San Andreas fault.

Question 1

What type of plate boundary is the San Andreas fault?

Answer 1

Conservative (between the North American and Pacific).

Question 2

What was the ‘Seismic gap’ found on the fault and when was it found?

Answer 2

Parkfield in 1985.

Question 3

When did they believe there would be an earthquake at Parkfield?

Answer 3

By 1993. It was actually in 2004.

Question 4

What equipment has been used in places like Parkfield to monitor seismic activity?

Answer 4

Seismometers, Strainmeters, and Creepmeters.

Question 5

What past example can we point to regarding the earthquake threat of the area?

Answer 5

The Loma Prieta earthquake (6.9 magnitude).

Question 6

When did the Loma Prieta earthquake strike?

Answer 6

October 1989.

Question 7

How many died in the 1989 earthquake?

Answer 7

63 further 3,500 injured.

Question 8

What new programme is being tried along the fault?

Answer 8

‘Nowcasting’

Question 9

What is ‘Nowcasting’?

Answer 9

Series of seismometers placed along the fault. Infomation sent to control center. When earthquake they provide info on magnitude and direction of travel. Provides a 90 second warning time.

Question 10

What was the cost of the 1989 earthquake?

Answer 10

$6 million

Question 11

What techniques have been used to map the fault?

Answer 11

Radar from planes funded by the US geological survey and USA government.