NORTHRIDGE EARTHQUAKE

 

The Northridge Earthquake occured on January 7, 1994, at 4:30pm. It had a strong magnitude of 6.7, the ground shaking was the highest ever recordered in the urban area in North America. There were at least 57 deaths, and there were over 8,700 injured because of this massive destruction. Causing an estimated $20 billion in damage, making it one of the most costliest natural destruction in U.S. History. With most of the damage in the San Fernando Valley. Most of the Apartments and the taller buildings were where the most of the jams were occurring during the earthquake. There was an outbreak of Valley Fever. A loss of transportation was lost, mostly Freeways because they were collapsed. Schools were closed down because of the damage of class rooms, not only did School Districts closed., some of the Universities as Well. Ex. (University of California, Los Angeles, Califronia State University, Northridge, & The University of Southern Califronia.) Alot of People and different things suffered fom this massive natural destruction. :/

Japan's Earthquake Tunami

Tsunami!

Earthquake!

Two weeks after a devastating eathquake and tsunami plunged Japan into its worst crisis since World War II, local refugee families are starting to see their lives restored to some semblance of a daily routine. As Reuters is reporting National food aid is flowing and even mobile banks are appearing in some of the northeast Japan's most devastated regions.
Still, specific figures surrounding the disaster are continuing to emerge which are simultaneously shocking and heartbreaking. The death toll topped 10,000 on Friday, with hopes for those who remain missing continuing to dwindle.
View a list of impacts of and responses to the devastating earthquake and tsunami below. Captions are courtesy of Reuters.

Hazardrous Earthquakes In California!

The California Geological Survey studies earthquakes to help Californians plan and build earthquake resistant communities. We record the strong ground motion from earthquakes, study the distribution of historic earthquakes and evaluate faults that are the source of earthquakes. We combine that information to prepare maps showing the potential for ground shaking, fault rupture, liquefaction and seismically induced landsliding. Earthquakes shaking hazards are calculated considering earthquake magnitudes and rates, the decrease in earthquake shaking with distance, and amplification of shaking by soils. The result is expressed as the level of ground shaking that on average occurs every 500 years. These calculations for California are part of a cooperative project between USGS and CGS, and are part of the National Seismic Hazard Maps. These estimates of seismic hazards can be used to estimate the effects of potential earthquakes as planning scenarios and the potential for statewide earthquake losses.



Seismic Waves



Seismic Waves are waves of energy that travel through the earth, for example as a result of an earthquake, explosion, or some other process that imparts low-frequency acoustic energy. Many other natural and anthropogenic sources create low amplitude waves commonly referred to as ambient vibrations. Seismic waves are studied by seismologists and geophysists. Seismic wavefields are measured by a seismograph, geophone, hydrophone, or accelorometer.