California earthquake swarm

I was in my cabin along the Colorado River north of Blythe, California. Very significant shaking there, lasting for about 40 seconds Back and forth motion north to south. I did not hear the p wave, but the stereo was on playing Top Country (more sh*t on my boots).

 

The p wave is very distinct from any other acoustic experience. In 2001, I was working in my office east of Seattle on the second floor of an engineering firm. For the previous 5 years, or so, I had collaborated with scientists on producing design manuals for earthquake-related bridge construction. I recall several fascinating discussions with the science team related to the p-wave. On that morning, I heard the sound of the p-wave, and immediately left the building. Seconds later the s-waves hit. A 6.9, the Nisqually quake caused billions in damage. Although our building only suffered from fallen objects (a file cabinet in my office tipped over), it was a very memorable experience.

This most recent Cali Quake is the largest in over 20 years, and much larger than the Northridge event of 1994.

 

Magnitude is not linear. It's exponential. Essentially, each successive magnitude is 33 times larger than the last. That means a magnitude-8.0 earthquake is 33 times stronger than a 7.0, and a magnitude-9.0 earthquake is 1,089 (33 x 33) times more powerful than a 7.0 — the energy ramps up fast.

 

I was in an engineering facility north of Seattle, also on the second floor. I heard what sounded like rumblings in the mezzanine below, before we figured out it was a quake. The space under the nearest table was quickly fully occupied, so I headed for an exit instead, getting hit by multiple falling ceiling tiles on the way. As I got out, my impression was that half the facility's ceiling tiles had come down. But upon re-entry, discovered that it was less than two dozen fallen total, I just happened to be under the place that lost the most.

There was lots of other acoustic ceiling tile damage though. The main building, the stairwell structures on the sides, and the suspended fire sprinkler system, all moved and swayed separately. The result was that many sprinkler heads greatly enlarged their holes through the tiles. And there were many partially crunched tiles adjacent to those stairwells.

Workers with south side window views could see the surface waves approaching through the parking lot.

 

how I learned about earthquakes

RIP Mark Spits (The Lab Rat)

 

I've been fortunate not to get stuck in a big one. I felt many minor ones, and two medium ones between living in Alaska and California.

Oddly enough the Northridge quake affected me in an automotive context even though I lived in Massachusetts that year. My VW had rusted out its exhaust and I ordered a new system... from a shop in LA county. It was an extra week or so for the parts to show up. Looking back, I'm kind of impressed it was that little of a delay.

 

my favorite earthquake fun fact read recently was that in order to reach magnitude 12, the Earth would have to split in half.
I'd watch that

.

 

from your living room.

i only know enough not to move to cali

 

Wise move. were making plans to move out of CA as soon as possible.

 

don't come here, it's horrible!

 

no were 98% sure were moving to AZ or TX.

 

Don't move to the Northwest. The Cascadia Subduction Zone along the Washington/Oregon/ BC coast will be source of the big one. And don't install gas appliances. That's what causes the fires. Multi-story buildings? No dice -- soft story collapse. Stay away from oceans -- tsunamis. Non-flat areas: watch out for landslides.

 

hmm...

i don't think i'd be happy in either place year round. but if you're used to the heat, it's different i suppose

 

heat I can handle as long as it's a dry heat with as little humidity as possible. heat+humidity is the killer.

 

agreed