Is there gonna be a huge earthquake in California soon?

5 comments

1. 

   Tgregoryt on June 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm

   "The big one" means different things to different people. Here in Florida "The Big One" is a Cat-5 hurricane moving north up I-95. In California, the "Big One" likely refers to a potential earth quake.

   There is no doubt that there will be several large earthquakes in the California region. This region is on a strike/slip tectonic plate boundary, which are known to create the largest earthquakes. When, how large, and precisely where they will occur, however – nobody knows this.

   We know that the San Andreas Fault is due to rupture. I think historical evidence suggests that it ruptures every 60 years or so, and it's been one hundred. This is why people think that San Fransisco will have the next "big one" – at least for California.

   There are many faults in Southern California as well, and most of these are known to harbor a lot of stress. Sooner or later that stress will be released.

   The problem is that nobody can predict an earthquake. Nor do we know whether the earthquake will be one big one, or several little ones. All we have is historical data that says "there was an earthquake here before, so there will probably be one here again".

   I believe they have made some progress in determining when earthquakes will strike. Essentially the stress in the area must get high enough fro the rock to rupture. So if you could calculate the stress, or perhaps see some sort of indication that the stress is approaching some threshold, then you can predict the earthquake. At the moment, however, we can't do that. Suffice it to say that the both the Los Angeles basin and the San Fransisco area are scheduled for a large quake, and probably within our lifetimes.

2. 

   ggaryusa on June 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm

   Probably not in our lifetime

3. 

   lovely_babix3 on June 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm

   omg i heard alot too
   but they say it might occur on november 13?
   but then u cant reallly predict..
   i saw it in a vietnamese newspaper >__<
   freaking scary

4. 

   Number 206 on June 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm

   Have there been any small earthquakes in the area lately? If so, then there probably won't be a really big one for a few years. As California is on a tectonic plate that slides past another (called transverse plate movement) it generates a lot more friction than by other means of plate movement, which is the main cause of earthquakes. As the friction builds up because of the plates sliding past each other, one trigger that forces the plates past in a big jolt releases a MASSIVE amount of energy, which will be your earthquake.

   If there have been several smaller ones, it means there is not as much friction building up, as it is constantly being released. However, if there have not been very many earthquakes for a while, it means the friction has had a longer time to stack up.

   Hope this helped!

5. 

   A.Ganapathy India on June 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm

   You can not predict or prevent it.you must learn to live with the threat.Read this.
   Methods for prediction of earthquakes & Tsunami
   Even though it is difficult to predict, the following methods may help.
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   1. Seismic gape: – The earthquake at a particular place may occur for every fixed gape of time. By knowing the past records of the quakes affected at that place may help to decide when the earthquake is next due.
   2. Planet position.: – When the stress is accumulated at the tectonic plate boundary and the same time if the position of more than 2 planets comes in a straight line this may help to accelerate the earthquakes. There fore the full moon days and new moon days are more vulnerable days for earthquakes. Some time this method fails why? Think of a sick patient. New moon and full moon days are dangerous for only sick patents. These days will not affect the healthy people. The same way if there is no accumulated stress at the tectonic plate boundaries no need to worry about the planet positions.
   3. Sun rays falling method: – If you observe the position of the sun rays falling on our wall at a particular time on all days it should form an angular infinity symbol. If there is any deviation in its path it means that there is some difference in height of the earth. That means some strain noticed at that place. Somebody claims that they can predict the place of epicenter by observing this. The laser beam measuring method of earth height from satellite also will help.
   4. MDCB:- Chinese scientist claims that they can predict up to 60 % accuracy by sensing electro magnetic rays.
   5. Cloud forming: – Few hours to a few days before the occurrence of earthquakes a cloud reader claims that he has noticed a peculiar mosaic type of formation .We may also notice some lightening in the sky.
   6. By sound :- A professor from Ajmeer University claims that he was able to hear a low frequency noise under 125 meter depth in a bore well. The same thing was reported by one Mr. Nair that he heard some roaring noise under the earth one week before the occurrence of earthquake in Gujarat.
   7. By frequency of waves :- Mr Richter Allen of Berkley University claims that he can decide the magnitude of earthquake just 4 seconds after observing the frequency of the primary wave. Present method needs the full seismographic picture to find the real magnitude that too from as many places as possible to have fairly accurate results. His claim has got some truth because when there is a slip of bigger tectonic plate the frequency of quake will be less. If a small tectonic plate slips the frequency of the waves will be more.
   8. There are several changes in nature and in the behaviors of animals and birds can be observed before an earthquake and Tsunami. The water level in well may change. Stay away from beaches if you sense earthquake waves. The Tsunami may attack long after the shaking is stopped. I wrote several articles on these subjects.
   Have one simple earthquake alarm installed in your house.

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