Then again, it's got "The Rock" in it, so why wouldn't it be cool? :-)
Posted on 09/30/2016 10:21:16 AM PDT by b4its2late
A series of quakes under the Salton Sea may be a signal that the San Andreas Fault is on the verge of buckling. For the next few days, the risk of a major earthquake along the fault is as high as 1 in 100. Which, holy crap.
The United States Geological Survey has been tracking a series of earthquakes near Bombay Beach, California. This “earthquake swarm” is happening under the Salton Sea, and over 140 events have been recorded since Monday September 26. The quakes range from 1.4 to 4.3 in magnitude, and are occurring at depths between 2.5 to 5.5 miles (4 to 9 km).
For seismologists, these quakes could represent some seriously bad news. The swarm is located near a set of cross-faults that are connected to the southernmost end of the San Andreas Fault. Troublingly, some of these cross-faults could be adding stress to the San Andreas Fault when they shift and grind deep underground. Given this region’s history of major earthquakes, it’s got some people a bit nervous.
Calculations show that from now until October 4, the chance of a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake happening along the Southern San Andreas Fault is as high as 1 in 100, and as low as 1 in 3,000. On the plus side, the likelihood of it happening decreases with each passing day. These estimates are based on models developed to assess the probabilities of earthquakes and aftershocks in California.
“Swarm-like activity in this region has occurred in the past, so this week’s activity, in and of itself, is not necessarily cause for alarm,” cautions the USGS.
That being said, this is only the third swarm that has been recorded in this area since sensors were installed in 1932, and it’s much worse than the ones recorded in 2001 and 2009. This particular stretch of the San Andreas Fault hasn’t ruptured since 1680, and given that big quakes in this area happen about once every 150 to 200 years, this fault line is considerably overdue. 'Double-Fault' Earthquake Could Devastate Southern California
A big fear is that the rupturing of the southern portion of the San Andreas fault could cause a domino effect along the entire stretch, cracking the fault from Imperial County through to Los Angeles County. Another possibility is that the Salton Sea swarm could cause the nearby San Jacinto fault system to rupture, which would in turn trigger the collapse of the San Andreas Fault.
Should the Big One hit, it won’t be pretty. Models predict a quake across the southern half of California with a magnitude around 7.8. Such a quake would cause an estimated 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries, and over $200 billion in damage.
But as the USGS researchers point out, this is far from an inevitability. The swarm under the Salton Sea may subside, or fail to influence the gigantic fault nearby. Moreover, the estimates provided by the scientists are exactly that—estimates. The science of earthquake prediction is still very much in its infancy, and these models are very likely crunching away with insufficient data. No need to panic just yet.
What’s the line in Las Vegas on this event?
Unless the bookies are worried, I’ll wait.
Back in 1886 Charleston had an estimated 7.0 quake.
Then again, it's got "The Rock" in it, so why wouldn't it be cool? :-)
Yup.
If the Greek restaurant by the Salton Sea isn’t affected, I don’t see how I can feel bad if a big one breaks in that area....
From what I've read in the past, a big quake from Mexico up through L.A. is overdue and will be massive. It will most likely damage waterways and supplies, and lead to a migration out of the area. No water, no short-term survival. People had no business living in the desert without water, it's all brought in from distant locations via man-made solutions.
“or the next few days, the risk of a major earthquake along the fault is as high”
Didn’t I also read that a major coronal mass ejection is hitting the earth in the next few days?
But a very badly made movie, based on BS. There will be no tsunami. The San Andreas fault slips north/south, and can't generate the effects shown in the movie "San Andreas", let alone rip the entire length of California. That movie is worse than "Day After Tomorrow" with its falsehoods.
But it’s got “The Rock”
One percent. Imminent. OOOKaaay... And I say that as somebody with family in that area.
The quake coming in Washington on the Cascadia Subduction Zone is supposed to be far bigger than anything in California:
Just when we heard it was to late to reverse the globull warming disaster.
Well, today is a new moon.
Good point.
LOL
True.
Yep, I'm in Chino, the SA fault is less than 30 miles away. We have been kicking around getting Quake Ins. It would not kick in until a near 50,000 out of pocket 10% deductible with about a $750 annual premium. Decisions decisions.
So the risk is larger - until the end of Tuesday?
OK
Or maybe the beginning of Tuesday.
Got it. Maybe.
I was laying on the couch when the Oklahoma quake about half-tossed me out of it. Good thing there were no sharp potato chips on the floor.
Fly me out on a round-trip ticket - I’ll assist you.
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