Posted on 08/31/2019 1:55:25 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The Wilmington fault...is an elusive type of fracture. Unlike many faults, which crack Earths surface like an egg, the Wilmington fault is blind, which means its concealed beneath the surface, making it especially difficult to study. So while scientists have long known the fault is presentstretching 12.4 miles under southern Los Angeles into San Pedro Bayit was presumed to have sat quiet for millions of years.
While the fault is slow moving and likely ruptures only once every 3,200 to 4,700 years, it underlies two of the United States busiest ports. And researchers worry that the Wilmington could link with other nearby faults to produce a temblor as strong as a magnitude 7.4.
From their analysis, the team estimates the Wilmington fault has moved an average of just 0.16 millimeters per year over the last 500,000 years, and it likely hosts an earthquake every few thousand years. For comparison, the San Andreas fault is estimated to move 30 to 50 millimeters each year, with an average time between earthquakes of around 150 years.
That is, while its slow moving, it shouldnt be ignored. For one, theres the type of motion thrust faults produce, which is more of a vertical shove than the horizontal back and forth of a strike-slip fault, Wolfe says. Buildings can sway a little, but the up-down motions can be devastating. Such intense impacts were seen during the magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake that rattled from a blind-thrust fault in 1994, killing more than 60 people and injuring thousands.
The Wilmington fault is also located directly below two important ports and other infrastructure, Shaw notes. And a disruption of operations could have major impacts. While more work is necessary to further tease apart the Wilmingtons earthquake potential, the latest study emphasizes the import of studying slow-moving blind faults.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalgeographic.com ...
If the won’t drill the oil it will come out of the ground by itself!
Helen Keller saw it.
Modern journalism sucks.
Forget the ports, movie studios, and Hollywood elite who try to rule us, it is the lives of 12 million migrant invaders and the 2020 votes they represent that is important to consider.....
But maybe it doesn’t identify as a fault. All of this undeserved microaggression regarding it’s hidden feelings could be a trigger. Isn’t that how the new science works?
Can someone throw some light on the kind of technology and instruments available that can make such measurements possible?
I found one of the "researchers" doing the "worrying." She is so worried she can't get any sleep. None at all.
Earthquakes “erupt”? That I gotta see!!
I’d be looking for Weena.
Its what they call a blind fault.
They may call it a blind fault, but I just don’t see it...
...
Don’t worry, it’s not your fault.
I have No Fault insurance for that.
National Geographic is kind of slow to pick up on things, it seems.
Doesn’t it boil do to mean WE NEED MORE FUNDING TO STUDY THE PROBLEM?
Something else no one can do anything about but the reporters hope millions will start losing sleep over.
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