Most people think that in the United States, the area around the San Andreas Fault poses the highest risk for a large earthquake. But the risk for a "great earthquake" and tsunami is highest in the Pacific Northwest. Join seismologist Diego Melgar and learn about the risks, the geologic forces behind the potential for a truly massive U.S. earthquake, and efforts underway to build warning systems for the western U.S. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series"...

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes seismologist Lucy Jones for a discussion of science, natural disasters and public education. Topics covered: the trajectory of her career, attributes of a scientist, earthquake prediction, science education, and effective communication between scientists and the public. The conversation concludes with lessons learned. Series: "Conversations with History" [Science] [Education] [Show ID: 30204]

Although many recent advances, such as building codes and construction techniques, have reduced some aspects of risk to natural disasters, other features of modern society— including population density and the networking of transportation, power facilities, and communications systems—have led to increased vulnerability in California and beyond. Lucy Jones, Science Advisor for Risk Reduction, U.S. Geological Survey, discusses and answers questions about interdisciplinary research to measure...

If you live with the potential of earthquakes it is important to be prepared. Matthew Springer, UCSF Professor of Medicine, gives specific strategies about how to secure your home, yourself and your pets. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 29289]

Computer simulations of earthquake shaking can provide valuable information on the expected intensity of shaking from earthquakes. Arthur Rodgers, a seismologist/geophysicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, covers seismic hazard in the Bay Area, describes computer simulations of past and possible future earthquakes and looks at the physics that underlies the numerical methods. Series: "Field Trip at the Lab: Science on Saturday" [Science] [Show ID: 29612]

Richard Allen, professor and director of the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, discusses the lessons learned from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake which was centered on a section of the San Andreas Fault near Santa Cruz. It shook Northern California at 5:04 p.m., causing 63 deaths, several thousand injuries, and $6 billion in property damage, including the collapse of a section of the upper deck of the Bay Bridge, a section of the Interstate 880 freeway in Oakland, and many residential...

Join Neal Driscoll for an illuminating look at how Scripps scientists are working to understand and monitor earthquakes. Learn how scientists model the potential impacts of major events in Southern California. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 28674]

Join geophysicist Michael Hedlin as he describes how the exciting new field of atmospheric acoustics is allowing researchers to listen to Earth as never before. Discover how researchers tune into sounds in the atmosphere to learn more about dynamic Earth processes—from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to meteorite impacts. You'll be surprised at what you can hear when you know how to listen! Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 24911]

The probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake in the Greater Bay Area during the next 30 years is 63 percent, or about two out of three. Lawrence Livermore National Lab scientist Sean Ford and teacher Ken Wedel discuss what an earthquake of that size in the Bay Area would look like and explain its effects. Just like an earthquake, a nuclear test can cause seismic disturbances that are recorded at monitoring stations around the world. Learn how seismologists tell the difference...

Go behind the scenes at UC San Diego as a five story mockup of a hospital, including a surgical suite, is subjected to dramatic earthquakes in order to better understand how the many complex systems within hospital buildings perform after earthquakes. Teaming up with the California Seismic Safety Commission, this UCSD-TV documentary explores the history of seismic safety for California's hospital infrastructure, and what is being done to secure its future. Series: "Earthquake and Seismology...

When the massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan last March, Scripps Oceanography was listening. The Institution operates local, national and international seismic observing systems, each finely tuned for detecting earthquakes – from those in our backyard to ones on the other side of the globe. Join Scripps seismologist Frank Vernon as he describes two such projects: the USArray Transportable Array and the San Jacinto Fault Zone Experiment. Learn how Scripps scientists are “wiring” the...

From UC San Diego’s Englekirk Structural Engineering Center comes this preview of the largest, most complex seismic test ever conducted, designed to test nonstructural systems in hospitals including the first-time-ever seismic test of a working elevator and fire testing. Series: "UCTV Prime Cuts" [Science] [Show ID: 23597]

From UC San Diego’s Englekirk Structural Engineering Center comes this preview of the largest, most complex seismic test ever conducted, designed to test nonstructural systems in hospitals including the first-time-ever seismic test of a working elevator and fire testing. [Science] [Show ID: 23626]

UC Berkeley's 1923 Memorial Stadium sits on top of an active earthquake fault. In case of a major quake, the Hayward fault could tear the ground apart below the stadium. A huge retrofit project is well underway, and the seismic solutions that are being implemented have never been tried before. The stadium is being rebuilt so that parts of it will actually be mobile, moving with the shifting earth when the rupture occurs. The new state-of-the-art press box, sitting above the stadium at eight...

The nuclear crisis in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is confusing and frightening. Three Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists - Thomas McKone, Edward Morse and Robert Budnitz - discuss the facts about radiation safety and risks, detection and the implications for human health and the environment. Lance Knobel moderates Series: "Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory " [Science] [Show ID: 21582]

The southern San Andreas Fault in California has not had a large earthquake in approximately 300 years, yet the average recurrence interval for the previous five ruptures is about 180 years. Join Scripps Oceanography geoscientist Neal Driscoll as he presents new findings on a possible relationship between these earthquakes and the flooding of Lake Cahuilla, which forms episodically as the Colorado River switches course and flows north into the Salton Trough. Learn how new data on the timing...

Southern California hosts a number of active faults. Over the last 20 years, it has become the most seismically active area in the Western states, with magnitude 7 or greater events occurring around the (in)famous San Andreas fault. Join Yuri Fialko as he discusses what we know about earthquakes, and the slow tectonic deformation that causes them, using modern space technologies. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 19750]

Wind energy will make a significant contribution to our renewable energy future. Learn more about the seismic testing to advance modern wind turbine design. With bigger turbines and earthquake potential, experts test the earthquake engineering of these large structures. Series: "Earthquake and Seismology Programs" [Science] [Show ID: 18117]

Join oceanographer Kevin Brown as he describes the phenomena that we experience as “earthquakes” and relates what scientists understand about the physics of these sudden and at times catastrophic movements in the earth’s crust. Learn how Brown and other Scripps scientists are using a variety of techniques to better understand when, where, and how earthquakes occur. Series: "Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series" [Science] [Show ID: 19749]

See all the action as industry and university researchers team up to find the limits of innovative metal building designs as they are subjected to some of the most extreme earthquake shaking ever recorded. Series: "Earthquake and Seismology Programs" [Science] [Show ID: 18699]

How Fate and Fast-Tracking Secured a Unique Record of One of History's Biggest Earthquakes. Series: "Scripps Profiles" [Science] [Show ID: 19657]

UC Berkeley engineers perform "shake tests" on a scale-model steel bridge to demonstrate a new bridge design that they say can better resist significant earthquake damage. The tests were conducted with ground motions equivalent to large quakes that have hit California, Chile, Japan and other parts of the world. The bridge segments are supported by seismic isolators and utilize a new Segmental Displacement Control Isolation System. The system is designed with lockup guides between bridge...

UC San Diego structural engineering experts Jose Restrepo and Tara Hutchinson share their insights on damage from the great Chilean earthquake of 2010. Series: "On Beyond" [Science] [Show ID: 18126]

California is earthquake country. Dr. Matt Springer of UCSF shares valuable insights into how we can prepare now for our next big shake. Dr. Springer illustrates precautionary measures we can take at home to protect ourselves and our families from the effects of a major earthquake. [Clarification from Dr. Springer on LIQUEFACTION as presented in this program: Please note that liquefaction is not merely rearrangement of soft soils, but actually involves water in these soils that reacts to...