New FAULT LINE Discovered in Arkansas (Chandler, Carney: 2009, rated, area)

[_redbird_]

We, being Oklahoma, have minor earthquakes all the time. We just can't feel them until they are, what- a 3.5 or higher?

[nightbird47]

Part of the scope of a quake is the fault line and how many others it effects. The quake in Northridge did indeed effect from far north or there to far south. The aftershocks can go much further than epicenter but most of the time don't.

The other factor is the kind of ground. Marshy land, with wet soil underneath, creates liquifaction. Meaning the ground becomes wet and buildings sink. Areas where the ground is mostly clay shake less, more soil/sand more. Mountains can either block or amplify a quake depending on what faults are alone the one that went.

Two places you really don't want to be are in an area where liqufactaion happens or over a landfill which may not support the weight of a swaying building. Or in the bottom half of an old two story building which may not have the kind of support for the second story required now. (70's and before)

[Alaskapat528]

I noted the posting re earthquakes. Alaska, in the past 9 or 10 years or so has had 12,000 some quakes; some are never felt. AK is the #1 State for quakes.

[TU 'cane]

But I think the point was that how would a .7 earthquake affect a gas line?

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by TU 'cane

But I think the point was that how would a .7 earthquake affect a gas line?

They typed it incorrectly. They meant a 7.0. And to stay on topic, a 7.0 quake affecting a gas line.....I don't even want to think about that. That's how devastating it could be.

[FutureArchitect]

Yes I had typed it incorrectly. I meant 7.0

[FutureArchitect]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

Part of the scope of a quake is the fault line and how many others it effects. The quake in Northridge did indeed effect from far north or there to far south. The aftershocks can go much further than epicenter but most of the time don't.

The other factor is the kind of ground. Marshy land, with wet soil underneath, creates liquifaction. Meaning the ground becomes wet and buildings sink. Areas where the ground is mostly clay shake less, more soil/sand more. Mountains can either block or amplify a quake depending on what faults are alone the one that went.

Two places you really don't want to be are in an area where liqufactaion happens or over a landfill which may not support the weight of a swaying building. Or in the bottom half of an old two story building which may not have the kind of support for the second story required now. (70's and before)

Nice Job.

[windowphobe]

What's scary is that this fault appears to be separate from the existing New Madrid (Missouri) fault line, which gave out with an 8.0 in 1812 that allegedly broke sidewalks in Washington, D.C.

[karibear]

Originally Posted by windowphobe

What's scary is that this fault appears to be separate from the existing New Madrid (Missouri) fault line, which gave out with an 8.0 in 1812 that allegedly broke sidewalks in Washington, D.C.

The Good Friday quake in AK was an 8.4, and considering how much damage that one did, I don't even want to be on the same side of the continent as an 8.0!

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by karibear

We were north of Bellingham in 2001 when the Nisqually quake hit. I think the epicenter was south of Seattle, but it traveled north all the way into Canada, as I recall. We were living in a house on a rather high bluff overlooking Puget Sound when the TV went off, and went outside to see if someone had hit a phone pole. We were just in time to watch a ground wave move along the road, it was a ripple about 6" high. I have no idea why it didn't damage the road, but it didn't. I prefer my Terra to be Firma!

I love it~"you like your "terra to be firma".

Just sort of curious~it seems like they've been discovering several new faults recently. Surely they aren't new, are they? Wouldn't they just be coming to light now because of better instruments and equipment?