This Scientist’s Doomsday Earthquake Scenarios Will Terrify You, and That’s the Point

kqed.org ^ | 5/22/2017 | Jacob Margolis

[DallasGal]

Haven’t seen from the air yet. Or haven’t paid attention while flying over. I did see quite a few last summer when driving through Idaho. One doesn’t realize how large they are until you’re up close.

[null and void]

Perfect!

[Lou L]

They don't have to turn to serve their primary purpose of pumping dollars from your pocket to subsidize the manufacturers, installers, landowners, politicians, etc, etc, etc.

That's for sure!

[sportutegrl]

I have seen them being shipped via 18 wheeler. One blade per truck. Takes a long convoy to ship one windmill.

[Steve_Seattle]

"White wind turbines, two stories high . . . "

Industrial wind turbines are typically about 320 feet high. Someone might have a two-story one in their backyard, but that's just for personal use.

[Little Ray]

We already have our Doomsday Scenario - Yellowstone goes “Krakatoa” on us. That is pretty much the end of North America.

And, of course, for a less apocalyptic doomsday, there the New Madrid fault.

[rktman]

Lucky for us we live west of Yellowstone so we get an extra couple days unless some stray debris rains down on us. Let’s see algore complain about that one.

[onedoug]

When one can see these monstrosities from 30,000 feet while riding in an airliner across the country, it’s clear they’re a lot taller than two stories.

[reed13k]

Not all of them. The ice rink near my house has one and the blades aren’t as ‘long as a boxcar’. There are various designs and heights depending upon the area they are placed, local wind, generator placed on the pylon, etc.

Some aren’t much taller than the old traditional windmills of old, though they tend to be thinner.

[Charles Martel]

Have them in West Texas. Gives some relief to the flat nothingness. Same deal with them not all working

They could be of some use in west Texas. Connect a nuke plant to those wind farms and feed power in the reverse direction, turning the windmills into huge oscillating fans. Come July, the breeze will be welcome.

Heck, put enough of 'em near the coast and it might be possible to blow a hurricane south towards the Mexican beaches. ;-)

[trebb]

Have them in West Texas. Gives some relief to the flat nothingness. Same deal with them not all working

Might be reminiscent of the fields of oil derricks sitting idle...only taller.

[DallasGal]

July nothing. It gets above 75 and I’m ready to move North, way North. But I like where you are going with this ;)

[roadcat]

Or, could it be the constant vibration from the wind turbines (ruining the view shed while they're at it) causing the shift in the geological formations.

That explains things! San Francisco built two windmills in Golden Gate park, to pump water for irrigation. The first one was completed and operational in 1903. The big SF earthquake happened in 1906. They fell into disrepair later on. In 1981, one windmill was restored to active use. The Loma Prieta Earthquake happened in 1989. It's the wind shifting geological formations!

[Charles Martel]

I hear you - and I grew up in Louisiana south of I-10. At least in the hottest weather there, you can sometimes feel a cooling breeze. North and West Texas is more like a convection oven - the air moves well enough - it’s just hot. Dallas feels like it’s 500 miles closer to the sun than the surrounding area.

[DallasGal]

Concrete heat island :) I’m in Ft. Worth. Could be worse. It could be Houston. And people wonder why I want to move to the mountains

[DallasGal]

Way taller and without much character. There is something about those derricks. A holdover from my childhood.

[DallasGal]

Way taller and without much character. There is something about those derricks. A holdover from my childhood.

[rktman]

👹. Unless you grew up south of Hwy 90, you're a yankee. LOL!

[trebb]

Agree - first time I ever saw the derricks was in ‘74 when I was in Texas for Basic Training and taking little road trips with friends during Tech School - had heard about “Texas T” but this was evidence of taking energy out of the ground.