas. This type of area is where many city people will try to find friendly faces if they need to get out of Dodge.

Most people have gardens, can food, have private water wells, many are off grid and are already on the "leading edge" of being poor. You can't eat money though, can you?

It's good that we use our own intelligence to evaluate risks and try to avoid them. Just like calling ahead for a winter pass report. No point in charging head first into an avalanche if we can avoid it.

We can't control the winds, we can only adjust our sails and act accordingly. No matter what happens in the days to come, we'll all be making some type of preparation, adjusting our sails and try to stay informed. Not much point in a panic.

Bridges you cross before you get to them, are over rivers that aren't there....not my quote, but a good one, don't you think?

Huge NZ Earthquake

22 Feb 11 - Christchurch has been hit by a 6.3 magnitude quake 5km deep and 10km southeast of the city – closer and shallower than the 7.1 jolt that hit the city on September 4.


Here's how reports describe the scene:

Horror and chaos. Dead bodies lying around. Christchurch Airport closed. Cars completely crushed. Emergency services trying to extract people from rubble. People trapped in buildings. "Very violent" shaking.

Roads completely torn up. Sewage coming up and flooding. Elderly are all crying. People can't get out of their houses. Cars halfway sunken into the road. A bus sunken halfway into the road

It smells horrible. Roads packed with cars. Not enough police or ambulances. Houses all collapsing. A total war zone. Many large aftershocks. The spire on the Christchurch Cathedral has collapsed.