i hope not, i have friends there so i worry sometimes.
2006-06-30 02:24:56 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
There was a report from the US-GS that the southern California area has a lot of stress and is ready to let go any time soon.
2006-06-30 05:59:38 · answer #1 · answered by Luchador 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A section of the San Andreas fault near Parkfield has fairly regular earthquakes - producing a magnitude 6 quake every 20 years or so.
One of the faults generating the most concern is the Hayward fault in Alameda county (in the San Francisco Bay area). Not only is it "due" (scientists expect a large earthquake sometime in the next 20 years), but if you take a map of Alameda county and put a push-pin in every school, fire station and hospital, then connect the dots, you'll (more or less) get a picture of the Hayward fault.
There is good news, however. California has a very strict and properly enforced building code that deals with seismic safety of buildings. The danger is buildings that are either built on landfill (like the Marina district in San Francisco) or are not built to code. Every time there's an earthquake, the buildings not built to code wind up either damaged or destroyed and must be rebuilt. When they're rebuilt, they're rebuilt to the modern codes and will be much safer next time. So as we get more and more earthquakes, the damage they do will hopefully become less devastating over time. Earthquakes will always make a mess - clearing store shelves and china cabinets and the like. But I doubt we'll ever see the level of devastation of the 1906 quake and fire again.
2006-06-30 10:22:19 · answer #2 · answered by nwsayer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eventually yes. you cant control the faults. new monitering techniques keep track but they cant control or ease the pressure. some pieces of land along the fault have been shifted nearly ten feet over the past few years showing that pressure is building up. as soon as it breaks the pressure will go. boom.
though as someone else has already pointed out, there are new building codes that should prevent most damage done by eathquakes, there are hundreds upon hundreds of buildings built before that time, and when the next earthquake comes, sure you'll have a chance to rebuild but also all the people in those old buildings will be wiped out too.
anyone crazy enough to live there with the danger is bound to get it someday. but... since its so pretty there or whatever, and humans are pretty dumb they'll build over the tragedy of the past eathquakes and forget.
so yes... california is due with a hundred or two years ( i think thats how long..)
2006-07-01 18:15:56 · answer #3 · answered by jess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although it is true no one can predict when exactly an earthquake will hit, recent studies on stress levels of the southern faults in California show them to be overdue (statistically) for a large earthquake.
San Francisco should be getting a large one fairly soon as well. So, yes.
2006-07-01 17:05:52 · answer #4 · answered by izackcarson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a matter if time.
If small earthquake happen from time to time then major earthquake may not happen in a short time as its release energy that is needed for major earthquake.
When the plate underneath California accummulate enough energy (by moving plates) and release in one time, this is the tie major earthquake strike CA.
2006-06-30 11:50:12 · answer #5 · answered by Ho K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
with the sandreas fault consitently shifting a major earthquake will eventually happen. it is very difficult to determine when but it is do. southern cali usually has atleast two earthquakes a that are soft enough to not be felt which means that the underlying rock is constantly in motion. once it reaches a specific point with enough friction and movement it will eventually cause a massive earthquake.
2006-06-30 09:32:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the experts, a big one is due in So Cal at anytime. I live on the Hayward Fault in the East Bay. Hey - I don't worry about it. If it happens, it happens. All your friends can do is be prepared.
2006-06-30 14:47:18 · answer #7 · answered by Blond Logic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who knows? We can't predict earthquakes. I'm sure everywhere is due for something. It'll probably happen sometime in the next hundred thousand years.
2006-06-30 09:30:20 · answer #8 · answered by Michael R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Experts are not sure when or where the next one will be. I think there will be another one in the next 200 years. Tokyo is due a massive one as it is on 3 fault lines!!
2006-06-30 09:29:18 · answer #9 · answered by The Ollster 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think california is in for a big earth quake , as all of them seem to have shifted to indonesia . I think soon indonesia will be pushed towards mainland asia , and we might have some big mountain range like the mighty himalayas , so for now chill ,,,
2006-06-30 13:36:54 · answer #10 · answered by viji 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋